A Testimony of A Changed Life

Last Sunday, here at ICCS, Reiko-San was baptized. She gave the following testimony in English and in Japanese. We are so glad our Sister found true Hope in a living relationship with her creator in the Person of Jesus Christ.

My testimony

God came into my life when I was 15. I was in the states for summer program of my high school and home staying in Christian family. My host family Browns loves Jesus a lot and is so faithful to Him.

As every teenager wonders so many things about their lives, so did I. I always felt empty and couldn’t communicate with my family, friend and others very much. Especially I really didn’t like to have a meal with somebody.

God touched my heart when I had a dinner at home with Browns for the first time. Before a dinner, they started to hold their hands with each other, sang a praise song and prayed (to) God. Then I did feel something warm touched my heart. It was the 1st time for me to feel secure to be with somebody and enjoy the meal. I felt my heart was healed by something at that moment.

The days spending with them surely changed my life. After being back to Japan I missed them a lot and started to think about God.

But right after that, some sad things happened to me. It was too sudden and too sad for just a high school girl. Most of them were human's death—I’ve lost my friends, relatives and people who loved me a lot by unacceptable ways. I couldn't understand what was going on in my life.

I still kept in touch with Browns. They always encouraged me and in the end of their letters and emails there were always the words about God.
"God loves you, He knows everything and will be with you all the time"--these words made me feel better, but also made me think why these sad things happened if God really loved me.

I tried so hard not to think anything. Kept all negative feelings deep inside of my heart.

After enrolling in Sophia Univ, I got sick because of these happenings and it was terrible. So that my Univ life was about going to hospital or being brought into ICU because of overdose. I thought nothing could fix my heart, but hopefully I was getting better about 3 yrs later.

Because my Univ is a Catholic school, during Univ time some teachers told me Jesus, but I couldn’t know Him for my savior.

After graduated Univ, I started to work. The hectic and stressful job made me feel spiritual thirsty and I started to read the Bible, which the Browns gave me before. But work made me sick again--I couldn’t find any hope in my life again. I was too tired and seemed like nothing helped me except going back to Oregon where Browns lives.

I don’t remember how I could make it to go back there with unhealthy condition, but I made it.

When I’ve been there that was just before Christmas of 2006. When we prayed before dinner like we did when I was there for the 1st time--I did feel something warm came inside of me! Again. Finally I realized it was God and thought I'd love to live with God like Browns did. Then I accept Jesus personally.

2yrs have passed after that Christmas. I've learned that many things--good or bad--happen even in Christian life. Even though we're imperfect and weak, Jesus still loves us and He can make us strong. I would love to live the rest of my life with His love and wanna share this special gift from Him with others like my family, friends and people whom I will get to know in future. So that I decided to be baptized today and wanna share my story with you all.

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神様が私の人生に初めて分かる様に触れて下さったのは、私が１５歳の時でした。高校のプログラムで初めて外国に出たこの時、私はブラウン家というクリスチャンの家庭にホームステイしました。彼らはとても神様を愛していて、初めて直にクリスチャンの文化に触れた私にとって、その姿はとても新鮮であり、彼らとの生活を通して私は沢山の事を教えてもらいました。
当時の私はどの１０代の子もそうである様に、自分の人生や周囲の人間との関係にとても敏感な時期でした。いつも心に空白を感じ、本当に気を許して家族や友人、周囲の人とコミュニケーションが取れないでいました。特に当時の私にとっては、誰かと一緒に食事をする事はとても苦痛で仕方のない事でした。
　神様が私の心に初めて触れて下さったのは、ブラウンさん達と初めて食事をした時でした。私達はお互いの手を取り合って神様を褒め称える歌を歌い、神様に感謝してから食事を頂きました。その時、私の心にとても温かい気持ちが生まれた事を今でもはっきりと覚えています。その温かさは今までに一度も感じた事のないもので、この時私は生まれて初めて人といる事、食卓を囲むことの健やかさを感じました。
彼らとの生活は短いものでしたが、その先の私の人生を全く変えたと言っても過言ではありません。帰国後、私は彼らをとても恋しく思うと同時に、彼らが愛する神様とはどういうお方なのだろう？と時折考える様になりました。
ですがその直後、私の身の回りにとても悲しい出来事が連続して起きました。それはあまりにも突然で、ただの高校生でしかなかった私にはとても受け止めきれるものではありませんでした。当時起こった事の大半は大切な人達の死でした。友人、親戚、私をとても大切にしてくれた人達を同時に、しかもとても納得の行かない理由で亡くした事が受け止め切れず、当時の私は正直な所、一体何が起こっているのか理解が出来ない状態でした。
その様な時期も私はブラウンさん達とやりとりを続けていました。彼らは本当に賢明に私を励まし、支えてくれました。そして彼らの手紙やメールの最後には必ず神様の愛についての言葉がありました。その言葉はとても温かくて私を安心させた反面、本当に神様がこの世にいて私を愛しているなら、何故今こんな事が続けて起こるのだろうとやりきれない気持ちにもさせました。　
結局、私はまるでこれらの事は何も起こらなかったかの様に、今まで起こった事やその悲しみを自分の奥深くに仕舞い込む事にしました。
　大学進学後、受け止め切れなかった傷は心の病気と言う形で浮上してきました。私の心は切り裂かれたかの様にバラバラになり、大学時代の思い出といえばほぼ毎日の病院通いか、処方薬の大量摂取による入院生活でした。私はもう何も自分の心と身体を治す事は出来ないと思っていました。しかし、医師の賢明な治療と周囲の支えの結果、大学生活が終わる頃には人並みの生活を送れる程度まで回復する事が出来ました。
そんな大学時代も、神様は私に働きかけて下さいました。カソリックの大学である事が影響してか、何人かの教授や神父先生達が私に神様の事を懸命に伝えてくれようとしました。しかし、何も信じる事が出来なかった当時の私はいつも彼らの心からの神様への愛情を理解出来ず、彼らの親切を断り続けていました。
大学卒業後、忙しくストレスの多い職場に就職した私の心の支えはブラウンさん達がくれた聖書でした。しかし、ストレスや環境の変化で再度体調を崩してしまった私は、自分の生きている事に全く意味を見出せないまま抜け殻の様になってしまいました。自分の意思で身体を動かす事が困難になり、精神的にも疲れ切ってしまった私の頭にたった一つ浮かんだのはブラウンさん達の住むオレゴンに戻る事でした。
私がオレゴンに戻ったその時は２００６年のクリスマス直前でした。彼らの待つ家に帰り、初めてそうした時の様に食前の祈りをした時、私は再びあの時に感じた心の中の温かさを感じました。手を繋ぎ、祈っている間に私の心に生まれたのは、彼らが今までそうして来た様に、私も神様の愛情と共に生きていきたいという思いでした。そうして、神様が私の心に初めて触れた時から７年越しで、私は個人的な救い主として神様を受け入れる事が出来たのです。
　あのクリスマスから２年が経ち、私は例えクリスチャンになっても良い事、悪い事を含め、私達の人生にはたくさんの事が起こるのだと感じるようになりました。私達は弱く、不完全な生き物ですが、大切なのは神様に委ねて生きていく事、神様は私達を愛しておられ、私達が生きていくのに必要な強さを与えてくださると信じることなのだと思います。私はこの先の人生を、神様の愛の中に生き、神様から与えられたこの特別な恵みをクリスチャンの方々はもとより家族、友人、まだ見ぬこれから出会っていく人々とも分かち合って生きて行きたいと思います。以上が今日、私が洗礼を受ける事を決心した神様との歩みの初めであり、その事をみなさんに証したいと思います。

Overcoming Our Handicapped Lives

The ideas of this sermon come from the pen of Roger Barrier

Text:
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (The Message)

7-10 Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn't get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then He told me,

My grace is enough; it's all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.

God’s Grace: True story. Two pastors were on their way to Atlanta, Ga. for a large Christian men’s gathering. One of them had never been in the south before. After staying in a motel overnight, they stopped at a nearby restaurant for breakfast. When their meal was delivered, the pastor who had never been south before saw this white, mushy looking stuff on his plate. When the waitress came by again he asked her what it was. "Grits", she replied. "Ma'am I didn't order it and I'm not paying for it". "Sir, down here you don't order it and you don't pay for it, you just get it." How like the GRACE of God!

Topic: How to overcome life’s handicaps
Big Idea: God gives us handicaps for our own betterment.

Introduction
* Much of the great work in this world has been done by handicapped people:
•Ludwig van Beethoven: 1710-1827. Beethoven used a special rod attached to the soundboard on a piano that he could bite—the vibrations would then transfer from the piano to his jaw to increase his perception of the sound. Later, became 100% deaf. Also, he was most likely suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder along with Albert Einstein, who also had dyslexia along with Donald Trump.

•John Milton: 1608-1674 Authored the Epic Paradise Lost. By the time of his death in 1674, Milton was blind, impoverished and yet unrepentant for his political choices. Milton had by then attained Europe-wide fame, and notoriety, for his radical political and religious beliefs, as well as his writings in English and Latin poetry.

•Helen Keller:(June 27, 1880 – June 1, 1968) was an American author, activist, and lecturer. She was the first deaf/blind person to graduate from college with a magna cum laude from Radcliffe College. She spoke and traveled opposing war, campaigned for women’s suffrage, and worker’s rights. Was made world known by the movie and play The Miracle Worker.

•David Beckham and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: have/had Tourettes Syndrome.

•Kristi Yamaguchi: an American figure skater and the 1992 Olympic Champion in women's singles. Yamaguchi also won two World Figure Skating Championships in 1991 and 1992 and a U.S. Figure Skating Championships in 1992. She won two national titles in 1989 and 1990 and one junior world title in 1988 as a pairs skater with Rudy Galindo. In December 2005, she was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. Kristi was born with club feet.

* Paul also had a handicap or thorn. He says, "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given unto me a thorn in my flesh.” - 2 Corinthians 12:7

* No one knows exactly what Paul’s thorn was, and he probably left it a mystery so everyone could identify with him.

* Handicaps come in many forms but they tend to be looked at as being ‘bad.’
To overcome life’s handicaps, trust that they are no accident.

* God has a plan for each of our lives, and to carry out that plan, He must correct us. Our thinking may be off center. It (LIFE) is not about me-it is about Him.

- Illustration: One man told the great preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon, who, because of his debilitating gout and kidney disease, was knit closer to Christ, as was evidenced in his preaching. It is really beyond our understanding at times. Or just a different way of looking at things.

To overcome life’s handicaps, say, “What an opportunity” Instead of “What if?”

* Paul rejoiced in his circumstances because he knew that God would pour His power into Paul’s life.
- Illustration: Norwegian Classical violinist Ole Bull once broke a string during a concert, but instead of stopping to replace the string, he improvised and finished the concert using only three strings.

To overcome life’s handicaps, stop window-shopping and enjoy your own inventory.
* Paul warns us in Rom 12:2-3 to stop comparing ourselves with others.

* God gives us each a special plot to till and accept, and the real test is what we will do with it. How can Man make better God’s creation? Why, indeed, do we believe we would know better…?

To overcome life’s handicaps, recognize that thorns set the stage for spiritual service.

* Paul would not have been Paul without the thorn in his side. “It” really made him who he was: dependent on the Lord.

- Illustration:

It Is Well with My Soul is a very influential hymn penned by hymnist Horatio Spafford and composed by Philip Bliss.
This hymn was written after several traumatic events in Spafford’s life. The first was the death of his only son in 1871, shortly followed by the great Chicago Fire which ruined him financially (he had been a successful lawyer). Then in 1873, he had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the S.S. Ville du Havre, but sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business. While crossing the Atlantic, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with another ship, and all four of Spafford's daughters died. His wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died.
The Spaffords later had three more children, one of whom (a son) died in infancy. In 1881 the Spaffords, including baby Bertha and newborn Grace, set sail for Palestine. The Spaffords moved to Jerusalem and helped found a group called the American Colony; its mission was to serve the poor. The colony later became the subject of the Nobel prize winning Jerusalem, by Swedish novelist Selma Lagerlöf.

taken from http://en.Wikipedia.org

To overcome life’s handicaps, find the strength in God’s Grace, which is energy enough when life gets tough.

* When Paul begged God to take away his affliction, God told Paul that God’s grace would be sufficient for him. But many of us say: “But the pain… I could do so much more without this… I feel it would be better than what You have planned for me… After all, I do know what works best for me!”

- Illustration: A boy playing by the sea coast cannot possibly drain the ocean with his sand pail. In the same way, God’s Grace will never run out.

* Illustration: A television show profiled three terminal cancer patients from the time of their diagnosis to their death. Two were faithless and their anger destroyed their relationships, while the third was a pastor who embraced God’s Grace and his impending death with faith.

• Illustration: When a person works an eight-hour day and receives a fair day’s pay for his time, that is a wage. When a person competes with an opponent and receives a trophy for his performance, that is a prize. When a person receives appropriate recognition for his long service or high achievements, that is an award. But when a person is not capable of earning a wage, can win no prize, and deserves no award—yet receives such a gift anyway—that is a good picture of God’s unmerited favor. This is what we mean when we talk about the Grace of God.

Clip-Art Features for Church Newsletters, G.W. Knight, p. 53

Handicapped by GRACE Alone!

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Next week: Let's Talk About Fruit. It would be great if you would please read ahead from Galatians 5:16~25.

Messages From the Nativity

As 2008 comes to a close, do you have some things that need to be cleared up? You have taken down the Christmas things...put up the New Year things… broken your promise to loose some weight… tried to answer all the face book notes, email, and letters that have piled up in your in-box. You may have some unanswered questions that still need clarification. What messages have you left unanswered?

This morning, we will try and help with five messages of this season.

Overview: God used amazing events to communicate that Jesus Christ was the promised Messiah who would be the Savior of the world. Today, we will be looking at five messages of the Nativity.

Message One.
God Promised Christ’s Arrival Throughout History.
The promise of the coming Savior appears like a thread running through the Old Testament, starting with a hint after the first recorded sin...MAN CHOSE TO DISOBEY GOD! The Promise came right after that, so-called FALL with a promise that the serpent (Satan) would be crushed by the seed of Eve. (Gen 3:15). The next promise came to Abraham when God told him that all the world would be blessed through his family line (Gen 12:3). A great, grandson of Abraham, Judah by name, was promised that an eternal rod of power would come from his family line (Gen 49:10). Over 1,000 years later, Kind David, the son of Jesse, came from that line to rule Israel.

The Promises go on. Isaiah prophesied that from him would come the ultimate king (Isa 11:1-5). Isaiah wrote that a virgin would bear Jesus (Isa 7:14) and that He would do miraculous things (Isa 35:5-6). A prophet named Micah wrote that this Promised one would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Zechariah accurately described His humble situation and betrayal (Zeck 9:6; 11:12-13). Isaiah vividly foretold the torturous death Jesus would die and why (Isa 53) and David told of Jesus’ resurrection (Ps 16:10).

This Message # One was told over many, many years and was found to be true in the Baby born in that stall in Bethlehem.

Message Two.
God Became a Man.
The most astounding message of the Nativity is that God became man. John tells us God became flesh and lived with us (John 1:14)...to show us the Way to His Heart. As one translation puts it: “He moved into the neighborhood.” Paul wrote: “God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him.” (Col 1:19).

God just did not TELL us what He was like, God came to SHOW it and did so personally!

Message Three.
Angels Testified to Christ’s Coming.
The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, not only to prepare her, a virgin, for bearing the Son of God, but to give her specific instructions concerning Him… The angel told her to name the Child “God Saves”--Jesus. That Jesus would be the Son of the Most High God, that God would give Him David’s throne, and that it would last forever! An angel told the step-father, Joseph, that the Child would be called Immanuel-- “God with us”. The angels told the shepherds the joyful news that was for ALL people everywhere, that THE Savior had been born--Jesus Christ the Lord.

Message Four.
Witnesses Proclaimed Christ the Messiah.
Eight days after Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph took him to the temple. Simeon, who had been promised he wouldn’t die before seeing the Lord’s Christ, said, “My eyes have seen Your salvation” (Luke 2:30-32). A prophetess, Anna, told everyone that Jesus was the Child they have been waiting for--looking for--to redeem Jerusalem (Luke 2:38). Still later, Wise Men from the East, Magi, followed a star that they knew meant that a King had been born. When they found that Child, they worshiped Him. The gifts they gave were gifts fit for a King (Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh) (Matt 2).

Message Five.
Christ Came for Our Salvation.
Jesus came to fulfill thousands of years of prophecy. He would be the One who not only represented God, but was God (John 1:1). When Adam and Eve sinned... all mankind was doomed to follow, so God knew we needed saving and He provided the only Savior that could take care of this mess! His only Son, Jesus. He sent Jesus to die in our place, forgive our sins, and conquered death once and for all time by coming alive again--beating the grave! (1 Cor 15:3-4). After Jesus rose from the dead, His Holy Spirit came to dwell within anyone who would put their trust in Christ to forgive their sins and give them new life in His Name (2 Cor 5:17).

What do these five points have to do with my life today? Can either one of them really effect how I live in 2009? These are not just cold facts, a shopping list to follow or disregard.

#1. These are very important things to consider as you make your mind up as to how you are to navigate through the next months and years of your life. This God thing is not just for the weak or just for those who can’t make it in the real world. Great thinking men and women all through history have been challenged by this Visitor from the right Hand of the Creator. Men like Inazo Nitobe, Kanzo Uchimura, Ayako Miura, William Clark, Robert Boyle, Blaise Pascal, Isaac Newton, and C.S. Lewis.

He is the God of History so we can find evidence of Him in History. It is His Story after all.

#2. Why is the one about Him being Human so weird for us? Maybe because we expect God to be just like us with our limited power and resources. The idea of Him becoming flesh is somewhat alarming. How can He defend Himself? How could He limit Himself into the body of a child: an open door to hurt and pain? It was so He could identify with us. Immanuel means “God with us.”

#3. Angels? Can they be real? Sounds so… fairy-tale after all. Why would this message be given to us from anyone like them? Ones who lived next to God, who know Him from the beginning of time.

With every court case, witnesses are needed to either collaborate with the verdict or contradict the evidence. The facts are in: Guilty of being TRUTH!

#4. Once people learn about this Promised One, they might have a few different responses. Call it off as foolishness. (The Bible says that only a fool says there is no God.) Let it ride for a while. A need to learn more-gain more knowledge (could be your downfall!) Or, be one of many around the World who will bow down & worship the King of kings, the Lord of lords!

#5. Christ came for our salvation! Born for YOU. Came from God’s side to give YOU new life in His Name. To grand you a complete pardon for your wrongs.

This Nativity is for you! All you need to do is receive the Best of all gifts! Talk to Him today . You might want to tell Him you don’t understand everything right now but you know He died for you! Tell Him you need Him. Seek Him and you will find Him!

Taken from a handout written by Johannah Reardon, associate editor of ChristianBibleStudies.com.

_____ _____ _____ _____

Get ready for 2009! Pray more, Read the Bible, love more, be active in the local Christian Community more. Sounds like "works" but it really DOES take some effort to grow up in Jesus. Please don't expect to be the one being feed all the time. Take a bold step and move out of your comfort zone. Ask your Pastor to use you. Better still, organize a group of people to take some project to completion. And while you are at it, pray for the leadership at your Church.
See you next year!

Being focused on the Main Thing

Let's start with these two verses.

Luke 1:38 “I am the Lord's servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
Luke 1: 57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.
Last week, we were encouraged to return to the prayers we made...God has not forgotten us. He remembers! The God who remembers is here today. With these two verses, we can see the response of two women-different times in their life, (Old/Young). Both teach us--4 things about the way to respond. Can we be a little like Zechariah AND a little like Mary and Elizabeth? At the end of today’s talk, you talk to the person next to you. Tell them what you are going to do with these four words/actions.
Believe: The angels announced in spectacular fashion that the Messiah had been born. As soon as the angels left, the shepherds looked at each other and said: “What are we waiting for?…”
New Chinese believer: was so thankful to the missionary. The new believer was so moved that such a story was both true and so powerful. He then asked: How long ago this happen? The missionary quickly said, "About 2000 years ago in Israel! Why?" The Chinese believer looked deep into the eyes of the missionary and sad very so sadly: "Why did it take so long to get this to us? Why did people keep such Good News from us for so long? So many here had died NOT knowing of this Jesus. Why has it taken so long...?"
Obey: The shepherds did exactly as they were told. We sometimes think of Christmas as a tame holiday. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire… We think of sweet little baby Jesus asleep on a bed of hay...but soon, the leader in the nearest city sent his army to kill not only the Baby King, but also ALL children about His age---just in case. In this case, the parents of the Child also did what they were told and took the Baby into Egypt.
How do you respond to the Message of Christmas… “For unto YOU is born this day…” The Savior is born FOR YOU!
He came for you: The Gospel...
Tell: When the shepherds arrived in Bethlehem and saw the child lying in the feed trough, “they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.”… This message needs to get out. People need to hear. Need to know this Truth. WHY? It is the Good News! His Passion for you is so complete, He wants you to know His Love and forgiveness.
Experience: The shepherds were overwhelmed at the angel’s announcement. They experienced holy wonder… What would it take to be just a little excited about the Baby Jesus. Just a little excited about this life altering message of God’s Perfect gift to us! You can express some emotion! You can get excited about Him! You can sing a song!
BE like a Mary! Be like a Zechariah! Sing a song.
Mary's Song 46~55
And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— Holy is His Name. His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and His descendants forever, even as He said to our fathers.”
Zechariah's Song
Zechariah Said: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has come and has redeemed His people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David (as He said through His holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us— to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His Holy Covenant, the oath He swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve Him without fear in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, to give His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
Believe, Obey, Tell and Experience or Do. How can we as a community here in Kotesashi, do these four things this day, this week, this month, the rest of our lives? The shepherds keep telling people well past the season. The Angels’ message cannot be lost over time. What shall you DO with this information? Ask the other person to pray for you and to check with you later in the month as to how you are doing...

COMING SOON TO TOKYO!

More details as they are known

Save the date!  

Join the World in prayer!

Invite many to the event (TBA).

May 31, 2009 is coming!

Go to: www.gdopjapan.com

or

www.globaldayofprayer.com/

for more details

Christmas To-Do List: Being focused on the Main Thing 一番大切なものを一番にする

Luke 1:38 “I am the Lord's servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
Luke 1: 57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.

Last week, we were encouraged to return to the prayers we made...God has not forgotten us. He remembers! The God who remembers is here today. With these two verses, we can see the response of two women-different times in their life, (Old/Young).
先週は私たちが過去に祈ったことについて話しました。神様は私たちのことを忘れてなかったのです。神様は覚えていてくださいます。私たちと共に居てくださるのです。

今、読んだ聖書箇所では二人の女性の人生が書かれてあります。

Both teach us--4 things about the way to respond. Can we be a little like Zechariah AND a little like Mary and Elizabeth? At the end of today’s talk, you talk to the person next to you. Tell them what you are going to do with these four words/actions.

この二人から4つの答え方を学ぶことができます。私たちはザカリヤやマリアやエリザベツのようにもなれるのです。

Believe: The angels announced in spectacular fashion that the Messiah had been born. As soon as the angels left, the shepherds looked at each other and said: “What are we waiting for?…”

１．信じる：天使は劇的な方法で救い主の誕生を告げました。天使が去ったあと、羊飼いはお互いに顔を見合わせて言いました。「自分たちは何をまだ、待っているのか」

Illustration:

In the 1840's or so, missionaries went into the large areas in the middle of China. No Gospel message was ever presented there before. The work moved onward when one young Chinese believed: he was so thankful to the missionary. The new believer was so moved that such a story was both true and so powerful. He then asked: "How long ago this happen?" The missionary quickly said, "About 2000 years ago in Israel ! Why?" The Chinese believer looked deep into the eyes of the missionary and sad very so sadly: "Why did it take so long to get this to us? Why did people keep such Good News from us for so long? So many here had died NOT knowing of this Jesus. Why has it taken so long...?"
クリスチャンになったばかりの中国人の人が宣教師に感謝しました。宣教師が語った力強い真実な話しにとても感動したのでした。いつこのことが起こったのですか？と彼は尋ねました。宣教師は「約2000年前にイスラエルで起きました。」と答えました。中国人は宣教師の目をじっと見つめて悲しそうに言いました。「何故、私たちのところに来るまでに2000年もかかったのですか？なぜ、そんなに良い知らせなら、直ぐに教えてくれなかったのですか？大勢の人がイエス様を知らずに死んでしまいました。何故、そんなに長く・・・？」

Obey: The shepherds did exactly as they were told. We sometimes think of Christmas as a tame holiday. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…(song is sung)
We think of sweet little baby Jesus asleep on a bed of hay...but soon, the leader in the nearest city sent his army to kill not only the Baby King, but also ALL children about His age---just in case.
2. 従う：羊飼いは言われたとおりに行動しました。私たちはクリスマスをただの休日だと考えがちです。暖炉で栗を焼いて・・・という歌がありますが。
可愛い赤ちゃんのイエスが飼い葉おけに寝かされていました。・・・そして直ぐに近くの町の王様がイエスを殺すために同じ年の子供を皆殺しにしました。

In this case, the parents of the Child also did what they were told and took the Baby into Egypt .
How do you respond to the Message of Christmas… “For unto YOU is born this day…” The Savior is born FOR YOU! He came for you. The Gospel is that great news of God providing His creation with a way to find forgiveness that was not bound to the blood of animals. He knew that a price needed to be paid. The ONLY price that could/would satisfy this dept was the death of the Holy One--His one and only Son, Jesus. So, He sent Him to the earth as the little Baby. He was born to a Virgin. That Child of Promise grew to be a Man. Sinless, Without blemish. THAT Man now needed to die in our place. He went to the Cross and died there to take the penalty for our sins. ALL of them! For everyone! For all time! That is the Good News!
イエスの両親はエジプトに逃げるようにと言われ、イエスを連れてその通りにしました。
皆さんはクリスマスのメッセージをどのように受け止めますか？
「あなたがたのために御子はお生まれになりました。」
救い主はあなたのために生まれたのです。あなたのためにイエスは来られたのです。

Tell: When the shepherds arrived in Bethlehem and saw the child lying in the feed trough, “they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.”… This message needs to get out. People need to hear. Need to know this Truth. WHY? It is the Good News! His Passion for you is so complete, He wants you to know His Love and forgiveness.
3. 知らせる（伝える）：ベツレヘムに羊飼いが到着したとき、飼い葉おけに寝ている子供を見ました。そして、この子供について告げられたことについて知らせました。
この知らせは人々に伝えられるべきなのです。この真理を知らせなければいけません。
なぜでしょうか？それは良い知らせだからです。イエス様は皆さんに愛と赦しを知らせたいのです。

Experience: The shepherds were overwhelmed at the angel’s announcement. They experienced holy wonder… What would it take to be just a little excited about the Baby Jesus. Just a little excited about this life altering message of God’s Perfect gift to us! You can express some emotion! You can get excited about Him! Can you sing a song!
BE like a Mary! Be like a Zechariah! Sing a song.
4. 体験する：羊飼いは天使が告げたことにとてもおどろきました。彼らは聖なる体験をしたのでした。イエス様の誕生にちょっとだけ感動してみてはどうでしょうか？
このイエス様の人生が神さまから私たちへの贈り物なのです。その贈り物に感動してみてください。感動を表現してみてください。歌を歌って表現してみてください。
マリアみたいに！ザカリヤみたいに！さあ歌を歌いましょう！

Please, now, let the women here read this aloud! Make this your prayer of praise to God. A young teen, one who had not had sexual relation with a man, now blessed with this GOOD NEWS! Sing it out!
Mary's Song 46~55

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— Holy is His Name. His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped His servant Israel , remembering to be merciful to Abraham and His descendants forever, even as He said to our fathers.”

Zechariah's Song
We will hear the song of a heart set free this Sunday. When you consider that Zechariah had been absolutely silent for probably a whole year, it is amazing to think of what it meant to him to be able, at long last, to express what had been held back in his heart. When you finally obey God, you are suddenly released from whatever has held you back, and the Lord opens His heart to you once again.

今週は自由になったザカリヤの心の歌を聞いてみましょう。ザカリヤは約一年間、全く話せませんでした。心に思っていたことをやっと言葉で表現できるようになったことはザカリヤにとっては驚くべきことでした。私たちがやっと主に従う決心をしたとき、ためらいから解放され、神さまは私たちに対して心を開いてくださいます。

Zechariah Said: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel , because He has come and has redeemed His people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David (as He said through His holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us— to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His Holy Covenant, the oath He swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve Him without fear in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, to give His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”


Believe, Obey, Tell and Experience or Do or BE. How can we as a community here in Kotesashi, do these four things this day, this week, this month, the rest of our lives. The shepherds keep telling people well past the season. The Angels’ message cannot be lost over time. What shall you DO with this information? Ask the other person to pray for you and to check with you later in the month as to how you are doing...

信じ、従い、伝えるそして体験することですが、今週小手指でそれらを実行することができるでしょうか？また、今月、そして私たちの生涯を通して実行することができるでしょうか？羊飼いたちは自分たちが見聞きしたことを告げ知らせました。天使が告げたことは今も忘れ去ることはできません。みなさんはこのこと対して何をしますか？このことについて他の人に祈ってもらってください。また、一ヵ月後にお互いに何をしたか確認し合ってください。

HAVE a VERY Merry Christmas!!! Come to the Chapel on Christmas Eve at 6:30 PM for a Candle Light Service with Christmas Carols, Bible story of the Birth, Prayer for the coming year and join us as we walk around Enoki-Cho and SING Christmas Carols at people's homes. If you are living in the Enoki-Cho area and are reading this, invite us to sing to your family as well--or just join us as we walk and sing!

"WHEN GOD ANSWERS": a reasonable response. 神様が答えを下さるとき

If we were in the mood to be honest and not trying to be more spiritual than the next person, we would all probably admit that there is a little unbeliever living inside every one of us.
他人よりも霊的になろうとせず、正直になってみると、不信仰な思いが私たちの中にあると認めざるをえません。

Given the sudden onset of a difficult situation in our lives, prayer may not be our first thought; trust in God may not always be our default position.
突然、人生に困難がやってきたとき、神様に信頼し、直ぐに祈ることはあまりないと思います。

When we are in church or when we are with other believers, we have learned exactly what words to say and how to frame a conversation so we always look good. We believe we believe all the right doctrines.
教会に居るとき、また他のクリスチャンの前で何を言えば霊的に見えるか私たちは知っています。何が正しいかを知っているのです。

We probably know how to pray in a way that exemplifies a mature spirituality, but if we are presented with an opportunity to take a step of faith, we will likely take a step back. All this comes from years of training in which we learned how to act Christian, without living Christian.
霊的に成長した祈りの方も知っています。しかし、信仰によって一歩踏み出すことになったら、後すがりしてしまうでしょう。それは私たちがクリスチャンの生き方ではなく、心得だけを学んだからそうなってしまうのです。

If the Christian life were only a short sprint, if it were possible for us to "git ‘er done" quickly and easily, we might be able to fake our way through to the end. But the Christian life is neither quick nor easy. The Christian life is a long haul. We've been told this before. It's a distance run, a marathon, in which the prize goes to the one who lasts all the way to the finish line.
もし、クリスチャン生活が短距離走だったら、適当にごまかしながら生きることは出来ます. しかし、クリスチャン生活は簡単なものではありません。それは長く続くものです。聞いたことがあるかもしれませんが、それはゴールまで走り続けたものだけが認められる長距離マラソンのようなものなのです。

While we all want to win this race, the fact is that we all stumble around quite a bit. If the Christian life is a marathon, by the time we get to Heartbreak Hill, we are running on fumes!
レースに勝ちたいと思っても、転んでしまうこともあるでしょう。もしクリスチャン生活をマラソンに例えるなら私たちは心臓破りの坂で力尽きてしまうでしょう。

We are running on empty. We have very little spiritual energy left. There is no disgrace in that – this is simply the truth about life as we are living it. The wonderful thing is that we have a relationship with this God who has revealed Himself here in His Word. Our Father God is compassionate and merciful.
そしてへとへとになり、霊的な力は少ししか残っていません。そのことを恥じ無くてもいいのです。生きるということはそういうことなのです。しかし素晴らしいことに私たちは神さまと関わりが持てるのです。私たちの父なる神は同情深く、憐れみ深いお方です。

In truth, it is God who picks us up and carries us across that finish line at the end.
神様が私たちをゴールまで運んでいってくださるのです。

Today we are going to look at the account of Zechariah and the announcement he received from God, which came near the end of his marathon run, concerning the upcoming birth of a son that God named John.
今日はザカリヤに焦点を当てていきます。ザカリヤは人生のマラソンを終えようとしているときに神さまからお言葉を頂いたのです。それは生まれてくる息子ヨハネのことでした。

Luke 1: 5 - 25

Like many people in those days as well as today, Zechariah and his wife experienced barrenness in their life together. Although they were believing and faithful people, the reality was for them as it is for us, that life does not always work out to our liking. Though they tried, they never had a baby.
当時も今日も多くの人が経験していると思いますが、ゼカリヤ夫妻には子供が居ませんでした。彼らは信仰的でしたが、現実は彼らにも私たちにもおなじです。人生は私たちの思うようにはいかないのです。彼らは努力しましたが子供は出来ませんでした。

Though they prayed – and we are given to understand that they prayed for years – they never had a baby. Though they had believed God for a miracle, they never had a baby. Now in their old age, Zechariah had come to the place where he knew that this was one prayer God was not going to answer. So, Zechariah and Elizabeth stopped praying for a child.
彼らは何年も祈りましたが、子供は出来ませんでした。彼らは神さまの奇跡を信じましたが子供は出来ませんでした。ついに彼らは年を取り、神さまは自分たちの祈りを聞いて下さらなかったと結論を出しました。

They began to believe that if God was ever going to answer that prayer, He would have answered it by now. That was not an unreasonable conclusion. Luke tells us that they were both old: "Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years." What a nice way to put it: they were older than dirt! They were all used up. They had nothing left to offer.
今になって答えがないのだから、神様はその祈りには答えてくださらなかったと彼らは信じました。そう信じてしまうのは無理もありません。ルカ書には彼らは年をとっていたと書いてあります。「エリザベスは不妊の女だった、二人とも年を取っていた。」と・・・彼らは疲れ果て、彼らには何も残っていませんでした。

Some questions to think about: How many prayers have you stopped praying because the answer has not yet come? How many reasonable conclusions have you reached because if God were to answer your prayer, it would have been answered by now?
ここで考えて見ましょう：祈りの答えがないので祈るのをやめてしまった祈りはいくつありますか？もう、祈りが聞かれていい時期なのに祈りが答えられないから自分で答えを出してしまったことは何回ありますか？

How many of us believe that because we have reached the end of our endurance, that God has also come to the end of His resources? How many of us believe that answered prayer is what happens to the other guy?
自分はもう耐えるのに限界だから、神さまも限界があると信じている人は居ますか？他の人の祈りは聞かれると信じている人は居ますか？

Zechariah and his wife were both descended from priestly families. He took his place among the priests at every special day and performed the rituals of the faith, along with the other priests. In verse 9 we are told that Zechariah was chosen by lot to enter the Holy Place and burn incense before the Lord.
ゼカリヤもその妻も祭司の家系に生まれました。ゼカリヤは祭司として勤めを果たしていました。９節では「祭司職の習慣によって、くじを引いたところ、主の神殿にはいって香をたくことになった」とあります。

This was a great honor for a priest, and since there were many thousands of priests, it is quite possible that one could live his whole life as a priest and never have that honor. So, this was a very special day for Zechariah.
これは何千人もの祭司の中から選ばれたのはとても名誉なことでした。一生祭司をしていたも選ばれない人も多かったと思います。この日はザカリヤにとってとても特別な日となりました。

The faithful were outside praying and devoutly seeking God while Zechariah the priest entered the Holy Place to light the incense before the Lord. When the angel of the Lord appeared to him, Zechariah responded the way anyone would: he was full of fear. Fear in the presence of God is a very reasonable response.
ゼカリヤが主の神殿に入って香をたいている間、信仰的な人々は外で神を求め祈りを捧げていました。主の御使いが現れたときゼカリヤは普通の人と同じ反応をしました。彼は恐怖に襲われました。神さまの前で恐れるのは当然の反応です。

Some Christians have come to believe that God is their cosmic buddy, that hanging around with Him would be a hoot. But that is a false belief. The manifest presence of God always produces fear.
あるクリスチャンは神さまを遊び友達だ信じています。それは間違っています。神様のご臨在の間ではいつも恐れが生まれます。

That fear is not the fear you experience when faced with a bully in the schoolyard; rather, it is the fear you feel when you, in your sin, are confronted by TOTAL AND COMPLETE HOLINESS, RIGHTEOUSNESS, and UTTER PERFECTION. God is so "other," so beyond us in holiness, in the revelation of His might, in the opening our eyes to His deeply personal love for us – that knowledge cuts us to the very core of our beings.
この恐れはは学校でいじめられる恐怖とは違います。それは皆さんが罪を犯したときに完全に清く、正しく、完璧な方に直面する恐怖なのです。神様は清さ、力、愛、全てにおいて私たちより勝っておられます。それにより私たちは神さまを恐れるのです。

God's knowledge of us, from our greatest joys to our darkest secrets, lays bare our hearts. The revelation of God brings us to a place where we are undone. We are toast. As one who is completely unworthy, as one who deserves to be crumpled up and thrown into the flames, Zechariah was, just as you and I would be, "gripped with fear."
神さまは私たちの喜び、隠し、嘘など、心にあることを全てご存知です。神さまからの啓示により自分がどんなに未熟であるかわかります。また、価値がなく、裁かれて当然の者であるとわかります。ザカリヤも私たちと同じで恐怖に襲われたのでした。

Before Zechariah stood God's messenger, who later identified himself as Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. Just now, Gabriel's desire is to bring peace to Zechariah's heart, and to encourage him not to be afraid, which was no small task.
神の御使い、ガブリエルの前にゼカリヤは経ちました。ガブリエルの願いはゼカリヤを平安にすることでした。そしてゼカリヤに「こわがることはない。」といいました。

Some peace! – he tells Zechariah, "Your prayer has been heard." What prayer? Which prayer, of the thousands of prayers he has prayed? Oh, that prayer! That prayer which he had stopped praying... for which he had given up hope... which no longer was possible to be answered. ZECHARIAH WAS TOLD THAT PRAYER WILL BE ANSWERED BY GOD.
また、ガブリエルは「あなたの願いが聞かれたのです。」とゼカリヤに言いました。「どの祈り？何千回も祈ってきたけど。あ、あの祈り・・・祈るのをやめてしまった祈り。もう答えられないとあきらめてしまった・・・。」しかし神さまはあの祈りは聞かれたとゼカリヤに言いました。

Now would probably be the right time to tell you what the name Zechariah means. The name Zechariah means "The Lord remembers." Our short term memory has just about fizzled, but God remembers. That cry of your heart is not forgotten by God; GOD REMEMBERS. That prayer you prayed for years on end, and finally gave up praying; GOD REMEMBERS.
ではここでゼカリヤの名前の意味を教えましょう。ゼカリヤは「主は覚えておられる」という意味なのです。私たちの記憶が消えそうになっても神様は覚えておられます。あなたの心の嘆きを神さまは忘れません。神さまは覚えています。何年も祈ったのにあきらめてしまったあの祈りを神さまは覚えています。

Your age is not a problem to God. Your barrenness is not a problem to God. Your physical ability, your financial situation, the state of your health, your family situation – none of that is a problem to God. This is the God whose messenger spoke to Zachariah and promised him a son in his old age.
神さまにとってみなさんの年など問題ではありません。また、不妊も問題ではありません。
皆さんの体力、経済力、健康状態、家庭環境、これら全て神さまにとって全く問題ではないのです。これが年老いたゼカリヤに息子を与えると約束された神様です。

Not only a son is promised, but Zechariah was told that this son that Elizabeth would bear will be named John. He will be a man of destiny. John will be a man of great faith, who will be the forerunner of the Kingdom of God . John "will be great in the sight of the Lord." He will preach so that many people will repent... will turn toward God... will come home to God, be converted... turn away from sin.
息子を与える約束だけではありませんでした。妻エリザベスが子供を生み、生まれた子供をヨハネと名づけなさいといわれました。ヨハネは優れた者となり、神の国の道備えをする者となると約束されました。

It was at that moment Zechariah found, when it came to faith, he was running on empty. While he was a man of faith on the outside, he was a blatant unbeliever on the inside. When God spoke, Zechariah doubted. He looked up at that angel, at that messenger of the Most High God, and doubt sprayed out of his mouth, right in the face of the angel who stands in the presence of God.
ザカリヤは信仰を持たずに走っていました。外から見たら信仰の人のように見えましたが、心の中は明らかに不信仰でした。神様が語られたことをザカリヤは疑いました。ザカリヤはいと高き神の御使いを見たとき疑いの言葉を口にしました。

This could hardly have been more of a definite Word from God. Yet, Zechariah was not certain. He was not sure. He could not understand how it could possibly happen that way.
神さまの言葉以外の何ものでもなかったのにゼカリヤは確信できませんでした。なぜそのようなことが自分の身に起きるか理解できませんでした。

Faith was five months pregnant with twin boys. We were to leave JP in two weeks. We were excited…have twins in the US . That eve, she felt pain and soon we were in the car driving to a hospital in　Fusa. As driving out down the road, we realized that this was not going to end well. Boys were too young and most likely will die.
私の妻、フェイスが双子の男の子を妊娠して５ヶ月目でした。二週間後にアメリカで双子を産む予定でした。ある晩、お腹が痛くなり私たちは福生にある病院に向かいました。運転しているときに悪い予感がしました。胎児は小さすぎるから死んでしまうかも知れない・・・

We DECIDED to give it to the Lord…in prayer, scripture and song, we kept driving. Within a few miles of the hospital, our first son came out and Faith laid him on her lap. Between the street lamps, I could see him. Then #2 came. Both boys were beautiful yet way too small. At the hospital, they tried to keep them alive. I held their hands and felt their hearts beating fast.
私たちは主にゆだねる決心をしました。病院の数キロ手前で、一人目の子どもが出てきました。フェイスは膝の上に子どもを乗せました。そして二人目が出てきました。二人はとても可愛かったけど小さすぎました。病院は必死で手当をしてくれました。子どもたちの手を取ったとき脈が早いのを感じました。

Later that night, Son #1 died. A few hours later, #2 went to the Lord. I otld Faith, we both cried but they were not tears of anger. I drove home and laid on the floor. I felt the Eternal Arms of my Go d holding me. I thought, when He lets me go, what will my feelings be.
その晩遅くに、一人目が召されました。その数時間後、二人目も主のもとに行きました。私たちは怒りの涙を流しました。家に帰り床の上で横になりました。そのとき主が私を抱きしめてくれているように感じました。主が居なかったらどうなっていただろうと思いました。

He said to my heart: “I will never let you go, nor forsake you.” I KNEW His Peace that passes understanding. Anna was born to us during our US stay and a number years later, Joseph and John came to us. Quiver is full. His Peace still holds us. Our prayers for boy children was heard…years later. just when we were finished with the dream.
主は私に語りかけました。「わたしは決してあなたを離れず、見捨てない。」神さまの平安が友にあることを知りました。アメリカ滞在中にアンナが生まれました。数年後にジョンとジョセフが私たちのもとに来ました。私は震えました。神さまの平安は私たちを支えてくれました。双子の息子たちに対する私たちの祈りは何年も経ってから答えられました。まさにあきらめようとしたときに答えられたのです。

When God answers prayer, we need to be ready to receive His answer, don't we? Zechariah was not ready, he was not prepared for the answer of God to the prayer of his life. His life's prayer was not some trivial thing. He and his wife had prayed for a son. But when God moved, he did not recognize the handiwork of God. As a result, Zechariah was made unable to speak.
私たちは祈りが答えられたときのために準備が必要ではないでしょうか？ゼカリヤは祈りが答えられたときの準備が出来ていませんでした。彼の祈りは些細なことではなかったのです。妻と一緒に息子を与えてくれるように祈ったのです。しかし、神様が答えられたときにゼカリヤは気が付きませんでいた。その結果、ゼカリヤはものが言えなくなったのです。

If you look ahead to Luke 1: 62, you see there that after John was born, people "made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child." It appears Zechariah was not only unable to speak, but he was also unable to hear. He was made deaf and dumb for nearly a year.
ルカ１：６２ではヨハネが生まれたときに「身振りで父親に合図して、幼子に何と言う名をつけるつもりかとたずねた。」とあります。ここでゼカリヤはものが言えなくなっただけではなく、耳も聞こえなくなったようです。彼は約一年間この状態で過ごしました。

Even though Luke says they were both well along in years, they must have still enjoyed their marriage relationship, because in due course, Elizabeth became pregnant, just as God said.
ゼカリヤとエリザベスは長い間一緒に生活しましたが、結婚生活を楽しんでいたと思われます。神さまの約束どおりエリザベスが身ごもったからです。

But Zechariah could not speak, which was probably a great blessing to his wife, and his loss of speech continued until the promise of God to him was completely kept, which was another great blessing. Even as his wife grew more and more visibly pregnant, Zechariah could not testify that this was God's goodness, THIS WAS GOD'S HAND OF FAITHFULNESS TO HIM and his wife.
ゼカリヤが話せなくなったのはおそらく妻にとっては祝福だったでしょう。またゼカリヤは主の約束が完全に成就するまで離せませんでした。それも祝福だったと思います。妻のお腹が大きくなっていくにも関わらず、ゼカリヤはその神さまの素晴らしさを証しすることが出来ませんでした。神さまはゼカリヤと妻に対する約束を忠実に守ってくださいました。

But Elizabeth could speak, and she did, verse 25. Even though she was just as well along in years as her husband, SHE HAD NOT LOST HOPE. She had not lost her faith that the will and purpose of God was a living and driving force in her life.
しかしエリザベスは話せました。２５節：何年もの間、夫と仲良くしてきましたが彼女は希望を失いませんでした。神様は生きて働いてくださるお方だと信じて、信仰を失うことはありませんでした。

During that whole time, Zechariah was unable to speak and apparently unable to hear. As he had a great deal of time on his hands, A LONG PERIOD OF SILENCE ENVELOPED HIM. This was time God designed into the life of Zechariah for him to reflect on the Word of God and the work of God in his life.
約束が成就するまでずっとゼカリヤは話せず、聞くこともできませんでした。彼は長い間、静けさに包まれました。神様の言葉と御業がゼカリヤの人生で表されるようにと神さまはこのようにされたのです。

From that moment until his newborn baby was to be presented in the temple after his birth, Zechariah was silent. He could not preach. He could not converse with his wife or with their friends. He was able to speak only to God. His was a year-long enforced quiet time!
神殿で語られたときから息子が生まれるまで彼はものが言えませんでした。妻や友だちとも会話ができませんでした。会話が出来たのは神様とだけでした。強制的でしたが一年間、主と静まるときが持てました。

Zechariah had lost his ability to testify to God's goodness and His faithfulness. When we doubt God's word to us, we lose our joy, and the song of our heart is silenced. We live in a day, probably not unlike any other day, but today hope is dried up for many.
ゼカリヤは神さまの良さ、忠実さを証することが出来ませんでした。私たちが神さまの言葉を疑うとき、喜びを失い心から歌えなくなります。私たちは昔と違って望みがない時代に生きています。

The heart is only an organ that pumps blood. Joy is more than just a dish washing detergent. A relationship with God is something very dry and religious.
心臓は血液を循環するだけです。ジョイ（喜び）は食器用洗剤になってしまいました。神さまとの関係は冷たく宗教的です。


The song of many hearts is silenced-because when God gave us an opportunity to trust Him, we doubted, even in the face of His promise. Even when God was about to answer, we ran out of faith just we reached Heartbreak Hill.
人々の心から歌は消えてしまいました。神様が信頼するようにチャンスと約束を下さったのに私たちが疑ったからです。神様が答えてくれようとしているのに、心臓破りの坂にで信仰を失ってしまったからです。

Are you ready for God to answer your prayer? Are you thinking that God has passed you by and that it is no longer possible for God to answer your prayer? God has not forgotten you, just as He did not forget old man Zechariah and old lady Elizabeth. God's heart is for you. His will for your life is always good. His purpose is always to build you up and not to tear you down. Even in pain and difficulty, God is working our lives out for our good and His purpose.
皆さん、祈りの答えを受け取る準備は出来ていますか？神様は私のもとを去ってしまったから祈りはもう聞かれないと思っていますか？神様はあなたのことを忘れてはいません。年老いたゼカリヤと妻を忘れなかったと同じように！神様はみなさんのことを思っています。神様の御心は人生に良いものをもたらしてくれます。神様の目的は皆さんを立てあげるためであり、傷つけるためではありません。たとえ痛み、苦しみの中にあっても神さまは私たちに良いものを与えるために働いておられるのです。

Much thanks goes to Ed and Cheiko for their hard work and time spent getting this ready for print.