The Lord is Near

Hello, my Friends, from a hotel near LAX, in Los Angeles, Calif!

This has been a wild and emotional trip to the States. There were personal matters that I needed to attend while on this trip and there has not been much time for rest or self-care. During this visit, I have come to understand how it was for King David during a hard time he was going through. Remember the story?

He and his band of fighters had just had a successful raid, only to return to find that their wives and family and the loot they had massed was now gone. Certain tribal men had attacked his camp and had taken them away. His men were heart broken. They were angry. They were ready to stone their leader! Things looked bad for David.


So what did he do?

He strengthened himself in the Lord.

He rehearsed what the Lord had shown him during the weeks and years before this difficultly and he saw that his God was able to hold him up. He strengthened himself in the Lord.

Can you do that? Are you able to look into your life and see the handiwork of a loving God working in your life? Can you hear that still silent voice during the loud times of pain and despair? Can you ID the Hand of God in your Walk of Faith?

David could and he was lifted up AFTER he strengthened himself in the Lord. The Lord is near. Let's talk about how that is done. Send me some ideas how you do that and I will share them here on this blog.

David strengthened himself in the Lord. Can you?

Freedom In Christ: Goodness. 善意 Life by the Spirit

キリストにある自由　：　善意　－　御霊による生活
GAL 5:1, 4, 5, 16-26.
ガラテヤ５：１，４，５，１６－２６

In review, God has given us gifts from His Heart to move us along in our Spiritual walk/journey. He as not left us to grow on our own. We are to grow in Community and in the Spirit. This means it is not good for people to stand alone in the Faith.
神さまは私たちが御霊によって歩めるように賜物をくださいました。自分で成長しなさいとは言われませんでした。私たちはコミュニティにより、また霊により成長するのです。ですから一人で信仰生活を送るのは良くありません。

NOT at all. In Biblical History, we see man after man, standing NOT ALONE but with others. Noah had his sons, Joseph had Egyptian workers, Abraham had his wife and nephew, David had his Men of Valor, and Moses had Aaron and his leaders. Samson even had his helpers who moved him to the center columns of the building. All needed the fellowship of others.
絶対によくないのです。聖書の歴史上の人たちは決して一人ではなく他の人々と共に信仰に立っていました。ノアとその息子たち、ヨセフとエジプトの同労者たち、アブラハムとその妻や甥、ダビデと勇士たち、モーセとアロンと指導者たち。柱を倒したサムソンでさえも仲間が居ました。全ての人に仲間が必要なのです。

And in the New Testament, we see the same. Even Jesus had his 12, His close friends (three), Paul had his Timothy, Priscilla had her Aquila and they were there for Apollos.
新約聖書も同様です。イエス様にも12人の弟子と友だちが3人いました。パウロにはテモテが、プリシラにアクラが、アポロにはプリシラとアクラがいました。

Why, because we are to live and work in community with each other. One of the reasons we are here together today is that your Pastors got together one day and said: “Let's worship together!”
It is expressing the Freedom we have in Christ. He has indeed set us free.
何故でしょうか？私たちは共に生活し、働く共同体が必要なのです。私たちが今日、この場所に集まっている理由の一つは牧師が一緒に礼拝しましょうと言ったからです。キリストにある自由を一緒に体験しているからです。イエス様は私たちを自由にしてくださいました。

Free from the punishment of Sin by accepting His Son as our Savior. Freedom to follow His Lead. Freedom to obey His Holy Spirit. Freedom to stand firm and not let ourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery---as we once lived in our wrong actions and falling short of the mark.
神の御子を救い主として受け入れることにより裁きから逃れることが出来たのです。私たちにはイエス様についていく自由、聖霊様に従う自由があります。また、信仰に堅く立ち奴隷のくびきを負うことから自由になりました。今まで私たちは間違った生き方をしていました。

We need a Savior! We are trying to make it in this world on our own. After a while, it comes to us-some of us-that this can't be done by ourselves. He has planned to come along side us and give us gifts to move us closer. This comes with the indwelling of His Spirit. He gives us the Fruit of the Spirit, (FOUND in GAL 5).
私たちには救い主が必要なのです。自分たちの力で生きようとしていますが、自分の力で生きれなくなる日がくるのです。神さまは私たちの傍に来てくださり、神と共に歩むことが出来るように賜物をくれたのです。私たちの中に住んでくださる聖霊です。聖霊は御霊の実を与えてくださいました。

We spoke of Love, Joy, Peace, Patience and last week, we looked at Kindness. Today, we are looking at LIFE BY THE SPIRIT with GOODNESS.
ここ数週間、愛、喜び、平安、寛容、親切について学びました。善意の霊による生活を見ていきます。

To see this GOODNESS in our God and in history, let's look back at

PROVERBS 11:25 A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

神さまの善意と歴史上の善意を見るために、
箴言11章25節を読みましょう。

「おおらかな人は肥え、人を潤すものは自分も潤される」

It is not: I'll refresh someone SO THAT I WILL GET A REWARD. So often, we may use this idea in our giving. There cannot be any strings attached to the gift…really. No strings attached to the giving of help or a spoken word. A generous man is that way because he does not want things returned to him.
人を潤せば見返るが来る・・人に何かをあげるときそう考え勝ちですが、人への贈り物をするときにはそう考えてはいけません。人にあげるものには見返りという紐は付いていないのです。気前のよい人は見返りを求めることはしません。

He has a generous heart because of what the Lord has done in him. The return is not to be sought after. Ever! We don't give to get! This goes along with tithing to the local Church. Give to the Lord your tithe and an offering because He has said for us to do that. Not so that we get blessed. Doing so-we are obedient.
神様が人の心に気前の良さを与えてくださいます。見返りなど求めない心をです。
何かをもらう為にあげないでください。教会への献金もそうしてください。
什一献金や礼拝献金は神さまに言われたからするのであって、祝福を受けるためにするものではありません。神さまの言葉に従うから献金するのです。

An excellent example of this goodness is found in MATT 20:1-16.
Tell the story… . Four different men said they would work for a denarius a day. (was worth a good day's wage or they are worth from $15.00 to $100.00 + on e-bay today.)
マタイ２０：１－１６に善意についての素晴らしい例が書かれています。
4人の男性が一日一デナリで働くと約束しました。（デナリは約一日分の賃金または＄15－＄100の価値があります）

15 Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?'

１５：自分のもの自分の思うようにしてはいけないという法がありますか。それとも、私が気前がいいので、あなたの目にはねたましく思われるのですか。」

There would be a call of unfair-trade practice, or foul play. Some called the boss unfair as the ones who came later got the same pay for the little work they did as the ones who worked all day for that same pay. As the owner said, it was his money. This was the agreement!
ここで不公平や不当なことがあったのでしょうか？ある人は雇い主に少ししか働かなかった人と一日中働いた人の賃金が同じなのは不公平だといいました。
雇い主は言いました。これは私のお金です。最初の約束したとおりです。

Can't he do with it as he sees fit? He is generous, yes, but he is also showing Goodness or Generosity to both groups. It's a God-like trait. This is a good thing!
As with the parable of the Lost Son (Luke 15.11-32), God's Grace is shown to both parties while one grumbles about unjust treatment and the other just feels so in touch with the Father.
雇い主がしたことは適切だと思いませんか？彼は気前がよい人でしたがどちらの人にも善意を示しました。それは神さまの特質でもあります。彼はとても良いことをしたのです。
放蕩息子のたとえ話しにあるように（ルカ15:11－32）不公平だと文句を言う息子にも、また戻ってきた息子にも神さまは恵みを表してくださいました。

Freedom in Christ in Goodness~

GAL 6:9-10 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

善意について―キリストにある自由
ガラテヤ6:9－10
善を行うのに飽いてはいけません。失望せずにいれば時期が来て、刈り取ることになります。
ですから、私たちは機会のあるたびに、全ての人に対して特に信仰の家族に人たちに善を行いましょう。

Charity begins at home. All over the Bible, we can see that this goodness is first shared within the Family. It is a sign of love to the family. Not being unkind to outsiders: this is the varsity team. To play in the varsity team, you need to be a varsity player. To take part in the main event, you are part of the Family.
慈善は家庭から始まります。聖書のどこにでも善意はまず、家族の間から始まったと書いてあります。

Part of the good we are to do is to GO. Matt 28 tells us to GO and make disciples of ALL nations. As this is the last command Jesus gives to His Church, it is imperative that we follow it. In the military, the soldier is to follow the LAST order he gets. Look at the last order:
また外に出て行き善意をすることができます。マタイ20章では出て行きあらゆる国の人々を弟子としなさいと書かかれています。これはイエスが教会に与えた最後の命令で、私たちにも当てはまるのです。軍隊でも兵士は最後に与えられた命令に従います。ではイエス様が残した最後の命令を見てみましょう

Go, Make, Baptize 'em, Teach 'em, …for I am with you-forever.
行って弟子を作る、バプテスマを授け、教え・・・わたしはあなた方と永遠にともにいます。

Keep going, don't stop, it was His last order. If we do give up, there will not be a harvest! So GO, until He says stop or go back. And don't grow tired of this. FOR the harvest is the reward for both the go-ier and those (s)he goes to. Don't give up. Keep showing goodness to all people.
立ち止まらずに歩き続けるのです。これはイエス様の最後の命令だから。
もし私たちが諦めてしまうなら、収穫はありません。だからイエス様が戻って来なさいというまで歩き続けるのです。飽きずに続けましょう。
収穫は出て行く者たちの報酬となるからです。諦めないで、すべての人々によくしてあげましょう。

Freedom in Christ in Goodness~

2 TIM 3:17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

善意について―キリストにある自由

Ⅱテモテ３：１７　それは神の人が、すべての良い働きのためにふさわしい十分に整えられた者となるためです。

Freedom in Christ in Goodness~

The Sermon on the Plain. Luke 6. This chapter gives the fair response to being a recipient of God's Grace. Followers of Jesus-His Disciples, are to live and relate to others in a way that stands out from how people relate to one another in the world.
この章は神さまの恵みの公平な受け取り方が書いてあります。イエス様に従うものはイエス様の弟子であり、この世の人々の関わりの持ち方よりも優れたやり方で他の人と関わり生活をするべきです。

We are to love and pray for our enemies. Righteousness He places in us requires that we respond wisely to Jesus' words by building our lives around His teaching. In the end, disciples are to live and look different from the rest of the world, even as they reach out compassionately to that lost world.
私たちは敵を愛し敵のために祈るのです。イエス様は私たちに正義を与えてくれました。それはイエス様の教えを築き上げ賢く対処するためです。最終的に弟子たちはこの世の人々とは違って見られるようになりました。彼らは思いやりを持って人々に接したのです。

This freedom we are to live out in very practical terms may mean that we change how we look at people. Not that we pray against those outside the faith or outside the light we have, no! We are to love them.
私たちは人々に対する見方を変え、実践的な生き方が出来るようになる世です。
信仰を持たない人のために祈るだけではなく、私たちは彼らに愛を示しましょう。

2 PETER 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Ⅱペテロ３：９主はある人たちがおそいと思っているように、その約束のことを遅らせておられるのではありません。かえって、あなたがたに対して忍耐深くあられるのであって、ひおとりでも滅びることを望まず、すべての人が悔い改めに進むことを望んでおられるのです。

And we are to love them with God's Goodness: HIS PATIENT LOVE. Those who walk with Jesus need to, perhaps, change how we think-how we love-how we act toward those outside our world.
Apart from being IN Christ, we really don't look any different from the world system.
神さまの忍耐、愛、善意を持って人々を愛しましょう。イエス様と共に歩んでいる人は人々にどう接し、どう愛するかについて考え方を変えるべきなのかもしれません。イエス様から離れたらわたしたちはこの世のあり方と全く変わらない者となってしまいます。

We follow their adds for what we want-what they want us to buy. We learn to believe what they teach us to believe-by heeding their teaching, we kill those we don't want, we buy what we can't afford, we conduct ourselves in the ways they do RATHER than being the salt. We need to bringing God's Change on our society.
この世の考えに従うことで、彼らの言うとおりに買い物をし、彼らが信じるものを信じるようになります。そして殺したくない人をも殺してしまうでしょう。
また、余裕がないのに買い物をして地の塩になるどころかこの世と同じになってしまうのです。

For example: I'm a fan of Old movies. James Cagney was one of my favorite actors. His tough guy attitude was fun to watch acted out in his characters. A lot of believers pick up on one of his lines and make it their theology of how we deal with those outside the faith. He would say: “You dirty rat, you should not have done that!”
たとえばですが、私は古い映画が大好きです。ジェームス・キャグニーは好きな俳優の一人です。彼が腕っ節の強い男を演じるのを見るのが大好きです。大勢の信者がそのセリフをこの世を相手にするときに言っています。「汚いねずみたち、お前たちは間違っている。」

Some in the Church say the same thing about those outside the Faith. But Jesus wants more out of us. His call to His Followers is a call not to condemn the world, but zeroes in on our actions and attitudes toward others.
信仰を持ってない人にそういうクリスチャンもいます。しかしイエス様は私たちの行動を望んでおられます。イエス様は弟子たちをこの世を非難するために集めたわけではなく、この世に対して良い行いをするようにと言われました。

Freedom in Christ in Goodness~

One is to be generous and another is not keeping accounts. This is a FREEDOM we have. Disciples should be marked by a genuine readiness to meet needs.
気前が良い人もいますし、人を赦さない人もいます。その選択は私たちに負かされています。しかし、キリストの弟子である私たちは喜んで人の必要を満たしてあげるべきです。

To the one who begs; give. From the one who takes; do not seek to get it back. Resources are not to be hoarded, but generously distributed. (See 1 Timothy 6:8-18.) In the case of thievery, no pursuit of retribution or payback or revenge.
物乞いをする者には与え、盗むものから取り返してはいけない。富は貯めておくものではない。しかし善意はばら撒かれる。（Ⅰテモテ6:8－18）盗まれたことに関して、懲罰や報復をしないようにと書かれてあります。

Such self-denial is the essence of love, which is God's Goodness being acted out in Life. The complete example of this is the Cross. Jesus gave to those who had taken. No payback. He took our sins-short comings on Himself.
愛のゆえに自分を捨てることで神の善意を表すことが出来るのです。この完全な模範は十字架です。イエス様は自分のものを盗んだ人に与えました。取り戻したりしませんでした。イエス様は私たちの罪と短所を取り除いてくださったのです。

Freedom in Christ in Goodness~

When His opponents took His life, Jesus did not seek reprisal but prayed “Father, forgive them…” prayed for their forgiveness. Jesus was more interested in giving something that would build than in retrieving what had been taken.
反対派の人々がイエス様の命を奪ったとき、報復を求めずに祈りました。
「父よ彼らをお赦しください。」と彼らの罪の赦しのために祈ったのです。イエス様は取られたものに対する報復よりも与えることを望みました。

This is a picture of action that manifests radical love. The world's standards of love should be improved on-not followed. But we can only accept such a standard if we believe that God will see the Faithful. You are not alone! Without a God-view to build on, Jesus' ethics fade into pointlessness and lacks wisdom.
これが本当の素晴らしい愛の表れです。この世の愛の基準は改善されるべきだと思います。もし私たちが神さまの誠実さと報いを信じるならこの世の愛の基準をも受け入れることが出来るのです。神様の価値観に基礎を置かなければ、イエス様の道徳は無意味で愚かなものになってしまいます。

So Jesus offers what became known in the sixteenth century as the "golden rule": Do to others as you would have them do to you. The verse has Old Testament roots

(LEV 19:18 “'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD'”).

Jesus is not saying, "Do good deeds for others so they will return the favor."
イエス様が言われたことは16世紀に大切な原則となりました。「自分にしてもらいたいように他の人にもしてあげなさい。」

これはレビ記の19:18から来ています。「復讐してはならない。あなたの国の人々を恨んではならない。あなたの隣人をあなた自身のように愛しなさい。わたしは主である。」

イエス様は隣人に良いことをしなさい。彼らはあなたに見返りをくれるだろう」とは言っていないのです。

Instead Jesus is calling for actions of love regardless of how the other responds. Nor is He saying, "Think of what you like, then do that for others." Rather, we are to be sensitive to the needs, feelings and concerns of others and seek to meet them.
他の人がどんな反応をしようともイエス様は愛を実行されました。イエス様は「他人のことよりも自分の好きなことを考えなさい。」とは言われませんでした。

Sensitivity in love means listening and serving. This does not mean ignoring moral limits, as Jesus makes them very clear, but it does mean caring enough to be concern-ed about how others feel. There is an old saying "walk a mile in my shoes" and it might fit here: we are to look at things from another's perspective and then we are to act and act with concern for them, for Christ' sake.
愛に敏感になるとは相手に耳を傾け、仕えることです。限界を無視する意味ではなく、相手の気持ちを十分に思いやるということなのです。
ことわざでは「自分の靴をはかせてあげる」といいます。その言葉はここに当てはまると思います。他の人の観点から物事を見て、イエス様のように思いやりを持って行動するべきなのです。

Freedom in Christ in Goodness~

I read this sometime this week: Terrorist has killed 3,000 US citizens since 1990. Abortionists have killed 4,000 since yesterday. In the today's world, this would mean not just protesting against abortion but being prepared to care for the child that is born to a mother who has chosen not to abort.
今週こんな記事を読みました。「1990年以降、テロリストは3,000人のアメリカ市民を殺した。昨日だけで4,000人が胎児が殺された。」しかしながら中絶に反対するだけではなく、中絶しなかった母親と子どもを助けることも必要です。

Not cutting them off-not shooting the wounded. More than this, we are called to continue to love those who go ahead with their intention to abort. It means not just talking about cultural oneness in the church but acting out real oneness in community.Your life affects my life.
そういう人々を阻害するのではなく、傷ついた人々を攻撃するのではなく、私たちは中絶する人々をも愛し続けるために召されています。
教会では文化の一致について話すだけではなくコミュニティの中での一致を行動で示すべきです。他人の生活が自分の生活に影響を与えるのです。

Even more, Luke 6 calls us to show tangible concern for unbelievers in need, so when someone tells them that God loves them, they will have seen evidence of such love.
ルカの6章は未信者の方の具体的な必要を示しています。もし誰かが神の愛をその人たちに伝えるなら神の愛を知ることが出来るでしょう。

Freedom in Christ in Goodness~

Jesus repeats His examples in Luke 6:32-34 but adds one more point:
イエス様は、ルカ6:32－34で繰り返し説明しています。

If we love only those who give us love, what is so great about that kind of love? It is like the love sinners give. If we do good only to those who do good to us, what is so special about that? It is like the love sinners give. If we lend money only to those who will respond in kind, what is so honorable about that? It is the ethics sinners have.
自分を愛する者を愛したからといって、あなたがたに何の良いところがあるでしょう。罪人たちでさえ、自分を愛する者を愛しています。自分に良いことをしてくれる者に良いことをしたからといちて、あなた方に何の良いところがあるでしょう。貸してもらうつもりで人にかしてやったからといって、あなたがたに何の良いところがあるでしょう。罪人たちでさえ、罪人に貸しています。

The clear implication is that the disciples are not to live and love like sinners. The love of believers is to be different from the love displayed by the culture. As children of God, believers have been transformed to live in contrast to the way of sinners, modeling the sacrifice of radical love demonstrated on the Cross.
弟子たちは罪人たちのように生活せず、彼らのように愛さないようにとはっきり言われています。クリスチャンの愛は人々が作り出したものとは違います。神の子供としてクリスチャンは十字架上で示された素晴らしい犠牲的な愛を模範として罪人たちとは逆に生きるように変えられたのです。

So Jesus summarizes: love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. When we give, it should not be with strings attached. When we serve, it should be to meet needs, not to give 'tit for tat.' True service involves a giving that does not demand a giving back. The essence of relationship for the child of God is to love to serve and serve to love.
イエス様は要点をまとめて言われました。「あなたの敵を愛し、良くしてあげなさい。返してもらわないつもりで貸しなさい。」私たちが物をあげるとき、見返りを期待してはいけません。私たちが奉仕をするとき相手の必要を満たすべきで、恩を着せてはいけません。本当の奉仕とは恩を着せないですることです。神の子どもである私たちは愛するために奉仕をし、奉仕をして愛を示すのです。

Freedom in Christ in Goodness~

The whole teaching on Goodness centers on thinking like Jesus thought. Responding to life's challenges like the way Jesus responded. To be like Him and that comes with the territory when we are connected to Him. Reflecting Him in our life-style because there is a renewal of the mind.
善意を行う柱はイエス様のように考えることです。イエス様が答えられたように人生の難関に答えていくのです。イエス様に繋がっていれば、私たちはイエス様のようになれるのです。私たちの生活スタイルにイエス様を反映させましょう。
イエス様には私たちの思いを変えることが出来るからです。

ROMANS 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-His good, pleasing and perfect will…

ローマ12:2　この世と調子を合わせてはいけません。いや、むしろ神のみこころは何か、すなわち、何がよいことで、神に受け入れられ、完全であるのかを心の一新によって自分を変えなさい。

connected to Him through the VINE.

ぶどうの木であるイエス様に繋がっていましょう！

______-------------__--------------

Next Week at ICCS: Covered Dish after the service. Vineyard Christian Fellowship's Worship Band will lead the Worship time. Pastor Araki will bring the sermon and Tim Timura will translate into English. Come a worship with us! Stay for the meal!

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

... and then there is KINDNESS

#4 of the Fruit

So far, we have looked at four of the fruit of the Spirit that Paul wrote about in Galatians. We considered the need of being connected to the Vine; that is abiding with Jesus at all times…connected to Him through a living relationship found in Jesus alone. We spoke about the need of Love in our lives. Joy being a main ingredient in the Believer’s life. Then true Peace—that passes all understanding. And last week, we spoke on Patience. Today, the Fruit of Kindness.

What is it like to be kind? What is it like to do a kind act toward someone? What is it like to be on the receiving end of kindness? Do you like being around kind people? What is the M.O. of people who show kindness? (Modus operandi often used in the abbreviated forms M.O. or simply Method) is a Latin phrase, approximately translated as "mode of operation".) I’d pick our dear friend Michi H.

If you could pass on any single advice concerning a life of Kindness, what would you say or teach?

When you think of a ‘Kind Person’ what image do you have? A positive one or negative… In History, what names do you associate with being a Kind Person? Is that a quality that is sought after today in the World of business? The arts? In Politics? …In Faith?

Would you call Jesus a kind person? Did He show kindness to people or was He not kind at all?
Let’s look at the Word of God—for this is our source of all knowledge of Him and His ways—and see the following from:

Isa 63:7. I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which He is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us— yes, the many good things He has done for the House of Israel, according to His compassion and many kindnesses.

How has God shown you kindness this week? What is His M.O.?

Here is a place where such things can be brought out into the open. Isaiah wrote that he would take this to the streets…so all could hear for God had done MANY GOOD THINGS.

We are told to be not only connected to the Lord but also to do what He did.

In John 14:12.: I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

Jesus told us of what the Father told Him.

John 15:15. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you.

One of the things He told us is to tell others of His Kindness. Simple, yes? Not made up stories, not deep theological discourses, not 50 things God wants you to know---just the things He has done for you.

So what has He done for you?
•Directs our hearts.
•Gives us compassion.
•Moves us to action.
•Forgives our bitter heart.
•Restores broken relationships.

All these things are evidence of His Kindness toward us! These are the ‘things’ He wants us to tell. Tell our story.

Rom 11:22. Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in His kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.

His kindness toward us is intense! Think of where we once walked, the life we once lived—
•far from Him,
•distant from the Grace of God,
•self-centered life

Look at the list in Galatians of the 15 negative ways of life we all once walked in—day in and day out! 15 acts of a spiritually defiant, rebellious life VS 9 spiritually, meek, gentle, humble functioning ways of living life in it’s fullness.

Luke 7:46-48 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

The Lord showed sincere kindness to the lady, while the others wanted to stone her. He saw in her a heart that was broken. A life that was worth saving. He extended His Heart of Kindness toward her. In His kindness He did not condemn her, but set her free.

Later, Peter takes these fruit and gives them a growing standard…movement from just something small, for us to grow up into the person God designed us to be. Add to your Faith.

There in the life and growing. Please read:

2 Peter 1:5-9. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

What kind of kindness does He show us?

Ps 18: 30. As for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.

He covers us as we connect with Him.

His kindness is not like the kindness of men…not self-seeking, boastful, arrogant, but the kind of kindness that shows us His Character.

Listen to what Jeremiah says!

Jeremiah 9:24. “but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.

To find kindness in our life in increasing measure is found in the knowing of the God of all kindness.

“…that he understands and knows Me…”

Being connected to Him, abiding IN Jesus, one finds this Character of God & His Kindness one of the same.

And we come to the Communion Table today to remember His Kindness to us, in that while we were still sinners, He died for us. How Great a Kindness! Not to turn His back on us!

\Psalm 103/

Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise His Holy Name.
Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all His benefits-
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
He made known His ways to Moses,
His deeds to the people of Israel:
The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will He harbor His anger forever;
He does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is His love for those who fear Him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him;
for He knows how we are formed,
He remembers that we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD's love is with those who fear Him,
and His righteousness with their children's children-
with those who keep His covenant
and remember to obey His precepts.
The LORD has established His throne in heaven,
and His kingdom rules over all.
Praise the LORD, you His angels,
you mighty ones who do His bidding,
who obey His word.
Praise the LORD, all His heavenly hosts,
you His servants who do His will.
Praise the LORD, all His works
everywhere in His dominion.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.

Next week, the Lord has opened the door for us to fellowship with VCF, Vineyard Christian Fellowship, as their worship hall is being fixed up. Those who are in the area, please come BEFORE 10:30! Please do not stay away!

If this post has helped you in any way, we would really like to hear how. Send your questions and or comments to iccsjapan@yahoo.com May His Grace fill you as you look to Him for life.


Thank you.

___________________

Interested in Tithing?

I'd like to share this video with people who aren't on Facebook.

Go to this link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwfMMN71xUw
for the Tithe Rap.

ALSO, Download the Tithe Rap for free until 2/11/09 here: http://tinyurl.com/czwfup

Thanks.
Pastor Stan

Patience. The Fruit you want right now!

I came across a few interesting quotes this week on patience.
“How can a society that exists on instant rice, packaged cake mixes, frozen dinners, and instant cameras teach patience to its young?” ~Paul Sweeney
“Patience is something you admire in the driver behind you and scorn in the one ahead.” ~Mac McCleary
“Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labor and to wait.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

And then in Lamentations 3.25, “The LORD is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him.”

Or, “I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end.” Margaret Thatcher

How many times in the day or week has your patience been tested? What are the hot spots that erupt your impatience? Why even try to have this fruit alive and active in your life? I do hope that by the end of our time this morning, you will find a way to build your patience and allow that and other fruit of the Spirit be as natural as breathing.

Face the facts, you all need to breath. We all need to show patience...mainly because our Lord is patient with us...BIG TIME.

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

And seeing this fourth fruit is tucked into the other more desirable fruit, we need to realize this fruit is important, too.

From 1 Cor 13:4-10 , we define this fruit: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.

Now, lets try something. Put your name in the blank...not to make us feel strange or defeated, but as a target for your life...

____ is patient, ___ is kind. ___ does not envy, ___ does not boast, ___ is not proud. ___ is not rude, ___ is not self-seeking, ___ is not easily angered, ___ keeps no record of wrongs. ___ does not delight in evil but ____rejoices with the truth. ____ always protects, ____ always trusts, ____ always hopes, ____ always perseveres.
____ never fails.

Why is this important? Because...

Patience effects our relationships.

There is a command for patience in the Bible. It is not one that you can pick. I’ll take love and patience but not faithfulness or goodness.

In James 5:7, we read: “Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.”

Patience effects our emotions

It comes out in our Stress, we become sick, we act jealous, full of envy.

When you win in cards, running, darts, a lottery, win in love, there is a great reward! There is also a great reward in having patience alive in you.

Hebrews 10:36 (NIV) “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.”

Or from the Amplified Bible “For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised.”

When we win in this contest of the battle for our will and spirit, our emotions are lifted and we are set free.

John 8:32 “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

The Truth here is that it is promised to us. Enjoy to the full sort of living. There is real freedom in that!

And as we saw from Lamentations 3.25 “The LORD is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him.”

A great reward, indeed!

Patience effects our final ‘run.’

Matthew 25:23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!’”

The complete joy may not be understood now...not yet. There may not be even a hint of joy in what you are going through, but He is faithful. Him, who has called you to follow Him will provide for you a way to stand up and move on with life. Again, it may not look like the dream you once had but in the long run, there will be no more tears, no sadness, no sorrow. It will be His joy in you as you wait...in patience, for Him to bring these things to past.

Six things to look to as this Godly patience is being worked into your impatient lives.

1. Faith: 2 Thess 1:4
2. Wait: Isa 40:31
3. Trust: Isa 25:9
4. Suffering: Romans 5:3-5
5. Obey: 1 Peter 2:18-19
6. Stand firm: James 5:8

To close, I found this quote from maybe a Greek man named Anonymous:

“Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow - that is patience.”

Moving toward the MARK! Toward the Lord. And this is done with the Holy One working His will out in your life as you surrender to Him...to His tender care for you.

AND REMAIN CONNECTED TO THE VINE.

Next week: Communion Sunday. Come with a prepared heart to remember Him.

And remain in Him!

...

Fruit, again... John 15:4-9

Last week, we started looking at the Fruit of the Spirit. I had the open door to CAJ and shared the same thing there last Wed. Interesting time…for me, it was as though I had not said it before. It became fresh to me. I liked the 'stuff' of remaining. It has been a theme of mine for a long time. Friends had shared this truth with me a few months ago and it re-fired my heart again. To remain in Him. Remain in the Vine. Good stuff, really.
先週から御霊の実について学んでいます。先週の水曜日にCAJで同じ話をしましたが、とても新鮮な気持ちになりました。とどまるという響きが好きになりました。どどまるというのは私の長年のテーマでした。この真理を友人が私に話してくれたときわたしの心は再び燃え上がりました。イエス様にとどまるということは本当に素晴らしいことなのです。

During the week, I ran into one of you while in town. That person said she used the paper each day. And each day, the answers were different. Some days, Superior, while other days, needs work. Each day was different because each day WAS different. We need different things each day. (One size does not fit all.)
先週、町で教会の人に会いました。その方は御霊の実の紙を毎日チェックしたそうです。大変よく出来る日もあれば、全然出来ないもあったようです。日々、違うことが起きるので答えが違うのも当然です。

How boring it would be to eat the same meal each mealtime-all year long. Even when it is the most wonderful meal, one could grow tired of the same food-day in and day out. That might be the same with what we need each day. Something different but the same thing would be where it came from. In this case, from the vine. From Jesus. All the time, all from Him.
一年間同じ食事をしたら飽きてしまいます。たとえそれが一番おいしい食事でも毎日同じものを食べ続けたら嫌になるでしょう。私たちの生活もそうだと思います。起きることは違いますが、とどまるところはずっと同じなのです。ぶどうの木であるイエス様にずっととどまり続けましょう。

Let's just review for a moment: The FRUIT of the Spirit is: is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
先週のおさらいをしましょう。御霊の実は愛、喜び、平安、寛容、親切、善意、誠実、柔和、自制です。

The key to remember is that these are evident within our lives as we remain in the Vine. Remain in Him. At all times and at all cost. Total surrender to Him. A branch can bear no fruit by itself. It MUST remain in the vine. OK. That's good.
　覚えておいて欲しいのは私たちがぶどうの木にとどまった結果このような実を結ぶということなのです。イエス様にとどまるのです。いつでもどんな状況でも。イエス様に全てゆだねるのです。枝が自分で実を結ぶことはできません。ぶどうの木にとどまらなければなりません。
よろしいですね？

Now, to return to one of the last things I was talking about because it needs a little more dressing-to make it clearer. Last week, and today, we read that Jesus said from John 15: “As My Father has loved Me, so have I loved you.”
話市を戻す前に最後にもう一つ話させてください。話を明確にするのに説明したいのです。
先週と今日とヨハネ15章からイエス様が言ったことを読みました。
「父がわたしを愛したようにわたしもあなた方を愛しました。」

How much does Jesus love us? He might even love me more than He loves you, do you think? Some do. Because I am a pastor, God loves me more than just a regular person. WRONG. No matter who you are, what you do, what you have done, no matter how much you had sinned, no matter how inadequate you might feel, the way the Father loves the Son is JUST the way He loves you.
イエス様はどのくらい私たちをあいしているのでしょうか？イエス様は皆さんよりも私のことを愛していると思っていませんか？神様は平信徒よりも牧師を愛するのでしょうか？違います！！皆さんが誰であっても、何をしたとしても、どんな罪を犯したとしても、自分はダメだと感じていても、父が御子を愛したように、皆さんも愛されているのです。

How does a human father love his son? I heard a story…
While flying across the US, a man was sitting next to a young man with a laptop. There was a photo on the computer screen, on his Palm Pilot more photos of the child, and more on his computer. Talked about his son the whole flight! To everyone in his section. People were a little weird about it. Some fell asleep while others nodded, but some looked at each photo of this 14 month old with wonder…as they fingered photos of their own child to show off.
では人間がどのように息子を愛するのでしょうか？あるストーリーを聞きました。
彼のコンピュータの画面、電子手帳には写真が映っていました。彼は自分の息子のことを飛行機の中でずっと話をしていました。近くにいた人、全員に話しました。回りの人は彼のことを変だと思っていました。話を聞きながら寝てしまう人もいました。息子の写真を人に見せるのはどうかと思って写真を見ている人もいました。

They heard about ALL this child has done in his last 14 months of life. He speaks, walks, sleeps on demand, and was even kind not to soil his pants at the wrong time. An amazing child… The father said, “I can't wait to get home to see my son.” “I could look at these photos all day long. They never get old to me.”
Got old for the rest of the passengers…
その息子は14ヶ月で彼の周りに座っていた人はその子がしたことを全て聞かされました。
しゃべったこと、歩いたこと、ぐずったり、お漏らしをしたりすることなど。
本当にいい子なんだと父親は言いました。息子に会えるのが待ちどうしいよ！この写真、一日中見ていられる。飽きることなんてないんだ。他の乗客はもう飽き飽きでしたが・・・

This man's son was amazing-according to the man. All that the boy did was covered with wonder. It really did not matter that other children did these things as well.

この男性の息子は彼にとってはとてもいい子でした。本当にそうかは疑問です・・・
他の子だって同じ事をすると思います。

The man next to him said, “You really miss your son, how long has it been since you last saw him?” Most have been weeks if not months! He answered, “Yesterday!” One day away from his son was one day too long.

隣に座っていた男性が聞きました。「もう、どのくらいお子さんに会ってないのですか？何週間もあってないのでしょうね？」「いいえ、一日です。一日でも長く感じるのです。」

As My Father has loved Me, so have I loved you.

Look at the parable of the Prodigal Son-see how the Father longed after him-watching for his return. Loving him, since he once was dead and now is alive! Different from Jennifer's parents: The had a funeral for her after she became a Believer in Jesus! They hated Christ Jesus so much, they declared Jennifer dead to them!
父がわたしを愛したようにわたしもあなたがたを愛しました。
放蕩息子の父親は毎日息子の帰りを待ち望んでいました。死んでいたと思った息子が生きて帰ってきたので彼は大喜びでした。しかし、ジェニファーの両親はそうではありませんでした。
彼女がまだ生きているのに葬儀を行ったのでした。

This is part of the abiding, part of the remaining in the Vine. We are the kid on God's screen-saver! We are the one He is so proud of! Can't wait for us to wake up to spend some conscience time with us. It is not that we are so smart, or so good looking, or even that we are special-except to Him, we are loved! He shows our photos to the angels and they wonder about it all. (Their relationship with Him is different. They did not need saving!)
これはぶどうの木に繋がっていることに関係があります。神さまのコンピュータの画面には私たちの写真があります。私たちのことを自慢げに話しているのです。神様は私たちが朝、目覚め、神さまと時間を過ごすのを心待ちにしているのです。私たちがいい子だから、また可愛いからではありません。私たちは神さまにとって特別な存在なのです。神さまは天使に私たちの写真を見せています。天使はなんで見なくちゃいけないんだろうって不思議に思っているでしょう。天使と神さまとの関係は私たちと神さまとの関係とは違うのです。天使は救われる必要はないのです。

The smallest detail of our lives never grows old to the Father. That is why He waits for us to pray to Him. He loves it when His Children talk to Him. Our prayers are precious to Him. When we speak to Him in faltering words, stammering mumbles, He hears them-not because we do them so well, but that He sees them through the eyes of a Father-who loves us…so well…so deep.
私たちの人生の小さな出来事も神さまは新鮮に覚えていてくださいます。神様は私たちの祈りを聞きたいのです。子供たちの話を聞くのが大好きなのです。私たちの祈りは神さまにとって大切なのです。私たちがもごもごと、どもりながら話しかけても神さまは聞いてくださるのです。神様は私たちを温かい愛の目で見てくださっています。深く深く私たちを愛しているのです。

The story of the Bible is the story of the Creator Father rushing home with His Children…because one day apart is one day too many. As My Father has loved Me…
聖書の話しは父なる神が子どもたちのために急いで家に帰る話しです。一日でも離れていたくないという神様の想いが詰まっています。父がわたしを愛されたように・・・

The most frequent promise in the Bible is not the promise of forgiving our sins. Not the promise of eternal life. The MOST frequently professed promise in the Holy Bible is God saying to us, His Children, “I'm with you. I'll be with you. Don't be afraid, 'cause I'll be with you.”
一番よく出てくる聖書の約束は罪が赦されることではありません。永遠の命を受けることでもありません。一番多く語られている約束は神様が私たちと共にいてくださることです。恐れるな、わたしはあなたと共にいる。

Ps 1; “You are with me.” God was with Adam and Eve, with Enoch, with Noah, Moses, Paul, Mary. When the Son came to earth, He was given the Name Emmanuel. What does that mean? “God with us.” Now, it is your turn for Him to be with…and in.
あなたは私と共におられる。神さまはアダムとエバ、エノク、ノア、モーセ、パウロ、マリアと共におられました。御子がこの世に来られたとき、インマヌエルと呼ばれました。どういう意味でしょうか？神が共におられるという意味です。今は皆さんが神さまと共にいるときなのです。

The main story of this Bible is NOT the story of Man desiring to be with God, it is a deep story of God's desire being with His creation. Jesus said that “Now, you have My Holy Spirit within you. All things are possible. Remain in Me.” Talk to Me-all the time. I want to hear from you no matter when, or what! “Listen to Me”, He would say, “because My Spirit is at work in you to do My pleasure, and Gode is prompting my thoughts and ideas in our heart.”
　聖書の中心的な話は人間が神と共に居ることを望んでいるのではなく、神様が人間と共にいたいという深い話なのです。イエス様はわたしの御霊があなたがたの中にいます。全てが可能になるのです。わたしにとどまりなさい。いつもわたしに話しかけて欲しい。いつでも何でも構わないからあなたの話を聞きたい。わたしの声を聞ききなさい。わたしの霊があなたがたのうちに働いている。わたしの霊はわたしの思いと考えをあなたの心に植えつける。

We need to be stubborn, immovable with this idea. Just stick with Me! Then wonderful things will happen. Our hearts will be able to reflect what the Father sees. We will see THAT FRUIT growing in our lives. He'd be the one who put it there…as you remain in Him!
私たちはこの考えに堅く立つ必要があります。イエス様と繋がれば素晴らしいことがおきます。わたしたちの心は神様の思いを映し出すことができるようになるでしょう。そして人生において御霊の実の成長を見ることができます。わたしたちがイエス様にとどまるなら御霊の実をいただけるのです。

This passage talks about fruit, right? What are the first three?
Love. Joy. Peace.
Listen to this: "As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you." Whose love are we to stay in? Jesus' Love.
御霊の実のことを話しましたが、最初の３つの実はなんでしたでしょうか？愛、喜び、平安です。聞いてください。父がわたしを愛されたように、わたしはあなたがたをあいしました。この愛にわたしたちはとどまるのです。イエス様の愛にです。

Later He says: "I have told you these things so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete."
後にイエス様は「わたしがこれらのことをあなたがたに話したのはわたしの喜びがあなたがたのうちにあり、あなたがたの喜びが満たされるためです。

Who's JOY are we to live in? Jesus' Joy.
誰の喜びがわたしたちのうちにあるのですか？イエス様の喜びです。

In John 14:27, Jesus tells His friends, , "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives."
ヨハネ１４：２７でイエス様は言われました。「わたしはあなたがたに平安を残します。わたしが与えるのは世が与えるのとは違います。」

Wonder of wonders! What peace are we to remain in? Jesus' Peace.
本当にふしぎです。どんな平安が残るのですか？イエスさまの平安です。

And as we remain in Him, it just flows just like the way it flows in the vine.
わたしたちがイエスさまにとどまるならぶどうの木のように実を結ぶでしょう。

Sistine Chapel:
God active, intense desire to be with and touch His Creation. Every tendon taut; arm is stretched out; His gaze fixed on Man. God's desire is to be with Man. While Man-laid back, relaxed, does not seem to lift a finger in response. In truth, God is MUCH closer than you think.
システィーナ礼拝堂：神さまが被造物と共にいたいという願いがそこにあります。伸ばされた腕、人間をじっと見つめる目。神様の願いは人間と共に居ることなのです。人間は寝転びながら神に応答しています。皆さんが考えるよりもはるか近くに神さまはおられるのです。

Grew up in a church that sang

“This is my Father's world, and to my listening ears all nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres. This is my Father's world: He shines in all that's fair.”

He is in all that is true and good. All that is, is because He made it!
子供の頃、教会で歌った歌ですが・・・
「これは父の世界、耳を澄ますと全ての自然は歌い、わたしの周も天の音楽を奏でる。これは父の世界。その輝きは全てに平等である。」

Another picture I think of is found in a book that has sold over 40,000,000 copies. Where's Waldo? He is on every page. Just hard to find him sometimes. He is behind something or in plain view but he is still hard to find. It takes time to find him. Sometimes it just takes memory, or patience, discernment.
もう一つの絵は、4千冊売れた本です。「ウォーリーを探せ」という本です。ウォーリーは全てのページに載っています。探すのはとても大変です。時には何かの後ろに隠れていたり、平面に描かれていたり・・でも探すのはとても大変で時間がかかります。彼を探すのにはお金も、忍耐も、洞察力も必要です。

He is always there on the page. Otherwise, it would not be Waldo! Sometimes I get frustrated not being able to find him, but he is there. My sons find him on every page! Real fast!
どのページもウォーリーはいます。それじゃなければウォーリーではないのです。
時に彼を見つけることが出来ず、イライラします。でもウォーリーはどこかにいるのです。
わたしの息子たちはどのページのウォーリーも直ぐに見つけることが出来ます。

I feel it is that way with God and me. Sometimes our relationship looks like the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Creative, awesome, majestic, while other times, somewhat lost…
神さまと私との関係も同じ気がします。時々、神さまとの関係はシスティーナ礼拝堂の天井の絵のようです。創造的で、壮大で、素晴らしいのですが、またあるときは迷い、見失ってしまいます。

So, we will continue to listen to the invitation of Jesus to remain in Him. Some times, Sistine Chapel Moments-while other times, “where in the world is He on this page of my life?” or a “Waldo Moment.”
だから私たちは続けてイエス様の導きを聞き、イエス様に繋がっていましょう。
システィーナ礼拝堂のようなときもあれば、私の人生のページのどこに神様がおられるのかと感じるときもあるでしょう。

This does not mean doing a lot of new things or hard things, just doing things with a different heart. With Jesus. Get up with Him. Eat B'fast with Him. Train it with Him. Work with Him. Sleep in Him. When you come home-re-enter deal. “Jesus, help me do this Your way.” Abide in the Vine. And remain fruitful.
これは何か新しいことをしたり、大変なことをすることではありません。イエス様と共に物事を進めるのです。イエス様と目覚め、朝食を取り、電車に乗り、仕事をして、眠る。
皆さんが家に帰ったとき、考え直してください。「イエス様、あなたの方法で出来るように助けてください。」ぶどうの木につながり、実を結んでいきましょう。

My Fruit: Gal 5; John 15

A while ago, I walked into a police station in Nagano to get my Japanese Driving license. At that time, it was easy to do. They checked my eye sight, looked at the translation of my RI license and had a photo taken. I got the license and I don’t want to let this license laps as it is MUCH harder now to get one. (Lessons, pay a lot of money, walk into the test area and sit in the car and fail…three or more times before they pass you.) No, I will work hard to keep my gold-band license.

That whole experience made me think about how often we are tested on quite finite matters like driver’s tests, vision, vocational, and cholesterol levels. It’s possible for people to live their whole lives and never REALLY do an assessment of their souls, which is eternal.

How is your soul? In need of repair? An overhaul, perhaps? Just a dusting and it will be fine, thank you. Never you mind, you’re meddling!

For the next few weeks in this new year, we will be looking at a series on the Fruit of the SPIRIT and Spiritual Gifts. As we look at Paul’s letter to the church at Galatia, Paul writes in Chapter 5, “The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

In order to get us thinking along these lines, I am ready to give to you a little self-assessment this morning. I want to give you a few questions to prompt your thinking on each one.

Here’s the scale: “S” is you would say you are “Superior” in this dimension; “P” stands for “Pretty Darn Good” and “N” would mean “Needs improvement.” We are just going to go over them one at a time and see how you do. You will not need to hand them in but DO fill it out and try to be honest. No cheating.

Number ONE: LOVE.

• How tender is your heart towards God and towards other people? Not just the ones that like you…
• Do you find yourself continually engaging in acts of servant-hood?
• Do you ever have a critical, judgmental spirit in your heart?
~ Rate yourself S, P or N. How are you doing in the Love Fruit today?

Now, did I tell you it was going to be easy? Well, it is not.

Number TWO: JOY.

• What is your current “touchiness factor?” (If you are not sure, your spouse or close friend or the person next to you may be willing to help you out…)
• Are you more inclined to speak words of complaint or gratitude?
• How often did you laugh this week? How much fun did you have?
• Are you able to choose JOY in times of frustration or difficulty?
~ Do you find yourself, even now, rationalizing your lack of Joy? Or wishing you would have visited another church this week?

Number THREE: PEACE.

It is not going to get any easier…
• To what degree are your heart and mind at rest in God?
• How consistently are you troubled or anxious?
• Would people who know you describe you as being contented or discontented? (Want to ask them?)
~ How do you come out on the FRUIT of PEACE?

Number FOUR: PATIENCE.

• How do you respond when you are frustrated or don’t get your way?
• Would those who know you describe you as a “Peaceful patient person?” Are you able to wait gracefully?
• How do you handle things when people aren’t moving as fast as you would like?
~ How are you doing in this area of Patience? If you have already moved on to #FIVE, give yourself an “N”.

Number FIVE: KINDNESS.

• Are you prone to lend someone a helping hand even though you are busy, or you know you won’t get credit for this?
• Are you one who encourages and affirms people?
• Do you consistently take the time to actually notice people and listen to them?
~ Do you find kindness alive and active in your life?

Number SIX: GENEROSITY.

• What portion of your time and material resources are you actually giving—not just thinking about giving—to God, to the poor, to other people?
• Do you ever find yourself wanting to give just the least amount acceptable? ~Do you have a generous heart?~
• Is your heart to give growing or shrinking?
~ That is GENEROSITY. Rate yourself.

Number SEVEN: FAITHFULNESS.

• Would people around you say that you are dependable?
• When you say you are going to do something, does it get done?
• Do you ever use words to deceive or to put a safe spin on things?
• Do you ever wrestle with procrastination?
~ If you haven’t started your list yet, give yourself an “N”!

Number EIGHT: GENTLENESS.

• How successfully do you speak the truth with Grace?
• Do you ever get angry and inflict pain of someone just because it will feel good in the moment?
• Over the last week, how many times have you come along someone who was hurting to give them comfort? Last month?
~ How are you doing on GENTLENESS?

Number NINE: SELF-CONTROL.

• Have any bad habits?
• Ever give into an impulse?
• How’s your mouth doing these days?
~ Rate yourself on self-control. Have I gotten you angry with me?

Just one more question and I’ll stop this painful experience. Does anyone feel a little inadequate? It is a funny thing, really. When we come to the topic of Fruit of the Spirit, this is the core of what spiritual growth is all about. People do get goofy ideas about what Spiritual Maturity really looks like.

What is Spiritual Maturity and if we would get a good idea of what it is, would that make us mature? Spiritual Formation is another word for this is all about. At the core of the issue, it is NOT being busy with a lot of Christian activities. NOT knowing a lot about the Bible. NOT the piling up of a lot of spiritual accomplishments.

You may remember that Jesus pointed that out that the religious leaders of His day (called the Pharisees) were the most unfruitful of them all. They had all the action but no heart. And some of their action was shallow and void of meaning.

But to grow in authentic Biblical Love and joy and peace and patience—that’s the center—the core of the target! That is the kind of people the Lord wants to see around His creation. That is the kind of people you and I want to be, but we may not feel we can do it. It is not that we don’t believe God could do it in us, we just don’t trust us.

Paul had the same problem: “I do the things I should not do and I don’t do the things I should!”

When we look at such a list, a few things may happen in us. One, we want to give up. Can’t go there—we are too far short of what seems to be the goal. Overwhelmed, we want to give up. In truth, we sometimes start violating the Fruit of the Spirit before we get out of bed in the morning!

We could also just tell ourselves that we need to try harder, love more and find that joy. Try harder to be more patient—right now! Work on a self-improvement program.

But that will not end well. We will become more frustrated and be consumed with us trying to be one of the Pharisees. That will not work. Works = dead end.

Here is what we are going to do instead. We are going to look at John 15:4-9 again and find the one word that is the key. One word that keeps coming up that will ensure the Fruit of the Spirit to be alive in us. Jesus talks about it pretty clearly. Listen again, for the first time:

Remain in Me and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself. It must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from Me, you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you. This is to My Father's Glory that you bear much fruit showing yourselves to be My disciples. As My Father has loved Me, so have I loved you.

Jesus says, “I am the vine. You are the branch.” There is ONE thing that the branch is supposed to do. Did you see it there? “Remain.” One older form of that word is “Abide.” Day in and day out, keep remaining in Him. Keep receiving this unceasing flow of real life. Keep getting the nourishment and love from the Main Source. As My Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. And He loved you SO Much that He sent His Son to die for you! John 3:16

IF WE DO THAT—if we abide—the fruit will come. Can’t be stopped. However, if I don’t stay plugged in to Him—into God—then I’ll never be fruitful. I could never change. Real spiritual transformation takes place in the abiding, in the remaining. Transformation will never happen apart from being united IN HIM. I cannot do this on my own or by myself. It is done in Community with Him. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me power.”

This is part of why Paul uses the language that he does. Some of you may know that in Galatians, Paul is setting up a contrast. He says, "I don't want you to be characterized or marked by (what he calls) the works of the flesh." And then he lists those: "immorality, envy, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition.” Don't be characterized by this, but do be characterized by … and then we would expect him to say by "the works of the Spirit." He doesn't do that, because for Paul "works" has the connotation of effort and strain and self-righteousness, and that is not the kind of people that God wants to produce. So He says instead, "Be marked by the fruit of the spirit."

There's one more thing that would be good for all of us to know. Often people talk about the "fruits" of the Spirit, because there are nine of them, but if you look at Galatians 5, Paul doesn't say the "fruits." He uses the singular "fruit," and there's a reason for that. He's not listing nine character qualities that you're supposed to exhaust yourself trying to add to your "character repertoire OR inventory." It's just the "fruit" that is inevitable when anyone abides in the Spirit of Jesus.

So the good news is: you just have one job, and
that is to be with Jesus all the time—

just stay in the Vine.

<<<•>>>

I'd like to thank John Ortberg for the outline of this sermon entitled: Fruit of the Spirit: "Abiding".

Next week at ICCS: Covered Dish after the service. Bring friends and some food and drink to share. Plan on staying around until around 2:30!

There is pay to park now near ICCS. 100¥ per hour and only 600¥ for the whole day. Go south on 463 toward Tokorozawa one block away from the turn to ICCS (in block 7) and it is on the left hand side next to a Japanese Eatery across from a car dealership.

God provides! All the time!