“Happy Birthday”| John 20:1-18 | Kobe Union Church | March 31, 2024 | Preacher: Rev. Mark Bartsch3/30/2024 Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday! Today is not only my birthday but everyone's birthday who has accepted the love of Christ into your hearts. Because we know that “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved”. Not you might be saved or you could be saved but that you will be saved (period)!
We all have personal birthdays but today with the resurrection of our Lord, today is our spiritual birthday. I always thought it was weird that we celebrate our birthdays with cake and presents and that we get to blow out the candles on the cake. We were born but we did not do the hard work on the day of our births. In my case, Evelyn Bartsch on Jan 5th, she did the hard work while Karl (my father) waited in the hall. With my two boys, I was in the room, going “Hi Hi Wo” with all my might but Stephanie did all the hard work. You have accepted Christ as your Lord and savior and you WILL be saved, but it was Jesus that did the heavy lifting to allow us the opportunity to be reunited with God. 1 John 5:11-12 "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life." Years ago, there was an advertising campaign that simply said, “Got Milk”. But if you have accepted Jesus into your heart, you Got Life. (If you have not accepted Jesus into your heart, talk to one of us and we will tell you about this amazing life). To our passage today. Mary Magdalene and a few other ladies walked up to the tomb to pay their last respects to the one that loved them so much and in return they loved him. On the day of the crucifixion, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus got permission from Pilate to take Jesus' dead body and bury it but because his death was running right up to the Sabbath of Passover. They placed Jesus' body into a tomb that Joseph had bought for his own family and yet gave it for Jesus. Let’s face it men, the women usually pay more attention to details and care for things and the women thought that the men probably did not do a very good job of the niceties in caring for Jesus’ (what they assumed was his dead) body. So, the women walk up to the tomb that is being guarded by soldiers to ceremonially wash his body not even thinking that they were not strong enough to roll the rock that covered the entrance to the tomb away. (When people are experiencing grief, they do not always think logically). They walk up the hill to the tomb while it is still dark and as they approach the tomb, the guards were gone and the stone had been rolled away. The first thought was not the 31 times that Jesus either outright said or implied that he was going to be raised from the dead. At least 31 times you would think that they were listening. No. Their first thought was that this was one more trick. One more indignity that the powers that be (Jewish leaders, Romans) were doing to them. Not only did they kill Jesus but now they would not even allow them to say “Goodbye”. It was too much. There are times in life when life is just too much. When life is too much for you, don’t turn to bitterness. Don’t turn to the bottle. Don’t ignore it and shove it down. Turn your pain over to God. He knows. One of the most profound verses in the Bible is “Jesus wept” (Jn 11:35) because our Lord knows pain, knows loss, knows what it means to be sad. Mary M. ran back to the place the disciples were staying and told them. Being mad that someone had taken their lord and teacher Peter and John raced up the hill. John being in better shape than Peter made it to the tomb first but Peter being Peter raced into the tomb to find that Mary M. was telling the truth. The stone had been rolled away and Jesus’ body was gone. An interesting detail that is given in the biblical story. But Jesus would make a good house guest. See when they went inside the tomb, the linen cloth that was covering his head and was folded up and was laying apart from the other cloth that was probably covered in blood. The men seemingly have wondered away, and Mary remains by herself at the tomb and wept. She wept for the man that pulled her out of so much pain and now was lost. She wept for all that she had hoped for. Remember this is Mary Magdalene one rumored (rumored) to be in prostitution before Jesus saved her not only from this degrading profession of selling herself for men’s lust but also from possession of demonic spirits (Luke 8:2) not one mind you but seven. She must have been wondering what happens now to me that Jesus was gone. Would the old life come back? Would the demons return? What will happen to me? I liken Mary and all of us Mary’s to a broken pots or dishes. And as I said last week, we are all tied down by something and we need deliverance from those unhealthy things that bind us. Well, we are all broken too. Almost 11 years ago many of us did volunteer work in Tohoku after the earthquake. On one of my trips, I helped a woman clean her house full of seawater and broken dishes. She had lost her husband in the earthquake, and I was assisting her in cleaning up her house. As we picked up broken dish after broken and shattered dish. I think it was helpful that my Japanese was not great because she could mourn. From time to time, she would pick up a dish and stare at it for a time before breaking out in tears and I would make the sign of the cross and then she would put it in the trash and pick up the next dish. It reminded me of when Ezekiel the OT prophet was asked by God if this field of bones could live? He responded, “You alone O God know if they can live.” Because of Easter we have confidence through the resurrection that yes, these bones can live. We are all broken in some way shape or form. Some of us just hide it a little better than other people. Jesus’ ministry was focused on repairing the broken dishes of our lives. Jesus said, “I have come to comfort the broken hearted” (Lk 4:18) In Japan, we have the amazing art of Kintsugi. I saw a demonstration in Kyoto once on a student field trip. The art of Kintsugi is taking pieces of pottery that have been broken sometimes even shattered and instead of throwing these pieces of pottery away like I did in Tohoku and going to the 100 Yen shop and buying another dish. This art restores the pottery by melding gold in between the cracks. It not only makes the bowl useful but more beautiful than before it was even broken. The day I saw the demonstration I saw a bowl that had just happened to be broken in Tohoku earthquake and the master was painstakingly putting the bowl back together again. Interestingly with Kintsugi and also faith you do not cover up all the cracks like you do if you superglue it. No, instead you see the cracks but instead of being ashamed of our cracks we say thank you God. For healing and restoring us. For I was once lost but now I am found. I was blind but now I see. I was dead but now I can live. When Mary M. saw Jesus she became to the first witness. The first evangelist to share the news that Jesus lives. Because he lives, I can face tomorrow, because he lives all fear is gone, because I know, I know he holds the future, and life is worth the living just because he lives. Let’s pray
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Message - Today marks the start of Holy Week. Many Christians transition from "Hosanna" and "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" to next Sunday's declaration of "Christ has risen! He has risen indeed," often missing the essence of the week. It's like eating an Oreo cookie without savoring the middle. If we do this, we overlook Jesus cleansing the temple of those who exploit the poor in God's name, emphasizing, "My house will be a house of prayer." Jesus did not say that the church should be a house of preaching or even music, but rather a house built on a relationship with God in prayer. How is your prayer life? Really, how is it? If we just rush to next Sunday, we miss Jesus' betrayal by Judas, Peter's denial of Jesus, and significant portions of Jesus’ teaching. We overlook the Last Supper, where Jesus institutes the communion service, and his act of humility in washing his disciples' feet. Most importantly, we overlook the significance of the cross. Missing the cross means missing the essence of Christianity. When the world killed the king of kings, and we recognize our voices in the crowd that simply wants the status quo. We want a messiah but on our terms. Don’t rush through this week. On Friday, we will hold a solemn service, focused on contemplating the sacrifice made for each of us. During the service, we will reflect on Jesus' last words on the cross. This week earns its title of "Holy" for a reason; it holds profound importance for every Christian. As Jesus makes his final journey to Jerusalem, often termed the Triumphal Entry, there is a palpable energy. Last year, during baseball championships, I was on a train among passionate fans of the Hanshin Tigers and Orix Buffalos. You could feel the energy and excitement as both teams vied for the championship in their fans. Jerusalem would have been similar or even more energetic. Jesus, having recently raised Lazarus from the dead, now approaches Jerusalem amidst heightened anticipation of what this young rabbi was going to do. It is interesting Christian’s call this Palm Sunday or The Triumphal Entry. The triumphal entry comes from Roman culture when a general would achieve a great victory they would be paraded in Roman and proclaimed a god. (small g). Jesus has not achieved his greatest victory yet (that happens on Friday) but Jesus never needed a parade to proclaim he was one with the Father. He simply was. I and the father are one and because of that and what he did on the cross we have won. While on their way, Jesus instructs two disciples to find a young donkey in an upcoming village. We know that the donkey had never been ridden but was to be brought to Jesus. Zechariah 9:9 says, “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” We know that this donkey was about 3 years old, as it is unsafe to ride a donkey before the age of three. Just imagine, as Jesus began his earthly ministry, this donkey was born in preparation for this day. God provides. When Jesus needed to pay the temple tax, he sent Peter fishing, and from the mouth of a fish, he pulled out two coins. (Remember, Jesus was paying the temple tax, and the temple was his father’s house.) It's like going to my mother and father-in-law's house for a meal and then getting a bill for the meal when I leave. This donkey, which had never been ridden before, was to be brought to Jesus. They were told not to seek permission but to simply respond if asked why they were taking the donkey that did not belong to them by saying, "The Lord needs it." This is kingly language, and Jesus is fully embracing his identity as Lord. A king or lord in those times could walk up to anyone and take their property by simply saying, “The Lord needs it.” the person would give it to them. But usually, those servants of the king looked like servants of the king, not like fishermen. I discussed getting palm branches with Ted for today's celebration. He looked for a bunch of palm branches at stores but had a challenging time finding them. (Thanks, Ted.) I visited Ted's house a few weeks ago and actually saw a palm tree in Ted’s neighborhood. I told Ted we need those palm branches, so Ted climbed over his neighbor's fence and cut them down. He did just as I told him. I said if asked by the owner what he was doing, I told him to say, “Mark needs them.” This is a picture of Ted after the conversation with the owner of the palm tree. Just to be honest, only half of that story was true. But what is 100% true is that God provides. About the donkey. Most new items are worth more than used items. Go to Second Street store and you can get almost brand-new clothing for 50% to 70% off. Not with a donkey or horse. At an auction, a broken horse that can be ridden is far more valuable than a horse that has not been broken. Jesus rides this donkey for a day and returns it more valuable than when he got it. There's a spiritual truth here: when we offer something to God—our time, talents, or resources—God will return those gifts imbued with greater value. Jesus needed this specific donkey, but by and large, God does not need anything. He doesn’t need me. He does not need you. God is self-sufficient. But God finds joy in being in being in relationship with us and being with us. He desires nothing more than to walk with us in the cool of the evening just like he walked with Adam and Eve so long ago. It is not true to say, “God needs me”; instead, “God wants you.” He wants you so much that he was willing to purchase your sins back with his blood (Isaiah 53:5): “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds, we are healed.” Let me show you a video of how we should respond when we are called! The parallel between Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and King David's procession with the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem in 2 Samuel 6 is striking. David's exuberant worship, though criticized as undignified, reveals the depth of his joy in God's presence. Don't let anyone steal your joy; the world has enough challenges. Jesus reminds us not to worry about tomorrow's troubles, for today has enough of its own. That is why it is so important to embrace moments of joy. Jesus sends the disciples on a mission, instructing them to untie a never-ridden donkey with the simple declaration, "The Lord needs it." We are all tied to something. Some things are healthy and good to be tied to. When I am tied to something good like my relationship with God, my care for my family, my faithfulness to my call, I tie a double knot so that nothing will slip. But when I am tied to things of this world pride, image, extra I ask God to give me the strength to untie these things and give them to God. Do you know? Have you not heard? That we were given the authority and the power and privilege as believers and followers of Christ to not only bind but to loosen (Matthew 16:19), not only on earth but also in heaven. As long as they are in accordance to the will of God. When you praise God fully, you will face resistance. King David faced criticism from his wife Michal for his exuberant worship, echoing the Pharisees' attempts to silence Jesus' followers on Palm Sunday. Jesus rebukes their efforts to silence their worship, suggesting that even if he tells them to be silent, it will not do any good because creation itself will erupt in spontaneous praise. Jesus says the rocks will start praising God if the people are silent. I do not think the stones, inanimate objects, will speak. Maybe I am wrong. I wouldn’t believe a donkey could talk, but one did in the Old Testament (Nub 22). I think the stones that Jesus is talking about are the tombs that line the path to Jerusalem. Each tomb had a verse or scripture on it. Jesus is saying that these tombs speak of who he is. Not only the words on the tombs speak of God’s faithfulness that is now being fulfilled in Jesus as he enters Jerusalem, but if worse comes to worse, the faithful who have fallen asleep will rise and testify to who Jesus is. Because the dead know! That is one reason why on Friday when the curtain of the temple that separates the holy from the ordinary was ripped, not by man’s hands which would be from bottom to top, but God ripped it from top to bottom. And the dead walked the streets (Matthew 27:52). If we forget our duty and joy to celebrate the Lord, the dead will not. As the people in raptured joy celebrate Jesus, Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem. The donkey knew what his job was and did it with the Lord sitting on his back, but the City of David, the people of God, forgot their purpose, which was to be ready to welcome their king, and they turned on Jesus in just three days. Because of that, Jesus saw the consequences of their disobedience and longed to gather them in like a mother hen gathers up her chicks to protect them, but the people made their choice. They wanted Barabbas. Hopefully, when Jesus comes again, we will not. Let me say it again the Lord does not need me. But he wants me. Let’s pray. If you want to be good or skilled about a certain thing, especially in sports it requires discipline.
If you check out the professional athletes, they are the very first people you see practicing in the field and later after everyone had gone, they still stay longer than everyone else. These people put in more time, more effort and more commitment to train themselves. They believe if they be disciplined with their time and with their actions, they could become good, if not the best, in their chosen field. They become highly skilled in their profession. You see, dear friends, discipline involves self-control. You need self-control to do a lot of things. You can talk about committing yourself to exercise. You want to lose weight, you want to diet. You want to remove those excess flat tires you have in your belly. But you have to make sure you know control to do those things. We live in the world that’s so obsessed with “INSTANT GRATIFICATION”. Instant food, instant noodles, instant coffee, (even instant wife! – made to order bride) People would say “Why would I need to wait for the results?” I don’t have to wait and work my way to get it. I want it now”. When we go through a drive through, or a restaurant, we don’t want to wait long. We get easily angered when someone cuts us down the road and we want to get even. What you do is you burst your anger at the crew who was taking your order. You burst into anger when you catch up with the car that cuts you off. My dear friends we are in our last installment of the Fruits of the Spirit. Amen! Did we learn many things from Ptr. Mark and our Sunday schools? Hope you did. Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. And you know, I heard from a lot of people, and maybe you too, that what they struggle the most (and I’m guilty sometimes) is SELF-CONTROL. Different kinds of people, different background nationalities, all struggle from SELF-CONTROL. Maybe you have struggles too, maybe some people here, or maybe most of us are struggling with self-control? Are you? Do you feel struggling with self-control before, and now we are all Christians, there is like a battle inside of you when things get out of control. WHAT IS SELF CONTROL? It’s from the Greek Word “ENKRATEIA” EN = IN, KRATOS = POWER A state of power or self-mastery over something Basically it’s the restraint of one’s emotions, impulses or desires. It’s the ability to hold back. It’s the ability to want something but not taking it! You can be tempted to want something, but still you have the power to say no! Again, being tempted is not a sin. But can we be able to say NO when temptation knocks Beloved friends, can we tell ourselves NO, when temptation to be “out of control” comes? The best example about self-control is in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 4:15 (NIV) 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Jesus knows what you are going through right now. He understands your struggles. He understands what you are going through, your difficulties and the temptation that you are in right now. That is why we defined self-control “the ability to resist or say no”. Self-Restraint. Just a while ago we read about the account of Jesus’ temptation in Matthew Chapter 4. Can you imagine that Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights? It says there in v. 4 4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. Jesus did not eat for 1 and a half month and it says there he was hungry. When we haven’t eaten breakfast or skip a meal or two, we say we are hungry. He was hungry here means “HE WAS STARVING TO DEATH”. He really needs food and he wants it! So the devil comes and tempts Jesus to misuse His power for something that He really desired and wanted! It was a very strong desire to eat. And then the devil says, “If you’re the Son of God, all you have to do is turn that stone to become bread”. YOU SEE THE DEVIL KNOWS HE CAN DO IT. JESUS KNOWS HE CAN DO IT! HE REALLY WANTS TO EAT BREAD. BUT HE SAID NO! AGAIN SATAN TEMPTED JESUS WITH ALL THINGS THAT ARE DESIRABLE. THE DEVIL DOES NOT TEMPT YOU WITH THINGS THAT DON’T LOOK GOOD! When I am on a fast and I feel hungry, the devil can’t tempt me with VEGETABLE SALAD. BUT IF I AM SHOWN LECHON AND STEAK, SUSHI, STRAWBERRY CAKE AND ICE CREAM AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, - - - THAT’S WHAT I CALL “TEMPTATION”. (LORD JUST A TASTE, JUST A BIT OF THIS AND THAT’S IT NO MORE –WHILE PULLING) THE DEVIL GOES WITH THE THINGS WE WANT. And it takes self-control and restraint. In this case the devil wants Jesus to show off His power, His ability, and His authority. “YOURE THE SON OF GOD RIGHT? TURN THAT STONE INTO BREAD! YOURE HUNGRY RIGHT! YOU CAN DO IT! DO IT” Jesus then decides, the desire to eat or to do the thing that is right? Is our desire to do what we want stronger than the desire to choose what is right? When you choose what is right then we say you are right-choose. (RIGHTEOUS) or you choose-right. (interchange) GARDEN OF GETHSEMENE (Jesus was praying before he was crucified) Jesus said “Father, if there is any other way, let this cup pass from me, but not my will but yours be done”. At that moment, He knew if He would take all the sins of mankind that He will be separated from the Father. Because God the Father cannot stand sin. Can you imagine that? Jesus was with the Father in all eternity past, and that very moment He will be separated from Him. He needed to control what he was feeling inside. He allowed himself to be tortured and crucified after that. He died your death! My brothers and sisters. He died our death. JESUS DID WHAT WAS RIGHT. HE WAS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF SELF CONTROL. AND HIS SELF CONTROL DID NOT END THERE. DO YOU KNOW JESUS WOULD HAVE CALLED FOR REINFORCEMENTS BUT HE DIDN’T? JESUS RESTRAINED HIMSELF TO AUTHORIZE ANGELS TO DESTROY ALL THESE PEOPLE PERSECUTING HIM. Matthew 26:53 Jesus said “Or do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and He will not at once put at my disposal more than TWELVE LEGIONS OF ANGELS?” He was saying to Peter you don’t need to protect me from these soldiers taking him. Do you know how many soldiers are one legion? In the Roman army it’s about 6000 soldiers. So if you multiply 6000 x 12 equals how many angels are we talking? 72 thousand ANGELS. In the Bible, in the book of Kings, (2 Kings 19:35) one angel destroyed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. If you do the math. 72 000 angels x 185000 people = 13 billion people would have died if Jesus did not restrain himself commanding the angels to help him. That time it was estimated that the world population was only about 300 million, Can you imagine if Jesus did not restrain himself or did not have any self-control? You, me our families won’t be here. The whole world will be wiped off the face of the earth. Even if Jesus would have lived now and died at our time, he will also destroy the world with those angels because the world’s population now is only 8 billion. 2 Peter 2:21-24 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps. 22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” You see my dear brothers and sisters, if there was anybody in the whole earth who have the right to unleash his authority, it was JESUS! It was Jesus. But he didn’t. Why? He saw you. He saw me. He saw your family. He saw ALL your loved ones. He saw your friends. He even saw the neighbor you lost your temper yesterday. Jesus saw the world. If He will not die, where will you be? Where will be your parents, your children? THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS SELF-CONTROL. My friends, we are called to restrain ourselves and be able to say NO and HOLD BACK when our desires and temptations come in. WHEN DO WE NEED SELF-CONTROL? 1. SELF-CONTROL IS NEEDED WITH OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS. “Ever had someone made you so angry you just want to give him the stars?” Remember the pastor who almost shouted at the elder in his church? You need to restrain yourself. Count to a hundred. Don’t count sheep or you’ll go to sleep. One thing I learned from experience and wisdom is called here. Don’t say or do something in extreme emotions. If you’re too happy, too angry or too sad, you might regret what you have said and done. Extreme emotions cloud our judgement. You can be carried away by emotions. 2. SELF-CONTROL IS NEEDED IN OUR FINANCES. Do you spend more than you ought to? Do you spend what is needed to be saved? Ever experienced going inside the shopping mall for window shopping and find yourself you had shopping for the whole house? 3. SELF-CONTROL IS NEEDED TO HAVE HEALTHY PHYSICAL BODIES. To keep a schedule. To build a habit of exercise. It takes real dedication to keep going. It takes self-control to eat right. Well, you can’t be tempted to eat salad, but you’ll be triggered to eat cake and steak. Takes self-control to say no. Not today. 4. SELF-CONTROL IS NEEDED TO HAVE HEALTHY SPIRITUAL BODIES It is difficult to set a schedule to exercise and eat healthy food. But it is also difficult to be disciplined when to pray and when to have personal devotions. We need determination, discipline and self-control to cultivate your relationship with God. 5. SELF-CONTROL IS NEEDED TO AVOID SIN. Just before the section on the Fruits of the HS in Galatians, we can see the contrast of the fruits. These are the works of the flesh. Galatians 5:19-21 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, 20 idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. You might say, oh no! I did one or 2 of those? I’m dead! I’m not going heaven. My friends, the answer is in the last sentence of verse 21 “that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” If you have been doing it continuously, practicing it and sin becomes a way of living, then that is what it means. You will not inherit the kingdom of God. But if you have asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins, then all those have been removed from you. You have been justified. ALL OF US ARE TEMPTED IN SOME AREAS. AND THE DEVIL KNOWS WHERE YOUR WEAK SIDE IS. 1 Corinthians 10:13 13 No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. Dear friends, God will always give you an escape so that you will not be tempted beyond what you can do. There is always an option not to sin! If we surrender everything to Jesus and give all our burden to him. We will be at peace. Lord I want you to be in control of my life. I raise my hands in surrender to your will. Not my will but yours be done. Before we end let’s read this. We will learn a principle here. Matthew 7:15-20 15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will know them by their fruits. HOW DO YOU KNOW IF SOMEBODY IS FOLLOWING JESUS? LOOK AT THEIR FRUIT? ARE THEY BEARING THE FRUIT? Do they have love, joy peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, self-control? THE QUESTION NOW IS DO I HAVE THE FRUIT? YOU SAY YES, MOST I HAVE, SOME, I DON’T. God is still working in my life. My dear brother, my dear sister. If you want to grow the fruit, let’s ask Jesus to plant those seed and make it grow. He is the one that makes it grow. Let go of any hurt, let go of any pain and let Jesus take control. Not you. Release it to Jesus. LET US PRAY. Message:
Back when I lived in Yokohama in the 90s, we attended YUC (where Pastor Claudia is now serving). We were doing a church cleanup day because, in those days, there was a burnt-out hull of the old church that was destroyed in WW2. It was a place where the kids played after church; if I were a kid, it would be where I'd want to play. However, due to the debris, it was a little dangerous. Anyway, we were doing a church cleanup because we did not have a property manager like Ted. I had gathered a small mountain of wood and burnable stuff and was told to burn it. But it wouldn't light. So I poured gasoline over the pile and lit it. It didn't just burn; it exploded, and a ball of fire and unlit gas hit me from my waist down, and my legs literally (not figuratively) were on fire. I was rushed to the hospital with second-degree burns on my legs. After being discharged, I went to a burn specialist where every three days, I had to have my bandages peeled off and reapplied with medicine. I would lie on my back, and this older nurse, maybe in her late 50s, would say, "This is going to hurt, count to three," and I would start counting. Sometimes she waited until two, sometimes until three, but she would smoothly rip off the bandages. I am not ashamed to admit that I would whimper with tears running down my face and shout out in pain. One day, the older nurse was busy, and I got this young, kind nurse just out of nursing school. I laid down just like normal, and she said, "I think this will hurt, so I will be gentle." She slowly went about pulling these bandages off my leg inch by inch. It hurt like H-E double hockey sticks. I was weeping on the table when the old nurse barged in and said in Japanese, "What the H-E double hockey sticks are you doing?" and ripped them off in one smooth motion. I tell you this story because her decisiveness and straightforward care of my leg was the gentlest thing in the world. In a world of hurting people, we need deft hands at caring for people. Counseling is not my main gift. So when I am called to give care, I am aware that I can sometimes be too aggressive. So I hold back and, like that young nurse, slowly deal with things instead of being who I naturally am as a straightforward person. We know from John 1:14 that Jesus is full of Grace and Truth. That is important. Full of grace and truth. We often err on the side of one or the other. We either are too truthful, too honest, and so end up scaring people away from us and away from our faith. (I might cut if not enough time) I had a friend who was on fire for the Lord (a good thing), but he would go out at nights in Toledo to the areas of the bars and tell people to repent and turn from sin. He, of course, was mocked. He said he was telling people the truth, but he had no grace, no compassion, no social skills. I have known other people that anything goes, and they will tell you it is okay, even though it wasn't okay. And we naturally fall emotionally on one side or the other of the grace and truth sliding scale, and none of us has it perfectly balanced. That is why there are many times I will pray before talking to someone. God, help me to be full of your grace and also your truth. By the way, I challenged my friend to go into a quieter bar and instead of shouting damnation at people, to simply buy a drink and talk to people. To my knowledge, he never did, and to my knowledge, he never led anyone to Christ, and just the opposite might have pushed people further away from God. We know that Jesus met with, talked to, not talked at sinners and tax collectors. That is one of the things that the Pharisees held against him. James the brother of Jesus says, (3:13-16) “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom”. It is actions done in gentleness that comes from an understand that is informed by our relationship with Christ that shows our wisdom. This is not the wisdom of this age but a wisdom connected to the Logos. There was a movie starring Robert Redford called "Horse Whisperer." The movie was based on a real man who worked with injured and damaged horses. The real man, not Redford, said that... Stay calm and centered (for us, that is staying in the Spirit, or as old-timers would say, "Staying Prayed up"). Know that it takes time. Set loving boundaries. Let the horse come to you. In the scene we are going to watch, the horse has run away in fear, and Redford stays connected to the horse but allows the horse to come to him. Just like in Luke 15, the father waited for the prodigal son to come home. Let's watch the clip... In John 21, Jesus restores Peter, the person that Jesus said would be the rock of the early church. We know when Jesus was arrested, Peter stayed close but then denied Jesus not once, not twice, but three times. Here, Jesus meets Peter and asks him a question. Jesus asks, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" And Peter says, "You know that I love you." Jesus says, "Feed my lambs." First, we know that Jesus is addressing Peter formally, not as a friend, by calling him "Simon son of John." Secondly, lambs are small and vulnerable. If a mother sheep rejects her lamb (and it happens), shepherds have two choices: let the lamb die or milk a sheep and feed the lamb himself. Interestingly, that lamb, when it grows up, will be the most devoted to the shepherd of any sheep in the flock. It is an understandable command that even a fisherman could understand. Jesus says again to Simon son of John, "Do you love me?" Again Peter says, "Yes, I love you." Here, Jesus gives Peter a second command: "Take care of my sheep." This is normal because sheep can feed themselves; all they need is general guidance, and sheep pretty much care for themselves. Jesus, for a third time (and we cannot miss that Jesus asks him three times, just as Peter had denied him three times), asks, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" We know that Peter felt hurt because Jesus was gently but firmly asking Peter to commit to this relationship. Peter says, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." You see, Jesus knew that Peter loved him, but Peter did not yet know how much he loved Jesus, and Jesus was giving him a mirror to Peter’s own heart. The final command was, "Feed my sheep." Numbers one and two make sense, but number 3 does not. Sheep know how to eat. But Jesus knows that some are so damaged by life that they have lost the capacity to do the normal thing. These are people who should be able to handle spiritual meat, but because of trauma or difficulties, they are unable to do so. Because of this, Jesus is calling Peter to not just care for the little ones, not just to care for the normal ones that need a little direction, but to care for the weak and challenged. They need a gentle but truthful, loving hand to guide them back to health. If you feel like one of these wounded sheep. Please do not keep it to yourself. Please tell someone preferably someone mature enough to pray for you and support you in a loving way. But as much as you get support from these spiritually mature people also tell Jesus and allow him to touch your heart with his loving hands as he cares for you. For Jesus tells us, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Let's pray. Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. Daniel 6:16-23 So, the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep. At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.” The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. Message: We all know the story of Hachiko (The statue of the dog, which is the most famous meeting place in Tokyo), the faithful dog that even after his master died, continued to go to Shibuya station to wait for his master to return every evening, despite being shooed away by train staff and commuters at first. An article in the newspaper inspired people to be kind to Hachiko, the dog. He was faithful. There is another story of a dog named Captain in Argentina, a German Shepherd that lost his master, a 20-year-old who died. The dog was taken, as the story goes, to the cemetery where he howled in pain as his young master was laid to rest. That night, the family returned home with him but saw his food was not eaten. They looked for him but could not find the dog. A few days later, they went back to the gravesite of their son, and there was Captain. They brought him back home, but as soon as he could get outside, he ran the 20 miles to the gravesite and stayed there until his death in 2018. Just so you know, I am a pro-animal preacher. I love reading stories on animals, and watching cute YouTube videos of pets always makes me smile. One way you can really make me angry is to be angry to an animal in front of me. We gather today not merely as individuals but as a community bound by the unbreakable thread of faithfulness to God as we seek to follow him and emulate our heavenly father's faithfulness that he has shown us time and time again. God through the OT was faithful sometimes to an unfaithful people. Jesus was faithful unto the cross, bearing our sins even as we people yelled, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” He could have called on a legion of angels to rescue him, but he was faithful unto death for us. The faithfulness we have is just a reflection of God’s faithfulness that he has shown us. Years ago, at a church I attended, there was a woman with a debilitating illness. She could barely move her arms and legs and was permanently wheelchair-bound. Yet Sunday after Sunday and Wednesday prayer meeting too her husband and her faithfully made it to church. Rain or shine she was there. It was a witness to all of the people of the church her commitment to Christ and the congregation. Faithfulness is a virtue that lies at the very heart of our relationship with God. It connects to our willingness to be obedient to God. I will say it again its our willingness to be obedient to God not just once but day after day. I told the story of the two dogs; despite their heartache, these faithful companions remained steadfast in their commitment to their masters. Their stories serve as reminders of the depth and power of faithfulness. In the Bible, we have countless accounts of people being faithful to God. The Bible being fair and balanced also tell stories of peoples fickleness and unfaithfulness. Just after being rescued from Egypt and being brought through the Red Sea (can you imagine) by the mighty hand of God, the Israelites built an idol of a golden calf and worshiped it. Maybe fickle is too nice a word. We are like water moving in the path of least resistance. God forgive us for our fickleness. This goes without saying, but you cannot have faithfulness without a deep undergirding of faith. (Sounds silly to say that but it is true). Faith is the confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not yet see. Because you cannot have faithfulness without FAITH. You cannot be faithful without Agape and also Hope. Most mornings I close my prayer time, I ask for these three things, “God give me Faith, Hope, and Love in this world”. Because I know if I have these three things faithfulness will follow. There are many examples of people being faithful to the Lord, but few rival Daniel. He was a young man who, along with his friends, were taken into captive to Babylon during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar. Despite being in a foreign land, Daniel remained devoted to God and refused to compromise his faith, from small things like dietary rules to bigger things like prayer; he was faithful. Faithfulness is often little acts of faith compiled together. One of the most well-known accounts of Daniel's faithfulness occurs in Daniel chapter 6. Daniel had risen to a position of power in the Babylonian government, which caused jealousy and resentment among others. These men conspired against Daniel and convinced King Darius (the new king) to sign a law forbidding anyone from praying to any god or man except the king for thirty days (Kings are often narcissists). Violators would be thrown into a den of lions until they were eaten. Knowing the consequences, Daniel remained faithful to God and continued to pray three times a day. Just as he always did, with his window facing Jerusalem, so it wasn’t a secret. He wasn’t hiding his faith, and the guys that were jealous of Daniel knew he wouldn't stop, they were counting on it. Many of us would say, "30 days I will take it up again in a month," but for Daniel, his faith was a living thing. Just as well say to Daniel hold your breath for a month. He couldn’t do it. He was easily caught and reported to the king. The king wanted to save him because the king knew him as a talented and, more importantly, faithful man. The king's hands were tied by the very law that he himself had signed. (Be careful what you agree to). His punishment was an execution of being thrown to the lions. The next morning the King rushed to the den of lions and shouted down. “Daniel, do you live?” Daniel replied back, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me because I was found blameless before him.” Daniel's unwavering faith in God, even in the face of death, serves as a powerful example of trusting in the Lord regardless of the consequences. People might say, “If I pray before my meal at work, people might look strangely at me.” Oh no! “If I tell people that I am a Christian, what will they think of me?” Oh no! “If I say I will not go along with something because it is wrong and goes against my faith what will my family and friends think about me?” These are real things that people have told me over the years. Faith is not easy. Ask Daniel. Ask our Lord who prayed in the garden of Gethsemane to take this cup from his hands only to say to the Father, “Not my will but your will be done.” It is called faithfulness. Daniel’s story inspires us to remain faithful in our own lives, trusting that God is with us in every situation, no matter how dire it may seem. Daniel's faithfulness not only saved his own life but also served as a testimony to the power and faithfulness of God, ultimately bringing glory to His name. What does it truly mean to be faithful? Is it merely a matter of fulfilling obligations and duties, or does it encompass something far deeper and more profound? At its core, faithfulness is a testament to the strength of our faith, hope and love to Christ. It is a living, breathing expression of our unwavering commitment to God and to one another. That is what we celebrate when we come to the table of our Lord. We profess that God has been faithful when we take the bread and the cup as a sign of God’s faithfulness. Once Jesus asked by a father to heal his son. Jesus asked him if he believed. The father replied I believe but help me with my unbelief. When we come to the table we say Lord I have faith in you that you are able to help me be faithful. Let’s pray. |
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