「人の決断を通して働かれる神」:2019年10月20日(日)礼拝説教要旨
あなたがどんな選択・決断をしたとしても、イエス様はいつもあなたと共にいて、あなたを決して見捨ず、助け導いてくださいます。そんな神様のゆるぎない愛に感謝しながら、神様が最も喜んでくださる選択・決断ができるように、聖霊の知恵と助けを祈り求めていきましょう。
物理好きの無神論者がキリスト教の牧師になって始めたブログ
あなたがどんな選択・決断をしたとしても、イエス様はいつもあなたと共にいて、あなたを決して見捨ず、助け導いてくださいます。そんな神様のゆるぎない愛に感謝しながら、神様が最も喜んでくださる選択・決断ができるように、聖霊の知恵と助けを祈り求めていきましょう。
神様の恵みの故にイエス様を信じる信仰によって救われた人々に対して神様が望んでおられること、それは神と人を愛すること。そのためにはまず神様の救いの恵みに満たされる必要があります。神と人を愛することに疲れたならば、今一度、神様の恵みを思い起こしてください。
私が牧師を務めるTokyo Multicultural Church (TMC; みんなのためのキリスト教会)では、10月13日(日)より日本語での礼拝が始まります。日時は月の第一週目の日曜日を除いた他の全ての日曜日の9:30-10:30です(月の初めの日曜日は11時からの合同礼拝のみとなっています)。
You don’t feel like God is with you, working in your life because the situation is getting worse and worse? Then rremember the cross; remember how God has turned the worst of all things—the crucifixion of His only Son— into the best of all things—the eternal life for all who believe in Christ.
By grace, God has given us the life of His only Son Jesus, which is way much greater than what we could possibly give back to God. So all we can do is to give thanks to God for His love and grace, and try to live the life God wants us to live, remembering that His grace is sufficient for us.
It is not us but God who takes the initiative. We can pray to God as our heavenly Father because God has taken the initiative to give us the privilege to become His children through faith in Christ by His grace. Thus, prayer is a way for us to respond to God’s love and grace.
If you've ever wondered whether God may not have forgiven some of your sins for whatever the reason, then know that God’s only Son, Jesus, died for you. God loves you so much that He is more than willing to forgive all of your sins if and only if you repent and believe in Jesus.
No matter how bad the situation may look right now, God is sovereign and in control, and He is working for your good. For God can use anything, both good and bad, for His plan to be accomplished, for His people to be saved, and for His purpose to be sustained.
When you suffer for your faith in Christ, remember that you are not alone; God the Father always protects you from the evil one, God the Son, Jesus is always with you, and God the Holy Spirit always helps you through the sufferings, so that you might be able to rejoice in sufferings for the Name of Christ.
When you live as a Christian in Japan, you may feel discouraged by others or feel isolated from a group/society. Yet, remember you are not alone. Jesus Himself has been through all. He knows your pain, sorrow, and shame. And He suffers with you because He is always with you.