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Ena Christian Center
Message: Pastor Genichi Jinnai

“The Established Purpose of Christmas” 6

Everyone becomes members of the household of God.
—5

And here’s how it happens.

Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭20‬-‭22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬:
having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Now we are being built up in the good works that were predestined so that we will become “the dwelling place of God.”
It is in Him, that is, in Christ that this is done.
The cornerstone is Jesus, and there was a plan in advance that the church would be built up with the apostles and prophets as the foundation.

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Ena Christian Center
Message: Pastor Genichi Jinnai

“The Established Purpose of Christmas” 7

Now, let’s move on to chapter 3.
There are two purposes for Paul’s service, and we will look at where they are written.

Who is Paul?

Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬:
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—

Prisoner can mean someone in a prison, but here it also has another meaning, a positive word that refers to a prisoner who serves God.

Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬:
how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,

Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬:
which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

“as I have briefly written already”
That is the content of Chapter 2, that Jews and Gentiles become joint heirs.
Normally, Jewish people thought that this was from the Jews, but this is the mystery of becoming joint heirs with the Gentiles.

Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬-‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬:
To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
—7

How will He carry out the “eternal plan” that existed before the foundation of the world?

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Ena Christian Center
Message: Pastor Genichi Jinnai

“The Established Purpose of Christmas” 8

How will He carry out the “eternal plan” that existed before the foundation of the world?
It is through the church.
Paul, who worked within church, had two purposes.

Verse 8: “I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,”
One purpose is to tell the Gentiles that you too are in the grace of salvation, and there are unsearchable riches in Christ.

The other is “to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden”.
To make known how the mystery of God progresses.
This was Paul’s service.

Now we are in the church and are being saved as Gentiles.
And we are going to say to the Gentiles who are not yet believers and are not Jews that “When you believe, you will gain unsearchable riches of Christ. And you will truly know the mystery, the wonderful thing, hidden from the ages.” with the same feelings that Paul had and do it through church.

Verse 10: “to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church”,
The church – we are not yet complete, but this church will become such an entity to show God’s wisdom.
That is God’s eternal plan.
It means that God will accomplish that plan through the church.
Because Jesus was resurrected, the church has the authority that Jesus had, and God’s plan was to proceed with this from the church.
—8

Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬:
in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

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Ena Christian Center
Message: Pastor Genichi Jinnai

“The Established Purpose of Christmas” 8

How will He carry out the “eternal plan” that existed before the foundation of the world?
It is through the church.
Paul, who worked within church, had two purposes.

Verse 8: “I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,”
One purpose is to tell the Gentiles that you too are in the grace of salvation, and there are unsearchable riches in Christ.

The other is “to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden”.
To make known how the mystery of God progresses.
This was Paul’s service.

Now we are in the church and are being saved as Gentiles.
And we are going to say to the Gentiles who are not yet believers and are not Jews that “When you believe, you will gain unsearchable riches of Christ. And you will truly know the mystery, the wonderful thing, hidden from the ages.” with the same feelings that Paul had and do it through church.

Verse 10: “to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church”,
The church – we are not yet complete, but this church will become such an entity to show God’s wisdom.
That is God’s eternal plan.
It means that God will accomplish that plan through the church.
Because Jesus was resurrected, the church has the authority that Jesus had, and God’s plan was to proceed with this from the church.
—8

Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬:
in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

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Ena Christian Center
Message: Pastor Genichi Jinnai

“The Established Purpose of Christmas” 10

Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬:
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
‭‭
Grounded in love.
That is how we will move forward.
We will move forward while strengthening our inner man.

And how will we become?

Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬:
to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

We will know the love of Christ which passes knowledge. We will know agape love.
And by doing so, we will be filled with all the fullness of God.
This is our growth.
And it is also how we, the church, will be prepared.
—10

Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬:
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

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Ena Christian Center
Message: Pastor Genichi Jinnai

“The Established Purpose of Christmas” 11

Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬:
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

It is “according to the power that works in us”, it is not a power outside of you.
It’s fine if the person outside of you says, “I can’t give a message, I’m not good at evangelism. I can’t do it. I’m embarrassed.”

By the power of the inner man, you will become someone who cannot teach, but is able to teach.
That’s what will happen.
And it is “the church” and “in the church” so that to Him glory will happen “forever and ever.”
That’s because the church is one body, one united with Christ.
—11
So let’s look at what the church is.

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Ena Christian Center
Message: Pastor Genichi Jinnai

“The Established Purpose of Christmas” 12

So let’s look at what the church is.
If we were to give a title to Ephesians chapter 4, it would be “Calling.”
We should walk faithfully in our “calling” and do the work of the church.

Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬:
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,

Go into the calling to which you are called.
If you are called to be a pastor, don’t become an evangelist.
You may not be called to be a pastor, but rather someone who is moving toward business, and then you should go there.
Know what God is calling you to and go there.
What should you pay attention to in order to walk and live in the way you are called?

Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬:
with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

If we know the “calling” that God has called us to, and as a desire to continue to know it, we should have lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.
One another means members of the church. We should bear with one another.
The church will not be built up if we say things like, “I hate that person, I don’t like that person.”
We have received agape love.
For us, who were enemies of God, Christ Jesus died.
The church is built up with Christ’s love of forgiveness, so we build up the church by forgiving one another with the feeling, “that person didn’t realize it.”
Verse 3, “the bond of peace”, “the unity of the Spirit”, we must not forget that we are building up as we do these.
—12

What did Jesus do when He died on the cross and was raised up from hell?

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Ena Christian Center
Message: Pastor Genichi Jinnai

“The Established Purpose of Christmas” 1

As Galatians‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ states, we will be freed from the curse that began with Adam, and we will be freed from poverty, sickness, and the second death, but we know that there is more to it than that.
Today, I would like to focus on Ephesians, that God’s plan is condensed and written.

In Ephesians, Paul was speaking to the Gentiles.

Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

We know that we have all spiritual blessings.
When Adam and Eve sinned, the curse began, but how was it resolved in the long Old Testament?
We also know that God had a plan before Adam and Eve sinned.

Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬:
just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
‭‭
If we were to give a title to Ephesians chapter 1, it would be “God’s Plan.”
God’s plan is to make us holy and without blame through Christ, that is, in the flow of the New Testament, before the foundation of the world.

And this was “having predestined.”
Ephesians 1:7 “In Him”, in Christ.
“according to the riches of His grace”
We receive this riches of God’s grace.

God’s plan is to proceed through Christ and within it.
In the Old Testament, Jesus has not yet appeared, so even though God’s plan is there, the time has not yet come, so He waited.

We will look at the fullness of time for God’s plan to be fulfilled.

Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬:
having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.

This plan, “having predestined”, this fullness of time, takes place in the New Testament.
In verse 9, “according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,” in His Son, Jesus.
As we read earlier in Ephesians 1:5, it says, “having predestined”.

“The fullness of the times”brought the birth of Jesus. Then it became the New Testament, and not only that, but it also had to reach the point where Jesus was crucified and resurrected.

Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬:
In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
‭‭
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Ena Christian Center
Message: Pastor Genichi Jinnai

“The Established Purpose of Christmas” 2

Humans have acquired dominion over the earth, but God does not intend to complete everything on this earth, but planned to make us inheritors of His kingdom in the invisible world.
In the Old Testament, because of sin, no one could go to heaven because if they saw God, they died. They could not meet God in the kingdom of God.
But God makes it possible.
This is by becoming holy and without blame in Christ.
We will go to the kingdom of God wearing Christ.

We have been given the guarantee that we will receive that kingdom.

Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬:
who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

We have received the Holy Spirit as that guarantee.

‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬:
Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

Also, as Romans 8:15 says, “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
You have learned that you received a guarantee to be the same children of God as Jesus, who can call God the Father “Abba, Father.”

Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬:
the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

Let us have our hearts’ and spiritual eyes opened to know this.
God crucified Jesus, took all our sins upon Him, and then used His almighty power to raise Him from the dead, and sat Him at the right hand of God.
At that time, Jesus had a certain authority.

Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬:
which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

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Ena Christian Center
Message: Pastor Genichi Jinnai

“The Established Purpose of Christmas” 3

After Jesus was crucified, died and rose from the dead, He was given all the authority of far above every name that is named.
What does this mean for us?
In the “predestined” plan, we become holy and without blame in Christ.
Originally, Jesus did not need to be crucified.
And in Christ, we gain far above all principality and power that surpasses all things in Christ.
The gathering of us is the church.

Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬:
And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
‭‭
The “church” is in this plan of God.
The church is a gathering of us Christians, not a building.
Through this church, Jesus has the authority to further God’s plan, and gave Him to be head of the church.
And the church is the body of Christ.
Because we are the body of Christ, we are saved.
This was predestined.

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Ena Christian Center
Message: Pastor Genichi Jinnai

“The Established Purpose of Christmas” 4

Next, chapter 2.
The plan to save us, how was it done?

Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬:
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,

Such people are “by nature children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:3).
However, in the grace of Jesus Christ, we become sinless and receive salvation.

And not only that,

Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬:
and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Jesus was born and crucified. Because of what Jesus did, we who believe in Christ are united with Christ and made to sit together in the heavenly places.
This is what He planned.
What will we need at that time?

Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬:
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

We become this way “through faith.”
The faith is not the faith you believe in, but the faith you have received, that is, the faith of Jesus.
No one is saved by their own good works. We move into it with the faith we receive from God.
And while we are made holy and without blame in Christ, there is a plan for us.

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Ena Christian Center
Message: Pastor Genichi Jinnai

“The Established Purpose of Christmas” 5

Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬:
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

It was predestined that Jesus would be crucified.
And it was also predestined that we would be saved and do God’s work.
We must not only rejoice that Jesus came at Christmas, but also know that there is something that has been prepared for us beforehand.
What is it?

Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬:
having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,
‭‭
These two are Jews and Gentiles.
The one who was close was the Jew, and the one who was far was the Gentile.
The plan was to make these two into a new man.
There is currently a war in Israel, but there is a plan for us and them to become one in Christ.
Jesus also spoke about these two things in other verses.

John‬ ‭10‬:‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬:
And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
‭‭
This also mentions Gentiles and Jews.
This is part of God’s plan.
We will bring revival to Japan and the world, but we must not forget the revival in Israel.
This means that they will change from Judaism to Christianity.
However, in the prophecy of the Bible, only a part of them will change, not all of them.
The 144,000 Jews are the ones who will wait until the end and be saved.
I would like us to be firmly aware that we will be saved by something.

Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬:
For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

It is through one Spirit, the Holy Spirit, that we have access to God.
This is because the Holy Spirit is the Spirit that can call God “Abba, Father.”
This can only be done through the Holy Spirit.
And including Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians, verse 19 says, “members of the household of God”‭‭.
Everyone becomes members of the household of God.
—5

And here’s how it happens.

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【リバイバル戦士よ❣️ 集まれ❗️】

＊ERM聖書学校・沖縄校でzoom
リバイバルに備えよ

＜初代教会にあった基礎教理の学び35＞＊

お問い合わせ:恵那レーマ・ミニストリー
E-mail：
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へご連絡ください。

 

フィリピンの方の証です。

私の名前はベスです。フィリピン出身です。
私はこの教会(ERM京都聖会)に時々参加しています。

私は先週日曜日、私が以前通っていた教会の礼拝に参加しました。
ある女性の方の隣に座ったのですが、(周りの人が言うに)その方は悪霊に取り憑かれているようでした。
私はただその方の腰に触っただけだったのですが、その後家に帰ると、(私の頭に)3つのできものと、(首回りに)３つの腫れ物が出来ていました。
それはとても痛くて、月曜から、火曜、水曜、木曜、とずっと痛みがありました。

ですが、今日友人からこの聖会のことを聞いて、参加しに来たのです。

私がこの部屋に入った途端、できものや腫れ物の全部が消えてしまいました！！！！
主を褒め称えます。

だから私はこうやって首回りを触っているのです！！！
本当に、主よ感謝します。誉めたたえます！

 

 

恵那クリスチャンセンター

メッセージ：神内源一牧師

 「偶像崇拝してはいけない」

私たちのまことの神は偶像を忌み嫌われ、造ってはならないと戒めておられます。

出エジプト２０：４～６「あなたは、自分のために、偶像を造ってはならない。上の天にあるものでも、下の地にあるものでも、地の下の水の中にあるものでも、どんな形をも造ってはならない。

それらを拝んではならない。それらに仕えてはならない。あなたの神、主であるわたしは、ねたむ神、わたしを憎む者には、父の咎を子に報い、三代、四代にまで及ぼし、

わたしを愛し、わたしの命令を守る者には、恵みを千代にまで施すからである。」

士師記から見ていきます。

「その夜、主はギデオンに仰せられた。「あなたの父の雄牛、七歳の第二の雄牛を取り、あなたの父が持っているバアルの祭壇を取りこわし、そのそばのアシェラ像を切り倒せ。」（士師記６：２５）

偶像を壊せ、破壊しろといわれ、ギデオンは立ち上がりました。

イスラエルの民は何度も何度も偶像を拝んで神に逆らってきました。

そしてギデオンが偶像を倒したことによってクレームがつけられたことは見てきました。

 

「こうして、その日、ギデオンはエルバアルと呼ばれた。自分の祭壇が取りこわされたのだから「バアルは自分で争えばよい」という意味である。」（士師記６：３２）

 

「そのとき、イスラエル人はギデオンに言った。「あなたも、あなたのご子息も、あなたの孫も、私たちを治めてください。あなたが私たちをミデヤン人の手から救ったのですから。」（士師記８：２２）

 

勝利したギデオンに民は「あなたも息子さんもお孫さんも（私たちを）支配してください」と王となるように望みますが、「自分は王にならない。神が治める」と栄光を神に返します。

しかし、ギデオンは自分と一族にとって罠となるものを作ってしまいました。誤ったことをします。

 

「ギデオンはそれで、一つのエポデを作り、彼の町のオフラにそれを置いた。すると、イスラエルはみな、それを慕って、そこで淫行を行った。それはギデオンとその一族にとって、落とし穴となった。」（士師記８：２７）

 

金でエポデを作り、拝むようになってしまいます。形あるものを作ってはいけないし、拝んではいけないのです。

神の声を聞いて戦い、勝利したギデオンが生きていた４０年間は正しく穏やかでありましたが、彼が死んだあと何が起こったのでしょうか。

 

「ギデオンが死ぬとすぐ、イスラエル人は再びバアルを慕って淫行を行い、バアル・ベリテを自分たちの神とした。

イスラエル人は、周囲のすべての敵から自分たちを救い出した彼らの神、主を心に留めなかった。」（士師記８：３３，３４）

 

せっかく勝利をいただいたのにまた元に戻ってしまいます。

私たちも注意しなければいけないところです。

 

ギデオン（エルバアル）には７０人の息子がいましたが女奴隷（召使い）にもアビメレクという子どもができました。そのアビメレクが何をしたか。

９章です。

 「さて、エルバアルの子アビメレクは、シェケムにいる自分の母の身内の者たちのところに行き、彼らと母の一族の氏族全員に告げて言った。

「どうかシェケムのすべての者に、よく言って聞かせてください。エルバアルの息子七十人がみなで、あなたがたを治めるのと、ただひとりがあなたがたを治めるのと、あなたがたにとって、どちらがよいか。私があなたがたの骨肉であることを思い起こしてください。」

アビメレクの母の身内の者たちが、彼に代わって、これらのことをシェケムのすべての者に言って聞かせた。

そのとき、彼らの心はアビメレクに傾いた。彼らは「彼は私たちの身内の者だ」と思ったからである。」（士師記９：１～３）

 

アビメレクの母親の故郷へ行き「７０人に仕えるよりも１人でいいではないか、私はあなたの身内ですから」と言います。するとそれに同調してアビメレクを立てようという話になります。

 

「彼らはバアル・ベリテの宮から銀七十シェケルを取り出して彼に与えた。アビメレクはそれで、ごろつきの、ずうずうしい者たちを雇った。彼らはアビメレクのあとについた。」（士師記９：４）

 

彼らは偶像崇拝しているバアル・ベリテの神殿から銀７０シェケルを取り出してアビメレクに与えました。彼はそのお金で乱暴者を雇います。つまり、偶像崇拝のお金で事を始めていったということです。

 

それから、アビメレクはオフラにある彼の父の家に行って、自分の兄弟であるエルバアルの息子たち七十人を一つの石の上で殺した。しかし、エルバアルの末子ヨタムは隠れていたので生き残った。（士師記９：５）

 

アビメレクはギデオンの子供たち７０人を１つの岩の上で殺害しますが、ただ１人、末の息子ヨタムは隠れていたので助かりました。

エポデを作っていなければこんなことは起きなかったと思います。

今、あなたがたはクリスチャンで成功しているから祝福されていくでしょう。

私たちは生きている間、間違った歩みをしない限り、ギデオンのように何にも問題のない平穏な人生をおくれます。

しかし私たちが死んだ後、私たちが正しいことを伝えていなければ、ギデオンの子どもに問題が起きたように禍根を残すことにもなりかねません。

 

「それで、シェケムの者とベテ・ミロの者はみな集まり、出かけて行って、シェケムにある石の柱のそばの樫の木のところで、アビメレクを王とした。」（士師記９：６）

 

ひとりを除いてみな殺しにしたのでシェケムの民とベテ・ミロの人々はアビメレクを王様にしました。

逃げたヨタムがこの話を聞いて言います。

 「このことがヨタムに告げられたとき、彼は行って、ゲリジム山の頂上に立ち、声を張り上げ、彼らに叫んで言った。「シェケムの者たち。私に聞け。そうすれば神はあなたがたに聞いてくださろう。」（士師記９：７）

 

ヨタムは示されたのか、腹立たしかったのかはわかりませんが、自分の兄弟を殺したアビメレクを王にしたことにおいて、たとえ話で抗議します。

 

「木々が自分たちの王を立てて油をそそごうと出かけた。彼らはオリーブの木に言った。『私たちの王となってください。』

すると、オリーブの木は彼らに言った。『私は神と人とをあがめるために使われる私の油を捨て置いて、木々の上にそよぐために出かけなければならないだろうか。』」（士師記９：８，９）

 

木々というのは民です。

オリーブの木とは勝利したギデオンだと思います。

王になってくださいと言われた時、ギデオンは「私は神と人を崇めるために使われる私の油を捨て置いて～」と断りました。

ギデオンは本当に神を見上げていましたので、神に召されているのに人の言葉に乗じて優雅に暮らしていくべきだろうかと言ったのです。ギデオンらしい言葉だと思います。

ギデオンが王にならなかったので今度は違う木、いちじくの木です。これは一体誰でしょうか。

 

「ついで、木々はいちじくの木に言った。『来て、私たちの王となってください。』」（士師記９：１０）

 

先ほどと違い、（ギデオンには来てとは言っていません）あなたが来て、来たら王になってといいます。

少し軽んじているところがあります。

イチジクの木は何と言ったでしょうか。

 

「しかし、いちじくの木は彼らに言った。『私は、私の甘みと私の良い実を捨て置いて、木々の上にそよぐために出かけなければならないだろうか。』」（士師記９：１１）

 

いちじくの木はギデオンの息子たちだと思います。ギデオンの後は偶像崇拝するので神は出てきません。

彼らは自分の祝福の視点に立っている。

偶像を拝み、神を見上げていない人たちで自分のことで精一杯なので王にはならないと言ったのです。

次はぶどうの木です。

なぜ３つの木で言うのでしょう。

７０人なら７０言えばいいと思うのですが。

これは孫だと思います。

 「それから、木々はぶどうの木に言った。『来て、私たちの王となってください。』」（士師記９：１２）

 

孫に対してもそう言います。

孫たちは何と言うか。

 

「しかし、ぶどうの木は彼らに言った。『私は、神と、人とを喜ばせる私の新しいぶどう酒を捨て置いて、木々の上にそよぐために出かけなければならないだろうか。』」（士師記９：１３）

 

孫は「私は神と人を喜ばせる私の新しいぶどう酒を捨て置いて～」とあります。

神とは書いていますが偶像の神かもしれません。

 

オリーブ、いちじく、ぶどうとそれぞれ違う木です。イチジクからはイチジクが、ぶどうからはぶどうができる。これは三世代のことを言っていると思います。

ギデオンは何と言っていたか。

士師記８：２２「そのとき、イスラエル人はギデオンに言った。「あなたも、あなたのご子息も、あなたの孫も、私たちを治めてください。あなたが私たちをミデヤン人の手から救ったのですから。」

士師記８：２３「しかしギデオンは彼らに言った。「私はあなたがたを治めません。また、私の息子もあなたがたを治めません。主があなたがたを治められます。」

主が治められる。

自分の中では聖絶、敵を打てと言われましたが、王様になるとは言われていないのでならないということです。

ギデオンの生きている間は良かったのです。

私たちもその後つまずきになるものを残してはいけません。

エポデを作ったのが間違いです。

 

「そこで、すべての木がいばらに言った。『来て、私たちの王となってください。』」（士師記９：１４）

 

いばらとはヨタムから言わせればアビメレクのことです。アビメレクにも王になってと言うわけです。

 

「すると、いばらは木々に言った。『もしあなたがたがまことをもって私に油をそそぎ、あなたがたの王とするなら、来て、私の陰に身を避けよ。そうでなければ、いばらから火が出て、レバノンの杉の木を焼き尽くそう。』」（士師記９：１５）

 

誠意を持って油を注いだら私は王になる。私に身を避けよ。そうでないなら私から火が出て、焼き尽くされてしまうということを言い、王になっていきます。

これに対してヨタムは例えて言います。

 

「今、あなたがたはまことと真心をもって行動して、アビメレクを王にしたのか。あなたがたはエルバアルとその家族とを、ねんごろに取り扱い、彼のてがらに報いたのか。」（士師記９：１６）

 

「誠意を持ってアビメレクを王にしたか。エルバアル（私の父）と家族に対して報いたか。」とヨタムは言います。

 

「私の父は、あなたがたのために戦い、自分のいのちをかけて、あなたがたをミデヤン人の手から助け出したのだ。」（士師記９：１７）

 

私の父は命がけであなたを助けたのだと山の上から叫んで言います。

 

「あなたがたは、きょう、私の父の家にそむいて立ち上がり、その息子たち七十人を、一つの石の上で殺し、女奴隷の子アビメレクをあなたがたの身内の者だからというので、シェケムの者たちの王として立てた。」（士師記９：１８）

 

あなた方は背いた。

ギデオンの子どもたち７０人を処刑し、その女奴隷から生まれたアビメレクを王にすることをしたということを叫びます。

 

「もしあなたがたが、きょう、エルバアルと、その家族とにまことと真心をもって行動したのなら、あなたがたはアビメレクを喜び、彼もまた、あなたがたを喜ぶがよい。」（士師記９：１９）

 

自分たちがしていることは正しいことならその通りになればいいし、彼自身も皆さんの誠意を持ってなったならいい。が、違うだろうという話です。

 

「そうでなかったら、アビメレクから火が出て、シェケムとペテ・ミロの者たちを食い尽くし、シェケムとベテ・ミロの者たちから火が出て、アビメレクを食い尽くそう。」（士師記９：２０）

 

そうでないなら、アビメレクから火が出て、加担したシェケムとペテ・ミロの人たちは焼き尽くされていくと呪いの言葉を言います。

 

「それから、ヨタムは逃げ去り、ベエルに行き、兄弟アビメレクを避けてそこに住んだ。」（士師記９：２１）

 

ヨタムは王にはならず、逃げてアビメレクを避けて隠れ住むようになりました。

そしてアビメレクは統治します。

 「アビメレクは三年間、イスラエルを支配した。」（士師記９：２２）

 

３年間支配はしましたが、ヨタムが言った呪いが起こっていきます。

ギデオンがエポデを作らなければ神の守りの中でそのようなことは起きなかったと思います。そこから色んな問題が起きたということです。

私たちの世代は信仰を持っているからいいですが、残った家族に信仰を継承し、正しいことをしなければいけない。そのことを本当に注意したいと思います。

 

「神は、アビメレクとシェケムの者たちの間にわざわいの霊を送ったので、シェケムの者たちはアビメレクを裏切った。」（士師記９：２３）

 

アビメレクを担いだ人たちが彼を裏切る。なぜなら神がわざわいの霊を送られたからです。

神が喜ぶ生き方をしていない。

神が祝福したギデオンの子どもを処刑する者に神の祝福はありません。

また偶像に捧げた金でならず者を集めて王となった。

だから問題が起きてくるのです。

 

「そのためエルバアルの七十人の息子たちへの暴虐が再現し、彼らの血が、彼らを殺した兄弟アビメレクと、アビメレクに加勢して彼の兄弟たちを殺したシェケムの者たちの上に臨んだ。」（士師記９：２４）

 

さばきが起こっていく。

暴虐への報いが現れてくる。殺された人たちの血の報いです。

アビメレクに協力した人たちにもその呪いが降りかかっていきます。

 

「シェケムの者たちは、山々の頂上に彼を待ち伏せる者たちを置いたので、彼らは道でそばを過ぎるすべての者を略奪した。やがて、このことがアビメレクに告げられた。」（士師記９：２５）

 

アビメレクを待ち伏せする者たちを山々の頂上に置き、道を通る者を略奪するようなことが起き、このことがアビメレクに告げられていきます。

 

「エベデの子ガアルとその身内の者たちが来て、シェケムを通りかかったとき、シェケムの者たちは彼を信用した。」（士師記９：２６）

 

そこにガアルという人物が現れます。

ガアルとその身内のものがシェケムを通りかかりました。

シェケムの人たちはアビメレクに対して敵意を持っていますので今度はガアルを信用するのです、

 

「そこで彼らは畑に出て行って、ぶどうを収穫して、踏んだ。そして祭りをし、自分たちの神の宮に入って行って、飲み食いし、アビメレクをののしった。」（士師記９：２７）

神の宮とありますが、まことの神の宮ではなく元々アビメレクが建てた偶像の神殿です。

偶像の祭りで飲み食いした後、アビメレク王を罵ります。

 

「そのとき、エベデの子ガアルは言った。「アビメレクとは何者か。シェケムとは何者か。われわれが彼に仕えなければならないとは。アビメレクはエルバアルの子、ゼブルはアビメレクの役人ではないか。シェケムの父ハモルの人々に仕えなさい。なぜわれわれはアビメレクに仕えなければならないのか。」（士師記９：２８）

 

ゼブルとは（後で出てきますが）このシェケムの指導者。任された人です。

アビメレクの肉身か姻戚関係なのかは分かりませんが、このゼブルはアビメレクの味方です。

そのことをガアルも分かっていたので「アビメレクとは何者だ、彼を助けるシェケムの人たちは何者だ、なぜ彼に仕えなければいけない。ハモルの人々に仕えるべきで、アビメレクに仕える必要はない」と導くのです。

 

「だれか、この民を私の手に与えてくれないものか。そうすれば私はアビメレクを追い出すのだが。」そして彼はアビメレクに言った。「おまえの軍勢をふやして、出て来い。」（士師記９：２９）

 

アビメルクは王なので従うものもいるので、ガアルは「もっと人数増やして向かって来い」と挑発するようなことを言いました。

彼には兵がないので誰か私に兵をくれないかと言うと、神が送った混乱する霊によって、軍隊ができ、町の人が協力するということで敵意を持っていきます。

 

「この町のつかさゼブルは、エベデの子ガアルの言ったことを聞いて、怒りを燃やし、」（士師記９：３０）

 

ゼブルはアビメレクの味方であり、この町の長です。ガアルがアビメレクを見下してけなしているという情報をアビメレクに伝えます。

 

「トルマにいるアビメレクのところに使者を送って言わせた。「今、エベデの子ガアルとその身内の者たちがシェケムに来ています。今、彼らは町を、あなたにそむかせようとしています。」（士師記９：３１）

 

使いをやって知らせに行き、そして色々な作戦を与えます。

混乱の霊が来ると、色々新しいものが出たり、今まで味方だった者が敵になったりします。

偶像崇拝する時に色んな問題が起きます。

私たちはそのことに注意していきましょう。

 

「今、あなたとあなたとともにいる民は、夜のうちに立って、野で待ち伏せなさい。」（士師記９：３２）

 

今から戦いに行こうとしているから待ち伏せするよう進言します。

 

「朝早く、太陽が昇るころ、町に突入しなさい。すると、ガアルと、彼とともにいる民は、あなたに向かって出て来るでしょう。あなたは好機をつかんで、彼らを攻撃することができます。」（士師記９：３３）

 

朝早く出てくるところを攻撃すれば簡単に勝利できるでしょうという作戦を伝えます。

 

「そこでアビメレクと、彼とともにいた民はみな、夜のうちに立って、四隊に分かれてシェケムに向かって待ち伏せた。」（士師記９：３４）

 

四隊に分かれて待ち伏せをします。

「エベデの子ガアルが出て来て、町の門の入口に立ったとき、アビメレクと、彼とともにいた民は、待ち伏せしていた所から立ち上がった。」（士師記９：３５）

 

アビメレク軍は待ち伏せした所から出てきます。

ガアルは侵攻して戦うぞという気持ちで行くのですが待ち伏せを知りませんでした。

 

「ガアルはその民を見て、ゼブルに言った。「あれ、山々の頂から民が降りて来る。」すると、ゼブルは彼に言った。「あなたは、山々の影が人のように見えるのです。」（士師記９：３６）

 

ゼブルは作戦を知っているので、山の影が人に見えるのだとごまかしますが、ゼブルには山から降りて来る兵が見えています。

その後、四方向から兵が来ます。

 

「ガアルはまた言った。「いや。人々がこの地の一番高い所から降りて来る。また一隊がメオヌニムの樫の木のほうから来る。」（士師記９：３７）

 

ガアルは、「この地の１番高いところからも来ているし、また一隊がメオヌニムの樫の木の方から来る」と言って驚きます。

 

「すると、ゼブルは彼に言った。「『アビメレクとは何者か。われわれが彼に仕えなければならないとは』と言ったあなたの口は、いったいどこにあるのですか。あなたが見くびったのは、この民ではありませんか。さあ、今、出て行って、彼と戦いなさい。」（士師記９：３８）

 

元々アビメレクの味方であったゼブルは「あなたは「アビメレクとは何者か」と大口叩いていたのですから行って戦いなさい」と煽ります。

 

「そこで、ガアルはシェケムの者たちの先頭に立って出て行き、アビメレクと戦った。」（士師記９：３９）

 

戦うと言った以上戦いに行きます。

 

「アビメレクが彼を追ったので、ガアルは彼の前から逃げた。そして多くの者が刺し殺されて倒れ、門の入口にまで及んだ。」（士師記９：４０）

 

アビメレクは兄弟を殺して王になったので、ガアルが出てきたら勝つだろうかと思うところですが、ガアルはどさくさに紛れて王になろうかという魂胆があり、うまい汁を吸えるかもしれないという思いなので、正しい人ではなく、神の遣いではないのでアビメルクに返り討ちにされます。

 

「アビメレクはアルマにとどまったが、ゼブルは、ガアルとその身内の者たちを追い払って、彼らをシェケムに住ませなかった。」（士師記９：４１）

 

ゼブルはガアルが町に戻ってこられないように追い払い、彼らは野に逃れます。

 

「翌日、民は、野に出かけて行って、アビメレクに告げた。」（士師記９：４２）

 

その情報がアビメレクの方に伝わります。

 

「そこで、アビメレクは自分の民を引き連れて、それを三隊に分け、野で待ち伏せた。すると、民が町から出て来るのが見えたので、彼らを襲って打った。」（士師記９：４３）

 

アビメレクは今度は三隊に分けて野で待ち伏せし、民が出てきた時に立ち上がって打つのです。

 

「アビメレクと、彼とともにいた一隊は突入して、町の門の入口に立った。一方、他の二隊は野にいたすべての者を襲って、打ち殺した。」（士師記９：４４）

 

一隊は町に、残りの二隊は野にいるものを襲うという戦いになっていきます。

 

「アビメレクはその日、一日中、町で戦い、この町を攻め取り、そのうちにいた民を殺し、町を破壊して、そこに塩をまいた。」（士師記９：４５）

 

結局町を占領し民を殺してそこに清めの塩を撒きます。

神に祝福されていないものが清めの塩を撒いたところで意味はありませんがきよめたということです。

 

「シェケムのやぐらの者たちはみな、これを聞いて、エル・ベリテの宮の地下室に入って行った。」（士師記９：４６）

シェケムの残っていた人たちは彼らの信じている神の神殿の下に立てこもります。

 

「シェケムのやぐらの者たちがみな集まったことがアビメレクに告げられたとき、」（士師記９：４７）

 

神殿の地下に立てこもったことを聞いたアビメレクに作戦が湧きます。

神に立てられた義軍ではない、ただ混乱に紛れてアビメルクの支配から逃れようという思いつきで戦おうとする人たちの結末です。

 

「アビメレクは、自分とともにいた民とツァルモン山に登って行った。アビメレクは手に斧を取って、木の枝を切り、これを持ち上げて、自分の肩に載せ、共にいる民に言った。「私がするのを見たとおりに、あなたがたも急いでそのとおりにしなさい。」（士師記９：４８）

 

アビメレクは手に斧を持って木の枝を切りそれを担いで、「皆も私と同じようにしろ」と言います。

 

「それで民もまた、みなめいめい枝を切って、アビメレクについて行き、それを地下室の上に置き、火をつけて、地下室を焼いた。それでシェケムのやぐらの人たち、男女約一千人もみな死んだ。」（士師記９：４９）

 

立てこもっている地下室の上に木を置いて火を燃やし焼き殺しました。約１０００人が皆死ぬという作戦をとりました。

アビメレクが勝ちますが、勝ったままでは終わりません。この呪いは必ず起きるのです。

 

「それから、アビメレクはテベツに行き、テベツに対して陣を敷き、これを攻め取った。」（士師記９：５０）

 

他のとこへ行って、攻め落としました。

 

「この町の中に、一つ、堅固なやぐらがあった。すべての男、女、この町の者たちはみなそこへ逃げて、立てこもり、やぐらの屋根に上った。」（士師記９：５１）

 

堅固な建物があるテベツに逃げたものがあって、アビメレクは追っていきます。

 

「そこでアビメレクはやぐらのところまで行って、これと戦い、やぐらの戸に近づいて、それを火で焼こうとした。」（士師記９：５２）

 

火攻めに味をしめ、今度も焼こうとしましたが、ここでアビメレクはあっけなく死ぬのです。

 

「そのとき、ひとりの女がアビメレクの頭にひき臼の上石を投げつけて、彼の頭蓋骨を砕いた。」（士師記９：５３）

 

上から女の人がひき臼の上石を投げつけました。石がアビメレクの頭に当たり頭蓋骨を砕いてしまったのです。アビメレクは女の人に殺されたのでは不名誉なので、あることを使いのものに言います。

 

「アビメレクは急いで道具持ちの若者を呼んで言った。「おまえの剣を抜いて、私を殺してくれ。女が殺したのだと私のことを人が言わないように。」それで、若者が彼を刺し通したので、彼は死んだ。」（士師記９：５４）

 

女の人に殺されたと不名誉な噂を立てられたくないので道具持ちの若者に自分を殺させました。

 

「イスラエル人はアビメレクが死んだのを見たとき、ひとりひとり自分のところへ帰った。」（士師記９：５５）

 

アビメレクの軍隊は解体していきます。

 

「こうして神は、アビメレクが彼の兄弟七十人を殺して、その父に行った悪を、彼に報いられた。」（士師記９：５６）

 

報いは起きました。それは正しくなかったからです。

彼の治世はわずか３年で、しかも女性が投げた石によって頭蓋骨が砕かれていくという呪いの人生でした。

 

「神はシェケムの人々のすべての悪を彼らの頭上に報いられた。こうしてエルバアルの子ヨタムののろいが彼らに実現した。」（士師記９：５７）

 

ギデオンの子のヨタムが呪って言ったことがその通りになりました。

元々正しくないからその報いは必ず起きていきます。

 

この後また士師が起こっていきます。

 

「さて、アビメレクの後、イスラエルを救うために、イッサカル人、ドドの子プワの息子トラが立ち上がった。彼はエフライムの山地にあるシャミルに住んだ。」（士師記１０：１）

 

神に立てられたトラが２３年間、立ち上がっていきます。

その後です。

 「彼の後にギルアデ人ヤイルが立ち上がり、二十二年間、イスラエルをさばいた。」（士師記１０：３）

 （詳細は聖書を読んで参照してください。）

 

「またイスラエル人は、主の目の前に重ねて悪を行い、バアルや、アシュタロテ、アラムの神々、シドンの神々、モアブの神々、アモン人の神々、ペリシテ人の神々に仕えた。こうして彼らは主を捨て、主に仕えなかった。

主の怒りはイスラエル人に向かって燃え上がり、彼らをペリシテ人の手とアモン人の手に売り渡された。

それで彼らはその年、イスラエル人を打ち砕き、苦しめた。彼らはヨルダン川の向こう側のギルアデにあるエモリ人の地にいたイスラエル人をみな、十八年の間、苦しめた。」（士師記１０：６～８）

 

偶像崇拝をあちらこちらで行ったのでまた元に戻っていくということが起きます。

ペリシテ人とかアモン人によって１８年間、苦しめられていくことが起こりました。

 

「アモン人がヨルダン川を渡って、ユダ、ベニヤミン、およびエフライムの家と戦ったとき、イスラエルは非常な苦境に立った。」（士師記１０：９）

 

アモン人の攻撃が特に強かったのです。

 

「そのとき、イスラエル人は主に叫んで言った。「私たちは、あなたに罪を犯しました。私たちの神を捨ててバアルに仕えたのです。」（士師記１０：１０）

 

ここでやっと、偶像崇拝して罪を犯したと気づきます。

 

「すると、主はイスラエル人に仰せられた。「わたしは、かつてエジプト人、エモリ人、アモン人、ペリシテ人から、あなたがたを救ったではないか。

シドン人、アマレク人、マオン人が、あなたがたをしいたげたが、あなたがたがわたしに叫んだとき、わたしはあなたがたを彼らの手から救った。

しかし、あなたがたはわたしを捨てて、ほかの神々に仕えた。だから、わたしはこれ以上あなたがたを救わない。

行け。そして、あなたがたが選んだ神々に叫べ。あなたがたの苦難の時には、彼らが救うがよい。」（士師記１０：１１～１４）

 

神様は、「もう何度救ったことか。もう助けない。あなた方の拝んだ神がいるだろう。その偶像に助けてもらえばいいのではないか」と言いますが、また、彼らを憐れんで助けます。

 

「すると、イスラエル人は主に言った。「私たちは罪を犯しました。あなたがよいと思われることを何でも私たちにしてください。ただ、どうか、きょう、私たちを救い出してください。」

彼らが自分たちのうちから外国の神々を取り去って、主に仕えたので、主は、イスラエルの苦しみを見るに忍びなくなった。」（士師記１０：１５，１６）

 

「あなたのご自由にしてください。でも今回だけは、」と助けを求めます。

悔い改め、やっと偶像を取り除いて主に仕えたので、神様は人々の窮状を見るに忍びなくて助けてあげるということが起きました。

そんな中でまだ敵がいます。

その後また別の神の器が起こされていきます。

 

「ギルアデの民や、その首長たちは互いに言った。「アモン人と戦いを始めるものはだれか。その者がギルアデのすべての住民のかしらとなるのだ。」（士師記１０：１８）

 

ギルアデの支配者となる人を求めて、起こされていきます。それはまた今度お話しします。

ここで見たいのはこのように偶像崇拝で色んな問題が起きているということです。

 偶像を拝んでも助からない。偶像を拝しても３年しか支配できない。偶像とはどういうものなのかということをよく知っていきましょう。

天地万物、宇宙を作った方が神なのです。

そうでないものを作ってはいけない。拝んではいけないと書いてあります。

 

「偶像を造る者はみな、むなしい。彼らの慕うものは何の役にも立たない。彼らの仕えるものは、見ることもできず、知ることもできない。彼らはただ恥を見るだけだ。

だれが、いったい、何の役にも立たない神を造り、偶像を得たのだろうか。

見よ。その信徒たちはみな、恥を見る。それを細工した者が人間にすぎないからだ。彼らはみな集まり、立つがよい。彼らはおののいて共に恥を見る。」（イザヤ４４：９～１１）

 

偶像というのは虚しいものであり、役に立たないものであり、それを拝むものは恥を見る。

ではその偶像とはどのように作りますか。

 「鉄で細工する者はなたを使い、炭火の上で細工し、金槌でこれを形造り、力ある腕でそれを造る。彼も腹がすくと力がなくなり、水を飲まないと疲れてしまう。

木で細工する者は、測りなわで測り、朱で輪郭をとり、かんなで削り、コンパスで線を引き、人の形に造り、人間の美しい姿に仕上げて、神殿に安置する。」（イザヤ４４：１２，１３）

 

木であろうが鉄であろうがそれらを一生懸命作ったのは人間。人間が作ったものに過ぎないではないかということです。

 

「彼は杉の木を切り、あるいはうばめがしや樫の木を選んで、林の木の中で自分のために育てる。また、月桂樹を植えると、大雨が育てる。」（イザヤ４４：１４）

 

植えて、手間暇かけて育て上げてきたものを切って作るものと言われます。

 

「それは人間のたきぎになり、人はそのいくらかを取って暖まり、また、これを燃やしてパンを焼く。また、これで神を造って拝み、それを偶像に仕立てて、これにひれ伏す。

 その半分は火に燃やし、その半分で肉を食べ、あぶり肉をあぶって満腹する。また、暖まって、『ああ、暖まった。熱くなった』と言う。

その残りで神を造り、自分の偶像とし、それにひれ伏して拝み、それに祈って『私を救ってください。あなたは私の神だから』と言う。」（イザヤ４４：１５.,１６，１７）

 

同じ材質で暖を取り、料理を作り、その残りで作ったものが神であって、それに救ってくれと言うのかといいます。

 

「彼らは知りもせず、悟りもしない。彼らの目は固くふさがって見ることもできず、彼らの心もふさがって悟ることもできない。

彼らは考えてもみず、知識も英知もないので、『私は、その半分を火に燃やし、その炭火でパンを焼き、肉をあぶって食べた。その残りで忌みきらうべき物を造り、木の切れ端の前にひれ伏すのだろうか』とさえ言わない。」（イザヤ４４：１８，１９）

 

このように偶像とは人間が作ったものです。

喋らない。歩かない。祈りに答えない。

このような偶像崇拝に私たちは注意していきたいと思います。

私たちは初詣もしない。占いもしない。

神の計画はわざわいではない平安であり将来と希望を溢れるものにする。

今一時的に困窮することがあったとしても、私たちの神は答えてくださる。

今そうなっていなければ偶像を作っていないか注意しなければいけません。

あるものは処理してもらい、呪いから解かれた生活に入っていただいて、アブラハムの祝福を受けるおひとりおひとりになっていただきたいと思います。

では最後にガラテア３：１３、１４を読んで終わっていきます。

私たちは祝福を受けるものであることを感謝します。

 

「キリストは、私たちのためにのろわれたものとなって、私たちを律法ののろいから贖い出してくださいました。なぜなら、「木にかけられる者はすべてのろわれたものである」と書いてあるからです。

このことは、アブラハムへの祝福が、キリスト・イエスによって異邦人に及ぶためであり、その結果、私たちが信仰によって約束の御霊を受けるためなのです。」（ガラテヤ３：１３，１４）

 

イエス様が天に上られて私たちは祝福を受けています。

その祝福を受けている皆さんはギデオンのように祝福されますが、子孫につまずきとなるものを残さないように注意していきたいと思います。

栄光を主にお返しいたします。イエス様の名前でアーメン

 

 

医師より

大腸ガン1m、直腸近く、膵臓ガンの為5カ所の
手術の必要と1年前に宣告

リバイバルの為　手術　抗がん剤を拒否
現在　テニス　2時間して体力維持に努めています。

主イエスよ！リバイバルの為に用いて下さい‼️

信仰の戦い方

ermbible.net

Kigen Joh
Principal
ERM Bible School

What is the “truth”?
When we proclaim, “I am blessed”, then that will come to pass. Every morning, a sister in Okinawa was proclaiming, “I am blessed! I am loved by God just as God loved Jesus.” She, a single mother, and her daughter were both unemployed, but money came in and a call came from her former place of employment asking her to return to work. In the past, this sister used to say, “I am sinful and unclean”, but today she has become someone who proclaims, “I am blessed”.
“I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him (mark 11:23). It says here that we must believe in heart and say it. What we say from our mouths, however, is not only about what we believe, what we doubt also comes out of our mouths.

Let’s take a look at Job who was respectful of God. “This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1:1). Job was such a wonderful person as this. Verse 3 says, “He was the greatest man among all the people of the East”. But he had a certain worry. In verse 5 we learn, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.” Job was worrying that his sons might be sinning. And then Job lost his fortune, fire took place, he got sick, and lost his sons and daughters. Why would these things happen to such an upright God fearing person? Job said, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” (vs 21). It is so written in the Bible, however, this was not what God had said, but it was said by Job. Job said, “God gives and God takes away”.

Actually, we believe that God is He who gives and gives even more.
Why did such a rich man like Job lose his fortune, get sick, lose his children and become like a beggar? The problem was with Job’s confession.
What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me (Job 3:25). Job was fearful. And what was in his heart had been said by his mouth. Perhaps he was saying something like, “maybe one day I might lose my fortune, or lose my children because they sinned.”

For us, what we speak will come true.
Because Jesus was cursed on our behalf, we are no longer under any curse. Because we all have the curse from the sin of Adam and Eve, Jesus was put on the cross to remove that curse from us. You who believe in this, is not under any curse.

Let us say out loud,
”I am not under any curse. God’s plan is not to harm me but to give me peace, hope and a future. In the name of Jesus”.
When we continue to speak this, it will come to pass just as it has been said.
I may have talked about another sister who had been living on a meager salary from the church. She said to herself, “Since Pastor Joh is always saying he is blessed, why don’t I say it too.”
When she started to speak, “I am blessed”, the blouse she had been wanting was given to her by a church council member, and she started to obtain things at low costs. When she was going overseas at the time fuel charges were escalating, she was told her flight had been changed and for that the fuel charge was being waived. It is important to confess!

Let us look at anther verse regarding confession. “From the fruit of his mouth a man’s stomach is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (proverbs 18:20, 21).

Everything about us is decided by what we speak.
Speak what is good. Good things will happen to those who are saying,
”I am blessed!” “I am healed”. If you think and say, “I am sick”, then you are continuing to hold on to that.

Let us look into what it is that we should confess.
As a Christian, if you do not know the difference between the truth and reality, then faith can fluctuate.

A person questioned me, “Pastor Joh, you are always energetic. Do you not get discouraged?” I think this is because I know the difference between “reality” and “truth”.
What we are to confess is not the “reality”.
There are three types of Christians.

First, there are those who are praying but do not understand the heart of God. They do not know if their prayers will be answered or not, but they are praying.
Second, there are those, let us say are sick, for example. Though they are sick in reality, these are the people who by faith are receiving in advance, by praying and proclaiming that they have been healed. All is well as long as they are in belief. However, when the condition prolongs, because their standing position is in the reality, they look at the surroundings, and seeing that they have not been healed thus far, they become discouraged.

I had been suffering from an allergy related nasal condition. I kept saying, “I believe I am healed”, but I was not healing for a long time. It became painful for me to say, “I believe I am healed”, because I was beginning to feel as though I was lying.

Today, I would like for you to leave in knowing the difference between “reality/fact” and “truth”, that which is meant by the Bible. When you come to understand this, you can always be joyful.
I have here a bottled drink.
Who believes there is a bottled drink here?
You do not have to believe that do you? Because it is here, it is a fact that it is here. To believe means believing in something when that something is not in the reality. When asked, whether this bottled drink is the ” truth”, though it is actually here, can I say that is the “truth”? What is the “truth”?

Jesus said: “I am the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6).
And before Jesus was put to the cross, He said: “In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth (John 18:37). “What is truth?” Pilate asked (vs. 38).
Unless a Christian understands what the “truth” is, he cannot walk the true walk of life.
The “truth” is unchanging.
When this service is over, the remaining water in this bottle will be brought back to Ena in the car. Therefore, the fact that this bottled drink is here now, is not an unchanging matter. Therefore, it is not the truth, but a fact.
The fact that this bottled drink is here is not the truth.
We must be clear about this.
There is a difference between the “truth” and the “fact”.
What is it that we must confess?
We are not to confess our wishes, or, confess the present condition.
For some twenty years, I suffered in confessing, “I am healed”, when I was not healed. This suffering was solved.

First of all, what is the “truth”?
When you come to understand the difference between the “truth” and the “fact”, you will stand in true faith and not waver.
(It is this person who is standing on true faith which is the third type of Christian.)
“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth ( John 17:17).
God’s word is the “truth”.
Do you know how this world had come to be?
The reason why the people of the world do not understand God is because they only accept the “reality”, that which they can see.

As we journey in the way of the Christian life, we should know the realm of the “reality”, and the other realm which is that of the “spiritual”.
“By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible (Hebrew 11:3)”.
As we walk our Christian lives, we must recognize that there is the world of the “reality” and the world of the invisible (spiritual world).

”What is seen was not made out of what was visible”.
This is the creation of God.
Satan will say, “You say you are healed but you are sniffling. You are not healed yet.” Furthermore, we sin as we carry on in our Christian lives. Then, Satan will say, “You call yourself a Christian? A Pastor?” In “reality or fact”, that is so.
Satan is the ruler of this world. Satan is controlling what is visible.
That is why Satan will direct you to look at the reality.
I suffered in confessing “I am healed” though my nasal inflammation was there. As a Christian, lying will bring on suffering. Satan will also say, “Are you going to lie in saying that you are healed when you are not?”
I want you to understand well what it is that we should be confessing.
Unknowingly, we sometime say out loud the “present state” of things.
We say things like: ”I don’t have money.” “Sickness is prolonging.” “I’m lacking ability.”

Now let us see what Satan is like. Satan is the ruler of this world.
He is the controller of the visible world that this is.
The devil gives the riches of this world to those he picks.
“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).
Satan is not standing on the “truth”.
Furthermore, he is not standing on the “Word”.

Let us look once again at Hebrew 11:3,
“By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”
This world was made by the Word of God.
”What was not visible” is meant as God’s Word.
All things were made by the Word of God.
Satan may talk about “reality”. But that is not the “truth”.
”God’s Word” is the “truth”.

In leading a Christian life, one will become discouraged as long as he is wondering if he can do something or not, if he posses such faith or not.
However, when you believe in God, in Jesus, and take the position that what God is saying is exactly about you, then your thinking pattern will begin to change.

“By his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24). In the Bible it is written so in the past tense. Therefore, we pray,“I have been healed.”
For two month, I was inconvenienced by the fact that I had double vision from my left eye. At that time I kept saying, “I believe my eye has been healed.” The following day I would say, “I believe I am healed.” After a month, I was saying, “I believe I am healed.” When I looked into the mirror I was seeing four eyes. Satan will say, “you are not healed, look at the reality.” For two month I continued to say, “I believe I am healed, and I was healed. Reality changes by the “Word of God, the truth”.

If we hold on tightly to the “truth, that which is unchanging”, then we can bring that into this world. However, for those who do not hold on tightly, that will not happen. To believe means not to recognize the “reality” of not being healed. I have talked about my wife before.
She was semi-paralyzed due to cerebral infarction.
“In the name of Jesus, left hand move!” Still no movement. But I don’t quit. The devil says, “It’s not going to move, it is impossible.” He attacks with “reality, the fact”. However, the “truth” is the “Word of God”.
1 Peter 2:24: “By his wounds you have been healed”. This is the “truth”.
Next day I said, “In the name of Jesus, hold my finger!” Then she held my finger. She recovered, and a month later she was released from the hospital.
What would have happened if my wife’s hand did not move the second day?
I would have continued speaking, “In the name of Jesus, left hand move!”
Is there anyone sick at this time? Perhaps in reality there is that sickness.
However, we must know what to confess. It is the Word of God that we shall confess. The Word of God is the” truth and it is unchanging”.
When we believe in that which is invisible and “unchanging”, “reality” will change. This is the nature of our faith.
If the Word of God says we are “healed”, then we are healed.
That is the “truth”.

A sister in Okinawa is confessing, “I am blessed!”
She has no husband, the daughters have no work, and she herself had no work in recent times. In such midst, by confessing the “truth” in proclaiming, “I am blessed!”, the “reality” begins to change. She received, 500,000 yen, 1,000, 000 yen, and I was told she was also given work.
That is because the Bible says, “ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).
When we continue to mouth, “that is mine”, then that begins to take place.

Let us proclaim again today:
”I am blessed in the highest!
“I am loved by God in the highest!”
“I am more than a conqueror.”
“I have decided to forgive all people and love all people!”.
“In the name of Jesus. Amen.”

Satan is a liar (John 8:44). What is a lie? Here is a bottled drink. This is “reality”. This can become a lie. What is it compared to that this becomes a lie? When that is compared against the “truth”. Perhaps you are sick at this time. Perhaps you are troubled financially. Perhaps you are amidst problems.
But looked at from the standpoint of the “truth” which is the Bible, those are “lies”. Satan is not standing on the “truth”. You may be suffering from illness. And Satan will say, “in fact that is so”. However, Jesus was put on the cross and had taken the curse of your illness upon himself, therefore, that curse does not belong to you. What is there is a “lie.” Anyone who understands this and proclaims, “I believe I have been healed in Jesus”, for him the “reality” will change no matter how many years he has been sick.
For 25 years, Abraham kept believing in being given a child. Why was he able to continue believing for such a long time? It is because he was not looking at the “reality”. “The child is not born yet, maybe it is not possible.”
Not Abraham. He was standing on the “truth”. Abraham did not waver because he was standing on the Word of God, the truth, that said, “I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, like the dust of the earth” (Genesis 12~).

Those who have problems now, please say, “This present condition that I am in is not right!” It is not right for me to remain in sickness. It is not right for me to remain in poverty. It is not right for me to be without work. We must speak these. Blessings will come when we believe so. When we believe, those blessings will come. Galatians 3:13, 14: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree. He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.”
Those who proclaim, “I am blessed”, who are standing on the Word that is the truth, do not waver. Those who are standing on “reality”, and speaking with the feeling of, “I wish if it would turn out this way”, when answers to prayers are prolonged, they relent to saying, “perhaps it is not possible.”

Today, I would like for you to remember that what we are proclaiming is not our wishes, but the “truth of the Word”. I suffered in not knowing the difference between the “truth” and “reality.” The Word is unchanging. We shall stand on the “truth”, on the “Word.” Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away (Mark 13:31). We shall be free when we know the “truth”!

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31, 32).

Many do not understand the truth. They only understand what is visible. But the“truth”is in the invisible.

Person with cancer gets healed, and like in Pastor Gwajima’s ministry, the deceased come back to life. Because there is belief in the Word of truth that says to raise the dead, such a phenomenon is taking place. Furthermore, if you will abide in the truth, you will truly become disciples of Jesus. Jesus is saying He has taken the place of your sickness. If you will believe that then you are His disciple, and just as He says will surely come to pass though we do not know when.

And when you come to know the truth, you will be free.
In the unseen, there are many “truths”.

For example, is there someone who is in financial difficulty? In the spiritual realm, there is the truth that says you shall not be troubled (Ephesians 1:3).
We are not to look at the world of “reality”. The Word is the “truth”.
Therefore, we shall stand on the Word. That is our standing position.

Jesus became poor for our sake.
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Therefore, in Christ we are rich.
Therefore, we will continuously proclaim, “I am rich”.

Because we proclaim this “truth”, reality changes.
Like Job, should we say something other than what the Word says, then we happen to invite that on. We are not to be speaking the symptoms of the reality. The doctor may speak of worse symptom. He may say something fearful that may cause anxiety. We, however, will not be that way. For God has given to us a plan that is, “not of anxiety but of peace, future and hope”, which is God’s Word. Therefore, my life is rich in hope!

Those who believed that sickness has been healed knows that in the spiritual realm this has already been accomplished, therefore, he does not dwell everyday on whether he has been healed or not, but instead, he thinks about how he will exist in the reality until healing comes. He knows he is going to be healed, therefore, he can think about what he will do when he is healed. In the meanwhile, he is positive, perhaps thinking about obtaining qualifications to find work, etc.
I will confess of the “truth”.
The Devil will look at me and say, “Is your attitude appropriate for a pastor? And you call yourself a Christian?”

What is the Bible saying to us about the “truth”?
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” (Romans 8:1). You are not condemned to sin.
This is the “truth”. God’s Word says you are definitely not condemned, but you are condemning yourself to sin. That is because you are looking at “reality/fact”.

Should we sin, then let us pray, “Father in heaven, I have sinned. I have done what is wrong but please forgive me now, for on the cross, Jesus has paid for all my sins until I go to heaven. I believe I have been forgiven, and I give thanks unto you.” And then we shall proclaim the Word of the truth.
As we look into the Bible, we are being the person that is even unimaginable to ourselves.

Japan’s revival will take place from now, but what is said of the kind of people God will use? He will use those who are without worldly wisdom, power or knowledge, the ordinary, marginalized and many kinds of people.
If someone is not able to believe that, then that is when he is looking at the “reality” of his ability, thinking that he will not be used.

Paul had wisdom. He was distinguished. Then, why was he of wisdom used by God? It is because he said, the wisdom and ability he held were “rubbish”.
“What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ”, (Philippians 3:8).
He did not say he was of excellence, far superior to others, and that surely he ought to be used. Rather, he said he has nothing.

You may say, “I have nothing”. But if you begin to speak the “Word of truth” and say, “I who have nothing is quite awesome in Christ”, then you will change.
Do not look at yourself which is in the“reality/fact”.
It is a fact that I am not smart. I am lazy and I am weak.
However, in the “truth”, I am more than conquerors. “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us”, (Romans 8:37). When we confess that, then that which we confess will begin to take place.

We shall not look at the “reality”.
The “reality”, when compared with the “truth” could be a lie.
What is real is the ”truth”.

“But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation”, (Colossians 1:22).
Reconciliation has already taken place through Jesus.
Therefore, we are holy, without blemish, free from accusations. We shall confess this every day.
For when we do so, the “reality” of being holy, without blemish, free from accusations, will come to pass.

Let us proclaim, “I am holy. I am without blemish. I am free from accusations. That is me! That is the “truth”! I am successful. I have been healed! I have no reason to be sick.”
When we are speaking the “truth” in this way, then if sickness is there, it will change to healing, and change for blessings will come to be. We must know the difference between “truth” and “reality”, and speak not the facts, but the “truth”.

I will close with a prayer.
“Merciful heavenly Father, we give you thanks. And we return all glory unto you.
That though in reality each person is not yet able to see who he really is, I give you thanks because he will know the realm of the truth, and when he proclaims the Word, he will come to know who he really is.

I give thanks because when we say what you had said, when we say the Word of God, as the visible evolves out of the invisible, our true selves, the selves of the truth will become the reality..

Though someone might be sick at this time, the truth of 1 Peter 2:24 that says, “by his wounds you have been healed”, will heal him, restore his health, make him able to work, and give him a life of future and hope. Therefore, I give thanks.
Though some might be thinking, “I am not capable”, “I don’t have the ability”, I give thanks that these people will become as so in declaring the Word of truth that says in Philippians 4:13, “ I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

In the name of Jesus we will continue to speak the truth no matter what circumstances or situations we may be in.
We are not speaking lies. But the lies called “reality” will begin to change.
In the name of Jesus I give thanks.
Amen.”