Prayerful Dependance

[00:00:00] Good morning. Good morning. Thank you so much for having me and, uh, having my daughters. I’m so feel joy to be with you this morning. Last week I was talking with David, and we found out, uh, one thing, that one church in the States sent missionaries, the first missionary, to Australia. That is David’s mothers.

[00:00:25] And three years laters, that church sent missionaries to Japan, and those missionaries disciple my parents, and I grew up in Christian home, and such a joy to work and serve with David this week. Uh, God, it’s been faithful to generation to generations to make His disciples all over the world globally. I feel so glad that Jesus’ church is one church.

[00:00:56] He is our Lord. We have a His church. In these cities, there’s one church. And I’m glad to sh- open the passage with you this morning. First, Peters talks about suffering. All the believers, disciple of Jesus was, uh, scatters throughout the cities because of the prosecution and sufferings. In this book, the letters encourage still us today.

[00:01:25] Even the midst of difficult and suffering, still God’s kingdom come, and His name will be praised. He will reveal, and His name is proclaim through us. This passage, this letters doesn’t talk about if sufferings end, then mission will start. This p- letters reminding us that even midst of suffering, still God’s kingdom come through us.

[00:01:58] He is reveal through us, and His name will be proclaimed through us in the midst of suffering. And this passage talks about three things this morning. This will encourage our missional communities and us to reveal who He is and proclaim who He is in the midst of difficulties. So first one talks about-

[00:02:24] I will talk about three thing. Discern the time, discerning the time. And second talks about experience His presence and power. And third, I’m gonna talk about rooted in love. 1 Peter 4:7 said, ” The end of all things is near.” The end of all things is near. People who are suffering, this passage is reminding us one thing, brothers and sisters, end is near.

[00:02:59] When people think about this passage, Jesus coming back soon, some people think, “Oh, it is about late afternoons.” Some people think this is about 9:00 at nighttime. Some people think this is midnight. Some people think, “Oh, this is 3:00 in the morning. In a few hours, the sun will rise.” So this passage talks about He is coming So this tension is here, and people who are suffering, they have to remind that this suffering will end soon because He’s coming. Judgment will come soon, and His hope is great because in Christ, we are His childrens. And when He comes, all the people will worship Jesus. That day will come soon. In Old Testament, uh-

[00:03:52] First Chronicle, First Chronicle 12:32 talks this, men of Issachar who understood the time and knew what Israel should do. 200 leaders with all their relatives understand their command.”

[00:04:09] This talks about people understood the time. That’s why people gather together, did what they’re supposed to be doing. So this passage also talk about discerning the time. Church, we need to discern our time. This is not the beginning of the church age. This is the end of the church age. Jesus Christ is coming back soon.

[00:04:36] If we don’t discern our time, we’ll be a sleeping church. If we don’t discern our time, no one proclaim Jesus. If we don’t discern our time, there’s no hope. So this passage talks about in the midst of a difficult time or in suffering, please understand where we at now. It is time. He is coming soon. There’s a

[00:05:00] Jesus talks about the parable about 10 women

[00:05:02] He talks about the five womens didn’t discern time, and he, they have a lamp and they didn’t prepare other oil. Other five womens, they discern the time, so they prepare the oil. At nighttime The Lord came

[00:05:18] And the people who didn’t prepare, they went to go get the oil, then the door was closed. Kingdom God is like this, Jesus said. Discern our time. Oil represent Holy Spirit. For us, we have to, we’ll discern our time. We have to f- fill with the Holy Spirit. We have to be ready every time we’ll listen to Jesus and we’ll do His will.

[00:05:46] Every morning, every night, we are filled with the Holy Spirit so that I, we could do His will in midst of difficult time. There is, uh, three years ago In, um, M-Maui in Hawaii, their little island they had a huge firework up in the mountains, and so many people lost their life And the news said this, there are

[00:06:14] 65, 65 alert, silent alert. You know, so something happened that, that, the, all the city will know it’s happening. That 65 silent alert was broken, and no one knew the fire is coming. That’s why they’re lost, what the, the news said. So brothers and sisters, the, First Peter reminding us, time is near.

[00:06:41] So next one, second, we’re gonna talk about, mm, understand what kind of powers we have today in the midst of difficult time. What kind of power we have, what kind of power are we trusting?

[00:06:57] First Peter 4:7 talks about the end of all things is near, therefore, the language is therefore, people who are discerning time, therefore be clear-minded and self-control so that you can pray This prayers, this prayer talks about People who pray this is a prayer about not praying to housekeepers.

[00:07:24] Help me, my life will be better. This prayer is not to praying to a housekeeper, but this is prayer for praying to King of King. He will do His will. His kingdom will come. This is a prayer, is about a spiritual warfare. This is a prayer that it’s real, it’s, it’s darkness, but praying and crying out, “You have to do something here.”

[00:07:49] God’s kingdom come. This is kind of prayers And these prayers, once we understand this kind of prayer, we’ll feel His presence and His powers. What kind of power are we talking about here? It’s Jesus … Let’s remind the gospel again. Jesus walked in 40 days in the wilderness he victor over the sin, evil one.

[00:08:15] And right after that, he said this, right after that, M- Matthew 4:17, he said this, ” For the time, from that time on, Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of God is near.'” So he’s saying that now Go- it’s God’s kingdom is coming. God’s kingdom is breaking in. And he was casting the e- devil, evil one.

[00:08:42] He’s healing the w- healing people, and he’s doing miracle thing. And the religious people said to this, ” Is he the evil th-” is this is he the head of evil?” That was a Pharisee questions, because he’s doing miracle things, all the evil one is casting out. And the religious people said, “Is he the head of hi- evil one?”

[00:09:10] And he said this, Matthew 12:29. He said this, “But if I cast out a demon by the Spirit of God, Spirit of God, then Kingdom of God has come upon you. How can anyone enter a strong man’s ho- house, man’s house and plunder his pos- positions unless he first tied up the strong man? Then he plunder his house.” This is what he’s saying is kingdoms came when he is doing Father’s will.

[00:09:49] When he’s praying and he’s doing Father’s will, the head of evil one is tied up So the, he has all the power to do his will. Then when Jesus send the disciples, you know what he said to us? Same spirit, same power in Christ is given to us. So that’s why Mark 16:15 said this, “He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the good

[00:10:21] preach the Gospel of, to all creations. Whoever believe and is baptized will be saved, and whoever does not believe will be condemned.'” Then 17 he said this, ” And these sign will accompany those who believe. In my name, they will drive out demon. They will speak in new tongues. They will pick up snake with their hand, and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all.

[00:10:59] They will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” So he’s saying what kind of power in Christ’s name with the same spirit, what kind of power do we have? When, uh, Mary met Jesus, when Jesus was dead and resurrected, and Jesus met Mary. And do you know Mary said, “Teacher.” She clings his, uh, he, she clings legs, you know what, after that what he said? ” Don’t cling to me. I have to go to the Fathers.” That is such a good news because once he goes to the Fathers, whoever believe in his name will receive the same Holy Spirit in us. So whenever we pray to King of Kings to do something, he will do it. So in the midst of a difficult time, midst of suffering, he’s saying to pray

[00:12:02] I was, uh, when I, 2011, me and my wife and two little kids went to move to Tokyo and start a missional life. I had a full-time for first three years. My heart was, I wanna make disciples in these cities who never heard the gospel before, who never had a Bible in their hand before. I prayed that, “Jesus, I want to share who you are in these people.”

[00:12:31] And I was working for three years. First three years, no one came to know Christ. And the first guy who came to know Christ was not the picture in the living rooms, but a guy I was doing, uh, uh, working taking care disabled people. I moved to house, and one of the client is ALS, cannot move, and he could only blink his eyes.

[00:12:54] And Jesus told me, “Yoshi, you came to this house not only work, not only serve him, but you need to proclaim Jesus.” And I did. And he, you know, he blink his eyes, and he received Jesus Christ. That, he’s the first guy who came to know Jesus. So me and my wife and my two little kids and him, I prayed to Jesus, “Why?”

[00:13:22] I came to plant church in these cities, but he cannot move. He cannot do anything. So my pride said to this, “Jesus, why you saved him? I want other guys who could move.” And I repent it. Because you know what? He was a prayer warriors. Every time I meet people, I go to him. “I met these people. Can you pray?” He blinked.

[00:13:46] My wife met people Uh, and we, I told him all the name of our, our friends, and he said he’ll pray for them. And after that, one by one came to know Christ. What kind of power we have is Jesus, His kingdom will come in midst of difficult time, in midst of darkness. If we pray, He will do it. This year, I also repented again because I was becoming prayerless pastors.

[00:14:17] I was too, getting too busy and I didn’t pray much. And, uh, one lady came to me after preaching, after the gathering. She said this, “Hey, Yoshi, my arm, I had a, a pain, so I can’t…” She’s a teacher, piano teacher. She cannot work anymore because she has a two, arms are so painful. And you know what? I didn’t pray.

[00:14:41] I forgot to pray. And Spirit reminded me that, Yoshi, this is a spiritual warfare. You need to pray. So I repented. I start praying again. And then some, what happened was once I changed by Holy Spirit, I started, start praying more. All our staff start praying more. So every week, most of the time we pray. And because our leaders change more to prayerful dependence, our whole congregation changed.

[00:15:11] Every three months, once, once a three month, we decided let’s focus on just music, worship, and pray. So we start praying and praying. And during that time, what happened was, there’s one pictures in the living rooms, first pictures. There’s one junior high. There’s a picture in there, one junior high ladies.

[00:15:33] She came to know Christ one year ago. But before that, she never been, she couldn’t go to school for six years.

[00:15:41] When prayers happen, she first time this year she’s decided, okay, a- after she came to know Christ, she decided to go to school. And principal said this, “Why you are able to come to school? You didn’t come to school for six years. Before you were joining to school, I wanted to see you.” The principal and his counselors, and her mothers.

[00:16:03] This is I heard from her mother. Her mother is not Christian yet, but our friend. Her mother said this. Principal and teacher ask her, “Why do you think you are able to come? How do you feel?” And she said this, “20% is I f- have a fear, but 80% I have a joy.” And principal said to her, “Why do you have a joy? You didn’t come for six years.”

[00:16:26] And she said this, ” I have Jesus is with me.” She said to the principal and teacher who never heard the Jesus, name of Jesus. This is a kind of thing Jesus telling, if you believe, you have a new language to speak about Jesus. So prayer for dependence. When we pray, we have His presence and His powers. What do we trusting on?

[00:16:54] What kind of power do we trust? Sometime we trust our cleverness of speaking. Sometime we trust in how well we run the programs. Sometime we trust how the structures well. N- all of them good, but without spirit and power, there’s a no, nothing’s happened. So that is what Peter talks about here. Last one.

[00:17:17] Last one he talks about to the people who are suffering, and how the c- God’s kingdom come to the communities is this, rooted in His love. This is what talks about this, verse eight, ” Above all, love each other deeply.” Love each other deeply. When we are on missions, we need friends who stick with us at, until end.

[00:17:49] This is the kind of love they are talking about. This is not love that happen in the gathering of churches. This is a love, the commitment. I wanna be with you because Jesus is with me. I gonna commit to this missions with you. This is a first century churches was like that. Because He loves us, I love you guys.

[00:18:12] I wanna love our neighbors together. I love the, this passage, R- Roman 12:10 Talks about the be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourself. The language say honor I love the one with the missional communi- uh, uh, missional communities. Every time there’s a birthday, even little kids to old, every time they have a birthday, everyone give the word of honors

[00:18:40] So one lady that she just start going to school, she said this even her birthday is not yet, but month before that, he start– she’s always telling us, “Hey, my birthday is coming next month.” And, “But my birthday coming in three weeks, two weeks, one week.” She cannot wait to be celebrated. Every time we do this, we don’t give present, but we give all the young adult, everyone speak the honor to her life

[00:19:08] that feel love. Honor one anothers. I love

[00:19:12] I love the language for honorings

[00:19:14] I wanna honor David because the way we are able to plant and survive is I had a brother like you And you have a heart, not only one local church, but you are meeting so many pastors in our areas. Want to see gospel saturations. Your faithfulness and you, the way you don’t give up, the way you love other leaders, I really honor you.

[00:19:39] I love to be with you. And one thing, this week we had so many meetings. The teaching was great, the meeting was great. At the end, what was the most, the joy that give us, give me, is not much of what I did in today, but whom I got to do with. That gave me a joy more than what I did. This is a such a, a honoring love is talking about this in First Peters.

[00:20:07] At end, I wanna say this. You know how much we are loved? Do you know how much you are loved by Jesus? Jesus doesn’t love you, the new version of you. Jesus doesn’t love you, new future of scientifications. Jesus love you as you are now. Because of the cross In his work and on the cross, you are righteous.

[00:20:33] Nothing I did, not even my fingers worked, nothing make me of righteous. Only his work on the cross make you righteous and children of God. When Father see you because of Christ, you are loved. Not new version of you. You are loved. If you get to know the gospel and love, same love this is talking about, love each others.

[00:20:58] I love the missional community because we have a, this is a safe place. We could be ourself, be known, and be know each others. This is a families. Family love each others. When we love each others, people know they are the disciple of Jesus. When church and churches love each others, this cities knows they are disciple of Jesus.

[00:21:21] Last, I’m hugging David so many times this week, but can I hug one more time? Sure. Can you come up?

[00:21:27] It’s time to serve. Let’s go. I used to think church like this. Yeah. Just teaching, teaching right theology, teaching strategies, teaching structures, teaching maybe Word of God like this. But Jesus said this. Yeah. Oh. This

[00:21:45] is love. Yay. Thank you.

[00:21:47] This passage say love each others. Love each others. The pace of church, the pace of missions is pace of Jesus

[00:21:59] Pace of missions is always pace of Jesus. Pace of Jesus is always Pace of love is always pace of relationship. Relationship takes long time in Japan context, several years

[00:22:14] So that’s what we are called for. Jesus loves you. We are here to love Jesus. We are here to love each others. We are love one non-Christians, one families. Doesn’t have to be many, just one single persons. If you guys find the need of the persons, we will solve the need, and they feel the love, and now we are able to share who Jesus is.

[00:22:42] Not only head hurt, need hug. They could taste the love of Jesus. That is His church. So let me pray at end. Can I pray for you guys? Dear Father, thank you so much for Your grace, Your love, Your Gospel. Thank you that Your church is here. Thank you for the brother and sisters reminding us again by Holy Spirit how much we are loved by Jesus.

[00:23:09] Thank that You’re coming back soon. We cannot wait to see You I pray that we are daily by day by day, w- uh, we’ll be filled with the Holy Spirit so that we are not gonna be sleeping church

[00:23:24] I pray that our prayer is not like praying to housekeeper, but praying to the fathers and Jesus who are right hand of our fathers. He is King of Kings. So our prayer will be more strong and courageous and praying real prayers. Your will be done, your kingdom come to us, to our family, and to our neighbors.

[00:23:54] I also pray that your love will be revealed through us this week. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.