礼拝メッセージ
2007年10月21日
「The Overcomer's Journey」 (克服者への道)
ルカの福音書 18章1-8節
David Flores牧師 (Congregation of the Messiah)

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells a parable of the importance of prayer and not losing heart but to be an overcomer. Every spiritual journey encompasses five stages to fulfillment. I have entitled this journey The Overcomer’s Journey. The five stages are:

1. The Call (招命)
2. Obedience (服従)
3. The Struggle (苦闘)
4. Perseverance (忍耐)
5. The Blessing (祝福)

Let us use Abraham’s life as an example.

THE CALL(招命):
Genesis (創世記) 22:1, Abraham is asked to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham was a hundred years old when his wife had Isaac. Sarah was barren, unable bear children for most her of life. The Bible tells us that their bodies were as good as dead. Finally, God answers their plea for a child and now after the child has grown a bit, God is requesting that Abraham sacrifice his son. In other words, God was asking for Abraham to give him back the son. In a culture where children were important and where especially the boys would continue the name and heritage of the family, this request was outrageous and unfair.
What fear must have come over Abraham when he heard the Lord ask him to sacrifice his son.
This fear could have gripped him. Webster dictionary states that fear is anxiety, worry, apprehension, mistrust, doubt, suspicion, hesitation, fright, dread, horror, awe, and dismay(不安、心配、不信感、疑い、容疑、ためらい、毛嫌い、不快感、畏敬、落胆). Remember, fear is just our response to a given situation or circumstance.
Fear can often consume us to the point where it can cause us to make wrong decisions or change the good decisions we’ve already made.
Abraham was asked to do the impossible. To not only have his son put to death but also to be the executioner. What does Abraham do?

OBEDIENCE (服従):
Gen. 22:3 Abraham did not hesitate on what God was calling him to do. The Scriptures tell us that he got early the next morning and set out for the place God instructed him to go. We can wonder perhaps how Abraham slept that night? Was he anxious or worried or did he trust that the Lord would work things out.
All we know is that Abraham obeyed the Lord and he did not hesitate.

I might have hesitated (in my life) but Abraham did not.
I want to tell you that all of us have been called by God to do something extraordinary. But we must keep in mind that whatever God has called us to do, whether ministry or otherwise, if we choose to obey, we will find ourselves in a struggle. Every act of obedience comes with some degree of struggle.

THE STRUGGLE (苦闘):
Gen 22:4 tells us that “On the third day, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance." (三日目に、アブラハムが目を上げると、その場所がはるかかなたに見えた。)
What must have went through Abraham’s mind as he saw the place at a distance. In 1996, I toured Israel and at some distance you can see Mt. Moriah where Abraham offered his son. Every step for Abraham must have been heavy and labored. I’m sure he had his doubts. I’m sure he questioned himself. What am I doing? What can I do now? Did I really hear from God or was this my mind playing tricks on me?

Perhaps you were like Abraham wondering did God really want me to come to this country. Did he want me to come to this church, the NY Japanese church? What am I doing? Is this my idea? Did God really want me to serve in this church? To give in ways that sometime seems impossible? The answer is yes, yes, and yes.

THE STRUGGLE (苦闘):
Gen 22:4 tells us that “On the third day, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance." (三日目に、アブラハムが目を上げると、その場所がはるかかなたに見えた。)
What must have went through Abraham’s mind as he saw the place at a distance. In 1996, I toured Israel and at some distance you can see Mt. Moriah where Abraham offered his son. Every step for Abraham must have been heavy and labored. I’m sure he had his doubts. I’m sure he questioned himself. What am I doing? What can I do now? Did I really hear from God or was this my mind playing tricks on me?

PERSEVERANCE (忍耐):
Gen 22:5-8 tells us that Abraham persevered with faith. The first thing he said to his servant was, “ We will worship and then we will come back.” In other words, fear did not overtake him, but faith did. It is like so many people who come to this country to be train and to work and say to their loved ones back home we will go to America and we will come back. Or for those whose home is already here they say we will go to church and honor the Lord and he will grant us favor. Faith has a way of making us do the impossible.
You see Abraham could have walked away but he didn’t he continue forward. He took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son. He himself took the fire and the knife. Finally, they get to where Isaac speaks up and says Father, “the fire and wood are here but where is the lamb. (火とたきぎはありますが、全焼のいけにえのための羊は、どこにあるのですか。)” That would’ve been enough for me to stop but Abraham pressed on with faith and said, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son. (神ご自身が全焼のいけにえの羊を備えてくださるのだ。)” Then next thing we read is that they reached their destination and Isaac is on the altar. As he raises his knife to plunge it into his son, the Angel of the Lord appears and stops him. Because of Abraham’s obedience comes the blessing.

BLESSING (祝福):
Why does God bless Abraham? The Scriptures say because you have not withheld you son from me, your only son.
God blessed Abraham because he heard the call, he obeyed the call, and he struggled and yet persevered through the call.
What is the Lord calling you to do today? A year and a half ago the Lord called the NY Japanese church to share its facility with Congregation of the Messiah. What a blessing it has been for both our congregations. Arigato! Now the Lord is calling the church to do other things to lift the name of Jesus and draw people into his kingdom. Because this church prays, God has used it and will continue to use you. In Luke chapter 18, Jesus told his disciples a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart (いつでも祈るべきであり、失望してはならないことを教えるために、イエスは彼らにたとえを話された。). The lesson in the parable is that because the woman did not stop pleading with the judge, she was granted favor. Likewise, you will succeed when you obey and persevere in the Lord’s desire for your life and church. It may come with struggles but persevere the blessing will come.