"Rejoice in the Lord." -- this is today's word. And it continues, "I will say it again. Rejoice!" Sometimes, of course, it is hard to rejoice. But we have the joy of the Lord inside of us. Since this is our first time to meet this morning, it is natural that I should introduce myself to you, however, it is the worship time to praise the Lord and receive the words of God. So I will skip this part for this reason.

I have been in Oita once before, and I think it is a beautiful place. I am from Chikushino City, north of Fukuoka. In my district, there is a jail for women. This reminds me of one book that a Korean lady wrote in a jail, entitled "Even if it's not." She experienced such terrible things in the jail. The condition was worse than anywhere in the world, food was terrible and her health was seriously damaged. She was skinny, sick and dirty all the time. However, she was very good to everyone in that place. One of the people there was about to be executed for her crime. Death was just in front of her. She was afraid and lonely. Touched by her love of God, this lady was melted spiritually and right before her death. She believed in Christ.

This lady who wrote the book had Christ's love inside of her. She was fellowshipping with the Lord all the time, everywhere -- this is the reason she had peace even in the jail.

Ro.8:26: "..but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words can't express." This is God's love for us to be able to have eternal life and be forgiven.

Ph.4:5. Jesus is coming back some time in the future. The time when we will be taken up is near. This verse also means that Jesus is always near us who believe. Jesus is near any person so that He can listen to the prayer. Even those who don't believe in God have Jesus near them.

One time, a car accident happened, and only one child was saved. Doctors checked all over the child's body, but could find no damage. They asked him what he'd been doing in the car at the time of the accident, and he replied that he was praying to Jesus to help him. We he found that he was alright, he shouted "Hallelujah!" Jesus is everywhere helping us and listening to us.

My son, whom we named Joshua, became seriously ill when he was twenty-one years old. He had cancer in his blood. The doctors tried every treatment they dared to use at their medical college, but said that he could only live for half a year or so. Then, a doctor came to us and showed us how much it would cost to give him the best treatment. I understood it, but my wife was very anxious. She remained at the hospital with our son. She prayed on the top of the hospital, but some of the nurses were wondering what she was doing there, so she stopped praying there - a certain lady had committed suicide there before, by jumping off the roof. She saw a cross while she was up there, so she left the hospital in search for it. It was a church in town. She then chose that place to offer her prayers from. Some Christians from that church prayed with her for our son. She kept praying and praying, but it was not God's will, and our son was taken to Heaven. She told me later that without those prayers she would have been driven insane. Read Ph.4:7.

I was also guarded and supported by God's peace for my son's death. My son's life is written in some book. I hope and pray that it would be a good testimony for other people. Through prayer, we also guard and support one another. At the age of ten, my son received his baptism. But, when death was right in front of him, he could not have peace. He was confused and panic-stricken. He had been a boy who had a good sense of humour, but now he was totally changed. He was worried and said so. One time, a pastor, who had been well- used by God, visited him in the hospital. They prayed with each other, hand-in-hand. From that day on, he was changed; he was a boy of humour again. He even encouraged the people who visited him at the hospital. Our family could have peace, even through his disease. At his funeral, some people wondered why our family did not cry or shout with sorrow like other people did. Of course, we did cry, but we were sure that he was going to where Jesus is, which very much encouraged me and gave me peace.

Besides our worries and sorrows about his disease, we were badly in need of finances for his treatment. But God answered this need too. People all over Japan gave money to us through their churches, and supported us financially. I had to live a life alone in Miyazaki, after my wife returned to the hospital. I had to cook for myself.. God gave me grace in this matter, too. Our church has a kindergarten, and fourteen mothers of pupils from this kindergarten took turns cooking for my supper. Just like Elijah, who was fed by birds, I was fed and supported by God's invisible hands. My son even guarded and supported me through phone calls. He encouraged me, saying that I was a pastor and shouldn't be depressed -- how much I was supported by the work of God!

When I was a young man, working for a church in Saga (prefecture), a revival of God came. I became tired from giving so many people baptisms! In the grace of the people's Saviour, lots of children came to our church. With the strong work of God, more and more people were saved. One time a girl invited her school teacher to the church. When she learned that her teacher believed in Christ, she cried with joy. It was the first fruit of her school. Her classmates and teachers started coming to church, and being saved, the early morning service was also blessed and so many people began to come to our church. Later, we adults wondered why that revival had happened. Finally, we found the answer -- it was through the prayer of the children. Jesus said, "Let children come near me." Our church couldn't find seats for all those children, so we started renting a public hall for our children's gatherings. It did cost much, but nothing is more valuable than people's souls! The key for the work of God is prayer. We don't have to use many words, but with sincere hearts, we are to offer our prayers.

Translated by Junko Okamoto - Edited for the Net by Shido
For another sermon see: Oita Evangelical Christ Church
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