Quite a few people are suffering from the flu now, I am glad to see so many of you here this morning, together and freed from every single earthly matter. We will continue to pray for those who have been sick, and are not here this morning.

As some of you know, I am leading non-Christian couples in wedding rehearsals at Grace Chapel. This program is one of our ways of reaching out to those who haven't come to know Christ in their lives. Yesterday, though, I made a terrible mistake! I thought that I had a wedding service at 1:00 in the afternoon, but actually it was supposed to have started at 10:00. I'm getting old!! I was very late for the wedding. I apologized to the couple and their people many times over again, from my heart. I was deeply afraid that they would be furious. However, they didn't seem to mind at all - rather, they asked me to wait another 30 minutes while they set up a video - I was so relieved. And, for some reason, I had prepared everything for the wedding on the previous night, so all was ready. The wedding was a success -- God is always with us!

Exodus 2:15. Here in the place of Midian, Moses started a new life - after throwing away his life as a son of the Pharaoh. In this mountainous place, Moses found a people who were faithful to God. On the mountain of Horeb, he met God face-to-face, personally - later, Moses asked God His name and God answered "I am who I am." This is His eternal name. God exists forever, just like the meaning of His name. We humans exist here, in this time and place only. We are here in the third dimension, but we will certainly disappear. However, God is not like us. Refer to Rev. 1:8: He is the Beginning and the Ending. See Rev. 22: 12,13. This is the God that Moses met on the mountain, personally. He was called out.

Exodus 3:6. For us Japanese the concept of God is greatly varied, as we have many gods in Japan. In the old days, we made a god of anything that was big; huge rocks, trees, etc., or anything strange, like foxes, white snakes, and even horses! They are so numerous that it would take too long today to make mention of them all, our so-called gods. We still have these evil habits among some of our people, deep inside. But, for Moses, it was different; when he heard the voice of God, he immediately knew it was from the God of Abraham.

Hebrews 2:10,11. Some Japanese worship their ancestors as their god, to protect them. But, we all know that our ancestors were also created by God, for He created everything. He is the God of creation.

Secondly, we are to know that God heals us. It can't be said that when you become a Christian you are completely freed of all troubles. That is not true! We all have sufferings and hardships. And, here's a famous verse from Matthew 11[:28-30]: "All those who are heavily burdened, come to Me." We Christians often think that this verse is only for non-Christians, calling them to accept Jesus, but really, it is for us! When we go to Jesus with our problems, then we know that our God is always with us wherever we go.

Being unable to speak well, Moses replied to God that he didn't have the ability to lead his people for God. But God gave him a stick, which represented God's presence. No matter what kind of situation or hardship we may be in, God is always with us. To be with God doesn't mean that we all going to win or overcome troubles. Even in troubles, God is with us, carrying us who have such heavy burdens.

Remember the part from Matthew 14:26,27? It's our life itself that troubles us in the hardship of life. But, in these verses, Jesus calls to Peter, "Do not be troubled, I am here." God called to Moses, saying, "I am who I am." And Jesus encouraged Peter really, saying exactly the same thing!

Yesterday, I got a call from one of the ladies in our congregation. Her mother had been sick in bed before she left this place. In bed, she could accept Jesus as her Saviour. Praise Him! This church member wanted to get her mother baptised before she died. However, her mother went to Heaven without it. When I talked to this lady on the phone, I felt that she had a peace about her mother's death. I was sure that God was with her then. The peace He gives us is totally different from what the world gives us!

Translated by Junko Okamoto - Edited for the Net by Shido
For another sermon see: Oita Evangelical Christ Church
For all sermon indicies see: cHaPeL nOaH sErMoN iNdEx