KBF Teachings

¹O lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. ²From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. ³When I consider the heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, ⁴what is man that you are mindful of him? ⁵You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. ⁶You have made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: ⁷all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, ⁸the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. ⁹O lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Story- My experience at around age 16 looking up at the stars...calling "Jesus!"

vs. 3When I consider your heavens the work of your fingers

Story - So many people claim to be god. Must look silly to the God of the Universe.

1. We Humans are only really human when we are in relationship to God.Ps.8:5

(Independent from God we can become worse than many animals)

2. The glories of man get ruined by rebellion.

Hebrews 2:8
and put everything under his feet."  In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him.

3. The glories of man recovered in Jesus Christ. Hebrews 2:9

Read-Ephesians 2:3-10

³All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. ⁴But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Question: How do you see yourself?

a.)independent from God?

b.)God's mess?

c.)God's masterpiece?

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Psalm 7
¹ 'O Lord my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me, ²or they will tear me like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me. ³O Lord my God, if I have done this and there is guilt on my hands- ⁴if I have done evil to him who is at peace with me or without cause have robbed my foe- ⁵then let my enemy pursue and overtake me; let him trample my life to the ground and make me to sleep in the dust. ⁶Arise, O Lord, in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies. Awake , my God; decree justice. ⁷Let the assembled peoples gather around you. Rule over them from on high; ⁸let the Lord judge the peoples. Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most  High. ⁹O righteous God, who searches minds and hearts, bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure. ¹⁰My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart. ¹¹God is a righteous judge, a God who expresses his wrath every day. ¹²If he does not relent, he will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow, ¹³He has prepared his deadly weapons; he makes ready his flaming arrows. ¹⁴He who is pregnant with evil and conceives trouble gives birth to disillusionment. ¹⁵He who digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit he has made. ¹⁶The trouble he causes recoils on himself; his violence comes down on his own head. ¹⁷I will give thanks to the Lord becaous of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High."

(Psalms we will study-1,2,7,8,9,14,16,23,32,40,45,49,51,91)

1. The Nature of the Problem (vs.3-5)
   Have you ever been falsely accused??
2. The Danger of Accusing others. 
   KBF 1 Corinthians 13:6&7 attitude
   Bearing False witness is a dangerous activity....
3. Defending yourself all the time is foolishness
   Falsely accused? "Keep on Walking"
4. God is the Just Judge
   vs11 "God is a righteous judge, a God who expresses his wrath every day."
5. Jesus Christ ,is our Friend in Court!.
   Romans 8:31-39
   ³¹What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³²He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? ³³Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. ³⁴Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. ³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶As it is written:
      "For your sake we face death all day long;
         we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."³⁷No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Psalm 2:1-12
¹"Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? ²The kings of the earth take their stand and rulers gather together against the Lord and against the anointed one. ³"Let us break their chains," they say "and throw off their fetters." ⁴The One enthroned in heaven laughs;  the lord scoffs at them. ⁵Then he rebukes them in anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying. ⁶"i have installed my kings on Zion, my holy hill." ⁷I will proclaim the decree of the lord; He said to me,” you are my son; today I have become your Father. ⁸ask of me and i will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession ⁹You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery." ¹⁰Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. ¹¹Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling ¹²Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

1. Never Forget! It is in heaven that the ultimate authority lies.Vs.4
2. Nations that ignore God's ultimate authority stand in a danger zone of
   God's judgement. vs.5
   *Nubuchadnezzar- Daniel 4:28
3. Live in Awe of God's Greatness & Take refuge in Him.  vs.11
   Some examples:
   *Boys before a king-(Daniel 3:16)
   *Jesus Before Pilate -( John 19:10-11)
   *Peter before the Sanhedrin -Acts 5:29
   How Do We get that Kind of Courage?-Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you! Acts.1:8
4. Through Jesus- We can talk directly to God and change the course of History!
   John 15:7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you......
   Through prayer you can change the direction of history for your life, for your family, for this Nation of Japan...

Studies in Psalms ch1,2,7,8,9,14,16,23,32,40,45,49,51,91

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Psalm 1:1
¹Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. ²But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. ³He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers ⁴Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away ⁵Therefore the wicked will stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the Assemble of the righteous. ⁶For the Lord watches over the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Solution -Walk with Jesus Closer -He is our map to life.

1. Be concerned for sinners but not closest friends.
   1. Sin- is living life independent from God, "my way"...walk by ...stand...sit...
      do it over and over again, you are trapped.
   2. At the same time we must remember that Jesus spent a lot of time with the kind of people described in vs.1.
      " KEEP Yourself built-up in the Lord so you can reach out Lost people"
2. Learn to Love the Law &you will experience true life! vs.2&3
   1. This is not talking about some strange legalistic enjoyment of rules! Legalism is a curse.
   2. The law was not only what they were to do, but more important what God hand done for them!! For us the whole Bible is God's word that brings life.
      (i.e.　Story of the lost Son in Luke 15:11)
      Romans 12:2
      Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test  and approve what God's will is- his good and pleasing and perfect will."
      "The more you get God’s truth going around on your inside-real living begins!"
3. Never forget! Living away from God is miserable! vs.4
   They are unstable; they lack fruit. They're like chaff. That is, they're lifeless; they carry no weight. You know that chaff is a nuisance to the farmer. He has to get rid of it. Blown by the wind ....

Act2 2:37-39
³⁷When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" ³⁸Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-for all whom the Lord our God will call."

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

1 Samuel 17:40-50
⁴⁰Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with sling in his hand, approached the Philistine. ⁴¹Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. ⁴²He looked David over and saw that he was only a boy, ruddy and handsome, and he despised him. ⁴³He said to David, "am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods ⁴⁴" Come here," he said, "and I'll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!" ⁴⁵David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. ⁴⁶This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. ⁴⁷All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands.⁴⁸As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. ⁴⁹Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. ⁵⁰So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him..."

Present day Society trains us to live as cowards.

1. We are taught that we are only a product of pure chance, related to the pic & every other life form.
2. As we live we build a history for failure.
3. As our failure history list gets longer we begin to expect failure and prepare for it...

How did David overcome his negative background??

1. Spend your time of waiting, getting ready for purpose God has for you.
   1. Develop your practical skills.
   2. Develop your worship life in quiet times with God.
   3. develop a simple life of focus.
2. Develop your ability see beyond the negatives of your life to God's purpose.
3. Learn to use your anger as a power for positive Good.
4. Courage is moving ahead because of what God says &Who God is.
5. God wants to take what little you have and empower it!!

What is your Giant? What do you need to overcome??

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

A　lot of people live miserable lives because they have to chase money or are being chased by money.

Matthew 6:19-24
¹⁹"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ²²"The eye is the lamp of the body. if your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. ²³But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. if then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! ²⁴"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Breaking-Free from Slavery

1. Take time to Find your Hidden Motive :What's your purpose for making money?
   *Truth- God wants us to rely on Him for our security, power, self-worth, joy.
2. Take time to Imagine financial freedom!!
   Philippians 4:11b -13
3. Take time to get a place where you know with confidence that your heart motive for making & using money is pleasing to God.
   Luke 18:18-30
   1. Breaking through to financial freedom:
      Take an honest look at how you use your money? Self-centered ? God Centered?
      (Keep all your receipts for 6 weeks)
   2. Refocus your life away from making money to "Loving God & helping others" .
   3. See everything you have as a gift from God & share with others.
      Be a good steward of the time/energy/talents/things he has given you
      (Alaska share your stuff mentality)
   4. Give God 10%or more as an expression of your faith in him. I have never met a spiritually blessed person who is not a giver.
   5. Allow God to lead you into situations where you have to depend on him.
      Matthew 10:7－10

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Matthew 23:1-12
¹Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: ²The teachers of he law and the Pharisees sit in Moses seat. ³So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. ⁴They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves and not willing to lift a finger to move them.
⁵Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels of their prayer shawls long; ⁶They love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; ⁷they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi'
⁸But you are not to be called 'Rabbi' for you have only one master and you are all brothers. ⁹And do not call anyone on earth father, for you have one father, and he is in heaven. ¹⁰Nor are you to be called 'teacher' for you have one teacher, the Christ. ¹¹The greatest among you will be your servant. ¹²For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Worldly Sempai (club/work/sports/religion)

Jesus type - KBF Upperclassman (Sempai)

1. (vs.1-4) Lead by example
2. (vs.5-6) It's what we do behind closed doors that makes us truly spiritual.
3. (vs.7-10) No Fancy title
4. (va.11)　"The greatest among you will be your servant. Someone ｗｈｏ ｈｅｌｐｓ you grow. Good sempai is an equipper of others.
5. (vs.12) Just humbly serves regardless of what people think. They just do what God shows them to do!

How Do we Become Good upperclassmen?

Galatians 5:22
²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, Joy, peace,　patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness　and self-control, Against such things there is no law. ²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. ²⁵Since we live by the spirit. ²⁶Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

＊What happened at the beginning of this year ～A notice of cancer about my father

Philippians 4:6-7
⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

＊KBF message -- Walking with the WORD

1. From Romans 10:13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

2. Exodus 17:8-16 The battle between the Israel and the Amalekites (Our strategies for the spiritual battles)

3. Exodus 32:31&32  Moses’ nature as a leader “sacrificial prayers”
³¹So Moses went back to the LORD and said, "Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. ³²But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.”

* What God did for me

1. Salvation of my father

2. Christian style funeral

3. Good news for as many people as possible

*Everything is under God’s sovereignty, and through two incidents God revealed His power in the spiritual world.

1. God stopped those who tried to stop His plans.

2. He showed His power in the spiritual world of Japan.

He is interested in Japan!  So He wants to do the work with a great influence.
God is looking for the vessels of God who trust Him and who have passion to risk their lives.

＊Remember one more time!  God’s world greatest plan! ～To save as many people as possible
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,　that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

* Never give up on our families or friends who are not saved yet, for God is still working.

God’s character : He never give up until His work is completed.

Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Katsumi Ishizaka | Permanent Link

Lk 23:44-49
⁴⁴It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. ⁴⁵for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he said this, he breathed his last.
⁴⁷The centurion, seeing what happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man." ⁴⁸ when all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. ⁴⁹but all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

*Have you ever been in a situation where you were full of dreams & plans only to have them so crushed that you saw yourself as having absolutely no hope?

*God's specialty is to take something that looks absolutely dead &hopeless, bring it through a season of utter darkness and then a new morning comes and new life begins in a wonderful way we never imagined. That's the way God Works!

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

*Today's Story in Joshua 13-21.....We will read Joshua 15:13-20

Joshua 5:13-20
¹³In accordance with the LORD's command to him, Joshua gave to Caleb son of Jephunneh a portion in Judah—Kiriath Arba, that is, Hebron. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.) ¹⁴From Hebron Caleb drove out the three Anakites—Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai —descendants of Anak. ¹⁵From there he marched against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher). ¹⁶And Caleb said, "I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher." ¹⁷Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage. ¹⁸One day when she came to Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, "What can I do for you?" ¹⁹She replied, "Do me a special favor. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me also springs of water." So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs. ²⁰This is the inheritance of the tribe of Judah, clan by clan:

What is God's Land of Blessing for us? It is a way of living:

God desires to bring us to a place of great blessing that is lasting!

Lesson #1 - Dont become a "borderline believer"

"Part-time Christianity  doesn't work!!'

Methods to walk with God:

1. Keep a Journal
2. A daily walk with God
3. Silent retreats
4. Develop a PJ3

Lesson #2- Be encouraged in your walk with God! He has brought you this far,

He will bring you on!

If Jesus is Lord of your life-Keep looking up! The best is yet to come!

"God Chose you, he will not abandon you!!"

Lesson #3 - We are never too old to make new accomplishments of faith with God's

power in us.

Like Caleb at age 85, we can overcome mountains and beat giants

(Joshua. 14:14)

Lesson #4 - The older generation must provide for the younger generation, not only

materially but spiritually.

Older believers are to be good role models and encourage the younger generation.

(Joshua 15:13-19 We see Caleb providing for the next Generation)

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Galatians 6:11-16
¹¹See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand! ¹²Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh. ¹⁴May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. ¹⁶Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God.

1. The world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

The worldly values became nonsense for me, and the old “me” died.

2. The cross’s two steps of power

Step #1 Justification has been completed for one time.
Psalms 97:2 b
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Step #2 Sanctification is an on-going process
Through his/her whole life

* What is the difference between them?
Justification is like a farmer who gets a field for free.
Sanctification is like a farmer who cultivates the field that has been given to him for free.

The fruit of Sanctification is the fruit of the Sprit. Galatians 5:22-23
²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

3. A new creation

#1 Cultivating a spiritual field
Luke 9:23b
If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

#2 Getting freedom and hope through knowing the truth.

#3 Only God can create.

Summary of today’s message

Justification - necessary for a non-Christian
- baptism

Sanctification - necessary for a Christian
- communion

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Yoshiko Toda | Permanent Link

Galatians 6:11-16
¹¹See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand! ¹²Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh. ¹⁴May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. ¹⁶Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God.

1. The world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

The worldly values became nonsense for me, and the old “me” died.

2. The cross’s two steps of power

Step #1 Justification has been completed for one time.
Psalms 97:2 b
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Step #2 Sanctification is an on-going process
Through his/her whole life

* What is the difference between them?
Justification is like a farmer who gets a field for free.
Sanctification is like a farmer who cultivates the field that has been given to him for free.

The fruit of Sanctification is the fruit of the Sprit. Galatians 5:22-23
²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

3. A new creation

#1 Cultivating a spiritual field
Luke 9:23b
If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

#2 Getting freedom and hope through knowing the truth.

#3 Only God can create.

Summary of today’s message

Justification - necessary for a non-Christian
- baptism

Sanctification - necessary for a Christian
- communion

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Yoshiko Toda | Permanent Link

Joshua 9:1- 10:28

After Victory at Ai, Joshua makes another big mistake. This time "doing nothing" was the mistake he made.

Three stages of the mistake:

Mistake Level #1- Believing the enemy. (Joshua.9:1-15)

¹Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things—those in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Great Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites)-²they came together to make war against Joshua and Israel.  ³However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, ⁴they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. ⁵The men put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. ⁶Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, "We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us."  ⁷The men of Israel said to the Hivites, "But perhaps you live near us. How then can we make a treaty with you?"  ⁸"We are your servants," they said to Joshua.
But Joshua asked, "Who are you and where do you come from?"  ⁹They answered: "Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we have heard reports of him: all that he did in Egypt, ¹⁰and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan—Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth. ¹¹And our elders and all those living in our country said to us, 'Take provisions for your journey; go and meet them and say to them, "We are your servants; make a treaty with us." '

“Satan is an imposter that pretends to be an angel of light.”（2 Cor.11:14）

The worst lie "because of the fame of the Lord your God”

Satan knows how to use religious lies to give the impression they are close to the Lord.
Be humble, patient, prayerful-when people try to tell you what to do

#2 - Enlisting the enemy (Joshua 9:16-27)

#3 - Defending the enemy (Joshua 10:1-28)

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

(Story-The battle for Ai & spiritual lessons learned from it)

1. A New Beginning - Josh.8:1-2

The answer to our discouragement and fear is in hearing and believing God's word (written word & Holy Spirit):

¹Then the Lord said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the King of Ai, his people,his city and his land. ²You shall do to Ai and it's king as you did to Jericho and it's king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set an Ambush behind the city."

Defeated? Get alone with God,spend time in the Bible meditating on His promises & Singing to God &praying for wisdom

Psalm 91:1-16
¹He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. ²I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God , in whom I trust ³Surly he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. ⁴He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge:  his faithfullness will be your shield and rampart. ⁵You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day. ⁶Nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness. nor the plague that destroys at midday. ⁷A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your fright hand, but it will not come near you.⁸You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.⁹If you make the Most High your dwelling-even the lord, who is my refuge-¹⁰Then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. ¹¹For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; ¹²they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. ¹³you will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. ¹⁴Because he loves me,:says the Lord , "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. ¹⁵He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. ¹⁶With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

2. A New Strategy - Josh.8:3-13 (Tell the Story of Ambush setting at Ai)

*living God's way requires God inspired and directed strategy

1. Keep your thoughts on God's words
2. Ask for God's insights throughout your day
3. Develop spiritual "side vision" to puck-up what God is doing around you.

3. A new victory - Josh.8:14-29 (tell the story of burining of Ai)

4. A New Commitment - Josh. 8:30-35

Is your commitment to God through Jesus Christ fresh?? New?? or are you living off past experiences?.....

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Deafeat can be a very painful but valuable teacher..

1.A disobedient Soldier (Josh. 7:1)
But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things;Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, tooksome of them. So the Lord's anger burned against Israel...vs.20 Achan replied, it is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: 21When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred sheckels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.")

The Process of Achan:

1. He looked at the treasure that was not his, a second time.
2. His second mistake was to rename those treasures "the spoils" (7:21)
   Isaiah 5:20 "woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil.."
3. Achan’s 3rd mistake was to covet.
4. His 4th mistake was to think that he could get away with is sin by hiding it.
   Mathew 6:33　But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

2.A defeated Army (Josh. 7:2-5)

Joshua and his officers were walking by sight and not by faith.

"Pride goes before distruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" Prov. 16:18

3.A Discouraged leader (Josh. 7:6-15)

If some of your best plans have ever been broken to pieces then you understand the feeling. Remorse (7:6) Repentance(7:8-9)

4.A discovered sinner (Josh 7:16-26)

*Nobody can hide from God.

This judgment is a lesson to us about how serious sin is to God and how much we need Jesus as our Lord and savior.

What should we do about our sin??

1. be totally honest about our condition.
2. Confess it before God. 1John 1:9
3. Prayerfully make restitution when necessary.
   (Private sin private/public sin public)

When you surrender to the Lord, no defeat is permanent and no mistake is beyond repair.

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

1.Renewing the Lord's Covenant

Joshua5:1-9
¹ Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the LORD had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until we had crossed over, their hearts melted and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites.  ² At that time the LORD said to Joshua, "Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again." ³ So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth. ⁴ Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of military age—died in the desert on the way after leaving Egypt. ⁵ All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the desert during the journey from Egypt had not. ⁶ The Israelites had moved about in the desert forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the LORD. For the LORD had sworn to them that they would not see the land that he had solemnly promised their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. ⁷ So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way. ⁸ And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed. ⁹ Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." So the place has been called Gilgal to this day.

a.)To restore their Covenant relationship with God. Col. 2:11-12

"My Life is Yours, God!"

b.)To develop their faith in God. (Josh. 5:8)

c.)To remove the dark shadow of their past failures (Josh 5:9)

"Bondage Breaker"

2.)Remembering the Lord's goodness. (Josh. 5:10-12)

3.) Reaffirming the Lord's presence. (Josh 5:13-15)

*Joshua met Jesus as the Captain of the Lord's armies.

"OUR LORD ALWAYS COMES TO US WHEN WE NEED HIM IN A WAY WE NEED HIM"

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

1.The Word of Faith

Josh 3:1-13
¹ Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. ² After three days the officers went throughout the camp, ³ giving orders to the people: "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. ⁴ Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between you and the ark; do not go near it."
⁵ Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you."
⁶ Joshua said to the priests, "Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people." So they took it up and went ahead of them.
⁷ And the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. ⁸ Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: 'When you reach the edge of the Jordan's waters, go and stand in the river.' "
⁹ Joshua said to the Israelites, "Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God. ¹⁰ This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. ¹¹ See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. ¹² Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. ¹³ And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD -the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap."

a.)Joshua received orders.

Alone time, God’s WORD intake,　Talking & listening to God

b.)The Ark was encouragement to their faith.

Because it meant that God was going in front of them opening up the way.

2.The Walk of Faith

Josh.3:14-17
¹⁴ So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. ¹⁵ Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, ¹⁶ the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. ¹⁷ The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.

Unless we step out after the word from God and "Get our feet wet," we are not

going to experience God working in us and around us

3.The witness of faith

Josh.4:1-24
¹ When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, ² "Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, ³ and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan from right where the priests stood and to carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight."
⁴ So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, ⁵ and said to them, "Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, ⁶ to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' ⁷ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever."
⁸ So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the LORD had told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to their camp, where they put them down. ⁹ Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day.
¹⁰ Now the priests who carried the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything the LORD had commanded Joshua was done by the people, just as Moses had directed Joshua. The people hurried over, ¹¹ and as soon as all of them had crossed, the ark of the LORD and the priests came to the other side while the people watched. ¹² The men of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over, armed, in front of the Israelites, as Moses had directed them. ¹³ About forty thousand armed for battle crossed over before the LORD to the plains of Jericho for war.
¹⁴ That day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they revered him all the days of his life, just as they had revered Moses.
¹⁵ Then the LORD said to Joshua, ¹⁶ "Command the priests carrying the ark of the Testimony to come up out of the Jordan."
¹⁷ So Joshua commanded the priests, "Come up out of the Jordan."
¹⁸ And the priests came up out of the river carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD. No sooner had they set their feet on the dry ground than the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and ran at flood stage as before.
¹⁹ On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. ²⁰ And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. ²¹ He said to the Israelites, "In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, 'What do these stones mean?' ²² tell them, 'Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.' ²³ For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. ²⁴ He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God."

God will use the memory of past walks of faith to give you the courage

step out and believe God on a greater level.

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

1. Faith with Courage

Joshua 2:1-7
¹Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. "Go, look over the land," he said, "especially Jericho." So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there. ²The king of Jericho was told, "Look! Some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land." ³So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: "Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land."
⁴But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. ⁵At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, the men left. I don't know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them." ⁶(But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) ⁷So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.

If there really is a living God who wants to have a loving relationship with you....

Do you want to know Him??

2.CONFIDENT FAITH

Joshua 2:8-11
⁸Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof ⁹and said to them, "I know that the LORD has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. ¹⁰We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. ¹¹When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.

*There are many kinds of faith-Faith is only as good as it's object. Faith in the God of the Universe is the most powerful.

Unless the whole personality is involved, it is not saving faith.

3.CONCERNED FAITH

Joshua 2:12－14
¹²Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign ¹³that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will save us from death."
¹⁴"Our lives for your lives!" the men assured her. "If you don't tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the LORD gives us the land."

Is my faith so real that I am concerned for the eternal life of my own family?

4.COVENANT FAITH

Joshua 2:15-24
¹⁵So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. ¹⁶Now she had said to them, "Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way."
¹⁷The men said to her, "This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us ¹⁸unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. ¹⁹If anyone goes outside your house into the street, his blood will be on his own head; we will not be responsible. As for anyone who is in the house with you, his blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on him. ²⁰But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear."²¹"Agreed," she replied. "Let it be as you say." So she sent them away and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
²²When they left, they went into the hills and stayed there three days, until the pursuers had searched all along the road and returned without finding them. ²³Then the two men started back. They went down out of the hills, forded the river and came to Joshua son of Nun and told him everything that had happened to them. ²⁴They said to Joshua, "The LORD has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us."

*Covenant agreement

*Today-.Who do you have your faith in??

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

1.) Faith with Courage

Joshua 2:1-7
¹Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. "Go, look over the land," he said, "especially Jericho." So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.

²The king of Jericho was told, "Look! Some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land." ³So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: "Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land."

⁴But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. ⁵At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, the men left. I don't know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them." ⁶(But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) ⁷So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.

If there really is a living God who wants to have a loving relationship with you....

Do you want to know Him??

2.) CONFIDENT FAITH

Joshua 8-11
⁸Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof ⁹and said to them, "I know that the LORD has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. ¹⁰We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. ¹¹When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.

*There are many kinds of faith-Faith is only as good as it's object. Faith in the God of the Universe is the most powerful.

Unless the whole personality is involved, it is not saving faith.

3.) CONCERNED FAITH

Joshua 12－14
¹²Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign ¹³that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will save us from death."
¹⁴"Our lives for your lives!" the men assured her. "If you don't tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the LORD gives us the land."

Is my faith so real that I am concerned for the eternal life of my own family?

4.) COVENANT FAITH

Joshua 15-24
¹⁵So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. ¹⁶Now she had said to them, "Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way."

¹⁷The men said to her, "This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us ¹⁸unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. ¹⁹If anyone goes outside your house into the street, his blood will be on his own head; we will not be responsible. As for anyone who is in the house with you, his blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on him. ²⁰But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear."

²¹"Agreed," she replied. "Let it be as you say." So she sent them away and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

²²When they left, they went into the hills and stayed there three days, until the pursuers had searched all along the road and returned without finding them. ²³Then the two men started back. They went down out of the hills, forded the river and came to Joshua son of Nun and told him everything that had happened to them. ²⁴They said to Joshua, "The LORD has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us."

*Covenant agreement

*Today-.Who do you have your faith in??

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Yukie Yasuda | Permanent Link

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rika Kuwahara | Permanent Link

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Shinichi Takizawa | Permanent Link

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Intro: What a Leader with a new beginning needs is encouragement more than advice.....

1.）God Encourages His Leader.
Joshua 1:1-9
¹After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: ²"Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give them- to the Israelites. ³ I will give you every place where you set your foot, as i promised Moses. ⁴ You territory will extend from the desert and from Lebanon to the great river, the Euphrates- all the Hittite country- and to the Great Sea on the west. ⁵No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As was with Moses, so I will be with you: I will never leave you or forsake you.
⁶"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. ⁷Be strong and very courageous, Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. ⁸Do not let this Book of the law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. ⁹Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord God will be with you wherever you go."

1. Get Encouragement from God's promises (vs.3-6)
2. Get Encouragement from God's written Words (vs.7-8)
3. Get Encouragement by acting on God's command to you (v.9)

2.) The Leader gives encouragement to the team
Joshua 2:10-15
¹⁰We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. ¹¹When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. ¹²Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign ¹³ that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will save us from death."
¹⁴"Our lives for your lives!" the men assured her. "If you don't tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the LORD gives us the land."
¹⁵ So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall.

3.) The Team encourages their Leader.
Joshua 1:16-18
¹⁶Then they answered Joshua, "Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. ¹⁷Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you as he was with Moses. ¹⁸Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey your words, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!"

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Sayaka Shigeta | Permanent Link

Intro: The Book of Joshua- Why should anyone today study such an old book that tells stories of war & killing? We are in a spiritual war today. The forces of darkness are trying to destroy us & Japan.

1. The New Leader: God spent many years preparing Joshua to be a leader..

• Joshua the slave- Joshua didn't let his lowly beginnings limit his future
• Joshua the soldier: Joshua didn't run from danger & problems
• Joshua the servant-Joshua spent time hanging out where God & Moses was (Ex33:7-11)
• Joshua the spy- Num.13 Joshua responded to difficulty with positive faith in God.
• Joshua the next leader- Deut.34:9 Joshua received an anointing through laying on of hands & prayer

2. The New Land: God chose the land of Israel to be the "stage" for Jesus on a cross & resurrection.
　　For us in 2007? The Love of Jesus to Kobe----Kansai----Asia

3. The New life: In the desert God's people kept complaining, kept looking back....In the Promised Land, they looked forward conquering the enemy and claiming their rest and their riches. Are you willing to move on into the promised land and be all God intended for you to be???

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Colossians 3:1-4
¹Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.²Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.³For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.⁴When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Deuteronomy 1:2
It takes eleven days to go from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea by the Mount Seir road.

2Corinthians 5:16-17
¹⁶So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

1Peter 4:12
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you

Acts 16:25-26
²⁵About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.²⁶Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose.

1 Cor. 13:4
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Psalm 42:5
Why are you downcast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Luke 11:11-13
¹¹"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?¹²Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?¹³If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Mark 4:35-41
³⁵That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." ³⁶Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. ³⁷A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
³⁹He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

⁴⁰He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

⁴¹They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Masumi Akita | Permanent Link

Mark11:12-24
¹²The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. ¹³Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. ¹⁴Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it.
¹⁵On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, ¹⁶and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. ¹⁷And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written:
" 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"

¹⁸The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

¹⁹When evening came, they went out of the city.

The Withered Fig Tree
²⁰In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. ²¹Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!"
²²"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. ²³"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. ²⁴Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

James 1:22
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Katsumi Ishizaka | Permanent Link

Mark116:15
"Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.

Philipians3:13－14
¹³Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Mark8:34
"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Mark11:22
"Have faith in God," Jesus answered.

Mark9:23
"If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rika Kuwahara | Permanent Link

Mark14:3-9
³While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. ⁴Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? ⁵It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly. ⁶"Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. ⁷The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. ⁸She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. ⁹I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Shuhei Fukuda | Permanent Link

Mathew 1:18-25
¹⁸This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. ²⁰But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." ²²All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us." ²⁴When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. ²⁵But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Joseph’s feelings of defeat:

Romans 8:18
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

How to Grow through the defeat in our life.

1. Recognize that defeat happens because we are in a war against the powers of darkness, one that God will ultimately win.
   Ephesians 6:12
   For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
2. See defeat as an opportunity to rely on God for strength & victory.
   Mathew 2:13-14
   ¹³When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." ¹⁴So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt,
3. Use defeat to learn about life and yourself.
   Key Question, “ God, what are you teaching me through this?”
4. Don’t through defeat alone, God wants you to be a team player in life.
5. What looks life sure to defeat can be turned by God into something Good.

In the Christmas season, let’s thank God for being the God of new beginnings.

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Anna-Waiting For Jesus
Luke 2:36-40
³⁶There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, ³⁷and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. ³⁸Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. ³⁹When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. ⁴⁰And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

What does a person do when life does not go according to plan?? When your hopes and dreams seem lost??

1.) Do not befriend your problem but befriend God.

Vs.37b ‘She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.’

*In her aloneness, God became her closest comfort & friend

2.) Spend time with God and He will show you His plan for your life.

Vs.38 ‘Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God’

*With her desire for children- God gave her the important job of blessing babies in the temple.

3.) Be faithful to the vision God will show you and God will use you to change history for the better.

Vs.37a ‘and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.’

In those days girls got married at around age fifteen. Anna was married for 7 years until 22. 84－22=62 years. Her faithfulness got her story into the Bible, the#1 best selling, the #1 most printed and read book of all time. Entire nations and come and gone with almost no record….but one little girl name Anna let go her plans and let God guide her life and became apart of the Christmas story & is remembers in history…

What about you? Is your life going according to your plan? How about looking to God for your future this Christmas New Year’s Season?

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

NEVER GIVE UP!

Ephesians 6:13
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

How to Never Give Up!

1.) When faced with a mountain that makes you want to give up, make sure your plan is God based. Ephesians 2:10

• "Decide What You are Committed to"

2.) Write out your God inspired Goals and take little steps daily toward the Goals.

• My Goals -
  • ________________________________________________________
  • ________________________________________________________
  • ________________________________________________________
• Just get as much almost everything in your daily life to line-up with your ultimate goal.
• Accomplish one small step and reward yourself &choose healthy rewards.

3.) Learn to depend on, talk to & Dream with God about everything. Abraham did this.

Genesis 15:4

Then the word of the Lord came to him:"This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir,"5He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars- if indeed you can count them

Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." 6Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness."

4.) Humbly evaluate, adjust, learn, Keep trying...but never give up!

What do I do on difficult days?:

• Know that like the weather, this bad situation too will change.
• Give up all ownership to my life -Galatians 2:20
• Give thanks to God for everything ,
• Never Give up! Keep doing what you know to do!

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Know That God Is With You! Read-Daniel 3:13-30

Daniel 3:24
Then the King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Wasn't it three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" they replied, "Certainly ,o king."25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the forth looks like a son of the gods.

Some of the Forces that stand behind us as we face trouble:

1.)God Himself is With You!

Paul told in

• Romans 8:16
  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
• Galatians 4:6
  Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out,

"Abba," Father- God is personal, very near, very real, like a Father, says Paul, Our "Papa" He never leaves us.

2.)God's Supernatural Peace Is With You!

Philippians4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything , by prayer and petition , with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus

3.)God's Angels Are With You!

The Bible is full of stories of angels-2 Kings 6 / Acts 12:15

4.)God's Hedge Surrounds you! The last thing I want to mention is the hedge, a very personal spiritual wall  that God has placed around you.

Job 1:6
⁶One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. ⁷The Lord said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the Lord, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it." ⁸Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." ⁹Does Job fear God for nothing?? Satan replied. ¹⁰Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything that he has? You blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout  the land.

Because of these 4 truths you now can:

1. Trust Him
2. Feel His Love
3. Know that nothing can touch you(Satan can attack only so far!)
4. Take action

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Title : Take Care of yourself Spiritually

A)Forgiveness.

Matthew 6:14
¹⁴For if you forgive men when they sin against you,　your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

*Forgiveness is a choice-

Romans 12:19-21
¹⁹Do　not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. ²⁰On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." ²¹Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

B.)Confession of Sin.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

C.)Sharing Jesus

Matthew 28:19
¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit. ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age.

Samaritan woman

John 4:34
My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work...

D.)Worship

Ephesians5:18-20
¹⁸Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. ¹⁹Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The reason we exist in this world is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Mark 12:41-44
⁴¹Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. ⁴²But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. ⁴³Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. ⁴⁴They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.

Intro: More than ten years ago…

1. Put your security not on material things but on God.

a) A story about a stupid rich man (Luke 12:16-21)

b) God’s Time Machine 

Exodus 3:14a
God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM.

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

2. Be faithful according to what is given to you.

a) Unfaithful people (Mark14:3-9)

b) God can use His Time Machine in your life.

・ Water- never thirst, welling up to eternal life.(John4:14)

・ Ho to do it
- through close relationship with Him
- through relationship with Godly friends

James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

３．The Citizenship of God’s Kingdom

Mark 3:35
Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother.

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Yoshiko Toda | Permanent Link

Take Care of All of You!!

1 Kings 19:1-9
¹Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. ²So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make you life like that of one of them."　³Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beershiba in Judah, he left his servant there, ⁴While he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." ⁵Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat." ⁶He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, a jar of water. He ate and drank and lay down again.⁷The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat for the Journey is too much for you." ⁸So he got up ate and drank. Strengthened by the food, he traveled 40 days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. ⁹There he went into a cave and spent the night.

1) Take Care of Your Body!

1. Eat right, variety of foods, and eat breakfast.
2. Make exercise as part of your day.
3. Sleep

2) Take care of yourself Emotionally.

1. Memorizing Scripture.
   *Elijah forgot God's promises.
2. Be willing to love.
   -1 Peter 4:8 "love will cover a multitude of sins,"- receiving and giving love
   *Elijah isolated himself in the desert.
3. Take time to laugh &enjoy
   *Elijah got too serious all the time.
4. Face your Fears
   - 1 john 4:18 'There is no fear in love, But perfect love drives out fear...'
   *Elijah ran from his fears.
5. Accept yourself as you are.
   - Change what can be changed & accept the rest
   - Ephesians 2:10
   *Elijah rejected the way he was made-'No better than my ancestors!' 4b
6. Train Yourself not to Worry.
   - Philippians4:6
   - Knowing God, knowing who he is, what he is like, where he is leading you will push out worry.
   - My Prayer before I sleep-I visualize putting all my concerns in a bundle (furoshiki) and giving them to God.
   *Elijah allowed　Himself to worry about what Jezebel would do to him.
7. Give problems time.
   *Elijah did not wait for God to work...He ran away.

3) Take Care of Yourself Spiritually- (we will Study this next week)

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Title:The Triangle of strength

Colossians3:15-17
¹⁵Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace, and be thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

How do we tap into God's power and allow it to change our lives??

The Bible dwelling in us, Prayer flowing from us, The Church (people) supporting us,

1. The 1st Side of the Triangle? The Bible dwelling in us.

• The Bible's power to transform us happens when we:

1. "Meditate"
2. "Read&hear"
3. "Write"
4. Make the Bible the life answer book
5. "Speak"

 2. The 2nd Side of the Triangle? Prayer Flowing from us

1. 1Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray without ceasing"
2. Keep a notebook of your prayers.
3. Offer to pray for others, ask for prayer for yourself-

3. The third side of the Triangle??The Church (people) Supporting us.

1. KBF activities
2. PJ3- 2-5 people gathering in a small place to experience the Triangle of Strength
3. Mini-Church-6-20 people to experience the Triangle of strength.
4. World Outreach- Working with Churches in other places (Mongolia)

How is your triangle of Strength??

What Changes need to be made in the way you are living?

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Background:
The mind can be a powerful friend or a strong enemy, it can alter our physical and mental attitudes by altering our body's chemistry and our behavior.

Topic-#1
In Christ I can if you believe I can!!-  It is empowered by God's Promise

John 15:5-7
⁵I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.⁶If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up. thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you!

John 14:12
I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father

Philippians 4:13
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

A realistic, prayed-through, Christ supported, persistently pursued plan of action can be accomplished by anyone .In other words, if you believe you can, through Christ, you can!

Matthew 7:7
Ask and It will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8for everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks the door will be opened.

1. Start by asking (praying)
2. Next Seek.(actively looking for God's answer)
3. "Knock".

*If you have a dream that advances God's Kingdom, helps others, builds your family enables you to live an abundant life that will please God, then tell yourself, "I can through Christ!" repeat it to yourself...speak it out.

If anything were possible and I knew %100 it would succeed I would

*Build your confidence in Christ. We will never rise above the level that we see ourselves!

Romans 8:35&37-39
³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
³⁷No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

James 5:13-20
¹³Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. ¹⁴Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. ¹⁶Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
¹⁷Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. ¹⁸Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. ¹⁹My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, ²⁰remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

Intro: From the beginning of this Earth, God chose to man as his representative on earth and has decided to work on the Earth by pray and only by prayer. If we pray, God works. If we don't pray God...waits.

The Mature Believer is a person of Prayer:

1. Prayer for those in trouble(suffering) (5:13)
   *Remember the power of praise
2. Prayer for the sick(5:14-16)
3. Prayer for the Nation (5:17-18)
4. Prayer for those falling away (5:19-20)
   *Satans favorite teaching of deception
   1. If it feels Good it must be right.
   2. Ends justifies the means
   3. Everybody is doing it so it's OK!

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

James 5:7-12
⁷ 'Be patient then brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. ⁸You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.⁹Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! ¹⁰Brothers, an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. ¹¹As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. ¹²Above all, my brothers, do not swear-not by heaven or by earth or by any thing else. Let your "yes" be yes , and your "no", no, or you will be condemned.

Intro: How can we as Christians experience this kind of patient endurance as we wait for the Lord to return? James gave three encouraging examples of patient endurance:

1. The Farmer(5:7-9)
   ****LIKE THE FARMER -Keep  on Working****
2. The Prophets(5:10)
   ****LIKE THE PROPHETS KEEP SPEAKING & DOING THE TRUTH****
3. Job(5:11)
   1. Satan is limited by God''s control
   2. God want's to mature your faith through this.
   3. Practice resting in God's grace Hebrews 4:14-16
   4. Watch you words. Let your "yes" be "Yes" and you "No" be "No" and

****like Job wait for the Lord to fulfill His loving Purpose.****

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

James 5:1-6
¹’now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. ²Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. ³Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. ⁴Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. ⁵You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. ⁶You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.

3 reasons for this warning the Wealthy

1. They got their wealth in a wrong way. (5:4 and 6a)
2. They used their Riches in the wrong way. (5:3-5)
3. They were warned of what their riches would do to them.(5:1-4)
   1. Riches will vanish　(vs.2-3a)
   2. misused riches erode character (vs.3)
   3. lost opportunity of not using hoarded wealth (3)
   4. judgment will come (3,5)

Guidelines of handling Wealth

1. See yourself as a steward of wealth not an owner.
2. Remind yourself you are a steward by giving back to God %10 of what you have earned.
3. Remember this life is like being on a train passing through.
4. D.L. Moody-"Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can."

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

James 4:13-17
¹³Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money," ¹⁴Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ¹⁵Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this and that." ¹⁶As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. ¹⁷Anyone, then who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it sins.

Jeremiah 29:11
¹¹'For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.¹²then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

These words spoken 2600yrs ago to God's children are still true for God's children today! God is unchanging. God has a Good plan for your Life!!

3 Attitudes Towards the will of God for your life:

1. Ignoring God's Will (4:13-14,16)
   1. Life is Complex vs.13
   2. Life is uncertain vs.14a
   3. Life is short vs.14b
   4. We are frail vs.15
2. Knowing but not Following God's Will (4:17)
   Why would a person do this?:
   1. Pride-"I can do it all by myself
   2. Fighting against God's will is foolish & painful
   3. The Lost Son illustration. Luke 15:11
3. Following God's will for Your Life (4:15)
   To Love God and love people with Agape.
   Ephesians 2:4-10
   ⁴But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
   1. Get healed up by God's love. God, Give & receive love from God, Mentor, friend, child.
   2. Surrender your life & God will guide you through your surrendered thought life and desires.
   3. Learn the Character of God- so you can have discernment.
   4. With a heart that desires God's will, do next thing God shows you to do.

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

James 4:1-12
¹What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? ²You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you can not have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. ³When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. ⁴You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes and enemy of God. ⁵Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us tends toward envy, ⁶but he gives us more grace? That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." ⁷Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸Come near  to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands , you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded. ⁹Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. ¹¹Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. ¹²There is only one lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you- who are you to judge your neighbor?

1.) People at War against each other (4:1,11-12)

• disciples had fights (Lk 9:46-48).
• Early Churches (1Cor.6:1-8 & Gal.5:15)

1. Rich VsPoor （2:1-9)
   (rich man honored & poor ignored)
2. Employment Wars (5:1-6)
3. Church Fights (1:19&29, 3:13-18)
4. Personsl Wars(4:11-12)

• Christians were speaking evil of one another.
  (Eph4:15/1Peter4:8 /Mt.18:15/Phil.1:9-10/Matt.7:1-5).

2,) The War with Ourselves (4:1b-3)

• "What causes fights and quarrels among you?...”

3.) Being at War with God.(4:4-10)

• The foundational cause of all wars inside us as well as outside us is rebellion against God. How does a believer declare war against God? By being friendly withGod’s enemies

1. The World (4:4)
2. The flesh (4:1,5)
3. The Devil (4:6-7)

Solution to the Wars of Life?

1. Submit to God (4:7) "Give up ownership"
2. Draw near to God (4:8) "Get forgiveness"
3. Humble yourselves God (4:9-10)
   "Walk humbly knowing all is by Grace

Put total control of your life in God's hands and he will give you peace!(Is. 9:6)

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Where to Get Real Wisdom

James 3:13-18
¹³'Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. ¹⁵Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. ¹⁶For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. ¹⁷But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

Intro: We live in a world in desperate need of true wisdom......

1.）True Wisdom & Earthly wisdom have different origins.

2.）Different wisdoms have different ways of working.(3:13-14, 17)

• False wisdom looks like: (3:14)

1. Envy
2. disorder
3. Boasting
4. Deny truth

• True Spiritual Wisdom looks like:

1. humility (3:13)
2. Purity (3:17)
3. Peace (3:17)
4. Considerate & Submissive (3:17)
5. full of mercy-
6. Good fruits- (3:17)
7. impartial & sincere- (3:17)

3.)Different wisdoms have different results (3:16,18)

• Worldly wisdom produces trouble (3:16)
• God's wisdom produces Blessing (3:18)

Get true Wisdom from

• Knowing Jesus as Lord & following him."ask"
• Make friends with people who have some of God's wisdom working in their life. 
• Get God's word inside you in practical ways.

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Acts 3:1-10
¹One day peter and john were going up to the temple at the time of prayer- at three in the afternoon.²Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.³When he saw peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. ⁴Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" ⁵So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. ⁶Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."⁷ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong.⁸He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. ⁹When all the people saw him walking and praising God. ¹⁰They recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Intro- Have you ever had a problem so big that no matter what you do ,nothing seems to help? No amount of thinking can find a solution? You have had your problem so long you are at the point of giving up all hope of a solution?? Today’s story is of such a man. Unable to walk from birth. amily has given up all hope of a meaningful life. Carried every day like a big heavy bag or rice to the temple to beg......Do any of you have such a problem?? I do....and I don't have any answers...except one.

There Seems to be a Climate for God's Power to work.

1.Get a God centered life& in tune with the Holy Spirit.
vs.1 Going up to the temple at the time of prayer.

Question: Is Jesus the Lord of my life, today? Am I tuned to God or tuned to self?

2.Be available to the Holy Spirit  and lean on God's strength and not your own strength.
vs.6a Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you, In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." 

*From despair comes help.　

Psalm 34:18
"The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

Question: Am I open to the Holy Spirit's guidance or to full of your own ideas & plans

3.Speak the God given word in Jesus Name.
vs.6b 'In the name of Jesus Christ, walk'

Story-My problem with mom's pain on Sunday

4.Be willing to step out in faith...even if it makes you look foolish
vs.7 Taking him by the right hand he helped him up.

5.When God gives a miracle, people should be amazed at God not you!
anything God has done is by grace.
Vs.8b "then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God."

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

We havent just been saved. Rather、we've been made anew to live a life filled with the life of Jesus. So let us live according to the richness of Christ's grace!

*We seek God's will.
But sometimes our motives can be a problem.

Through life we make decisions:what is good、what is bad?ーThe tree of knowledge of good & evil. Is this tree a tree of the Law ? !

Genesis3:1-6
¹Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" ²The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, ³but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' " ⁴"You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. ⁵"For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." ⁶When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.⁷Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

We are supposedto have been saved by God's grace alone....Hang on、arent we falling into deedsーcentred habits?

Being deeds―centered tends to mean that we become proud when things go well for us、and get depressed when things dont work out.

Be careful! Even now Satan is telling us to eat that fruit.
The way to live choosing the tree of life:
Galatians 2:20-21
²⁰So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field.
      But for Adam no suitable helper was found. ²¹So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh.

John 5:20
For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these.

Romans 9:16
It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy.

Grace- Life of depending on Jesus and letting Him to be the driving force of it!

Check if you have been deedsーcentred or not.

1. Do you have fear of failure or not?
2. Do you criticise others or not?
3. Do you blame yourself for things or not?

“The tree of knowledge of good & eveil”  This is a symbol of deeds-focused life, which never satisfies us. Actually this way of thinking leads us to live under guilts and finally to end up with death.

Romans 8:13
For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,

“The tree of life”  This symbolizes to live by God’s grace. This does not mean to do something for Him but does mean to rejoice over being with Him !

Even God himself rejoices over you with singing !

Zephaniah 3:17
The LORD your God is with you,
       he is mighty to save.
       He will take great delight in you,
       he will quiet you with his love,
       he will rejoice over you with singing."

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Katsumi Ishizaka | Permanent Link

Intro: James wrote to people who were having serious problems with what they said.

1. Our Words have the power to direct
James 3:1-4
¹Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. ²We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. ³When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.

Get control of your mouth by:

1. Give your life totally away to Jesus Christ. Confer &Speak
   Luke 12:12 'for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.'
2. Raise the level of God's truth inside you by learning God's truth & prayer
3. Cultivate God given dreams for this life. (Love God & love people)

2. Our Words have the power to destroy

James 3:5-8
⁵Likewise the tongue is a small of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶The tongue is also a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. ⁷All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man. ⁸but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

3. Our Words have the power to delight!

James 3:9-12
⁹With the tongue we praise our Lord and father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. ¹⁰Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. ¹¹Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹²My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

• Type #1-Proclaim God's Blessing at peoples' crossroads in life
• Type #2- Steady words of nourishment. over time...like a fig tree or grapevine..

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Faith is not an emotional feeling we work up inside of us. Faith is confidence that God's Word is true & a strong belief that if we act upon God's Word it will bring God's blessing.

1.Real Faith is not Dead faith
James 2:14-17
¹⁴'What good is it , my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such a faith save him? ¹⁵Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶If one of you says to him. "Go, I wish you well;keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.'

 2.Real faith is not Demonic Faith
James 2:18-19
But someone will say, "You have faith;I have deeds." Show me you faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that- and shudder.

What demons believe about God:

• Demons believe in the existence of God & deity of Christ
  Mark 3:11-12
  11Whenever the evil spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God." 12But he gave them strict orders not to tell who he was.
• They believe in the existence of a place of punishment
  Luke 8:31
  And they begged him repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.
• They also recognize Jesus Christ as the Judge
  Mark 5:1-13
  ¹They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. ²When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. ³This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. ⁴For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. ⁵Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
  ⁶When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. ⁷He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!" ⁸For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!"
  ⁹Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?"
  "My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many." ¹⁰And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
  ¹¹A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. ¹²The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them." ¹³He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
• They submit to the power of God's Word.

3.Real faith!
James 2:20-26
²⁰"You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? ²¹Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? ²²You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. ²³And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. ²⁴You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. ²⁵In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead."

1. Faith focused on God's Word-faith is only as good as what it is focused on..
   We are not saved by faith in faith. We are saved by faith in Jesus Christ  as shown in the Bible.
2. Real faith involves our mind, our heart and our will.
   'I see who Jesus is, I want this Jesus to be my Lord, I will follow Jesus.'

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

4 Christian Beliefs that show in the way we care for People what we believe.

#1Jesus Christ truly is God.

James 2:1-4
 ¹"my brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism.²Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. ³If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here is a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, “you stand there", "sit on the floor by my feet." ⁴Have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?"   

#2The Grace of God

James 2:5-7
 " ⁵Listen my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love Him? ⁶But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? ⁷Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?

 *God ignores national differences.
Acts 10:34-35
 ³⁴Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism ³⁵but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.

*God ignores social differences
Ephesians 6:9
 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

#3"Love you Neighbor” is the Royal Law. (neighbor is anyone who needs our help)

James 2:8-11
 ⁸'if you really keep the royal law found in scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. ⁹but if  you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.¹⁰for whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.¹¹for he who said , "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

*Christian love does not mean that I must "like" a person and agree with him on everything. Christian love means treating others the way God has treated me.

#4-Live Knowing-"God Sees all".

James 2:12&13
 "¹²Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,¹³Because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgments"

Jesus assured us that Christian believers will never be judged for their sins. but works will be weighed and rewarded.

John5:24
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.

Romans 8:1
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

Romans 14:10-13
 ¹⁰You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. ¹¹It is written:
   " 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord,
   'every knee will bow before me;
      every tongue will confess to God.¹²So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

 ¹³Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

James 1:19-27 

3 Tools for helping God's Word mature you.

 1.) How we take in God's Word (1:19-21)
¹⁹ My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰for man's anger does not bring about righteous life that God desires.²¹Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

1. Quick to hear (1:19)
2. Slow to speak (1:19)
3. Slow to anger (1:19)
4. Prepared Heart (1:21)

• 1John 1:9
  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 
• Romans 8:38-39
  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor Angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• James 4:10
  'Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

2.) How we "do" The Word-(1:22-25)
²²Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.²³Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in the mirror ²⁴ and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.²⁵ But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it- he will be blessed in what he does

******* GAZE INTO GODS WORD WITH SERIOUS INTENT-*******

Example 1Cor.13:4-5
⁴Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy,　it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.....

 3.Share the Word (1:26-27)
²⁶If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.²⁷Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the World.

• Speech (1:26)
• Help orphans　&  widows in their distress (1:27a)
• Separation from the World (1:27b)

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

James 1:13-18
¹³ When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor dose he tempt anyone;¹⁴ but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. ¹⁶ Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. ¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ¹⁸ He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

• Introduction: Hardship on the outside can change to temptations on the inside.
• “3 Shields” to protect against temptation

When the pressure is on…

1. Think of the agony of falling to temptation. 1:13-16
2. Think of God’s goodness. 1:17
3. Focus on God’s Spirit living in you. 1:18

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

James 1:2-12
 'Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance, 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God. who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord: 8he is a double minded man, unstable in all he does.9The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.11For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

4 Tools to turn trouble in triumphs:

1. vs.2- A Joyful Attitude-
   The way you see life will decide the outcome. Attitude decides action.
   
   • God tells us to expect trouble in this life.
   • What we think to be most important will direct our attitude when trouble comes.  So when trouble comes, immediately choose to give thanks to God and look at the trouble with eyes of faith.....
2. vs.3- An Understanding Mind
   -What can we understand that makes it easier to face trials and benefit from them??:
   
   1. Faith is always tested.
   2. Trials can help us to mature.
   • 2cor. 4:17
     'for our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.'
   • Romans 8:28
     And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,who have been called according to his purpose.
   • Patience & endurance -such depth of character can not be attained by reading a book. We must go through the difficulties of life, trust God& do what he asks of us.
3. vs.4&9-11- A Surrendered Will
   -God cannot build character without a willing heart. Forced goodness in no goodness at all. God builds character before he calls to service. He must work in us before he can work through us.
   *Maturing involves "Weaning"
   Psalm 131:2
   But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a　weaned child is my soul within me.
4. vs.5-8 - A Believing Heart- In difficult times We are to ask for wisdom. We are to ask in faith.
   James 4:6
   But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but　gives grace to the humble."

vs.12- Remember!!A love relationship is the foundation for all training God has for us in this life!!

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Intro: Not everyone who grows old, grows up.

How Can we get the most out of Studying this letter?

1. Be born again. Without spiritual birth there is no spiritual maturity.
   1Peter 1:23　 'For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God."
2. Be willing to Honestly examine our lives in the light of God's word.
   James 1:22
   ²²Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror.
3. Begin to do what God teaches us no matter what the cost.
4. No pain, no gain- Get ready for difficulty because growth comes through resistance.
5. We are to Measure our Growth by the WORD OF GOD &JESUS, not comparing ourselves with other people.
   Ephesians
   4:13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Not everyone who grows old grows up. What do you want for your life??

Maturity ChecK:

1. Am I becoming more and more patient in the difficulties of life??
2. Do I play with temptation or resist it from the start?
3. Do I want to obey the word of God or do I just study it as a text book?

Memory Verse
Philippians 2:13 'for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose."

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Hebrews 13:17
'Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, for that would be of no advantage to you.

*How do we release the anointing that God has put in us?

1. Major Problem in Society today is Abuse and disdain of Authority.

2. If you can't respect the people in authority in your life, respect the position of authority.
   Romans 13:1
   ¹Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. ²Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

3. Respecting Authority opens the flow of God's Anointing on your life.
   Acts 10:38
   "God anointed Jesus of Nazereth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
   Eph. 1:22
   'And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.'

4. If you are under unfair/bad leadership, show respect to the position and God is highly likely to work on your behalf to change the situation!!

5. Judging leaders will stop the flow of God's Anointing upon you!!
   ・What are we to do for leaders who make mistakes? Pray for Them!!
   Hebrews13:18
   Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.

6. Remember: there is a difference between worshipping a leader and respecting a leader.
   If we are going to have a powerful anointing from God in these last days, we are going to have to get a fresh healthy attitude towards those in Authority over our lives..

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Hebrews13: 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." ⁶So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" ⁷Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. ⁸Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. ⁹Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them. ¹⁰We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.

Read vs 5,6. Our lives are to be characterized by freedom from love of money and material anxiety (vs 5b,6)

To The Un-Rich: Flee From the Desire to Be Rich (vs 7-12a)
Hebrews13:11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. ¹²And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.

It is not wrong to desire to earn more money to meet expanding needs and serve others. It is wrong to desire to earn more to get the ego-boost and luxuries of wealth. Paul gives three reasons for this:

1. Because you can't take any of it with you. (vs 7)
2. Because you can be content without being wealthy. (vs 8)
3. Because the desire to be rich will destroy your life. (vs 9,10)
   1. The demand for instant gratification.
   2. The law of diminishing returns.
   3. Can interfere with and even destroy personal relationships.
   4. Can lead you into other destructive behaviors.
   5. Blind you to their destructive effects on you.
   6. Both prevent you from progressing spiritually. (Mk. 4:19; Matt. 6:24)
      Mark 4:19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.
      Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

To the Rich (vs 17-19)
Hebrews13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. ¹⁸Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. ¹⁹I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.

1. Don't let your wealth make you conceited. (vs 17a)
2. Don't let your wealth drain your spiritual motivation. (vs 17b)
3. Use your wealth to be a pipeline of God's love to others. (vs 18)

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

1Timothy 3:1-7&12
1Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.2Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,3not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.4He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect.5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?)6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.7He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.
12A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well.

Having your own family on one channel and Gods family on another

• Paul's advice to Timothy on what was required to be a church leader: Manage your own family first!
  • Family relationships are very important in God's eyes.
  • This is because our families are planned by God in a way that helps us to understand God Himself.

Genesis 1:27-28
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it......

Our order of priorities, based on the Bible

1. Relationship with God　－Matthew 22：37-38
   37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'38This is the first and greatest commandment.
2. Relationship with family　－Matthew 22:39
   39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
3. Church ministry　－1Timothy 3:5
   5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?)

• So why do we act differently at church to how we act at home?
  Our society does not have the Bible as its foundation, but tells us to make adjustments in the many things we do.

And how about Jesus' priority order?　－John 19:25-28
25Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.26When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son,"27and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.28Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty."

• Paul's even harsher words　－1Timothy 5:8
  8If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

God has not forgotten about restoring your family!
Let’s make a connection with Jesus and receive strength from him!
1Corinthians 13:4-8
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails.

What we want to happen at KBF!
That, as a loving family of God, we can take good care of all the people the Lord sends here, and help them grow.

Even when you make mistakes, don't give up! Don't forget about the training God has for you: don't forget to love your family!

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: 管理者 | Permanent Link

(Given in order of importance)

1. Unconditional acceptance-
   * Heavenly Father Example: Parable of Lost Son Luke 15:11
2. Appreciation.
   *Heavenly Father example- Matthew 3:17 And a voice from heaven said,"This is my Son, whom I love: With him I am well pleased."
3. Affection-
   *Heavenly Father Example -Promise Holy Spirit John 14:15-204.)
4. Availability-
   * Heavenly Father's Example:Parable of Lost Sheep Matthew 18:10-14
5. Accountability - What is agreed upon and done is the same.
   *God's example:John 21:15-19(Jesus&Peter)
6. Loving Authority - Authority based on Love not fear
   *God's loving Authority:John 21: 15-19(same as above)

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Intro: "the hard way;" we have the capacity to watch others and learn by their choices and the outcomes of those choices.

Hebrews 15-17.
See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.
Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears."

The Story (Gen. 25:24-34)

We pick up the story around 2006 BC as Rebekah, Isaac's wife, is having her first birth . . . Read vs 24-26.

Genesis 25：24-34
24 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. 25 The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. 26 After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau's heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them.

She had fraternal twin brothers: Esau and Jacob. Because Esau was born first, he had the birthright. In those days, the father usually passed on the entire estate to oldest son.....

Application

What lessons can we learn from this tragic story?

Try this "True-False" quiz to check your own understanding.

1. "God will never reject me no matter what I do."
   Romans 8:1
   Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
2. "God will always spare me from the consequences of my wrong decisions"
   

Luke 15:31
" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "

3. "God will continue to initiate training and discipline in my life regardless of my response."
   Hebrews 12:6
   because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
         and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.
4. God will eventually make me mature regardless of my response to　" his discipline and training."
   Hebrews 12:12-13
   Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees."Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
5. "God will still have a role for my life even after years of disregarding his will." (ESAU)
6. "God's role for my life will never be diminished
   by my disregard of his will." (ESAU; 1 Cor. 9:27; SMALLER DIAMOND)
   1 Corinthians 9:27
   No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
7. "God is willing and able to work for good even from my wrong choices." (Rom. 8:28; PETER'S DENIAL)
   Romans 8:28
   And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
8. "God will bring as much good from my wrong choices as from my choices to obey his will."

Conclusion

Life is made up of a series of moments that can never be lived again, and the choices we make today will affect us and others in the future--advancing God's purpose or hindering it.

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Hebrews 12: 1-13

"1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus , the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning it's shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart .4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." 7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons, For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those have been trained by it. 12Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13"Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed."

Intro: Read vs. 1

1. God has a race for you to run.
2. The Race Requires endurance.
3. Lay Aside All Excess Baggage. (vs.1)
   1. "Everything that hinders" Excess baggage of Earthly Materialism & Comfort:　Christians of wealthy nations have mixed in their own value system based on worldly materialism & comfort.(the right to live long/no suffering). High value on "instant" results & Dramatic performances as more important than unnoticed humble faithful service.
   2. "Sin that entangles" Addictions keep us running around the same loop making little progress in life. Addiction = Something that controls you/ the thing you turn to when under pressure.
      *Addiction of self-pity *addicted to control *addicted to food *addicted to talking *addicted to sleeping *addicted to shopping　*addicted to depression *addicted to anger fits *addicted to having your way *addicted to always being right *Addicted to parties 　*addicted to unforgiveness *addicted to loneliness *addicted to worry *addicted to overdo what you are doing　　*addicted to noise
   3. Maintain a good mental focus (vs 2-4)
      If we would fellowship with the Lord enough, light always overcomes darkness:
      Galatians 5:16
      "This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."
      Ephesians 5:18 - 20
       "And be not drunk with wine, where in is excess; but be filled with the spirit. 19Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord 20Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ."
4. Be willing to accept God's training (vs.5-13)
   1. Discipline is a sign of God's Love. read vs. 5-10
   2. Discipline is painful now; it's reward comes later Read vs.11
   3. Fast response to discipline is key to true spiritual maturity vs.5,12,13

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Matthew 6:14, 15
“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.  15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”When you forgive you are able to move on in freedom and blessing

1. “What are you talking about?” Relationships with people effect your relationship with God. Repentance and forgiveness are powerful keys to restore relationship.
2. “Why should I care about this topic?” You still have people you need to forgive.Relationships with family and friends are the most important thing in your life. Your relationship to God is of eternal importance.
3. “What's the solution?” Be quick to repent and quick to forgive. Let love and humility flow in your life. Throw pride and fear out. Those two things keep you from repentance.
4. “What's the consequence of believing this point? You can have restored relationship with God and with people. You will be changed because you want relationship not because you have to.
5. “What should I do now?” Now that you know the keys to restore relationship. What’s keeping you from doing it?

::: Notes for today :::

Intro: Something is in the way. A true peaceful loving relationship is reduced to just being able to get by at best.  What’s wrong. What’s in  the way?

1. Our relationships with people effect our relationship with God.  Matthew 6:14-15
2. There is a key principle God has established in maintaining all relationships.
   *Repentance - Forgiveness -  for the purpose of  Restoration.
3. Loyd’s story:
4. Why repent? _______________________________.
   2 Corinthians 7:9-10 9
   7:9 I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as  God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow  brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death (no relationship with God..
5. The desire for relationship will cause you to want to change
6. Don’t try to clean up things in your own power.
7. Barrior free.
   1. Let love and humility flow in your life
   2. Throw out pride and  fear that keep you from repentance

Note to parents:
Please communicate to your children that you love them and are waiting and willing to forgive them.
Do your children know that you stand ready to forgive them?
Do they know that it is their responsibility to ask for forgiveness?
Do you know that you cannot force true repentance from the heart of others?

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Ephesians 6:1-4 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2"Honor your father and mother" which is the first commandment with a promise- "That it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." 4Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead ,bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Some Advice for Adults with Mothers

1. Honor means to show value to. To Honor your Father & Mother does not mean blind obedience.

2. Honor your Mother by not allowing an excessive over-dependent relationship.

3. Bless Yourself By Forgiving your Mother.

• You will become like the person you do not forgive! You are bound to the person you do not forgive! You curse yourself & your children!!
• When you forgive, you are blessing yourself & future
• Forgiveness is not a feeling but a decision of the will.
• Forgiveness does not mean what your mother did to you was right.
• Refuse to forgive and you are taking God's position as Judge. You are not qualified for such a position only God is.Heb.10:30 "It is mine to revenge!; I will repay!
• The Mother that hurt you really can't fix anything. No apology or $ turn back time and fix the past so what are you waiting for??
• Forgive and in your time of need, you will find forgiveness.
• Grow -up stop blaming your mother!! Get a life!!
• Forgiveness opens the door to intimacy & Blessing with God.

Matthew 6:14&15 'For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.'

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link

Heb.10:19-25 'therefore ,brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,20by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is , his body, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washes with pure water. 23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another- and all the more as you see the DAY approaching'

* In vs 22-25, the author gives three instructions: "Let us . . . Let us . . . Let us . . . " But before we take a closer look at these instructions, we must understand that in Christianity, what we do is based on what God has already done. In vs 19-21, he summarizes what we have called the finished work of Christ. This means: Read vs 19,20. Jesus' sacrifice for our sins takes away the separation between us and God. His sacrifice paid for our sins once for all; and no further sacrifices are needed. If we come to God on this basis (rather than by our works &/or other ways), we are permanently accepted by God (GOSPEL).

Look at vs 22-25 as 3 responses to Christ's finished work . . .

1. Regularly relate to God (vs 22)
   Read vs 22a: "Let us draw near to God . . . " The instruction is to cultivate a love relationship with God by coming into his presence.

2. Stay focused on God's promise of eternal life (vs 23)
   Read vs 23. "Hope" here refers to the afterlife God has promised to his children. The important thing is to stay focused on God's promise of eternal life. Just as the finished work of Christ promises me that God will accept me into his presence right now in spite of my sins, it also promises me that God will provide a glorious future life in spite of my present suffering.

3. Motivate other Christians to love & serve God (vs 24,25)
   So we are to motivate other Christians to love & serve God. "How can I do this? You’ve got to meet together with other Christians on a regular basis. Watching others build people up will give you ideas of how to practice vs 24.

Please click here to hear a message right now.

Preacher: Rob Flaherty | Permanent Link