Baptism

Below is what I have prepared to share at a time of baptisms for some of my family in Christ here in Japan.

Baptism
What is baptism?
To be honest, I don't fully know nor understand what baptism is.
The only thing I know for sure, is that it is a wonderful thing.
It is like going from death to life, or breathing fresh and clean air for the very first time.
Baptism is like saying goodbye to loneliness, and hello to eternity with God.
It is like letting go of everything that is attached to self worth, and all of a sudden receiving God's worth.
It is saying to sin, pride and lies;
"No, you will not have your way with me...for there is only one who deserves me, and that is the one who, created me, was born for me, lived for me, died for me, and overcame death for me."
Baptism is all about the love and power of God.
It is about the nature of the perfect one who took upon himself our imperfection and rebellion, and said, "Let me take it from here."
The day after I was baptised I was sitting in an area that I last saw my dad about 8 or 9 years before. I was but a young child then, but now I was a young man. I was sitting down when I suddenly felt the desire to ask my dad in heaven for a favour. Having just been baptised and with faith of and as a child, I asked my heavenly dad if He could help me do three things.
I wanted to:
1. See my earthly dad
2. Hear my earthly dad
3. Touch my earthly dad
I'll fast forward two weeks and let you know what happened.
I got to see my dad, hear his voice and touch him.
Because that very day, my heavenly father led me to get in touch with my earthly father by way of His leading and love for me...it was a miracle.
I just want to share with you today, that salvation and baptism go hand in hand.
What I mean is this:
God has done the work of salvation for you, and in so doing this you go from death to life. Baptism is not about what you have done, or what you can do for God...it's about God's love for you based upon His very nature being love.
Yes, baptism is ALL about who God is. It's about what God has done for you, and that all that He requires of you is that you would simply trust in Him. Yes, trust Him...
will you trust Him today? Baptism was not necessarily meant to be a seperate act apart from salvation, as a kind of "graduation". No, it was meant to be a new beginning, your very opportunity to say no to sin, and yes to God's love.
Now let me clarify this; I am not saying that if you haven't been baptised you are not saved. No, I am simply stating that the intention was always that baptism would follow or be a part of the beginning of your new life with Christ.
Jesus did this, though he had no sin...will you do this, and look forward to blue skies?
Finally, baptism is acknowledging that there are blue skies, and sunny skies beyond the trouble and darkness found in this world due to sin...yes, baptism is saying yes to Jesus.

Jesus says this: "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart for I have overcome the world."   

Learning Japanese

Recently I have had the honour and pleasure of facilitating an English Class with an emphasis on community.

There were some points that I clarified in regards to the class purpose that I found also stated in a Japanese learning application which I recently downloaded onto my android device.

The applications name is JA Sensei.  I have only briefly begun using this app, but so far am delighted with the introduction and overview of the app so far.

I am really hoping and praying that I will improve my Japanese over time to the extent that I won't have to use a translator in deeper conversations, and in particular conversations that could lead that person to eternal life found in Jesus.

Hopefully this app and other Japanese Study resources coupled with the right attitude will see me update this blog in future with positive results.

Either way, there are blue skies right now, and the sun is always shining, even if behind the clouds.

Jesus truly is amazing, and there is this wonderful life that we each have been blessed with in which we can walk with Him, and see our lives invested and spent to see His eternal kingdom and will be done here on earth as it is in heaven.


Bless you in Jesus,


Tri. :0)

Hidden in Christ

So I'm sitting here in an italian restaurant in my local area in Japan and I suddenly think about how great it would be to be completely lost in Jesus.  By lost I mean that I would find my identity in him completely rather than on the basis of the fleeting things of this world.  Of course there are things in this life that point to the person and character of God but at the same time they are but like fingers pointing to the real thing.  A finger is never a replacement for the thing to which it is pointing to.

Jesus is more than just a finger, he is God.

As I was sitting here I recalled the scripture that says:

Keep your eyes fixed on the author and perfector of your faith, Jesus Christ, who for the joy set before him, endured the cross, scorning it's shame to sit at the right hand of God.

When I couple this scripture with the one which I believe the Holy Spirit has been speaking to me recently:

In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, for I have overcome the world.

I can see something of the truth and reality of the bitterness of life in this world when actually walked according to way found in Jesus.  Yet this bitter reality is actually simply stated as is the cross which Jesus bore and the way in which he scorned it's shame.  Yes, the bitterness is not so much the sole focus, but rather a word of clarification, clarification with regards to the joy or life aspect which Jesus lived out and is wanting us to "take heart" in, or rather, be encouraged in.

So what is it about the way Jesus lived, or the way in which he overcame the world that is to bring us some kind of deep joy and life that would surpass anything that we face, particularly those things which would come against the sons and daughters of God?

That which comes to mind is this:

That source of joy and strength, and indeed life itself to which Jesus walked in IS the kingdom of God, or at the very least, the seeds of the kingdom of God.

To be honest I don't really know what I am talking about, but something tells me, and by something, I am actually really saying someone, that Jesus wants me to live out of the kingdom of God.

What do I mean, or rather, what could God, the Holy Spirit, be referring to here?

What is the connection between the kingdom of God and the kingdom(s) found here on earth?

What sort of connection is there?

Well if we look to the bible, and in particular look at Jesus himself, perhaps we will see what that connection is.

My very faith is needed because I am still here on this earth where there are other kings and gods.  Yet, there is only one eternal king and God.

If I am to live here on earth with a purpose and mission as Jesus lived, perhaps I need to invest my very life wisely.

Perhaps prayer and the word of God are more important to me losing my life in Jesus than I currently understand or am aware.

Perhaps prayer is not just a matter of me talking to God, but also, God talking to me.  Perhaps prayer is not just me sharing my heart, and in a sense for the all knowing God to know me experientially, but also a way for me to know him experientially.

Perhaps it is time for me, and indeed others, to begin to hunger and thirst for righteousness...ie the things of heaven to be here on earth.

Perhaps you have heard the saying that there are some people who are so spiritually minded, that they are no earthly good.

But I say, that it is impossible to be too heavenly minded that you are no earthly good.  By this I simply mean that Jesus whilst being here on earth with the purpose of the cross, had his eyes set on heaven.  Yes, he had his eyes set on the kingdom of God, and it was because of this that he was able to have joy set before him and endure the cross, scorning it's shame, to sit at the right hand of the Father.

When we have our eyes set on heaven, the kingdom of God, our eyes are set on the Father, yes they are set on Jesus, and yes, they are set on what the Holy Spirit is doing.  They are no longer set on ourselves and on what we can create or achieve, but rather are set on the things which are eternal, and fill us with the deepest of joy, giving us strength to do the will of God.

Holy Spirit is here with us to do one thing to help us to walk out the life that Jesus paid the price for with his very own.

Holy Spirit will help us to live out of the kingdom of God.

As I learn to submit to the Holy Spirit in both word and spirit/prayer, it is this life that perhaps resonates and lines itself with the worshippers that the Father seeks:

those who will worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.

Holy Spirit, thank you for your work in our lives.
I pray that we would grow in sensitivity to you, your presence, heart, and voice in our lives in a moment by moment basis.
May it be that we are filled to overflowing with the joy of the Lord, and that we are shaped by you and your word, so much so that we truly lose our lives for Jesus sake...lose our lives in Jesus.

For the kingdom of God is like treasure hidden in a field.
May we be that treasure, and may Jesus be that field.

Jesus please take me and those reading this deeper and deeper, and deeper into you.

May we be lost in you, so that your kingdom would come, and your will would be done here on earth as it is in heaven.


Yes, let there be salvation here today, and indeed tonight we pray, in Jesus name,


amen.

Grateful

I haven't written a blog for a while and felt that I would write one tonight.

I have been in Japan for just over a month this year, and whilst here have had quite the journey.

Tonight though, I just felt to write about how much I value relationships.  The kind I am talking about tonight though is the kind between a husband and wife.

I am really thankful to have met a number of couples in my life over the years, but in particular I am grateful to be in a stage in my life where I am really starting to take delight in the delight of others.

It is a wonderful thing to be in a community where there are people of all types.  Each person has something to bring to the party.  Yet there is something special and unique that a husband and wife bring to a community, particularly when there is a willingness to submit to one another in Jesus.

By special and unique I mean that there is something that God reveals about Himself between a man and woman who are committed to learning how to love one another, and this beginning with learning to lay down their lives for Jesus.

I met a couple today, who have taken steps of faith in following the voice and heart of God, and as such have gone against what their flesh and perhaps some might say "common sense".  It's not so much that they are trying to live dangerously, but rather there is an awareness that God actually wants to lead each of us, and that includes couples and families.

I could see the love of God and faith amidst worldly pressures at play in this family.  I could hear hope and expectation of a personal God with an eternal plan.  Yes, I could see destiny in the faces of their children.  Yet with all of this, one thing stood clear...Jesus.

It is Jesus offering up of his very own life, both in his ministry, and on the cross itself.  I believe that there is nothing more beautiful to God than when His children lay down their lives for another.  It is this very kind of life that reveals the glory of God.

I am looking forward to meeting more couples and families like this.  Yes, one day I would be honored to be in such a kind of relationship where living is found in dying, and dying brings the life of Jesus to others.  I want to live a life full of the destiny of God.  I want my life to produce life in others...eternal life.

I have been blessed today, and I hope that each of you would also be blessed by this God who brings life to those who are willing to give up their lives for his sake.


May you be blessed with the knowledge of the love of God found in Jesus, the very cross he bore, and grave he left.



Your brother in Jesus.



Tri.