Are You Ready to Get In?

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” John 14:6

Other religions center around certain teachings and practices that you can adopt into your life. You can have Buddhism without Buddha or Islam without Mohammed, but you cannot have Christianity without Christ.

Many religions teach, “This is the truth,” but Jesus says, “I am the truth.”  Many leaders have said “This is the way,” but Jesus says, “I am the way.”  Many spiritual masters have told us, “Do this and you will have life,” but Jesus says, “I will give you life.”

Two ways to get there

Suppose you are in a large, unfamiliar city, and you have to get to a particular destination.  Unfortunately, you left your GPS at home and your cell phone is on the fritz…

You could ask for directions… and a kind stranger might tell you something like this: Take the #29 bus, get off at the second stop, go past the old cement works and over the bridge, go through the underpass and it’s right there on your left.  Or you could take a taxi… You tell the taxi driver where you want to go, and he says, “Sure, I know where that is. I’ll take you there.”

Now suppose you decide to ask for directions, and just after you get on the #29 bus, the man who gave you directions has a heart attack and dies.  It makes no difference to your journey, because you wrote down what he told you.  You’re no longer dependent on him.  All that matters, as far as your journey is concerned, is that he gave you the instructions before he died.

But suppose you’re in the taxi, and just as you’re going past the old cement works (in a run-down part of town), the taxi driver has a heart attack and dies.  Now you’re stuck.  You do not know the way to your destination, and the one you trusted to get you there was unable to do it.

The heart of Christianity is what Christ Himself will do for you.  It is not the teachings that will save you; it is the Teacher himself.  That is why Christianity stands or falls with the resurrection of Jesus.  If Christ is not risen, then our faith is in vain.  It will not get us where we want to go.

Everything hangs on whether Jesus is who He says He is…
…and whether He is able to do what He says He can do…

“No one comes to the Father except through me.”  John 14:6

Jesus not only says that He is personally able to take us to be with the Father; He also claims that He is the only one who can do this.  Why?  Because this is a place that no other man or woman has ever been.  He came from the Father; He is able to take us to the Father.

We have to make a decision, and John says that the reason he has written his Gospel is “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you have life in his name” (John 20:31).  What John says here really sums up the purpose of the whole Bible.

The question is: Do you believe Him?  Will you put your trust in Him?  Are you ready to stake your destiny on Him?  He comes alongside and says, “I would like to take you to the Father.”  Are you ready to get into the car?

By Colin Smith, Unlocking the Bible

Good News

1. Jesus is LORD…

¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17

Jesus is the LORD of all things – He preceded and created all things. He defines all things. He owns all things and sustains all things. He rules all things. Why is that good new? Well, Jesus overflows with love, joy, peace, self-control, zeal and hope.  He is wise, humble, good, gentle, kind, patient and faithful. The Lord of all is the best of all possible beings. This is good news.

2. Human beings are SINNERS facing God’s judgment

For All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God Romans 3:23

SIN is described in the Scripture as any offense against God in thought, desire, word and deed as well as a power inseparably mixed into fallen humanity. In other words, it is not just that we have all sinned, but that we are all sinners. Our problem is us. Sin and self are intertwined. We are inescapably sinful beings. And the Almighty, Holy God is going to evaluate every one of our sinful thoughts, desires, words and deeds. He is going to judge us. Why would anyone describe that terrifying reality with the phrase “good news”? Because God is going to judge us through Jesus.

¹⁶ This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

3. Jesus is the SAVIOR of sinners

¹⁵ Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…1 Timothy 1:15

The One who will judge us is the SAVIOR who lived a sinless life and died as wrath-absorbing substitute on the Cross, paying the penalty for offenses against God. Therefore, He has the ability to credit His flawless righteousness to sinners so that they are blameless in God’s sight at the judgment. Furthermore, He never sinned, He didn’t die as judgment upon His sin. He voluntarily laid His life down for others and picked that life up again, walking out of the tomb in a glorified human body and rising to the right hand of the throne of God – a comprehensive and cosmic defeat of the power of sin. So, He is also able to supernaturally deliver sinners from their sin-infected selves and has promised to do upon His return. Which sinners is Jesus saving?

4. Jesus is saving sinners who have FAITH in him…

⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

Salvation is by FAITH. The good news concludes with the promise that Jesus will save everyone who relies on His payment for sins on the Cross and His victory over sin in the Resurrection. This is the only grounds for being right with God and the only way to be delivered from the wrath of God at the judgment.

Japan Relief Event…

Thank you for coming to the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Charity Event at The Orchard! There were more than 200 Japanese guests and the total participation was close to 300. A number of important local musicians participated in support of this event to raise the donations…We were welcomed by the traditional sounds of Japan played by the group Chicago Koto. Choral Futaba, a Japanese women’s chorus, kicked off the afternoon with beautiful harmony, followed by the ensemble Encore Brass Quintet. As special guest, Mr. Tage Larsen, trumpeter with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, treated us to some world class music, accompanied by his wife, Mamiko, at the piano…More info…

Mission on Your Door Steps

On March 14-15 at Wheaton Bible Church there are around 400 people participated this conference which are about mission in our door steps…

There are many nationalities live among us… now our mission opportunities are not only overseas but also here in local among our communities…

so this is annual conference…if you are interested in, you should go to this conference next year 2012..

Japanese Women’s Bible Study

At our church The Orchard EFC we have a Japanese women’s Bible Study twice in a month. They have never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ in their lives. They are always thankful the message of Scriptures. Step by step they understand the truth of the Bible. The Word of God needs to be heard in any place and circumstances…We pray for the Japanese to hear the Word of God which can bring the salvation through JESUS CHRIST. More info…

When you face your life trial, where you go…

There is an old TV show that I watched long time ago, but I had a chance to watch again…When you face your life trial, where you go and who to ask…It is a very simple question, but it is important question to think…watch the show and think about it your self…

Psalm 23 A psalm of David. (New Living Translation)

¹ The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
² He lets me rest in green meadows  he leads me beside peaceful streams.
³ He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.
⁴ Even when I walk through the darkest valley,  I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
⁵ You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.
⁶ Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord

Bible tells us that we have a place to go…even He is willing to walk through the darkest valley with you…

Japnanese Ministry at The Orchard

 

 

 

 

 

 

Japanese ministry at the Orchard EFC is an unique place to involve because we have many different kinds of ministries like simultaneous Sunday interpretation, English Cafe, Badminton, crafting and so on. If you are interested in this ministry, contact Shohei Suzuki. Also, please visit our ministry page.

City Arlington Heights is the center of Japanese community. There are Japanese School (Futataba-kai), grocery stores (Mistuwa), restaurants, and etc. There are around 20,000 Japanese live in IL. Around 7000 Japanese live in a greater Chicago area.

Arabic Language Testing…

نرحب باحبائنا المتكلمين العربية

شكرا جزيلا لزياتكم موقع كنيستنا ““The Orchard بالغة العربية. نحن موجودون في ضواحي شمال غرب شيكاغو، حيث نخدم هناك بنشاط منذ عام ١٩٥٢. اجتمعنا حديثا لمناقشة كيف نخدم احباءنا العرب في المنطقة. إذا كان لديكم أي أسئلة رجاءا لا تترددوا في الاتصال بنا. بارك الله فيكم وفي كافه امور حياتكم. وسنكون سعداء لان نراكم قريبا وجها لوجه. لمزيد من المعلوات رجاء الاتصال بالاخ/ مدحت جبرائيل.

Love the LORD our God with all your heart…

In our Glenview Bible Study group we have been studying the book of the Deuteronomy. “Love the LORD our God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength (Deut 6:5).” As a true worshiper, I love the LORD with all my heart, soul, mind, strength…however, when I truly think the Scripture, how possibly I could do this as we still own  our sinful nature. ???? I am sometimes devastated. Pastor Colin in his sermon preached about this point. In our power and effort we are very limited to love our LORD God with all our hearts, but our Savior, who forgives our sins, can lead us to “love God with more of my heart and more of my soul and more of my strength (much-ness).” I cannot love God with my power, but Pastor Colin is right that Christ love in me is able to love our LORD God more deeply.

What Keeps You Going?

“Everyone born of God overcomes the world.” 1 John 5:4 (NIV)

If you are a Christian, you experience two things: First, you know that you are in a struggle. Temptation is all around you. Your awareness of it is heightened. You often feel your own weakness. Second, you know that have been given power. Christ lives in you.

I love the way Paul puts it “To this end I labor, struggling with all His energy which so powerfully works in me” (Colossians 1:29). He is saying “This Christian life isn’t easy. I labor at it. It’s a struggle for me. But the reason I am able to engage in this struggle is that I have been given power. His energy! It works powerfully in me!”

If you talk to a person who has never been born again, and you say “Christ is with you,” it won’t mean anything to him. It sounds like empty talk to him. But the Christian gains strength from this. The presence and power of Jesus Christ in his life is what keeps him going and gives him hope!

What do we overcome?

“Everyone born of God overcomes the world” 1 John 5:4

What does John mean when he says that believers overcome “the world?”

“For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world.” 1 John 2:16

This is what Christ enables you to overcome! The new birth puts you in a position where you are able to deal with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.

This is an amazing promise! “Everyone born of God overcomes the world” (1 John 5:4). It does not say that you overcome the world instantly or completely. Throughout this life you will always find yourself in a battle with sin and temptation, but your warfare will lead to victory.

Where does victory begin?

“Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world – even our faith.” 1 John 5:5

Victory begins when you recognize that Jesus Christ has given you power to overcome. I have met many people who say they are Christian who simply do not believe this. They insist that they are powerless. They say “Pastor, you don’t understand! The temptation is bigger than I am.” It may be bigger than you, but it is not bigger than Christ, and if you are born again His Spirit lives in you.

So the Christian is not in despair. There may be times when you say “What a wretched man I am.” But then you will also say “Thanks be to God who delivers me through Jesus Christ my Lord.” Regeneration makes the Christian life possible. You can’t live this life by adopting new values. You live this life by becoming a new person.

That is what God offers in the Gospel. The Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). Not the instructions, the requirements or the expectations of God, the power of God!! For the salvation of everyone who believes.

by Pastor Colin S. Smith