Mokusatsu!
During the closing weeks of World War II, the Allies issued the Potsdam ultimatum to Japan. The emperor of Japan wished to end the war in July, 1945. The proud war lords and governing body delayed. They announced a policy of "mokusatsu," which means to ignore, or to refrain from comment. The latter definition implied that there would be no comment until there was time to weigh fully the terms of the ultimatum. Unfortunately, a press dispatch translated the word "mokusatsu" to mean that the cabinet would ignore the ultimatum! The erroneous interpretation was allowed to stand! The war was prolonged. The Russians entered the war when Japan was moribund. Atomic bombs fell on Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Thousands perished. Others were horribly maimed for life — all because one word was misinterpreted!
Another word misinterpreted
GRACE
• Pleasure
• Delight
• Be Favorable
- We Often feel God has forgotten us
EXAMPLE - Roger Simms.
He was just discharged from the army. And was hitchhiking his way back home. And he was picked up by a guy driving a Cadillac. The driver said, "My name is Mr. Hanover. I’m headed to Chicago. I have a business there. Come on in."
After talking about many things, Roger felt led of the Spirit to share Christ with him. But he kept putting it off, until he realized he was just thirty minutes from home. It was now or never. So, Roger cleared his throat, "Mr. Hanover, I would like to talk to you about something very important." Then he shared the gospel. And he asked Mr. Hanover if he would like to receive Christ as his Savior. To Roger’s surprise, the Cadillac pulled over to the side of the road. Roger thought "Oh boy, I’m about to get kicked out of the car." But the businessman bowed his head and received Christ right on the spot. And then he said, "Roger, this is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. Thank you so much."
Five years went by, Roger married, had a two-year-old boy, and a business of his own. Packing his suitcase for a business trip to Chicago, he found the small, white business card Hanover had given him. In Chicago he looked up Hanover Enterprises. The receptionist said, "His wife is here." So she came out. And extended her hand. "You knew my husband?" And Roger told how her husband had given him a ride when hitchhiking home after the war. She asked, "Can you tell me when that was?" He said, "It was May 7, five years ago, the day I was discharged from the army. I shared Christ with him. He pulled over to the side of the road and wept against the steering wheel. He gave his life to Christ right on the spot." And then explosive sobs shook her body. And she cried openly. She said, "I prayed for my husband’s salvation for years. I really believed God would save him." "Roger said, "Where is your husband?" She said, "He’s dead. He was in a car crash after he let you out of the car. He never got home. You see-I thought God had not kept His promise." Sobbing uncontrollably, she added, "I stopped living for God five years ago because I thought He had not kept His word!"
Mrs. Hanover found out something. God ALWAYS keeps his word. Even when we can’t see it with our own eyes, God is working behind the scenes in people’s lives. He is faithful even when we are UNfaithful.
- No matter what happens OUR GOD IS FAITHFUL!
Lamentations 3:22-23 - "It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."
Consider God is Faithfulness
• Orbit of this planet around the sun
• To provide the seasons.
• Weather
• To take care of our needs.
• God will remain faithful.
— In verse 9 we read, "God is faithful..."
5 Ways that God Grace Works
Vs. 4 - Paul. continually gave thanks for the Corinthians.
- Thankful for the grace of God that was at work in the Corinthians’ hearts and lives.
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1. GRACE RICHES - Vs. 5
- When someone is enriched, he is given riches.
- He is made wealthy.
- Not one aspect of your life is left untouched.
- According to experts nine out of ten Americans are entitled for some kind of unclaimed money, somewhere. Billions of dollars worth unclaimed money, insurance funds, inheritances, IRS refunds and more are sitting in different Government agencies that no one knows is there.
- All Christians are rich in Christ. Many have just not taken the time to discover and claim all their riches.
Psalm 84:11KJV
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
v. 5 - Enriched in two ways.
We are enriched in utterance (words)
We are enriched in knowledge. (Understanding)
Both of these help us be the witnesses we need to be for the Lord Jesus. Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8, 1 Peter 3:15
2. GRACE CERTIFIED - Vs. 6
- Certification in life. Exams, Marriage, Loans
• These certifications are by man.
• Better to be certified/confirmed by the grace of God!
• The word confirmed means "settled, steadfast, solid".
3. GRACE GIFTS - Vs. 7
• Loved
• Bought
• Holy Spirit
• Purpose
• Promise never to leave us
- Mean while we are waiting for the coming of the Lord
- We do not know when He is coming back.
- We do know, that He is coming
— What are we to be doing until He comes?
• We are to love one another.
• We are to be meeting together.
• We are to be celebrating the Lord’s Table.
• We are to be living Godly lives.
• We are to are to be reaching out to the lost and
- We can’t live the Christian Life without help.
- His word is solid and can be trusted
4. GRACE ESTABLISHED - Vs. 8
- Christ, will continue to confirm or establish you to the end.
- Here the word confirm means establish. (Set up, Get Started)
- God is faithful to establish us.
5. GRACE FELLOWSHIP - Vs. 9
- Notice that God has called us into fellowship with Him.
- Fellowship here means partnership.
- There is a oneness that takes place that joins us together,.
- Have you ever thought of the Lord Jesus as your partner?
- He would be senior partner for sure!
- Wherever I go, He’s there.
- What I say, He’s there.
- What I try to accomplish for Him, He’s there.
- When I hurt, He hurts.
- United with Christ enables me to do great things
Grace so undeserving
Grace so richly given
The father of Dr. Harry Ironside lay dying, the descending sheet which Peter saw in a vision was dominating his mind. Over and over he mumbled, “A great sheet and wild beasts, and – and – and –.”. Seemingly he could not recall the next words and would start over again. A friend whispered, “John, it says, ‘creeping things.’ ” “Oh, yes, that is how I got in! Just a poor, good-for-nothing creeping thing! But I got in – saved by grace!”
I do not know what is going to happen in 2008, but I do know that my God is faithful because I am saved by his grace!
