The Church in Fukui

06/09/2026

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　　　 (๑＾◡＾๑)
┏♪━･━〇━･〇･━+☆+┓
The Necessity of Spiritual
Discipline
Hebrews 12: 1 - 17
┗+☆+━･━･━ + ━･━♬┛

Intro: Our lesson today is not a popular topic for many preachers because it confronts one of the unusual lessons that many Christians feel uncomfortable to be brought out for discussion. Most Christians love to listen when topics are about blessings & favors that God can pour out into their lives. The reality of Christian life however, covers both positive & negative aspects of life that everyone is sure to experience.
*In fact, there are more difficulties that genuine Christians will encounter in life because we are living in a sinful world wherein the prince of darkness is temporarily in power, & the children of God are always under attack. That's why true Christians are continually experiencing spiritual battle & it is a fact that our number one enemy to engage in battle is the "self" knowing that we have been used to live a lifestyle molded by the ways of the evil world & became too comfortable with it. That's why our lesson today deals with how we should submit ourselves to the training & discipline of God through the working of the Holy Spirit & the application of God's Word in our life.

✳️(1.) Believers & followers of the Lord Jesus Christ are being urged to run with perseverance the race marked out in their Christian life, setting aside whatever hinders & the sin that so easily entangles them. - V. 1- 3. In chapter 11 the great cloud of witnesses whose lives are models of faith in the midst of the most terrible sufferings & horrible death, are being mentioned as an encouragement to all genuine believers & followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. In 1 Cor. 9: 24 - 27, Paul also mentioned how he persevered for his faith in putting himself under strict discpiline in order to attain what was in store for him in God's eternal kingdom.
🔥The supreme model however, in persevering & in enduring the greatest discipline & suffering is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Author & Perfecter of our faith. By fixing our eyes on Jesus, we will not be afraid of all the trials & sufferings that may come our way for the sake of our faith because these are all means to strengthen our spirit & character, having the love of God poured within our hearts & joyfully looking upward with confidence to what has been prepared for us in eternal glory - Ro. 5: 1-5.

✳️(2.) All God's children ar subject to His discipline - V. 4 - 11. In the same way that our father in the earthly life disciplines us, we need to submit ourselves willingly & heartily to the disciplne of our Lord in order to cleanse us from all the filthy works of the flesh, so that we may become partakers of His glorious eternal kingdom. More reasons for discipline:
*️⃣(a.) We were born sinners & our lives were molded in the ways of this sinful world to the point that we got used to sinful way of life (whether consciously or unconsciously) along with our sinful attitude & worldly lifestyle - 1 Jn. 5: 19, Gal. 5: 19 -20. In spite of the fact that God has given us already a new heart & a new spirit, the old sinful nature still resides in this flesh which needs to totally be discarded & consider it dead by continually submitting ourselves to the working & discipline of the Holy Spirit. This continuous process of sanctification will keep going until our last day on earth.
*️⃣(b.) Without holiness, no one will see the Lord - V. 10, 14. This is the process of sanctification wherein every single detail of our sin committed by the flesh is being dealt with, as we journey toward life of holiness. This is needed because If we are truly children of God, it will be impossible for us to appear before the Holy God with a stain of sin.
🔥When we stand before the Lord, He wants us to be like Him in appearance & in the radiance of His holiness - 1 Jn. 3: 2 - 3. This realization is expected to motivate & encourage us to keep renewing our strength & pursue a life holiness right now through a continuous submission of ourselves to the discipline of the Hoy Spirit.
*️⃣(c.) God's Discipline seems difficult because we have been comfortable in our sinful way of life. That's why we need to undergo spiritual training that will result to peaceful fruit of righteousness toward holiness- V. 11.

✳️(3.) Warning against falling short of the grace of God due to any secret sin in the deepest part of the heart - V. 14- 17. There might be unmortified work of the flesh in the heart which seems to have already vanished but unconsciously springing up to give trouble to the whole body or affect our relationship with anyone within the family of God. Remember Jer. 17: 9, Prov. 28: 26. Here are some examples:
*️⃣(a.) Bitterness - Verse 14 begins with the Command to "pursue peace with all men," specifically pointed out because it is one very important aspect to deal with one's self, considering the fact that the problem could be something hidden in the heart of men. A bitter root (root of any sin) may sprout when we allow simple disappointment to settle in the heart until it grows into resentment, or when we allow grudges to settle within us over past encounters with anyone. This could be like a tiny root that over a period of time would grow into a large tree, like an unsettled sin in the heart that has not been confessed & repented until it invades the whole heart & hinders the grace of God.
🔥That hidden sin in the heart is a like gangrene or cancer that will slowly invade the entire body until it becomes incurable.
Similarly, hidden sin such as anger, grudge, bitterness, or ill-feeling toward others which are all under the description of pride, will not only hinder the grace of God to flow through the heart of a person but also to make a person deaf & blind being unable to understand & receive the Word of life. Furthermore, having a relational problem with anyone else especially within the household of God, regardless whether openly known or secretly hidden in the heart, blocks the process of sanctification that is supposed to lead a person's life to holiness. Remember that "without holiness, no one will see the Lord."
*️⃣(b.) Uncontrolled desire of the flesh- V. 16 - 17. The Bible describes Esau as immoral or godless person because he sold his birthright for a single meal. We can read a brief account of what really happened in Gen. 25:19 - 34. Here is a brief drama of what really happened: First of all, Esau & Jacob were twins & Esau came first & so considered to be the elder of the two. During those day, the eldest among the children was given the right o be the steward of the entire properties of the family & had the authority to govern the entire estate & everything that belongs to the family. As we have read, Esau came home from hunting for wild animals, very tired & starving. He saw Jacob cooking red stew & when he smell the flavor of the stew, the more he felt his hunger. He asked Jacob to give him some because he could no longer control his hunger.
🔥Jacob set the condition before giving Esau with the food that he badly needed to fill his starving stomach; that he had to give up his birthright in exchange of a bowl of lentil stew & bread. Esau agreed & swore to Jacob; & after eating & having been satisfied, Esau left despising his birthright. Esau was thinking that his birthright was useless if he would die of starvation.
🔥Observation:
*️⃣(b-1.) About Jacob - Jacob who was named the "heel grabber" was not a man of integrity & was not even considered as righteous, but what he did to Esau was not totally deceptive because what he did was open & obvious. In fact, he deserved credit for knowing & going after what was of higher & lasting value. Perhaps, knowing what the Lord revealed to his mother ( Gen. 25: 23), he grabbed the opportunity that he had been waiting for. Eventually, the Lord made Jacob a capable servant because his prorities were correct.
*️⃣(b-2.) Esau had no concern on things with lasting value but he was only after the things that would satisfy him at the moment. He was a brave, strong & skillful hunter but he was weak emotionally & spiritually. He succumbed to the need of his stomach at that moment, despising what was more important with lasting value. Esau saw only food, & he did what was necessary just to get what he wanted at that very moment, not considering what would be lost in exchange of a temporary satisfaction.
🔥This was similar to what happened with Eve in the garden of Eden when she forgot the instruction of God because she believed in th deceptive words of the devil just because her craving for the forbidden fruit that was so appealing to her appetite.
🔥Esau did not only lose his birthright but he was also separated from his family & eventually his tribe became an enemy of Isarel.

✳️(4.) Conclusion/ lessons to ponder upon:
*️⃣(a.) For a true Christian, submission of his life to the disciplne of the Holy Spirit while in the process of sanctification is a non-negotiable requirement on the journey to holiness. ("Without holiness, no one will see the Lord")
*️⃣(b.) Pursue peace with all men (V. 14) & eliminate all secret sins in the heart that would block the grace of God.
*️⃣(c.) Don't give in to the desire of the flesh that gives only temporary satisfaction & will drive you away from the center of God's will & God's best for you (food, material things, worldly pleasures, personal ambition, material wealth, praises & acceptance of men & even work that promises better income but hinders you from accomplishing God's purpose for your life) - Always remember 1 Jn. 2: 15 -17.
🔥Those who belong to the eternal kingdom of God should always be seeking for the things of spiritual value that will remain in eternity. One day, the Lord may call anyone of us at a time we do not expect, to be with Him in eternal glory (if we truly belong to Him); or all of us might as well be with Him at the same time when the Trumpet sounds which could be at any moment, & we leave everything on this temporary sinful world proving to be all useless in eternity. That's why we are being reminded to be always be vigilant, watchful & spiritually ready, or else you might be left behind to suffer the most horrible suffering beyond compare.
☞︎🄿🄰🅂🅃🄾🅁 🄹🄾🄴 🄴. 🄼🄰🅁🄸🄰🄽🄾☜︎

06/09/2026

The Necessity of Spiritual Discipline
Hebrews 12: 1 - 17

06/09/2026

The Necessity of Spiritual Discipline
Hebrews 12: 1 - 17

04/09/2026

03/09/2026

𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐃'𝐒 𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐑

‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

✳️ 𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘶𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺.

#𝙎𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧2026

02/09/2026

𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕝𝕠𝕞!
𝕃𝕒𝕤𝕥 𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕪, 𝕨𝕖 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕕 𝕤𝕠 𝕞𝕦𝕔𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕚𝕥 𝕚𝕤 𝕡𝕠𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕡𝕦𝕣𝕤𝕦𝕖 𝕨𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕖𝕞𝕡𝕥𝕪 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕 𝕙𝕒𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕠𝕗𝕗𝕖𝕣 𝕓𝕖𝕔𝕒𝕦𝕤𝕖 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕚𝕟 𝕝𝕚𝕗𝕖 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕠𝕟𝕝𝕪 𝕓𝕖 𝕗𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕 𝕚𝕟 𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕃𝕠𝕣𝕕 𝕁𝕖𝕤𝕦𝕤.
𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕖, 𝕒𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕙 𝕠𝕗 𝕊𝕖𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣 𝕓𝕖𝕘𝕚𝕟𝕤, 𝕨𝕖 𝕚𝕟𝕧𝕚𝕥𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕥𝕠 𝕛𝕠𝕚𝕟 𝕦𝕤 𝕚𝕟 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕡𝕡𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕡𝕣𝕒𝕚𝕤𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝔾𝕠𝕕 𝕨𝕙𝕠 𝕔𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕧𝕖𝕟 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕙.
𝕊𝕖𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕒𝕥 𝕔𝕙𝕦𝕣𝕔𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕪.

31/08/2026

"The Emptiness of Worldly Pursuits"
Ecclesiastes 1: 1- 11

30/08/2026

꧁ꕥ 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓔𝓶𝓹𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝓸𝓯 𝓦𝓸𝓻𝓵𝓭𝓵𝔂 𝓟𝓾𝓻𝓼𝓾𝓲𝓽𝓼 ꕥ꧂
꧁♲︎𝘌𝘤𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘴1:1-11♲︎꧂

*(1.) The title of our lesson today seems to be discouraging because of its negative tune, but if we are well aware that negativity is a reality both in life & in this world, we would not be surprised because the entire world & the affairs of this world are truly negative in nature. This is because from the very beginning, when our first parents rebelled against the will of God, sin entered the world & all creation was infected even worst than the most deadly communicable disease.
*From then on, as people keep increasing in number, sin also repidly dominated the life of the entire human race & no one has ever been exempted except Jesus Christ who lived as a man like us but never sinned because He is also true God.
*All endeavors of man's heart are intended to benefit & satisfy his flesh, his emotion & his entire being as a human. All the totality of the descriptions & attributes of "pride" gives us the sum total of man's pursuit in this world, & yet no one, not even the wisest & richest man who ever lived (king Solomon) could prove its worth. His confessions & declarations are recorded in the Book of Ecclesiastes from where we will base our discussion today, & from where we will randomly pick out specific points to support our topic.
*(2.) The Book started with the very strong words "Vanity of vanities" - V. 2. We can easily determine that the team of the Book could be "The meaningless of everything under the sun."
*Definition of "vanity" in the Webster's dictionary - (a.) inflated pride in one's self or one's appearance / conceit (b.) something that is vain, empty, or valueless - These two definitions are actually related to each other because "pride" or "conceit" is something that has no actual value in a person who possesses it. It is actually meaningless.
*(3.) The challenge to show the advantage of all man's work on the surface of the earth -V. 3
*This introductory sentence which actually describes the entire book enables us to easily understand the reality of life in this material world. It's interesting to find out that the author himself enumerated his answer to his own question to prove his point.
*(a.) Man is transitory in nature in contrast with the earth which is permanent - V. 4 Generations come & generations go, & the memories of men are forgotten forever. (b.) Every detail of nature keeps moving on a cycle - V. 5 - 7 -The sun rises & sets day after day; the wind keeps swirling along without end; water flows from the river into the sea without ceasing & the cycle goes on & on. In totality, the world keeps moving with everything keeps going in seemingly monotonous cycle, but man could not really understand how he responds with life that could not find contentment.
*(c.) Man can't get enough to understand everything that's going on under the sun- V. 8 - 11. Such condition is too wearisome for man to understand everything. That's why most people are get used to it & don't really care to get a deeper understanding.
(4.) All pursuits of man are meaningless. All works of man under the sun produce nothing of lasting value 1: 12 - 18
*(a.) The pursuit of wisdom is meaningless - 1: 12 -18, / 2: 12 - 16
*(b.) The pursuit of pleasure & possessions is meaningless - 2: 1 - 11
*(c.) Life spent in all forms of work is meaningless - 2: 18- 24
*(d.) Material wealth is meaningless - 5: 10 - 16 (6: 7, 12 )
(5.) The Command that concludes the lesson 12: 1 - 14. Solomon used various figurative words to depict the declining joy & weakening physical power of old age & to give advice on responsible living before old age sets in.
*(a.) Revere God, keep His Law faithfully, serve Him responsibly; because He Created us & we owe Him our life - 12: 1.
*(b.) As the clouds block the light of the Sun, the moon & the stars, so old age is is a period of diminishing joy (light) & increasing gloom (dark) announcing the approach of the long night of death - 12: 2
*Here is a reminder to the young ones - Any decrease in the vitality of a person, even at young age, could be viewed as a warning of possible coming death.
*(c.) The days of misery begins as the declining physical & psychological powers of old age begins to be felt - 12: 3. The days of decreasing joy & increasing gloom begin to come when the arms & hands grow weak; the legs grow bent & feeble. In the same way, the teeth becoming fewer & the eyesight starting to fail.
(d.) 12: 4 - The lips sinking in due to the loss of teeth. Due to old age, man gets up early because of the inability to have a sound sleep. Even the sense of hearing is impaired.
(e.) 12: 5 - The entire body is degenerating. Getting really old will lack the vigor of venturing out. The hair turning gray & white ( & even balding); the body begins to bent & walking becomes slow. The strength & lively actions & walking as in the days of youth is gone. It's interesting to note among old people that the appetite in eating is diminishing. Then eventually, as the physical power declines, man goes to his eternal home ( the grave)
*In 11: 8 - 10, Solomon reminded us that as we live for many years, we may enjoy life but there are more days of darkness. Normally, enjoying life consists of eating & drinking, wearing nice clothes, giving ane's self the things that can pamper the body, & finding satisfaction in one's work. People may do whatever their hearts desire; however, Solomon reminded us that those desire should be controlled & should be balanced with an awareness that God will bring to judgment everything that we have done. That's why he started 12: 1 by saying "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth - ("Revere God in in the days of your youth").
(f.) The Command & advice being reiterated emphasizing the final destiny of man - 12: 6 - 7 - "Remember God your Creator" until the final days of your life, to live honoring & glorifying Him. Then finally, the dust of the body returns to the ground where it came from, & the breath of life or the spirit goes back .to God who gave it.
(g.) The theme & description of everything under the sun is reiterated - 12: 8 - "Vanity of vanities," say the Preacher,"all is vanity." We can feel the strong emphasis of King Solomon in his constant repetition in declaring this truth.
*(6.) Conclusion - 12: 13 - 14 - ( This applies to every person). Reverence & service to God are every person's duty. This is the main task intended by God to the entire human creation. Everyone is answerable to God for everything he does, whether openly or in secret; & He will bring judgment to everyone. Even in this present world, people suffer the consequences of everything they have done in life, but they will enjoy the eternal benefits of live ng according to the Spirit of God - Gal. 6: 7- 8.
Solomon's advice to the people is to enjoy the gift of life in the fear of God as God enables them & that life that is centered in serving Him should bring glory to His Name. Then life becomes meaningful & enjoyable as the purpose of God is fully accomplished.
-𝙿𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛 𝙹𝚘𝚎 𝙴. 𝙼𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚘-

30/08/2026

"The Emptiness of Worldly Pursuits"
Ecclesiastes 1: 1- 11

26/08/2026

𝔊𝔯𝔢𝔢𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔰 𝔦𝔫 ℭ𝔥𝔯𝔦𝔰𝔱 𝔍𝔢𝔰𝔲𝔰!
𝔗𝔦𝔪𝔢 𝔣𝔩𝔦𝔢𝔰 𝔰𝔬 𝔣𝔞𝔰𝔱 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔴𝔢 𝔞𝔯𝔢 𝔦𝔫 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔩𝔞𝔰𝔱 𝔖𝔲𝔫𝔡𝔞𝔶 𝔬𝔣 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔪𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔥 𝔬𝔣 𝔄𝔲𝔤𝔲𝔰𝔱.
𝔗𝔥𝔞𝔱 𝔦𝔰 𝔴𝔥𝔶, 𝔴𝔢 𝔦𝔫𝔳𝔦𝔱𝔢 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔞𝔩𝔩 𝔱𝔬 𝔡𝔢𝔡𝔦𝔠𝔞𝔱𝔢 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔰 𝔩𝔞𝔰𝔱 𝔖𝔲𝔫𝔡𝔞𝔶 𝔱𝔬 𝔴𝔬𝔯𝔰𝔥𝔦𝔭 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔭𝔯𝔞𝔦𝔰𝔢 𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔊𝔬𝔡 𝔴𝔥𝔬 𝔦𝔰 𝔲𝔫𝔭𝔞𝔯𝔞𝔩𝔩𝔢𝔩𝔢𝔡 𝔦𝔫 ℌ𝔦𝔰 𝔤𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔱𝔫𝔢𝔰𝔰 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔤𝔩𝔬𝔯𝔶.
𝔄𝔩𝔰𝔬 𝔟𝔯𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔣𝔞𝔪𝔦𝔩𝔶, 𝔯𝔢𝔩𝔞𝔱𝔦𝔳𝔢𝔰 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔣𝔯𝔦𝔢𝔫𝔡𝔰. 𝔚𝔢 𝔞𝔯𝔢 𝔢𝔵𝔠𝔦𝔱𝔢𝔡 𝔱𝔬 𝔥𝔞𝔳𝔢 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔴𝔦𝔱𝔥 𝔲𝔰.
𝔖𝔢𝔢 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔞𝔩𝔩 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔰 𝔠𝔬𝔪𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔖𝔲𝔫𝔡𝔞𝔶, 𝔄𝔲𝔤𝔲𝔰𝔱 30, 2026.