Saved in City Hall!

Rom 15:20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation. 21 Rather, as it is written: "Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand." NIV

Apostle Paul requested that the churches pray for him so that doors would be opened for the Gospel to be shared with those who had not yet heard. Col 4:3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. NIV Prison bars and stocks did not stop him from sharing God’s Love with those he came in contact with.

In John 10:7-9 Jesus declared that He is the door. Again in Revelation Jesus says He is knocking on the door of hearts. Rev 3:20 "Look! I have been standing at the door, and I am constantly knocking. If anyone hears me calling him and opens the door, I will come in and fellowship with him and he with me. TLB It seems we might also call Jesus both the “door” and also the “door opener”. In response to the intercessory prayers of the children of God, doors of opportunity are opened. People who live where Christ is not known begin to seek to find out about Him. God then directs the steps of His children to share His Love with those sitting in darkness.

In response to prayer circumstances begin to unfold and acquaintances are made. Paths are crossed between people who normally would not meet. This principle is graphically illustrated in the Book of Acts 8:26-40. Phillip conducted a hugely successful evangelistic campaign in Samaria. In the middle of the meetings he was instructed by an angel to travel to the desert area of Gaza. It was a perfect example of God’s perfect kairos timing. Traveling on foot he happened to meet up with the chariot of the Ethiopian eunuch who was the treasurer under Queen Candace. The treasurer just happened to be reading the Old Testament prophecy about Christ’s sacrifice. Phillip joined him in the chariot and preached the Gospel. The eunuch believed and was baptized at a pool of water that happened to be nearby at the perfect time.

One more example would be Cornelius the Roman centurion. The scriptures describe him as a devout man who worshipped God. He prayed fervently and gave alms to those who were in need. Finally an angel sent by God appeared and informed him that both his prayers and offerings had gotten the attention of the Father. He was told that a man would be sent to tell him more about what to do in his pursuit of worshipping God. He was given instructions as to where Peter lived and was to send men to fetch him. Simultaneously God was working on Peter in a vision which totally changed his perspective of Gentiles considered unclean by the Jews. Peter obeyed God’s Voice and went to the house of Cornelius where he preached to a large group of people who then believed on Jesus and were filled with the Holy Spirit.

Saved in City Hall

The City Hall of a large Japanese city would seem to be one of the most unlikely places where one might have the opportunity to hear the Gospel and pray the Sinner’s Prayer. Apparently this is the type of place that Paul targeted for his ministry. In fact, he preached in jails and in the palace of Caesar as a prisoner so successfully that ultimately history was changed because of the large number of Christian converts in Rome.

A san is in her mid 30’s and might be called a typical Japanese young lady. She found employment in her town’s city hall. She worried about finding the right husband. To reach 35 and not yet be married causes many Japanese ladies to worry. By that age, a lot of pressure is exerted by family insisting she find a husband. She also carried an especially heavy burden having lost her father to suicide last year. Unfortunately she actually witnessed him jumping from their balcony. She still suffers from nightmares from that horrible tragedy. She and the mother live with the shame and financial burdens left behind by her father.

A san met a fellow worker a little younger than her who seemed to be rather bright and cheerful despite the heavy work load and pressures of their jobs. This other worker’s attitude was so different she inquired what the source of her joy was. Her fellow worker surprisingly responded that the answer was God’s Love! Growing up in Japan with all the rituals and ceremonies of Shinto and Buddhism it became that apparent the other worker was talking about something totally different than what she had ever heard. Over the next couple weeks during lunch breaks they talked about the normal things two 30 year old Japanese girls would talk about. She began to hear frequent references to God’s Love and the joy that comes from pray and believing on Him.

At one point A san asked her new friend to pray for her to find the right husband. The friend was ready to pray for her when the Holy Spirit informed her that A san had major pain in her heart. A san had not told the other worker about her father’s tragic death and the financial burden that placed on her family. First, the friend suggested that she needed to forgive her father for all the pain his suicide had caused the family. She led her in a prayer of forgiveness toward her father. Then she prayed for God to heal the pain in A san’s heart. They prayed together and she responded how light her heart felt after that prayer. Then the friend went further and asked if she would like to pray to receive Jesus Christ into her heart. Her honest and eager response was, “Yes”! She was led in the Sinner’s Prayer and with tears received the same Love of God she had observed in the other worker’s life over a period of weeks.

A Time to Rejoice

Luke 15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." NIV As we were informed of this wonderful news there was a time of prayer for A san and rejoicing that God has extended His Love to another Japanese person. A new Japanese Bible and two Christian music CD’s were prepared to share with her. The CD’s have a narration by a Japanese pastor interspersed between the songs helping a new person understand more clearly about God’s Love and how to worship Him. I used this same music to lead a paralyzed Japanese man to Christ in the hospital.

What is our Part?

What does man have to do with the wonderful process of the salvation of a soul? Actually, more than many of us realize. Rom 10: 13 Anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. 14 But how shall they ask him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them unless someone sends him? TLB

Someone GOES to where people are who do not KNOW about Jesus Christ. Then as the door (opportunity) is opened (by PRAYER) they then TELL the person about God’s Love and HOW to receive it. Of course they cannot GO unless someone else SENDS (GIVES) them! In the story of A san’s conversion we are back to the very basic points of true missionary work:

Pray

Give

Go

Is It Worth the Effort?

Is it worth all the years of planting, loving, witnessing, giving, praying and seeing no visible results for long periods of time? Struggles with finances, opposition, discouragement, barriers, illness batter away at our will and cause us to question ourselves! Many times we wonder if our lives have been wasted. After all there are greener pastures and other places that are easier with more results and less effort. Then finally in God’s Kairos timing circumstances come together just right! The Gospel seed is planted in a heart and new spiritual life is formed. Someone has prayed, believed and become a child of God! Hallelujah! It is well worth the effort. Each one who has prayed, cared, given financially has a part in this wonderful miracle. Someone you have never met may approach you in Heaven one day and say, “Thank You” for the part you played in them spending eternity in the Presence of God!

Please Don’t Give Up!

Gal 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. NIV 2 Cor 9:10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. NIV

You are keeping us here in Japan to share God’s Love with the Japanese people. You help pay the rent and put food on the table. Those who have received Christ as their savior in turn are now sharing His Love with others. You bought the Bibles we are distributing. Your prayers have helped cover us in times of opposition, danger, illness and discouragement. Your prayer has caused doors to be opened and contacts to be made for new people to learn of God’s Love. Thank you! You in turn are covered daily in prayer from here by us. We pray daily for you and your family. As contact is made we record prayer needs and bring them daily before the Throne of Grace. We give thanks for the financial gifts and pray God’s Blessings upon all those who give no matter the amount. As your prayers are being answered here we have to believe that God is answering our prayers and blessing you also.

Please pray for this young lady to grow in her faith and walk in God’s Love. Pray for the doors to be opened for many others to receive Christ. Continue to pray for us as we endeavor to Reach One Among Millions!

God bless you richly!

Dan & Sharon Corbett

“Reaching One Among Millions”