Sunday, November 27, 2022

“Transfiguration Mountain: the Place of Grace to Return to”

Pastor Joey Anjiki

1. The Old Testament is heading to the cross

* High mountain = Mt. Hermon (altitude 2,814m)

* Moses & Elijah = law & the prophets = expressing the Old Testament overall

* Luke 9:31 “They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.” (NIV)

* People who turned to the savior, Jesus Christ)

2. The Old Testament is heading to the cross

* Mark 9:7 (See above)

* The testimony of Kazuko Ando

3. The place to return to during a trial

* The incorrect image people at that time had

Messiah = Political leader (Someone to liberate Israel from the Roman Empire)

Forerunner Elijah = Victor

* Mark 9:12 (See above)

* The suffering Messiah

* The forerunner Elijah (the tragedy of John the Baptist)

* What happened to the forerunner happened to the Messiah, and what happened to the Messiah happens to those who believe in Him

* 2 Peter 1:16-18 “For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. Have you ever experienced God’s presence?

2. Why did the disciples endure persecution?

MCC20221127.mp3

Sunday, November 20, 2022

“The Great ‘Hallelujah’ Chorus in Heaven”

Pastor Hiroyuki Anjiki

1. The praise of the great multitude in Heaven (Rev. 19:1-3)

* Revelation 6:10 “They called out in a loud voice, ‘How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?’” (NIV)

* Revelation 19:1 “this salvation” “this glory” “this power” (Original text)

2. The worship of the 24 elders and 4 living creatures (Rev. 19:4-5)

3. The wedding of the lamb and the wedding supper (Rev. 19:6-10)

* Revelation 19:7 “rejoice” = continually rejoice (direct translation)

* Revelation 19:7 “wedding” = wedding ceremony, “groom” = the Lamb, Jesus Christ, “bride” = Christ’s church (raptured people)

* “Wedding of the Lamb” = based on a Jewish wedding

(1) “Engagement stage”

(2) “Groom goes to get bride stage”

(3) “Wedding stage”

(4) “Wedding supper stage”

* Georg Friedrich Handel’s “Hallelujah from ORATORIO ‘Messiah’ Part 2, No. 44”

“Hallelujah, for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth, Hallelujah! The Kingdom of this world is become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign for ever and ever, Hallelujah! King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and He shall reign for ever and ever, Hallelujah!”

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. Where in the “Hallelujah chorus” in Heaven will we Christians be participating?

2. Try applying the 4 steps of the “wedding of the Lamb” to us. What step are we presently in?

MCC20221120.mp3

Sunday, November 13, 2022

“Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me”

Pastor Joey Anjiki

1. Who is Jesus? (Mark 8:27-29)

* Mark 8:29 “You are the Messiah.” (NIV)

* Matthew 16:16 “Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’” (NIV)

* John 20:31 “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (NIV)

2. Taking up your cross (Mark 8:30-38)

* Distortion of the disciple’s image of the Messiah: Military leader

* Explaining the plan of the cross

* Mark 8:33 “Get behind me, Satan!” (NIV) (Peter being rebuked)

* The frame of mind of a disciple

* Mark 8:34 “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (NIV)

* 3 elements of the cross we are to take up:

(1) Voluntarily taken up, (2) Involves pain, (3) Sees the resurrection

* The poem of a teacher

3. Anticipation of eternity (Mark 8:35-38)

* Rewards in Heaven

* Matthew 25:21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. Who do you say Jesus Christ is?

2. What is your cross and calling?

3. Turn your eyes toward rewards in Heaven.

MCC20221113.mp3

Sunday, November 6, 2022

“The Fall of Babylon the Great & Reaction of the People”

Pastor Hiroyuki Anjiki

1. People mourning over the fall of Babylon the Great (Rev. 18:9-19)

* Revelation 18:9 “weep” = wail, cry intensely

* Revelation 18:13 “slaves” = “somaton” (in Greek) = flesh (plural) = organs

* “Bloody Harvest” by David Matas & David Kilgour

* Revelation 18:14 “fruit” (singular)

* Revelation 18:19 “throw dust on their heads” = Jewish expression of deep sadness

2. People rejoicing over the fall of Babylon the Great (Rev. 18:20)

* Revelation 18:20 “…You sent down the judgment you received from this city on this city.”

(different translation)

3. Description of the fall of Babylon the Great (Rev. 18:21-24)

* “Orthodoxy” by Gilbert K. Chesterton (20th century Christianity advocacy classic)

“What is it that has kept man sane throughout modern human history? It is mysticism (Christianity). As long as one has mysticism in his heart, a human can be healthy. When mysticism is destroyed, madness is created.”

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. Confirm the list of people who mourn over the fall of Babylon the Great and those who rejoice over it.

2. What should we think when we see evil winning or evil prospering in the world?

MCC20221106.mp3

Sunday, October 30, 2022

“Becoming Able to See Clearly”

Pastor Joey Anjiki

1. The world of darkness

* What are dark areas of life for us?

* Mark 8:22 “…some people brought a blind man …”

* In Jesus Christ alone are the answers to the darkness and questions of life

2. Healing of eyes

* Mark 8:23 “He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes…”

* The miracle of healing

* Isaiah 29:18-20 “In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see. Once more the humble will rejoice in the Lord; the needy will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. The ruthless will vanish, the mockers will disappear, and all who have an eye for evil will be cut down.” (NIV)

3. Areas that gradually become visible

* Why does all life need to be handled equally?

* Why is life important?

* The testimony of gospel singer Reiko Uehara

4. Go home, and not to the village

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. What are dark areas of life for us?

2. Have you ever experienced answers to such dark areas in your walk with Jesus?

MCC20221030.mp3

Sunday, October 23, 2022

“God’s Judgment on Babylon the Great”

Pastor Hiroyuki Anjiki

* “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” Abraham Lincoln

1. Declaration of the fall of Babylon (Rev. 18:1-3)

* Revelation 18:1 “splendor” = Shekinah glory

* Exodus 34:29 “When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.” (NIV)

* Revelation 18:2 “shouted” = declared

* Revelation 18:3 “adulteries” = idol worship

2. Command to escape from Babylon the Great (Rev. 18:4-5)

* Revelation 18:4 “my people.” = the saints

3. The condemnation of the sin of Babylon the Great (Rev.6-8)

* Isaiah 47:8 “…I am, and there is none besides me...” = “It is only me and there is no other”

* Isaiah 46:9 “Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.” (NIV)

* Downfall of the new Babylonian Empire on October 5 - 6, 539BC by King Cyrus of the Persian Empire

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. What is the meaning of “Babylon the Great?”

2. Why does “Babylon the Great” fall?

3. What is the sin of “Babylon the Great?”

MCC20221023.mp3

Sunday, October 16, 2022

“False Teaching: Watch Out for the Yeast”

Pastor Joey Anjiki

1. The meaning of yeast

* 1 Corinthians 5:6 “Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough?” (NIV)

* The “yeast of the Pharisees”

* The “yeast of Herod”

2. The yeast of the present times

* 1 Peter 3:15 “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (NIV)

* The Unification Church (Founded in 1954 by Sun Myung Moon)

- Scriptures (Discourses on Principles) and Doctrines

- Road to mass weddings (psychic marketing)

- Points of heresy:

(1) The guru, Sun Myung Moon, claims he is the second coming of Christ

(2) The guru's thoughts are more authoritative than the Bible

(3) Preaching that acts are necessary for salvation

- Why did it spread in Japan?

(1) There is no foundation of Christianity

(2) Mind controlling by teaching

(3) It is associated with anti-communism

3. The blessings that Jesus gives

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. What are differences in the teaching of the Unification Church and that of the Bible?

2. Pray for people trapped in false teaching.

MCC20221016.mp3

Sunday, October 9, 2022

“Judgment for the Beast”

Pastor Hiroyuki Anjiki

1. The true character of the beast

* Revelation 17:8 “The beast that you saw was, but now is not. He will come up, but will be destroyed.” (direct translation)

2. The true character of the beast’s empire

* Revelation 17:7 “the beast with seven heads and ten horns”

* Daniel 7 (Reference)

* The return of the Roman empire’s political system

(1) Monarchy (753BC – 509BC)

(2) Aristocracy (509BC – 494BC)

(3) Republican politics (494BC – 390BC)

(4) Military (390BC – 50BC)

(5) Triumvirate (50BC – 27BC)

(6) Imperial government (27BC – )

* Revelation 17:10 “one is” = John’s era was that of (6) Imperial government. The Roman Emperor at that time was Domitianus. “the other has yet to come” = The anti-Christ

* Revelation 17:11 “…an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction” = The anti-Christ would be considered the 7th king in the Roman developmentmental stage, but in the Great Tribulation, 3 of the 10 kings are overthrown and the anti-Christ becomes the 8th king.

3. The beast and its empire’s destruction

* Revelation 17:14 “faithful followers” = believers

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. Refer to the “Revelation” handout (in Japanese) and gain a good understanding of the flow of events in the Great Tribulation.

MCC20221009.mp3

Sunday, October 2, 2022

“The Sign of Jonah Given to Us”

Pastor Joey Anjiki

1. When doubting a sign

* Mark 8:11 “…To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven”

* The reason why the Pharisees couldn’t believe that Jesus was the Messiah was because the Pharisees didn’t obey the Oral Torah (Mishnah) that they were trying to obey

* When doubting a sign

2. The sign of Jonah

* Matthew 16:4 “only the sign of Jonah”

* Isaiah 53:4-6 “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (NIV)

* The meaning of the resurrection

*To pronounce victory over the power of death that came into human life through sin

*To show there is hope for resurrection in Heaven after death

3. The sign of Jonah that shines in history

* People who gathered proof to deny the resurrection of Jesus

* The change in the disciples (what happened to the 12 disciples thereafter)

* Acts 4:33 “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all.” (NIV)

* “The Greatest Story Ever Told” (movie) The words of actor Pat Boone

* Matthew 28:20 “…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (NIV)

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. Have you ever doubted God’s existence?

2. What is the greatest sign that we can look back on?

3. Remember that the resurrected Lord is with us.

MCC20221002.mp3

Sunday, September 25, 2022

“The Great Prostitute Who Sits by Many Waters”

Pastor Hiroyuki Anjiki

1. The true character of the “Great Prostitute”

* Revelation 17:1 “many waters” = all people/countries

* Revelation 17:3 “beast” = the Anti-Christ and empires ruled by the Anti-Christ

2. The origin of the “Great Prostitute”

* Revelation 17:5 “mysterious meaning name” = mystery

* Revelation 17:5 “mother” = biological parent

* Genesis 10:8-10 “Cush was the father of Nimrod, who became a mighty warrior on the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; that is why it is said, ‘Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord.’ The first centers of his kingdom were Babylon, Uruk, Akkad and Kalneh, in Shinar.” (NIV)

“Nimrod” = Rebel/traitor, someone who creates rebellion

“warrior” = weapon of war

“hunter” = Someone who kills people in war

* Jeremiah 7:17-18 “Do you not see what they are doing in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough and make cakes to offer to the Queen of Heaven. They pour out drink offerings to other gods to arouse my anger.” (NIV)

* Ezekiel 8:14-16 “Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the house of the Lord, and I saw women sitting there, mourning the god Tammuz. He said to me, ‘Do you see this, son of man? You will see things that are even more detestable than this.’ He then brought me into the inner court of the house of the Lord, and there at the entrance to the temple, between the portico and the altar, were about twenty-five men. With their backs toward the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east, they were bowing down to the sun in the east.” (NIV)

3. The atrocity of the “Great Prostitute”

* Persecuted religious reformers

- John Wycliffe (1320 – 1384)

- Jan Hus (1369 – 1415)

- Martin Luther (1485 – 1546)

Thoughts to share at mini church:

1. The content of Chapter 17 is a restatement of what will occur in the first three and a half years of the Great Tribulation. Revelation 17:1-19:11 is an inserted section. Review and comprehend the overall flow of Revelation.

2. Why does the false church persecute true Christians?

MCC20220925.mp3