Speaking God’s Words; April 13, 2026

Posted on April 14, 2026 by jgarrott

Luke 12:11-12 “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”

This whole section should be very comforting and encouraging to every believer, and these verses are very important to that. We see them fulfilled in Acts repeatedly, as in when the apostles were hauled in front of the Sanhedrin, twice, and their eloquence and logic, from completely untrained men, astounded the rulers. Likewise, Paul was given the right words to say in his trials in Caesarea, evangelizing even King Agrippa. These verses aren’t an excuse for pastors not to prepare their messages, but they are a reminder, particularly to pastors, that we need to get our words from the Holy Spirit and not just cook them up on our own. I have heard beautifully crafted messages that had no taste of the Spirit in them, and I have heard simple, unvarnished messages that blew me away. Many people panic at being asked to say anything publicly, such as giving a testimony, but this should reassure them that God’s got it, so they don’t have to sweat it.

With my Teacher gifting, I don’t know that I’ve ever been at a loss for words when asked to stand up and say something. It can be hard to get me to shut up! However, I have learned the hard way that when my words are just my words, they are empty and unproductive. It is only when I hear and express what God is saying that my words have the powerful effect God intends for them. And that includes puns, and other funny words! God isn’t always terribly serious, and we shouldn’t be, either. I’m not to be flippant, and certainly not disrespectful, but I should never take myself too seriously. After all, as I have said for many years, my existence proves that God has a sense of humor! Whether they are light or deep, or even both at the same time, I want and need to speak God’s words, so that they may accomplish everything for which He sends them, (Isaiah 55:11) for His glory alone.

Father, thank You for the incredible privilege of speaking Your words. Thank You for what You said through me yesterday, in the service, the business meeting, and in general conversation. It struck me in the business meeting that every time I started speaking, everyone got quiet and listened, to a degree that even shocked me a little bit. Thank You for having me tell everyone to “enjoy their 3-week vacation from me.” That made everyone smile, and I believe it was from You. Thank You that You have everything about the next three weeks planned out and under control. Help Cathy and me to rest, relax, and rejoice in You throughout it all, and particularly in the next 31 hours until we get on the first plane, saying and doing what You indicate and not yielding to anything less, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Equality; April 12, 2026

Posted on April 13, 2026 by jgarrott

Acts 2:41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

I don’t think I’d ever noticed it before, but here, rather than saying “men,” Luke says “souls.” (The Japanese says “people,” and the NIV skips it entirely. ) Once the Holy Spirit was poured out, gender differences became irrelevant. They still had to deal with all sorts of societal issues, but within the Body of Christ, everyone is on equal footing. There are many, both in the Church and out of it, who miss this important point. All sorts of external distinctions are focused on, but as Paul said, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) That is absolutely precedent-shattering, society-transforming truth, but we choke on it all too often. There are differences, certainly. No two humans are identical, even if twins can come close. However, those differences aren’t differences in value. We are so petty and insecure that we tend to find excuses to put other people down, so that we will be inflated in some way. How stupid! All of that is cleared up the more accurate our view is of God. When He is infinite, omnipotent, and omniscient, all human differences fade into total insignificance. I have always liked the Japanese proverbial expression “acorns comparing height.” That’s how stupid our ranking of one another is.

This is something I have tripped up on. I don’t think gender issues bothered me particularly, because my father fully respected my mother, and vice versa. However, I was born with assorted advantages, and I liked them! In my mind I tended to rank people intellectually and linguistically, since those were areas in which I was gifted. I grew up steeped in the Bible, and I put people down in my mind for their Biblical ignorance. Again, how stupid! My gifts are to be shared, and never in pride, but in gratitude. Right now I am confronted with my ignorance of many things American, being about to make my first visit in seven years. The temptation to panic is real! I am not superior in value to the people I will encounter, but neither are they superior to me, simply because of their cultural knowledge. I am to keep my focus on my Lord, and know that we are all of equal value in His sight.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for what You enabled us to do yesterday. Thank You that You will get us through the day today. I ask for Your anointing on both the service and the business meeting, that all that needs to be said will be, and that unnecessary, and particularly hurtful, things will be avoided. Help me be fully present each moment, not totally distracted by thinking about the upcoming trip. May I be an instrument of Your blessing, of Your will being done, each moment, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Speaking for God; April 10, 2026

Posted on April 12, 2026 by jgarrott

Acts 2:16-17 “No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

“‘In the last days, God says,
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your young men will see visions,
    your old men will dream dreams.'”

When you think about it, this had to be the Holy Spirit simply using Peter as a mouthpiece, like the speaker on a telephone, because this was not a prepared message, and Peter was in no way a trained public speaker, much less a theologian. Just as when God had revealed to him that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, (Matthew 16:16) God brought Joel’s prophesy to his mind. I greatly doubt that he had memorized it ahead of time! Crafted messages aren’t bad, and we aren’t to be lazy or presumptive, but every believer, and not just pastors, needs to hold themselves available to God for Him to speak through, should He so choose. In the 1st Century Greek world, public speaking was an art form, and there were all sorts of rhetorical tricks that were used. Paul was quite possibly trained in such things, but he still wrote to the Corinthians, “When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.” (1 Corinthians 2:1) If we are trying to convince people to believe by our own efforts, we aren’t likely to be successful. We ourselves can save no one, not even ourselves, but God can use even such as we are to do the job. Remembering that, we need to offer ourselves to God in all humility for Him to speak and act through, for the salvation of others and for His glory.

This of course applies in spades to me, as a missionary pastor. I have heard more sermons than I could count, and I have probably delivered more than that. Some of those have been a waste of time, or worse, but some have been the Word of the Lord. As someone with Teacher gifting, I indeed love to open the Bible and explain things to people, but when I stand in the pulpit, for many years now I have simply shared what the Lord has spoken to me in my morning devotional times. In that sense, the messages are far closer to prophecy than teaching. I do create an outline from my devotional notes, but it is rare indeed when I stick exactly to those notes. I also need to be aware that God doesn’t limit speaking through me to when I am in the pulpit. My brother-in-law once said to me, “Did you realize you were prophesying?” I replied that I was aware I was speaking God’s truth, but hadn’t thought of it in terms of prophecy. On our upcoming trip, I don’t have any formal speaking engagements scheduled, but I am to be ready at all times to let God speak through me to anyone or everyone. At the same time, I am not to think of myself as “God’s Spokesman,” but rather try to stay out of His way for whatever He might want to do, or not do, through me, for His glory alone.

Father, thank You for this clear Word. Thank You for the message You’ve given me for tomorrow, and that You will be present in the business meeting to follow. May I speak exactly what You are saying and nothing else, so that Your Word may accomplish all that You intend, (Isaiah 55:10-11) for the blessing of my hearers and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Communication; April 10, 2026

Posted on April 11, 2026 by jgarrott

Acts 2:8 “Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?”

Many years ago I read, in a commentary that had belonged to my father’s father, a note he had written in the margin at a place that was talking about this incident, “Was this a miracle or speaking, or of hearing?” That is a valid question, but I’m not sure how much difference it makes. The point is that God was enabling communication, in a reverse of what He did at the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. This of course enabled what Jesus said in Acts 1:8 about believers being witnesses by the power of the Holy Spirit, whichever direction it operated. This actually works when only one language is involved, too. Every pastor has experienced people thanking them for things they had said in a sermon that they were quite confident they never said! However, God had enabled people to hear what He was saying to them, even when it wasn’t what was being physically spoken. That doesn’t happen as often in written communication, but it’s possible, because nothing is impossible for God. The point is that God needs to act on both ends of communication for it to be fully effective. We often hear things for which we lack context, and end up having no idea what has been said. That’s certainly true when it comes to discussions of modern technology. We tend to nod and act like we understand, when actually, nothing is getting very far past our eardrums. We need to understand that we are dependent on God in all things at all times, and ask Him to enable us to communicated accurately and hear accurately. As James said, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5)

Ministering in Japan, I’ve experienced communication miracles of all sorts, as well as abundant mis-communication! There are countless tales, some of them quite funny, of the verbal mistakes of new missionaries, but there are also stories of situations where logically, there should have been very little real communication, but somehow the Gospel got through magnificently. My wife has experienced quite a few of those. Several years ago she was in a prayer meeting with a group of Filipina girls, and was praying in tongues. The girls started getting very excited, because it seems that she was praying for them in Tagalog, which she doesn’t speak in the slightest! In recent years she has had communication difficulties in both English and Japanese because of having had surgery for a brain tumor, but time and time again I have seen her heart communicate what her words shouldn’t have been able to. Pentecost is operative in her life! I grew up with both English and Japanese, and I speak a few words in several other languages, but I need to remember that genuine communication always requires the help of the Holy Spirit, whatever words are involved.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the gift of words that You have given me, that my father recognized in writing 60 years ago. May my words, spoken or written, accurately express what You are saying, and may my hearers and readers likewise be enabled to receive what You are saying to them, whether I understand it or not. Thank You. Praise God!

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Witnesses; April 9, 2026

Posted on April 10, 2026 by jgarrott

Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

This verse has been ingrained in my memory for over 50 years, since I first was exposed to the Charismatic Movement. The Lord brought it to mind to confirm that He had actually baptized me in His Spirit, even though I had felt nothing at the time. However, I think there is still an amazing lack of understanding of this verse in the Church at large. I think we “spiritualize” it too much, thinking in terms of specific manifestations, such as those listed in 1 Corinthians 12, when actually, Jesus was talking about total lifestyle. I’m reminded of the thought-provoking question, “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” Being Christ’s witnesses is a whole-of-life thing, and not just what happens when you talk with someone – though that is included. If our lives aren’t congruent with the Gospel, our “witnessing” will have no impact, or even have negative impact, convincing our hearers that Christians are just hypocrites. That’s not at all to say that we have to be perfect before we open our mouths. No one is perfect on this earth, with the sole exception of Jesus Himself. We are to humbly acknowledge our weaknesses and failures, and at the same time point people to the One who saves us from them. Those who are genuinely submitted to the Holy Spirit will live that out consistently, despite their occasional lapses. After all, if there is hope for us, there is hope for those with whom we interact.

When I read this just now, it struck me that my wife and I are about to go to “the ends of the earth” from where we have lived for the past 45 years. Americans tend to think of this verse in terms of “foreign missions,” but it applies at any distance. If you aren’t Christ’s witness where you are, “Jerusalem,” there’s no point in your going further. We have certainly been planted in Omura, Nagasaki Prefecture, and now, the Lord is giving us an opportunity to be His witnesses in the US. My wife and I both have the strong feeling that He wants to speak through us to various people we will encounter on this trip. It seems like people have been lining up to want to see us! We must remember that who they really want to see, whether they know it or not, is Christ in us, and so do our best to stay out of the way of that. The people contacting us are of course people we have known before, but we will also encounter many people for the first time. Whoever they are and whatever the reasons for our interaction, we are to be Christ’s witnesses to them, in word and action. We should leave everyone in better shape than when we meet them.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for how everything is falling into place. Help us be sensitive to Your guidance in every detail, in packing and in everything else. Thank You for this training in resting, relaxing, and rejoicing in You! Show us how to submit to You so that we may effectively resist the devil, and specifically, his attacks on our bodies and our emotions. May we walk in all that Christ paid for, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Evangelism; April 8, 2026

Posted on April 9, 2026 by jgarrott

John 20:30-31 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 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.

I can really understand John’s feelings here. He had written his Gospel precisely because so many things had been left out of the previous three, but even coming to the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry chronologically, he realizes that there was so much more that happened that he hadn’t written about. That said, he expresses his motivation in writing in the first place, and it is one that every believer even today should share. God’s love and grace, His salvation, are big enough for all mankind. Sharing them doesn’t diminish them in the least for the one doing the sharing, but rather accentuates their joy. A sadly small percentage of the believers on earth have ever led another person to become a believer, and that’s a huge waste in every way. An interesting thing about faith is that the more you share it, the stronger it gets. Everyone should want to grow in faith, so we should share the faith we have! We get intimidated at the idea of “soul winning,” feeling, possibly quite accurately, that we have no particular gifting in evangelism, but the point isn’t in statistical results, it’s in the obedience of sharing. Jesus said clearly, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) He didn’t say, “Overwhelm people with your exceptional apologetics and hermeneutics,” He just said, “Shine.” As has been said, this is just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread. We aren’t all called to write books or hold special meetings or any of the things we associate with evangelists, but we are called to share with others what God has done for us. When we do that, in honesty and humility, God will use our words and our attitude to speak to people’s hearts, and lead them too into His salvation.

This is extremely pertinent to me, for a number of reasons. In the first place, I’m a missionary, but I’m gifted as a teacher, not an evangelist. In the second place, I’m writing my autobiography, not to inflate myself but to testify how gracious God has been in spite of my countless failures. I find it’s slow going, because I’m attempting to do it chronologically, and I keep remembering things from a period of my life that I’ve already covered. Using a computer makes it easy to go back and add that, but as a result, I’m still in the period of my 20s, and I’m currently 77! Once I finally get to the present, however old I’ll be when that happens, I’m going to need a good editor, because I don’t want a book the size of War and Peace! That said, I indeed share John’s desire to express what God has done, so that others, reading it, may believe that He loves them, too, and so yield their lives to Him and receive eternal life in exchange.

Father, thank You indeed for Your overwhelming grace toward me, and for the privilege of sharing that with others. Too many people seem to think I’m exceptional, that You couldn’t love and use them in the same way as You do me. I ask Your Holy Spirit to touch their hearts and open their eyes to see Your heart for them personally, so that they may know the truth and be set free indeed, (John 8:32) for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Understanding the Bible; April 7, 2026

Posted on April 8, 2026 by jgarrott

Luke 24:45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

When we come right down to it, we’re all pretty dense. We need God’s help if we are going to understand what’s written in the Bible, even though the actual words were written by human beings just like us. We don’t need to be anxious about it, though, because we indeed have the help of the Author, the Holy Spirit. As Paul said, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) It is a fascinating linguistic note that in both Hebrew and Greek, the same word means spirit, breath, and wind. Otherwise, they are quite different languages. Thus, when Genesis talks about God giving breath to Adam, it could equally be translated that He gave him spirit. Likewise, when Acts 2 talks about the Holy Spirit being poured out, it could equally be translated that He gave breath to the believers. It follows that the song, Breath On Me, Breath of God, is extremely appropriate and Biblical. It is an interesting note to the crucifixion that, “Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last.” (Luke 23:46) You could say He was quoting David, who said exactly the same thing in Psalm 31:5. It’s also interesting that in Japanese, one way to say a person died is to say, “His breath failed/ended.” Nothing about the Bible is an accident, so we need to seek the help of the Holy Spirit, the Breath of God, to get as much from it as possible.

I am deeply blessed that one of the earliest members of this church has recently been able to return to regular attendance. He is a doctor, and came to an English Bible class I taught, initially just for the English. After about a year, he came in one evening and said he wanted to be baptized. I was delighted, but I asked him why, and his response has stayed with me ever since. “This book was not written just by man, and if God caused it to be written, I had better believe it.” I wish everyone had that understanding! As a pastor/teacher, my job is to help people understand what God has already said, as well as speak out what He is saying right now. Trying to do that on my own is the height of stupidity/futility, because I need the help of the Holy Spirit myself to really grasp what He is saying to me. However, He does help me, and I am to be faithful to share what He shows me. I’m never to think I have the total picture, so I’m never to be proud in what I am doing, but I am to rejoice to be part of what God does to build up and equip His people, just as Paul wrote to Timothy.

Father, thank You for the incredible privilege of participating in Your work. May I be totally submitted and committed to You, allowing Your Spirit, Your Breath, to flow through me however You choose. May I be fully useful to You in building up the Body of Christ, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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God’s Grace; April 6, 2026

Posted on April 7, 2026 by jgarrott

Luke 24:34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”

One of the most moving songs about the resurrection is Don Francisco’s He Is Alive. In it, Don draws a clear word-picture of how Peter felt after he left the empty tomb, and how it must have been when Jesus appeared to him, as it says in this verse. Peter’s self-confidence had been completely shattered by his having denied he knew Jesus three times, so it was to him an unbelievable manifestation of grace that Jesus appeared to him and forgave him. The scene by Lake Galilee in John 21 was simply an addendum to that, confirming that Jesus not only forgave him, He had work for him to do, namely, taking care of Jesus’ flock. We all fail Jesus in various ways, generally not as dramatic as what Peter did, but just as real. We too need to grasp the reality of God’s grace and forgiveness, and so repent in truth. If there is no repentance, there is no reason for forgiveness, but if the repentance is there, the forgiveness is very real indeed.

I need to remember this as well as anyone. Outsiders looking at my life consider me some sort of paragon of goodness, but I know my heart, and those close to me know the wounds I have inflicted on them. I am totally dependent on God’s grace, and I must never forget it. I am to be a carrier of God’s grace to everyone I encounter. That will take many forms, and sometimes it may seem a little severe, but that’s how it is with God’s love. I myself am loved by God, and I am to allow Him to love others through me. As Hebrews 12 makes clear, genuine love involves discipline, so I am never to complain about what God puts me through, but rather trust that His plans for me are perfect, and rejoice in that assurance.

Father, thank You indeed for Your plans. Thank You for the blessed Resurrection Sunday we had yesterday, and for Your plans for today. Thank You that we will be getting back to Omura from our trip a month from today. May I not complain at the unexpected hiccups, like happened with my study computer this morning, but rather rest, relax, and rejoice in You and in Your schedule for me, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Women; April 5, 2026

Posted on April 6, 2026 by jgarrott

Luke 24:11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.

It is hard for us to imagine how thoroughly women were looked down on in that society. In a court of law, a woman’s testimony was worth literally half that of a man’s. That was one of the many ways Jesus’ ministry was so shocking and rule-breaking. For a Biblical example, the women weren’t even counted in the stories of the miraculous mass feedings Jesus did. “The 5000” was just the number of men, and likewise the 4000 in the second instance. It is actually one of the proofs of Jesus’ resurrection that He chose to reveal Himself, and the fact that He had risen, to women first.  That was NOT what anyone would have done had they been concocting a hoax! As it says here, even the apostles didn’t believe the women at first, though Peter and John did go to check on the story. John reports that Mary Magdalene was the first person to actually see Jesus (John 20:14ff) and she was the least likely to be trusted of all the women, since she had been oppressed by seven demons! (Luke 8:2) Jesus didn’t put women above men, but He didn’t put them below, either, and that violated all sorts of norms. Paul is accused of being a misogynist, but he wrote, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) Society in general thought that women were for the utility of men, since men couldn’t have babies by themselves, but authentic Christian faith recognizes that indeed the ground is level at the foot of the cross, as the saying goes. Today, we need to avoid the excesses of women who would denigrate men, but we certainly need to recognize the gifts and contributions of women, of fully equal value as that of men.

I have been vaguely aware of this issue all my life. My mother was in a very real sense demoted, when she married my father, from “missionary” to “missionary wife,” and that gave her a lot of trouble around the time I was a young child, to the point that she was on tranquilizers for a while. She had applied to the mission board before my father had, but somehow, she was considered secondary by the mission board once they got married. My father was the one in the spotlight, but I think my mother was the first to publish a book, Japanese Youth Face Life. I know that my father could not have been and done all he was and did had he not been married to her. I in turn have been incredibly blessed with my wife, who has been my partner in every way. Our gifting is very different, thankfully. That’s one of the big points of marriage! For example, the Lord gives her dreams and visions, which He seldom does for me. At this point our physical differences are accentuated because of her health issues, so I need to be physically strong for her, but I must never let the devil blind me to the contributions she makes to our marriage and our ministry.

Father, thank You for this reminder. In all the stress of preparing for our first visit to the US in seven years, our differing focus has already led to friction. Help me see her with Your eyes, and her me, so that we may be the unit that You designed us to be, effectively doing Your will for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Individual Differences; April 4, 2026

Posted on April 5, 2026 by jgarrott

Luke 23:50-51 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God.

John mentions that Nicodemus joined Joseph in dealing with Jesus’ body, (John 19:39-40) and together they illustrate that there are indeed good, righteous politicians, even if their opinions aren’t always followed. We tend to paint the Sanhedrin in particular with a very broad brush, but there were also people like Gamaliel (Acts 5:34 and following) who had their heads in the right place. It is very dangerous to generalize. That’s where a lot of racial discrimination comes in. Even Paul was touched by it, when he wrote that “One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: ‘Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.’” (Titus 1:12) One of the many miracles of creation is that God sees each one of us individually, with all of our virtually infinite differences. It’s also a miracle that He loves us anyway! We need to realize that our own differences aren’t disqualifying, and neither are those of anyone else. We need always to seek to see people with God’s eyes, to judge them by the content of their character rather than by any other characteristic, just as M. L. King said. The thing is, he had character flaws too, just as we all do. Every human being who has ever lived or will ever live is in need of God’s grace, so we should strive to be channels of that grace to them. The Bible says in various places with various words that the standards we apply to others will be applied to us. One of the scariest things Jesus said was, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15) And that was immediately after teaching what we call the Lord’s Prayer, that we quote so glibly! We need to rejoice in God’s truly amazing grace and extend it to those around us, as He has told us.

I am a generally forgiving person, but I still have a tendency to classify people, to pre-judge them, as it were. Occasionally race enters into it, but not often. Whatever the reason, that’s not good. I get upset over other people’s discriminatory attitudes, but I’m not free of such myself! It’s not a physical thing, but I still identify with what Paul said: “No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:27) I too am totally dependent on God’s grace!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for all You’re allowing me to go through in connection with our housing in Louisville, with reservations and cancellations and the like. My pride is certainly being ground down! Help me truly be an agent of Your grace and love to all I interact with, both here and on our trip, so that people may see You and be drawn to You through me, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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