Speaking Out; November 5, 2022

Posted on November 6, 2022 by jgarrott

Isaiah 62:1 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet,
till her righteousness shines out like the dawn,
her salvation like a blazing torch.

As Solomon famously said, there is a time for everything. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) We aren’t to be talking constantly, but we must not hold back when the situation calls for speech. In America some years ago it was in fashion to speak of “the silent majority,” meaning those who weren’t politically active. However, people who had a Biblical world view, or at least something close to it, not speaking up led to the situation we are in now, with the absurdity of denying basic biology and trashing the US Constitution. Fortunately, many of the “silent majority” have now waked up, and truth is being spoken without apology. It has taken much longer than it should have, and many people have been severely damaged as a result, but as is said, better late than never. This chapter speaks of persistent prayer in verses 6 and 7, but this verse isn’t limited to speaking to God. If we desire righteousness and salvation in society, we need both to live it out and proclaim it, calling out things that are in violation of God’s truth. A recent excellent example to follow is Kari Lake, candidate for Governor of Arizona. A former television news anchor, she resigned her job out of disgust at the intentional falsehood that she was asked to participate in, and she spoke out about why she was quitting her job. She had no political ambitions at the time, but so many people were inspired by her statement of resignation that she was essentially propelled into running for Governor. With the election days away, it is a delight to hear her refuting the lies of the media that how attack her, because having been in that business she knows exactly what is going on. I haven’t seen anything about her personal faith, but I would be very surprised if she is not a committed Christian. We may not have her opportunities or her gifts, but we too are not to be silent in the face of evil, but speak God’s truth in love.

This is close to home because I am very much a man of words. I haven’t done much in the way of actively attacking the lies that are rampant in society, but I can say that I haven’t been hesitant to speak the truth. One area where the Lord has given me a platform has been in the areas of marriage and parenting. It looks like that platform may expand, and I am not to hold back. However, I must always remember my father’s words of wisdom to me, that I quoted back on October 6th. I must not hesitate to speak, but my words must always be in love, (Ephesians 4:15) love for God and love for my neighbor, so that God’s will alone may be done.

Father, thank You for this reminder. May I indeed not keep silent, but speak Your words in Your love and Your power to accomplish Your will for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Christ Alone; November 4, 2022

Posted on November 5, 2022 by jgarrott

Isaiah 61:3 “…and provide for those who grieve in Zion–
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.”

Jesus explicitly claimed the first part of this chapter as His commission, speaking in the synagogue in Nazareth. (Luke 4:16-21) It follows that the rest of the chapter applies to Him as well, and that is good news indeed. This tells us that indeed “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4) This fits perfectly with what He said just before His arrest, trial and crucifixion. “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) What strikes me at the moment is that to receive all these good things the Lord has for us, we have to relinquish the old things. That might seem like a no-brainer, but we can be oddly stubborn at times. We get used to our ways and don’t want to change. Negative things can become our identity, and letting go of them can feel like losing our identity, and that is scary indeed. Once again, as in virtually every area of life, we need faith. We need faith that the good things are possible, that God has provided them, and that He wants to give them to us, even though we don’t deserve them. That last part is important. If we think we are entitled to the good stuff we won’t appreciate it properly, and it will quickly slip out of our hands. The world today is a mess, because we are a mess. We have to acknowledge that in order to let go of the mess and move on into all that God has planned and prepared for us. That’s what repentance is all about. Repentance is letting go of what we have been, as well as what we have been doing, to move into what God has planned and desires for us – and that includes all the wonderful things in this verse.

I am in the middle of a practicum in this right now. With my wife in the hospital for over a month now, I feel like I am drying up, like a plant that isn’t watered. When we have recently had readings like Isaiah 55:1, inviting us to come and drink, that’s pretty ironic. I need to keep growing, to double down on my dependence on God and my obedience to Him. I recognize that this is very gentle training for when we will be separated by death, but that very awareness also frightens me. I need to be aware that this is temporary, just as death itself is temporary for the believer. I’ve got to let go of my emotional dependence on her, not rejecting her in any way but confirming my dependence on God alone. That isn’t easy! She has indeed been “a helper suitable for me” for over 53 years, and the connection is very real. Even so, my dependence needs to be on God alone. I am to rejoice in my wife and be fully appreciative of her, but at the same time know that my foundation is Christ alone.

Father, thank You for this powerful reminder. Help me apply it, grow into it, so that all of Your plans for me, and for Cathy, may be fulfilled on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Shining; November 3, 2022

Posted on November 4, 2022 by jgarrott

Isaiah 60:2-3 See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Since verse one is our Verse for the Year, we have been quoting that every Sunday. However, these two verses certainly speak to the situation we see in the world today. The world is indeed a dark place in many respects, and modern technology has made us all the more aware of that fact. News, whether by print or TV or Internet, is preponderantly negative, and much of it horribly so. It’s no wonder clinical depression has been on the rise for a number of years! In such a situation, God’s people shine all the more brightly. Jesus famously said, “You are the light of the world…. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14, 16) We do need to remember that the light doesn’t originate with us; we are no more than conduits, like the fiber optics that are used in everything from data transmission to Christmas ornaments. The point is, if we let God’s light shine through us it will be very attractive, like the ornaments I just mentioned. We also need to be careful that the “data” of the Gospel doesn’t get garbled going through us. We need to demonstrate, as well as express, God’s love, grace, and mercy, in the context of His holiness and power. If we will do that we will encounter opposition, certainly, just as Jesus did, (John 15:18) but those whose hearts are tender will flock to us to repent and believe for their own salvation.

If I were to start listing examples of darkness I would be here all day, and that would just be what I am aware of. I am not to ignore the darkness, but I am certainly not to focus on it. The past two years have been a clear demonstration of how the devil and those controlled by him want us to focus on fear and despair, so that they may in turn control us. They’ve done a shockingly effective job! Those who know the One who is Truth (John 14:6) need to stand firm and refuse to be swayed, allowing His light to shine through us in sharp contrast to the oppressive darkness. If we will do that, people will indeed flock to us, just as this chapter says.

Father thank You for this reminder. I just found out my wife had a relatively sleepless night, but that doesn’t change Your light to and through her. I pray that in the relatively dark circumstances of her hospitalization we would both be faithful and accurate transmitters of Your light, so that people may be drawn to You and not just to us, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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The Sabbath; November 2, 2022

Posted on November 3, 2022 by jgarrott

Isaiah 58:13-14 “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,
then you will find your joy in the Lord,
and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land
and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.”
The mouth of the Lord has spoken.

This is the exact opposite of how most people treat the Sabbath, whether they take it as Saturday or Sunday or whenever. We take it as a day to do as we please, and specifically to go on weekend trips. (Where the NIV says “going your own way,” the Japanese says, “taking trips.”) It’s no wonder so few people find their joy in the Lord! The whole idea of the Sabbath is one that many if not most people feel is “archaic,” a leftover from when survival depended on backbreaking labor. The thing is, Biblical principles never go out of date, no matter how much society changes. We ignore God to our peril, and certainly to our loss. We need the Sabbath to establish our mental and emotional priorities, not just to rest our bodies. The devil doesn’t care so much what we do, so long as we aren’t doing it for God. That’s why he distracts and tempts us with countless things – any­thing to keep us from God. This passage repeatedly mentions not doing what you want. We don’t like that! However, success in many areas of life depends on that kind of self-control. For example, always eating what you want results in the kind of obesity epidemic that is plaguing the US right now. In the same way, choosing obedience to God over satisfying our flesh gives us spiritual health, and yes, joy, that can be had no other way. The Sabbath is God’s gift to us to accomplish that.

This is hitting me rather hard right now. I have certainly been guilty of treating the Sabbath as a day to do as I please. Since I am busy as a pastor on Sundays, I have been jealous of my time after people go home, and that has not been good. I tell people that I take Monday as my Sabbath, since I am so busy on Sunday, but I don’t focus on God on Mondays. I talk about submitting myself fully to God, but I’ve got a way to go in walking that out fully. The idea of completely unplugging from the Internet on the Sabbath is one my wife has recommended, but I have been loath to do it. That would be a good start! I speak frequently of integrity, of our actions lining up with our words, and right now I am being shown that I’ve got a way to go there, too! I do desire to desire God above everything else, but my flesh still gets in the way all too often.

Father, thank You for this wakeup call! It’s good to be reminded that I too still have my blind spots. Help me indeed put You first in everything, and to recognize what that means in every situation, so that I may more consistently do Your will on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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God’s Invitation; November 1, 2022

Posted on November 2, 2022 by jgarrott

Isaiah 56:8 The Sovereign Lord declares–
he who gathers the exiles of Israel:
“I will gather still others to them
besides those already gathered.”

God isn’t through gathering! Various parts of the Body of Christ over the years have developed a satisfaction with their numbers, and that has been tragic. There are always more people God would like to draw in! At the time Isaiah was writing, it was unthinkable to most Jews that God would include Gentiles among His people, but that’s what this is explicitly about. Jesus Himself famously quoted the lines just ahead of this when He was clearing the merchants out of the Court of the Gentiles in the temple in Jerusalem. (Mark 11:17) We often miss the fact that it was the area of the temple open to non-Jews that Jesus was concerned about. The desire to be open to outsiders has also produced some problems. The “Seeker Sensitive” movement at times seems to completely abandon repentance, when that is essential for salvation. Along that line, some churches never mention the word, sin, and focus on “your best life now.” That’s a trap of the devil. All that said, God still “wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4) The moment we forget that, we have lost our connection with the heart of God.

This has been a struggle for me, because I have to reconcile this truth with my experience of how few people accept the Gospel message. There are times when I wish free will weren’t so free! God gave it to us knowing full well that many would choose not to follow Him into eternal life, but He gave it to us anyway, and all too often we make a mess of things. We choose things that aren’t Him, or of Him, preferring the counterfeits of the world to His reality. Some are taking that to total absurdity, insisting that men can give birth and refusing to define what a woman is. The thing is, God wants even those totally deluded, rebellious people to repent and believe so that they can receive His salvation that He prepared for them in Christ. I am never to compromise the Gospel, but I am also never to exclude anyone from the kingdom of God by my judging them. I can think of one example that is astounding to me, of someone I know personally whom I thought was “too far gone,” but God is currently using them in ministry. There are actually many such examples, as I know, but that person really brought it close to home. I am to extend the invitation to all who will hear it, but at the same time not dilute that invitation and make it meaningless. God calls us to repentance and holiness, but the holiness comes after we are saved. I must never give the impression that we have to “get holy” before we can be saved. God is calling people, and I must never fail to communicate that invitation.

Father, thank You for this reminder. This is very much in line with the previous chapter of Isaiah, which I love deeply. I ask You to use me and make me more effective in giving the Water of Life to those who are thirsty, (Isaiah 55:1) so that Your house may be full indeed, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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God’s Mercy; October 31, 2022

Posted on November 1, 2022 by jgarrott

Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way
and the evil man his thoughts.
Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

I am familiar with virtually every verse of this chapter set to music, in one song or another. I quote verse nine frequently, as well as verse 11. However, this morning it is this section that resonates in me most strongly. As I mentioned on the 25th, on Sunday the 23rd the subject came up of people who don’t think they are worthy of salvation. It was mentioned in the testimony before the message by someone who had no idea what I was speaking on, and it was already in my sermon notes. As I said then, anyone who is worried about it is already ripe for salvation! However, repentance is essential. As it says here, we need to be willing to forsake our wicked ways and our evil thoughts. The devil tells us we are incapable of doing that, but he’s a liar as always. If that is our desire and our commitment, God will enable us! We really have a lot of trouble with both God’s absolute purity and His deep, abundant mercy and forgiveness. If He weren’t so pure and holy, sin wouldn’t be such an issue. However, He is, and sin is a huge issue. If that were all there is, then mankind would be totally hopeless, but fortunately, God is incredibly merciful and forgiving. Just how much? He sent His Son to take the penalty for our sin, so that by faith we might receive life. (John 3:16) The issue is our response, our appropriating the mercy and forgiveness God offers. We’re back to repentance, the decision to forsake that which is not right in God’s eyes. Distance is a strange thing when it comes to God, since He is infinite, so we can be rightly said to exist in Him, (Acts 17:28) but at the same time the Bible speaks many times of God being “near” or “far” from one person or another. I think those distances are subjective, related to our perception of God. God is always right there, if we will only open our heart to perceive Him. We don’t need to shout to call on Him!

I have experienced this countless times, because I have slipped up and needed to repent countless times! My danger is in taking God’s mercy and forgiveness for granted, since I know it’s so abundant. That would be spitting in God’s face! I am strongly aware that I am a deeply flawed individual, but then we all are, and God still loves us. It is my privilege to share God’s love with others, and I must never take that lightly. I must be quick to forgive, since I need to be forgiven! (Matthew 6:14-15) Japanese culture has very little understanding of either love or forgiveness, so it can be very challenging. However, every culture has its weaknesses, so I’m not to complain. God has demonstrated that He can get through to people through me, so I’m to keep myself available at all times, so that as many as will may repent and believe for their salvation, for God’s glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder, and for this magnificent chapter in this magnificent book in Your magnificent Bible. Help me indeed live out Your Word, allowing it to flow through me to accomplish everything for which You send it, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Spiritual Warfare; October 30, 2022

Posted on October 31, 2022 by jgarrott

Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon forged against you will prevail,
and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
and this is their vindication from me,”
declares the Lord.

Frankly, some of the assurances in this chapter seem questionable, considering all that has been done to God’s people down through the centuries. That said, there is always the question of perspective. We see at best only in the short term, whereas God sees from eternity past to eternity future. No matter how terrible the immediate trial, it too will pass, as the saying goes. I’m reminded of something Mother Theresa said: “I know the Lord will never give me anything He doesn’t think I can handle, but sometimes I wish He didn’t trust me so much.” The last part of Hebrews 11 also comes to mind, as the writer mentions the horrible circumstances endured by some very faithful people. All that said, all such trials will simply evaporate when we come before our Lord in heaven, if we have indeed been faithful. The devil forges all sorts of weapons against us, and at times the wounds from those can be deep, but in the final analysis they will be as nothing, forgotten in the face of the glory of God that is prepared for us. As Paul said, “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

I am needing to be reminded of this far more than I would like. That verse keeps popping up every other day or so! I do see good things that are coming from the current circumstances, but it’s hard to keep things in perspective all the time. However, God is faithful. Since today is a 5th Sunday, our songs are all requests from members, and one we will be singing is Shout for Joy, which quotes this very verse. Yesterday I ended the day feeling quite depressed, tired of how this is dragging out and wanting my wife to be healthy and home. My feelings didn’t change God at all, and they certainly didn’t benefit me. I can see specific ways that God is using this situation, not only for my benefit but potentially for the benefit of many. I tend to learn better when I feel weak! I am to receive this day, and each day as it comes, with gratitude for all that God is going to teach me in it, for what He is going to do in and through me. The devil hates that attitude, which is all the more reason to hold it fast! I am to walk with assurance, knowing that the final outcome of everything will be our blessing and God’s glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I certainly needed it! I pray that today would be filled with Your praise, both for me and for Cathy, even though she is in the hospital over an hour away. May we both rest, relax, and rejoice in You, as You have told me You desire for us, so that Your purposes may be fulfilled on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Proclaiming Good News; October 29, 2022

Posted on October 30, 2022 by jgarrott

Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
“Your God reigns!”

This is a justly famous verse, memorialized in music numbers of times. It is an appreciation of the messengers, those who proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God. The message is central, but it occurs to me that the mention of mountains implies that the task isn’t necessarily easy. Walking mountains is hard work! That said, such a message is certainly worth the effort. Throughout the Bible there are passages indicating God seeks those who will do this work, and Jesus was careful to commission those who believed in Him to do exactly this. Matthew 28:8-10 is famous as “The Great Commission,” and Acts 1:8 tells us that the Holy Spirit is given to empower us for the task. The rewards sometimes aren’t immediate; Hebrews 11 talks about faithful saints who never saw with their physical eyes that for which they labored. (Hebrews 11:39) Even so, in a sense the task itself is the reward. What a privilege to proclaim such good news! It is heartbreaking when people refuse to receive it, but when someone does, the joy of gaining a brother or sister in Christ wipes out the sorrow. People aspire to all sorts of things, but there is no higher goal than to be one of those described in this verse.

Growing up in a missionary family and being a missionary myself, I couldn’t begin to count how many times I’ve heard this verse quoted, both in formal settings and informal. I don’t know that I’m worried about the appearance of my feet, but I do want this to be descriptive of me! Japan is notorious as a place where the Gospel is listened to politely, but seldom received. Frankly, that is emotionally taxing, but I can’t say I’m not used to it. However, God does provide appointments with those who are prepared to receive, and that makes it all worth it. Sometimes the “entry point” for the Gospel isn’t what we might expect. People need a “hook” to help them understand that it applies to them, that it’s something they need. Yesterday, after my class at the nursing school, the director came and talked with me. My relationship with my wife is very obvious, and is very impressive to those who recognize it. The director said she wanted to set up opportunities for me to share – and specifically with her own daughter! The things we are going through with my wife’s health issues aren’t pleasant, but how we respond to them is being used by God to open people’s hearts to the Good News that we have to share. I am not to push in my own strength, but I am to hold myself ready for whenever God opens doors, so that His Word may go forth to accomplish that for which He sends it, for His glory. (Isaiah 55:10-11)

Father, thank You for this reminder, and for what happened yesterday. I pray that the director would not let the issue ride, but would follow through with what she was saying, so that I will be able to proclaim Your truth and many people’s eyes be opened. Thank You that Cathy is doing better. I pray that we would together be able to show people what You intend for marriage, so that the lies of the devil may be refuted and people be set free by Your truth, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Eternal Salvation; October 28, 2022

Posted on October 29, 2022 by jgarrott

Isaiah 51:6 “But my salvation will last forever,
my righteousness will never fail.”

After pointing out the impermanence of everything material, the Lord here contrasts that with His salvation. We tend to think of salvation on strictly temporal terms, all the way down to saving a piece of candy to eat later, when the Lord’s salvation is for eternity. We don’t have the mental capacity to really grasp what that means, even though we try. However, God can and sometimes does reveal at least a glimpse of it to us, which is why Jim Elliot could very wisely say, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” He was martyred not long after that, but nothing could take away the salvation he had already received by faith. We can barely see to the end of our nose, much less past it, and so define “salvation” in extremely limited terms. That’s why we have to accept God’s salvation by faith: our minds can’t really grasp it. Those who insist on “understanding everything” cut themselves off from all but the slightest sliver of God’s blessings. God wants us to trust Him so that we can receive all that He has planned for us. After all, it will outlast the material universe!

This certainly applies to me. By human testing I have a high IQ, and I have always liked to learn and know things. That led to a crippling level of pride, until the Lord in His mercy essentially knocked me over the head to get my attention. I have always had an active imagination as well, and got hooked on science fiction when I was in middle school, but as Paul said, God’s plans are beyond our capacity to imagine, (Ephesians 3:20) and His peace is deeper than we can understand. (Philippians 4:7) It’s been several years now since He told me personally to rest, relax, and rejoice. Sometimes my mind and imagination fight against that! This past month has been a case in point, with my wife in the hospital. I know that God is bringing good things out of this experience, but my flesh rebels big time. I don’t want to accept that this is part of God’s best for us, because my perception is limited to the temporal. I need to fix my heart and my expectations on God’s eternal salvation, His absolutely indestructible righteousness, and not be dragged down by assorted short-term things.

Father, thank You for Your grace and mercy, even in things that are unpleasant in the moment. I’ve been quoting it a lot recently, but help me genuinely remember that “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17) That “eternal glory” is exactly what You were talking about to Isaiah. I pray that Cathy would have that same revelation, so that she too will be able to rest, relax, and rejoice in You today, whatever is going on with her body, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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To the Ends of the Earth; October 27, 2022

Posted on October 28, 2022 by jgarrott

Isaiah 49:6 He says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”

This chapter is so absolutely glorious! I’ve written on several verses from it over the years, as well as preached on them, and reading it again just now makes me want to do it all over again! However, there are limits to what I can do right now, so I will restrain myself – I think – to this one verse. This verse completely blows holes in the feeling some Jews even today have that they alone are objects of God’s concern and salvation. The whole chapter is obviously Messianic, speaking of the One who would come to fulfill God’s purposes on the earth, and that could be why so many Jewish leaders, in particular, in the 1st Century and following, opposed the idea that Jesus was indeed the prophesied Messiah, because this verse proclaims that the Messiah would open up God’s salvation to the ends of the earth. The irony in that attitude is acute, because if we know what the work of the Messiah is, wouldn’t the best thing we could do be to cooperate with that work? The same may be said of any Christian who is satisfied to limit their efforts to their own immediate circle of family and friends. Not every believer is called to go to some faraway place to proclaim the Gospel, certainly, but our hearts are to be open as instruments of God’s love to all mankind, no matter where they are or what they look like. Limiting our hearts to I-my-me-mine totally misses the heart of God.

Obviously, as a missionary and the son of missionaries, with a grandfather who taught missions in a seminary, this is in my bloodstream. At the same time, I am ambivalent about calling myself a missionary, since I minister in the country where I was born and raised. However, since I look different from the local population and am generally treated as a foreigner, I guess the label is OK, though I have no sending/supporting organization. As my wife said, when we were being rejected by an American “mission board,” I’d rather be “Lord sent” than “Board sent.” In this Information Age of the Internet I am aware of the situations in many countries around the world, and I do regularly support an organization that helps the Persecuted Church. Reading those reports I am sharply aware of how easy I have it, ministering in Japan! I too must not be satisfied with material and/or spiritual luxury, but pray actively for my brothers and sisters around the world, as well as seek actively for those physically close to me to open their eyes and see and receive God’s salvation. The challenges are unending, but God is still God, and I must never forget His heart, as Isaiah expressed it.

Father, thank You for this reminder. It’s good to have this to lift my eyes off of our current situation, since that can be rather consuming. Help me never forget that as much as I am aware of Your love for me, I am only one of countless multitudes for whom You care, and keep myself available as Your instrument of blessing to others, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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