Living Out Our Faith; May 20, 2022

Posted on May 24, 2022 by jgarrott

Acts 24:16 “So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.”

Luke’s very faithful record of what went on in this courtroom sounds like it could have happened yesterday. People haven’t changed! That’s why the Bible is as relevant today as it was when it was written, despite many changes in technology. The world we live in today would have been unimaginable to people back then, and indeed, things we take for granted were literally the stuff of science fiction less than a hundred years ago. That said, the people living with all that technology are still completely human, with the same hopes, fears, and motivations. With that awareness, what Paul says here is very important. He is stating that he lives according to his faith, which his accusers also claim to do. The thing is, what we really believe is shown by our actions. Paul’s conviction that there would be a resurrection and subsequent judgment caused him to live an exemplary life. Recently Elon Musk said that he expected to go to hell, but it didn’t bother him because he knew that the majority of mankind was going there too. As Bill Whittle and Alfonzo Rachel pointed out, that shows that he doesn’t actually believe in hell, or in heaven for that matter. The Beatles’ song, Imagine, is widely loved, but it is an attempt to deny our accountability before God. That is foolish in the extreme! If it didn’t matter what we believe that would be one thing, however not just the Bible but all of human history shows us that what we believe makes a huge difference. Paul’s enemies on this occasion were so vehement against him precisely because he had been one of them, a “Pharisee of Pharisees,” as he had proclaimed before the Sanhedrin just days before. (Acts 23:6) The thing is, they weren’t living out the faith they proclaimed, and Paul was. We are very quick to attack those who make us look bad. It is vitally important that each of us ask God to show us how we are being inconsistent with what we say we believe, so that we may repent. As James pointed out, we are experts at deceiving ourselves! (James 1:22) Only the Holy Spirit working in us can keep us straight, but as Paul said, “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

This naturally applies to me. I have long felt that James 1:22 was written expressly (though not exclusively) for me. I am quite good at deceiving myself! As a pastor I deal constantly with people who are struggling with the gap between what they honestly say they believe and how they live their daily lives. I have that same struggle! I can’t “fix” myself, much less anyone else, but I can point them to the One who can, just as Paul wrote to the Thessalonians. I am not to despair at failures, my own or anyone else’s, but yield everything to God and keep pressing in toward Him. I need to believe He won’t give up on me, or on anyone else, and live accordingly!

Father, thank You for this encouraging reminder. I had been wondering what I was to share with the congregation on Sunday! I pray that I would be increasingly faithful in living out the faith You have placed in me, so that Your purposes may be accomplished in and through me for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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God’s Plans; May 19, 2022

Posted on May 21, 2022 by jgarrott

Acts 23:11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

The following two years of imprisonment in Caesarea were doubtless not what Paul would have chosen, but I’m sure the Lord’s words to him here helped him get through them, and the time following, much better. Assurance that we are in God’s will is a tremendous encouragement for any believer. From our perspective we can see that Paul’s imprisonment in Caesarea allowed Luke to research and write the Gospel that bears his name, and the trials and hardships of the rest of Paul’s life allowed, even caused, him to write more of the letters that form half the New Testament, for the incalculable blessing of every generation since. We seldom know how the events of our lives are going to impact others, and there is no way we can know how that impact will resonate through succeeding generations. We don’t know the details of Paul’s testimony in Rome the way we do of this incident, but there were probably some of his hearers, even among the soldiers who guarded him, who became believers and left a spiritual legacy, just as there were perhaps members of the Sanhedrin who opened their hearts to the truth because of the situation recorded here. Every one of us needs to trust God with our past, present, and future, believing that He is going to use even our mistakes for good. (Romans 8:28) Someone has said that it’s like watching a Persian rug being made. In this life all we are seeing is a confusion of strings and knots, but when we get to heaven we will be able to see the other side, and the beautiful tapestry it became.

I need to remember this as much as anyone. At this point in my life I am thinking about my legacy, but I can rest assured that it will be as God intends, which is a very good thing. Faithfulness is called for, because I certainly don’t want to derail what God is doing. I have little if any idea what it will all involve. One of my favorite people in the Old Testament is Isaiah, and tradition tells us he went to heaven by being sawed apart! The life of Paul is an encouragement and comfort to me. It certainly wasn’t easy. He famously didn’t receive the healing he desired, but God told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) That and other things enabled him to write, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17) I don’t often think about the fact that those two passages are parts of the same letter! When Paul could leave the legacy he did with all he went through, I’ve got nothing to complain about!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me indeed release everything to You and trust that You have Your good purposes for allowing it. Help me be proactive in obeying You, rather than having to repent of disobedience. The days ahead hold a great deal – and that is true with both potential meanings of that phrase! May I trust You enough to be totally obedient, so that the greatness of what You have planned may be manifested, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Invitation; May 18, 2022

Posted on May 21, 2022 by jgarrott

Acts 2:38-39 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off–for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

This is certainly one of the most glorious invitations ever given, not just in the Bible but in all of human history. It is the offer not simply of forgiveness of sins and eternal life (as though that were a simple thing) but of intimacy with our Creator even on this earth. And it is of the utmost importance to realize that the invitation is extended to all, far and near, “whom the Lord our God will call.” Peter himself didn’t understand the breadth and the impact of the words God spoke through him in this moment. It took a pretty dramatic experience in Joppa and then in the home of a Roman Centurion for it to get through to him. (Acts 10) God was and is calling people “from every nation, tribe, people and language.” (Revelation 7:9) Making it more personal for those present, Peter specified “you and your children.” It is tragic that many Christians fail to pass their faith on to the next generation. Sometimes they say things like, “I want it to be their faith, and not mine pressed on them.” On the face of it that’s valid, but the devil is actively trying to steal our children from us, and from the family of God. We need to be active and intentional in equipping our children with a framework that will make it easy for them to have a deep, personal relationship with their heavenly Father. They too need to be fully equipped with the Holy Spirit in order to resist all the unholy spirits that are rampant in the world today. I can’t specify when a child is ready for baptism. My mother was baptized at five, after a genuine awareness of sin and repentance. I was baptized at seven, but got sidetracked by pride to the point that when the Lord really got my attention at 24, it was so dramatic that I requested and received baptism a second time. That sort of timing isn’t so important. The vital thing is that the invitation expressed here be expressed and understood by all who will receive it, for their eternal salvation and God’s glory.

This is of course of vital importance to me, for many reasons. I am first of all a Christian, and I am also commissioned as a minister of the Gospel, a missionary in Japan. This invitation is what I’m all about! There are young people in the church right now whom I would baptize at any moment they expressed their desire for it. We will be having a barbecue this Sunday evening as an outreach to the families in the neighborhood, and that is all about this very invitation. Actually, my every interaction with people should be a reflection and an expression of this invitation. I cannot control people’s response, but I must be faithful to extend the invitation in the first place. No one on the face of the earth is NOT in need of this invitation! I am not to be intimidated by anything, but be as bold as Paul was regardless of the status of my audience. God wants His invitation to go out!

Father, thank You for this powerful reminder. Thank You for the further witnessing You enabled me to do at school yesterday, with another contract teacher and one of the fulltime teaching staff. Help me not miss, or misuse, any of Your appointments for me, but be fully useful to You to draw people to Yourself, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Words; May 17, 2022

Posted on May 20, 2022 by jgarrott

Acts 2:14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.”

This was as much a work of the Holy Spirit as what had just gone before, and in some ways was just as astonishing. Peter, an ignorant fisherman with a track record of sticking his foot in his mouth and making a mess of things, here delivers a clear, even scholarly explanation to the crowd not only of what they had just witnessed, but of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The Scriptures he quoted were spot on, and the effect on his hearers was dramatic. In the days, weeks, and years following he went on to earn a reputation as someone who indeed spoke the words of God. We can be pretty confident that here he was speaking Aramaic, because 2nd Peter shows that his Greek skills never rose very high, but that’s part of the miracle: God took him as he was and used him powerfully as a vital part of the establishment of the Church, not because of him but in spite of him and all his faults. We have no idea how much his grammar was cleaned up in this transcription, particularly because the record we have is in Greek rather than in Aramaic, but we do know what God did through His words which He spoke through Peter. I personally think that the experience of denying three times that he even knew Jesus, and then being forgiven after the resurrection, was an essential part of preparing Peter for this moment. He had zero confidence in himself, which enabled him to be totally yielded and available to the Lord. To whatever degree we draw back from letting God use us, we are looking at ourselves and our circumstances instead of at Christ. (Hebrews 12:2)

In some ways I have had the opposite problem. As many have recognized from my youth, God gifted me in terms of words and language. However, that was no guarantee that my output had any value! I have used words to amuse and entertain, which is fine but not vital. I have used words to lash out and hurt, which is certainly reprehensible. I have used words to confuse deliberately, which is the opposite of their purpose. I have gloried in the power of words, instead of in the One who enabled me to produce them. Occasionally I have used words as God has indeed intended them, lifting people up, healing them, and drawing them closer to their Creator. As good as that feels, you’d think I’d try to do it more consistently! I do seek to do that, but I’m acutely aware that I have a lot of room to grow in my availability to God. I want my words to echo His, working His will in my hearers, both those I can see and those I can’t. I’m to speak His words to principalities and powers, as well as to the physical people around me. (Ephesians 6:12) The moment I try to do that in my own strength and wisdom it becomes ineffective, but God is big enough and powerful enough to use even me, if I will allow Him to do so.

Father, thank You for this reminder. It’s sobering! Between school teaching and church preaching, it could be said that I make my living with words. May they be living words indeed, Your Words, bringing light and life to those who hear, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Pentecost; May 16, 2022

Posted on May 20, 2022 by jgarrott

Acts 2:6, 11 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. “We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”

The miracle of Pentecost was two-sided. Not only were the believers given words they had not learned, the crowd was given the ability to hear what they were saying and understand it. When you consider that there were around 120 people all talking at once, as well as the number of different localities mentioned from verse nine on, the hearing was also a miracle! What is not clear is whether each hearer heard all of them speaking his language, or whether they were able to pick out one or two people who were doing so. Anyone who has been in a polyglot situation has experienced recognizing when someone was speaking a particular language they knew, even if they couldn’t distinguish exactly what was being said. That seems likely here. I speak English and Japanese and have studied German so I can pick up those languages in a crowd, and I have a fair guess at some others, so I have no problems with that idea. It seems important to remember that what was being said was praise to God for what He had done. God’s miracles aren’t just for the sake of being miraculous, they are to point and draw people to Him in faith. It would have been meaningless if the believers had been talking about the weather or the stock market. They were experiencing the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to them: “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49) When we operate in God’s power, we will do His will for His glory.

Naturally, this applies to me. I first encountered the idea of Pentecost being a “miracle of hearing” during the brief time I had with my father after bringing my wife and children to Japan for the first time, before my parents left for the furlough from which my father returned as cremated ashes. I had been exposed to teaching about the Charismatic Movement but hadn’t yet personally experienced it, and I think I was discussing it with my father. He pointed out something his father (also a pastor) had written in the margin of a commentary on Acts, to the effect that “wouldn’t this be a miracle of hearing?” My father also wondered if his own remarkable ability in Japanese wasn’t a variation on the Gift of Tongues, since it came to him after a powerful encounter with the Holy Spirit. I can’t deny that it might have been! I have also heard someone who certainly didn’t speak Japanese using that language in ministry – in America! My wife also has experienced praying in Tagalog with a group of Filipinas, when she certainly doesn’t speak that language. I have learned that it’s very foolish to try to put God’s gifts into any sort of box. I have also learned that they are to be used, at His direction of course, and not hidden away like the servant who only received one talent. (Matthew 25)

Father, like so many other things, I realize I only have partial knowledge and understanding here. Help me keep growing, keep learning, so that I may be increasingly useful to You. May I be a good steward of all that You have placed in me and at my disposal, so that Your purposes for every bit of it may be fulfilled, on Your schedule and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Imitating Jesus; May 15, 2022

Posted on May 18, 2022 by jgarrott

John 5:30 “By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.”

This is a very powerful statement. When the Son of God Himself did nothing on His own, why would we think that we could accomplish anything on our own? I think Jesus’ use of “judge” and “judgment” here is not as in the sense of a courtroom, but as in the sense of evaluating things. We are all too prone to evaluate things – and people – on false criteria, when Jesus always listened to what the Creator had to say about anything. That often gives a very different result! Many things the world applauds are worthless or worse in God’s sight, and many things we might overlook are precious to Him. Jesus lived the most fulfilled life of any human being, and it goes without saying that the more we are like Him, the more fulfilled we too will be. Several years ago there was another run on the saying, “What Would Jesus Do?” WWJD was plastered on bracelets and bookmarks and t-shirts and hats. That wasn’t bad, but to the extent that it was a fad, it had little impact. Actually, we know what Jesus would do in every situation, which is to seek the Father and be obedient to Him. That’s not a slogan, it’s a mindset. We too need to evaluate everything on the basis of God’s will, knowing that He is our Father just as He was Jesus’ Father, even though the mechanism of our sonship is a bit different. (John 20:17) Because of our faith in Jesus, we have as much right to seek the Father’s will as He does, and that’s saying a great deal. However, in seeking, we need to be committed to following, or it is all hollow.

I’m certainly preaching to myself here! I too am quick to evaluate things on my own criteria, instead of seeking God’s evaluation. The foolishness of that is pointed out by the fact that if I had been evaluating myself, I would have rejected myself a long time ago! I am reminded of the fact that the first time my wife laid eyes on me her reaction was, “Yuck.” I’m very thankful God changed her mind! Just last night I was asked about some major life decisions by someone. As I told them, God is more than faithful to guide us if we will let go of our preconceptions and let Him show us what is good. I’m pretty consistent in giving that sort of good advice, but how consistent am I in following it myself? I need to be proactive in seeking God’s will, and not just go with the flow of whatever happens. As I will be saying in the message this morning, God has some awesome plans for us, and I need to seek them with joy and anticipation.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the recent reminders of my own foolishness and frailty. As You told me years ago, may I indeed rest, relax, and rejoice in You, so that I may do Your will on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Expectations; May 14, 2022

Posted on May 18, 2022 by jgarrott

Luke 24:20-21 “The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.”

We can be blinded by all sorts of things, and strong desires and hopes certainly fall into that category. We create scenarios in our minds, and when events don’t fit those scenarios we fail to recognize what’s actually happening. These disciples had accurately identified Jesus as “the one who would redeem Israel,” but they had their idea of what “redemption” would look like, and when Jesus gave His body and blood to redeem not only Israel but all mankind, they couldn’t recognize it at all. We do the same sort of thing all too frequently. Dennis Prager says that he tries to have no expectations about anything, so that he’s often pleasantly surprised but hardly ever disappointed. I’m not sure that’s practical for most people, but I do understand the principle. However, it’s entirely possible to be consumed by a particular hope or desire, and completely devastated when that is dashed. These disciples were in that boat, I think. Their depression was so severe they didn’t even recognize Jesus when He was walking and talking with them! We need to release both our hopes and our situations to God to let Him do with them, and us, what He has planned, showing us what that is in His time. That’s easier said than done, but by God’s grace it’s possible.

I’ve experienced this myself on many occasions. There was a young woman I was convinced was to be my life partner, and things had certainly gone so as to encourage me in that expectation. However, circumstances changed, and she declined to renew and continue our relationship. To say I was disappointed would be a huge understatement! However, God knew that He hadn’t called her to be a missionary, and He had someone prepared for me whom He had so called, and this month will mark the 53rd anniversary of our wedding. That of course was huge, but I’ve had many smaller experiences of God having planned something better for me than I had in mind. If I don’t let go of my plans, I can’t receive His! Anticipation of blessing can be a blessing in itself, but I must not let that blind me to even greater blessings that God might have in mind.

Father, thank You for this reminder. You’d think I’d have learned this thoroughly by now! Help me keep growing in hearing and obeying You, so that all of Your plans for me, which I know are the very best, will be fulfilled on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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The Kingdom of God; May 13, 2022

Posted on May 16, 2022 by jgarrott

Matthew 12:28 “But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

This is a good example of the meaning of the term, the kingdom of God. We are prone to think of it in geographical terms, just as Putin has been trying to extend Russia into Ukraine, reestablishing the Russian Empire. However, a careful reading of the Bible, and especially the New Testament, gives a very different picture. Geographically God is everywhere, since He is infinite, so our human categories just don’t fit. His “kingdom” is where His rule and reign are acknowledged and established. The whole concept is integral to the confession, Jesus is Lord. The Roman emperors claimed that title for themselves, and declaring someone else to be Lord was saying you were under a different authority than Rome, and they couldn’t abide that. That was the whole justification for the murderous persecution they conducted against believers, and it’s the reason for the persecution Chinese believers, for example, undergo today. Totalitarian regimes can’t stand rivals! Here Jesus was pointing out, very logically, that His delivering people from demons by God’s Spirit meant that God’s authority was being manifested, whether the Pharisees liked it or not. We would see more manifestations of God’s authority, His kingdom, if we ourselves were more fully submitted to that authority. We take “Jesus is Lord” far too lightly!

I’m preaching to myself here. I know this truth in my head, but it is still being worked out in my heart. I need to be submitted to the Lordship of Christ each moment of each day, taking my orders from Him and not submitting to the world or the devil. I have earnestly desired that God pour His Spirit out on this nation, just as I will be speaking about Sunday, but I’ve got to be fully submitted to that Spirit myself, on every level. My flesh can be remarkably stubborn! This isn’t at all a matter of being “so heavenly minded I’m no earthly good,” as someone once put it, but of living through the nitty gritty of life as Jesus did, not yielding to temptations but accurately representing His heart, His character, in every interaction. When I pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done,” I’ve got to put feet on that and practice it myself.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Today is unstructured for me, as far as my schedule goes. Help me actively seek Your plans for each moment, whether the activity seems “spiritual” or not, so that indeed Your will may be done on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Restoration; May 12, 2022

Posted on May 16, 2022 by jgarrott

Zechariah 9:12 Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope;
even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.

This verse has been loved as a promise of restoration ever since it was recorded, but it has been misunderstood at least as much as it has been received as God intended it. It is clearly in the context of the coming Messiah, since verse nine was explicitly fulfilled by Jesus on Palm Sunday, but the mention of “a warrior’s sword” in verse 13 led the Jews of Jesus’ day, at least, to expect this to be fulfilled in a strictly materialistic, military way. The fact that Jesus refused to lead a military rebellion was a major cause of many Jews rejecting Him. However, as Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.” (John 18:36) It’s not that the material is unimportant, but that it is entirely secondary. As Jesus so famously said, God will supply all our needs, but only if our focus is on Him and His righteousness. (Matthew 6:33) Coming back to this verse in Zechariah’s prophecy, we need to understand what has been taken from us in order to understand what will be restored to us. The simplest way to understand it is to consider the fruit of the Spirit. Paul listed that as, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23) Those are precisely the things the devil tries to take from us, and they are certainly the ingredients of a truly blessed life. God will indeed restore them to us in double measure if we are submitted and obedient to Him.

I’ve heard this verse quoted most often in terms of spiritual revival, such as the Great Awakening that happened just before America’s Revolutionary War, or the Shantung Revival that happened in China just before WWII, and that’s certainly appropriate, but I have also heard it quoted in terms of material goods. Jesus did mention that in talking to His disciples, (Matthew 19:29) but even then he capped it off with “eternal life,” which is a spiritual value. I would dearly love to see a spiritual revival in Japan that would dwarf all others in history, but I obviously can’t make it happen. I follow my parents in that desire, and they didn’t see it happen with their physical eyes. However, none of that precludes God bringing it about in His strength on His schedule. I am to maintain hope, however much of a prisoner of my flesh and my circumstances I might feel, and trust God to bring it about on His schedule for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I pray that I would be fully available to You for whatever You want to do through me, but not get in Your way when I’m not on the agenda. May I always have hope and strive for Your kingdom and Your righteousness, leaving everything in Your hands, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Peace in Turmoil; May 11, 2022

Posted on May 15, 2022 by jgarrott

Micah 7:7 But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord,
I wait for God my Savior;
my God will hear me.

What a magnificent statement of faith! Micah has just described complete societal breakdown, but he still declares his faith and trust in the Lord. I certainly see many parallels to American society today. The particular mechanisms might be different, but rampant defiance against God and His rules is certainly in evidence. There is plenty of room for Micah’s kind of faith! Like him, we find ourselves hesitant to trust the people around us, not knowing how they would respond to what we might say. However, we serve a God who is totally trustworthy, and this is more opportunity to learn to trust Him. It is when we rest in Him that we can have peace regardless of what is going on around us. That’s why Jesus said so clearly, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) At times the world seems to come loose from its moorings. I’m sure the people of Ukraine feel that way right now. Regardless of the turmoil, the anarchy around us, those who know Christ have a foundation that can never be shaken. There are many, many hymns that rightly celebrate that glorious reality. It would be nice not to need turbulent times to grasp it fully!

Of course I’m no exception to this. I have discovered that I have friends with whom I have been close that I have to guard carefully what I say to them, and relatives likewise. The forces of division are indeed running wild. I am always to speak the truth in love, regardless of the consequences, but I need God’s wisdom as to when to speak (or write) and when to be silent. I am not to let their response be the determining factor, however. My words might be what God wants to use to introduce the truth that will set them free. I am to pray for every person and every situation, that God’s name would be acknowledged as holy and His rule and reign established as His will is done, by me first of all, since I can’t control anyone else. I have no room to criticize others if I’m not humbly submitted to God myself, and even then I must remember that “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” I’ve got to remember that great turmoil can bring great blessing, and keep my focus on my Lord.

Father, thank You for this reminder. In this Information Age I’m aware that my situation is almost infinitely better than that of so many people around the world. Help me not fail to pray for them, lifting them up and praying in Your kingdom on every level, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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