The Middle East; October 19, 2025

Posted on October 20, 2025 by jgarrott

Galatians 4:29 At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now.

And here we have a clear, concise, theological explanation for the mess in the Middle East. Arabs, until they become children of Abraham by faith, (Romans 9) are going to hate the Jews and try to wipe them out. It is only in Christ that the “dividing wall” (Ephesians 2:14) is destroyed. “Daddy always loved you more” is a pretty powerful motivator! However, Arabs are just as eligible as anyone else to repent and believe, and thus become “children of the promise,” as Paul says here. The recent developments in the Middle East are encouraging indeed, but they certainly aren’t the end of the story. We aren’t to put down what has happened, but we must remember that Christ is the only “final answer” to all of that mess. As it looks right now, Hamas is all too likely to blow it and be fully wiped out militarily, but we can pray for mercy. Secular media isn’t going to pick up on this underlying reality, so we don’t need to pay too much attention to them. Rather, we are to pray that God’s name would be acknowledged as holy and His rule and reign be established as His will is done, for His glory.

This is something I’ve realized for much of my life, but I’ve also been aware that the majority of the world doesn’t realize it. I’m not to feel superior, but rather be a faithful steward of the understanding I’ve been given, and act accordingly. I frankly haven’t been very faithful in praying specifically for Israel, as much as I’m “on their side,” so to speak. I’m to pray for the Lord’s return, certainly, but also for His will to be done in the meantime, resulting in a massive harvest of souls of every nation and people-group. The Japanese have next to no understanding of what is going on spiritually, in the Middle East or elsewhere, so I’m to pray for their eyes to be opened and God’s truth set them free to repent and believe, for their salvation and the glory of God.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the seeming peace that has “broken out,” and for those involved in bringing it about. I pray for Your mercy, that this movement will be continued and the road be made level for the Gospel to go forth. There are many other areas, such as Nigeria and India and China and the list could go on and on, where Your children are being persecuted and martyred. I do indeed pray for Your kingdom to come and Your will to be done throughout this earth, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Wealth; October 18, 2025

Posted on October 19, 2025 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

From the world’s perspective, it operates on wealth, and specifically financial wealth. Those who don’t have it want it, and those who have it tend to lord it over those who don’t. All of that totally ignores the reality that we are created beings, and our Creator never lacks for anything. After all, there’s an asteroid out there that is largely made up of gold, platinum, and other valuable metals, to the point that there are serious plans to go out there and mine it. However, if all of that were brought to earth at once, it would drive the price of each of those metals down to almost nothing. In human economy, price is determined by supply and demand, and when the supply exceeds the demand, the price plummets. That is demonstrated in what is happening in China right now, with a glut of both manufactured goods and of young people with advanced degrees. With exports being limited by political pressures, the supply of many kinds of manufactured goods greatly exceeds the demand, so they become worthless. With so many young people with college and graduate degrees, wages are so low that there are many people with Masters or even Doctorate degrees working as food delivery drivers, for example. God values each of us individually, and the supply can never exceed the demand there. That’s why we need to get away from the world’s valuations and let the Lord reveal His heart to us. After all, He values us so highly that He sent His Son to die for us! This verse addresses that whole issue. Elon Musk, currently the richest person in the world, can’t begin to compare to the wealth of Jesus Christ, who owns the whole universe! As Paul says here, He set all that aside to come and deliver us from our sins, making available to us His riches in glory. (Philippians 4:19) When we gain that perspective, material wealth ceases to have much meaning at all.

This is extremely timely, because just last night I was discussing finances with my younger daughter, who happens to be a banker. Because of various circumstances, my wife and I are currently in the very unaccustomed place of no financial anxiety. That in itself produces a degree of anxiety in me, because I am so unaccustomed to it, and I very much want to be a faithful steward of what the Lord has placed in my hands. I am reminded of someone who was in our church years ago who inherited a fairly considerable sum, but through poor financial management, quickly lost most of it, both through buying things and through giving things away. That’s an example of what not to do! My wife and I need to listen accurately to the Lord as to what He wants us to do with the resources He has placed at our disposal, recognizing that the spiritual wealth we have in Christ far exceeds anything the world could possibly give us.

Father, thank You for Your incredible generosity. Help me operate in Your wisdom in relation to the material and spiritual wealth You have poured out on us, so that we may be instruments of Your will being done on this earth, for Your glory alone. Thank You. Praise God!

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Grief; October 17, 2025

Posted on October 18, 2025 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

Many translations use “sorrow” in this verse, but some use “grief,” which is much stronger. Grief is a strange thing. It seems entirely negative, and indeed, there will be no more grief in heaven, but at the same time, the right sort of grief works good things in us. It is a very powerful emotion, as anyone who has lost someone close to them can testify. I can hardly imagine what Erika Kirk has gone through and is still going through, because grief of that magnitude certainly doesn’t disappear overnight. However, she is channeling her grief wisely, as best I can see from this considerable distance, to energize her in continuing the work that Charlie started. However, her sort of grief is distinctly different from what Paul is talking about here, because she had no part in causing the circumstances that triggered her grief. What Paul is talking about is the sort of grief that comes from our own actions, as in “He brought a lot of grief on himself.” Sin very naturally brings grief, because it is a violation of God’s will for us, and He always wills the very best for us. That’s why there’s no grief in heaven: there is no sin there. Godly grief, as Paul calls it here, is when we realize we have sinned and genuinely regret it. In our foolishness, we all too often don’t regret sin, but rather revel in it. I’ve seen a t-shirt that says, “That’s a terrible idea. What time?” That’s amusing, but it can mask a horrible attitude toward sin. When we have blown it, we should indeed feel grief that we have done so, and as Paul says here, let it propel us to repentance that will get us right with God and keep us from committing that sin again in the future.

I’m not sure that I have felt sufficient grief for some of the sins I’ve committed, because my repentance was shallow at best. I need to let that awareness govern my response to those around me, because as a pastor, others are watching me and getting cues from me as to how they should act and be. In the case of grief from loss, such as Erika Kirk is experiencing, I am to be an open channel for God’s comforting Spirit. However, in the case of grief over sin, I’m not to gloss it over, but rather allow the Holy Spirit to use it to grow the individual and make them more Christlike. I am to forgive people and help them receive God’s forgiveness, emotionally as well as in objective fact, but I’m not to gloss over sin, essentially giving permission for it. There are far too many people who mistakenly think that’s the loving thing to do. Genuine repentance produces changed behavior, and I’m to encourage that in love, with God’s wisdom.

Father, thank You for this Word. Help me respond to sorrow/grief as You want me to, in myself and in others, so that You will be able to turn every negative into blessing, as only You can do, (Romans 8:28) for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Perspective; October 16, 2025

Posted on October 17, 2025 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 6:10 … sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

The seeming contradictions of God’s economy are extreme. When we apply this world’s standards to ourselves and to each other, we come up with a very different picture of how things are than when we apply God’s standards. Guess which are correct? I come back to Charlie Kirk, whom I talked about in yesterday’s prayer meeting. He lost his physical life, yet he gained eternity, and a heritage that is absolutely magnificent. Cardinal Dolan was not wrong when he said that Charlie was like Paul. The better we understand that this world is temporary, that we were created for, and are being prepared for, eternity, the better we will be able to have peace and joy in the middle of whatever is going on. John 16:33 has long been one of my favorite verses: “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.” When we anchor ourselves in Christ, we can see things from His perspective more and more, and thus rest, relax, and rejoice in Him. That’s what Charlie did, it’s what Erika needs to do more and more, and what we all need to do.

Right now I feel overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of things to do. There are things I am obligated to do, things I want to do, and things that just happen. I don’t have the wisdom to keep it all straight, and that’s why I feel overwhelmed. God has told me to rest, relax, and rejoice in Him, but I’m still learning how! My daughters are here from America right now, and that automatically multiplies the things I want to do. At the same time, my highest priority at the moment is listening to my Lord to hear what He wants me to say this coming Sunday in the service. I’m very aware of my inadequacy for all the demands on me, but that’s actually a very good place to be, because it forces me to depend on God. He is up to the task!

Father, thank You for this reminder. You know how much I feel like crawling into a hole and forgetting the world. Help me instead crawl further into Christ, allowing You to fill me with Your Spirit to do everything You have planned for me, for the blessing of the people around me and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Church Discipline; October 15, 2025

Posted on October 16, 2025 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 2:8 I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.

Church discipline was difficult in the 1st century, and it’s difficult today. We aren’t to overlook major sins by any means, but if there is repentance, such people are to be restored. The problem comes in our evaluating the degree of repentance. Simply hiding sins from other people doesn’t cut it, but then, we can’t see people’s hearts the way God can and does. There have been errors in this area throughout Church history. We need to operate in humility, purity, and love. All of us fall short in each of those areas at times! However, that doesn’t mean we are to give up, and fail to insist on Biblical standards. The problem comes when we substitute our standards for God’s. As Jesus put it, “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” (Mark 7:8) We aren’t to excuse sin, but we are to forgive it.

In my first pastorate, a previous pastor had a nervous breakdown over this issue, because a church officer was known to be in an immoral situation, yet continued coming to church as though nothing were wrong. That had fortunately been resolved by the time I got there, but such things aren’t unusual. When high-profile people get caught in such things there is a big stink, because the devil loves to discredit the Church, but the problem should be resolved sooner than that. I need to have the courage and love to confront people when I am made aware of issues, but I may well be blind to them. I need to ask and allow the Holy Spirit to “ride herd” on us all, pointing out areas we need to repent, first to the individual, and if necessary, to me or another church officer. Formal discipline is never to be done lightly, and always in love. The biggest issue we have had in this church has been people who were divisive, and God has taken them away from here without completely splitting the church. I’m very grateful.

Father, thank You for this Word, and for Your mercy to us. You know the other church that I’m concerned for in this area. Thank You that it’s not my personal responsibility! I do pray for a spirit of repentance to come on them, to restore them to the pattern You have laid out in Your Word, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Control; October 14, 2025

Posted on October 15, 2025 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 1:24 Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.

This is clear evidence that Paul wasn’t a cult leader, because this is not how cults operate. In contrast to what Paul says here, cults specifically try to control the faith of their followers. Yes, there are some Christian cults, and some of the members of them are genuinely saved, but those who are saved tend not to remain in the cult, because their allegiance is to Christ, rather than to the cult or its leader. Sadly, some more genuinely Christian groups also tend to have cultish characteristics, specifically in the area of control. We humans tend to have a lust for power, and when that operates in a religious framework, cults develop. In contrast, genuine Christian faith says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1) Paul was constantly fighting with those who insisted that to become Christians, Gentiles had to convert to Judaism first, in true cultic fashion. We tend to be afraid of freedom, because we recognize our own rebellious tendencies. However, human control is never the answer, even over ourselves. We need the Holy Spirit’s control! When human leaders try to take the place of the Holy Spirit, genuinely horrible things happen.

I have an instinctual reaction against legalism, but that certainly doesn’t mean I’m always right. An overreaction to legalism is very dangerous. As Paul said, “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!” (Romans 6:15) As a pastor, I’ve got to walk the line of expressing God’s rules but not trying to enforce obedience myself. Tithing is an excellent case in point. I have experienced the blessings of tithing, acknowledging God as my supply in that way, and I certainly recommend it to all, but if I make it an “admission fee” for church membership, I have strayed into cult territory. I know of churches that treat it as exactly that! I’ve got to remember that “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17) Likewise, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” (Galatians 5:13) I’ve got to let God be in control on every level, in my own life and in the lives of those under my care. Only He can get it right!

Father, thank You for this reminder. I do pray that every believer would indeed discover the freedom of Your Spirit, in full righteousness and holiness, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Knowledge; October 13, 2025

Posted on October 14, 2025 by jgarrott

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

It is verse 13 that is most famous around the world, but in recent years I have come to appreciate this verse more and more. It seems particularly important when we live in what is called the Information Age. There are various aphorisms that relate to this, like “Knowledge is power,” and “Information is wealth.” However, the fact of the matter is that our knowledge and information, even if correct, are incomplete at best, and often enough, they are simply incorrect. Genuine wisdom requires a fundamental humility that acknowledges that reality, and many of our information sources seem to lack that. It’s not that all information is wrong, by any means, but it does mean that the vast majority of information is incomplete. We need to examine our sources, and know that God is the only one who is omniscient. It is particularly risky to trust “experts” when the Holy Spirit within us is indicating something different. The recent “pandemic,” as well as all the “climate change” hysteria, are good examples of that. Very recently there have been prophecies of “the rapture,” or Christ’s return, setting specific dates. That sort of thing, at least, we can be sure is wrong, because Jesus Himself said very clearly, on repeated occasions, that it will happen very suddenly, and no one knows the date or time. This is where faith comes in. We can indeed be sure of things we cannot see, as Hebrews 11:1 famously tells us. The Holy Spirit can inform our hearts of things that are otherwise unverifiable, but that doesn’t mean they are wrong or incorrect. We need to trust God above all, asking Him to reveal to us what we need to know and not being anxious about all the rest. This in no way negates scientific inquiry, but that is an area where the humility I mentioned at the start is often strikingly lacking. We need to remember that God’s smart and we aren’t.

This has been an issue for me all my life. I’ve always been a knowledge junkie, absorbing information of all sorts, much of it totally useless! However, God has surprised me from time to time by causing me to make use of what I had thought of as random information of no particular value. I have always had a high IQ, and pride has been a major snare for me. It’s not been many years since the last sentence in the previous paragraph really came home to me! That’s why this verse is so precious to me right now. I have finally learned that I don’t have to know everything at this point! God told me several years ago to rest, relax, and rejoice in Him, and that applies in the knowledge area as well.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the truth You have already poured through me in this meeting, and for the opportunity I will have for more of that later this morning. I pray that I wouldn’t try to cook up something pious, but rather allow You to speak through me what You want my hearers to know, drawing them to You for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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One Body; October 12, 2025

Posted on October 13, 2025 by jgarrott

1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

This is a vitally important verse that puts the point on all that Paul has written about how the different parts of a human body relate to one another. Charismatics and Pentecostals generally focus on this chapter because of the discussion of spiritual gifts, but this is if anything even more important. The whole chapter talks about unity in variety. In John 17 Jesus didn’t pray for us to be gifted, but rather for us to be one in Him, just as He is in the Father and the Father in Him. That is again the focus of this verse. As Paul said in verse 12, a singular body has many disparate parts, and none are external to the body. Physically speaking, sometimes parts of the body do need external help, such as glasses for the eyes or a cane for walking, or hearing aids, or any of a number of things. Those might come to feel like “part of us,” but they never are to the degree of what we are born with. In the Body of Christ, that can be harder to grasp, because we are physically separate individuals, so that’s why Paul spends so much time talking about it. The devil always tries to tempt us to feel that WE are what is important in the Church, when that actually creates a totally unnecessary handicap, as the different parts aren’t allowed to fulfill their various functions. Conversely, many Christians feel they aren’t really necessary to the Church, and again, don’t fulfill their functions. When we get too fixated on organization, we lose sight of the reality that the Church is an organism, both on the local church level and around the world. The glorious vision of the Church as the bride of Christ, as expressed in Ephesians 5 and Revelation 19, 21, and 22, doesn’t apply to local churches, or even denominations, but to the total, world-wide Church, and we must not forget it. We are certainly small parts of it, but we are indeed parts of it, and that is glorious.

I am by personality an introvert, and have had to learn how much I need other people. I have always had the conceited notion that I could contribute to them, but I haven’t always appreciated how much they could contribute to me. Biblical humility means that we accept both that we need other people and that they need us. As a pastor, it has been a major problem that I have done too much, not allowing the believers to grow in their various spiritual, and physical, abilities. The Lord is using age to point out to me that I can’t do it all, and I should stop trying. This is a highly unusual Sunday morning, in that I am away from Omura, but every function of that part of the Body can be fulfilled by those who are there. The message title is, “Is it Hard to Listen Obediently to God?” I’m really looking forward to what the Lord is going to say on that through Sister Atsumi, and for what He will do in the lives of all who hear that message. It is as people serve that they become aware that they indeed belong, and are parts of a singular body.

Father, thank You for this reminder, and for how You are growing me and the congregation. Thank You for the clear awareness that it’s Your church, and not my possession. It is my church in that I belong to it, and not the other way around! I do pray that we will continue to grow in every way that You intend, to be increasingly effective in doing Your will, on Your schedule, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Visiting; October 11, 2025

Posted on October 12, 2025 by jgarrott

Romans 15:32 so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed.

All sorts of results are possible when people visit each other, and Paul is rightly praying that his planned visit to Rome (which certainly didn’t happen in the way he planned it) would turn out for everyone’s mutual benefit. Paul isn’t being presumptuous, but explicitly making his plans subject to God’s will. When the visit is from a distance, the impact, in one way or another, can be magnified. In those days, travel was a big deal, and nowhere near as convenient as today, but even today we should seek to be carriers of refreshment (and not just refreshments) wherever we go.

This could hardly be more timely, because our daughters are currently visiting us from the US, and my wife and I leave this morning to visit Tokyo. The distance our daughters traveled would have been unimaginable in Paul’s day, and even from here to Tokyo would have taken over a week at the fastest, but the human factors remain the same. Our daughters are refreshing us, and will continue to do so when we get back from Tokyo, and my wife and I are to be God’s agents to refresh the people at the gathering in Tokyo. As Paul wrote in the chapter just before this, “For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone.” (Romans 14:7) God didn’t create us to be isolated, but to interact with one another for good. The first mention of that in the Bible is actually the foundation for marriage, where God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” (Genesis 2:18) However, much less intimate and permanent relationships are included in that. Any time we visit someone, be it across the street or around the world, we should seek to be God’s instruments of blessing to them, as well as be open to receive whatever God wants to do for us through them.

Father, thank You for this extremely timely reminder. I do ask for Your protection and guidance as we go to Tokyo. The people in the Cockayne Syndrome Network do seem to be blessed by Cathy’s and my presence, but I ask for Your anointing to be Your agents to them in every way You intend. Thank You that we’ll be meeting a new family in the network this morning at the airport, even though they can’t go to this year’s meeting. I pray that Ruth and Ann would likewise be precisely in the flow of Your plans during the days we’ll be apart. May we all rejoice to be Your agents, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Hope; October 10, 2025

Posted on October 11, 2025 by jgarrott

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

It has been demonstrated countless times that hope is an essential element in human survival. Wise medical staff will be honest with patients, but at the same time not destroy hope. Predictions of lifespan should be expressed to the family, and only in very guarded terms to the patient. There should be no bones made about the fact that everyone is mortal, and every patient should be prepared for an end-of-life scenario, but medical predictions can easily be wildly off. We have a friend with lung cancer who is more than two years past her predicted demise, and though on oxygen, enjoys fellowship with her husband and children. She is a strong Christian and has no fear of death, but is rather filled with hope of a glorious future, whether in this world or the next. She is a strong argument against euthanasia! Hope is a powerful motivator. Young people who have a hope of success will apply themselves toward their goal, whatever that might be, but without hope, their talents are likely to be wasted. It is the hopeless who are most vulnerable to such temptations as drugs and gangs. Hope is not the same thing as wishful thinking. Rather, it is powerful to the point that Paul ranks it right up there with faith and love among eternal qualities. (1 Corinthians 13:13) God is indeed the God of hope, as Paul says here, and we should be deeply grateful. A generally hopeful attitude is often called optimism, but the Bible doesn’t want us to be “cockeyed optimists,” to use the term from the song in South Pacific, but rather realists who are aware that God is over all, and He is greater than any obstacles we might encounter.

I think I’ve been an optimist most of my life, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t had struggles with depression at times. In my experience, it all comes down to focus. If I am focused on myself and my circumstances, hope can easily go out the window. If I am focused on my Lord, my hope is boundless! He has surprised me with blessings more times than I could count, and that enables me to take blows in stride. Some people were almost shocked at my attitude a couple of years ago when I slipped on ice and broke my left wrist rather spectacularly. It was certainly inconvenient, and recovery took time and was painful, but it didn’t drag me down. Just recently I lost a hard drive with a lot of data on it that is either totally lost or will require a lot of effort to recreate. I’ve actually been rather surprised at myself, at how calmly I’ve taken it! I really think hope comes down to trusting God to know and do what is best, whatever it might look like to me in the moment.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I’m in the middle of a hectic time, and it’s easy to be pulled down by missed expectations. Help me indeed keep my expectations fixed on You, not trying to dictate what will happen when, but allowing You to guide me and those around me in the way You know is best, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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