Spiritual Blessings; November 28, 2020

Posted on November 30, 2020 by jgarrott

Ephesians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Sometimes the Bible writers were forced to use very general terms, because if they were genuinely specific, they would have had to write and write and write. As John said, “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” (John 21:25) This verse is certainly an example of that. He goes on from here through verse 14 trying to express some of the blessings referred to, but it’s all so rich and interconnected that people have struggled with it ever since it was written. Paul tried, but even Peter said, “His letters contain some things that are hard to understand.” (2 Peter 3:16) Sometimes we just have to go with the general terms and let the Holy Spirit “fill in the blanks,” so to speak. The point here is that God holds nothing back from those who come to Him through Christ. As long as we are walking with Christ by the Holy Spirit we keep discovering more and more of the blessings Paul is talking about, but the full, ultimate revelation of them won’t come until we are before God’s throne, with nothing in the way between us and Him. We tend to be very focused on the physical, and so sometimes we complain bitterly when God is in the process of giving us a spiritual blessing! We recognize material blessings and are often envious of those with abundant finances, when James tells us, “Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?” (James 2:5) Solid faith is a greater treasure than a financial fortune, but we have great difficulty accepting that when our faith is still weak.

I have never been in a position of material wealth, but God has always met our needs. As a child, my parents’ missionary salary was hardly large, even though we seemed wealthy to our neighbors in immediately post-war Japan. As an adult I have never wallowed in cash, but one of my faith declarations is, “By the grace of God I have sufficient financial resources, because it is written, “My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) There are times when I am tempted by the material, but I think I genuinely desire the spiritual blessings Paul talks about here more than anything tangible. Actually, sometimes the presence of the Lord is so strong it just about is tangible! That is a treasure that no earthly fortune could buy.

Father, thank You for meeting all my physical needs, just as You have promised. (Matthew 6:33) Thank You even more for Your spiritual blessings that make everything else fade into insignificance. May I be an open channel for Your blessings to flow through me to others, meeting their needs of all sorts and drawing them to You, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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The Cross of Christ; November 27, 2020

Posted on November 30, 2020 by jgarrott

Galatians 6:14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Our understanding of the cross of Christ is generally far too shallow. We tend to recoil at the horror of it (once we understand how it was actually done) and/or we think of it in strictly physical terms. However, the Bible makes it clear in many places that the physical connects to the spiritual, and vice versa. Even in the 1st Century there were those who said that the two were completely separate, so it didn’t matter what we did physically, but the whole Bible testifies against that idea. The horrors of Jesus’ physical crucifixion point to the magnitude of the spiritual realities that were accomplished in that act. Crucifixion was not an unusual method of torture and execution for the Romans. If Jesus had been merely a very good man, just a Bible teacher, His crucifixion would have been just one more on the long Roman tally. If Jesus had merely appeared to be physical, like some sort of persistent hologram, then He couldn’t really have died. The cross cannot be understood apart from grasping that Jesus was both fully God and fully Man, taking the penalty for the sins of mankind on Himself as the divine sacrificial Lamb. It is only with that understanding that what Paul wrote here is manifested in our lives. We weren’t physically nailed to that cross, but by faith we participate in the reality that Jesus was. Someone nailed to a cross doesn’t care about any of the things in the world that consume our attention. That’s why Paul wrote to the Romans, “Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:11) That’s exactly what he’s talking about here.

I’ve certainly done my share of boasting over the years, about all sorts of things. I too need to meditate more on the cross of my Lord Jesus Christ, to grasp more fully what it means for me and for the world. As Jesus prayed just before His crucifixion, I am in the world but not of it anymore. (John 17:14-16) The devil and my flesh conspire to try to make me forget that, but it is established spiritual reality. I have seen many people transformed by God, and I see it going on even now. I need to let that transformation be completed even in me, so that nothing will hinder my fellowship with my Lord, nor hinder others seeing Him through me.

Father, thank You for this reminder. We don’t often think of the cross as we enter the Advent season! Help me indeed remember why Jesus was born, and rejoice to communicate Your full Gospel to all who will receive it, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Freedom; November 26, 2020

Posted on November 29, 2020 by jgarrott

Galatians 5:1 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.

It struck me when I first started reading just now that this verse describes what many people in the US have recently done, voting for big government and socialistic policies. You would think that the lock-downs would be a clear signal, but the population has been groomed for this for the past 50 years or more. It’s much like how sexual predators groom children to make them think what is going to happen is OK or normal. Granted, there has been a lot of outright election fraud this time around, but even that couldn’t have succeeded without a lot of “useful idiots.” It is striking to me how many immigrants to the US from socialist countries are sounding the alarm right now. Barring a miracle (which is always possible) the next two years, at least, are going to be very trying times for any genuine lovers of liberty. However, the Church has survived Roman emperors and worse, and Jesus is certainly still Lord. If things continue on the current apparent course, the divide between darkness and light will become ever clearer, and commitment to Jesus Christ will really start to mean something. That could really be a good thing, though it will certainly disrupt business-as-usual for the vast majority of churches. The saddest part of this is thinking about all the people who will welcome it, at least initially. Jesus’ words are sadly true: “Many are invited, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14)

Living in Japan as I do, there is a distinct air of unreality to all of this. It is bizarre that Japan has had nowhere near the reaction to the corona virus that America has had, when America is the “Land of Liberty.” It makes the spiritual warfare factor all the more clear. The question remains of how I am to respond to all of this. In the first place, I am to keep praying, and not just for a miracle in the next two weeks. I am to pray that current events will be a sufficient wake-up call to God’s children, so that those who are genuinely His may commit themselves to Him fully and be the salt and light they should have been all along. I am to live my own life in the liberty of the Holy Spirit, (2 Corinthians 3:17) whatever society around me is doing. I am to speak the truth in love, regardless of the consequences, and remember that God can and does turn absolutely anything around for good, for those who are committed to Him. (Romans 8:28)

Father, I certainly didn’t expect to be political when I sat down, and I know many people who read this are going to be disappointed that I did so. However, I know that You care about everything, and I remember what You had Peter write: “For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17) May I keep my eyes on Jesus and be faithful, so that Your will may be done in and through me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Putting on Christ; November 25, 2020

Posted on November 29, 2020 by jgarrott

Galatians 3:26-27 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

There is so much meaning in these verses, and the two that follow, that it takes a lifetime to unpack it all. I hardly know where to start! All sorts of things flash through my mind. One of them is Tony Stark putting on the “Iron Man” suit and being transformed into a “super hero.” Lots of human mythology includes that image, and here we have the reality. I can almost see Jesus asking us, “Are you putting Me on?” Of course, in normal idiom that means, “Are you kidding me?” but this is far more literal than that. This all goes to explain how we can be sons of God. It has nothing to do with gender or race, as verse 29 makes very clear, but everything to do with faith. I well remember a man speaking to a Women’s Aglow conference (I attended with my wife, since I was a pastoral advisor) saying that they were all sons of God and he was a daughter of Zion, referencing Zechariah 2:10 and many other Scriptures. This also brings to mind the white robes mentioned throughout Revelation, and the many references throughout the Bible to being clothed with righteousness. (Isaiah 61:10, etc.) The devil wants us to focus on our sin, when God lifts us out of that by clothing us with Christ. We do not become Him, but we are given His attributes, that is, His righteousness and purity, which are totally out of reach apart from the sovereign grace of God.

All of this is of course inseparable from the Biblical concept of “in Christ,” which is what my father wrote his doctoral thesis on. I’ve got to remember that, as my father discovered, being in Christ is possible only to the degree that He is in me by His Holy Spirit. This passage in Galatians speaks of “putting on,” but our metaphors are inadequate for the incredible, glorious reality of being in Christ. I’ve got to consciously take in His Word to let it abide in me just as Jesus talked about in John 15:7, and even the Psalmist realized in Psalm 119:11. That done, I need to open up to let His Spirit flow through me, not trying to “bottle Him up” but allowing Him to flow as He chooses. If I will do that, then I will indeed be “clothed with Christ” and His character will be revealed in and through me. As Peter said so clearly, if I fail to let that happen it means that I have forgotten that my sins have been forgiven and cleansed, and I am no longer bound by them. (2 Peter 1:5-9)

Father, thank You for this powerful reminder. Help me indeed live in this reality, and not deceive myself by keeping it as just intellectual knowledge. (James 1:22) Thank You for reminding me that we are starting the Advent season, and for telling me to speak on Your promises. That’s a very huge topic! Help me hear You clearly as to what is to be shared each Sunday, so that all who hear may be drawn to repentance and faith, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Zombie Christians; November 24, 2020

Posted on November 27, 2020 by jgarrott

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

This is a justly famous verse. I’ve lost track of how many sermons I’ve heard on things like “220 Power” and the like. However, I dare say few if any of us live it out 100%. It is accomplished reality in Christ, but we still have to appropriate it in daily faithfulness. You could even say that we are “zombie sinners,” since our old self has indeed been crucified with Christ, but we allow it to control us at times. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, we are all too prone to “act like mere men.” (1 Corinthians 3:3) The trick to walking in victory is to realize what you are in Christ and then act like it. We tend to accept the truth of God as theory and then ignore it in practice. That is a guaranteed recipe for disaster. It is an exercise in self-deception, just as James said. (James 1:22) Another phrase that comes to mind is “dead man walking,” as they say of a condemned man going to the execution chamber. The thing is, our death is already accomplished in Christ, so we need to accept it in order to receive the fullness of eternal life that Christ has also provided for us. (Romans 6:23)

This is of course my daily challenge. I often say that James 1:22 was written specifically for me, since I have a lot of the Bible in my head, but need to live it out in concrete terms. I’m not sure how many years ago now that I was invited to participate in a round-table discussion for The Christian Shinbun (newspaper), in which I stated that when Japanese believers wake up to who they are in Christ, it will change not only the Church but the nation, and go on to change the whole world. I remain convinced of that, but I have still seen few “awake” believers. For that matter, too often I myself seem to walk around in a daze! It is only when I accept my death to the world that I am fully alive in Christ. I don’t want to be a zombie! As a pastor, I am charged with helping others realize their status in Christ, so that as a fully-alive army we may storm the gates of hell and set the captives free. (Matthew 16:18)

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me indeed live it out, with people and with You, so that Your purposes may be accomplished on Your schedule in and through me, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Differing Ministries; November 23, 2020

Posted on November 26, 2020 by jgarrott

Galatians 2:8 For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles

There is actually a very important principle in this verse. People can be equally called and commissioned by God and yet have very different ministries. It’s not at all unusual for people to miss this principle entirely, and it can make for a lot of friction in the Church. As Paul laid out so clearly in 1 Corinthians 12, we are together the Body of Christ, but every body is made up of different organs that have different functions, and they are all necessary. It is sadly common for people to feel rejected because not everyone participates in the particular ministry that consumes their attention. It is also common for people to look down on others for not being involved in the same things they are. Both of those are deceptions of the devil, again as Paul laid out in 1 Corinthians 12. Here we have Paul and Peter, certainly pillars of the early Church and vital to our faith even today, compared and contrasted. We would be far poorer if we lacked either of them in the history of the Church. Parenthetically, I have always thought it very interesting that God chose Peter, the Apostle to the Jews, to first share the Gospel with the Gentiles in the household of Cornelius. (Acts 10) I feel that went a long way in bringing about the acceptance of ministry to Gentiles, without making them convert to Judaism first, as is recorded in Acts 11, and again in Acts 15. Today we have a wide variety of major ministries, and an almost infinite variety of smaller, local ministries. All are important to God and worthy of our consideration and participation, but the fact of the matter is, we aren’t to participate in all of them. Some people try to do too much, and some even ruin their lives in the process. That is not at all an excuse for spiritual or physical laziness. Ephesians 2:10 is very clear that God has prepared work for each one of us, and we are to be diligent in recognizing His guidance and following it, without demanding that others do the same job.

My mother and my wife are among the many who broke off relationships over this issue. They knew they were called by God to missions, and those they were attracted to did not have that calling, so that took them out of the running. God in time rewarded their faithfulness by giving them partners who shared their calling, but the decision to wait for such a partner can be heart-wrenching. I wasn’t aware of that factor in my own case, but at this point I can certainly see that God knew what He was doing. Cathy and I have shared a remarkable, and delightful, spiritual unity in that area. At the same time, I have experienced pressure from many sides to join this, that, or the other group with a specific focus, when I felt no “burden from the Lord” in that direction. One that immediately comes to mind I got started in, which opened the door, and then the Lord enabled me to pass it off to someone else, who has done a very commendable job at it. I don’t want to refuse any task the Lord has for me, but I don’t want to let merely human or humanistic activities tie me up. I am very aware that God sometimes has tasks for us that are way out of our comfort zone. Moses was not an administrator at all, but God tasked him with leading the entire people of Israel out of Egypt. That said, He far more commonly assigns tasks that make use of the resources – abilities and supplies – He has already provided. I am to be active in seeking to recognize whatever he has for me to do and doing it with all my heart, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You that our church Thanksgiving dinner went so well last night, and for getting me through the whole day. Thank You for Cathy and Ann recognizing that this is annually perhaps my highest-stress day of the year, since I am an introvert. Thank You that this time was easier to get through than many have been. I pray that the ministry that was done yesterday, verbally and otherwise, would remain in people’s hearts and bear the fruit that You intend, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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People-pleasing; November 22, 2020

Posted on November 26, 2020 by jgarrott

Galatians 1:10 Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

This is a powerful and very important statement. Many if not most people spend much of their lives trying to please other people, instead of trying to please God. It’s not that we are to deliberately try to upset or irritate people (though some do try to do that) but that our focus should be on God and not man. The biggest problem comes when people who claim to be servants of God focus on people instead, trying to please them and/or manipulate them in various ways. The devil tries to deceive us into thinking that’s necessary for evangelism, and indeed, Paul himself famously said, “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.” (1 Corinthians 9:22) However, that’s very different from being a “people pleaser.” We aren’t to offend needlessly, but if fear of offending people keeps us from obeying God, we’ve got our priorities reversed. We are to focus first on God, and then as His agents, express His love and grace to the people around us. Sometimes that can mean strong warning or correction, and it has nothing to do with political correctness, but it is the only way to be a true servant of Christ.

I have certainly had my struggles with people-pleasing. Like everyone else, I have a hunger to be accepted, to be loved, even though I’m naturally rather introverted. I have had many experiences of failing to be true to myself out of a desire to be approved by others. I’m not to use that as an excuse not to change and grow, because continual growth is certainly necessary, but I must first ask what it is that God wants me to say and do in every situation. My ultimate goal in life is to hear Him say to me, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21) As Paul says here, I will not achieve that by placing the opinions of people ahead of God and His approval. I am at times painfully aware of my need for further growth, spiritually and emotionally. (At this point, physical growth would likely be limited to my waistline, and I can do without that!) I am to strive to keep my focus on my Lord and allow Him to do in and through me anything and everything that He desires, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Today has a packed schedule, with the service, making the service CDs, decorating the building for Christmas, and then the Thanksgiving dinner tonight. Help me be so focused on You that I am indeed able to rest, relax, and rejoice in all of it, blessing those around me and not lashing out at them for any reason, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Leadership; November 21, 2020

Posted on November 25, 2020 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

Parting remarks can be very revealing, because they can express the highlights of a person’s thoughts and feelings. One striking, and surprising, difference between the NIV and the Japanese here is that where the NIV says, “good-by,” the Japanese says, “Rejoice!” I don’t have the Greek in front of me, but that certainly seems different. (My wife checked, and the Greek says “rejoice.”) Also, where the NIV says, “Listen to my appeal,” the Japanese says, “Be comforted.” The points of agreement are perfection, unity, and peace. Those are all things the Corinthians struggled with. Frankly, we all do! Verse 14 is probably the most widely used Christian benediction, and this verse certainly leads into it. Paul has had his disagreements with the Corinthians, but this shows he genuinely desired the best for them, even when he felt he had to speak strongly to them. That should be true of every leader, whether it is or not. Some leaders seem totally wrapped up in themselves, rather than exercising their position for the sake of those led. We certainly see that in politicians all the time! The Church is in real trouble when her leaders act more like politicians than servants of Christ! (Actually, politicians can and should be servants of Christ, but that’s another matter.) Genuine leaders don’t have total control over those led, and certainly never should try for that. Rather, they should aim to be channels of the blessings of God to those they lead, because they are never more than under-shepherds, serving the Great Shepherd, the Owner of the sheep. (Hebrews 13:20, 1 Peter 5:4) They need to reflect His attitude and intentions toward the sheep.

I have had times of being very ambivalent about being a pastor (which means, literally, “shepherd”) but I think I’m at peace with it now. I certainly know I can’t do it right in my own strength! I love sharing the Word with people, but the day-to-day interactions can make me want to run away! I am told that at times I come across as angry and/or condemning, and I don’t like that at all. It’s an ironic part of my personality, but I get angry that I’m angry! As James said, human anger doesn’t bring God’s righteousness. (James 1:19-20) I have long felt that James 1:22 was written specifically for me, but those earlier verses were too! I am not to run from the tasks God gives me, and leadership happens to be one of them. I am to recognize the tools He has given me and not complain about the ones I don’t seem to have, rather seeking to be faithful whatever my situation. I have too much experience with trusting in the tools rather than in the One who gave them to me! My goal should always be to present those I lead perfect before God, because they belong to Him in the first place.

Father, thank You for yet another Word on this subject. It’s certainly a recurring issue with me. Help me be fully submitted to You and Your authority, so that Your authority may be accurately expressed through me for the benefit of those I lead, (verse 10) for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Strength; November 20, 2020

Posted on November 25, 2020 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 12:8-9 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

This passage, along with the last line of the next verse, “For when I am weak, then I am strong,” is justly famous, and I have quoted it many times. The reason for that is that it directly contradicts human expectation and logic. That’s actually a very good thing, because without such shocking contradictions, we tend to be totally man-centered, thinking that we are the be-all and end-all of everything. We need reminders, and sometimes strong ones, that God is ultimate and He is sovereign. In other words, it’s not about us, whether we like that fact or not. Being self-centered seems to be something of a given when it comes to human beings, but our goal is to become like Jesus Christ, and He was fully centered on His Father. This verse is very much part of that. When we are properly centered on Christ, His grace is indeed all we need, because He manifests Himself through us. God alone knows how many people have been encouraged by this passage, but that number is doubtless huge. It probably includes just about every believer who has read it! The difficulty lies in the fact that it leaves no room for pride. We like to boast of our strengths, but Paul rightly turns that around to boasting of weaknesses. That’s a very good thing, because we all have plenty of those! The thing is, as long as we think we have strength, we try to be in control, and that’s a problem. We aren’t to be passive or lazy, but the sooner, and more clearly, we learn that Jesus is indeed Lord, and all that means, the better it is all the way around. Every time we run out of our own strength, ability, resources, or whatever, we should rejoice, because that means that God can manifest His infinite strength, grace, and love through us.

This is something I have learned time and time again, which is to say, I haven’t really learned it! I have to have repeated refresher lessons, because my stupid pride keeps getting in the way. God has gifted me in many ways, so when I start comparing myself to people I easily get tripped up. I was blessed with parents who never told me anything was too difficult for me, as far as I can remember. They did stop me when a project was potentially illegal and they cautioned me when it was risky, but in general they encouraged me to discover and exercise the gifts God had placed in me. Sadly, that fed into conceit, and that’s a very bad thing. Running into walls has been a real blessing for me. I well remember one time when a very perceptive prayer partner said to me, “I most smell Christ in you when you have been having an argument with your wife.” My marital relationship is an extremely high priority in my life, so difficulties in that area drive me to God very strongly, and that’s what he was talking about. I’m not to seek arguments with my wife, but I am to recognize at all times that any real strength and ability I have is by the grace of God, and give Him praise and thanks.

Father, thank You for this reminder. My schedule from now through the end of the year is really packed, and I certainly can’t get through it without You. Help me not be anxious about any of it, but rather rest, relax, and rejoice, just as You have told me to. Keep me from allowing the various stresses to make me lash out at those around me. May I rather be a useful instrument of Your grace and love at all times, whether I am tired or rested, pleased or angry, or whatever, for Your glory alone. Thank You. Praise God!

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God’s Provision; November 19, 2020

Posted on November 22, 2020 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

This passage as a whole has been misused by so many “evangelists” that it’s almost sickening to me, but discarding it would be even more tragic. “God loves a cheerful giver” was one of the first bits of Scripture I was encouraged to memorize as a small child, but we need to remember that when Paul wrote this he wasn’t seeking funds for his own ministry, but to take to Jerusalem to help the Church there. The passage as a whole was written to overcome the poverty mentality that very many people have. It is when we really trust that God can and will supply all our genuine needs that we are able to open our hearts and our hands and let His supply flow through us, instead of trying to hang onto every bit we can grab. This verse is one of many that point out the purpose of God’s provision: that we would abound in every good work. It’s like nutrition: if you keep taking in calories without expending them in exercise, you’ll just get fat. God doesn’t want us to go hungry, but if we aren’t doing what He intends with what He has provided, He’s liable to “put us on a diet,” so to speak. The problem is, when we focus on the need instead of on God who is our supply, we’re very likely to get anxious. This is exactly what Jesus taught so memorably on in Matthew 6. It is when we focus on God and His kingdom, that is, His authority and power, and His righteousness, which is to say, doing what He says is right, that we can have no anxiety whatsoever about His supply, because He is certainly going to “bankroll” what He wants done.

This is something I’ve known since childhood, but at the same time it is something I am still learning. I’ve discovered how much better my cash flow is when I tithe, for example, but I don’t exactly run around handing out money. As God provides – and He provides abundantly – I need to ask Him what He wants done with it, whether “it” is finances or anything else. Stewardship applies to absolutely everything. I didn’t speak any of it into existence; it still belongs to the One who did. I need to focus on what He wants done with what belongs to Him. If I will do that, I will never lack for resources of any kind.

Father, thank You for this reminder, particularly as both Cathy and I and the church have had major expenses, either just past or coming up. Thank You that the water heater work is completed, and that the tree pruning is scheduled. I pray that the repairs to the church automatic door would likewise be scheduled soon, so that we will be properly welcoming for the Advent season. May we indeed focus on what You want us to do, rather than on what we think we have, so that You will be free to do through us all that You want to do, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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