Benediction; February 24, 2020

Posted on February 25, 2020 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

I have no idea how many times I have spoken this benediction, but it is still meaningful every time. Unpacked, the meaning is very deep indeed. In the first place, grace is absolutely central to everything, because we don’t deserve any of the good stuff God provides for us. I often say that without God’s grace we can’t take a single breath, because it’s true. Jesus exemplified grace, because there was no reason for Him personally to become a human being and live our life with us, much less go to the cross and take our death on Himself. That is amazing grace indeed! Speaking out that grace is an appropriate benediction, because the moment I fail to extend God’s grace to others, I step out of it myself. That’s what Jesus was talking about when He followed up the Lord’s Prayer with saying that if we fail to forgive, we won’t be forgiven. (Matthew 6:14-15) Then we get to the love of God, which motivates the grace that allows us to exist. When I speak this benediction I specify, “Father God,” because in Japan it can be very confusing which god you are speaking of. Some people have sadly not experienced the love of their human father, but our Creator is very much the Father of us all, and His love is absolutely perfect, if our hearts are open to receive it. Finally we have mention of the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Here too I embellish slightly, specifying “intimate fellowship.” That’s because for so many people the Holy Spirit is simply an abstract concept, something they accept in theory but not as part of their daily lives. We need to discover that the Holy Spirit is indeed Immanuel, God with us, in a fellowship that is more intimate than that of a husband and wife. When we experience that, it colors everything else, giving it all tints of heaven. Those who have been to heaven and come back say that the colors there are beyond anything we experience on earth, and walking in step, in fellowship with the Holy Spirit can help us see heaven on earth, quite literally. All of this makes this an appropriate benediction indeed, something we should desire for everyone we meet, because it will transform their lives as nothing else ever could.

As I speak this benediction over others, I need to be careful to walk in it myself. Particularly with something this familiar, it’s easy to just say the words and be done with it, rather than letting those words operate in my own heart and mind. With the help of the Holy Spirit, I need constantly to be aware of the Father’s love and the fact that everything I have and am is because of grace. I’m not there 100% yet! I still get caught in traps of the enemy, being self-centered and losing sight of what is true and good. Being aware of my own foolishness should keep me humble and allow me to transmit the grace, love, and fellowship God provides to me, to those around me for our mutual blessing.

Father, thank You for this reminder. This morning I snapped at my wife and opened a door of attack by the enemy against her and against me. I ask Your forgiveness and cleansing, that we may stand together against the enemy on every front, based on our full submission to You, so that he may indeed flee and Your plans be manifested in our life, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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JOY; February 23, 2020

Posted on February 25, 2020 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 12:19 Everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening.

This should be true for every minister of the Gospel, but sadly, ministers struggle with being self-centered just like everyone else. I think the majority at least have this as a goal, but just as Paul himself discovered, perfection is not for this earth. (Philippians 3:12-14) We are continually growing, and that is as it should be. If there were any true “paragons of perfection” walking around, it could be discouraging to those who recognize their faults! The marvelous truth is that in building others up, we ourselves are built up. Building others up helps us overcome our own self-centeredness, which opens us up to receiving the joy of the Lord. Quite a few years ago someone came up with JOY as an acronym for the priorities that indeed lead to true joy: Jesus, Others, Yourself. I am constantly having to point out to people that selfishness never leads to happiness; at best, it leads to temporary pleasure. Being in full-time ministry is something of an intensive course in that very truth. There is nothing more satisfying than leading someone first to repentance and faith and then into committed discipleship, but that requires committed discipleship on the part of the minister as well. God desires and intends joy for us, (John 16:24) but the more we focus on getting and grasping joy for its own sake, the more elusive it becomes. That’s just as Jesus said about life itself. “Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.” (Luke 17:33)

I have experienced this from all directions. I have had times of being focused on myself, and they have never done much good for me or for anyone else. I have also experienced the joy of seeing others blossom as I have ministered to them. In marriage, I have experienced what I tell every couple before I will do their wedding: the more I focus on my own happiness, the more it flees from me. The more I focus on my wife’s happiness, the happier I become. Recently the Lord has given me great joy in seeing one of my spiritual children escape from a trap of the devil. I think I’m happier than I would be if I were the one doing it! The more I give myself to my Lord through giving myself to those around me, the more blessed I will be.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for all that You are doing, in individuals and in this church as a whole. May we indeed grow to be and do all that You desire and intend, drawing many into Your kingdom for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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False Apostles; February 22, 2020

Posted on February 24, 2020 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

Virtually any organization of any size, particularly one that is intended to accomplish good, has “enemy agents” in it. Such people act to sabotage what should be going on. We see that in the US government right now, with “deep state operatives” trying to block the various moves toward a more free, prosperous, and righteous nation. That is serious enough, but it is even more serious when it happens in the Church, the Body of Christ. In a biological body, it would be called a cancer, because cancer cells masquerade as normal, healthy cells so that the immune system won’t attack them. One of the most effective lines of cancer therapy research is aimed at training the immune system to recognize cancer cells for what they are, and attack them. When that is successful, there is no need for poison (chemotherapy) or fire (radiation). Paul is attempting to do exactly that for the Body of Christ, telling us to be on our guard and recognize false apostles for what they are. Jesus also cautioned us about exactly the same thing. “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:15-20) We are not to be deceived by smooth words, but look for the evidence, or lack of it, of the Holy Spirit in their lives, not in flashy gifts but in consistent, loving, holy living.

This is of great importance to me as the pastor of a congregation. I am to be careful who I allow to speak, and whose teaching I take in myself, not to mention needing to be careful that I don’t fit into the “false apostle” category myself! Here, everyone sees how I live, day in and day out, but when I go elsewhere they don’t have that background. I am never to claim more than I have been given by the Lord, and seek to do His will alone at all times in everything. We have seen people who were acting as “enemy agents” under various disguises, and I am not to be gullible. At the same time, I am not to be anxious, but know that it is Christ who builds His Church, (Matthew 16:18) and keep myself available for however He wants to use me in that.

Father, thank You for how You have protected us over the years. We have had a few occasional close calls! May we be true to Christ and grow as You intend, being and doing what You desire and nothing else, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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God’s Provision; February 21, 2020

Posted on February 24, 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 whole section on giving is true and important, but it has been used and abused by so many people who were in “ministry” for the money that it almost leaves a bad taste in my mouth. People who want you to give “seed money” to them so they can buy a better private jet are an abomination. That’s not to say that private jets don’t have their legitimate uses, even for nonprofit ministries, but it is to say that pleading for money to acquire them disgraces the name of Jesus before the world. That said, some people fail to give to the Church because they don’t really believe this verse. God is not stingy, and He has a literally infinite supply of everything. We need to remember that when Paul wrote this section he wasn’t seeking funds for himself personally, but to be able to take those funds to Jerusalem to help the believers in Judea. What he says in this verse focuses not on giving itself, but on God’s supply and the purpose for it, and that supply certainly isn’t limited to money. As Paul says, it’s all grace in all things at all times. That does include finances, but it also includes wisdom and knowledge and patience and insight and healing and endurance and strength, and the list can go on and on. And the purpose of all that is that so we will “abound in every good work.” God doesn’t give us stuff of any sort just to inflate us (or our bank account) but to equip us to do the work he has for us to do. As Paul wrote so memorably to the Ephesians, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10) If we feel our supply is limited, we need to check and see if we are using what we have already been given in the way God intends. Jesus’ parable of the talents (Matthew 25:13-30) is very explicit on that account, almost frighteningly so. We are not to sit on God’s provision in any area, but rather seek Him to know how He wants us to use it, and be faithful to follow through.

Any time I talk about God’s provision I remember a period of special blessing that He gave us years ago. I had resigned a pastorate over the race issue, and for the next nine months I had only intermittent, temporary employment of various sorts. One thing God showed us in that time was that we didn’t need money exactly, we needed what we would normally get with money, and He provided it: places to stay, heating oil, food, gasoline, and on and on. During that time He also provided various opportunities for ministry, and trained us in the grace of prayer with fasting. It was a blessed time indeed! It wasn’t always fun at the time, any more than my basic training in the Army was always fun, but it grew us and equipped us for our ministry here in Omura, which followed that period. We have learned that if we are listening obediently to God, the provision of every sort is there. As the refrigerator magnet says, “Where God guides, He provides.”

Father, thank You indeed for Your abundant provision. Even I tend to doubt it at times, and I certainly know better! Thank You for the new missionary family from Taiwan, and thank You for the physical healing the father in that family currently needs, because You have already provided it. Thank You for Your grace poured out in other situations as well, more than I could list. May we all trust You fully, not holding anything back, because we know that Your supply is unlimited, and there is much work to do. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Handling Money; February 20, 2020

Posted on February 23, 2020 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 8:21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.

In various places the Bible talks about not fearing people and their opinions, but this would seem to be an exception. It’s not a matter of fear, but rather avoiding any opportunity for accusation. These people were to be involved in handling money, specifically, other people’s offerings, and Paul was very rightly concerned that everything be aboveboard. As Jesus said, we are not of the world, but we are still in the world. (John 17:14-18) Not every rule and expectation of the world is wrong! Particularly when it comes to money, we are very prone to temptation in various ways, so there are social rules and even laws about how we handle it. The Church should not be more lax than society in general here. We have more reason to trust each other, but there are inadvertent errors that should be guarded against, and no one is immune to temptation. Anytime there is a scandal of any sort in the Church, the devil uses it to try to discredit the whole thing, and we are not to give him any opportunity to do that.

This is very close to home for me, because right now I am dealing with the church finances because of the simple fact that we don’t have anyone else to do it at this point. I am as careful as possible, but not only is it something I would rather not deal with, it lays us open to potential suspicion. Over the years we have had several church treasurers leave the church because of the stress of the position. People don’t deal well with trusting God for finances! Part of the problem may be that I am the biggest single donor to the church, since we don’t have many households to be agreed on tithing. One very earnest treasurer, whose husband is not a believer, said to me, “We couldn’t survive if you weren’t paying rent to the church every month.” I said that I was aware of that, but it didn’t bother me. It obviously bothered her, and she ended up leaving the church. I would be thrilled if the Lord brought several tithing families into the church, as well as someone with the time and the ability to be treasurer, but in the mean time I am to be scrupulously honest and faithful, trusting God to supply what we need, when and how we need it.

Father, this isn’t something I think about very often. Thank You for meeting our every need. I pray that I would place no stumbling blocks in anyone’s way, but would be pure and honest before you, before the people around me, and before the law, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Giving; February 19, 2020

Posted on February 23, 2020 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 8:12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

This verse expresses a very important principle. We tend to compare things on a strictly quantitative basis, when God, as always, looks deeper. This verse reminds me of a Christmas poem that is thought of as being for children. The speaker is a child, considering what they can give the baby Jesus, listing various possibilities such as, “If I were a shepherd, I’d give Him a lamb.” It lists various occupations that the speaker doesn’t meet, and then concludes with, “What will I give Him? I’ll give Him my heart.” The poem is seen as very “cute,” and when a small child recites it, adults often get emotional. However, it applies to every person of whatever age. If we are one of those occupations listed, God asks us to give accordingly. The thing is, every one of us has a heart, and that is what God wants most. We tend to focus on, “I don’t have to give what I don’t have,” and forget that we do need to give what we do have. Too often we limit giving to finances, or at least to material things, when actually it covers everything: ability, time, consideration, love, respect, as well as all the material stuff. Also, we get confused about how to give to God, specifically. He doesn’t need anything we can give Him, but He desires us to give for our sake, because it changes us for the better. However, Jesus made it very clear how we can give to Him: “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40) Yesterday I saw a video on Facebook about “professional” beggars in the US today. There have been such throughout history, so discernment is called for. The thing that is angering about that is that such people blind us to those who are in genuine need. That said, we give to God by giving to those around us. If we have no time for our children, for example, do we really have time for Jesus? All that God gives us, even including time, is blessed and multiplied when we allow it to flow through us to bless others.

This can be a hard thing to keep in mind. I’m as self-centered as anyone, I think, and I tend to think of my own convenience and comfort first. If I am as Christ-centered as I would like to be, then I will see the needs around me and offer myself as God’s instrument to meet those needs. God has given me many abilities, and those aren’t simply for my satisfaction. Yesterday I was able to help some friends who are moving by doing some things that seemed simple to me but not so simple to them, and it blessed me. The greatest thing I have is knowledge of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, so the best thing I can do for anyone is to share that knowledge. However, I am never to use that as an excuse for failing to share the many other things God has given me as well.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I do sometimes resent some of the many demands that are made of me. Help me be discerning, but in no way hold back when You have made provision for someone else through me. Thank You. Praise God!

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God’s Grace; February 18, 2020

Posted on February 22, 2020 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 6:1 As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.

This verse has two major points. The first refers back to the last two verses of the previous chapter, which say that by Gods incredible grace, in Christ we are made into God’s righteousness and act as His direct representatives. That is an earthshaking assertion indeed. Then Paul, secure in that position and authority, urges the Corinthian believers not to receive God’s grace in vain. Just what does that mean? God’s grace is poured out on all mankind. Jesus didn’t die just for the Jews, or for that matter, just for the “nice guys.” Rather, as John 3:16 so famously declares, he came for the whole world, that whoever would believe would receive eternal life. However, the key word there is believe; we don’t receive without faith. And as Jesus and James both said directly, genuine faith acts. (Luke 6:46, James 2:17) Even if we say we believe, but then don’t live out the faith we proclaim, we are receiving God’s grace in vain. Anything less is deceiving ourselves. (James 1:22)

Both halves of this are of major importance in my life, as I think they should be for every Christian. I have demonstrated that I am very proficient at deceiving myself, because I have had extensive knowledge of the Bible from an early age, yet my obedience to God has been spotty indeed. I am very grateful God didn’t give up on me, but then, He sees the end from the beginning. I was not yet a teenager when I memorized 2 Corinthians 5:20 as part of my participation in Royal Ambassadors, a Southern Baptist group for boys, and I really liked it. The idea of acting as God’s agent excited me! That said, I didn’t really grasp the level of submission that is involved in that. If I am to do the things Jesus did, (John 14:12) I’ve got to be as submitted to the Father’s will as He was. (John 5:30 and several more) I realized many years ago that when believers really grasp who they are in Christ, they change the world. Our individual impact may seem small, but as the Church indeed, the Body of Christ, we are such that the very gates of hell cannot withstand us. (Matthew 16:18) To this point in my life I haven’t been involved in much world transformation that I’ve been aware of, but God is the judge and Jesus is Lord, so I look forward to what He is going to do through me.

Father, You bring this to my attention from time to time, and it really whets my appetite. Sunday we had five nations represented in our service right here. Nothing is impossible for You! May Your name be acknowledged as holy indeed and Your kingdom come as Your will is done, even right here and even in and through us, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Motivation; February 17, 2020

Posted on February 22, 2020 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

This whole section is so rich! Especially from verse 17 through 21, many songs have been written and countless sermons have been preached, including quite a few by me. However, it’s these two verses that speak to me particularly right now. This expresses the difference between religion and discipleship. We see people from various groups, both Christian and otherwise, out proselytizing, and sometime accuse ourselves for our relative inaction. That sense of guilt might be from the Holy Spirit, but then again it might not. Far too much of that sort of thing is driven by a sense of religious obligation, and is thus exhausting. If the Gospel is really being proclaimed then it is not meaningless, as Paul noted to the Philippians, (Philippians 1:15-18) but if the motives are wrong, the one doing the proclaiming gets little or no benefit. The proper motivation is stated right here: Christ’s love. We are to share the Gospel out of an overwhelming awareness of how much we are loved by God in Christ Jesus. Frankly, if we don’t share Christ, it shows we don’t understand how much He loves us. If we did, we would want everyone else to know that love as well. The expression Paul uses seems to be a little hard to translate. The NIV, and several others, say “compels us.” The Japanese I use says “surrounds us.” Other translations say, “hems us in,” or “leaves us no choice.” All of those are doubtless justified translations, but it all boils down to being overwhelmed by love and then responding to that love. We tend to think of love as a kind of romantic froth, when the love of God is the most powerful motivation in the universe. As John 3:16 says, it caused the Father to send His Son to die for us! Paul is just responding to that love, and the more we grasp that love, the more we will respond too.

Growing up in a missionary family and serving as a missionary myself, I have seen all sorts of motivations, as well as recognized several in myself. I have seen missionaries who seemed to be on “power trips,” lording it over those whom they “served.” That is obviously in direct violation of Jesus’ teaching. I wasn’t aware of it at the time, but I have since learned of horrendous sins committed by some such people. On the opposite end of the spectrum I have seen people, both missionaries and other believers, who simply exuded love to all they encountered. Those are the ones who will receive crowns in heaven! Jesus warned us that “the love of most will grow cold,” (Matthew 24:12) and He expressed to John a very stern warning about that. (Revelation 3:15-16) We need to “take our temperature” from time to time, meditating on God’s love for us and asking Him how He wants us to express that to those around us. I may be a missionary pastor, but that doesn’t mean my motives are always pure or that my love is always white-hot. I too need to submit myself to God and to my neighbor, allowing His love to flow through me from Him to them, for their salvation and His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the new missionary family from Taiwan that were here yesterday. Thank You for Your love that motivates them. I ask Your grace, wisdom and strength for each one. Each has different challenges in adjusting to living in Japan in the first place, and each has a unique mission from You to fulfill here. I pray that You would pour Your grace and wisdom into them, enabling them to navigate the language and the culture that are so different from what they are used to. May Your peace and joy surround and fill them, making them marvelously attractive to all they meet, drawing many into Your kingdom for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Satan; February 16, 2020

Posted on February 21, 2020 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 2:10-11 If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven–if there was anything to forgive–I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

It strikes me that many Christians and many churches are remarkably unaware of Satan’s schemes. We have so caricatured him into a cartoon figure that it seems few people really believe he exists, and yet the New testament speaks several times of him as an active, malicious enemy. (1 Peter 5:8, etc.) His first trick in these days is to get us not to believe he’s around and out to get us! When he succeeds in that, we let down our guard and he does all sorts of mischief. We aren’t to be so afraid of him that we forget that the One who is in us is far greater than he is. (1 John 4:4) However, we also are not to forget that he comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. (John 10:10) In this passage Paul is speaking of the devil trying to steal our peace and unity by convincing us not to forgive. We need to remember that he is “a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44) I’m reminded of a few lines I wrote many years ago:
Satan is a liar,
that I know full well,
and every word he speaks to me
comes from the pit of hell.
We are not to so focus on the devil and demons to the point that we lose sight of Jesus. There are some who seem to do that! However, we are certainly not to walk in blind ignorance of the devil and his schemes, just as Paul references here.

I’ve been deceived and tripped up by the devil myself, more times than I have been aware. However, any time I do become aware that has happened, my first response must be repentance, and an active surrendering of myself and the situation to the Lord. (1 John 1:9) When I do that, then God takes it all and turns it around and uses it for good. (Romans 8:28) It would have been better had I not fallen, but it isn’t the end of the line that I did fall. My mouth has gotten me into a lot of trouble, speaking words that wounded rather than building up, and words spoken cannot be retrieved. I need to be increasingly aware of such traps to avoid them, speaking light and life and never lending my mouth to the liar.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me walk in this awareness at all times, doing Your will and Yours alone, acting as Your agent in forgiving and healing and lifting people up, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Gender; February 15, 2020

Posted on February 21, 2020 by jgarrott

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love.

These two verses together like this violate all sorts of societal expectations. In the first place, “be manly” (the NIV softened that) violates the current teaching about “toxic masculinity.” God created men and women to be different for many good reasons. It is all the rage to deride “gender stereotypes,” but the fact remains that in general, boys and girls will choose to play in different ways with different things. Each can benefit from learning from the opposite gender, but that doesn’t erase their biological gender, whatever people claim. Actually verse 14 is a perfect example of that, because “doing everything in love” certainly doesn’t fit the stereotype of a man. We don’t become less male, or conversely, less female, by learning from the opposite gender. We are to exercise our strengths, but not use our weaknesses as excuses, asking and allowing God to keep growing us in every way.

Even after 50 years of marriage (tomorrow is the 51st anniversary of our 1st date) my wife and I are still learning from and about each other. We are of equal value, but certainly not identical. Each of us has strengths that dovetail into weaknesses in the other, so we are far stronger together than we are separately. I don’t fit some of the male stereotypes, particularly in relation to sports and alcohol, but I am still undeniably male in my thinking, and that sometimes makes for conflict. Conversely, my wife has never been one for makeup (for which I am thankful) but she still responds to situations as a woman. Over the years we have learned that “doing everything in love” doesn’t necessarily look the same to each of us. We have had to learn to recognize expressions of love, both in word and action, and be grateful for them. All of that said, each of us needs to be on our guard and stand firm in the faith. Those two things are universal indeed!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the way You indeed continue to grow and shape us. May we not resist You in any way but rejoice to flow with Your spirit, not only toward each other but also toward everyone around us, so that as Your agents we may do Your will for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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