Freedom; April 20, 2019

Posted on April 23, 2019 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

I have heard this verse quoted many times, but our sinful human nature really tends to cloud understanding of it. In the first place, the lead statement is upsetting to rigid Trinitarians. We do experience God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but the Bible blurs the lines between them a good deal. We “invite Jesus into our hearts,” but He comes by His Holy Spirit. God created the universe, but He did it by His Word, that is, the Son, (John 1:1-3) and Jesus Himself said, “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30) And how do you distinguish between God, who is Spirit, (John 4:24) and the Spirit of God? I do affirm the Trinity, because Jesus explicitly told us to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, (Matthew 28:19) but I think the theological concept of the Trinity sometimes becomes just another box into which we try to fit God. The other difficult thing about this verse is the whole idea of liberty/freedom. Few things are as precious in American history and culture, with the Founding Fathers saying things like “Give me liberty or give me death,” and “He who would trade liberty for security deserves neither.” However, that very easily devolves into a discarding of all rules and regulations, including those set by God for our good. Today marks the day when the world held its breath, between Jesus’ crucifixion and His resurrection. Jesus died to free us from sin and its penalty, death. It doesn’t take much perception to realize that most of the people around us are slaves in some way to sin. It’s much harder to recognize where we ourselves are in bondage to sin. The freedom of the Holy Spirit that Paul speaks of here is the freedom not to sin, to walk in the fullness of life that God has provided for us. (John 10:10) Spiritual growth is a process of liberation, as we successively get rid of all the things that have bound us. Charles Dickens gave us a picture of that in the character of Marley’s ghost, who was bound with chains made up of all the things he had valued over the things of God. A popular – and anointed – song about heaven is titled, I Can Only Imagine. We indeed can only imagine what total liberty is going to be like, be it is part of the inheritance of God’s children.

I am as headstrong as anyone else. My mother had an expression with which I can identify: “independent as a hog on ice.” That is rather comical to picture, but it shows the absurdity of rebellion against, and attempted independence from, God. I am finding that there is great peace and joy in knowing that I can do nothing apart from Christ, (John 15:5) but through His strength I can do everything He asks of me. (Philippians 4:13) I’m not there totally yet, but I deal with people constantly who are hardly there at all. I am not to put them down, but speak the truth in love to them so that they may indeed discover the liberty that is the Spirit.

Father, thank You for this powerful reminder. Help me walk it out in all I have to do today, resting, relaxing, and rejoicing in You, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Credentials; April 19, 2019

Posted on April 21, 2019 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 3:4-6 Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Japanese society is very focused on credentials. Sometimes it doesn’t seem to matter whether you are actually competent to do something, so long as you have the piece of paper that says you are. This fits in with the “letters of recommendation” Paul mentions just before this. In Japan, the school you graduated from can be crucial in getting a good job, regardless of whether you really learned anything at that school. In American higher education today, my impression is that much of it is worthless, despite the astronomical price tag, because the students end up knowing very little that is true about life and history and having very few critical thinking skills. Even in the Church we sometimes focus on academic credentials, or perhaps the size of the congregation. Either of those things can be totally unrelated to whether the person is sent and anointed by God. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to show us whom He has chosen and anointed, and not rely on human yardsticks in evaluating people.

I am thankful to have a seminary degree, precisely because I minister in Japan, but it has had very little impact on my ministry. I do recognize the benefits of training, but my impression is that for ministers of the Gospel, the more formalized it is, the less practical utility it has. That fits in with Paul’s statement here that “the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” You can’t package the Holy Spirit in a curriculum! To me, knowledge of the Bible is primary, followed by knowledge of Church history to know the insights, rabbit trails, and outright heresies that have already occurred, but after that, mentoring and coaching in the process of ministry are most effective. There are times when I wish I had studied Greek and Hebrew, but my knowledge of Japanese teaches me that knowing a little of a language can be very misleading, and I have certainly seen lots of rabbit trails being followed in the name of “the original language.” I want the Holy Spirit to interpret His Word to me, so that I may put it into practice and in turn communicate it to others.

Father, this whole issue of credentials/competence/qualifications is one that has come up at various times over the years. Help me genuinely be humble, and yet have the assurance that Paul did, so that I will neither hide nor distort what You are saying to and through me, for the sake of the Body of Christ and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Faith; April 18, 2019

Posted on April 21, 2019 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.

Faith is not something in which we can command each other, but it is an area in which we should encourage one another. It indeed brings joy, because it is the shield with which we can extinguish the flaming arrows of the enemy. (Ephesians 6:16) It is a gift from God, (Ephesians 2:9) but it is one we are responsible to exercise. That’s why Jesus frequently chided His disciples for their lack of faith. To be honest, sometimes we decide not to believe. I have seen people deliberately turn away from their faith, and it is tragic. When we discard faith, we really have no defense against the lies of the enemy. I have seen people decide they are “tired of being Christian” and walk away, but I remain convinced they have never really opened up to the presence and flow of the Holy Spirit. I say that, but Hebrews speaks explicitly of such a situation. (Hebrews 6:4-6) Having tasted of the Spirit myself, that is hard for me to imagine. The thing is, it’s often harder to exercise faith for ourselves that it is for someone else. That’s one of the big benefits of intercession, because we grow spiritually as we pray for others, when we have great difficulty praying accurately for ourselves. That’s what Paul was talking about here in working with the Corinthian believers. In Hebrews it points out that a major reason to meet together is to encourage one another in our faith. (Hebrews 10:25)

This is very timely, because right now I’m dealing with one person who is trying to withdraw from faith because things haven’t gone as they wanted, and I’m dealing with another person who is learning to pray for others instead of being totally wrapped up in what they see as their own problems. I really understand what Paul is saying in this verse! There are times when I would love to be able to command faith, but then it would cease to be genuine, even if I could do that. I can and must speak the truth in love and trust the Holy Spirit to work in each person’s heart – including my own. I myself must choose to stand firm, because as a shepherd I endure even more attacks than the flock. I know that in faith I will indeed stand firm, as this verse says, and will overcome the world. (1 John 5:4)

Father, thank You for this timely reminder. I have a really packed day today. Each of the elements would not be a problem individually, but their all coming together makes me anxious. Help me indeed choose to rest, relax, and rejoice in You throughout today, exercising the faith You have given me, so that I may encourage those around me and together we may indeed overcome the world, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Letting God be God; April 17, 2019

Posted on April 20, 2019 by jgarrott

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

After a full chapter of talking about resurrection, Paul comes to this. The whole thing about resurrection for us is that it is a future reward, and it is one the devil would love for us to lose sight of. Knowing that God has such good stuff in store for us should help us get through anything. The thing is, we are easily distracted, and when we focus on the difficulties of the moment, we can get discouraged and depressed. This is something I have experienced many times over the years. Thankfully, God has always been faithful to bring me back into focus, to remember that “This world is not my home; I’m just a passing through,” as the Spiritual says it. From time to time the Lord allows me to see a glimpse of fruit from my labors that had not been evident to me, and that can be a real encouragement. Ministering in Japan, it can be easy to feel that nothing you do really accomplishes anything! However, that’s just a deception of the devil. We don’t see what is going on in the spiritual realm, and God never wastes anything. That’s what Romans 8:28 is all about. We need to let God be God and trust Him with the job, listening faithfully for whatever part He wants us to play.

This is very timely for me, because the spiritual warfare is pretty intense. I should take that as an indication that God is doing good and/or big things that the devil is trying to block! However, I know that the outcome is already decided, and it’s good. Right now we are being hit with health issues and people issues and busyness and schedule conflicts of all sorts, and discouragement and depression loom over us. I’ve got to remember what God told me personally: rest, relax, rejoice. It’s amazing how easy that is to say and how hard it is to do! I need to remember that from God’s viewpoint it’s all already done, and the result is good.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Cathy’s pain level is hard to ignore, and I shouldn’t try. All the other pressures aren’t to be dismissed, but I need Your help to keep looking to Jesus over and above it all. (Hebrews 12:2) May I be Your agent every moment of today, not striving in my own strength – which is no strength at all – but allowing Your Spirit to carry me along and flow through me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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The Hope of Resurrection; April 16, 2019

Posted on April 20, 2019 by jgarrott

1 Corinthians 15:17-19 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

Resurrection is absolutely essential to the Gospel. That’s why the devil has focused so much energy on denying it. At the same time, it is the one thing that seems most illogical to human intellect. If we are spirits, why do we need bodies anyway? However, God does everything for a reason, and His reasons are good. One of those reasons is faith itself. If we could figure everything out by human intellect, we wouldn’t need faith. However, God has ordained that we be saved by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Various things can make us believe, but Jesus said that those who have believed without seeing are blessed. (John 20:29) Jesus Himself rose from the dead as a demonstration of His victory over death, so that all who are in Him by faith may experience that same victory. That is exactly what Paul is talking about here. As came out in yesterday’s reading as well, a lack of faith in resurrection leaves us powerless and essentially hopeless. In situations of persecution, such as Paul was writing in, if there is no hope of resurrection, then believers are pathetic indeed. That is exactly the image the devil wants to portray of Christians, warning non-believers of the mess they’ll get into if they get caught in this Jesus business. However, as Paul told the Romans, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:35-37) As the song says, we serve a risen Savior, and we too shall be like Him.

To be honest, physical resurrection has been something I have struggled with myself. I have full confidence that heaven is glorious, but in my own mind I don’t see the need for the physical. However, God created the physical universe by His will, and that is good by definition. The Bible only gives hints here and there of what life will be like after resurrection, so again, I’ve got to trust God. How we will perceive the time frame of resurrection is again an open question. Those who have been to heaven and come back testify universally that the passage of time there is not the same as in our present physical world. The Bible, in common with many cultures, speaks at times of death as sleep, and we all experience sometimes waking up unaware of how much time has passed. I am not to be anxious about any of that, but trust God with every detail. I have demonstrated time and time again that I’m good neither at planning nor at follow through, but God has no such difficulty. I am to rest in the hope of resurrection, rejoicing that God’s plans are better than I could ever imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)

Father, thank You for this reminder. Things are happening at a rate that makes me want either to escape or withdraw, and neither is what You have planned. Help me trust You with every detail, every outcome, and be faithful to do each task You have for me, resting, relaxing, and rejoicing in You, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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The Gospel; April 15, 2019

Posted on April 18, 2019 by jgarrott

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…

Paul later condenses the essence of the Gospel even further. “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my Gospel.” (2 Timothy 2:8) However, the same elements are there, and are certainly worth noting. Those two elements are the atoning work of Christ on the cross, and the fact that this was God’s plan from the beginning. In this passage he repeatedly says, “according to the Scriptures,” but to Timothy he simply makes reference to Jesus’ genetic lineage. Both of those show that the cross was not at all some random act but was the center-point of history, that God had planned for from Creation. That is obviously a very important point, but we ignore it much of the time, and that really weakens our evangelism. It makes a difference that God planned for our salvation from long before we existed. That is integral to the reality that God is love, as John so memorably wrote. (1 John 4:8) That plan of salvation was for the Son of God to die for our sins and rise again. Any presentation that leaves out the death and resurrection of Jesus isn’t the Gospel, because there is no liberation from the fear of death without it. Sadly, there are many supposed Christians who do not believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus. Shusaku Endo, the Japanese author of Silence, a book about persecution that was made into a movie not long ago, was one of those. That made his concept of “salvation” be limited to this life, which ultimately was without much hope or power. If Jesus didn’t really die (which is one of the lies told) or if He didn’t physically rise, to walk and talk and eat with His disciples, (even though His heart had been run through with a spear) then the Gospel is just a nice, touching story. However, as Paul insists, He did indeed do those things, which is why faith in Him brings salvation, and that is Good News indeed.

This is extremely important for me to remember, since I am a minister of the Gospel. I need to let people know that God planned for their salvation from the foundation of the world, (Revelation 13:8) and that Jesus’ resurrection is proof that it is real. That’s why Easter is such a big deal. That’s why a genuinely Christian funeral is a powerful tool of evangelism. After all, as Paul said, we don’t grieve like those who have no hope. (1 Thessalonians 4:13) When we understand what God has done for us in Christ, we can actively look forward to our “graduation!” I know many who are in that position, and I can’t say I’m not there myself. My task in evangelism is to communicate that hope, just as Peter said. (1 Peter 3:15) That is the Gospel of which I am a servant.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for arranging that it came in Holy Week, between Palm Sunday and Easter. I didn’t plan that myself when I was making up the Scripture lists, but You did. Help me indeed be a carrier of hope to all, so that many may receive the Gospel, repent, and believe for their salvation, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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The Body of Christ; April 14, 2019

Posted on April 16, 2019 by jgarrott

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

We tend to think of this chapter as a discussion of spiritual gifts, which it is, but more importantly, Paul’s focus is on unity in the Body of Christ. As came out in yesterday’s reading, each person is gifted for the benefit of the whole Body of Christ. This verse brings the focus back to that whole, and the fact that each believer participates in that whole. The current Church scene has lots of people who consider themselves Christians, but they don’t participate in any local congregation. Such people completely miss the point of this chapter. They should ask an amputee whether the body needs all of its parts! Individual commitment and devotion to Christ is essential, but so is the interconnectedness that Paul speaks of here. After all, Jesus said that it would be our love for one another that would show the world that we are His disciples. (John 13:35) If we aren’t knit to one another in love, how will anyone know we really are Christians, and not just empty shells? To be honest, when we forget our interconnectedness we really do become empty shells. Each one will have to answer to God for their actions, but I am convinced that includes our actions toward others, how we relate to the rest of the Body of Christ.

This is something I have had to learn, which perhaps heightens my awareness of it. By personality I have thought of myself as a loner, and I really don’t care for noisy parties. I happily spend time with books or computers or machines. As a child I played by myself a great deal. I still am quite satisfied to just be alone or with my wife most of the time, and can get irritated when I feel forced to do otherwise. However, over the years I have learned that indeed, “No man is an island,” as the saying goes. I am an integral part of the Body of Christ, and if I am not properly connected with other parts of the Body I am not fulfilling my function, and I will have to answer for it. I am not to resent such interaction, but rather rejoice that I am doing what I was created to do. As a pastor I am charged with helping each believer understand this same thing. The discussion in this chapter is all too necessary much of the time, with people thinking either they aren’t needed or that they don’t need others. Both are lies of the devil! I have a handicap of sorts as a pastor because of the wide variety of things I can do, which tends to make people think they aren’t necessary. That’s why it was very good that I wasn’t here for three weeks last month, forcing the believers to see themselves and the church a bit differently. I need to bring out the gifting in each believer, so that together we may be the Body of Christ indeed.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I can’t follow through on my own! Help me walk it out, in harmony with other believers both inside and outside this church, so that the Body of Christ may indeed function as You intend, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Spiritual Gifts; April 13, 2019

Posted on April 16, 2019 by jgarrott

1 Corinthians 12:7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

This whole chapter has been very familiar to me since I was first introduced to the Charismatic Movement back in 1973. That said, this verse is still very pertinent to my pastoral ministry today. It has two major truths in it. English and Japanese word order put those truths at opposite ends of the sentence, but that doesn’t matter. One of those truths is that each person is given one or more spiritual gifts. There are many Christians today who insist they aren’t gifted at all. Some do that out of ignorance, some out of humility, and some out of a desire to avoid the responsibility of using that gift for the sake of the Body of Christ, like the third servant in the parable of the talents. (Matthew 25:24-25) The second truth here is that these gifts are given for the common good, and never just for the direct recipient. That seems obvious for some of them, but is often overlooked when it comes to tongues, which is the one gift that is focused on the most. When that gift was first given at Pentecost, it resulted in the salvation of 3000 people, as they heard God being praised in their various languages. (Acts 2:6-12) I have heard an American (who didn’t speak Japanese) using Japanese in delivering someone from demonic oppression. My wife, Cathy, was in a prayer meeting with a group of Filipina girls when they became very excited, because she was praying in Tagalog, which she doesn’t know at all. The girls’ faith was greatly strengthened! Even when the tongue in use isn’t a known language, it can be very useful in praying for situations where we really don’t know what or how to pray. (Romans 8:26-27) The thing is, if spiritual gifts aren’t used, they don’t benefit anyone at all. They aren’t merit badges, but tools to build up the Body of Christ.

Of course this applies to me, and not just to those to whom I preach. I think I have experienced all of the gifts listed here at least once each, but with widely different frequency. I pray in tongues every day, but have experienced miracles maybe once or twice. (Of course, that raises the question of just what is a miracle.) There have been periods when I have really let these gifts slide, and those have never been good. Recently I have found it very convenient and helpful to pray, both in English/Japanese and in tongues, while I am driving. Praying in known languages can be distracting from the road, but praying in tongues doesn’t have that problem. Prophecy is a gift I would like to exercise more. I do seek to preach prophetically, that is, speaking out what God is saying, but other forms of prophecy can be very beneficial as well. The point for me in this church is to focus on each person being gifted, so the believers won’t exclude themselves from how God wants to use them.

Father, thank You for this very timely reminder. With tomorrow being Palm Sunday, Pentecost is just eight weeks off. Guide me in preparing and teaching the flock so that everyone will be open to whatever You want to pour into and through them, for the common good and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Paul’s Example; April 12, 2019

Posted on April 13, 2019 by jgarrott

1 Corinthians 9:23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Those who preach the Gospel receive the Gospel as well. The Good News is big enough for all! Paul is such a magnificent example because he believed the things he said. There were moments when even he wavered, and God had to tell him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) However, he endured to the end, and there is no question that he indeed received the crown of righteousness that he told us about. (2 Timothy 4:8) Nowhere did Paul claim any exclusive benefits for himself. He understood that God’s grace is exactly that, and it was and is available to all. I think that Paul was forever amazed that God had chosen him, of all people, and his awareness of God’s love and grace drove him. (2 Corinthians 5:14) He had ample reason to tell others to imitate him, (1 Corinthians 4:16) because he was so focused on Christ. The challenge for us today is whether we can cut through all the distractions and follow Christ fully ourselves, even as we seek to share the Gospel with others.

This whole section feels very close to home, because I have made my living from the Gospel for less than two years out of 40 years of ministry. The irony is that even so, some people have accused me of wanting more people in the church so I could get more money! I do feel that I have no choice but to share the abundance of truth the Lord has poured out on me. I do know that my personal reward is sure, but I would certainly like to see more results “on the ground.” I know that what I share is God’s truth, and it grieves me that so little is received and accepted for what it is. I must never give up, but remember that the weapons I have been given are mighty to the point of tearing down strongholds, (2 Corinthians 10:4) and do the work I have been given whether I see results with my natural eyes or not.

Father, it’s easy to get tired and discouraged. Today I will be dealing yet again with a son in the Lord who is listening to the enemy’s lies instead of to You. May I be strong on his behalf, leading him out of the pit he is in so that he may taste and delight in the abundance of Your grace toward him. Guide me as I prepare message notes for Sunday, that I may communicate what You are saying and not just what sounds good to me – or to them. May I indeed run with patience the race that is set before me, (Hebrews 12:1) so that Your will may be accomplished on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Sin and Forgiveness; April 11, 2019

Posted on April 13, 2019 by jgarrott

1 Corinthians 6:11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

This chapter is one that a lot of people wish weren’t in the Bible, and some try to deny its validity. However, they overlook this verse. Sexual sin has been an issue for as long as mankind has been around. Some people would like to be like dogs, happily humping anything around. However, we weren’t created to be dogs, as delightful as they can be. We were created for covenant relationships, not merely instinctual ones. That said, this verse is of vital importance. God never excuses sin (though in some places the Bible speaks of His overlooking it) but He does forgive it. We have trouble grasping that distinction at times, but it is vital. Verses nine and ten list whole categories of people who will not inherit the kingdom of God. However, this verse makes it very clear that it doesn’t matter what or who you were, it matters who you are in Christ. If you insist that your sinful behavior is OK, you are excluding yourself from God’s forgiveness. It is only when we acknowledge that we need salvation that we can receive it. However, that recognition, and committing to Jesus as Lord by faith, can and does “make the vilest clean,” as an old hymn expresses it. As is often discussed these days, God provides equality of opportunity, not equality of outcome. His offer of cleansing and salvation is open to every human being, but it requires our repentance and faith to accept and receive it.

This is at the very heart of the Gospel, of which I am a minister. I am to proclaim the love and grace of God, but not out of the context of His absolute holiness. It is precisely because He is holy that His grace is so necessary! I have had trouble communicating the necessity of salvation to the Japanese, but Americans seem to be forgetting it at a great rate these days as well. The only unforgivable sin is insisting you don’t need forgiveness. 1 Timothy 4:2 speaks of people with their consciences “seared as with a hot iron.” Some people seem to want to discard their conscience, because it gets in the way of their enjoying their sin. How sad! I cannot convict people of their sin in my own strength and wisdom, but that’s the job of the Holy Spirit anyway. (John 16:8-11) I am to keep speaking the truth in love, assuring people that nothing they have done is beyond the power of the cross to atone, forgive, and cleanse, if they will only confess it to God. (1 John 1:9) At times I am called to help people understand that they are in need of such grace, but again, conviction is the work of the Holy Spirit. I cannot save anyone, but God can indeed save absolutely anyone.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the new students I will be meeting this morning. I pray that my interaction with them over the next two years will indeed draw them to repentance and faith for their salvation, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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