March 6, 2017

Posted on March 8, 2017 by jgarrott

Exodus 25:21-22 Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the Testimony, which I will give you. There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.

God was here providing a physical location that Moses and those after him could identify with hearing from God. Several things about this are significant. In the first place, God never said He would be in the ark, but rather over it, between the cherubim. That was to keep the ark itself from becoming an idol. Also, the contents of the ark were to be the tablets that God Himself would provide. Man couldn’t sanctify the ark, it was God’s doing. And then there’s the matter of the lid to the ark, with its cherubim. The NIV avoids this term, but the Japanese matches the Hebrew by calling it the “atonement cover.” That is very significant, because until the cross of Christ, sins were just covered over rather than eliminated. This again was God’s provision for dealing with sin, because man couldn’t do it on his own. All sorts of wild stories have arisen about the ark, and I have even seen a video of a modern recreation of the ark, postulating that some sort of electrical field was generated between the outstretched wings of the cherubim. That’s just man trying to fit God into the confines of human thinking. The ark, and even the written tablets of the Law, were concessions to human weakness, because without some sort of physical locus the Israelites would have had very little to keep them from simply adopting the religions around them. (They did enough of that anyway, but it would have been even worse otherwise.) God does indeed meet us where we are, providing whatever is needed, but we have to accept His provision and use it as He intends.

This seems like a somewhat esoteric reading, and as a pastor I’m concerned as to how less mature believers will understand and receive it. However, I’ve got to trust the Holy Spirit, in this as in everything else. After all, He directed me to include this passage in the readings! I need to keep pressing in for more knowledge, more understanding, and encourage all the believers to do likewise, while never leaving the foundations of the Gospel. “Deep truth” is never going to replace the Gospel!

Father, thank You for what You spoke through me yesterday, and for Steven Kaylor’s faithfulness in clarifying the Gospel. We have more to do to be fully Gospel-centered as a church, but thank You for moving us in the right direction. I pray that we would not draw back, but rather rejoice to become more and more of what You desire us to be, for the salvation of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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March 5, 2017

Posted on March 8, 2017 by jgarrott

Exodus 24:7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.”

I find myself a little confused here by something I had never noticed before. This refers to “the Book of the Covenant,” but it is after this that the stone tablets with God’s law and commands are given to Moses (verse 12). The 10 Commandments are given in Exodus 20, but many other commands are given after that, and it certainly would not have all fit on two stone tablets. Moses ended up writing a great deal, from Genesis through Deuteronomy, and I find myself wondering how much of that was in this Book of the Covenant. The people of Israel had a profound ignorance of God and His ways and needed a lot of instruction, but what was given when and how seems less than clear to me. The Books of Moses were obviously edited at least once, and quite possibly several times, after his death, and I can’t help but wonder what additions those later editors might have made. In any case, however much had been recorded at this point, when the people heard it they responded in submission to God. That’s a very appropriate response, but as the saying goes, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Like mankind throughout history, their obedience was partial at best. Every bit of the Old Testament points to the New, because it is only in Christ that we are truly made righteous, and it is only by the indwelling Holy Spirit that we are empowered to live as children of God.

This of course applies to me as much as it does to anyone. I am not to split academic hairs about what was written when, or even by whom, but submit my heart and mind to God for the Holy Spirit to show me what He meant by it in the first place. I am not to dismiss any of the Bible, but again allow the Holy Spirit to show me how it is to be applied in my life today. I really like the Japanese expression that is used frequently in the Bible. Where English translations just say, “obey,” the Japanese says, “listen and obey” (or, “listen obediently). I need to keep my heart tuned to God to hear Him, and I need to maintain my commitment to do all that He says, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. There is much I have yet to learn about You and Your Word. It’s a glorious adventure! Help me keep moving toward You in every way so that I may be effective in drawing others with me, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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March 4, 2017

Posted on March 6, 2017 by jgarrott

Exodus 18:23 “If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

This story is the best, most explicit teaching on delegation in the whole Bible. No large organization can survive, or even exist, without effective delegation, but it is a weak area for many. The two things most essential for delegation are trust and faithfulness. The one in charge has to trust those to whom responsibilities are delegated, and those receiving responsibilities have to be faithful in discharging them to the best of their abilities. Failure on either side of that is crippling. Sadly, past experience can make people very hesitant to delegate, because of having trusted unreliable people, and some people are either devious in their motivation or simply incompetent, and so are inherently unreliable. However, there’s no way around the necessity of delegation, and failures simply need to be taken as learning experiences and moved past. That’s not always easy! Accountability is vital here. As Paul said, “It is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2) Those doing the delegating need to provide accountability structures so that those under them will understand what is expected of them, without micromanaging. That isn’t necessarily easy! Some people are gifted in it, and some aren’t. If there is no structure for accountability, there is no feedback to let people know whether they are doing things right. However, if there is micromanaging, creativity is stifled and the whole purpose of delegation is foiled. God’s wisdom and guidance are essential!

This is a sore subject for me because it’s always been a weak area. I have stifled the growth of this church by failure to trust people with more tasks, but I have also been burned by people who have tried to take over without sharing the same vision. Right now, for the first time in my ministry, I have a formally designated assistant pastor. I’ve got to get it right! In the past I have chosen the easy way of doing things myself, rather than the harder way of training others to do those things. That never works out in the long run. I am very aware that, at least at this point in my life, I really need to be working myself out of a job. That’s not to say that I don’t have valuable contributions to make, but it is to say that my abilities, and my physical life, have a “use by” date set by God, and I have no control over that. I am not to run from any task, but I am to remember that I’m not the only person God can use, and I am often enough not the best choice for Him. I am not to use my past failures at delegation as an excuse now, but learn and grow as God desires, so that I won’t be in the way of Him building His Church, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this strong reminder. This isn’t something I’ve thought about sufficiently, and I need to be more intentional. Help me trust You to work in those around me just as much, and even more, than You have worked in me, so that I won’t get in the way of their growth and the growth of this church. Thank You. Praise God!

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March 3, 2017

Posted on March 5, 2017 by jgarrott

Exodus 17:12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.

God’s provision is often people. Aaron and Hur were God’s gifts to Moses, and to the nation of Israel, at this time. Given the simplicity of their task, others could have done the job, but Aaron and Hur would have lost out in that case. We sometimes overlook simple things, wanting “bigger challenges” or more glory, but as Jesus said, God tests our faithfulness in little things before He gives us big things to do. (Matthew 25:21, 32) The point is, we are to be available to God for however He wants to use us, to whomever He wants to “give” us. Sometimes we balk at helping particular people, for any of a number of reasons. They may have hurt us, or we might not like them for some other reason, or we might be prejudiced against them on racial or other grounds. We are always the biggest losers in such cases. We are to serve others as serving the Lord. (Ephesians 6:7) One of Jesus’ most famous parables is on precisely this point. (Matthew 25:34-45) One of the pivotal passages in understanding the Church deals with this issue as well In talking about what is called “the 5-fold ministry,” Paul says that such people are “given” to the Church, that is, they are God’s provision. Whether in big things or in small, if we want to receive God’s provision, we need to be available as His provision for others.

It is my experience that few things feel as good as realizing that I have been God’s provision to someone. Sometimes it’s inconvenient, sometimes it’s exhausting, sometimes there’s no human recognition for what I’ve done, but I know that my reward is in heaven. I wish I could say I maintain that awareness consistently, but I don’t. I need to stay firmly in the flow of God’s Spirit, not just so that He can carry me along but so that He can use me to meet the needs of others. I desire to be fully useful to Him, whatever that means, because I know that His plans are the absolute best, for me and for everyone else. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Father, thank You for using me. Thank You for the privilege of addressing the Rehabilitation College graduates last night. I was given more recognition that I’m used to, and frankly, it felt good. Help me serve gladly, not for human recognition but to please You, so that all of Your purposes may be fulfilled in and through me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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March 2, 2017

Posted on March 5, 2017 by jgarrott

Exodus 16:17-18 The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. And when they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each one gathered as much as he needed.

God’s supply is always sufficient, but we have to cooperate in receiving it. Manna is perhaps the most famous example of God’s divine provision, but the people still had to gather it up. “God helps those who help themselves” is not in the Bible, but it is true that we are not to feel entitled and take God for granted. We aren’t to feel that it all depends on us, because every bit of power and ability we have is a gift from God. However, He gives us those things expecting us to use them. Faith is a delicate balance at times, recognizing that we can do nothing apart from God (John 15:5) but that we are to be active participants in what He is doing. (Colossians 1:29) Jesus’ parable of the talents is justly famous. (Matthew 25:14-30) The money was the master’s to begin with, but each servant was held accountable for what they did with it. He provided it, they were to use it to get more. Likewise, the manna didn’t appear in people’s tents; they had to go out and gather it. Even things that might seem to an observer to be entirely the result of our own efforts have their origin in God. Deu­teronomy 8:17-18 is very clear about this. “You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.” We are to be hard workers, but at the same time recognize that it all comes from God.

This is as much a struggle for me as it is for anyone. I have had times of conceit, forgetting that my abilities come from God, and I have had times of despair, seeing only that I couldn’t meet a need on my own. Both are so foolish! I am to be active in seeking to hear God and obey Him, but never think for a moment that I can do anything just on my own. I can’t even take a single breath apart from His grace. However, that doesn’t mean I’m to stop breathing! I am to seek to recognize what He has for me to do each day, each moment, and apply myself to be faithfully obedient. As has been said, where God guides, He provides. As Jesus said, I am to focus on His kingdom and His righteousness, and know that every need will be met. (Matthew 6:33)

Father, thank You for this reminder. I do still struggle with this, accusing myself at times of laziness, yet at the same time being painfully aware that when I attempt something on my own it’s guaranteed to fall flat. Help me hear accurately what You tell me to do and be fully committed and faithful to follow through, not in my strength but in Yours, so that Your will may be done through me for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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March 1, 2017

Posted on March 4, 2017 by jgarrott

Exodus 16:8 “Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.”

When leaders are genuinely following God this is a valid defense, but this sort of statement has been misused by dictatorial leaders down through the centuries. Moses had been humbled by his encounters with God to the point that he could say this in all honesty. (Numbers 12:13) An article I read just yesterday in Ministry Today (a monthly magazine) was talking about how pride is the hidden weakness that trips up more ministers than anything else. One of the many dangers of pride is how often we fail to recognize it in ourselves. We have little trouble spotting it in others, but it is a very common blind spot. However, when we are operating in pride we think everything depends on us, and that can destroy us. Quoting Moses here in a manipulative manner is evil, but barring that, recognizing the truth in this statement can be very liberating. Jesus said that we aren’t to take people’s reactions to us personally, because they actually are reacting to Him in us. (John 15:18-21) The biggest danger comes in choosing the world’s approval over God’s approval. That’s fatal, spiritually speaking, which is ironic because we do it to “save our own skin,” so to speak. We forget Jesus’ very pointed words: “Then he said to them all: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?’” (Luke 9:23-25) We need to live our lives recognizing that the physical world, and physical life itself, is temporary, and be fully committed to our eternal Lord.

This is a subject that has been on my mind a great deal since seeing the movie, Silence. I have a close friend who feels the priest in the movie who apostasized to try to save some believers from martyrdom was very noble, but I cannot have peace with that. At the very least he was severely deceived. I am both to proclaim and live out the truth in love, whatever the short-term consequences for me or for my hearers. Someone who commits to Jesus Christ and then is tortured to death for it is far better off than someone who lives a long and easy life without Christ. I am to recognize my own weaknesses, but at the same time I am not to shrink back from people looking to me as Christ’s representative, because that is what I am. Any believer who is operating in humble obedience to God has more spiritual authority than the greatest human ruler. (Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:18-20) I am not to think for a moment I can do anything good on my own, but I also am not to doubt that God can do whatever He likes through me.

Father, this is a continuing issue in my life. You give me opportunities daily to speak and act as Christ’s representative, and I am grateful. Thank You for showing me my pride so many times, and for enabling me to repent. I’m going to have to keep that up until I’m before Your throne! Help me be fully, consistently submitted to Your Spirit, releasing everything to You, for Your will to be done in and through me for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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February 28, 2017

Posted on March 2, 2017 by jgarrott

Exodus 13:21 By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.

Sometimes God’s provision is pretty obvious, and that can be nice indeed. This image of the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire is one of the more famous in the whole Bible, perhaps because it is so easy to understand. Since the Holy Spirit was poured out we understand that God isn’t limited to physical locations, but the people at this point couldn’t grasp that. By being “in” the pillars of cloud and fire, God assured them of His presence, and that was what they needed fully as much as they needed guidance. In terms of guidance, it’s important to note verses 17 and 18, which specify that God didn’t lead them the short way, and why. We often don’t recognize the why of God’s leading until much later, if at all, but we need to trust that He has His reasons, and they are good. He knows what we need better than we do, and following Him will indeed take us the best way, whether short or long. Sometimes we would like to have something as obvious to follow as a visible pillar, but our faith grows more when we learn to follow His invisible guidance.

Sometimes I have real assurance of God’s guidance, and sometimes I feel just as blind as the next guy. There have been times when His guidance seemed as obvious as the pillars in this story, and times when the way ahead was a total mystery. Frankly, those aren’t much fun. I am often called on to give guidance to others. That can be scary! Humility is the first requirement, along with faith that God is greater than my weaknesses, so He can use even me. (2 Corinthians 12:9) It’s not hard to remember that my own ultimate destination is settled, but I am committed to getting as many people as possible to share that destination, and that’s where it really gets difficult. Just yesterday I attended the funeral of someone with whom I have shared the Gospel for the past 35 years, and he never received it as applying to him. Japanese see religion as integral to culture, and they have no grasp of a transcendent God who is also intensely personal. On top of that, Buddhism has no real concept of salvation. The ultimate good is “nothingness.” It’s no wonder they have trouble grasping that Jesus is the Way, (John 14:6) because they don’t know where they’re headed in the first place. I have demonstrated definitively that I can’t open their eyes by my own wisdom and strength, but God has used me from time to time to accomplish that miracle, so I must never give up. I am to strive always to lift up Jesus (John 12:32) and let Him do the drawing, the guiding, so that as many as will may be saved.

Father, I ended the day yesterday in a state of real emotional exhaustion, but You know that. Thank You that I can release my burdens to You. (Matthew 11:28-30) Help me trust You enough really to do so, to stop trying to carry them myself. Help me be humble enough to recognize Your guidance in every detail, so that I may follow You without wavering. Thank You. Praise God!

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February 27, 2017

Posted on March 2, 2017 by jgarrott

Exodus 13:8 “On that day tell your son, ‘I do this because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.'”

In addition to the oral transmission of faith, the second purpose of this command is to strengthen the faith of the one speaking. Various studies have shown repeatedly that hearing ourselves say things can have a significant impact on us. That’s all the more reason to be careful what we say! Negatively speaking, if you tell a lie consistently often enough, you can convince yourself it’s true. That should be a powerful motivator to always tell the truth! Telling people what God has done for you, as this verse is talking about, is an excellent help in strengthening and deepening your own faith. It just occurred to me that is one reason why preachers are often known for their faith: they’re always telling it to others. By extension, that is another reason Jesus said that when the Holy Spirit comes on us, we will be His witnesses. (Acts 1:8) The more we tell others about Him, the more open our hearts are to Him, so we experience Him more in our own lives, which in turn gives us more to talk about! Those who refuse to share their faith with others, for whatever reason, are depriving themselves of more than they can imagine.

I am of course a pastor, but on top of that, my confirmation that God had baptized me in His Spirit came when I abruptly realized that for the first time in my life I was talking to a total stranger about Jesus, and Acts 1:8 came to my mind. As a secular teacher as well as a pastor, talking is my “stock in trade,” so to speak, so it’s a good thing the Lord gave me the “gift of gab.” However, if what I say becomes rote, same old same old, then I and my hearers lose out. Also, just because I speak freely doesn’t mean I always speak God’s truth. I am subject to the devil’s deceptions as well. I need to be slower to speak sometimes! (James 1:19) However, I must never hesitate to speak the truth in love. (Ephesians 4:15) I have used faith declarations for over 35 years now, and they genuinely help. I need to listen to the truth God allows me to speak, so that it will operate more fully in me.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for all the truth You have stored up in my mind and heart. Help me speak it out as You intend, for my own benefit as well as the benefit of all others who hear me, so that the devil’s works may be defeated and Your will be done, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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February 26, 2017

Posted on March 1, 2017 by jgarrott

Exodus 12:26-27 “And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ then tell them.”

A recurring theme throughout the period of the exodus is this matter of communicating faith to the next generation. We have trouble grasping the reality that these people had no Bible at all; they were limited to oral tradition. That made the transmission of these stories a matter of spiritual life or death. Particularly in countries like America we tend to leave the transmission of faith to the professionals, or at least to the Church as an institution. That is a terrible mistake. Many people have a Bible, or even multiple Bibles, that they never read. That does no one any good at all. Recently the matter of what is being taught to our children in public schools has come under scrutiny, with many parents being horrified at what is coming out. We should be at least as concerned with what is being taught our children in church! Many Sunday Schools are fine, I am sure, but the very concept of a Sunday School is nowhere to be found in the Bible. The Biblical pattern is without exception for parents or parent figures to teach children on a personal basis. When that happens, the children turn out well. When it doesn’t, they don’t. The biggest hindrance, in my observation, is the simple matter of time. We get so busy with all our various activities that transmission of faith gets left out in the cold. Of course, the parents themselves need to make their relationship with their Creator a high priority, with consistent devotions and the like, but even then they too often fail to teach their children intentionally, and spiritual growth in the next generation becomes entirely hit-or-miss.

This is a somewhat painful theme on which to write. My parents were some of the finest Christians you could find, but I don’t remember their ever sitting me down to tell me Bible stories. We did have regular family worship, which was excellent on many levels, but they were mired in the institutional model of religion. Since language barriers kept me from active participation in Sunday School at church (in Japanese) my spiritual growth was largely neglected. Even though the Lord brought me into alignment with Him before our second daughter was born, I had only my parents’ example to follow, and I did no better with my children than they had done with us. Now I look at my grandchildren, and because of physical distance, all I can do is pray. As a pastor I am involved in the transmission of faith and spiritual growth for many, but I am acutely aware that the home should be the basis for all of that. Sadly, even Christian parents tend to resent being told that, and blame their children’s lack of spirituality on the church. We are all greatly in need of God’s mercy and grace!

Father, thank You for Your grace that is indeed sufficient for us. Help me operate in and transmit that grace effectively, so that I and those to whom I minister may grow as You intend, escaping the traps of the devil and walking in all that You intend for us, generation to generation, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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February 25, 2917

Posted on March 1, 2017 by jgarrott

Exodus 6:9 Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and cruel bondage.

As Jesus recognized, people have to be emotionally and spiritually prepared in order to take in what their physical ears are hearing. (Mark 4:9 and many more) Context can be almost everything at times. The same words spoken in one situation will be received as meaning something entirely different in another situation. This is something practically everyone has experienced, but we often fail to think about it and grasp what is happening. Even such nuances as inflection can have a drastic impact on meaning for the hearer, whether the speaker intended it or not. The classic illustration is the sentence, “I didn’t see him shoot her.” Depending on which word is stressed, the meaning can be all over the place. (That’s why mechanical recordings are far more reliable than court stenographers in recording testimony.) This certainly applies in communicating the Gospel. If the person to whom we are speaking has no framework in which to place the words they are hearing, they might as well be in a different language. God’s truth is absolute, but it needs to be expressed in ways that can be grasped and received for it to be effective.

This is of course of utmost importance to me, since I minister in Japan. Having been born and raised here, words per se wouldn’t seem to be a problem, but the issue is what those words mean beyond what the dictionary might say. Even the word that is used for God, kami, has very different meanings depending on cultural context. (I’ve just finished reading a book devoted to that very issue.) Yesterday I saw the movie, Silence. Quite apart from what the original author, Endo, intended to convey, or what the director, Scorsese, intended to portray, one thing that came across to me was that the Gospel must be incarnated, made flesh, in those who proclaim it. The saddest thing about the book and the movie is that some of those who actually were living out the Gospel failed to recognize they were doing so, and they gave up, having a distorted understanding of what salvation is all about. From the time I came to Omura I have been telling people I didn’t come to teach them a religion, I came to introduce them to a Savior. That is as true today as it was 35 years ago. I need to let the Lord open my eyes to how the Gospel is being received, or not, through me, and let Him give me the words and actions that will be most effective in communicating the love of the Father to those who haven’t acknowledged it.

Father, Endo and Scorsese were very negative about Christianity in Japan, but You are far greater. Thank You for those who have received and believed Your Gospel. Thank You for raising up through me others who are likewise committed to communicating the Gospel. They have a greater likelihood of success than I do, since they have the same cultural context as those to whom they speak. Help me be faithful to live out as well as speak the Gospel, so that as many as will may repent, believe, and be saved, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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