November 20, 2016

Posted on November 22, 2016 by jgarrott

Acts 28:8-9 His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured.

This is an example of what has been called a “divine appointment.” Nothing about this was planned, except by God. There was a need, and God used Paul to meet the need and reinforce the message that I’m certain all the believers in the group, and not just Paul, were communicating. I’m sure that by the time they got to Rome, the centurion and probably most of the other soldiers were believers too, with all they had seen in traveling with Paul! There are lots of reasons God allows things in our lives, and all of them are good. How we respond to those things is probably the most powerful testimony we can give. If we are always, “Poor little me,” no one will think we have a God worth following. However, if our focus is on God, thanking and praising Him, then people will be drawn to know more at the very least. We need to be aware that God wants to use us as instruments of blessing and look forward to opportunities for that. Paul did exactly that in this case, and many were healed as a result.

This has been a relatively unanticipated result of my wife Cathy’s medical problems. It has been rough on her, but her attitude in it all has been such that at the place where she has physical therapy, the other patients say, “Get Cathy to pray for you. Her God is powerful!” We would not have chosen her laundry list of medical problems, but God has supported us through them and people have noticed. When we came to Omura I wanted, and rather expected, God to work many healing miracles through us to confirm the Gospel we shared, but that hasn’t happened. Now, He is using our own problems to draw people to us and to Him. It was recently commented that Cathy is the best-loved foreigner in this city, and I don’t doubt it. I am not to try to dictate to God how He is going to use us, but I must keep myself ready for and sensitive to His appointments. I am to speak and act as He directs, at all times and in all situations, so that His will may be done in and through me for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I need such reminders from time to time! Thank You for all that will go on today. You know my feelings about some of it. Help me go through it all as unto You, not nursing resentment of any kind but keeping myself fully available to You, rejoicing to be Your child and Your servant, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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November 19, 2016

Posted on November 21, 2016 by jgarrott

Acts 26:29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

When you think about it, this was a remarkably bold declaration for someone in Paul’s shoes. King Agrippa had enormous temporal power over Paul, yet Paul proclaimed the necessity of repentance and faith. Oh that more believers would be like that! His desire for God and His kingdom was greater than any consideration of his own physical situation. In today’s world of “political correctness,” such an attitude is seen as conceited and bad. “How dare you think yourself so superior!” The thing is, Paul didn’t think he was superior in and of himself, he had simply discovered the grace of God and knew that everyone needed it as much as he did. Having discovered and accepted it automatically put him in a better place than anyone who had not done so, even including King Agrippa. The thing is, he was desiring that everyone join him in that place of advantage. Some people react badly to evangelism because they don’t like being told they are inadequate as they are, and resent that anyone would claim to be better off than they are. That makes a lot of Christians fail to share the Gospel because they fear that reaction. The thing is, if we don’t share and give them the opportunity to repent and believe, they are headed for hell. Too many Christians, even, don’t believe in hell! We need to love people enough to risk rejection, understanding God’s grace and love toward us and seeking to extend that grace and love to others.

I’m really talking to myself here! I am very big on conflict avoidance. I hate confrontation! However, running from confrontation creates more problems than it solves. Just last night I was talking with some people about how the Bible talks about escaping temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13, though some translations avoid that wording) but it doesn’t talk about escaping confrontation. Paul does say “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18) We certainly aren’t to seek confrontation, but we must not let fear of confrontation keep us from sharing the Gospel. As a pastor, one of my weakest points has been a failure to correct, to lay down God’s law. That’s not the same as a failure to share the Gospel but it’s closely related. I need to love people enough to risk their not liking me. I have seen churches torn apart by a failure to exercise proper discipline, but I’ve still let it happen here. I must not do that! I’ve got to get out of my comfort zone to impart life to others, warning them of their destructive behavior even if it means they don’t like me as a result. Frankly, that’s scary. In the conversation last night I had no trouble speaking God’s truth, but now I’ve got to follow through and act on it, or I’m only deceiving myself.

Father, thank You for what You are doing, and for making it clear to me just now. Thank You that You don’t leave any of us where we are, but keep drawing us to greater maturity in Christ, and that you use us to do that for each other. May I not run from this opportunity to grow, but rather accept and transmit Your grace faithfully, and eventually with joy, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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November 18, 2016

Posted on November 21, 2016 by jgarrott

Acts 22:16 “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.”

The three different records in acts of Saul/Paul’s conversion each give slightly different details, enriching the record. Since Luke was the one doing the writing for all three, that gives us all the more reason to trust their veracity. Acts 9 is simply the historical record, and here and in Acts 26 Luke records how Paul himself told the story. This particular statement by Ananias, as Paul quotes him, is one that I want to say to a lot of people! We all have times of wavering, of being indecisive. The Lord through Ananias told Saul, “Cut that out! Get moving in what you know you need to do.” We all need that sort of “kick in the seat” from time to time, but in the case of commitment to Jesus as Lord and Savior, it’s a matter of life and death. The longer the devil can get people to delay, the more of their joy and peace he can steal, and that’s what he does. (John 10:10) For many people who are born again, one of their responses is, “Why didn’t I do this years ago?” I’ll never forget the testimony of one man I baptized in his 70s, as he was confessing his faith before entering the baptistry. “I feel like I have been living in a fog up until now. What was I doing?” In his case he hadn’t heard the Gospel in his youth, but so many who know the facts of the Gospel fail to commit to Jesus as Lord. This verse certainly applies to them!

I can think of several people I want to say this to even right now! For me, the difficulty is in not giving up on people who hesitate for years, literally. I need to remember how patient God has been with me and extend that patience toward them, but at the same time say what this verse says when the Holy Spirit indicates it’s appropriate. I am not to try to make things happen on my schedule, but always be available to act on God’s schedule. I am to speak the truth in love, allowing the Holy Spirit to use my words to strip away the lies of the devil and help people see themselves and see Christ. When that happens, they will indeed stop wavering and will be born into God’s family.

Father, thank You for this reminder. You know the people who came to mind as I wrote. Keep me from hesitating to say or do anything You want me to. May I walk in the fellowship of obedience, acting as Your agent to all around me, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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November 17, 2016

Posted on November 20, 2016 by jgarrott

Acts 21:13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

I have heard a wide variety of opinions about this verse. Some have said this shows Paul’s stubborn streak, and that had he listened to the warnings he wouldn’t have been arrested and thus would have had many more years of productive ministry than actually was the case. However, it was precisely while he was imprisoned that Paul wrote many of the letters that are now included in the New Testament. Had he not gone through that, he might not have been tempered to the point that he could write those letters. Also, as I have written recently, it was while Paul was imprisoned in Caesarea that Luke at least did the research and probably did the writing of the Gospel that bears his name. I personally feel this was all part of God’s perfect plan, just as the cross of Jesus was, and He was giving Paul these repeated warnings so that he wouldn’t be shocked when it all happened. It is a sign of the strength of Paul’s faith that he kept going despite the warnings. Most of us would cut and run! Paul’s hope and treasure were in Christ alone, and that was fine with him.

I have been pushed this direction by my upbringing in a missionary household, but this sort of thing always comes down to individual commitment. I have certainly been pulled and pushed by various things in and of this world, but I find myself more and more in agreement with the attitude Paul expresses here. As the old song says, “This world is not my home; I’m just a-passing through.” I do enjoy life in many ways, but at the same time I am increasingly aware that it is all temporary, and what awaits me is far better than anything here. Life in Christ is more than worth anything I might have to endure here. That doesn’t mean I enjoy, much less seek out, pain, either physical or emotional. I get enough of that! However, as Paul said, “our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18) I am to receive each day from the Lord’s hand and rejoice in it, whatever it holds. At the same time I am to expect great and good things from my Lord, because He doesn’t allow anything in our lives that He can’t or won’t use for our blessing and the blessing of others, for His glory. (Romans 8:28)

Father, thank You for this reminder. Life these days is quite a jumble of promising, hopeful things and unpleasant, depressing things. Help me keep my heart fixed on Jesus in full trust, resting, relaxing, and rejoicing in Him, just as You have told me to do, so that I will be available at all times as Your agent to do whatever You desire, for the blessing of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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November 16, 2016

Posted on November 18, 2016 by jgarrott

Acts 20:24 “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”

I am honored to say that I have known many who have had this attitude. I’m part of an Internet mailing group that includes retired Japan missionaries and MKs (missionary kids), and in the past couple of days we have been asked to pray that one retired missionary would be able to hold on until his son arrived. That prayer was answered, and yesterday the word was that the missionary was dividing his time among “sleeping, praying, and preaching!” What a glorious testimony! The better we understand that our time on earth is for getting to know our heavenly Father and serving Him, rather than any personal agenda, the more joy and satisfaction we will have and the more ready we will be to spend eternity with Him, whenever He says we’ve been here long enough. We are so easily distracted by things that ultimately make no difference. Jesus’ instructions to “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33) aren’t just so that we will have our needs met, they are a guideline for all of life. There is no higher privilege than being used by God to draw someone into His family, His kingdom, and yet so many have never had that joy. An amazing number of Christians think they can’t, when the power isn’t theirs to begin with. No merely human being can give anyone eternal life, but God can use anyone who is yielded to Him to perform that miracle. You can’t force anyone to repent and believe for their salvation, but you can be faithful to speak the truth in love so that the Holy Spirit may use your words to draw someone into life. The better we understand that, the more we will have this attitude expressed by Paul.

I think I can honestly echo Paul here, and I am deeply grateful. I have had a lot of excellent examples to follow! Growing up on the mission field I learned that missionaries are just as human as anyone, and they can be a lot of fun. We MKs referred to them as “Uncle” this and “Aunt” that, and we were indeed family to each other, particularly because of physical distance from “blood kin.” It was pretty unusual that one of my mother’s first cousins was a missionary in Fukuoka with us, so he and his family were “double kin!” In such an environment, it’s not surprising that Nate Saint’s famous statement has always seemed totally logical to me: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.” Life on this earth is temporary, period. Life in Christ is eternal, and is worth sharing with as many as will receive it.

Father, thank You for the incredible privilege of drawing others into Your family. I’ve not been “an Evangelist,” but You have been faithful. I would love to see many more! Keep me from trying to set my own agenda. Rather, help me hear You accurately and obey You faithfully, so that I will have no regrets when You say it’s time to come home. Thank You. Praise God!

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November 15, 2016

Posted on November 18, 2016 by jgarrott

Acts 16:30-31 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

This incident is quoted with considerable frequency in Japan because of how many Christians are the only believers in their families. It is taken as a promise that if they believe, their whole family will be saved. I wish it meant that! As I read it, the offer of salvation by faith is being given to the man and his family, but salvation is always contingent on faith, and some people refuse to believe. I have heard some marvelous testimonies of families that did believe eventually for salvation, but I have also known of far more where that did not happen. I certainly don’t want to dash hope, but nothing in the Bible says anyone can skip over repentance and faith. At the same time, this passage brings up the whole question of just what is salvation. The jailer was probably not thinking in theological terms when he asked his question. Rather, he had been faced with being held accountable for all the prisoners whom he thought had escaped, and suicide was a better choice to him. Since none had escaped he was already saved from that, but he was in total emotional turmoil, triggered initially by the earthquake itself. (People who have been through a major earthquake can identify with that.) Whatever he was thinking, the Holy Spirit prompted Paul and Silas to give their famous answer, and the whole world has benefited.

I am faced with the question of salvation very frequently. People want to be saved from all sorts of things, and it’s not unusual for them to confuse those with the matter of eternal salvation. I have had people insist on being baptized, and then when their temporal problem wasn’t solved, they disappeared. At the same time, I have had people come to Christ precisely because of a temporal problem, but encounter Him in truth and be gloriously born again. I’ve had to come around to leaving it all in God’s hands. (Imagine that!) I am to present God’s offer of eternal life by repentance and faith to all who will listen, but how they receive it, or not, is between them and God. I am often grieved at how people fail to accept that offer, but I am not to let that tear me down. My call is to speak the truth in love, faithfully and persistently.

Father, this is a huge issue in Japan, with such a low rate of return on evangelism. Keep me from despair or apathy. Rather, help me trust You and expect great things of You, so that as many as will accept Your offer may indeed be saved, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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November 14, 2016

Posted on November 15, 2016 by jgarrott

Acts 16:10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

This is a very momentous verse in Acts, because it is the first time Luke uses the 1st person plural pronoun, “we.” In other words, it was at this point that Luke joined Paul in his ministry. Luke steadfastly declines to write about himself, focusing rather on what God did, especially through Paul. Many scholars have noted that Luke was a very careful, precise writer, which seems appropriate when he was a doctor. (Colossians 4:14) (In a side note, it is interesting that it was long thought Luke used the wrong title for Galio in Acts 18:12, but several years ago archaeologists found a cornerstone in Corinth with Galio’s name and exactly the title Luke used.) Luke didn’t want to use his own name as he wrote, but he wanted to make it clear when he was a direct participant/observer in what was going on. That attitude helps us understand why Paul called him “beloved” (the NIV just says, “dear friend”). We don’t know if he was a believer before he met up with Paul in Troas, but at the very least his faith was very strong, causing him to go through real hardship and danger as he traveled with Paul, apparently for the rest of his life. We have no idea what happened to him after they arrived in Rome in Acts 28, other than the fact that he used the time while Paul was in prison to write Acts. (The Gospel that bears his name was quite possibly written while Paul was in prison in Caesarea.) He was clearly, even extremely, aware of the Person and work of the Holy Spirit. We owe him a great deal, because Acts ties together the earthly ministry of Jesus and the letters that make up the rest of the New Testament. Our theology and even our faith would have gaping holes without what Luke was faithful to record as God directed.

In all honesty I’ve never really thought that much about Luke, though I’ve known all the facts I just mentioned. The Lord has given me a gift for words as well, though I certainly haven’t used it as powerfully as Luke did. I have started on a memoir, but haven’t worked on it in many months. I need to get back to that, so that others may have reason to praise God for His faithfulness to me and to those around me. I need to be as careful with the facts as Luke was, not inflating anything and doing all I can to keep the focus on God. He has been incredibly gracious to me, and He deserves all the glory.

Father, I certainly didn’t expect this when I sat down to read and pray this morning! Help me be faithful with all that You have placed in me, just as Luke was, so that all of Your purposes for me may be fulfilled, on Your schedule and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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November 13, 2016

Posted on November 14, 2016 by jgarrott

Acts 14:23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

The more I think about this the more it blows my mind. That’s because I’ve been to seminary and had formal ordination and have been in ministry for over 35 years since. I guess it comes down to trusting Jesus with His Church. The new disciples in these towns had been believers only a matter of months, and here they were being appointed as elders! In his letters to Timothy and Titus Paul gives several guidelines for choosing such people, but still the process wouldn’t pass muster in practically any denomination today. We make it so hard to serve God! The key is in the last part of this verse: “They committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed/trusted.” They had no means of follow up other than letters or physically going to see them, but they knew that God had no such limitations. We get in knots over churches and people because we think we are in charge. I think a major reason God allows some problems is to teach us we aren’t in charge! A major factor in the growth of the early Church was that they weren’t tied down by bureaucracy. They knew they were powerless but God was omnipotent, and that was OK. I think the Church today would be far better off if we really trusted the Lord in whom we say we believe.

This is of course extremely applicable to me. I had the privilege of ordaining an assistant pastor about two months ago, but I’ve been moving fairly slowly with him since. I did trust him to preach the four Sundays I was gone, but that’s about it. I’m not retiring or leaving any time soon (that I know of) so the question arises as to what his position, and mine, really are. We need to seek God, individually and together, and be obedient to what He shows us. A missionary friend is holding a “succession ceremony” today, though he himself won’t be leaving the country at this point. Tomorrow I will be driving about two hours to baptize someone who will then have very little support network (though he does call me frequently). All of these things make me examine myself as to how well I really trust God with His children. I am not to be irresponsible, avoiding work He wants me to do, but I’ve got to remember it’s ultimately not up to me.

Father, this raises at least as many questions as it answers. Help me hear You clearly and obey You faithfully. Keep me from running away from anything, but also keep me from getting over-comfortable in my routines. May I trust You enough to get out of Your way, so that Your Name may be hallowed and Your kingdom come as Your will is done, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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November 12, 2016

Posted on November 14, 2016 by jgarrott

Acts 13:4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.

This was the start of what are called Paul’s missionary journeys. One striking characteristic of how Luke records them, and indeed all of Acts, is how frequently the Holy Spirit is mentioned as guiding or directing things. For some people today that seems highly improbable, or unlikely at best, but they are simply going on the basis of their own experience. For others, likewise on the basis of their own experience, it seems totally normal. So what’s the difference? To hear and receive the guidance of the Holy Spirit there needs to be a prior commitment to obedience. He isn’t going to give you guidance He knows you aren’t going to follow! Sometimes His guidance takes the form of specific prophecy. That might seem easy to follow, but I have seen people make major mistakes that way, either because they missed the timing of what was said or because the “prophet” was actually speaking their own thoughts rather than the heart of God. Directive prophecy must always be prayed over and confirmed. More often, the Holy Spirit will open doors of opportunity. There too discernment is called for, because the devil loves to dress up his temptations as doors of opportunity. Sometimes we miss the genuine guidance of the Holy Spirit because we either are afraid to go through the door He has opened or we think we aren’t worthy, it’s “too good.” In both cases the problem is that our focus is on ourselves rather than on Jesus. We are never “worthy” apart from the grace of God, and He will always provide and protect in the path He has for us. In my experience, the Holy Spirit most often guides simply through an impression, which can grow to a conviction, a “knowing,” of what He wants us to do. Sometimes that might fit in the category of a “word of wisdom,” as Paul mentions in talking about the grace gifts of the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:7-11) The point is, if we expect the Holy Spirit to guide us and are committed to following His guidance, we will find our paths are straight indeed. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

I have experienced the Holy Spirit’s guidance many times, but I can’t say I’ve always been listening. I can say that when I have listened obediently it’s always turned out well in the long run, whatever it has looked like in the short run. One thing the Lord has used to train me in listening has been lane changes when driving. That seems utterly inconsequential, and often it is, but it is remarkable how smoothly I get through traffic when I’m listening rather than trying to figure things out on my own. The value of that as a training tool is that the consequences are so minor if I slip up, but it still teaches me to seek Him rather than depend on myself. I’m happy to say that I’ve gotten better at listening over the years, but I’ve still got plenty of room to grow!

Father, thank You for Your guidance. I deal with so many people who say they want Your guidance but are so full of themselves they can’t hear what You’re saying to them. I ask for grace and patience to keep speaking Your truth to them in love so that it may break through and set them free from the the traps of the enemy. May we all hear You obediently so that Your will may be done right here, even as it is in heaven, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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November 11, 2016

Posted on November 13, 2016 by jgarrott

Acts 12:14-16 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”
“You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”
But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.

This is one of the most miraculous, and at the same time one of the funniest, stories in the Bible. What God did to get Peter out of prison is the stuff of fantasy. Even Peter didn’t believe it while it was happening to him! Then, we have the scene here. From our current perspective it seems downright hilarious, but I doubt very much we would have done any better than the people at the prayer meeting had we been in their place. In their defense, James the brother of John had recently been executed, and they had every reason to think Peter would be next. Even so, they were praying earnestly, just as Jesus had said, (Luke 18:1-8) even though they couldn’t imagine how God might answer their prayers. That’s something we need to emulate! We have a strong tendency to formulate scenarios in our minds and ask God to fulfill them. We aren’t God’s movie director! We are to pray earnestly, just as these believers did, but at the same time leave the whole matter in God’s hands for Him to do what He knows is best. His best for James was martyrdom!

I’m as guilty as anyone when it comes to this sort of thing. I know in my mind that “God’s ways are higher than my ways, and His thoughts than my thoughts,” (Isaiah 55:8-9) but I still try to tell Him what to do! This is part of the whole paradox of prayer. It makes no sense that the Creator of the universe would listen to life forms on an insignificant planet in an unremarkable solar system in a mediocre galaxy, but He does. Why is a total mystery, except that He is love itself, (1 John 4:8) and He delights to express Himself in this way. I am not to try to figure Him out, because I can’t, but I am to accept what He has revealed of Himself through the Bible and trust that He will always be true to Himself, and thus to me. I am to pray persistently and in faith, without insisting on how He is to answer.

Father, thank You for this reminder. There are several things facing us right how that we don’t know how You will resolve. Help us be faithful on every level, so that Your will may be done on Your schedule in Your way for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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