August 7, 2016

Posted on August 9, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 132:9 May your priests be clothed with righteousness;
may your saints sing for joy.

This is a very interesting prayer. It seems entirely reasonable that the Psalmist would ask that God’s people sing for joy, since he himself would logically be included in that number. However, the request that the priests be clothed in righteousness should make us think. Throughout Israel’s history there were good, faithful priests and there were those who were not so. It would seem that too often, priests treated their office as just another job, or perhaps as a sinecure, a cushy job/title that didn’t require much. Such priests were certainly not pleasing to God, and weren’t much use to the people, either. This Psalm is right in line with various New Testament exhortations to pray for leadership. If you want good leaders, pray for them! That includes praying that good people will become leaders, just as in the upcoming US election, but it also includes praying for those who currently are leaders, whether they seem good at the moment or not. This Psalm doesn’t insist that the priests be righteous to begin with, however desirable that might be, but rather that they “wrap righteousness around them as a garment” (which is how the Japanese puts it.). When God gave a vision to the prophet Zechariah of the High Priest Joshua, He spoke of removing Joshua’s filthy, sinful clothes and replacing them with garments of purity. (Zechariah 3:3-5) We should pray for our leaders that this would happen to them, whatever they might have done in the past. After all, no one is righteous before God; we all need the cleansing blood of Jesus. We need to pray that leaders in general, and especially church leaders, would replace their humanistic, sinful attitudes and behaviors with the righteousness of God. That, after all, is God’s promise in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

As a pastor, I certainly need to be clothed in righteousness! I am as human as anyone, however much some people seem to forget that and expect that I never make any mistakes. I certainly need people praying for me! That is particularly true since I minister in Japan, because for whatever reasons, the devil seems particularly dug in here, releasing people into God’s kingdom only with the greatest reluctance. When we first came to Omura in 1981 there was a church that prayed regularly for us, but after a few years that church disbanded because the pastor failed to clothe himself in righteousness. We didn’t think about the impact on us at the time, though we grieved for the church, but over the next several years my sense of purpose essentially went out the window. I was still going through the motions with the church, but it was more like it was a hobby, something on the side, rather than the reason I was here. (It wasn’t, and still isn’t, my livelihood, but that’s beside the point.) It wasn’t until we got adopted by one of the home fellowships of a church in the Seattle area that things turned around, because we had people praying for us again. Since then that church too has disbanded (and most of the people on that home fellowship have died of old age) but thanks to the Internet we now have people praying for us in various places around the world. I am deeply grateful! I too am to pray for others in ministry, that together we may indeed be a righteous cohort, serving the Body of Christ without shame, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for Your righteousness that is mine in Christ. Help me indeed wear it all the time, and wear it well, so that those who see me may be drawn to You, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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August 6, 2016

Posted on August 8, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 131:2 But I have stilled and quietened my soul;
like a weaned child with its mother,
like a weaned child is my soul within me.

This is the 2nd shortest chapter in the Bible (Psalm 117 has only 2 verses) but it is an excellent prelude to prayer. Often we come to God not in quiet trust but frantically, demanding to know why He hasn’t already done something. That’s not the way to grow our faith! As expressed here, what we need is the choice to be quiet before the Lord. The human will is a marvelous thing. As I keep being reminded, it is perhaps the most valuable thing in the universe, because in giving it to us God set up the necessity of His Son dying for our sins, since if we were not free to choose, “sin” would be meaningless. Used correctly, human will can lead us to repentance and faith, bringing us to eternal life in Christ. Used incorrectly, it can work unspeakable horrors. It is no accident that Leni Riefenstahl’s magnificent movie commemorating the Nazi Nuremburg rally of 1935 is called The Triumph of the Will. Today we see horrible acts of terrorism with distressing frequency, and that too is a misuse of free will. To guard against such horrors in our own lives, we need to do as the Psalmist did, choosing to quiet our souls before God so as to listen obediently to Him. If we will do that, we will find that our prayers are answered in the affirmative far more than they would be otherwise, and we will enjoy fellowship with our Creator to a degree we might not have thought possible.

I will never forget the first time I heard God speak to me in what might as well have been an audible voice (though I don’t think anyone else present would have heard it). I was praying as I drove my car (a good practice, but don’t close your eyes!) asking God to speak to me. At this point I don’t remember what point of guidance seemed so urgent to me at that moment, but I’ll never forget how God responded. I was driving alone, praying out loud nonstop, saying, “Speak to me, Lord,” when I took a breath, and in that moment the Lord said, “Well then, shut up!” Believe me, He got my attention! I received the clear revelation that frantic prayer is not believing prayer. That is in no way putting down earnest prayer. Jesus prayed so earnestly in the Garden of Gethsemane that capillaries ruptured and blood mixed with His sweat. (Luke 22:44) However, frantic prayer is questioning God’s timing, or even His ability to do what we think needs to be done. Jesus never doubted that His Father could save Him from the cross, but He chose to submit His human will to the Father to go through with what the Father knew was best. We need to follow His example, choosing to submit ourselves to God and so stand firm against the devil, (James 4:7) doing God’s will for His glory.

Father, this is a vital message. I’ve tried to communicate it to the flock here before. Some have seemed to grasp it and some haven’t, but we all need a refresher course from time to time. I am very prone to get tied in knots over scheduling! Help me indeed quiet my soul within me so that I will be able to hear You clearly, to obey You fully and with joy, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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August 5, 2016

Posted on August 8, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 130:3-4 If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness;
therefore you are feared.

This is a fascinating, and very true, passage that gives a lot of insight as to exactly what the Bible means by “fearing the Lord.” If that were just terror of retribution, this passage would make no sense at all. The thing is, God is big enough and powerful enough to forgive. If God were in any way threatened by our sin then He wouldn’t, couldn’t, forgive. As long as we think of God in limited terms we can’t grasp the magnificence of His grace and love. God can’t, and certainly doesn’t, excuse sin, just “sweep it under the rug.” That’s why He went to the absolutely incredible step of sending His own Son to be the atonement for our sin. It takes an infinite God to love that much! Most of the time we act like we’re hoping God won’t notice our sins. A God who wouldn’t notice wouldn’t be big enough, powerful enough, to forgive. Probably many people have preached on “Your God is Too Small,” because most of the time that’s very true! We do well to constantly seek a bigger, greater revelation of God, because the better our grasp of Him, the deeper our love and the greater our obedience will be.

Having been raised in a home of faith I have a step up on most people in this area, but that’s far from saying I have a full grasp of it all. My obedience level has improved over the years but it’s still spotty at times. Any time I fail to be fully obedient to God, that just goes to show I don’t have a sufficient grasp of who He is and how great He is. Many places the Bible talks about God being “worthy,” of praise, honor, glory and the like. That’s closely tied in with what this passage is talking about. I need to grasp that God is more than worthy of my total adoration and obedience, because only then will I be sufficiently submitted to Him for the devil to flee at my rebuke. (James 4:7) As a pastor I desire that those in my care likewise have a sufficient grasp of God, so that together we may be His instruments to cause people to recognize Him as holy, so that His kingdom may come as His will is done on earth, even as it is in heaven.

Father, You’ve given me another message, even though I just completed sermon notes yesterday for this coming Sunday. Help me know when, how, and to whom I am to share all that You pour into me, so that Your Word may indeed accomplish every purpose for which You send it, (Isaiah 55:11) for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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August 4, 2016

Posted on August 7, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 126:5-6 Those who sow in tears
will reap with songs of joy.
He who goes out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with him.

From our standpoint the number of people who have been encouraged and comforted by this passage is literally countless, but God knows not only the number, but also their names and all the details. The thing is, we are often caught up in circumstances that look absolutely bleak to us, but God sees the harvest that is yet to come, perhaps even after we are gone from the scene. This is especially important to remember here in Japan, where many have labored for the Kingdom for over a hundred years now, with remarkably little visible results. As with the saints mentioned in Hebrews 11, to date we haven’t seen the things for which we have believed, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t coming. Conversely, this passage also applies to the America of today, which is in a horrible mess. It is not wrong to weep over the state of the nation, but we must remember that the final outcome is in God’s hands, and our labor will be rewarded. (1 Corinthians 3:8, 2 Chronicles 15:7, Hebrews 10:35) The important thing is never to give up, but walk in consistent faithfulness, leaving the results in God’s hands.

This is, of course, intensely personal for me, since my father arrived in Japan in 1934 and my mother in 1935 and I am carrying on even today. My father received accolades, and one of the highest awards available to a foreigner in Japan was given at the time of his death, but he never saw the kind of results he desired. My mother told me that at one point my father lay on the floor before the Lord and cried out, “If I am what is keeping Japan from revival, then take me out of the way!” I certainly identify with that! It seems that no victory comes easily, and some seeming victories are illusory. Right now we are presented with the potential of land next to the church building on which to build a senior care facility, but obstacles keep coming up. Such a facility would have meaning only to the degree that it accurately demonstrated the love and grace of God so as to lead people to repentance and faith. I am not to be distracted by the physical details, either of acquiring the land or of building and running the facility, but rather on the purpose of leading people into eternal life while there is still time. I must remember that I have the highest quality seed, and plant, water, and harvest as the Lord directs.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the things that have happened even in the past couple of days to remind me that You are still in control, whatever things might look like at the moment. I do pray that every lying stronghold of the enemy in this nation be torn down, by Your children wielding Your Word of Truth in grace, love, and power, so that all the people may be set free to repent and believe, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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August 3, 2016

Posted on August 7, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 125:3 The scepter of the wicked will not remain
over the land allotted to the righteous,
for then the righteous might use
their hands to do evil.

This reads like a promise, but it sounds more descriptive to me. When those in government are evil, the whole country tends to do evil. Proverbs 28:12 has this to say: “When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, men go into hiding.” America is faced with a terrible dilemma at this point, and as Ted Cruz said, everyone is being called to vote their conscience. Realistically speaking, we have two deeply flawed candidates for president, to the point that we are faced with evaluating who will do less damage. Rather than the candidate himself or herself, we need to look at who they will surround themselves with, because government is never a single individual. The longer this goes on, the more I find myself in agreement with Franklin Graham, who is stressing that we cannot look for salvation in political parties or politicians. America is in drastic need of repentance, or it is headed for total destruction. That needs to take place at the highest levels, certainly, but it also needs to come from the bottom up. In some ways China is the most hopeful major country, because they have a horrible government but the number of dedicated Christians throughout the country is growing exponentially, and that is what has the government worried. There is real potential for the nation to be transformed by faith in Christ. That is exactly what needs to happen in America, too. America has been coasting on marvelous founding documents and a couple of real, widespread revivals, but complacency at the grass roots will allow evil to flourish. Believers in America need to remember that God is sovereign, and start living like Jesus is Lord in their personal lives. The decadence of popular culture is astounding at times, but nothing is impossible for God, as He reminds us repeatedly throughout the Bible. America will only fulfill its potential if the people turn back to their Creator and reject the lies of the enemy of our souls.

I don’t think I have ever been as emotionally involved in politics as I am at this point, and it can be exhausting. That shows that I need to correct my own focus, from people to the One who created them. I need to remember that when I pray that His name be acknowledged as holy and His kingdom come, it starts with me and the details of my life. When I pray that His will be done on earth as it is in heaven, I need to offer myself as an instrument of His will in relation to the people I encounter every day. I need to be a channel of His grace and love, communicating the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit. Since I don’t live in the country of my citizenship, participation in local government isn’t an option for me, but that doesn’t keep me from being part of God’s government, simply by carrying His presence with me wherever I go.

Father, I pray for Your American children. I pray that each one would wake up to the spiritual authority You have invested in them and their responsibility to exercise that in each area of their lives. I pray that each one would start praying the Lord’s Prayer with understanding, offering themselves as Your instruments to fulfill that for which they say they are praying, so that Your kingdom would indeed come as Your children do Your will in full obedience, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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August 2, 2016

Posted on August 6, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 123:2 As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the Lord our God,
till he shows us his mercy.

Most of us have no idea what it is to look to God the way a slave would look to the hand of his or her master, even though slavery in various forms is rampant even today. In most countries today slave masters face assorted legal penalties if they are caught, but many are not caught, and back then they had the power of life or death, or any other decision, with no restrictions. Since God is literally omnipotent by very definition, this can be said of Him. The only reason we are not destroyed – since we have done plenty to deserve that – is that He is loving and gracious and incredibly patient. We don’t know the particular circumstances that prompted this Psalm, but none of us are without problems, and we would do well to learn from this verse. We cannot demand that God do anything, but we can have assurance that if we throw ourselves on His mercy in repentance and faith, His response will be better than we could ask for. Too often we forget that God has both absolute power and absolute authority. That’s why it is incredibly significant that Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go…” (Matthew 28:18-19) In modern society we hardly know what absolute authority looks like. It is true that we are to obey Christ out of love rather than just out of obligation, but at the same time we need to remember that the power and authority are indeed His, and act accordingly.

I have certainly done my share of saying, “Yes, but…” to God, rather than being instantly obedient. That has never worked out well! I am to remember, and be fully grateful for, His grace, love, and mercy, but I am not to be presumptive. I must never say or even think, “This won’t matter because He’ll forgive me anyway.” That attitude is never the path of blessing! I am to walk in moment-by-moment obedience, joyfully yielding Him full control rather than “kicking against the goads,” as Saul of Tarsus did. (Acts 26:14) Sometimes the way is not easy, but God’s plans are always for my good, even if I can’t see it at the moment.

Father, it seems like I am in a never-ending training course in this area. Actually, Your Word makes it clear that it isn’t going to end until I’m done with this body and stand before Your throne. That awareness makes heaven all the more attractive! Help me make the right, full use of the lessons You give me here and now, so that I may be increasingly useful and effective as Your agent even while I’m here, for the blessing of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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August 1, 2016

Posted on August 6, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 120:1-2 I call on the Lord in my distress,
and he answers me.
Save me, O Lord, from lying lips
and from deceitful tongues.

The Bible has many prayers for physical healing, but at least an equal number of prayers about difficult people. Sometimes we might feel like we would be better off as solitary hermits, but it quickly becomes obvious that we were created as social beings, interacting with one another and with God. The thing is, we are quick to take offense from others, but much slower to recognize when we are the one giving offense. That’s especially true when it comes to how we give offense to God by ignoring Him and His instructions to us, or even openly defying those instructions. We can’t deceive God, but it’s amazing how often we try! What we’re really doing is deceiving ourselves, and that obviously doesn’t do us any good. Looking at this Psalm, sometimes we need to pray to be delivered from our own lying lips and deceiving tongues! Because we’re so adept at deceiving ourselves, we need to focus first on honesty, with God and with others. That will help us be increasingly honest with ourselves. The Holy Spirit is the One who convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment, (John 16:7-11) so we need to be careful not to refuse His work in our hears and minds. Again coming back to this Psalm, we need to remember Jesus’ very clear words, spoken just after He gave us what is called The Lord’s Prayer. “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15) We certainly try to weasel out of that one! When people hurt us, through words or otherwise, we forget how much we hurt God. After all, it took Jesus’ scourging, crucifixion, and death to pay for our sins. We are not to excuse lying or other hurtful behavior, but we are to forgive, that we may be forgiven.

This gets really up close and personal! I’ve got to remember Paul’s words on this issue. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32) “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13) That’s not always easy to do! I have a policy of absolute honesty, and it grieves me when others don’t seem to behave that way toward me. I identify with this Psalm! However, focusing on what others have done to me, even when those things are very real and very wrong, will blind me to the incredible grace and love my heavenly Father has poured out on me. One of Jesus’ most severe parables was on this issue of forgiveness. (Matthew 18:23-36) I’ve got to recognize sin as sin, both in myself and in others, but I must not hang onto it in unforgiveness, either toward myself or toward others. Instead I must let the blood of Jesus Christ cover it all. (1 John 1:7)

Father, thank You for this reminder. It would be easy to become like an overused target at a firing range, so full of holes as to fall apart. Help me not hang onto any wound but give each one to You for You to deal with, choosing to forgive the one who dealt it to me. May I indeed forgive so that I may be forgiven, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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July 31, 2016

Posted on August 1, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they who love your law,
and nothing can make them stumble.

Two things with which almost everyone struggles are anxiety and temptation. The more we love God and His Word, the better protected we are in both those areas. Reasons for anxiety are limitless for someone who has no faith, but for someone who is locked onto God because of the truth in His Word, the impact of those things fades to insignificance. It’s not that such a person doesn’t have twinges of anxiety, but rather that when they come, those issues are submitted to God and released to Him on the basis of His strength and faithfulness rather than our own. As long as we are depending on ourselves, we have every reason to be anxious. It is through the Word of God that we understand just how dependable He is, and how loving. The same thing applies to dealing with temptation. Verse 11 of this Psalm, which speaks of “hiding” or “storing up” God’s Word in our hearts, is justly famous in terms of resisting temptation, but we aren’t going to do that if we don’t love God and His Word. Love is perhaps the best motive for anything, but we are capable of loving all sorts of unworthy things. God’s Word is certainly worthy of our love.

As I have written before, I am addicted to the Bible, and it is a joyful addiction indeed. That said, my devotion to it isn’t absolute, so my protection from anxiety and temptation aren’t automatic. I still need to choose to trust, and choose to obey God rather than my flesh or the devil. That’s because, as Don Francisco sang so memorably, “Love is not a feeling, it’s an act of your will.” Feelings will accompany love, but the moment we make them the foundation, things fall apart. I teach others about love in the marital context, but I must not think that because I teach it I’ve got it perfected. Just as I choose to love my wife (and am richly rewarded for it) I’ve got to choose to love God and His Word. The rewards there are literally infinite and eternal! As a pastor/teacher it is my joy and privilege to share the Word of God with others. I am never to take that lightly, but commit myself to Him, staying out of the way so that His Word may flow unhindered, cleansing and healing and strengthening and otherwise restoring people to their rightful position as children of God, which is the purpose for which they were created.

Father, I’m not preaching this morning, which feels strange indeed. I ask Your anointing on the brother who will be speaking, that Your Spirit may fill and flow through him, destroying the lies of the enemy and setting people free, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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July 30, 2016

Posted on July 31, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 119:148 My eyes stay open through the watches of the night,
that I may meditate on your promises.

Several verses in this Psalm would seem to indicate that the writer was a “senior adult,” and waking up early (along with naps during the day) is common in that age bracket. However, what the Psalmist chose to do when he woke up early is worthy of note. (The Japanese indicates early awakening rather than simple insomnia.) The NIV just says, “I meditate on Your Word,” but the Japanese is far more picturesque. The idiom used is, “I dye my thoughts in Your Word.” The image is of fabric soaking in a vat of dye. Once dyed, the color might fade, but the fabric will never be as it was before. That is how our encounters with the Word of God should be. We need regular trips back to the dye vat, because there are areas in us that can be remarkably dye resistant, but every trip should leave us changed. If we can read the Bible and not be affected, then we need to pray for our spiritual eyes to be opened and our hardened hearts to be softened. When life gives us “down time,” whether it’s waking up early, sitting in a doctor’s waiting room, or even waiting in line, we need to allow the Word that is in us to percolate through us. Phones today make it easy to have the Bible with us at all times, but even more than reading the words, thinking over them and letting the Holy Spirit bring them to life within us is what brings the greatest blessings. Doing that is what brings out the rich hues of God’s grace, love, wisdom and power in our lives.

I am to that point in my life where sleeping past 6 is really “sleeping in,” so I identify with this verse very easily. However, waking up early has very little benefit if I don’t use the time as the Psalmist did. I must not let my familiarity with the Bible breed contempt, as the saying goes, but rather allow the riches of the Word to unfold more and more, sinking deeper and deeper into my being. That’s not a matter of “studying for finals,” as one young boy said his grandmother was doing in reading the Bible. Rather, I need to be so in love with God and His Word that I can never get too much. A good chunk of the Word is indeed in my heart and mind, but I must never be satisfied with that. As I keep saying, it’s not a matter of memorizing words, it’s a matter of allowing God’s heart to change mine to be like His. The benefits are so enormous as to be infinite, but I still have to choose to go that direction. Otherwise I stagnate at best, and that’s of no benefit at all.

Father, thank You for what You did yesterday. You restored a relationship that had been concerning me a great deal, and You did it in a truly beautiful way. Help me be an open conduit of Your Word, Your grace and love, so that more and more people may be able to avoid the traps of the devil and walk in the magnificent purity and abundance of Your life for them, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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July 29, 2016

Posted on July 31, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 119:130 The unfolding of your words gives light;
it gives understanding to the simple.

I love the imagery in the Japanese translation: “When the door of Your Word opens, light shines in.” Books in general are doors to worlds we might not otherwise experience, and the Bible is certainly no exception. Our hearts, our lives without Christ are certainly dark, though we might not realize it because we have no standard of comparison. When God’s truth in the Bible opens up to us it’s like a door opening to a bright summer day. Frankly, some people don’t like that; they like their darkness. Jesus talked about that in sorrow in John 3:19-21. However, for those who accept the light, it gives perception and understanding that would otherwise be impossible, just as physical light does. Try threading a needle in the dark! Someone who has opened their heart to God’s Word in love and obedience really does have a better grasp of things than the most learned experts. I am reminded of the story in John 9 of the man born blind who was healed by Jesus and then confronted by the Pharisees. He was totally uneducated, yet his encounter with Jesus enabled him to make fools of these “learned men.” They couldn’t defeat his logic, so they threw him out. The same thing happens today all the time with people who are wedded to their darkness. The more you try to share the light with them the more violent they become. It is very sad, but each one of us is personally responsible for how we respond to the light we are given. We will welcome God’s light to the degree we love Him and delight to be His children.

I am so used to the light that I am at times surprised by how others can’t see things that seem obvious to me. That’s not at all to say that my understanding is perfect, but it is to say that the Bible is thoroughly ingrained in my world view. By God’s grace I have been steeped in Scripture from before my birth. That certainly doesn’t mean I’ve always applied it to my own life as I should have, but it does mean that how I view everything is colored by my faith, and in my experience, that’s a marvelous thing! My background actually can be a hindrance to my evangelism and pastoral ministry, because I haven’t experienced the level of darkness, or at least the particular darkness, that is blinding the person in front of me, so I don’t know how to relate to them to lead them into the light. However, God can use me in spite of myself, and His Spirit can touch people wherever they are, and however they need it. I need to be careful that I keep walking in the light myself, (1 John 1:7) and trust God with everything.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Keep me from any feelings of superiority as I deal with others who have been blessed differently than me. Rather, help me share with them what You have poured out on me, so that together we may grow as Your children, doing Your will for Your pleasure and glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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