January 17, 2016

Posted on January 19, 2016 by jgarrott

Jeremiah 10:5 “Like a scarecrow in a melon patch,
their idols cannot speak;
they must be carried
because they cannot walk.
Do not fear them;
they can do no harm
nor can they do any good.”

The Japanese have a rather complicated relationship to the truth in this verse. On the one hand, intellectually they have figured this out, so the average Japanese doesn’t put much weight in religion at all, but on the other hand, they feel that failing to practice their ancestral religions of Shinto and Buddhism would be disloyal to their ancestors. Religion is very low indeed in their priorities, but at the same time they have a hunger for a relationship with God, because that is the way God created mankind. They see Shinto, rightly enough, as a collection of traditions and festivals, and they see Buddhism as a system of making money from death, from funerals and ceremonies for the dead after death, and that too is accurate. A fairly high percentage think Christianity is the best religion, but at the same time they have a distrust of religion in general, and the devil has convinced them they aren’t worthy to darken the door of a church. The expression they use is, “the threshold of a church is high.” As much as they admire Christians, they don’t feel they could ever let go of their traditions and cling exclusively to Christ. They don’t necessarily fear the idols that are everywhere, in Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples and even dotted along the roadside, but they do fear death, even while thinking that it is weak to do so. They do admire Christians, but at the same time think it is weak to admit you have to depend on something outside yourself for your salvation. The devil has woven a very tangled web of lies, none of which stand up to examination by themselves, but taken as a whole they manage to trap the vast majority of Japanese.

This is the reality I deal with, day in and day out. Even Japanese Christians seldom place their relationship with Christ first in their priorities (though I think many American Christians have trouble there, too). Every day is a challenge and an adventure of faith, because there is no other way I could keep going. I am never to give up, but rejoice in the victories I see and trust that there are victories I don’t see but are still real. I am to plant and water, rejoicing in fruit when it appears but not making my faithfulness contingent on visible fruit. I struggle with Jesus’ statement that “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me.” (Matthew 10:40) Many in this city have receive Cathy and me, and the outpouring of love at Cathy’s health problems has been remarkable, but those same people make no moves that we can see toward Christ. I have no solution, so I throw myself on the mercy and grace of my Lord, asking Him to break through the lies with His truth and offering myself for however He wants to use me in doing that, so that the web may be dissolved and the people set free to repent and believe, for their salvation and His glory.

Father, You know my heart and You know this church, this city, and this nation. I have no plans, no programs, no answers in myself, but I know that nothing is impossible for You. I ask You to pour out Your Spirit on this nation so that Your Name may be hallowed and Your kingdom come as Your will is done, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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January 16, 2016

Posted on January 17, 2016 by jgarrott

Jeremiah 1:7-8 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

Jeremiah has been called “the reluctant prophet,” but he’s got a lot of company. He first used his youth as an excuse, but Moses used his stuttering, (Exodus 4:10) and most of us have used all sorts of things as “reasons” we can’t act as God’s representatives. None of those hold any water. The answer is always the same: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) That doesn’t mean our path will be easy. Jeremiah went through a lot, and Jesus promised us that in this world we will have trouble. (John 16:33) However, if God is with us we have nothing to fear, just as He told Jeremiah. The Japanese for this passage brings out something that the NIV doesn’t. Rather than saying, “Don’t be afraid of them,” it says, “Don’t be afraid of their faces.” In other words, don’t be afraid of their reaction to what I tell you to say. Every preacher tends to watch the faces in the congregation to see how his words are being received. It is a massive encouragement when those faces show the truth is getting through. However, pulling back when there is resistance makes you a politician, not a prophet. The flip side of that is those who delight in shocking, or who are needlessly rude or crude. I don’t think they are listening to the Lord very accurately! The first requirement for a representative of God is humility, but that is very closely followed by obedience. Those are inseparably intertwined with faith. Such a person is precious to God indeed, and He delights to use them for His glory.

Once again I am preaching to myself. I have used various excuses over the years to be less than fully obedient to God, but the actual chief obstacle has been fear of people’s response to what I say and do. As Proverbs 29:25 says very clearly, such an attitude will trip you up every time. I know that’s true, because I’ve experienced it more times than I care to remember! I delight to speak God’s Word and I have no greater joy than when it is received and acted on, but I tend to get down when it is not received, and I tend to calculate whether it will be received before I even speak. I don’t know people’s hearts, but God does. If God tells me to say something, I’d better say it, whatever the short-term consequences. Sometimes a Word will lie dormant in a person’s heart for a long time, but then wake up and produce fruit. I’m not to prejudge the condition of the soil, but go ahead and sow the seed God indicates. (Luke 8) No excuse for disobedience can stand before God. I am to walk in faithfulness, letting Him give me the words, the wisdom, and the power I need, so that His will may be done through me for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You that You are totally faithful. May my faithfulness reflect Yours, tearing down the strongholds of the enemy in individuals and in society and setting the captives free, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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January 15, 2016

Posted on January 17, 2016 by jgarrott

Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon forged against you will prevail,
and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
and this is their vindication from me,”
declares the Lord.

This verse is both quoted and sung, but at the same time it is often forgotten. There are a number of minor differences in translation between the English and Japanese, but I don’t think they are significant to what I feel the Lord is saying here. My initial response in reading this just now was that sometimes the weapons used against Christians seem to be all too effective, apparently contradicting this verse. As I thought that, the Lord pointed out a detail that I think is often overlooked. This promise is given to servants of the Lord, not to people who just want Him to pamper them. Far too many people are in it just for what they think they can get out of it, and that removes them from the category of servants. That is all the more tragic when we start looking at all the other ramifications. I preached just last Sunday on “Lord Jesus,” pointing out that even salvation is contingent on acknowledging Jesus as Lord. In Japanese the term for “Savior” specifically includes the character for “Lord,” but in English we try to separate the two, to our great loss. Biblically, if He isn’t your Lord, then He isn’t your Savior. The movie, Sister Act, was a comedy, but it had a few very excellent things in it, and one of those was the adaptation of the song, I Will Follow Him. That song, as adapted, is an excellent description of salvation, because it expresses the attitude of a true servant of God. As Hebrews 11 expresses at length, God’s servants don’t necessarily have it easy, but their ulti­mate end is very good. If some “weapon against us” seems to be effective, we first need to check our commitment and obedience. If the Holy Spirit doesn’t show any points of repentance there, then we are to take comfort in the fact that such a situation is strictly temporary, because our eternity is secure.

In my own experience, “weapons against me” have been effective only to the degree that I have allowed them to be. When I have come into full submission and obedience to my Lord Jesus, those weapons have essentially evaporated. However, I don’t always remember that properly, and new challenges can be daunting. I need to stay focused on the reality that for God, nothing is difficult, (Jeremiah 32:27) and when I am abiding in Christ, I can get through any situation at all. (Philippians 4:13) In that case, this verse is fully operative for me.

Father, thank You for this reminder. All sorts of things come against me in one way or another. Help me indeed walk in full obedience to You so that Christ’s victory may be manifested in every area of my life, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 14, 2016

Posted on January 15, 2016 by jgarrott

Isaiah 54:1 “Sing, O barren woman,
you who never bore a child;
burst into song, shout for joy,
you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
than of her who has a husband,”
says the Lord.

I’m sure this verse has given comfort and hope to many physically barren women, but for how many did that hope turn empty? This does not appear to be a conditional promise, as in, “if, then,” but neither is it a blanket promise that applies to everyone. If God speaks this verse to someone’s heart, then hallelujah! However, desperately combing the Bible for verses that speak to your desires is closely akin to practicing magic, because it is trying to manipulate God. We are to pray and not give up, but neither are we to insist that our scenario be followed. I’m reminded of Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. It was certainly earnest, heartfelt, and pure, but He left the situation in the Father’s hands. (Matthew 26:36-44) God is more than able to bring this verse to fulfillment in anyone’s life, but we can’t “name it and claim it” unless He speaks it to us. If He does, then nothing can stop it from being fulfilled. (Isaiah 55:10-11)

This verse and the following one are something I wholeheartedly desire to be fulfilled for this church, but I can’t make it happen in my own wisdom and strength. Actually, “barren” seems to be a fitting adjective for the Church in Japan as a whole, at least compared to other countries. This situation comes up for discussion just about every time pastors gather, and the conference this week was no exception. Missionaries to Japan have agonized over this issue for over a hundred years. I honestly believe that God has a great harvest in store for Japan, but I can’t dictate the timing of it. What I can do is be faithfully obedient, living out what He speaks to me through His Word and trusting Him with the outcome. I am not to dream up ways to “make it happen” on my own, but I am to accept whatever dreams He gives me and apply myself to them fully, not holding anything back. Fully submitted to Him, I am to stand firm against the devil in my own life, in this church, and in this nation, so that the gates of hell may fall and multitudes be released, to pour into the kingdom of God for their salvation.

Father, You know my heart and you know my situation better than I do. I pray that Your will would be done on every level, for Cathy and me, for this church, for this city, for this nation, because I know that You are love and Your plan is the ultimate good. May Jesus Christ be Lord indeed, on every level, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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January 13, 2016

Posted on January 15, 2016 by jgarrott

Isaiah 51:7 “Hear me, you who know what is right,
you people who have my law in your hearts:
Do not fear the reproach of men
or be terrified by their insults.”

Time and time again the Bible speaks of having God’s Word in our hearts. I’d say that indicates it’s pretty important! There is a world of difference between knowing something as abstract information and really making it part of your world view. Right now the world is in a clash of civilizations that comes from a difference in world view. Fundamental Islamists see everything from a different perspective than those with a secular world view, not to mention those who have a genuinely Biblical world view. Secular and religious world views are different on the face of it, but the difference between the Islamist world view and the Christian, or even Judaeo/Christian, world view is the concept of who God is. Internalizing the Quran and internalizing the Bible produce drastically different lifestyles! Here, God is saying that those who internalize His Word don’t need to be afraid of those who follow other gods. In the short term there can be a lot of mayhem, as is very evident right now, but there can be no question as to the outcome. Christians aren’t told to “roll over and play dead,” but they are told not to be anxious or afraid. It takes an eternal perspective to accomplish that, because in the short term we may be killed! We are called to trust God and act as Christ’s representatives, communicating His love and grace in word and deed for His glory.

Like the vast majority of Christians in the West, I had thought very little about Islam and what it meant until this century, when events have made it inescapable. Frankly, I couldn’t conceive of a religion that actively taught mayhem and oppression. That ignorance is sadly dispelled. I am not to hate those who are deceived by the teachings of Islam, but pray for them and let God use me to express His love to them. At the same time, I must remember the fundamental difference in world view, and stand guard with the whole armor of God. (Ephesians 6) I personally know only one Muslim here in Omura, and he is what many Islamists would consider an apostate. I am to express God’s love to him as He gives me opportunity, because even Islam cannot negate God’s love.

Father, I do pray for Your Spirit to move among those who have been deceived by Islam. I pray particularly for Your children in Islamic countries and areas who are sharing Christ, often at great personal risk. I pray for those who are imprisoned, and for the families of martyrs, that they would be comforted and have Your peace, knowing that their reward in heaven far outweighs anything they could go through here. (2 Corinthians 4:17) May Your Name be acknowledged as holy and Your kingdom come as Your will is done, as perfectly on earth as it is in heaven, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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January 12, 2016

Posted on January 14, 2016 by jgarrott

Isaiah 44:8 “Do not tremble, do not be afraid.
Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago?
You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me?
No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.”

All sorts of things happen in the world, but when we recognize prophecy being fulfilled it should encourage us rather than make us afraid. That is certainly true today. Events in the Middle East and elsewhere have people around the world trying to figure out exactly where we are in the Biblical time-line, because this certainly has the feeling of prophetic fulfillment. The first speaker at this conference is someone who has been involved a good bit in spiritual warfare. He didn’t try to peg us on a time-line, but he was saying what so many feel, that we are indeed in the Last Days. Whereas many feel that, many more poo pooh it, saying that there have always been “wars and rumors of wars.” That’s true enough, but seeing events as fulfillment of prophecy should do two things. In the first place, it should give us assurance that God really is in control, just as this verse says. In the second place, it should cause us to think seriously about how we are to use the time we have left. The second, and main, speaker at this conference is someone who went through the tsunami and nuclear disaster of 2011, and one of his main points is that none of us has any guarantee of what will happen tomorrow. That’s something no human being likes to admit. There was even Japanese popular song a few years ago that would translate as, “There’s always tomorrow.” I have mentioned that song in sermons in the past, pointing out that it is a lie, but this speaker certainly has experience to back up that point! Every believer needs to be a faithful steward of each day they are given, not procrastinating but earnestly seeking the Lord’s will and doing it with their whole heart. That doesn’t mean we aren’t to rest; God intends that we do, and even Jesus rested. However, we need to get rid of the “some day” mentality, doing right now what God directs, so that we may participate fully in His plans for His glory.

I have felt for many years that procrastination was one of my “strong suits,” and my father felt the same way. His life was actually a good illustration of why that’s a bad idea, because he didn’t wake up from heart surgery at 64, when everyone assumed he would live much longer. I’ve already outlived him by a few years, so that should be a strong lesson to me! I am not to be fearful, or fail to plan for the future, but I am to live each day without leaving things undone that God has said to do. I am to speak as God directs and act as God directs and leave the results in His hands. I am to remember that I am in the flow of His plans for the world and rejoice to participate in them, without pride but without holding back. As He says in this verse, He is God, and that is enough to know.

Father, thank You for this strong Word. Help me be obedient! The book You have started giving me comes to mind. I’ve let that slide, with one excuse and another. I have failed to speak to people at times because of my schedule, rather than seeking Your schedule. May I remember that I am on Your timetable, and not miss any “stops,” whether I see them as major or minor. May I do Your will on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 11, 2016

Posted on January 14, 2016 by jgarrott

Isaiah 43:1 But now, this is what the Lord says—
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”

This dearly loved verse reminds me of how one little girl miss-heard the first part of the Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father who art in heaven, how do you know my name?” It is indeed amazing that the God who created us knows us by name, but He does. This verse is speaking of Israel as a nation, but it applies equally to each individual. God is infinite, but He is also intensely personal. That defies human logic, but it is marvelous indeed. Many people don’t understand that and see Him as distant and unapproachable, when nothing could be further from the truth. As Paul pointed out, quoting a Greek philosopher, we exist within God. (Acts 17:28) That’s a logical necessity, since He is infinite, but it plays tricks with our minds. Rather than obsess over it, we need to accept not only that there is nothing that is hidden from Him, but also that He cares. At one point the concept of a “Divine watchmaker” was popular, saying that God created the universe, “wound it up,” flung it out into space, and then basically forgot about it. This verse says that is false, and we had better remember that. As Peter said, we are to cast our cares on God because He cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7)

This is something I’ve been aware of for as long as I can remember, but that doesn’t mean I’ve always lived like it was real! In all sorts of situations I tend to feel like I’m on my own, when nothing could be further from the truth. He is always with me, as Jesus said explicitly. (John 14:8, Hebrews 13:5) The devil is out to steal, kill, and destroy all he can in my life, (John 10:10) but he can succeed in that only to the degree that I allow it by “stepping away from Christ,” so to speak. As long as I am abiding in Him I will enjoy the fellowship for which I was created, and His will will be done in and through me for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I’m sorry I need it so often! Thank you for this conference I’m attending right now, and for the fellowship with other pastors especially. I pray that everyone here would receive a special touch from You, being strengthened and encouraged. We are all aware of the spiritual barriers in this nation. May we receive Your wisdom and strength to be fully submitted to You, to stand fully against the devil, so that the gates of hell may indeed fall before us, for the liberation of millions, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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January 10, 2016

Posted on January 10, 2016 by jgarrott

Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

This verse is set to music as one of my favorite verses of the hymn, How Firm a Foundation. In a way it is general, so that it applies to any believer in any situation, but at the same time it feels rather specific as to the sort of thing God is going to do for us. First, He will strengthen us. He’s not going to leave us as weak and helpless as a rag doll. Of course our strongest is totally weak compared to His infinite strength, but we don’t like to feel weak, and He takes mercy on that. Then, He will help us. That is to say, He will enable us to do that which we need to do. Again, this is not passive. Any parent should know that always doing everything for your child will not enable them to grow, but sometimes their input is pretty minor, or even gets in the way of what really needs to be done. God is the prefect Father, and whereas He sometimes does things for us without any input from us at all, those times are rare. At the very least, our decision, our will, is called for. A lot of people fall flat at this very point, expecting God to do things without any input from them whatsoever. I had a friend who desired the baptism in the Holy Spirit, specifically with the gift of tongues, but he wouldn’t open his mouth to start speaking on his own, and to my knowledge has never received that gift. Anyone with that gift is free to choose whether to speak or not; God doesn’t force your mouth to move, He just shows you how to move it. Next, this says He will help us stand, upheld by His “right hand of righteousness,” as the Japanese expresses it. (The hymn says “omnipotent,” rather than “right,” but that is very much in keeping with the feeling of the original.) There are many things that, if unopposed, could knock us down, and sin is the chief of those. Righteousness is exactly what we need to counter it. As always, our will is involved. If we relish temptations (and let’s face it, all too often we do exactly that) we aren’t “submitting to God and resisting the devil,” as James said. (James 4:7) It is as we choose to receive the help, the righteousness that God offers, that we are enabled to stand in the face of all the storms of life.

This of course applies to me as much as it does to anyone. As a pastor I am constantly seeking to help people decide to receive all that God offers them, but I’ve got to be careful I don’t get cocky and think I can get by without Him myself. My weaknesses are glaring, to me at any rate, and I know full well what a mess I’d make of things without His grace and protection. Some people look at me now and think, and even say, that they could never emulate me. They just don’t know! I’m not to parade past sin or even current weakness, but I need to make it very clear that I am as dependent on the grace of God as they are.

Father thank You that Your grace is indeed sufficient for us all, on every level. Help me be an open channel of that grace indeed, so that as many as possible may receive it, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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January 9, 2016

Posted on January 10, 2016 by jgarrott

Isaiah 35:3-4 Strengthen the feeble hands,
steady the knees that give way;
say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
he will come to save you.”

There will sometimes be strong individuals, but there will always be those who fit the description in this passage. Actually, everyone fits this description at least occasionally. We are by nature weak and foolish. That’s not bad IF we look to and depend on God. If we fail to do that, it gets us into a lot of trouble that God never desired or intended for us. Just as stress comes from wanting to control things we can’t, so failure comes from trying to do things in our own strength alone. We can have partial and minor successes on our own, but even those will ultimately be completely empty if we are ignoring God. This passage, and the many like it throughout the Bible, does not mean we are not involved in the process, that we are supposed to be passive rag dolls. Far from it! We were given free will, and we are called on to exercise that will to choose obedience, to choose to do God’s best that He has laid out for us. As Paul said, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10) We can do those good works and find joy and fulfillment, or we can run from them and find defeat and destruction. Those good works are going to be different for each individual, but there will be some common themes for all who genuinely seek God. For starters, there will be active pursuit of fellowship with God, because He will be the first priority. That will include taking in His Word and talking with Him, regularly and frequently. It will include active humility, being open to the Holy Spirit and repenting immediately of things He shows us need to be corrected. It will include allowing the love of God to flow through us to those around us, blessing them and drawing them to God. There are as many ways for that to happen as there are people, so we are not to go around comparing ourselves to others, either favorably or unfavorably. Rather, we are to acknowledge God in every detail of our lives and walk with assurance the path that He lays out for us. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

I certainly have my moments of weak hands and wobbly knees! When I started this devotional time I was having a visual migraine to the point I could hardly see, but that has largely cleared at this point. I am not to let my own weaknesses, physical or otherwise, discourage me at all, but rather rejoice that they will allow God to manifest His strength through me. (2 Corinthians 12:9) However, that does not mean that I am to seek to be weak! Rather, I am to choose the strength that God offers, that comes from Him and not from me. Only then will I be able to follow through with all the good works that He has prepared for me to do.

Father, thank You for the accomplishful day yesterday. It included some activities that have been weighing on me for their not being done. Thank You for what You have planned for today. Some of it seems straightforward, and some of it You’re really going to have to show us how to get it done. I ask for guidance and strength, and above all Your peace that is beyond human understanding, so that Your will may be done in Your way on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 8, 2016

Posted on January 9, 2016 by jgarrott

Isaiah 12:2 “Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.”

This whole short chapter has been set to music in various ways in various languages, for excellent reason. This particular verse seems much better to me in the Japanese than in the NIV at any rate, because of how the second half is translated. As a matter of policy the NIV translates the formal name for God as LORD, rather than writing out the tetragrammaton, YHWH, with or without vowels, but here the Japanese renders it as “YAH, the LORD.” To me that’s more satisfying than simple repetition. Also, there’s a tiny difference of nuance in the very last line: “He has become salvation for me.” That doesn’t seem much different from “my salvation,” but rather than using the possessive form, as in “He belongs to me,” it is a matter of “for my sake.” That is exactly what God did in Christ Jesus, becoming human flesh and dying to take the penalty for our sins and give us eternal life. That said, the first part of the verse is also very important, and there is no ambiguity there. When we realize that God is indeed our salvation, we can choose to trust and not be afraid. So much of life is a choice, and yet we often don’t realize it. We tend to think we are pawns, swept along by circumstances, failing to recognize that in every situation we have the choice of how we are going to respond. This is exactly what Jesus was talking about in John 16:33, when He said that as long as we are in this world we will have troubles, but that we are to rejoice anyway. Knowing, trusting, that God is going to bring it all out right in the end enables us to be strong, and even to sing, regardless of what is going on around us. That God would love us so much as to become salvation for us in the form of Jesus Christ our Lord should be enough to get us through anything!

This is something I’ve known as objective fact for most of my life, but it is as I have gone through various troubles that it has become personal and worked into my heart. Andrae Crouch’s song, Through it All, expresses that experience beautifully. “If I’d never had a problem, I wouldn’t know that He could solve them.” That in itself is enough to give me gratitude even for the problems. Paul’s admonitions to give God thanks in and for everything (Ephesians 5:20, 1 Thessalonians 5:18) seem impossible to some, but I think I have a taste of what he was talking about. When I can bring myself to trust God enough to thank Him even for things that are manifestly evil, knowing that He is going to turn them around for good, (Romans 8:28) I have defeated the devil and participated in Christ’s victory. (John 16:33) I am as human as anyone else, so that isn’t necessarily easy, but it does get easier with practice. There are things that face me right now for which the devil tries to feed me “what if” scenarios, but my response needs to be, “even if.” I am not to dwell on negatives, either potential or already experienced, but know that God can and will use everything for my good and His glory. (Romans 8:28)

Father, thank You for this reminder. My flesh is used to being anxious, but You have proved Yourself faithful more times than I could count. Help me indeed rest, relax, and rejoice in Christ Jesus my Lord, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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