January 30, 2016

Posted on January 31, 2016 by jgarrott

Micah 4:5 All the nations may walk
in the name of their gods;
we will walk in the name of the Lord
our God for ever and ever.

Two things struck me in relation to this verse just now. The first is that for many people today, the “god” in whose name they walk is science, or pleasure, or wealth, or any of a number of things that they themselves don’t think of as deities. Whatever religious trappings they wear for the sake of propriety, they are practical atheists. That is, their lives, their decisions, their “walk,” is determined by things in the material world, rather than anything beyond it. How pathetic! Catherine Marshall once wrote a book my mother greatly appreciated called Beyond Ourselves. The point was that to to know and fellowship with God we have to recognize our own limitations, and aspire to go beyond them. The second thing that struck me in reading this verse just now is that America, which was founded in the name of “Nature’s God,” firmly understood to be the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, revealed through His Son, Jesus, has actively been turning away from that in recent years. With a distorted interpretation of the First Amendment to the Constitution, any and every expression of faith in the public square has been attacked, putting the nation in grave danger. We have had seven years, so far, of an administration that seems more comfortable with Allah than Jesus, and a major candidate for the presidency clearly worships his own wealth and power rather than the Creator, of whom he seems pitifully ignorant. These are perilous times indeed for America. Those who actually know God, rather than just mouth His name, need to stand up and proclaim this verse, and live accordingly.

It is in turns angering and heartbreaking to see what is going on in America today, but I’ve got to remember that God is in no way ignorant of what is going on, nor is His “arm shortened,” to use an Old Testament expression. I’ve got to be active in prayer, but at the same time leave the whole situation in His hands. Not living in the US myself at this point, my active participation is limited to absentee voting, but prayer is even more important. I need to realize that the broad “evangelical” support for someone who doesn’t really claim to follow God, and who openly disclaimed repentance, is a clear indication that many, perhaps the majority, of Christians don’t really grasp what it is to “walk in the Name of God.” Until there is widespread repentance and revival, no amount of political change is going to make any real difference. The next few months are crucial, and I am not to shrink from the task. I need to be willing to put in the hours in prayer, understanding that I can participate in God’s kingdom coming through His will being done, so that His Name may be acknowledged as holy.

Father, thank You for this clear exposition both of the situation and of what I need to do in relation to it. I pray that many would read what You have had me write and would take up the challenge, so that as the Body of Christ wakes up, the lies of the devil would indeed be exposed and defeated, for the salvation of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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January 29, 2016

Posted on January 31, 2016 by jgarrott

Joel 2:23 Be glad, O people of Zion,
rejoice in the Lord your God,
for he has given you
the autumn rains in righteousness.
He sends you abundant showers,
both autumn and spring rains, as before.

The Japanese has a twist in the translation that I don’t recall noticing before, even though I have it underlined. Where the NIV says, “autumn rains in righteousness,” the Japanese says, “to make you righteous.” Regardless of whether that’s the best translation for this verse, it’s an important truth that is expressed throughout the Bible in various ways. That is, God’s blessings aren’t just to puff us up, they are to make us into the righteous children that He desires. We have a strong tendency to focus on blessings for their own sake, for how they make us feel, but that is very short-sighted. God indeed delights to bless us, but the purpose of those blessings is always to draw us to Himself, build us up, and grow us into the mature children He created us to be. We should approach everything with this attitude: How is this going to draw me closer to God? How is this going to grow me as His child? How is this going to make me more effective as His agent, His representative? When that is our attitude, we will pray much more accurately and with great assurance, because we will know that we are praying in line with His will.

I have been blessed beyond measure, and recent events have reminded me of that. With the recent snow, I was reminded that I live in a comfortable, well-insulated building. With needing to replace an air conditioning unit in the church, I was reminded that I live in a nation where such things are readily available and are taken for granted. With my wife’s health situation, I was and am being reminded not only of what a fitting, delightful partner I have, but also of what a blessing it is to have top-level medical care available, not to mention effective health insurance. Today’s passage reminds me that all these blessings have a purpose, and I am to make full use of them toward that purpose, giving God the thanks, praise, and glory He deserves.

Father, thank You for Your immeasurable grace. I could go on for a long time simply trying to list all the blessings You have poured out on me. The devil tries to make me forget as much of that as possible. Help me be fully submitted to You so that I may stand firm against him, appropriating, appreciating, and making full use of all that You intend for me, so that Your purposes, for those blessings and for me, may be fulfilled in every detail, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 28, 2016

Posted on January 30, 2016 by jgarrott

Daniel 10:19 “Do not be afraid, O man highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.”
When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”

How we behave is generally in line with how we see ourselves. What the angel did here was assure Daniel of his status (the Japanese says, “loved by God” where the NIV says “highly esteemed”) and then remind him of how a person of such status should be. It evidently had the desired effect! The Japanese does not just repeat “strong,” it uses a term for emotional strength first, and then says to be strong. When we know who we are in Christ, we display strength on all levels, often to the amazement of others and sometimes even our own! The Bible is filled with passages that tell us how much God loves us and values us, but until we take them in and believe them they are just words. Sadly, that is the status of vast numbers of Christians, even, not to mention the multitudes without Christ. As Ezekiel was told, in a passage we had recently, we need to “eat” God’s Word, take it in, digest it, and make it part of us. When we do that we find that it is indeed nourishment for every part of our being, with the possible exception of the physical, but the physical is certainly affected by everything else. Someone who is living out the Word is a mighty warrior indeed in God’s army, one of whom the devil is rightly afraid. Such a person takes their sense of self-worth from God rather than from the world, and so is strong against the multitude of temptations that the world throws at us. This is in no way self-promotion, but rather an assurance that if God said it, that settles it. Daniel was such a man, and he is an example to follow.

I have been aware that this was true for a long time, but I certainly haven’t walked in it fully. As I was telling others in the pastors meeting the other day, I have loved the letter of James for a long time because it is so practical. James 1:22 relates to this issue: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” Growing up immersed in Scripture gave me a head knowledge of the Bible from an early age, but letting it sink into my mind and heart was a different matter. I was already a father before I really woke up to how I had a shell of spiritual pride that kept me from living out God’s truth. When that shell was shattered it felt like it shattered me, but I am deeply grateful God didn’t leave me as I was. It would be nice if I could say that I have lived out the Word fully from that day onward, but it is a continuing adventure even today, well over 40 years later. I still need to choose to listen to God rather than to the world and the devil, but distinguishing those voices is certainly easier than it used to be. I need to evaluate everything on the basis of what God says and not let circumstances pull me down or pull me astray. If I will do that, I will indeed fulfill God’s plans for me, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for speaking to all Your children all the time. I pray that I would be increasingly effective in helping Your children believe and understand that You really are talking to them, so that they may open their hearts to You more and more to let You operate in and through them, for their great blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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January 27, 2016

Posted on January 30, 2016 by jgarrott

Daniel 10:12 Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.”

I find I am reminded of Pastor Saeed Abedini, the pastor who was recently released from Iran. In an interview with him that I saw just yesterday he was talking about the difficulties of being imprisoned for so long, with physical and mental abuse, and how his great comfort was prayer, for hours on end. Daniel was not in prison as such, but he was in exile far from Jerusalem, with no way to return. He had risen to a place of considerable authority, but his focus was on God, no less than Pastor Abedini’s. His encounter with the angel recorded here should be an enormous comfort to every faithful believer who prays. There is a great deal we don’t know or understand about the spiritual realm, but the biggest message here is that faithful prayer is not ignored. We don’t always see the results in the timing we would prefer, but believing prayer is not wasted. Show prayers, with no heart behind them, are indeed empty and meaningless, but prayer from the heart, in humility and faith, goes straight to the throne room of the Creator. Two things are significant about Daniel’s praying in this episode. We tend to notice the fact that he went on a fast of sorts, refraining from luxuries. We have lots of things that could come under that category! However, that was simply an expression of the more important point that he set his heart to understand; it was a decision of his will. There are many examples of this throughout the Bible, teaching us that if our choice is God, period, He will do more than we could ask or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20) We can’t dictate when He will do what, but if we trust Him enough to submit everything to Him in complete surrender and obedience, His response will be magnificent.

Well, that’s a Word for me this morning! There are numbers of issues that concern me, so I need to commit my heart to listen to God in all humility. There are very local issues and there are wider issues, all the way to global issues. All of them are disturbing to me on one level or another, but none of them are difficult for God. With full assurance of that fact, I need to be quiet enough before Him to hear what He will say to me about them, and what actions, if any, I am to take in relation to them. I can’t fix any of them in my own strength, but if He wants to use me in those situations, I need to be fully available. I need to let go of my desired schedule and let Him do things on His schedule, knowing that His plans are always best.

Father, thank You for this Word this morning. It seems like we are constantly going through training in this very area. Keep me from being passive or resigned, but at the same time not trying to be in control myself. Thank You that You are more than capable of perfect control! Help me indeed rest, relax, and rejoice, just as You have told me to do, so that Your will may be done in and through me on Your schedule, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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January 26, 2016

Posted on January 27, 2016 by jgarrott

Ezekiel 39:29 “I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

We forget what the life of faith was like before Pentecost. Actually, we can’t imagine what it was like, because we’ve never lived in a time when the Spirit of God was not available to all who would believe and receive. Those who have fought severe depression perhaps have the best grasp, because it feels like God is far away and unresponsive, but even there the Holy Spirit is still available, once they get past the lies of the enemy. The thing is, we live in times of great turmoil and spiritual warfare, but God is always accessible to those who will turn to Him. The only thing that can hide God from us is our own sin. If we are in willful rebellion, then God can indeed seem distant or even nonexistent. The operative image there is Jesus’ story of the Prodigal Son. (Luke 15:11-32) The Father’s love never changed, but the son had to “come to his senses” (Luke 15:17) before he could recognize that. Paul tells us we can grieve and quench the Holy Spirit, (Ephesians 4:30, 1 Thessalonians 5:19) and He can certainly seem distant at such times, but all He is waiting for is repentance.

My personal Pentecost was in 1974. I wish I could say that I have never grieved or quenched Him since, but that would be manifestly untrue. I have experienced time and time again the blessing of repentance. That’s not at all to say that it wouldn’t have been better had I not sinned in the first place, but it is to say, as the hymn does, that God’s grace is greater than all my sin. It is a joy beyond any other to fellowship with my Lord by His Spirit, and I desire that everyone have that same joy. It is a continuing mystery to me that we so often settle for less, or even refuse to believe that such fellowship is possible. As a pastor I urge the believers to take the time to get to know their Lord, to be comfortable with Him and allow Him to speak intimately with them, but so few really make the effort. I am not to give up, but live my life as a demonstration that it is possible, and continue to invite all who will to join me in that lifestyle.

Father, I am often painfully aware of my own foolish weakness, but I am even more aware of Your magnificent, omnipotent grace and love. Thank You. Help me be increasingly effective in communicating that grace and love to others, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 25, 2016

Posted on January 27, 2016 by jgarrott

Ezekiel 34:31 “‘You my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are people, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord.'”

This echoes Psalms 79:13, 95:7, and 100:3, with a minor difference that struck me just now. The references in the Psalms all conflate people and sheep, but here God seems to be making the point that whereas we are indeed the sheep of His pasture, we are specifically people, human beings, and not just sheep. We have a lot in common with sheep, more than we like to admit, but that’s not all we are. God is the Creator of sheep, but He is not their heavenly Father. We need to remember that, and not always act like dumb sheep! In saying that we are people, God also affirms that He is our God; He is not disowning us. That is enormously important. We do lots of stupid things, and we suffer the consequences, but rather than discarding us, God disciplines us and draws us back to Himself. That’s what John 3:16 is all about. The glory of the Gospel is that by repentance and faith we can become the people of God, purchased and cleansed by the blood of His Son. When we have that firmly in our minds and hearts, nothing can shake us

This has been my experience, and I am deeply grateful. I act like a sheep far too often, being both witless and stubborn, but God always draws me back with His rod and His staff. (Psalm 23:4) Apart from Him I have certainly no better defenses than a sheep, but in Christ I can put on the whole armor of God. (Ephesians 6:10-18) Apart from Him I have no resources beyond what I happen upon, just as a sheep eating grass, but in Him I have an abundant feast. (Psalm 23:5) I am His sheep and I am also His child, called and anointed by Him as His representative to the world around me, so that others too may know of His love and grace and repent and believe, for their salvation and His glory.

Father, thank You for making it possible for me to be Your child. Help me be an obedient, loving child, mature in faith but never forgetting my childlike wonder at the depth and magnificence of Your grace. May I be increasingly effective and transparent as Your agent toward all I encounter, so that nothing will interfere with their seeing Christ through me, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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January 24, 2016

Posted on January 25, 2016 by jgarrott

Ezekiel 3:7 “But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate.”

Jesus echoed this to His disciples, though from a slightly different angle: “A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household!” (Matthew 10:24-25) We tend to throw a pity party when people don’t receive what we have to say or to give them, but God says, that’s the way it is! However, just as Jesus didn’t fail to come to earth because He knew He would be rejected and crucified, so we must not fail to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God, because some will hear and receive, and they are worth it. The thing is, we don’t know who will listen and who won’t, so we can’t limit our proclamation to friendly audiences. John put it this way: “He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (John 1:10-13) We aren’t to obsess over those who won’t receive Christ, but rejoice in those who do, who are born again as children of God by repentance and faith.

I’m not sure I had realized before how thoroughly I identify with Ezekiel! I have no question that I have been sent to the Japanese people, but they certainly qualify as obstinate (the Japanese expression used here is “steel-skinned”)! It breaks my heart that so few open up to receive what God has for them, but God makes it clear that I’m not to take it personally. At the same time, I’m not to be resigned or fatalistic, giving up before I start. I am called to be faithful, whatever the response. I cannot force anyone to be saved, but I can demonstrate how attractive salvation really is, not just as a prospect for the next life but in daily fellowship with God right now. It is a particular mystery to me that so few Christians, even, make/take the time to have devotional fellowship with God every morning, but I am not to stop pointing out how delightful and beneficial it is. I am not to let circumstances get me down, but rest, relax, and rejoice in God, letting Him use me to accomplish His purposes in His way on His schedule for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the snow today. It looks entirely possible, even likely, that no one will be able to come this morning. Thank You that You are here! I ask for clear guidance as to what we are to do or not do, so that Your plans may be fulfilled exactly as You intend, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 23, 2016

Posted on January 25, 2016 by jgarrott

Ezekiel 2:7-8 “You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.”

When God commissions someone it’s because there is a need for what that person is sent to do. If the Jews had been earnest in seeking God and wholehearted in their obedience to Him, He would not have needed to commission Ezekiel to speak to them. We tend to react to the task ahead of us, not realizing that if that task weren’t there, we wouldn’t need to be there either! However, we shouldn’t think that because we are sent to deal with that task that we have it all together ourselves. Here, God is cautioning Ezekiel not to be like those to whom He was being sent. I am reminded of Paul’s famous words to the Romans: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2) We have a strong tendency to conform to our surroundings. In some ways that’s not bad, but when it comes to obedience to God it is very dangerous indeed. Pastors and the like have the strong temptation to feel that they are above those to whom they minister, that the rules don’t apply to them personally. We see that in politicians as well, but it is even more dangerous in those who speak God’s words. Here God was telling Ezekiel to take in the message He was giving him, but not to think it didn’t apply to him as well.

I don’t recall God using these exact words, but I feel like this is very much His commission to me. Japanese aren’t so much a rebellious people as they are a stubborn, independent people, not realizing they need God. I guess that could be described as rebellious after all! I am never to give up, any more than Ezekiel was allowed to give up, but keep proclaiming the truth in love. It’s not wrong to desire fruit, a “return on my investment,” and it’s not wrong to rejoice in however much fruit I see, but my obedience is not to be contingent on fruit. My focus is to be on the One who called me, saved me, and commissioned me, doing His will on His schedule and leaving the results up to Him.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for continuing to work on and in me; I need it! Help me express to others the patience, persistence and grace You have shown to me, drawing them out of the traps of the enemy with Your truth and Your love, so that they may be set free to walk in all that You have planned for them from Creation, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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January 22, 2016

Posted on January 23, 2016 by jgarrott

Lamentations 3:57-58 You came near when I called you,
and you said, “Do not fear.
O Lord, you took up my case;
you redeemed my life.

When Jeremiah was in the depths of grief and despair because of the destruction of Jerusalem, he remembered how God had saved him out of some pretty severe circumstances in the past. Anyone who has walked with God for any length of time has such times they can remember, if they will choose to do so. The devil tries to get us to forget God’s mercies and remember only the hard times, but that is so he can steal our peace and joy. As I keep remembering, in this world we will have troubles, just as Jesus said. (John 16:33) However, the choice of what to dwell on is ours. That expression, “to dwell on,” is very telling, actually. “Dwell” means live, reside. We have the choice of whether to live in misery or in gratitude; it’s all in where we place our focus. People are amazed at how bright and cheerful my wife is, when she has a list of medical problems as long as her arm. After coming through major back surgery in November, she now faces brain surgery in a couple of weeks, but she is smiling, upbeat, and enjoys the blessings God provides in the middle of all this. That is dwelling on God’s goodness, rather than on temporal difficulties. We certainly have difficult moments, and frustration is no stranger, but when the focus is on God we can recognize and appreciate His overflowing grace and blessing toward us.

There are moments when I am tempted to focus on the negative, but experience has taught me that is ceding territory to the devil, and I certainly don’t want to do that. I am not to ignore difficulties by any means, but they are to be accepted as challenges, with the assurance that since God is for me, anything against me is already defeated, if I will abide in Him. (Romans 8:31) As a pastor I deal constantly with people who don’t yet have that perspective, and they suffer greatly for it. I am not to make light of their circumstances, nor am I to put them down for their spiritual immaturity, but I am to continue to encourage them to lift their eyes to Jesus and recognize His grace and love toward them. There are times, frankly, when I want to grab them and shake them and say, “Snap out of it! Look to Jesus!” However, that wouldn’t accomplish anything good, for sure. I am to express toward them the patience and mercy God has shown to me, so that together we may defeat the devil’s schemes and walk in all that God has planned for us.

Father, this is another message I want to preach! Thank You for the message You’ve given me for Sunday. Guide me in what I am to share when, where, and how, so that Your Word may go forth through me to accomplish that for which You send it, (Isaiah 55:10-11) for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 21, 2016

Posted on January 23, 2016 by jgarrott

Jeremiah 51:46 Do not lose heart or be afraid
when rumors are heard in the land;
one rumor comes this year, another the next,
rumors of violence in the land
and of ruler against ruler.

This time the NIV and the Japanese are extremely different. In the Japanese it says, “If you don’t do this (get out of Babylon) then you will lose heart and be afraid of the rumors you will hear in this land.” Rather than an encouragement, it’s a warning. We don’t like to face the consequences of disobedience. It goes without saying that the world would be a much more pleasant place if everyone were obedient to God! That said, someone who is obedient to God could take this verse the way the NIV renders it. In speaking of the Last Days Jesus mentioned “wars and rumors of wars.” (Matthew 24:36) We are more than capable of being devastated by rumors. Right now there are plenty to go around, and certainly not all of them are base­less! There really is a lot of junk going on in the world, because the devil is always out to steal, kill, and destroy, but we must remember that Jesus came to give us genuinely abundant life. (John 10:10) We cannot be strong against the onslaughts of the enemy, to walk in Jesus’ abundant life, unless we are fully submitted and obedient to God. (James 4:7) I see many people who are debilitated by fears of all sorts. The answer for every one of them is submission to and trust in God. Too often we try to trust when we aren’t willing to be submitted. That never works! It is the heart that is fully submitted to God that is rock solid in Christ, immovable in all the storms of life.

I have had my times of fearfulness and I have had my times of disobedience, and looking back on them, there is significant overlap. The devil continues to try to make me afraid, and I face plenty of opportunities to yield to that temptation, but at this point I find I am not so moved. As a pastor I deal with people constantly who are tied in knots by fear. I am to speak God’s peace to them, but I must not fail to speak repentance as well. I need to help them see that their failures of obedience lay them open to every attack of the enemy. Bad things happen even to those who are fully obedient, simply because we live in a fallen world, (John 16:33) but when we are committed to obedience, even those things can’t really shake us.

Father, I had wondered what I was supposed to speak on Sunday! Thank You for making it clear. I ask for clear guidance as to what Scriptures to use and for everything else about my preparations, that it may indeed be what You are saying and not just something I’ve dreamed up. May I speak Your Word to accomplish Your will, in the hearts and lives of my hearers and in the heavenlies as well, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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