January 20, 2016


Jeremiah 42:5-6 Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with everything the Lord your God sends you to tell us. Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the Lord our God, to whom we are sending you, so that it will go well with us, for we will obey the Lord our God.”

This has got to be one of the most hypocritical declarations in the whole Bible. It sounds pious, beautifully righteous, but the following events prove that it was all a sham. These men had decided what they wanted to do and they wanted Jeremiah to put pretty window dressing on it, but they were forgetting that Jeremiah was a true prophet of God, who would speak what God said to him, and not a politician who would say whatever was expedient. As it turned out, when God through Jeremiah said the opposite of what they had already decided, they refused to be obedient, in direct violation of what they said here, and did what they had planned anyway. This may be an extreme example, but it is all too typical of our attitude toward God, wanting Him to rubber stamp our plans rather than genuinely listening to Him in humble obedience. I really think the biggest reason we think God doesn’t guide us is that we aren’t willing to listen to guidance that doesn’t go along with what our flesh wants to do. Sadly, we bear the consequences of that, just as these men did eventually. Sadly, tradition tells us that when things turned out badly, they blamed Jeremiah and stoned him to death, adding sin on top of sin. It is so much better when we obey God with our actions instead of just with our words!

As a man of words, I am constantly in danger of this. Like so many, I tend to feel that if I said it, that’s the way it is, but that attitude is risky indeed. God is the only one who can say it and it is! I’ve got to be careful of unintended hypocrisy. No one lives up perfectly to the standards they profess, but I’ve got to be honest enough to repent every time I stumble, not stubbornly continuing in my sin. As a pastor, I couldn’t possibly keep track of all the pious statements people have made to me that they never followed through with. I don’t think I’ve encountered anything as drastic as Jeremiah did, but some have seemed to come close. I am not to be judgmental, but neither am I to turn a blind eye. I am to speak the truth in love, whether it is received or not, and let God fulfill His word. I certainly can’t do it for Him!

Father, You know the people and situations about which I am most concerned, but You also know of other situations which are equally or more serious which I don’t know about. Keep me from thinking I am, or from trying to be, in control. Help me be fully submitted to You both emotionally and practically, so that I do Your will and nothing less, destroying the lies of the enemy and setting people free, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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January 19, 2016


Jeremiah 30:8-9 “‘In that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty,
‘I will break the yoke off their necks
and will tear off their bonds;
no longer will foreigners enslave them.
Instead, they will serve the Lord their God
and David their king,
whom I will raise up for them.

Serving is a fact of life on this earth. It’s not a question of if, but whom we will serve. Paul framed it in terms of serving sin or serving righteousness, (Romans 6:12-23) and that is applicable whatever our social status or nationality. Many people think slavery is something from the “bad old days,” but human trafficking is huge today, even in the US. Such people are generally slaves both to people and to sin. The good news is that God can and will rescue us from all such slavery, but that requires our choice to serve Him. Some people bristle at the idea of serving anyone or anything, not realizing that such an attitude is itself serving the devil, because it separates them from God and leaves them no defense against their own lusts. This passage speaks not only of serving God, but also of serving “David their king.” Social structures are another fact of life. We are used to democracy and elected government, and that is itself a blessing, but even so, defiance for the sake of defiance against government certainly bears consequences. Once again Paul had something to say on the subject. (Romans 13:1-7) Satan likes to tempt us with an illusion of freedom, but what he offers is actually total slavery to him through our lusts. True freedom comes only when we are in line with how we were created, filled with the Holy Spirit of God, using our free will to choose to serve God. (2 Corinthians 3:17)

I have had my times of walking in deception, thinking I was free, and the results have never been good. Being a slave to the flesh is only enjoyable for a moment, and the consequences are painful indeed. I see some people who are so used to that pain that they hardly recognize it! However, when people repent and believe, the difference is so great that even they have trouble accepting that it is real. I am in the business of offering people true liberty in Christ. As such, I must not leave out the element of choosing to serve Him, or they will be trapped again by the false liberties of the flesh. The devil is a consummate liar, and the world trumpets his lies at us all the time. I have great difficulty helping people really believe that being self-centered never leads to true happiness, because the devil blinds them to the fact that they are self-centered! I have found that I have no wisdom or power in myself to make them wake up to reality, but God can use me as an instrument of His Spirit to accomplish that. I am to pray for them and always speak the truth in love, so that by God’s grace they may come around to serving Him instead of a lie.

Father, You know the people who were most on my heart as I wrote that. Keep me from being self-centered in my efforts to help them, from being motivated by how they affect me rather than by what You desire for them. May I serve You by serving them, so that Your will may be done in and through us all, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 18, 2016


Jeremiah 17:14 Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed;
save me and I shall be saved,
for you are the one I praise.

The section from verse 5 on is very rich “wisdom literature,” to the point that it seems surprising to find it in Jeremiah. Reading on through verse 18, my impression is that Jeremiah had been feeling a bit overwhelmed by those who opposed him, who would not receive the Word of the Lord through him, and God was meeting him where he was and giving him what he needed for encouragement. That makes this passage very applicable to many of us! This verse is a bit of Jeremiah’s response to what the Lord was saying to him, and that makes it worthy of our consideration as well. We need to have it very clear in our minds and hearts that God is our Healer and our Savior, and when He does it, it’s done, period. Our physical bodies are temporary, and do wear out. Paul and Peter called them tents, and the analogy seems quite fitting. (2 Corinthians 5:1, 4; 2 Peter 1:13) God does heal physically and it can be quite glorious, but this is not limited to that. Rather, this speaks to His meeting all our needs, all our inadequacies, and making us whole. He alone is Savior, but we need no other, because He is infinite. In the last line the NIV tries to make what Jeremiah said a little more “normal” from our standpoint, rendering it as “You are the one I praise,” but many translations stick with the Hebrew and say, “You are my praise.” That brings to mind a praise song I have liked for many years. “You are the words and the music; You are the song that I sing. You are the melody, You are the harmony; praises to You I will bring. You are the mighty God, You are the Prince of Peace, You are the King of all kings. Now I return to You the song that You gave to me; You are the song that I sing.” I don’t think I’ve ever known who penned those words, but they certainly express my heart, and Jeremiah’s too, I would say.

This is a very good reminder to me, and I receive the whole passage! As much as I tell others to fix their eyes on Jesus and not on their circumstances, I need help in doing that as well. The good news is that the Holy Spirit does exactly that, and I am deeply grateful. As the song says, “The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.” This morning as she was getting dressed my wife was mentioning some pain she was having, and it came to me that our perception of pain is relative. When we’ve never experienced deep, blinding pain, minor aches and pains seem major and debilitating. When we have tasted real pain, and the reality that God can get us through it, then all pain becomes much easier to bear. In all honesty, I’d just as soon not go through the pain my wife has experienced, but just walking with her through it has given me fresh perspective on my own pains. I need to walk in God’s truth, not just speaking/writing it but living it out, so that all that God has planned for me and for those with whom I interact may be fulfilled, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this clear reminder. Thank You for all that You are doing, whether I can see it with my natural eyes or not. Help me indeed be anxious about nothing, but rather trust You fully and give You the praise, worship and obedience You deserve, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 17, 2016


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


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


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


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


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


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


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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