October 22, 2015

Posted on October 24, 2015 by jgarrott

Genesis 15:7 He also said to him, “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.”

This is one of the foundational incidents of the entire Biblical narrative, and verse 6 is foundational to the New Testament as well, so it’s very important to put it all into context. I think this verse does that, in a way that seems jarring to us today. The thing is, throughout much of Genesis the people were not particularly monotheistic, if at all. They didn’t necessarily see Yahweh as the only God, just as the best one, their God. That’s why they were so easily enticed to worship various other gods. Here, Yahweh is making sure Abram understands that He is the same being who spoke to him back in Ur, and not some other deity. We really have trouble wrapping our minds around that idea! What strikes me is that God doesn’t require perfect theology, He asks for faith and commitment. I think we will be very surprised at some of the people we find in heaven. In The Last Battle, the last book of the Narnia series, C. S. Lewis says that true worship can only be received by the true God. That might be dangerously close to Universalism, which is certainly in violation of Scripture, but the Biblical evidence is that most of the litmus tests we apply to see if someone is saved are probably not valid. What we believe is certainly important, but Who we believe is most important. That’s what this passage is talking about. Abram knew very little about God, really, but he knew that God had spoken to him, and he believed God.

This is of extreme relevance to me as I minister in Japan. I have had people say they really love Jesus, but they can’t accept that He’s the only God. I cannot say they are saved, but neither can I say they are worse off than many of the people in the Bible. Japan has a long and deep tradition of animism, essentially worshiping any impressive natural feature, with the sun as the supreme goddess. That has resulted in them referring to Japan as “the land of 8 million gods,” but the total is quite probably even more than that. Monotheism is a real stretch! At the same time, Shinto, the system for appeasing/not offending this pantheon, has no moral content at all, so people are left without an absolute moral anchor. You could say the Japanese invented situational ethics! That makes the challenges to presenting the Gospel in Japan immense. I like the tactic that has been advanced by a recent translation of the Bible of using “the Creator” instead of “God” in talking about Him, because the word that I grew up using in Japanese applies to all those 8 million gods, and therefore can lead to more confusion. However, habits die hard, and saying “the Creator” can seem very cumbersome. Once again I am back to realizing that I am not up to the task. However, God can use even me, so I must not draw back. I am not to judge people, but I am to present an uncompromised Gospel as clearly as possible, under the guidance and anointing of the Holy Spirit, and let God perform all that He desires by the words that He speaks through me.

Father, thank You for calling me back to my central task. Personal considerations have really consumed my attention recently, and this is a very needed counter to that. Help me stay focused as You desire and intend, not taking those personal issues lightly but keeping them in perspective, indeed seeking first Your kingdom and Your righteousness, so that all the devil’s schemes may be defeated and You be glorified. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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October 21, 2015

Posted on October 22, 2015 by jgarrott

1 John 3:3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.

Many places in the Japanese Bible, where the English says “holy,” the Japanese uses the character for holy but gives a reading for it that is a homophone for “pure.” That’s because Japanese in general doesn’t really grasp “holiness,” and certainly doesn’t use the word very often. However here, the character as well as the reading is simply “pure,” as in unadulterated. Purity can be a part of holiness, but it isn’t exactly the same thing. After all, we speak of pure evil! Holiness is achieved by transformation. It is something God makes available to us and that we can choose to receive, but it is not something we can attain by our own efforts. Purity, on the other hand, is the absence of contaminants, and that is something we can work toward. I still don’t think we achieve it perfectly on this earth, but it is much more within our grasp. The thing is, we live in a sea of pollutants. Maintaining purity requires constant attention, both to exclude junk and to let the Holy Spirit clean house when junk is discovered. We will never do it, or even really try, without a clear grasp of what God has made available to us in Christ. This is the hope John is talking about here. Those who fail to strive for purity have lost sight of that hope, if they ever really had it in the first place. We all sin at times, as John says clearly in this same letter, but anyone who has this hope is never satisfied with sin; it feels bad. That’s why John goes on after this to talk about how those who are in Christ do not continue to sin. Some older English translations, and actually the Japanese translation I use, fail to pick up on the Greek tense and make the flat statement that those in Christ don’t sin. That’s not only a violation of our experience, it contradicts the rest of this letter! Hope in Christ does not produce instant perfection, but it lets us realize what God has provided and gives us a goal to strive for,

This is something I have struggled with, as every honest Christian has. There are times when Romans 7 is all too present reality! However, I have experienced the reality of 1 John 1:9, and know that Jesus Christ is indeed my righteousness, wisdom, holiness, and redemption. (1 Corinthians 1:30) I am never to let down my guard, but recognize evil and refuse it. That’s not always easy, given the world we live it, but by God’s grace it is possible. I do have the hope John speaks of here, and it is a powerful motivator. As a pastor I am trying to bring others along with me into that lifestyle. That’s not something I can accomplish on my own, but God can use me both as an example and a mentor, and I am not to draw back from that. Life in Christ is joyful and it is fun, but it is also pure, and I need to help people understand that.

Father, thank You for increasing purity over the years. Looking back can be an encouragement! Keep me from getting lax about it, taking things for granted. Rather, help me keep pressing in for more of Christ, more of Your Spirit, so that I may be more useful to You in drawing others to You, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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October 20, 2015

Posted on October 22, 2015 by jgarrott

1 Peter 3:13-15 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.

Response to suffering should always be on the basis of the Lordship of Christ. In this same letter Peter acknowledges that his readers really were suffering because of their faith, but even there he tells them to rejoice. (1 Peter 4:12-19) Suffering itself isn’t desirable, much less to be sought, but remembering what Jesus endured for us should help us get through whatever we are facing. It is interesting that the last part of verse 14, which the NIV credits in a footnote as a quote of Isaiah 8:12, the Japanese translates as, “Don’t fear their threats or let your hearts be shaken by them.” Often we suffer more in anticipation, because of threats, than we do with what people actually do to us. Bad things happen, and some of it is malicious, but God can and will be with us whatever happens, so being anxious ahead of time is unnecessary loss. If we had back all the emotional energy we have spent on things that never happened, we’d be well off indeed! If Jesus is Lord, then that settles it. He wasn’t blowing smoke when He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me.” (Matthew 28:18) Full submission to His Lordship allows His authority to operate through us, bringing His will to pass whatever the circumstances.

This is timely for me. I am not being threatened by people, but the devil is using my wife’s health situation to try to generate anxiety. As I wrote someone last night, I do believe and trust God, but I am very aware of my own humanity – as well as my wife’s. This requires a conscious choice not to let my heart be shaken. My hope is not to be in the medical staff, though I have every reason to believe they are top notch, but in my Lord, who can and will guide them as instruments of His blessing. This is training for us both, and by God’s grace I can rest assured we will come through with flying colors.

Father, thank You again for all that You allow us to experience. Help us indeed acknowledge Christ as Lord every moment, not being shaken by anything but resting, relaxing, and rejoicing in You, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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October 19, 2015

Posted on October 20, 2015 by jgarrott

1 Peter 3:3-4 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

This is a dangerous passage for a man to comment on! However, the truths expressed here are liberating to men and women alike, and they certainly are worthy of being understood and grasped. The world does not generally agree with what Peter says here. There are whole industries (yes, plural) dedicated to physical externals, both for men and for women. The cosmetics industry is just one case in point, and the money and effort consumed by the fashion industry is astronomical. Peter is pointing out the ultimate waste all of that is. It has been going on ever since Eve decided that one fig leaf looked better than another, but that doesn’t make it right. There is nothing wrong with looking nice, but standards of “beauty” have changed drastically over the centuries, and what Peter is talking about is true for all time. Inner beauty, beauty of character and personality, is indeed timeless, and actually can get better with age, like a fine wine. The same can actually be said of men, though men’s fashions haven’t been as much in the forefront as women’s. A physically gorgeous woman posted a video not long ago of her boyfriend proposing to her at the reception of a mutual friend’s wedding. The comments were absurd to the point of being nasty, because her boyfriend was far from the physical specimen that society would expect to go with her physical beauty. Her response was to list the qualities she saw in him that made her value him far above any “hunk” she knew, and made her rejoice to accept his proposal. We need to choose to see as God does. As He told Samuel many centuries ago, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

I am incredibly blessed to be married to a woman who gets better all the time. She could have been one of Peter’s good examples, had he known about her! She has never been one for much makeup, to the consternation of some of her lady friends. She doesn’t need it, with the radiance of her character. People are drawn to her to the point of real inconvenience at times. She is greatly loved! That such a woman would love me and would choose me above all others is an honor I strive to live up to.

Father, thank You for the wife You have given me. Sometimes I wonder about the “helper suitable for him” bit, because she is far better than I deserve! Thank You for the current health problems that are causing people to express to her the love they have for her. There have been periods when she didn’t feel that so much, but now it feels like Niagara Falls! I do pray for complete healing for her, and I pray that these events will cause people to understand that what they love so much in her is actually You, so that they too may turn to You in repentance and faith, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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October 18, 2015

Posted on October 19, 2015 by jgarrott

1 Peter 1:14-16 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

This is the opposite of the mantra of society: if it feels good, do it. The world knows nothing, really, of holiness. Things are called holy that are not, and genuinely holy things are often not recognized as such. People take pride that they are “above” the animals, and then they turn around and delight in acting like animals, or even worse. Whatever society in general is doing, that’s no excuse for children of God to act that way. Children often complain to their parents that other children are allowed to do such and such, so why can’t they. The answer is often that they have better parents than their friends do! If the parents are good, the more obedient the child is the better their life will be. God is the perfect Father, so it stands to reason that being obedient to Him is the best course, in any situation, all the time. However, when we are first born again as His children (as Peter refers to in verse 23) we are ignorant, not knowing what our Father wants or how to live correctly. That’s one of the functions of the Church, as more mature believers come alongside the “newborns” and teach, guide, and train them. We don’t get mad if a baby messes their diaper (though we may get tired of dealing with it) but we simply change the diaper. We don’t banish the baby from the family! However, past a certain point, lack of toilet training indicates a serious problem. The same is true in the Church. Every child of God needs to have holiness as their goal and be active in encouraging others toward that same goal. This doesn’t at all mean humorless rigidity. That is very far from genuine holiness. Rather, it means submitting every thought, every action to God and delighting in Him, above, before, and beyond everything else.

I certainly can’t say that holiness has always been a conscious goal for me, but I had the enormous advantage of being raised by parents who lived holy lives. Our home was filled with music and laughter, and it was filled with love and reverence for God. Actually, the first time I remember my parents specifically using the word, holy, with me (other than in hymns and in references to the Holy Spirit) was in the message from my father that my mother relayed to me at my wedding, (since my timing had made it impossible for my father to attend) and it was in reference to my wedding night. He said that I should remember that it was holy, pure, and beautiful. Good advice, and very far from the world’s attitude. As a pastor, you could call me a “holiness coach” for the congregation. I am to model a holy lifestyle, with humor and joy, so that they may see through the lies of the world and understand that holiness is both possible and desirable for them.

Father, thank You for my positional holiness in Christ, and that You work that out in and through me by Your Holy Spirit. Thank You that Your Spirit is indeed holy, so the more I am filled with Him, the more holy I am. May I be an obedient child on all levels, so that You may be pleased with me and You be glorified. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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October 17, 2015

Posted on October 19, 2015 by jgarrott

1 Peter 1:1-2 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

The passage immediately after this is to me one of the most glorious in the whole Bible, but it strikes me right now to whom it is addressed. As far as the world was concerned, they were the dregs of society, scattered strangers. However, from God’s perspective they were chosen holy ones, purified by the blood of Son of God. The Bible says repeatedly that God does not judge as man does, and that’s a very good thing indeed. The “foreknowledge” that is referred to many times is the fact that since God sees the end from the beginning, He knows how people are going to respond to the opportunities He gives them to repent, believe, and serve Him. He doesn’t force anyone to do that, but being outside of time He knows what we will do because from His perspective we have already done it. Thinking about that too much can get us really confused, because we are very much in the flow of time and we don’t know what the future holds. That’s where faith and trust come in. When we have that faith and trust, we indeed “are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for [we] are receiving the goal of [our] faith, the salvation of [our] souls.” (1 Peter 1:8-9) We are not to see ourselves as the world sees us, but know that in Christ we are children of God, heirs of the universe and more, whatever condition we might be in at the moment, and rejoice!

I have always loved 1 Peter. Part of that comes from being very aware of just how human Peter was, and how badly he had stumbled. That gives me hope for myself! I am aware that the beauty of the flowing prose of 1 Peter owes a lot to the literary gifts of Silvanus (Silas) who acted as Peter’s scribe, (1 Peter 5:12) but the content itself comes from Peter’s own experience, anointed and guided by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter betrays how rough Peter’s Greek really was, but that doesn’t make him any less God’s instrument of truth. Rather, it shows how we are to work together to do God’s will, bringing His kingdom to this earth. I am never to think I can accomplish God’s will by myself, nor am I ever to despise the contributions of anyone toward His kingdom. He involves us all, and we need each other. We may be scattered strangers, but in God’s economy we are a mighty, glorious army, empowered by the Creator to destroy the works of the devil.

Father, sometimes I look at the church here and I wonder how You are going to fulfill the vision You have given us. Thank You that we couldn’t possibly do it on our own! Thank You for the recent reminders of the fruit of the past 34 years of ministry, indeed scattered around the world. Humanly speaking, I’d like it to be more concentrated right here where I could see it, but Your plan is best. Help me continue to grow in faith and obedience, so that all of Your plans involving me may be fulfilled on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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October 16, 2015

Posted on October 19, 2015 by jgarrott

Hebrews 11:13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.

I think this verse needs to be preached much more widely and thoroughly than it is. Churches are filled with people who think in terms of “What’s in it for me,” and they aren’t thinking much about heaven! That’s the biggest problem with the “name it and claim it” crowd: they are focused on this life, and particularly the material. It’s not at all that there aren’t blessings in this life, or that this life isn’t to be enjoyed, but rather that our focus must be beyond all that. The old Spiritual has it right: “This world is not my home; I’m just a-passing through.” We treat physical death as such a tragedy, when for the person who is in Christ, it is entering into all that they have been promised. It is indeed tragedy for someone who is not in Christ, because it means they have used up their chances to repent and believe for salvation, and it is temporal loss for those left behind in any case, but for the genuine believer it is graduation and victory. When we really understand that we are simply travelers here and not permanent residents, material possessions become far less important. After all, taking a trip with too much luggage is a real drag, both physically and emotionally. Really grasping our temporary status is liberating indeed.

As an American born and raised in Japan, this has been perhaps easier for me to grasp than for some. We didn’t move around nearly as much as some missionaries or military families, but we did pick up and go to the US periodically for what was called “furlough.” I didn’t see what the benefit was in having to leave all that was familiar to me and be plopped down in a place where people expected me to feel “at home,” when it it really seemed strange to me. At the same time, I had the stress of looking different from those around me even when I was where I felt “at home,” and consequently being accepted as belonging only by those who really knew me. Actually, that is still a very real factor in my life. This year Cathy and I have lost 14 people who were close to us, two of them members of this church, but some not yet Christians. It’s those latter ones that hurt most. At this point we are extremely aware that none of us is here permanently, which makes this verse be one of joy and hope. Several people have reacted to Cathy’s health problems with “God’s not fair!” When we grasp the reality of this verse we understand that such complaints come from a distorted perspective. We live in a fallen world, and that’s all the more reason not to fix our hearts on it. When we indeed seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33) then we realize what doesn’t fit into that category, and our peace and hope are in God.

Father, thank You for all that You allow us to experience. Thank You for the various reminders of the impermanence of the material. Help us rejoice that our status, our “permanent residence,” is in Christ, and bring as many people as possible along with us on our journey, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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October 15, 2015

Posted on October 16, 2015 by jgarrott

Hebrews 10:23-25 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

These three verses are individually well known, but it just struck me how connected they are. Americans tend to be very individualistic, but this passage focuses on interconnectedness. For starters, the pronouns are all plural. We are all individually responsible and accountable before God, but we are members together of the one Body of Christ. The Bible knows nothing of “lone wolf” Christians! We together hold to hope in Christ, remembering that even though we are weak, the One in whom we hope is not, and He is indeed faithful. With that as our starting point, we are to be concerned with one another, helping each other live as the children of God that we are. We all can use a pat on the back – or a little lower down – at times! This is what Paul was talking about when he said, “ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16) Teaching is a pat on the back, admonishing is a whack on the seat! In order to do that, we need to get together. We gather to worship God, certainly, but we also gather for what has been called Body life. When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment He was careful not to leave out what He called the second commandment. (Matthew 22:36-40) We are to love God with all that we are, but we must not forget to love our neighbor. That is at the core of this passage, and it needs to be at the foundation of our daily lives.

Left to myself, that’s how I like to be: left to myself. The Lord has had to work on me to get it through my head how interconnected I really am, and should be. As a pastor it has been a problem that I have seen the flock as needing me, without grasping how much I need them. I am not naturally a “social animal,” which is why the Lord paired me with a partner who has never met a stranger in her life. By her influence I am now reasonably social, and by my influence she now finds her way around a computer pretty well. We needed, and need, each other! On a lesser scale, but no less importantly, the different members of the Body of Christ complement and complete each other. One of my tasks as a pastor is to help people recognize that and receive one another, gifts, weaknesses and all. We are to be accepting of each other, but at the same time spurring one another on toward love and good deeds, as this passage says. Pastoral ministry can feel very much like herding cats, as the popular analogy says, but God will supply the necessary wisdom, patience, and everything else if I will trust Him and be obedient.

Father, I was wondering what I was supposed to speak on Sunday! Thank You for making it so clear, and for causing me to write so that I could pretty well preach from this directly. Guide me in laying it out in outline form so that I won’t miss anything You want me to say. May it be Your Word indeed, feeding the sheep what they need so that we may grow together to be the Body You desire, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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October 14, 2015

Posted on October 16, 2015 by jgarrott

Hebrews 7:24-25 Because Jesus lives for ever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

All this discussion of priestly orders and the like seems quite arcane to most Gentiles, but it’s important to realize that God doesn’t neglect any detail. What is stated here is a glorious truth that should comfort and encourage every believer from whatever background. The whole concept of intercession is a foreign idea to many, but very simply put, it is one person pleading on behalf of another. We see it in the news when, for example, someone is kidnapped and a family member pleads with the kidnapper to release them. That analogy is pretty close to what Jesus does for us, because we get taken captive by sin and Jesus asks for our release, not on the basis of how good we are but on the basis of His own sacrifice on our behalf. That is complete salvation. The average person on the street thinks of being saved in strictly physical terms, as in being saved out of a flood or the like, but salvation in Christ is eternal. He does often get us out of fixes here on earth, but His salvation is far deeper and greater than that. There have been people who have recognized that from even long before Jesus walked this earth. Daniel’s three friends come to mind, when they told the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18) They knew that God’s salvation is eternal and complete, and we need to remember that too.

As a pastor I constantly deal with people who want to get out of their current fix but who have no concept whatsoever of eternal salvation. I try to deal with them gently, but sometimes it can really try my patience! I am to speak the truth in love, and love them in truth, and let the Holy Spirit use my words and actions to open their eyes. If I fail to live out my faith, then others will have less reason to believe that what I tell them is true. How I respond to situations, both good and bad, either validates or denies the Gospel I proclaim.

Father, thank You for this clear reminder. Thank You for the current situation we are experiencing, and for the many people who are watching us as we go through it. I pray that they would see Your hand in our lives and understand that You love them as much as You do us. May what we experience draw many to repentance and faith, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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October 13, 2015

Posted on October 14, 2015 by jgarrott

Hebrews 6:19-20 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest for ever, in the order of Melchizedek.

The imagery in this passage is as clear as mud to many people today, partly because of mixed metaphors but mostly for cultural reasons. To understand it we have to know about the veil, actually a thick curtain, that separated the Most Holy Place from the Holy Place in the temple. This originated in the Tabernacle of Moses (Exodus 26:31-33) and was duplicated in the temples of Solomon and Herod. This is what split, from top to bottom, when Jesus died on the cross, (Matthew 27:51) eliminating the barrier between mankind and the manifest presence of God. Accordingly, “within the veil” (as it is traditionally expressed) means “in the very presence of God.” The other cultural/historical mystery is the mention of Melchizedek. Hebrews talks about him a good bit, but he was the priest/king of Salem, later called Jerusalem, to whom Abraham gave a tithe of the spoils when he was victorious in battle. (Genesis 14:18-20) Hebrews attaches great meaning to that, partly because we know so little about him as a historical individual but most especially because Abraham, the progenitor not only of the Jewish race physically, but spiritually speaking of all who believe, tithed to Melchizedek. With those cultural mysteries explained, we have the mixed metaphor of a ship’s anchor being inside a curtain. That wouldn’t have gotten a good grade in any of my writing classes in college! However, everyone needs an anchor point in their lives, as many have recognized. There are countless songs to that effect, and many people stumble around trying to find just such a reference point to give meaning to their lives. The vitally important thing this passage is saying is that the hope we have in Christ, that can be had no other way, is exactly the anchor we need, and since it goes to the very presence of God, it is eternally unshakable. Once the mysteries are cleared up, that’s a pretty important truth to know!

Growing up in the home I had, this was not taught so much as it was a fundamental fact of life. As an adult I have come to realize what an incredible blessing that was, as I have met so many people with no real anchor at all, much less the only one that is eternal. People comment on my response to circumstances and events, sometimes with amazement, and they are envious of the peace I enjoy. All of that comes from exactly this point: I have an eternal hope. This is exactly what Peter was talking about, (1 Peter 3:15) and is the best tool for evangelism. To be honest, it is a mystery to me why more people don’t believe that hope is available to them, even when I tell them about it. I need the anointing of the Holy Spirit, because I obviously can’t get it across effectively on my own. My life work, really, is transmitting that hope to as many people as possible.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You indeed for the hope You have given me, that is beyond expressing in words. I pray that more and more people would catch that hope, as a sort of “blessed infection,” for an epidemic of salvation, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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