July 31, 2015

Posted on August 2, 2015 by jgarrott

Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

Psychologists will tell you that this verse is spot-on. Various mental/emotional disorders can be traced to just this sort of thing. The Japanese here, rather than saying “hope” in the first part, says “expectancy.” The two are closely interconnected. Often we hope for something but don’t really expect it. Rather than the kind of hope mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13:13, that is simply desire, because it is divorced from faith. Japanese has two terms for hope, but they are often used simply to mean desire, rather like the English usage of “I hope so,” meaning, “That’s what I want.” Biblical hope is much stronger than that. I think we dilute the meaning of the word because we are afraid of being disappointed. That’s why it is vitally important on what we base our hope. The old hymn is precisely correct: “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” The best way to avoid the “heart sickness” this verse talks about is indeed to stand on “Christ, the solid Rock.” This isn’t a short-term hope, this is hope for eternity, so seeming delays in this life can’t shake us.

I have certainly had plenty of disappointments over the years, but I have found that the best, indeed the only real remedy is to release my circumstances to God and actively choose to trust Him. I have seen people turn away from Christ, even, because of misinterpretations of Biblical promises. Many people cling to “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household,” (Acts 16:31) thinking it guarantees the salvation of everyone in their family, when actually it says that if the members of your household believe, they too will be saved. I have had people give up on God over precisely this issue, when a parent died without acknowledging Christ. That is heartbreaking indeed, on several levels. As a pastor I need to be careful that I express the promises of God in context, not holding back what He has said but not adding things to “sweeten the pot” from a humanistic perspective. At best, that produces false conversions. Too many people jump on the promises and ignore the conditions, and I must not encourage that. Doing so only promotes “heart sickness” of all sorts.

Father, help me be firmly rooted in Your Word, standing on Christ alone and abiding in Him. May I lead people to that sort of faith, not to a froth that depends on circumstances. I pray for my brother who recently suffered his mother’s death without ever having heard a confession of faith. That’s very common in Japan. I pray that You would comfort him indeed, as only Your Holy Spirit can, so that he will be strengthened rather than shaken, to work more tirelessly for the salvation of his wife and children. Thank You. Praise God!

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July 30, 2015

Posted on August 2, 2015 by jgarrott

Proverbs 11:17-18 A kind man benefits himself,
but a cruel man brings trouble on himself
The wicked man earns deceptive wages,
but he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.

The simple fact of the matter is, being nice is the path to greatest blessing. Mean people are not happy. Selfish, self-centered people are not really happy. It is those who are active in transmitting the grace and blessings of God who enjoy them most. “Looking out for #1” results in emotional poverty that is ultimately pathetic. This fits in perfectly with the one saying of Jesus that isn’t recorded in the Gospels, but Paul quotes in Acts 20:35. “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Lots of people quote that without really believing it! It comes back to what Jesus said that is recorded in the Gospels: “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38) Some people try to apply that to financial gain, but they have the wrong motive in the first place. As Jesus said, a person’s life does not consist of what they have or what they eat or what they wear. (Matthew 6:25) It is only when we understand what true riches are that we really start to gain them.

I really feel like Cathy and I are some of the wealthiest people in this city, even though the tax bureau isn’t much interested in us. I look at Cathy and see that she is almost universally loved, because she loves so extravagantly. People are almost taken aback by how she lets the love of God flow through her, but as soon as they recognize it they are hungry for more. At a funeral this year I mentioned to a man from the funeral parlor, whom we don’t know particularly well, that if Cathy were to die I’d need to use the city concert hall for her funeral, and he said, “More like the arena.” I had to agree, but I was surprised that her reputation had spread even to those with whom we don’t have that much contact. To be honest, I don’t even know the man’s name! God does indeed bless us richly, but the more we are focused on what we are getting, the less we will actually get. We need to stay focused first of all on the One who provides all good things, (James 1:17) and then on those with whom we can share those things. If we will do that, there is literally no end to the blessings that will be poured on and through us.

Father, thank You for “Kingdom economics.” Thank You that in Your kingdom the way up is down, the way to get is to give, the way to live is to die. Thank You precisely because it violates human logic and causes us to depend on You. Help us follow You more and more closely, more and more extravagantly, so that many may be drawn into Your family, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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July 29, 2015

Posted on July 31, 2015 by jgarrott

Proverbs 11:7 When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes;
all he expected from his power comes to nothing.

Once again we are faced with the difference between a temporal perspective and an eternal perspective. Those who decline to follow God are focused on the here and now, but those who are committed to obedience know that this life, this world, amounts to no more than a blip on the eternal scale. The Bible mentions this in many places, even in the Old Testament before they had the clear evidence of Jesus resurrection to help them understand it. I think an important thing to remember in reading this verse is the definition of “wicked.” That doesn’t have to be the active pursuit of evil, though it certainly includes it. Rather, “being wicked” is simply relying on anything other than God. We tend to laud self-reliance, when that can be the most dangerous of all attitudes. It’s not at all that we are to be passive and dependent, it’s that we are to recognize the truth in Jesus’ statement that “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) Along with that, we need to say with Paul, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13) A person who is committed and submitted to God has great assurance because he knows that God can do anything, and even use him in the process! That kind of hope and expectation does not disappear with death, as this verse points out happens for the person not following God, but rather is gloriously fulfilled in eternity.

I am reminded of something that was said by Melvin Bradshaw, a missionary to Japan who visited my father in the hospital just a day or two before the heart surgery from which he didn’t wake up. He said, “I never saw a man with more reason to live, or who was more ready to die.” That is a magnificent epitaph that I aspire to myself. I strive to plan as though I will live to 100 or beyond, but live each moment so that nothing of importance will be left undone whenever the Lord says, “OK, now.” That certainly colors what I consider to be of importance! I’m just two weeks from the start of a photo show in the City Gallery, and that has me pretty busy. However, that is of importance only to the degree that it allows me to draw people to God through my photographs and what I say about them. If I make money on the show, then praise the Lord, but that is a pretty minor consideration. I’ll be speaking at a prayer breakfast this morning, and that has as much if not more importance than the photo show. I need to keep my priorities aligned with God and allow Him to do His will in and through me on His schedule.

Father, You let me know from time to time how Your words impact people through me, even when I’m not conscious of it at the moment. Help me be totally available to You at all times, so that the works of the devil may be destroyed (1 John 3:8) and many people be set free to come into Your kingdom, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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July 28, 2015

Posted on July 31, 2015 by jgarrott

Proverbs 10:29 The way of the Lord is a refuge for the righteous,but it is the ruin of those who do evil.

It’s all in how you approach it, that is to say, your attitude. This brings to mind Psalm 118:22-23, which Jesus Himself quoted about Himself in Matthew 21:42. “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” Paul and Peter both quoted Isaiah 8:14, that speaks of Christ as a sanctuary for those who turn to Him but a stone of stumbling for those who reject Him. Again Paul says, “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18) There are doubtless other examples in Scripture, but I think that gets the point across: rebellion against God brings loss, it brings destruction, but wholehearted submission to God brings life and joy and peace. Going back to this verse in Proverbs, “The way of the Lord” has to be traveled for it to get us anywhere. Some people just want to sit by the side of the road and let everything come to them, but that literally gets them nowhere. We are to be active in our obedience, but careful not to run off on a tangent. Thinking about this, my mind is overwhelmed with examples, from Scripture and otherwise, of things like “taking the high road.” In Western culture at least we know this as abstract truth, but the big question is whether we apply it, and the evidence is that all too often we do not. It’s not really in knowing what is right, it’s in doing what is right.

Thinking about the road I’ve traveled to this point, I see a lot of detours! However, God in His mercy has brought me back to His way time and time again, and I am deeply grateful. Now, I seek to point others to the Way. I think it’s significant that before they were called Christians, the early believers were called “People of the Way.” That’s a very good name! I can’t force anyone to join me on God’s road, but I can let them see me as I walk it and let them know it’s there. Sadly, many people don’t seem to think they can join me, either because they aren’t qualified or because they are sure they’d wander off it. I need to help them understand that none of us are qualified, apart from God’s grace, and that same grace and mercy will enable us to stay on the road. It is indeed a fortress for all who will choose to follow it, but destruction for those who insist on leaving it.

Father, thank You again for Your grace and mercy. Thank You for not giving up on me, for drawing me back again and again. Help me be effective in sharing the good news of that grace and mercy to all, so that many may repent, believe, and be saved, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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July 27, 2015

Posted on July 29, 2015 by jgarrott

Psalm 147:1 Praise the Lord.
How good it is to sing praises to our God,
how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

This whole Psalm is a celebration, not only of God but of the joy and privilege of praising Him. One reason it feels so good to praise God is that we were created for that purpose. (Isaiah 43:21) Praising God is a glorious privilege, and we lose so much when we fail to do it. A major element of the Charismatic Renewal was rediscovering jubilant praise. It was never completely lost, but in many churches up to that point you had to search for it to find it. There are many magnificent hymns that uplift and bless, but many churches had lost the focus of singing to God. Lots of church music is believers encouraging each other. There’s nothing wrong with that, but that should not be our major focus. For the past 50 years “Charismatic” style singing has spread to a majority of congregations, in my observation, but many still don’t really have their focus clear. Self-centered “worship” isn’t really worship at all. It is only when we shift our focus off of ourselves and put it firmly on our risen Lord that we receive the faith, and everything else we need, to be effective children of God. To me, You are My All in All, by Dennis Jernigan, is a beautiful example of the attitude called for. It is perhaps more worship than praise, but it puts the focus squarely where it belongs. Writing that, I realize that I’m tripping over that distinction. To me, praise is more, “God is magnificent,” and worship is more “You are my God.” Both are essential, and music is a marvelous tool in expressing both.

I grew up in a very musical family, and have many happy memories of being gathered around the piano “singing through the hymn book.” Even so, it wasn’t until I became involved in the Charismatic movement that I discovered the sheer joy of praising and worshiping God through music. I remember as a young teenager sitting on my bed in my room, singing Just As I Am with tears running down my face. That was indeed worship, but it wasn’t praise. It is necessary commitment, but it is centered on the one singing rather than God, even though it is addressed to Him. As a pastor I want this church to be a praising, worshiping body, but that has its ups and downs. We do better sometimes, but worse sometimes. I’ve got to remember that a major part of my job description as a pastor is “Chief Praise and Worshiper.” If I’m not focused on giving God the praise and worship He deserves, I can’t expect the congregation to be, either. At the same time, I don’t need to be lost in praise and worship to the point of being oblivious to whether the people around me are able to follow me into God’s throne room. The whole music team needs wisdom and sensitivity so that the “weaker” members of the congregation won’t be left behind, but rather be strengthened in all that God has for them. (Hebrews 12:12-13)

Father, thank You for the privilege of praise, and for this reminder just now. Thank You for the wisdom and anointing You give Cathy as she chooses music for the services, and for the generally high level of praise and worship that is evident here. May we continue to grow in all ways, so that all of Your purposes for us may be fulfilled for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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July 26, 2015

Posted on July 27, 2015 by jgarrott

Psalm 146:5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord his God.

The Psalmist makes this statement, but then he goes on in the rest of the Psalm to specify why this is true, listing thing after thing the Lord does. People speak of “blind faith,” but true faith is the opposite of blind, seeing clearly the One who is trusted. That’s what it’s talking about in Hebrews 11:1, where it says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” It is also referenced in Hebrews 2:8-9, talking about how we can have peace and hope even when the world around us is falling apart, because “We see Jesus.” The writer of Hebrews and his readers were past the time when Jesus was walking the earth, so their “seeing” was the same as ours: by faith. Faith does not depend on the senses, but it is very real indeed. Our physical bodies react to what we believe is true. Amazing things can be done with hypnosis, for example. That’s why it’s so important that we believe the truth, about God and about ourselves. Jesus stated that He Himself is the truth, (John 14:6) and He also characterized the devil as “the father of lies.” (John 8:44) We tend to act in line with what we really believe, whatever we say we believe. That’s why Jesus said, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46) God is amazingly gracious and kind, as the Psalmist says, but we will enjoy that fully only as we trust that it is true, and live accordingly.

This has been an issue in my own life and it is certainly an issue in my ministry. I have had to learn the very real difference between head knowledge and heart faith. Knowledge of God and the Bible is certainly not bad, but it must be appropriated and applied for it to be effective. It is when it works into our hearts that it really becomes faith. Too many times my life has been a demonstration of James 1:22, as I have deceived myself by stopping with head knowledge instead of living out what I “knew.” As a pastor I communicate information about God, but if I stop there I am ineffective. I need to train people in applying the truth I communicate, so that it may be worked into their hearts. It is of course the Holy Spirit who does the “heavy lifting” in that, but I am to provide opportunities and encouragement. I am to remind people of what a mighty God we serve, just as the chorus says, so that together we may walk by faith, and not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)

Father, thank You for this reminder. You brought to mind the root Scripture for this morning’s message! I pray that this morning, and each time I speak, I may indeed communicate Your truth in Your words by the power of Your Spirit, so that my hearers may be lifted out of the traps of the liar and brought into the liberty of Your Spirit, (John 8:32, 2 Corinthians 3:17) for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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July 25, 2015

Posted on July 27, 2015 by jgarrott

Psalm 131:1-2 My heart is not proud, O Lord,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.
But I have stilled and quietened my soul;
like a weaned child with its mother,
like a weaned child is my soul within me.

What a beautiful, refreshing picture of trust! We do need to grow and mature, but there are various child-like qualities that are valuable indeed, and that we really don’t need to lose even as we get older. We have such trouble getting to be like this passage says. We want to figure things out, to have all the answers in our hands, but very often that is impossible, or is simply an illusion. We don’t like to admit that! God has given us minds and abilities and expects us to use them, but if we forget their limits we get ourselves into big trouble. Scientific inquiry is a good and honorable thing, but we tend to forget that there is far more that we don’t know than we do know. That’s a hard pill to swallow for some people! If everything were knowable, there would be no need or room for faith. That’s precisely where some people want to take us, but they have no grasp of how incredibly poorer that would make us. We need to remember that we are very much like mayflies, that have a lifespan of 24 hours, when compared to God. There is no way we could have His level of wisdom and understanding, but that’s not a bad thing. David was a king, back when kings really did run their countries, and he had a lot of authority and responsibility. However, he also had the wisdom to know that the right attitude before God is that of an obedient, trusting child.

I wish I could say I always maintain such an attitude! I’ve never been especially power-hungry when it comes to other people, but I do like to control what happens in my own life. Fat chance, as the saying goes. A major part of the stress in my life comes from precisely this point of trying to be in control. I need to be a faithful steward of the resources and opportunities I am given, but I need to maintain a trusting, obedient attitude toward the One who really is in control. He told me several years ago that there is a lot in the world today that He’s not happy about, but that’s because of the free will He has given to mankind. He still has the last say, and I’ve got to trust Him with that. I need to remember that everything my senses tell me is temporal and thus temporary, and as Paul said, operate by faith and not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7) That is the path, as the Lord has told me, to rest, relax, and rejoice.

Father, thank You for being absolutely trustworthy. Thank You for continuing to grow and train me in trusting You. Keep me from being passive, resigned, fatalistic, but at the same time help me leave the steering wheel in Your hands, so to speak. Help me be Your agent of blessing to all I encounter, and help me recognize and receive the blessings You have for me through others, so that You may receive all the glory as Your will is accomplished. Thank You. Praise God!

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July 24, 2015

Posted on July 27, 2015 by jgarrott

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

On the face of it this seems like a somewhat strange statement. If God forgives, then why fear Him? However, that question could only come from someone who doesn’t really understand sin and its consequences, much less God and His grace. It actually takes more power to forgive than to punish. I’m not really talking criminal justice here, I’m talking about heart attitudes and eternal consequences. Often we bear the physical consequences of our sins even when we have repented of them and God has wiped them off of our slate, but sin has eternal consequences as well. When we repent before God and place those sins under the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of atonement, then they do not, they cannot, follow us into eternity. Knowing that God can and does make that possible should generate in every believer a desire to keep everything under the blood, a desire to walk in the righteousness of God that is only available through Jesus Christ. That is truly “fearing the Lord,” and it is the core of the Gospel.

I have loved this passage for many years. I remember how coming to the realization that I really was forgiven freed me from the strong pull of pornography. I am still human and must not be careless, but it has only a fraction of the pull it once had. Peter’s statement was really liberating to me. “But if anyone does not have them, he is short-sighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.” (2 Peter 1:9) He’s talking about some good character traits here, but the point is that once you are cleansed, you are cleansed. I’m reminded of an article I read just recently about a man, who is currently a pastor, who has served a sentence for a murder he really did commit as a young man. The difference between him and me is just that the police wouldn’t be interested in what I have done. The fact that we are sinners saved by the grace of God is no different at all. That’s reason enough to fear God and love Him, placing Him above and before everything else in my life, even including my physical life. He is more than worthy.

Father, thank You indeed for Your amazing grace. So many people sing that song with no real idea of what it means. Help me express Your Gospel accurately and effectively to as many people as possible, so that they too may turn, repent and believe, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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July 23, 2015

Posted on July 24, 2015 by jgarrott

Psalm 119:147-148 I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I have put my hope in your word.
My eyes stay open through the watches of the night,
that I may meditate on your promises.

You might call this “fasting sleep.” We have a strange relationship with sleep, just as we do with food. Both are essential, and extended disruptions to either can be disastrous. However, we can over-value them as well, allowing them to displace other important elements of our lives. Food is fairly well understood by most people, but sleep is not. Sleep deprivation is a major issue, actually. In Japan, and I believe some other Asian countries, students are expected to sacrifice sleep in order to study. That can work in the short term, as anyone who has crammed for an exam believes, but it can have major negative impact in the long term. I had long wondered why Japanese, who are seldom fat, had such a high incidence of type-2 diabetes, but then a report came out that said chronic sleep deprivation in the teenage years was linked to higher risk of diabetes, and everything clicked. The study was done in America, but the average Japanese high school student gets only about 5 hours of sleep a night, and that’s average; there are those who get less. With long commutes, that often carries over into adult years. Some people might applaud that, seeing it as dedication, but it is really a matter of misplaced priorities. Today, there are many who sacrifice sleep in order to watch TV or play video games. That’s certainly not the right kind of dedication! All of that is in sharp contrast to what the Psalmist is talking about here. He is facing difficulties in life, as we all do, but his choice is to focus on God and what He has said. There have been times in the history of the Church when all night prayer meetings were not so uncommon, but today people are far more likely to indulge in a “marathon” of TV watching or computer gaming. We need to be good stewards of our bodies/health in both food and sleep, but be willing to fast either or both, giving preference to the Word of the Lord.

I have discovered that rising early (in winter it’s certainly before dawn) to have plenty of time for devotions is an avenue of real blessing, but I have to compensate by going to bed early, too. As a pastor that’s not always possible, because emergencies in the congregation don’t depend on the clock, but that’s what I have found works well for me. I earnestly desire that everyone in the church develop strong habits of personal devotions, but I find a lot of the resistance comes from the whole sleep issue. People aren’t willing to go to bed in time to get enough sleep before getting up in time to have devotions before starting the day. People tend to react to my teaching on the subject with, “You’re messing with my personal life. How dare you!” I can’t change their hearts, but I can pray for them. Making Jesus Lord extends to every area of our lives. That applies even to food and sleep.

Father, I fear coming across as legalistic when I stress this, and there is certainly a risk of being holier-than-thou. I ask You to enable me to feed Your sheep what You know they need in ways that You know they will receive it, because I don’t have wisdom to do it. May I be fully submitted to You in every area so that I may be an example to the flock, and together we may be and do all that You desire and intend, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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July 22, 2015

Posted on July 24, 2015 by jgarrott

Psalm 119:111 Your statutes are my heritage for ever;
they are the joy of my heart.

This brings to mind Jesus’ instructions to “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:20) Physical treasure, inherited or otherwise, is temporary. However, when our focus is on God and what He provides, that is eternal. He does bless us physically, but that is an afterthought compared to the spiritual riches He has for us. The thing is, if our focus is on the physical, we are likely not even to recognize the spiritual riches. It is somewhat like art work that has monetary value only to the degree that people value it. On one level, the greatest paintings in history are no more than canvas (or wood, etc.) and pigment. Not a whole lot of value there, except that people assign value to it. From God’s standpoint, the material world is something He spoke into existence. However, He values souls that turn to Him. When John 3:16 says that God so loved the world, it’s not talking about the rocks, trees, and rivers, but about the people. Conversely, when 1 John 2:15 says, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him,” it’s talking about material things and the world system. It’s significant that the same person wrote both those verses!

I feel this verse from the Psalm applies fully to me. One of my father’s favorite verses was Psalm 16:6. “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” He was very aware of the spiritual heritage he had from his pastor father, and he rejoiced in it. I have that multiplied, adding in my mother’s side of the family along with all the spiritual riches my parents amassed. However, every bit of that is dependent on my going back to the source, to God, because unless my own relationship with Him is right, I enjoy very little of anything else. That said, by God’s grace I do recognize His riches. Physical things can be nice, but they are not to be compared with the eternal riches that God has poured out through Christ. As a pastor myself I seek to help people recognize the abundance that is available to them, but it can be slow going. “Pastor” actually means “shepherd,” and sometimes I feel like I’ve led my flock to a lush meadow and they decline to eat the clover. I am to speak the truth in love and pray for the work of the Holy Spirit, so that each believer may choose and be trained to feed themselves on the abundance of God’s word, for their eternal blessing.

Father, thank You indeed for my heritage. May I neither devalue nor squander it, but continually invest it in Your kingdom to that it may have a heavenly return indeed, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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