April 6, 2015

Posted on April 8, 2015 by jgarrott

John 20:21-23 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

I know I have preached on the first two verses of this passage, but I think I’ve been afraid to preach on the third one! This is obviously an extremely important passage, because it was Jesus’ first encounter with His disciples after the resurrection, and it is indeed a commissioning. The first thing that hits me is how matter-of-fact Jesus was. “Peace be with you” was a standard greeting, as it still is in some cultures, so this was equivalent to saying, “Good evening.” Of course, when Jesus says it there is real peace imparted, and the disciples were certainly in need of peace, after all they had been through in the previous few days. Then He says He is sending them as He was sent. I’m sure books have been written on this statement – or they should be! If we meditate on this verse it should give us both a deep humility and a deep excitement and expectation of what God wants to do through us. There must be no misunderstanding: there is only one Savior, one Mediator between God and man (Acts 4:12, 1 Timothy 2:5). That is not and cannot be part of our commission. However, apart from that, God wants to manifest Himself through us just as He did through Jesus’ human body. Jesus Himself said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12) We seldom exercise that kind of faith! Then it gets theologically awkward. We don’t understand forgiveness nearly well enough. This isn’t talking about excusing, it’s talking about forgiving. The scariest thing Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount was that if we refuse to forgive, we won’t be forgiven. (Matthew 6:14-15) Here He’s extending it, saying that how we forgive others has eternal consequences for them as well as for us. That should really give us pause and cause some deep self-examination.

I talk about forgiveness a lot, because Japanese culture has a very weak understanding of the whole concept. However, that’s not to say that I understand everything about it myself. I do know that I must not hold grudges, that as soon as something is done against me I’ve got to let go of it and yield it to God. I’ve done too much ignoring God, and even defying Him, to want to risk not being forgiven myself! I am reminded of Corrie ten Boom’s encounter after WWII with the guard from the concentration camp where she was and where her sister died. I think that was exactly what Jesus was talking about here. Corrie did choose to forgive, and she received a release and a blessing beyond what she had thought was possible, previous to experiencing it. I need to remember that in my forgiving of others I am allowing Jesus’ blood to flow over me as well. I don’t even know everything for which I need to be forgiven, so I’d better be proactive in forgiving others. As a pastor, I need to be very careful that my forgiveness doesn’t come across as excusing; wrong things are clearly wrong. I am to declare the holiness of God, and then His grace and mercy. It is only when we know we are wrong that we repent, and that is essential.

Father, I’ve still got so much to learn here. Thank You for continuing to move me along, to grow me and deepen my understanding. Help me communicate effectively what You show me, so that the Body of Christ may be built up as You desire, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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April 5, 2015

Posted on April 8, 2015 by jgarrott

John 20:8-9 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

This incident is an illustration of the reality that there is a difference between faith and understanding. Faith is more important, because we are not saved by understanding, but faith without understanding is rootless, for want of a better word. Paul said that “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) Saving faith is a gift, (Ephesians 2:8) but we do need understanding to lay hold of all that God has provided for us. This passage doesn’t specify precisely what John believed, but he had been granted the best memory of all that Jesus had told them in the Upper Room and on the way to Gethsemane, so he had the most reason to expect resurrection. At the same time, he hadn’t connected it to the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus (since that was the only Bible they had at that point). When we experience something that seems spiritual we need to search the Scriptures to be sure we aren’t being misled by our emotions or something worse. That said, we also need to be careful not to put out the Holy Spirit’s fire, as Paul cautioned. (1 Thessalonians 5:19) We need faith, certainly, but we need faith that is rooted and grounded in the Word of God, so that emotions won’t be able to rob us of it.

Having been involved in the Charismatic Movement since the early ’70s, I’ve seen a wide range of faith/understanding/activities. They didn’t always connect very well with each other! However, of all the people in the New Testament, the one I would most like to emulate, apart from Jesus, is John. John had both simplicity of faith and depth of understanding. I personally tend toward the intellectual, but I know that without a foundation and an overlay of faith, intellect by itself leads to total futility and death. I read about such people as Isaac Newton, who are know for their brilliance but who operated from a bedrock understanding that we are creatures, accountable to our Creator. Japanese in general have very little understanding of the Christian Gospel, so I have to give information before they are able to receive the gift of faith. However, I must not think that information alone is enough. I am consistently and constantly to pray for the Holy Spirit to impart faith to my hearers, so that they may repent and believe for their salvation.

Father, thank You for this reminder on this Easter Sunday morning. Thank You for the lightening and thunder that woke me up in time to have this time with You before the Sunrise Service. I leave the weather in Your hands, and I ask Your presence and anointing for every service this morning, both at the martyrdom site and in each church building. May many gather, not only to hear the Good News but also to be touched by Your Spirit and transformed into the likeness of our risen Lord, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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April 4, 2015

Posted on April 7, 2015 by jgarrott

Luke 23:56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

God’s timing is always perfect. Jesus was crucified the day before Passover, because He was the Passover Lamb, but also so that the high holy day would ensure that there was enough time between His death and His resurrection to quell suspicions that He hadn’t really died. (John’s report of the spear in His side (John 19:34) should have taken care of that, but that was simply an eyewitness report. Time passed is a little more objective.) It is very impressive to me that the women indeed rested on the Sabbath, though Jesus had said that “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27) Their intense emotional involvement in the circumstances notwithstanding, they went by the letter of the law. Legalism is often very dangerous, but respect for the Law of God is never a bad idea. The very idea of a Sabbath seems antiquated to most people, but it is one of the 10 Commandments, and as such is timeless. Jesus indeed put the Sabbath in its place, so to speak, but those commandments were given for our good, and we ignore them to our loss. Both physiologists and psychologists agree that we are designed for periodic rest, and failing to take it wears us down in every area. Sometimes circumstances preclude resting, but we must recognize our need and take that rest at some point.

It hasn’t been so many years since I started taking Mondays as my Sabbath rest (since as a pastor my Sundays are very busy), but I am very thankful to have done so. I do use the term, Sabbath, in telling people I don’t schedule things for that day, and I get some bemused responses. Recently I’ve been fasting breakfast and lunch on Mondays as well, and that has increased my level of blessing. When we think that our activity is indispensable to the kingdom of God, we operate in pride whether we realize it or not. The Sabbath is a reminder that God is God and we are not, that everything we have comes from Him and He is absolutely trustworthy. I’ve got to let go of things on a regular basis, refusing to be anxious, or I forget that.

Father, thank You for the example of the women. Help me be no less committed to obedience, whatever my mind and emotions are doing. As You told me years ago, help me rest, relax, and rejoice in You at all times, so that Your will may be done in and through me on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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April 3, 2015

Posted on April 7, 2015 by jgarrott

Luke 23:42-43 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

I have always been taken by this simplest of confessions of faith, and the fact that this criminal was the first Christian in heaven as a result. There was absolutely no pretense here. After all, these men were nailed naked to crosses, so there was literally nothing to hide. The criminal had just acknowledged his own guilt, that he deserved nothing better than what he was getting, and then he asked Jesus for grace. I have no idea what he thought he might get, but his request was simply to be remembered. However, the fact that he spoke of Jesus’ kingdom, when Jesus was in the same physical situation that he was, testifies of a supernatural faith. From a humanistic standpoint, all he had reason to expect was that they would both rot in whatever graves they were given. Regardless, he spoke of being remembered from a position of kingly authority. That is faith! We can only speculate as to what and how he knew of Jesus, but that knowledge had obviously not been enough to keep him from a life of crime. So many people today know about Jesus, but it doesn’t make them turn from sin to follow Him in obedience. This criminal, at the last possible moment, threw himself on God’s mercy, and it was sufficient. That should be a huge comfort and encouragement to everyone who thinks about it. However, there are those who count on being able to make a “deathbed conversion.” That shows a fundamental misunderstanding of salvation and a love of sin, and that holds no hope at all. Every day spent in sin is a loss, and every day spent in obedience to and fellowship with Christ is gain.

I have had the privilege of baptizing a man in his late 80s, just days before he died, as well as baptizing a girl of five with a spiritual maturity far beyond her years. I rejoice at both, but I’m happier about the little girl. Incidentally, she is now a very active and dedicated disciple of Jesus Christ, over 10 years since her baptism. I quote the story of the criminal on the cross fairly often, to help people understand the transactional simplicity of salvation. It is also an illustration of the fact that genuine salvation often doesn’t change our physical circumstances at all; it simply changes our eternal destination. I deal with quite a few people who want salvation from their physical circumstances, sometimes to the point that it keeps them from understanding their spiritual need at all. It is a joy to be able to meet physical needs, but from the eternal perspective, the spiritual needs are infinitely greater. I need to keep praying for the Holy Spirit to open people’s hearts and minds to see themselves as God does, to repent of their sins and rejoice in His love and grace.

Father, thank You for arranging for that man’s salvation on the cross, and for having the event recorded. Thank You for the salvation that You provided for all mankind through Jesus’ cross, available to anyone who will repent and believe to receive it. Help me be increasingly effective in sharing the good news of that salvation, so that as many as possible may join me before Your throne, for Your pleasure and glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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April 2, 2015

Posted on April 3, 2015 by jgarrott

Mark 14:61-62 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.
Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”
“I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

There are those even today who assert that Jesus never claimed to be divine, but that requires some absurd mental and linguistic gymnastics in the face of a passage like this. Jesus not only stated that yes, He was the Messiah, He rubbed it in, so to speak, with the line about coming on the clouds of heaven. The accusations of various “witnesses” didn’t get Him to open His mouth, but when the High Priest asked Him this direct question, He could not fail to speak the truth. I am reminded of Sharia courts today that try to “defend the honor of God,” as they see Him. Their judgments are as arbitrary and harsh as what Jesus endured. Actually, Islam and Sharia becoming so visible today gives us a much better grasp of what Jesus was talking about when He said that those who follow Him would be hauled in front of magistrates, and that those who killed His followers would think they were pleasing God. (Luke 21:12, John 16:2) Whether we are ever in such a place or not, we need to be as forthright with the truth as Jesus was, and not be silent for fear of consequences. Even if we have to “pay the ultimate price,” as people see it, our reward will be great indeed.

The pace of martyrdom is picking up around the world, and “cultural jihad” is seeking to bring it to America as well. I am in less direct danger of that in Japan than in most places in the world, including the US, but that is no reason to be indifferent. I am to be active and diligent in prayer for all my brothers and sisters in Christ who are “in harm’s way.” A dear friend and his family are traveling in the Middle East right now, and that puts something of a fine point on it. I am to keep praying that God’s Name would be acknowledged as holy and His kingdom come as His will is done perfectly on this earth, and flesh that prayer out with particulars as the Holy Spirit guides. I am to pray for boldness, wisdom, peace and joy for all who are endangered because they claim the Name of Christ, the only Savior. Though I am not in physical danger myself, I am not to fear rejection or ridicule. Sometimes we shy away from those more than we do from physical danger! I am to function as Christ’s ambassador in every sense, (2 Corinthians 5:20) doing His will, the work of His kingdom, all day every day, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the recent tests that give me less hesitation from my health standpoint about moving forward. May I get my “marching orders” from You consistently and accurately, speaking Your truth in love regardless of the consequences, so that Your Word through me may have its full work, for Your glory. (Isaiah 55:11) Thank You. Hallelujah!

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April 1, 2015

Posted on April 3, 2015 by jgarrott

Matthew 26:41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

The last part of this verse is very famous, though many people have no real idea where it came from. It was famously used in a test of early translation software. When taken from English to Russian and then back again, it ended up as, “The wine is good but the meat is rotten.” However, only a relatively small number of Christians remember the first part of the verse, which is how we are to respond to our human weaknesses: watch and pray. Many people respond to temptations like the character Alfred Doolittle in My Fair Lady, who sings about having “a little bit of luck” to yield to every temptation that comes his way. He is thoroughly despicable, yet he comes across as a “charming rogue” because he lives as many people secretly would like to. That’s sad, really. The problem is, far too few people actually fear God, or fear the consequences of their sins. If they did, there would be far more “watching and praying.” An interesting note about this verse for Christians is that the Japanese translates “willing” as “on fire.” You really can be on fire for the Lord and still stumble badly, especially if you think your zeal insulates you from temptation. We must not forget our innate weakness, but indeed be alert and stay in constant communication with our Lord, so that He may guide us through the mine field of life.

This has certainly been my experience. At one point I saw no conflict between “being a strong Christian” and being awash in pornography! That was a total disregard of this verse, and was certainly proof that I was deceiving myself. (James 1:22) The song, “Oh Happy Day,” gets it right when it says, “He taught me how to watch and pray, and live rejoicing every day.” I’m still learning, but I’ve come a long way by the grace of God. As a pastor, I’m to shepherd and encourage those who are further back on that path than I am, always remembering that in my own strength I can’t even take care of myself. However, by the grace and power of God I can indeed do everything He asks of me, (Philippians 4:13) for the blessing of many and for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the thorough medical tests yesterday that indicate that, at least as far as my heart is concerned, I’ve still got quite a few years left to serve You here. Help me remember always that however healthy my physical body might be, I’m still vulnerable to temptations that could seriously derail me. Help me not live in anxiety, but in confident dependence on You, seeking and doing Your will in every situation, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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March 31, 2015

Posted on April 1, 2015 by jgarrott

Matthew 26:24 “The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

Just because God knows we’re going to do something doesn’t mean He forces us to do that. God knew before the creation of the universe that Judas would betray Jesus, but that doesn’t mean Judas was a pawn. The whole issue of predestination/free will is a logical conundrum that has caused countless arguments over the centuries, and is the biggest factor in one of the major divisions in the Church today, between Arminianism and Calvinism. However today, churches of both those traditions are going apostate over moral issues, so the futility of such arguments is obvious. As my Systematic Theology professor stressed, if our theology doesn’t affect the way we live and make us more like Jesus, it is meaningless. We are always in a tension between the sovereignty of God and our personal responsibility. Taking either lightly leads to major problems. The contrast between Judas and Peter is very instructive here. Judas never said he didn’t know Jesus, but he led soldiers to arrest Him. He then realized he had done wrong, but instead of casting himself on God’s mercy, he tried to take care of it himself, by returning the money he had received and then killing himself. There are those who try to make a case for Judas, saying that he was wanting Jesus to be in a situation where He would have to demonstrate His power as the Son of God, rather than simply as the Son of Man. That in no way excuses Judas, because it means he was trying to control God. By extension, he was putting himself in God’s place, and desiring to do that is what got Satan thrown out of heaven. Even in remorse he tried to deal with it on his own, instead of submitting fully to God. Peter, on the other hand, said repeatedly that he didn’t know Jesus, out of fear for his own skin, but there was real humility in his repentance, and as a result he had a private audience with Jesus after the resurrection, (1 Corinthians 15:5) and his ministry after that is well known. We are to walk in consistent humility, knowing that God is God but also that our actions make a difference, for ourselves and for others. Rather than making theological points, we need to be focused on grateful obedience.

I was aware of various theological disputes even before I went to seminary, and I am deeply grateful to have studied Systematic Theology under Dr. John Kewiet. In the years since then I have been grieved, not only by the disputes but especially by how members of the Body of Christ have allowed such disagreements to become walls between them. Such things go to absurd degrees. I am to be focused on Christ Jesus my Lord, not thinking that I have a monopoly on Him or that what I believe about Him is wrong, but seeking always to press in to know more of Him, allowing His Spirit to transform me into His likeness. Like Paul, I’m to rest in the knowledge of Whom I have believed, and walk in grateful obedience. (2 Timothy 1:12)

Father, thank You for this reminder. I know full well that I can’t keep it all straight on my own. Thank You for the assurance that You can and will keep me straight if I will walk with You as You have said, (Micah 6:8) for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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March 30, 2015

Posted on April 1, 2015 by jgarrott

John 13:17 “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

I think this is actually one of the most important verses in the whole Bible. It is entirely possible to have a thorough knowledge of the Bible and not even be saved. James statement on this subject is actually better known. He calls knowing without doing “deceiving yourself.” (James 1:22) We even need to be careful how and why we go about doing. Matthew 7:21-23 is downright scary for a pastor like me: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” The whole point is that we are to be submitted to God as His agents to do His will, and not be trying to use His power to do our will. That’s what “magic” is all about, and why Harry Potter is entirely different from miracles. That’s also why Moses was disqualified from entering the Promised Land. He had been used by God to do many miraculous things that probably most of the people following him did not distinguish from magic, but when he used God’s power in his way, instead of in God’s way, to bring water from a rock, that was rebellion rather than obedience. (Numbers 20:6-12)

I am frequently reminded of this truth, precisely because I have such a knowledge of the Bible, and I have tripped up numerous times by feeling that was enough. God’s blessings come in submission and obedience, in doing what He says, which is why Paul tells us to “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12) I can tell the Biblical narrative accurately and with assurance, but that does me no good if I’m not living it out myself. I desire to draw many into the family of God, but that will not happen if I’m striking the rock instead of speaking to it, so to speak. I need to listen to my own sermons, and do what I’ve said! I know that God’s ways are higher than my ways, and His thoughts than my thoughts, (Isaiah 55:8-9) so I’d better not place my ways and thoughts ahead of His in my life. Even Jesus had to wrestle with this issue in the Garden of Gethsemane. (Matthew 26:39) I am to be fully submitted and obedient on every level. Only then will I receive all the blessings God intends for me.

Father, thank You for the service yesterday, and for the reminder that I can tell the Biblical narrative in a fairly compelling way. I pray that Your Word through me would indeed accomplish everything for which You send it, (Isaiah 55:11) building up the Body of Christ for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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March 29, 2015

Posted on March 30, 2015 by jgarrott

Matthew 21:9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest!”

This was bound to have been bittersweet for Jesus. He was finally getting the recognition and acceptance that were rightfully His, yet He knew that it would be fleeting, with only a few days until He would undergo unspeakable suffering. During that interval He wept over Jerusalem, saying they would see Him again only when they would again welcome Him as they did here. (Matthew 23:37-39) That said, I’m sure He did rejoice over those whose welcome of Him was genuine. That was only a fraction of the total, because the majority were looking for a physical, military and material Savior who would get them out from under the Roman thumb and perhaps feed them miraculously, as He had done on two occasions, but I’m sure there were some. They too had quite a roller coaster ride ahead of them, but I’m sure they were included on the day of Pentecost, either among the 120 in the upper room or in the 3000 that were added later that day. Our lives on this earth have a lot of ups and downs, and we aren’t to be surprised at that. Jesus reminded His disciples of that fact as they were on the way to the Garden of Gethsemane, just hours before He would be scourged and crucified. (John 16:33) Knowing that rough times are coming shouldn’t rob of us of the joy of the moment. We see this in the laughter of those who know they have a terminal disease. Laughter might not come easily for them, but it is very possible. Actually, we are all in their shoes, because none of us knows when or how we will leave this life, just that it will happen. The point is that we are to believe and trust God’s promises of what lies beyond all of that, just as Jesus did. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2) That way we can enjoy the high spots and get through the low ones, whatever they might be.

Just yesterday I was talking with a young man in the church about Cathy’s health problems, and how she has such a list of them. She practices what I’ve just written to a remarkable degree, and is an inspiration to many because of it. However, what I was talking about was how more than one of those problems could be terminal for her at any point, and I have received prophecy on three separate occasions that she would precede me. Since she’s already been to heaven and come back once, I know that it would be unfair of me to pray for her return when she goes again. Thinking about that can be pretty depressing! However, such depression is a trick of the devil to rob me of the joys of the moment, and there are a lot of those. I am never to dread what might or might not happen, because that is yielding to the devil. Rather, I am to rejoice in God’s salvation, whatever I am experiencing at the moment. I am to “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn,” (Romans 12:15) pointing everyone to Christ who makes it all more than worthwhile.

Father, thank You for Passion Week. Thank You for the service that is planned for today, and for the opportunity to tell that story. I ask for Your anointing so that it will be fresh even for those who are most familiar with it, and illuminating for those who aren’t so familiar with it. I pray that it would bring some to repentance and faith who have been hanging back to this point. May we all rejoice in Your incredible grace that dictated the events of Passion week and renew our commitment to follow You in total obedience, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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March 28, 2015

Posted on March 30, 2015 by jgarrott

Psalm 30:4-5 Sing to the Lord, you saints of his;
praise his holy name.
For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.

The last part of verse 5 – joy in the morning – is justly famous, and has even become the title of a book, because practically everyone has experienced this at one time or another. Our bodies have natural rhythms, called circadian rhythms, of hormone production and everything else, that are tied to the natural day/night cycle around us. That’s why jet lag is such an issue, and why sleep disorders can be so serious. It is naturally easier for us to be optimistic in the morning, and “the shout of joy” (the original text here) comes more easily then. The Bible can give us remarkable insight into how we are made and the natural world around us, but it doesn’t stop there. It’s significant to note that this is addressed to “saints.” Natural rhythms occur for everyone, but it is those who are walking with God who receive the full benefits. However, we tend to make “saints” into a very special category: people like Billy Graham or Mother Theresa or the Biblical apostles. Such people do fit that term, but it is far less exclusive than that. In both the Old and the New Testament, “saint” is used for anyone who is committed to God as His possession. Paul used the term frequently in his letters, and reading them in context, it is clear he is talking about all believers. The Catholic practice of praying to deceased people has fed into our misunderstanding of what a saint is, and has made it far less likely that we would recognize that we ourselves fit the label. Actually, a saint is anyone whom God has declared holy, and that includes everyone who has repented of their sin and clung to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The problem is, we don’t always live like saints, even when we’ve made that commitment. We’re all works in progress! Reading about various famous Christians of the past, including those who are officially designated as Saints, reveals that they were as human as we are. They were not perfect, as Paul so famously confessed in Philippians 3:12-14. The point for every believer is what Paul said right after that: “Only let us live up to what we have already attained.” (Philippians 3:16) We are not to put ourselves down for being imperfect, but we are not to use that as an excuse for even the sin of poor stewardship.

This is certainly the story of my life. At times I am painfully aware of my own imperfection, but at the same time I realize that God is more powerful than my weakness; if I submit to Him, the character of Christ is manifested in and through me. As a pastor, a major task for me is to help the believers realize that they are saints, however much or often they might trip up. We have a strong tendency to live up to, or down to, our own self-image, so this is vitally important. We can’t “live like saints” in our own strength, but this is exactly what Paul was talking about when He said, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13) I need to help the believers ask for, and expect, God’s strength to live as His saints, to draw many more into the family of God for their salvation.

Father, thank You for this reminder. So few of Your children see themselves accurately, as “saints under construction.” I ask for wisdom and anointing to help them see themselves as You do, so that they may reject the lies of the enemy and walk in all that You intend for them, as Your saints indeed, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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