March 5, 2015

Posted on March 7, 2015 by jgarrott

Titus 3:1-2 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no-one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility towards all men.

Titus had his work cut out for him on Crete, because Cretans had earned a bad reputation for themselves. (Titus 1:12-13) However, God is the ultimate “Recycler,” because He takes what is spoiled and makes something magnificent out of it. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, He deliberately chooses what the world would consider inferior in order to demolish man’s pride. (1 Corinthians 1:27-29) That said, old habits die hard, so we need to be reminded (NIV) or warned (Japanese) to behave like the children of God that He has made us to be in Christ. Verses 3-7 are a beautiful statement of what salvation is all about, and we do well to remind ourselves and each other of it frequently. We have a sad tendency to take things for granted and so forget the magnificence of God’s grace. The better we grasp the magnitude of our debt to God, the more effective we will be in sharing the Gospel with others. If we forget what good news it is for us, it won’t sound like good news when we tell someone else. That said, we aren’t to keep living in the patterns of thought and action that we had before encountering Christ, whatever the people around us are doing. It can be hard to live right when everyone around you is living wrong!

I can’t say that peer pressure was a huge issue for me because I tended to be isolated in the first place, but I have done my share of excusing my own sin because “everyone’s doing it.” That argument holds no water at all! As a pastor, I am very much in Titus’ place, needing to remind believers of who they are. Actually, for quite a few years I have been convinced that when Japanese Christians wake up to who they are in Christ, they will transform not just the Church in Japan but the whole nation, and even the world. That’s not so much in being well behaved, as Paul was saying about the Cretans, but in understanding and exercising the spiritual gifts and authority that are ours in Christ. For that matter, I need to understand and exercise them better myself! I’ve got to remember that I have no wisdom or ability in myself apart from God, but when I am in Christ, fully submitted and responsive, all His wisdom and ability are available through me, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the graduations I’ll be attending today and tomorrow, and that I’ve been asked to speak at the reception following each one. I ask You for Your words to remind the graduates of what You have said to them through me in my classes, so that Your Word may have its full work in each heart, drawing them to repentance and salvation, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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March 4, 2015

Posted on March 7, 2015 by jgarrott

2 Timothy 2:24-25 And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth.

Paul was not one of the 12 who walked with Jesus physically, but He had walked with Jesus long enough spiritually by the time he wrote this to have really caught Jesus’ heart. This is perfectly in line with what Jesus said about leaders not lording it over those they lead. (Luke 22:25-26) A servant of God is not to be argumentative, even when they are right. I am reminded of Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms, on trial before the Church hierarchy for seeking to bring the Church back to Biblical principles instead of human traditions. He was in danger of being burned at the stake, but rather than railing against those who opposed him, he stated his position clearly and ended with, “Here I stand. I can do no other.” The servant of God is not weak! However, argument for the sake of argument rarely if ever advances the cause of truth. It is God who grants understanding, and we must never forget that. Things are getting pretty dicey even in the US these days, with people being taken to court for holding to Biblical principles. We aren’t to back down, but neither are we to be belligerent. I have been quite encouraged by some of the interviews I have seen of Christians involved in such struggles, because in general their attitude and demeanor have been very much in line with this passage. We’ve got to remember that God is our Defender, and not get all worked up getting defensive for ourselves, even if in the eyes of the world we lose. Our victory is eternal!

I’ve never been on trial for my faith, but I can’t say I’ve never been argumentative! However, I do try to live as this passage describes, so as not to get in the way of the Truth. It is too easy to make me the issue, when I’m never that important! Pride is generally the problem here, and human pride never brings God’s best. On my own, I want to squash people with my superior knowledge and logic, but that’s no way to win people into God’s kingdom. Instead, I need to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) without backing down, either from the truth or from the love. I’ve got to remember that I don’t in fact know it all, whatever I may think!

Father, thank You yet again for Your patience with me. I am very, very aware that I’m not where I could be in virtually every area of my life. Help me indeed walk in humility and ever-growing obedience, so that I may not get in the way of people seeing Christ and being drawn to Him, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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March 3, 2015

Posted on March 6, 2015 by jgarrott

1 Timothy 3:5 If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?

This is treated as a parenthetical expression in virtually all translations, reasonably enough, but it is of vital, practical importance. I have seen numbers of ministries – and careers and families – wrecked because a man of God couldn’t see that his family was his first flock. This points up the reality that the Church, and any given church, is the family of God. Family dynamics apply to a remarkable extent, and failure to understand that, or understand family dynamics, for that matter, can make a real mess of things. Families are bound together by love. Kinship applies, but adopted families are just as real as bloodline families, and sometimes function much better. In the Church we suddenly discover that we are related to many people whom we may not have even known before. The shift in perception can be jarring at times! Family relationships aren’t something you can escape from, because even physical distance doesn’t change them. A person who is called as an overseer in the Family of God does far better if they’ve had a practicum in their own family, and as Paul says, the one is very predictive of the other. This is not to say that a single person cannot oversee a group, but it is to say that the difficulties are immense.

My own father realized how much he had neglected his physical children at a point when I, the youngest of four, was the only one left at home. That’s not to say that he was a bad father by any means, but he realized, finally, that his priorities had been skewed. There is literally no end to the calls on a pastor, and my father was also a university professor and administrator in addition to pastoring. I think he really did quite well, all things considered! However, his use of time remained as one of his few regrets. I wish I could say I had done a lot better, but I don’t think I can. My wife and daughters will have to be the judges of that! Now, with my daughters living in families of their own, my first priority is my wife, and then the flock in my care. I am to seek and operate in the wisdom of God so that the family dynamics may be as God intends, for a healthy, happy, growing family.

Father, thank You for Your patience with me. I’ve certainly not done a perfect job with my own family or with Your family. Thank You for the things You are doing in and among us right now. Help me be sensitive and responsive to You to that we may indeed grow in all the ways You desire and intend, as a bright light to the people of Omura, drawing many people to You for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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March 2, 2015

Posted on March 6, 2015 by jgarrott

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Every time I run into one of these “practical Christian living” sections in one of Paul’s letters I think how wonderful it would be if even everyone in my church lived this way! However, in general we live only a fraction of our lives, if that, in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and we seldom give God thanks. We don’t have a very good grasp of what the Bible means when it’s talking about “in Jesus’ Name.” Most Christians are quick to tack that onto the end of their prayers, but just saying the words doesn’t make the prayer be in line with His character and will, and that is actually what the Bible is talking about. This verse, then, is talking about living every part of our lives in line with Jesus’ character and will. That’s a tall order! It’s clearly impossible by merely human effort, but as Paul said, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13) What is called for on our part is the choice, the will, to live that way, which leads to cooperating with the Holy Spirit in bringing it to pass. It is worth noting that living life in Jesus’ Name and giving God thanks are inseparable; we can’t do one without the other. The more we focus on giving God thanks, the easier it is to live every other facet of our lives in line with Jesus.

This is an understanding I have grown into over the years. Like every other Christian I was taught to pray “in Jesus’ Name, amen,” and I did so. Understanding the the depth and breadth of that came much later, and I still can’t say I’ve got it all down. I have talked about this from the pulpit, but this truth really has to be caught more than taught. That’s not to say I’m not to explain it to people, but it is to say I’m not to be disappointed if they don’t grasp it immediately. It takes the revelation of the Holy Spirit to grasp it fully, so that is what I’m to pray for. At the same time, I need to be diligent in keeping my own heart open before God in all humility, asking and allowing Him to work Christ into and through me in every aspect, every moment of my life. That’s not going to make me weird, it’s going to make me fully sane, fully whole, fulfilled in every way for His glory.

Father, thank You for this clear Word. Thank You for yesterday and all it held. Thank You for expressing Your message through me, and for how it was received. Thank You for the sweetness of the fellowship as we had lunch together after the service. Thank You for all that You are doing in this church, whether it’s immediately visible or not. Help us trust You for what You are doing and live each moment in joy and anticipation, giving You the thanks, praise, and glory You deserve. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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March 1, 2015

Posted on March 2, 2015 by jgarrott

Colossians 2:23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

The NIV specifies “false humility” in this verse, while the Japanese does not. I’m guessing the Greek doesn’t either. It’s not that someone who relies on external rules to control their lusts is necessarily proud, it’s that they are relying on the wrong things. As Paul says here, various external systems can indeed have the appearance of wisdom, but the problem is, they don’t work. The only thing that can tame our flesh is handing control over to the Holy Spirit. We are very much involved in that, because it is a decision of our will and we must cooperate with the Holy Spirit, but the power comes from Him and not us. Humility really is called for, because we have to acknowledge that we can’t do the job on our own, but there also must be assurance that He can do the job in and through us, if we will cooperate fully with Him. My impression is that the pace of temptations to the flesh has picked up over the centuries. That’s probably not really the case, because human weakness and the nature of our enemy have not changed, but it is certainly true that the devil is relentless in trying to trip us up any way he can. James made it very clear that it is our own lusts that lay us open to the devil’s wiles. (James 1:13-15) The point then becomes what Paul said so famously in Romans 12:1. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.”

I’ve certainly had my struggles with my flesh, and I still do, and I can testify that the more I focus on me “controlling the problem,” the harder it is to do. However, I have found that 1 John 1:9 is very true: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” It is only when I am fully honest with myself and with God that repentance becomes real, and only then can I accept the forgiveness that God has provided through the cross of Christ. “Making penance” is actually continuing to focus on the sin, when the only real answer is to let the blood of Christ wash that sin away. I must not take sin lightly, in myself or in anyone else, but I must never think that sin is greater or more powerful than the love and grace of God.

Father, thank You for all You’ve brought me through in this area. I ask for wisdom and anointing as I help others who are struggling, so that together we may walk in the righteousness of Christ, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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February 28, 2015

Posted on March 2, 2015 by jgarrott

Ephesians 5:15-16 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

This comes across as timely, because the days are certainly evil! We are inundated with news of evil, with moral depravity and cruelty that stretch our imaginations in ways they didn’t want to stretch. It is all a form of terrorism on the part of the devil, because he wants to instill fear and destroy peace however he can. We aren’t to let him get away with it! We can’t change how others act, necessarily, but we can change how we respond, and that’s how we gain the victory. James gives us the first instructions: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) John follows that up with the key to it all: “Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4) If we are paralyzed with fear, we aren’t going to be wisely threading the minefield of life and making the most of the opportunities God gives us. Some people are aware of the threats of violence but are oblivious of the moral dangers, but often the moral dangers are greater, because physical violence is limited to this life but morality echoes into eternity. A disciple of Christ is not going to ignore the evil that is everywhere, but he is not going to be overcome by it either. This calls for wisdom and self-control in the moral area and wisdom and faith in the area of physical danger. However, in it all, God is giving each of us opportunities to share His grace and love, rescuing people out of the clutches of the devil for their salvation and for great joy, in heaven and on earth. (Luke 15:10)

This is my current situation, as it is for every believer. I am not to be discouraged by all the evil, and I am not to be distracted from the task at hand. That last is a real issue, because in this information age there is no end to the news of evil that pours in. I’m not to be ignorant, but I am not to be consumed by it either. Time has always been limited on an individual scale, both in terms of how long we have to be able to share the Gospel and how long someone has to respond to the Gospel, but the sense that we are nearing the climax of the ages is inescapable. I am not to get frantic, thinking it depends on me, but I am to be instantly available, indeed making the most of every opportunity, so that as many as possible may be brought from death to life while there is still time. That actually is no different for me than it was for believers in the 1st Century. However, I must certainly not be complacent or indifferent, but rather allow the Holy Spirit to burn brightly within me, for the glory of God.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I am reminded that I don’t really even know what wisdom is, that is, what is wise and what is not. However, I do know You, and that’s enough. Help me stay fully submitted to You at all times, resting, relaxing, and rejoicing in You no matter how busy my body might be at the task at hand. Help me not draw back from anything You assign, but rejoice to be Your servant, Your child, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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February 27, 2015

Posted on March 1, 2015 by jgarrott

Ephesians 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

I have preached on this verse within the past year, if I’m not mistaken. It’s a very simple, matter-of-fact verse. The Japanese translation really sets the tone by starting with, “Well then.” God’s calling is an accomplished fact for every Christian, so Paul is simply encouraging us to live up to what God has already done. You could say that God has already done the “heavy lifting,” declaring us righteous and holy in Christ. We might not grasp what a big deal it is when God declares something, but we need to remember that God spoke the universe into being. (Genesis 1) If He says it, that settles it! All too often we don’t believe that we really are righteous and holy, and we tend to live up to, or down to, our self-image. That’s a real problem. Paul was very clear that as long as we’re in these bodies on this earth we don’t get there perfectly. He said it famously about himself in Philippians 3:12-14, and he also told us to “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12) That’s not fear that we won’t make it into heaven, but a desire not to miss anything of what God has planned for us. The devil works overtime to distract us from Christ and what He has done for us, so we need to stand firm against that. God never asks anything of us that He hasn’t already supplied, but sometimes we don’t recognize that supply until we choose to be obedient out of sheer faith. Walking on water isn’t a human option, but it’s no problem for God!

God has already demonstrated this many times in my life and in the life of this church. One such time was when we built this building – a clearly impossible task for such a small congregation. It was so much the case that God inspired an artist, whom He had also provided to be a member of this church during that period, to do a set of three oil paintings as a commemorative gift to us. One smaller one is the whole scene of the boat with the disciples, with Jesus standing on the water and reaching out to Peter, who is sinking, and there are two large ones, one each of Peter and of Jesus at that very moment. The set is a striking reminder that even when we think we’re going under, Jesus has hold of us and we’re fine. That’s a very important lesson. God sometimes calls us out of the boat, as Jesus did Peter, but if He does so, we have nothing to worry about. That’s not to say we won’t worry, because we probably will, but that worry is completely unnecessary. When it comes to living as Jesus’ disciples, His witnesses, we need to remember that “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

Father, thank You for this reminder. I see those paintings every day, and so am dulled to them. Help me indeed walk worthy of the calling You have placed on me, not in my own strength, which is certainly inadequate, but in Yours, so that all of Your plans for me may be fulfilled, on Your schedule and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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February 26, 2015

Posted on March 1, 2015 by jgarrott

Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

From verse 9 on this is like a waterfall of good advice, with one or two pithy zingers per verse. Any one of those is worth writing on, but this last verse comes closest to summarizing it all. The fact is, there’s a lot of evil out there. Frankly, we are constantly bombarded with evil of all sorts, from moral depravity to despicable terrorism, so this is extremely pertinent advice. I could create quite a list of the evil that assails us, but that would benefit nothing. To overcome evil, we don’t need to focus on the evil but rather on the good, that is, God. I am reminded of the often-quoted fact that to detect counterfeit bills, bankers don’t study counterfeits, but rather the real thing. With all the changes in US currency in recent years, that’s kept them pretty busy! When we want to know when something is false, we need to be fully familiar with what is true. God has given us consciences for that purpose, but our conscience by itself is rarely sufficient against the moral creep of the age. (I didn’t intend a pun there, but either spelling/meaning could apply!) We need the written standard of the Bible, and we need the present help of the Holy Spirit who authored it. So to overcome evil with good, the first step is an attitude of submission and obedience to God, as James said so clearly. (James 4:7) The second step is familiarity with His instruction manual, the Bible. This is ongoing, because very few if any people have the whole thing memorized, and even memorization in itself is insufficient; it must be internalized. The third step, taken along with the other two, is asking for and being open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This is where the power comes in. Jesus wasn’t speaking idly when He said that we would receive power when the Holy Spirit came on us, (Acts 1:8) however that power wasn’t so much for miracles, though they are possible, but for the basic task of overcoming evil to establish the kingdom of God in this world, as He told us to pray. (Matthew 6:10) Today we are faced with more evil than we can enumerate, and each person faces a different mix. Accordingly, just as each person in a military squad on patrol has a different function but all have the same mission, we are to support and encourage one another but not think that another person is called to do exactly what we feel called to do. However, all of us are called to submit to God, resist the devil, and overcome evil with good.

I am certainly no different from anyone else in this respect. As a pastor I have more responsibility than some, but the overall task is the same. The Bible has plenty of instructions specifically for those in my position, so I’d better be fully familiar with them and putting them into practice. At the same time, evil comes against me at least as much as it does against those without my responsibility. I must never think my position makes me immune from anything! However, I am never to be discouraged, but remember that the Holy Spirit in me is greater than all the forces against me. (1 John 4:4) Ultimately, all that I am called to, or anyone else for that matter, is faithful obedience.

Father, thank You for this very clear exposition of the task at hand. Keep me from the dangerous mistake of relying on my own strength or on past victories. Help me rather stay in the flow of Your Spirit each moment, hearing and obeying, so that Your power may be expressed perfectly in my weakness, (2 Corinthians 12:9) for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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February 25, 2015

Posted on February 26, 2015 by jgarrott

Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

Genuine humility is not thinking nothing of yourself, it’s thinking accurately of yourself. This can be a big issue. In America children are raised with what appears to be deliberately inflated self esteem, while in Japan parents never brag on their children and seldom praise them for anything. Either is a terrible aberration! Everyone is gifted in various ways, whatever handicaps they might have in other ways. (My wife’s sign language teacher in her college days said, “Everyone is handicapped; it’s just that some handicaps are more visible than others.”) It has been said that everyone rises to their level of incompetence. Humanly speaking that has some truth to it, but in God’s kingdom faithful stewards are rewarded with more. It is those who fail to recognize and make use of what they have been given who are punished. (Matthew 25:14-30) Verses 6-8 of this chapter form the foundation of what is called Motivational Gifts teaching. That can be a great help in understanding ourselves and others, and why everyone is different. Paul’s point is that we are indeed different, but we are not to let our differences make us think we are superior or inferior to anyone else in intrinsic value. We are to strive to be “profitable” servants of Christ by exercising the gifts He has given us in obedience to Him. (Luke 17:10)

I have been blessed to be able to interpret for Don and Katie Fortune several times when they have come to Japan to teach on Motivational Gifts, and I have used their material to teach on the subject myself. I would like every believer to have a firm understanding of the subject, but then I sometimes feel overwhelmed at how much we all need to know and learn to be better witnesses. I have struggled with both conceit and feelings of inferiority, so I know the pitfalls of both. I am to nurture those in my care to do as Paul says in this verse so that they may grasp the incredible potential God has placed in each person, and how that potential takes a different shape for each person. I am to be faithful to teach, and also to apply and live out the truth I am teaching, so that I may not deceive myself. (James 1:22)

Father, thank You for this reminder. I certainly need Your wisdom as to what to teach when and how. I have not been the best steward of all You have placed in me. Help me recognize which gift You want me to use when and how, to be faithful in exercising them to do Your will on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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February 24, 2015

Posted on February 26, 2015 by jgarrott

Acts 20:24 “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”

This is the heart of every fully-committed servant of Jesus Christ. We allow so many things to take priority over being witnesses for Him, and we are much the poorer for it. We have seen this attitude in action recently, as 21 Egyptian Christians cried out to Jesus just before they were beheaded simply for being Christians. Their reward is great indeed! We tend to run from anything that might so much as put us in a bad light socially (or so we think), forgetting all that Jesus endured to provide salvation to us. The movie The Passion of the Christ was important because it showed not just the fact of Jesus’ crucifixion, but the horrible brutality He endured even before He was nailed to the cross. When He endured that for us, why do we complain about the little things that get under our skin? The pace of martyrdom has really picked up, with more dying for the name of Jesus in the 20th Century than in the previous 19 combined, and the figure for the 21st looking to be higher still. Every believer alive today is being called to Paul’s level of commitment, whether we face the knife – or the bullet or the flames – directly or not.

I earnestly desire to have this sort of commitment, but it’s not something I can work up. Rather, it’s something I can decide, and allow God to work in me. I see evidence of it in my life, which is encouraging, but I also see areas in which I’m not there yet, which keeps me humble. I have no particular desire to be martyred as such – and I certainly have no fondness for pain – but I want more than anything to hear my Lord say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21, 23) For that, I’ve got to be careful of the little things, not sloughing off or being lazy but taking each task in turn and fulfilling it with all I’ve got, which He put in me in the first place. There are constant temptations of all sorts, some that I recognize and some that I don’t. I am to be absolutely single-minded in my obedience to my Lord, knowing that if I seek Him and His righteousness first, that He will add to that everything I need and more. (Matthew 6:33)

Father, thank You for this reminder, and for the magnificent example of my Egyptian brothers. Thank You for the faith of their families as well. Help me, like them, not value anything ahead or above obedience to You, even my life, so that all of Your purposes for me may be fulfilled, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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