November 28, 2013

Posted on November 30, 2013 by jgarrott

Acts 2:38-39 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

To me, this ranks right up there among the top promises in the whole Bible. In English we tend to read “repent and be baptized” as though it were one thing, but the Japanese makes it a little clearer: “Repent. Then be baptized.” That is the biggest problem with infant baptism: they aren’t repenting of anything. From the time of John the Baptist, baptism in water had been a public statement of repentance. (Mark 1:4) The difference between that and what Peter proclaimed here was the factor of the Name of Jesus Christ. That was of course missing from John’s baptism, and it was why Peter could proclaim the gift of the Holy Spirit to go with it. (Acts 19:4-6) We get so many “wet sinners” in churches today because first of all, we fail to be clear on the matter of repentance, and second, we don’t stress the Lordship of Jesus Christ, who is the One who pours out His Spirit. If we were more clear in our thinking and our practice when it comes to baptism, I think churches would be far healthier, with far less “dead wood.”

As a pastor, this is of course of vital importance to me. Personally, I remember my own commitment to baptism at age 7 very clearly, though I don’t remember the baptism itself all that well. I think it was real and valid, but I was not mentored as I might have been, and I got pretty far from God in spiritual pride. When He brought me back, the experience was so dramatic that I asked for, and received, baptism a second time. I don’t think that hurt anything, but I don’t know that it changed anything either. It was over a year after that that I received the baptism in the Holy Spirit. As a pastor, I have baptized some people too soon, not confirming their repentance, but ultimately I have to take people at their word as to what has gone on internally, since it is between them and God. When ministering in Japan, one difficulty is that few people if any have any idea what baptism is all about. They tend to see it as a “rite of passage” into church membership, which it is, but the twin concepts that Peter presents of repentance and commitment to the Lordship of Jesus Christ are often not really grasped. The longer I have been in ministry the more careful I have tried to be that they understand what repentance is all about, and that Jesus brooks no rivals when it comes to Lordship. There is a young man right now who may well be baptized before the end of the year, and this is where I am trying to be careful. I don’t want to place unnecessary barriers in anyone’s way of coming to Christ, but I have seen the shipwrecked lives that come from a lack of repentance, and I want to avoid that as much as possible.

Father, You know better than I do that I don’t have the wisdom to get this right on my own. I ask You to guide me step by step, so that each person may be grounded in Your Word and Your Spirit, pressing forward to keep growing in Christ, so that You may have a healthy Church indeed, accomplishing Your will and bringing Your kingdom, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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November 27, 2013

Posted on November 30, 2013 by jgarrott

Acts 2:14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.”

The transformation of Peter from how he was 50 days earlier is absolutely remarkable. He was always one to speak up no matter what the circumstances, even when it wasn’t appropriate, so that much is in character. However, in the courtyard at Jesus’ trial he denied three times that he knew Jesus, in an effort to save his own skin. (Luke 22:54-60) After that, three things happened. First, Jesus confronted him with a look, he recognized and acknowledged his sin, and repented strongly. (Luke 22:61-62) Second, he received the forgiveness that Jesus offered him. (1 Corinthians 15:5, John 21:15-19) Third, he was filled with the Holy Spirit, which is what has just happened here. True transformation always requires these three elements: genuine repentance, receiving forgiveness, and yielding to the Holy Spirit. All of us have “character flaws” that get in the way of representing Christ effectively. Sometimes we are oblivious of them, and sometimes we agonize over them for years. The answer in every case is the three steps that Peter went through. If we refuse to acknowledge that our behavior is unpleasing to the Lord, we will never change: we’ve got to repent. However, some people try to keep a tight rein on their flaws, but for one reason or another can’t seem to believe God has really forgiven them. Such a person never experiences the freedom that God intends for them from whatever their problem is. Lastly, all of this is the work of the Holy Spirit in us today, since we don’t interact with Jesus physically. If we aren’t open to His work in and through us, the transformation God intends will largely be dormant, until we “let go and let God,” so to speak.

As a pastor I deal with this constantly, and with people who are stuck on one or more of the three stages. I have some who try to be open to the Spirit without receiving the forgiveness, and some who lament not feeling forgiven when they haven’t really repented. These three can happen virtually simultaneously, but in my experience that isn’t common. I can’t force anyone into or through any of these stages, but I can be available to the Holy Spirit for Him to use me in leading people through them. The less spiritually mature someone is, the more they need “Jesus with skin on,” as a child once so graphically expressed. I can be that for people, but only if I let go of pride and humanistic motivation and love people with God’s love. That is what I want to do.

Father, You know the situation that came so strongly to mind as I wrote that, but it’s far from the only one to which this applies. Help me walk in repentance and forgiveness and fellowship with Your Spirit myself, so that I may be effective in leading many out of the traps of the devil into the liberty of Your Spirit, (2 Corinthians 3:17) for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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November 26, 2013

Posted on November 27, 2013 by jgarrott

Luke 10:16 “He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

This is a truly awe-inspiring verse, when you really think about it. Jesus actually said similar things multiple times. In Matthew 10:40 He said, “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives the One who sent Me.” In John 20:21 He said, “As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.” Taken together, that is totally mind-boggling. We take the name, Christian, too lightly! Even more, we take the privilege of praying in Jesus’ Name lightly. We believe that Jesus was fully God, but do we understand that He was also fully man? It was because He was fully both that He could say these things to us with any hope of their being true. We are a strange mixture, tending toward stupid pride that thinks we can accomplish things without God, but failing to understand that we can be God’s agents as much as Jesus was in His earthly ministry. It doesn’t take much thought to grasp the fact that being God’s agents is far more glorious than anything we could dream up on our own! This whole issue calls for a profound humility, because the minute we think “I can do this” in a humanistic way, we have failed. We have to be fully dependent on God, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, and know that we are, for this to be fully operative in our lives.

I am probably more aware of this than many, because of ministering in the largely non-Christian culture of Japan. Having been in Omura over 30 years, we have seen a wide gamut of responses to us and to the message we bring. In relation to some people today’s verse is heart-breaking, because it means they have rejected their Creator. In relation to others it is somewhat confusing, because they have received Cathy and me very warmly, yet have not acknowledged Christ in an open way. We have to release them to the mercy and grace of God. I am never to back down but keep speaking the truth in love, whether that truth seems to be received or not. Right now there are several who seem to be strongly drawn to the Christ they see in Cathy and me, yet they feel unable to follow through on that for one reason or another. I am to keep praying for them, not saying “Oh it’s OK,” but not rejecting them for their hesitation either. I am to pray that they would receive the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit because of what they experience of God through me.

Father, You have made it very clear that I can’t force anyone to join Your family, but I can be useful to You in loving them into it. Help me be fully faithful as Your agent, so that as many as You are calling would indeed respond, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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November 25, 2013

Posted on November 27, 2013 by jgarrott

Matthew 23:39 “For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, `Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'”

Every time I read Matthew 23 now, that scene from The Visual Bible comes to mind. The script was the NIV translation, period, with I think just a little embellishment at the very beginning, but maybe not even there. The actor playing Jesus was (and I presume still is) a Spirit-filled Christian, and he really agonized over how he was going to present the long diatribe against the Pharisees that is in chapter 23. When it came time to shoot the scene it was at the end of the shooting day. Since the passage is so long they didn’t think they could get through it, but thought they’d give it a go, for rehearsal if nothing else. As it turned out, the Holy Spirit came on the actor and he went through the whole thing without the slightest miss, not as a diatribe but as an agonized cry of love, essentially begging the Pharisees to wake up and repent. When he finished, he fell to his knees on the stone pavement of the set, collapsing from the exhaustion of all the emotion expended. At that point the actor playing Peter, completely unscripted, rushed to him to comfort him and help him up, and it was all caught on camera. I feel it was an amazingly accurate, not to mention moving, depiction of how it actually was. This verse is of course the last in that scene, and it points out that Christ has to be welcomed to be received. Another way to say that would be that the Gospel has to be recognized as good news before it is effective. We can talk until we are blue in the face, but if our hearers don’t acknowledge that they need what we are saying, it does no good. That doesn’t affect our responsibility to be witnesses, but it removes the “pressure to perform” that so many feel. We are to be as skillful as possible, but the results are between our hearers and God.

Of course this is the story of my life. I am frequently reminded that “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” That in turn brings to mind the statement by Francis of Assisi: “Preach constantly. When necessary, use words.” I am to live the Gospel as well as proclaim it, so that people’s hearts may be prepared and drawn before they even process any actual words. The Gospel really is “an offense to Jews and foolishness to Greeks,” as Paul said, (1 Corinthians 1:18-25) so it must be received by faith, and that is a gift of God. (Ephesians 2:9) As someone with Teacher gifting, it can be hard to remember that just stating truth often isn’t enough. My priorities need to be: love God, love people, pray for people with the love of God, speak. Any time I get that backward I really mess up.

Father, thank You for this clear reminder. Thank You for all You did at the Thanksgiving dinner last night. It really was beautiful. I pray that everything You said and did through various people would be sealed by Your Spirit to produce rich fruit. Thank You for carrying Cathy and me through it. I ask Your healing for our physical discomforts, and I thank You for the awareness that those are really of minor importance, when You are touching people through us. Praise God!

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November 24, 2013

Posted on November 27, 2013 by jgarrott

Matthew 7:21 “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.”

This verse is quoted fairly often, but it seems to me that it tends to be quoted one minute and forgotten the next. We don’t take the time really to consider what it is to “do the Father’s will.” However, a verse that came up just recently answers that question nicely. Micah 6:8 says, “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” I wrote a good bit on that exactly a week ago. The problem that Jesus is referencing here is that some people get caught up in “doing things for God,” when they are really doing things to make themselves feel important, or be admired by others. “Walking humbly with your God” precludes that sort of motivation. The reason Billy Graham, for example, is so widely admired is that he has always lived according to the Micah verse. I don’t think anyone doubts the welcome that awaits him in heaven! What Jesus says here is especially pointed because it directly affects “Christian Ministries.” Just because someone has something that sounds pious on their business card doesn’t mean they are really serving God. This is what Jesus was talking about just before this in terms of judging a tree by its fruit. Actually, the bigger the title, the more careful we need to be to check out the fruit! Some see the Church as an opportunity to build their own kingdom, and Jesus has nothing to do with them.

When I am in ministry myself, I’ve really got to take this to heart. I’m in a somewhat ambiguous situation, being considered by many a “missionary,” when I have no sending body, no “mission board.” I have no titles to boast of, teaching in secular schools for income while pastoring a small flock of mixed nationalities. However, I must be careful not to take pride in my humility! I’ve got to be very careful to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with my God. At this point I am not anxious about entry into God’s kingdom, because I know that I am relying on Christ’s atoning work on the cross, but I must not take that for granted, but rather press in to make myself more available to Him so that I may receive more of Him, letting Him work through me for His glory.

Father, thank You again for Your patience with me. You did some really good stuff yesterday, but I messed it up a bit trying to be clever. Forgive me, and show me how to repair the damage. I know from countless experience that left to myself, I have a very high capacity for messing things up. Help me walk humbly with You indeed, not pushing myself forward but presenting Christ, so that people may be drawn to You for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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November 23, 2013

Posted on November 27, 2013 by jgarrott

Malachi 2:7 “For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, and from his mouth men should seek instruction – because he is the messenger of the LORD Almighty.”

This sets a high standard indeed, but not an unreasonable one. I wonder if Catholics use this verse in training/admonishing their priests? Most Protestants don’t use the terminology of “priest,” but this verse should apply equally to any shepherd of the flock. Lots of pastors would like to be this way, but the following verse applies to them instead, because they follow their own ambitions instead of the Lord. That’s another reason for James’ admonition that not many should become teachers: if someone does it seeking the respect and recognition they think it will get, they’ll lose even that reward. (James 3:1) The motivation for becoming a priest/pastor/teacher should be a desire that people know and follow the Word of the Lord, and above all, a conviction that God has chosen and is sending you. That should bring a profound humility that you can’t possibly do the job in your own strength, so you seek God daily, moment-by-moment even, to receive His strength and guidance.

I came to where I am somewhat by the back door, so to speak. My major motivational gifting is Teacher, (Romans 12:6-8) so I have never drawn back from teaching anybody anything – sometimes whether I knew anything about it or not! However, I never especially wanted to be a pastor. Having watched my father, I knew that it could get really messy, with irregular hours and countless stress of all sorts. When I came back to Japan in 1981 it was with the desire and intent of being something of an “elder statesman” for churches, traveling around teaching the Word – when I was all of 33 years old! I had pastored a rural church in Virginia for a couple of years because the Lord had made it clear to me that I needed that sort of experience to be able to relate properly to Japanese pastors, but it wasn’t something I wanted to repeat. Then the Lord brought me into a situation where I had sheep, and if I didn’t shepherd them, no one would! I have resisted that call in various ways over the years, and my resistance has benefited no one, least of all myself. I’m finally, fully at peace with it, now that I’ve hit an age when a lot of people retire! I am to be faithful as, and as long as, the Lord enables me, seeking always to be His agent rather than thinking I can accomplish anything on my own. He has been faithful, and I know I can trust Him to continue to be so, and to do even amazing things for His glory.

Father, Your grace is indeed amazing. When I think back over the road I have traveled, I marvel that I didn’t fall off of cliffs or get washed away by floods. It’s been quite a journey, and there’s more to go! Help me receive each day from Your hand, functioning as Your agent indeed in my own life and in the lives of those with whom You have me interact. May all I am and say and do draw people to You, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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November 22, 2013

Posted on November 23, 2013 by jgarrott

Malachi 1:11 “My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD Almighty.

It is interesting that the NIV puts this in the future tense – will be – when the Japanese emphatically puts it in the present tense. That said, it is even more interesting that this is in the middle of a passage where the Lord is taking the priests to task for offering Him less than the best. Chapter 3 is well known as a passage on tithing, aimed at the whole population, but here the focus is on the priests, who were charged with setting the tone for the nation by daily ministry in the temple. If the priests don’t treat God as holy, why would the people do so? In this verse, the Lord is essentially saying, “People do better at honoring My name in other countries than they do here.” When Christians, and specifically ministers, fail to honor God with their lifestyles, it is no wonder God’s Name is taken in vain as much or more than it is used in honor. My stomach turns at people who beg for money “for the Lord” while living lavish lifestyles. God doesn’t require that His servants live in poverty, but as Paul wrote to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:3-10, making finances your goal gets everything wrong. God doesn’t need anything material that we could give Him. After all, it all came from Him in the first place! However, for the sake of our spiritual priorities and alignment, He tells us to give our best to Him

I was greatly blessed to have this as a consistent example as I was growing up. I was taught to tithe from the point I first started receiving an allowance, and I am grateful. However, things didn’t stay in such sharp focus in areas other than the financial. Even after being in ministry, I sometimes gave my best efforts to other things and gave the Lord whatever was left over. That doesn’t work! I’ve been bi-vocational for the past 32 years, but that’s no excuse to fail to give the Lord my first and my best in everything. God is my supply, and the minute I forget that, things get out of line. He is worthy of far better than I could ever give Him, so the least I can do is give Him my best. There is a hymn with exactly that theme, titled “Our Best,” that I really didn’t care very much for as a child because it smacked of legalism to me, but the point is that if I really love God, then I will want to give Him my very best.

Father, thank You for this reminder. You are the judge of how well I abide by this right now. I pray that I would love You more and more, down to the core of my being, so that I would hold nothing back from You but would be totally available to You at all times, for You to do in and through me what You desire, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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November 21, 2013

Posted on November 23, 2013 by jgarrott

Zechariah 14:9 The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.

We don’t usually think of Zechariah when we think of Last Days prophets, but this chapter certainly contains some graphic details.
Some people get all caught up in such details, trying to figure out how they could be fulfilled, but in the final analysis, this verse expresses what matters. The time will come when there will be no more conflict about religion, because it will be totally obvious that there is only one God. In Revelation as well it is made clear that the conflict will be pretty intense before it’s all over, but we should be focused on the outcome rather than on the conflict itself. Conflict of all sorts, both physical and spiritual, is a fact of life, but it is an opportunity to grow in faith and trust. No matter what the short-term outcome, God, and those who are with Him in Christ, win in the end. That can be a hard thing to remember when the expression “all hell is breaking loose” seems literally accurate! At this point we cannot know why God allows some of the things that go on, but there is no end to the stories of His mighty acts on behalf of those who trust Him. When we are overwhelmed and tempted to throw in the towel, we need to remember the ultimate end of it all, and trust Him.

I have had some pretty low points over the years, and some pretty intense conflict as well, though not of a physical/military sort. At the moment I’m challenged by pulmonary congestion, when I will be taping three messages this afternoon for a Christian TV station and I am to distribute Bibles with the Gideons this morning. This is where faith comes in. My immediate conflict is totally minor compared to my brothers and sisters in Christ who are literally being slaughtered in places like Nigeria and Pakistan. I dishonor them and I dishonor the Lord whose Name I bear when I focus on my own difficulties and throw a “pity party.” I am to rest, relax, and rejoice in my God, however I feel physically and whatever is going on around me. Ultimately, His is the only Name and He is all that matters, and I am to rest secure in that.

Father, it’s interesting to realize how easily I am swayed by minor things. Thank You for Your patience with me! As a pastor I get frustrated with people who get tripped up and caught up in minor things, but I need to remember my own weaknesses! Help me walk in Your grace and extend it to those around me, so that Your Name may be hallowed and Your kingdom come as Your will is done, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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November 20, 2013

Posted on November 21, 2013 by jgarrott

Zechariah 13:1 “On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.”

This verse is the source of such dearly loved hymns as “There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood, Drawn from Immanuel’s Veins.” The Japanese, which normally is relatively indifferent to singular and plural, specifies that this is a single fountain. That’s in keeping with Jesus’ statement that “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) There is nothing else in the universe that can cleanse us. The image of a fountain of blood seems very gruesome to our modern sensibilities, but that is our loss. Leviticus 17:11 specifies that “the life is in the blood,” which is why blood sacrifice was called for to atone for sins. Hebrews 9:22 specifies that there is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood. When Jesus talked about this reality before His crucifixion, it sounded so much like cannibalism that many people stopped following Him! (John 6:53-58) However in the Last Supper He clarified the image, and we rejoice to celebrate Communion even today. I do think, however, that most people who receive the Communion elements don’t really think about the body and blood of Jesus as they do so. It becomes a familiar ritual, comforting perhaps, but not of great impact. What a waste! Setting aside arguments over transubstantiation and the like, every believer in Jesus Christ needs to be reminded regularly of what Jesus Christ went through so that they could be cleansed of their sins and given access to the Father. That’s what Communion is all about, and we take it lightly to our great loss.

I try to make this point clear every time I lead in Communion, but I could probably do a better job. Since my wife bakes unleavened bread for our Communion services, I have the privilege of eating what is left over, celebrating Communion each morning as I start my devotions. It is a sweet privilege indeed, renewing the commitment of my body and life to Christ because of His giving His body and life for me. That’s not possible while I’m traveling, but I still try to take my first bite of the morning as His body, and the first drink as His blood. Symbolic things aren’t so important in themselves, but rather in what they symbolize. I am to live all day each day as someone who has been bought at the price of the body and blood of Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 6:20, 7:23) I am to be a carrier of His blood – His life and His Spirit – to everyone I encounter. When that happens, and it does with fair regularity, people tend to think I’m special. I’m not! God wants each of His children to be carriers of His grace and love wherever they go and whatever they are doing.

Father, thank You for continuing to clarify and strengthen this message in my heart. It’s one that is going to take time to get through to the believers, just as it has taken time for it really to sink into me. Help me be patient, as You have been with me, so that all Your purposes, for each of us individually and for all of us as a body, may be fulfilled, for Your great glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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November 19, 2013

Posted on November 21, 2013 by jgarrott

Zechariah 10:1 Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime;
it is the LORD who makes the storm clouds.
He gives showers of rain to men,
and plants of the field to everyone.

The context of this verse is that Baal was considered the “storm god,” so it was significant that the people were being told to ask Yahweh, not Baal, for rain. It might seem very removed from modern society, but today we could rephrase it as, “Ask God, not the government, for what you need.” We aren’t the agrarian culture that prevailed for most of the world’s history until the Industrial Revolution, but farmers today would be quick to agree that everything starts with rain. Various governments are still trying to control the weather, but the results have been sporadic at best, and they don’t take into account the interlocking influence they would have on the rest of the world if they were to succeed! This verse speaks of “the latter rain,” (the NIV says “spring rain,”) and as such has been dearly loved by revivalists. There was even a move of God around the middle of the 20th Century that started in Canada that was called the Latter Rain Movement. Asking God to pour out His Spirit is certainly not a bad thing, even if using this verse as justification is a bit shaky! The biggest “takeaway” from this verse is that God is the source of everything we need, and we must not fix our hearts on anything less.

Over 30 years ago I was blessed by some people who had been involved in the Latter Rain Movement, but the impression that has stayed with me is that it is futile to try to recreate a particular move of God. I’ve also been involved with people from what has been called the Brownsville Revival, from Pensacola, Florida, and I would say the same about that. God desires a Bride for His Son (Revelation 21:2, Ephesians 5:25-27) that is committed to Him in purity and passion, so it is never wrong to pray for cleansing and energizing of the Church. However, when we have fixed ideas of what that is going to look like, we tend to miss God. The “Jesus Movement” of the second half of the 20th Century is a case in point. Lots of churches missed God completely because He showed up in long hair and sandals. I am not to dictate to God how He is to move, in Japan, in this city, and in this church. Rather, I am to press in to Him personally, setting aside other priorities and repenting of my lukewarmness, and calling others to do the same, so that He may pour out what He knows we need, for the sake of His kingdom and His righteousness.

Father, thank You for how You have been calling me to greater dedication and closer fellowship recently. Help me respond indeed. I recognize more and more how shallow I have been, and I desire to go deep with You. Help me order my days, each day, by Your priorities, resting, relaxing, and rejoicing in You, rather than seeking my refreshment from the world. May I be Your agent on every level at all times, and not just occasionally, so that Your purposes may be accomplished on Your schedule in and through me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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