October 17, 2013

Posted on October 19, 2013 by jgarrott

Isaiah 50:4 The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue,
to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.

I have loved this verse for a long time because it is so descriptive of my own experience. Right there some people would say that I am being conceited at best and blasphemous at worst, because this is clearly a Messianic Scripture. However, I would beg to differ. I’ve been conceited, so I know what it feels like! Rather, I am convinced that this is part of the “being conformed to the likeness of Christ” (Romans 8:29) that Paul talked about. It is helpful to see that the Japanese translates this as “the tongue of a disciple/apprentice” and “listen like a disciple/apprentice.” God wants all of us both to speak and to listen as disciples of His Son. The job of an apprentice is essentially imitation, watching the master and doing what he does after him. Isn’t that what we are called to do as Christians? Jesus said not only that He was sending us as He was sent, (John 20:21) but that those who followed Him in faith would do what He did on this earth, and even greater things. (John 14:12) Understanding that, we see that every Christian is to be an expression of Christ, which is essentially what the word “Christian” means.

The particular part of this verse that resonates most with me is the line, “wakens me morning by morning.” I honestly can’t remember when I last used an alarm clock. The thing that gets me out of bed in the morning, more than anything else, is spending time with my Lord through His Word. I’m totally addicted! However, that is nothing more than a self-centered indulgence if I fail to express to others the truth that God opens up to me. God’s love and grace are multiplied when we transmit them, but they wither up when we fail to do so. It’s like electricity: voltage is merely potential; real work is done when that potential is allowed to flow (amperage). Someone could have great potential, but until they allow that to flow through them, then nothing is really accomplished. Wattage, the measure of electrical work done, is the product of volts X amps. A person could have low potential, but if they let that flow fully, they could be much higher “wattage” than a person with much greater potential who doesn’t let it flow. I am to let God’s love and grace flow through me as unhindered as possible. Resistance to electrical current produces heat, which most of the time is wasted energy. I don’t want to “waste” the power of God! As a pastor, I am charged not only with practicing this myself, I am to teach others to practice it as well. God wants us all to be “high amperage” Christians!

Well, Father, I said last night that unless You showed me something strongly this morning, I was going to preach on a particular topic Sunday. It looks like You’ve given me a different sermon! Thank You. Help me not only get this into useful notes right now, but also communicate it effectively on Sunday. Thank You for Your amazing faithfulness to speak to me morning by morning, just as this verse says. May I indeed encourage others with the words You give me, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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October 16, 2013

Posted on October 17, 2013 by jgarrott

Isaiah 48:1 “Listen to this, O house of Jacob,
you who are called by the name of Israel
and come from the line of Judah,
you who take oaths in the name of the LORD
and invoke the God of Israel –
but not in truth or righteousness –

The Bible is loaded with comments about, admonitions toward, and condemnation of hypocrites and hypocrisy. Jesus’ biggest arguments were with hypocrites, and they were the ones who had Him condemned to the cross. One of His most pointed stories was of an honest sinner and a self-righteous hypocrite. (Luke 18:10-14) He was widely criticized for associating with “sinners” by those who kept their sins secret! It isn’t uncommon today for people to disdain going to church, saying “The church is full of hypocrites.” Even if that is true, the person who says it is setting themselves up as better, and being hypocritical in the process! The opposite of hypocrisy is honest humility. God doesn’t dislike pious words or activity, but He looks at our hearts, and sees through our motives. Many people go to church for social reasons, to be seen as “upstanding” by those around them, rather than from any real desire to honor and worship God. As Jesus said about the Pharisees, “they have their reward.” (Matthew 6:5) To go back to this verse, God doesn’t want us to stop taking our oaths in His Name or invoking Him, that is, making Him the foundation of our social structure, but He wants us to do it honestly, rather than as a cover for being rebellious against Him. This is very much the situation America is in right now. Around the time Congress added “under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance, the nation as a whole veered off away from God. The phrase is good and admirable, but it must be backed up by recognition of God in the daily lives and actions of the citizens and the leaders.

It is easy to get all worked up about the state of America today, but I must not overlook my own tendencies in the same direction. That would be hypocritical! I think the increasingly open persecution of genuine Christians in America is a blessing, really, though I wish it weren’t needed. When it is no longer “politically correct” to state and live by a Biblical world view, then it becomes increasingly obvious who is a genuine Christian and who is not. Jesus calls us to follow Him at the cost of everything else, and even in America people are being presented with that choice. I’ve got to watch my own heart and life and seek humble honesty before my Lord. Only then will I be able to draw others to Him, for their salvation and His glory.

Father, this is a strong Word, but a very needed one. I have some real concerns about visiting the US at this point, but I know that You are still God, and are to be trusted totally. I pray that on this upcoming trip I may be Your agent, both to those who know me and those who don’t. May my words and my actions be in spirit and in truth, so that Your Spirit may operate through me on every level, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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October 15, 2013

Posted on October 17, 2013 by jgarrott

Isaiah 44:3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,
and my blessing on your descendants.

This is not only a beautiful promise, it is one that seems to apply particularly to Japan. There are few if any nations that are as spiritually dry, statistically speaking, as Japan. The figures may have changed slightly since then, but the latest data I have seen indicates that Japan has the second largest number of missionaries in any country in the world, (after Brazil) but it holds an unassailable position as the country with the lowest rate of return for spiritual investment, in missionaries, funds, facilities, man hours, you name it. It has been called “the graveyard of missionaries” with good reason! There are few physical dangers – on that scale, it’s one of the safest places in the world – but the risk of discouragement and/or burnout can be extreme. The flip side of that is that the spiritual rewards for those who persevere are magnificent. When you are driven to seek the Lord because of the lack of visible results for your efforts, the level of fellowship becomes sweet indeed. That’s not at all to say that results are unimportant, but it is to say that they are not to take precedence over the Lord.

This is of course the story of my life, and of my parents before me. My mother told me that on at least one occasion my father prostrated himself on the floor, crying out to God, “If I am standing in the way of revival in Japan, then take me out of the way!” I empathize completely! My only reason for not wanting the Lord to return right NOW is the many people with whom I have shared the Gospel in love who have not yet accepted it. Just yesterday I was hearing a Japanese pastor talking about the same problem. He lives in Oita Prefecture, where 450 years ago ¼ of the population was Christian, but today Christians are few and far between. We pray for the fulfillment of this Scripture! I am never to give up but keep my focus on God, more than myself, my ministry, or my circumstances. As I shepherd the flock here I must train them in spiritual warfare against the subtle pressures that can be more dangerous than open opposition. I am to expect God to be God, true to His Word, and I am to teach the believers to do likewise.

Father, thank You for the various good things You are doing in and around this church. Thank You that one issue that was weighing on me seems to be clearing up beautifully before my upcoming visit to the US. I pray that what You have done there would be a powerful lesson and encouragement to the other believers as well. Help us all take one day, one step, at a time, trusting You, resting, relaxing, and rejoicing in You, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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October 14, 2013

Posted on October 15, 2013 by jgarrott

Isaiah 42:5 This is what God the LORD says–
he who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it,
who gives breath to its people,
and life to those who walk on it:

What first attracted my attention to this verse was that it was not underlined, in contrast to the others in the passage! I heard a message once about how we shouldn’t underline in our Bibles because it causes us to overlook things God might be saying to us. This could be an illustration of that idea, but I still feel the act of underlining helps ingrain the Word into our hearts. (I underlined this verse just now, but in a different color.) This verse is giving God’s credentials, so to speak, for what He says following this. The devil vigorously tries to deny the reality of these credentials, and occasionally even tries to claim them for himself, so it’s helpful to review them. Simply put, this verse says that without God, there would be nothing. I like it that it specifies that God gives breath. We can’t even take a breath without the grace of God, but are we grateful? Most of the time, no. That is a major reason why physical problems, either disease or injury, can be a real blessing in the long run. Suddenly not being able to take things for granted, even life itself, can snap us out of our self-centered fog and cause us to look at, or at least look for, the One who provides all things. If we were to maintain grateful awareness of our Creator we might not need such strong reminders!

Just yesterday I was talking with a doctor who came to our service. He has had Christian input from time to time for quite a few years, but he can’t yet bring himself to acknowledge the reality of it all, or that he personally needs to commit himself to Christ. I spoke to him of the absurdity of the Gospel, that the Creator would be so intimately concerned with us His creation, and how God expects us to use the minds He has given us but that intellect is not a substitute for faith. I pray the Holy Spirit would take the words He allowed me to speak and work them into that man’s heart. I deal with people all the time who have his problem, and many of them are doctors or other “intelligentsia.” Atheism is an attempt to say that we don’t need God, that there is no Creator, and it has spawned many children. The most prominent at the moment is the theory of evolution, which sadly is taught as absolute fact in most public schools, even though it has gaping holes and inconsistencies. I cannot change the curriculum by myself, but I can speak truth in love to those who have been blinded by its lies, so that they may receive the truth and be set free. (John 8:32)

Father, thank You for the intellectual capacity You have given me, because it gives me credibility with many who are deceived. Help me remember always, as well as communicate, that intellect alone can never save anyone, unless it teaches them to seek You. Help me walk and speak in all humility, so that as many as possible may be drawn to You, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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October 13, 2013

Posted on October 15, 2013 by jgarrott

Isaiah 30:20-21 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

It’s interesting that where the NIV says “adversity” and “affliction,” the Japanese says “insufficient” and “scarce.” The point, however, is the matter of guidance and teaching. There are few things as precious as clear, accurate guidance, and that is what God is promising us here. Circumstances might be difficult, but determining the right way to go won’t be. What a blessing! We tend to get paralyzed by indecision, and/or wonder for years, even, if we made the right decision “back then.” God does guide, but we’ve got to be committed to obedience before we can recognize that guidance. All too often it takes real adversity before we focus on God enough to hear what He is saying. It’s interesting that this passage says, “a voice behind you.” It does say that our teachers won’t be hidden, but it doesn’t say that we’ll be given big signposts out in front of us. That is to say, we’ve got to be listening. In the world today, the number and variety of distractions is limitless, so it takes focus and commitment to be able to hear God consistently. I’m reminded of the “still, small voice” (“gentle whisper”) with which God spoke to Elijah, after various things that probably grabbed his attention but weren’t God speaking to him. (1 Kings 19:11-13) We have to be careful to distinguish what is God and what is the world or our flesh yelling at us. There is no better tool for that than growing familiarity with the Bible, because whereas God will give us guidance that isn’t explicitly in the Bible, He will never guide us to do something that violates the Bible. I’m reminded of Peter’s experience of the vision that made him willing to evangelize Gentiles, recorded in Acts 10. Peter thought he knew the Bible, but he was fixated on tradition more than on God’s Word, and God had to be very strong and clear to break him out of it.

I would have trouble remembering all the times I’ve agonized over decisions of one sort or another, and I couldn’t begin to count all the times and ways God has guided me. That gives me great empathy for those who ask me for help, either advice or prayer, about major decisions. My father was well known for answering such people with, “Well, what does God want you to do?” If a person has much depth to their Christian walk, most of the time they can answer that question! The problem comes with our either wanting to do something else, or our not believing that God wants us to do what we want to do. Either of those can make us deaf to what God is saying. I need to remember, and remind others, that we are to “Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4) The best statement on this whole subject is found in Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

Father, thank You for how You have guided me, even recently, and for how I see You guiding others. Give us all peace about trusting You, rather than trying to second-guess everything. There are several people facing major life decisions. Keep me from inserting myself into those decisions, but help me help them turn their eyes and ears to You, so that as individuals and as a church we may walk in all that You intend for us, for Your blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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October 12, 2013

Posted on October 15, 2013 by jgarrott

Isaiah 26:12 LORD, you establish peace for us;
all that we have accomplished you have done for us.

This one verse needs to be inscribed on the heart of every successful person, but sadly it doesn’t seem to be. The Bible is filled with admonitions to remember that everything we have comes from God, but that’s because we are so prone to forget it. Moses expressed it very clearly in Deuteronomy 8:17-18 “You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your forefathers, as it is today.” When we forget that God is both the source and the purpose of everything, we end up like Solomon, disappointed and depressed about it all. (Ecclesiastes 2:11) We see that in wealthy people all the time. Some of them wake up before it’s too late, but sadly, many do not. When we realize that everything good we do is because God enabled us to do it, then we are set free to believe that He can do even more, because our focus goes from us to Him, and that is blessing indeed. I am reminded of an earlier verse in this same chapter: “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)

These first 13 verses of Isaiah 26 are so loaded with powerful truth! I could easily preach a series of messages from this short section, but more importantly, I need to internalize it and live it out. I have been enabled to do a lot of stuff over the years, but I must remember that every bit of it has been by the grace of God. He is the one who has given me ability, discernment, and energy, and if I forget that for a moment, I’m in trouble. I was raised not to place limits on my abilities, which was a great blessing in itself, but I’ve got to remember that ultimately they are not my abilities but God’s, operating through me. Conceit has been a problem for me much of my life, but if I had kept this truth in focus, that would never have been an issue. As a pastor, I am constantly reminded that I cannot change people by myself; if they are to change, God has to do it. Hopefully He will have their cooperation, and He might even use me in the process, but the wisdom and power have to come from Him. An important part of the Good News I seek to communicate is that God’s power is indeed available to everyone, if they will humble themselves to seek and receive it.

Father, thank You for Your transforming power that I see at work all around me. Thank You for exercising it on me as well. Help me continually lift my eyes off of myself and fix them on You, and lead others to do likewise, so that all of Your plans may be fulfilled in and through us, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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October 11, 2013

Posted on October 13, 2013 by jgarrott

Isaiah 25:11 God will bring down their pride.

Pride has been an issue for mankind ever since the Garden of Eden, and actually before, because it is what got Lucifer thrown out of heaven. (Isaiah 14:12-14) There is no end to the examples that could be quoted, from the Bible and from history outside the Bible. The thing is, pride cannot stand before God. Even Job, who was a righteous man, repented in dust and ashes when he encountered God in person. (Job 42:5-6) There is a difference between assurance of what God has done and can do in and through us and pride in what we think we are or can do in and of ourselves. Those two things might look the same to an outside observer, but God knows our hearts, so the ultimate result is very different. The supreme example whom we are supposed to emulate is of course Jesus. Paul left us a very beautiful description of Jesus’ humility in Philippians 2:5-8. He had existed as part of the Godhead from before Creation, (John 1:1-5) but He set that aside to be born as a human baby, with all our weaknesses and limitations. He did not exercise His authority as Son on the earth, but rather operated in the power of the Holy Spirit, who is available to all who believe. He was accused of blasphemous pride by the Pharisees, who were proud of their legalistic righteousness, because He spoke and acted with complete assurance of who He was. Some people even today try to insist on outward trappings of humility, but their very insistence betrays their own pride. The thing is, as this verse says, God brings pride down, period. James (James 4:10) and Peter both tell us that if we will humble ourselves before God, He will lift us up, and Peter precedes that with quoting Proverbs 3:34, which says clearly that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5-6)

All of this is, of course, intimately connected with self image. When that is expressed as self esteem, we invite all sorts of problems. Many schools today, in both Japan and America, have stopped giving prizes for excellence of all sorts, because “Those who don’t do so well might have lowered self esteem.” The problem is, that’s life! We are of equal value, but don’t give equal performance. I have run head-long into this all my life. I’ve always been at the bottom of the list when it came to sports, but academics have come easily for me. However, when I have presumed on my abilities and failed to apply myself, I’ve had some failures in academics as well. Conceit has always been a snare for me. As a pastor, I cannot escape the reality that I cannot save, deliver, or heal anyone by my own strength or wisdom, but God can and does do those things through me at times. I am to be profoundly grateful, but never proud, because only God deserves the glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder, and for all You’ve brought me through to teach this truth to me. Thank You for Your amazing patience toward me! Help me express that same patience toward those I work with, recognizing that we are all equally dependent on Your grace, so that I may be fully available to You for all You want to do through me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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October 10, 2013

Posted on October 11, 2013 by jgarrott

Isaiah 24:14-16a They raise their voices, they shout for joy;
from the west they acclaim the LORD’s majesty.
Therefore in the east give glory to the LORD;
exalt the name of the LORD, the God of Israel,
in the islands of the sea.
From the ends of the earth we hear singing:
“Glory to the Righteous One.”

This passage is loved by those who are on fire for world evangelism, but it is interesting to note that it is in the middle of a long passage about the devastation of the earth. That should be a reminder that sometimes, what we see as tragedy isn’t necessarily that, and what we see as desirable can be a snare. I’m reminded of the story in 1 Kings 14 about the death of the young son of King Jeroboam, in which the Lord says through the prophet Ahijah that the boy was taken to spare him the calamity that was going to come on the nation. The fact of the matter is that we simply don’t know what’s really going on, because apart from special revelation, we only see the material world within our time frame. That’s why it is so important to fix our eyes on Jesus: only He can give us an accurate perspective on things. Hebrews 12:2-3 is justly famous as an admonition to do that, but Hebrews 2:8-9 explains the “why” of that a bit more. We don’t see things lining up with the character of God. In fact, we see things that tend to drive us to despair, just as Isaiah experienced. However we can, by faith, see Jesus, and that vision should generate peace and joy that can’t be explained by the world, or really by human logic. That’s what Paul was talking about when he spoke of “a peace that surpasses human understanding.” (Philippians 4:7)

Well! I certainly didn’t expect to write that when I chose the verses I did! I’ve been in yet another training period on this issue recently, which is a strong reminder of the unreliability of human perceptions and emotions. I need to fix my eyes on Christ better and better, so that I may rejoice in Him regardless of how things look to my natural being. The Lord was gracious enough to tell me personally several years ago that He isn’t at all happy with much of what goes on in the world, but that doesn’t mean for a moment that He isn’t still in charge, or that He isn’t going to work everything out. Even so, I have gotten tied in knots repeatedly over all sorts of things, instead of resting, relaxing, and rejoicing, as He has told me to do. I can see this issue clearly when I’m ministering to others, but it seems I suddenly become very nearsighted when it comes to my own life! I need to listen to what the Lord says through me, and not think my sermons are “for those people.” I certainly don’t have the excuse of not knowing God’s Word!

Father, thank You for Your patience with me, and for how gently You guide and correct me. Help me recognize my own inability without You, as well as Your absolute ability within me, so that I will allow You to do in and through me all that You desire and intend, for the blessing of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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October 9, 2013

Posted on October 11, 2013 by jgarrott

Isaiah 12:2 Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.”

I have loved this very brief chapter, one of the shortest in the Bible, for a long time. I think one reason it resonates so strongly with me is that I come from a very musical family, so the references to song and singing really click with me. This particular verse expresses the reality that trusting God is a choice. It’s not always an easy choice, but it is the only one that brings real peace. The Japanese preserves the nuance in the Hebrew of using a shortened form of God’s personal name here: “Yah, the Lord, is my strength and my song.” When we understand that this shortened form of God’s name is the last part of the familiar, hallelujah, it falls into place, I think. Isaiah didn’t want anyone to mistake whom he was praising, who was his salvation.

I couldn’t begin to count the number of times a song of praise has helped me refocus on God, bringing me out of depression or distraction or whatever. Singing is a choice, and is an easy one to understand. I have loved, and love to teach others, the little chorus, You are the Words and the Music. The last line expresses it so clearly: “Now I return to You the song that You gave to me; You are the song that I sing.” Like everyone else, I have my emotional ups and downs, but singing to God my Salvation is the surest method I know to renew my faith and trust in Him.

Father, You know the emotional stress we are under right now, as we go this morning to consult with the doctor about the results of the heart tests Cathy has had. At the moment, it looks like surgery will likely be recommended, and the question arises about our planned trip to the US in less than two weeks. We have repeatedly chosen to trust You in and for this, but the pressures are real. Help us continue to make the right choice, to trust You, at every juncture and in every detail, so that we may grow in faith even as we walk in the very best that You have for us, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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October 8, 2013

Posted on October 9, 2013 by jgarrott

Isaiah 9:6b And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

It makes a difference what we call God, because it really does influence how we think about Him. This passage is of course about His Son, the Christ, who when He walked this earth was called Yeshua, or Jesus, but those terms carry widely – sometimes wildly – different images for different people. We certainly don’t associate the name Jesus with its meaning, “Yahweh is Salvation.” That’s why this passage is both helpful and important. Actually, I feel it applies to all three members of the Godhead: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We lose out when we try to put God in a box in any way. “Wonderful Counsel­or.” Often we feel like we need advice, guidance, more than we need anything else. This tells us that God cares, that He will indeed guide us as we need, beyond what we could imagine. “Mighty God.” We must not forget that God is powerful, that He is indeed “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” (Ephesians 3:20) “Everlasting Father.” “Father” was a title often claimed by rulers in those days, and it is still applied to leaders today. However, this is Father in the fullest sense of the word, including all the love and affection, as well as authority and discipline, that should come from every good father. “Prince of Peace.” In those days and now, people are more than tired of war, in every sense of “tired.” The root cause of all war is mankind’s rebellion against God, and that is taken care of in Christ. (Acts 10:36, Romans 5:1) When we understand these titles and take them to heart, our faith is deepened and strengthened and we walk in the peace and joy God intends for us.

This passage is so familiar, from Christmas after Christmas, that I was initially not excited about reading it yet again. That’s a good lesson in not letting familiarity dull our appreciation for the Word! I too need to be reminded of these characteristics of my Lord, so that I may not be shaken by all I experience. The world as a whole is a mess, and my life hardly seems less chaotic. It is only when I stand firm in faith (just as we read yesterday) that I can begin to deal with it all. Uncertainty can be very stressful, so the more of it there is in my life, the more I need to focus on Jesus Christ my Lord, who is “the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

Father, thank You for all that You are bringing me through these days. Thank You that my body is honest, not pretending more faith than I have. I didn’t plan to wake up before 4 this morning! Help me keep growing, applying the faith I do have so that I may receive Your abundant supply. Help me reach out to those around me who likewise struggle with faith in various ways. Thank You for this reminder that I have no “high horse” from which to talk down to them. May we grow together in seeing and appreciating You as You really are, so that we may experience the victory that You have for us, (1 John 5:4) for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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