July 19, 2013

Posted on July 20, 2013 by jgarrott

1 Corinthians 12:7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve written or spoken on this verse, yet I still encounter so many people who fail to grasp the three important truths about the gifts of the Holy Spirit that are in it. Word order in Japanese and English being very different, the order in which I deal with those truths generally depends on which language I’m using, and since I just read it in Japanese, I’ll go with that. Spiritual gifts are for the benefit of everyone. I’d be the last to deny that expressing spiritual gifts blesses the one doing so, but that is not the primary purpose. Spiritual gifts are to build up the Body of Christ and give Him glory. With most of the gifts that’s not hard to understand, but the one that causes problems is tongues. Even Paul seemed to place tongues on a lower level than prophecy, at least, because it seems so very personal. However, the gift of tongues allows someone to pray effectively for situations they know nothing about, and when they happen to be in a language understood by someone else present, they can be a powerful encouragement to faith. My wife Cathy was once in a prayer meeting with a group of Philippinas who attended our church, and they got very excited. It seems she was praying in Tagalog, which she doesn’t speak or understand. Needless to say, those girls were convinced of the power of God! The second truth in this passage is that spiritual gifts are given to all who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord. I have experienced the baptism in the Holy Spirit and I would be the last to discount that, but the Holy Spirit does express Himself through all of God’s children. Baptism certainly frees us up to allow the Holy Spirit to flow through us in various ways, but I have run into many people who, even though they love Jesus, think they have no spiritual gifts, and that’s simply not true. If we don’t believe we have spiritual gifts, we aren’t going to be as available for those gifts to be expressed through us. The third point in this verse is that all such gifts are manifestations of the Holy Spirit; they aren’t packaged gifts. That is, they aren’t things that belong to us for us to take out and admire, they are active. You could almost say they are more verbs than nouns, even though that’s not true in writing or talking about them. Just as the Word of God is “living and active,” (Hebrews 4:12) the Spirit of God is alive and working, and when He works through us, we call it “spiritual gifts.”

I have certainly experienced this, but I don’t remember ever being taught it in quite this way. I guess that’s all the more reason to share this with others! As a pastor, my heart’s desire is that every member of this church be fully open to the flow of the Holy Spirit through them. It is again my experience that the more we allow the Spirit to flow through us, the more junk He washes out in the process, so that we are cleansed and made more like Christ. My job is not so much to “do for God” as it is to allow Him to “do through me.” That’s what Jesus was talking about when He said that without Him we can do nothing, any more than a grape stick could produce fruit without being attached to the vine. (John 15:5) I need to help the believers understand that God wants a lot of fruit, and He wants to use us to produce it.

Father, I was seeking the message You wanted to speak through me this Sunday, and it certainly looks like You’ve given it to me. Thank You. Help me live this out, and not just lecture others. May I be an open conduit for Your Spirit at all times, not limiting the flow through unbelief, but allowing and expecting You to use me in blessing, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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July 18, 2013

Posted on July 20, 2013 by jgarrott

1 Corinthians 10:33 even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

Taken rightly, this verse is a recipe for great personal peace and satisfaction. Taken wrongly, it is a recipe for complete burnout and nervous breakdown. The reason for that is that being self-centered is never the way to genuine peace and satisfaction, but being emotionally dependent on the responses of others is extremely unhealthy. So how to strike the right balance? The key in this verse is the phrase, “that they may be saved.” That puts the focus on Christ the Savior, if understood rightly. We cannot save anyone in our own strength, so right there it takes the focus off of us. However, the more we love Jesus the more we want others to love Him too. The better we understand our own salvation the more we want others to be saved too. There is no greater joy for a Christian than to be used by God in leading someone to Christ. The more we are focused on “What’s in it for me?” the less we will have that joy.

Since I am an American pastor in Japan, nothing could be more applicable to my life. I have struggled with many different motivations over the years, going from being focused on what I thought of as my own satisfaction, with “church work” being peripheral, to understanding that my money-making activities are largely for the purpose of supporting my church work. I must say that the latter attitude brings far more satisfaction and joy! I still have great pain when someone to whom I’ve ministered dies without having opened their heart to Christ, but I am able to release them, and myself, to God who is merciful and gracious, and keep going with those who are still able to respond. I know that though God does use me, and I am not to be lazy in my availability to Him, it is not my effort as such that accomplishes His will. Rather, it is His power working through me. (Colossians 1:29) That is the paradox of serving God: I am to rest, relax, and rejoice, regardless of how busy my body might be, because it is not my strength but His. If I will do that, then many will indeed be saved, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I forget it occasionally! Help me be fully active with Your strength and power, while being fully at rest in You, waiting expectantly on You so that Your strength may replace mine, (Isaiah 40:31) drawing many into Your kingdom for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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July 17, 2013

Posted on July 18, 2013 by jgarrott

1 Corinthians 9:27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Some seminaries do make a point of this verse, but far too many seem to gloss over it, if the results are to be believed. The devil is indeed very crafty, (Genesis 3:1) and he knows how to play on human pride and sensuality. It would be impossible to list all the church leaders who have been brought down because they thought they were “above” either regulations or temptations. Paul’s words in the very next chapter are good advice: “If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Corinthians 10:12) He knew that those in the lead get targeted! As he wrote at length in Ephesians 6 and elsewhere, he knew that the weapons and armor God provides are sufficient for the fight, but he also knew that they have to be used to be effective. A US soldier in Afghanistan who’s going to be on point for a patrol isn’t about to leave his body armor in the camp! It is if anything even more vital for every church leader to be sure they are clothed in Christ (Galatians 3:27) at all times, because every item in the armor listed in Ephesians 6 is found in Him. That’s why Jesus said so many times in the Upper Room Discourse, (John 13~16) “Abide in Me.” We aren’t to be afraid of the devil, because He Who is in us is greater, (1 John 4:4) but neither are we to let down our guard, and we must recognize that the devil is most likely to use the weaknesses he finds in us already.

This of course applies to me in spades. I am no more immune to attack than the newest Christian, so I’ve got to keep my focus on Christ. The biggest temptation for me is to think that because God speaks through me, that means I’m already doing the things I say. I must remember that my sermons are first to me! That is precisely what Paul is talking about in this verse. I can and do speak God’s truth into lives and situations, but I’ve got to let that Word pierce my own heart, cutting out everything that is not pleasing to God. (Hebrews 4:12) Any time I learn of another church leader who has fallen, I need to remember that “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” I am to pray for those in my flock, but I am also to pray for those leading other flocks, that they may stand firm and finish well, for the glory of God.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I think of it often, because You are so faithful to speak Your Word through me. Help me apply that Word in my own life faithfully, so that I too may stand tall and finish well, as an encouragement to many and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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July 16, 2013

Posted on July 18, 2013 by jgarrott

1 Corinthians 8:1-2 Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.

We see this played out constantly all around us on various levels, and truth be told, we are part of it. What makes it complicated is that there is such a thing as absolute truth, and we aren’t to let go of that for a moment. However, we must always speak the truth in love, and recognize that we have more to learn ourselves. (Ephesians 4:14) There is a world of difference between human knowledge and God’s truth. Even a cursory look at the history of science and medicine will turn up countless examples of things that were once firmly believed and taught, but which now seem totally absurd to us. A current, and currently controversial, example is the theory of evolution. It is held to blindly by many, and defended to the point of violence, despite gaping holes in what it does and doesn’t “explain.” However, attacking someone who holds to that theory doesn’t honor God or draw others to Him. Pointing out the logical inconsistencies in the theory is certainly valid, and remarkably easy to do, but attacking the person who holds to that theory runs afoul of what Paul says here. We may see the inconsistency and illogic of evolutionary theory, but that doesn’t mean we have all the answers to everything. We are to speak the truth in love, while acknowledging that there is far more that we don’t know than we do know. However, we are never to let go of the bedrock truths of the Gospel: the Creator of the universe loved us so much that He sent His Son to live and die as a human being, taking the penalty for our sins so that we might receive His righteousness and live eternally as children of God. (John 3:16)

As I am reminded often, I have lived much of my life in the sort of pride Paul is talking about here. I have used intellect as a shield and a weapon and have hurt many, to no one’s benefit. I must remember that no matter how absurd the position, the person holding it is valuable and loved by God. After all, I’ve held some absurd positions myself! I have full agreement with something C. S. Lewis said in The Great Divorce: when we get to heaven one thing we will discover is that we were all wrong somewhere. (I didn’t put that in quotes because I don’t remember his exact wording.) I have little patience with people who get immersed in various “end time” scenarios, because such scenarios can distract greatly from faithful living right now, but that doesn’t mean that the people themselves are any less valuable than I am. I know by painful experience that it is frighteningly easy to despise people, and that diminishes me more than it does them. I am to love them as God has loved me, leading them out of error when I can, but never in pride at my “superior knowledge.” I am to keep my own eyes on Christ (Hebrews 12:2) and seek to teach others to do the same, so that together we may reflect His glory. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Father, thank You for this powerful reminder. Help me live out the truth I know! May I be an open channel of Your love above all, not descending into pride of any sort but letting You build others up through me. May I be a faithful steward of the truth You have planted in me so that many may be set free, (John 8:32) for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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July 15, 2013

Posted on July 18, 2013 by jgarrott

1 Corinthians 7:23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

A few days ago the subject of slavery came up from a passage in Romans, and along with it the whole subject of cultural context and communicating the Gospel. This whole chapter is firmly rooted in the culture of the day, but it still has a lot to say to us whatever our current culture. This verse specifically speaks to our loyalties. A slave is required to be obedient to their owner, but we are to serve the Lord Jesus Christ first and foremost. Some people, then and now, actually chose/choose to be slaves of others, because a slave has virtually no personal responsibility; they just have to obey their master. That is not to be our attitude! Every Christian has been bought with the body and blood of Jesus Christ, so we belong to God. Our responsibility isn’t just to obey God, it is to fellowship with Him and delight in Him so that we may be transformed into the likeness of His Son. (2 Corinthians 3:18) There’s a world of difference between that and slavery! Even aside from human trafficking (which is a huge problem) many people function as slaves, essentially “checking their minds at the door” as they serve some organization. That is no more defensible than the slavery of Paul’s day! We are to serve God in Christ Jesus, and let that be the determining factor for everything else.

The two times I’ve had a taste of what slavery might involve where when I was a pledge for the Alpha Psi Omega drama fraternity and when I was drafted into the Army, but either was a far cry from true slavery. In my observation, slavery is more a matter of emotional and mental, rather than physical, constraints. I have dealt with people who were slaves to all sorts of things. Two people can have the same job and one be a slave to it and the other not. As a pastor, I am to help people recognize their dependencies and choose to depend on God alone. I am not in a position personally to combat human trafficking, though I support in prayer those who do, but I daily deal with those who are caught in more subtle forms of slavery, and I am to set them free by the grace and power of God. (Luke 4:18)

Father, thank You for the freedom that comes only by Your Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:17) Help me walk in that freedom myself, serving You alone, and lead others to do the same, for Your pleasure and glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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July 14, 2013

Posted on July 18, 2013 by jgarrott

1 Corinthians 7:15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.

For people who are struggling with an unbelieving spouse, this passage may seem very cold, but that’s because we tend to focus on ourselves; Paul’s focus is on Christ and His Body. The situation of just one spouse being a believer is hardly unusual in any country even today. Peter also addresses it, (1 Peter 3:1-6) which is particularly significant because we know he was married, in contrast to Paul. Americans in particular seem focused on “the pursuit of happiness,” as mentioned in the Declaration of Independence, and that often degenerates into, “What’s in it for me?” That’s no way to have a successful marriage, and it’s no way to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. However, the rest of the world seems bent on copying the less admirable characteristics of America, and that’s no exception. When people marry with no thought of faith, the probability of their having a truly fulfilling marriage is sadly slim. However, when husband and wife both come to Christ after they are married, God has special blessings for that situation as well. The whole point is, we are to be focused on following Christ, whether our spouse is willing to go with us or not.

Never having been in that situation, I am hesitant to push it too strongly, which is awkward in Japan, where Christian couples are the exception rather than the rule. We had a “pillar of the church” withdraw from church in the hope of leading his wife to Christ, but circumstances since then have shown the practicality of what Paul wrote here. (His wife is sill not a Christian, and he has been cut off from Christian fellowship that he dearly loves.) At this point the majority of the believers in this church are not married to a believing spouse. Just this year, however, I had the privilege of baptizing both a husband and his wife, and that is a special joy. I am to encourage everyone in the Church that God’s plans for them are good, so that they would keep their eyes on Him to receive what He has for them, in marriage as in every other area of life.

Father, You have blessed me so amazingly in the area of marriage that sometimes people have trouble relating to me, or get jealous. Help me be an open channel of Your grace, to turn their eyes to You, rather than to me or to themselves. I pray for all the singles, that they would have God’s peace as they wait for the partner You have for them. Because I got married at 20, they tend to feel I don’t have much empathy for their position! May I be an effective shepherd and counselor for every situation You allow me to impact, so that the lies of the devil may be exposed and people be brought into all that You desire for them, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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July 13, 2013

Posted on July 14, 2013 by jgarrott

1 Corinthians 2:14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Everyone who is earnest in sharing the Gospel has run into people who had less understanding of what was being said to them than a donkey would. The NIV says that such a person is “without the Spirit,” but the Japanese sticks with the Greek to say, “natural.” The thing is, it’s just like Jesus said: “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.” (John 6:44) The problem is, we don’t know at first glance who is being drawn, so we aren’t to write anyone off. We are all born with a hunger for God, which is why early childhood evangelism is often so successful. However, such children are very dependent on their home environments, so those without Christian parents seldom grow into true disciples. It is when we “mature” into “thinking adults” that Paul’s statement here comes into play. To the simply human mind, it seems absurd that the God of the universe would love us enough to send His Son to die for us, and that He would care about us individually. Here again Jesus said it very clearly: “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Luke 18:17) That being said, how are we to evangelize? First, we must pray for the Holy Spirit to prepare hearts and minds. Then, we are to present the Gospel simply, in words that a child could understand. We are never to look down on anyone because of their lack of understanding, but remember that it is only by God’s grace that we ourselves have been able to receive the Gospel.

This is very pointed for me. As I am reminded fairly frequently, I face many communication barriers. For me it’s not a matter of English or Japanese, because I speak both freely, but of understanding my hearers’ background, or lack of it, and tailoring my words appropriately. The longer I’m in ministry, the simpler words I use! With a Christian who is seeking deeper understanding, I can use words like atonement and propitiation, but certainly not with anyone who has not committed their heart to Jesus as Lord. Having been raised in the Church as I was, that can be hard to remember at times!

Father, thank You for the awareness that You desire people’s salvation more than I ever could. Help me be fully available and submitted to You, so that You may use me to draw people to Christ and to speak Your truth to those who are being drawn, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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July 12, 2013

Posted on July 14, 2013 by jgarrott

Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

This verse should remove all hesitation about how to pray! We still have the question of whether we have the right to pray, which actually comes ahead of this one, but there are many passages that address that. The only requirement is humble faith in the One to Whom we are praying; He takes care of everything else. I have run into many people who were hung up over how to pray, but that can only come from a lack of familiarity with genuine prayer. Rote prayers have their place, particularly in teaching little children, but they are just an entry point. I remember an amusing scene from a comedy set during WWII in which an officer told someone to pray, and all he could come up with was “Now I lay me down to sleep…” Not too appropriate in the middle of battle! The point is, God wants us to communicate with Him more than we want to, so He provides everything necessary to facilitate that, most especially by the Holy Spirit. That’s why Paul could tell the Ephesians, “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” Sometimes we hesitate to pray because we think our prayers are too self-centered to be heard, but think about a little baby. Their cries are totally self-centered, but what parent’s heart is not melted by such cries? We can trust God to have the right response to our prayers, just as a wise parent will differentiate between different kinds of crying in their child.

I now realize the extreme blessing it was to be raised in a home where prayer was as natural as breathing. I wish everyone had that blessing! I’ve not been the most effective teacher on prayer, because my feeling has been, what’s to teach? Personally, I recognize that I have room to grow in various areas of prayer, but I feel no hesitation at all to pray, in any and every situation. As a pastor, I consciously choose different people for various situations of public prayer, not because I have any hesitation to pray myself, but to give them more experience and boldness in praying in front of others. I earnestly desire that this church be a praying people, fully useful to God because we communicate with Him continuously, for His pleasure and glory.

Father, thank You for the great privilege of prayer. Help me never take it lightly. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit to guide and empower my prayers whatever language I’m using. May I be effective as a teacher and an example so that many may be brought into the intimacy of prayer that You desire, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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July 11, 2013

Posted on July 12, 2013 by jgarrott

Romans 8:5-8 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

This is a long section to write on, but it is so clear and so logically connected that I want to consider it as a whole. The NIV makes it harder to understand by trying to be politically correct, changing “flesh” to “sinful nature.” Our bodies are not evil in themselves, but they are essentially animals. You should take good care of your dog, but you don’t let your dog decide how you live! Reading this passage, the “sexual revolution” that has taken over culture for the past 50 years comes into very sharp focus. Sex is a beautiful and powerful gift from God, not just for procreation but for the bonding of husband and wife into one. However, if we respond to it like animals in heat, which is a pretty accurate description of “progressive” morality, we lose more than we imagine. God desires good for us, but as this passage says, when we let our flesh be in control, we are in rebellion against God and are rejecting His blessings, and the end result is not just physical death, but eternal death. You can’t get any worse than that! As Paul says here, fixing our minds and hearts on the Holy Spirit and letting Him be in control brings life and peace, and we could all use more of that. Letting our flesh be in control is really throwing everything away.

I’ve certainly had times of giving the flesh the upper hand, and it has never turned out well. By God’s grace I am learning more and more how to walk in the Spirit, and it is indeed life and peace. I am at times flabbergasted, as well as saddened, to see how thoroughly so much of society is actively rejecting Biblical morality in almost every area. I’ve got to remember that God is still God, and keep leading people into a personal relationship with God in Christ by His Spirit. I can’t wave a hand and “fix” society, but I can strive not to be polluted by it, and I can be salt and light in all that I touch. I am to take comfort in Jesus’ statement that I am no more of the world than He was while He was here, (John 17:16) and I am to live as His agent in all things, for His glory.

Father, thank You for telling me so clearly that You are no more happy with the current state of things than I am. Help me remember that, as I remember that You are indeed going to make everything right in Your time. Even as I long for Christ’s return, at the same time I want a little more time to bring more people into Your kingdom before it’s too late! Help me be consistent in speaking the truth in love to everyone at all times, so that they may be set free to repent and believe, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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July 10, 2013

Posted on July 12, 2013 by jgarrott

Romans 7:6 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

Some people commit suicide thinking it will release them from whatever circumstances they find unbearable, but they are only half right. In any kind of release, thought must be taken as to what the person or thing is being released to. I’m reminded of stories of animals that are “released into the wild” only to be immediately eaten by a predator. Suicide is a release from this world, perhaps, but after death comes judgment, (Hebrews 9:27) and such people are seldom ready for that. In this case, Paul is speaking of dying to the Law, but that is not to be unfettered in being self-centered. Rather, it is to be free to serve God in the new way of the Spirit. Many people don’t like God’s rules because they don’t want to serve anything but themselves. They don’t realize that attitude benefits no one but the devil, and serves him. Recently there was an incident of pro-abortion people trying to drown out pro-life speeches and singing by chanting “Hail, Satan.” They perhaps had no real grasp of how honest and accurate they were being. By proclaiming a “right” to destroy innocent life, they were indeed serving the one who “comes only to steal, kill, and destroy.” (John 10:10) Paul is not talking about getting rid of the Law to follow our lusts, He’s talking about serving God more perfectly by the indwelling Holy Spirit, rather than by external regulations.

I have struggled with legalism in one way or another most of my life. I have had my times of wanting to ignore all rules, and I’ve paid the price. I’ve dealt with those who seemed to have a rule for everything, and they were quick to squash anyone who didn’t toe the line. I’ve learned that the only way to “die to the law” profitably is to be filled with the Holy Spirit, living to please Him rather than the flesh. When I have tasted the fellowship with the Father that is only possible through Him, I certainly don’t want to quench (1 Thessalonians 5:19) or grieve (Ephesians 4:30) the Holy Spirit! That’s a far more effective motivator than external rules.

Father, thank You once again for Your grace toward me. I have been so slow to learn many of the things You have taught me. Help me be an effective instrument in Your hands for teaching others, so that they won’t have to go through some of the junk I’ve experienced. May I indeed serve You more fully each day, by the presence and power of Your Spirit, so that Your will may be done in and through me for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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