April 12, 2013

Posted on April 14, 2013 by jgarrott

Romans 3:9 What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all!

There is a great temptation for those who have been “toeing the line” for a while to start thinking they are better than others. This verse is a reminder that isn’t the case. Everyone is equally in need of God’s grace, because as Jesus said, “apart from Him we can do nothing.” (John 15:5) When we start thinking that we are hanging onto Him by our own strength, we start descending into pride. All we can do is choose to allow Him to hang onto us. That choice is daily, and sometimes moment by moment. This is not at all a passive thing; the Bible urges us from beginning to end to seek God, cry out to Him, and serve Him with our whole hearts. However, it is a recognition that ultimately, our strength is so weak as to be nonexistent, but God’s strength is available to save us. Religious people can be just as guilty of imagined self-sufficiency as atheists! This was the big problem with the Pharisees: they lived such upright lives they thought they didn’t need God! We must never forget that a genuinely Biblical lifestyle is one of humility above all, engendering a grateful appreciation for God’s grace.

I just had a brief but intense practicum in this. I usually read the Bible and pray before getting involved in anything else in my day, but this morning my attention was taken by two or three things, and by the time I opened my Bible, it might as well have been blank. I can no more mine the riches of the Word in my own strength and wisdom than I could create another moon, for example, by speaking it into existence. I cannot coast on past accomplishments or presume on past intimacy with God; each day calls for fresh commitment and submission to the Holy Spirit. It’s not at all that God is stingy or distant, it’s that we have spiritual ADD. Religious people can often add “hyperactive” to that, resulting in ADHD. I’m certainly at risk there! When I get caught up in what I need to “do for God,” I lose the connection with Him that allows me to do anything in the first place. That’s no way to be a channel of His grace and blessing to others!

Father, thank You for this reminder. It’s no fun to get to the point that I need it! I do ask for a clear flow of Your Spirit as I prepare the message for Sunday. Keep me from focusing on “the message” to the point that I fail to rest in Your arms, hearing Your heart beat. I am a silly little boy, prone to running around in circles. Help me indeed take my Daddy’s hand and walk with You, recognizing and rejoicing in my dependence on You, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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April 11, 2013

Posted on April 12, 2013 by jgarrott

Romans 3:3-4 What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar.

I find it interesting that where the NIV says “did not have faith,” the Japanese says “were not faithful.” English obviously copies Greek in linking those two words etymologically. (In Japanese the characters are completely different, though the sounds are similar.) Biblically speaking, you can’t really be faithful without faith, because God is the ground of all being, and without Him, nothing is true. That is what Paul is pointing out here. Attributing human weaknesses to God is a logical fallacy, as well as simply being stupid. However, we demonstrate an immense capacity for stupidity! That no more negates God’s wisdom that our impatience negates His patience, or our weakness His strength. We have the tendency to think we’re the center of everything, when God is not only the center, He’s above and beyond everything. That’s why Psalm 14:1 is so true when it says, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” Denying God removes the underpinning for everything else, and is a major reason for why there is so much stupidity in the world today. Nothing we can say or do could possibly negate God, but many people put a lot of energy into trying to do so anyway.

I personally find this reality very encouraging, because it is a big comfort to know that God has none of my failings. I think, every once in a while, that if I were God, I would have squashed me a long time ago! However, God is immensely patient and merciful, and I am profoundly grateful. The difficulty is, many of the people around me are not ready to acknowledge their own weaknesses and failings, and so they decline to open their hearts in submission to God to receive His grace. I speak the Gospel to them in love but they shrug it off, pretending they don’t need it. That breaks my heart at times. However, I’m not to give up. Remembering God’s patience and persistence with me, I need to be patiently persistent with others. I’ve got to remember that however faithless (in all senses of that word) people might be, God is totally faithful and trustworthy, and so walk in joyful obedience.

Father, living in obedience to You is certainly an adventure! I cannot see the future, or even around the next bend, but I have walked with You enough that I know You are totally reliable. Help me hear You more clearly so that I may be more instantly responsive, to more effectively draw others into right relationship with You, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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April 10, 2013

Posted on April 12, 2013 by jgarrott

Romans 2:4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?

This is a very accurate description of what a lot of people in “Christian” nations like the US are doing. This keeps coming out in passage after passage, but people seem effectively to have forgotten the holiness of God. They might as well be worshiping Santa Claus! When churches focus exclusively on God’s love, mercy, and grace, we tend to forget why those are necessary. As this verse says so clearly, those attributes are to lead us to repentance, because otherwise we will be destroyed by our own sin. This is happening in the US at an increasing rate. I find myself with a growing understanding of and appreciation for Jesus’ message: “The kingdom of heaven is near; repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15) Without repentance, we deny either that God is holy or that we are sinners, or both. I read recently that sin is anything that is not in agreement with God’s character. I like that description a lot! God’s desire and intent is that we let go of everything that fits that description so that we may be transformed into the likeness of His Son. (Romans 8:29) Put that way, repentance seems quite attractive!

I certainly have a history of taking God’s grace and mercy for granted, which should give me great empathy for those around me in the same situation. I am not to be judgmental but I am to call them to repentance, just as God called me. I cannot “convict of sin, righteousness and judgment,” but the Holy Spirit can use me to that end. (John 16:8-11) The more I love people, the more I will risk their not liking me, for the sake of bringing them to repentance and faith. I now realize how self-centered most of my “love” is. I seek to interact with people for the sake of their relationship with me, rather than for what is best for them. That’s what Jesus was talking about when He said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) “Laying down your life” includes risking those people disliking you or even hating you. I am not to offend needlessly, but I must not draw back from speaking God’s truth in love out of a fear that someone might get upset.

Father, thank You for this reminder. This isn’t the first time You’ve pointed this out to me! Help me be faithful in my every interaction to make full use of the opportunities You provide to communicate Your Gospel. May I not be judgmental, but may I call people to repentance, so that they may escape the traps of the devil and walk in Your light, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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April 9, 2013

Posted on April 11, 2013 by jgarrott

Romans 1:11-12 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong – that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

I long thought that verse 11 was what Paul really thought, and verse 12 was his backtracking to try to avoid seeming like he was looking down on the believers in Rome. However, reading it just now in the context of my own experience, I get a somewhat different take. Whereas he probably was trying to be careful not to come across as “holier than thou,” verse 12 is just as sincere as verse 11. For anyone who’s been in ministry quite a while, encountering people who have genuine, active faith is indeed a real encouragement. There is without question the desire to impart spiritual gifts, but finding people who are ready to receive them is a joy, blessing, and encouragement. Any true servant of the Lord rejoices to find people who are strong in faith, and such encounters are truly mutually edifying. On top of that, it is a great joy to be aware of being used by God to bless others, and especially His children. Ministry is never a completely one-way street. Paul was indeed desiring the mutual blessing that He knew from experience would happen when ministry was given and received.

I have actually experienced this many times. Even hospital visitation can leave me energized, if I find faith in the one I’m visiting. When there is no answering faith it can leave me drained, but when the Lord’s ministry through me is received with joy, I am greatly blessed. I very much desire to impart God’s gifts to all I encounter, because that impartation is a blessing to me as well. Just yesterday two people for whom I have been praying in various ways came by the church at different times. Having them come by of their own initiative was an encouragement to begin with, and then seeing that God is indeed faithful to grow their faith, was a real joy. I am never to hold back from letting God bless others through me, because I’m always blessed in the process!

Father, yesterday was a packed day in several respects, and today looks to be even more so. Thank You that I have my first classes with two groups of students this morning. I pray that my interaction with them throughout this semester would be the blessing You intend it to be, not only imparting academic proficiency but opening their hearts up to You and Your Gospel. Thank You that because it’s a private school, I am free to pray for the students openly. I ask that Your Spirit would pray through me, so that Your will may be done on every level, in them and in me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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April 8, 2013

Posted on April 9, 2013 by jgarrott

Acts 24:25 As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! When I find it convenient, I will send for you.”

This is perfectly in line with yesterday’s sermon on repentance! People have been running from repentance since the dawn of time. Felix had every reason to feel fearful when confronted with his own sinfulness and the coming judgment, but his reaction was entirely too typical: he ran from the issue, rather than dealing with it. That’s not to say that Paul did anything wrong, and that’s something we need to remember. We are responsible to speak the truth in love, but we are not responsible for how people respond to it. The next verse says that Felix was hoping for a bribe, which means that he loved his sin more than the prospect of salvation. How sad! Of those who go to hell, most don’t do so for what are considered “terrible” sins, but simply for consistently choosing something else over submission and obedience to God. There is a great fallacy in secular society that hell is reserved for mass murderers and the like, when Jesus said that the way there is broad, especially in contrast to the path to life. (Matthew 7:13-14) Refusing to think about it, as Felix did, doesn’t change the facts.

I may yet turn into a “hellfire and brimstone” preacher! The simple truth that sin has consequences is considered “hate speech” today. That’s been instigated by the devil, who wants to take as many people with him as he can! I don’t personally enjoy preaching on hell, and would much rather focus on the joys of walking in fellowship with God. I am never to preach on judgment without expressing the grace of God, but I should not preach on the grace of God without letting people know why it’s so wonderful! Grace is never to be taken for granted and presumed upon. Rather, we need to recognize what we really deserve for turning our backs on God, so that we will be fully grateful for the salvation that God made available through the cross of Jesus Christ. It comes down to a choice: acknowledge our sin and repent, or ignore God and continue in our sin. I have made the choice myself, but I am called to let people know that the choice is available, so that as many as will may choose life. Felix did not, in common with the majority of people I deal with. That is very sad and regrettable, but I must not let that deter me from presenting the choice, because some people do choose life, and when that happens, there is rejoicing in heaven! (Luke 15:7)

Father, thank You for speaking through me in the sermon yesterday. There was little overt reaction, but You know what happened in people’s hearts, and You know who will listen to the recording. Help me keep my own repentance up to date, and help me be consistent in presenting the message of repentance to all who will receive it, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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April 7, 2013

Posted on April 9, 2013 by jgarrott

Acts 17:25 And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.

This is an important reminder, especially for everyone who is in “full time Christian service” like I am. We don’t earn brownie points with God, because He doesn’t need anything. Rather, we serve God because it is a blessing to us, by bringing us into line with His heart. Likewise, you can’t buy God’s favor, because there’s nothing you could give Him that He didn’t create in the first place. We give to God, not because He needs it, but because we need to do it as a reminder to ourselves that He is the source of everything good. How we act is a reflection of our hearts. That’s why Jesus said so clearly that how we treat those around us is how we are treating Him, in the story of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:31-46. We serve God primarily by serving the people around us in His Name; all we really offer to God are grateful, obedient hearts. That’s not to say that God doesn’t appreciate our service; that’s clear from Matthew 25. The Bible is clear that our service will be rewarded. (Hebrews 11:6 and many more) What matters is our heart, which is why Jesus could say that the poor widow gave more than the wealthy people. (Luke 21:1-4) God desires that we serve Him and give to Him, but that is for our sake and not His. When we forget that, all sorts of things go wrong.

As I started out by saying, this applies particularly to me. I cannot for a moment say that I’ve ever given to God more than I’ve received, in any area at all. I’ve given more to this church in offerings than I’ve received in salary, but everything I’ve given I’ve received from God. The Japanese Shinto religion is a flavor of animism, and as such is very much into serving gods. Many Japanese are superstitious about bad luck coming from failure to do the right things at the right shrines, or good luck coming from doing the right things. Many Shinto shrines do a booming business in “blessing” cars and selling “traffic safety” stickers that go on the bumpers or rear windows, often at a fairly steep price. As one Japanese said to me, buying insurance works better! In this culture, I need to help people understand that the God who created the universe isn’t like that, just as Paul sought to do in Athens. At the same time I must keep watch over my heart, that I’m not deceived into thinking that God owes me anything; it’s all grace, and that grace is sufficient. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Father, thank You for the privilege of serving You. Help me do it faithfully, whoever the person in front of me might be. May I offer You the sacrifice of praise, not forgetting that the people around me are Your representatives as well. (Hebrews 13:15-16) Thank You. Praise God!

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April 6, 2013

Posted on April 7, 2013 by jgarrott

Acts 10:33 “Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

Probably every preacher dreams of having a congregation with this attitude! It’s no wonder that they received the Holy Spirit while Peter was still talking! This is a perfect example of what Jesus was talking about when He said repeatedly, “He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 11:15 and several more) Our heart attitude often governs what we receive from God. Any preacher will testify of some people leaving a service blessed and encouraged, and others essentially unmoved, or angry and critical, and all from the same service, with the same music, order of worship, and sermon! The same is certainly true of morning devotions. Reading the same passage of Scripture, some people will be bored to tears and others will be mightily blessed, receiving strength and direction for their life. It’s all a matter of heart attitude. Cornelius had a right heart attitude toward God in the first place, which is why God sent an angel to tell him to send for Peter to tell him the Gospel. The angelic visitation certainly increased his anticipation, and I’m sure it had a lot to do with the other members of his household joining him in anticipation, but his attitude was right even before any of this happened. If we really want to hear from God, we will, because He responds to that. However, all too often we may think we want to hear from God, but what we really want is for Him to rubber stamp what we have already decided we want to happen. That attitude closes our ears to God, rather than opening them. Hearing ears are both humble and trusting, knowing that God is faithful and good.

I’ve never had much trouble believing that God was good, but I’ve had some real trouble with the humility part of this! I couldn’t begin to count how many times I’ve decided how things ought to be and presented my list of demands to God. That’s no way to hear from Him! However, my experience of morning devotional times has been so rich, and really so consistent, that it is really the most important part of my day. I can read a passage and feel nothing, yet when I start writing what I think God is saying through it, He unfolds it in my heart and I am greatly blessed. It is a mystery to me why so few people seem to believe that God really wants to speak to them daily, personally. We don’t understand the depth and breadth of His love for us, and so we don’t open our hearts to receive it. I cannot get that truth across to people in my own wisdom and strength, so I need to be on my face before the Lord for Him to do it by His Spirit, keeping myself available for however He wants to use me in the process.

Father, people want to know why and how I am so dedicated to communicating the good news of Your kingdom, but they would be equally or more dedicated if they had tasted You as I have. Psalm 34:8 is the cry of my heart: “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.” I pray that You would give every person in this congregation, for starters, a taste of You that will leave them so hungry for more that You will become the controlling passion of their lives, as You have of mine, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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April 5, 2013

Posted on April 7, 2013 by jgarrott

John 6:21 Then they were willing to take Him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

It’s a funny thing: when you welcome Jesus, you get where you’re going a lot faster! I’m interested that the NIV says, “were willing to take Him into the boat,” but the Japanese says, “rejoiced.” There are degrees of opening up to the Lord, and the more we open up, the better the results. Jesus can do amazing things in our presence, like walking on the water in this instance, but we still have to choose to take Him in. We have to accept Him on His terms. Immediately before this the crowd that Jesus had fed with one boy’s lunch wanted to “make him king by force,” (verse 15) but Jesus escaped from them. They didn’t want to receive Him, they wanted to use Him for their own purposes. People today do the same thing. I have people want to become Christians because they think it will get them out of whatever mess they are in. Some of them are insistent enough about it that I’ve even baptized a few. However, that never works out well, because they aren’t submitting themselves to Christ as Lord, they are wanting to force Him to do what they want. The way to peace, joy, victory, and everything else good is trusting submission to God, not demanding that He fulfill whatever scenario we cook up.

I can’t say I’ve never tried to manipulate God, but I can say I’ve never succeeded! Frustration is by definition the gap between how things are and how we think they ought to be, and I’ve certainly experienced plenty of that! Rather than stewing in frustration, I need to be asking God how He wants me to respond to each situation and circumstance. That’s not being passive; sometimes God wants me to act forcefully. However, I’d better be in full submission to Him when that’s the case! The longer I live, the more aware I am of just how amazing God’s grace really is, that He would love, save, and use such a one as I am. I am not to dictate to God what my part in His plan I am to take, but when He makes it clear what that part is, I am to do it with all that I am.

Father, to be honest, I have no idea why I included this reading when making up a Scripture list focused on righteousness, but it may be You wanted to say this to me at this time. Help me be done with frustration, and rather walk in total submission to You. May I keep growing in listening to You and being instantly obedient. May I be faithful in prayer without being demanding. May all of Your plans for my life be fulfilled on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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April 4, 2013

Posted on April 5, 2013 by jgarrott

Acts 1:1-2 In my former book Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen.

It is extremely significant that Luke specifies he has written about all that Jesus began to do and to teach. (The Japanese even uses the word “began” twice: “began to do, began to teach.”) Luke was not a first hand observer of Jesus’ earthly ministry but he was a close associate of Paul, and he had seen what Jesus continued to do through those who were committed to Him and filled with His Spirit. This is intimately connected with the purpose of the resurrection, because Jesus is not some dead founder of a religion, He is the living Lord and Savior of all who will believe, and He continues to be very active around the world, in and through those who are submitted to Him. The resurrection demonstrated conclusively that even death had no power over Jesus, and it primed the believers to be open to receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit, who was poured out on them about 10 days after the ascension. Luke knew by experience that this wasn’t limited to those who were present, either at the ascension or in the upper room, because it had happened to him and he had seen it happen to many others. He didn’t write these words, but he certainly agreed with what John recorded that Jesus said: “It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” (John 16:7) Luke knew without question that the Holy Spirit was the Spirit of Jesus, so every work of the Holy Spirit was something Jesus was doing. When we come to this understanding ourselves, we open up to give the Holy Spirit full rein (reign) and God is glorified as His works are done through us.

I don’t think this was contradicted in any way by how I was taught as I was growing up, but neither was it taught expressly. It wasn’t until I was exposed to the Charismatic Movement around 1973 that I started even thinking seriously about the Holy Spirit. Since then, I have discovered exactly what Luke knew: Jesus indeed continues to work and to teach by His Spirit in and through believers. As a pastor, this is something I earnestly desire to communicate to all the believers, but some are slow to accept it. They have great trouble believing that God could even use them. That is, they see their own weaknesses and failings as more powerful than God! I need to help them understand that none of the original 12 were perfect, and no one since has been perfect, but God has used a lot of people anyway, so they might as well let Him use them. I know from experience the joy of being used by God, and I desire that joy for all the believers!

Father, thank You for this Word. I think You’ve given me the message for the 14th! Thank You for the message You’ve been building in me for the 7th. Guide me now in getting that outline typed, so that the Word may further percolate in me, to be delivered as You desire to accomplish Your purposes in the hearts of all who hear, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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April 3, 2013

Posted on April 5, 2013 by jgarrott

John 20:31 But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.

Here we have John’s motivation for writing, which is likewise my motivation for writing this blog. Unpacking this sentence we can understand just how much is included. Believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, includes believing that He is the One promised from the Garden of Eden, who would crush the serpent’s head. (Genesis 3:15) It means believing that He is the One spoken of throughout the Old Testament, the fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and their descendants. That includes the many passages, particularly in Isaiah but also many other places, that speak of God’s love for the Gentiles, and not just the physical descendants of Abraham. The result of such faith is life, and that doesn’t just mean the heart is beating and the lungs are moving; this is life in all its fullness, just as Jesus said in John 10:10. This is the eternal life spoken of in John 3:16, that begins from the moment of rebirth and never ends. This is life that is satisfying, fulfilling, and overflowing with peace and joy. There is no limit to God’s supply of this life, so sharing it in no way diminishes what is retained by the sharer; in fact, sharing increases your own appropriation of life! That should be sufficient motivation indeed!

I have operated with various different motivations over the years, but the Lord has been growing, polishing, and refining me to where I feel I can now say with all honesty that this is my motivation. That in itself is a great relief! Over the years I have done things to try to build myself up, to give me pleasure, to give me this, that, or the other. All of that is so empty and futile! I can’t say that I don’t have twinges of self-centered motivation even now, but my prayer is that they would continue to decrease. As a pastor, my unpacking of the motivation expressed in this verse extends to feeding believers the spiritual food they need to grow in their life, as well as correcting errors in what is believed, about Christ and about life, so that the traps and schemes of the devil may be defeated. For me and for everyone else, a proper appreciation of this verse should put everything into perspective, in this life and the next, and that’s certainly a good thing.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I do pray that You would continue to refine my motives and my actions, so that everything I say and do would be for the right reasons, and so accomplish Your will for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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