July 28, 2012

Posted on July 29, 2012 by jgarrott

1 Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men–the testimony given in its proper time.

I would say that this is the most important Scripture in the whole Bible for ministering in a polytheistic society like Japan. Frankly, a great many Japanese choke on it. Truth be told, there is so much deception in the world today, a great many Americans choke on it as well. However, this is hardly a new problem. Through the centuries the devil has been telling people who were attracted to Christ, “OK, just take Jesus and …” The “and” here being any other religious system at all. Japan calls itself “The land of 8 million gods,” and the idea of monotheism seems both absurd and dangerous to many. The danger, as they see it, is in religious conflicts and wars, which they see dramatically illustrated in Islam’s violence toward Judaism and Christianity. I have had many Japanese who wanted to add Jesus to their “god shelf,” to to speak, and turned away when they learned it can’t work that way. In America, the Unitarians have even made a church out of syncretism (combining elements of different religions)! Actually, there are several Japanese “new religions” (from the 20th century and newer) that do the same thing. In America today, it is no longer “politically correct” to insist that anything is absolute truth, and the devil rejoices.

I deal with this issue every day, but so does every Christian in the world, whether they realize it or not. Even Jesus warned that in these last days, the devil would be doing all he could to deceive even those chosen by God. (Matthew 24:24) I must not back off of proclaiming the truth of these two verses, but at the same time I must not think that I can save anyone by my own wisdom and strength. I am to be faithful in prayer and faithful in witness, holding myself available so as to be easy for God to use in drawing others into right relationship to Himself. The Bible gives plenty of ammunition for the fight, so I need to be well supplied there. And through it all, I must remember that God is indeed God, and His plans will ultimately be fulfilled, on His schedule for His glory, so I am not to be discouraged whatever things look like at a given moment.

Father, thank You for the enormous advantage of growing up in a family that believed and acted on this truth. I ask You to use me so that more and more people will accept it and so be set free, (John 8:32) for their salvation and Your glory, Thank You. Praise God!

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July 27, 2012

Posted on July 27, 2012 by jgarrott

1 Timothy 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

When Paul considered what God had done for him, he couldn’t help breaking out into a doxology. Actually, I don’t think we understand what a doxology is, because we associate it with particular pieces of music that are sung at specific times in worship services. However, the word is essentially the same as benediction, only based on Greek roots instead of Latin. In either case, it is words of blessing. Our words can be used to bless people, and they can be used to bless God! James points out the importance of our words, and the irony of misusing them, in James 3:1-12. When we take our own words lightly we become careless with them, and Jesus said we will have to answer for that. (Matthew 12:36-37) That certainly doesn’t mean we are to go around being intense all the time, hardly speaking because we’re afraid to miss-speak. Reading the Gospels with an open mind, we see that even Jesus told jokes, and He certainly used puns. Words used in that way make life more enjoyable for others, and that is certainly in God’s will. The point, however, is that words are powerful indeed, and we need to make right use of them. Of course, some people are more verbal than others, but that doesn’t change the truth that we are to use our words in obedience to God, whether they are many or few. We certainly don’t need to have any hesitation in using our words to praise God!

I certainly come in on the verbal end of the scale. As my wife will attest, it’s often difficult to get me to shut up! I have indeed spoken careless words for which I will have to answer, but I have also had the joy of seeing my words being used by God to bless people and lift them up. I cannot take pride in that, because I know that the grace of God is the only explanation for that happening, but I can and should be grateful. However, I have also used words to wound people, sometimes deeply, and that is cause for strong repentance. In my position as a pastor, a teacher, and now an elder, I need to be aware that my words have weight with many who hear them. Just yesterday my wife had to caution me that, because of my being somewhat anxious about a particular situation, my words had an intensity that made them seem like I was attacking the person to whom I was speaking. That’s not good! It shows that I need to be in greater awareness of God’s grace toward me, as Paul was, and allow that grace to flow through me to each person with whom I interact, regardless of the connection. Just as I see in others, I tend to go into “attack mode” when I feel insecure. That shows I need to rest more in the eternal security I have in Christ Jesus my Lord!

Father, thank You for the gift of words. Help me use that gift responsibly, accomplishing the purposes for which You gave it to me. May I be faithful to bless people and lift them up, not wound them, and may I give You all the praise, honor and glory that You deserve. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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July 26, 2012

Posted on July 26, 2012 by jgarrott

2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”

This verse is the succinct, direct answer to handout programs. It in no way diminishes helping people out in times of genuine need, but it cuts to the root of much that is wrong with society today. The Bible is filled with admonitions to “help the widows and orphans,” and such like, but that comes nowhere close to the “entitlement” programs we see today. Liberals are fond of “cherry picking” verses from the Bible to under gird their various policies, but the Bible needs to be taken as a whole. It’s not “soft and squishy,” it is very firm and practical. Today the very idea of personal responsibility and accountability is out of fashion in some circles, but Paul brings us firmly back down to earth. If governments took this properly into account, the world would be a different place! There are countless “public works” projects on which people could be required to work if they were physically able and requesting government financial assistance. Human nature can be remarkably perverse, and if loopholes are available, they will be used. However, if basic principles, such as Paul lays down in this verse, are in effect as regulations, then such things can be held to a minimum.

Frankly, in these notes I don’t like to get onto topics that can be seen as political, but as a pastor I see this same issue in the Church. It is statistically accurate, as well as a truism, that 80% of the work in the Church is done by 20% of the people. The difficulty for me in dealing with that is in maintaining with all clarity the vital principle that we are saved by grace, not by works, (Ephesians 2:8-10) while also making it clear that genuine faith works. (Luke 6:46, etc.) Over the years I’ve had many people come to the church looking for a hand-out, and have been very thankful for our firm policy of “no cash given.” People with genuine need have been grateful to be fed or receive other assistance, (like a pair of socks and shoes) but many have turned away because they were trying to bilk the system. I have even had people make what seemed to be genuine confessions of faith, who then quickly dropped away when they didn’t see their hidden agenda fulfilled. Jesus told us to be “as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves,” (Matthew 10:16) as the NIV puts it. I am to build people up and not tear them down, (2 Corinthians 10:8) but sometimes building them up includes maintaining firm rules that will encourage them toward maturity, just as Paul lays down in this verse.

Father, life is seldom simple, much less simplistic. Help me receive and teach Your truth from Your Word, while being infused with Your Spirit so that I bring life and not death. (2 Corinthians 3:6) Continue to grow and mature me so that I may be increasingly useful to You in growing and maturing the believers, so that together we may bring You pleasure and glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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July 25, 2012

Posted on July 25, 2012 by jgarrott

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

Paul wrote some wonderful benedictions in his letters. The thing is, he understood the possibility of conferring blessing through words. Our words aren’t powerful in themselves, but when we are committed and yielded to God, our words can carry the weight of His, and He spoke the universe into existence! (Genesis 1) Paul’s benedictions show that he understood where the power came from, because they are always rooted in the grace of God in Christ Jesus. In this particular instance, Paul’s words themselves go a long way toward accomplishing the very thing he is praying for his readers, because by reminding them of God’s love and grace and the wonderful hope that we have in Christ, he encourages and strengthens them to live out the faith they have. The thing is, we can do that too. Most of the time we don’t give intentional, verbal blessings, and that’s too bad. We miss some great opportunities! We shy away from even something as simple as, “I bless you in the Name of the Lord.” We aren’t so uncomfortable with musical settings of various Biblical benedictions, but then we don’t go around singing those to people, either! I believe God wants to pour blessing out on the world through the words of His people, but we block that for the most part. We need to understand that this is an important part of being used by God, and He wants to use every one of His children for good.

Talk about preaching to myself! I do give a benediction at the end of every worship service, and I am aware that it is as real blessing, but I don’t often give verbal blessings at other times. As a counselor I am very aware of the damage parents often do to their children by their words, speaking negative things that are effectively curses, and failing to speak encouragement and blessing, but I fail to apply that to myself sufficiently. Many people look up to and respect me, and my words have weight with them. I need to exercise that authority and fulfill that responsibility, speaking God’s blessings. That’s not to say I’m not to correct and admonish, when that is called for, but it is to say that my mouth should be a fountain of blessing, so that the works of the devil, that lying thief, may be torn down and people’s eyes be opened to their heavenly Father who loves them.

Father, thank You for the incredible privilege of speaking Your words. Help me remember that isn’t limited to sermons, so that I will be an available channel at all times for You to pour Your grace and blessings out on those around me. May my words always be “full of grace, seasoned with salt,” (Colossians 4:6) so that my hearers may be encouraged and built up, drawn closer to You, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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July 24, 2012

Posted on July 25, 2012 by jgarrott

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul’s recorded prayers are very interesting. They reveal a great deal about him and his hope in Christ, which he desired to share with his spiritual children. This prayer starts with something he brought up in Ephesians 4:1, which I preached on recently, and that is being worthy of the calling God has given us. Actually, Paul speaks of our being called by God many times in his letters, and it’s obvious he was very deeply impacted by his own experience on the road to Damascus. (Acts 9) His was a very literal, verbal calling, such as few others have experienced. However, we are called no less than he was, even if our various experiences aren’t as dramatic as his was. Paul’s prayer here is that God would make us worthy of His calling. In ourselves we simply aren’t worthy, but God can and will make us worthy!　As worthy individuals, then, we are moved by faith to desire good, and we work toward that end, so Paul prays that our labors will be successful. It is from this point that the prayer really gets interesting. He ask these things for us with two goals: that the Name of Christ would be worshiped among us, and that we would receive glory in the Lord. I haven’t checked the Greek, but in Japanese, the expression for the Name of Christ being worshiped is exactly the same as that in the Lord’s Prayer, which in English we generally express as “hallowed by Thy name.” Our daily lives are to be channels for the fulfillment of the Lord’s Prayer! When that happens, we will receive glory. As human beings we tend to desire glory, but we usually go about it the wrong way. It is only when our focus is on Christ and serving Him that His glory is poured out on and through us. That’s quite a study in and of itself, but it’s far too much for here!

As I read Paul’s prayers I am forced to examine how I pray for others, and particularly for those in my flock. As much as I would like to, I can’t “fix” them or their circumstances directly, but I know the One who can, and I should pray accordingly. At the same time, I need to hold myself available as an instrument for the fulfillment of my prayers. Recently I’ve had feedback that indicates some “acts of kindness” have had an impact that wasn’t calculated on my part, but which accomplishes some things for which I had been praying. I am to be earnest in my prayers, but equally committed in my follow- through, not staying in my “ivory prayer tower” all the time, but not acting without praying, either. God is able to bring all things to completion, (Philippians 1:6) so I am not to be anxious about how things are going to happen, but trust Him in full obedience.

Father, thank You for Your faithfulness, in spite of all my weaknesses and failings. Thank You for the privilege of participating in prayer in what You are doing. I ask You to grow me more and more, both in prayer and in follow-through, so that all of Your purposes for me may be fulfilled, for Your pleasure and glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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July 23, 2012

Posted on July 23, 2012 by jgarrott

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Paul really packed a lot of powerful instructions into the closing remarks of his letters. Every sentence, not just every verse, in 12-24 is worthy of considerable thought and application. These three verses are justly famous, and have been set to music several times. However, it’s important that we not let familiarity breed contempt, because they really are the key to a happy, satisfying life as a Christian. I include “as a Christian” in that statement because some people try to apply the Bible as philosophy, and that never works. At its root, the Bible says God created me, I’m a sinner, but God made a way through the cross of Christ for me to repent and be saved by faith. Leaving out repentance and faith makes the rest of it impossible to follow. That said, rejoicing is a command. Any time a Christian is failing to rejoice, it means that they have let their eyes slip from Christ to their circumstances. That’s not to say we’re to be bubbly all the time, but rather that there is a deep-seated joy that is available to every Christian and no one else. A Japanese song by Chu Kosaka says, “Oh the joy of knowing that my name is recorded up in heaven there for me.” We need to remember that this world is not the final answer! That’s why the second command, to pray continually, is also important. We encounter lots of circumstances that are beyond our ability to handle. The answer is simple: pray. The greatest privilege for any Christian is a direct, personal relationship with their Creator, and relationships are built through communication. This command isn’t about set prayers at set times, it’s about looking at someone and saying in your heart, “Lord, they look upset. Bless them. Touch them with Your love, even through me.” When we are fully aware of the God who never leaves us, we’ll be talking to Him all the time! And that naturally feeds into the third command, to give thanks in every­thing. Sometimes the thanks is on the order of, “Thank You that this isn’t the end of the story,” or, “Thank You that You can use even this for blessing.” However we manage it, maintaining a thankful attitude is a real key to peace, happiness, and joy. Paul caps all of this off by the most powerful affirmation possible: it is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus. God desires the very best for us, and this is how to get it.

Even as I try to communicate this truth to others, I’ve got to be consistent in applying it myself. I’ve got room to grow! Anxieties of all sorts are always ready to crowd in and rob us of what is God’s will for us. I must be faithful at my own assigned tasks, trusting that God will bring His plans to fruition if I will simply trust and obey. I have a lot staring me in the face even right now, but God is more than able to handle every bit of it, so I must choose the joy of trusting, thankful obedience.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I do need it from time to time! Thank You for yesterday and all it held. Thank You for the message that You spoke through me, and thank You particularly for how the church worked together to help out in a household move. We do grow in all the right ways when we express Your love like that. I pray that the family’s new neighbors will be drawn to You by the love they saw expressed in our actions. May we all continue to grow in all the ways You desire, for our blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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July 22, 2012

Posted on July 23, 2012 by jgarrott

1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

What Paul is talking about here is sexual purity, which is certainly a current topic today. I am absolutely confident that Paul would have no patience at all with a great deal that goes on in the name of Christianity today. He would be immediately branded “intolerant” for that, but as he points out here, that would not be rejecting him, it would be rejecting God. And of course, that means that those who are so stri­dent in defense of assorted sexual aberrations are rejecting God. As it says in Psalm 36:1, there is no fear of God in their hearts. That again is a natural offshoot of the whole atheistic movement that has the theory of evolution as a cornerstone. They deny that there is a God in order to deny accountability before Him. The amazing thing is that so many such people actually call themselves Christian! That at least is on the decline, so much so that what is called “mainstream media” immediately brands any genuine Christian as “extreme” or “fanatic.” I honestly never thought I’d see the day when “evangelical Christian” would be classified as a “niche group” in America, but those days are upon us. Actually labels of all sorts are increasingly useless, because there are people who genuinely love the Lord and seek to serve Him in every Christian group, and there are likewise people who don’t know Him at all in every group.

My own response to all this must of course be personal purity, as well as a commitment to strive for every member of this church to have a vital relationship with our living Lord. Courtesy of the Internet, I am bombarded with news of all the absurdity that is going on. I can have no direct impact on virtually any of it at all, but I can and must be faithful to pray. The longer I walk with the Lord, the more I pray, “Father in heaven, may Your name be hallowed. May Your kingdom come as Your will is done, as perfectly on earth as it is in heaven.” If I were in charge, I would have wiped everything out a long time ago, so it’s a good thing I’m not God! The thing is, I am aware that the seeds of everything I see going on that distresses me are in me as well; I am equally in need of God’s grace. I certainly understand what Peter wrote on the issue. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) I am to keep myself available as God’s agent so that as many as will may indeed come to repentance, for their salvation and God’s glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. There is indeed no letup to the flood of evil in the world, but there are also many who love You. I do indeed pray that Your Name would be hallowed, and neither be cursed nor dismissed. I pray that Your kingdom would come, overriding all politics and human government. Above all, I pray that Your will would be done perfectly, because that means correcting every wrong and bringing everything in subjection to and harmony with Christ. Thank You, Father, for I pray in Jesus’ name.

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July 21, 2012

Posted on July 23, 2012 by jgarrott

1 Thessalonians 1:3 We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

This verse ties together three intangibles – faith, love, and hope – with obvious external evidence: work, labor, patient endurance. The Bible is clear from beginning to end that it is the intangibles that have eternal value, but if genuine, those intangibles will always produce external evidence, and this verse is one of the clearest statements of that. Jesus very pointedly asked why people called Him Lord if they weren’t doing what He said. (Luke 6:46) Internal conviction will always produce external action. John the Baptist told people to produce fruit in keeping with repentance, (Luke 3:8) and Jesus said that we are to evaluate people on the basis of the fruit born in their lives. (Matthew 7:16-20) That’s not at all to say we’re to run around being judgmental about others, or even ourselves; everyone stumbles at times. But it is to say, as this verse does, that faith is going to work, love is going to labor, and hope is going to hang in there.

As a pastor, if my life isn’t producing fruit consistent with what I say, then I have no moral authority and I will have to answer to God for it. Many people would be quick to agree with that statement, but might draw back if it is turned around and directed at them! A continuing frustration for me is how people dismiss what I tell them by saying, or at least thinking, “But you’re a pastor.” They think that by not being a “professional Christian” they are somehow excused from accountability. The Bible is clear that we must all answer to God for all that we have done or failed to do. (2 Corinthians 5:10, Romans 14:12, Hebrews 4:13) I would be doing no one a favor by failing to express that myself. However, I’m not to get the cart before the horse. Works are good, but unless they are done in faith, they can be sin. (Romans 14:23) Labor is necessary and helpful, but it must be motivated by love. (1 Corinthians 13) Patient endurance is admirable, but if it isn’t based on hope, it is no more than resignation. I am to seek to foster the intangibles, while pointing out that when real, they produce tangible evidence.

Father, thank You for this clear Word. Help me indeed be a channel of faith, love, and hope to all I encounter, so that together we may bear the fruit that You desire, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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July 20, 2012

Posted on July 21, 2012 by jgarrott

Colossians 2:2-3 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

This is further amplification on the work of a pastor, that was expressed in yesterday’s reading. (Colossians 1:28-29) Every genuine pastor wants his flock to be encouraged and to be bound together in love. In fact, some focus on that so exclusively that they leave the Gospel behind in the process! “Your best life now” sounds all well and good, until we realize that our best life won’t be until we are free from even the presence of sin as we rejoice before the throne of God. Repentance and holiness are absolutely essential, and they in no way contradict the assurance and unity in love that this passage is talking about. After all, you can’t have full assurance of salvation unless you are truly saved! In Paul’s day as today, there are those who are always after more knowledge, and Paul addresses that here too, saying that “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” are hidden in Christ. Hidden things can be revealed, and they can be searched for. The Holy Spirit is in the revealing business, and the Bible can be defined as a record of what He has revealed, certainly including what was revealed to John on the island of Patmos. That’s why there is no limit to studying the Bible. I couldn’t say exactly how many times I’ve read the Bible through, but it’s certainly over 30. Even so, the Lord continues to reveal Himself to me afresh as I read it morning by morning, sometimes giving me insights I’ve never had before. It’s the ultimate treasure hunt!

As a pastor, I’m not satisfied with just having this kind of relationship with God and His Word myself, I want each of the members of this church to have the same, or even better. That’s really what Paul was talking about, and why he wrote this letter. I can’t give them such a relationship, but I can share how I received it and entice them to seek and accept it themselves. One hindrance to that is their awareness of how I was raised in a thoroughly Christian family, and very few of them indeed have that advantage. I’ve got to remember that and not assume more understanding than they have, but I must also remember that family background alone never saved anybody. Sadly, some “Christian” upbringing simply inoculates children against a genuine relationship with Christ! As the saying goes, God has no grandchildren. (That’s certainly a partial analogy, because we are all supposed to be “birthing” people into the kingdom, but such people are saved because they are God’s children, not because they are our children.) My goal is to help people understand that God loves them as much as He does me, and help them trust Him enough to open their hearts and receive all that means.

Father, thank You for enabling me to put that into clear words. Thank You for the message You’ve given me for Sunday, that is so closely tied to this. Help me indeed encourage the believers to dig more and more into the Word, burrow more and more deeply into Christ, so to speak, so that they may be protected from the onslaughts of the enemy and raised up as a mighty army of disciples, for Your kingdom and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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July 19, 2012

Posted on July 21, 2012 by jgarrott

Colossians 1:28-29 We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

This really encapsulates pastoral ministry. It starts with proclaiming Christ, but it certainly doesn’t stop there. After all, getting someone born again just produces a spiritual baby, and the goal is certainly beyond that. The NIV says, “presenting everyone perfect,” but I like the turn of phrase in the Japanese: “causing everyone to stand as a mature adult.” Some churches are full of babies, with few mature adults, some churches are like retirement homes with no babies, and sadly, many are full of people who should be adults in terms of time past, but have no maturity. A truly healthy church will have a good balance of babies and adults, and won’t let anyone stagnate on the path to maturity. Do any such exist? I’m not sure about that, but I do know that is the ideal that should be kept in focus, and it is toward that goal that every pastor should be admonishing and teaching. The good news is, the power of Christ indeed works powerfully through anyone who is fully committed and yielded to Him. That doesn’t mean the pastor isn’t actively involved in the process, as Paul makes clear here. Being a pastor can be exhausting work, even with the power of Christ on our side!

Every pastor has their own strengths, and mine is in teaching. In admonishing, not so much. It’s no surprise that church discipline is lacking when discipline is deficient in most homes and society practically frowns on self control! I am certainly not to be a petty tyrant, nor squash people’s initiative, but I must not be afraid to risk their not liking me, for the sake of bringing them to maturity in Christ. I am to encourage more than spank (figuratively, of course) but not be afraid to speak a strong word when it is called for. Of course, that is complicated for me, as it is for every pastor, by my own imperfection. I must not fail to listen to and heed my own sermons, but I also must not draw back from administering the same corrections the Lord has had to make in me. As Paul said to the Ephesians, “Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” (Ephesians 4:15)

Father thank You for this Word. Guide me in sharing it in the way You want me to, so that each person in this church may indeed be brought to full maturity, causing many more to be born into Your family, rejoicing together to be Your children, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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