March 31, 2012

Posted on April 2, 2012 by jgarrott

Luke 7:47 “Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven–for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”

It is very interesting that the way Jesus put this seems like a chicken-and-egg sort of situation. Does love invite forgiveness, or does forgiveness generate love? I think the answer is, yes. The thing is, God’s love and forgiveness are available equally to all, but how much we experience either depends on our response. If we don’t understand that we need to be forgiven, we won’t open up to receive the forgiveness we need, and our love for God will be tepid at best. I don’t know how this woman realized God’s love was available to her through Jesus, but it probably got through to her in ways that might seem insignificant to someone else. With our current understanding of human psychology, it was quite possibly her hunger for real love that earned her the reputation she had, but multiple sexual partners will never satisfy that kind of love. Something she saw in Jesus told her that here was the love she had been searching for, with no sexual component whatsoever, and she responded with her whole being. God revealed to her that His love was greater than all her sin, and Jesus confirmed that with His words. As Augustine said, “Love God and do as you please.” That saying is misunderstood only by those who don’t really know what love is!

Once again I have been incredibly blessed throughout my life by being bathed in love. I have certainly felt rejection at times from various directions, but I have always had the core knowledge that God loved me, and that there were people who loved me too. That has made me desire to express love in return, and God very graciously gave me a magnificent partner in that at a young age. People today are surprised to find I married at 20. However, the even more important question is how I have loved God. I certainly don’t think I have done it well enough! In loving people, sometimes we have to choose what is best for them over what they want at the moment. However, in loving God, the best expression is total obedience. He always knows better than I do! I wish I could say I have always expressed that sort of love toward God, but that won’t be perfected until I’m before His throne. Meanwhile, I need to keep growing in my understanding and expression of His love, for me and for those around me. If I will do that faithfully, many will be drawn to repentance and faith by that love, for their salvation and His glory.

Father, thank You for the privilege of expressing Your love. Thank You again for what You have done and are doing in the family of the brother who recently went to be with You. That is very much a story of love, and I am honored to have been part of it, and to know I have a further role to play. I seem to have the most trouble expressing love when it involves correction and discipline. Help me love people enough to risk their not liking me! May I be a clear, undistorted channel of Your love at all times, so that nothing will get in the way of people seeing You through me, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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March 30, 2012

Posted on March 30, 2012 by jgarrott

Luke 7:22 So [Jesus] replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.”

When John, with the natural anxiety that came from being in the prison where he was indeed later beheaded, sent disciples to Jesus to confirm that He was indeed the Messiah, as John himself had prophesied, Jesus’ response was to point out that He was indeed fulfilling Isaiah 61:1-2, just as He had read in the synagogue in Nazareth. As the old English proverb says, “The proof of the pudding is in the eating.” Jesus Himself said “By their fruit you will know them.” (Matthew 7:15-20) He was inviting a fruit inspection! Whether or not we work miracles in Jesus’ name, the fruit that is most telling is the fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23) The people around us are watching all the time, whether we realize it or not. The more visibly Christian someone is, the more they will attract “fruit inspectors.” For someone who is genuinely committed to Christ, that is a joyful opportunity to witness. For someone who is playing the role of a Christian, that is scary indeed. The problem is, the devil tries to convince even committed Christians that they are really just hypocritical actors, pointing out every fault and quite a few things that aren’t even faults! None of us are perfect, but if our hearts are set on abiding in Christ, we will bear rich fruit that can withstand all the inspection in the world. (John 15:8)

As a pastor, I am one of the highest profile Christians in this city. That could make me nervous, but it should make me glad of the opportunity to be a witness. I am known by very many more people in this city than I could say that I know, as I am reminded fairly often! My reputation appears to be good, for which I am grateful, but I don’t want people just to think well of me, I want to draw them to Christ. I need constantly to be sensitive and obedient to the Holy Spirit for His appointments to express the Gospel more directly. I don’t know when people’s hearts are open, but He does, and I’ve got to be available to speak into those open hearts on His schedule and not mine. God is the Lord of the harvest, and I need to let Him show me when the fruit is ripe, to bring as many as possible into His kingdom.

Lord Jesus, thank You for the privilege of being Your witness. Thank You for how strongly people were impacted by the recent funeral, and that the widow and son want to have a memorial service in their town, rather than here at the church, to get through to even more people and have another shot at those who have already been impacted. Thank You for how clear it is that it is Your love that drew that family to salvation in the first place, and that Your love is drawing the extended family as well. I pray that You would indeed bring a rich harvest from all the seed You have allowed us to sow, for the salvation of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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March 29, 2012

Posted on March 30, 2012 by jgarrott

Luke 6:35 “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.”

Jesus’ standard for living is humanly impossible, but that’s part of the point. It is in trying to live like Jesus taught that we realize we are totally dependent on God. Thinking otherwise is pure conceit, and will lead to serious failure. However, that’s not to say that we aren’t to live by His standard, because God never asks of us anything He doesn’t make possible. Apart from Christ we can do nothing right, (John 15:5) but in Him we can do all things. (Philippians 4:13) The devil tries to get us to give up before we start, pointing out how “unnatural” Jesus’ standard is and encouraging excuses at every turn. However, the way to victorious Christian living is to acknowledge our weaknesses and failures, submit them to God in repentance, and walk in His cleansing and forgiveness. (1 John 1:9) Every time we read a passage like this, that seems impossible good and holy, we should rejoice, because that is what God desires to work in and through us, if we will submit to Him.

Like every thoughtful Christian, I am at times painfully aware of my shortcomings when measured by the standard of Jesus. And like every person on earth, I am subject to the temptation to make excuses for myself. Rather than either making excuses or beating myself up, I need to rejoice in the grace and mercy of God! I am never to be satisfied with my current level of growth or sanctification, knowing that there is always room for progress. However, I am not to be continually picking at myself, putting myself down. I am to keep my repentance so up-to-date that I can say with Paul, “My conscience is clear.” (1 Corinthians 4:4) As I tell others, I need to remember that it is only the devil who serves up blanket condemnation. The Holy Spirit is a gentleman, convicting of sin but being very specific, so that we are able to repent. (John 16:8) I am never to reject His prompting, but rejoice in the reality of 1 John 1:9 and lead others to do likewise.

Father, this is so basic, yet I feel You are calling us back to basics. We must have our foundation secure as we are built up! Thank You for the message You have given me for Sunday. May it be Your message through me indeed, and may I fully heed and appropriate it myself, rather than just preach it at others. Help us all be humble, hungry and holy, so that we will grow as You intend, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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March 28, 2012

Posted on March 30, 2012 by jgarrott

Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

In this dearly loved passage Jesus reads from that most Messianic of OT prophets, Isaiah, (Isaiah 61:1-2) proclaiming what His ministry was to be. Many have realized that, since after His resurrection He told His disciples, “As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you,” (John 20:21) this should apply to all believers. However, that understanding is far from universal, and many who might think of themselves as disciples fall far short of this commission. It strikes me particularly this morning that the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, is inseparable from proclaiming the Gospel. This of course was stated again by Jesus at the close of His earthly ministry, just before He ascended to heaven: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be My witnesses.” (Acts 1:8) There are those who desire the presence and gifts of the Holy Spirit simply for their own pleasure and aggrandizement, but that’s not how it works. If that is the inner motive, such a person might get a spirit all right, but it won’t be the Holy Spirit! This is actually tied in closely with praying in Jesus’ name, which is also widely misunderstood. Tacking “In Jesus’ name” onto the end of a prayer doesn’t make it a prayer in His name! Genuinely doing something in some­one’s name carries the feeling of doing it in line with their character and intentions, which is to say, their spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, (Philippians 1:19) so any genuine anointing of the Holy Spirit will produce the character of Jesus in the one anointed, and it is only by the Holy Spirit that we are truly able to pray in Jesus’ name.

This is a major issue for every believer, and taking it lightly is a huge roadblock to spiritual growth. The goal of our spiritual journey is to become like Christ. (Galatians 4:19, Romans 8:29, Ephesians 4:13, etc.) The Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit, is given to that end, and any understanding of Christianity that falls short of that is sadly deficient. As a pastor, I am not only to seek to operate in the anointing and character of Christ, I am to encourage the believers to do likewise. The devil does all he can to make us focus on ourselves, as though our weaknesses and failings were stronger than the power of God to cleanse, heal, and use us. It has been an uphill battle to get this truth through to others, and frankly, too often I fail to operate in it myself. I am to remember that even Jesus’ closest disciples were slow to absorb and apply what He taught them, and not be down on myself or on others. However, neither am I to be satisfied with anything less that operating in the flow of the Spirit of Christ, in myself or in others.

Father, this is a major challenge, but it is also a major encouragement. Thank You. Help me accept the challenge, knowing that I have no wisdom or strength to fulfill it on my own, but that Your Spirit in me is more than able to do it well, for the sake of the Body of Christ and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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March 27, 2012

Posted on March 27, 2012 by jgarrott

Mark 13:10 “And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.”

There is a seemingly minor turn of phrase that is presented in the Japanese but is missing in the NIV: “In this way.” Christians in “advanced” countries don’t like to recognize that persecution is a means of advancing the Gospel. However, from the earliest days of the Church this has been a powerful driving force. “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church” has been true from the 1st Century. Americans are getting perhaps their first taste of this, with “tolerance” being insisted on for every religion except Christianity, but it is still extremely mild. In Muslim countries, Jesus’ words about a father handing his children over to death isn’t even unusual! I don’t think believers are to seek martyrdom, but neither are they to run from it. Our goal should be that Christ be glorified, whether by our lives or by our deaths. Actually Paul said exactly that about himself. (Philippians 1:20) “Seeking first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33) can have ramifications beyond what we like to think about! The call to discipleship isn’t a call to take it easy. When we balk at sharing the Gospel because we’re afraid someone might be offended, we have lost sight of what the Gospel is all about!

I don’t have any high moral ground to stand on here, because I have drawn back from sharing Christ more times than I care to think about. On top of that, I am a model to many, and they aren’t likely to progress further than I lead them. I am not to be needlessly offensive, but I must never let fear of man keep me from obedience to God. In particular, I must not let the desire to be liked by people keep me from confronting them with the claims of Christ. Heaven and hell are very real places. I need to love God and love people enough to do all I can to take people with me to God, whatever I go through in the process.

Father, once again I am faced with my own weakness and foolishness. Thank You for the assurance that You are indeed working in me to will and to do Your good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13) May I cooperate fully with that, being increasingly available and useful to You, so that many may be brought from death to life, and then on to full maturity, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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March 26, 2012

Posted on March 27, 2012 by jgarrott

Mark 12:28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

Reading this verse, I went to the verses ahead of it to see what the previous debate had been about, and found that Jesus had thoroughly countered the Sadducees’ position that there is no resurrection of the dead. That means that this teacher of the Law was a Pharisee. We tend to think the Pharisees were the “bad guys,” but theologically, they were the best of the bunch back then. Since Jesus was so spot-on about resurrection, this man wanted to see if He could come up with a good answer to another fundamental question. It is clear from what followed that he wasn’t wanting to discredit Jesus, and Jesus in turn gave him some pretty high praise. (verse 34) Christians should never fear honest questions. As Peter said, we should “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Peter 3:15) That means getting into the Word and becoming really familiar with it, and it also means staying in fellowship with the Holy Spirit so that He will have no trouble prompting us with the answers we need to give. (Matthew 10:19-20) Tolerating no questions is a sign of insecurity, as well as immaturity. It is true that many questions are insincere, and we need God’s wisdom for dealing with those, too, but even there we shouldn’t be afraid, but rest secure in Christ.

I certainly get my share of questions! I need to give the answers God gives me, but I also must not be afraid to say I don’t know the answer to some things. After all, I must never lie. Sometimes God will use a question someone asks me to draw me closer to Himself to discover more about Him. That’s never a bad thing! I have experienced many times learning things from the answers God speaks through my mouth. They aren’t true because I said them, (that’s self-delusional hubris) but are true in spite of the fact that I said them! A mind that has ceased asking questions is essentially dead. Demanding answers for everything isn’t a good idea either; I need to accept that God’s smart and I’m not, but I need to keep pressing in for more of Him, and allow Him to use me to draw others closer to Him as well.

Father, thank You for the truly good day yesterday. Thank You for each person who came to the service, and for all You did in it. Thank You for how You are indeed continuing to grow us, individually and as a body, as I keep praying. May we not draw back from any of that growth, but rejoice to be and do all that You desire, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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March 25, 2012

Posted on March 25, 2012 by jgarrott

Mark 11:24 “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

Here we have the perfect answer to anxiety. However, faith such as this isn’t easy to maintain, for a number of reasons. Chief of those is that we have such a strong tendency to look at the physical, visible world, rather than the spiritual, invisible world. It is our privilege as Christians to do otherwise, (2 Corinthians 4:18) but that requires a choice, as well as developing a habit. The devil doesn’t want us to develop that habit, but that’s all the more reason to be intentional in making it ours. Another reason we have trouble with standing firm in faith is time. We operate in the past and the present, and have great difficulty grasping on the emotional level that God operates in the future as well, that all time is the same to Him, because He is outside of time but acts within it. That’s part of the lesson Jesus taught in cursing the fig tree. It seems unfair to us, when Mark explicitly records that it wasn’t the season for figs, (verse 13) but we aren’t to use seasons as excuses. When God says it’s time to produce fruit, we’d better produce! Of course, the biggest lesson Jesus wanted to teach here is that He indeed has all authority in heaven and on earth. (Matthew 28:18) It’s interesting how much trouble we have getting even that through our heads, but we’ve got a lot of company there. Jeremiah knew it as theory, but God had to remind him that it was practical fact. (Jeremiah 32:17, 27) When our faith encompasses those three factors (seeing the spiritual, understanding time, trusting God’s power and authority) then anxiety is totally out of the picture, and we walk in the peace and assurance that God desires for us.

I can write on faith, and some people say my faith is strong, but I am sharply aware of the immaturity of my faith. I particularly need to grow in the distinction between faith and presumption. Taking God for granted is never a good idea! However, I need to be absolutely assured that all that He has said to me is true, and will be visible at the right time. That can be hard to remember when bumps on the road show up as mountains in front of my eyes! I need to remember His amazing faithfulness in the past and rest assured that He will be no less faithful in the future, exercising the faith I have already been given so that it will grow stronger and stronger, for the sake of the Body of Christ and for His glory.

Father, thank You indeed for all that You have done over the years that has touched me directly. Thank You for what You are doing right now with the church registration and tax exemption. I pray that in the three weeks until the business meeting that we would get everything in place for finalizing the purchase of the land, with all the “i”s dotted and all the “t”s crossed. I pray that, much more than such physical considerations, we would grow more and more in focusing on You, offering You worship in Spirit and in truth, so that we may then grow in all the other areas that You intend, bringing in an abundant harvest, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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March 24, 2012

Posted on March 24, 2012 by jgarrott

Mark 10:43-44 “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.”

This is a justly famous passage, but it is still not followed very often! The whole concept, and its difficulties, are easily seen with politicians. In English we often refer to them as “public servants,” probably on the basis of this passage, now that I think about it. However, a genuine servant attitude is rare indeed! We might shake our heads and wish for better when it comes to politics, but when it comes to the Church, the issue cannot be ignored, because it is essential to the character of what the Church is to be. Growing up in the family that I did, I rubbed elbows with “bigwigs” on a fairly frequent basis. Some were indeed servants, and some seemed like complete gas bags. Most were a combination, because no one is perfect. We are all too prone to believe what others say about us! That is seldom good, because most of the time what they say doesn’t agree with what God says about us. Christian humility is not self debasing, saying “I’m no good,” it says “I am whatever God says I am, and He is supreme.” It recognizes that God loves me incredibly, but He loves my neighbor just as much. We have such trouble believing God has enough love and grace to go around for everyone! Christian leadership desires to be a channel of that love and grace to others, whatever shape that takes. That is servant leadership indeed.

As a pastor, this is of course sharply applicable to me. I don’t think I’ve ever been especially ambitious in the area of leadership and authority, and indeed have drug my heels about it to a degree that hasn’t been helpful to me or to those whom I have led. However, I have also been jealous of my time, wanting to spend it how I wanted to, and that has not been beneficial. Since I am in a position of leadership, I need to fulfill it faithfully, with a servant heart. It has been a little disconcerting being the most senior member of the ministerial association (until fairly recently the oldest) and having everyone look to me for the deciding opinion on things. I can’t change Japanese culture, so I need to be doubly careful that I maintain a genuinely servant attitude. I desire to raise up the next generation of leaders, and I need to be a good example to them. That means both being very careful about the principle in this passage and not ducking responsibility. Everyone needs good examples, and there are far too few in the area of leadership.

Father, once again You’ve pointed out that I’m called to do something that is totally beyond my ability. Thank You. Thank You that I can indeed do all things through Christ. May I indeed serve You through serving Your children, expressing to them the love, grace, and patience You have poured out on me, so that together we may become and do all that You intend, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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March 23, 2012

Posted on March 24, 2012 by jgarrott

Mark 9:41 “I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.”

This is a beautiful promise, but it hinges on a very difficult thing: motivation. Only God really knows our motives. (Hebrews 4:12-13) It would be foolish for someone to think, “God owes me” after they did something nice for someone, because that would twist their motive all the way around to giving to themselves. That may sound extreme, but in some Prosperity Gospel circles, I think that’s exactly what happens. We are told to “Do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Galatians 6:10) However, that’s because they are our family. The fact that God will reward us for that shouldn’t be our primary motive.

Where this promise gets interesting is in the area of non-Christians giving because the recipient belongs to Christ, and this is something I feel I’ve experienced numbers of times. I certainly desire that the givers be rewarded! Of course the greatest reward is eternal life, and I can’t help but feel that the act of giving to someone because they belong to Christ opens the giver’s heart to receive the Gospel and the eternal life that comes by faith. In view of that, part of my ministry here is to receive such gifts. I am certainly not to go around asking for gifts – that’s extortion – but I am to live so that it is clear that I belong to Christ, so that in this way any gifts will be seen as being given for that reason. Jesus made it abundantly clear, in Matthew 6 and elsewhere, that my motive must be obedience to God and the advancement of His kingdom, but He can use the supply of my needs to bless those involved in that supply.

Father, in reading over what I have just written, I’m concerned for my own motives! Keep me from being greedy, of money or anything else. Help me relate rightly to Your supply, whether I’m a recipient or a channel. May I indeed seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness, and give You the thanks and praise You deserve, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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March 22, 2012

Posted on March 22, 2012 by jgarrott

Mark 8:38 “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

In context, this is a really severe passage for the “hidden Christians” of Japan. During the persecutions of the Tokugawa period there were many who accepted martyrdom and many more who fled to remote areas in order to maintain their faith, but there were still more who, while believing in Jesus, still stepped on the icons that were used as a test by the government, publicly proclaiming they weren’t Christian. I’m not entirely sure Jesus is saying here that they lost their salvation itself, but they certainly lost more than they gained by their actions. It would not do to be simplistic about this; many denied they were Christian in order to protect their families, who would also have been punished severely by the government. However, the principle is still the same: faithfulness to Christ must come first. This is actually a contemporary problem as well. I have lost count of the people who have stopped coming to church because “If I become a Christian I will be cut off from my family and friends.” They are drawn by the Gospel, but their current associations are a higher priority to them. This passage is certainly not good news for such people! Perhaps the greatest reason Jesus is “a stone that causes men to stumble” (Romans 9:33) is that He insists on being first, the only Lord. Many people want to add Him to their lives without making Him Lord, and that simply doesn’t work. Salvation in Christ is indeed an all or nothing proposition.

I deal with this all the time, and only some of that is with people who are honest enough to admit it. Japanese are hardly alone when it comes to misplaced priorities! I’ve got to keep watch over my own priorities and gently help the believers see where theirs don’t line up as well. People can get really defensive in this area! I must never come across as thinking I’ve got it all together, but I also must not let people think there is nothing wrong with misplaced priorities. We must all “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,” (Matthew 6:33) or we will miss out on more than we can imagine.

Father, thank You for the training You give me frequently in this area. I fail the tests too often! I don’t think I’m ashamed of Christ in any way, but my focus and priorities are inconsistent. Thank You for not giving up on me. Help me indeed live Christ, (Philippians 1:21, Galatians 2:20) so that all who see me may be drawn to Him, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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