January 11, 2012

Posted on January 12, 2012 by jgarrott

Isaiah 30:20 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them.

Where the NIV says “the bread of adversity and the water of affliction,” the Japanese says, “scarce bread and little water,” referencing famine caused by drought. What hits me about this verse is that teachers, those who will expound and explain the Word of the Lord, are of greater value even than physical nourishment. That’s a position few today would take! One of the speakers at the recent conference became a Christian the first time he heard the Gospel because he had so urgently been seeking salvation prior to that, but frankly, few people have such a clear awareness of their need. When the Word of the Lord becomes more important to us than physical nourishment, we have crossed an important threshold. God desires to bless us, but we have to be open to receive the blessings. As long as we are fixated on the physical, we will neither recognize nor value the far greater blessings God offers to us. That’s one of many reasons salvation is by grace. In our natural state, we tend to go for physical satisfaction and pleasure. It is only by God’s grace that we recognize our deeper hunger and seek Him.

I have fasted by choice, and I have had times of financial lack, but I have never had times when physical nourishment was unavailable. That’s not to say that my priorities have always been right. Also, it is certainly true that our physical situation can greatly affect our capacity for receiving what is taught us. As a teacher, I know that students who are short on sleep sometimes might as well not be in class. I am not to ignore physical needs, in myself or in others, but my priority is to be God’s kingdom and His righteousness, just as Jesus said. (Matthew 6:33) I cannot force others to have that priority, but I can instruct and encourage as God gives opportunity. I certainly know from experience that is the way of peace and satisfaction.

Father, thank You again for Your patience with me. I am so often slow to learn! Thank You for all You did yesterday, bringing us home safely without getting lost, either place there was potential for that. Help me apply the things You spoke to me at the conference, and help me be an open channel for all You want to pour through me to others. I ask for Your anointing as I teach this morning and administer the exam this afternoon, as well as at prayer meeting tonight. May I rest, relax, and rejoice in You moment by moment, seeing and valuing things from Your perspective, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 10, 2012

Posted on January 12, 2012 by jgarrott

Isaiah 11:2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him–
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD–

Something to keep in mind when reading the many OT prophecies about Jesus is that Jesus repeatedly told His disciples that what applied to Him applied to them. That’s not to say that anyone but Jesus is the Savior, the Son of God, but it is to say that the resources that were available to Him on this earth are available to those who believe in Him as well. (John 14:12) When we acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior we receive the same Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38-39) That is who is described in this verse, and we need to remember that fact! We don’t always listen and yield to Him completely, which is why conceit is a very bad idea, but to the degree that we do so, we have wisdom, understanding, discernment, ability, and knowledge of God that is expressed in a right relationship to Him. That should be enormously encouraging!

As well as I know this in my mind, I have trouble operating in it consistently. Part of that is because I have tended toward conceit, so the Lord had to make it very clear to me that He’s smart and I’m not, so that I would depend more fully on Him. However, I still tend to look at what I see as “my” abilities, instead of looking at His presence in me. That leaves me open to discouragement and even depression, and those are tools of the devil. I’m not to yield to him! This conference has been a good reminder that God isn’t limited by my abilities or lack of them, so I’m not to dwell on that at all. Rather, I am to seek His face and what He wants to do, in me, through me, around me, or in spite of me, getting with His program rather than getting in the way.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for getting me up in time to have this time with You before taking part in the early prayer meeting that will start in a little bit. Thank You that You will give me wisdom and discernment to deal with every situation that faces me as I return to Omura. Thank You for being God, and for loving me so much! I ask for Your guidance and anointing as the conference finishes up this morning, and then as we go on to do other things on the way home. Guide our driving, not just to keep us safe but also to keep us from getting lost. May we be Your agents each moment of today, doing Your will on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 9, 2012

Posted on January 12, 2012 by jgarrott

Isaiah 8:17 I will wait for the LORD,
who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob.
I will put my trust in him.

What is most striking about this verse is that Isaiah is choosing to wait in hope for God at a time when God seems to be hiding His face. It’s easy to trust God when things are going well, but it’s much harder when He seems to be hiding. Isaiah had quite a life, delivering so many Messianic prophecies that his book is sometimes referred to as The Gospel of Isaiah, but tradition tells us his life ended by his being sawed into pieces. I certainly expect to see him in heaven! The Bible is filled with stories of the “great cloud of witnesses” that Hebrews speaks of (Hebrews 12:1), men and women who proclaimed by their words and lives that God is faithful, whatever things look like at the moment. We need to remember that these people were not only giants of faith, they were also just as human as we are, and stumbled at times just as we do. The same holds true for contemporary saints. We are not to expect, much less demand, perfection of anyone, but rather be encouraged by their faith when they demonstrate it and seek to encourage them when their faith seems to falter.

Last night I was privileged to spend a little time with a brother pastor who has been through a lot. I was able to share a little of our current ups and downs, and I think encourage him a bit. I know it encouraged me simply to be with him for a little while. God knows how we are made, and He has designed us to need each other and to meet each other’s needs, though He is of course the ultimate source of all our supply. As came out in yesterday’s message, we are to be channels of God’s love and grace to one another, imperfect though we are.

Father, thank You for yesterday and all it held. Thank You for Your faithfulness to speak through me, despite the difficulties. Thank You for getting us safely to this hotel, without getting lost at all. Thank You for the change of pace, and for the good night’s sleep last night. Help us receive from the meetings and from the time spent here exactly what You want to give us, so that we will be better equipped in turn to let Your Spirit flow through us to others, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 8, 2012

Posted on January 12, 2012 by jgarrott

Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember your Creator
in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come
and the years approach when you will say,
“I find no pleasure in them”–

Even in his miserable state, Solomon gives good advice. He was a bitter old man, but he at least recognized that you can never start too early in seeking God. Many people think, “I’ll turn to God when I’m old. Right now I just want to have fun.” Not only do few people actually turn to God in their old age, they miss out on the immense privilege of walking with God throughout their life. The “pleasures of sin” ultimately don’t hold a candle to the peace and joy of a vital relationship with their Creator. Had that been Solomon’s focus, he would never have come to the point of finding no joy in anything. It all boils down to the fact that the devil is a liar, and all his allurements are illusions. God is true, and every good and perfect gift comes from Him. (James 1:17)

I am now old by the standards of Solomon’s day, but I am certainly not past the point of physical enjoyment of life, as he cataloged in mournful detail in the following verses. However, by the grace of God I have walked with Him long enough to know where true joy and delight come from. I keep coming back to what an incredible privilege and blessing it was that I was born and raised in a home where both parents were fully committed to God and His Word. It is hard for me to grasp how it must be for people who don’t have that background. I need to rejoice in God’s grace and seek to extend it to as many as possible so that they may receive it as soon as possible, in their youth, preferably, so that they won’t have so much to regret in later years. Given the chance, little children are far quicker to open their hearts to their Heavenly Father than those who have become accustomed to ignoring Him, just as Jesus said. (Matthew 18:3) Right now we have no little children in this church, and I need to ask the Lord to bring them and to enable us to nurture them rightly, for their salvation and His glory.

Father, we really are missing that age bracket in this church. Thank You for pointing out that a healthy church body will have all ages, with each contributing what they alone are able to. I do ask You to grow us in every way that we need to grow, not simply for our blessing but so that those around may be given an accurate picture of Christ and many be brought to salvation, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 7, 2012

Posted on January 11, 2012 by jgarrott

Ecclesiastes 5:15-16 Naked a man comes from his mother’s womb,
and as he comes, so he departs.
He takes nothing from his labor
that he can carry in his hand.
This too is a grievous evil:
As a man comes, so he departs,
and what does he gain,
since he toils for the wind?

How utterly pathetic! This is a totally materialistic view of life, as if the only value in living were the physical things you can accumulate. I am reminded, in contrast, of the Southern Gospel song, “I Wouldn’t Take Nothing for my Journey Now.” Solomon ended up being totally self-centered, and that is indeed sad. Life on this earth isn’t about things, it’s about encountering God and preparing to spend eternity with Him. From that perspective, nothing is “emptiness and chasing the wind.” It is when our values are only materialistic that things seem that way. The beauty of the Gospel is that it gives meaning to all of life. We indeed can’t take anything material with us from this life, but what a joy it is to know that we have enabled others to go with us into eternal life and glory in God’s presence!

I deal with this issue all the time, a little bit in me and much more in those to whom I minister. I do have to remind myself that “this is temporal” every once in a while. However, the world around me is fixated on the temporal, and the majority of people in the world are caught up in that perspective. I am not to despise people for being deluded, but neither am I to leave them to wallow in their delusion. In particular, I am to be patient and persistent in encouraging the flock here to lift their eyes off of the temporal and fix them on the eternal, just as we are told in 2 Corinthians 4:8. I deal with some extreme examples of self-centeredness in the patients at the mental hospital, and they are pathetic indeed. I need to help people understand that the only difference between them and those patients is one of degree. If I put it that way, many would be offended, but it’s true. It’s true for me, too, and it is only by the grace of God that we are able to be Christ-centered. I need to strive to be an open channel of God’s grace for that purpose.

Father, thank You for all You allow us to experience to train us and prepare us for eternity with You. Help me not complain or be anxious, but thank You for Your protection and provision ahead of time. Help me indeed rest, relax, and rejoice in You, delighting to be Your child and Your servant, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 6, 2012

Posted on January 11, 2012 by jgarrott

Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time.

Though I don’t read Hebrew, experience has taught me to trust the Japanese translation I’m using, and the difference in nuance in this very famous verse is significant. The Japanese says, “Everything God does is beautiful in its time.” That doesn’t mean that everything is beautiful in itself, it means that if God did it, at some point its beauty will be revealed. Murder is not beautiful. Rape is not beautiful. All sorts of things are not beautiful, but are the result of man’s sinful rebellion against God. However, if they are yielded to God after the fact, He can turn them around and bring something beautiful out of them. I have read stories of some truly beautiful (not simply physically attractive) people who were conceived in rape. The act of their conception was not beautiful, but God turned it around. This is in line with the parallel verse from the NT, Romans 8:28. There are a variety of translations for that verse, but the thrust is that God brings ultimate good out of everything, for those who are committed to Him. And that was written by a man who had been stoned and shipwrecked, and was ultimately martyred!

This is a truth I need to keep remembering. There are many unpleasant things in life on this planet, and God pointed out to me personally that He’s not any happier about them than we are. I’ve got to remember, not just theoretically but practically and emotionally, that when I yield things to Him, He will make them beautiful. The meeting last night was a good case in point. I certainly didn’t look forward to it, and parts of it weren’t exactly pleasant, but God worked in it, and He will continue to use what was said to work in hearts and minds to conform us to the likeness of His Son. In a totally different area, the computer problems I’ve had haven’t been enjoyable per se, but they have been educational and will result in a better system in the long run. I need to remember to thank and praise God before I see how He’s going to work things out.

Father, thank You for keeping a guard on my tongue last night, just as I asked. Thank You also for guarding the tongue of the other person who was attacked, and for the things he allowed You to say through him. I pray that You would continue to grow and mature this church in every way, so that each individual, and the church as a whole, would be centered on You rather than themselves, giving You the thanks, praise, and obedience that You deserve, fulfilling Your plans for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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January 5, 2012

Posted on January 11, 2012 by jgarrott

Ecclesiastes 2:26 To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Throughout Ecclesiastes Solomon says some really wise, true things, and then he betrays his own bad attitude. It would seem that none of David’s children were properly disciplined as they were growing up, and they bore the fruit of that as adults. Solomon is considered the best “success story” of the lot, yet he derailed himself completely by his self-centered indulgence. It was that attitude, selfishly resenting passing his accomplishments on to his successor, that made him say that God’s ways were meaningless. From our perspective on this side of the cross and the empty tomb, we can see that material accomplishments are insignificant compared to the reward that awaits us in heaven, so leaving things to our successors shouldn’t seem to be a burden at all, but rather a joy and an honor. God indeed blesses those who please Him by their faith and obedience, and there is nothing in the least “empty” or unfair about that. I am reminded of the recent protests against the rich, by those who don’t want to work to improve their lot in life. God is gracious, but He knows that if everything is handed to us on a platter, we will be as spoiled as a six week old banana. Genuine satisfaction, happiness, and joy can’t be measured in material terms, nor ultimately gained by material means.

This is something I’ve certainly experienced first hand, not from the viewpoint of an unhappy rich person but from understanding the riches of God’s grace that have nothing to do with material wealth. I have experienced the joy and satisfaction of doing things well, which is what Solomon talked about in the verses before this one, and that is a huge blessing. I have experienced financial need, which has taught me that God is my Provider, and that is a true blessing. By the grace of God, I have learned that every ability I have is a gift from Him, and is to be used in gratefulness and praise for His glory. I need to rest in the assurance, gained both from Scripture and from experience, that God will meet my every present and future need, from now throughout eternity, if I will keep my focus on Him in love and obedience.

Father thank You for this reminder. I face a big challenge in the meeting tonight, but You are more than equal to it. Thank You that I don’t have to rely on my own wisdom, but can trust Your Spirit to speak and act through me. Guard my lips so that I don’t say anything that isn’t of You. Guard my heart so that I don’t shut anyone out. To­day and every day, help me be an open channel for Your grace and love, accomplishing Your purposes on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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January 4, 2012

Posted on January 11, 2012 by jgarrott

Proverbs 30:5 “Every word of God is flawless;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.”

This verse is so basic and true as to go without saying, yet it is ignored or even actively denied by many today. The modern assault on the Bible began close to 150 years ago, specifically on the issue of its “purity,” as the Japanese expresses it, following the Hebrew. Textual criticism is on some levels a very valid thing, particularly considering not only copying mistakes by scribes but also the vagaries of translation that are often pointed out in this blog. However, that was quickly taken to the point of denying Divine authorship in the first place, which produced a backlash of slavish devotion to a particular translation, which isn’t good either. That said, there are many people who might have a reasonably correct attitude toward the Bible who still forget the second half of this verse. Life throws all sorts of junk at us, and things are much nicer with a shield to deflect it. We tend to forget that God is the shield we need! In speaking of the armor of God, Paul said that faith is a shield capable of quenching every flaming arrow the devil shoots at us. (Ephesians 6:16) Actually, faith without a foundation isn’t of much use; we have to believe truth for it to be effective. Some people have faith in faith, and that ultimately falls apart. It is when our faith is in God, so that we commit ourselves to obedient trust, that He is our shield indeed, as this verse says.

I need to remember this truth as much as anyone. As familiar as I am with Scripture, I must not take it for granted and fail to apply it. I am not to use mental tricks to avoid obedience! My faith must not be simply academic and abstract, but specific and practical. I am to teach the Word for what it is, not twisting it to make some point that God is not saying, and I must live out what I teach, lest I be disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:27) When assaults come – and recently that has been with great frequency – my first response must be to call on God. Other things might be His provision, and brothers and sisters in Christ are a precious resource, but my first, foundational trust must be in Him.

Father, thank You for all You allow me to experience, even when it isn’t pleasant at the time. Thank You that I can recognize growth in myself in my responses to things, even as I also recognize that I have plenty of room for more growth. Help me trust You fully, both in the crises and in the daily irritations, letting Your Word fill me by Your Spirit so that I live it out faithfully, for the benefit of all around me and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 3, 2012

Posted on January 3, 2012 by jgarrott

PR 3:34 He mocks proud mockers
but gives grace to the humble.

The world has a lot of people who are wise in their own eyes and who look down on those they don’t see as “measuring up.” It’s not wrong to be assured of what you know or can do, but despising anyone for not having that knowledge or ability immediately takes you out of the realm of God’s grace. Saying, I can do nothing, isn’t necessarily pleasing to God, because He has given everyone abilities and the responsibility to use them. However, we must remember that all of our abilities are gifts from God, however faithful or unfaithful we have been in our stewardship of them. Properly remembered, that makes it out of the question to mock someone else for not having that ability. Some are so foolish as to think they don’t need God’s grace, wrongly thinking that they have gotten to where they are on their own. Nothing could be further from the truth! God told Paul that His grace is all we need, (2 Corinthians 12:9) so anything that will keep us in the flow of that grace is greatly to be desired. Genuine, honest humility, that recognizes resources but knows they are all from God, is of the highest value indeed.

This is an issue in almost all human interaction. We are so quick to be proud of what we can do, and to be defensive about what we don’t do well. What complicates the picture is that mockery is only damaging when it is received as such, and it is hardly unusual for something to be perceived as mockery when it wasn’t intended that way. As a pastor I deal with this constantly, either between believers or between believers and myself. It’s been many years since I’ve mocked anyone intentionally, but it’s all too common that someone perceived mockery that wasn’t intended. That calls for more wisdom than I have! God is able to sort such things out and bring healing and deliverance, but it’s totally out of my personal range. I’ve got to be humble before God and before others, allowing God to work in and through me, because there’s no other way for such issues to be resolved. I cannot clear someone else’s mind and heart of misconceptions, so I’ve got to pray that God would do the job.

Father, you know the problems that have come to a head in recent days. Thank You that I can trust You. Trying to carry the stress is debilitating, to say the least. Help me let go of it indeed, knowing that You are going to turn this around for the sake of the Body of Christ and for Your glory. Help me exercise the authority You have placed in me in all love, gentleness, and firmness, speaking Your truth to counter the lies that have so clouded and confused minds. Help me hear people out, because my failures in that area have created many problems in the past. By Your grace and mercy, enable us all to lift our eyes to Jesus, and seeing Him, forgive one another as You forgave us in Him, for our healing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 2, 2012

Posted on January 3, 2012 by jgarrott

Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

We live in the Information Age, but information is not the same as wisdom. It is essentially the same as knowledge, but even there, there would seem to be distinctions. Today we have terabytes of information at our fingertips, but how much do we really know? The point of this verse is that God is the source of true knowledge, and He is the only source of genuine wisdom. It has been scientifically demonstrated that age does bring wisdom, in the sense that we gain broader and deeper experience on which to base our decisions, but the saying is still true, that there’s no fool like an old fool. Apart from the grace of God, we don’t even learn rightly from our experiences. Some of the biggest, or at least most visible, fools today are scientists who are trumpeting their denial of God, demonstrating by their vehemence that they don’t really disbelieve His existence, they are simply in rebellion against Him. The Bible points out in numerous places that the fear of God is the foundation of genuine wisdom, and this verse says that God gives that wisdom to us. James picked up on this in James 1:5. Lack of knowledge is remedied easily enough, but lack of wisdom to apply that knowledge is a major problem.

I am facing this issue in two very different areas, of very different ultimate importance. I have a computer problem that I only partially know how to fix, and I need to locate the software tools necessary for the job. It’s with my main work computer, and even with the right tools will require several hours, and I am dreading it. However, that problem, though urgent from several standpoints, is temporal, that is, it will make no eternal difference. The other issue is in pastoral ministry where, as a wounded human being, I have to deal with other wounded human beings. This one isn’t simply a matter of finding the right tools and applying them, and the consequences are potentially eternal. I need God’s wisdom! Particularly in the area of pastoral ministry, I have demonstrated time and time again that I don’t have the requisite wisdom on my own; I’ve got to receive it fresh from God. However, there are a number of applicable Biblical guidelines, and above all I do have God’s promise that His grace is all I need.

Father, thank You for reminding me yet again that IQ has nothing to do with true wisdom, and that I am totally dependent on You. Help me get quiet enough before You to hear and receive what You are telling me about every issue in my life. Right now the temporal and the eternal are fighting for my attention, and I’m having trouble focusing properly on either. Help me focus on You, knowing that You are far greater than any problem, submitting every issue to You for Your solution, so that Your purposes for each of these things will be fulfilled, for my blessing and the blessing of those around me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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