September 4, 2011

Posted on September 8, 2011 by jgarrott

Acts 28:23-24 From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.

Like Jesus, Paul had mixed results. This was exactly as Jesus had said: “If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.” (John 15:20) This is an extremely important thing for every evangelist to remember. When we have such wonderful truth to share, it seems incredible sometimes how people will reject it, but that’s how people are. Paul’s audience here was practicing Jews who were probably well versed in the Scriptures he was using. At the very least they accepted the Old Testament as authoritative. Even so, only some believed, and some refused to believe. I personally feel the key lies in two closely related factors. The first is that believing the Gospel requires repentance, because it lays bare the fact that we are sinners before our Creator, and we don’t like that. The second is the very simple fact that coming to faith requires change, and we don’t like that, either. Being alive involves change by the very definition of life, so it is all the more ironic that we tend to resist it so strongly. The older we get, the more set in our ways we tend to be. That’s why it’s all the more remarkable, and joyful, when people in their 70’s come to Christ, as we had just recently. They have a lifetime of things to unlearn, to receive the fulness of the Gospel. That makes it all the more urgent to share the Gospel with children, while it is still relatively easy for them to change. That very factor is why Communist and other demonically inspired governments forbid the religious instruction of children. The devil knows that a foundation of truth laid in the heart of a child is very hard to eradicate. Meanwhile, we are not to give up in our efforts to share the Gospel with adults, because as difficult as it may be, nothing is too difficult for God, and some will believe, just as they believed Paul.

I live with this all the time. I would love so much for people to receive the truth I share with them in simple faith, but I must not give up just because it happens infrequently. I must remember that if I didn’t share, even those few would not be saved. Also, I must remember that those I harvest have generally been influenced by others as well, and know that God can bring fruit from my labors even when I don’t see it. I am to be faithful at the tasks set for me, trusting God for the fruit and expecting it from Him, but still leaving it in His hands. That’s not to say that I’m not to do all I can to become more effective, but it is to say that I must remember at all times that salvation is His work, and is between Him and each individual.

Father, thank You for this reminder. It can be difficult to maintain an expectation of fruit, sometimes. Help me trust You on every level and be faithful in my obedience, so that as many as will may be brought to repentance and faith, in full discipleship, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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September 3, 2011

Posted on September 8, 2011 by jgarrott

Acts 20:20-21 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

Paul here expresses what should be the method of every teacher of the Gospel. First, speaking without hesitation. Second, speaking that which is beneficial. Third, speaking in group settings. Fourth, speaking privately, The Japanese renders these two verses as one sentence, making it clear that the content of the beneficial teaching is repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus. That pretty well covers it! We tend to get tied up in all sorts of doctrines and dogma, but if we stray from the foundation of repentance and faith, we have turned our backs on the God we say we serve. One thing that is clear, not only from this passage but from the whole record of Acts and his letters, is that Paul was consistent, the same in private as in public. That has been a snare for many church leaders over the centuries, showing that they were living to be seen by men rather than in honesty before God, who sees everything. If we are aware of God at all times, then we will be open to His appointments for proclamation and ministry, whether to individuals or to groups, and people will be brought to repentance and faith.

I have tried to live this lifestyle, but I am definitely aware that I have room to grow. I let things distract me from God, which I am sure has caused me to miss many of the appointments He has had for me. I know from those I haven’t missed that there is nothing more satisfying than meeting divine appointments and seeing God touch people through me, but I still fail to keep my focus on Him 24/7. I have been protective of “my time,” even though I know that every second I have is a gift from God and is to be used as He indicates. Being protective like that never brings good results! I need to be more active in my pursuit of God, to walk in the fellowship with Him that He desires even more than I do.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the progress and growth I have experienced, slow though it has been. Thank You for Your patience with me in the process. Help me keep pressing in to You, not simply for my own sake but as an example and encouragement to the flock, so that together we may walk in the magnificence of Your plans for us, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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September 2, 2011

Posted on September 2, 2011 by jgarrott

Acts 20:7 Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.

It is some comfort to know that preachers have always been long winded! Actually, the depth and breadth of God’s truth is such that there is always more that could be said. Paul didn’t really expect to be able to see these people again, and so he wanted to leave them with as much as he could in person, since he would be limited to letters and messengers in the future. Of course, the risk of people nodding off during a long message is very real, and this story is a very famous instance of that. It is quite interesting that even though oxygen hadn’t been identified at that point, as a physician, Luke was aware that the large number of lamps burning in their meeting room had an impact on people becoming sleepy. Once Eutychus had fallen, died, and been resurrected, I’m sure everyone was wide awake! They were also very open to hearing more about the power and love of God, having seen such a dramatic demonstration. Paul’s focus, and the people’s focus, wasn’t on comfort, but on God’s truth. That doesn’t mean that preachers have an unlimited license to drone on and on. Rather, it means that preachers need to be sensitive to whether the congregation has ears to hear, as well as to what the Holy Spirit wants to say at a given time. It is a waste of time, not to mention risky, for a preacher to keep talking when the Holy Spirit has stopped.

As someone who will preach at the drop of a hat (just ask my wife!), this is extremely applicable to me. Though preaching and prophecy aren’t necessarily equivalent, I’ve experienced prophesying and continuing to talk after the Holy Spirit stopped, and it’s a horrible feeling. I personally don’t see how people can preach without an assurance of the anointing of the Holy Spirit. In my own experience, sometimes that awareness is stronger that at other times, and sometimes people later speak of how they were impacted by a message in which I felt very little anointing. All that is to say that subjective feelings aren’t to be trusted. My most powerful messages have been when I personally had the least to say. I need to be acutely aware that I am a very small part of the preaching process. What is important is the unhindered flow of the Holy Spirit through me, and the hearts of the people to receive what He is saying. I need to seek God’s revelation as to the heart condition of my hearers, so that I may say enough but not too much, giving them maximum opportunity to absorb and appropriate what God wants to say to them.

Father, thank You for the privilege of preaching Your Word. Help me never take that for granted, nor think for a minute that I could do it effectively in my own strength and ability. Help me operate always under the full guidance of Your Spirit, so that Your Word through me may accomplish exactly that for which You send it, for the salvation of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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September 1, 2011

Posted on September 2, 2011 by jgarrott

Acts 18:9-10 “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”

What strikes me first is that Paul must have been afraid, for God to speak to him like this. The image most people have of Paul is that he was never afraid of anything! All of us have human weaknesses, and we aren’t to be ashamed of that fact, but neither are we to use those weaknesses as excuses not to obey God. If we listen to God, as Paul did in this instance, we will overcome our weaknesses by the grace and power of God. It is also significant that, in this place where Paul was afraid, God had many people who were already His. We have no idea how God has already been working to prepare people’s hearts to receive the message. Sometimes those who seem to be in the fiercest opposition have the most dramatic conversions. We are not to prejudge people or situations, but be faithful to go where God says and speak as He directs, so that His plans may be fulfilled in and through us.

This is especially true in Japan, which has earned quite a reputation as the graveyard of missionaries. To this point, results have been very meager for all the effort invested, but there are occasionally people who repent and believe the first time they hear the Gospel. When that happens, it is an enormous encouragement. I am never to give up, or fear defeat, but rather be faithful in the work to which I have been assigned. My personal conviction is that there are indeed many in Omura who have already believed, but circumstances and the tricks of the enemy have kept them from active participation in the Body of Christ. God wants them to be brought in, to be strength­ened in their faith and equipped as disciples, to in turn go out and bring in many more. Right now it’s fair to say that every member of this church is under spiritual attack, but that’s all the more reason to rejoice, because it means we are really making the devil nervous. I need to lead the way in trusting obedience, so that everyone may step into the victory that God has planned for us.

Father, thank You for this strong, encouraging Word this morning. Help me not just hear it, but walk in it. As Cathy and I walk for exercise, help us do the spiritual warfare You know is needed, so that the chains the devil has had on this city may be broken and the people set free indeed, to repent and believe for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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August 31, 2011

Posted on August 31, 2011 by jgarrott

Acts 15:19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.”

This point, expressed here by James, is of extreme importance to anyone engaged in cross-cultural evangelism. We have great difficulty distinguishing our faith, from our religion, from our culture. That is a very big issue in Japan, where many religious functions are seen as strictly cultural, and it’s an issue in America, where some cultural things are seen as religious. That is complicated by the difference between religion and faith, because few Japanese have more than a superstitious faith in anything, yet they observe assorted religious traditions. Evangelists, both domestic and foreign, need Holy Spirit discernment to know what is central to the Gospel and what is the accretion of tradition. I doubt that anyone gets it 100% right! There is a strong tendency to push pet theology, or else to water everything down so much that it is no longer the Gospel of salvation by grace through faith. Another difficulty is that different people and groups waste time and energy attacking one another for their positions on these issues, instead of focusing on the central issue of winning the lost. Such activity defames the name of Christ among those who don’t believe, not to mention grieving the Holy Spirit.

Growing up in a missionary family in Japan, this is an issue I have been somewhat aware of even from childhood. That doesn’t mean I’ve dealt with it perfectly myself! However, I have been grieved to see groups hang onto their “denominational distinctives” to the point of refusing cooperation with anyone outside their group. At the same time, proper teaching and training of new believers is essential, since there is no limit to the depth of God’s truth, and we all need encouragement to keep growing as Christ’s disciples. This is a constant issue for me, dealing with other Christian groups, dealing with new believers, and dealing with non-believers. I have been struck recently with how much people who were not raised in the Church do not know. That makes it all the more essential that I teach the important stuff first, to lay a firm foundation and get them started on pursuing Christ themselves. Otherwise I will be constantly trying to herd toddlers and infants, rather than maturing believers, and I’ve had more than enough of that!

Father, thank You for what You’ve been teaching me recently on this point. Thank you for the introductory and teaching material that Cathy and others have prepared. Help me be faithful in every area of ministry, so that there will be no barriers of my making in the way of anyone becoming all that You desire and intend them to be, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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August 30, 2011

Posted on August 31, 2011 by jgarrott

Acts 14:22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

Paul and Barnabas didn’t mince words with the new believers. There was none of this “Your best life now” business. The way to “strengthen their hearts and encourage them to abide in the faith” was to tell them they were going to suffer! We do people a disservice when we fail to tell them that in this life, being a Christian may not be easy at all, but that it’s certainly worth it. People today don’t like to suffer for anything; they don’t even like to wait for it! The thing is, God knows that zero suffering brings zero growth, and He’s more interested in our maturity than in our comfort. That is certainly not to say that He picks on us or is mean in any way, but all too often we fail to see needed discipline as love. Much of that goes back to the big shift in parenting that started back in the ’50s, when the Biblical admonitions on parenting were thrown out the window. Someone who has never known loving discipline from their parents isn’t going to understand loving discipline from God. He never allows us to go through anything that can’t be for our good, but we have a lot of trouble believing and trusting that. In any case, we need to have a clear enough understanding of the difference between our two possible destinations to know that any amount of suffering on this earth can’t begin to compare to the glorious blessings that await us in heaven. (1 Peter 4:12-13 and many more)

I don’t feel I have had that hard a time of it as a Christian, but I still get frustrated with believers who want everything to be easy. I am to be patient with them, but always speak the truth in love, even as Paul and Barnabas did. I’m not to be afraid of scaring people away with honesty, because any sort of deception will come back and bite me. I am to make it clear that the rewards of faith are more than worth anything on this earth, but not give people the impression that faith is just a “get out of jail free” card. That last can be difficult, because we are saved by grace through faith and indeed escape judgment, because Jesus has paid it all for us. At the same time, genuine faith brings a level of commitment that perseveres in serving God regardless of the difficulties. That, I think, is what Paul and Barnabas were teaching, and I need to do no less.

Father, I don’t have the wisdom necessary to communicate Your Gospel accurately and effectively, so I ask Your Holy Spirit to do it through me. Help me be faithful in my availability and obedience. Thank You for the opportunity yesterday to share the reality of Jesus’ suffering for us with some new believers. They already believed, but hadn’t understood the extent of what Jesus went through. That’s something that can strengthen them to endure their own suffering. Help me communicate Your whole truth to all who have ears to hear, so that I may raise up not just converts but true disciples, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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August 29, 2011

Posted on August 30, 2011 by jgarrott

Acts 13:45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying.

Jealousy has got to be one of the least beneficial emotions in the human repertoire. I see it as a corruption of what God feels when He knows we should worship nothing but Him, and it’s right up there with resentment as an emotional time-and-energy waster. It hits practically everyone at times, and there’s often no real rational explanation for it. It makes us do things for which we would normally be ashamed, to the point of motivating countless “crimes of passion” down through the centuries. We forget that “every good and perfect gift is from above,” (James 1:17) and so demand satisfaction from human beings who can’t give it, unless God chooses to so use them. Jealousy has always been a prime motive for religious persecution, though those doing the persecuting would not admit it. We get caught up in numbers, of people and of finances, and lose sight of the God we say we serve. John the Baptist is our best example in avoiding such jealousy, when he said of Jesus, “He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:30) Theology is most often used to justify conflict within the Church, but the underlying motive is more often jealousy.

I can hardly say I am immune to jealousy myself, yet I see so much damage done by it in the Body of Christ. I am not to run around pointing fingers at instances of jealousy, but I am to be on my guard against those who condemn others simply because they seem to be popular or successful. The other side of that, of course, is not to think someone is in the right simply because they are popular or successful. I need to let the Bible permeate my thinking and the Holy Spirit guide my perceptions, being slow to condemn or accuse and always speaking the truth in love.

Father, yet again I have prescribed a course that is beyond my human ability. I ask You to guard and guide me, so that my words and actions will reflect Your heart rather than anything less. Help me be an open channel of Your grace and love to all, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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August 28, 2011

Posted on August 30, 2011 by jgarrott

Acts 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

This is a well-known passage, but many, if not most, people would not believe it could happen today. The very idea of the Holy Spirit indicating something so specific as this, and to a group of people at the same time! The text doesn’t say it, but it seems probable that someone spoke this as a prophecy and everyone else felt strong confirmation, but afterward no one could remember who had spoken out loud. (Cathy and I had an experience like that in 1974 when the Lord indicated we were to sell our house in Denver and move to Japan.) The point is, God does direct us, if we have ears and hearts to hear Him. Some don’t tune their hearts to hear Him because they don’t have any idea it’s possible for them, and others don’t do so because they are set on what they want to do, and they don’t want God interfering. The amazing thing is, there are people in both groups who genuinely love God and want to serve Him! The problem is, most of us (to use my mother’s expression) are “independent as a hog on ice.” It doesn’t take deep reflection to understand what that’s like! Because a pig’s trotters (feet) are rather pointed, they can gain some traction on ice, but it is a very hit-or-miss thing, and a pig in such a situation seldom goes where either it or the master would like. That’s comical to think about, but tragic when we realize that we are that pig, failing to move as God knows is best for us and for His family. God will confirm His directions to us in various ways, so we don’t have to be uncertain. Unsupported “personal prophecy” has led to quite a few tragedies! He will speak to our hearts, He will speak through His Word, He will speak through dreams and visions, He will speak through other people, both brothers and sisters in Christ and total strangers. The thing is, He will almost always use more than one of those methods to say the same thing to us. In the example in this verse, He both spoke through one and confirmed it in the hearts of all present. That’s one reason it is extremely helpful to pray in a group over major decisions. Above all, though, there needs to be the expectation and trust that God desires to lead us, He will lead us, and that His plans are always the best thing possible.

I have experienced this enough times to be sure of it, but that doesn’t mean I’m completely consistent in seeking God’s guidance. At the same time, people often turn to me when they want to know what God wants them to do. That’s a risky position! I must never operate in pride or presumption, but neither am I to be anxious about whether God is going to guide. I am to be honest about the level of clarity the Lord gives me on any given issue, and I am to receive what He says through others. I am greatly blessed to have a wife who is equally desirous of hearing and obeying God, and she is often an excellent sounding board for what I am feeling, but I am not to limit my prayerful consultation to her. Just as God did for Gideon, He is more than capable of using multiple confirmation to make His will clear, if that is needed.

Father, this is a big and very current issue, because of how often I am asked what You want someone to do. Help me be fully submitted to You, never spouting off out of my own ideas but allowing You to use me, in all humility and gratitude, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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August 27, 2011

Posted on August 30, 2011 by jgarrott

Acts 6:3 “Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them.”

Delegation and division of duties are vital parts of any organization. Indeed, they could be said to be part of the definition of an organization, or organism, for that matter. Everyone trying to do everything doesn’t work, and making something everyone’s responsibility generally means no one does it. We tend to gravitate to a few people doing all the work and the majority simply being along for the ride, but that is wrong on several levels. Those doing the work come in danger of a great deal of resentment, those not working fail to grow and mature, and the work itself is not done as well as it could be, because not everyone is equipped for every job. Paul dealt with that last point at length in 1 Corinthians 12, as well as touching on it in Romans 12. At issue are both the willingness to relinquish authority and the willingness to accept responsibility. Some people are willing to accept great responsibility for the sake of the authority, and some are willing to relinquish all authority for the sake of getting out of responsibility. Either side of that has lots of problems!

This has been a problem in my ministry from the start. I’ve never been much of a team player, having bombed out in sports in childhood and having felt isolated for various reasons for much of my life. On top of that, I’ve been blessed with a wide variety of abilities, so it has seemed easier to me to just do everything myself, rather than getting others actively involved. That has been a major drag on this church. Past efforts at delegation and division of duties have ranged from mediocre to disasters, but I must not give up. The size of the congregation means that everyone could be actively involved without much difficulty, but there are those who refuse any responsibility at all. At the same time, there are those who are quick to pitch in, but resent feeling like they do all the work. On top of that, there is a lack of understanding of how much work goes into some things that can only be done with specialized training and gifting. What we are doing right now in trying to identify what each person is willing to do and/or feels qualified to is a good step, but it has the limitations of a lack of understanding of what is involved in some tasks and the cultural reluctance to claim ability. I still don’t have the organizational wisdom and ability called for, as I have demonstrated so thoroughly in the past. I’ve got to be fully humble and submitted before God to receive and follow His directions. When I delegate something, I’ve got to give full authority with the responsibility and not micromanage, but that doesn’t mean ignoring the issue or failing to give encouragement, appreciation and praise. I’ve been very weak there. I cannot ignore problems; I’ve got to trust that God has the answers and be active in their pursuit, for the sake of the Body of Christ.

Father, this has laid open one of my greatest weaknesses as a pastor/leader. As this passage talks about, I don’t need to be distracted by it from the ministry of the Word, but that doesn’t mean issues aren’t to be addressed and dealt with. I ask for wisdom and patience, toward myself and others. I really get disgusted with myself that I haven’t gotten any better at this after all these years, but that disgust doesn’t accomplish anything. Help me learn the lessons You are teaching me, faithfully and gratefully, so that the Body of Christ may indeed be built up, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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August 26, 2011

Posted on August 30, 2011 by jgarrott

Acts 5:42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

In keeping with Peter’s statement that “We must obey God rather than men!” (verse 29) the apostles directly disobeyed the orders they were given by the Sanhedrin. That’s what’s called congruency, when your actions match your words. Congruency is extremely important in life in general, but nowhere more so than in the Church. Sadly, it’s all too often lacking there. Jesus said of the Pharisees, “Do as they say, not as they do.” (Matthew 23:3) That is good advice in some churches! It’s also important to note what the apostles were doing, and that is, being obedient to the Great Commission. They weren’t sitting around congratulating themselves on being saved, they were actively making disciples. That activity wasn’t limited to formal settings, like the temple, but was essentially wherever they could get people to listen. Here too, Christians and churches today have a lot to learn. We tend to compartmentalize, when being a disciple of Jesus Christ is a 24/7 proposition, and this verse specifies that the early disciples didn’t limit their activities to any particular day of the week. Some churches today pride themselves on being “1st Century Churches.” If that is true, well and good, but they need to remember that 1st Century Christians endured persecution to the point of martyrdom. Like the apostles in this verse, we need to remember that following Jesus Christ is a matter of total commitment.

I certainly strive for congruency in my own life, but that hasn’t been put to the test of active persecution. I need to help the believers understand how they can be 24/7 Christians, not letting the devil shut them up. That’s not to say we are to be yammering idiots – the world has plenty of them – but that we are constantly to be looking for the opportunities God provides to speak His truth into people’s lives. We are to let the Holy Spirit open our eyes to see people as God does, and speak His Word into them for their deliverance, healing, and everything else that comes with salvation. I’m back to the point of taking our eyes off of ourselves and fixing them on Christ. As long as we’re looking at our own weakness and foolishness, we won’t trust God to use us as He desires to do, in His strength and wisdom.

Father, I realize I’m preaching to myself here. That’s an issue of congruency! Help me follow through indeed with the truth You allow me to speak, putting Your Word into practice all the time, in every detail of my life. Help me also lead and train the believers in doing likewise, so that together we may be marvelously effective, in Your wisdom and power, for the salvation of many, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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