Quarrels; May 26, 2024

Posted on May 27, 2024 by jgarrott

2 Timothy 2:14 Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.

It strikes me that this section is getting down to the nitty gritty of how to teach people to be teachers, which is what I’m preaching on this morning! The root Scripture is verse two of this chapter, which speaks of entrusting God’s truth to faithful men who will be able to teach others also, and this is talking about how to do that. The verse after this one is justly famous, often quoted to young people just setting out in ministry, but the point is that to lead others into truth, the leader must deal rightly with that truth himself. As this verse says, words are necessary for communicating truth, but they are not truth in themselves, and can be twisted to do evil. That sort of thing is happing all around us right now, with people appropriating words to make them mean what they want them to say, instead of the actual original meaning. That’s been happening a long time. I remember my mother being very offended at homosexuals appropriating the word, gay, which she had always liked, as meaning bright and pleasurable. Quarrels about words have split churches many times, not to mention societies and nations. Disagreements are part of life, but we seem to have forgotten how to disagree without quarreling. We are to stand firm in the truth, but do so in love. It is not loving to deny biology, for example, and say that we can change genders at will. Those who know Christ, who is Truth, (John 14:6) are to stand firm in the truth and not waver, knowing that the devil is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44) Swallowing and/or agreeing to lies is not loving.

As a man of words, this is very pertinent to me. I don’t think I have gotten into many quarrels about words, but I have certainly observed a lot of them. Many of the “doctrinal differences” between churches are really no more than word definitions, and it is sad. It doesn’t really matter if someone serving God is called an elder, a deacon, a pastor, a bishop, or whatever. Those terms are hardly meaningless, but they don’t define anyone. After all, the first seven “deacons” quickly grew into other ministry roles, with Philip being called an evangelist and Steven being martyred. I try to be relaxed about such things in this church, and it bothers those with a denominational background! However, I’m not to get proud because “I know better,” but rather extend God’s grace to all, and let the Holy Spirit deal with such issues, speaking only as He directs.

Father, thank You for Your grace toward me. Help me be an open channel of that grace to all, standing firm in Your truth but not quarreling over inconsequential things. Help me always remember that You alone know everything, and You alone are always right. Thank You. Praise God!

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Standards; May 25, 2024

Posted on May 26, 2024 by jgarrott

1 Timothy 6:11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

This is a restating of Romans 12:2, specifically aimed at someone who was already committed to serving God. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Paul has just been talking about the way many people in the world are, and is telling Timothy, “Don’t you be like that.” We are quick to excuse ourselves by looking at the people around us and saying, to ourselves at any rate, “I’m no different, and certainly no worse, than they are.” That’s exactly the point! Our standard is never to be the people around us, but Jesus Christ Himself, and we meet that standard only to the degree we abide in Him. This is important for every believer to remember, and especially so for those in “full-time ministry.” Social pressure to conform can be extreme, and at the same time it can be very subtle. That’s why the devil loves to use it. Every believer needs to realize that we are in a war zone, and the battle can be unrelenting. We need to take James’ words as both instructions and encouragement: “Submit yourselves, therefore, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) We just need to recognize the devil’s attacks as they come.

This certainly applies to me. I have stumbled countless times, most often when I haven’t recognized there was anything in my way. That’s what baseball would call an error. Doing my best and falling short is different from walking around with my eyes shut! I have learned that the more I recognize my weaknesses and choose to depend on God, the more His strength is manifested in me, just as Paul recognized after God gave him that famous promise, “My grace is sufficient for you.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) I’m not to try to be strong in myself, but only in Christ, and that requires laying down all of my personal pride. After all, everything good about me is by the grace of God, and I should rejoice in that reality. The world is never to be my standard or my example, but only Christ Jesus my Lord.

Father, thank You for this strong reminder. I’ve needed it more times than I care to remember! Help me indeed abide in Christ, allowing You to fill me by Your Spirit, so that in all things I may accurately represent Christ to those around me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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The Trinity; May 24, 2024

Posted on May 25, 2024 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

I probably quote this verse more than any other, though I do expand it slightly, specifying “Father God” and “intimate fellowship.” It is powerful and deeply meaningful. It’s not that these specific qualities are unique to each member of the Trinity, but there is a special operation in each case. Grace is spoken of in relation to Christ because it was His sacrifice that wrought our salvation, which we certainly didn’t deserve. That is the ultimate definition of grace. Love is spoken of with Father God, because He is love, (1 John 4:8) and everything He does is motivated by love, from creation itself to sending His Son to be our Savior. (John 3:16) And it is the Holy Spirit who binds us all together in the fellowship that is beyond words to express. Countless things have been said about the Trinity from the earliest days of the Church. In the Old Testament we have much mention of the Father, and the Spirit is mentioned a few times, but the Son had not yet been manifested, and so appears only prophetically. However, as it says in Hebrews, “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.” (Hebrews 1:1-2) After all, the New Covenant was sealed with His blood. (Luke 22:20) The word, Trinity, never appears in the Bible, but was rather formulated to describe what is manifestly represented by the whole Bible. The whole idea overwhelms human intellect, because God is certainly One, yet He is also manifestly Three. Actually, modern theoretical physics comes close to explaining it, with talk of multiplied dimensions and string theory and the like, but even that can’t do it fully. We may not be able to explain the Trinity, but we can experience it, just as Paul states here.

As I was growing up, the Trinity was simply stated fact, but as my experience of the Holy Spirit has expanded, so has my grasp of the Trinity. I am very grateful for the Spirit as the agent of my intimacy with my Creator and my Savior. When I have tasted such intimacy, the idea of eternity without it is more horrible than all the physical torment we usually ascribe to hell. That’s why I want everyone to have that intimacy, starting right now and continuing throughout eternity. I know from sad experience that sin interrupts that intimacy, and that is the biggest reason to avoid it, and the biggest motivation for repentance. To the degree I walk in that intimacy with the Trinity, others will see the hope that I have and desire it for themselves. (1 Peter 3:15) I may not be gifted as an evangelist, but I desire to serve as “bait” to cause others to desire salvation for themselves.

Father, thank You for this reminder. It seems very appropriate for my 55th wedding anniversary, since my relationship with my wife has taught me so much about intimacy on so many levels. That seems awkward to talk about, but Paul expressly brought it up in Ephesians 5. Thank You that our marriage has been a demonstration to many of what You intend marriage to be. May it continue to be so, drawing more and more to repentance and faith, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Spiritual DNA; May 23, 2024

Posted on May 24, 2024 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 12:18 I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not act in the same spirit and follow the same course?

It strikes me that Paul had great confidence in those he had trained. Many people are aware of his close relationship with Timothy, but here Titus is spoken of as practically a clone of Paul. We are to be disciples of Jesus Christ for precisely the same reason, and we are to choose our human mentors for the degree to which they seem to be disciples of Christ. We become like those we imitate! It is common but relatively insignificant to see students take on their teacher’s mannerisms. What is of far more importance is that we take our values and goals ultimately from Christ, whoever might be the channel of their coming to us. Here, Paul had absolutely no worry that Titus might have deceived or defrauded the Corinthian believers, because he could boldly say they had the same heart, that is, attitude and motivation. Education has become far more impersonal than it was back then, so this sort of connection has been blurred, and that’s a shame. Another word for all of this is impartation. Paul had imparted himself into Titus, Timothy, and others, to the degree that they were exten­sions of His ministry. They were their own men, and they went on to train up others, just as Paul wrote for Timothy to do. (2 Timothy 2:2) That is precisely what Jesus did with His 12 apostles. They didn’t respond identically, and Judas even jumped ship entirely, so we aren’t to expect, much less require, that those we mentor copy us exactly, but the Biblical pattern is clear.

Thinking about it, those I have raised up have indeed loved the Word and expected God to speak to them through it. That’s my greatest satisfaction. It is amusing, and not very important, that many have caught “the pun disease” as well! It was not deliberate, but my own speech and mannerisms are so much like that of my father that a pastor who was raised up under his ministry wept when he watched me perform a wedding in that pastor’s church, I was so much like my father. I don’t object to that in any way, but the spiritual elements are far more important. In recent years I’ve heard the term “spiritual DNA” used a good bit, and I think it’s appropriate. I’m very grateful to carry my father’s physical and spiritual DNA, and I trust that the spiritual DNA will be carried on through multiple generations, for the glory of God.

Father, thank You for this clear Word. Guide me in sharing it Sunday, and in raising up my spiritual children as You intend. Thank You for the awareness that I can’t possibly do it on my own, but that You are more than capable of doing it through me. May we all be Your children indeed, accurately reflecting Your Son to the world around us, so that many more may repent and believe, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Perspective; May 22, 2024

Posted on May 23, 2024 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 7:5 For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn–conflicts on the outside, fears within.

Sometimes we forget what the early believers went through, just as we fail to meditate on Jesus’ suffering on our behalf. We think of Paul as something of a “spiritual Superman,” when actually he went through an amazing litany of trials. Reading his letters, we can see that every one of the churches to whom he wrote had problems, even the one at Phillipi, with which he had a very close relationship. The thing is, if they had not had problems, Paul would never have written the letters that now form half of the New Testament! Paul’s personal difficulties likewise were the occasion of growth and revelation to him that have blessed countless believers in the 2000 years since. We have a strong tendency to focus in on the difficulties of the moment and lose sight of the reality that God hasn’t changed. Paul himself realized that, and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit he wrote, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17) And that was in this same letter, not that much before he wrote this verse! Paul didn’t ignore difficulties or pretend they didn’t exist. Some people today seem to have “faith in faith,” and only want to make a “positive confession.” That certainly doesn’t jive with Paul’s experience! It is far more honest and helpful to say, to ourselves first as well as to those around us, “I’m in a world of hurt, but God’s got the answer and I’ve got to trust Him for it.” That’s what God so famously said when Paul, who had been used in many healing miracles, didn’t get relief even after praying earnestly for healing three times. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) And that record is in this same letter! We need to choose God’s perspective, recognizing that the temporal is real for us right now, but God’s plans for us are eternal, and they are indeed to give us hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

This is intensely personal, as it really is for every human being. I am as prone to focus on the moment as anyone else! In my particular situation, my wife’s physical issues can be rather consuming. She had a restless night, with her sleep continually interrupted by physical pain. That was and is complicated by her fear that she won’t be physically able to enjoy our plans for celebrating our 55th wedding anniversary on Friday. This verse describes her present situation to a remarkable degree! As her husband, I need God’s wisdom and guid­ance in how to support and encourage her. He’s told me personally to rest, relax, and rejoice in Him. I’m still growing in learning how to do that, but I need to help and encourage her in doing likewise. We had a magnificently blessed day on Sunday, with the celebration of the church’s 40th anniversary, and it seems like the devil redoubles his attacks after such occasions. We both need the help of Holy Spirit to keep our eyes on Jesus, (Hebrews 12:2) so that we may be submitted to God and resist the devil. (James 4:7)

Father, thank You for this reminder, both in Scripture and in our circumstances. Help us both release everything into Your hands and receive the blessings You have for us, so that Your purposes may be fulfilled on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Projection; May 21, 2024

Posted on May 22, 2024 by jgarrott

Romans 2:1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

I had never thought about the fact that projection was so clearly described in the Bible. In recent years the habit of politicians accusing each other of doing the very things they themselves are doing has been very prominent, but the practice is as old as mankind. A person who lies a lot is going to be very distrustful of others, for example. It’s not that we aren’t to be discerning. That can leave us open to all sorts of tricks and traps. However, any time we find ourselves parti­cularly irritated by someone’s behavior, we need to examine ourselves honestly to see if our reaction isn’t because of projection. Another thing to remember is that when the Holy Spirit convicts of sin, He does so very specifically, whereas the devil’s accusations tend to be blanket. After all, the name, Satan, means, “the accuser.” That applies to us and to others. The Holy Spirit will say, “That behavior doesn’t please God,” whereas the devil will say, “You are no good,” or, “He is no good.” Every human being is created in the image of God, (Genesis 1:27) however many mistakes or sins they may have committed, and God “wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4) God is absolutely holy and righteous and so cannot excuse sin, but His love for us is so great that He sent His Son to take the penalty for our sins. (John 3:16) We’ve got to keep remembering that for ourselves and in relation to others, and walk in repentance and gratitude.

I had such an issue with spiritual pride that I’m quick to recognize it in others, but I cannot do so in condemnation, because I remember what an extreme example of it I was. It was very interesting, almost surprising, to hear one of the speakers in Sunday’s 40th Anniversary Celebration list humility as one of my good points! I guess God has really been working on me all these years. I can only thank Him, because I could never have made such a change in my own strength. I need to accept people as they are, while encouraging them to become as God wants them to be, because that’s exactly what God has done for me, and I’m to be a channel of His grace.

Father, thank You indeed for Your grace. I’m very hard to shock, because I know what I’m capable of! Help me be an effective tool in Your hands to open people’s eyes to You, so that they may repent and believe for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Evangelism; May 20, 2024

Posted on May 21, 2024 by jgarrott

Acts 28:24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.

I like the way the Japanese puts this: “Some people received what he said, but others did not try to believe.” That’s going to be the case every time we share the Gospel. That’s what human free will is all about. God, since He knows everything from and for all eternity, knows who will believe and who will not, but He doesn’t force anyone to believe, or conversely, keep them from believing. The Bible does speak of God “hardening the hearts” of some people, such as the Pharaoh of the Exodus, but that is simply a matter of confirming an existing inclination. The thing is, we can’t force anyone to believe anything. All we can do is present God’s truth in God’s love, and ask the Holy Spirit to take it from there. We often have trouble with that, so it’s important that the Bible records the “batting average” of people like Paul. If he didn’t have any better results than he did, then who are we to complain? However, one thing is certain: if we don’t share, then no one will believe, because they won’t know what they should believe. It’s like Yongi Cho of Korea said. “We don’t know why more people aren’t healed when we pray for them, but one thing is certain: if we don’t pray, no one will be healed!” We hear reports of God giving dreams and visions to people, particularly in Islamic countries, but those almost invariably tell the people to seek out a Christian, much as in the story of Cornelius in Acts 10. God chooses to use His children to generate more children, but just as the physical birth rate has dropped drastically in many countries, with people just choosing to not have children, so churches are dying out because of Christians choosing to not share the Gospel. If we will be faithful, God is always faithful, but the results are up to Him.

I have long bemoaned the fact that I’m not gifted as an evangelist, but I must never let that keep me from sharing the Gospel however the Lord allows. I’ve learned the hard way that American evangelist­ic techniques simply don’t work in Japan, because of the lack of a general cultural understanding of faith, but I have also seen that Japanese people are capable of as much devotion to Christ as people of any other nation, so I’ve got to keep giving as many people as possible the opportunity to believe. Yesterday’s 40th Anniversary Celebration was an enormous encouragement that God has indeed brought fruit from our labors, and there were quite a few people who seem “ripe for the picking.”

Father, thank You for all You did yesterday. I do ask for increased harvest from all the seed You have allowed us to sow. May Your children wake up to the privilege of bringing others into Your family, for the eternal blessing of all involved, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Obedience to God; May 19, 2024

Posted on May 20, 2024 by jgarrott

Acts 26:19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.”

How many of us are genuinely obedient to what God shows us? Not many people are given as dramatic a vision as Paul was, but God is faithful to guide His children. The thing is, we are too often like rebellious 2-year-olds, and our favorite word is NO. (Actually, we are more likely to behave like teenagers, thinking we know better than God, but the principle is the same.) The thing is, God is love, (1 John 4:8) and everything He tells us to do is motivated by that. And as John says in the very next chapter, it’s reciprocal: “This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3) John was just echoing what he had heard Jesus say (John 14:15) and as he had experienced Jesus being. The closer we draw to Jesus, the more we open our hearts to His love, the better we will hear Him and the more obedient we will be. The thing is, Paul, while he was still called Saul, was totally dedicated to God, but in his ignorance and deception he was actively persecuting the very One he loved. He totally misunderstood the character of God, and thought that violence toward those he saw as apostate would be pleasing to God. We might be just as deceived! However, if the underlying love is there, God will always correct us, as strongly as necessary. Saul needed pretty strong correction! However, the track record of his obedience from that point is an example for us all to follow.

I’m going to be speaking on Vision this afternoon. I have never had a vision of the sort Saul had, nor a near-death experience, for that matter. However, I have felt God’s clear guidance countless times, and I am deeply grateful. I wish I could say I have always been obedient! I remember a song from Jesus Christ Superstar, that says, “I don’t know how to love him.” I am still learning how to love my Lord, in response to His infinite love toward me, but I think I have that in common with every other believer; none of us do it perfectly. I take great comfort in what Paul wrote to the Philippian believers: “It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13) And, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6) I am to keep following my physical father’s instructions, giving all I know of myself to all I know of Christ, and trust Him completely with the outcome.

Father, thank You for this reminder. It’s certainly timely! Thank You for all You have enabled us to do in preparation for today, and that You will bring it all to a successful conclusion. Help me and Cathy, particularly, to rest, relax, and rejoice in You throughout today, so that in our focus on You, You may be fully glorified. Thank You. Praise God!

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God’s Word of Grace; May 18, 2024

Posted on May 19, 2024 by jgarrott

Acts 20:32 “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

This farewell address by Paul to the elders of Ephesus is justly famous, because it describes a pattern of ministry that every minister should follow. Ephesus was special to Paul, because he stayed there longer than anywhere else once he started his active ministry, except for Rome, where he was imprisoned. Whether you are called to a traveling ministry, as he was, or to be planted in a specific location, the description from verse 18 on should be fairly descriptive of you, if you are faithful to God’s kingdom and the Body of Christ. It is this verse, however, that jumps out at me, because of the statement of dependence on the Word of God. Far too many ministers, churches, and even whole denominations seem to be losing their mooring in the Bible. When “variant translations” haven’t changed things sufficiently to their liking, they have chosen to ignore or even openly deny the truth of the Bible. That’s essentially handing the keys to the devil, because apart from the gracious Word of God, we have no wisdom or strength to withstand his schemes. However, as Hebrews proclaims, “The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) If we will submit ourselves to what God says to us through His Word, then we will be able to resist the devil to the point that he flees from us. (James 4:7)

This verse really resonates for me, not only because I am 75, and quite aware that my time of personal ministry is limited, but because I grew up steeped in the Bible, reading it through for the first time by the time I was 10. The finest compliment that has ever been paid to me was by one of the members here, a recovering alcoholic, who said to me one day in a Bible study, “You’re addicted to the Bible. I know addiction, and You’re addicted to the Bible.” I wept tears of joy and gratitude. I would say that my highest goal in ministry has been to get believers to love and absorb the Word as I do, because that is the most effective way to connect to the Author. Several people under my ministry have gone into ministry themselves, and my prayer for them is that they too would focus on the Word. I am happy to say that there is indication they have done so!

Father, thank You for Your Word, and for Your incredible faithfulness. Help me indeed impart a love for You and Your Word to all to whom I minister so that we may be faithful servants, giving You pleasure and glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Baptism in the Holy Spirit; May 17, 2024

Posted on May 18, 2024 by jgarrott

Acts 19:6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

I essentially have these seven verses memorized, they were used so often in the early days of the Charismatic Movement. They have been used, not unreasonably, to show that people can be counted as “disciples” (verse 1) without having been baptized in the Holy Spirit. What is overlooked is that they hadn’t even been baptized in the name of Jesus! And this particular verse is often used as a proof text to claim that spiritual gifts will always accompany the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Whereas that is most often the case, I know multiple cases where it didn’t happen that way. One dear lady, who is currently rejoicing in glory, thought that she had not been baptized in the Holy Spirit because she had never expressed overtly “Charismatic” gifts, but she was as magnificent a channel of the love of God as I have ever encountered. Such love would not have been possible without the Holy Spirit! The point is not in specific manifestations, but in openness to God, allowing Him to fill and flow through us however He pleases.

My own experience has certainly cemented my convictions in this area. When I first heard of the baptism in the Holy Spirit, in 1973, I immediately recognized it as Biblical and sought it for myself. However, nothing seemed to happen. The thing was, all the books I had read – They Speak with Other Tongues, The Holy Spirit and You, Nine O’clock in the Morning – all stressed tongues as the evidence, and I essentially was seeking the gift of tongues rather than the Holy Spirit Himself. In 1974 I brought my wife and children to Japan for the first time, and we stayed in my parents’ house in Fukuoka. After my parents left for a furlough in the US, but before my father had the heart surgery from which he woke up in heaven, I invited a young missionary couple to come over on a Saturday night, because I knew they were Charismatic and I wanted help. Alan Hyatt said to me, “How do you receive anything from God? By grace through faith, right? Well, has God promised you His Holy Spirit?” I immediately quoted Luke 11:13 back to him: “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” He then said, “Well then, stop putting conditions on God. Ask Him to baptize you in His Spirit, believe that He is true to His Word, and then thank Him for doing so.” Later that night, sitting on my bed just before going to sleep, I did exactly that, and felt nothing. However, on Monday morning I was sitting on a train in Hakata Station, ready to go to my job teaching English at a college in Sasebo, and it suddenly hit me that I was talking to the man sitting next to me, a total stranger, about Jesus. At that moment Acts 1:8 came to mind, and I realized that God had indeed been true to His Word and had made me a witness by His Spirit. It was a few months later that I received the gift of tongues, and since then I have experienced all of the gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12 at least once. In consequence, as a pastor I teach that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are very real and are for today, but they aren’t “proof.” For that matter, I have known people who “operated in the gifts” but whose lives were far from God. The essential thing is the submitted, intimate relationship with our Lord.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I never tire of telling of Your grace! I pray that all of Your children would operate in the fullness of Your Spirit, in joyful obedience and fellowship with You, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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