Evangelism; February 7, 2024

Posted on February 10, 2024 by jgarrott

1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

This is a verse I have loved for a long time and have written on many times, but it still echoes in my heart. This is not about evangelistic programs or grand schemes, it’s about living as a genuine disciple of Jesus Christ and all that means. If we are living in love with Jesus, our lives will be different enough that people will notice, and they are likely to ask us about it. The world has much to destroy hope, which makes genuine hope all the more attractive. We aren’t to try to pretend that we have no problems. That is as false as a 3 dollar bill, and that hypocrisy quickly becomes evident to all who know us in the least. It’s also denying Jesus’ statement that in this world we do have problems, period. (John 16:33) However, regardless of our problems, we have hope, and that is what makes us different from those who don’t know Christ. Reading the New Testament I see no sign of “special meetings” and the like to “grow the Church.” The Church indeed grew, but it wasn’t by human design. God’s plan for church growth is for His children to live and act as His children. That will be irresistible to those whose hearts are hungry for life.

This verse struck me this morning because we are at a church conference. The main speaker is a man with a moving testimony who depends on God and not on himself, which is excellent. At the same time, he is the pastor of a large church in America, and that greatly impacts what he says and how he says it. Last night we were challenged to examine how we see God and how we see ourselves, and to dream and pray big. That’s very good, but specific examples he gave of “dreaming and praying big” rang hollow to me, because they tended toward external things, like finances and numbers. I do need to lift my eyes to my omnipotent Creator and understand how much He loves me and that He’s included me in His plans, but at the same time I want to ask Him for His dreams for me, and not cook them up on my own. We have been given a massive vision and I pray for the salvation of the whole nation, but I want it to happen God’s way, and not limit Him by my imagination.

Father, thank You for getting us here safely yesterday, and for all the things that have happened since our arrival. I pray that I would be open and available to You on every level, to hear what You are saying to me here, through sessions or through private conversations, and to be Your instrument in blessing others as well. Thank You. Praise God”

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Freedom; February 6, 2024

Posted on February 10, 2024 by jgarrott

1 Peter 2:16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.

We forget, when reading the Bible, that slavery was an unquestioned part of society in those days. We also forget that slavery had nothing to do with race. As has been pointed out by several people I’ve read recently, the very word, slave, comes from Slav, the people of eastern Europe. Various kinds of slavery existed back then, and indeed, do today, even though today it is illegal. The “free men” in this verse means very simply, not slaves. Thus, the only external human authority would be the government. However, where the NIV says “servants of God” here, the Japanese sticks with the Greek and says “slaves of God.” From verse 18 Peter specifically addresses those who had human masters, but the point is that God is our Master, so we are to live to please Him. Actually, Paul touched on this subject quite a few times. One of the clearest is, “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13) Again he said, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17) The freedom we have in Christ is above and beyond anything this world can control, but we must always exercise it in obedience to the law of love. (Romans 13) Jamie Buckingham was persuaded at one point that he had the freedom to indulge in alcohol, and he did for a while. However, before long he realized that not only did he not need it, other people watching him might well be influenced to drink as well, and they might not have the emotional or even biological ability to limit their drinking to appropriate levels, so he quit. That attitude is being obedient to this verse.

I came to the same conclusion as Jamie pretty early on in my life in regards to alcohol. I seem to be well supplied with the enzyme to break down ethanol, but that’s not the point; my drinking wouldn’t be loving to those around me, so I abstain. However, this principle goes far beyond alcohol. I know someone who at one point in their rebellion against their Christian upbringing threw out everything in the Bible except one verse: “‘Everything is permissible’ – but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible’ – but not everything is constructive.” (1 Corinthians 10:23) They have since returned to a fully dedicated Christian life, but they learned the hard way that indulging the flesh is indeed negative. I don’t need to go through the same things to learn that lesson! I have learned that John was spot on: “This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3) Every one of God’s commands are for our benefit, so being His slave is a joyful thing indeed!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me indeed live in the freedom of Your Spirit, while fully submitted to You. Human words don’t handle that very well, but I ask You to do it in and through me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Living as Christians; February 5, 2024

Posted on February 6, 2024 by jgarrott

1 Peter 2:12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.”

How we live makes a difference. In yesterday’s message I talked about how most Christians today live no differently than their unbelieving neighbors, which actually tends to call their faith into doubt. In many places in the world – and now even in parts of America – Christians are accused of all sorts of things. The currently popular accusations in the US are homophobia, transphobia, and racism, with various other pejoratives thrown in for good measure. We should take all that as a badge of honor, actually, because as they say, it shows we are “over the target;” our words and actions are making them uncomfortable. People who are actively rebelling against God have every reason to be uncomfortable! However, we are not to speak and act for the purpose of making them uncomfortable. That would reduce us to their level. We are always to speak the truth in love, whatever the consequences. As this verse says, it is our lifestyle that will validate our words, as they will have to acknowledge when they are confronted by God. (That, incidentally, is what it means by “glorify God on the day He visits us.”) It’s hard to argue with a life well lived!

This is of course the way I need to live. Society in every country puts pressure on us to “go along to get along,” but that is seldom the way of righteousness. I’m not to be different, much less argumentative, just for the sake of being different, but I am to keep Jesus as my standard, and nothing less. I well remember once being in a bar with my employer and being chewed out by another patron because I was drinking a soft drink. He said my not drinking alcohol made him and other drinkers feel bad! I’d say that was his problem. In my over 42 years in this city I’d say I have a pretty solid reputation, and it’s not a bad one, for which I praise God. I have never felt attacked for being a Christian, other than some disapproval for declining to burn incense at Buddhist funerals, so I have had it much easier than many of my brothers and sisters around the world. However, that’s no reason to slough off in my living as a demonstration of the grace and love of God. I am to so live that the people around me will know more of God because of watching me.

Father, it’s an extremely high calling You’ve given us. Help me, help all of the believers here, not back off from that, but live boldly as Your children, demonstrating Your truth for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Holiness; February 4, 2024

Posted on February 5, 2024 by jgarrott

1 Peter 1:14-16 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written, “Be holy, because I am holy”

The devil, and because of him human society, is dead set against holiness, to the point that the desire and effort to be holy is seen as somehow perverted. That is of course the opposite of how God created us, but the Bible also says, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” (Isaiah 5:20) This isn’t a new phenomenon! We have been deceived into thinking holiness is out of reach, and so isn’t worth the struggle. Historically, “saint” is a term reserved for only very special people, when the New Testament consistently refers to all believers as saints. We are saints by definition! Of course, in our human weakness we can’t live up to that on our own, but as Paul said, “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24) The point is to not be satisfied with anything less, but repent immediately when the Holy Spirit points out our sins to us, so that we may consistently move toward our role model, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Just yesterday I was seeing articles about the normalization of perversion in society, and it is sickening. We have long had expressions like “goody two-shoes” and others that imply that goodness is unnatural, but that too is a lie of the devil. We are imperfect, but we are created for fellowship with our Creator, which requires that we be holy as He is, just as Peter says here. We need to be grateful that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) If we are cleansed, that means we are holy!

Of course this applies to me, just as it does to everyone. I could not begin to even calculate how many times I have acted in an unholy manner, and I have had to learn that when God says I’m forgiven, I’m really forgiven. At the same time, I’ve also had to learn that everything God created is good, and when used as God intended, is holy and pure. The devil hates the marital relationship because it is a picture of Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:25-28), and so does everything he can to misrepresent and disturb the various facets of that. I’ve had almost 55 years of learning the beauty and purity of it, if it is received as God intended. And it’s fun! Just because something is fun doesn’t mean it’s unholy. That’s another frequent lie of the devil. As a pastor I need to be an example of enjoyable holiness, if you will. I don’t have the wisdom to do it on my own, but God can do it through me.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me indeed be holy, but not holier-than-thou, down to earth and yet pure, countering the lies of the devil by living out Your truth, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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The Joy of Salvation; February 3, 2024

Posted on February 4, 2024 by jgarrott

1 Peter 1:8-9 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

I’ve not studied Greek myself, but since my wife has, I’m well aware that classes in Biblical Greek almost always start with 1 Peter, because of the excellent Greek used by Silus/Silvanus (depending on the translation), who was Peter’s secretary in writing this letter. (1 Peter 5:12) Even though the actual words are his, I don’t think there’s any doubt that the intent, the actual content, is that of Peter. Peter was one of Jesus’ closest disciples, and I get the impression that he was deeply moved by the faith of those who had not had the privilege of walking with Jesus. That said, he knew that God plays no favorites, and His salvation is indeed available to all who will repent and believe. As he spoke this passage he may have been remembering the scene at the house of Cornelius, when he was privileged to be the first to preach the Gospel to Gentiles. (Acts 10) One thing that strikes me in this is that it says “you are receiving the goal of your faith.” (emphasis added) Our salvation isn’t just limited to heaven, it starts the moment we believe and commit ourselves to Jesus as Lord. The fact that there is always more than however much we might experience here on earth is worth remembering, but we don’t have to wait for our salvation. That seems contradictory for those who are suffering for their faith, because we tend to think of salvation in physical terms, however much we might dress it up in “spiritual” language. That’s actually a problem in evangelism, because people often want to be saved out of their immediate circumstances, but once they are clear of the immediate crisis, they aren’t much interested in living in obedience to Jesus as Lord. A major reason God allows crises in our lives is to show us that we need salvation, but we need to recognize that our need goes far beyond, and is far deeper than, whatever crisis we might be in. That’s a point for every believer to remember! That said, the joy of a personal relationship with our unseen Lord is indeed “inexpressible and glorious,” and should motivate us to want to share it with as many people as will accept it.

I have always liked Peter because he was so thoroughly human. If God could use someone like Peter, then He can use even me! I seek to express the joy of the salvation I am receiving, because I know that will draw people to Christ better than anything else. I have had a non-Christian bring his friends to meet me because he wanted them to “meet someone who really enjoys living.” Sadly, in Japan people tend to think I am like I am because I’m an American, and so don’t think they could ever be like me. That has tended to limit the effectiveness of my evangelism, but I’m never to give up. God can use even me, and nothing is impossible for Him. I am to rejoice in God’s salvation and always be ready to share with anyone who asks about it. Given my proclivities, I also need to be careful not to overwhelm them with too much information at once! However, the Holy Spirit will and does guide my words, and I’m to leave things in His hands.

Father, thank You for the joy of Your salvation. It is indeed beyond words! May I share that joy, that salvation, with more and more people, more and more effectively, growing the Body of Christ as You desire, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Being Used by God; February 2, 2024

Posted on February 3, 2024 by jgarrott

James 5:17 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.

The remarkable thing about this verse is the reminder that Elijah was “just like us.” Elijah was one of the greatest of the prophets, right up there with Moses, to the point that he was there on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus, (Luke 9:28-36) but at the same time he was just like us. That reality is driven home by the fact that at one point he was suicidally depressed. (1 Kings 19:3-4) We see people in the Bible, in history, even around us today, who seem very great, and we think we could never be like them. When that happens, we are forgetting that their power, their ability, comes from God, and He is just as available to us as to them. The more we focus on ourselves, the less we will accomplish that is of any value. The more we focus on God, the more available we will be for Him to do whatever He likes through us. The danger comes when, after God does do good things through us, we start taking credit for those things ourselves. People will praise us, and we believe them! In a way it is analogous to a musical instrument. By itself, it is silent. If a novice tries it, the result might be no more than noise. If a virtuoso uses it, the results are sublime. The instrument needs to be well made and well tuned, but even a cheap instrument can make beautiful music in the hands of a master. Elijah was mightily used by the Lord, but as James said, he was just as human as we are. The more we focus on our Lord and not ourselves, the more His character will shine through us for His glory.

As I have written many times before, I have struggled with pride all my life. The Lord has been more than gracious toward me, giving me many “natural abilities” and allowing me to exercise them, and I have fallen into the trap of taking credit for them more times than I could count. Jesus’ words are a strong caution to me: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:48) Everything I have, whether it be abilities or insights or material resources, is by the grace of God, and is to be used at His direction and pleasure. I am as human as Elijah, and he was as human as I am. God can use me just as He did Elijah, but that will happen only if my focus is on Him and not on myself.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the many ways You have used me, and for Your plans for my future. Help me not push myself forward, but always be available to You for however You want to use me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Practical Faith; February 1, 2024

Posted on February 2, 2024 by jgarrott

James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?

It was probably this specific verse that caused Martin Luther to dislike this book so strongly, as I mentioned yesterday. The problem was, he didn’t really read the rest of the chapter. Just reading this verse made his brain shut down! To be fair, in those days the Catholic Church was selling “indulgences” as a way to finance St. Peter’s basilica in Rome, essentially teaching that you could buy your way to heaven. That’s so wrong I would hardly know where to begin, contradicting it. However, the flip side is that there are sadly many people who claim to be Christians but whose lives are completely indistinguishable from the non-Christians around them. That’s what James is teaching against here, and it’s a very necessary teaching for modern “Evangelical” Christianity. There is a distinct tendency to say that if you repeat a formula you’re saved. Words are important, but James’ point is that if our “faith” stops at words, it’s not really faith. My seminary-professor grandfather called that kind of thinking “Into bliss and out of blister.” In other words, “Say the magic words and you won’t go to hell.” It is very true that “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) However, we forget what it meant in those days to confess Jesus, rather than Cae­sar, as Lord: persecution, and even martyrdom. That wasn’t a casual statement! James is addressing somewhat less dire consequences, but they are no less real. Someone has said, “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” That’s another way of expressing exactly what James is saying here.

I have always liked the Book of James, perhaps because it stepped on my toes so hard! (Maybe I’m a masochist.) I have always felt that James 1:22 was written expressly to me: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” Growing up in a strongly, and genuinely, Christian household, I’ve always known the right words to say. I’ve carried that on in my own household. When my older daughter was questioned by the pastor after she requested baptism as a 2nd grader, he later commented to me that he had never before encountered a child who had such a clear grasp of the fundamentals of salvation. However, I’ve learned from my own life that I can say the right things and do the wrong things, even simultaneously. I have learned the hard way that there is no room for pride in the kingdom of God. Now as a pastor, I seek to guide people into practical faith, so that they may indeed not deceive themselves but walk in the riches of what God has prepared for them in Christ. I could go on for a long time about all that means! At the same time, I’ve got to me a living demonstration of the truths I speak. If my life is inconsistent with my confession, I do more harm than good. However, if I am filled with and yielded to the Holy Spirit, then the light of Christ will shine from me and draw people to salvation.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for all that You have done in me, and continue to do in me, over the years. May my life be a proclamation of saving faith, so that those who see me may know that it is possible and desire it for themselves, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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God’s Grace; January 31, 2024

Posted on February 1, 2024 by jgarrott

James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

This is a justly famous verse, actually not quite as famous as it deserves. Even so, I don’t think we notice that the sin in question is favoritism, of all things! The next verse mentions adultery and murder, which we would be quick to recognize as bad, but this is talking about failure to love your neighbor as yourself. There is no one alive who hasn’t failed in this at some point! This points up two very important facts: the law is impotent to save us, and grace is absolutely essential to everyone. It’s not that the law is meaningless. Paul goes on at length in several of his letters about that. However, he also stresses grace, most famously to the Ephesians. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) I find it ironic that Martin Luther called this letter “a book of straw,” because he thought it promoted works over faith, and he had rediscovered the principle of salvation by faith alone (sola fides). It’s almost like Luther wanted to be proud of his faith! James is simply pointing out that we are all desperately in need of God’s grace, so we should rejoice to be instruments of that grace to one another. That’s what verses 12 and 13 are saying here. Amazing Grace is perhaps the most dearly loved hymn in the whole world, and with good cause. However, never having been the captain of a slave ship ourselves, we tend to miss how extremely applicable it is to us personally. That’s what this verse is talking about. We are all equally headed for hell apart from the grace of God, available to us by faith.

This is something I’ve had to have pounded into me by God, because on my own, I’m all too prone to conceit, thinking I’m more deserving of salvation than the next guy. How utterly foolish! I have been relatively “high status” most of my life, for various reasons, and have had to learn how meaningless that all is. In the process of learning that, however, I have been able to relate on equal footing with people of every social stratum, which is a very good thing. I’ve never been particularly intimidated by anyone’s status because I grew up around people who were high status, and I knew they were just as human as I was. That became a problem only when it morphed into conceit, feeling I was higher than they were. I’ve got to remember that I am just as much in need of God’s grace as anyone else, and they are just as much worthy of God’s grace and love as I am.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I’m going from “school teacher” to “conference speaker,” which the world considers an elevation in status, but I’m still your foolish, occasionally disobedient child. Help me rejoice in Your grace and extend it to others, never taking it lightly, so that as many as will may receive it with repentance, gratitude, and faith, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Perseverance; January 30, 2024

Posted on January 31, 2024 by jgarrott

James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

The matter of perseverance, patient endurance, comes up many times in the Bible, notably in Paul’s letter to the Romans: “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” (Romans 5:3-5) I have seen countless people stumble over trials, but I have also seen people allow their trials to strengthen their faith, just as James and Paul wrote. As countless people have said, it doesn’t matter so much what happens to us as it does how we respond to what happens. One of my favorite verses in the whole Bible was spoken by Jesus in the Upper Room just before His trial and crucifixion: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) God isn’t being mean to us. Just yesterday I ran across an article on the Internet that talked about how “taking it easy” essentially destroys people; we need challenges and work to give us purpose and drive. That’s one reason why so many men die not long after they retire: they’ve lost their sense of purpose. Being so wrapped up in your job that you feel no sense of purpose without it is hardly wise, but we are so created that we need challenges to keep going. The Japanese call it ikigai, a reason to live. And frankly, that means trials that call for perseverance. Society (with the encouragement of the devil) has taught us to grumble and complain about difficulties, but as James says here, we should rejoice at difficulties because they grow us, and a growing life is a fulfilled life.

This certainly applies to me, as much as it does to everyone else. It is particularly pointed at the moment because I am retiring from 42 years of secular teaching, and I will confess to a bit of anxiety about it. I’m not used to seeing so much blank space in my schedule! At this point, a major task in my life is caring for my wife. She isn’t exactly an invalid, and certainly isn’t bedridden, but she no longer drives, and taking her places uses a lot of time. The Lord is also opening up various avenues of service. Next month I will be on standby as an interpreter for a national leadership conference, and then later I will be the speaker for a smaller, more local conference. And getting even more granular, today I need to pull out all the piles of papers, etc. from my study and sort things, because important things have a way of getting buried. That’s a challenge I genuinely don’t enjoy! However, I need to rejoice that God has given it to me, recognizing how minor it is compared to what so many go through, and allow God to accomplish His purposes through me.

Father, thank You for this reminder. You always know what I need to hear! Help me indeed rest, relax, and rejoice in You, even as I am applying myself fully to whatever task You have set before me, so that Your purposes may be accomplished on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Examples; January 29, 2024

Posted on January 30, 2024 by jgarrott

Hebrews 13:7-8 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

My impression is that Hebrews was written after at least the majority of Paul’s letters, and it was actually the last of the books in the New Testament to be accepted into the canon, because of uncertainty of authorship, but for that very reason it could be said to be written to a more mature group of believers, rather than to those who were just a few years away from paganism. The implication in this passage, for example, is that the leaders spoken of have already died. That makes it all the more relatable for us today, who are so many years removed from those who saw Jesus physically. Considering the history of the early Church, the leaders spoken of here could have died any number of ways, from disease to active persecution, but the point is that they died in faith, clinging to Christ spiritually and communicating His Word faithfully. That is certainly worth learning from, as the Japanese expresses it. Verse 8 here has been quoted countless times ever since it was written, and for good reason. The reason faith leaders are worth imitating is that the One in whom they believed hasn’t changed. As Paul testified at the point he was facing his own execution, “I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12) That’s the kind of faith we need to imitate!

Of course, my own parents are in that category, but a very recent addition to their number is Leo and Phyllis Kaylor. They made it to 90 on this earth, definitely longer than my parents, and they made full use of the time. Their example shines brightly and will for many years to come, through their physical and spiritual children. When I think of people like them, the statement that Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever takes very concrete form. My prayer is that my own memory will have the same sort of impact. After all, it doesn’t depend on me, but on the One in Whom I believe. Since Jesus is omnipotent, He can use even me to draw people to Himself and manifest His glory. That is my desire.

Father, thank You for this reminder, and for the example of so many of Your saints down through the years. I could be here all morning trying to list those who have impacted me personally. May I be an accurate reflection of my unchanging Lord, so that more and more people may realize that salvation is both necessary and available for them, and turn to You in repentance and faith, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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