Marching Forth!

I've enjoyed reading through a George Muller biography written by Roger Steer titled Delighted in God .  Both encouraging and challenging, it is refreshing to read of a man who was absolutely convinced of God's power and ability to provide for all his needs.  Not only were the needs of George abundantly supplied by the LORD through prayer, but also the needs of staff, thousands of orphans, building projects, supplies, and upkeep.  Here is a memorable snippet from the mouth of William Ready, a young man who spent time in Muller's orphanage: ' How vividly comes back to my mind that last meeting with the father of the fatherless before leaving his care.  He received me kindly when I went into his prayer room at No. 3 orphanage.  Ah!  What wonderful prayers had been offered there on behalf of the orphans and what remarkable answers he had there received!' Muller put half a crown into his left hand and a Bible in his right. 'You can hold tighter with your ri...

One of the things I have been doing for exercise lately is playing golf.  Walking over uneven ground pushing a buggy has helped me with balance and endurance.  Though it is cold and often foggy early at 6:30am, I brave the chill during a weekday to squeeze in a round as early as possible.  It is a blessed time of quiet with the LORD as I take in the beautiful scenery.  Since I typically golf alone, I am often able to be completely finished by 9am and head off to work. Because the course I typically play had a competition going this week, I played at another course in the area.  I called in a couple days in advance and was assured I could tee off by 7am.  As is my custom I arrived twenty minutes early, just in case I would be able to tee off earlier.  As I waited by the locked pro shop an elderly member pushed his buggy near mine.  "Still isn't here," the old man said.  "Usually he turns up early, but since the boss is out of town he's takin...

As I continue along the road of recovery from ACL reconstruction, the path stretches beyond me as far as I can see.  In addition to walking, weights, and cycling occasionally, I have begun to add jogging to the mix.  Running on the grass is good for strengthening stabilising muscles and taxes areas of my legs not addressed on the bike.  The knee is a bit sore when I first start running, and afterwards I definitely notice it when walking down stairs. Jogging around the park yesterday was not for the fun of it, I assure you.  My whole body hated the experience.  I had set a goal for myself to run at a good pace around the park three times.  About halfway through each lap, I so wanted to stop and walk.  But you know what kept me going?  The promise of a break when it was all over.  Looking forward to the rest helped me to push through pain with determination.  The pain I was experiencing would soon be over, and I would carry the benefits ...

When the disciples of Jesus asked Him honest questions, He provided wise answers.  Jesus often appealed to simple visual illustrations to provide deep spiritual truth.  We read of such an interaction when the disciples asked Jesus in Matthew 18, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"  Jesus answered their question in a profound way.  Matthew 18:2-4 reads, " Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven ." To answer their question, Jesus simply called a little child to himself.  We do not know who this child was or what he was doing.  It could have been a son or daughter of Christ's disciples, or it could have been a street urchin working his way through the crowd.  Who ...

Friday nights at Calvary Chapel Sydney we have been slowly working our way through the book of Proverbs.  Eternity will not provide enough time to plumb the depths of God's wisdom, but it has been fun diving in.  One passage which was especially useful for me this week was Proverbs 24:30-34 :  " I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; 31 and there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down. 32 When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction: 33 a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest; 34 so shall your poverty come like a prowler, and your need like an armed man ." Solomon looked upon the fruit of laziness with a keen eye.  He did not do as many of us would do, sneering or shaking our head at the state of the lazy man's neglected property.  The state of the vineyard spoke vo...

There are few tings more devastating to a Christian's witness than condemnation from the judgmental hypocrite.  I sadly confess as I young child I once told a neighbour he was going to hell for some petty issue.  When the accusing words flew out of my mouth, it was a fleshly response to conflict without a hint of compassion or love.  My mother was wise to quickly discipline me for such folly in my youth, for I learned early the error of such hurtful and divisive censure.   "But people are going to hell," some might protest.  "Isn't it the loving thing to do to tell them where they will spend eternity if they remain in sin?"  Ah, but there is a loving way to communicate biblical truth.  Jesus met many people heading to eternal destruction in hell, but He never raised His voice to utter the phrase, "You're going to hell!"  If Jesus, who intimately and perfectly knew the hearts of men never spoke to sinners in that fashion, we are foolish to th...

" Thus says the LORD: "Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? 2 For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist," says the LORD. "But on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word ." Isaiah 66:1-2 God has revealed His eyes go to and fro throughout the whole earth, seeking to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are loyal to Him ( 2 Chron. 16:9 ).   Through the prophet Isaiah, God gave a snapshot of such a person:  one who is humble of heart, with a contrite spirit, who trembles at His Word.  Does God's Word have such an effect on you?  In the New Testament, there is a lovely fulfillment of this passage when Jesus was transfigured before His disciples. Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a mountain to pray.  The disciples, bless their hearts, were overcome with sleep.  They aw...

Many are duped into thinking if God has called them to something, they will feel confident or up to the task.  This is not the case.  In our service of God He always makes an allowance for faith in Him.  If we felt confidence in ourselves to accomplish anything for God, we will ultimately fail because without Him we can do nothing.  The truth is, feelings of inadequacy and helplessness facing what we believe God has called us to do puts us in great company.  We are not sufficient, but we can do all things through Jesus who strengthens us. This came to mind when reading Jeremiah 1:4-7 :  " Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." 6 Then said I: "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth." 7 But the LORD said to me: "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' for you shall go to all to whom I send you, a...

The Bible is God's Word, inspired by the Holy Spirit.  It is a primary means God uses to speak to His people.  Certainly God is not limited in His ability to communicate to those who have ears to hear, and He employs others means to speak as well.  He can speak to us through dreams and visions.  Circumstances of our lives can be open doors which beckon us to take another step of faith.  God also uses others to confirm what we believe God has said to us. Have you ever had an impression you were unsure of whether it was merely a thought in your mind or God was speaking to you with His small, still voice?  I remember when God impressed upon me during prayer He had called me to be a pastor.  Since I had no desire to be a pastor, nor was it a calling I ever imagined for myself, I knew this idea was not a product of my own thoughts.  This idea from outside almost intruded upon my thinking, and it surprised me.  I was not immediately convinced th...

I am so grateful for the wisdom of God in His Word.  It exposes the incorrect and foolish views we have been convinced of.  God speaks the truth, though it may hurt.  Receiving God's truth and aligning our hearts with it is a key step in spiritual maturity.  If you are wondering what truths I possibly could be speaking of, here are three examples of lies we tell ourselves exposed by God's Word. " When I sin, it is out of character ."  I recently read a news article about a man who was caught after he installed cameras in public toilets.  He claimed he wasn't a bad man, but he just did a bad thing.  Quoting the man convicted in the article, " While he understood nothing would make up for what he did to up to 90 women and children recorded by his devices , he hoped it helped that he had never done anything similar and never would again. "It was out of character," he said. "I am a human and have made many mistakes ."  The Bibles says no one...

Let's face it:  the world has never been keen on Jesus or His followers.  But Jesus never painted a rosy picture of what it would look like following Him.  He spoke of denying oneself, taking up your cross, and being crucified!  Jesus bluntly told His disciples in John 15:18-20 :  " If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also ."  But this is not bad news, for God richly rewards those who walk in faith and obedience to Him.  Jesus also said in Luke 6:22-23 :  " Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, fo...

In our discipleship course at Calvary Chapel Sydney, we discussed Matthew 16.  Matthew 16:1 begins with Jewish religious groups who opposed one another united in tempting Jesus:  " Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven ."  The Pharisees and Sadducees in unbelief came to Jesus and demanded a sign from heaven, ignoring the fact Jesus IS the sign from heaven promised in the Law and Prophets.  Not only that, but Jesus provided clear evidence of His divine power, character, and wisdom which accompanied His daily walk.  But as a dear sister said last night, "Miracles do not make believers."  Jesus said of those who will not hear Moses and the prophets, even someone rising from the dead will not persuade them to believe. Matthew 16:2-4 reveals the response of Christ.  " He answered and said to them, "When it is evening you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red'; 3 and in ...

Ever eaten food you recognised as being exceptionally good?  We can have the same experience spiritually.  In our minds we understand all scripture is inspired by God, but sometimes a passage "hits the spot," so to speak.  God's Word speaks to specific needs in a person, and when applied by the Holy Spirit the results are transformational. This morning we read 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 at Calvary Chapel Sydney:  " For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled ."  I used to think "spiritual warfare" was something that occurred out in the world.  The Bible reveals the "ground zero" for spiritual battles takes place in our minds.  Paul was writing to Chris...

" The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid ?" Psalm 27:1 Jesus is the Light of the World.  In the beginning He said "Let there be light!" and there was light.   It was not long before the light of the sun was shrouded by spiritual darkness due to sin.  There remained light, but sin brought darkness and death.  Even as the sun is critical for life on earth, Jesus Christ is vital for eternal life. The sun, moon, and stars were created by God for a divine purpose:  for signs, seasons, days, years and to provide light in the heavens and on the earth. (Genesis 1:14-15)  As God said, so it was.  On earth we are absolutely dependent on the sun, even with the widespread use of electric lights.  In addition to providing the correct light to make plants grow and flourish, it also warms the earth.  It dried the earth after the great flood and all the rains since, and ...

I recently viewed a video of pastor Jay McCarl and it is a great explanation and exhortation from scripture.  As Jay spoke of "this" generation I was reminded of Proverbs 30:12-14 :  " There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not washed from its filthiness. 13 There is a generation--oh, how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up. 14 There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, and whose fangs are like knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men ."  I believe this is a good description of a generation I have seen in my lifetime. No one knows the day or the hour of Christ's coming, but we know for certain He is coming.  He is coming at an hour when unbelievers will not expect it!  2 Peter 3:1-7 reminds all who have ears to hear, " Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of ...

I have been reading through Gene Edwards Tale of Three Kings , and it is among my favourite Christian books.  Relevant, instructive, and profound, I find particularly useful the portrayal of David.  He was a man after God's own heart, chosen by God to be king of His people.  The fact David was anointed did not make life easy on David, and in him we see a shadow of Jesus Christ.  He was the chosen Messiah - the Anointed One - yet He faced rejection and willingly laid down His life on the cross for sinners. After numerous attempts on his life, David fled.  1 Samuel 22:1-2 reads, " David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. 2 And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him ."  David left all alone, y...