Marching Forth!

Yesterday I read a familiar text from the book of Judges 5 , the narrative of when Jael dispatched general Sisera by hammering a tent peg through his head.  The children of Israel had been oppressed by the Canaanites for 20 years, but God raised up the prophetess Deborah and Barak to defeat their powerful enemies.  Sisera led 900 chariots of iron into battle against Israel, but God aided His people to an improbable victory and routed the Canaanites.  Sisera managed to escape the field of battle and Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite invited him into her tent.  The fleeing general thought he found a safe haven, for the relations between his king Jabin and the house of Heber the Kenite were good. After she provided milk and a warm blanket  Judges 4:20 says, " And he said to her, "Stand at the door of the tent, and if any man comes and inquires of you, and says, 'Is there any man here?' you shall say, 'No.' "  There is no explanation provided for what J...

" For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 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 ." 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 In the days of the judges in Israel, God allowed enemies of Israel to remain to test His people.  God wanted His people to know war, and the second generation of Israelites born in Canaan knew nothing of it ( Judges 3:1-4 ).  It may seem a strange thing God would want His people to know war, but the way they were to fight was different from everyone else.  It was never about global domination, but possessing the land allotted by God for them.  Since God promised to fight for His people, the way to victory was found in seeking God an...

Even as we use our senses to discern if food is suitable for eating, so we must be watchful concerning Bible teaching.  Elihu said in  Job 34:2-4 , " Hear my words, you wise men; g ive ear to me, you who have knowledge. 3 For the ear tests words a s the palate tastes food. 4 Let us choose justice for ourselves; l et us know among ourselves what is good ."  There are foods which looked questionable to me because they were unfamiliar, but when I tried them I agreed they were delicious.  There have also been times when I realised the taste of a familiar food was quite off!  As Christians in this world, there will be unsound teaching which is passed off as biblical the discerning believer will find unpalatable and should reject.  We should not be skeptical or cynical based on appearance alone, but we should be as the noble people of Berea who are described as receiving the Word with readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily to see if ...

Yesterday I read  John 4  and took note of the instance when a nobleman came from Capernaum seeking Jesus in Cana of Galilee.  The man left his dying son behind and made a day's journey to beg Jesus to come heal his son.  The determined man's request was met with a response from Jesus which seems a bit odd.   John 4:48 says, " Then Jesus said to him, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe ."  One might argue the great distance the man travelled was indicative of genuine belief, but Jesus knew better. John 4:49-50 reads, " The nobleman said to Him, "Sir, come down before my child dies!" 50 Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your son lives." So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way ."  The way the nobleman addresses Jesus as "Sir" is proof he did not believe in the divine nature of Jesus - though he was willing to travel far in his desperate search to he...

As you consider the future, are there things you are looking forward to?  Whether it is an event, an opportunity, a celebration, or accomplishment, there are things we all look forward to with joyful expectancy.  When I purchase a gift for someone, I look forward to the moment I can give it to them.  To give is better than to receive, but it is perfectly valid to look forward to receiving a gift as well.  I remember very well circling the Christmas tree at my Grandpa and Grandma's house, casually taking note of the intended recipient of each gift.  It was not permitted on Christmas Eve to pick up a gift, but looking at the gifts was fine.  We kids looked forward to receiving the gifts intended for us to receive.  As we mature we learn to value the giver over the gift. Do you know God has gifts intended for each follower of Jesus Christ to receive whilst on this planet as well upon our entry into eternal glory?  Is there found in us a heart of g...

The world is filled with problems too large for anyone to fix.  We would like to think in our modern day we have outpaced the sins of our fathers, but human nature has remained unchanged and corrupted.  Like weeds which spring up from the dirt, we see in our generation the same bigotry, racism, violence, politics, and intolerance in abundance.  Followers of Jesus Christ like me find ourselves trying to find a quiet place on the corner of the rooftop to avoid being swept away by the rising flood of secularism and are immediately drenched to the bone by the dripping of liberal Christians who dismiss our biblical stance.  I don't expect applause from the world for standing on the Word of God.  I don't expect to be understood or appreciated by people who oppose my biblical position or even to be realistically portrayed or represented by those who publicly claim to speak for Christians.  God is my only real Advocate. In Australia there will soon be a nation...

When reading the Bible, prior knowledge, commentaries, and personal notes can be an obstacle to learning.  We can easily gloss over basic observations which have obscured by our familiarity with a passage.  People (myself included) can limit the observations, interpretations, and applications of scripture to our prior understanding instead of considering the text as if we have never read it before. I am convinced the most important step in studying the Bible may be the most simple one:  the step of observation, gleaning facts from the scripture.  Just like a detective meticulously inspects a crime scene, we must leave the passage undisturbed by our personal bias or experience.  We must not allow a sermon we heard years ago (true and meaningful as it was) to derail thorough observation today. We should never assume we already know all God intends to reveal to us, no matter how much knowledge we possess.  God's Word is like a fire, like a hammer that break...

A born-again follower of Jesus has been freed from the penalty and power of sin by the Gospel.  The freedom and liberty from sin we have in Christ is not license to sin.  Many who tout their "liberty" as a Christian approach it as a "right" we have as children of God - usually to justify themselves.  This assertion of "liberty" effectively ends any conversation about sinful behaviour or potentially stumbling others.  While it is true a Christian is not under the Mosaic Law and all things are lawful, Paul affirmed not all things are good for me or others ( 1 Cor. 6:12 ).  It is in this case liberty is beside the point. Perhaps an illustration would be beneficial.  I knew a man who was diagnosed with diabetes, a serious condition which effects the entire body.  Complications of diabetes can significantly impact the quality and length of life.  There is no cure for diabetes, but it can be managed through medication, diet, exercise, and monitoring...

Our mistakes have the ability to teach us things instant success never could.  Sinful choices reveal our limitations, short-sightedness, bankruptcy of good character, and an abundance of wickedness.  It is only God's grace which can take a failure and make it the impetus to positive, lasting change.  Our mistakes can produce sorrowful repentance not to be repented of ( 2 Cor. 7:10 ).  Peter said he would never deny Jesus, and three times the same night he did.  When he realised what he had done and remembered what Jesus had said, he wept bitterly.  That was the last time recorded in scripture Peter ever wavered concerning his absolute loyalty and public commitment to Jesus.  His failure was the path to redemption, for he had a Redeemer in Christ. I don't know anyone who enjoys admitting they have made a mistake or have done wrong, but sorrow over sin is helpful to promote spiritual maturity.  Solomon wrote in  Ecclesiastes 7:3-5 , " Sorrow...

" Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said ." Joshua 14:12 When I read Joshua 14 this morning I was reminded of the importance of hearing, believing, and remembering what God has said.  We often "have not because we ask not," and we may not ask because we have forgotten.  It had been 45 years since Caleb walked through Canaan as a spy sent by Moses, but he had not forgotten the promise God made to him through Moses.   Verse 12 begins with " now therefore " because Caleb's request was based upon the premise provided in the prior verses. Caleb said in Joshua 14:7-11 , " I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him a...

" You have set our iniquities before You, o ur secret sins in the light of Your countenance ." Psalm 90:8 The grace of God has been on display before Moses the servant of God penned this psalm inspired by the Holy Spirit.  God knows everything about us even though we have sinned.  He knows of our secret sins (ones we may not yet be aware of) and remains loving and compassionate toward us.  Our patience quickly runs out for "slow" learners, but God is patient with even the stubborn and disobedient.  If God will not write us off, we ought not to write anyone else off either. The key verse of this mornings's message at Calvary Chapel Sydney was  1 John 1:9  which reads, " If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness ."  As God's children, if we will meet His conditions to freely admit our guilt, He will pardon us of the sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ...

Last night I prayed that God would give "light at the end of the tunnel."  No sooner had the words left my mouth I was instantly convicted by the Holy Spirit.  Certainly God knew what I meant, but being unbiblical I was struck with the realisation it was not a prayer God would honour.  His gentle, gracious correction was appreciated and thus my perspective and prayers changed. The cliche "light at the end of the tunnel" is often employed to suggest there is a new glimmer of hope in our circumstances.  Our situation and all around us seems dark, but light implies there is hope ahead.  Instead of looking with eyes of faith, it perceives good changes await us in the future.  The end of our trial is in sight, and we can rest assured (based upon what we see) a good outcome lays before us.  Brothers and sisters, let us not forget God has promised never to leave or forsake us.  Jesus Christ is the Light of the World, and in Him is no darkness at all! ...

God's ways are higher and better than man's ways.  All God made is good, but men lose the plot by going their own way.  It seems like these days the push for "social justice" and "equality" has been frenetic.  Many people feel their "rights" are being trampled through government overreach and a lack of representation.  There appears to be an overweening sense of entitlement among people which is being expressed through protests, rallies, and proposed legislation (and pushing back against said legislation). I saw a sign the other day which read, " Equality is a right ."  I cannot agree with this statement wholesale (as catchy and popular as it might be), because the truth of it depends upon the context.  First of all, this view can only be sustained by acknowledging God's existence and rule as the United States "Declaration of Independence" states, "W e hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created eq...

A Melbourne cafe has been international news of late for a chalkboard sign  which clearly states the shop's principles.  The part which had people talking was the 18% tax placed upon men to draw awareness of a "gender pay gap" according to statistics.  As a man, the statement of the cafe being a " space by women for women " does nothing to make me feel like a welcomed or valued patron.  I appreciate the candour of the establishment, but I would choose to buy coffee elsewhere.  They are free to to business as they want, and I am free to buy coffee or a meal at the venue of my choice.  Works for me! Whether you agree with the ideology of the cafe or not, one thing I applaud management for is taking a clear stand even when it is a debatable or potentially unpopular one.  Instead of creating a meaningful conversation, however, this sort of stance seems to promote division and isolation.  Followers of Jesus have to navigate the troubled waters of ...

" Trust in the LORD with all your heart, a nd lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge Him, a nd He shall direct your paths ." Proverbs 3:5-6 I have been often reminded of these verses lately, and these words has been refreshing to my soul.  One might think the rudimentary principles of the faith are dry and boring, but the reality is quite the opposite.  How much insight and wisdom for life are plainly stated in these verses!  It is one thing to remember or comprehend the meaning of the scripture, but another thing entirely to see it consistently a reality in my life. Lately I have been considering things I can do to share the truth of Christ with others.  I have much I am already doing, but my heart desires to do more.  There is no no shortage of need in this world, and countless causes which are genuine and worthy of pursuit.  But God has used the process of being prepared for ministry whilst working in a trade a...

There is great richness found in the Bible.  Details which are minor and seemingly insignificant can help us better understand other passages of scripture.  My morning Bible reading finds me in the book of Joshua, and I am enjoying reading the familiar passages as if it is the first time.  One detail which stood out to me like never before occurred after the children of Israel passed over Jordan on dry ground.  Obedience to God was required before a visit from the "captain of the LORD's host" and the victory at Jericho.  God commanded the males to be circumcised, for during the 40 years after the exodus from Egypt no males had been circumcised.  Circumcision was commanded under the Law and important because it identified people with the covenant God made with Abraham. Joshua 5:8-9 states, " So it was, when they had finished circumcising all the people, that they stayed in their places in the camp till they were healed.  9 Then the LORD said to ...

Are you a person who defines yourself as a worrier?  Anxiety is something everyone battles or succumbs to in varying degrees, and through Jesus Christ we can conquer it.  I don't know anyone who enjoys being anxious, but I know many people who are.  Worrying is so common in many people's lives they do not even recognise when they are carried away by worries like driftwood in floodwater.  When we follow the "what if" road to the final destination we discover it is a circuit that only leads to more worry without an end in sight.  Recognising our tendency to worry is a key step to seeking the deliverance we need by the grace of God. Jesus commanded His disciples not to worry.  He said in  Luke 12:24-3 0:  " Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? 25 And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 26 If you then...

Do you remember the old days of taking pictures and having to wait days or weeks before knowing how they turned out because actual film was being developed?  These days the majority of time spent taking photos is the review process.  Everyone has a chance to review the shot and personally approve their appearance!  With the advent of digital technology and the mobile phone, "selfies" have become mainstream.  I read somewhere on average it takes about five tries to have a selfie worthy of posting to social media.  As the name "selfie" suggests, it is one of many ways we can employ to make ourselves the centre of attention.  We have matured beyond the little child who shouts at his mum, "Look at me!" but there is an undeniable urge to promote self which remains in us to this day. One thing I find quite irksome is when I am at a worship gathering (typically a well-attended pastor's conference), and it isn't long before I see people in front of me...