Marching Forth!

The good deeds of some men are plainly seen and other good works follow later.  May God see fit to greatly use the godly influence of His followers during their pilgrimage and beyond.  By virtue of age a book is not necessarily better, yet I appreciate when I read words written hundreds of years ago which are perfectly relevant to me and others today.  Time has changed but man remains the same, for man's nature and thirst for knowledge goes back to the beginning.  This drive to discover has many good points, but there can be a sinister side as well.  When it comes to searching out spiritual truth, much time and effort can be wasted straining gnats while swallowing camels.  The theoretical can be more attractive than the practical.  In a quest to search out obscure truths God in His wisdom has hidden, we can ignore the personal implications of what God has plainly said.  We all have to know what is in the locked chest, whether it is intended for...

" Let all the earth fear the LORD ; l et all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. 9  For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast ." Psalm 33:8-9 How good it is to stand in awe of God!  When God says something, it is done.  We are talking about the God who spoke the earth and universe into existence, who imagined life and created it in all its varied forms.  He spoke, and it was done. There was a centurion who came to Jesus in Capernaum to ask Him to heal his beloved servant.  Jesus agreed immediately, and said He would be glad to go heal him.  The centurion then said something which caused Jesus to marvel in  Matthew 8:8 :  " Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed ."  This man perceived the incredible authority Jesus possessed, and with the power of His words alone - like when God said " Let there be light !" and there was ...

Today we sung a song in church which reminded me it is God's goodness which leads to repentance.  Paul held forth this truth in  Romans 2:4 :  " Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? "  God's lovingkindnesses are many, and it is due to His mercy which has stayed His hand from justly destroying men for their sin instantly.  Whilst it could be truly sin we should "Repent or else!" with knowledge of God's judgment, God does not threaten us with pain or torment should we refuse His righteous demands.  It is not the fear of God's wrath but the kindness and goodness of God which moves us to repent. For many Christians, it may have been fear of death and hell which caused us to trust in Jesus - more than the goodness and kindness of God toward us.  Like Bob Sjogren and Gerald Robison conveyed in the book Cat & Dog Theology , our posture towards God...

" God is our refuge and strength,  a  very present help in trouble ." Psalm 46:1 The Bible provides great insight and objective truth to all who believe.  Memorisation of scripture is good, but to understand and personally apply scripture is better still.  When I was a kid I went to Awana, a youth group which placed a high priority on scripture memorisation.  Admittedly I learned to repeat verbatim many scriptures I did not understand and could not explain.  If we will emphasise the importance and value of memorisation, let us not miss the crucial steps of understanding and obedience to the scripture.  At the end of Lesson 2 in the Self-Confrontation Manual  developed by John C. Broger, after suggesting several plans to memorise scripture and to recite them to others it reads, " When you recite your verses to this person, also explain what the verse(s) mean and how they are to be applied to your life ."  To this I say, amen! The me...

" Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. Then Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. 11  And Israel said to Joseph, "I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring !" Genesis 48:10-11 As Israel's days drew to a close, Joseph brought his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh to be blessed by their grandfather.  Israel's eyes had grown dim, yet God allowed him to see something beyond his wildest dreams.  Many years earlier Israel was deceived by his elder sons to believe Joseph had been torn by wild beasts when he had actually been sold by them to slave traders.  Israel was shocked when it was revealed Joseph still lived and was a ruler in Egypt.  In the twilight years of his pilgrimage, Israel rejoiced to spend time with his beloved Joseph again. Whilst in Egypt, Israel's long-lost Joseph had two sons.   Genesis 48 conveys the touching scene when Israel ...

C.H. Spurgeon is known as the "prince of preachers," but it is not only his brilliant preaching and writing ministry which impresses me.  Like Dwight L. Moody, Spurgeon had an intense passion to bring children to faith in Jesus Christ.  He did not relish time in his lofty pulpit preaching to thousands more than dropping to a knee to speak face to face with one small child.  We cannot ask him today, but I imagine he would find greater delight in privately ministering to a little one in Christ's name than receive a public commendation from the Queen of England.  Today I read an address to the Sunday School teacher's union by Spurgeon in March 1867 at a prayer breakfast titled, "How to Raise the Dead."  Here is a link for you to read it yourself. Spurgeon made it clear Sunday School teachers have a sober duty and calling to bring children to faith in Christ.  It is not a session of upstanding moral guidance or just to mind children whilst the "real...

" Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. 14   You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15   No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you ." John 15:13-15 It is a common lament for people to feel they have no real friends.  This despairing feeling may arise when people do not rise to our expectations of what friends should be.  This overwhelming sense of friendlessness should never mark the life of a Christian, for Jesus has chosen us to be His friends.  Jesus called His disciples friends and demonstrated the reality of this through revelation from God.  He demonstrated His love through laying down His life on Calvary.  The big question is not if God is friendly towards us but are we truly His friends?  He has offered us unfailing friendship, bu...

If you lived in the United States in the '90s and had a television, undoubtedly you were exposed to Ron Popeil selling his wares.  I remember how many times I saw him bustle through a kitchen in an apron demonstrating Ronco products.  Countless times during his pitches the famous inventor and pitchman repeated with an enthusiastic studio audience, " Set it and forget it !"  This memorable and simple phrase tapped into a desire which appeals to many people.  The selling point of the "Showtime Rotisserie" is how it produced consistent quality results with minimal effort.  People had better things to do than fiddle with timers and temperature controls, and the idea of setting and forgetting sounded great.  We all have enough to remember and worry about, right?  One issue Ron's clever catchphrase didn't address was how to remember to "set it" in the first place! What is the typical human response when we can't forget about something?  We obs...

" And Jacob their father said to them, "You have bereaved me: Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are against me ." Genesis 42:36 After prayer this morning God spoke to me through His Word.  Whilst praying over problems and trials people are facing, there was a temptation to despair.  But immediately I thought better of it, for what is a problem in light of God's goodness and power?  Even if the whole world was against me and the forces of demonic evil unleashed with only me in those satanic sights, God remains good and in control!  Like Paul boldly said from experience after facing death every day, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" ( Romans 8:31 ) The very things Satan would employ to bring us to despair are the very things God can use to bring joy and salvation. Don't believe me?  Jacob's response to his sons is a perfect demonstration of the reality God uses all things for ...

I picked up C.H. Spurgeon's The Sword and the Trowel  again, the first volume of a set of seven.  He cited  Isaiah 35:4 which reads, " Say to those who are fearful-hearted, "Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance,  w ith the recompense of God; He will come and save you ."  On this theme he wrote: " Oh how precious is the Word of God!  For it contains a cordial for every sickness, a balm for every wound, and here at the close of the day let me console myself with it.  How often does a fearful heart weaken and vex the people of God!  How well it is that the Holy Spirit has given this word to cheer them in their distresses!  Sometimes GREAT TROUBLES cause the heir of heaven to be much cast down.  But why is it so?  Are not our fears groundless?  Do not our troubles work our lasting good? Why need we fear the issue when it is in Jehovah's hands?  Our fears grieve us more than our afflictions...

" Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13  but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy ." 1 Peter 4:12-13 It is Jesus Christ who brings meaning and eternal value out of suffering.  In every way He was tempted as us, but He has suffered far more than any other man.  One cannot say in every way we suffer He has suffered because His suffering is exponentially greater.  As omniscient God whose wisdom is infinite, one can only imagine the depth of Christ's sufferings as  Ecclesiastes 1:18 explains, " For in much wisdom is much grief, a nd he who increases knowledge increases sorrow ."  Because Jesus is for us Wisdom, we can identify with Him in all our suffering for His sake; through faith we can rejoice with exceeding joy even in the fiery trial. Everyone on this pl...

" Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13  for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure ." Philippians 2:12-13 I love these verses because they hold forth man's responsibility before God and God's sufficiency to accomplish all.  Followers of Jesus Christ are not saved by good works but we have been saved for them ( Eph. 2:10 ).  We cannot rightly adopt a passive and careless view of our choices or conduct, assuming God will accomplish His will in our lives without our cooperation.  The work of God is not performed through mustering the strength of our flesh, but through faith and obedience to the Holy Spirit who works in us " both to will and to do for His good pleasure ."  Our desire to obey God and the ability to do things which please God both arise from Him alone. To "will" and...

Positive reform requires an intentional return to an old ideal.  Progress is not altering the original ideal but a renewed aim of obtaining it.  That is a philosophical strength of Christianity, for Jesus Christ is the One we are called to fix our eyes on and pursue.  We strive to obey Him, love like Him, and do all for His glory.  Just because we fail doesn't mean Christ is a failure or is unworthy of being pursued.  He provides a more solid foundation for us than the bedrock of earth, for Jesus was, is, and will ever be.  This world will have an end, but Jesus Christ and His words will endure forever. When I see people protesting and rioting over political disagreements, I wonder if the rioters all agree.  I can tell you they do not.  Even if they all agree on anarchy and the means they employ to destroy the corrupt "system," I can assure you they do not agree on what form of government should rise in its place or who should make the decision...

During Sunday's sermon I related a story to encourage all how God keeps His promises.  Though there aren't always signs or miracles continually to confirm the faithfulness of our God, He does provide His presence and amazing evidence in our earthly pilgrimage.  If we seek the LORD with our whole hearts we will find Him.  For well over a decade I have met weekly with various fellow Christians to pray.  For years before I knew of God's call upon my life to immigrate to Australia I met with a brother named Rudy to seek the LORD in prayer.  God brought great encouragement and strength through times of prayer, and even used a fallen tree to confirm His word to me. I was on staff at the church when a tree in a large pot toppled over.  The tree was sizable and it lay flat on the ground for a day or two as the staff considered our options.  We certainly didn't want it to go to waste, so the assistant pastor and I dug a hole big enough for the root ball to ...

Today I read Genesis 33 , the passage where Esau and Jacob are reunited after over 20 years apart.  When they parted Esau was scheming about the right time to kill Jacob for robbing him of his father's blessing.  Their reunion was marked by Jacob sending waves of gifts before bowing seven times to the ground before Esau.  The part which stood out to me was when Esau suggested Jacob, his family, and vast flocks and herds travel together with his 400 men.  Jacob graciously declined the offer.  He said in  Genesis 33:14 , " Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir ." For the sake of his family and flocks Jacob bid Esau to leave so they could both travel at an appropriate pace.  No doubt Esau and his 400 men had things to do and places to go, and Jacob did not want to be a hindrance.  He expr...

" If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin ." 1 John 1:6-7 The word "fellowship" has been loosely used as a description of Christian gatherings as long as I can remember.  People say things like, "It would be great to get together for food and fellowship."  Fellowship (koinonia) as described by scripture is the ideal, but what passes for "fellowship" can be merely a friendly social interaction.  Personal fellowship with God is required before we can have fellowship with others.  Fellowship is not a gathering of people with similar beliefs, but those who are living righteously, loving others, and are being obedient to Jesus.  The Greek word "koinonia" as translated and defined by the Strong's Concordance can hel...

Among Christians, "the church" can have a bad rap.  There are "coffee snobs," and there are church snobs.  Unlike coffee snobs who know where good coffee can be found, church snobs resembling connoisseurs seem unable to find a church where they fit.  Like the Pharisees these have an amazing ability to find fault where there is really no fault at all.  Local churches which comprise the universal body of Christ may not be attractive to a visitor, just like a unique nose on a man's face could not be called particularly handsome. But it is the nose he has been born with, and it suits him just fine for smelling.  Church snobs embrace a role similar to an eager plastic surgeon looking for clients, happy to offer opinions how appearances could be improved.  One difference between plastic surgeons and church snobs are church snobs typically do not have a list of churches who have offered glowing reviews and endorsements of their services. The church is compared ...