Marching Forth!

It is amazing how God expands our understanding of the implications of His Word and the Gospel as we grow.  In my youth I was convinced I understood what the Bible said and meant, but I am learning my perspective is often limited and narrow.  The "Great Commission" scripture in Matthew provides a fitting example. Matthew 28:19-20 were words of Jesus Christ I committed to memory at a young age:  " Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,   20   teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen ."  I didn't notice it at the time, but verse 19 refers back to a critical truth which undergirds what has been called the "Great Commission."   Matthew 28:18 reads, " And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth ....

Our God - my God - is indeed an awesome God!  I don't brag on Him nearly as much as He deserves.  He is powerful and personal, outrageously generous and gracious.  God hears prayers and answers in real time. Last night was a perfect example:  I had turned on the water for a shower and prayed God would send rain, as Sydney has been dry lately.  I kid you not:  when I stepped out of the shower less than five minutes later rain had come!  Hearing the water dripping from the eaves and passing through the gutters brought a beaming smile to my face.  It is so easy to forget God is not delayed because He seems far away at times, but He is so near to each one of us.  Those who call upon Him can expect Him to answer in His time and way. Our feeble frame is forgetful of God's presence.  We can go through the motions of prayer or reading and study of scripture and miss God.  I recently came across an example of this.   1 Samuel ...

" Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13  but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin ." Hebrews 3:12-13 Lately I've been thinking about the believer's need for exhortation.  We are called to humbly receive exhortation and also exhort others as led by the Holy Spirit.  Based on the Hebrew passage which exhorts us to exhort one another daily, the Christian's need for frequent exhortation is fundamental as the unbeliever's need for the Gospel.  Without receiving the Gospel no man can be saved, and without exhortation our hearts tend towards hardness.  To exhort is to call near, invite, and entreat, whether it be to call out sin or to urge to do right.  There is a difference between knowing what is right and doing what is right.  Humility before God and men puts us in a posture to receive exhortation ...

Wicked Haman sought to do the Jews harm and deceitfully wrote a law which commanded their destruction.  Messengers were sent out to 127 provinces that the Jews - all men, women, and children - were to be killed and their goods plundered on the 13th day of the 12th month.  The people were perplexed to hear this command, and the Jews grieved and mourned.  God used righteous Mordecai and queen Esther to make known the plot of Haman to king Ahasuerus, and Haman was hanged for his crimes.  But the law remained, for the laws of the Medes and Persians cannot be undone. Though the old law could not be changed, the king granted Mordecai authority to write a new law.  The description of the new law is conveyed in  Esther 8:11 :  "... by these letters the king permitted the Jews who were in every city to gather together and protect their lives--to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province that would assault them, both little ch...

I spent the first half of this week at the Collaroy Centre which hosted the "Refresh" conference put on by the Calvary Global Network.  It was a lovely spot with the benefits of sound biblical teaching, fellowship, and worship of God.  The lush area was home to many varieties of beautiful and loud birds like sulphur-crested cockatoos and rainbow lorikeets.  In the outdoor seating area signs were placed on the tables which read, "Do Not Feed the Birds." There are several reasons provided in Australia for people to restrain themselves from feeding wild birds.  One reason is the offer of free food (which may not be the most healthy for them) can reduce their ability to forage for food in the wild.  If they are conditioned to regular feeding their diet will also not be as varied as it should be.  Whilst those are valid reasons, another reason is most likely why the Collaroy Centre prohibits people from feeding birds.  According to the ABC , " Animals th...

"Happiness depends on what happens," I have heard some say, and often this is true.  Feelings are useful but are also fickle.  One moment we can be happy and carefree, and the next we can feel the weight of the world upon us.  An example of this phenomenon is seen in Haman after he was invited by the queen to a special banquet with the king.  He had not only enjoyed the hospitality and company of the king and queen, but he had a banquet the following day to look forward to.  It seemed everything was right in the world. Esther 5:9 reads, " So Haman went out that day joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, and that he did not stand or tremble before him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai ."  Haman was in a great mood because the privilege afforded him, but the sight of Mordecai sitting there filled him with anger.  All the happy feelings were gone in an instant because one man was sitting when Ha...

I've been enjoying reading through Esther lately, and it is amazing how God brings fresh insights to familiar passages.  Haman was incensed by the Jew Mordecai's refusal to give him reverence, and so great was his pride punishing Mordecai was not enough:  he would exterminate Mordecai and his people as well.  Having the favour of the king, Haman was able to write the doom of the Jews into law.  When Mordecai heard these evil tidings, he put on sackcloth and mourned publicly.  Esther the queen, seeing her cousin in such strife, inquired concerning his welfare and heard the news for herself. Mordecai urged Esther to use her privileged position as queen to gain access to the king to plead for her people.  At first she resisted, citing a law which endangered the lives of all who approached the king without a summons.   Esther 4:13-14 reads, " And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: "Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king's ...

" But now, thus says the LORD , who created you, O Jacob,  a nd He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name;  y ou are Mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; a nd through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.  w hen you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,  n or shall the flame scorch you ." Isaiah 43:1-2 God did a phenomenal thing in birthing the Jewish nation out of slavery in Egypt.  It was a demonstration of love and grace which rivals the salvation God has provided Jew and Gentile through faith in Jesus Christ.  See what God said to the Hebrews in in  Deuteronomy 7:7-8 :  " The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; 8 but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has broug...

Today I read about when King Ahasuerus hosted a great feast in Shushan.  In the third year of his reign he displayed the power of Media and Persia, inviting nobles and rulers from the 127 provinces he ruled for 180 days.  That would be quite the gathering!  When those days were completed, he hosted a feast for 7 days and all in Shushan were invited to the court of his garden palace.   Esther 1:6-7 describes the elaborate and luxurious decor:  " There were white and blue linen curtains fastened with cords of fine linen and purple on silver rods and marble pillars; and the couches were of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of alabaster, turquoise, and white and black marble. 7 And they served drinks in golden vessels, each vessel being different from the other, with royal wine in abundance, according to the generosity of the king ." It must have been a treat for the people of Shushan to partake of the generous bounty of their king.  The valu...

Yesterday in church the text we examined was the first half of Acts 13 which included Paul's interaction with the Roman proconsul Sergius Paulus.  Being an intelligent man and likely interested to learn new things, Sergius Paulus summoned Barnabas and Paul to hear the Word of God.  A Jew named Elymas withstood the apostles when they arrived, trying to turn Sergius Paulus from the truth of the Gospel.  Finally Paul rebuked Elymas strongly and declared he would be rendered blind for a season.  After this immediately came to pass  Acts 13:12 reads, " Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord ." Reading this struck me as I considered the question:  would I be more astonished by a person struck completely blind or by the "teaching of the LORD?"  Likely seeing someone suddenly blind by words alone would be more astonishing.  What this drives home is how the Bible should astonish us; th...

The Bible presents a vivid demonstration of God's faithfulness and grace.  He birthed the Jewish nation out of Egypt with a mighty hand.  Though they rebelled against Him and served other gods, He was faithful to them and would not destroy His inheritance.  God's presence led and dwelt among His people, and He protected, provided, and cared for them continually.  He brought them into the land He promised them and drove out their enemies before them.  When God sent prophets to instruct His people they provoked Him to anger with their sin.  He allowed them to be scattered and brought into captivity in Babylon, but by His grace brought them out again and established them in the land according to His promise. King David wrote  Psalm 124  as the nation of Israel reached a zenith as a notable kingdom long before the destruction of Jerusalem or captivity in Babylon.  The words recorded were valid then, after captivity, and even to this day. ...

" So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading ." Nehemiah 8:8 After the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt, all who had understanding gathered to hear the Word of God.  Ezra the scribe is described as standing upon a pulpit of wood designed for this purpose, and read the Law to the attentive assembly.  He and others helped the people to understand what the Law said, what it meant, and therefore how it should affect them.  This approach to teaching the Bible is desperately needed today. The value of inductive Bible study and teaching cannot be overstated.  Instead of bringing our bias to the text, it is important to realise we are handling the absolute truth of God's Word.  Whilst it is true there can be various interpretations and applications of a single passage of scripture, Nehemiah 8:8 emphasises readings from "the book" have concrete meaning because they gave "...

Verses familiar to me as a young child are found in  Proverbs 6:6-8 :  " Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, 7 which, having no captain, o verseer or ruler, 8 provides her supplies in the summer, a nd gathers her food in the harvest ."  As long as this world endures, there likely will be sluggards and ants.  It is estimated there are 1 - 1.5 million ants per person on the earth!  The term "sluggard" is seldomly used in common speech today, not unlike the word in the Strong's Concordance which defines it:  indolent.  To be "indolent" as defined by Webster's 1828 edition is " habitually idle or indisposed to labour; lazy; listless; sluggish; indulging in ease; applied to persons ." Solomon directs the indolent and lazy person to the ant, an industrious insect whose qualities and characteristics outshine the sluggard in every way.  Sluggards are idle and only move when it stands to benefit them, but ants lab...

The term "calling" is often used vaguely in Christian circles, even as the "will" of God is left to the imagination.  The call of God is multifaceted like His will, and we do not need to be ignorant of either.  God's Word speaks specifically on the will of God and how Jesus called people to follow Him.  Os Guiness wrote an excellent book titled "The Call" which speaks in detail of the general call to believers and specific calls God makes upon His people. I appreciate the clarity of the Bible, how God spells out the truth for us in black and white.  Last night I was reading through 1 Peter 2 with the family, and I was blessed to read of calls of God we often don't hear about.  People talk about being "called" as a missionary or a pastor, but answering the call of God for all believers is the path to answering every specific call God makes.  For example, God has called all Christians to "love one another."  The man convinced ...

" Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need ." Hebrews 4:16 We all realise there is a difference between "wants" and "needs."  Because of Christ's atoning sacrifice on Calvary, by faith we have the privilege of an audience with the Almighty God, the Creator of heaven and earth.  To appear before a king at an appointed time is a amazing honour, but to have access to the gracious King of Kings through prayer at all hours is nothing short of miraculous. When you draw near to God in prayer, is it typically because you want or need something from God?  Our response to this question may indicate why prayers go unanswered.  If we are praying for our wants or what think is best for others, we may be asking amiss.  Just like we can miss where we are aiming in darts or billiards, our prayers can be off the mark.  James had strong words for these sorts of prayers - prayers wh...

If you were to list the most heinous sins, what might top your list?  Since God is the Judge of all the earth who has established an absolute standard of righteousness to which we will be held responsible, it's important to align our perspective with His.  Whilst we can be fixated on externals, God looks at the heart.  He recognises the source of the sin in our hearts and minds before any "crime" is committed.  The sins God despises often will not land the guilty in prison, but they lead souls to hell. Consider the list of sins God finds disgusting in  Proverbs 6:16-19 :  " These six things the LORD hates, y es, seven are an abomination to Him: 17  a proud look, a  lying tongue,  h ands that shed innocent blood, 18  a heart that devises wicked plans, f eet that are swift in running to evil, 19  a false witness who speaks lies, a nd one who sows discord among brethren ."  I would be willing to wager "a proud look" wou...

As we live out of days on earth, there will be things others do that bother us.  As I grow older I don't know if I am more or less likely to be annoyed by things other people do - or a combination of both!  I believe we all experience things which "bug" us, and it is good to approach these circumstances with love and grace - unlike Sylvester in the movie "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World."  Still, I think we all know exactly how he feels. One thing that bothers me is when people (especially Christians) feel the need to explain away or rationalise the miraculous with a scientific explanation, as if science and the scriptures are opposed to one another.  How many times I have heard God's Word rationalised and apologised for in an attempt to appeal to modern minds.  I find the distortion and twisting of the scriptures to draw ridiculous conclusions downright painful.  Right when I think I have heard it all, I realise I haven't even scratched th...

Some people buy vehicles for transportation, and others want to make a statement with their selection.  And there are those who adorn their cars with literal statements called bumper stickers.  Love them or hate them, where I lived in southern California vehicles were commonly plastered with them.  Besides a Local 5 Union sticker, I had one notable sticker for years I found on the Living Waters website: 1 April this year fell on Easter Sunday for the first time in recent memory, and after a online search to appease my curiosity I discovered 1956 was the last time this occurred - a bit before my time!  It is ironic a day remembered by deceiving and pranking others would be the day commemorating Resurrection Sunday.  The resurrection of Jesus Christ is no joke but a substantiated historical event and divine triumph which impacts believers and sceptics alike.  If Jesus did not rise from the dead Christianity is a farce, but if Jesus Christ did rise from...

In the mornings I have been reading through the book of Ezra which details the return of the children of Israel to Jerusalem.  Ezra was a priest and scribe who not only led exiles back to the land God provided them, but taught them the Law of God.  His knowledge of God was not theory but to be put into practice.  Familiarity with doctrine does us no good unless we apply it personally to our lives. I was impressed with Ezra's leadership in  Ezra 8:21-23 :  " Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. 22 For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, "The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him." 23  So we fasted and ...