Marching Forth!

God is present in the everyday situations of life, and sometimes we are given insight to see Him at work that brings encouragement.  Looking back on God's faithfulness to people in the pages of scripture, through the testimonies of others and our own experiences, we can rest assured God will be faithful to us presently and in the future forever.  Though the future is uncertain, we can know without a doubt our good God knows us and will preserve us going forward. Recently I reminisced over a challenging move that took place years ago.  Several fellows from church and I organised to help a family move house.  This move was a struggle because the family moving was not sufficiently prepared, it was on a weeknight, and we needed to travel a long distance--and we were all slated to work early the following day.  In our initial discussion, we were told to be extra careful with a bureau and a large matching mirror.  The furniture had been in the family for a long t...

" What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not !" Romans 6:15 In the movie The Princess Bride , a hired swordsman named Inigo  wondered if his boss knew what "inconceivable" meant because he repeated it over and over.  " You keep using that word ," he said.  " I do not think it means what you think it means ."  There is debate over whether the swordsman was showing his ignorance, that he ironically instructed his "genius" boss or accurately identified hyperbole.  The fact is, people can mean different things by saying the same word or phrase.  "Taking out the trash" may mean carrying rubbish from inside the house to outside or also include hauling the bins to the kerb for pickup.  Not understanding the full implications of a word or phrase can lead to misunderstanding or a job only half done. Sometimes I feel a bit like Inigo when I hear people talk about not being "under the Law....

Because Timothy was a man who had genuine faith in Jesus, Paul urged him in  2 Timothy 1:6-7 :  " Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.  7  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind ."  Paul had been instrumental in Timothy receiving the gift of God, the filling with the Holy Spirit Jesus promised to give to all who trust in Hm.  In addition to producing the fruit of the Spirit in the life of a born-again believer, the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to each one according to the will of God.  Paul reminded Timothy to "stir up the gift of God" that was in him without fear, the the Spirit He has given is of power, of love and of a sound mind. Timothy was exhorted to stir up the gift of the Spirit as one fans coals that began to smolder back into flame.  The Holy Spirit provides the fuel to let the light of the Gospel shine before men thro...

Though people of faith in God mentioned in Scripture had experiences different to ours, they are relatable because we trust the same God.  Many times the situations people faced were far more extreme than our current struggles and troubles, and this ought to inspire great confidence that God is able to help us in all He allows.  In my youth I was foolishly distracted by flaws or inconsistencies in God's people in scripture rather than emulating steps of faith they took and the LORD who helped them overcome all.  One such person is David, a man after God's own heart.  He was not a perfect man, but who among us is?  His steadfast faith could put the most stalwart among God's people to shame. While on the run from King Saul, David and his men spent over a year in Philistine territory.  After their return from the field of battle, they were shocked to find their city Ziklag a burnt ruin, all their wives and children taken captive along with their possessions....

Satan walks the earth like a lion seeking whom he may devour, yet he can take the form of an angel of light.  Like the Pharisees who were clean on the outside yet spiritually were like unclean tombs within, the devil and those who follow him can seem to have our best interest in mind while working to ruin us.  Peter believed he spoke as a man inspired by the Holy Spirit when he rebuked Jesus for saying He would be killed, yet it was as if Satan were speaking.  Jesus then rebuked Peter for such a suggestion in  Matthew 16:23 :  " But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men ." Satan foolishly sought to be like the Most High, and his pride led him to a great fall.  The father of lies is the master of telling them, and it is only by being grounded in the word of God we can recognise and avoid falling prey to His deceptions.  Satan was able to dece...

Upon my return to San Diego, I was surprised to hear of a hurricane Hilary moving straight towards "America's Favorite City."  I grew up and spent a great deal of my adult life in San Diego, and I never heard of such a thing--or had seen such an almost hysterical response to an incoming storm.  Television programs were rescheduled to provide extra coverage of the "hurricane", and long before it entered the United States it had been downgraded to a tropical storm.  An insurance company made automated calls to encourage their customers to take every possible precaution for this potential disaster.  The hype was so intense school was cancelled for many students today. Because the buildup was so intense, when it finally started drizzling and raining yesterday the storm was quite underwhelming.  Before the storm everyone was talking about the forecast, and many after the storm had a chuckle over how much a non-event it was.  If this storm was a test of San Dieg...

" As I urged you when I went into Macedonia--remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine,  4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith ." 1 Timothy 1:3-4 Paul urged Timothy to remain in Ephesus for the purpose of directing some to teach no other doctrine than those that result in godly edification in faith.  In his introduction Paul mentioned Jesus Christ our hope along with with grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Jesus our Saviour.  These are fundamental Gospel truths that adorn all sound doctrine in scripture.  Previously in Corinth Paul kept Christ central in his preaching, for he determined not to anything among them except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. As in modern times, there were some in Ephesus who taught, emphasised and discussed topics or doctrines that promoted controversy.  It is possible for genuine believers to be swept up ...

The Bible is full of heroes of faith in God who are not mentioned in Hebrews 11 .  In some cases we are not even given their names, yet they remain worthy of our admiration and emulation.  The living God does wondrous things through people who trust and fear Him, and blessed are those who put their lives in His hands. Jonathan and his young armour-bearer are a fine example of men who banded together in the fear of God.  They did not consider the "odds" of winning or defeat in battle; they were not buoyed by aspirations of fame nor hesitated at the potential personal cost.   1 Samuel 14:6-7 reads, " Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us. For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few."  7 So his armorbearer said to him, "Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart ."  Jona...

" But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.  9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,  10  who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.  11  Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing ." 1 Thessalonians 5:8-11 There are many kinds of appointments we have daily, and some of these are arranged and kept by us and others by God.  Yesterday I accompanied my parents to a doctor's appointment, the kind of appointment one would rather not have.  It would be wonderful if we never were sick and doctor's appointments were unnecessary, but having an appointment with a skilled physician is a blessing when you have cancer and want to be rid of it. I was encouraged by this passage in 1 Thessalonians 5 that tells us that God has not appointed us to wrath but...

It is the revelation of God in His word that teaches us of His ways and thoughts that are higher than ours.  Great error is inevitable when we depart from the scripture and rely upon personal experience to determine what is doctrinally true.  Drifting into the fallacy of personal experience can be subtle, and even people who hold to the Bible being the word of God are not exempt from the resulting bias.  Better than limiting the way God can or will do something by our experience, we are wise to hold to God's word as truth and guidance for life. Recently I read a book by an author I respect who holds the Bible in high esteem.  While there were times he referenced scripture to explain doctrines, his positions were greatly weakened by straw man arguments and the fallacy of personal experience.  Because he had not seen someone who could heal "on command," he dismissed the possibility anyone could be given gifts of healing today.  I am not convinced anyone gift...

It is easy to take things for granted because we become quickly accustomed to life as things are.  For this reason we likely do not appreciate all God has provided for us by His grace.  Take the church, for instance.  We can appreciate and value the church as a gathering of God's people to worship Him, study His word and serve one another.  But we may not realise God has joined us together as one in His own Body of which He is our Head.  We might focus on what we can contribute to the fellowship of the saints, but we are also blessed by how all contribute to our good as well. This dynamic played out in the early church when Timothy was sent to establish and comfort the church in Thessalonica as the people were going through tribulation and affliction.  Paul was concerned the people might have fallen prey to lies of Satan and abandon their faith because of their troubling circumstances.  Paul shared in  1 Thessalonians 3:6-8 :  " But now that ...

" For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,  18  while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal ." 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 A worldview founded by faith in God and His word provides a lens that enables us to see beneath and beyond the surface of what is seen.  Everything we see, read and experience can become opportunities for God to teach us more of Himself, how we ought to live and illustrate the truth of His word.  The one focused on their own present pain and suffering can often think of little else, yet the child of God who suffers can know he does so according to the will of God who is good and causes all things to work together for good.  Thus praise, gratitude and thanksgiving illuminate our hearts and fill our mouths rather than self-pity or fru...

" The rod and rebuke give wisdom, b ut a child left to himself brings shame to his mother ." Proverbs 29:15 On the cusp of battle against Israel, the Philistines were afraid.  They had heard of the miraculous wonders and deliverance by the power of God and knew they were no match.  But they were determined to fight Israel to prevent being made servants over those they had long oppressed.  They rallied themselves in  1 Samuel 4:9 :  " Be strong and conduct yourselves like men, you Philistines, that you do not become servants of the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Conduct yourselves like men, and fight !"  In modern vernacular, they urged one another to "Man up!" and fight like their lives, freedom and prosperity depended on it.  The Philistines won the battle, and God in time used it as an occasion to prove His supremacy over their god Dagon, plagued their cities for months, and Israel came to understand their need to rely on Him alone.  Go...

 " Any way the wind blows doesn’t really matter to me, to me .” Quote from "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen In His conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus compared the reality and operation of the Holy Spirit to that of wind:  one can feel and easily observe the effect of the wind, but the wind itself is not visible to our eyes.  When a person places their faith in Jesus Christ, we are filled with the Holy Spirit Who regenerates and guides us into all truth.  As a sailor adjusts the sails of a ship to best catch the wind, so we are propelled in ministry by the power of God as we yield to the Holy Spirit.  God's word could be compared to the rudder captained by Christ Who guides us in the correct direction of how to conduct our lives, examine our hearts, love one another and walk in obedience to God.  Unlike a rowboat that depends upon our limited strength and coordination or a motorboat where the occupants passively rely on a machine powered by petrol, we are to loo...

Wherever truth is found, we can be certain there will be many errors.  Jesus identified Himself as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and the world has opposed His claim at every turn.  We have all heard the suggestion there are many ways to come to God, that truth is relative or subjective to our views, and our life consists in what we have.  All of these statements are exposed as false by the revelation of God in scripture, divine truth and wisdom for life which has endured and triumphed over all manner of attack. The truth is often not complicated, but our struggle can be to distinguish it from all the lies that spring up everywhere.  It is familiarity with the truth of scripture that aids believers to disregard falsehoods that have swept others to ruin.  There are people who will not consider entering a church building or read a Bible because they have the idea they need to "get right" with God first.  This suggests several dangerous misconceptions....

When my eldest son was learning to pray out loud to God, he said something that makes me smile to this day.  Shortly after our kitchen had been remodelled, before a meal he rattled off a series of things he was thankful for.  As he made a sweeping gesture with his arm he said happily, "And thank God for the countertops!"  We never had new countertops before, and we were all pleased to have them.  His exuberance over our remodeled kitchen was unexpected and fun to see. At Calvary Chapel Sydney we are studying through the book of Ecclesiastes, and Solomon was no stranger to new or nice things.  One thing he discovered, however, was no matter how many nice things he had they would not remain his forever:  new things quickly grow old, and things in themselves cannot provide meaning or satisfaction.  We only had our new countertops for a short time before they took damage from an exercise ball that inadvertently knocked a chisel into the bench surface near ...

" For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." Is it oxen God is concerned about?  10  Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope ." 1 Corinthians 9:9-10 In his letter to the church at Corinth, Paul demonstrated the relevance of precepts from the Law of Moses for present personal application.  While Christians were not "under the Law" or obliged to keep the letter of the Law, even a passage that prohibited the muzzling of an ox that treads out the grain provided guidance in the financial compensation of Christian ministers who laboured in the word.  This insight provides precedent by the leading of the Holy Spirit to open up enlightening and refreshing applications tucked away in the Old Testament modern-day believers ought to consider and heed.  Paul's poi...

Understanding context is very important.  Many times we have come into a conversation at the "wrong time" and were left confused or perhaps offended by what we heard because we didn't understand what was said before we arrived.  This can be applied to situations as well.  Imagine walking into a room and to your shock see masked people in white coats removing organs from a living human being.  To people ignorant of surgery, this would seem the most inexcusable, barbaric butchery.  What could seem cruel and horrific was a procedure done by trained, experienced professionals to promote the health of a consenting patient. I believe this illustration of the one who unwittingly stumbles into an operating theatre is fitting for many people who read the Bible and are appalled by God's judgments and actions.  Even Christians can be confused and almost embarrassed God would judge people and nations that result in death.  Perhaps they had only been exposed to a v...

" Behold, I have created the blacksmith w ho blows the coals in the fire,  w ho brings forth an instrument for his work;  a nd I have created the spoiler to destroy.  17  No weapon formed against you shall prosper, a nd every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD ,  a nd their righteousness is from Me,"  s ays the LORD ." Isaiah 54:16-17 In Australia, there are homes that are "heritage-listed," which means they are old homes of cultural and historical interest.  These houses often have unique features from modern dwellings like vaulted ceilings, ornate moulding and carvings, or even quarried stone.  These homes can be expensive to renovate because of the rules and regulations established to ensure the character and appearance of the house is preserved and compliments the original.  "Heritage" in a basic sense suggests it has been inherited--like the ownership of...