Marching Forth!

Toilet training is a rite of passage for parents of young children.  It can be challenging to train little ones to learn to stop playing and use the toilet in the bathroom.  Training children to wake up and go to the toilet at night takes things to another level!  I remember we had friends over who had a toddler still in nappies who we all observed crouching under a table and was strangely still while kids happily ran around.  Within moments he was back to playing with friends--which soon came to an end when he was picked up by a parent because he needed a nappy change. This week while preparing for a Bible study, this memory came flooding back with conviction and spiritual insight.  We studied and discussed Psalm 102 which has this description in my Bible:  " A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before the LORD ."  At times we have all been afflicted, felt overwhelmed and poured out our complaints, but I was c...

In his first epistle, Peter reminded Christians that God's eyes are on the righteous and His ears are open to their prayers--but His face is against those who do evil.  1 Peter 3:13-16 then says, " And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?  14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled."  15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;  16  having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed ."  The apostle urged believers not to be afraid or troubled by threats of others.  When we are questioned concerning our convictions, beliefs and lifestyle, we can share our reasons with a good conscience with meekness. Peter did not say Christ...

Early in my Christian walk, it was common vernacular to say someone was "on fire" for God because of their overt zeal and passion for Christ.  I heard it preached if you were not "on fire" for God, something was wrong with your relationship with God.  This was a source of confusion for me because it seemed to be subjective.  Another problem was it was often determined by comparison with other Christians and was dependent on what we did.  A Christian could be deemed "on fire" because they were more enthusiastic than their peers.  Could it just be an outgoing personality? Another issue I found difficult to navigate was the terminology concerning being "on fire" was not typically taught from Scripture.  The verses I remember people using to emphasise this need to be "on fire" quoted the words of John the Baptist who spoke of Jesus who would baptise with the Holy Spirit and fire.  Some might have alluded to when the Holy Spirit came upon Ch...

Without faith it is impossible to please God, and those who have placed their faith in Jesus will often be challenged to trust God more than we ever imagined.  All who are born again Christians have trusted in Jesus for forgiveness and salvation, yet our tendency is to continue to rely on our own understanding, to operate within the realm of what seems possible.  One amazing aspect of our God is He is the God of the impossible, for when there is no human solution He can easily accomplish what we never thought to ask or entered our minds. In the book True Discipleship by William MacDonald, there is a great excerpt credited to C.H. Mackintosh that bears repeating: "Faith brings God into the scene, and therefore it knows absolutely nothing of difficulties--yea, it laughs at impossibilities.  In the judgment of faith, God is the grand answer to every question--the grand solution of every difficulty.  It refers all to Him; and hence it matters not in the least to faith w...

Recently I was given a great reminder of the importance of our reference point.  I have been working on a small retaining wall lately, and it has been challenging puzzle to solve.  I have spent days and nights trying to come up with the ideal layout, materials and drainage to retain soil as well as keep water from flowing into the garage.  Our soil tends to drain quite well, but when we have a massive downpour the surface water needs a place to go quickly--or else it will rush right into the garage. I decided to go with concrete sleepers rather than a block wall, and it was no small undertaking to find a local supplier with the material I was looking for.  After many trips picking up gravel and concrete, I dug the post holes and encountered some unexpected complications.  The area I was digging into had drainage pipes running through it I needed to be careful to avoid.  I was not able to place posts hard against the footing of the garage because the foundat...

After Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, He explained to them in  John 13:13-15 :  " You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.  14   If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.  15   For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you ."  The things Jesus did as Master and LORD set an example He intended His disciples to follow.  This is not always true for children who watch their dad light a fire or their mother stir frying using a wok on a hot burner.  When Jesus washed feet, it was the task all the disciples figured was beneath them and best left to others.  That was the task Jesus embraced for the good of all, and He commanded each of them to follow His example in humble service of one another.  The fact Jesus has filled Christians with the Holy Spirit means we are able to discern opportunities our flesh cannot, and He empow...

During the 90's in San Diego, there was an investigative journalist on KUSI named Michael Turko who responded to consumer complaints.  His segment called " The Turko Files " was a big hit, and he was known for shouting, "It ain't right!" as he made waves to set things right.  He was a consumer advocate who brought shady business dealings to light.  Even if those who complained did not receive just compensation, Turko used his platform to expose fraudulent practices and push for justice. Despite laws, written policies, training of employees and aims to provide quality goods and services, mistakes will be made and customers can be short-changed or cheated.  When it comes to business, government, relationships and life in general, there are no shortage of things which could lead us to rightly say, "That's wrong!"  Many times there is nothing we can do to change the past or things that seem unfair to us today--like restrictions or bans on items, ex...

I've been reading through the book of Zechariah in the mornings, and it is impressive how often messianic prophecies connected to Jesus by the Gospel penmen pop up.  The fulfillment of biblical prophecy supplies strong evidence of the veracity and trustworthiness of Scripture.  Bible prophecy is not like general predictions people make, who proudly claim they "called it" when they were not specific and ignore the fact they also contradicted themselves numerous times.  In God's word, He provided many statements over a thousand years meticulously recorded for our benefit so we could identify the promised Messiah and Son of God Jesus who is the Saviour of the world.  The New Testament in many places expressly states how Old Testament prophecy was and will be fulfilled by Christ, and here are a few examples. Zechariah 9:9 states, " Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salv...

Slowly but surely I have been making progress on little projects around our house.  There's been ongoing patching and painting, setting pavers, improving drainage and recently I have been constructing a small retaining wall.  Between ongoing maintenance, church-related work and projects around the house, it has been a very busy season of methodically chipping away at tasks with slow, almost undiscernible progress. After I set forms on Saturday to pour concrete, the thought crossed my mind to do a bit of concreting on Sunday afternoon to have a jump on Monday's tasks.  A conversation I had yesterday at church gave me pause, however, as I was reminded how the things we do--or choose to wait to do--can be done unto the LORD.  Growing up, as a family we always abstained from doing physical labour on Sunday beyond going to church morning and night.  This was something I carried over into my working career as a witness for Jesus in the workplace, that when interviewin...

There are certain words that are commonly found in the Bible and nowhere else.  We do not hear people in business, politics or in casual conversation use such words, nor do we see them in advertisements or on signs of protesters.  One such word is "lovingkindness" that describes the faithful love and kindness of God combined at full strength.  As if this is not a sufficient description, we can also observe a plural version of "lovingkindnesses" (which spell check flagged as incorrect!) as found in  Psalm 25:6 :  " Remember, O LORD , Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, f or they are from of old ."   Because God is awesome and words can only begin to portray the vastness of His love, goodness, mercy and favour, lovingkindness is a word that attempts to describe our indescribable God. Last night I was reminded of one of those looping scripture songs that were especially popular in the 70's and 80's taken from  Psalm 63:3-4 :  " B...

When women went to the tomb of Jesus to anoint His dead body, an angel asked them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?"  After His decease they noted the correct location where the body of Jesus was laid, yet because He rose from the dead they were looking in the wrong place.  It struck me how people can do a similar thing in their desire to hear a word from the LORD.  Our modern mindset can be to view something "old" as outdated or unsupported and the "new" is superior.  People easily become bored with the familiar, and they look to something new to grab their interest.  God forbid we would take this approach with the Bible, the timeless word of God! Looking back upon the history of Israel, God revealed Himself to the Jews and gave them His Law.  Though afraid when His presence appeared at Mt. Sinai, their awe and fear of the glorious living God seemed to wear off quickly.  We observe when people like the high priest Eli or King Saul refused t...

When my dad worked in construction, it was common for him to take weeks off work during the year to pack up his tools and help repair and rebuild homes destroyed by hurricanes in the south with International Relief Teams .  He paid his own airfare and took unpaid leave to bless and help others pick up the pieces after hurricane Andrew and Katrina.  One might think my dad thought much of himself with all the time, money and comfort he sacrificed to use his God-given talents to help others near or far in Jesus' name.  He didn't.  In fact, he told me about a time he was convicted over an alarm clock of all things. Best I can recall, there was a trip he went on with IRT when he either forgot his alarm clock or it wasn't working properly.  He never had a "smart" phone to use as an alarm, so he was annoyed to be without it.  In the midst of his frustration, he shared with me how the LORD gently spoke to his heart:  "You don't trust me to wake you up?"  ...

During the reign of King Darius in Persia, God-fearing people who resettled in Bethel sent word to the prophet Zechariah with a question:  should they continue to fast on the 5th month as they had while in captivity in Babylon?  We are not told precisely what their motive was that prompted this question.  Perhaps fasting seemed unnecessary since they were back in the land of their inheritance.  Would God be displeased if they left off this tradition they had kept dutifully for decades?  Was there any benefit of fasting any longer? Zechariah 7:4-7 states, " Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying,  5 "Say to all the people of the land, and to the priests: 'When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me--for Me?  6 When you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink for yourselves?  7 Should you not have obeyed the words which the LORD proclaimed through...

Humility and meekness are characteristics of God's people who are led by the Holy Spirit in wisdom.  Jesus humbled Himself by coming to earth in the likeness of mankind, made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Himself the form of a servant.  Serving was a way God demonstrated His active love that gives with the good of others in mind.  On the night Jesus was betrayed, He girded Himself with a towel and washed the disciples' feet and provided an example we all should follow.  Then Jesus gave His own blood on Calvary's cross and demonstrated His love for sinners--for you and me--by dying to provide atonement.  God is exalted and glorious above all, and all authority and power is His, yet He always remains humble and meek at the same time.   James 3:13 says, " Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom ."  In Jesus we observe One who has all wisdom and understanding,...

Our God shall supply all our need according to His riches in glory, for He is faithful ( Phil. 4:19 ).  Sometimes we need conviction, rebuke, encouragement and help, and God is able to provide wisdom and strength for the day.  I must have needed encouragement from the LORD while reading His word this morning, for that is what I received from Him today in abundance. I was reading Zechariah 4 and the passage where God said it was not by might, nor by power, but by His Spirit a mountain would become a plain.  The task of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem--which might have seemed as impossible as shifting Mount Everest a mile to the east--would be accomplished by God's grace through Zerubbabel.   Zechariah 4:8-9 says, " Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying:  9 "The hands of Zerubbabel h ave laid the foundation of this temple;  h is hands shall also finish it. Then you will know  t hat the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you ."  Th...

Our Bible study last night ended with an exhortation in  Psalm 98:5-9 :  " Sing to the LORD with the harp, w ith the harp and the sound of a Psalm,  6 with trumpets and the sound of a horn; s hout joyfully before the LORD , the King.  7 Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, t he world and those who dwell in it;  8 let the rivers clap their hands; l et the hills be joyful together before the LORD ,  9 for He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world,  a nd the peoples with equity ."  God's redeemed people and the earth are to praise God with great joy, for God is coming to judge the earth with righteousness and the people with equity.  The songs of praise flowing from God's people will rise to heaven accompanied with the roaring seas and rushing rivers. Why is there such praise and gladness?  Because the LORD is coming to judge the earth in righteousness and the people with equity.  Without ...

Paul wrote in  2 Corinthians 1:3-5 , " Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,  4  who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.  5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ ."  Paul was no stranger to suffering for Christ's sake, and his experiences joyfully endured demonstrated the comfort He received by faith in Jesus in the most trying times.  What Paul dubbed "light affliction" people who have suffered less would have called soul crushing without Christ who gave him strength.  Our God is the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our tribulation so we might also comfort others.  Compared to a meal set before us, the consolation of our Saviour is the main course while troubles that confront us are a light du...

On the topic of eating meat in markets, Paul said Christians could eat anything with assurance there is nothing unclean in itself--even if the meat was offered to idols.  Yet at the same time, Christians were called to walk in love and be sensitive to what stumbled or offended others.  He concluded believers were blessed not to condemn themselves when their conscience was clear, and those who doubted it was upright to eat meat offered to idols sinned when they ate it:  "... for whatever is not from faith is sin ." ( Romans 14:23 ) The point Paul made is excellent and relevant for Christians today, for there can be many things we do (or choose not to do!) for reasons other than faith in God.  We can be influenced by who is watching us or who is around us, by our desire to control the image we want to present to others, peer pressure, fear of offending people, wanting to avoid looking foolish, to keep from losing face or to seek to earn favour.  We might be motiva...

I remember years ago in San Diego we had a mayor who ran on conservative principles he abandoned in tears when he fronted the media, and he stated his position on marriage had changed because of the persuasions of a dear family member.  Some might have appreciated the change in his stance, but the complete reversal of his position was a betrayal of his party and those who voted for him.  I believed he would have done better to cite a conflict of interest and resign rather than undermine the will of the people for personal reasons. One aspect of God's character is He is not a respecter of persons--meaning He does not show preferential treatment.  He does not punish the heathen for sins yet find the rebellion of His people funny or ignore their disobedience.   Deuteronomy 10:17-18 :  " For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.  18  He administers justice f...

I have been considering lately how God is faithful to speak to our need.  When God told His people not to be afraid it was because they were inclined to be fearful; God's exhortation to be strong and courageous because He was with them was because they felt otherwise.  While we would be content with God validating our feelings, His wisdom and truth revealed to us transcends them.  By virtue of who our sovereign God is, His promises in his word and who we are in Jesus Christ, He gives us all the encouragement and comfort we need to keep going as we labour for His glory. We see an illustration of this in the word of the LORD through Haggai the prophet spoken to Zerubbabal, the high priest Joshua, and the people of Israel that were rebuilding the temple after a long period of captivity.   Haggai 2:3-5 reads, " Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing?...

People can have romantic notions about being more "serious" concerning their relationship with God.  This can include fanciful ideas of prolonged fasts, voluntarily giving up all hobbies for scripture memorisation, or doing something drastic like moving to Siberia.  I have heard people express they would have to pray or read the Bible more if they had a different role in the church, but I don't believe having a role with more responsibility does anything to fundamentally change a person.  God does not require outrageous things of His people, just simple obedience in following His example like it says in  Micah 6:8 :  " He has shown you, O man, what is good; a nd what does the LORD require of you  b ut to do justly,  t o love mercy,  a nd to walk humbly with your God ?" At Calvary Chapel Sydney we spoke about the Rechabites, how they were obedient to their father Jonadab hundreds of years later to not drink wine.  God used the Rechabites ...

The Jewish sons of Sceva (a chief of the priests) took it upon themselves to be travelling exorcists, and this foray into itinerant ministry did not go well for them.  Jesus gave authority to His disciples over unclean spirits, yet these men decided to follow a formula they picked up from the apostle Paul.  We need God and a relationship with Him by faith in Jesus Christ to accomplish anything of value for His kingdom, for without Jesus we can do nothing ( John 15:5 ).  They imagined by invoking the name of Jesus who Paul preached, the demon would comply with their commands.   Acts 19:15-16 says, " And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?"  16  Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded ."  There were two different Greek words for "know" employed by the spirit:  that he knew Jesus...