Marching Forth!

" Then Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me ."   Matthew 17:17 The LORD has provided fresh insight upon this passage for me recently.  Jesus had returned from a mountain with a few of His disciples when a man approached Him with a request.  His son was severely demon possessed, and related how he first brought him to be healed by the disciples of Jesus.  When they were unable to help, he came to Christ for help.  After He heard the man's pleas, Jesus spoke the aforementioned words culminated with, " Bring him here to Me ."   Jesus rebuked the demon, and the boy was made whole.  The disciples later asked Jesus why they were unable to cast out the demon, seeing that Jesus had already given them authority and power over unclean spirits.  It was their unbelief, Jesus replied. In relation to Christian ministry, this passage speaks volumes...

Guilt and shame are God-given tools to move people to confession and repentance before Him.  Too many times, however, feelings of condemnation are tolerated and justified in the life of a Christian who has repented of a sin.  To those who are in Christ Jesus, there is no condemnation for those who have repented and forsaken their sins.  Old sins need not weigh us down, for the blood of Jesus is sufficient to atone for them.  The justice of God has been satisfied through His sacrifice, and we are free of all guilt and shame by grace through faith. God has chosen to remember the sins of His people no more, but the devil is only too happy to remind us of our transgressions.  His accusing voice rings in our heads, and because we agree we have done wrong there may be a temptation to allow his venomous attacks without resistance.  When we wander from Christ, He calls us to return to Him.  There is no waiting period for God's forgiveness, some penance that ...

Before immigrating to Australia, our family needed to complete physicals in the United States to qualify for a visa.  It included a basic physical examination, bloodwork, vision, and drug testing.  Had we failed the physical, we would have been denied a visa and entrance to the country.  After we lived in Australia for two years, again the whole family was required to undergo a physical to obtain a permanent resident visa.  Praise the LORD we each passed the physical and this potential hindrance to obtaining the visa was removed.  God gave us favour with our application and now we remain grateful permanent residents of Australia.  Since we have completed the physicals and have continued to live in-country, we should not need to have physicals when we apply for citizenship next year God-willing. Paul wrote concerning Christians in Philippians 3:20-21 :  " For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus ...

Life is filled with amazing experiences.  The greatest and most memorable experiences occur when a man has an encounter with the Living God who created him.  Whilst experiences do much to build faith in the life of a Christian, they can never be repeated.  We cannot feel how we felt at that time, nor can we re-create the situation upon our whim.  Look back all you want, but you cannot go back.  This is a good thing, or else a lot of Christians might be tempted to remain at Elim (an oasis in the wilderness mentioned in Ex. 15:27 ) when the inheritance God has given to us remains unclaimed over Jordan. Peter had such an experience when Jesus was transfigured before him.  Peter was overwhelmed as he saw Jesus in glory, conversing with Moses and Elijah on the mount.  Unsure of what to say, Peter made a suggestion that if Jesus agreed, they should build three tabernacles on the mountain:  one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.  He wan...