Marching Forth!

Yesterday morning I was listening to Calvary Chapel Radio New Zealand , a broadcast streamed online to the world.  Packed with great scriptural content and music, I highly recommend!  During yesterday's broadcast, Jon Courson provided a practical example. He talked about how Joshua made a mistake by unwittingly making a treaty with the Gibeonites, a neighbouring group who pretended to be from a distant land.  Seeing their mouldy crusts of bread and ragged clothes, Joshua believed them to be truthful.  Because Joshua didn't seek the LORD, he struck a deal with enemies God had commanded Israel to drive out of the land.  Not long after the rulers of Israel became aware of the plot, Joshua 9:19-21 tells us their response:  " Then all the rulers said to all the congregation, "We have sworn to them by the LORD God of Israel; now therefore, we may not touch them. 20 This we will do to them: We will let them live, lest wrath be upon us because of the oath whic...

As I have been studying through the book of Isaiah, there are some remarkable insights all would do well to heed.  King Ahaz of the southern kingdom of Judah faced the threat of advancing armies, and he considered what he would do.  Instead of relying upon God alone and walking in obedience to His Word, Ahaz worshiped idols and made an alliance with Assyria.  The prophet provided a sobering example of the northern kingdom of Israel in Isaiah 9:8-13 :  " The LORD sent a word against Jacob, and it has fallen on Israel. 9 All the people will know-- Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria-- who say in pride and arrogance of heart: 10 "The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with hewn stones; the sycamores are cut down, but we will replace them with cedars." 11 Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and spur his enemies on, 12 The Syrians before and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with an open mou...

God has been opening my eyes to the importance of His Law as I have been studying through Romans.  God and His people made a covenant, and they affirmed all God had said they would do.  No matter how hard people tried to keep the 613 commands - to do the 248 positive commands and avoid the 365 negative ones - no one was perfect.  Knowing this full well, God provided a means of atonement through the offering of sacrifices.  By the deeds of the Law no flesh can be justified, for the Law can only condemn.  The Law cannot wash you, but is like a clean mirror which reveals your sin before God in truth. What was intended to humble men became a source of pride.  Allow me to illustrate with the history of the I.Q. (Intelligence Quotient) test.  There is no sense in going into great detail here (if you are reading this you have the internet!), but in the early 1900's a test was developed by a French psychologist to determine if children had learning issues ...

" I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. 47 And I will delight myself in Your commandments, which I love. 48 My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on Your statutes ." Psalm 119:46-48 Our day is in dire need of unapologetic Christians, brave souls who love the word of God and live accordingly.  Standing on the firm foundation of God's everlasting truth, we need not wince and apologise when we hold forth a scriptural perspective.  People will not agree, and many will not understand.  This does not mean we have a license to be tactless or inconsiderate, but we should not be "sorry" Christians - apologising to those who cannot comprehend the truth, nor care to.  God is not like a politically incorrect family member we are a bit embarrassed of because we know he's stepping on toes.  God is God, and He has done whatever pleased Him.  And since He is righteous, just,...