Marching Forth!

I benefited greatly from a message I heard last night on the value of a healthy mind.  The speaker defined the mind as the "prime mover" in our lives, like the engine of a train.  Pastor Steve Jones said, " The mind will always take us somewhere ."  Our train of thought does not stop in the mind but greatly impacts our desires and actions.  Just like a moving engine pulls or pushes additional carriages in whatever direction it drives them, our bodies follow the leading of our minds.  If our minds are in the gutter, we will act out on our sinful impulses.  On the other hand when our minds esteem God and His Word we will walk in godliness. Paul wrote in Philippians 4:6-8 :  " Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8  Finally, brethren...

It is ironic how men who have been created can presume to know better than God.  Having been given the ability to think and reason we can utilise this capacity to stand in judgment of the righteous Judge of all the earth.  When Jesus told Peter (who believed Jesus was the promised Messiah) He would be arrested, crucified, and rise on the third day Peter rebuked Him.  Had Jesus listened to Peter God's plan for eternal salvation of Jew and Gentile would have been undermined.  Praise God He is not a man that He should lie or change, and we benefit beyond measure when we humble ourselves before God as Sovereign. After Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, two disciples sadly departed from Jerusalem.  Though Jesus was alive and well they were disillusioned and shattered.  Jesus joined the despondent travellers and began a conversation with them about the reason behind their sadness.  They explained the things which occurred in Jerusalem in...

" Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints ." Jude 1:3 Followers of Jesus Christ require the leading of the Holy Spirit to contend for the faith without being contentious.  We are, as much as depends upon us, to live peaceably with all in a world at war with God.  The Gospel is always going to be offensive to worldly wisdom, but the meekness, gentleness, and humility of Christ leads us walk in love towards those within and without the Body of Christ the church. What Jude wrote to believers is very instructive, exhorting believers to contend earnestly for the faith.  It is telling he did not direct believers to contend with heretics or those who seek to turn people away from the truth--though at times it may be required.  In following verses Jude provided examples of ungodly conduc...

I was asked recently if I observe a "Sabbath."  My reply was in the affirmative, but a little explanation was required.  I do not observe a day according to the demands or confines of the Mosaic Law, but look to Jesus Christ who IS my Sabbath.   Colossians 2:16-17 says, " So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,  17  which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ ."  As a follower of Jesus, my call is to look to Him and follow His lead, trusting the Holy Spirit to lead me into all truth according to God's promise. Knowing the Sabbath observed by the Hebrews is a shadow of what Christ is the reality changes the way Christians view every day:  every day is fitting to be about our LORD's business, and our rest is found in Him.  Jesus did not call Gentiles to live as Jews or Jews to cast aside adherance to the Law because they could, but created a new creation of ...