Marching Forth!

Today at Calvary Chapel Sydney I taught through Romans 10.  After Paul emphasised God's election of believers by grace through the Gospel, I enjoyed considering the emphasis on man's responsibility to believe in Jesus Christ.  Paul wrote in  Romans 10:14-15 :  " How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?  15  And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,  w ho bring glad tidings of good things!"   In teachings of this passage I have heard many emphasis our need to go, a missional thrust of application.  The flow of the passage in context, however, shows God is the One who faithfully sends His messengers to bring the message of salvation through the Gospel so people can hear and believe in Christ. Paul continued in  Roma...

When I was a boy, I heard a story from a classmate that appalled me.  While it was still dark on Christmas day, my classmate's younger brother, about 4 years old, opened up all the gifts that were wrapped under the Christmas tree.  His parents awakened to find the living room completely littered with paper.  This act of sabotage prevented the joy of both giver and receiver of the gifts.  So what did they do?  The parents promptly sent the boy to his room under a vow of secrecy and re-wrapped all the presents so they could properly exchange gifts all together.  This was one of the unwritten rules of Christmas for children:  never open a gift unless it is yours and you are given permission by your parents to do so.  I shuddered to think of the consequences I would have faced for such a brazen transgression. Because the boy who opened the presents was very young, it is likely he did not fully understand the unwritten rule.  Maybe due to immaturi...

In a sermon I heard, the preacher spoke of Simon of Samaria who came to faith in Jesus after being a practicing sorcerer.  For a long time he held the people of his city spellbound by his supernatural abilities, and he duped them into thinking he wielded the power of God.  After Simon believed in Jesus, was baptised and continued with Philip the evangelist in fellowship, he saw when visiting apostles laid hands on people they were filled with the Holy Spirit.  He foolishly offered Simon Peter money so he too could have the power to lay hands on people so they could receive the gift of God.   Acts 8:20-21 tells us Peter's fiery response:  " But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!  21  You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God ." It is very possible this idea of offering money for power carried over from Simo...

One thing I love and appreciate about God is He is immutable and consistent.  Being eternal and above all God is not susceptible to influences of modern society, and His wisdom does not shift with the times.  In God and His word there is an objective clarity and permanence that is not found in anyone or things of this world.  A person's opinions can shift like the breeze, and their conduct can resemble a chameleon that adjusts to their environment.  I respect people who take a stand on God's truth, and I find their insights by God's grace endure the test of time.  It is encouraging to know there are many great thinkers whose intelligence far exceeds my own who were not ashamed to make the living God and His word central to their thoughts and perspective. I have been reading G.K. Chesterton's In Defense of Sanity lately, and he is exceptionally brilliant.  I am glad that some of the time I understand what he means and enjoy his sense of humour that crops up...