Marching Forth!

With several ministries in hiatus during the summer holidays, I have enjoyed supplementing my time by reading books by eminent Christian authors.  C.H. Spurgeons "The Sword and the Trowel" is packed with valuable gems easily gathered up by those who seek the wisdom of the ancients.  One printed tract aimed at believers was most useful and thought provoking, an exhortation to seize the opportunity to share Christ when hearts are soft and most receptive to spiritual truth.  Here is a small sampling from the "prince of preachers:" Quick must be the hand if an impression is to be made upon the wax.  Once let the wax cool and you will press the seal in vain.  Cold and hard it will be in a few moments, therefore let the work be quickly done.  When men's hearts are melted under the preaching of the Word, or by sickness, or the loss of friends, believers should be very eager to stamp the truth upon the prepared mind.  Such opportunities are to be seized wit...

This morning I preached on Isaiah 10, a passage of warning and consolation for God's people.  I was particularly struck with God's promise to His people in Isaiah 10:27 :  "I t shall come to pass in that day that his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck, and the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil ."  The king of Judah and his people looked to Assyria and not to God to deliver them, and in doing so dictated their own means of correction.  God would use the Assyrian nation as a rod in His hand to discipline His children, for those whom God loves He corrects.  Though chastening would involve pain and difficulty, ultimately God would redeem and deliver His people from those who oppressed them. God had set His people free, yet they chose a life of bondage through rebellion from God.  They made for themselves a yoke of iron ( Deut. 28:48 ), yet the Almighty God of grace promised to remove and break their y...

Last night the boys and I sat down to watch Marvel's "Captain America" starring Chris Evans.  In the film, Steven Rogers is a scrawny, sickly man with a courageous heart of gold.  He was chosen from a field of more physically eligible specimens by scientist Dr. Abraham Erskine to be the first subject for an experiment which could change the course of World War 2.  On the eve of the experiment, Dr. Erskine met with Steven for a drink.  Steven humbly asked one question of the doctor:  " Why me ?"  He had been deemed unworthy so many times before he wondered what he possibly could have done to deserve such an opportunity, never dreaming he would become "Captain America."  His perspective throughout the film consistently placed others before himself. "Why me?" isn't a question reserved for Hollywood productions.  It's likely a question we have felt more often then we vocalised.  When I worked in the shipyard, my work mates told me abou...

The scripture is packed with priceless gems, relevant and true to this day.  The Law gives us insightful glimpses of realities enjoyed under the New Covenant through Jesus Christ.  One instance is seen in Leviticus 6:12-13 :  " And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not be put out. And the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order on it; and he shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. 13 A fire shall always be burning on the altar; it shall never go out ."  One role of the high priest and his sons was to stoke the fire of the altar so it burned perpetually, a fire sparked by the divine presence of God Himself.  In addition to the morning and evening offerings, the people brought free-will offerings, tithes, and sacrifices for atonement. Here is the point:  God provided the fire, the priests stoked the flames with fuel, and the people brought the animals for sacrifice.  When a pe...

James 3:11-12 puts forth rhetorical questions:  " Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh ."  God is holy, pure, and righteous, yet that does not mean all those who believe in Him will always reflect His perfect attributes.  Springs of water gush pure from their subterranean sources and grow increasingly muddy and fouled as they flow.  The point James was making is a spring is either salty or fresh, not both.  A fig tree cannot bear olives because by nature it is a fig tree. In a similar way, the outward behaviour and speech of a person indicates their inner nature.  A person whose speech is salted with cursing ought not imagine themselves to be pure in heart.  From a biblical perspective, none are pure or perfect before God because of sin.  We are all corrupted and are also corruptors. ...

As my lack of recent posting may suggest, I have been away from my desk for a week.  My family and I enjoyed a holiday in Tasmania.  We were blessed with uncharacteristically warm and dry weather during our stay.  As I walked through the beautiful country, I found it impossible to fathom how a person could give glory to dead men who cut a path through a living forest, yet not glorify the God who created the forest and all the animals therein!  Hope you enjoy a sampling of photos! The oldest bridge in Australia is still in use in Richmond. The old church at Port Arthur Scenic view at Donaghys lookout Dove lake with Cradle Mountain   Binalong Bay The memorial carvings at Legerwood Montezuma Falls St. Clair lake  You know I had to include one of these little devils from Nature World...

During a night of prayer and praise we enjoyed recently at Calvary Chapel Sydney, we sang the famous hymn " Holy Holy Holy " by Heber and Dykes.  A line in the song stood out to me powerfully in a fresh way, affirming God is merciful and mighty.  These characteristics are in no way contradictory, but from a worldly perspective the two rarely coincide.  To be merciful is not viewed as mighty, and the mighty do not need to be merciful.  Yet the mercy and might of the Almighty God is praiseworthy, and I relish this constant reality of God's eternal nature. Psalm 103:8 says, " The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy ."  God does not only show mercy, but He is merciful.  To be merciful is to be compassionate and kind, especially when there is ample justification to be otherwise.  The Webster's 1828 edition Dictionary defines "merciful" as, " having or exercising mercy; compassionate; tender; disposed to pity off...

" Buy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding ." Proverbs 23:23 My eldest son Zed returned yesterday from a school service trip to Cambodia.  They helped with a building project, ministered to children in slums and orphanages, and provided food to people in need.  They also gained valuable life experiences - like how to bargain in the markets.  A good thing to know before buying in places like the Russian Markets in Phnom Penh is things are rarely what they seem.  Fakes, knock-off products, and carefully repackaged used items sold as new abound.  Tourists, willing to risk a few bucks for a potential bargain, support an industry which survives largely on deceit and fraud.  There are many legitimate sellers, but those able to pass off fake as genuine are encouraged to continue plying their illicit trade with each sale. Case in point:  Zed and some of his mates came back from Cambodia with some "real" fake coi...

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,...

This morning I began reading the book of Jonah.  God commanded Jonah the prophet to go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach against it.  Jonah was loath to obey God's command and booked a cruise to Tarshish to escape the presence of God.  God was not ignorant of Jonah's schemes and caused the ship to be tossed by a fierce storm.  The pagan sailors did everything in their power to keep their ship afloat, cried out to their idols and even threw the tackle overboard.  The storm raged on while Jonah slept below the deck. Jonah was roused by the desperate captain who urged him to call upon his God.  The men determined a man on board must be responsible for the storm, and by drawing straws Jonah was revealed to be the culprit.  He openly confessed he was trying to flee from the presence of God.  Jonah 1:11-12 says, " Then they said to him, "What shall we do to you that the sea may be calm for us?"--for the sea was growing more tempestuous. 12 ...

Recently my family and I watched "The Lego Movie," a zany adventure about a normal construction worker named Emmet who fulfills a prophecy made up to help him believe he was "the special."  Dumbo had his "magic feather," and Emmet had the secret weapon glued to his back.  It is a witty, entertaining film which chronicles the path of an ordinary toy without original thoughts to be a "master builder" through self-belief.  I enjoy the movie.  But I also am aware that under the plastic interlocking bricks there are echoes of the old humanistic mantra:  if you will believe, anyone can become the hero.  You can do anything you want, if you will only believe. Belief is a funny thing, because it is only as effective as what you place your faith in.  As a young teen my uncle truly believed he could fly like Superman, and was so convinced of his powers he leaped off a roof!  Needless to say, his descent was immediate and continuous until he hit the g...

Are there things other people do which you find troubling?  I am not speaking about something annoying or illegal, but actions, attitudes, tone, or behaviour you judge as wrong?  There are things we see easily in others they do not seem to notice.  All people have a tendency to size up others according to our own personal convictions or opinions.  There are few things easier than finding fault with others, seeing as there is no one who is faultless! God is an amazing redeemer of lost sinners.  Repenting and trusting in Christ does not mean we are suddenly perfect in thought, word, or deed.  The trouble is, having our eyes opened to the truth of God's Word suddenly shines light into all areas of darkness in our lives.  This can lead to people saved by grace through faith condemning others for their faults, real or imagined.  It is good for Christians to remember we will each answer for ourselves before God.  We will have to account for vers...

Contentment in all circumstances is possible through faith in Christ ( Philippians 4:11 ).  To be content is to enjoy a state of peaceful happiness and satisfaction.  We are given the capacity for contentment through being born again and filled with the Holy Spirit.  Paul learned in all situations to be content, and therefore we too can and should embrace this learning as well.  Being content begins with knowledge of God's perfect character and confidence in His goodness towards us as His children.  We are to lay aside all fleshly ambition and any worldly sense of entitlement, and refuse to compare ourselves with others.  Recognising all we have is a gracious gift from God and thanking Him for all things is also key. There are many instructive examples from the scriptures which provide insights into the pitfalls which keep us from contentment, and here are a few concerning the Israelites and their water supply - and for our purpose can represent the nece...

Christians recognise eternity is of paramount significance, seeing it is forever.  We also recognise our call by Jesus Christ to go into the world and make disciples of all nations, teaching people to observe all Jesus has commanded us.  Jesus finished Matthew 28:20 by saying, " And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age ."  The big picture of eternal salvation is very important, but the scope of Christ's sacrifice was greater than providing life after the death of our physical body:  Jesus desires to be with us always, and we should want this for everyone today.  Jesus has a new life for us to enter into daily by faith as we heed and obey Him. A choice to repent and trust in Christ should not be decided upon simply to avoid hell and secure a place in heaven - at least that alone should not be our motivation.  Hopefully our eyes have been opened to how great God is, how He has demonstrated His love for us, and that He graciously invites us...

Today I was reminded of an object lesson given to primary school children.  Two long strips of masking tape were placed about seven feet apart from one another, and all the children were made to stand on one side of the tape.  I was asked by the teacher to help with the lesson.  My role was to keep anyone from successfully jumping over the seven foot gap, and to gently pull people close to the edge inside.  After the players in the "game" were ready, he addressed the group. The object of the game was to cross from one side of the tape to the other side without touching the ground in between.  If any part of your clothes or body touched the floor in the middle, you were out of the game.  He explained that people could use whatever means they wanted to cross, and he offered to lay down so people could walk across his body to reach the other side safely.  Right away some of the athletic boys began to back up, preparing to attempt a jump to the other si...

Have you ever had something stuck in your eye?  As a kid I would always rub my eyes and they would grow red and irritated.  Over the years I learned how to remove eyelashes and other foreign bodies by flushing them out with water.  A stray eyelash is just one of many irritants life throws our way, like swarms of pesky flies or a pen which works intermittently.  Not only can we find physical problems irritating, but other people have a knack of doing just the thing we despise.  Have you ever wondered why things irritate us which don't bother others - and the fact they don't realise the awful things they do irritates us even more? The Bible reveals amazing things about us we would never realise on our own, and perhaps don't even want to know.  One of them is found in Romans 2:1 .  After writing a long list of sins common to all men, Paul wrote, " Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you con...

In every person is a desire for significance:  to be appreciated, needed, wanted, understood, listened to, and loved.  We have many ways of trying to quench this inner thirst, and one way we attempt this is through seeking recognition from others.  We have been working and slaving away, but no one seems to notice!  A simple "Thank you!" would be nice, right?  But the truth is, recognition and appreciation by others for a job well-done is a superficial fix which leaves our souls thirsty for more.  Even as our bodies can be dehydrated by activity without replenishing fluids, Christians can find themselves feeling empty even after Jesus promised us satisfying springs of living water by the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is the only One who can quench our thirst for love, recognition, and forgiveness.  Only Christians therefore are able to tap into this eternal source of living water and find rest for our souls.  Not only that, but through faith in Chri...