Marching Forth!

All human beings are susceptible to all manner of deception.  It is one thing to be intentionally deceived by another person, but far worse is when we are deluded by self.  This sort of deception we often do not recognise.  We are most blind to the deceptions which lurk in our hearts, and since no man can know the depravity of his own heart we are susceptible to it. In addition to revealing God to us, the Bible is a primary means of warning against and identifying common deceptions for us.  The clear implication of God’s warnings against deceptions is we indeed can be deceived.  It is important for us to examine our hearts, admitting we too can be deceived.  If we do not heed God’s Word we blindly head to ruin.  Because God knows the thoughts and intent of our hearts, loves us and is the source of all wisdom, He faithfully reveals our common faults and the path of righteousness. Deceptions take place in our minds and hearts.  The way we natur...

" The LORD is your keeper; t he LORD is your shade at your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, n or the moon by night ." Psalm 121:5-6 How good it is to know God protects and provides for our needs!  Day or night we need never fear, for God is faithful.  A great illustration of this scripture is seen in the life of Hagar when she was sent out by Abraham.  In response to God's direction, Hagar and Ishmael her son were sent out from Abraham with bread and a skin of water.  They wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba, which means " well of an oath ."  Before long they were stricken with thirst, for the water in the skin was used up.  Hagar desperately placed her son in the shade of a shrub to protect him from the searing heat.  Hagar hopelessly retreated to a distance where she could not hear his cries.  She reached the point that all she could do is weep, and in that moment God spoke. Genesis 21:17-19 reads, " And God h...

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." Genesis 1:27-28 In my lifetime I have observed an erosion of what once was called “morality” according to biblical principles.  This gradual movement has gathered speed to the point it could be likened to a destructive avalanche, leveling all which once stood upright in its path.  This opposition of God, His Word, and ways has often been too subtle to notice in real-time but the effects are widespread and pronounced.  When seeds of wickedness are sown, those doing the planting deny anything bad will happen.  Eventually the corrupt and ugly fruit is displayed for all to see. Man has rebelled against the order and laws established by...

Peter referred to Noah as a " preacher of righteousness " ( 2 Peter 2:5 ) and pointed out how God preserved him alive from the judgment of the great flood which destroyed the ungodly.  Pastor Drew shared this morning at Calvary Chapel Sydney how Noah testified of this coming judgment in two primary ways.  The first was with words as a preacher of righteousness for over a century.  God had told him plainly in  Genesis 6:13 , " The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth ."  Believing this to be the case, Noah warned others.  The second way he demonstrated his belief was through the building of a massive wooden ship.  As he was commanded he built the enormous ship and loaded it with provisions for a voyage - nowhere near a large body of water on dry land. Ultimately the word of God was fulfilled, and Noah and those who sought refuge in the ark were pr...

The world awoke to news of a calculated but senseless attack on random citizens in New York which claimed the lives of at least 8 people and wounded many more.  To think a person's life is at risk walking or leisurely riding a bike with friends targeted by a rampaging driver is alarming and tragic.  So where does an overwhelmed soul go from here?  Assembling in a show of angry defiance?  Fear and isolation?  Justice is needed for the perpetrator, but not vengeance upon potential suspects.  The LORD God, He will repay. Recently I read Psalm 91 , an encouraging passage for all those who place their confidence in God.  The terrible things we hear and the news and painful circumstances we face threaten to rob us of joy given us by our Saviour Jesus Christ, but by His grace we can rest peacefully as we look to Him and remember God's promises.  Fear prevents us from being strong and courageous.  Bad things happen to believers and unbelievers a...

" It happened after this that David inquired of the LORD , saying, "Shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah?" And the LORD said to him, "Go up." David said, "Where shall I go up?" And He said, "To Hebron ." 2 Samuel 2:1 After the death of King Saul, David inquired of the LORD where he should go.  His place in Ziklag had been burnt with fire, and David wisely sought insight from the LORD concerning his next course of action.  He provides a good example for all who fear God in asking a specific question and did not act on the matter until he received a definite answer.  If we are honest concerning our prayers, we may discover we do not ask many definite questions.  If this is the case, we should not be surprised when a clear answer does not come. We are not told exactly how God spoke to David, but the text makes it evident God did speak and David heard Him.  In the previous book we read Abiathar, son of the high priest, ha...

I appreciate a person who "says it like it is," a straight-shooter who does not hint or allude to the truth but boldly speaks it.  Every man has his flaws and makes mistakes, but there should be no doubt about what he believes.  In this increasingly subjective and politically-correct age, people are wary of being transparent with their beliefs.  The problem often isn't a lack of thinking before speaking, but of thinking so much we stop short of saying what we really think.  This hollowed version of truth does little to present a viable consideration for belief. One thing I love about the Bible is the objective nature of it.  It states how things were, are, and will be.  Nature itself is governed by laws which cannot be broken.  There are absolutes which are unchanging, and to alter these absolutes even a fraction (not that man has this capacity) would mean utter catastrophe.  There are facts governing this world we inhabit, and one of the great...