Marching Forth!

While preparing a sermon I have the practice of consulting with various commentaries to educate myself on what other notable believers have gleaned from the passage.  One of my favourite commentaries is one of the older ones I reference:  a condensed version of Matthew Henry's commentary penned in the early 1700's.  Perhaps one of these days I can acquire the full original version.  Every commentary penned by men has its flaws and limits, yet the concise volume remains instructive and insightful until today.  Today's reading was absolutely brilliant, a commentary on Jesus' words found in  Luke 11:21-23 :  " When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. 22   But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils. 23   He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters. "  Here are Matthew...

" Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men !" Psalm 107:8 God's will is often viewed as a nebulous unknown.  We can wonder what God's will is for a particular situation and can be unsure of how to best pray.  Our confusion grows when we are confident what God's will is and it seems the furthest thing from reality.  God has richly blessed us with His word that speak of His unchanging character, provides examples which show God's will often involves suffering for people He loves, and give directives we can follow by His grace. Psalm 107 is a beautiful song which extols the greatness and majesty of God.  Four times he repeats the same exhortation that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men.  The goodness of God is beyond reckoning and His wonderful works to us without precedent.  God's goodness is infinite, yet we a...

Examining our hearts in light of God's word is important for all Christians to do.  As I sat reading the Bible this morning, the light of the sun shining through the window illuminated floating specks of dust previously unseen by my eyes.  The sun's rays did not create the dust but revealed their existence.  God's word and the presence of the Holy Spirit work in a similar manner to reveal the conditions of our hearts.   Psalm 119:105 says, " Your word is a lamp to my feet a nd a light to my pat h."  The Bible guides our steps and also provides insight into sin-darkened areas of our lives we never knew existed. When we become serious about self-examination and take stock of our lives, the need for cleansing goes beyond what we initially see.  We may realise our tendency to exaggerate or curse but didn't notice our habit of gossip and harsh judgments.  I saw a great example of this yesterday when I mopped the predominately white tiles in our...

One term I have heard often lately is the importance of being an "ally" to others.  Covenant Eyes, a screen accountability service, also uses the term for people to whom personal internet browsing data is sent to support and encourage healthy internet habits.  Alliances among nations and rulers unites separate groups with the aim to accomplish a goal together.  Both a verb and a noun, the term " ally " is defined as a noun by the Merriam-Webster dictionary in this way:  " a sovereign or state associated with another by treaty or league; one that is associated with another as a helper : a person or group that provides assistance and support in an ongoing effort, activity, or struggle. " Being an ally to support others in their struggles is a noble cause, but the term to me is impersonal and falls short of the ideal:  by their very nature alliances are created due to a cause or joint pursuit rather than the love of people.  Alliances are utilitarian a...

At the prompting of a brother in Christ yesterday I read  Psalm 135:1-3 :  " Praise the LORD ! Praise the name of the LORD ; praise Him, O you servants of the LORD ! 2 You who stand in the house of the LORD , i n the courts of the house of our God, 3 Praise the LORD , for the LORD is good; sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant ."  This passage is full of praise and acknowledges the worthiness of the Almighty God, the Creator of heaven and earth.  That God would dwell in a house in Jerusalem where He placed His name is amazing, but even more stunning is God allowed men to enter and serve Him.  No house can contain the infinite, eternal I AM, the one true God who is good and glorious. The psalmists bids us praise the LORD because He is LORD!  He chose Israel to be His special people and bids all sinners to come to Him and find eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God.  We were blind, lame, and deserving of hell yet God h...

Psalm 87:7 has been in my mind of late and says, " Both the singers and the players on instruments say, "All my springs are in you ."  The context of the song of the singers and musicians is Zion is a source of blessing because of God's presence there.  God is the sole source of life in heaven and earth, and He is man's only provider of salvation, contentment, and rest for eternity. The Gihon spring is a natural water source in Jerusalem.  On a couple of occasions I have enjoyed treking through "Hezekiah's Tunnel" located underneath the city of David.  It is important to note the Psalmist said, " All my springs are in you " and not " ...from you ."  A spring of water flowing from underground can cover a great distance and the water downstream can be polluted or stagnate in pools.  It is true all the blessings we enjoy in life come from God, yet they are only realised when we are in Him through faith.  Even believers at tim...

" The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; and he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat?" says the LORD . 29  "Is not My word like a fire?" says the LORD , "and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces ?" Jeremiah 23:28-29 These were key verses from the sermon preached today at Calvary Chapel Sydney .  The supremacy of God's word over the imaginations, ideas, and dreams of men is without question.  The irony is we can give great credence to the claims of people who claim to speak for God without comparing their words with the scripture once delivered unto the saints ( Jude 3 ).  This chapter reveals many priests and prophets in Israel who claimed to have received revelations from God spoke falsehoods from their own hearts.  Compared to the nutritious grain of God's Word their words were worthless as dry and dusty chaff. Those who have God's word ought to speak it faithf...