Who am I?

For Christmas I received a very good book. The author is from Sweden, and he writes profound books on Christian matters. For many years he has preached in conferences for people of all ages. He writes that he has prayed for people for many years. However, when he over the past ten years have asked people why they come forward to pray, an increasing number answer: 

Because I do not know who I am!

One of the results of the third move = the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, was that the believers received a new identity. All of a sudden they became aware of the fact that they were not only saved in Christ, but from now on the Spirit of Christ had also taken his dwelling in them. The believers had become the body of Christ. The bread of heaven was not any more limited to one bread. On the Day of Pentecost this bread was broken first into 120 and after a few hours into another 3000.

Paul captures this in a beautiful way:

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.1 Cor 12:12-14

When we are aware of this part of our identity, the breaking of the bread of heaven in our world will continue as we spread His identity as living sacraments throughout the world in 2018. As we continue to move in this way, God’s impulse, God’s momentum will be kept. There is more to our identity that will keep us moving – you can read about it the next blog.

‘Manna’ for today:

I move as Christ’s broken bread

-----------------------------------------------

What is the church of the living God?

NORSK
Yesterday, I quoted Paul’s reason for his high expectations concerning the lifestyle of the leaders of the church:

I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
1 Tim 3:15

In this verse Paul uses several images to illustrate the nature of a church

• The house of God

It strange how easy it is to associate the house of God with a physical building. I admit that a physical place to gather for worship can be useful for the church, but the core of the New Covenant is that the house of God, the Tabernacle of the Lord or the temple of the Spirit, is found where follower of Christ is found. Therefore, I always find myself in God’s household wherever I am on the planet.

• The foundation of truth

Paul used the image of a building and a temple in a letter to the church in Corinth. Also there he refers to the foundation, like he did in the letter to Timothy:

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Cor 3:10-11

It is interesting that he wrote that foundation is Jesus Christ in this letter, while ‘the church of God’ is the foundation of truth in the letter he wrote to Timothy. I cannot see any contradiction in this. Because, if the church is Jesus in the world today, the church should also convey the truth in our time. But the church is not only the foundation of truth, it is also

• The pillar of truth

The function of a pillar is to support. I like the idea of the church being a support of truth. But in addition, pillars are often made beautiful because of their visibility. This was definitely true at time when Paul wrote this. The church should be ‘beautiful’ to make the truth even more visible. Remember that I still write about the church of the living God, not about a physical church-building. The challenge in our time is that the church tends to obscure the truth. If the truth is obscured by the church, it must be legitimate to ask whether it is still a church of the living God.

‘Manna’ for today:

The church of the living God is nothing less than a miracle!

-------------------------------------------

Pass it on

NORSK
‘Pass it on!’ has been a motto in several campaigns I have taken part in, but it also suitable as an explanation of purpose and content of mentoring. Paul was very conscious that this was his role in relation to Timothy:

This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you.
1 Tim 1:18a  

'Mentor' is not a new word. It first occurred in the Odyssey, where Odysseus asks the elderly and wise Mentor to be in charge of the education of his son, Telemachus. Gradually 'mentor' became a concept for someone who imparts wisdom and shares knowledge with a less experienced colleague. In other words, someone who passes on what he himself has learned and experienced.

It fits well with the Great Commission where Jesus ‘commits this charge’ to his disciples: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations" (1).

The principle is simple: A disciple passes on to a new believer what he/she has received and learned. In this way the process continues into eternity. In the relationship between Paul and Timothy, there is much to suggest that Paul saw Timothy as his successor. Paul’s way of addressing him as ‘son’ as in today’s verse, or as "my true son in the faith" (2) supports this thought.

It is also interesting that Paul writes that this is "according to the prophecies made concerning" Timothy. Paul had on many occasion experienced how prophecies had confirmed his own ministry from the days of his repentance, through Ananias (3), and throughout the rest of his life. He knew how important such confirmations are for a follower of. It is possibly the reason why he came with the exhortation: "Be eager to prophesy" (4). What is important, is important to pass on!

'Manna' for today:

What is important, is important to pass on!

---------------------------------------------
(1) Matt 28:19
(2) See: Affirmation and accountability
(3) Acts 9:15-17
(4) 1 Cor 14:39a

The good deposit

NORSK
What is my attitude towards everything that I have received?

When I read how Paul mentors Timothy, it is evident that he works with his general attitude to everything we have been entrusted. I have already quoted one verse reminding us about this (1), and today I read:

Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
2 Tim 1:14

I am entrusted with a ‘good deposit’ – sometimes translated ‘treasure’, which I am accountable for and expected to be a good steward of. Jesus compared the Kingdom with a treasure:

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
Matt 13:44

It is likely that Paul thought about the gospel as the entrusted good treasure, and the gospel is the entrance to the Kingdom. To the Corinthians he wrote that he was compelled to preach the gospel and concluded: “I am simply discharging the trust committed to me” (2). He further testified that he to proclaim the gospel to the uncircumcised was his specific calling (3). To Timothy he wrote:

And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
2 Tim 1:11-12

The good thing about Paul’s letters to Timothy is that he shows how the good deposit is to be guarded, and how this will influence how a disciple lives his life. There is a lot to look into in the future.

‘Manna’ for today:

The gospel is the good deposit entrusted me.

-------------------------------
(1) See: ‘Journey of Renewal’ including 1 Tim 6:20a
(2) 1 Cor 9:17
(3) Gal 2:7

It is about virtue

NORSK
What kind of virtue did Peter have in mind for his “fruit-recipe”?

“add to your faith virtue”
2 Pet 1:5

The new King James version sticks close to the Greek, while NIV which often is my first choice, translates it ‘goodness’. 

I prefer virtue, but also in Norwegian, the newer translations have changed the word virtue with e.g. ‘a right life’.

I think Peter had the four classical or cardinal virtues in mind when he made his list. These are values that were cherished in his time and they have their origin in Greek philosophy: 

• Temperance
• Wisdom
• Courage
• Righteousness

All four could have made a single ingredient, but Peter collect the in the single word ‘virtue’. Down through the history of the church “faith, hope and love” were added to form the seven Christian virtues as a counterpart to the seven deadly sins. 

If I return to the Norwegian translation ‘a right life’, this can be the counterpart to a life in sin. May be that is close to what Peter had in mind? I start with faith, and continue by choosing to live a right life. To do that I need to choose which values I will build my life on. Then the four cardinal virtues in combination with the three values that remain (1) are a good choice. I make that choice, and then I am ready to continue tomorrow.

‘Manna’ for today:

It is about choosing the right values.

----------------------------
(1) 1 Cor 13:13

It is about the ingredient faith

NORSK
Yesterday I wrote about the fact that I need to find recipe for my favourite Christmas cookies even though I am able to recall most of the ingredients. The order the ingredients go into the dough is important, likewise the temperature, but I will write about the temperature later. 

I do not think that it was an accident that Peter started his “fruit-recipe” with the ingredient ‘faith’ (1). Without faith everything I write is just rubbish, or ‘foolishness’ to use the word of the Bible (2).

I believe all human beings have received a measure of faith. The Norwegian world evangelist, Aril Edvardsen, said something similar to this on several occasions: “The problem is not that people do not believe, on the contrary they are ready to believe in anything!”

It is understandable. I have had a lot of conversations with self-declared non-believers, who are ready to confess that they have a great desire to believe, but are not able to. It is a paradox that they have this desire if there is nothing that creates that desire. I believe that desire is there because we are created in the image of God. We long to come back to our origin, to our right element, to use an image Augustin used (3).

Many dare not believe because they are disappointed by religion in general, and by “Church” – in this context synonym with all organized expressions of Christianity. And I do understand them. I am not in the Salvation Army because it is a flawless organization run by flawless people. First and foremost, I believe because I have experienced that it is all about life and reproduction of life. That I have chosen to live this life in the Salvation Army is secondary.

To believe is a pilgrimage in the direction of the mystery we call ‘God’, a pilgrimage home where I belong, and it is an indescribable experience to be received as a ‘home-comer’. Of course I lose my footing when I start on such a journey, but that is momentarily. If I do not dare to start I lose myself. Even those words were not mine. I borrowed them from Søren Kierkegaard, but I have experienced that it is true. Faith is a movement, it is not an accomplishment, but it does help make an effort (1)!

‘Manna’ for today:

Fruit-production starts with the ingredient ‘faith’

------------------------------------
(1) For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith 2 Pet 1:5
(2) 1 Cor 1:18
(3) Augustin: ‘Like the bird in a cage longs for the air, and the fish on the shore longs for the sea, so does man long for his right element – God!’

It is about fruit with consequences

NORSK
Internet has in many ways outdated me. Previously, it was not uncommon to receive a phone call or an sms with questions like:  
“Where in the Bible can I read about ....?” - followed by a phrase, a name or just a theme.

No one ever asked me where it is possible to read about Epenetus or Stephanas. 

Perhaps just as well, for I had certainly not made it on the fly. Nevertheless, behind the names I find food for the thought: They are examples of a first fruit - with remarkable consequences:

Greet my dear Epenetus, who is a first fruit of Christ in Asia.
Romans 16:5

You know about the household of Stephanas, that they are the first fruits of Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the ministry for the saints.
1 Corinthians 16:15

There is not a lot of information about them, but it is clear that the first fruit led to more fruit. It is not unlikely that Epenetus had left Asia to do mission in Rome - may be he even was one of the 'founders'?

The family of Stephanas does not seem to have travelled far but “devoted themselves to the ministry”, probably in their home province of Achaia where Corinth is an important city even today. The household is mentioned as an example for the church in Corinth.

Today 'manna':

Holiness is about fruit leading to more fruit.

------------------------------------------

It is about a fruit that is also a gift

NORSK
May be it would have been sensible to move on to another theme after yesterday having finished Paul’s list of qualities of the fruit of the Spirit (1), but I continue. That is because there are more qualities of the fruit which deserve a focus. This verse is an example:

From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom
Proverbs 10:31

An experienced Bible-reader is likely to immediately see that wisdom is also a gift of the Spirit. There will also be some who straight away see the connection between God’s Spirit and God’s wisdom, which are more or less used as synonyms in the Old Testament. And – in principle there is next to nothing that separates righteousness from holiness.

I do not think that it is important to make a distinction between wisdom as fruit and wisdom as a gift of the Spirit, but if I should dare a very simple explanation, it will be as follows:
All fruit, including the fruit of wisdom, come as a natural consequence of the intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit, whilst one who ‘is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom’ (2) receives the gift as a kind of revelation in a given situation.

Either way, wisdom is one of the qualities that God cherishes (3), and that which he cherishes, is also my uttermost desire.

‘Manna’ for today:

Holiness is about the fruit of God’s wisdom

-------------------------------------------
(1) Gal 5:22-23
(2) 1 Cor 12:8
(3) Here are a couple of examples:

• When God said to Solomon: “Ask whatever you want me to give you” – Solomon prayed for wisdom, and the prayer pleased God. The passage is found in 1 Kings 3:5-15
• See also: ‘God’s Wisdom Revealed by the Spirit’ in 1 Cor 2:6-16

It is about fruit that gives hope

NORSK
I have always claimed that there is at least three variants of faith:

1. The faith that God has already laid in our hearts = the ability to believe (1)
2. The gift of faith = the gift of the Spirit (2)
3. The quality of being faithful = the fruit of the Spirit (3)

The Bible is very clear that the faithfulness like the other qualities of the Spirit is a divine attribute:

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Hebr 10:23

Yesterday Magna preached saints, holiness, heroes and role-models. I have written about my granddad before (4) on the blog. Like the people Magna mentioned, he was also very human. But every time I hear the word faithfulness, I always think of him. I discovered this quality in him very early, and his faithfulness remained an integrated part of him until his promotion to glory.

When he was 80, he bought his first PC. It was not many at that age who bought a PC in 1995, but he needed it to write his memoirs. He chose to give his book the title: “He cares!” – and to this image of God, he remained faithful. It affected him and he affected us who were his closest of kin, but his faithfulness and care also reached out to those who fell outside the community. For them he represented hope.

‘Manna' for today:

Holiness and faithfulness gives hope!

--------------------------------------
(1) Rom 12:6
(2) 1 Cor 12:9
(3) Gal 5:22
(4) Han ga alt...

It is about small glimpses

NORSK
When John wrote: “there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” (1), I do not think that it was the physical acts of Jesus John was referring to. 

Even if the relatively short life of Jesus was eventful and packed with remarkable stories, I do not think that it was an impossible task to compile it all in a couple of volumes. I think John saw the spiritual mystery, and like Paul (2), he realized that we only see and grasp a glimpse of it. It is comforting that even a glimpse is enough to grasp the core of the mystery. At that moment, I also make the recognition that this is something that exceeds all the books the world can contain.

The same is the true with regard to the mystery of “Holiness”. Over the last couple of days I have written about being loved back to the original image of God, and how beautiful that is. I am also aware that the real image of God, in which we were created, also gives a small glimpse of what holiness is, but I am convinced that it is very important glimpse. Many share this view. Chick Yuill, who himself has written several books on holiness, concludes that essence and goal of Catherine Booth’s holiness-teaching is “the restoration of the image” (3). I agree with Chick's conclusion.

Yesterday I used one of Albert Orsborn’s choruses. I am sure it would be possible to find songs to illustrate most of the aspects of holiness (4), and today I will quote part of a verse by the Norwegian poet and SA-officer H. A. Tandberg. These lines made a strong impression on me as a young Christian – and still do (please excuse my poor translation):

Therefore, God's face I'll be seeking
till I'm transformed by his grace,
and his own image's remaking
deep in my heart can take place. (5)

So, I feel the need to pray like David:

When You said, “Seek My face,”
My heart said to You,
“Your face, Lord, I will seek.”
Psalm 27:8

‘Manna’ for today:

Holiness is about constant glimpses of God’s face.

----------------------------------------
(1) Joh 21:25
(2) For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 1 Cor 13:12
(3) Chick Yuill in: Clifford Kew ed.: “Catherine Booth – Her Continuing Relevance” IHQ 1990 p 52
(4) ...and I will for a few days more.
(5) The original text in Norwegian is found in: "FAs Sangbok" 2010 - #340

Today is a ‘D-day’

NORSK 
Today my reflection is a little bit different. I know it is not the 6th of June – but nor was it the intention that anybody should know that it was just that day. It is about the nickname for the operation in 1944 that should be the beginning of the end of WW2. D-day is an abbreviation of Day-day, an unspecified day when something will happen. It was carefully prepared.

The first day of every month is “Recharge Day” in our territory. That means a day when we “charge” our batteries to have power for everything that will happen. It is a possibility for officers to use the day to reflect on the most important thing: My personal relationship with God. If that relationship is not working, nothing of lasting value will happen in the Kingdom of God. It is about preparation.

What has also made me think about “D-day” is the letter “D” which is Roman numeral for 500. I have just discovered that I on my blog in September for the first time had an average of more than 500 visitors on my blog every day. It makes me humble, and I pray that it may lead to something happening in the Kingdom of God. I also think about Paul who wrote about how Jesus revealed himself for his disciples after he had risen from the dead. I believe that it happened due to divine preparation:

After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time.
1 Cor 15:6

I believe that an encounter with the risen Jesus led to a change in the lives of the five hundred, because a meeting with Jesus does something with us if we meet him alone, or in a fellowship of more than 500. I my blog-reflections make people draw closer to a living Jesus, every day will be a D-day, because it will be a day that will make things happen. It is about me preparing myself.

‘Manna’ for today:

Today it is possible to meet with Jesus – alive!

---------------------------------------

It is about my 'Most Holy Place'

NORSK
It is already nine days since I wrote about the line starting with the Tabernacle leading to the Temple and from there to the living temple. After having spent time to reflect on the 'other' trinity, I now return to Paul's question:

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?
1 Cor 6:19

"Yes, I know!" - Because I believe it!

A truth revealed to me by God, is something I know. It is not always possible for me to explain it, but faith gives assurance also in matters which remain mysteries. In the moment Jesus died, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom (1). I believe this was a prophetic happening which should reveal to the world that through the death of Jesus all men (not just the elected High Priest) could receive access to God in His Most Holy Place. 

Let us use the method of “logic consequence” again or may be we should use the Brengle-term: “Sanctified Sanity”? If the Temple is an image of man, I believe the same happened in my “Sanctuary”. Even there the “curtain” was torn from top to bottom on Good Friday - Because of the wonderful work of salvation, I could now give God access to my Most Holy Place. 

In the very moment I accepted Christ into my life and received the miracle of salvation, The Holy Spirit took his dwelling in my Most Holy Place. That place is my spirit – or my “heart” which is a very common image used for the human spirit in the Scriptures.

You may think it is strange that I start the tour of my Sanctuary from the centre. But I am very consciously moving from within and outwards. Jesus said that “nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him 'unclean'” (2) only that which comes from within, out of men's hearts (3) can have such an effect.

It is my firm belief that this is argument is valid when we speak about personal holiness. None of my external activities can make my inner man holy, but what comes from the centre of my Sanctuary, from my heart, is holy if it is initiated by the Holy Spirit who lives there. The question is: Do I dare to invite Him from his “dwelling-place” to influence the whole Sanctuary?


'Manna' for today:

The Spirit lives in my most holy place. 

---------------------------------
(1) Mark 15:38
(2) Mark 7:18 in the context of a discourse of ”clean and unclean” vv 1-23
(3) Mark 7:21

It is about a tent

NORSK
Often I find that the search for my daily, ‘manna’ is confirmed by things happening around me. This week we are in Athens on a conference together with the leaders of all the territories in Europe. We run through a number of matters which are important focus areas for the Salvation Army, and every day starts with a Bible-study led by Commissioner Sylvia Cox. She leads us through the exiting story of the Tabernacle – a sacred tent and dwelling constructed in accordance with the instructions and measurements given to Moses by God. The Tabernacle was later to be substituted by the Temple, but I love the thought of the moveable tent. Like the Temple, the Tabernacle existed of three parts.

Paul wrote:

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
1 Cor 3:16 NKJV

This is probably one of the best illustration of “my image” as a follower of Jesus in the world – and I will use the temple/tabernacle in my reflections over several days, but today I want to focus on the movability:

“The cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out.”
Exodus 40:34-36

The cloud represents the Holy Spirit, who lives in my spirit. I just love the thought of being a tabernacle for him – a tabernacle that moves when he moves.

‘Manna’ for today:

Holiness is the readiness to move with the Spirit

---------------------------------------