Space for more fire?

After having emptied our fireplaces for ashes yesterday, I shared some thoughts with my Norwegian friends – and follow up with an English version on the first day of the New Year. Of course, taking out the ashes can happen several times during a year, but the frequency depends on how much the house and the fireplaces have been used. As I write this, I once again listen to the crackling of the flames in one of them, and the other two are ready for use when needed.

Looking back on 2018, there are a lot of ashes from both good and less good experiences. Although I love history, I want to be a person who lifts his eyes and looks forward; one who does not dwell so long with the issues of the past that there is no room for new initiatives, new fire and growth in the kingdom of God in the present.

Occasionally, I get distressed when I look at the framework we make for the mission in God's Kingdom. However, a framework can be both useful and important - they are fireplaces. 2018 will also be remembered for several serious fires in many different locations around the world due to fires that came out of control. God has given us frames to work within and the many of the church structures are put in place to support God’s fire. Perhaps the problem is not the framework or the structure, but the fact that the ashes tend to accumulate within the structures, not leaving space for more fire?

Don’t revel only in the past, or spend all your time recounting the victories of days gone by.Watch closely: I am preparing something new; it’s happening now, even as I speak, and you’re about to see it.Isaiah 43:18-19 (The Voice)

Have a blessed 2019!

An identity of passion

When I am using my mother tongue and want to ask a person what his passion is, I will ask: “What are you on fire for?” - I like that phrase. We are different personalities, however, you do not need to be an extrovert to be on fire for something. I know typical introverts who are very passionate in their fields of interest.

Last week I focused on the “tongues of fire” that came upon the disciples on the Day of Pentecost. If people have to move in the same direction towards a common goal they need to be able to communicate in a common language. The confusion of Babel is an example of what can happen when people do not understand one another (1). On the Day of Pentecost people received a tongue that surpasses the languages of Babel – all of a sudden they could understand. It was a unifying language of fire, of passion that opened insight into divine truths.

When I read about William Booth, I see a very passionate man. If I could have asked him what his passion was, I am sure he would have answered something like “The world for God!” or just “Souls!”. I am also convinced that this passion kept him moving towards that goal for the whole of his life. What I am on fire for will help me keep the momentum, keep me moving towards the goal.

Therefore, it is important for me to frequently check the ‘temperature’ of the fire in my life.

In the wilderness, the Israelites for a long period almost forgot that they were on the move towards a goal. And by the mount Horeb they had camped for so long that God had to recharge them again:

“You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Break camp and advance…”
Deuteronomy 1:6-7

Also the first disciples needed frequent refilling of The holy spirit to keep the fire burning (2) and move to with the Spirit. If they needed that, I need it too, because I need passion, I need the fire.

‘Manna’ for today:

I need fire to be on fire

--------------------------------
(1) Genesis 11:1-9
(2) Acts 4:31

Holy unrest - a time for everything *

NORSK
When I have chosen to concentrate on what the Bible writes about the period between Easter and Pentecost, my objective is primarily to discover how the pieces fell into place for the disciples. They learned some lessons by listening to the risen Jesus said and observing what he did, other insights they gained by personal experiences.

I have previously stopped for several aspects in the story about the two whom Jesus joined on the way to Emmaus, and there are more to be learned. “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over” was the argument the two disciples used to convince Jesus stay on. After it was revealed to them that their guest was Jesus, he disappeared from them. Then it is as though they were filled with a holy unrest:

“They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together”
Luke 24:33 

What they had experienced was so important that they had to find their friends at once. Then it was not any longer important that it was evening and a distance of 11 km to walk in the dark. It was a natural thing to do, although it was not necessarily the most reasonable thing to do. When there is a fire burning in the heart, that is more important than anything else.

I like the term 'holy unrest'. It makes us ordinary people start on a walk. It is not always we know where it ends, but if it is 'holy', it will always lead to a goal. And sometimes the walk itself is the goal because we walk together with others.

‘Manna' for today:

I want to walk calmly with holy unrest.

-------------------------------------
(1) Yes, it's me. Here descending from Gaustadtoppen.
* 'A time for everything' is connected with the Bible's teaching about a 'season for every activity' Eccl 3 This series is about the teaching in the time between Easter and Pentecost.

The discovery of the heart - a time for everything*

NORSK
The most exciting discovery of the two disciples in Emmaus, was not that they recognised Jesus when he broke the bread and their eyes were opened, but that they immediately reflected on something else of what they had experienced:

They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
Luke 24:32

There is something special about the inner affirmation. I think many Christians can identify with the description of how the heart was burning in presence of Jesus. When the heart is burning, and we recognize this 'feeling’ from previous experiences in the presence of Jesus, we do not need to see or hear anything as long as what we are experiencing is related to the ‘open Scriptures’.

The link to the open Scriptures is an important reminder, simply because an infatuation also can cause our hearts to burn. This has led to a lot of misery in situations where those involved have not been able to distinguish the two 'fires' from one another, and spiritual arguments have been used to satisfy human desire. This can lead to abuse of both spiritual and physical character.

It is an essential part of discipleship training to discern which is which of these signals and be sober so that we recognize the real Jesus. This is the third reflection about recognition – there will be more.

‘Manna’ for today:

My heart can help me recognising Jesus

-------------------------------------------------- 
* 'A time for everything' is connected with the Bible's teaching about a 'season for every activity'
 Eccl 3 This series is about the teaching in the time between Easter and Pentecost.

It is about fire

NORSK
In the tradition of The Salvation Army this image is not central just because it is our “motto”, but because “Blood and fire” represent important theological truths.

The connection between God’s presence and fire is evident in many of the narratives of the Old Testament. God revealed himself to Moses in the burning bush (1). When Moses received the directions for the activities in the Tabernacle, it was important that a constant fire should burn on the altar of the burnt-offering (2) – a symbol of God’s presence and the purifying of the sacrifice. Isaiah experienced to be purified when glowing coal from the altar touched his lips (3). Elijah – the prophet of fire – experienced how the consuming fire swallowed not only the sacrifice, but the whole altar on Mount Carmel (4), while it was a non-consuming chariot of fire that took him to heaven (5).

John the Baptist made a connection between the fire and the Holy Spirit when he presented and prophesied about Jesus:

…after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit
to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Matt 3:11

… and in the continuation of what we have already read from the Day of Pentecost:

They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 2:3-4

In our everyday language, we may say that a person has “a burning passion” for something. The fire of the Holy Spirit has just such an effect on those who receive him. The disciples who had locked the doors in fear for the Jews, would not even stop preaching when threatened, tortured and persecuted. Peter declared: “We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard" (7). They burned to share the gospel. It must have been how Jeremiah felt when he confessed:

But if I say, “I will not mention his word
or speak anymore in his name,”
his word is in my heart like a fire,
a fire shut up in my bones.
I am weary of holding it in;
indeed, I cannot.
Jer 20:19

Here we also see the clear connection between fire and language. No-one will manage keep the fire burning over time just with human enthusiasm. It is only the Holy Spirit that can keep me going.

‘Manna’ for today:

The fire keeps me burning.

-----------------------------------------------
(1) Exod 3:2
(2) Lev 6:8-13
(3) Jes 6:6-7
(4) 1 King 18:38
(5) 2 King 2
(6) John 20:19
(7) Apg 4:20
---------------

It is about language

NORSK
I believe that one of the most important images of the Holy Spirit is ‘language’. Few things can be more concrete than language, at the same time it may turn out 100% abstract. 

Language is the tool we use to communicate our thoughts. Therefore, language becomes closely attached to “identity”.

Language issues are central in many of the conflicts around the world, and the story of the tower of Babel illustrates that in an excellent way (1).

It is very important for me to have an identity as a child of God, an identity that I can recognize in brothers and sisters of the same faith. To strengthen this identity I need a language that can "explain the unexplainable”. The disciples were not able to explain the ‘mystery of Jesus’ before they had been filled with ‘tongues of fire’ – or may be even more correct ‘the language of burning love’.

When that happened (2), the 120 were immediately able to grasp and communicate what they had tried to understand during the three years they had walked with Jesus.

I have already written about this several times on the blog – e.g.:

• "Tongues" of fire 
• Identity and language

And now I am reminded about the following truth:

‘Manna’ for today:

The language of burning love, is the identity of the life of holiness

---------------------------------------------------
(1) The Tower of Babel - Gen 11:1-9
(2) They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
Acts 2:3