Advent – on earth and in heaven

Over the last three weeks I have focused on the process waiting and longing to see Our Father’s kingdom come and his will be done. This is a prayer that ties heaven and earth together:

Your Kingdom come
Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Matt 6:10

In a few days’ time we will celebrate that heaven and earth met in a manger in Bethlehem more than 2000 year ago. God’s kingdom came, his will was made clear on earth as it was in heaven.

The incarnation – the fact that the ‘word became flesh’ – ‘God became man’ (1), was the first real meeting-point between heaven and earth. So when the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, why did he include a prayer that had already been fulfilled the day he himself was born?

Because the fulfilment of that prayer needs to be repeated again and again until Christ returns at the end of time. The only way it can happen is through heaven meeting earth in the incarnation of the Word becoming flesh, however with a ‘face’ of our present day.

This miracle of incarnation happens every time I, like any born again believer, see that I live in Christ and He lives in me. Then God’s kingdom comes, salvation for all men in Jesus is proclaimed so that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Every time I study the Lord’s prayer, I am reminded of its perfection. It is saturated with matters of importance. The part ‘Let your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven!’ is even a ful surrender to his will and salvation. When we pray in this way, there is Advent on earth and in heaven because more of God’s Kingdom will come.

‘Manna’ for today:

Let every heart prepare Him room! (2)

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(1) John 1:14

(2) Line from “Joy to the world!"

Advent – more to wait for!

When I last week asked the question “What am I waiting for?” – I answered “Your kingdom come!”.
Of course this links very well with the forthcoming celebration of the coming of the King of kings.

However, it must not stop with the celebration of the coming of Christ more than 2000 years ago; or with the coming of Christ in and through his body of believers today. Until Christ returns at the end of time, what I will be waiting and longing for is covered in the prayer:

“Your will be done!”
Matthew 6:10

The good news about what the will of God is, was made known by the angel at the birth of Jesus:

“a Saviour has been born to you!”
Luke 2:11

The whole purpose with “Christmas” was to give the world a Saviour so that “whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”(1). When the first Christians prayed the Lord’s prayer, they knew that the greatest desire of God is that: “God our Saviour, … wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth”(2).

When I am waiting for God’s will to be done, it is a challenge when I already know what his will is. It would be simpler if I didn’t know and could ask him what it was. I cannot ask him to save the world, because he has already done it. The challenge is that so many people in the world do not know this truth. When I know the will of God and that he has already done his part, I am the closest one to do something with what I know. When I in advent-expectations pray: “Your will be done!” it is very likely that solution is found in the

‘Manna’ for today:

Sometimes I have the key to the answer to a prayer in my own heart.

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(1) John 3:16b
(2) 1 Timothy 2:4

What am I waiting for?

The question is relevant at all times, and for my part, it always gets a special focus in the Advent-season. The word Advent is borrowed from Latin (1) and describes a time when something first comes or appears. It is a time when Christians focus on the coming of Christ. Traditionally, this will be linked to the celebration of his first coming in combination with the expectation of his second coming.

Of course this also my focus; however, I will in this blog and the following reflections in Advent share what I am waiting for and longing to see. The longing is expressed in the Lord’s prayer:

“Your kingdom come!”
Matthew 6:10

In a time when the ‘kingdoms’ of this earth again are experiencing the rise of nationalism resulting in enmity, martial laws, breeches of agreements and treaties; in a time when human rights are heavily under attack and the sanctity of life seems to be a forgotten concept; in a time when wars and embargos are causing small children starving to death; in such a time I am not only praying but also crying out: “Our Father, let your kingdom come!”

When the King of kings stood in front of Pilate, he came with this statement:

“My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” John 18:36

You and I represent this kingdom. Our mission has all to do with this kingdom. And in reality it is already here:

“The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
Luke 17:20-21

So when I pray “Your kingdom come”, I also realize that the

‘manna’ for today is:

The kingdom of God is in our midst.

I am waiting and longing to see more of its effect.
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(1) Latin = Adventus

What drives me?

It is a very interesting question, and many Christian authors have addressed it. Gordon MacDonald contrasts to be driven with being called (1). He definitely has a point – a called person follows the Master; a driven person can run ahead of Him. God never drives anybody against their own will; however, I can be so ambitious on God’s behalf that it can wear me out. There is also something positive with having a drive. Rick Warren has written about the importance of being driven by a purpose (2).

Ten months ago I wrote about “Four factors influencing movement” and mentioned “Passion” as the first driving force. This week I have been studying Nehemiah and his leadership once again. The first quality I see in his leadership, is that he was driven by a passion.

When Nehemiah received the news that the Jews who had survived the exile and returned to Jerusalem were in great trouble and disgrace because of the state of the city, his heart was filled grief, but also with burning passion (3). With the passion, came a kind of conviction that this was now his responsibility. If you are passionate about something, you have to be involved yourself, you cannot sit and only watch others being involved. Genuine passion will drive me into action, and that is a good thing.

We find this passion in ground-breaking spiritual leaders. Passion drove Jesus to the cross. It made Paul write:

For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, the people of Israel.
Rom 9:3-4a

In other words, Paul was willing to sacrifice his own salvation if it could save his own people. A similar passion can be seen in people like John Knox who prayed: “Give me Scotland, least I die”.

It made Catherine Booth cry: “Never!” when the leaders of the church put restrictions on William’s ministry. It made the old William Booth proclaim in his last sermon: “I will fight to the very end!”

‘Manna’ for today:

I want to be driven by my passion for Jesus

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(1) Gordon MacDonald: “Ordering your private world”
(2) Rick Warren: “Purposedriven Life” & “Purposedriven Church”
(3) Nehemiah 1:4

Why am I here?

A philosopher will say that this is a typical existential question, and I agree. However, I will not focus on the existential side of the question today. In light of the theme: “Momentum” (1), the question simply relates to the fact that I am serving God in Eastern Europe Territory today, and have done so for some years.

Last weekend we were together with people who are considering the calling to become an officer in The Salvation Army, and we reflected on many subjects linked to the calling. In the final meeting on Sunday morning, I preached on the most important pre-condition of all: 

Availability. 

When I prepared for the sermon I realized that I could have chosen a huge number of Biblical texts that support the importance of availability. I ended up with using the brief narrative about the calling of Levi:

After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.
Luke 5:27-28

I don’t think that Jesus primarily was looking for a tax collector or any other particular skills when he was creating his team of disciples. He was looking for people who were available. People ready to move with the calling. In the ‘Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard’ (2), the landowner did not ask for qualifications when he went to hire workers in his vineyard. He hired those who were available at ‘any hour of the day’. I believe God is constantly looking for available people. The Bible tells us that he does not always succeed. “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.” (3) When Jesus called Levi, he was available and he showed his availability through immediately responding to the calling by getting up, leaving everything behind and following Jesus.

That I am available is the main reason why I am here and I thank God for the opportunity. In the everyday life of my ministry in this exciting part of the world, I want to be available for the prompting of the Spirit at ‘any hour of the day’. I wish for the same for all my brothers and sisters sharing the same ministry!

‘Manna’ for today:

Here I am Lord – available!

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(1) Momentum – the movement caused by the impulse from The holy spirit is the theme for 2018 in Eastern Europe Territory.
(2) Matthew 20:1-16
(3) Ezekiel 22:30

I am my Father’s favourite!

How can that be when he has so many children?

Actually my Father is the ‘Father of all’. That is how Paul concludes his list of aspects that unites us in one Spirit (1). When Paul comes with this statement, I am convinced that he is not limiting ‘all’ to ‘all believers’, I believe he includes every individual human being on this earth. In the same letter he writes about the unity of the Spirit, he has already stated that the Father of our Lord Jesus is also:

“the perfect Father of every father and child in heaven and on the earth.”
Epf 3:15

I have met many people, also believers, who struggle with the image of God as the ‘perfect Father’. Very often this discomfort derives from bad experience caused by a distant or abusive earthly father who was far from perfect. God the Father sets the standard for what a good father is – and even a good earthly father would never be able to give more than a brief glimpse of what the ‘perfect Father’ is like. Because the ‘perfect Father’ has the capacity to embrace all children. Further:

“…to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
John 1:12

So when a person has received Jesus Christ into his life, he has become a child of God, and as such he is also God’s favourite. It will never happen that the ‘Perfect Father’ will favour one child over another, because he knows that to favour one would disturb the unity of the Spirit, and that is exactly what God wants to see in his children. He wants us to sing with David:

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!
Psalm 133:1

…and move forward as One Army, with One Message and One Mission.

‘Manna’ for today:

I love to share my Father with all!

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(1) ….keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, Ephesians 4:3-6

‘One’ God!

At the time of Jesus, confessing ‘one’ God was part of the upbringing for all Jews. There may be several reasons for Paul bringing this aspect into his teaching about unity in the Spirit (1), and I think the most important is that the consequence of this confession is that: There is only ‘one’ God that should be worshiped! Jesus reminded Satan about this when he was tempted by him in the wilderness (2). 

It is a great threat to unity when ‘worship’ goes astray and focuses on other sources. Even the worship activity can easily be a goal in itself and replace God. When Paul wrote to the church in Corinth and addressed how the church was divided, one of the issues was that they focused on the ’instruments’ the Lord had used to lead them to faith, rather than ‘worshiping’ the one and only God (3). If they had been united in the worship of 'one' God, they would have known that Apollos, Cephas and Paul were nothing but God’s instruments.

My great desire is to serve the Lord and be His instrument. From time to time I need confirmation that he uses me as his tool; however, it stops there, I do not want to stand in his way – actually it is one of the few things I really fear. Through the years, I have witnessed how some of his instruments have received more attention than the Lord.

Maybe it should be an eye-opener for us that stars within popular music are called ‘idols’ and are more or less worshiped by their ‘fans’? The ‘stars’ even take part in competitions to become the greatest ‘idol’ of the year. I cannot deny that I admire some of them including many of the great worship-leaders, because they are very good and sincere musicians. However, for me there is only one God worthy of my worship.

‘Manna’ for today: 

I will worship the Lord my God
And I will serve him only.

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(1) ….keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God – Ephesians 4:3-6
(2) For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ – Matthew 4:10
(3) 1 Cor 1:12-13

What is the 'one' baptism?

Immediately it may seem equally difficult to find an answer to what the ‘one’

baptism is, as it is to find answers to what the ‘one’ faith is. Looking at the discussions that have taken place through the history of the church, it often narrows down to a question about infant Christening or adult baptism, and whether the rituals should be perceived as symbolic or if the ‘act of grace’ happens in the ritual elements or in the ritual act itself.

Paul actually referred to several types of baptism. He asked the disciples in Ephesus what kind of baptism they had received. When Paul learned that it was John’s baptism, he spoke to them and the result was that they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (1). Following this, Paul laid his hands upon them and they were baptized in the Holy Spirit.

When Paul referred to the ancestors, he wrote that ‘they were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea’ (2). This indicates that baptism is a transition into a new phase of life with a new direction.

In his teaching on keeping the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (3) where he also writes about one baptism, I do not think Paul neither had the baptism in the water or the baptism of the Holy Spirit in mind. I believe he solely thought about the fact that we are ‘baptized into the death of Jesus’. This baptism is the ‘one’ and same for all born again believers. How the different churches choose to celebrate this is subordinate to the fact that ‘we have been united with him in a death like his’ (4). Jesus also spoke about his own death as a baptism (5).

I believe that the context of ‘one’ baptism strengthens this interpretation. The ‘one’ hope assumes that I have grown into Christ in a death that is like him, so that I also will be united with him in a resurrection like his (6). Because, if I claim to have ‘one’ Lord, this can only happen after my ego has died with him to enable me to live in him. In view of this I can only see one real baptism. How churches choose to symbolize this is without any value if it does not lead people into living the resurrection life as new creatures in Christ Jesus.

‘Manna’ for today:

There is only ‘one’ baptism that unites us with Christ and with one another.

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(1) Acts 19:3-4
(2) 1 Corinthians 10:2
(3) Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism... Ephesians 4:3-5
(4) Romans 6:3-4
(5) Luke 12:50
(6) Romans 6:5
* Thanks to Bodil Østergreen for letting me use this picture of the cross she bought in Assisi. On FB she writes: God stretches out his hand to you. You can choose whether you want to accept God's hand and stretch your hand to your fellow human beings.

What is the ‘one’ faith?

Is the ‘one’ faith identical to the Apostles’ Creed, the doctrines of TSA, the Lutheran Formula of Concord, the Anglican Book of Common prayers, or is it the canonical scripture and sacred tradition, as interpreted by the magisterium of the Catholic Church?

When Paul wrote about the unity in ‘one body’ with ‘one faith’, none of the creeds existed, therefore the answer to what the ‘one’ faith is, has to be found somewhere else. It does not become easier if we look at the definition of the Christian faith made by the World Council of Churches (1), or a similar definition made by the Evangelical Alliance (2).

The older I get, the simpler I need it; and when I read Paul, I think that for him the ‘one faith’ could only be: “The faith that saves!”. A number of verses from Paul’s writings could be quoted to support this. One example is the verse which made Luther come with the statement “Faith alone” (3): “in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last”. However, in light of the context of the ‘one Lord’ in the reflection last week, these verses really add up the content of ‘one faith’:

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
Rom 10:9-10

I am not implying that this is simple to grasp with our human intellect. It will forever remain a mystery. But for those who believe, it is as simple as that.

‘Manna’ for today:

There is only ‘one’ faith that can save me

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(1) See: The Lima document 
(2) See: The Lausanne Covenant
(3) Romans 1:17- For lovers of Latin: “Sola fide” is the word theologians use to say “Faith alone”.

One Lord!

When you and I were called and responded with a ‘Yes!’ to the calling, we also said ‘Yes!’ to ‘one’ body, ‘one’ Spirit and ‘one’ hope. However, to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace, also implies the acceptance of the fact there is only ‘one’ Lord. It was an imperative for Paul to remind his readers that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (1).

If we have surrendered to ‘one’ Lord, unity should be a logical consequence. Even though Paul does not explicitly writes this, I sense that it is ‘written’ between the lines. I have often used the following simple illustration:

If Jesus is in the center and I want to get as close as possible to the center, I will also come closer to all his followers who have the same desire. With this in mind, I wonder if lack of unity between Christians can be a sign that Jesus is not any longer the one and only Lord?

With ‘other’ lords, I do not limit 'lords' to e.g. Mammon (2) or a ‘lord’ that takes domination by causing an unhealthy addiction – the ‘lord’ can simply be myself because I can become the center of my own attention and will do it ‘my way’. My inclination is to take control over my own life. It may even sometimes prove to be safer and more predictable than leaving the control to the one and only Lord and let him lead me wherever it suits him best.

I believe Jesus is so focused on unity that he wants me to surrender what I regard as my indisputable right, so that the unity with other believers is not broken. It is not so hard when I remember all the experiences of the truth that “all things work together for good to those who love God” (3)

‘Manna’ for today:

If Jesus is not my 'one and only Lord', I will lose the momentum in my calling.

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(1) Phil 2:11
(2) “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Matthew 6:24
(3) Rom 8:28

The last that dies…

I have heard it many times before, however it was special to hear it the context of a meeting with prisoners serving life-sentences in Moldova – a country where ‘life-sentence’ is literally a sentence for the rest of the life.

When I spoke with the inmates, I said: “I see hope in your eyes, don’t ever lose it!”. The response from several of them was immediate: “The hope is the last that dies!”

I also learned that many of them shared the same ‘one hope’ in which I have found my salvation. We are in the same ‘one body’:

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;
Eph 4:4

There is a lot of hope in the world and it can often be like undefined expectations of something better. In a spiritual Christian context there is in reality only ONE hope. This does not mean that we should not work for the best of our communities, cities and countries – on the contrary, we are encouraged to do so: “Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper” (Jer 29:7). This is 100% in line with how we view our mission as a Salvation Army and the concept “Salvation for both worlds”. However, even the salvation in this world is bound to the ONE hope.

In Paul's mind, hope is something that stands forever and is synonymous with an ever-existing future. Moreover, hope is so strongly linked to Jesus that he wrote:

For in this hope we were saved.
Romans 8:24

For Paul, there is no salvation outside of Christ, so the one hope is also synonymous with Christ alone.

‘Manna’ for today:

United in Christ in ONE hope.

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One Spirit

After a long break, I return with my weekly blog, and I continue with reflections on walking ‘worthy of the calling we have received’ as one body.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;
Eph 4:4

The last entry with posting in six languages was on the last day of June. In the time since then many things have happened in my life. During our homeland-furlough I was able to spend much time together with my family and my father before it was pleasing to God to promote him to glory. It was also good to be able to conduct his funeral and celebrate his life before we returned to office this week.

My father was not only my dad, he was an officer-colleague, a dear brother in Christ, and an intercessor on whom I could count in hard times as well as one who could rejoice with me when we saw the God’s intervening hand in our own lives as well as other people’s lives and situations. We were of the same Spirit, the one Spirit. Even in the struggles on his death-bed I sensed the confirmation Paul described in this way:

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
Rom 8:16

I am so grateful to God that this kind of relationship can be found with every born again believer. Sometimes nothing needs to be said, we just know that we are of the One and same Spirit – we are the body of Christ.

‘Manna’ for today:

As one in one Spirit, we can make Jesus known to the whole world. 

What can I learn from my fingers…

… when I want to learn more about the fruit of walking in and with peace?

The question may seem irrelevant but it is important!
When Paul continues his teaching about walking ‘worthy of the calling we have received’, the first fruit of walking in and with peace is that we become “one” body:

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;
Eph 4:4 

The logic is clear. If we are called to the one and same hope, we also belong to the one and same body, filled with the one and same Spirit.

So what can I learn from my fingers?

I learn that even though my little fingers do not look alike, and are not always functioning equally well, they are part of the one and same body. There is no use for Mr Rightfinger to be proud because he looks better or functions better than Mr. Leftfinger. Fortunately, I know that Mr Rightfinger does not think that way, because I am the head of my body and my spirit rules in it.

I could have used my knees as example as well, but they are not as photogene as my fingers, and today it is hard to distinguish one from the other. 40 years ago my right knee was badly damaged in a car crash. It affected the whole body, however, Mr. Leftknee did not blame Mr. Rightknee.

On the contrary he took on himself much of the burden and assisted Mr. Rightknee in restoring much of his function. Two years ago the tables turned when Mr. Leftknee was injured in a terrorist attack. If it wasn’t because of Mr. Rightknee I don’t think I would have been walking today. He carried the burden, and still helps Mr. Leftknee to stretch when he is in a bad mood and threatens to hurt the body.

You can learn a lot about the fruit of walking in and with peace by listening to your own body. You have only one, so take care of it. As a believer you belong to one body, so take care of it. We need one another both in weakness and strength. To know this and act in accordance with this insight, is part of walking worthy of our calling.

‘Manna’ for today:

Called to one hope in one body filled with one Spirit.

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NB There will be a pause in the blogging in six languages for three months. The next posting in this series will take place on 6 Oct 18. Have a blessed summer and take good care of the body.

Walking in and with peace!

I love to greet people with ‘peace’. In Norway people look at me whit a smile when I do it, however, in Eastern Europe it is a good tradition shared by many. We find peace among the attributes on Paul's list of what he considers a walk ‘worthy of the calling we have received’:

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Eph 4:3

I had not been a follower of Christ very long when I discovered that the most prominent characteristic of the devil is his use of the strategy to “divide and conquer”. Unity is the soul of any fellowship. When unity is broken, the fellowship will fall apart.

What can we do to keep the unity of the Spirit?

In his book “Purpose Driven Life”, Rick Warren comes with the following advice:

• Focus on what we have in common, not on the differences 
• Be realistic in expectations (no fellowship is perfect) 
• Choose encouragement instead of criticism 
• Refuse to listen to gossip 
• Support the leaders 
• Practice God's method of conflict resolution (1) 

Paul’s advice to the Romans is in the same spirit:

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
Rom 14:19

‘Manna’ for today:

I want to make every effort to walk in and with peace!

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(1) Matt 18:15-17a

Vitamins for a healthy walk

The phrase “less is more” fits well in several settings. A vicar in the Norwegian church visited Jeløy Folkhighschool (1) when I was a teacher there almost 30 years ago. Addressing a large group of teenage students, he first shared some brief thoughts on how important it is to be gentle and kind to one another. Then he rushed to close with an even briefer prayer:

Dear Lord - If you still perform miracles, please make us kind! Amen

…and then he left the auditorium. I will always remember the effect of this simple, short prayer.

I think all human beings like when people are gentle and kind; so why then is it so difficult? 

Is it because it takes a miracle from God?

The qualities are on Paul’s list of attributes found in Christ which will make our walk on earth worthy the calling we have received:

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Eph 4:2

So simple, yet so difficult that it takes a miracle. I know that it takes a miracle, because I tried for several years to perform as outlined, and it did not work! So I gave up and stopped pretending and discovered that God has already performed the miracle. He has made the impossible possible in Christ. Like Paul, I wish I did not do things I do not want to do (2); however, there is still no condemnation in Christ (3) – because in and from Him there flows a stream of constant new life that comes with his gentleness and overbearing love.

‘Manna’ for today:

Thank you Lord - for the miracle!

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(1) Jeløy Folkhighschool is owned and run by The Salvation Army in Norway
(2) Rom 7:19
(3) Rom 8:1

Learning how to walk

I love to move around on foot. Therefore, I cherish walking instead of driving a car. When I add some running, the benefit is that I keep fit. The principles are the same in God’s Kingdom.

The three first chapters in Paul’s letter to Ephesians are very much focused on my status or position in Christ. Paul wanted to make sure that his readers know their position. When I know where I “sit”, I am ready to raise and start walking:

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called…
Eph 4:1

The word Paul uses in Greek literally means ‘walking’. However, it is also possible to use ‘living’, which many translations of the Bible prefer in the verse above.

There are a lot of similarities between ‘living’ and ‘walking’. I live because I am alive. I don’t have to tell my heart to beat or my lungs to draw the breath – it is all part of being alive. Likewise, when I have learned to walk, I do not need to think about how I stand up and start to move my legs to get the correct movement to reach my destination. I only need to know where I am going, simply because the ‘art of walking’ is an integrated part of my life.

When Paul beseech me to walk and live worthy of the calling with which I was called, he continues to outline what he sees this to be. When you read it (1), you will discover that he makes a list of the attributes of Jesus. It is all about walking like Jesus in the world today. That is the normal Christian life (2). It is impossible without him, yet he will not do it without us. When we start walking in this way, it becomes an integral part of us – we do it without thinking about it, or even knowing about it (3). We will look at several of these attributes of walking in the weeks to come.

‘Manna’ for today:

Learning how to walk – like Christ

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(1) Eph 4:1-16

(2) “The Normal Christian Life” is another book of Watchman Nee – the author of “Sit, Walk, Stand”. Nee’s books have meant a lot for me on my personal spiritual journey. 

(3) “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? …” Matthew 25:37-40

Knowing who I am

When we were installed as territorial leaders in Eastern Europe territory in January 2018, I said the following in my sermon: “If I do not know who I am and why I am here, I am a danger for the mission of The Salvation Army!”

You cannot go into a spiritual battle without knowing who you are and why you are in the battle. That is why the Bible contains so much teaching about the identity in Christ and the mission we are called to be a part of.

This matter is Paul’s main focus in the letter to the Ephesians. He starts with describing our identity in Christ and continues to teach about what this means in practice for the mission. Finally, he writes about how this equips us for being able to stand in the spiritual battle. Watchman Nee has taken the essence of Ephesians and presented it as three important step in spiritual development. His book is “Sit, Walk, Stand!” and ‘sitting’ has all to do with the identity = our status in Christ:

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:6 (1)

Some years ago, a man who was possessed with evil came so close to me that his nose touched my nose. There had been no conversation between us, yet he swore and cursed me and said I was a man of the devil. Because I know who I am in Christ, I could calmly speak to the evil spirit and said: “You know who I am. You know that I am in Christ and that there is nothing you can do to me!” 

The man screamed and waved his arms so that my glasses were thrown to the pavement, and then the man ran off. I was unhurt and even my glasses were OK. It was not a pleasant experience, however, it was good to see that even though the evil spirits are ‘liars’ like their ‘father’ (2), they know what is true when you confront them with truth. When we know who we are in Christ, we can do what James encourages us to do: 

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7

‘Manna’ for today:

Jesus is the truth and he is stronger than the ‘father of lies’ (2)

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(1) If you read Eph 1:1-14, please notice how many times Paul writes “in Christ”, “in Him” ….
(2) When he (the devil) lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
John 8:44

Fit for mission

In my last two blogs I have used the chess game as an illustration for spiritual warfare – and I take the chance to use it again:

The # 1 ranked chess-player in the world and reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen (1) says that he needs to be fit to win his games. Therefore, he does a lot of mental and physical training and exercising to be ready and fit for the fight.

When I now continue to use the chess game in the context of spiritual warfare, to be fit for that mission is synonym with being fit for fight. In several of his letters, Paul likened the mission with being in a fight or in a race on a sports-arena:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2 Tim 4:7

In this fight we use the ‘weapon’ of good to defeat evil:

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Rom 12:21

Further, Paul stresses that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil. To do be able to go to this battle, we need to be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power (2). Very often principles that are valid in a physical context will also be applicable in the spiritual sphere, also this has Paul expressed:

While physical training has some value, training in holy living is useful for everything. It has promise for this life now and the life to come.
1 Tim 4:8

If I want to train for a half-marathon, I can use an app to set up a training program to prepare for the race. In the weeks ahead, I will share some thoughts about what “training in holy living” can mean in practical terms. However, the program starts with knowing who I am in Jesus Christ, and it ends with knowing that he lives in me.

‘Manna’ for today:

Fit for mission requires training in holy living.

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(1) It is not important, but I like to tell that Magnus is from Norway
(2) Eph 6:10-12

The unpredictable move

Ten years ago, I was called to preach at the Youth Congress in Norway. The theme for the Congress was ‘Ground-breaking’ – and since I was preaching in three meetings, I decided to preach on ground-breaking faith, hope and love. Stine, who was in charge of decorations for the hall had asked me for ideas, and I suggested that she could use the three symbols: Cross, Anchor and Heart – however, I also said that she could feel free to do as the “Spirit leads”.

A couple days before the Congress, I felt a strong urge to use a game of chess as an illustration-base for my preaching without changing the content of the sermons. I wished that I had received this inspiration earlier so that I could have informed Stine about this option. Now it was too late.

When I entered the hall for the first meeting, I was struck with awe, because the scene was decorated with a big chess-board and elements related to the game. When I found Stine, I asked “How did you know?” – tears filled her eyes, and she said: “I felt led by the Spirit!”

If you want to win a game of chess against an experienced player, you need to make unpredictable moves. In spiritual warfare we have an experienced counterpart, and therefore the leading of the Spirit is indispensable. Jesus focused on this in his conversation with Nicodemus:

“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
John 3:8

When we let the Spirit lead us, the devil is scared because our moves become unpredictable. He knows that from his own experience. He thought it was a good move to kill the King. However, in doing so he sealed his own fate. Because the King conquered death and rose again to bring new life. By his Holy Spirit the King gives life to whosoever want to become his child. Now these children are flooding the world’s chess-board to overcome evil with good with unpredictable moves.

‘Manna’ for today:

As the Spirit leads! *

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* This blog is posted on the day The Salvation Army farewells the General and welcomes The High Council that next week will elect the next General to lead our mission. Please pray that it will be as the Spirit leads! The Welcome to the High Council and Farewell to the General and Commissioner Cox will be streamed live at sar.my/facebook or sar.my/highcouncil2018 at 3.30 BST (GMT+1)

‘…without us God will not’

The headline is the last part of St. Augustine’s famous saying:

‘Without God we cannot, but without us God will not!’

There is substantial Biblical support for the first part of the quote. In the parable of the vine Jesus focused on the importance of bearing fruit and stated:

apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:5b

There is no doubt that God can without us. When the Pharisees asked Jesus to rebuke the disciples who praised him when he entered Jerusalem on Palm-Sunday, Jesus answered:

“Listen—if they were silent, the very rocks would start to shout!”
Luke 19:40

However, Augustine was right, God wants to work in us and through us (1). Many years back I listen to a devotion by Bill Himes on the proclamation “No rock is going to cry in my place!” – a man who has dedicated all his talents and all that he is to God, has credibility when he makes a statement like that (2). William Booth had the same conviction and dedication, that is why he could say: “I am a move of God!”.

When I think about “a move of God”, a chess-board is the first image that pops up in my mind. During my first year at the Training College in 1974, the second year Cadets of the Soldiers of the Cross session prepared a drama for their commissioning in Royal Albert Hall. The drama followed the music of the piece "The Holy War" (3) played by The International Staff Band, while the cadets acted a game of chess symbolising the fight between good and evil. 

The performance was powerful. However, the spiritual war is not a performance, it is real. Without God we cannot, without us God will not. We are a move of God in the world in our time, and that means war with the weapons of love. The terrible beauty of the cross, is its testimony about love conquering evil. That testimony is still the content of God's moving in and through his followers 2000 later.

‘Manna’ for today:

A move of God, will always be a move of love.

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(1) See: The revolutionary third move
(2) Bill Himes is a composer and song-writer. His song “All that I am” is sung all over the world.
(3) Brass-enthusiasts will know this beautiful and demanding piece of Ray Steadman Allen written for the Salvation Army’s Centenary Celebration in 1965.