The important last promise - a time for everything *

NORSK
Yesterday I reflected for the last important lesson embedded in what Jesus did in the moment before he was taken up into heaven. If we combine Luke's account of the ascension of Jesus in the gospel with his version of the narrative in Acts, we see that just before Jesus blessed the disciples, he gave this promise:

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you
Acts 1:8

Jesus made it clear that the disciples should wait until they were equipped with the power of the Holy Spirit before they started the mission.

I used to wonder why Jesus didn’t just give them the Holy Spirit before he left them. I choose to believe that it was because he wanted the disciples to long for the promise to be fulfilled - the desire for it to happen should not only be owned by Jesus, but also shared by the 11 and their 109 friends. I believe that this is the reason why they were given ten days entirely on their own to reflect on everything they had learned.

The free will is "holy" to God because it is part of his image in us. Therefore, we must desire whatever God wants to give us.

‘Manna’ for today:

I want the power of the Holy Spirit to come upon me

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* '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

Is 'upon' an important word? - a time for everything *

NORSK
When I was young, I had lots of questions about the Holy Spirit. I read books and spoke with experienced disciples and discovered that many focused on the importance of the Spirit coming upon us. There is substantial Biblical support for such thoughts, and we find it in a verse I have already quoted a couple of times in this series of reflections:

And look, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you.
Luke 24:49a

When I surrendered to Jesus and invited him into my life at the age of 14, the Holy Spirit moved into my spirit. I believe that all who have received Jesus have also received the Holy Spirit. With the Spirit in us, we are new creatures and as such we are able to recognize the Holy Spirit when he comes upon us.

I have definitely had many experiences of the Holy Spirit coming 'upon' me both in solitude and in fellowship with many others. This can be very different in expressions and intensity, but even when the expression is unknown, the Holy Spirit can be recognized by the fruit – the presence of divine love. If what the Father has promised comes from on high, it may not be so strange that it will come ‘upon’ us. Paul urged us to search for it:

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above”
Col 3:1a

The disciples also had to seek for that which was promised and they waited for it for ten days. For Paul, being raised with Christ is synonym with being a new creature. It shows that seeking for that which is promised to come ‘over’ me is an invitation that is still valid even though I live in a good relationship with the Lord.

‘Manna’ for today

I want the Holy Spirit to come over me!

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* '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 ime between Easter and Pentecost

Well-dressed - a time for everything *

NORSK
Today, Norway celebrates the National Day.

May be the way my home country celebrates the 17th of May is the most unique with the country. What I like the most with the celebration is to see all the people in national costumes. The girls in our family have had costumes for many years and this year I could have been participating for the first time in my new outfit; however, today I am home in Moldova and happy to be here.

I admit that I felt well-dressed last Sunday when I used the costume for the first time in Adam's confirmation. Nor do I hide the fact that I like to use the Salvation Army uniform even though I belong to those who liked the old uniform with a stand up collar even better. Since the photo with the national costumes was posted two days ago, today's photo will have to serve the purpose of illustrating well-dressed people.

But there is a ‘clothing’ that is even more important than uniforms and national costumed, and I see this in this verse:

“I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
Luke 24:49

The original word, here translated ‘clothed’, actually means ‘sinking into a garment’. I like this idea. I am well-dressed in the ministry when I have sunk down and been clothed in power from on high. Without it, neither uniforms nor national costumes are worth mentioning. The ‘clothing from on high’ is an 'armour' for the good fight, and then it is acceptable to translate like my favourite Norwegian translation does in this case: ‘armoured with power’. It was important for Jesus to prepare the disciples for this event in the period between Easter and Pentecost.

‘Manna’ for today:

I will dress for the good fight!

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* '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 ime between Easter and Pentecost

Knowing what authority is - a step on the journey

NORSK

The abuse of authority has done much damage in many churches. When the Salvation Army draws attention to accountability on all levels, the abuse of power is one of the areas where a framework is put in place for reducing the possibility of abuse to happen. However, an authority that springs from a love of God and people can fortunately be used for the purpose of something good and constructive:

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Matt 16:19

Peter had seen Jesus use authority in the best manner. He bound the evil forces and set free those who were bound by them. Jesus often spoke about power, and the power that was given to him:

For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.
John 17:2

I think it is this authority Jesus conveys to Peter. When I was interviewed for the article "Prayer of salvation" which will be published in Krigsropet # 18, Marit Dehli quotes me in this way:

When he prays the prayer of salvation with a seeker, he confirms for the person what has happened:
- “When you now have prayed, you have become a child of God. You are a disciple of Jesus”, I say. “The most important confirmation is the inner certainty that the Holy Spirit gives. This affirmation can come instantly or as a sunrise”.

Being able to provide such confirmations is an integral part of the authority that Jesus gives to his disciples. I want to use this kind of spiritual authority to build people up.

Today 'manna'

Spiritual authority is given for the purpose of affirmation

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Join in suffering!

In Christian faith there are many mysteries, and suffering is one of them. Although Pa­ul, through his ministry saw many people healed from diseases and different kinds of suffering, he was very clear that he did not consider the life of a disciple to be a life without suffering. He had experienced a lot of suffering, persecution and torture, but also physical suffering caused by disease (1). 

In his letters to Timothy, Paul touched this theme several times, even as an encouragement to join in suffering as a part of the mission:

“join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.” 2 Timothy 1:8b

The big difference between suffering in general and the suffering Paul wrote about, is that it is linked to the gospel, and the gospel is linked with power. After his salvation, Paul never doubted the power of the Gospel (2). Facing suffering, or the "thorn in the flesh", which is probably a reference to all the persecution he endured, he experienced that "power is made perfect in weakness" (3).

Many people have made the same experience. They are never stronger than when they are weak. I have also been there. It's a strange place to be, but God is there.

'Manna' for today:

I am strong when I am weak.

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(1) Gal 4:13-14
(2) Rom 1:16
(3) 2 Cor 12:9

The Spirit … gives us power

NORSK
Like many Christians, I have experienced how real the power of the Spirit is. Yet it is easy to forget the importance of this resource when I live as Jesus’ disciple in the world. In fact, in God’s kingdom no lasting fruit will occur without the presence of God the Holy Spirit.

Some years back some municipalities in Norway had become very wealthy through production of hydro-power. However, rich wants more, so the local politicians decided to take up huge loans with security in future income. The loans were invested in international hedge funds. By doing so, they simultaneously gave away the control of how investments were allocated and spent. They lost huge sums when the financial crisis hit the United States and subsequently the rest of the world in the autumn of 2008. In the sequence of few minutes the former richest municipalities (per capita) in my home-country, had become the poorest.  

During my life I have met many Christians who resemble these hydro-power municipalities. Basically, they are rich in an unlimited resource of always available renewable energy, but they seem to forget it and continue to gamble with the hope of potential proceeds from other sources. Most Christians have not utilized more than a fraction of the potential of the renewable power source the third person in the Godhead represents.

I think that was why it was important for Paul to remind Timothy that:

“the Spirit God gave us … gives us power”
2 Tim 1:7 

Paul wrote much about the power of the Spirit. He reminded the Ephesians about God’s “incomparably great power for us who believe … the power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms”. Ephesians 1:19-20

I do not hesitate to admit that I receive power and inspiration from other sources as well. E.g. I love music and much of the music is inspiring and gives me strength. However, neither music nor anything else, should ever get in the way of Him who creates and sustains all life.

The most important thing a mentor can do, is to remind the disciple on the primary source of all life - the power source is God Himself.
 
'Manna' for today:

The Holy Spirit is the primary power source!

“When my spirit grows faint”

NORSK
Psalm 142 was yesterday’s text on our ‘Bible Reading Plan’. David wrote his psalms and prayers under all kinds of circumstances. This particular prayer was written when he fled Saul’s persecution and hid in a cave. He had all reasons to be depressed and to lose heart, but he wrote:

When my spirit grows faint within me,
it is you who watch over my way.
Psalm 142:3

It is a strong testimony of trust in the midst of hostility.
May be Timothy found himself in a similar situation when Paul wrote:

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
2 Tim 1:7 

David was young when he was in the cave. Timothy was young when he was left with the responsibility for the church at Ephesus. Both of them carried the blessing and the burden of a calling and anointing on their lives, as do all disciples of Jesus Christ at all times.

Therefore, I need to be reminded about the fact that God:

• watches over my way
• gives power, love and self-discipline

With regard to the study of Paul’s mentoring of Timothy, I have already focused on both love (1) and self-discipline (2), but tomorrow I will look closer at power.

‘Manna’ for today:

God watches over my way!

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(1) See e.g. “The goal of the mission defined” and “A smile on the arena of love”
(2) See e.g. “Godless myths” and “It is about lifestyle”