Knowing when it is time to tell - a step on the journey

NORSK
Two years ago we got the call notifying us that we were appointed to Eastern Europe. However, the ‘appointment’ was a secret until it was officially announced five days later; - which happened to be 1 April, and therefore, many people thought it was somebody playing ‘April-fool’. Still, it was good to be free to talk about the news to others than our closest family.

On the way up to Jerusalem, Jesus took a detour together with Peter, James and John up on a high mountain. There Jesus was transfigured in front of them. The strange vision also included Moses and Elijah; it was so special that Peter wanted to build three huts for them. Although I love doing carpentry I am puzzled by Peter’s crazy proposal; perhaps he thought that it was the only thing he could contribute with. Fortunately, he was interrupted by the voice of God speaking from a bright cloud, confirming that Jesus was his son.

Peter, James and John had been witnesses to a powerful revelation. But they had to return to reality, and reality is where the people are:

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
Matt 17:9

There is no point in telling about visions and spiritual experiences if it is not confirmed by the new life in Jesus Christ. I'll never forget a conversation I had when I 44 years ago was evangelising on the streets of Tromsø (Northern Norway). “I do not believe in what you say because 'you' say it” the young man whom I had approached replied, “but I believe it's true because I see what has happened with Gøril!" Gøril had experienced radical salvation in a meeting in the basement of the Salvation Army some months prior to my encounter with the young man. As a new creation in Christ, Gøril was a testimony of the new life to her old friends.

When I know that the new life lives in me and around me, I can boldly tell about what has happened, and people will believe it because the new life makes the words trustworthy.
 
Today 'manna':

I want to tell about the new life

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(1) Evangelising in the streets of Tromsø 1 May 1974 - yes, it is I who face the camera, and yes, the 'slumsister' gave me clothes that no-one else would wear - 'squares' were 'out' in 1974 - who cares (?) - and yes - I was able to tell about the new life through the loudspeaker I carry - and yes - I was alive in Christ and so were the people around me - many of them new Christians.

Fiery passion and intensity

NORSK
I have known about Martin Luther King’s famous speech: ‘I have a dream’ since I was a boy. In connection with the fact that he yesterday would have turned 88, a radio-channel honoured him with a reference to the speech. 
According to the information given, Luther King began by sharing important thoughts from a manuscript. After a while a person in the first row of more than 200.000 listeners suddenly called out: ‘Tell’em about your dream, Martin!’

King left his manuscript, and then followed one of the most celebrated speeches in history. I believe it became famous because it was driven not only by a dream, but by an intense passion. That which comes from the heart, will reach its target. When Paul wrote about the spiritual gifts, it was the gifts of the Spirit he had in mind. 

The Holy Spirit lives in the believer’s spirit, and in the Bible the human heart is often used as a synonym for the human spirit. When Paul instructed Timothy to focus on Scripture-reading, preaching and teaching, he was aware of the fact that all these activities can take place without the intense passion involved in the “releasing the Holy Spirit”. I believe that is why he continued in this way:

Don’t neglect the spiritual gift in you that was given through prophecy when the elders laid hands on you.
1 Tim 4:14

Paul reminded Timothy about this already in the introduction of this letter (1), and he did it again in the introduction of the second letter (2). This confirms how important it is to have this dimension when I live as a disciple and want to fulfil the mission given to me.

‘Manna’ for today:

The passion of the Holy Spirit is vital for the success of the mission

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(1) See: ‘Pass it on’
(2) See: ‘The mentor is clear and direct’

Important support functions in training of strength

NORSK
Paul gave a very clear message to Timothy about which areas he should focus on while he was in charge of the church at Ephesus:

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.
1 Tim 4:13 

It becomes clear that Timothy’s major function was to support those who had already come to faith in Jesus Christ, a function normally covered by the pastor. There is biblical support for saying that Timothy’s primary ministry gift, was to be an evangelist (1), and I believe that evangelist also was the role in which Paul flourished. Nevertheless, both he and Timothy were very busy consolidating the churches with all the painful consequences that had for them (2), and in this strengthening of the churches, these elements are important:

• the public reading of Scripture,
• preaching,
• teaching.

These are elements that also are important for my personal exercise to become stronger. The reading of Scripture and teaching are self-explicable. But I want to share some thoughts on “preaching”. The stem of the Greek word Paul used, is the stem of the name Jesus gave the Holy Spirit = Paraclete. The options for translation of this word, are multiple: Comforter, Advocate, Consoler, Encourager, Refresher, Intercessor, Helper and so on. 

The concept of the original word for preaching embraces all these qualities. That is why the pastor in all his functions is fully dependent upon the Spirit who gives life (3). The same dependence I have in my personal exercise.

‘Manna’ for today:

The Spirit gives life

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(1) 2 Tim 4:5 
(2) 2 Cor 11:28
(3) 2 Cor 3:6