Engaged for others

The last ten weeks I have focused on the call to ‘Be Ready’, which is the first part of General Brian Peddle’s ‘Call to Mission’ (1). Today I start with the call to ‘Be Engaged’ (2)

Here are some selected quotes with this focus:

“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen …”Isaiah 43:10a

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations …” says Jesus
Matthew 28:19a

“… we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” says Peter
Acts 4:20b

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” says John
Revelation 22:17a

“I shall endeavour to show, that Christianity is essentially a social religion; and to turn it into a solitary religion, is indeed to destroy it” says John Wesley (3)

‘Others!’ says William Booth – and that says it all.

‘Manna’ for today:

Saved to Save & Saved to Serve

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(1) Call to Mission - NOW!
(2) A CALL TO SERVE: Serving others must be our missional priority. We must value officership, local officership, soldiership, adherency and junior soldiership, recognising too that The Salvation Army’s many employees and volunteers are key to fulfilling our tasks.
A CALL TO WORSHIP: We should celebrate God’s redeeming love through our worship, seeking culturally-relevant ways to join together in praise and thanks., as we reach out to and welcome people.
A CALL TO CONFIDENCE IN THE GOSPEL: As we share the good news of the gospel, we must recognise its power for salvation and transformation. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, people can be released from everything that stops them reaching their God-given potential.

(3) In ‘No holiness, but social holiness’ in “Upon our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount” IV – Sermon XIX – i “Wesley’s Standard Sermons” Vol. I – Francis Asbury Press – Grand Rapids – 1955 s. 382

* The picture is the cover page of Harold Hill’s book – hereby recommended.

Prayer is more than 'just' asking

Last week I shared some thoughts about prayer and I included the message from General Brian Peddle with a call to prayer (1). If you read last week’s entry, you are likely to remember that I asked you to reflect on this verse during the week:

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Luke 11:9-10

Bible-readers will be familiar with these verses, but many think that they are three expressions of the same matter - a so-called 'pleonasm'. I think this presumption is a fallacy. Already in the first teaching about prayer, Jesus gave a clear message that prayer is much more than plain asking. Unfortunately, our prayers are very often limited to asking God for something. However, prayer is also about

Seeking

I really dislike seeking for things I cannot find, but I love to discover new things. Therefore, it becomes much more interesting to think that: Prayer is to be on a journey of discovery, and on this journey, I will all the time find discover new things that are important for my development. I learn more about God and more about myself. Moreover, prayer is about

Knocking

Jesus was very concerned about perseverance - also in prayer. The parable of the persistent widow is a typical example (2). I have often used the illustration of a game I sometimes played together with other kids when I was a boy – the name of the game was a rhyme in Norwegian, and I suppose the translation "knocking and mocking" will work in English. We simply knocked on a random door, ran, hid and imitated the look on the person's face when he understood that he had been tricked. Not very nice, but fun for kids…

Prayer is knocking on the God’s door and remaining by the door until it opens. In many ways, knocking takes place on both sides of the door (3). It is also part of praying that the Lord will enter the door of my heart. Fortunately, he too is persistent!

‘Manna’ for today:

I will keep knocking!

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(1) 'I believe we need to be ready for what God wants to do with us and through us. This is a call to prayer, a call to holiness and a call to be "battle-ready" now. There is an urgency to this call that cannot be ignored. Men, women and children need Jesus.'
(2) Luke 18:1-8
(3) Revelation 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
NB - this reflection is linked to General Brian Peddle's "Call to Mission - NOW"

Where is he? - a time for everything *

NORSK
When Jesus had the last intensive period of teaching together with his disciples just before his death, he said:

“In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”
John 16:16 

As usual, this statement made the disciples confused. They spoke among themselves, and as usual Jesus grasped the opportunity to explain once more what he had already told many times on their common journey up to Jerusalem.

Nevertheless, only after the resurrection, they started to understand what he really meant. How Jesus revealed himself became an important confirmation of the teaching he had given prior to the crucifixion, and as the wonderful pedagogue Jesus was (and is) (1), he used frequent repetition: He appeared and disappeared repeatedly during the 40 days leading up to the day he ascended to heaven.

I think he chose this strategy so that the disciples could understand that he is there all the time. When the Holy Spirit fell on the day of Pentecost, I believe they were finally convinced: Jesus is always with us.

‘Manna’ for today:

Jesus is always with me!

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(1) If you are interested to read more about Jesus as the 'pedagogue' - you can read a longer article HERE - unfortunately only available in google translate. 
* '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

The ‘AHA’ experience – a time for everything

NORSK
It is always a good experience when the pieces fall into place. Jesus knew this, and I think that is why he gave the disciples the extra 40 days of teaching after Easter. Luke, who ‘carefully investigated everything’ (1) to be able write his gospel, describes the ‘AHA’ experience of the disciples in this way:

“This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day”
Luke 24:44-46

I wonder what kind of material Lukas relied on when he wrote this interesting sentence: Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 

I choose to believe that it was the disciples' testimonies about how they suddenly saw the very important connection between the Scriptures, what had happened to Jesus and their own role in it all.

Perhaps the best way they could describe the 'AHA' experience, was to say that Jesus must have opened their minds?

For three years they had walked with him and tried to understand. When they did not understand, somehow they lost themselves in a way, because they chose to follow him despite of not understanding why. Once the pieces suddenly fell into place, they found themselves in a new insight, a new revelation, a new life (2). This was a very important preparation for the empowerment that should come in the near future, an event that also is anchored in the Scriptures. Christian faith without a Scriptural foundation is an impossible thought to me.

‘Manna’ for today:

I see the connection between the mission of Jesus and the Scriptures

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(1) Luke 1:3-4
(2) See: “Knowing what to ‘lose my life’ means”
* '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.  

Knowing that there is someone who sees more than I do - a step on the journey

NORSK
It's Good Friday and we are in a way at the destination for the journey up to Jerusalem. Along the way there has been ongoing teaching with a content the disciples had difficulties understanding. However, there was at least one who understood what was going to happen in Jerusalem: The woman who anointed Jesus. The disciples did not understand her actions either, so Jesus had to explain:

“When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
Matt 26:12-13

I am a disciple. I've lived with Jesus for many years. My knowledge and insight has grown, but at the same time the mystery has grown even bigger. I am not pretending to be humble when I say that people without the same knowledge and experience may have seen much more of the mystery of salvation in Christ than I do. Actually this truth is a part of the mystery, because such insight is something that can only be revealed with the help of the Holy Spirit.

The woman was preparing Jesus for the suffering he was about to enter into during Easter. Therefore, this anonymous woman is presented as an example when the gospel is preached. I think the disciples eventually understood it - otherwise it would not have become a part of the gospel. As I've written previously, it increases the credibility of the Bible that they admitted their mistakes. It's liberating to be allowed to confess our faults to God and fellow men - and it is exactly what happened at Calvary.

‘Manna for today:

I see enough of the mystery to grasp salvation!

Knowing what prayer is - a step on the journey

NORSK
It may be that some will think ‘Doesn’t everyone know what prayer is’? 

If you would ask if I know what prayer is, my answer is: ‘Yes, I know a little bit’. This is because the subject of prayer is boundless, and I have so much to learn about prayer and contemplation through living close to Jesus, and I also learn from other believers from the whole spectre of denominations.

Jesus touched many important topics when he taught his disciples as they walked up to Jerusalem, and I have constantly repeated that it does not take only one, but many steps to get to grips with each subject. It's definitely so when it comes to prayer. For me this journey has been long and it is not finished yet.

“…this kind does not go out except by prayer…”
Matt 17:21

Jesus gave this as part of the reason why the disciples ‘could not drive out’ a demon. Earlier in their ministry the disciples had been with Jesus while he was praying. Afterwards one of the disciples said: “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” (1)

Jesus answered by teaching them the Lord's Prayer, and continued:

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Luke 11: 9-10 (2)

Bible-readers will be familiar with these verses, but many think that they are three expressions of the same matter - a so-called 'pleonasm'. I think this presumption is a fallacy. Already in the first teaching about prayer, Jesus gave a clear message that prayer is so much more than 'just' asking, which very often will be what we limit our prayers to. However, prayer is also about

Seeking

I really dislike to seek for things I cannot find, but I love to discover new things. Therefore, it becomes much more interesting to think that: Prayer is to be on a journey of discovery, and on this journey I will all the time find discover new things that are important for my development. Moreover, prayer is about

Knocking

Jesus was very concerned about perseverance - also in prayer. The parable of the persistent widow is a typical example (3). I have often used the image of “Knock and run!” a game we sometimes played as children. We knocked on an unknown neighbour’s door, ran and hid.
Prayer is knocking on the door and remain by the door until it opens. In many ways, knocking takes place on both sides of the door (4). It is also part of praying that the Lord will enter me. Fortunately, he too is persistent!

‘Manna’ for today:

I have always more to learn about prayer

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(1) Luke 11:1
(2) Matt 7:7-8
(3) Luke 18:1-8
(4) Rev 3:20

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.

New Year’s Day

NORSK
Many enjoy the idea of starting afresh, and some see the first day of the New Year as an opportunity to do so. In God’s Kingdom every day is a New Year’s Day. The new life in Christ makes it possible to start afresh every day.

God is always making something new. The Creation-story is a manifestation of his creativity. One of the last promises in the Bible indicates the same:

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Rev 21:5

It is one of the attributes of God. It is part of being the great “I am”. He who always is, is he is making all everything new. That is valid today and every day:

* You crown the year with Your goodness.
And Your paths drip with abundance.
Psalm 65:11

‘Manna’ for today:

He who is making everything new is with me every day in the New Year!

May God’s blessing be part of every day of your life in the New Year.
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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!

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It is about spirit

NORSK

The headline seems obvious, but it is interesting how often we forget this truth when the subject is holiness. Our attention easily drifts to behaviour, but: Holiness is about God’s spirit and man’s spirit = my spirit.

Already on the first page of the Bible we read that:

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Gen 1:2 KJV

It was just this presence that was needed for creation of new life. Holiness is not something I do, holiness is something I live. That which is about spirit, is about life. It was the same life-giving spirit that breathed life in the first man, but that is the subject for tomorrow.

Today I realize that spirit is like a red lifeline through the Scriptures to the very last page where we see the influence of God’s Spirit upon his creation:

“The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.”
Rev 22:17

In this “Grand finale” it is interesting to note that the mission of the Spirit and the bride has become “one” – one of the aims of holiness has reached is fulfilment!

‘Manna’ for today:

Holiness is something I live

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It is about the beginning

NORSK
When I drink of the well of holiness, it is always good to go to the beginning. God is the beginning and the end of everything. He is the "alpha and omega". The subject of holiness must therefore have as a prerequisite that God himself is holy. There is a solid biblical evidence for claiming the holiness of God – e.g.:

1. It is God’s personal testimony:

The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.'”
Lev 19:1-2

2. Angels and spiritual creatures confess that God is holy

Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."
Rev 4:8

3. People perceive Him as holy

"Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."
Isa. 6:5

“… he who called you is holy …”
1 Pet 1:15 

Every word about holiness rests on the fact that God – the beginning – is holy.
 
‘Manna’ for today

It is very a good start!

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