“I am a move of God!”

Last week God blessed us richly during the Officers’ Development Conference in Eastern Europe. The last time all officers in the territory took part in this kind of event was in 2013, so it was great to have an opportunity to meet in this way. Anointed by The holy spirit, our guests, Commissioners Heidi and Brad Bailey, shared from their knowledge, experience and hearts in a way that moved us all. The theme for the conference was related to our focus on momentum, and in one of the sessions Commissioner Brad shared this quote from William Booth:

“I am not waiting for a move of God; I am a move of God!”

A vital part of the DNA of a disciple of Jesus is captured in this statement. God is the impulse, and a disciple moves on that impulse and becomes ‘a move of God’!

Paul was very clear that his identity is in Christ, but also focused on the fact that Christ lived in him:

… it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Gal 2:20

During the conference last week, we used the song “We are Jesus in our time!” (1), which I wrote in 2014 together with Commissioner Dick Krommenhoek (2). The text tries to capture the mystery that you and I are his body in the world today and the radical conclusion is that we therefore become ‘Jesus’ in our time right where we are.

On the day of Pentecost God moved in such a way that I do not need to wait for another move. When we have received The holy spirit, he lives in us and we can all say:

‘Manna’ for today:

I am a move of God!

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(1) Jesus in our time

When Jesus comes to town and passes down my local street, 
Will my neighbours even notice the event?
Yet there's an awesome mystery that all believers meet:
It is me, it is me he has sent!

Our Master has a strategy,quite radical, by far:We are 'Jesus' (3x) In our time, Where we are.

When Jesus takes the risk of using me and you today,
I can hardly understand it, but he dares!
Thank God, he's also promised he will guide us on our way,
So I know, so I know that he cares.

When Jesus asks me to reveal his love for all to see,
Will my answer be reliable and true?
'When I walk through your town' he asks 'wherever you may be,
Will they see, will they see me in you?'

(2) Link to the sheet music

Why me? - a time for everything *

NORSK
It has happened more than once that I have asked God: “Why me?”. The question has come both in gratefulness to the boundless mercy and blessings I have received, like expressed in Kris Kristofferson's song: ‘Why me Lord what have I ever done to deserve one of the pleasures I've known?’ (1). 

Other times, the question has come when I have felt the burden of the mission: “Why me?”. Sometimes both feelings are present at the same time, like in the challenge I believe the disciples experienced when Jesus had clarified the mission. They must have known both the blessing and the burden of the huge task Jesus was entrusting them, and maybe Jesus sensed their thoughts and the question “Why me?” and simply answered: Because:

You are witnesses of these things.
Luke 24:48

I have witnessed that the gospel is true. I have witnessed that what Jesus did, brings salvation even today. To discover this is of course a great blessing, which I realise that I have not deserved. However, it makes me a witness, and with the status of a witness follows a responsibility: I have to share my experience with others.

‘Manna’ for today:

I am a witness of these things!

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(1) Kris Kristoffersen - you can hear his own testimony and the song HERE
* '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 the value of my soul - a step on the journey

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If my soul is worth more than the whole world, the same value must also apply to every individual soul. It means that the soul is irreplaceable, and Jesus put it all in perspective:

What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?    

Matt 16:26

I do not know if the Norwegian artist Ole Paus was thinking about this verse when he several years ago said: ‘We have it all, but that's all we have’. Anyway it belongs in under the same label, and at least two prime-ministers have used the quote in their sermons to the nation. The theme is familiar and it appears frequently in old evangelical songs, like “I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold; I'd rather be His than have riches untold”

Jesus himself had to resist the temptation (1), and preserved his soul through worshiping and serving the Lord God. Materialism has a huge influence on us humans, and unfortunately a Christian confession does not always include the virtue of "godliness with contentment". When Paul wrote on this subject to Timothy, he warned even against those who 'believe godliness is a means of gain' (2).

With all my heart I want to quote:

'Manna' for today

 My soul is not for sale!

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(1) Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

Matthew 4:8-9

(2) see the reflection: “…and along comes the money issue”

Where do you belong? - 1

I will follow up the question from yesterday’s reflection on the “most important Christmas-song” (1).

My dear father-in-law left behind a number of 8mm film coils with takes  of family events from a couple of decades. When we watched it a few years back, it was hours on end of family-members waving to the camera. 
It occurred to me that I had come into a family belonging to the "wavers' land". 

When the Norwegian Prime Minister, Erna Solberg, was on an official visit to USA, President Obama made a speech and joked with the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation’s productions of “slow TV”. I was only able to watch a few glimpses of "The Coastal Steamer minute by minute". It contained a lot of beautiful scenery and even more people waving. So, I have finally realized that I actually live in the "wavers’ land". We wave when we go apart and we wave when we are not close enough for a hug. Therefore, waving in many ways symbolises distance. 

Distance was the characteristic of the relationship between God and man before Jesus came. God was a distant figure. Worship was a kind of “waving” from a distance. 

By becoming man, God transformed his relationship with men completely. He went from distance to presence. The Christmas mystery is God’s presence in the lives of people (2).

'Manna' for today:

I belong in God's presence

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(1) The idea with this song is to give answers that can be acted out while dancing around the tree. The first example is “I belong to the wavers’ land, because everyone who can wave their hand, they belong to the wavers’ land.”

(2) But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Eph 2:13

It is about the good circle

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As a child, I used all my volume when I sang “Jesus wants me for a sunbeam” and the song taught me that it would happen by me trying to please him in every way. It was a good song to sing.

However, if the song is used in combination with e.g.: “O be careful little eyes what you see”, I am not sure that it necessarily leaves children with a correct image of God. 

The challenge is even bigger in Norwegian. In our version “the Father up above” translates well, while the next line stops with “he is looking down” and skips “in love” because love needs two extra syllables in Norwegian. Two syllables can make a lot of difference.

I am sure that the intentions of the translator were good, and the Biblical truth is still there. The point is that the base, which must be the experience and understanding of God who is boundless in love and grace, needs to be built first. It is the sequence of things that is important - a matter of concern even for Paul:

“..since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God..”
Col 1:9-10

As I grow older my understanding of how much I am loved has been steadily growing, and that experience has become the motivation for my longing to please the Lord, not just a little, but in every way. I believe that the result will be that I bear more fruit and grow in my knowledge of him. This will please both him, and me, and I find myself in “a good circle” – also called the process of holiness.

‘Manna’ for today:

Holiness is about the good circle

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It is about values worth living and dying for

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A couple of weeks back I wrote about “Faithfulness” and I used my granddad as an example. He was also very faithful when opportunity was given to testify, and he very often used the same verses and illustrations. For this reason, many of his family members still remember what he said. I can still “hear” him quoting the following verse from a Scandinavian song:

Fight for all that you hold dear
Die if necessary
Life is then worth living here
Death - no adversary. (1)

As a little boy, I thought the words were very dramatic, but after a while, I grasped the content. Unfortunately, the situation in the world, with suicide-bombing and terror, has made it problematic to write: “It is good to have values that are worth dying for”. All the same, I will stand firm on the statement: I will rather die believing that love will overcome evil, than to meet evil with evil. I have written similar things earlier (2). 

However, today it is about values worth living FOR:

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labour; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.
Phil 1:21-22

Paul longed to be with Christ in eternity. At the same time, he was motivated by the fact that to continue to live here on earth would mean “fruit from his labour” – holy fruit, in his own life and from his life through people who would receive new life in Christ. To bear fruit is a motivation for my life here on earth. It is a God given and holy motivation.

‘Manna’ for today:

Holiness is about labour that bears fruit

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(1) I apologize for the translation, but I have not been able to trace an English translation of:
Kjemp for alt hva du har kjært,
dø om så det gjelder!
Da er livet ei så svært,
døden ikke heller.
(2) Only available in "google translate": "Derfor er kjærligheten mitt 'våpen' mot terror" og "Vi er i kamp"

It is about purity

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Yesterday I mentioned that the restoration of the image of God was an important focus for Catherine Booth. Both she and her husband always had a strong focus on holiness: 

“Next to the word salvation the word most often on the lips of Salvationists is the word holiness. Even before there was a Salvation Army the two people destined, under God, to be its founders, were concerned with this second word.” (1)
 
For William Booth, holiness is purity. “A pure heart will ensure a Holy Life!” he stated in the 4th chapter of his book “Purity of heart” (2) – the tittle confirms his focus. Purity is ensured through complete deliverance:

“Hunger and thirst after all inward and outward righteousness with God and before Him is natural to the spiritual man. And the possibility of complete deliverance must, whatever be his opinion, interest him and deserve his most careful attention…. It means happiness… Holiness… means usefulness.” (3)

If David did not know the importance of purity of heart before his great fall, he knew it then. He lost both his hapiness and usefulness, and I believe he also knew that he was about to lose the anointing he needed to remain a king if he did not repent. In his psalm of repentance, he prays: 

“Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me”
Psalm 51:10

Holiness is the focus of William Booth's best known songs “O, boundless salvation” (4) and “Thou Christ of burning, cleansing flame, Send the fire” (5). Booth also wrote the following even before our movement had taken the name 'The Salvation Army':
  
“It (holiness) stands on the forefront of our doctrines. We write it on our banners. It is in no shape or form an open debatable question as to whether God can sanctify wholly, whether Jesus does save his people from their sins...” (6)

'Manna' for today: 

Holiness is about purity of heart

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(1) Frederick Coutts: “The Splendour of Holiness” SP&S 1988 p. 75
(2) William Booth in “The Founder Speaks again” SP&S 1960 p 20
(3) William Booth: “How far can I be saved?” The War Cry, March 13 1880
(4) O boundless salvation - #509 in The Song Book of TSA 2015 - I have written about the theology of the song HERE - unfortunately it is only available in google-translate in English.
(5) Thou Christ of burning... - #326 in The Song Book of TSA 2015 - I have written about the theology of the song HERE - unfortunately it is only available in google-translate in English.
NB See this prayer in verse 2 'To burn up every trace of sin, To bring the light and glory in....send the fire!'
(6) William Booth: “Holiness” The Christian Mission Magazine, August 1877 p 193

It is about small glimpses

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When John wrote: “there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” (1), I do not think that it was the physical acts of Jesus John was referring to. 

Even if the relatively short life of Jesus was eventful and packed with remarkable stories, I do not think that it was an impossible task to compile it all in a couple of volumes. I think John saw the spiritual mystery, and like Paul (2), he realized that we only see and grasp a glimpse of it. It is comforting that even a glimpse is enough to grasp the core of the mystery. At that moment, I also make the recognition that this is something that exceeds all the books the world can contain.

The same is the true with regard to the mystery of “Holiness”. Over the last couple of days I have written about being loved back to the original image of God, and how beautiful that is. I am also aware that the real image of God, in which we were created, also gives a small glimpse of what holiness is, but I am convinced that it is very important glimpse. Many share this view. Chick Yuill, who himself has written several books on holiness, concludes that essence and goal of Catherine Booth’s holiness-teaching is “the restoration of the image” (3). I agree with Chick's conclusion.

Yesterday I used one of Albert Orsborn’s choruses. I am sure it would be possible to find songs to illustrate most of the aspects of holiness (4), and today I will quote part of a verse by the Norwegian poet and SA-officer H. A. Tandberg. These lines made a strong impression on me as a young Christian – and still do (please excuse my poor translation):

Therefore, God's face I'll be seeking
till I'm transformed by his grace,
and his own image's remaking
deep in my heart can take place. (5)

So, I feel the need to pray like David:

When You said, “Seek My face,”
My heart said to You,
“Your face, Lord, I will seek.”
Psalm 27:8

‘Manna’ for today:

Holiness is about constant glimpses of God’s face.

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(1) Joh 21:25
(2) For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 1 Cor 13:12
(3) Chick Yuill in: Clifford Kew ed.: “Catherine Booth – Her Continuing Relevance” IHQ 1990 p 52
(4) ...and I will for a few days more.
(5) The original text in Norwegian is found in: "FAs Sangbok" 2010 - #340

It is about beauty

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As a follow up of yesterday’s reflection on the principle of love that affects us in such a way that we become beautiful, I will write about beauty related to a chorus.

Albert Orsborn was the 6th General of The Salvation Army, and a gifted song-writer. For a long period he wrote one new song per week, and many of his songs are still used all over the world. Several of his songs will fit under the label “Holiness”, that is definitely true with regard to this chorus:

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,
All his wonderful passion and purity,
O thou Spirit divine,
all my nature refine,
Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me. (1)

It is impossible to describe the “inner beauty” because there are no objective parameters to measure by. Yet, I never doubt that it is real and authentic when I 'see' it in many of my fellow men (2). 
Artists very often chose to portray Jesus as beautiful, while Isaiah prophesied that he ‘was despised, and we held him in low esteem’ (3). This does not mean that the artists are wrong, their desire may be to catch what John wrote:

We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14b

I believe that this glory is the “inner beauty”, a beauty saturated with grace and truth. For me truth is a synonym to authenticity. This can be illustrated by the translators’ choice of words when Jesus described Nathanael – some prefer to use ‘true’, others ‘real’ and so on. Still, it is something beautiful, and I combination with grace it represents a love that can embrace the whole world.

‘Manna’ for today:

Holiness is about beauty

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(1) Orsborn wrote this song in 1922.
(2) The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Rom 8:16
(3) Isa 53:3