Kill someone else's Giant

2 Sam 21:15  … and David waxed faint. 16And Ishbi–benob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David. 17But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him…

In this story we find David, fainting and getting tired. He is almost killed by a giant, but Abishai saved him by killing the giant. This he did because David had showed him it was possible to kill Giants. When David killed Goliath, he was killing someone else’s Giant. Goliath was not his problem. It was King Saul’s problem. It was the army’s problem. No one expected anything from David. He could have gone home, without anyone thinking he did something wrong. But he made it into his problem, and his issue. He killed someone else’s Giant. Because of that, at the end of his life, someone else is killing his giant.
If you help killing others Giants, and help others in their crisis, then someone else will come to your rescue when you have your crises. If you help pray for others cancer, and others family problems wit faith and passion, others will pray for you and help you when you get sick or need a miracle.

Your Spiritual wardrobe

Gal 3:8But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

12Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

When we go out, we are always very careful how we look. We take a look into our wardrobe, and ask ourselves what we should wear. Sometimes we complain, feeling we don’t have anything nice to wear, because we want to look good when other people shall see us. 

What about the clothes that God can see? What about the spiritual clothes the angels see? How do we look spiritually? The Greek word that is translated “put on” here in Galatians is the same word for putting on clothes. So the idea of putting off the old man, and putting on the new is to take off the “clothes of the old man” like anger, wrath, malice, filthy communication etc. We have received a new spiritual wardrobe. One with beautiful clothes like, kindness, humbleness, mercy, meekness etc. Next time you go out, take a look into your spiritual wardrobe as well, and make sure you look as nice inside, as you do on the outside.

What about when we go to church? We want to have something nice and special to put on. Do we have spiritual “church clothes” as well? Clothes that we suppose to wear to church? The answer is yes!

Is 61:3To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

When we go to church, we put on the garment of Praise. It is a choice and act of will to put it on. No matter how my week has been. I speak to myself and say: Bless the Lord oh my soul…. Then I put on the garments of Praise. 

Don’t let your new Spiritual wardrobe be unused. 

Thy walls are continually before me

Is 49:16Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

The interesting thing is that when Isaiah wrote this, the walls of Jerusalem was torn down. They were in ruins. The city was burned down, the temple destroyed, and the walls were in ruins. Even though, God says: Thy walls are continually before me. Why is God saying that? I believe God is saying to Jerusalem that when I see you, I don’t see what everyone else see. I see what I will make of you. I see you, as you will be when I am through with you. I see what you will become.
When God sees his church, he doesn’t see the defeats or the failures. He doesn’t see or focus on when we are down and defeated by the enemy. He sees us for what we shall become. He sees something in us that no one else sees. When he found us, he likened it to a treasure. He likened it to a pearl.
One day, the Bible says he will present to himself a bride without spot and without blemish. Some will shine like the sun, some like the moon, and some like the stars. That’s when he is done with us. So when God says; thy walls are continually before me, he is saying that when I see you, I see what I will make you. Have a blessed day, and know God see something great and beautiful in you!

When the laughter is silenced

Luk 6:22  Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

23  Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

25  Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

Many of us have experienced to been made fun of, and mocked for our faith. Sometimes the mockers are unbelievers and atheists, and other times the mockers are other religious people. Jesus tells us to rejoice, because the coin will turn one day. They that laugh now, will morn then. There will come a time when the laughter is silenced.

They laughed at Nehemiah when he started to build on the walls. They stopped laughing when he finished it in 52 days…

They laughed at Noah, when he build the boat. They stopped laughing when it started to rain

The brothers of Joseph laughed at him, when he was at the bottom of the well. They stopped laughing when they bowed to the world leader in Egypt.

They laughed at Jesus when he carried his cross to Calvary. They stopped laughing when he was raised from the dead.

Let them laugh at you now. Let them mock. But one day their laughter will be silenced as well. The trumpet shall sound, and we shall be taken away. When this earth is going to face, not the rain but the fire from heaven. No on will laugh then.

One day we will come back to reign for a thousand years. No one will laugh then.

Release the angels

Gen 18:22And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord.

23And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

This is from the story when three men came to visit Abraham. We understand that two of these men were angels, while the third was God himself. When Abraham drew near unto God, the two angels went towards Sodom, the very city where Abrahams nephew and family lived. Abrham started to pray and plead for his family. At the same time as Abraham is near unto God, praying for his family, the two angels comes to Lots house, and help to rescue them from the judgment that came upon Sodom. 

What we learn from this story is that if we will draw closer to God, he will send out angels to protect and draw on our family. If you have backslidden family members, or family that lives too close to the world, the best thing you can do for them, is to draw near to God. It is to pray for them. You release heavenly agents. 

The angels can be a preacher, or a Pastor. Writing to the Pastors of the different churches in Asia Minor, John uses the word Angel.
You empower the angel, or messenger on your families life by drawing near unto God. Bringing God closer in YOUR life, brings the ANGELS closer in your families life. 

The way God looks at me

Luk 22:61And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

62And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

There is a Sunday school song I don’t really like. It is the song that says: Be careful little eye what you see, be careful little eye what you see. For your Father up above is looking down in love… Even though it says love, I get the picture of a Father looking down to punish us if we fall. Like he is watching and looking after our mistakes. That is not the way God is looking at us. God is looking at us with eyes of forgiveness. He is looking at us to restore, and to give hope. Jesus was not outside the window looking when the woman was taken in adultery. That’s where the accuser where. He was rather looking, when she fell on her knees, feeling condemned, repenting and regretting her mistake. Then he looked on her with eyes of love and forgiveness. He said, neither do I condemn you. Go away and sin no more. When the eyes of Jesus met the eyes of Peter after his mistake they were communicating love. Notice when Peter and Jesus met, there was never a question if Jesus still loved Peter. The only question that needed to be answered was if Peter loved Jesus. Peter already knew that Jesus loved him. Jesus had already communicated that with his eyes.
If Jesus is looking down from heaven, is not with a warning for us not to fall. But rather an encouragement to get up if you fall. It is not the fear of punishment that makes me want to serve him, but rather the inspiration from his love. The way he looks at me.

I am a friend of God

1 Chr 27:33And Ahithophel was the king's counsellor: and Hushai the Archite was the king's companion

In this chapter we find a long list over the names of the different leaders with their responsibilities in David’s Kingdom. Verses 1-15 list all the names of the Captains in the army. Verses 16-22 list all the names of the Princes of each tribe in Israel. Verses 25-31 list all the names of the rulers over King David’s property. Finally we find the names of his counselors, and his general. Among all of these great men, with their huge responsibility we find the name of Hushai. The Bible says he was the Kings companion. The Norwegian version says friend. He was the Kings friend. 

It is good to be a Pastor. To be an evangelist or an Apostle is important and responsible ministries. The entire five-fold ministry is needed in the church. We need worship leaders, and Sunday school teachers. But the greatest title anyone can have in Gods Kingdom is to be called the Friend of God.

There are so many things God is for us, and his many names shows all the attributes God has. He is our Counselor when we need counsel. He is our Healer when we need healing. He is the Mighty God when we need a miracle. He is our Father when we need comfort, and he is the Rock when we need something to stand on. He is the Living bread when we are hungry, and the Living water when we are thirsty.
But sometimes, I believe God desires not only to be something we need, but only be a friend. Not someone we try to get something from, but one we just desire to have fellowship with and be with. I just enjoy being in his presence. I AM HIS FRIEND, more than anything else.

Who do you want to make happy? Heaven or Hell?

Luk 15:7 I say unto you that likewise joy shall be in Heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Mic 7:8 Rejoice not against me o mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness the Lord shall be a light unto me.

In our lives journey, we have spectators following us from two arenas, one in heaven and one in Hell. They are watching our every move. When we make a mistake and fall, Hell is throwing a party. They are rejoicing. But when I repent, and get back up again, Heaven is throwing a party and rejoices. The question we need to ask ourselves is whom we want to make happy. Where do we want them to rejoice? Micah makes it very clear in his book. Don’t rejoice too long Hell, because I am about to make Heaven rejoice instead. I refuse to allow my mistakes to give Hell any excuse to party. Heb 12:1 says: Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us…

Sin makes you fall, and the weight is the condemnation that keeps you down. So its like God is saying: Hey, you have an arena full of supporters that are cheering for you. So get back up, and lay aside this weight. There is therefore no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.

If you listen carefully, you can hear the sound of joy as your supporters are cheering for you. When you fall, they shout from heaven: Get back up, get back up. No reason to stay down. You can do it through Christ.

Who do you want to make Happy? Heaven or Hell?

We need more testimonies

Joh 9 25

He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

The blind man said; I might not be able to answer your difficult questions. I don’t know so much theology. But I do know one thing. I was blind, and now I see.
I may not be able to answer questions in a debate. I may not be able to explain deep theological truths…. But I can do one thing. I can testify. I can testify what the Lord has done for me. That is something no one can take away from me.
The one thing God has given us to overcome the Devil is NOT our knowledge or wisdom. But it is our TESTIMONY. I have heard statistics tells us that 90 % of the people we will win for Christ, we win the first year we are saved. That’s when we lean on our testimony, and not so much on our knowledge. It seems to indicate that the more we lean on knowledge, the less effective in our soul winning. Even though knowledge is good and important, its something that is more important. More than knowledge we need more experiences. We need more stories to tell. We need more testimonies. That’s how we overcome the enemy.

A willing God

Matt 8:2And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

3And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

The leper man had no doubt that Jesus was able to heal him. He was convinced of Jesus power to heal. It was Jesus willingness he was unsure of. He’s question was not if Jesus was able, but if Jesus was willing.
Most of us believe that Jesus can do anything and that nothing is impossible for him. It is his willingness we doubt. I believe every testimony I hear. I don’t doubt your experience or your miracle. I am just uncertain that God will do it for me.
Let me encourage you and tell you that my God is both able and willing. When Jesus met the woman at the well, he gaver her this testimony: 

John 4 10Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

If you really knew me, and you knew about the gift I want to give you, you would have asked, and I WOULD have given thee. The reason we don’t ask is because we really don’t know him. If we knew that in him there is YES and AMEN, we would have asked. And if we ask, we would receive. Why? Because he is a willing God.

Dont let your family define you

2 Sam 21:20And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant.

21And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimeah the brother of David slew him.

Jonathan was the Son of Shimea, one of David’s brothers. He was one of the brothers who were afraid of Goliath. One who feared Giants. But here is Jonathan his son, killing a Giant. He had not allowed his Fathers fear and doubt to dictate who he would become.
He was also the brother of Jonadab, the one who deceived Amnon into raping David’s daughter. The one who’s advice got Amnon killed. He could have become a deceiver like his brother, or a coward like his father, but instead he became a giant killer and hero like his uncle David.
You don’t have to let your family define you. You don’t have to allow your upbringing, or home environment decide who you will become. Find a good and true role model, and make up your mind. I will be a man of God. I will be a woman of God. I will be a threat to powers and principalities in my city. I will be a giant killer!!!

Leaders example

2 Sam 6:6And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzza put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.

7And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzza; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God

My first thought reading this was, why did Uzza touch the ark? He was a Levite, and he should have known the law? The Levites were responsible for moving the ark, and it had some very strict rules on how to do it. First of all, it should have been carried, and not on a wagon. But most importantly, the law stated NOT to touch the ark. They that touched the ark should die. So why did he take the chance and touched it?

Uzza was the son of Abinadab, the man where the ark had stayed. Maybe he had been to much familiar with it? But I think that rather the reason is influence from bad leadership. He had seen a King that thought it was not so important to follow every thing God said. He saw King Saul making the sacrifice instead of waiting for the Prophet. He saw King Saul saving the best animals after the war with the Amalekites, when instructed to kill them all. For all around it seemed like this happened without consequences. So maybe he thought it not so important to follow Gods word in every little detail.
How vital and important to have the right kind of leadership, that will teach you the fear of God and his word. A leadership that shows the way by example, and inspires followers to do the same.
What kind of example are you? What is your life saying to those around you?

Are you a willing vessel?

2 Chron34But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests

The Norwegian version says “more willing heart” to sanctify themselves… 

In order for them to do the work needed they had to sanctify themselves. They had just come out of en era where they had worshipped idols, and lived in an unclean way. When King Hezekiah found the book of the covenant, he ordered a cleansing of both the Temple, and the priesthood. However the cleansing of the priests took a longer time, because of their unwillingness to sanctify themselves. The Bible doesn’t give details what this unwillingness was, or where they argued and thought, that this is probably not so necessary. But the word of God was very clear about the state anyone dealing with the offerings and the altar should be. Then the Levites came to the rescue. For they had a more upright heart, or a more willing heart to be sanctified? Are you one that argues and question every step of Gods holiness process? Are you one that loves the world more than you love God? Or are you one that says, I live no longer myself. My life is in your hands God. Take me and make into what you want. I want to be used by you. God help us that we are willing to be sanctified, so that when God needs us, we are ready to be used. Because, when we fall, and live in sin, it doesn’t just affect us, but also the ones we were suppose to minister to that we are not ready for. My prayer for today is that God doesn’t send anyone or use anyone for the job that I was suppose to do. 

I am going through, not settling down

4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me

Even though Psalm 23 is a Psalm that describes the life of someone being led by God, and following his direction, we find here that he is in the valley of the shadow of death. Surely God didn’t lead him there? How could he end up in this valley, when he was following the voice of his Sheppard? The truth is that we are not excused from this valley. Where the dark shadows of death is hanging over us. We all go through valleys in our life. But the two key words here are through and with. I am not alone in this valley. Someone is with me and leading me. And I am NOT settling down here. I am going THROUGH. Too many people settle down in the valley. They end up settling down, and feed their grief, or pain for the rest of their life.
If you are in a valley right now, then, say to yourself; I am not here to stay. I am only going THROUGH. If I listen to the one that are with me, he will lead me out of it. I am coming out. Paul said it this way to the Corinthian church. Our light afflictions, which is but for a moment…  They are not permanent. This too shall pass. 

Are you an influencer or are you being influenced

2 Cron 24:2 Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years of Jehoiada the priest…

The Norwegian version says, “AS LONG as Jehoiada the priest lived.”
This was a good testimony for the priest. He must have had a very influential relationship with the King. I pray that I can be the kind of man that is influencing others to live for God. I pray that my life is inspiring and influencing others to make the right decisions. 

The King on the other hand is not one I want to be like. I don’t want my choices, and decisions in life to be depending on other people’s opinion, or approval. When Israel started to depart from God, and make wrong choices, Joshua stood in front of his tent saying: Choose today who you want to serve, but for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. He didn’t wait to see what the others would choose. He didn’t ask anyone.
Do you live for God to please your parents? Do you live for God to get approval for someone you love and respect? Or do you live for God because you believe in him, and love him?
Ask yourself the question? If I lost certain people in my life, or if they backslid, would I still be able to go on and serve the Lord? If I didn’t have the support of a youth group, a fellowship or a friend, would I still make it?

Too many people are depending on others to live for God. God wants us to be strong enough to stand on our own, and influential enough to make a difference in other peoples life.

A great and effectual door

1 Cor 16:9For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.

God had opened up a door for Paul in Ephesus. It was a great and effectual door. Many people came into the faith, and it was revival. But at the same time, it was many adversaries. So many times that seems to be the truth. Where there is an open door there are also adversaries. There are challenges and resistance. The Devil doesn’t want you to go through the door God has opened for you. He doesn’t want you to win people to the truth. He don’t want to loose anyone from his Kingdom to the Kingdom of God. 

But that also means that where there are adversaries, there is also an open door. David wrote in his famous psalm 23 that; “you prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies.” When enemies surround you, and when there is a lot of resistance in your life, you can also rest assure that somewhere close there is an open door. If you are facing a lot of problems, and if the enemy is after you, be encouraged today. If you feel that whatever you try there is resistance, then you can also be sure that God has opened a door for you. So take your focus away from the enemy and the problems, and start to look for a door. A great and effectual door is open for you.

Hinder not the children

Matt 19:14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these

This is one favorite scripture to use when doing baby dedications. When I use it myself, I like to focus on the first part of this verse, when talking to the parents. Hinder them not… 

Now, our first initial reaction when reading it, is to think about those children that was actually there that day. But the truth is the same about all children. They can be hindered from coming to Jesus, and there are few that have greater influence over them, than the parents.
The children are depending upon the parent’s decisions in many ways. IF the parents are not going to church, the children cannot come to church. Parents that doesn’t priorities church, hinders their children from coming to Jesus. They hinder them to come into his presence and to hear his words. But parents can also hinder in other ways. If they talk bad about leadership, the children are being hindered from coming to church, and ultimately coming to Jesus. I remember I told a parent that when you talk me down to your child, your child will not come to me when in need. Your child will not respect me, when I need to correct it. The result was that the child left church some time later. When we create a bad environment at home, and do not love one another, we are hindering our children from coming to Jesus. When all we do is watching TV and doing worldly and carnal stuff, we are hindering our children.
But children that grows up listen to their parents pray, and that listen to them talk with respect about their leaders. Children that grow up in a home that puts church first, then they also are brought to the presence of Jesus, so that he can bless them and protect them.
He wants to bless them, but he needs you to bring them to him.

Let them smell the coffee

2 Cor 2:15For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish

Trials and troubles is something we all have to encounter. It is a part of our life down here. Even if we are born again Christians, it doesn’t mean we are saved from hardships, or troubles. We also encounter sickness like cancer and other serious deceases. We also struggle with finances. We too have our share of difficult neighbors, colleges and family members. It can happen that we loose our job, or even worse, loose our loved ones. I myself remember the total unexpected shock from the phone call I received as a 24 year old. Your dad just passed away. But he was here yesterday??? He laughed and it seemed he was all fine? How can that be? He was the most God loving and God fearing person I knew! Why would God take him?

No, we don’t understand it all, and we are not excused from trouble. But it is the way we react to storms in our lives that defines us. And even though Jesus never promised only good days, he promised he would be there with us. And if we allow him, he can help us come out on the other side better and not bitter.

Not everything react to boiled water the same. Eggs for example becomes hard when in boiled water. But a vegetable on the other hand becomes soft. Some people harden and become bitter in trouble. If they had soft spots before, they are now hard. Others are more like a vegetable. They soften though the storms in life. Trouble has even softened harder spots in them. They become more patient, and more loving.
But there is a third variation, and that is coffee. When coffee comes in contact with boiled water it fills the house with a good smell. So will we if we allow Jesus to go through the hardships WITH us, and if we let him lead us, and instruct us. If we let him encourage us and strengthen us, we are more like coffee. We will fill our surroundings with a wonderful smell. It is a smell that witnesses a life of experience. It is a smell of experiences of both good and bad. Experiences that says, I came out of it, still loving, still smiling and still believing. The Lord gave. The Lord took away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Let us take Jesus with us through the valley and the storm, and we will come out and smell like coffee. 

Be there when it happens

John 5:5And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

6When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

7The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

The text doesn’t say how many of his 38 sick years he had been by the pool, but it seems he had been there many many years. He had experienced many times the angel coming there, and he had tried to come first to the water. This very sick man most probably had family, and I can only assume they had been by him, and tried to get him to come home for family parties, or important occasions. But the answer from the man was always, I am sorry, I can’t come. Even though I really want to attend, I don’t know when the angel will appear, and I cant afford to miss my chance of a healing. I need to be here when he comes, and I don’t know when that will be. His persistence paid off in the end, and the healer came by and helped him.

For many years ago, SAS (The Scandinavian Airlines) had a slogan that said: “Be there when it happens!” In other words, if you choose us, we will bring you there in time, because we are very reliable. We don’t know when God will give us a great Sunday service. We don’t know when revival will come. And we don’t know when Jesus will come back to bring us home. But we can make up our minds like this lame man. I will be there when it happens.

A lot of people were busy in their everyday life, doing everyday things like cooking, cleaning, working etc, while the very creator of the universe walked by their house in Israel some two thousands years ago. They missed it, because they were too busy doing less important things.

Don’t miss your miracle. Don’t miss what God is doing in our time. We live in one of the most exciting times ever. In the very end time. But to be part of this end time events, and end time promises, we have to be there when it happens

What country do you belong to?

Jon 1:8Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?

May 17th is the Norwegian independence day. IT is the biggest holyday in Norway. Everyone dresses up, and march in parades, and in Oslo the parade of hundreds of thousands goes by the palace where the King and his family greets the people from his balcony. Everyone waves the Norwegian flag, sings the national anthem and almost everyone were Norwegian costumes. The day of Pentecost is our 17^thof May. That’s when our new country was born. That is our independence day.

In the text of today, Jonah finds himself running away from God, hiding in a boat. And the question comes: Where do you come from, and what is your country? What people do you belong to? Maybe the language revealed him, or his actions. Maybe it was his clothes? I don’t know what it was, but something about him revealed he was a stranger. 

The question today from the text is this? What is YOUR home country?

1)  All countries have their own leader or King.

a.  Who is your King? Is Jesus Lord and King in your life?

2)  All Countries have their own laws

a.  What law do you follow? Be not confirmed to the image of this world, but be renewed…. We are renewed by the Holy Ghost who writes his law on our hearts

3)  All countries have their own language

a.  Do you speak in the heavenly language? Have you received the Holy Ghost, speaking in other tounges?

4)  All countries have national costumes

a.  Can people see by your outward appearance that you belong to a heavenly country? Do you dress like the world, or do you dress holy?

5)  All countries have their own flag

a.  Jehovah Nissi, The Lord our Banner. Just one of many names of God in the Old Testament. Have you been baptized in his name? Then you have his banner/flag. 

6)  All countries have their own culture. 

a.  Is your action and behavior reflecting that you don’t belong here, but you belong to that heavenly country?

One day we will march our heavenly parade up the streets of Gold and we will wave to the King of Kings sitting on his throne. 

YOU are WITH me

Psalm 23 

1The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 

6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

This is one of my absolute favorite psalms. IT has so many wonderful blessings, and portraits a life cycles in many ways. From the times where we seem to have no problems, and everything is just wonderful. No storms in our lives, only still waters. Walking in the path of righteousness and having a feeling of wanting nothing. Then, suddenly we find ourselves in the valley of the shadow of death. We find that we are in the presence of the enemy. We find that the still waters have turned into a storm. Everyone that have lived long enough have experiences it.

What I find interesting here is the shift in the psalmist approach to God. The way he addresses God. When God is in front leading him, he says HE. HE makes me lie down in green pastures. HE leads me besides the still waters. HE leads me in the path of righteousness. But suddenly, when he is in the valley of the shadow of death, he say YOU! YOU are with me. Maybe it’s the fact that God is now closer. Before he was leading him. And later in life he is following him, when he says surely goodness and mercy shall FOLLOW me. But here, when he faces difficulties, God is not leading in front, of following from behind. He is WITH me. Right here when I need him.

Many people have a tendency to have a “distance relationship” to God when things are going fine. God is only a HE. But God wants to get closer to us. When the enemy feels close, turn around and look. He is preparing a table for you, right there in the PRESENCE of your enemies. He is wayting for you to say: YOU are with me. YOU are for me. YOU love and protect me. He is not just GOD, but he is MY God.

The two most important questions in life

Acts 19:2He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

3And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

There are many important questions in life we can ask ourselves. But in my opinion the very first two questions Paul asks these believers in Ephesus, meeting them for the first time, is for me the two most important. Before he asks them where they come from, who they are or what profession they have. Before he asks them what “church” they belong to, or who is their Pastor. He goes straight to the point and asks: Do you have the Holy Ghost. Since this is the very first question Paul asks them, it must mean this was of the greatest value and concern for Paul. Question nr 1 you need to ask yourself: Have I received the Holy Ghost the way the first church did? When they answered negative to the first question, he then asks question nr 2; what baptism were you baptized with? Or, in what way have you been baptized? This question is more important today than ever before. It’s not enough to ask IF you are baptized. We must ask, HOW were you baptized? Paul explains how we should be baptized: In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Mercy seat

Ex 25:17And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof

Inside of the Ark of the Covenant were three things: the manna (representing Gods word), the tablets of stone (Representing the law) and the rod of Aaron (representing leadership). Over all of this was a lid covered with two Cherubim’s called the mercy seat. Whenever God saw his word, the law or his leadership, he saw it through mercy. That is something we must always remember. We need the word, and we need doctrine. We need the law, and we need holiness. We need leadership and we need Pastors. But above it all, we need Mercy.
Jesus showed us when he met the woman taken in adultery. The law said; stone her. The leaders all around her screamed; stone her. It was written in the word what to do. But then, here comes the Mercy seat and trumps it all. Neither do I condemn you. Go away and sin no more. Before Jesus all they had was the Law and the truth. But when Jesus came, he added another dimension. He added the Mercy seat. That’s why it says that he came with the truth and with grace. Truth without grace, is hard and judgmental, but covered with the Mercy seat, truth is beautiful.
We must preach righteousness, and we must preach holiness. We must have doctrine, and strong leadership. But above it all, we need Grace :-) 

God is in control

Rom 8:28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

 Today I received a troubled sms from a saint in the church. She was so frustrated over all that happened to her. Her two kids were sick and needed attention, and on the top of that her husband got something we were afraid was a heart attack. While rushing to the hospital causing her to loose another day at work, these questions troubled her. Seemed like God was so far away and she couldn’t understand why he allowed all this to happen to her. It turned out that her husband only were dealing with stress symptoms, and was ok after all. Still she had lost her day at work. 

Tonight, I received another sms from her. They had called from work, and told her that she was replaced to another house, since a schizophrenic patient had plans to hurt her, thinking she was a CIA spy. If she had come to work that day, she might have been hurt. Knowing this, God worked it out so she would be protected. 
Many times we don’t understand why we go through what go through, but God always has a plan. But sometimes he allows us to know like today. It lets us know that the times he don’t show us, we still trust he is control anyway.