The names written on the High Priest

Ex 28:12And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord upon his two shoulders for a memorial.

29And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually.

The names if Israel was placed two places on the garments of the High priest. On two Onyx stones on his shoulder, and on twelve precious stones on his breastplate, that was on his heart. So whenever the High priest went in to the Holy of Holies, he carried the names of Israel on his shoulders, and on his heart. The names on his shoulders represented the sin that the true High priest Jesus carried for us, like 1 Pet stated: “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree.”

The names on his heart, written on twelve different precious stones represents the way God sees us. It represents the how we shall be, when he has finished his work in us. 

The interesting part about these two verses is this: God said the names on his shoulders were for a memorial, but the names on his heart were for a memorial continually. In other words, I will see the names attached to sin only once, but I will forever see the names by my heart as perfect shiny stones.
Hebrews said that Jesus only had to do the sacrifice for sin once. After that God will forever look on us and remember us as washed, cleansed and perfect.
Another interesting thing is that the names on his shoulder were all on the same type stone. They all look the same. That is because we are all sinners, and all look just as bad as anyone else. But when God is though with us, some will shine like the sun, some like the stars, and some like the moon. That’s why on his heart they were all written on different precious stone.
One last point: The same names that was written on his shoulder, was written on his heart. That means you have to first get to his shoulder before you can get to his heart. You must repent in order to get the Holy Ghost. You must identify as a sinner and repent, before you can identify with the reward.

Water out of the rock

Ex 17:6Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

Even though I know they had drunk water in Egypt, I am sure this water tasted so much better. They drank the water in Egypt, while they felt the pain after the abuse of the taskmasters. They drank the water in Egypt, while they were reminded that there was no hope for them, other than another day in bondage and another day in pain.  They dod not enjoy the water, but rather just drank it to survive. But the water that came out of the rock this day tasted so much sweeter. They drank it under the joy of freedom. They drank it while being reminded that they were on their way to a land that was filled with milk and honey. The water that came out of the rock tasted so much better than the waters of Egypt.
So it was in the New Testament. They brought the water to Jesus. And when he brought it back it tasted like the sweetest wine. This time the water came from the true rock, Jesus Christ. It was the same water, but the difference was that now it came from the rock.
I can witness in my own life that everything taste so much better, after Jesus came into my life. The same people around me that was there before seems so much sweeter now. The same things around me, even Gods creation seems different. The joy I now have, and the peace I now feel, cannot even compare to the joy and peace I had before. He has truly turned the water into wine in my life. I enjoy life, I enjoy work, and even trouble seems small and insignificant in the light of where I am heading.
Life just taste better when you have God and when you have hope

Things you should see before you die

1 Cor 2:9But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

I read an article sometime ago with this headline: Ten places you must see before you die. I have myself been blessed to see some of the places on the list. Maybe not so strange, since I live in what I consider myself as one of the most beautiful places on this planet. I love to bring visitors from different places of the world to some of those beautiful spots, and see their reaction to Gods marvelous creation. The Geiranger fjord and the Pulpit rock is just some of these wonderful places. Other famous places on the list were Grand Canyon, Mendenhall ice caves in Alaska, and the pink lake Hillier in Australia.
Not everybody will be blessed to see all or even some of these places in their lifetime. But if you are a born again believer, you are on your way to a far more beautiful place. A place that no eyes have ever seen, and no ears have ever heard about. This place of beauty is prepared for us that LOVE God. The famous singer Keith Green said it this way: It took God only six days to create this beautiful world, and Jesus said for 2000 years ago that he would go away and prepare a place for us. If all this beauty was created in 6 days, and Jesus has worked on this place for 2000 years, then this must be living in a garbage can compare to what’s been going on up there.

But I will even say another thing. It is not a must to see Grand Canyon or the Pulpit Rock before you die. But EVERYONE should see someone be born again before they die. Everyone should witness somebody be filled with the Spirit of God speaking in other tongues before they die. Everyone should see somebody repent with tears, and rejoice as their sins were remitted as they were baptized in Jesus name. That to me os far more beautiful than any other thing.

GOD NEEDS A BROKEN VESSEL

Judges 7:19So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands.

2 Cor4:6For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Just as in the story of Gideon, we have the light within us. The light, or the power is hidden in earthen vessels. The only way the light, or the power can be released is by breaking the vessels. The vessels need to be broken. While we are working hard to keep the vessel whole, God wants to break it. While we are concerned about how the vessel looks like, God is trying to teach us that it’s not about the vessel, but what’s inside of the vessel. 

Peter was concerned about the vessel, when he told Jesus that if everyone else would be offended in him, he would not be. But Jesus told him that not only will you be offended, but you will deny me three times before the cock crow. Peter denied and started to curse that he didn’t know him. When he realized what he had done, the Bible tells us he went out and wept bitterly. His vessel was broken. He may have thought his ministry was over. He may have thought he had thrown away all opportunities. He who had the keys to the Kingdom, and was one of the three closest to Jesus, had now blowned it all. But in reality, it was now that Jesus could use him. Jesus didn’t need a beautiful and perfect vessel. He needed a broken one. He needed a vessel that the light could shine through.
It was the same with Paul. He claimed himself to be blameless according to the law. He was a perfect and spotless vessel. But before God could use it, he needed to break it. And when God was through with Paul, he said that out of sinners, I am the greatest. God left the thorn in his flesh to remind him that he was depending on Gods grace. In that way the vessel was constantly kept broken, so that the power of God constantly could shine through it.

Are you a broken vessel? Have you allowed God to break you? Are you working to keep your vessel whole and blameless, while God is trying to break it so his power can come out and touch people? Have you messed up, or disappointed yourself, or those around you. Then maybe you are closer to being used by God like ever before. Repent, and know that God needs your broken vessel.

Slippery stones

Psalm 73:2But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

3For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Asaf is telling us in this Psalm that when he focused on the foolish and unrighteous people, he felt like he was walking on slippery stones. It almost made him to fall. But this was only until he came to the House of God. Then his perspective changed. He says it like this in v 17: “Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. 18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.”

Things changes when you come into the house and presence of God. The first thing that happens is that God removes you from the slippery stones, set your feet upon a rock, and establish your goings. (Psalm 40:2) Then he changes your perspective. You will see and understand that those who will slip and fall in the end are not you, but the foolish. While God has sat your feet upon a rock, and established your goings, he has sat the foolish on slippery places. We may start on slippery places, and stumble, but in the end we will STAND, after withstanding the evil day!! (Eph 6:13) The foolish and ungodly on the other hand, may seem like that are standing now, but in the end, they will find themselves on slippery stones.
Let us make our way into the presence of God so he can establish our goings, and change our perspective. What’s important is not how we start the journey, but how we end the journey!!

Let my people go!!!

Ex 5:9Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.

Moses had just been to Pharaoh and told him Israel needed to go three days journey into the wilderness to worship their God. Pharaoh’s response was to increase their labor, so they would be occupied with that and not regard vain words. The Norwegian version says: “so they have enough with that…” Pharaoh said that they must have too little to do, since they have time to think about worshiping God. 

This is the way the enemy always responds when you make up your mind to worship God. He will make you so busy, that you wont have time to think about worshipping him. Have you noticed how you always come to think of things to do whenever you decide to pray, or to read your Bible? Also if you make a new commitment to be more faithful to church, whether Sunday service, or midweek service? You will get job requests, or invitations to all sorts of things. It can be all from important to less important things. 

That is when you need to be persistent, and let the enemy know you have a made up mind. My time belongs to God, and nothing shall stop me from worshipping him. 

Slippery stones

Psalm 73:2But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

3For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Asaf is telling us in this Psalm that when he focused on the foolish and unrighteous people, he felt like he was walking on slippery stones. It almost made him to fall. But this was only until he came to the House of God. Then his perspective changed. He says it like this in v 17: “Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. 18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.”

Things changes when you come into the house and presence of God. The first thing that happens is that God removes you from the slippery stones, set your feet upon a rock, and establish your goings. (Psalm 40:2) The he changes your perspective. You will see and understand that those who will slip and fall in the end are not you, but the foolish. While God has sat your feet upon a rock, and established your goings, he has sat the foolish on slippery places. We may start on slippery places, and stumble, but in the end we will STAND, after withstanding the evil day!! (Eph 6:13) The foolish and ungodly on the other hand, may seem like that are standing now, but in the end, they will find themselves on slippery stones and fall.
Let us make our way into the presence of God so he can establish our goings, and change our perspective. Whats important is not how we start the journey, but how we end the journey!!

A forest fire

Ezek 20: 46“Son of man, set your face toward the south; preach against the south and prophesy against the forest land,  47and say to the forest of the south, ‘Hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree and every dry tree in you; the blazing flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be scorched by it.

The Giant redwood tree, the sequoia tree of California is probably one of the world’s largest living things. Towering up to nearly 300 feet tall and 50 feet in diameter, the giant sequoia are the world’s largest trees in total volume.  Their cones can contain up to 200 seeds and may take just under 2 years to mature.  Once matured, they will remain in the cone and await a forest fire.  The heat from the fire causes the cones to open and release their seeds. The seed falls to the ground, and is fertilized and grows in the ashes from the trees and plants that have lost their life in the fire.

First of all, you are here, because somebody paid a price for your birth. Somebody have died to themselves in the fire of the Holy Ghost to give you the right environment to grow in. What your country and city needs, is a forest fire. We need a true and biblical revival. A forest fire so hot, and out of control, that will melt the hardest heart like the cone of the redwood tree.  That will bring us a new set of GIANT trees that will survive anything. Many of the spiritual giants we have among us today, have been born in a forest fire.
For that to happen, we must bring the fire out from the church, and set our city on fire. As long as the fire stays nicely in the “fireplace” of the church, we are not making a forest fire, or a revival. Let us bring the fire out, and give birth to a new generation of giants. 

Learn to trust his voice, and not your feelings

Gen 27:21And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.

22And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.

Isaac had lost his sight, and was confused. He was confused because what he FELT and what he HEARD did not match. Knowing the outcome of the story, we would have advised Isaac to trust the voice and not the feelings. The way the penguins find their chicks and vice versa in a colony are by the voice. That’s how they survive. They learn to listen for the unique character in the voice. You may say that they learn to trust the voice and not the sight or their feelings. They may all look the same, but they certainly don’t sound the same.
Jesus also confused the people at his time. He looked like a servant, but he spoke like a King. He looked like a man, but he spoke like God. Isaiah said this about the Messiah: “he has no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him”

When they saw him, all they could see was someone that was not desirable or powerful. But when he opened his mouth; life, power and healing flowed out from him. His disciples learned to trust his voice and not their feelings. Jesus said that his sheep follows his VOICE and a stranger they will not follow.

When all your circumstances tell you one thing, and his voice and word says another, you must learn to trust the voice. When your trials try to tell you that you are forgotten and he doesn’t love you anymore, you must learn to trust his voice. When your feelings try to tell you he is far away, you must learn to trust his voice. When Peter was in the storm, and they thought they saw a ghost on the water, he asked; is that you Jesus? When he heard his voice, he trusted the voice and ignored the storm.

It is by trusting his voice that we will survive the storms in our lives. When things get rough and difficult, close your eyes, and ignore your feelings.

Just listen after his voice, and he will lead you through!!!!

Bless someone today

2 Sam 9:3And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.

The story of Mephibosheth is one of the most beautiful stories in the Bible. Mephibosheth was lame on his feet, and had been it since his childhood. When he was five years old, his father Jonathan, and grandfather King Saul died in battle. When the news came to his nurse, she ran with him, and he fell and became lame. So not only did he loose his father and grandfather, the King, but he also became lame. Now he was an adult, and he was crippled, and if that was not enough, the King that now was, was a King his grandfather hated, and tried to kill. 

But King David was a man after Gods own heart, and he remembered a promise he made to Jonathan. He askes if there is not any of the house of Saul that he might show kindness to. When the answer came about Mephibosheth, he restored to him all the land of King Saul, and had him eat at his own table every day.

Have you ever asked yourself that question? Is there not anyone I can show kindness to? Who can I bless to day. I just have this desire to bless someone. I just feel I need to show kindness to somebody. Have you ever prayed in your morning prayer; God show me today if there is anyone I can show kindness to. Show me if there is anybody that I can be merciful, and loving to.
When you are filled with Gods Spirit, you are also filled with LOVE. This love feels the need to love someone, and to be kind to someone. If you have that desire, God will show you. Let this be a prayer of today: God show me who I can bless today.

The invisible God

Deut 4:15Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the Lord spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire:

16Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female… 

He then goes on to say any beasts, or any birds etc etc. 

One huge difference between Israel and all the other people around them was that Israel served and worshipped an invisible God. They desired to be like other people around them, and God knew they would be tempted to make a graven image. That is also what they did, when they made the golden calf. IT was not a different God or Idol, but rather it was Israel’s idea and opinion on how they’re God may look like.  

But God wanted to remain invisible, and he made known through his law that no one was aloud to make an image of him. This was because God had a plan that one day, he would make that image himself. Jesus said, a body, though has made for me… Paul says to the Colossians that Jesus is the IMAGE of the invisible God. John says that NO one has ever seen God, but the only begotten son, has declared him, or like it says in the Norwegian version; he has explained him. He has revealed him. He has made him visible. Now, God was not invisible any more. Jesus was GOD revealed in flesh. He was the invisible God made visible. That is why Jesus said to Philip that they that has seen me, has seen the Father.
In heaven it will be one throne, and one sitting on the throne. We only have ONE image to worship. And that image is not a committee sitting on three thrones. The only image that God has ever provided to us is the image of his Son, Jesus Christ. THAT’S the image we will worship. THAT’S the image we will see. God is Spirit, and fills everywhere. This eternal omnipresent Spirit, became visible through his son Jesus Christ. 

The two sides of Calvary

Mark 15:33And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

Matt 28:1Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

These two verses of scripture describe the contrast between the two sides of Calvary. As Jesus is crucified and dying, it is marked with darkness. But three days later, on the other side of Calvary, the light from the dawn is proclaiming another story. The morning is turned to laughter as the good news is proclaimed from the angels. He is risen. He has conquered death and the grave. One side is dark, and the other is light. On one side people are morning and crying, but on the other side they are rejoicing. One side marks the end of the Law, but the other side marks the beginning of grace. One side is telling us about the judgment of sin, while the other side is telling us the promise of the Father. One side is about the curse, while the other is about the reward. 

Have you been on both sides? Have you walked from darkness to light, from death to life? Have you experiences the fellowship with his sufferings, and the power of his resurrection? Have you repented, and received the Holy Ghost? At the repentance side, you mark the END of your old life, while at the other side you mark the BEGINNING of your new life. A true conversion is following Jesus example, and go from pain and grief as you realize it was your sins that brought him to the cross, till joy and power when you also realize that’s why you can receive the Holy Ghost. 

The two sides of Calvary is linked together with the burial. Have you been baptized in Jesus name, and buried the old life for good?
As tears and sorrow filled their eyes at the foot of the cross, there is a voice trying to tell them that this is not over. But this is necessary to get to the other side. When we preach sin, it is not to condemn people and make them feel bad, but sorrow is necessary to get to the other side.
Take up your cross and follow Jesus to the other side, where power, glory and the reward of joy and peace is waiting for you.

God came down the latter

Gen 28:12And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.13And, behold, the Lord stood above it……

After this strange dream Jacob called this place Bethel, meaning the house of God. It was a place where Heaven and earth were connected. It was a channel where Gods angels were ascending and descending. On the top of the latter, and on the heavenly side the Lord was standing. What is this strange dream telling us? What is God trying to communicate? To answer that question, we must look on another scripture in the New Testament. Here we find a similar picture, when Jesus tells Nathaniel this in John 1:51 “And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”

Here we find God at the bottom of the latter, in the form of his son, Jesus Christ. Seeing these two scriptures together, it seems like God is trying to reveal his plan to Jacob in his dream. It seems like God is saying that I am coming down the latter, and I am coming down through you and your linage Jacob. I am coming to the earth through your bloodline, and I will become a man. 

Maybe even that was Jesus intension by telling Nathaniel this. Maybe Nathaniel connected what Jesus said with Jacobs dream. WOW, he is the one. He is GOD revealed in flesh. He has climbed down the latter, and I am now standing at Bethel, in Gods house!!!
Have you met Jesus? Have you been at the true House of God? A place where heaven and earth is connected? Have you had that amazing revelation when you understand that Jesus is the God of heaven that came down the latter to save us?

The voice is Jacobs, but the hands are of Esau

Gen 27:22And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.

Isaac was confused, because the voice he heard was of Jacob, but the hands were of Esau. The reason for this confusion was first of all that Isaac had lost his sight. If he could see, he would have exposed this false double play. Many Christians is like this. Their voice says one thing, but their hands another thing. This confuses the people in the world. It confuses the people that cant see. Jesus says this is about this kind of Christians. They honor me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me. Is their a connection between what you profess on Sunday, and what you do on Monday? Do you live what you preach? Or is your voice like Jacob, and your hands like Esau? 

The sad thing is that many churches have leadership like Isaac today. They feel something is wrong, but can’t really put their finger on it, since they have lost their sight. In the first church, we find a similar situation, when Ananias and Sapphira tried to fool Peter and the other leaders. Their voice said one thing, but their hands another. But Peter had not lost his sight. The Holy Ghost revealed the charade for him, and the result was tragic. God sent a message to anyone coming into the true church. Here your voice must match your hands. Not that we must be perfect, but rather admit who we are, and our need for a savior and a Lord. Help us Jesus that we are not double minded. Help us not to confuse the blind around us. Help us that our hands do what our mouth says. 

Let us change the world

Acts 17:6And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;

In 1984, one of the most successful business leaders in the world was John Sculley. He had lead Pepsi Cola to be nr one in the ”Cola war” in the States. He had a very high paid and secure jobs in America. One day, a computer nerd from Silicon Valley came to his office to offer him a job. The job offer was for a newly started computer business, lead by a bunch of young computer nerds. Why would he leave such a successful job, to join these people? He did it because a young man, with a GREAT vision, who said these famous words in the interview, convinced him…. "Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water or do you want a chance to change the world?" This question told him that his "entire life" was at a critical crossroads. The young mans name was Steve Jobs, and the company was Apple Computer, and he DID change the world, in his way. Because of him, and his inventions, our life’s has been totally changed from what it was in the early 80s. 

One day, along the shore of the Galilee see, Jesus meets a man called Peter. In a way, the same question is asked: Do you want to fish for the rest of your life, or do you want to come with me and change the world…? At this point, Jesus was not world known. He was not the leader of a great movement. He was not recognized. He could not promise a well paid, and secure job. But the question brought Peter to a critical crossroad. What am I investing my life to? Catching fish? His choice made him one of the greatest Apostles and Christians of all time. Wherever he went, he and his fellow ministers turned their world upside down.
Are you satisfied living a mediocre life? Are you satisfied doing mediocre things? Or do you want to follow Jesus and change the world?
Lets us receive the challenge from Jesus, and give our life completely in his hands. I want to follow him, and see my world turn upside down. 

No fear of terror

Psalm 91:5 “Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night”

The 22 of July, Norway would forever be changed. We had always felt like Norway was one of the safest places on earth. Nothing bad ever happened here. No terrorism, and no big natural disasters. It seemed like Norway was a safehaven on earth. But that illusion was Thorley broken on July 22, 2011. Anders Behring Breivik blew up the government building downtown Oslo, and drove out to the Utøya Island, and killed 69 young people that was gathered for a political camp. After that day, I thought to myself that there is no more any safe place in the world. If we are not safe in Norway, where is it safe? What are we going to tell our children? We will tell then the truth, that this world is not a safe place. But we also tell them that God always have provided a safe place. He provided the Arc when his judgment of rain and flood came upon this earth. When the death Angel came, he provided a safe place behind the blood stained doors in Egypt. When the revenger was after you in the Old Testament, God had provided refuge cities. In the Arc, rain could not harm them. Behind the bood stained doors, death could not reach them. In the city of refuge, the revenger could not kill them. God has provided a place like that in our time. A place where the enemy can’t get to you and fear will not torment you. It is a place where revenge is not welcome. It’s called the church. This is where perfect love casteth fear out. This is where we say, death, where is your sting. It is a safe place of refuge in a world of fear and terror.

Maintaining the victory!

Judges 9:45And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.

This is a strange verse. The Bible tells us that Abimelech sowed salt over the city after conquering it. Why would he do that? What was the reason for it? In the Old Testament they would use salt to destroy the soil and land so it couldn’t grow any crop there. If there were a barren land where nothing grew, they would call it a salt land. Jer 17:6 says this: “For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.” They likened a place that was not inhabited with a salt land. It actually was a custom in the ancient Near East to do so. They would sow salt over it, and curse anyone who dared to rebuild it. So Abimelech is trying to say that this city shall never rise again. I will make sure this Kingdom, and this city will not rise again.
After Jesus conquered the Devil and his Kingdom at Calvary, he wanted to make sure his Kingdom would not rice again. He sowed salt over the earth. We, the church are the salt of the earth. Jesus is using us to make sure his victory remains, and that the Kingdom of Death will forever be conquered. Let us make sure we still have the power, and are full of the Holy Ghost. For if the salt looses its power, what shall it be salted with?

Help somebody get their miracle!

John 11 39Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

Jesus was about to perform a great miracle, and he asks his desciples to roll the stone away. They couldnt do the miracle but they could help. When Lazarus came out, Jesus asked THEM to loose him. A miracle is many times a teamwork between us and Jesus. Are you ready to help somebody to get their miracle? Are you ready to help somebody be saved? The man by the pool of Bethesda said: How can I get healed if no one helps me down to the water? The Ethiopian Eunuch said: How can I understand if no one explains to me? Paul said: How can they hear without a preacher? Let us help somebody and guide somebody to his or her miracle. Roll the stone away for someone. Sow the seed to somebody.  Follow the example of Ananias that led Paul to the straight street. 

In Sodom, the Angels took Lot and his family and led them out from the city, and away from judgment. We, the church are the angels today. We are the messengers that are sent out to a world to find somebody, take them by the hand and lead them out to salvation. Only Jesus can save, and only Jesus can do miracles. But we can be his helpers. Are you ready to help somebody to their miracle today?

God had her hand, but Sodom had her heart

Gen 19:16And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

26But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

Lot and his family were saved in a dramatic way. The Angels laid hold upon their hands, and brought them out from the city, away from Gods judgment. They told them to flee away from Sodom, and to not look back. But Lots wife turned around and looked back. Her heart was still in Sodom. You could say that God had her hand, but Sodom had her heart. 

This is the reality for too many Christians. God has brought them out from and saved them from the world, and a life in sin and bondage. But still their heart is in the world. They are involved in church, and maybe sing in the choir. They go to church, and go through the motions, but their heart is somewhere else. The church has their hand, but the world has their heart. When that is the case, it doesn’t take long until they are in the same position as Lots wife.
Jesus said that no one that put their hand to the plough, and looking back is fit for the Kingdom. Why did he say that? Because God doesn’t only want your hand. He wants your heart. He doesn’t only want your service, and you coming to church and do all the “right” things. He wants your heart. He wants your attention. He wants you to look forward. To forget the things that are behind, and put your eyes on him. The truth is, that the moment your heart is in it, he can let go of your hand. You don’t need to be “pushed” anymore. 

Has God really said?

Gen 3:1Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

The Devil has always been very subtle. He is always very careful to reveal his goal and intensions. But the Bible is very clear about his goals. He is only out to steal, kill and to destroy. His goal here in the garden was to steal the relationship and Lordship away from God. His goal was to kill adam and Eve, and to destroy the future of all human beings. And he start this massive destruction plan by asking a simple and almost innocent question to Eve. Is it really true that God said don’t eat of any of the trees? His goal was to plant a seed of doubt in Eves heart. Can it really be true? Can God that is so good really have meant that? Can he be so cruel to kill us only because we eat of that one tree? Will he really judge us so hard if all we do is taste of a fruit?
In order to make God really sound bad he adds ALL the trees of the field. For the Devil this is his reality. If he cant have one, he feels he cant have none. But this little question leads to the worlds first sin, and the fall of man. It started with a question that created doubt. 
This is where sin starts. This is where rebellion starts. It starts with doubt. Has God really said? Can it really be that bad? Will God really take this pleasure away from me? Surely, he will not judge me from this, knowing my situation?
The Devil is a master of creating doubt in our minds. Has God really said….

That’s why Paul admonished Timothy this in his first letter: Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. (1 Tim 4:13) Thats why the first Christians continued steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine...(Acts 2:42)
Has Gid really said? The only way to make sure the Devil doesn't place doubt into the minds of our children, and of our saints is to attend to the READING of the word, and to teach doctrine!!! So they can meet temptation like Jesus and say: IT IS WRITTEN !!!

A true worshipper !

John 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

What is a true worshipper, and what is true worship? To answer the question we have to know the difference between praise and worship. Praise comes from the Hebrew word Halal, and it means to boast, give thanks and to praise. Worship comes from the Hebrew word Shachah, and it means to shine, to prostrate, to bow down and to do reverence. It latterly means to “lay prostrate with face touching the ground.” In other words it means to completely surrender.

Whenever anyone came into a King they had to “worship” him, or to completely surrender, and bow down. With all your body language you would communicate to the King that I am nothing, you are everything. I am as invisible as possible. I don’t want my presence to take any focus away from the King. This is what John the Baptist tried to say when he said; he shall increase, and I shall decrease. THAT’S worship. Anyone can praise him. Psalm 148 says that the stars, the heavens, the angels, and even the animals praise him. But not anybody can worship him. It takes a conscious, humble act of surrendering to him. That we communicate through our words, song and body language that there is no one greater than Jesus Christ. It is about making Jesus shine, and making myself invisible. It is the opposite of a lot of modern worship when its all about making ourselves shine and visible. 

Are you a true worshipper? Do you make Jesus shine? Do you communicate that he is great, and that he is the only one you want people to see? Who is in focus? Is it you, or Jesus? That’s what makes a true worshipper. And if you convince him that you really mean he is Lord and he is King, you empower him to rule and do great things in your life.

Always excuses!!!

Gen 3:11And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

12And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

13And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Isn’t it funny how we always have an excuse for our sin? Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent. None of them were willing to confess their sin and take the blame. Adam even hinted that this was all Gods fault. He said to God: "The woman YOU gave me…."
The truth is that we have not changed since Adam. We still blame everyone else for our sin. Either it is because the way I was raised, or it is because I came into a bad environment. I was abused myself, so that is why I abuse others. I was molested myself, so now I do the same. It is really not my fault, but the ones who drove me or influenced me into this. I am not suggesting that there is no connection between our up growing and behavior, but simply that we all are responsible for our actions. Some people are more weak for certain sins than others, but we all have a choice. We still also do like Adam. We like to put some of the blame on God. We like to hint that he is also somehow to take part of the blame. You knew this would happen, and you have the power to stop it, and still you did not…. It is partly your fault too. How would the world be if we knew that God would intervene every time we would hurt other people? Where should the line go? If men knew I can do whatever I want, because it will have no consequences. If my action potentially will hurt anyone, God will intervene any way. Should God operate as some kind of life behavior insurance? The truth is that everything we do will have consequences. In this life, and the life to come. You can have all the good reasons and explanations as you want, but still you must admit and confess your sins. The only way for you to get rid of your sins, is not to have excuses of why you did them, but rather confess them, and ask for his forgiveness. Then, and only then can he forgive you. And not only will he forgive you, but he will also take the blame for it. He will not explain or excuse it, he will rather take the consequences upon himself.
Adam and Eve’s excuses shot them out of the garden. Only confession will bring you back in!! 

Sin and Jesus is waiting at the door

 Gen4:6 So the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.

Rev 3:20 Behold,I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

God told Cain that sin was waiting outside his door. He had still not done any crime, but sin was waiting to lead him. In Revelation we read that Jesus is waiting outside the door. He is waiting also to lead us. So outside of our door there are two options waiting for us. Option one is sin, and option two is Jesus. Who will you open up for? Who will you allow to lead you?
I once heard a story from Sunday school. The Sunday school teacher was asking her class; what is temptation? A little girl raised her hand, and answered: It is whenever the Devil comes to my door and asks if I will come out and play with him. The Sunday school teacher said it was a good answer, but continued to ask: But what do you do about temptation? Again the same girl raised her hand and said: My mother always tells me never to open up the door before I look through the peep hole to check who is outside the door. If I see it is the Devil standing there, I don’t open up.

This cute story tells a great truth. Outside of our door there are two options waiting for us. Option one is sin, and option two is Jesus. Who will you hang out with? Do not open the door for sin, but open the door for Jesus. Every day we have a choice to make. Shall I follow my flesh, or shall I follow my Spirit? One leads to sin, and the other leads to Jesus.

Abels blood or Jesus blood?

Gen 4:10And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground

The blood of Abel was crying out from the ground. It reached heaven, and got Gods attention. Whatever the blood was saying, it caused God to ask Cain the question; what have you done? The blood was crying out for justice. It was crying out for revenge. It is just like when investigators come to a crime scene.  With all their tools and technology they can read a lot and understand what have happened. A fingerprint, a hair and a blood stain can tell them a lot. In this crime, there was a spiritual message the blood sent to heaven. And all the clues pointed to Cain. He was the guilty. 

But in the book of Hebrew we find a similar verse. 

Heb 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

This blood is also speaking a message. It speaks of forgiveness and justification. Before this blood we were guilty. It is almost like the defensive advocate says we have some new evidence that is bringing new light to the trial. This evidence proofs my client is not guilty. While Abels blood cried for revenge and consequence, Jesus blood cried for forgiveness and acquittal. 

In every situation in life where someone hurts us, we have a choice to make. Will we let the blood of Abel speak? That is our flesh. It always cries out for revenge. Or shall we let the blood of Jesus speak? That is our Spirit. It always cries out for forgiveness.
Let the blood of Jesus speak in every situation of your life. Let us bring forgiveness and love, not revenge and hatred. 

My Lord and my God

John 20:27Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

28And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

After seeing and hearing Jesus, Thomas makes two confessions. First he says to Jesus; you are my Lord. This is the first and most important confession we can make. Paul says in the letter to the Romans that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord you shall be saved. To confess that he is Lord is more than just believing he is the Lord of the universe. It is more than believing he is Lord over all powers. It is to confess like Thomas did. You are MY Lord. I hereby give ruler ship over to you. From this moment I declare that you are My Lord. You will make the descisions in my life from now on. This is a confession modern Christians don’t like. They like to “receive” him as their personal savior, and not as Lord. They want him to save them, but not rule over them. Jesus can only be savior, if he is also our Lord. He is Lord AND savior.
The 2^ndconfession Thomas makes is that Jesus is God. He is not just a 2^ndperson in the Godhead, or a demigod. He is God. Everything that God is, he is. ALL the fullness of the Godhead dwells in him. Not just a part. This is also something religious people don’t like. It is ok to make him devine. It is ok to make him supernatural. But don’t say that he is God. This is what nailed him to the cross. This is the reason they picked up stones to stone him, because as they said; you declare yourself to be God. 

There are two confessions the enemy hates. One is that Jesus is Lord, and the other is that he is God. The enemy wants us to be in the drives seat of our lives, because we are easily manipulated and influenced. He cannot manipulate Jesus. That’s why I confess Jesus to be Lord of my life. He hates the confession that Jesus is God, because that makes him scared. The bible says the Devil believes that there is but One God and he trembles.
Let us make the Devil tremble. Let us make him upset. Let us confess Jesus; My Lord and my God

Smile now cry later

Heb 11:24By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

25Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season

Moses realised that the pleasures of sin was only for a season. He realised that this pleasure would not last. The truth is that after the pleasure comes pain. The season of pleasure is so short compare the season of pain.

I was with a client at work as she was going to get herself a new tattoo. Inside the tattoo shop there was a horrible spirit. The majority of all the pictures of tattoos you could get was skulls, demons, naked women, lust etc etc. Among all this horrific pictures, there was a picture of a women laughing as she was partying. and the next picture of the same woman crying.  After some investigation I found out this was a famous motive in the tattoo environment. It is called Laugh now, cry later motive. As I googled it I found many pictures. I thought to myself, that this is the true image of sin. Laugh now and cry later. Moses said that he would rather suffer affliction with the people of God than enjoying the pleasures of sins for a season. The wages of sin is death. It is tears. It is pain.
But when God deals with sin, he takes us the opposite way. Psalm 126:5 says: ”They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” Better to start with tears and end with joy, than to start with joy, and end with tears. It is all about where and how you want to spend eternity. It depends on how it ends, in tears, or in joy.