Pharaos resistance (part2)

 Ex 8:25 And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land.

 

When Pharaoh realized he couldn’t stop their desire to worship God by making them busier, he came up with a new plan. Its ok you worship him, but do it here in Egypt. We can see how the Devil is using the same tactic today. You can worship God and live in the world at the same time. You don’t have to leave anything. No repentance. Just accept Jesus and keep on living in sin. No need to leave the world. This was a suggestion from the Devil, and is NOT a message from God. Jesus made it clear that you cannot serve two masters. If you want to serve one, you have to leave the other. So Moses made it clear to Pharaoh. In order for us to worship God, we MUST leave Egypt. No repentanceàNo salvation

Pharaohs resistance (part1)

 Ex 3:19 And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.

 

This was Gods advice to Moses before he went to Egypt to deliver the people of Israel. Know that Pharaoh will resist you on every level. Pharaoh is just an image of the Devil. The Devil is called the God of this world, just like Pharaoh

Whenever you make an attempt to do Gods will, or serve him, he will resist you all the way.

It began as soon as Moses approached him for the first time. His response was to put MORE work on the Israelites. The goal was to make them too busy to think about worshipping God. That is always the strategy of the Devil. As soon as you make an effort to serve God more, pray more, or read more in the Bible, he will respond to make you busier. Suddenly you remember all the things you need to do. Suddenly you receive offer to work overtime, or take a position that hinders you from coming to church etc etc. That’s when you need to be consistent and let him know nothing will stop you from serving and worshipping God.

 

When that didn’t work, and they still wanted to worship God, he said: Ok, but you can worship him here in Egypt. 

PRAY WITH POWER

 James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much

 

 

Because of everything happening in the world today, people all over the world is praying. People of all ages, all cultures, and all languages are praying. People from different religions and denominations are praying. But not all prayers availeth much. Not all prayers are powerful and effective. Here James reveals to us that it’s the Effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man that availeth much! The word “fervent” is translated from the greek word “energios” where we got our word energy from.So in order for us to pray prayers that availeth much, we need two things: 

1)    We need to be righteous. To be righteous, we need to be born again. When we are born again with water and with Spirit, we have his name, and we have his Spirit. When I use and  pray in his name, I have power in prayer others don’t have.

2)    The righteous must pray with energy. Pray in the Holy Ghost! The Holy Ghost is not just something you recieve to be born again. You recieve it to use it in prayer!! Fervent prayer, means pray with energy. Pray with power. Pray in the Holy Ghost.

This does not mean God is not listening to desperate people praying. He does. But I want to pray prayers that goes further, and is stronger. I want to pray with energy that availeth much!!

MORE JOY

 Luk 15:7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

It doesn't say heaven is not rejoicing over the righteous, who doesn’t need to repent. Of course Heaven rejoices when we live and do right. It only says that there is MORE joy when a sinner repents. God was happy and proud over David when he in spite of being rejected by his family wrote Psalms and loved God in the wilderness.  I am sure there was joy in Heaven when David slew Goliath. I am sure Heaven rejoiced, when they noticed David serve and sing for the King that hated him, and wanted to kill him. Likewise I believe there was joy in heaven when David refused to kill the King he knew God had rejected and the persecuted him. However, there was MORE joy in heaven when David repented after committing adultery and killing the husband to hide it. When he showed true repentance and showed a broken contrary heart. There was MORE joy in heaven when David in his repentance penned the words of Psalm 51: “10Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.12Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” 

 

Sometimes when we have messed up and disappointed ourselves and those around us, we are shameful and reluctant to approach God. But if we truly repent, and cry out to God, we bring more joy to heaven than all our victories combined. The only thing Heaven fears are that we remain down. But that’s when we need to tell Hell: Rejoice NOT against me my enemies. If I fall, I SHALL arise, and bring MORE joy to heaven. 

BUT IF NOT

Dan 3:17 ”… our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up…”

 

 

The three Hebrew children stated to the King that ”Our God is able to deliver us from the fiery furnace”. They stated their utmost faith in their God. They knew what he was capable of deliver them from this trial. But then they added: BUT IF NOT…

Was that a statement of doubt? Was that a sign that they really didn’t fully believe in their first statement? N0!! It only proved a deep and 100% trust in their powerful God which they undoubtly knew was able. These three words was rather an acknowledgement that he is God and we don’t see or understand his purpose or will all the time. 

Faith in God is not always just faith in that he will give me what I want, when I want it. But faith in God is also trusting that he knows what is best for me. Trusting in his plan and in his will. 

The “BUT IF NOT” was rather a message to the enemy that he should know if nothing happened, their faith was still unshakable. When we pray for God to do something, it is good sometime to remind the enemy. But if not… I will still serve God. But if not… I will still come to church. But if not… I will still be faithful in my giving.

What do you have in your hand?

Ex 4:2 And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. 3And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.

 

Moses reply to Gods question what he had in his hand, was “a rod.” But God saw something in his hand that he didn’t see himself. Inside of the Rod he used to lean on, and provide for him and his family was a serpent. But after he gave his rod to God, it was no longer Moses rod, but according to verse 20 it was now Gods rod! The Rod was used to lead and deliver Gods people from Egypt.

 

What do you have in your hand? It may seem harmless, but if you don’t surrender it to God, there is a potential serpent in it that will bite you. Your talent, whatever it may be, is something that needs to be given over to and surrendered to God. Look at so many so called successful artists that were given a talent from God. Instead of given it to God, they used it to their own fame and prosperity. We have seen how the serpent in their talent over time has been revealed. Both Elvis Presley and Whitney Houston started in the church. If God were to ask them what they had in their hand, they would maybe answer “ a talent”. But instead of surrender it to God they allowed the serpent to come out and bite them.

 

Whatever you have or whatever you are needs to be given over to God. Let him take out the serpent, and instead put his POWER inside of you. Let Jesus be revealed in your life, and not the serpent.

LET JESUS DEFINE YOU

Matt 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Cæsarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?  14And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

 

 

Who do people say that I am? Actually Jesus was not so interested in that answer. He was more interested in knowing who the disciples thought he was. Then Peter said the famous words that you are the Christ, the son of the Living God! Jesus made it clear that this was a revelation from the Father in heaven!

 

I believe in the same way, we should not care so much what everybody else think about us. We should rather ask the Father in heaven who we are. Let him reveal unto us who we truly are. Don’t allow your friends to define you. Don’t allow Hollywood or the fashion industry to define you. Sometimes it’s even important not to let your parents define you. Everybody wants to put you in a box, and try to convince you who you are. Let us do like Jesus. Turn away from all the voices in the world, and ask Jesus: But who say YOU that I am? He will let you know how precious you are, and that you are like a pearl and a treasure. He will let you know that you are more than a conqueror. He will let you know you are loved and that he cant take his eyes away from you.

 

I remember many years ago I talked to an elderly lady that had very low self-image. She told me that when she looked herself in the mirror, she hated what she saw. I told her that she was beautiful, and that her problem was that she looked in the wrong type of mirror. The Bible is called a mirror. Let the mirror of the Bible define you, and you will see how valuable, precious and beautiful you are. Don’t ask facebook, don’t ask Instagram, don’t ask friends, and don’t even your mirror. Let Jesus define you!!

What to do when abused by a Christian leader

1 Sam 19:9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand. 10And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.

 

Saul was David’s King. He was David’s leader. He was anointed and placed in this position by God to guide, lead and protect. But instead of doing so, we find him here attacking and trying to hurt those he was placed there to protect. Instead of protecting the flock, he was only trying to protect himself and his position. 

Sometime we find ourselves in a toxic environment. There will be times when the leaders that was supposed to guide you and bless you, instead attack and hurt you. Instead of encouraging you they will insult you. Instead of building you up, they will tear you down. Someone once asked me what to do when abused by a Christian leader. My response is to do like David. 

The first thing David did was to play on his harp. When he did so, the evil Spirit left, and the environment changed. That will work for a while, but if there is no true repentance by the leader, there will also come a time when playing on the harp doesn’t work anymore, and there is a threat for your spiritual life. Then you must also do like David, and get away.

David never defended himself, or threw any Javelins back at Saul. He never hurt him later either when he had a chance. He left him in Gods hands. But he didn’t follow him either. My advice is to leave the judgment to God, and don’t think you have the right to attack Gods anointed. But don’t be foolish like Jonathan either and think you can change him or the environment from the inside. For that mistake Jonathan paid with his life. He died together with Saul.

So let me repeat: What to do when abused by a Christian leader? Keep on worshiping God, and get away from the toxic environment while you still have a chance.

The trowel and the sword

Neh 4:17They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.

 

In one hand they held a trowel, working on the building. In the other hand they held a sword, defending themselves and the work from any enemies. 

Just like the workers on the wall of Jerusalem, we are also building. Paul tells the Corinthian church in 1 Cor 3:10 “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.” 

So we are building. But we also have enemies in this process, like they had back then. So in addition to build we also have to fight. We have to fight the good fight of faith. We should build with one hand, and defend and protect what we build with the other hand. God has given us a trowel to build, and a sword to fight. Some Christians, and some leaders don’t know how to build, only to fight and to tare down. If all you do is to defend yourself, then nothing is being built. If on the other hand, all you do is to build up, and you never defend yourself, then the enemy will destroy all you build up. We must learn to do both. We must build up one another, encourage one another, lift up one another, and teach good, sound doctrine. We also have to defend the church from false doctrines, and worldly influence. We cannot be afraid to offend someone when we are defending the truth. Let us learn from Jesus. He used the trowel when he bend down with the woman taken in adultery, and said neither do I condemn you. Later he used the sword, when he cleansed the temple, and rebuked the Pharisees. With Gods help it is possible to be gentle and loving on one side, and full of power and authority on the other side. The church needs both. The trowel and the sword!

ITS FRIDAY BUT SUNDAYS COMING

Luk 23:44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

It is here just moments before Jesus gives up the Ghost and dies. This marks the end of a long day we refer to in Religion as Long Friday. A long day of darkness and pain had come to an end. This days struggle started in the garden of Gethsemane, where his sweat fell as blood. It continued with the betrayal of Judas, and with the rejection of his own people shouting crucify. Then it went on to the mocking of the soldiers and the pain of the whipping and punishment.  AT last and finally the horrible slow and painful death of the crucifixion. This day is synonymous with betrayal, denial, cowardice, hate, suffering, despair, defeat and death.

But even though everything seemed hopeless and dark this long Friday night, and even though many thought this was the end, and that this ministry had failed, they didn’t know that there was another day coming…

 

Matt 28:1In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

 

This day, the first day of the week, a sunday. Now the darkness is gone, and the Bible says it began to dawn. The dawn of this day marks the beginning of a new day and a new time. This will be a time of victory, hope, restoration, joy, life miracles signs and wonders!

 

If you find yourself on the dark side… If you find yourself on Friday side… If you are on the side of betrayal, denial, cowardice, hate, suffering, despair, and defeat. You need to tell yourself this: Its Friday, but Sundays coming! The story didnt end on Friday, and neither will yours. There is another day coming as the dawn of a new day and a new time is arriving. SUNDAY is coming. And even to them that has experienced the loss of loved ones, I will remind you: Its Friday, but Sunday is coming. The day of resurrection is coming. Peter said this in his letter: 

 

1 Pet 1:11Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

Don’t do like Judas! Don’t end your spiritual life on a Friday. Stick around til Sunday. There is a GLORY that will follow the sufferings. Its Friday, but Sunday is coming.

THE MOTHER SIDE OF GOD

 Is 66:13“ As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”

 

When God created us, he created us to man and female. Man and female together equals Gods image. There are qualities the Father has that reflect God, and there are qualities the Mother has that reflect God. One of those qualities we find here in Is 66:13, and that is comfort. While the Father side, or the masculine side of God is strength, power, miracles and deliverance, the Mother side of God or the feminine side of God is Comfort, grace, love, compassion etc. 

Comfort is usually something you give when you can’t solve the situation. When there is nothing you can do to help or change, you comfort. So why would God comfort? This is because sometimes God decides not to deliver, and not to heal. Sometimes it’s not the right timing. That’s the times that God comforts.

 

2 Cor 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

 

You see, we don’t want God to comfort us IN our tribulations, we want him to deliver us OUT from our tribulations. But sometimes and for some reasons, God chooses not to heal, deliver or give us the miracle. That’s when we need his Mother side. That’s when we need his comfort. While we wait for our deliverance, his love and grace will be sufficient for us. That’s the times when he reminds us he loves us and will never leave us. So today, if you are still waiting for Gods POWER to show up, allow his LOVE to comfort you. Paul says to the Romans “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” What is ”these things”? It is tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, and sword. Paul said IN these things. While we still wait for our deliverence. We are more than conquerors through him that LOVED us. 

 

Thank God for his LOVE. Thank God for his comfort. Thank God for his “mother side”

THE MASTER THIEF

 John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

 

Have you ever been around a master thief? Then you know you can not be too careful with your belongings. Anything valuable as wallet, watches and jewelry is at great risk around a master thief. The master thief is extremely talented in bringing your focus away to something else, while he steals your valuable goods. When you leave, suddenly you realize that your wallet is missing, or your watch is missing. The thief stole it while he kept you busy focusing on other things than your belongings.

 

The Devil is a Master thief. He is a master in distractions. My advice is not to hang around the thief. Stay away from areas where he is. The biggest mistake Eve did was going to the tree she was not allowed to eat of. That’s where the thief was waiting for her. You see, when you hang around the master thief, you always will leave with something missing. You watch series, entertainment, and movies with violence, immorality, profane language etc. You go to sinful places maybe, and think it will not harm you as long as you don’t do anything yourself. Before you know it your peace is missing. Your joy is gone. Your power is not there anymore. What happened? The Master thief stole it while he kept you busy focusing on other things. 

 

So what should we do? Instead of hanging around the thief, let us hang around the one that will give us life, and that more abundantly. While you hang around him, he will take away guilt, shame, anger, bitterness, jealousy etc.  

If God be for us...

 Judges 6:13And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles… 

 

 

Rom 8:31What shall we then say to these things? If God befor us, who can be against us?

In these two verses, we see two opposite responses to a Biblical truth. The Biblical truth is that God is for us. In the first verse we see Gideon’s response to this truth, and in the second verse, we see Paul’s response to the same truth. Gideon’s response is; if God is for me, then WHY am I going through what I am going through? Why am I suffering trials and hardships? If God is for me, then where is all the miracles? Isn’t he supposed to give me miracles if he is for me? 

 

Paul on the other hand has a complete opposite response. He claims, if God is for me, then who can be against me. He felt that none of the pain, trials or storms in life could be against him as long as he knew God was for him. He later list up things as tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, sword etc etc, and states that none of these things shall be able to separate him from the love of God. 

 

What is your response to the truth that God is for you? Is it a list of all the why’s, and all the where’s? Is it a long list of expectations if God is for you? Or is it complete trust in that ALL things will work together for the good, because God is for me? 

 

You see, all we really need to know is that God is FOR us. As long as he is for us, all things will work out in the end. Just trust and rest in the truth that he is for you!

GOD IS FOR YOU !

Rom 8:31What shall we then say to these things? If God befor us, who can be against us?

The second sentence in this verse has been quoted so many times. If God before us, who can be against us? This is really not a question, but rather it is an answer. It answers the first sentence in the verse. What shall we then say to these things? Paul is pointing back to a list of things he has mentioned in this chapter. After listing all this wonderful promises and truths from God, he then asks: What shall we then say to these things? The conclusion is: If God befor us, who can be against us? So we can see, it is a conclusion, and an answer. What Paul is really saying here is: Since I have proven that God is for us, then who can really be against us? 

So what is “these things” then? What is it that Paul is referring to that brings him to this conclusion?

 

V 1)   There is No Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. 

V 4)   Righteousness of the law fulfilled in us

V 11) He shall quicken our mortal bodies by his Spirit

V 16) We have recieved his Spirit, and are his children 

V 17) We are joint heirs with Christ 

V 17) We shall be glorified together with him 

V 26) His Spirit helps our infirmities 

V 28) ALL things works together for the good to us that love him 

V 29) We shall be made LIKE him 

V 30) Called us, Justified us, and glorified us

When we know all these things, the only thing we can say, and the only reasonable response is: If God is FOR us, who can be against us.

 

The three positions of God

 Psalm 23:1The LORD  is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. 3He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 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. 5Thou 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.

 Psalm 23 is a beautiful psalm that portraits life down here. Here we find God is three different positions according to where David is in his life. In the first few verses, we find him in FRONT leading. We need God in front of us to lead us and guide us where to go. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He leadeth me in the path of righteousness. But then, when he is going through difficult times in the valley of the shadow of death, God is not anymore in front leading, but rather he says, you are WITH me. You are right beside me. There are times in our life when we need God closer. That’s when he is WITH us. Comforting us with his rod and staff. Then, in the last verse, we find God not in front leading, and not besides comforting, but he is coming AFTER me. He is following me with his goodness and mercy. That’s what we need when we fail to let him lead us, or when we fall walking through the valley even though he is with us. When we stumble and fall on this journey, he is also coming after us, to pick us up with his goodness and mercy. 

In front LEADING

Beside me COMFORTING

Following me with MERCY

Oh what a savior !!!!

The Mercy Seat

Ex 25:22 “And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat…”

 

Inside of the Ark of the Covenant were three items. Three items they were depending on to approach God: 

1) The manna (word of God) The word of God explained in details how they should approach God. What to do and what order to do them.

2) The rod of Aaron (priesthood) They could not enter in themselves, but needed the priest to go in there for them. They came in on his shoulders where their names were written.

3) Tablets of stone. (The law) In the Old Testament they had to keep the law to approach God.

 

 

Even though God in details explained how they should live and how to approach him. Even though they had to keep the 613 commandments in the Torah, and the law described the consequences of not obeying these commandments. God placed a lid on top of the law and called it the mercy seat. He said, this is where I will meet with you. I will not meet you in the law. I will not meet you in the word. I will not meet you in or through the Priesthood. They will guide the way, but I will meet you at the Mercy seat. 
I am so glad I can meet him at the Mercy seat. He has opened a new and living way, and that’s why the author of Hebrews can say: 

Heb 4:16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

 

THE OTHER SIDE OF BROKEN

1 Pet 1:11Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

 The sufferings of Christ were many and very much real. From the betrayal and rejection of his own, to the punishment and humiliation of the Romans. If you were there on that crucifixion day, you may feel pity at Jesus. There was nothing great or powerful by him, as he slowly struggled his way up the hill of Golgotha, or when he hangs naked, broken and exposed on the cursed tree. But there is another side of broken… When he resurrected as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords

You may pity Moses as he ran away from the Palace, away from all his servants, rejected by his own people, sleeping and camping by a well in the wilderness. Alone, abandon, humiliated and broken. But there is another side of broken. When he led 3 mill people out from Egypt and had the red sea part in front of him

 You may pity Joseph, as he is betrayed by his brothers and sold as a slave. You may pity him as his kindness and hard work is repaid by a lie that sends him to jail. You probably would feel pity on him the years he spent innocent in a prison, forgotten, humiliate and broken. But there is another side of broken… When he was elevated to the world’s second most powerful man

 You may pity Peter as he is rushing out from the outer court, wiping his tears in shame because he has just cursed and denied the Master he loved. In shame, regret and broken. But there is another side of broken. When he spake and converted over 3000 souls on the day of Pentecost, and when only his shadow healed the sick as he passed by them

 
I could go on and on. If you are in the breaking process right now, let me remind you that there is a glory that always follows the sufferings. The that sow in tears, shall reap in joy. That’s the other side of broken

WHEN YOUR SEAT IS EMPTY

 1 Sam 20:18Then Jonathan said to David, “Tomorrow is the New Moon feast. You will be missed, because your seat will be empty.

 

Jonathan tried to give David a warning. You will be missed tomorrow, because your seat will be empty. You cannot leave unnoticed, because your seat will be empty. 

The question today is this: If you stay home from church, and leave your seat empty, will your seat be missed? The reason why David’s chair was missed was because he was expected to be there. He was among the faithful ones. His seat was normally always occupied. So when it was empty, the question would immediate come, where is David? 
Are you so faithful to the house of God that whenever you are gone, it will be noticed? Do they know where you usually sit? Are you a regular to the House of God? 
Some people miss church so often that no one reacts when their seat is empty. Why don’t you make it a goal that next year I will make sure that I will be missed if my seat is empty?

WHY DO PEOPLE ERR?

 29Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

 

We live in a day and time so full of false doctrine, and so many strange teachings. How are we to know what is right and what is wrong? Here Jesus gives us a recipe on how to know the truth. Nr one, we must know the scripture. Too many people today, just don’t know their bible. They seem little and not interested in searching and study the scriptures. Paul tells Timothy: “Study to make yourself approved”. We must study and meditate on Gods word. Knowing the scriptures however is not enough. The Pharisees and scribes at the time of Jesus knew the scriptures, yet they did err. That’s because they lacked the other thing Jesus said here. They did not know the power of God. This is what the apostles received on the day of Pentecost. Ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost comes upon you…

We need two things, the Word, and the Spirit. This is what Jesus told the woman at the well. You must worship the Father in Spirit (power) and truth (scriptures).

In the holy place in the tabernacle, there were three items. In the middle the altar of incense representing our worship. On the left side the candlestick, representing the Spirit. And on the right side the table of showbread representing the word of God. We must worship (incense) him in Spirit (Candlestick) and in the truth (Shewbread). When we do that God will make sure we do not fall astray. 

EL-BETHEL

 Gen 35:6 So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Beth–el, he and all the people that were with him. 7And he built there an altar, and called the place El–beth–el: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.

 

It was Jacob that had renamed Luz till Bethel, meaning the House of God. He renamed it after his first encounter with Luz, when he had a dream seeing a latter that reached to heaven, and God standing on the top of the latter. When he woke up from his dream he said, ”Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not…” and he called the place Bethel, or the House of God (Gen 28:16) He was unaware that he stepped into Gods presence, and the gate of Heaven. 

This time however, when he arrives on his way back from Laban, he builds an altar and calls it El-Bethel, or the God of the house of God. 

Too many people only have a relation to the House of God. They go to the House of God by tradition, or by custom. They do their religion. Maybe because that’s what their family do. Maybe because they have been invited by e friend, and just like Jacob the first time, they are unaware that they step into Gods presence, and the gate of Heaven. 

God wants us to know not only his house, but also himself. He wants us to build an altar, and a relationship with the God of the house of God. If you like Jakob have been to the House of God unaware of his presence, then I suggest to you, next time you go to look for and search for the God of the house of God. That’s what its all about.

The gift and blessing you lost

 Matt 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

 

This is a strange verse that I for many years have struggled to understand the meaning of. How can you loose something you don’t have? Seems impossible to risk loosing something you didn’t have in the first place? But today God revealed something to me. The fact that you don’t have anything is a testimony that you are not blessed, and the reason you are not blessed is because of choices you made yesterday. That means that what you loose is the blessings that should have come tomorrow because the right choices you make today.  There are blessings waiting for us in the future that we still have not seen. God knows about them of course, and it these blessings Jesus are talking about. The things you loose that you don’t (yet) have are the blessings you should have received tomorrow.

 

Two years ago I was going to celebrate Christmas with a client and her family. I was on duty Christmas eve. One week before Christmas, I threw a snowball on her, and she reminded met hat Santa was watching me. She said I just lost a present. So, on Christmas eve I had the honor (as the Norwegian custom is) to read and deliver all the presents. On one of the gifts, it said: To Pastor from Santa. With excitement I opened the gift, only to see it was empty. Then she laughed and said: Thats the gift you lost!!

This story illustrates what I am trying to say. There are gifts and blessings waiting for us that we will never see or know about because we don’t live in the blessings of God. Don’t let the enemy steal you blessings, but receive a love for truth, and walk in the faith of him that can give you life, and that more abundantly. 

The sum of Gods thought about me

 Psalm 139:17How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! 18If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

 

Did you know that Gods thinking of you? He thinks about you all the time. He is thinking so much about you that the Bible tells us that the number of his thoughts is as the number of the sand. And the best thing is that they are all precious. He is thinking precious thoughts about you. Good thoughts. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (Jer 29:11)” The Norwegian Bible says thoughts of future and hope. His mind is constantly occupied thinking about you!!! And whenever he is thinking of you, he wants to give you future and hope. 

There is a worldly song that says: “Cant take my eyes from you”. That is exactly the way God feels about you. Job 36:7 says ”He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous…” He loves you so much that he cant take his eyes away from you. He cant stop thinking of you. Oh how great the sum of his thoughts are of you!!

No worship, No rain

 Zec 14:17 “And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.”

 

God made it very clear that the families who did not come up to worship him, over them it would fall no rain. This prophetic scripture is not only about physical rain. The same Bible talks about spiritual rain. In the book of Joel God prophesies that he will send former rain and latter rain as a compensation for all the enemy had stolen. This rain is further explained to be the outpouring of the Holy Ghost. So if we want this Holy Ghost rain and blessing to fall upon our family, and us, we must worship him. Don’t let anything steal your worship. It is our worship that causes the rain to fall. And it’s the lack of it that withholds the rain.

There is another scripture that goes together with this: Job 36:29 “Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?” The noise of his Tabernacle being the sound of instruments and praise is causing clouds to gather in the sky. The Tabernacle and the Temple today are our bodies. We are the Tabernacle that is supposed to make noise and worship the Lord. Whenever we do, we send up vapors towards the sky that will gather together and form clouds. When the clouds are heavy enough, it will drop the rain upon us. 
Let us worship until God pour down his rain and sends us revival.