26th April 2025
Per Seivaags testimony
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you
rest”
Matt. 11.28 NIV
Introduced at the national meeting in Ølen, Norway, Saturday 24. June
1989.
6 ½ years have now gone since I was arrested and jailed in Sweden. I was
a drug user, bound by a substance known as amphetamines, which is a
strong narcotic.
I will begin with the prison. Once inside the cell, where I was, there was
an office table, and in the bottom drawer I found a New Testament. In the
cell we were not allowed to talk to other people. In fact I was not allowed
to see my other fellow prisoners. I was completely isolated. I only got food
brought in 3 times a day. But then there was this New Testament that I
found.
There were no other reading material in there. When I wanted to get the
time to go with reading I began reading the New testament.
What happened was that this, Jesus Christ, came forward in such a way
that there was something that stirred my heart. I was just 19 years old, and
I understood that I had made a mistake and got lost, completely and
utterly. In fact, I had no future. And when I read about Jesus, how good he
was against the poor, those who ranked lowest in society, against
prostitutes, against those, others considered worthless then I realized how
good he really was.
14 days after that I had found the New Testament, I had read the first 3
gospels and had started on the Gospel of John. Then I realized that this had
to be the truth, that there was something in this. Although I was so
exhausted degraded and destroyed, I lay on the bed and prayed to God. I
asked him if it was really true that he lives, and if he could give me a new
life. He said yes, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I
will give you rest”
Matt. 11.28 NIV
This verse, along with other verses, was what prompted me to seek God. -
As soon as I prayed this prayer, I experienced that power flowed into me.
A joy and a force that flowed through my entire body.
I had never experienced anything like this. I had tried most drugs - LSD
and everything else, and I knew the feelings and the impact that you got
from the consumption of these substances. But the power that God gave
me in this moment, surpassed anything that I had previously experienced.
It was so wonderful. I laughed and I cried, I prayed, and I praised God
there inside the prison cell. It was just so wonderful.
And what was so unique was that God didn't only step in and save me, he
saved my life too. This New Testament that lay at the bottom of my office
table was the instrument that saved my life. I do not know if I had been
alive today if Jesus had not stepped in and saved me. It is a marvelous
work you do in Gideon (Gideon give Bibles to hotels, sailor homes,
hospitals and prisons). I am happy beyond words for this!
3 days after I had accepted Jesus, I was transferred to a prison in Bergen.
There I met a man who was called Kjell Grønner, he's a great man. May be
some of you know him? He taught me to pray, and he taught me the word
of God. I got into a Bible study group. We took communion together, 12
people. It was truly wonderful.
I was in jail for 3 years: It's a long time. The prison in Bergen is probably
the worst and dirtiest prison of all. But I've never had a better time in my
life. For Jesus filled me and gave me joy and everything that I was
missing. It was truly unique. I must just say thank you to "Gideon" for the
work you are doing to deliver Bibles and New Testaments. Thank you!
From "Gideon magazine"
E. Campbell translated
THE LOVE OF JESUS
““I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the
sheep. ”
John 10:11NIV
Jesus came down here to pay a debt which he had no part of, and we were
not able to pay the debt.
That which has cost much, you will never want to lose. And therefore God
doesn't like to lose you. He bought you dearly. For God so loved you and
me, that he gave:
HIS WORD - that we might know the truth
A PORT - so that we could go into his kingdom
WORLD LIGHT - that we no longer should have to walk in darkness and
hopelessness
BREAD OF LIFE - to satiate our hunger souls
THE LIVING WATER - to renew
THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE - so that we can live eternally
with Him. The belief in Jesus makes this possible - not easy
Debora Bank Larsen. LMF-Magazin
Effie Campbell translated
PRAYER PROTECTION
”Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain
you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will
rescue you.”
Isaiah 46:4NIV
The spiritual life with Christ that each Christian lives is crucial for the
church and our life. This is what will determine the future of Christianity,
nothing else. A simple-minded, true, praying Christian is a stronger
protection than 100 scientific lectures can offer.
Every one of us stands firm by this protection
Eivind Berggrav Bishop E. Campbell translated
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith
Eph. 2.8
A man whom I have frequently talked to about the road to salvation, sat in
my living room. After I repeatedly had testified for him about salvation, he
said, " Will you pray for me?"
He was astonished when I replied, "No, I will not?"
"But why not?"
"No, I will not pray for you any more. God has shown you the way to
salvation." “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and
your household.” Acts 16:31 NIV
What do you want me to pray for you about? That he should give you
another gospel? Or that he will save you without you believe this gospel? I
do not want to pray God to do more for you than he has already done.
Believe in him, as you are!"
I looked at him a moment, then replied, "Tell me again what it is to
believe. "
I told him that Christ is penance for our sins and that he is worth trusting,
and that anyone who put his trust in him shall be saved.
He looked at me, "I believe in him, but how do I know if I am saved?"
I grabbed the Bible and showed him the word: "Whoever believes in him is
not condemned,” John 3.18. NIV Here is the testimony of God and God's
guarantee. If this does not make you happy, then you do not believe in him
at all."
" Oh, now I see it and now I dare believe it." - "Then you are a saved
person, after what the Scripture testifies, " I noticed that his face suddenly
lit up.
We fell on our knees and praised God.
" ... But then God."
A CHOSEN PEOPLE
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s
special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you
out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
1. Peter 2:9 NIV
One day I was driving through town, I saw a small sign on the window of
the car in front of us. It said, "My master is a Jewish carpenter."
I did not understand what this meant and therefore asked the man who I
had with me in the car, what the phrase was supposed to mean, and his
reply was plain, precise and simple: "He's a Christian."
Effie Campbell translated
Jesus is alive
“but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore
he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because
he always lives to intercede for them.”
Hebrews 7:24-25NIV
Easter is a rich and beautiful time that heralds life that begins to sprout and
grow out there in nature. It has become spring!
It also reminds us of eternal life. It speaks to us that the God who has
preserved the seeds of life in the earth during the cold winter nights and
who makes it appear again, is also able to awaken the dead man on the day
of eternity to a new life. God showed this when He raised Jesus from the
dead on Easter morning.
At first, this was not easy for Jesus' friends to understand. But when they
experienced the open tomb and that Jesus later revealed himself to them,
and later, when the Holy Spirit came and shed light on the cross and the
tomb, they were given the strength and courage to go out and proclaim that
"Jesus is alive." This is also the basis of the Christian faith, and therefore
we understand the ancients well when they greeted each other on Easter
morning with these words: “Christ is risen, indeed he is risen.”
The greatest testimony that Jesus Christ lives and is active among us is
God’s living church on earth. The Easter message also tells us that Jesus
not only died once on Calvary for our sins, but that he now lives at home
in heaven and serves as a priest for us. “but because Jesus lives forever, he
has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those
who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for
them.” Hebrews 7:24-25NIV
To you who do not yet dare to believe in the forgiveness of sins, but walk
with an eternal longing in your soul for peace, rest and hope of eternal life,
this message should be for you: Jesus is interceding in heaven today, also
for you. Your sin is great, but you should not lose heart, for you have a
Savior with wounded hands, who stands before God and reminds you that
your debt was nailed to these hands and to the planks of the cross. These
wounded hands have the power to receive you, cleanse you and preserve
you, if only you will allow him to do so.
It is told of a bishop who lived in the early church that when he lay on his
sickbed and awaited death, his closest priest friends stood by his bed and
watched anxiously how he behaved in his last moments on earth. Once he
sighed deeply and then they said to each other: “Now he dies!” But the
bishop then gathered his last strength and opened his eyes once more and
said loudly and clearly: “No, my friend, only now do I begin to live.”
Those were his last words on this side of the threshold of eternity.
This is how he can live and die who believes in Jesus. He knows and
believes that Jesus died on Calvary as a ransom for sin, and he rose from
the grave on Easter morning and is now at the right hand of God as our
intercessor. Jesus lives!
C.Eliasen
Easter
”“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene,
who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they
laid him. ”
Mark 16:6NIV
Easter is our greatest holiday, even though children consider Christmas to
be the greatest. From our childhood lessons, we remember that the people
of Israel celebrated Easter as a reminder that the Lord had saved them
from death and redeemed them from slavery in Egypt. He did this by
letting the angel of death pass over their house in Egypt, which he
recogniced from the blood they had smeared on the doorposts and beam.
The Christian Easter is also a memorial feast that the Lord has saved us –
indeed, even every single person on our planet from eternal death and
redeemed us from the slavery of sin. - Those of the children of Israel who,
in obedience to His Word, had smeared the blood of the lamb on the
doorposts received part in salvation and redemption. Likewise, we do not
receive part in redemption and salvation to eternal life unless we receive
the Passover lamb, the crucified and resurrected Savior, Jesus Christ, in
faith. It is the sign of the angel of death in our time. Many people let
Easter pass by their homes and their hearts. They do not believe they need
salvation. But at Easter the great covenant between God and man came
into effect. All our sin was placed on Jesus. It was this sin of ours that He
was punished for and had to suffer the death of the cross on Good Friday,
so that we could go free and have peace. He did this with a love that the
world has never witnessed before or since.
His “forgiveness” and “completed” sounded then and still resonates today,
even for those who want to kill him.
“Man can never save himself,
and kills his only savior.”
But the love of Jesus nobodz can kill. On Easter morning he rose as he had
said earlier and defeated darkness and death. On Easter morning he
showed us that everything is completed, that our sin debt has been paid,
that death should not hold him as a sacrificial lamb. Thank God for Easter
morning. - Now the covenant was sealed and the Savior went back to God,
who had sent him, to prepare a dwelling for people in the eternal land, all
while the Holy Spirit was to work and guide people to the truth. Just as he
rose then, we too shall rise – as many as received him – to life.
Let not the Holy Spirit with the Easter message be locked out for any of us
this year. Let us rejoice that the covenant was established and became
valid and death is no more! Let us thank and praise God for the salvation
in Christ Jesus.
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our
iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his
wounds we are healed.”
Isaiah 53:5NIV
Easter Saturday is a special day during Easter.
It is not written anywhere that you have to hold a church service, so it can
quickly become a day that you may forget a little about the whole easter
process. You might go to Easter lunch or make sure to get some shopping
done this day.
But from ancient times there has been a tradition in Denmark that on
Easter Saturday you held adult baptism or a vigil day. The day after, i.e
Easter Day, Jesus rises from the dead and that is what they have held a
vigil day for. They have looked forward to hope and light.
The day before, i.e Good Friday, Jesus was crucified and dies, and anyone
who has tried to be in a place where there is a lot of pain also knows that
there is always a "day after." A day when you can't really understand that
life goes on, where you're kind of waiting for the pain to subside.
When they hold a vigil night, it's because they are looking forward to the
light and hope coming back. In many churches, the night between Easter
Saturday and Easter Sunday is a vigil night, where the congregation takes
turns reading aloud from the Bible and in many places there is a musical
service after sunset.
Folkekirken.dk
GOOD FRIDAY
“And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put
it about his head, ” and “And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. ”
Mark 15:17 and 19-20NIV
Some things are bitter and good at the same time. Some fruits can be both
sour and sweet at the same time. And how is it with the woman who is going to give birth. She feels a great pain, yes, and yet she also feels joy. Similarly, a human being can feel two opposite things at the same time. So it is with what happened on Good Friday: for us it was good, but at the same time it was terrible.
As a child, I was always very moved in our little Reformed, Episcopal Church, to the Good Friday service. The service was serious. Sometimes the white altar cloth was replaced with a black one. The hymns were heavy, melancholic and serious.
What I remember best was when we left the church in sheer silence. That day no one stopped to talk in the front church as usually. It was the one day of the church year when the congregation showed no signs of rejoicing in the church, only seriousness. The seriousness of the day burned into my childish mind. And I am happy about that. Happy and encouraging scriptures and hymns fit well with Easter Day when Christ was resurrected; but on Good Friday we should all remember the evil, crushing
weight of sin that Christ took up on the cross.
Try to think of Calvary today. Keep the cross in mind. Try to imagine the pain that the Savior was to go through in order to give us the opportunity to sing songs of joy and praise to God.
Lord, let me never forget what Good Friday cost you.
Joni Eareckson Tada
MAUNDY THURSDAY 17th April 2025
THE SILENT SAVIOR
"But Jesus still made no reply,"
Mark. 15.5 a
It was Thursday night. The day before Jesus was crucified. Jesus was
arrested and stood for the Council, while accusations poored down on him.
False witnesses stood up and accused Jesus for this and that. The high
priest was getting more and more desperate as time went by, it was clear
that there was no basis for some of the charges, while other charges were
mutually inconsistent with each other.
"Aren't you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you
of." Said Pilate referring to the accusations of the chief priest. But Jesus
remained silent.
Strange, because Jesus is otherwise accustomed to defend himself. He is in
fact known of being able to put his opponents checkmate with a single
accurate statement. Tell me something, Jesus! But Jesus remains silent.
It's not because he couldn't refute the accusations. Jesus can shut every
opponent's mouth with one single word. But he let them go, the
prosecuters were right! Certainly it is not Jesus' sin that is being drawn
here, but the charges relate to him anyway, because it is Jesus who is there
in stead of you and me, in place of all sinners. Therefore Jesus is silent.
Jesus cannot and will not say anything. For he sees Peter's dismay, the high
priest's disbelief, the reviled, the mockery and contempt by a Roman
soldier. Jesus is there for their lawlessness - and yours. He made them his!
Jesus is under accusations as the representative of all mankind. That's what
makes Jesus silent. John 1.29
"Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world."
Jesus was condemned, and the day after he was crusified. This was how
God wanted it to be. Jesus was slaughtered as the Lamb of God
"scapegoat" for all sins and lawless deeds. Jesus suffered on the cross of
God's burning anger against all sin. Why? So that we could all find a
grace, a refuge from the wrath of God. Namely, under the cross of Jesus.
Jesus' sacrifice is the access door to God and to the eternal life. Let us
thank and praise him for that. And let our thanks spread down to the legs,
so they're going to go errands for him, who went in our place.
"Noreanyt"
Effie Campbell translated
In working clothes
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Col. 3.12 to 17
In the New testament we find many reminders. Reminders we do not think
so much about. But they are still good. To remind us that Christ is among
us as one who serves. With his service life becomes good because love and
mercy come with him. In a world that is often unforgiving and cold, we are
called to do as he has done to us.
“You humans, do not be so hard!" Such sighs the Swedish poet Gustaf
Frøding. He suffered under harsh reviews and prejudices. And who of us
can consider himself free to give our share of this. That's why we need to
hear the reminder to clothe us in working clothes : "Clothe youselves with
love..."
It is the one that gives us a nice and cozy atmosphere at home. It is the one
that makes everything go without a hitch with collaboration at work. It is
the one that makes people become aware that they care about each other. It
is the one that makes the mistakes of other seem small and makes me look
more particular at my own mistakes. Do not be afraid that everything will
be too idyllic, for God's mercy will be of great need anyway!
E. Campbell translated
WORDS
““I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is
beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by
anything.”
1Cor.6:12NIV
Coresponsibility of pollution
There is a worse pollution than of that which pollute the soil, water and the
air, the newspaper "Grimstadaddress Journal" states and points out how
our inner person, the mind becomes contaminated. We have seen many
examples of serious crimes that have been committed as a result of the fact
that the criminals have got ideas after watching movies with violent,
pornographic / sexual and other destructive content.
But it is not only those who allow this to enter our market, who are
responsible for this pollution.
What about those who sit and let themselves be entertained by this
secretly, asks the newspaper. What about the "nice" parents who do not
take this age limit seriously?
E. C. translated
THE WAY AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.”
John 14.6 NIV
While the world awaits its liberator, people search desperately for the truth
and meaning of life.
We know that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and that he is the
Saviour of the world today, tomorrow and always.
E.C translated
God’s love is power – not fear!
”Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
1 John 4:11NIV
In Gethsemane, Jesus called Judas “MY FRIEND,” even though he
hypocritically kissed Jesus and betrayed Him. Yes, the Word calls Judas
THE TRAITOR, but Jesus calls him, “my friend!” (Matt. 26:45-50).
Abandoned, betrayed, rejected, mocked, made fun of, tormented and
suffering, Jesus prayed this prayer on the cross: ““Father, forgive them, for
they do not know what they are doing.”” ...” Luke 23:32-34. So
unimaginably strong and different is the love of God. If we daily prioritize
the relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit – and the Word, then
God’s love will be just as strong in us. We may not know it. We may not
believe it either. Perhaps the law of attraction stands in the way. But the
reality is that if we are born again, we carry God’s love within us and He
can melt and change even icy hearts.
Romans 5:5NIV says: “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s
love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has
been given to us.”
We cannot reach everyone with the gospel, but everyone can reach one.
Persistent prayer for one person is also reaching one. Ask the Holy Spirit
to show you a person to pray for regularly. Your struggle will not be in
vain.
And then God’s love has the immense power to cast out fear. It is an
immense grace and blessing to possess the power to cast out the plague
that torments so many people in our time: Anxiety/Fear (1 John 4:18).
Pray that people will encounter God’s love in you – even the people you
have a strained relationship with. Even those who make life miserable for
you. When that happens, God’s love is perfected in you, as John says in
1 John 4.
Effie Campbell
Prosperity – Adversity
”You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the
one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
1 John 4:4NIV
When we work and act for the Lord, the consequence of this is that we
also encounter opposition. Paul wrote: “because a great door for effective
work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me. ”
1 Corinthians 16:9NIV
Criticism is proof of recognition. If you had not been successful in what
you do and work with, they would not have noticed you at all. Remember,
it is the greatest problems and difficulties that give the greatest victory.
The evil one does not send you a greeting card and good wishes when you
have decided to do God’s will and work. He will fight you all the way. But
”You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the
one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” 1 John
4:4NIV. Today God is with you, so victory is certain.
Effie Campbell translated
11th April 2025
Discouragement
”For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power,
love and self-discipline. ”
2 Tim. 1:7NIV
A woman who in her youth entered into Christian work felt discouraged.
An older man then said to her: “That spirit does not come from God, for
the Scripture says: ”For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but
gives us power, love and self-discipline. ” 2 Tim. 1:7NIV. No, this
discouragement comes from below, from the prince of darkness. He wants
to bring us down with our neck.”
Now a long time passed and then the two met again. The man asks her:
“Well, how are you?” - “No, not very well. So few people come to the
meetings.” - The man than replies: “The Scripture does not say that when
we are many at the meetings, I will be in the midst of you. No, it says:
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.””
Matt.18:20NIV
“This man helped me a lot in my spiritual work when I was young and
unexperienced,” the woman concluded. Effie Campbell
A loving church – with an edge
”This is my command: Love each other.”
John 15:17NIV
Holger Daugaard
At the annual meeting in Himmerlandsgården, the topic was, “A loving
church – with an edge.” Some have certainly pondered a lot about what is
meant by “with an edge.” Does this mean that we as a church should be
clearer and more explicit with our message? That the love in our church
must not be diluted and become an empty word?
In some Christian congregations, the message of a loving God has become
so hollow and empty that they believe that all people will be saved
regardless of what they believe in or whether they believe at all. That is
not what we as a church teach. Is that what is in the word, “with an edge”?
As a church, we believe that all people are offered salvation. Jesus’
sacrifice on Calvary includes all people, and He still calls everyone. But
unfortunately, not everyone says: “Yes and thank you!”
Effie Campbell translated
I can't believe ...
“The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say,
“Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take
the free gift of the water of life. ”
Rev.22:17NIV
Astri Weber Gelein Laurendz was the host of the program "Sing Along".
She said something like this:
Sometimes you hear people say, "I can't believe!" That's not right, that's
not true. Jesus says: "... the one who WISHES take the free gift of the
water of life" Rev.22:17.
It's a matter of will and it's free. In John 4, Jesus tells the woman from
Samaria that she should have asked him for water, and he would have
given her living water (verse 10)
Furthermore, Jesus says that the water that he gives them will become in
them a spring of water welling up to eternal life (14). Jesus himself puts
faith in the heart of the person who comes and asks Jesus for the living
water, and that person will never thirst again. Consider this!
Effie Campbell
Apostate
”So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit
you out of my mouth.”
Rev 3:16NIV
Two believing men were sitting together talking about faith. Then one of
them said, “How can it be that some who were so fervent in the faith
during the revival in the 70s later completely disappeared, why did they
become apostates?”
“Indeed,” the other replied, “We read in 1 Tim. 4:1NIV: “The Spirit clearly
says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving
spirits and things taught by demons.”
But I will tell you why they cooled down, became apostates and fell from
faith. In Leviticus 6:13NIV it says: “The fire must be kept burning on the
altar continuously; it must not go out.” and in verse 5 it says that every
morning you should add firewood, so that the fire never goes out.
That was the case under the Old Covenant, in the New Testament the word
of God, the Bible, is the wood that keeps the fire burning. Every day we
must read the Bible, so that the fire in our hearts never goes out.”
Effie Campbell
Jesus is for all people / Jesus4all
”Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ”
Matt.9:4-5NIV
Gina Gjerme
We must use our time to speak and testify. When we walk in faith, it is
God who takes responsibility for the result. Sometimes it takes time, but
we know that it can take time from the seed falling into the ground until it
begins to bloom.
Time and again we see in the Bible that God is out looking for the one. He
wants all people to come to faith. God has a heart for everyone. Then no
one has fallen outside. I lost my brother a year ago under tragic
circumstances. Just before he passed away, he had an encounter with the
Christian faith.
He sent a message to his mother and wrote: “Mom, do you know what
happened to me last night? Jesus came into my room. He told me
everything I needed to hear. Now I know that He is real, sent by God.
Mom, you have no idea how big this is, but one thing is important: Jesus is
not merely for Christians. He is for all people!”
Let’s use words that people can understand. We must use words that are
simple enough for people on the street to understand what this is all about.
Jesus saw the individual. Let’s be a church that sees people and cares
about people.
Effie Campbell translated
What do you have?
”He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do
you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom
you are persecuting,” he replied.”
Acts 9:4-5NIV
No matter how little you think you have, give what you have to God. No
one can make something great out of something insignificant and small
like He can. Moses became perhaps the greatest leader ever, leading the
Jewish people through the desert for 40 years and into the Promised Land.
It was a journey that presented many difficulties, but it was also a journey
with daily miracles, where they were given food, water, shoes, and
clothing that did not wear out. They were given a pillar of fire to warm
them at night – and a pillar of cloud to shield them from the heat of the sun
during the day. Moses must have thought back to the moment when he
stood tired, disappointed, old and speechless with his staff before God. It
was there that the journey of all the miracles began:
Does this mean that God does not use highly skilled people with many
talents to give to God? Yes, indeed, God uses all kinds of people. But God
will often do something to the person who has many skills, so that he or
she does not trust in his own skills, but in God.
God could have called Moses when he was 30, young, strong and well-
skilled in Pharaoh's court. But God waited until Moses was 80 years old
and almost finished. Then God showed what He could do through such a
person.
Saul was highly skilled, was eager and had charisma. But God's calling to
him, when he later received the name Saul, went hand in hand with the
light of Heaven figuratively burning away Paul's knowledge and religion.
From that moment on, Paul had merely one desire: namely, to know Christ
- and to make Him known. (Read Acts 9 and Phil. 3:1-11).
When Saul of Tarsus began his journey to Damascus to imprison the
Christians, he was skilled, proud, and self-confident, and he was haughty.
When he encountered God's light on the journey, he fell to his knees,
terrified and blind - and in his helplessness he became a wonderful
instrument in God's hand. He wrote about 28% of the New Testament.
If we all lit our lamps
and let them shine brightly.
If we all let our lamps shine,
Jesus would come soon.
For so many walk in darkness,
they know almost nothing about Jesus!
Therefore, let us light our lamps
so that they shine all around!
Obedience
”His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.””
John 2:5NIV
These were the words Mary said to the servants at the wedding in Cana.
Obedience to God in all His instructions is at all times the prerequisite for
blessing to be the result of our lives. Faith is not an achievement or a
heroic deed, but being obedient and doing as Jesus says. Do it and you will
be proven to be so.
Jesus said to the disciples, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat
and you will find some.” They did so and caught a great many fish.
He said, “Take away the stone!” And those who stood there mourning saw
Lazarus come out of the tomb.
Jesus said to Peter, “Come!” And Peter was even able to walk on the water
to Jesus. This is worth remembering: “Do whatever he tells you.”
Effie Campbell translated
Old rags and worn-out clothes
“So Ebed-Melek took the men with him and went to a room under the
treasury in the palace. He took some old rags and worn-out clothes from
there and let them down with ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern. Ebed-Melek
the Cushite said to Jeremiah, “Put these old rags and worn-out clothes
under your arms to pad the ropes.” Jeremiah did so, ”
Jer.38,11-12NIV
Sometimes you hear people talking condescendingly about the homeless
and calling them rags. This is not right behavior, they should not be
mocked and humiliated. We do not know what life has been like for them.
They are like us created in the image of God and the same price has been
paid for them as for all the rest of us. Jesus paid the price on Calvary, and
that price is the same for everyone.
There is something about old rags and worn out clothes in the Bible, and
these rags were even inside the palace itself, and God used them for
something great. The piece is in Jer.38:6-13.
This is the story: Some men grabbed Jeremiah and let him down with
ropes into a cistern. There was no water in the cistern, only mud, and
Jeremiah sank into this mud.
Ebed-melech, who was a courtier, heard this and therefore went to the king
and told him about the situation Jeremiah was in and that he would now
die of hunger in the cistern. The king ordered Ebed-melech to take 30 men
with him and have Jeremiah rescued from the cistern. Ebed-melech obeyed
and took the men with him up to the palace and into a storeroom from
where he took some tattered rags and old clothes, tied them together and
let them down to Jeremiah. Then he shouted, ““Put these old rags and
worn-out clothes under your arms to pad the ropes.”” Jeremiah did so.
Then they pulled him out of the cistern with the rags, and Jeremiah was
now sitting in the courtyard of the guard.
This is a good image of how God can use what others call tattered rags. He
can use them for something great in his service. Here they participated in
the rescue of the prophet Jeremiah, and notice that they had their home in
the palace itself.
Effie Campbell
God’s Word Never Becomes Old or Outdated
”The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see
that my word is fulfilled.””
Jer.1:12NIV
When I hear the many words in the electronic media and elsewhere, I am
so grateful for the promise in Hebrews 13:8NIV: “Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday and today and forever.”
Words that the Lord spoke thousands of years ago have not become old or
out of date. They do not need to be adjusted to the times. Promises that
were given to Israel and the Jews thousands of years ago are still valid!
Promises that are given to you and me – they are still valid!
For, connected to the promise that Israel would be restored, Ezekiel
proclaimed these words from the Lord 2,600 years ago: “... I the Lord have
spoken, and I will do it.’” Ezekiel 36:36NIV
These words describe the mind of God, a mind that never changes. So do
yourself a favor and let the flood of words from politicians, experts, and
agencies go in one ear and out the other. You should rather read the Word,
the Bible, which you can fully trust, because IT WILL HAPPEN, JUST AS
HE HAS SAID! Translated by Effie Campbell
Where can I go?
”When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and
pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some
and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he
ate it.”
Genesis 3:6NIV
A boy had just been confirmed, and he meant it with all his heart, the
confirmation he had given to Jesus. He had believing parents and they
were happy with his decision. But shortly after, his friends called and
asked him to come down to the hotel where a dance party was to be held
that weekend. “It’s going to be crazy fun,” the friends said. It was easy for
him to say no on the phone, but it was far worse when two friends came to
his house and tried to get him to change his mind.
“I have to talk to Father about this,” he answered. “You are old enough
now to make your own decisions in life. But I think deep down you know
what you are to choose,” answered the father. “I will ask you to read the
following two verses before you decide,” said the father. The boy went up
to the room and read:
Take Jesus with you wherever you long,
then you will be so light in mind,
and where your Savior is shut out,
there you must not enter yourself.
Take Jesus with you on your ways,
then you can allow yourself with them,
and ask Him to watch over your bed,
when the busy work of the day is over.
Take Jesus with you wherever you go,
then you will never be lost,
for hosts of angels will watch over you,
when the world closes its eyes.
And when the day is done, oh, then
your Savior himself will come in the place of death
to take you, a sinner, with him to an eternal, eternal summer.
Adolf Langsted.
Now the boy knew what to answer his friends. We should not seek out
temptation. Just think of Eve. She had no intention of doing anything
wrong, she just wanted to have a look. But if you just look, you have
already slid halfway down the slope, for temptation is as strong as a
magnet, and you are just a little lump of iron. If you get too close, then
whoops, and you are stuck. Effie Campbell
Narrow-mindedness
"He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does
not have life."
1 John 5:12
The world thinks that those who believe in Jesus are so narrow-minded
when it comes to salvation and eternal life. They think we think too
"narrowly."
Jesus says in John 14:6NIV: ”Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth
and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ”
This is about Jesus.
In Acts 4:12NIV: ”Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other
name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” ”
This name is Jesus.
In 1 John 5:11-13NIV: ”And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal
life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does
not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who
believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have
eternal life.”
Translated by Effie Campbell
