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
“And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with
you before I suffer. ”
Luke 22:15NIV
On Maundy Thursday we remember that Jesus consecrated the the Lord's
Supper. Jesus began with the words above in Luke 22.
If we knew nothing else, we would rather have guessed that the night
before his own death, Jesus would have said something like this: "I have
been afraid, indeed, terrified ..."
What was Jesus longing for? He longed for what all love longs for - not
least the sacrificial, contentious and suffering love. The love longs to be
allowed to give, it longs for the moment when it can be allowed to give its
beloved the fruits of its sacrifice, its struggles, its self-denial. What love
lives for and lives off the many and long hours of the struggle, it is the
dream of one day being able to approach the beloved one and say “Look,
here I am - and all that I can do for you, I have done. Here is my gift,
receive it. ”
This is the content of the the Holy Communion. Remember this the next
time you participate in the sacrament.
Flemming Kofod-Svendsen
"Danish European Mission", Effie Campbell
The four houses
“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the
Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.”
Psalms 127:1NIV
When Leonard B. Mullan, who later became a missionary in Japan, was
married, Mr. Craig gave the speach. He spoke of the four houses in the
Old Testament.
Exodus 12: The bloody house. “The blood will be a sign for you on the
houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you...”
(ie skip over you)
Joshua 24: The sanctified house. “... But as for me and my household, we
will serve the Lord.””
Genesis18: The well-organized house. He told about Abraham sitting in
the tent opening as Lord of the house and Sarah who was inside the tent.
2 Sam.6: The blessed house. “The ark of the Lord remained in the house of
Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his
entire household.”
And that is how it is. God's Word says: “Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the
guards stand watch in vain.”
Psalms 127:1NIV
Jesus himself told the parable of the two houses. One man built his house
on sand and when the rain came, it washed the sand away and of course
the house fell too. The other man built his house on the rock and the rain
came and was not able to overturn the house. The house stood safely and
firmly there.
This is an image of our life. The wise man builds his house of life on the
rock, Christ, and he shall own life in time and eternity regardless of what
else may happen to him in this life, because, as a Chinese missionary once
said: "In this country they take life, but they can never take LIFE.”
Effie Campbell translated
God's leadership
“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,
“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called
them.” ”
Acts 13:2NIV
When Leonard B. Mullan was young, he wandered the streets selling
bread. One evening there was an elderly woman who handed him a tract.
The tract was called: "Why should some hear the gospel twice, when
millions have not heard it once?"
These words struck him as a challenge, and he put the tract into his
pocket, intending to give it to his wife. But the same day they rang, 10
miles away, and I gave Agnas the same tract. Then it got a strong feeling
that God was speaking to them. Sometime after this, Mullan was visiting a
priest and the conversation fell on God's guidance.
The priest then says: "The captain of the ferry that sails between Dublin
and Holyhead can steer his ship on a pitch black and dark night and still
steer the ship safely into port because he has three lights to help him.
When he sails in such a way that these three lights are seen straddling
each other like a straight line, then the bat has only to sail straight, for
then he will arrive safely at the harbor.”
Then the pastor, Clarke, told him that the first light a Christian should
look for is the light of the Scriptures, so is what you are considering
doing, is it in line with the Bible?
The other light you are looking for, that is the light of conscience. What
you ponder, does it make you happy when you pray?
The third light is the ambient light. Is the road open for you? Mullan did
not tell the pastor what it was that was on his mind, but his constant
prayer was, "Lord, lead me and lead me." And the Lord guided him and
led him to Japan, where he became a great blessing and worked for his
Lord for many years.
"God of my life". - Effie Campbell translated
A testimony from the war years
“But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.””
Psalms 31:14NIV
Svein Lindset, who is the prayer leader at -Visjon Norge, testified one
evening
"Grandfather was arrested during the war because he had hidden members
of the resistance movement in his hay house. He was put in a detention
center at Møllergata 19. There were also three other inmates in the same
room. There was a wooden table and inmates who had sat in this room
had engraved various things into the table.
Grandfather was a man of faith, he was brave and did not hide his faith.
He prayed his grace and spoke openly about his faith. Not everyone
agreed with him. The inmates each had a mug and a spoon. The mug was
used for soup and tea. Across the table, grandfather could see that
something was engraved in the table top, but he couldn't make out what it
said. The table top was dirty and stained with tea. It was also not easy to
engrave with a teaspoon, so it was no wonder that it was difficult to read.
But after some days of trying, grandfather had solved the riddle: "But I
trust in you, Lord" Psalms 31:14NIV
But one day a new prisoner was put into this prison cell. He was a
resistance man and therefore he was arrested. But he was also an atheist.
The next day he was taken in for questioning. He knew they would try to
torture him because he had decided not to say anything or gossip about
who else was member in this resistance group.
When he had left the cell, grandfather said: "Now we must intercede for
him." They then fall to their knees and grandfather says, “I trust in you,
Lord,” and then he prayd for the man. He repeated this three times.
Outside the prison cell stood the warden with his whip and was about to
whip the poor man. He raised his arm to strike but could not swing the
whip. The arm simply pointed straight up at the ceiling. He now took the
arm down again and then tried again a few times, but each time with the
same result. Then he returned the man to his cell.
Now the atheist was told that his friends had prayed for him and now
professed their faith in God with this scripture: "I trust in you, Lord,"
Then he fell on his knees and surrendered to the Lord and was gloriously
saved. Shortly after this, Norway became free, because this was in 1945.
Effie Campbell
Accept the blessing
The TV preacher, Egil Svartdahl taught at the summer convention in 2022
““ ‘ “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on
you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give
you peace.” ’”
Numbers 6:24-26NIV
Hear
This blessing is for everyone and can be used elsewhere than in and during
a service. Egil said he used it at home. Before his five children left home
in the morning, they held out their heads for their father to bless them that
day.
There are so many people who fear and worry about the day, so many who
doubt whether they can even get out of bed. Three years ago, we therefore
started our "plus words" on Instagram and Facebook. Now on July 23,
2022, we have done it for 1000 days in a row. We have 60,000 regular
followers, almost 20 million visitors to the page and 150,000 sharers.
Every day we announce the Aaronic blessing. Every day we paint a big
and smiling "Smiley" in the sky, so that the viewers can see that God's
face is shining on me on this day". Thus the face comes close and it
becomes personal.
You did not see God when you were in a difficult situation. But then many
years passed and you then had the thought: "You were there, God! I could
not see it, but I see and understand it now. You were there!”
One day Fredrik, one of my sons, called from a cafeteria in Oslo. He had
time off. I thought: "What does he want now?" Then he says: "I just really
want to hear your voice, Dad." Then I got tears in my eyes.
The prayer life for some is simply asking for a gift or a favor. But then the
prayer life is too thin" Sometimes we just have to say to each other: "I just
want to be near you. I don't need anything. You don't have to say anything.
I just want to sit here. I seek you for your own sake.”
In the Old Testament it was not possible to see God face to face. But then
one beautiful day in the fullness of time we were allowed to see him. The
Word became flesh and came to us through Jesus as Immanuel, which
means: God with us (John1:14 and Matt.1:23). Suddenly we were allowed
to see his face. If you doubt whether God is near, just look at Jesus Christ
in the manger in Bethlehem. Because then you know that he keeps what
he has promised.
Effie Campbell translated
Tell of all his wonders
“Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.”
Psalms 105:2NIV
We are reminded to tell about all the miracles God is doing in our time.
When people hear about powerful answers to prayer, they see that Jesus is
very close. He is not a Savior who is far away, thus faith in Jesus is not a
theory, but a relationship with the Lord of Life, our beloved Savior.
There are two kinds of repentance:
1. Sunrise. These are the ones who have had the story of Jesus planted in
their hearts from childhood. With them, faith grows gradually, usually
slowly and surely.
2. Earthquake. These are the ones who have lived a hard life out there in
the world, but then they are awakened. They realized how empty and
meaningless their lives were and they were converted and there was a
violent upheaval in their lives, like an earthquake.
ec
Witness about the Lord's deeds
“Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all
peoples.”
Psalms 96:3NIV
I am not very fond when people talk a lot about what they were before
they became Christians! It was a shameful life. The wise man hides his
shame, says the Bible. On the other hand, Scripture encourages us to tell
of God's wonderful acts (Psalms 105:2NIV). But neither the devil nor
half-hearted Christians want that. They talk condescendingly about
"sunshine stories", and it is almost forbidden to tell about the miracles
God does today. Is it because they themselves want to take the glory from
God or are they imbued with all the negativity we hear about and read in
the media? In any case, they are disobeying God and not doing what the
Bible wants us to say.
Every Sunday we read the Apostles' Creed with devotion in church, but it
is now not quite the same as having an apostolic faith, the same faith as
the apostles had. An empty creed is hypocrisy. It is not right to be so
suspicious of people who live out their faith in their lives! It is of little use
to demonstrate that we have the pure Lutheran teaching, when our life
does not correspond to it.
Believing in God is not playing a game of luck! It is the most natural thing
there is. God does not fail his promise: “... And surely I am with you
always, to the very end of the age.” ” Matt.28 and “... and the one who
believes in him will never be put to shame.”” Rom.9 Let it be said from
the start that God is true and man is not! It is the proven faith that is more
precious than real gold!
What thoughts does today's man have about God? “Taste and see that the
Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” Psalms
34:9NIV For as soon as a sinner repents, grace abounds! Praise be to God!
This includes you reading this! Let's talk everywhere about the miracles
the Lord is doing in our time and in that way let us give Him glory.
Ec translated
21th March 2024
God's preservation
“the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and
forevermore.”
Psalms 121:8NIV
There is peace in these words! Then we can boldly start a new day in trust
in Him who has promised to be with us when we start the day's work and
to help us in everything that meets us throughout the day. And what the
day may contain, well, that is hidden from us, because "no one knows the
future".
That He preserves our coming and going means that He will preserve,
defend, help and strengthen us from morning to evening, from the time we
leave for the day's work in the morning until we are home again, indeed
both out and at home.
And we need this! It is not being pessimistic to say that life is dangerous.
Not least for our soul, and therefore it is also good that the Lord has
promised to preserve us.
If we are to get through the day unscathed, indeed, not only unscathed but
that rich and strong in God that we bring the fragrance of Christ with us,
then we need help. For God's help is not only to protect us from danger
but also from the power that makes our life a life of abundance. Jesus says
it like this about the one who believes: “Whoever believes in me, as
Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” ”
John 7:38NIV That God watches over us throughout the day thus means
that He keeps us close to Him and therefore our life becomes not only a
life of security but also a life of goodness.
Yes, then life becomes rich when the Lord not only keeps evil at a
distance, but surrounds us and fills us with his goodness, goodness
towards ourselves and through us – goodness towards others. Only in this
way can we come victoriously through the day and life, despite
temptations and adversity. We would never be able to face everyday life in
security and full of confidence, if we only had ourselves to rest in. Now, in
the name of Jesus, we start with today's deeds and can believe and rest in,
"that as the day shall thy strength be”.
How good it is to return home after such a day! With peace in the heart, a
clear conscience and filled with gratitude. And then the certainty that He
who could watch over me today, well, he can also watch over me
tomorrow. “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down,
your sleep will be sweet.” Proverbs 3:24NIV
The widow's small coins
“But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth
only a few cents.”
Mark 12:42NIV
A wealthy woman was asked for money for a charity.
"I would like to geve," she replied, "but you have to do with the widow's
small coins."
"But that is far too much" was the reply, "We cannot accept that much"
"That much?" said the woman. “You must have misunderstood me. I have
given so much support to charitable work lately that you have to be
content this time with the widow's small coins."
“But dear madam,” replied the collector, “That is far too much. The
widow you mention gave everything she owned as a gift to God. But I
think it is far too much if you give us everything you own.”
It ended with the woman giving a nice amount of money. But after this
day she never again compared her gifts with the widow's small coins.
"Church Bell" E.Campbell translated
Cleansed from all sin
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with
one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. ”
1John 1:7NIV
On a particularly cold winter's day, a woman who was part of the
Salvation Army went and did her missionary work among the poor in the
worst and most miserable part of London. In a house with many
apartments, she went up a lot of stairs, went from door to door and
knocked. In some places they were very rude and refused her access with
ugly words. A very few opened the door and allowed her to step inside to
tell the story of Jesus.
Then she came to the last of many, many doors and knocked on the door.
The door was now opened slightly ajar and a fat man asked sternly: "What
do you want?"
"I am one who works for Christ," she replied, "and I bring the glad
tidings."
"Get lost. We don't need you here.”
The missionary turned and was about to go on but stopped abruptly as she
heard a faint voice.
“Oh, dear friend, let her come in. I have to see her. Don't send her away.”
The man could not resist his wife's plea. Reluctantly, he opened the door
and the missionary was able to step inside. She saw a seriously ill woman
lying in a pile of hay.
"Oh," moaned the woman, "do you know anything about the blood that
cleanses from sin?"
The missionary was extremely surprised.
"Where did you hear about that?" “I can't quite remember. But once many
years ago I went into a church and heard someone talking and singing
about the blood that cleanses from all sin. I need this blood because I have
been a sinner and I want to be clean.”
"Yes, I know the man whose blood cleanses," answered the woman who
had entered.
Then she spoke tenderly of the man who of his own free will gave his life
so that all sinners might be cleansed. She prayed for the sick woman and
for her husband and promised them medical help.
In faith the woman received the sacrifice that was made for her and an
expression of peace now came into her weary eyes.
"I am no longer afraid," she said, now taking the missionary's hand. "I'm
so glad you stopped by. Now go quickly and tell everyone these good
tidings.”
"Reach out" 3 May. – Effie Campbell translated
A big experience
“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, and teaching
them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you
always, to the very end of the age.””
Matt.28:19-20NIV
This devotion has been written by Adrian Johansen, missionary in
Strendur, Faroe Islands. It has previously been published in the book,
"Viðførið"=the luggage
The phone rang and I got a greeting from a good friend who was ill. His
wife said that the man wanted me to visit him because he was quite ill.
Thoughts surged back and forth in my mind. 53 years old and weighed
down by cancer. "What would I say to a terminally ill man?" I thought.
We're leaving. My wife drives, as I myself felt ill. He was lying still in his
bed and at first glance, when we stepped inside, we could see that he was
marked for death. While we are sitting with him, we see that he wants to
say something.
"I have had a strange experience," he began. "On the third day of
Christmas I lost consciousness. I saw Jesus coming and taking me. He
came in a great pillar of fire. My clothes were completely burnt off me
and I was wearing a golden garment and had new shoes on my feet.
When I entered Heaven, my father met me and welcomed me, and I
recognized many people who had died in the faith of Jesus Christ. There
was such wonderful beauty in Heaven and everyone was happy. But I also
saw people being cast into the lake of fire. A large crowd of people
gathered around Jesus, and I felt so good there that it cannot be described
in words.
When I had been in Heaven for a while, Jesus came towards me and said:
"You must come back down to earth, because there is something you must
do for me. Indeed, you have a great service to perform.” I was sad
because it was so good in Heaven. But suddenly I was lying in my sick
bed again and I'm just lying there waiting for Jesus to come and take me
home to Heaven. He had taken all fear from me. Now there is only one
thing I want, and that is to tell all the people I come into contact with:
JESUS IS A REALITY. Therefore, it is important to accept his invitation.
Now I lie down and look forward to coming home to Heaven.”
As I sit there, it all comes together and I think to myself: You have to
write all of this down. With a typewriter you can reach millions of people.
I myself have twice been hospitalized unconscious. I have no doubt that I
would have to return again and that Ovi would have to experience Heaven
for a while in order for us to shout to others: JESUS CHRIST IS A
WONDERFUL REALITY!
Now you, who are reading this, will be handed the torch. Will you pass it
on and shout: JESUS IS A LIVING REALITY? Hurry up to take the tally
so that you who read this can be ready to depart.
Adrian Johansen
The Master is come, and calls for you
“And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister
secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. ”
John 11:28KJV
A woman of faith worked in her young years at a seamens's home in
Føringahavnin (historic working place for people from the Faroes in
Greenland in fishing industry from appx 1920-1970). While there she
embroidered a wall picture with the following scripture: The Master is
here calling you. The mural was hung on the wall of the sailors' home.
Now many years passed. Then this same woman has to take a trip south to
Sandø in the Faroe Islands and continues to the village of Sand. There she
finds and looks at the mission house, and on the outer wall it says: “The
master is come and calls you”.
She gets into a conversation with the principal of the mission house and
asks him how it can be that this particular scripture is there. He then
explains to her that he had seen it at the sailors' home in Føringahavnin,
and it had stopped him and spoken to him and led him to salvation.
“how blessed you will be, sowing your seed by every stream, and letting
your cattle and donkeys range free.” Isaiah 32:20NIV
“With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our
enemies.” Psalms108:13NIV
ec
A wonderful answer to prayer
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old
they will not turn from it.”
Proverbs 22;6NIV
Many years ago, a woman of faith in Tórshavn wanted to take her son to
Bible class. The woman had a boy and two girls and had a fervent and
burning desire and prayer to be able to bring her son to this Bible study,
even though it was not common to bring children to this.
She then says to him: "Dear friend, come to Bible study with your
mother."
He ponders about this for a moment and then he says: "Ok, I will on the
condition that we get something good afterwards."
"Yes, we will," said the mother. But the mother knew very well that they
wouldn't get that, because it was down in the old Congregational House
on Áarvegin, and you didn't get cakes there. She felt bad for lying to the
boy. She now fervently asked God to help her.
Then the day arrived when the Bible class was supposed to be. They now
both went down to the Congregation House. The mother sat and asked
God to help her, because she was afraid of what would happen when the
Bible session was over.
Then a woman stands up and says: "Tonight there will be something
extra." It hasn't been done before or after this special night. The story
behind this is that two young girls had talked about whether it would be
nice to have something extra. One of them then went down to the Sailors'
Home and carried some mugs and coffee into the Congregation House,
which is the nearest neighboring house.
The boy sat down comfortably and began to eat the delicious cake with a
good appetite, and the mother - well, she could only look in wonder at
God's goodness and faithfulness.
ec
A visit to the hospital
”Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.”
Psalms 96:1-2NIV
I was out at the National Hospital in the Faroe Islands, Landsjúkrahúsið in
Tórshavn in order to visit a woman. The woman herself had called and
asked me to come. She was sitting on the edge of the bed when I entered
her ward room and she was quite unwell. The first thing she says to me is:
"Dear friend, couldn't you please sing me a song?"
I had never been asked this kind of question before, but I answered: "I
will sing four little verses that we usually sing in Aglow for you, but you
have to sing along." We begin gropingly and silently singing, because
another woman, who was also bad, was lying in the same ward and I
didn't know if she liked this. But then what happens is that this woman
joins us and starts singing along with us. When the song is finished, the
strange woman says: "Thank you very much." This did me so good. It was
a true blessing for me.”
1 Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain;
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calv'ry's mountain.
Refrain:
In the cross, in the cross
Be my glory ever,
Till my ransomed soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
2 Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the Bright and Morning Star
Shed His beams around me. [Refrain]
3 Near the cross! O lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day
With its shadow o'er me. [Refrain]
4 Near the cross! I'll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever;
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river. [Refrain]
Fanny Crosby. Ec
Jesus is coming soon
“According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive,
who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those
who have fallen asleep.”
1. Thess. 4:15NIV
When will Jesus come? This question has been asked by countless people
of faith throughout history. And this is not an insignificant question. It is
characteristic of faith to wait. The question is not: Is Jesus coming? But:
When will he come?
“...“Yes, I am coming soon.” ...” These are some of the last words of the
Bible. He has not yet come - but he will come and restore everything.
When? Soon!
Paul was waiting for him in his own time: ““... we tell you that we who
are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not
precede those who have fallen asleep.” 1. Thess. 4:15NIV” But Jesus did
not come in his time. Many others waited with joy, but they had to realize
that the time had not yet come.
In 1953, I heard Anne Larssen Bjørner say at a gathering at Nyborg Strand
in Denmark that she expected Jesus to come again before the year was
over and now more than 70 years have passed.
In the years leading up to 1666, many Christians in Europe were also
waiting for the Lord to come. The long Thirty Years' War was raging in
Europe at the time, and people believed that now was the time. Now he
had to come!
We must be careful not to blame those who waited without having their
heart's desire fulfilled. They spoke because they believed. Only those who
truly believe in Jesus also await his coming. And even if they hit the
wrong time, they will not be ashamed.
Paul speaks of some scoffers who say: “They will say, “Where is this
‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on
as it has since the beginning of creation.”” 2.Pet.3
Peter pointed out that this statement is incorrect. God let a whole world
perish in the flood, and in the same way the present world will also be
cleansed, but next time in fire. No, the mockers' arguments do not hold
water.
The Word became flesh - Jesus came! When? In the fullness of time, says
the Scripture.
When he comes the second time, it will also be in the fullness of time.
The fullness of time is when everything is ready. Only the Father alone
knows the time, not even the Son in his human shape knew the exact time.
The only thing we have to look for are the signs of the times, and Jesus
reminds us to pay attention to them. The prophetic word shines and says
no less.
It is clear that Jesus is coming soon!
The church bell. ec
We have come to worship him
“... and have come to worship him.” ”
Matt. 2:2NIV
How moving it is to read that when the Magi finally reach the land of the
Jews after a long and arduous journey, they said that they had come to
worship him - the King of the Jews.
They did not come there as sensation-hungry tourists who wanted to
experience something special and get something out of this event that
became so decisive for all mankind, an event that the prophets had
predicted centuries before it actually happened. Indeed, they came to
worship.
Without even being aware of it, they show with their words their desire
and eagerness to worship this newborn heavenly king's son.
This is the true and right attitude of man when we refer to Jesus Christ:
worshipping.
Above all, our prayers must be characterized by worship. However, this
does not mean that our prayers should only be worship. Jesus himself
asked us to pray for whatever we wanted. Thus we can ask Jesus to help
us with everything that may be on our hearts. But first of all we owe it to
Him to worship and thank Him for all that He has already done for us.
That he who was laid in a manger, with his death on the cross and
resurrection, has redeemed us from the power of death and the devil, and
who, together with all his angels, is preparing homes for us now in
Heaven, where he will also receive us.
Let us always remind each other of this, because all too often prayer
becomes only prayer and not worship and thanksgiving and joy for all that
Jesus has done for us.
"We have come to worship him", said the Magi. Let us follow in their
footsteps and join the multitude of peoples, multitudes, nations, and
languages, and all the angels of heaven, who will worship the Son of God,
the Savior of the world.
12th March 2024
Proof
”Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount
Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the
four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” ”
1 Kings 18:19NIV
When we read a scientific article about God and faith, even those written
by "Christians", we often come across this sentence: "We know that belief
in God cannot in fact be proven."
What do they mean by that? In 1 Kings, Elijah challenges those who
worshiped false gods. He said: “Meet me on Mount Carmel! The God
who answers...He is God! And the people said: "That is right!" Because it
is true proof – both for head and heart, when God answers prayer.
The TF magazine. E Campbell translated
The whole sky is open above me
"After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in
heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said,
“Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” "
Rev. 4:1NIV
I love a Norwegian song called "The whole sky is open over me". That is
exactly what the reality is. The Bible says: "by a new and living way
opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body " Hebrews 10:20NIV
Therefore, in the name of Jesus, we can now go directly to the throne of
grace and ask God to help us. The curtain into the Holy of Holies was torn
from the top all the way down. God himself tore it over and the way is
therefore now open for us all the way in there.
I don't know how you feel at the moment. But if you feel that all ways are
closed to you and that there is no help anywhere, then you are to know
that the way upwards no one can block for you. Therefore, do like the
woman I am now going to tell you about, call on God in the name of Jesus
and ask Him to help you.
During the 2 world war there was a girl who lived in a small village on the
island Eysturoy in the Faroe Islands. She fell in love with an English
soldier and he fell in love with her. He was so sweet and nice, she thought.
He said he lived in a big and nice house in London and he wanted them to
be married before he moved on. They then got married.
When the girl now came to London, nothing was as she thought it would
be. The house was a large residential building in poor condition. The man
was as if transformed. He went to bars and pubs in the evening and when
he returned home, he was drunk and often assaulted her.
One Sunday evening, when she was home alone as so often, she was
completely desperate. She knew no one who could help her and she was
afraid of her husband. She fell to her knees on the kitchen floor and cried
out to God. Then she distinctly heard a voice from outside speaking to her
ear: "Get up, put on your clothes and go outside before your husband
comes back again!"
So she did. Outside, she rounded the corner of the house. There she saw a
man walking right in front of her. She only saw his back. He had long
gray hair and was wearing a light long overcoat. Now she heard the voice
for the second time. “Follow this man!”
He wandered down several streets and she followed. Then he suddenly
turned down a small flight of stairs and into a cellar. She also went down
these three steps and into the cellar. It was a room that belonged to the
Salvation Army and they had come in for a Sunday evening meeting.
When the woman looked around, the man had disappeared. She hurried
up the stairs to see if she could see him out in the street. But there was
none. Then she could figure out that it had been an angel.
E.C
Matti Haapoja
”Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Proverbs 4:23NIV
Is your heart like the frozen field? It hasn't always been that way. When
you were a child and young, your heart felt completely different. Your
heart was then like a wonderful garden, like a summer field in full bloom.
But so many frosty nights came over your life. Now the garden is
disgraced and destroyed and not a place suitable as a residence for the
Heavenly King. Matilda Wrede, the woman who for a lifetime lived and
worked for the inmates in Finnish prisons, one day enters the cell where
the country's most heinous criminal, Matti Haapoja, is living. Heavy iron
is forged around his neck, hands and feet. No one knows how many lives
he has on his conscience. Neither the priest, the judge, nor the guards have
been able to penetrate the hard breastplate with which he has encased
himself.
Matti Haapoja notices the Bible that this young woman has in her hands.
He sets out to mock her and the holy book. He has heard so often that she
usually tells the prisoners that the words in the black book apply to them.
But he himself, Matti Haapoja, knows for sure how it works. Mrs. Wrede
pre-selects a few scriptures that fit the prisoners, and then she prepares the
speech she plans to give them. "But if I find a scripture myself, will the
lady then stand up and explain it and show me that it applies to me?
Then Matti Haapoja turns to the first page of the Bible, and Matilda
Wrede reads quietly: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the
earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the
surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.” Genesis 1:1-
3NIV
"The earth that God has created," she said after a moment of silence, is
not only the earth out there on the wild plains of the desert landscape,
lakes and large forests with trees, herbs and flowers - no, it is also the
human heart, it is Mattis' own heart.
And the land that constitutes Mattis's heart is also desolate and empty.
Empty of everything good, pure, tender and dear, of peace and joy. No
flowers grow, no fruits ripen either. Why? Well, darkness rises from the
depths and darkness kills all life.
"God said: 'There must be light!' And there was light" - God can fill the
abyss with light - and He is the only one who can. Now if Matti brings his
desolate and empty heart with abysmal darkness that kills all light before
God, then God will say: "... "There shall be light!" " and it will happen.
And Matti cried - cried over himself and over his wasted life. The ice
melted. The tears of repentance are a blessed rain upon the dry earth. But
that is not enough. God's gentle streams of grace must fall like spring rain,
so that all the ice melts so that the seed can germinate in the field of the
heart.
Your heart and mine are also desolate and empty and lie in deep darkness,
until the Lord Jesus is allowed to give it light and warmth. In that moment
everything changes. Then it becomes the soil where the heavenly sower
can sow the good seed: God's word. To examine the word of God is part
of the preparation to meet the King. Because otherwise your heart can
never become a garden that flowers in honor of Him.
Effie Campbell translated
Jesus healed me of terminal cancer
“After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the
hand, and she got up. ”
Matt.9:25NIV
Per Næss had a rare and fatal cancer (Von Recklighouse's disease -
neurofibromatosis) that attacks the central nervous system, bones and
brain.
Ten years ago, he fell over on the workplace floor and was rushed to
hospital. They found 47 malignant cancerous tumors there. “The doctor
opened the top lid, cut and patched me back together. First I was sent to a
recreation home and then home," says Næss.
It didn't take long before he was really unwell again and was admitted to
the Radium Hospital. There he received "cell therapy" for three weeks, but
the situation only got worse.
Per Næss was moved to Lovisenberg Hospice. Those who are hospitalized
there usually never make it out alive. You get love and care. You are given
a dignified end to life.
One day a group from the Gospel Center in Oslo came into Per's room in
order to pray for him.
“I also prayed myself. When I prayed, the whole living room started to
light up like a giant ball of fire. In one corner I saw Jesus standing and
waving to me. Jesus came over to me and I felt him lay his hands on me.
The whole body was burning hot. Jesus said: “Peter, you shall not die.
Your time has not yet come. Get out of bed and go.”
At the time, Per Næss weighed only 38 kg. The following day he left the
room without the support of anyone else.
Per Næss was 100% cured of his cancer. The chief physician at the
Radium Hospital, Jan Vincent Johannesen, wrote about the miracle: "We
understand nothing of this miracle that has befallen Per Næss."
Per has now returned to working life. He works 25% in a transport job,
assists at the Gospel Center and travels around giving lectures with the
cancer association.
"I'm happy. Jesus has completely changed my life. Life is not a matter of
course. It's a gift and it's only for loan. It is of such great importance to me
to be allowed to report on what has happened to me. Jesus has stood right
by my bed and I have seen him heal me. Jesus is with me 24 hours a day,"
emphasizes Per and then he continues: "Remember! When you face
adversity, fold your hands and pray the Lord's Prayer. Seek Jesus. It is
possible to find him!”
"The friend of the home" - translated by Effie Campbell
The task
“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, and teaching
them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you
always, to the very end of the age.””
Matt. 28:19-20NIV
Although TV and social media can reach long distances, it is necessary to
send people out among peoples and cultures to build a network so that
people can become disciples and have a community in churches.
God didn't send an email, he sent a messenger, his son. Jesus appeared to
Paul on the road to Damascus, but Jesus needed a disciple named Ananias
to give Paul the message of salvation. God does not use angels as
missionaries. He uses people. Jesus became flesh and blood and dwelt
among us. Have you ever seen a wind stand still? As true as we are filled
with the Holy Spirit, we must move forward and not stand still like a pillar
of salt.
Effie Campbell translated
7th March 2024
Take the tithing test
”Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse ... Test me in this,” ...”
Mal. 3:10NIV
Gangaram Mahes is infamous in New York as "The Big Ram". The
immigrant from Guyana loves to eat at expensive restaurants, but he has
no money to pay for the food. Instead of trying to control his appetite, he
goes into a fine restaurant, orders the best dish on the menu, the finest
wine and the most expensive dessert. Then he eats and drinks to his heart's
content and when the bill comes, he tells the waiter straight out that he has
no money. Then the police come and arrest him, and then he gets at least
two days of free food in jail again.
You know what? Our churches are full of people who drink the milk of
God's blessings, eat big steaks of God's hospitality, and enjoy the dessert
of God's love - but they never as much as give Him even 10% for the
service. Don't be one of these!
When you give the first 10% of your income, a divine power is activated.
God blesses the remaining 90% and they reach so much further than your
own 100% would have done without His blessing. Does that mean that
God gives you more money than you gave Him? Not necessarily, but He
promises you that He will bless you more than you thought possible. It
may be that it is with good health, goodwill from your boss, leadership
through life, or that God protects you and your loved ones. God says:
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my
house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not
throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that
there will not be room enough to store it. ”
Just do it. Take the tithing test.
"... a Word for the Day" - translated by Effie Campbell
Towards the heights
“... for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” ”
Matthew 19:14NIV
We will take a small text section from the book, "The best is still waiting"
by Fritz Rienecker. This episode clearly shows that there is much that is
not as we would like it to be.
One of the hardest things for parents is when they find out that their child
is mentally disabled.
In an institution for such children, Catherine was fed for twenty years. The
girl had been deeply mentally handicapped from the moment she came
into the world and had never uttered a single word. It was just that there
was life in her. She either stared calmly at the wall or made absurd
gestures. Eating, drinking and sleeping, that was her whole life. She didn't
seem to be participating in anything that was happening around her.
Then one of her legs had to be amputated. The staff wished Cathy well
and hoped that the Lord would soon take her home.
One day the doctor sent for the superintendent. Catherine was on her
deathbed. When they entered her living room they couldn't believe their
senses. Catherine lay there singing Christian hymns used at funerals. She
sang again and again the German hymn, "Where does the soul find its
fatherland, its rest?" She sang for half an hour, and her face was
completely changed, and then she slipped quietly into death.
So it had only seemed that she could not understand anything that was
happening around her. From a medical point of view, the incident here is a
mystery. God has pulled aside the curtain to give courage to parents of
spiritually disabled children. God makes no mistakes. He who takes care
of the sparrows is the same one who says:
“... for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” ”
"Voice of the Martyrs" – translated by Effie Campbell
5th March 2024
Have confidence
"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. "
Hebrews 10:35NIV
One evening the other day we saw a conversation with the evangelist Kjell
Halltorp on Channel 10 on TV. He had spent a lot of time in the Middle
East and he said that he had preached to Jews and that night 500 Jews
were saved. The scriptures say that a hardening rests on the Jews until the
Gentiles come in, all as one, and then all Israel will be saved (Rom.11:25-
36). This tells us that the return of Jesus is very near, because this will
happen just before his return. Just imagine, 500 Jews were saved in one
evening by a sermon. Well, it is as if we hear Jesus' footsteps already right
outside. Now it is important to use our time correctly and engage in
purposeful prayer and pray all our loved ones into the kingdom of God.
One Sunday evening a short time ago we heard Thorstein Grotbæk on
Visjon Norge. He had been a pastor and Bible teacher. He told about an
event he had experienced: It was a married couple who came to the
congregation. They were believers but their son was not a believer.
They prayed a lot for him and this weighed particularly heavily on the
mother. The son worked on a construction site. One day they called from
his workplace and reported that there had been an accident at work. Their
son had fallen 6 meters from a scaffolding and directly onto concrete.
He was badly damaged and was not expected to survive.
The parents hurried over to the hospital, but first the mother called
Thorstein and said: "Now you have to help us. Ask for a miracle from
God. Our son must not enter eternity unsaved.”
Thorstein now got into the car and drove to the hospital and all the way he
asked God to intervene. When he entered the hospital, the parents were
already there, and the son was in a coma. Thorstein laid his hands on the
boy and asked God to do a miracle so that he could be saved.
Whether it was the same evening or the day after, I do not remember, but
suddenly the boy opened his eyes, and the first words he said were the
following: "Mother, I am saved!"
They were totally surprised and the mother said: "When and how were
you saved?" “
As I fell from the scaffolding, I cried: “Jesus, save me!” And he did.”
The son got up from his sick bed and was completely healed. There was
nothing wrong with him.
So be persistent in prayer and pray for your loved ones and for those no
one prays for.
Effie Campbell
Peace
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the
world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. "
John 14:27NIV
Once, some artists were invited to participate with their works in an
exhibition that was to deal with the subject of PEACE.
Many paintings came in, so the evaluation committee came up with quite a
difficult task.
Let us here select three paintings from the crowd. The first had painted a
landscape painting. A small cabin stood down by the mirror-bright water,
and behind the cabin you could see snow-capped mountains. Indeed, here
everything breathed peace.
In the next picture we were in a living room. It was morning and the
whole family sat around the table while the father read a devotional to
them. No one could say anything other than that peace radiated from each
of these faces.
But the third painting that turned out to be the winner appeared to be
anything but calm and peaceful at first glance. A gigantic waterfall rushed
over the rock massif high up there. The snow-white frothy foam was
everywhere, so the subject looked drastic, even violent to a certain extent.
But if you looked closer, you could glimpse something that admittedly
didn't look like much, but which had a great significance for the whole. In
a crevice up on the mountain massif, a small bird had built a nest. There it
lay dry and safe, despite the fact that the waterfall rumbled nearby.
This is a good image of being a Christian in this world. In the midst of
life's storms, a Christian can still feel safe. Not because of my courage and
my strength, because here we don't always have much to be proud of, but
by putting my trust in Jesus, I know I am in safe hands, in safety.
Just before the soldiers came to arrest him, he was sitting at the table with
his friends. In the glow of the oil lamp and the torches, he told them that
he was to go through suffering that would end in his own death. All this
was to happen because of them and all mankind. Naturally, the disciples
were afraid, but in the midst of their fear, Jesus' words sounded: “my
peace I give you ... Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be
afraid.”
Being a Christian is not like boarding a flying boat that flies easily and
elegantly over the crests and troughs of life. To be a Christian is to face
sickness, fear and doubt. Jesus has not promised us to avoid this, but he
has promised us to lead his children safely through life, even through the
dark times.
Being a Christian is therefore the safest thing there is. Independent of
everything that might otherwise affect mind and feelings, I have the peace
of God. I am not forsaken, but I am with him who cares for me in the
changing conditions of life. His name is Jesus.
Then the storms must rage. I have, no matter what happens, my security
and peace because Jesus has taken hold of my right hand and He is not
letting go!
Look, the tree is full of white scarves
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. "
John 3:16NIV
Dr. M. R. De Haan founded the Radio Bible Class, Michigan, USA.
Through his radio broadcasts, he transmitted the gospel to tens of
thousands for many years.
Once speaking of God's love and longsuffering toward lost sinners, he
shared this truth story from the neighboring state of Wisconsin. We
reproduce it as we remember it being told:
A good Christian family living in a rural town in the middle of Wisconsin
experienced one of the worst things that can happen to anyone.
When their youngest son reached adolescence, he broke with everything
his parents had tried to teach and raise him to do. He broke with the
congregation to which the family belonged. He said goodbye to the
Christian friends he had previously had.
They made several attempts to get him back on course, but he just drifted
further and further away. He now also started taking drugs, and this led
him further into a criminal path. Even though he had broken with the
family, he still frequently came home and threatened the parents. They
always gave him a little money and something he lacked. But above all,
they showed him incredible love and patience. But at last they had to tell
him that they could not afford to give him all that he demanded of them.
Once, when he was alone in his parents' house, he stole a piece of art that
his mother had inherited. It was worth many tens of thousands of dollars.
He took it with him to Chicago and sold it there.
The years went by! The boy sank deeper and deeper into poverty and
misery. The money from the artwork was long gone. He now supported
himself by various small jobs and by crime, like the other drug addicts. He
had not yet been caught in serious crime and was therefore still a free man.
But it was a miserable life he lived.
Towards autumn, when it was beginning to get colder in Chicago, the boy
now began to long for home. Just imagine if he could be allowed to come
home and start a new and better life there. But he had not written home or
shown any sign of life for many years. Therefore he thought: "It is hardly
any use for me to return again after all that I have done. But then he had a
sudden impulse.
He wrote a letter to his parents in which he bitterly regretted the wrong he
had done. He said he wanted to start a new life. But he didn't expect his
parents to accept him the way he had treated them. I'm taking the train
from Chicago this coming Saturday. If I am allowed to come to you, you
must hang a white scarf on the apple tree that is down by the railway
station. If I don't see a scarf, I will merely drive on, but I don't quite know
where."
Saturday now arrived and he boarded the train. Another traveler was
sitting in the same carriage, and they got into a conversation with each
other. The boy now told him about his life and that he was now on his way
home - possibly his parents would welcome him. "What if your parents
haven't received your letter or if they've gone somewhere," said the
traveler. The boy could see that there were many things that could go
wrong. That's why he got more and more nervous the closer they got. He
now asked his fellow traveler if he would try to notice a white scarf in the
apple tree, which would appear at any moment. He himself sat and hid his
face in his hands and did not dare to look out. When they now passed the
boy's home, the other shouted: "Look, there is not just one scarf on the
apple tree. The apple tree is covered with white scarves!!!
“Himmelveien”. Effie Campbell translated
Can we choose the wrong path?
“Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how
can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and
the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:5-6
Most of us don't like changes. We are most safe when everything is within
a fixed framework. When Jesus had to leave the disciples, he gave them a
precise explanation of what they were to do. Jesus makes it clear to them
that he will soon leave them, but at the same time promises them that his
departure to the Father will be for their benefit.
Jesus says nothing about where he is going except these few words: "...I
am going to the Father?" and adds: "There you know the way"
Surely they had heard of the way. According to their childish beliefs, there
was only one way to God: life according to the law. The impatient Thomas
had seen that the way of the law was no longer the right one. But he had
not yet grasped the new thing that Jesus brought. He had seen that service
was more than sacrifice and that love was better than deeds of law. But he
wanted to know it more precisely and therefore he asks directly: “Thomas
said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we
know the way?”” John 14:5NIV
At that moment, Jesus could have chosen to bring a complete overview of
the future. He could have marked the way so that people could get a
precise guide.
Someone must once have said: the more detailed and precise I am told
which way to drive, the more certain I am that I will get lost.
And in these times of cars, many can probably tell that it is so. We are
carefully explained about junctions, service stations etc and still get lost.
Therefore, nothing is as reassuring as hearing, “Better let me drive you.”
Then the person himself becomes the way, and the problem no longer
exists.
This is exactly what Jesus did when he answered: "I am the way". Then
there was nothing to be in doubt about. He didn't want to present a road
map with all its many details. He knew that circumstances would change
from generation to generation, so it would be difficult to get everything on
the map.
And when Jesus says at the same time: “... “I am the way and the truth and
the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” well, then he
says that the fellowship with him lasts forever. It is and will be vital for all
those who want to live on.
He who is in accordance with Jesus does not go astray, but reaches his
goal safely.
The best choice
”but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is
better, and it will not be taken away from her.” ”
Luke 10:42NIV
In Luke 10:25, an expert in the law comes and asks Jesus a question about
eternal life. Jesus asked him if he knew what the law said about this: “He
answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your
neighbor as yourself.’” ”
"The man answered: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind,
and your neighbor as yourself himself.” ” v.27. The expert knew that the
key to everything was to love God first and then to extend that love to
other people.
When we read on in Luke 10, we read about Jesus that he visits Martha
and Mary. Martha is worried and upset about many things and it didn't get
any better when Mary seemed indifferent to helping her. The Lord said:
”but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is
better, and it will not be taken away from her.” ”
Jesus did not say that it was wrong for Martha to care for her fellow
humans who needed her help. But her worry took something away from
her, namely a growing relationship with her Lord.
Often we are so bound by the service part of our lives that we let it block a
more heartfelt relationship with Christ. Mary had chosen what is better.
We also need to do the same.
What Mary chose could not be taken away from her. If we struggle to have
a closer relationship with Christ, then we cannot lose what we gain.
Regardless of changes in our financial circumstances, our health or living
conditions, our relationship with Christ will continue.
We too need to choose what is better - to bond closer to him as we move
forward in life together with him. When we have chosen the right, we can
rest in the fact that we have something that cannot be taken away from us.
"Keep my lambs" E. Campbell translated