Helen Keller was blind and deaf. She was once asked: "What is worse than being blind?" She answered: "It's having eyes, but no vision."
It's amazing what she achieved during her 88 years of living as a blind and deaf person. However, if she hadn't had an inner vision for her life, she probably would never have achieved what she did.
You and I are in the position that we can both see and hear. We're blessed with physical sight. But do we have a vision for our life? Do we have a goal and a "mission", so to speak? Or are we just floating through life on a cloud of luck and fortune and hope for the best?
Moses prayed in Psalm 90:12, Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. He knew that our days are numbered. We don't live forever on this earth, and it's important that we spend each day in pursuit of the goal that is set before us.
What's your vision for your life? What legacy do you want to leave behind? What do you want to present to Christ when we're to appear before His judgement seat?
I have a clear vision for my life. I know what God has put in my heart to do, and I pursue that vision every day. I expect to grow in that vision and to reach my full potential before I leave this earth.
Do you have a vision for your life? Is there something you really want to do? Maybe your vision and your dream is something that seems too far fetched, too difficult to achieve? Don't turn down an idea because it seems impossible; God is the God of impossibilities. It looked kind of impossible to create what He did in six days out of nothing, don't you think? But He did it, He thought it, spoke it, and it materialized. And He has given us the same ability to 1) think it, 2) say it, and 3) see it materialize.
Our life is short, our days are numbered, but each day is valuable and each life is important for God. He has put a vision in your heart. Reach for it, go for it in Jesus' name. Pursue your dream!
søndag 31. oktober 2010
Possess your soul
"In your patience possess ye your souls" (Luke 21:19).
Jesus told His disciples to "possess their souls". What does it mean to "possess one's soul"?
The context in which we find this statement, is a rather sinister one. Jesus prepared His disciples for hard times ahead. He knew His time on earth was drawing to an end, and He told His disciples that they would be tried and persecuted for their faith; He talked about difficult times ahead. And in the middle of this, He told them to "possess your souls". Before we look into what it is, let's look into how they were to do it; they were to possess their souls by their patience. Jesus told them to be patient during whatever was ahead of them, and through this patience they would "possess their souls".
To understand what Jesus meant, we have to know how a human being is made up, so to speak. A human being consists of three parts; body, soul and spirit. (See 1 Thess. 5:23).
The body is the outer "shell" if you will, it's what we display to the world, it's our "coating". The body doesn't have a will of it's own, but does what it's told to do by our soul and our spirit.
The spirit is the innermost part of our being, it's the part that is being saved when we accept Jesus Christ into our lives, or being born again, as we like to call it. It's where God resides. When God talks to us, He talks to our spirit.
The middlel part is our soul or our mind, as some people like to call it. The soul consists or our thoughts, will, and emotions. When we are born into this world, we have our own thoughts, will, and emotions. And whatever our mind thinks and wants to do, that's what the body does. Whatever our mind feels, that's what the body feels. An unsaved person is being led by his or her thoughts, will, and emotions.
However, when that person gets saved, God comes into his or her spirit, and He begins to work by His Spirit through that person's spirit into the person's soul or mind. And the more of God's Word the person feeds into his or her spirit, the more the Spirit of God has to work with to change that person's thoughts, will, and emotions into God's thoughts, will, and emotions.
Back to Jesus and the disciples. Jesus knew that the disciples would encounter difficult times, and what He said to them was something like this, "When I'm gone, you will face some difficult times. But be patient, let the Word that I have given you be strong in you, let My Spirit that I will send to you, be your guide. Don't let what you face take your faith away from you. Let your spirit be stronger than your soul. Don't lose your soul, possess it!"
"Can I lose my soul?" Yes, you can. Let's look at someone who lost his soul, "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?" (Luk.9,25) "His very self" is his soul. This man was busy taking care of everything but his soul. He was busy gaining "the world" (material things? friends? a good job?) but he had no thought for the eternal things.
I want to "possess my soul", and I hope you do, too. It happens through patiently obeying and living according to God's Word.
Jesus told His disciples to "possess their souls". What does it mean to "possess one's soul"?
The context in which we find this statement, is a rather sinister one. Jesus prepared His disciples for hard times ahead. He knew His time on earth was drawing to an end, and He told His disciples that they would be tried and persecuted for their faith; He talked about difficult times ahead. And in the middle of this, He told them to "possess your souls". Before we look into what it is, let's look into how they were to do it; they were to possess their souls by their patience. Jesus told them to be patient during whatever was ahead of them, and through this patience they would "possess their souls".
To understand what Jesus meant, we have to know how a human being is made up, so to speak. A human being consists of three parts; body, soul and spirit. (See 1 Thess. 5:23).
The body is the outer "shell" if you will, it's what we display to the world, it's our "coating". The body doesn't have a will of it's own, but does what it's told to do by our soul and our spirit.
The spirit is the innermost part of our being, it's the part that is being saved when we accept Jesus Christ into our lives, or being born again, as we like to call it. It's where God resides. When God talks to us, He talks to our spirit.
The middlel part is our soul or our mind, as some people like to call it. The soul consists or our thoughts, will, and emotions. When we are born into this world, we have our own thoughts, will, and emotions. And whatever our mind thinks and wants to do, that's what the body does. Whatever our mind feels, that's what the body feels. An unsaved person is being led by his or her thoughts, will, and emotions.
However, when that person gets saved, God comes into his or her spirit, and He begins to work by His Spirit through that person's spirit into the person's soul or mind. And the more of God's Word the person feeds into his or her spirit, the more the Spirit of God has to work with to change that person's thoughts, will, and emotions into God's thoughts, will, and emotions.
Back to Jesus and the disciples. Jesus knew that the disciples would encounter difficult times, and what He said to them was something like this, "When I'm gone, you will face some difficult times. But be patient, let the Word that I have given you be strong in you, let My Spirit that I will send to you, be your guide. Don't let what you face take your faith away from you. Let your spirit be stronger than your soul. Don't lose your soul, possess it!"
"Can I lose my soul?" Yes, you can. Let's look at someone who lost his soul, "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?" (Luk.9,25) "His very self" is his soul. This man was busy taking care of everything but his soul. He was busy gaining "the world" (material things? friends? a good job?) but he had no thought for the eternal things.
I want to "possess my soul", and I hope you do, too. It happens through patiently obeying and living according to God's Word.
fredag 29. oktober 2010
What's the issue - really?
Do you struggle with sin? Do you struggle with living a pure life? Well, I think we all do. What can we do about sin? Is there a "cure"?
I came across a sentence in John Eldredge's book Walking with God the other day. It said the the issue is never the presenting sin, the isue is the surrender of our hearts. How true. If I surrender my heart to the Lord - I mean really surrender - then sin will not be an issue. If I surrender my heart completely to the Lord, the Lord will fill me with Himself, and sin will not be an issue in my life. Sin will not tempt me, and Satan will not have an open door into my life.
The enemy tries all he can to steal, kill and destroy me and you, but Jesus came that you and I might have life, and not only life in the ordinary sense, but an abundance of life (See John 10:10). That kind of life is only available when we surrender our hearts 100 % to the Lord Jesus Christ.
He is more than willing to receive us today, so why wait?
I came across a sentence in John Eldredge's book Walking with God the other day. It said the the issue is never the presenting sin, the isue is the surrender of our hearts. How true. If I surrender my heart to the Lord - I mean really surrender - then sin will not be an issue. If I surrender my heart completely to the Lord, the Lord will fill me with Himself, and sin will not be an issue in my life. Sin will not tempt me, and Satan will not have an open door into my life.
The enemy tries all he can to steal, kill and destroy me and you, but Jesus came that you and I might have life, and not only life in the ordinary sense, but an abundance of life (See John 10:10). That kind of life is only available when we surrender our hearts 100 % to the Lord Jesus Christ.
He is more than willing to receive us today, so why wait?
tirsdag 26. oktober 2010
Jesus came to preach the acceptable year of the Lord
What is "the acceptable year of the Lord"? The word acceptable is the Greek word dektos and it means accepted.
The background is this: In the Old Testament, every 50th year was the year of jubilee, or the acceptable year of the Lord. We read about it in Leviticus 25:10-13,
"Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each one of you is to return to his family property and each to his own clan.The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you ... In this Year of Jubilee everyone is to return to his own property."
Every 50th year, people got their properties back, and they were set free from bondage. Maybe we can put it this way, Every 50th year they were accepted back to their original state.
Our original state in God was that we were without sin, because sin was not "invented" yet. Adam and Eve were created without sin and put in a wonderful garden to grow and tend it and the animals that were in it. But we know that they sinned, and were thrown out of the garden. Jesus came to restore our righteous standing with God, and I believe that's what Jesus was referring to when He said He was to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
The good thing, though, is that we don't have to wait 50 years for that to happen. The accpetable year of the Lord is every year and every day of the year. Jesus came to restore us to our righteous place in God.
Don't put it off, but accpet Him today if you haven't already done so. And if you're a Christian and living below your God-given standard, accept Jesus' offer to restore you back to the place of abundance. "I will satisfy the priests with abundance, and my people will be filled with my bounty," declares the LORD" (Jer.31,14. my emphasis).
The background is this: In the Old Testament, every 50th year was the year of jubilee, or the acceptable year of the Lord. We read about it in Leviticus 25:10-13,
"Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each one of you is to return to his family property and each to his own clan.The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you ... In this Year of Jubilee everyone is to return to his own property."
Every 50th year, people got their properties back, and they were set free from bondage. Maybe we can put it this way, Every 50th year they were accepted back to their original state.
Our original state in God was that we were without sin, because sin was not "invented" yet. Adam and Eve were created without sin and put in a wonderful garden to grow and tend it and the animals that were in it. But we know that they sinned, and were thrown out of the garden. Jesus came to restore our righteous standing with God, and I believe that's what Jesus was referring to when He said He was to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
The good thing, though, is that we don't have to wait 50 years for that to happen. The accpetable year of the Lord is every year and every day of the year. Jesus came to restore us to our righteous place in God.
Don't put it off, but accpet Him today if you haven't already done so. And if you're a Christian and living below your God-given standard, accept Jesus' offer to restore you back to the place of abundance. "I will satisfy the priests with abundance, and my people will be filled with my bounty," declares the LORD" (Jer.31,14. my emphasis).
søndag 24. oktober 2010
Jesus came to set at liberty the bruised
Today let's look at the next thing Jesus came to do, set at liberty them that are bruised (Luke 4:18).
I remember when I was a child. I was never the nice, quiet girl who played with dolls; I was more of a tomboy. I loved to climb trees and do other "boys' stuff". However, once in a while I fell down from a tree or stumbled over a log or a stone, and the result was a bruised leg or arm. What did I do? I ran home to my mother as fast as I could, and when she had put on a band-aid, everything was ok. She liberated me from the pain from the bruises.
I don't climb trees or stumble over rocks any more, however, I do get bruised. These bruises may not be as visible as a cut in the leg, but they can hurt just as much, they can even hurt more. These are the internal bruises that we all get during our walk through this life. These bruises can come through a thoughtless remark from a friend, a negative comment from a spouse or ill-treatment from a person in authority, and many other sources.
What Jesus says here is that when we are bruised in any way, He will set us free from the results of these bruises. He will heal us. He will mend us.
Think about an antique vase that you've inherited from your grandmother. You really cherish that vase. It's really valuable to you. Then someone breaks the vase. You're devastated. You look at the pieces on the floor, and think, "I really wish someone could fix this vase for me." It would be one of the very rare occasions if Jesus walked into the room and glued the vase together again. He doesn't usually do that. However, when we're broken inside, He absolutely wants to come in and "glue us together". That was one of His assignments for His earth walk. He loves to liberate us from our bruises.
Are you bruised? Do you feel there are wounds inside like open sores? Let Jesus heal them. He's more than willing and more than able to set at liberty you who are bruised.
I remember when I was a child. I was never the nice, quiet girl who played with dolls; I was more of a tomboy. I loved to climb trees and do other "boys' stuff". However, once in a while I fell down from a tree or stumbled over a log or a stone, and the result was a bruised leg or arm. What did I do? I ran home to my mother as fast as I could, and when she had put on a band-aid, everything was ok. She liberated me from the pain from the bruises.
I don't climb trees or stumble over rocks any more, however, I do get bruised. These bruises may not be as visible as a cut in the leg, but they can hurt just as much, they can even hurt more. These are the internal bruises that we all get during our walk through this life. These bruises can come through a thoughtless remark from a friend, a negative comment from a spouse or ill-treatment from a person in authority, and many other sources.
What Jesus says here is that when we are bruised in any way, He will set us free from the results of these bruises. He will heal us. He will mend us.
Think about an antique vase that you've inherited from your grandmother. You really cherish that vase. It's really valuable to you. Then someone breaks the vase. You're devastated. You look at the pieces on the floor, and think, "I really wish someone could fix this vase for me." It would be one of the very rare occasions if Jesus walked into the room and glued the vase together again. He doesn't usually do that. However, when we're broken inside, He absolutely wants to come in and "glue us together". That was one of His assignments for His earth walk. He loves to liberate us from our bruises.
Are you bruised? Do you feel there are wounds inside like open sores? Let Jesus heal them. He's more than willing and more than able to set at liberty you who are bruised.
lørdag 23. oktober 2010
Jesus came to preach recovering of sight to the blind
I can hear someone say: "I'm not blind. This does not concern me!"
Ok, but before you go away, please read on and at least see "who is the blind".
When Jesus walked the earth, He healed people of physical ailments and diseases. There are several stories in the Bible where physically blind people were healed. And since Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (see Hebr.13:8), He also heals physically blind eyes today. So if you cannot see, Jesus came to give you sight.
However, the Bible also talkes quite a lot about spiritually blindness. Let's look at some of those examples.
"Israel's watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep" (Jes.56,10). This is not talking about physical blindness, this is talking about a blindness that occurs when one does not have knowledge. Ignorance is the same as blindness. If I don't know that Jesus died for my sins, I am blind to the fact that I can be saved by believeing on Him.
Another example: "Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like men without eyes. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead" (Jes.59,10). These people groped along the wall as if they were blind. They stumbled because they could not see with their spiritual eyes.
And look at these two Scriptures from the New Testament:
"You blind guides! (Jesus was talking to the Pharisees.)You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel" (Matt.23,24) and "Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean" (Matt23,26). We see clearly that it was the pharisees' "dirty" inside that was the problem and why Jesus called them blind. It had nothing to do with their physical eyesight. They might have a 20/20 vision, but Jesus still called them "blind".
Isn't it just wonderful how the Lord wants to come into our lives and heal all aspects of it? He says in Psalm 46:8, "The LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous."
He beckons to you and says, "Hear, you deaf; look, you blind, and see!" (Jes.2,18).
We have all been blind at one point or another, and we probably still are to certain truths. However, the good thing is that Jesus came to preach recovering of sight to the blind. If we let Him, He'll give us perfect eyesight, both physically and spiritually. Why not receive it from Him today?
Ok, but before you go away, please read on and at least see "who is the blind".
When Jesus walked the earth, He healed people of physical ailments and diseases. There are several stories in the Bible where physically blind people were healed. And since Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (see Hebr.13:8), He also heals physically blind eyes today. So if you cannot see, Jesus came to give you sight.
However, the Bible also talkes quite a lot about spiritually blindness. Let's look at some of those examples.
"Israel's watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep" (Jes.56,10). This is not talking about physical blindness, this is talking about a blindness that occurs when one does not have knowledge. Ignorance is the same as blindness. If I don't know that Jesus died for my sins, I am blind to the fact that I can be saved by believeing on Him.
Another example: "Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like men without eyes. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead" (Jes.59,10). These people groped along the wall as if they were blind. They stumbled because they could not see with their spiritual eyes.
And look at these two Scriptures from the New Testament:
"You blind guides! (Jesus was talking to the Pharisees.)You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel" (Matt.23,24) and "Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean" (Matt23,26). We see clearly that it was the pharisees' "dirty" inside that was the problem and why Jesus called them blind. It had nothing to do with their physical eyesight. They might have a 20/20 vision, but Jesus still called them "blind".
Isn't it just wonderful how the Lord wants to come into our lives and heal all aspects of it? He says in Psalm 46:8, "The LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous."
He beckons to you and says, "Hear, you deaf; look, you blind, and see!" (Jes.2,18).
We have all been blind at one point or another, and we probably still are to certain truths. However, the good thing is that Jesus came to preach recovering of sight to the blind. If we let Him, He'll give us perfect eyesight, both physically and spiritually. Why not receive it from Him today?
torsdag 21. oktober 2010
Jesus came to preach deliverance to the captives
We continue in Luke 4:18, and read that Jesus came to preach deliverance to the captives. A captive is someone that is in some kind of prison, he or she is a prisoner. What kind of captivity is Jesus talking about?
For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin (Acts 8:23). Being in sin is likened to being a captive. Sin can take us captive. We can become so entangled in sin that we see no way out. But there is a way out: And that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will (2 Tim. 2:26). Who takes us captive? The devil. He sets traps for us so we should follow him, and when he has lured us into his trap of sin, he does everything he can to keep us captive. This can happen through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ (Col. 2:8).
Can human tradition take me captive? Yes, absolutely, and it does. That's why it is so vitally important to check what you believe. Are your doctrines sound, Biblical doctrines, or are they merely doctrines you have inherited from your family, friends or your community? Check your beliefs, behaviors and everyday life against God's Word, and see if Satan has succeeded in trapping you.
Jesus came to preach deliverance to the capitives. He is the same yesterday, today and forever, and does the same thing today as He did when He walked the earth. Ask Him to set you free today, and you will be free indeed.
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:36).
For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin (Acts 8:23). Being in sin is likened to being a captive. Sin can take us captive. We can become so entangled in sin that we see no way out. But there is a way out: And that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will (2 Tim. 2:26). Who takes us captive? The devil. He sets traps for us so we should follow him, and when he has lured us into his trap of sin, he does everything he can to keep us captive. This can happen through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ (Col. 2:8).
Can human tradition take me captive? Yes, absolutely, and it does. That's why it is so vitally important to check what you believe. Are your doctrines sound, Biblical doctrines, or are they merely doctrines you have inherited from your family, friends or your community? Check your beliefs, behaviors and everyday life against God's Word, and see if Satan has succeeded in trapping you.
Jesus came to preach deliverance to the capitives. He is the same yesterday, today and forever, and does the same thing today as He did when He walked the earth. Ask Him to set you free today, and you will be free indeed.
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:36).
onsdag 20. oktober 2010
Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me," Jesus said, "to heal the brokenhearted..." (Luke 4,18). Who are the brokenhearted? Are there any brokenhearted people around today? Yes, I believe there are more brokenhearted people around today than ever before.
To be brokenhearted means to burst, break down, break in pieces, break up, crush, destroy, hurt and quench. It covers much more than "chagrin d'amore" or an unhappy love affair. I believe it means to be without hope, everything seems to be taken away from you and you can see no way out. That's the kind of situation that Jesus wants to come into and heal. He not only wants to comfort and console you, He wants to HEAL you, make you new. He wants to repair your broken heart and give you new life, new hope and a new outlook on life. And He can do it, because He is the only real life there is. He is the way, the truth and the life, and only through Him and His healing can you and I experience true healing.
To be healed from a broken heart, however, you need to give your heart to Him. It's the heart that is given to Him He can heal. If we want to keep control of our lives and continue our sinful living, Jesus can do nothing. But if you and I give Him our hearts, and ask Him into our lives to stay, He will perform a miracle in us.
If you're brokenhearted and want to give up on life, give Him a chance. You have nothing to lose and everything to win.
God bless you!
To be brokenhearted means to burst, break down, break in pieces, break up, crush, destroy, hurt and quench. It covers much more than "chagrin d'amore" or an unhappy love affair. I believe it means to be without hope, everything seems to be taken away from you and you can see no way out. That's the kind of situation that Jesus wants to come into and heal. He not only wants to comfort and console you, He wants to HEAL you, make you new. He wants to repair your broken heart and give you new life, new hope and a new outlook on life. And He can do it, because He is the only real life there is. He is the way, the truth and the life, and only through Him and His healing can you and I experience true healing.
To be healed from a broken heart, however, you need to give your heart to Him. It's the heart that is given to Him He can heal. If we want to keep control of our lives and continue our sinful living, Jesus can do nothing. But if you and I give Him our hearts, and ask Him into our lives to stay, He will perform a miracle in us.
If you're brokenhearted and want to give up on life, give Him a chance. You have nothing to lose and everything to win.
God bless you!
tirsdag 19. oktober 2010
Jesus' assignment and how it affects me and you today
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord" (Luke 4:18-19).
In the last text we saw that Jesus needed the Holy Spirit to fulfill His assignment here on the earth, and we also saw that we need the Holy Spirit to fulfill our assignments.
Today we'll look more closely at what Jesus was sent to do.
Jesus was sent to this earth to
Preach the gospel to the poor. Who were "the poor"? If I tell you that "I am so poor", what's your first reaction? You think that I lack something, right? May be money, food or clothing; but it could also be other things, such as family, friends, education, or love. The one who is poor, lacks something. Jesus didn't say that He wanted to preach the gospel to "the poor in finances" or "the poor in relationships". He just said "the poor".
My next question is: What does the gospel have to do with being poor, or, with getting out of the state of being poor?
Since Jesus was preaching the gospel to the poor, it must mean that He meant that His preacing would get them out of the poor state they were in. Is that true? Can the gospel free me from being poor?
Galatians 3:8 says that "The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you."
The gospel was announced to Abraham, and through the gospel all nations will ble blessed. Galatians 3:13-14 says that "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree. He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit."
From these scriptures, it seems like the gospel is supplying us with the blessing given to Abraham. What was this blessing? I don't want to spend time on all the blessings here, but you can read them in Deut. 28:1-14. There you'll find a long list of GOOD thingst that God promised Abraham, and that, through Abraham, we can receive through Jesus Christ. Are there any blessings that can make the poor not poor any more? Absolutely. The gospel is called "the good news", and the good news is that everyone who is poor can get out of his or her poor state by tapping into the blessings promised us through the gospel.
More on Jesus' assignment next time.
In the last text we saw that Jesus needed the Holy Spirit to fulfill His assignment here on the earth, and we also saw that we need the Holy Spirit to fulfill our assignments.
Today we'll look more closely at what Jesus was sent to do.
Jesus was sent to this earth to
- Preach the gospel to the poor
- Heal the brokenhearted
- Preach deliverance to the captives
- Preach recovery of sight to the blind
- Set at liberty them that are bruised
- Preach the acceptable year of the Lord
Preach the gospel to the poor. Who were "the poor"? If I tell you that "I am so poor", what's your first reaction? You think that I lack something, right? May be money, food or clothing; but it could also be other things, such as family, friends, education, or love. The one who is poor, lacks something. Jesus didn't say that He wanted to preach the gospel to "the poor in finances" or "the poor in relationships". He just said "the poor".
My next question is: What does the gospel have to do with being poor, or, with getting out of the state of being poor?
Since Jesus was preaching the gospel to the poor, it must mean that He meant that His preacing would get them out of the poor state they were in. Is that true? Can the gospel free me from being poor?
Galatians 3:8 says that "The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you."
The gospel was announced to Abraham, and through the gospel all nations will ble blessed. Galatians 3:13-14 says that "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree. He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit."
From these scriptures, it seems like the gospel is supplying us with the blessing given to Abraham. What was this blessing? I don't want to spend time on all the blessings here, but you can read them in Deut. 28:1-14. There you'll find a long list of GOOD thingst that God promised Abraham, and that, through Abraham, we can receive through Jesus Christ. Are there any blessings that can make the poor not poor any more? Absolutely. The gospel is called "the good news", and the good news is that everyone who is poor can get out of his or her poor state by tapping into the blessings promised us through the gospel.
More on Jesus' assignment next time.
What was Jesus' mission really all about?
Many people believe that Jesus lived on this earth; they believe in Him as a historical person, and even as a prophet. However, what was Jesus really sent here to accomplish? Well, the best person to answer that question, would be Jesus Himself, don't you think? And He described His mission in Luke 4:18-19:
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord."
And these words did not come from His own mind, they were not words and nice formulations so He could attract more followers. These words were spoken by the prophet Isaiah about 700 years before Jesus walked the earth, and they predicted that God would send His Son to "set people free", to sum it up in my own words.
Over the next days I will try to look more deeply into what the meaning behind these words of Jesus is, and how they apply to your and my daily life.
Let's start with looking into the actual words that He spoke, and the facts about them.
Jesus said that the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him, and the reason for that was that He had an assignment to fulfill. The implication is that Jesus needed the Spirit to fulfill his assignment. No Spirit, no accomplished assignment.
Is that something for us to consider? Yes, absolutely. Jesus said in John 15:5 that we can do nothing without Him, and He also said that "John baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost ..." (Acts 1:5). And what was this baptizing with the Holy Ghost for? Acts 1:8 gives the answer: "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me ..." Jesus needed the Holy Spirit to accomplish HIS task, and we need the Holy Spirit to accomplish OUR tasks.
In the next texts, we'll look more deeply into what Jesus was designed to do.
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord."
And these words did not come from His own mind, they were not words and nice formulations so He could attract more followers. These words were spoken by the prophet Isaiah about 700 years before Jesus walked the earth, and they predicted that God would send His Son to "set people free", to sum it up in my own words.
Over the next days I will try to look more deeply into what the meaning behind these words of Jesus is, and how they apply to your and my daily life.
Let's start with looking into the actual words that He spoke, and the facts about them.
Jesus said that the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him, and the reason for that was that He had an assignment to fulfill. The implication is that Jesus needed the Spirit to fulfill his assignment. No Spirit, no accomplished assignment.
Is that something for us to consider? Yes, absolutely. Jesus said in John 15:5 that we can do nothing without Him, and He also said that "John baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost ..." (Acts 1:5). And what was this baptizing with the Holy Ghost for? Acts 1:8 gives the answer: "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me ..." Jesus needed the Holy Spirit to accomplish HIS task, and we need the Holy Spirit to accomplish OUR tasks.
In the next texts, we'll look more deeply into what Jesus was designed to do.
mandag 18. oktober 2010
A more excellent way
Every human being wants to live a good life, the best life possible. However, many of us are tied up with daily chores and struggling to make ends meet. We race through life like a long freight train with many carriages filled to the brim with heavy, useless objects. And we race towards a goal that we don't know what it is. "Some day, some where I'll reach my destination and I'll be happy, full of joy and rest."
S-T-O-P!!! Don't race through life that way another day. There is a better way to live, a more fulfilling and excellent way to live. That way is called LOVE.
Lets read from 1 Corinthians 12:31: "But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way." Paul talks about the gifts of the Spirit in this chapter of 1 Chorinthians. And we do right in seeking the spiritual gifts that God offers. However, there is something that is better, higher and more excellent than healing the sick, speaking in tongues and the other gifts of the Spirit. And that is love. To walk in love is a higher form of life.
I like to read the Bible from different translations, and the Amplified Bible quotes vers 31 this way: "Bur earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best gifts, and graces (the higher gifts and the choicest graces). And yet I will show you a still more excellent way [one that is better by far and the highest of them all - love]." Love is the best way, the far better way to live. And this love is found only in Jesus Christ.
"How can I partake in something that is in Jesus Christ?" you may ask. Because when Jesus came to this earth, sent by God, His Father, to redeem mankind from sin and Satans dominion, He came not only with freedom from sin and all its consequences, but with love. "... the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us" (Romans 5:5).
When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, God sheds His love in our hearts. All we have to do, is start using it.
S-T-O-P!!! Don't race through life that way another day. There is a better way to live, a more fulfilling and excellent way to live. That way is called LOVE.
Lets read from 1 Corinthians 12:31: "But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way." Paul talks about the gifts of the Spirit in this chapter of 1 Chorinthians. And we do right in seeking the spiritual gifts that God offers. However, there is something that is better, higher and more excellent than healing the sick, speaking in tongues and the other gifts of the Spirit. And that is love. To walk in love is a higher form of life.
I like to read the Bible from different translations, and the Amplified Bible quotes vers 31 this way: "Bur earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best gifts, and graces (the higher gifts and the choicest graces). And yet I will show you a still more excellent way [one that is better by far and the highest of them all - love]." Love is the best way, the far better way to live. And this love is found only in Jesus Christ.
"How can I partake in something that is in Jesus Christ?" you may ask. Because when Jesus came to this earth, sent by God, His Father, to redeem mankind from sin and Satans dominion, He came not only with freedom from sin and all its consequences, but with love. "... the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us" (Romans 5:5).
When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, God sheds His love in our hearts. All we have to do, is start using it.
søndag 17. oktober 2010
Without Me (Jesus) you can do nothing!
All human beings have an urge and a will to achieve things in life. "What's my life about?", "What's the purpose of my life?", "Will my life account for anyting?" are questions we have asked at one time or another. And we believe that we can and should do everything in our power to fulfill our destiny to be happy and fulfilled in life.
However, Jesus showed me that without Him I can do nothing, as it says in John 15:5; "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing". (My emphasis).
The way He showed it to me was thus: I was sitting in a service in my church, and the speech was about the Holy Spirit and His work in our life. At the end of the service, during the benediction, I "saw" a story unfold before my inner eyes.
I saw a tanned and muscular young man standing in front of a lot of bricks, ready to begin building his new home. He started out by laying one brick upon the other, and it looked all right. He was very satisfied with his own work. When it was time to end for the day, however, and he turned his back towards his foundation wall, the whole wall collapsed, just like that!
The next day when he came back, he found the wall was gone, but he started again and laid brick upon brick until night, and then he went home. But no sooner than he had turned his back on his work, the whole thing collapsed. This also happened the third time. When he came back the fourth morning, he understood that there was something very wrong, and he fell to his knees, lifted his arms to heaven and said: "Lord, I thought I could do this on my own, but I can't. Please, Jesus, help me build this wall the way You want me to build it. I give it to you. Amen."
Then he started to build again, however, this time he didn't really put much effort into it, he just "cuddled" the bricks, looked at them, and walked among them while the foundation wall seemed to build itself.
The next picture I saw was the young man sitting in his new home with his family, enjoying the house and the peace and love of Jesus Christ.
This "film" that the Lord showed me, made a huge impression on me. I understood that no matter how much strength I put into "God's work", it won't be successful until I surrender both myself and my work to Him. Only then will I succeed in life, both as a human being among other human beings, and as a Christian.
I hope this will help you who read this to see that it's not my own effort that accomplishes things, but it's God's blessing when I surrender my life and work to Him that is important.
God bless you today to put your life in His hands.
However, Jesus showed me that without Him I can do nothing, as it says in John 15:5; "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing". (My emphasis).
The way He showed it to me was thus: I was sitting in a service in my church, and the speech was about the Holy Spirit and His work in our life. At the end of the service, during the benediction, I "saw" a story unfold before my inner eyes.
I saw a tanned and muscular young man standing in front of a lot of bricks, ready to begin building his new home. He started out by laying one brick upon the other, and it looked all right. He was very satisfied with his own work. When it was time to end for the day, however, and he turned his back towards his foundation wall, the whole wall collapsed, just like that!
The next day when he came back, he found the wall was gone, but he started again and laid brick upon brick until night, and then he went home. But no sooner than he had turned his back on his work, the whole thing collapsed. This also happened the third time. When he came back the fourth morning, he understood that there was something very wrong, and he fell to his knees, lifted his arms to heaven and said: "Lord, I thought I could do this on my own, but I can't. Please, Jesus, help me build this wall the way You want me to build it. I give it to you. Amen."
Then he started to build again, however, this time he didn't really put much effort into it, he just "cuddled" the bricks, looked at them, and walked among them while the foundation wall seemed to build itself.
The next picture I saw was the young man sitting in his new home with his family, enjoying the house and the peace and love of Jesus Christ.
This "film" that the Lord showed me, made a huge impression on me. I understood that no matter how much strength I put into "God's work", it won't be successful until I surrender both myself and my work to Him. Only then will I succeed in life, both as a human being among other human beings, and as a Christian.
I hope this will help you who read this to see that it's not my own effort that accomplishes things, but it's God's blessing when I surrender my life and work to Him that is important.
God bless you today to put your life in His hands.
lørdag 16. oktober 2010
Spirit of adoption, not the spirit of bondage to fear
"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father" (Romans 8:15).
I am 100 % sure that every human being on this earth wants to live the good life. And we go to extreme lengths to achieve happiness and joy for ourselves and our families. How do we do that? By working long hours to earn enough money to buy nice things, to crave for better houses and cars and improve our standard of living to the best of our ability. And none of that is bad, actually, it's good to go after a better life.
However, all our striving and working takes us just so far, and with it comes the aches and pains of a stressful life.
To really experience the good life, the good life that Jesus talked about, we need to get a new mindset, so to speak. We need to be adopted into a new family with new values and ideas. God is a Father who wants to adopt us into His family. In His family are people of all walks of life, all skin colors and all different backgrounds.
This contribution is all about changing your family background. In the natural, Satan is our father, and he operates in fear. Fear of not being good enough, fear of not being accepted by people, fear of losing your job, losing your spouse and so on and so on. To get out of that state of fear and striving in our own strength, we need to change fathers, so to speak. God is THE only good Father. And He is more than willing and eager to accept you into His family.
Have you made God your Father? If not, I urge you today to give God a chance in your life. Give Him your life, come to Him in Jesus' name, and be translated from a life of the spirit of bondage to fear and come over to the life of the Spirit of adoption, where you can experience the only good life - life with God.
I am 100 % sure that every human being on this earth wants to live the good life. And we go to extreme lengths to achieve happiness and joy for ourselves and our families. How do we do that? By working long hours to earn enough money to buy nice things, to crave for better houses and cars and improve our standard of living to the best of our ability. And none of that is bad, actually, it's good to go after a better life.
However, all our striving and working takes us just so far, and with it comes the aches and pains of a stressful life.
To really experience the good life, the good life that Jesus talked about, we need to get a new mindset, so to speak. We need to be adopted into a new family with new values and ideas. God is a Father who wants to adopt us into His family. In His family are people of all walks of life, all skin colors and all different backgrounds.
This contribution is all about changing your family background. In the natural, Satan is our father, and he operates in fear. Fear of not being good enough, fear of not being accepted by people, fear of losing your job, losing your spouse and so on and so on. To get out of that state of fear and striving in our own strength, we need to change fathers, so to speak. God is THE only good Father. And He is more than willing and eager to accept you into His family.
Have you made God your Father? If not, I urge you today to give God a chance in your life. Give Him your life, come to Him in Jesus' name, and be translated from a life of the spirit of bondage to fear and come over to the life of the Spirit of adoption, where you can experience the only good life - life with God.
fredag 15. oktober 2010
What is Jesus to you?
I know that many people believe in Jesus - maybe not as their personal Savior, but as a historical person who lived on this earth 2 000 years ago and was a prophet. Even believers in other religions accept the fact that Jesus really lived.
But who is He to YOU?
Let's say you have given your life to Jesusy, you're saved, as we like to call it. And you're asked: What is Jesus to you? What's your answer?
Jesus is a good friend; He's my security of a life in heaven when I die; He's God's Son.
All these answers are good and I hope He's all that to you. However, I want to ask another question:
Is Jesus the Lord of your life and not only the Savior of your soul?
Let me explain. As Savior of your soul, Jesus is your surety for your eternal life in heaven. However, for your life to be lived to the full here on earth, you need Him to be Lord of your life HERE AND NOW.
"How can Jesus help me live the good life here and now", you may ask. Because He is the way, the truth and the life. (See John 14:6). He is the way I have to walk in this life, in addition to being the way to God; He is the only truth there is; (there are lots of facts, but Jesus is the only truth); and He is the life. Not any life, but the life, the good life, the only satisfying life.
He is, however, not only the way, the truth and the life, He is also The Word. (See 1 John 1:1-3; John 1:1).
What does Jesus' being the Lord of your life have to do with the way, the truth, the life and the word? Everything. If you want to walk the best way, to know the only truth and to live the good life, you have to know the only Word, which is Jesus. You not only have to know about the Word, you have to have intimate knowledge of Jesus, you need Him to be Lord over your life.
How do you do that? Ask Him into your life to begin with, and we'll take it from there in future contributions here on my blog.
But who is He to YOU?
Let's say you have given your life to Jesusy, you're saved, as we like to call it. And you're asked: What is Jesus to you? What's your answer?
Jesus is a good friend; He's my security of a life in heaven when I die; He's God's Son.
All these answers are good and I hope He's all that to you. However, I want to ask another question:
Is Jesus the Lord of your life and not only the Savior of your soul?
Let me explain. As Savior of your soul, Jesus is your surety for your eternal life in heaven. However, for your life to be lived to the full here on earth, you need Him to be Lord of your life HERE AND NOW.
"How can Jesus help me live the good life here and now", you may ask. Because He is the way, the truth and the life. (See John 14:6). He is the way I have to walk in this life, in addition to being the way to God; He is the only truth there is; (there are lots of facts, but Jesus is the only truth); and He is the life. Not any life, but the life, the good life, the only satisfying life.
He is, however, not only the way, the truth and the life, He is also The Word. (See 1 John 1:1-3; John 1:1).
What does Jesus' being the Lord of your life have to do with the way, the truth, the life and the word? Everything. If you want to walk the best way, to know the only truth and to live the good life, you have to know the only Word, which is Jesus. You not only have to know about the Word, you have to have intimate knowledge of Jesus, you need Him to be Lord over your life.
How do you do that? Ask Him into your life to begin with, and we'll take it from there in future contributions here on my blog.
Reaching for the good life
Welcome to my blog on the good life.
First I want to tell you a little bit about myself. I am a wife, a mother of 2 and a grandmother of 5 wonderful children. I live in Kristiansand in Norway, and I have a passion for Jesus Christ and what He has done for me and in my life. The good life I want to introduce you to, is the life that Jesus describes in the gospel of John, where He says that "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).
To live as human beings in today's world, is not an easy task. And as the scripture quoted above says, we have a thief who does everything he can to steal, kill and destroy as many of us as he can. But, Thank God, Jesus came to give us an abundant life, a good life. And in my almost 50 years of walking with Him, I have learnt a few things that I want to share with you. So check in ever so often, and you'll find small pieces of gems to guide you into a deeper and closer walk with our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.
First I want to tell you a little bit about myself. I am a wife, a mother of 2 and a grandmother of 5 wonderful children. I live in Kristiansand in Norway, and I have a passion for Jesus Christ and what He has done for me and in my life. The good life I want to introduce you to, is the life that Jesus describes in the gospel of John, where He says that "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).
To live as human beings in today's world, is not an easy task. And as the scripture quoted above says, we have a thief who does everything he can to steal, kill and destroy as many of us as he can. But, Thank God, Jesus came to give us an abundant life, a good life. And in my almost 50 years of walking with Him, I have learnt a few things that I want to share with you. So check in ever so often, and you'll find small pieces of gems to guide you into a deeper and closer walk with our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.
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