Spiritually Satisfied...

Spiritually satisfied

Among the many different philosophies and viewpoints, I believe that there is one truth to be found. My utmost desire is that you will find the way to the truth, or that the truth will find you. I believe you can be spiritually satisfied.

Then you will have clarity and will find peace, presence and security. It may be that you have a different opinion and belief system to me.

Maybe you study the Koran or Buddhist writings, or the Torah or perhaps other sources of inspiration, so on the one hand I don't want to challenge your thinking by presenting an absolute.

But on the other hand, I am compelled to share with you my experience of my own short comings, my faith in God, and my belief in a life after death.

When I read the Bible I have Jesus, the man from Nazareth and Son of God, as my role model. He did not pressure people with his teaching.

He had a presence about him and talked happily to those who wanted to listen but he did not run after people with persuasive offers.

Especially among common people, he was so loving, tender, caring and self sacrificing that it provoked, you might say, the religious rulers of the day.

It can at this point sometimes go wrong for us when we, as human beings, try to impress God with our works and our faith, and with all the things we can do for him. When feeling like this I’m likely to start to compare myself with others, and get tempted to feel a little “on top of things” and good about what I’m doing.

To be honest, it is also here that I lose the joy of knowing Jesus and of being with him because I’m too preoccupied with what I’m doing for him.

When I read what Jesus said: “It is not the healthy that need a physician but those who are sick” or “that I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners”, then something starts to happen inside of me that gives me hope, joy, and a faith that there is a caring God to be found.

When I can identify myself as a person who has needs I find rest. It is also here that I usually find it most difficult because I think in some way or another that I should do something more for my closest relatives, my friends, the poor, and the world in general, and for God.

It is also at this point that I feel guilty as I realize how helpless and powerless I am especially when considering the needs of the whole world.

It’s then that I often fall short, but there where I find truth about myself. I often run dry of energy, but there I find the need to receive strength. I often despair, but there I find the need to receive joy – it’s very humbling.

As long as we are well, we don't want to feel the need of help. We believe that we would be much happier if we helped others. It is often when we‘re ill, we’re reminded how helpless we actually are.

And it is when death knocks, that we really understand how little control we truly have. So it can be said that it is a big privilege not be taken away from life suddenly, where maybe there has not been the time to prepare for death to the same extent as those with life threatening illnesses.

There are some passages from the Bible which, I believe, give hope, comfort, and increase faith, as they take away the fear for the unknown. For example the apostle Paul quotes Jesus saying, “My grace is sufficient for you and my strength is perfected in weakness” When I receive this and believe it I become, like Paul, comforted and strengthened.

If you Google the word grace, according to Wikipedia the free encyclopedia it has more than one meaning, including goodwill, forgiveness, freedom and favor.

Another interpretation of grace is receiving something we don’t deserve. For such proud beings this is probably one of the most difficult things to accept. We want so much to have our names on a performance list.

Maybe it is therefore why religion is so popular. Religion is certainly about works, and has so many rules that should be followed, which for the most part, none of us manage to follow.

Therefore, with us, the thought of death is often absent because it would remind us of our own powerlessness and, not least, because our pride often forbids us to receive grace.

I have taken the freedom for myself to talk to the God, who I do not see. Sometimes I talk with a quiet audible voice, and sometimes only in thoughts. When no one else is present I am the most honest.

I tell Him about my joy and my sorrow, my victories and my defeats. I talk sometimes as if God is there together with me. When I am weary it helps to get together with friends, with the idea that we will talk to God together.

I myself believe, that I have virtually understood the Gospel as the New Testament presents it: that God exists, and is almighty and ultimately good, and holy and righteous in everything – and that we humans beings in no way can live up to God’s perfect commands on how to live an upright life.
Therefore by definition, by our own performances or piety we are unable to achieve God’s acceptance and enjoy God’s presence, both for now and for eternity, and this is what the Bible calls loss.

For me to be prevented access to the presence that I so long for is loss in itself. It is like the little girl with the matches, depicted by Hans Christian Andersen, outside a window longing to be in the wonderful presence which she sees, but is unable to experience.

I think about the English professor of literature C.S Lewis's description of how he rationally came to the conclusion that there must be another world other than this world that we see with our eyes.

He reasoned in the following way: “Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well, there is such a thing as water. Men feel sexual desire: well, there is such a thing as sex.

If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.

If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it that does not prove that the universe is a fraud. Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing.

If that is so, I must take care, on the one hand, never to despise, or be unthankful for, these earthly blessings, and on the other, never to mistake them for something else of which they are only a kind of a copy, or echo, or mirage.

I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country and to help others to do the same."

My own dilemma is not that small though. I am longing after something which this world obviously cannot give me. I call it God’s presence, and I am prevented from experiencing that presence because of my own short coming.

Religion says that I should “get my act together”, but it has shown to give the same poor results, like my last diet - I could not stick to it.

However in the New Testament, I find really good news. That there is to be found another righteousness from God which is not about how I should religiously try so hard to live up to the Law of God (and thereby become more strange to my fellow people and surroundings).

In contrast to that I am allowed to give up all my religious efforts, and turn myself to God in faith, and by grace, though undeserved, receive access to God’s presence in the present time and in eternity – by simply believing that the debt of my wrongdoings has been paid by a loving God.

“God loved the world so much that he gave his only son so that everyone who believed in him should not perish but have eternal life.” This certainly sounds almost too good to be true, and it is also a provocation against all that religion seems to offer.

It challenges all the pride inside a person and it can be difficult for us to come to the point where we say, “God, today I receive with gratefulness your grace.”

My friend John Schmidt once said in one of his many glorious allegories, “The taste of soda is not enough, but there is also fizz”. In a way this sentence summarizes the longing, which goes a step further than just understanding the words.
I'm longing, I'm thirsting, and I'm recognizing that I am longing to be spiritually satisfied. It is not enough for me to intellectually; technically or theologically know how I can get a right relationship with God, and no longer fear death and what’s on the other side.

When I try to analyze the longing, then I choose to believe that there is something inside me, called a soul, or spirit, or that which is the real me, which sincerely longs for something I cannot describe with words. I imagine myself that it is my innermost spirit which is longing after God.

But what is spirit? If I were a theologian I would probably refer to the Greek word pneuma, which is where the word spirit comes from. There is though in Latin a word for spirit which better describes it: “spiritus” (literally spirit in English). Intoxication by alcohol can give to some degree of satisfaction and in a way it can give us human beings “consciousness”, for example sorrow.

Maybe we have received wine from God to give us a little example of what spirit is all about, namely another consciousness. At least it is interesting that the apostle Paul encourages us in the New Testament, by telling us to be filled with spirit rather than with too much wine.

It is true that we can quickly get too much of every good and pleasurable thing which can be found in this world. Whether it’s a good steak, or wine, or a piece of chocolate, eventually we will have the discomfort of too much of a good thing - of that particular thing.

But it seems to be different with the spirit. The New Testament tells us another interesting thing: that God is spirit... it must be Holy Spirit. I have often closed my eyes, and tried to keep my thoughts peaceful and say these words “Fill me Holy Spirit”. When I’ve said these words I have sometimes experienced something indescribable. Something tangible does not always happen, which is very interesting, and assuring as it shows that I cannot command this to come, because then it would be subject to my humanity, and therefore from this world.

We’re all different, and I would not want to criticize the way you pray your prayers. But if you do not know how to talk to God, you are most welcome to make use of my prayer. I myself might have borrowed it, but I cannot remember from whom. The most important thing right now is the presence...

You could pray something like:

“Dear God, thank you for life, the light, and another new day. You are God, I am a human being. I do not feel myself worthy, but I am longing for you, and I turn myself to you.”

“I believe that you love me so much that you gave yourself for me by Jesus Christ so that I should not perish but receive eternal life. Fill me Holy Spirit of God... fill me right now, satisfy me with your presence… I am longing for you Almighty God... Fill my heart with your love, peace and truth… ”

When you then are filled with love, peace and truth, you are truly blessed and love will always reach out to others. Therefore I suggest you pray this prayer:

“God, make me a blessing to my neighbor. Help me to give love, forgiveness and understanding unconditionally. Help me God, that all I meet today will feel your love through me.”

“Thank you so much God.”

Doing right in a time of pressure…

Intro: When a person, a family or a Church are under pressure, it’s a test. God wants to watch how we handle pressure.

King David gives us some excellent principles, which will help us to pass through a difficult season. When the test comes to an end, and it will, we will be much stronger and more blessed. “Bitter or better”

Text: Psalm 3 & 4

1. Speak more with God than with people about the problem.

2. 3:1-2 & 4:1. Tell God the whole story – as it is – as you experience it. You are allowed to express yourself to God unlimited (like Jonas: “I am so angry I could die”) anger, frustration, but be careful how you express yourself to other people. It might not be helpful for the future life of them and you, - and those listening.

3. Thereafter start to remind God (and especially yourself) of the past where God helped you. Rest in faith to God. 3:5. Crying out "full blast" to God and being careful with your words to people seems to please God. It’s ok to be angry, but be careful not to sin with your words. 4:4

4. Trust God and enjoy His goodness in the midst of the pain and crises. “God can prepare a table in the midst of enemies” God is a righteous God and he will not forever let evil continue. The big question is: How did we handle the pressure… There is a reward for handling right.

5. Finally: Guard your heart, when God deals with your enemies. Show them compassion unconditionally.

Spiritual Gifts - given to buildt up...

Antakya Int. Church, May 9, 2010. Josef K.
Spiritual Gifts
Text: 1. Cor. 12:1-11.

INTRO: Our international fellowship here in Antakya: Not just a bunch of nice people coming together twice a week. We are God’s people – His Church – God sees us as: a Spiritual body.

That means God wants to interact with us. God wants us to take part in what’s going on in “the unseen world”. That will have a very positive effect on us, the fellowship, our families and friends. This makes the Church exciting and different from “normal” gatherings.

Therefore Paul is saying here: “I do not want you to be uninformed about the spiritual gifts. v.1.
In other words: Paul also wants the believers in Antakya to be informed about these gifts.

Now let us look at these gifts. The gifts are different from each others. They are given to different people in the fellowship, but they all come from the same Holy Spirit, and they are given to build up the fellowship. Here they are:

1. Wisdom. - 2. Knowledge. – 3. Faith. – 4. Healing. – 5. Miracles. – 6. Prophecy. – 7. Ability to distinguish between spirits. – 8. Various kinds of tongues. – 9. Interpretation of tongues.

Let’s look at how they function one by one:

1. Wisdom and knowledge. Most people have a common sense, but if we for example had a difficult situation, and we all thought “We really don’t know what to do, Paul here refers to: “something that God suddenly brings to mind: the ability to speak extraordinary wisely or with knowledge into a situation.” - a gift from God.

2. Faith. If we for example stand in front of an important choice, and we know what’s the best, but it seems far unreachable. If then somebody says: “I feel faith, we can do it!” (not: “I certainly hope”) but a deep and strong inner conviction, extraordinary and unshakable, in spite of facts, you can call it a gift from God.

3. Healing and Miracles. All believers in Jesus Christ should pray for healing and miracles, and the Bible promise God will hear. Sometimes a person in the fellowship senses a deep passion or call from God to do it often. When healing and miracles happens more often than usual in a person’s life, you can call it a gift from God.

4. Prophesy. The word “prophecy” (prophēteia) refers generally to speech that reports something that God spontaneously brings to mind or “reveals” to the speaker but which is spoken in merely human words. Therefore it can have mistakes and must be tested or evaluated (1 Thess. 5:19–21). Prophecy is used to build up, encourage, and comfort the gathered community (1 Cor. 14:3). Prophecy is also used to disclose the secrets of the hearts of unbelievers and lead them to worship God (1. Cor. 14:24–25). – a gift from God.

5. Ability to distinguish between spirits. A special ability to distinguish between the influence of the Holy Spirit and the influence of demonic spirits in a person's life. Those who claim to speak under the Spirit's prompting could be mistaken, and so God also gives gifts of discernment to the Christian community (14:29; 1 Thess. 5:20–21; 1 John 4:1–3). A gift from God.

6. Various kinds of tongues. Speech in a language the speaker does not know, and that sometimes does not follow the patterns of any known human language (1 Cor. 13:1). Paul sees this gift as a means of expressing prayer or praise to God (14:2, 14–17, 28; cf. Acts 10:46) in which the speaker's human spirit is praying even though the speaker does not understand the meaning (see 1 Cor. 14:2, 11, 13–19, 23). A gift from God.

7. Interpretation of tongues. The normally nature of tongues makes their interpretation necessary if the gathered community is to be edified by them (14:1–25). If somebody speaks out in tongues to the community it often “opens up” for the spiritual gifts, for example Prophesy, words of knowledge, and interpretation of tongues. A gift from God.

The bible encourages us to seek the spiritual gifts: “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” (1. Cor. 14:1) In my opinion “seek” is an active open attitude, saying: “Please, come God, - I want, I am available!”

Do you need rest for your soul? - Freedom from heavy burdens of guilt and legalism, trying to earn salvation by good works?

At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”(Matthew 11:25-30)

Jesus here thanks the Father, that the message about Heaven is: HIDDEN and NOT understood by those wise in their own sight and not believing Him, but it was REVEILED to those who trust Jesus and are humble in heart. Jesus even confirms that by saying: “Yes Father, for such was your gracious will.” The biggest hindrance for coming to Jesus is: Unbelief and a proud heart. The consequence is: NO rest for our souls. (Our biggest need – now, and in eternity) Jesus Christ was chosen by God’s own will to be born into this world approx. 2000 years ago - to heal, forgive and save those who would believe, that He is the Son of God (incarnated in human flesh)and have all things handed over to Him by His Father (Jesus is God)

I believe that unless Jesus Christ chooses to reveal Himself to us, we cannot know Jesus, God’s son and God, The Father, but if He has revealed Himself to us, so we know in our hearts, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, we can NEVER deny that fact - even if it will cost us our lives.

In Matthew 11:28 Jesus chooses to invite “all who are weary and burdened" – and he continue: "and I will give you rest for your soul”
Rest for your soul means eternal rest for all who seek forgiveness of their sins,and freedom from heavy burdens of guilt and legalism, trying to earn salvation by good works. Do you need rest? (I constantly need rest - every new day!) How do we come then to Jesus: In simple prayer, and in Jesus name! Come to Jesus...

Are we moving away from "Mercy"?

In Matthew 9:13 Jesus says: “Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”

The English Standard Version commentary puts it like this: “JESUS REVEALS HIS UNEXPECTED DEFINATIONS OF DISCIPLESHIP” His point is, that only those who realize their need come to Him – to receive the help they need.

I think it takes a lifetime to “go and learn that Jesus Christ desire mercy, not sacrifice. “Mercy” means steadfast love.

It sounds so simple, that this is what Jesus desire from his disciples – steadfast love, not sacrifices. Nevertheless we “Christian disciples” start our journey with Jesus, loving Him so much, being thankful for His salvation, for His healing of our souls, but after a while “we move on” to sacrifices (religious rituals and rules)

The problem with that is, that when we “move on” (sometimes we even call it mature) from mercy to sacrifice, we become more interested in religious rules than steadfast love to Jesus and the people around us.

To “go and learn” seems to take a life time, and sometimes hardship in our own lives. Again and again we must come back to the simple “steadfast love” which Jesus says he desire - the thankfulness – the amazement over his love, grace and attention to the underappreciated – the childlike attitude “Oh Jesus, how I enjoy your care for me, I do not deserve that - I appreciate you so much”

The wonderful truth about coming back to mercy, steadfast love, is that it lead us to care for “sinners and tax collectors” like Jesus did, where “moving on” leads us to a “them and us attitude” where we isolate ourselves from the real needs of the world – and thereby also isolate ourselves from Jesus, who still are eating (socializing, fellowshipping) with tax collectors and sinners…

Jesus - a different kind of leader...

A dear Muslim friend asked me yesterday: “So are you a protestant pastor or a catholic pastor?” What a question…

All these names… I felt the need of lifting up just one name: Jesus… (I think I mumbled something like: "Just trying to follow Jesus, as I put my hand to my heart”)

Jesus is so different from all good people your ever met.

In Mark 10 it says: THE SON OF MAN DID NOT COME TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE, and give his life as a ransom for many…

That’s why we love Him - worship Him from our hearts...

Imagine a King, a ruler of a Mighty Land. He got some rights that all rest of us does not have. Right? Jesus is God, The Almighty, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He rules the whole world, but He is different:

“He always knocks before entering. He doesn’t have to. He owns your heart. If anyone has the right to barge in, Christ does. But he doesn’t. That gentle tap you hear? It’s Christ. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock” (Rev. 3:20). And when you answer, he awaits your invitation to cross the threshold. He’s serving the guests as they sit (John 13:4–5) and when you talk, he never interrupts. He listens. He even opens doors for you. He pulls out the chair for you at the table. Has it been a while since someone pulled out your chair?
Let Christ do what he longs to do. For as you receive his love, you’ll find it easier to give yours. (Max Lucado)

Could we as His Church experience the same? Yes, I think so. If we constantly receive His love, care, healing, respect and restoration, we will find delight and pleasure in serving other.

Henri Nouven says: “When we touch the heart of wounded people, we are touching the heart of Jesus...”

I believe, this is the “secret” of Jesus Christ: Find someone who are more hurt, or in more need, than you. Comfort and help that person, and show love and respect to that person, lay your hands on that person, pray for that person, and you are immediately touching the heart of Jesus.

Couldn’t it be wonderful to see some local “Jesus-Churches” in every spot of the earth? In big cities, in villages everywhere. If Jesus is present, we can sense it in the atmosphere, and also in practical way: Some doors will be opened and some chairs will be pulled, wounded hearts will be touched, kindness is present and fear is not.

Worthy of Honor, Worthy of Praise
Splendor above the Heavens
Powerful Maker, Mighty Creator
Your people rejoice
In your unfailing love.

Does compassion sometimes brake the rules?

Yesterday I was sitting listening to a 17 years old girl’s story about her escape from a warzone. She came from another country as a refugee, and has now been waiting for the UN to accept her as a refugee.
This precious bright young girl tried to be brave, but after some minutes tears came in her eyes. Tears came in my own eyes, when she said: “I am so thankful for getting to know Jesus Christ as my Savior. I have to admit that it is so difficult not to know anything about my future, but I will trust in God.”
Her father died in the war and she has been living together with 2 siblings and her mother in a refugee camp outside our city here in the Middle East for almost 3 years. Normally I feel I am able to comfort a little, or do some things, but I couldn’t change her situation, and I couldn’t promise her that I could speed up the UN’s decision.
The family was not allowed to work, but they had to care for their own needs (impossible situation) so of course we could help them a little with some wood for the oven and a little food, but really, I felt so helpless….
I was thinking about the story where a poster was telling “Swimming in the harbor is strictly forbidden” – and somebody had just fallen into the water – what do you do… Keeping the rules is a good thing, but honestly, I would like to put this precious family in my car… Anybody been in a simular situation? What did you do in addition to prayer? Any advise? How would you react if I did do it, get caught by the border police and put in jail? Could I still serve God?