This morning I had the joy of listening to Noralv Askeland sharing the word of God at the gathering of the covenant community. He was ministering from Philemon 1-7. He started with this definition of church: people living together under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. He continued to describe the different names Pauls is using in these verses of people living under the Lordship of Christ.

1. We are brothers and sisters, we belong together, we are the family of God.

2. We are friends looking in the same direction

3. We are co-workers in the same cause

4. We are fellow soldiers fighting the same enemy

5. We are saints being separated to the Lord

Noralv pointed out that according to his Norwegian version of the Bible, Paul gives thanks for the people in the church that meets in the home of Philemon, because of their faith in and love for the Lord Jesus and all the saints. Then he continued to explain the importance of not only believing in Christ but also his people and how we can only believe in those we love. Love leads to faith which in turn increases our love which increases our faith etc.

Then Noralv shared with us the three thing Paul was praying for when he was praying for this covenant community:

1. Active faith – sharing the faith with others – an active faith that we share together

2. Greater insight in the riches of Christ – of what we have in Christ

3. Refreshing and strengthening of the hearts of the saints

This is what I am left with after listening to my longstanding friend this morning. I was really blessed by the word of God. It was also a great joy to hear the testimony of Kai Ove of how God had used him at the oil-rig in the North Sea where he is working. This morning we had to leave early and we didn’t have opportunity to fellowship for a long time as we had to leave for a 65 years birthday-party of a brother in law.