Me veit at Bibelen kom frå Gud på grunn av
ein enkel grunn: Jesus sa det! Det er på grunnlag av det han har sagt, han som
er Herre over heile universet, at me er trygge på at Bibelen er Guds ord. Jesus
stadfesta autoriteten og truverdet til Det gamle testamente gjennom si
undervisning, og han lova at han ville gje Det nye testamente gjennom apostlane
sine for å fullføra den openberringa av sanninga frå Gud. På grunn av det Jesus
Kristus har sagt trur me at Bibelen er Guds ord.
Eg har dei siste dagane vore på reise i
Nord Noreg med Zephry D’Souza frå India. Han fortalt nokre oppmuntrande og
gripande forteljingar om framgang for evangeliet midt i tider med forfylging.
Eg trur me har mykje å læra av dei kristne i India. Zephry vil gje Gud æra for
all framgang, men seia at han har gjeve dei tre bibelske prinsipp som på mange
måtar forklarar voksteren mange forsamlingar opplever i India.
When we read about the prophets in the Bible we soon discover that they have several traits in common, even though they were very different in style and personality. At Bergen Bible School today I shared five hallmarks of the prophets with the students.
Today I have been teaching at the Bible School in Bergen. My subject is the prophets in general and then Isaiah in particular. I love to teach about the prophets and the book of Isaiah is my favorite book in the Old Testament. Isaiah is not only a wonderful prophet, he is also the most skilled writer and poet. His book is among the best literature ever written. He is using vivid metaphors and colorful description of his visions from God. I everything he is writing he is carrying a revelation of God the Holy one. The visionary encounter he had with the most holy God in the temple marked him for life.
Today we have only scratched the surface regarding the prophets but we have had a good dialog together as we have tried to apply the teaching of the Bible into our own situation.
Peter
er opp i åra og forstår at han ikkje har lenge att å leva og skriv for å hjelpa
dei kristne til å svara på spørsmål frå tvilarar og forførarar:
Kor
vert det av oppfyllinga av profetorda? Kristus har ikkje kome, kanskje han
ikkje kjem? Dei kristne forventingane må vera feil!
Ikkje
høyr på slike negative røyster, sa apostelen. Me kunngjorde vår Herre Jesu
Kristi makt og kome for me var augnevitne til hans guddommelege velde. Det me
forkynner er
–
ikkje oppdikta eventyr
–
ikkje klokt uttenkte mytar
–
ikkje tome og menneskelege draumar
Me
har høyrd frå Gud. Me har sett hans guddommelege velde. Difor står profetordet
så mykje fastare for oss. Og dette ordet gjer de vel i å halda fast på. Det er
ei lampe som skin på ein mørk stad til dagen gryr og morgonstjerna stig opp i
hjarta dykkar. Men framfor alt skal de vita at ingen kan tyda eit profetord i
Skrifta på eiga hand. For aldri vart noko profetord bore fram ved menneskevilje,
men drivne av Den heilage ande tala menneske ord frå Gud (2.Pet.1,16-21).
On
Tuesday morning the leaders of Kristent Fellesskap in Bergen area come
together to seek the Lord and to enjoy fellowship as we have breakfast
together. Solveig rises early morning at 0500 to prepare the breakfast
for the brothers and friends praying together. We have a wonderful time
praying together, but the time of fellowship as we enjoy the delicious
breakfast only Solveig can make, is even more precious to us. The
brothers always give praise to God for Solveig, they really appreciate
her – and her breakfast!
I have been traveling and visiting covenant communities in the northern part of Norway the last few days together with my friend Zephry D'Souza from India. He has been sharing in all the gatherings about sowing and reaping in one way or the other as he has been telling stories of what God is doing in the great nation of India. In his unique and kind way he has been giving thanks to the Norwegian brothers and sisters for their involvement in the work in India over many years.
Yesterday I came to Øksnes in Vesterålen in the northern part of Norway together with Zephry D'Souza from India. We had a very good time with brothers and sisters in the covenant community here. God has been working wonderfully in this part of Norway for some time now and many people have come to Christ. The new and emerging church in this area has seen a very good growth through new births.
As I have been reading the prophet Zechariah one sentence have stuck with me. It is the last sentence in chapter six and verse fifteen: "This will happen if you diligently obey the Lord your God." In the previous verses God had given some wonderful promises of the temple being restored and build by the Lord's servant the Branch – ultimately the Messiah – but immediately Joshua son of Jozadak. After God had given these wonderful promises he said that there was a condition to see the prophetic words fulfilled: obedience to God.
From Wednesday to Sunday we have been meeting together the entire days with covenant friends at Gullbotn. During those days we have had deep fellowship and strengthening of our friendship. We have been together in the presence of God and we have done a lot of planning as we have been in dialogue together. We have also been deep into the Word and we have all been refreshed by the Spirit.
There is nothing like being together as covenant friends to share with one another what God is doing in our lives as well as sharing the fresh insight he is giving us through our daily Bible reading. Psalm 133 is saying that it is good and beautiful when brothers live together in harmony and I can certainly confirm that. When we meet together with the right attitudes God will always manifest his presence among.
Something went wrong with my Internet connection the last week and I was not able to report on my blog for several days. I am happy to be connected again. But more important than being online to be able to blog is to meet with brothers and sisters in person to touch hearts with one another. That is what I did when I was unable to connect to the Internet.