Persecution: Rom.8:35-39

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “ For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.(Rom.8:35-39)

No one can separate us from the LOVE OF CHRIST. Even strong persecution. Not just persecution, but also whole devil's package in one with tribulation, distress, famine, nakedness, peril, sword can't separate us from GOD's Love...

This all in one spiritual battle package or even each separatly spiritual battle is possible to conquer through Him, through faith in JESUS(IISUS), who loved us much. Cause GOD - our Heavenly Father is sooo GREAT. His Power is unlimited and His AGAPE LOVE is boundless to us His children. And He is mighty to keep everyone who believes in Him, who's Saviour is the LORD JESUS. Amen

Sunday 13.11.11 for persecuted christians

Text: 32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted,were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. (Hebr.11:32-40)

Thoughts: In persucution some were slain with the sword(v.37), but not all accepted deliverance(through death), but another escaped the edge of the sword - by faith(v.34). With other words ran away by FAITH from the edge of the sword. Both ACTS is by FAITH: to accept eternal deliverance(were slain with the sword) and another is escaped from the edge of the sword.

I believe that every persecution is also a visible spiritual war against christian. And only with prayer, faith, patience is possible to overcome it. Look at the verse 34:...out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.(spiritual battle and overcome it with faith).

In whole history the enemy - devil tried to destroy church.
The enemy of God and people, persecuted church in whole church history. And in our days devil continue to persecute the church. Every year approx. 200 million christians in the world goes through persecution.

In Acts 8 we read that Saul persecuted church. And in Acts 9 we read that Saul was on the way to Damascus. And Saul has one target to imprison christians in Damascus.
And on his way he meets the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords JESUS CHRIST.
Acts 9: 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

Saul had an authority to imprison christians, but he didn't know that in heaven THE MOST HIGH GOD JESUS CHRIST who watching all and the Lord Jesus Christ Who has All Authority in Heaven and on the Earth and He is the Ruler of whole universe.

And look: Through the text we understand that every persecution of christian or church the Lord watching as a persecution of Himself, as He persecuted self: "Why you persecuting Me?" is His answer for everyone who persecutes church and christians. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.
This testimony God's one of the Greatest Apostles - Ap.Paul(before Saul) sharing 2 times in Acts.

Lets pray for our brothers and sisters that goes through persecution today. That the Lord will keep them in different difficult countries and comforts them all. And also may the Lord will be merciful for those who persecuting the church in our days. Because He is love, but also He has Authority and He can do ALL!

1Pet.2:4-5

4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1Pet.2:4-5

Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord

15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God. (Eph.5:15-21)

So because it is context I just took whole context. But here I want that we will focus on the verse 18 to be filled with the Holy Spirit. And (v.19)naturaly to speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs(3 kinds of songs: psalms, hymns ans spiritual songs).

Here is very good verse: singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Amen :)

Of course when the Holy Spirit filles then also our heart will be filled with singing and melody. Cause all starts with filling with the Holy Spirit. God bless you and may He will fill you with sweet Holy Spirit. And may the Holy Spirit fill your heart with singing and melody...

The wedding in Cana

Just will share with Bible perls

John 2

1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.

To wedding was invited mother of Jesus, His disciples. But most blessed part is Jesus coming to wedding to bless people. I believe that in Galilee was also weddings, but other not invited Jesus. The most blessed part that Jesus because He loves people He coming when people inviting Him. From this 2 verses we know that Jesus were invited and He came.

When we read this first 2 verses about disciples we think that Jesus came with His 12 disciples. No! Look: on the third day writing ap. John was a wedding. But on the second day (Jn.1:35-51) the Lord has just Andrew, Peter, Philip, Nathanael(not apostle),and other John baptist's disciple that followed Jesus. Just few disciples, mother of Jesus and Jesus came to wedding in Cana.

3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” 4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”

Mary the mother of Jesus she knew that every problem, every need Jesus can solve. Special crisis problems. Usualy in Israel wedding celebrated one week. And because of it the food and all what is needed for celebrating it was prepared carefully. And if it was luck of food or wine it was shame. And so wine was finished. Crisis. But mother of Jesus she knew to Whom she need to come in crisis time. JESUS. And she came to Him: "They have no wine". And look how Jesus answering. "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me?
Here allready Jesus say as Lord to woman. "My hour has not yet come". The Lord when He was on the earth He done Father's will. And even the hour, exactly a minute of his glorifying through miracle not came yet.

5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

So little bit about servants. Every God's child is servant. And it is privilage to be servant. How often we think that only our directly worshiping is service, but we need also remind His Word:
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”(Mrk.10:45)
Greatest servant is our Lord. He said that we need to serve people and He as Lord served people.
Blessing is there: to serve people as His servant.

And servants memorized His mother's word: "Whatever He says to you, do it".
We all remember transfiguration of the Lord Jesus. And when the Lord Jesus was transfigured the Father God said: 5 While he (ap.Peter) was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Mt.17:5).
Hear JESUS!
Mother of Jesus to servants: "Whatever He says to you, do it". To do absolutly all what Jesus says in His Word it is blessing.

6 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece.

In our modern measure every waterpot approx. may contain 100 or 150 liters of water.

7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.

The Lord because He loves people He blesses people in full measure. "Fill the waterpots with water" said the Lord. And servants who memorized the word: "Whatever He says to you, do it", they filled them up. Look: filled all 6 waterpots of stone up to the BRIM. Filled up maximum.
What a good servants. That whatever Jesus says to them, they was prepared to do. And they filled all 600 liters up to the brim.

8 And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it.
Here we see how servants not forgetting the word: "Whaterver He says to you, do it". And here is test. Servants knew that there was the water. And to take the water to the master of the feast and to say here are wine, it may brings misunderstandings. Here by faith in the Lord's Word the servants needed to do "WHATERVER HE SAYS TO DO". And what the servants done? And they TOOK IT. They done what the Lord said without doubt and analysing.

9 When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 10 And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”

Interesting and most amaizing thing that ONLY SERVANTS has seen the Mirracle of Jesus at the wedding. All others they didn't know and they didn't see mirracle of Jesus. Awesome fact!
When we serve people (because the Lord on the earth self served people), when we God's children are SERVANTS and serve people, then we can see mirracles of the Lord.

Another thing how we may know about God's love and His care from this history? The Lord done a mirracle that water turn to wine. I believe that wine that the Lord done was special, because it is done through mirracle. And wine that Jesus done was alcohol free wine, because it was mirracle wine. And when Jesus gives something to people, then He gives all pure, I mean in his blessing will be not something that discourage people. I believe that in the wine that He gave to folk it was not alcohol (mirracle wine).

And look how we can see God's love and His care. If the Lord cares for elementary things like a soda, then how valuable everyone before Him. Even our hairs of our head are all numbered.
7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. (Lk.12:7)
When we take a shower, then we losing few of our hairs of our head and God he exactly knows how many we have lost and how many hairs of our head we have after shower. If our hairs that we losing every day so important for God, then how much valuable a person and his/her life before Him. God bless you...

The Holy Spirit's fruit

The Lord's garden is the church. Every person in the garden is a fruit tree. And the water for tree is the Holy Spirit. As every tree can't liv without water, so every christian can't liv without the Holy Spirit. And even a fruit on every tree in this garden is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Amen Gal.5:22

The Lord's ascending

‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’”(Jn.20:17)

These words the Lord said to Mary, that she will say it to His disciples.
We remember the last meeting of Christ with His disciples in Galilee on mountain.
After His resurrection the Lord 40 days being seen by them. Why? To incourage His apostles.

1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.(Acts 1:1-5 NKJV)

And the Lord JESUS blessed His disciples and began to ascend to heaven.
The first incouraging thing is what the Lord said to Mary: I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.
Now here the Lord says My Father and your Father, My God and your God.

Thought about ascending
His ascending after His resurrection again confirmed that He is Lord and God. The Lord could return to Father as invisible to disciples. But the Lord not done like this. Every disciple on the mountain has seen how the Lord ascend.

This is strong evidence that the Lord Jesus - He is God and He is the one to Whom obeys even the physical laws of gravity. O, Yes! Not just gravity! We remember how the Lord walk on the sea(Mt.14:26).

Or another place where wind and wave obey Jesus.

22 Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And they launched out. 23 But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. 24 And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 But He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!”(Lk.8:22-24).

So mighty Lord Jesus we believe and He is our Lord and our God. Ans so mighty Lord Jesus He love's all people. He love's me and you.

If you accept Him - you are His child.

If you not accept the Lord into you heart, you can do it right now.

Through prayer you can ask Jesus to come to your life:

You can pray with me: Dear Lord JESUS! Thank you that You are Lord of all.

Please come into my heart, forgive all my sins, be my Lord and Saviour,

And I pray in Jesus Christ name, Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

My friend if you accept Him into your heart then you became His child. You can come to the nearest evangelical church, read His Word Bible and pray every day. God love's you. Blessings...

Mrk.16:19

19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.

Acts 1:9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

Heb.9:24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;

Christ before his disciples after He had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven.

He entered into heaven itself.

He entered as:

1. A victor.

Whole His life on the earth was victory.

2. He entered into heaven as a Person who fulfilled whole God's Will.

We remember His Word: "My food, is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. (Jn.4:34)

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”(Lk.22:42)

3. Also he entered into heaven as conqueror. He defeated devil in the desert 40 days; In His life; In Gethsemany and on Calvary;

4. He entered as conqueror of hade and death. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. (Rev.1:8,18)

5. He entered into heaven and appeared in the presence of God FOR US (Hebr.9:24); As a Mediator(Intercessor) "It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession FOR US"(Rom.8:34). " Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them". (Heb.7:25) (TO MAKE INTERCESSION IN HEAVEN FOR US)

6. He entered into heaven to send His Holy Spirit to us.

“But now I go away to Him who sent Me...7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.(Jn.16:5,7)

7. He entered into heaven to prepare a place for us. 1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (Jn.14:1-3)

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you that You done all for us. Even Your entering into heaven was also for us. Thank you Lord Jesus. Amen

Mrk.16

14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”Christ Ascends to God’s Right Hand 19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

The Lord appeared to 11 disciples and He rebuked their unbelief. And the Lord said that they will preach the gospel to EVERY CREATURE. Here is unchanging truth: v.16.He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. Truth is truth.
He gives His Authority to His disciples and through it we understand that He gives His Authority to all who believes in Him: v.17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.
And look v.20. Disciples said yes to fulfill Great Comission. And we read: 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
1. They went out.
2. Preached everywhere.
3. And when they went out and preached everywhere the Lord working with them.
Obeying to His Great Comission and the result the Lord working with them.
4. And confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

God's Will that the Gospel will be preached to EVERY CREATURE. So therefore when we know what our Lord said to us, then we can go boldly and share right in the place where we are. Discpiles heard the Lord cleare: EVERY CREATURE, and the result apostles preached EVERYWHERE. With other words to preach the Gospel of Jesus EVERYWHERE wherevere our feet comes. Be blessed

Authority of the Lord JESUS

¹⁸ And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (MT.28:18-20)

I.The Lord's Authority. Så High or Most High. Nothing & no one over Him. His Authority in heaven and on earth. It will be all what He will.
II. Three thing: 1.Making disciples of all the nations(no matter nationality). 2.Baptizing. 3. Teaching. All these 3things is important.

Look: In teaching. Teaching them to observe ALL THINGS that I have COMMANDED you. Look also the Word that the Lord said: I have COMMANDED...He not ask, but Commanded.
So 3 points of the Great Comission:making disciples, baptizing, teaching...
And also teach people to observe ALL THINGS, not half. With other words to teach them all truth that the Lord Jesus has commanded. And we Christ followers are responsible to do all 3 things with whole heartly and in full measure. May the Lord will bless us in obeying and in fullfiling to His Great Comission, Blessings...

Calvary

The Calvary cross is enough high ladder for to go to heaven for every one...It reaches heaven from the earth. The Calvary cross is the only tree that can take us through the stormy sea of life and deliver us to the quiet coast of heaven. All what has happend in whole history from Adam, Israel and prophets, up to Calvary it was a preperation for Calvary, and all after Calvary it was the explanation of His Mighty Act in Calvary. So Calvary is the Centrum of all God's history on the earth. Amen

1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. (Phil.2:1-2)

Ap.Paul experienced much difficulties in his life. But he always was filled with His joy, he was rich with His love. But also he writing to Philipians that if they have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if they have any comfort from his love(AGAPE), if any fellowship with the Holy Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion then make my joy complete... When we His followers have His love and joy and fellowship with the Holy Spirit, and tenderness and compassion then we through Him can make others joy complete. :)

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebr.11:6)
To please God possible only through faith. And God Father rewards those who earnestly seek him with faith.

Faith is the channel that through it we may take the grace of God.
Faith it is a hand that takes heavenly treasures from heaven to earth.

Our personal faith will be strengthened when our faith focused on the Word of God and prayer. Amen :)

The greatest thing that we may do to please God - is to believe in JESUS.

Faith

Faith first looks to God, and then on the situation, but not first on the situation and after God...

Without the Holy Spirit, we are not able to live a victorious life and to serve effectively the Lord.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Joy. (Gal.5:22; Rom.14:17). The Holy Spirit is the Person Who builds up the Kingdom of God on the Earth, Who prepares people for Eternity with God in Heaven. The Holy Spirit fills the people's heart with the Lord's Love. The Holy Spirit has life and the Holy Spirit has no death. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Life and one of the mission of the Holy Spirit is to bring His Life into the lives of people. The Holy Spirit in our heart is the garrantee of our salvation. The Holy Spirit is exactly the Water of Life that Christ gives to all people who suffers in the desert of the world.

Faith in Christ and love - it is two wings that lifts us to heaven. (Love God and love all people whith His Love)... :)

Our Lord's mission on the earth

‎35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. (Mt.9:35)

His witnesses

‎8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”(Acts.1:8)

What a privilege to be His witness everywere. To share about the Lord with the power of the Holy Spirit, it is awesome :)

Jesus delivered us

‎13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. (Col.1:13-14)

Your word

‎105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.(Ps.119:105)

Blessed is the man

‎7“ Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
And whose hope is the LORD.
8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river...(Jerem.17:7-8)

Our God

I love song:
Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power and love
Our God is an awesome God. :)

Den er rik i Guds Riket som er rik med Gud's kjærlighet, glede og fred. Den som har i seg de fryktene i rik målet er sannelig rik mann, kvinne.

The promised land was a gift to Israel. But the highest God's gift to Israel was God's men like Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Samuel, David, etc, because in these people God showed His Greatness to the generations. God is Great and Awesome God. But the most valuable God's gift for all humankind was His Son Jesus Christ that He gave for all people. How great is our God. Amen

The Cross of Jesus

The cross of the Lord was painful for Him, but the same cross is our salvation. His burden - our comfort, His victory - our reward, His sweat - our relief, his tears - our hope, His wounds - our healing, his suffering - our comfort, His blood - our redemption, His Cross - our entrance to heaven; his death is our life. Amen.
The Cross of Jesus is a key that opens heavenly gates. Amen.

‎7 How beautiful upon the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who proclaims peace,
Who brings glad tidings of good things,
Who proclaims salvation,
Who says to Zion,

“ Your God reigns!”(Isaiah.52:7)

Glede i Herren

Glede i Herren er deres styrke (Nehem.8:10)
Filipperne 4:4
4 Gled dere alltid i Herren! Igjen vil jeg si: Gled dere!

1Thes.5:16:Vær alltid glade,

Hvor Gud - der er himmel; hvor himmel der er evig glede...For å gi glede til neste man må oppleve selv den gleden fra den Hellige Ånden. Hellige Ånd er Gledens Ånd...Når vi gir Åndens glede videre, da vi gir en liten himmel videre.
Glede er tilfredshets følelse. Den er Hellige Åndens frukt. (Gal.5:22)
Takk kjære Hellig Ånd for Din glede, i Jesu navn. Amen (Rom.14:17)