Resurrection Day.

Waiting for resurrection ...

John 11:25

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;

 

Romans 6:5

⁵ For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. ⁶ For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,^[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin— ⁷ because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
⁸ Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. ⁹ For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. ¹⁰ The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
 

Good Friday ... the rescue for Laodiceans ...

                             Jesus said: It is finished

Maundy Thursday

John 17 

Jesus’ Prayer for His Followers

17 ^1-5 Jesus said these things. Then, raising his eyes in prayer, he said:

Father, it’s time.
Display the bright splendor of your Son
So the Son in turn may show your bright splendor.
You put him in charge of everything human
So he might give real and eternal life to all in his charge.
And this is the real and eternal life:
That they know you,
The one and only true God,
And Jesus Christ, whom you sent.
I glorified you on earth
By completing down to the last detail
What you assigned me to do.
And now, Father, glorify me with your very own splendor,
The very splendor I had in your presence
Before there was a world.

^6-12 I spelled out your character in detail
To the men and women you gave me.
They were yours in the first place;
Then you gave them to me,
And they have now done what you said.
They know now, beyond the shadow of a doubt,
That everything you gave me is firsthand from you,
For the message you gave me, I gave them;
And they took it, and were convinced
That I came from you.
They believed that you sent me.
I pray for them.
 

I’m not praying for the God-rejecting world
But for those you gave me,
For they are yours by right.
Everything mine is yours, and yours mine,
And my life is on display in them.
For I’m no longer going to be visible in the world;
They’ll continue in the world
While I return to you.
Holy Father, guard them as they pursue this life
That you conferred as a gift through me,
So they can be one heart and mind
As we are one heart and mind.
As long as I was with them, I guarded them
In the pursuit of the life you gave through me;
I even posted a night watch.
And not one of them got away,
Except for the rebel bent on destruction
(the exception that proved the rule of Scripture).

^13-19 Now I’m returning to you.
I’m saying these things in the world’s hearing
So my people can experience
My joy completed in them.
I gave them your word;
The godless world hated them because of it,
Because they didn’t join the world’s ways,
Just as I didn’t join the world’s ways.
I’m not asking that you take them out of the world
But that you guard them from the Evil One.
They are no more defined by the world
Than I am defined by the world.
Make them holy—consecrated—with the truth;
Your word is consecrating truth.
In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world,
I give them a mission in the world.
I’m consecrating myself for their sakes
So they’ll be truth-consecrated in their mission.

^20-23 I’m praying not only for them
But also for those who will believe in me
Because of them and their witness about me.
The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—
Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
So they might be one heart and mind with us.
Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.
The same glory you gave me, I gave them,
So they’ll be as unified and together as we are—
I in them and you in me.
Then they’ll be mature in this oneness,
And give the godless world evidence
That you’ve sent me and loved them
In the same way you’ve loved me.

^24-26 Father, I want those you gave me
To be with me, right where I am,
So they can see my glory, the splendor you gave me,
Having loved me
Long before there ever was a world.
Righteous Father, the world has never known you,
But I have known you, and these disciples know
That you sent me on this mission.
I have made your very being known to them—
Who you are and what you do—
And continue to make it known,
So that your love for me
Might be in them
Exactly as I am in them.

(taken from the Message)

Passover 2013

 

 

The Jewish  Passover started on March 25 and will end April 2nd. During the Seder meal you follow the order from the Haggadah. On the Seder plate there is symbolic food to remind of the time of slavery in Egypt and the Exodus.

Gold

GOLD

Maybe you have come across jewelry or other items that are gold plated; which means that a metal has been covered with a thin layer of gold to look like gold.

“Gold plating is a method of depositing a thin layer of gold onto the surface of another metal, most often copper or silver by chemical or electrochemical plating” (Wikipedia)

“When an item is electro plated, the plating material is very thin - less than 0.01mm - so there is hardly any volume of gold. So even though gold is expensive, a gold-plated item is worth just a few cents more than the item would be without the gold. Any product plated with gold or silver doesn't have a scrap value. This is for the simple reason that gold or silver plated items will not melt during the separation process and it adds impurities in the gold or the silver, Most of the time these "impurities" in the gold are nickel, iron or flat base metals that disrupt the melting process; for this reason those who buy and sell gold only accept pure gold, silver or platinum.”

(information found on Internet)

There is also “gilding” which means a number of decorative techniques for applying fine gold leaf or powder to solid surfaces such as wood, stone, or metal to give a thin coating of gold.

Dictionary.com explains “gilded” as “having a pleasing or showy appearance that conceals something of little worth”.

Jesus says: “Buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich”

“Gold that’s been through the refiner’s fire” is as far as I understand pure gold without impurities.

While doing research about Revelation 3 I have read some commentaries of famous Bible study authors and almost all of them refer this “gold” to “faith”. A faith that is tried and has been tested compared to a shallow and “thin” coat of religion that show off a certain tradition or custom but has no depth or root in Jesus.

I can agree with that but to me this also points to what God time after time has said to his own people Israel in the Old testament and what he says  in the New Covenant through Jesus himself and the Apostles:  “I’m not mixable!”

Why would the creator of heaven and earth; the life giver and healer mix with dead bones, gods of no value and belief systems that talks against him? He is Holy and there is no darkness in him. He has decided a wonderful way for man to accept; salvation through Jesus, so man can share his glory. There is no way he will change that and mix it with demons and dead bones. 

 ... to be continued.

"From me"

There is a lot of "commotion" in the book of Revelation but it all starts with "tough love"… for Gods ‘children.

Gods´ judgment starts with his own children. Each church suffers from illnesses and so he gives the diagnosis. He sees what causes the sickness; gives the prescription how to cure it and if the patient follows the prescription she will indeed be cured. The patient will even be in a better condition than before she fell ill.

The patient Laodicea doesn't know she is ill; or  even worse; she covers it well with a self-image that says: "Everything is OK". 

However Jesus cares about the “patient” and that's why he tells the truth about the state of the church. How different his view is compared to what the church of Laodicea thinks of herself.

"You brag, ‘I’m rich, I’ve got it made, I need nothing from anyone,’ oblivious that in fact you’re a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless". (The Message)

Here is the prescription:

Jesus says:

“Here’s what I want you to do: 

Buy your gold from me, gold that’s been through the refiner’s fire. Then you’ll be rich. 

Buy your clothes from me, clothes designed in Heaven. You’ve gone around half-naked long enough.

Buy medicine for your eyes from me so you can see, really see"

(Revelation 3:18, The Message)

Notice "from me". That is the key to the cure. The "riches" that seemed to be enough for the church of Laodicea was of no value. Obviously those "riches" were achieved from somewhere else but Jesus. How can it be that a church//a Christian is content with something that has nothing to do with Jesus? Because that is what it says; the source of the wealth was not Jesus.

 Jesus urged the Laodicea church to buy from him

 “gold”,

 ”cloths”

“eye-salve”;

Let’s look at each of them in the next entry.

Dearest little girl - goodbye.

You have been in my prayers for many weeks now. Many have prayed for you and for a miracle; but it didn't happen. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry that I will never know you. But you have a name. You have existed. Your heart was beating, but now you are gone. I know you were much longed for. We were all looking forward to meet you. 

But now I picture you entering heavens gates; everything normal and all smiles when Jesus takes your in his arms and says:
There you are dearest Majken! Welcome!

Dearest little girl - Goodbye.

Phew!

That's how I felt after the seven letters to the churches of  Asia minor. Phew! I was glad I finally reached Laodicea and I planned as soon as possible to go on to something more interesting; like how Jesus describes himself in the book of Revelation. But no...

The Holy Spirit reminded me of a book I bought in the late 90th. It is called "How to survive Laodicea" and it is written by a Swedish priest called Bengt Pleijel. He is now a retired priest I believe, but I'm sure he never retires as a Christian. As far as I know the book only exists in Swedish and I just found out that the publisher called "Vetekornet"has ceased to exist.

Anyway; I think the Holy Spirit told me to stay in Laodicea for a while and also stay in the book  because he wanted me to see some more details about the church as well as my own life.

The book of Revelation is a book of serious business. No games played here and no walking about the bush; all is said straight forward and without any "religious wrapping" around it either. One church or the other, could in some ways remind me of a certain time in  life when Jesus word of warning would have applied to me also. No way to get around that either.

I was saved when I was 10 years old and after that you would think it was no worries for me. But back in those days I unfortunately  attended church meetings where the preachers often were more interested in talking about hell than heaven and there was always a risk that you had done something bad and so you were doomed to hell. As a child obviously every day included a risk to do something wrong and so I was a potential candidate for hell every time I came within hearing distance of a preacher. Repent! ... was the ongoing message. And I repented and repented and repented ... and it never seemed enough.  
I like to think that those "fire and brimstone" preachers just meant well and didn't know better; but they sure created a lot of uncertainty in me; was I saved or not?; was I destined for hell or could I just get inside heavens gate "by a whisker". God's burning eyes over my life continued for 40 years before I finally found "the smiling Jesus". Can you imagine that? What a waste of time ... when I had a loving Father in heaven,  waiting for his child to really understand that it wasn't up to me but to HIM. He had done it all once and for all and when I accepted his gift of salvation hell wasn't even an option for me any more.
So now when I read the book of Revelation today  I keep in mind that no matter what happens in this wretched world 

The blood of Jesus is enough

My life in Jesus is enough

My trust in Jesus is enough

My future in Jesus is safe

My death and new life with the resurrected Jesus is secured. 

So come along with me on a tour through Laodicea; it's a thriller with a happy ending as you will see. 
Sincerely yours, Ida 

//The video included is for Swedish speaking friends. It is Bengt Pleijel, talking about his new book "To love Sweden back to God" I'm sorry all English speaking friends that you cannot understand this. It is really funny. He has  great humor and that is also displayed in his books.//

Link to sermon

A link to a sermon about the letter to Laodicea.

http://www.crestwoodchurch.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=144454&programId=67764

I don't know how to put a recorded sermon here but copy and paste and I hope it works.
You can find more recorded sermons on this web site from Crestwood Presbyterian Church Virginia.

Letter to Laodicea

(click on image for higher resolution)

¹⁴ Write down My words, and send them to the messenger of the church in Laodicea. “These are the words of the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of God’s creation:

¹⁵ “I know your works. You are neither cold with apathy nor hot with passion. It would be better if you were one or the other, but you are neither. ¹⁶ So because you are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. ¹⁷ You claim, ‘I am rich, I have accumulated riches, and I need nothing’; but you do not realize that you are miserable, pathetic, poor, blind, and naked. ¹⁸ So here is what I suggest you do: buy true gold from Me (gold refined by fire so that you can be truly rich), white garments (to cover you so that you can keep the shame of your nakedness from showing), and eye ointment (to treat your eyes so that you may see clearly).

¹⁹ “Those I love I also correct and discipline. Therefore, be shamelessly committed to Me, and turn back.^{[b] 20} Now pay attention; I am standing at the door and knocking. If any of you hear My voice and open the door, then I will come in to visit with you and to share a meal at your table, and you will be with Me.

²¹ “The one who conquers through faithfulness even unto death I will place next to Me on My throne, just as I Myself conquered and took a place of honor with My Father on His throne.

²² “Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches.”

To Philadelphia

⁷ Write this to Philadelphia, to the Angel of the church. The Holy, the True—David’s key in his hand, opening doors no one can lock, locking doors no one can open—speaks:

⁸ “I see what you’ve done. Now see what I’ve done. I’ve opened a door before you that no one can slam shut. You don’t have much strength, I know that; you used what you had to keep my Word. You didn’t deny me when times were rough.
⁹ “And watch as I take those who call themselves true believers but are nothing of the kind, pretenders whose true membership is in the club of Satan—watch as I strip off their pretensions and they’re forced to acknowledge it’s you that I’ve loved.
¹⁰ “Because you kept my Word in passionate patience, I’ll keep you safe in the time of testing that will be here soon, and all over the earth, every man, woman, and child put to the test.
¹¹ “I’m on my way; I’ll be there soon. Keep a tight grip on what you have so no one distracts you and steals your crown.
¹² “I’ll make each conqueror a pillar in the sanctuary of my God, a permanent position of honor. Then I’ll write names on you, the pillars: the Name of my God, the Name of God’s City—the new Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven—and my new Name.
¹³ “Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches.”

Valentine's Day ... could be every day?

(picture from google search )

Thyatira - the tolerance-of evil.

THYATIRA: the immoral church who tolerated a mix of paganism and Christianity. 

Jesus =“the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire,

 and his feet like fine brass = Representing his omniscience and sense of justice.

God has committed all judgment into the hands of the Son (John 5:22).

Concerning believers, 2 Corinthians 5:10 says:

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Compliment:

I know your: works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.

It all sounds very good, doesn’t it? Jesus doesn’t forget the good deeds and he is pleased with them, BUT…

Nevertheless:

I have a few things against you,

you tolerate that woman Jezebel,

who calls herself a prophetess, who teach and seduce my servants

to commit sexual immorality

and eat things sacrificed to idols.

History:

King Ahab married the pagan princess Jezebel and she seduced the king and the people to worship the pagan god Baal. The prophet Elijah opposed this and you can read about it in 1 King chapter 16 – 21. Apostasy was openly rampant and the people said nothing against it. God had given the people his Law and it stated first of all that they should not have any god beside God.

 1 Kings 21:25  There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his wife. 

The "Jezebels of life" in our time has the same purpose as in the days of  Ahab  to lead a Christian away from God's plan and love.

Thyatira was controlled by strong trade guilds. To be able to work and earn money people had to live  in a certain way which also included participating in meals that were dedicated to idols. If you refused, the chances were that you would lose your income and life in society.

I remember reading a story from the former Soviet Union about how Christian children were persecuted at school for not wearing the special red “Pioneer's necktie” that showed that they were members of the communist pioneer movement. Their parents refused to sign them up as members

( children were entered  into the organization in elementary school and continue until adolescence) and  were punished in various ways. Mostly the parents lost their jobs and the children could not get higher education.  The control was the same as in Thyatira but with a different idol; the communist party and its leaders. 

THE WARNING

²¹ I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.

²² So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. ²³ I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that

I am he who searches hearts and minds,

 and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.

The tolerance of worshiping  idols and living a life that is opposed to the will of God is summed up in one word: Destruction” For both the advocate for it and the followers.

God is willing to grant mercy and wait before he executes his punishment; which is the consequence of our sins. Sin destroys on every level but Repentance brings new life in Jesus.

Comfort

²⁴ Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira,

to you who do NOT hold to her teaching and have Not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,

‘I will not impose any other burden on you, ²⁵ except to hold on to what you have until I come.’

THE PROMISE

To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end,

I will give authority over the nations;

²⁷ that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery just as I have received authority from my Father.

 ²⁸ I will also give that one the morning star.

²⁹ Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

According to Revelation 22:16, the “bright and morning star” is Christ Himself.  

He was the “Star out of Jacob,” (Numbers 24:17),

 and “the daystar” of hope, that, according to Peter, shall “arise in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19)