NEW YEARS DAY is also the day Jesus was brought to the temple. Jewish boys were circumsized on their eigth day, like Christian children in many cultures are being christened.
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Our traditional and nominal majority Church of Norway proposes a set of texts to be read for each mass day. I choose the GOSPEL text for today, as it contains a very strong promise. You may read up on it yourself in Matthew 18:19-20 NIV.
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TODAY’S GOSPEL in the Church of Norway is the promise Jesus gives when we gather in His name.
19 Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. (Matt 18:19-20 NIV)
Once again we read a passage less dependent on our emotional state and so much more anchored in our action. Two more scripture readings that I have personally tried and experienced, are the passages of 1 Kings 8:41-43 NIV and James 5:14-15 NIV.
41 As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name— 42 for they will hear of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward this temple, 43 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name. (1Kings 8:41-43 NIV)
I EXPERIENCED THE FULL VERACITY of Solomon’s promise both when I was granted a daughter after seventeen years of barren marriage, as well as when I was miraculously healed from stage IV terminal cancer a few years ago.
READ UP >> His cancer vanished after a pilgrimage to Jerusalem
Now, do remember that going on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem is no longer required, as the temple of God currently resides within you. It is present where you are. Just look it up:
19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? (1Cor 6:19 NIV)
FINALLY, ONE ACT OF OBEDIENCE where emotion once again is of no importance. If you are sick, call on your elders to pray for you. If your elders hesitate or are lacking in faith, you may call upon elders who do posess the gift of prayer. Don’t let Satan hold you back with the false theology of obedience to persons not living according to the calling of the Lord Jesus Christ. Better walk away, than loosing your life and salvation.
I was doomed to death by my oncologists. They had discovered malignant melanoma with metastases to the brain, lungs, bones and lymph nodes. I was basically overrun with cancer and nothing could be done. While I succumbed to the acceptance of my fate, my wife started moving heaven and earth. She got me new doctors, and while they could only postpone the inevitable, she also got me thinking about two elders I have cooperated with for a couple of decades. We made a phone call because of this Scripture:
14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. (James 5:14-15 NIV)
IN MY CASE, IT WORKED. Cancer was halted, long enough for me to start fighting back and finally holding on to the promise of Solomon (above).
Now, I have experienced that the Lord has spoken during such prayer sessions. Only recently a man of my own age was brought in to be ministered upon. Then the Lord spoke and reminded us that his ultimate purpose was salvation. This man was not to be healed but rather get a heavenly upgrade. He accepted and has done more in a month with his family before dying in peace. I ministered to him and his family only an hour before he exhaled.
READ UP >> When God does not heal in order to save
That’s it. Stay blessed in this new year. Remember that faith without action has no value. Action alone cannot save you, but neither can faith alone help anyone in need. (James 2:17 NIV)
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© 2019 Victor Skimmeland mastered in theology as well as obtaining a bachelor in international studies and an undergraduate degree in finance. He has pastored abroad and domestically for many years and also worked as a teacher and journalist. He currently runs this blog on preacher.no with friends, mainly in Norwegian but occasionally also in English and Spanish. All rights reserved. No part of these texts may be copied or reprinted for commercial gain. However, the stories are meant to be shared and used but do reference the source. No please. Just do. For all other use please obtain advance permission in writing from the author(s).
