Good to have friends

Sometimes one can really be blind for the obvious. Last Monday we had prophet Johnny Foote as a guest in our house. After sharing a view words, he started prophesying over each one of us.

When it was my turn, first thing he was talking about, was that I have a calling as a prophetic worshipper. I got such a word some years ago from other people too. However, while reasoning the choice of instrument to go with such a calling, I completely forgot about the calling itself. But still I had this urge to be part of a worship team, which would not happen. Regardless of how hard I(!) tried. So, while Johnny kept on prophesying other things over me, he happened to mention that I need to repent.

Ok, I know quite a bit about the concept of repenting. Still I had absolutely no clue, what I should repent for. Wednesday evening I prayed while washing hands: „Jesus, I have no clue. What is it I need to repent for? Please explain it to me. I really want to walk in all the gifts you have for me. Make it so clear, even I get it!“

A few hours later our house church was meeting and we shared our thoughts on the evening with Johnny Foote. And I talked about being clueless. My friend Karl asked me: „Are you faithful in this prophetic worship thingy?“ Ouch!!!! It was soooooo obvious, I did not see it. Too easy!

Well, I did repent. And did order an instrument, a Autoharp. Been thinking about getting one some time before. Today it arrived. Interesting and challenging times coming up. Woooohoooo!

Word from God – Worship meeting Mar 5, 2015

Dear children, Welcome one another, just as you are. Each of you is highly valuable. And the same is true for YOU. Yes, exactly: for you !!! Have joy in your diversity.
Look at your enemies with my eyes! See them as injured and abused souls. I will meet with you. You are my ambassadors who will not be frightened. Walk into the authority of a royal envoy. If they will refuse you, they reject me, not you. But if they turn unto me, then have a party with them, for they now belong to the family.

Wort Gottes – Anbetungsabend 05.03.15

Geliebte Kinder, nehmt einander an, so wie ihr seid. Jeder von euch ist mega-wertvoll. Und das gilt auch für DICH. Ja, genau: für Dich!!! Habt Freude an eurer Unterschiedlichkeit.

Schaut auf eure Feinde mit meinen Augen! Seht sie als Verletzte und missbrauchte Seelen. Ich will ihnen durch euch begegnen. Ihr seid meine Botschafter, die sich nicht die Butter vom Brot nehmen lassen. Geht hin in der Autorität eines königlichen Gesandten. Wenn sie euch dennoch ablehnen, so lehnen sie mich ab,

nicht euch. Wenn sie sich aber zu mir wenden, so feiert eine Party mit ihnen, denn sie gehören jetzt zur Familie.

RTC – Another Christian Disease

In Romans 8:1 it says: „THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.“ (‭AMP) Could it be said any more plain or clear? You accepted Christ as your savior, therefore there is no more condemnation for you.

A shout of joy and gratitude should pass our lips, every time we read or here these fine words. Sadly though there are way too many believers that developed a disease, I call the Right to Condemn.

I admit I had this disease once myself. Many times out of good intention. I judged people for not growing spiritually, for not seeing the next steps out of misery, or not confessing obvious sin. In my heart I decided they will never grow or be free. Some times I even said it out loud. Then there were times, I had the worst kind of this disease: RTCM -> Right to Condemn Myself. I would tell myself the same things.

„But what is so bad to tell someone where he/she is failing? Don’t you want your brothers and sisters in Christ to grow and reach their full potential?“, one might ask. … Well, actually I do! There is a difference though between telling someone where he/she will never be getting it, or explaining lovingly the next steps and offering your help to go them.

Jesus paid with his death at the cross the ultimate price for all of our sins. By exclaiming a person will never be free, I declare him to be a hopeless case. And also I am saying, the price Jesus paid, was not enough. It is like spitting in Jesus‘ face while he is hanging on the cross. – The good news is: you and I, we can repent even from something awful as this. So huge is His mercy. Let me tell you, I have repented.

Now I am having a blast, when the people I serve understand that there is hope for them. The awe in their faces, when they realize that God has not given up on them, gets me every single time. Why? Because I know that the advise I am giving is not my own, it is a direct download through the Holy Spirit. … At least 85 to 90% of the time. After all I am human and I make mistakes.

If you want your brothers and sisters in Christ to grow and want to help them, here is my heartfelt advise: Develope a state of love for them. Pray before you speak. Be patient. Expect the impossible.

Today in Hamburg my team mate and I served a lady. She seemed to have a very hard heart. She seemed rebellious, even unteachable. But after some time, when she realized that we were not judging her, she totally opened up and spoke of her heart; of all the abuse she suffered. It was the simplest prayer that worked. She said: „Jesus, help me to get close to you again!“ There is still a lot of unforgiveness that needs to be delt with, but she made the first step closer to the Lord. And that is what is important. Even the longest way starts with a first step. She took it. A time to rejoice with her!

With Jesus there is no hopeless case.

Der Tag, an dem der Hamster aus dem Rad stieg!

Am 06. Juli 2012 geschah es. Der Hamster stieg aus seinem Rad.

29+ Jahre kannte ich nichts anderes, als Montags bis Freitags einem regulären Broterwerb nachzugehen. Die letzten zwei bis drei Jahre davon waren nervig. Von Tag zu Tag wurde ich unzufriedener. Unzufriedener mit meinem Job. Unzufriedener mit meinem Chef. Unzufriedener mit mir!

Ich sehnte mich nach mehr. Vor allem sehnte ich mich danach mehr Zeit für die Gott-Dinge in meinem Leben zu haben. Wollte sehen wie Gott übernatürlich wirkt. Ich wollte alles. Erfolg im Job. Karriere – in der „Welt“ und in der „Kirche“. Die „Glory-Jobs“. Einfach so.

Sauer mit mir. Sauer mit Gott. Reizbar. Kurze Zündschnur. – Für meinen Chef und meine Kollegen muss das … anstrengend gewesen sein.

In dieser Zeit kam ich durch die Mitarbeit bei NO LIMIT in Kontakt mit Dr. Arne Elsen. Er ermutigte mich,  zu seinen Vorträgen zu kommen. Nach den Vorträgen sollte ich im seinem Team für Kranke beten. Über einen Zeitraum von ein bis eineinhalb Jahren tat ich dies. Fuhr 2 Mal im Monat 3 bis 4 Stunden – meistens Samstags – mit dem Auto zu den Veranstaltungen hin. Danach wieder zurück. Ich fand Geschmack daran, anderen zu dienen.

Ich dachte immer öfter darüber nach, welche Menschen Gott mir immer wieder vor die Füße gestellt hatte. Es waren Menschen, die eins gemeinsam hatten. Bevor sie irgendwie annähernd an diese „Glory Jobs“ heran kamen, waren sie zuerst Dienende.

Irgendwie machte es total Sinn. Jesus kam auch nicht in die Welt, um sich bejubeln zu lassen. Die meiste Zeit verbrachte ER damit, zu dienen. Heilung, Lehre, Dämonen austreiben. Gemeinschaft pflegen.

Im November 2011 erzählte Arne mir von der Gründung des Vereins „Glaube und Heilung“. Ich wusste, dass ich dort mitarbeiten musste. Egal um welchen Preis. Ich wusste in meinem Herzen, dass in diesem Moment DIE Tür überhaupt aufgegangen war, aus dem Hamsterrad des normalen Arbeitsleben aus zu steigen. Unverzüglich, im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes, erkundigte ich mich nach Möglichkeiten, nur noch Teilzeit zu arbeiten.

Von meinen Freunden bekam ich „zwei Daumen nach oben“. Sie ermutigten mich, diesen Schritt zu gehen. Nur wenige Wochen später unterschrieb ich den Änderungsvertrag. Statt 38 Stunden an 5 Tagen, würde ich nur noch 27 Stunden an 4 Tagen je Woche arbeiten. Verbunden mit 29% weniger Gehalt. Außerdem würden die Freitage fortan echt lang werden. 5:15 aufstehen und vor 21:30 Uhr nicht zu Hause sein. 3 Stunden ICE fahren.

Am 06. Juli 2012 stieg ich also erstmalig in den ICE 1616. Es kamen leise Zweifel auf. War ich wirklich auf dem richtigen Weg? Doch der Tag bewies, dass ich auf dem richtigen Weg war.

Mathias B. war an diesem ersten Dienst-Freitag mein Gebetspartner. Es haute mich aus den Socken, wie einfach es war mit ihm zu beten. Unsere Eindrücke für die Gebetssuchenden ergänzten sich sehr gut; bauten förmlich aufeinander aus. Wir beteten sowohl für körperliche, als auch für innere Heilung. Der Heilige Geist zeigt uns sehr oft auf, wenn seelische Belastung hinter den körperlichen Leiden steckte. Ein Patient nach dem anderen ging leichter und ermutigter, als er gekommen war.

Ganz oft findet sich tief gehende Unvergebenheit bei Krebserkrankungen. Irgendwie scheinen die Dinge, die unsere Seele auffressen, ein gutes Treibmittel für Krebszellen zu sein, die schließlich die gesunden Körperzellen zerstören.

Es gibt natürlich auch Krankheiten ohne geistige Ursachen. Spektakulär finde ich es beispielsweise, wenn unterschiedlich lange Beine auf gleiche Länge auswachsen. Unterschiedlich lange Beine sind Ursachen für z.B. Hüftschiefstellungen und den damit verbundenen Rückenschmerzen.

Wer generell Frage zum Thema „Heilung durch Gebet“ hat, dem empfehle ich eines der unten genannten Bücher zu lesen.

Ich selbst erlebe durch diesen Dienst selbst viel innere Heilung. Und ich erkenne immer mehr, wer ich in Jesus bin: Ein geliebtes Kind des Schöpfers des Universums. Dadurch, dass ich genau diese z.B. diese Dinge den Gebetssuchenden zuspreche, predige ich mir selber. Naja, Glaube kommt bekanntlich vom Hören.

Von meinem Chef habe ich erst kürzlich wieder die Rückmeldung bekommen, viel gelassener und motivierter zu sein als vor jenem Tag im Juli 2012. – Ich selbst fühle mich … nun ja … glücklich! Nicht immer jede Sekunde und jeden Tag, aber immer öfter. Alleine schon dafür hat es sich gelohnt, auf Teilzeit umzusteigen.

Literaturempfehlungen:

  • Graham Powell „Der Dienst der Befreiung“
  • Bill Johnson „Berufen zu Heilen“
  • Francis MacNutt „Die Kraft zu heilen“
  • Cindy Jacobs „Das übernatürliche Leben“
  • Last but not least: DIE BIBEL

 

What’s in a name?

Well, Juliet may have not known, when she was talking to her love Romeo. In case of Jesus Christ, we can know. The Hebrew spelling of His name is Yeshua.

The meaning of the name is awesome. It’s Hebrew root y-sh-a means to deliver, to save, and to be victorious. Jesus is our deliverer, our savior, and He sure was victorious at the cross.

I am feeling a bit like being in one these bad TV commercials, because: „Wait! There is more!“

Have you, like me, ever asked yourself what this word Hosanna means, which we sing so often? It is the Greek spelling of Yeshua-na. The suffix „na“ is a fervent but kind demand: „Please! Do!“ (THIS GOD WE SERVE by Rev. W.J. Morford) When we sing „Hosanna“, we are saying „Please! Do! Deliver us! Save us!“

In case you already knew this, I apologize for being so excited about it… NOT! I am still excited!

BRSS – A Christian Disease

Have you ever started to choke, cough, sweat, impatiently rubbing your behind on the bench, and/or experienced sudden high blood pressure, when the preacher quoted God’s word? If so, you have shown symptoms of a severe disease numerous Christian are suffering from: BRSS – Bible Related Stress Syndrome.

In an unofficial and non-representative survey 50% of all believers I have asked, suffered from this disease already. Many were able to relate to the very verse, which caused these stress symptoms in me.

1 Cor 6,19 „Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?“

At the time, I was first confronted with this verse, I have been a Christian only for a few months. During 11 plus years of depression I gained in total about 150 kg in weight. (If you are choking now, it is not BRSS.) Looking down at me, there was nothing I would consider a worthy temple for the Holy Spirit. Some leaders were using this verse to me, in order to explain that I would need to lose weight. At least this is what I was hearing. „If you do not lose weight right away, you’ll never be a worthy temple of the Holy Spirit!“

For years, I could not get over it.

Finally, last Christmas the miracle happened. I started reading the ONE NEW MAN BIBLE. It has an extremely well written glossary, explaining the Jewish roots of many words and their actual meaning.

It hit me like lightning. This stressful verse actually is an expression of God’s love. HE, the creator of heaven and earth, and everything that breathes, considers me worthy enough to let HIS spirit dwell in me. How cool is this?! He considers me worthy and He loves me.

Maybe, just maybe – if I got this verse wrong, those leaders actually meant the verse as a motivation to care better for myself. And maybe, just maybe – they already knew this verse is an expression of our heavenly Father’s love.

I felt the urge to repent for misunderstanding Him; and did so. Having disconnected myself from this misunderstanding, I invited HIS truth into my heart.

Every day since then, my eating habits changed for the better. Instead of swallowing 5 rolls for breakfast, 2 were enough. Lunch consisted of some fruit. Dinner also ended at a reasonable volume. Most of the days at least. Last night we had a Shabbat dinner at our house. Lot’s of great food. Fantastic wine. I good only one plate of food, instead of two or three. Sipped at the wine only. – I pray this wonderful effect of understanding His love for me continues and even grows, in order for every day to become like most of the days.

Preparing a morning devotion for the ministry in Hamburg, I read a verse in 1 Cor 6 that made me laugh: 13a „Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods.“ How about this as an excuse to start eating without self-control? Well, you better read verse 12 too. „All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.“ Eating is fine, but letting your life be under the power of it is totally uncool.

So, here is the cure for BRSS: Reevaluate your understanding of scripture that bothers you. Give God some credit that he means well with you. Ask His Holy Spirit to relate the true meaning to you. Give those people some credit, which have thrown stressful verses at you. Maybe, just maybe, they meant well too. Try a different translation of the Bible.

And after all: Be patient with yourself and do not condemn yourself for getting it wrong. Love yourself as HE loves you.