Last night we had a great service at SOS Church in downtown Stockholm.  I briefly shared on the subject of "Tithing" before the offering was taken.  Malachi 3:10 says, "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it."  

The concept of "tithing" basically involves 2 primary principles:

1) Ten Percent - The word "tithe" means 10%.  So God's challenge to us is that we would give 10% of our income back to Him.  I've been asked the question many times, "Should I give 10% before taxes are taken out or afterwards?"  A good answer to that question is, "How do you want God to bless you, with little or with much?"  If we want God to be generous with us, then it's good to be generous with Him.

2) First Portions - In the Bible, the tithe was given as a "firstfruits" concept, or the very first portions from the crops that were harvested (because agriculture was the primary economy during biblical times).  As you translate that principle into our lives, God's intent is that we give the very first portions of our income to Him…not the leftovers.  

When you put the principles of 10% and "first portions" together, what we find is that the Bible instructs us to give the very first 10% of our income to Him.  We shouldn't wait and see if we have enough left to tithe after our primary expenses are accounted for.  Instead, it's a faith-step in which we say, "I'm going to give God the first 10% of what I make, and believe by faith that He will multiply the remaining 90% in ways that go beyond anything I produce on my own."  After all, it's better to live off 90% of what God has blessed than 100% of what He is not able to bless (if don't obey the principle of the tithe).  

Next, I'll share a great story of how I've seen this principle work in an amazing way!

Last night we held a big party at SOS Church called "Middle East Cafe" outreach.  It was a celebration
of the Middle Eastern cultures that included ethnic foods from that region of the world, Arabic music & dance, singing, a lot of fun and a message about Jesus.  While the focus was on Arab nations, there were people from cultures throughout the word, such as: Iraq, Somalia, Serbia, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Finland, Norway, and of course Sweden & America, plus many more.  

Much of the night was translated into Arabic, including the message.  There were many people who responded and asked Jesus Christ to come into their lives for the very first time.  I met some wonderful people including Martin, from Iraq.   I also talked at length with some young men from Eritrea who were part of a soccer team that traveled around.  I was able to connect with them since I've been to Ethiopia (a neighboring country of Eritrea).  I told them how much I loved injera, which is a popular food item in Eastern Ethiopia, Somalia and Eritrea.  That was all it took to get us connecting, laughing and having a lot of fun together! I was able to talk to them about the message of hope that we communicate to people. I told them that the love of Jesus is for people of every nation, color and religion.  That's why He died on the cross, because he loved each person so much.  After I shared, one of the soccer players said, "When you say that, it warms my heart."  

There were so many changed lives and people who had never before heard about Jesus or been to SOS Church.  Hopefully they will continue to come back and experience the life-changing power of Jesus Christ!

Each day the Ministry School students are doing outreaches in various places around the city of Stockholm.  People are getting saved, healed, and filled with the Holy Spirit!  There's good news everywhere we turn.  

In the evening, we held a big outreach under a bridge, at a popular park near downtown Stockholm. There was an impressive skate park (one of the best I've seen), basketball courts and a place for us to set up and do a full creative program and minister to people.  We cooked hot dogs, hamburgers and had a variety of other food.  

Many young people flocked to see what was happening.  We even had a two-on-two basketball tournament, and me and Walter (pastor at SOS Church) were undefeated as a team (although I didn't play in the very last game)!  We had a great time and were able to strike of many conversations with people and tell them about Jesus.  

The Ministry School students are doing a great job and being involved with so many different types of minister to reach people for Jesus.  Tonight, we'll be hosting a Middle Eastern Party called an "Arabic Cafe."  I'll tell more about that in my next post!

So many great things seem to be taking place.  The students are excited about seeing people's lives changed by the power of Jesus Christ.  Today there were many people who made the decision to commit their lives to Jesus.  One person who made a decision to follow Christ was even water baptized in a lake by an SOS Bible School student!  There were numerous reports of people getting filled with the baptism in the Holy Spirit as well as some instantaneous healings.  A girl who couldn't bend her leg was healed and a man who had a damaged hand was healed as well.  These are just some of the amazing stories that we're hearing about what God is doing!

In the evening, we held a community picnic in a place known for crime and trouble in the neighborhood.  The population was made up mostly, if not entirely, of immigrants.  We didn't see any Swedes living in the proximity of where we ministered.  More and more people started to come as the music began to play and the smell of fresh roasted hot dogs filled the air.  There was even an Arabic interpreter for a portion of the program in order to translate the message into the native language of those who were present.  Our team performed a powerful drama about the crucifixion of Jesus and how God raised Him from the dead.  This was followed by a time of preaching and an opportunity for people to receive Christ.  It seemed like almost everyone present went to the front to receive Christ.  What a great moment!

We're continuing to spread the message of Jesus throughout the city of Stockholm.  It's amazing how many people we come in contact with who have never heard about Jesus before.  It's another strong reminder of how necessary our mission is for the few days that we are here.  There is nothing more important than having someone accept Jesus Christ into his/her life! 

In one of the locations where we were ministering, a team of ours put up a sign that said, "Free Healings."  It was a way to start conversations with people and give us an opportunity to pray with them to receive a miracle.  It's also a very bold move to release the power of God, which I absolutely love! There's no hiding or 2nd guessing when you make a statement like that.  When someone inquires about "Free Healings," we then tell them that Jesus is the one who heals.  

This sign attracted the attention of a teenager who was Muslim.  3 of our team members (Ben, Andy & Esther) began to tell him about Jesus.  After they shared with him, he prayed to accept Jesus right there on the spot.  As the team was praying with him, they realized that he couldn't move his arm.  They discovered that his collarbone was broken and the doctors said it would be 3 to 4 months before it would heal properly.  It appeared that he didn't have enough money to place in a cast or a sling, so his arm just hung limp by his side.   

The 3 team members offered to pray for him, and although he was initially reluctant, he eventually agreed.  So they gently placed their hands on him and asked God to do a miracle in his arm/collarbone.  After they prayed, they encouraged the young man to attempt to move his arm to "confirm" his healing.  He responded by saying, "I can't.  I told you that it was broken."  But after further encouragement by the 3, he agreed to try to move it.  As he did, a look of shock came over his face along with a huge smile.  He began to move his previously limp arm in ways that were impossible just moments before.  God performed a miracle!

As he departed he said, "I was once a Muslim, but now I'm a Christian!"

Every day is a new adventure in Stockholm.  On day #2 our teams did between 8-10 outreaches.  We are busy from early morning until late at night.  (I was going to say, "From sun up, till sun down," but the sun rises before 4am this time of year in Stockholm, so we're not up quite that early).  You could definitely say, however, that we're maximizing our time while we're here.  

I'm amazed at the multi-cultural nature of Stockholm.  While this is my 3rd time to be in Stockholm, on this trip I'm seeing parts of the city that I've never seen before.  One of the places we held an outreach was in an area where many immigrants live.  In fact, while we were there I didn't see anyone from Sweden.  I talked to people from Somolia, Greece, Serbia and other nations.  Some of them couldn't speak English so it was challenging to communicate.   In fact, they even held a Somoli funeral right in the square during the time we were there.  

The primary religion represented in this part of Stockholm is Islam.  Many of the people we encountered were Muslims.  We talked to them about the love of Jesus and how he came to save people from every religious background and belief.  

We used creative means to draw a crowd in the square.  Since there were shops, multi-cultural restaurants, and open markets (where vegetables and other goods were being sold) surrounding the square, people were constantly moving in and out of the area.  Once we started the program with music, fire-breathing, dancing and drama, crowds continued to gather.  Locals even jumped in and participated with the spontaneous "dance competition" that we held.   Everyone seemed to have a great time.  Each outreach ended with a brief message about Jesus and the opportunity for people to accept Christ.  The team then took individual time to talk with people, lead them to Jesus, and/or pray for a miracle in their bodies.

We received information from one of the embassy offices in Stockholm that word about our ministry is spreading throughout the city. People are curious to know what's taking place and the message that we are proclaiming.  It's great to know that we are having an impact on this city and nation.  

On Tuesday morning I spoke at SOS church and gave a challenge to the Bible School students and those involved with the Mission Trip practice to Stockholm.  I spoke from from Joshua 1:1-7, which talks about Joshua stepping into the place of leadership to to lead the Israelites into the land God promised to give them.  Its says "…the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: Moses my servant is dead.  Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them - to the Israelites.  I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.  No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life.  As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.  Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.  Be strong and every courageous."

There are a couple of the things that we can learn from this:

1) God will always ask you to do something BIGGER than yourself…something you don't think you can do…and something that's beyond your comfort zone - then He'll back you up as you do it!

This is what often releases God to work in supernatural ways.  God asked Joshua to take on something far BIGGER than himself, something he felt like he couldn't do, and something that was way beyond his comfort zone…and then God promised to "back him up."  We often want God to provide proof and evidence that something supernatural will take place, then we might decide to face a challenge that's in front of us.  However, God works the opposite way.  He asks us to take a step in advance of us seeing any tangible evidence or proof of what will take place.  It's this step that often triggers the miracle and releases God to "back us up"  with supernatural workings.  We often "wait" for God to do something, when in reality He's waiting on us to take the first step!

2) When God has territory that He wants us to take, we have to go and get it by FAITH!

Although God promised to give the Israelites the "Promised Land," they had to be willing to fight in order for it to be theirs.  Every promise requires us to be action-oriented in order for it to be released from heaven.  We have to take it.  It won't just automatically happen by itself.  It was like God was asking Joshua, "What do you want?" (or "What territory do you want to take?") God was inviting Joshua to think and ask BIG.  This honors God, because it's a demonstration of FAITH.  Everywhere our feet go, it's an opportunity for God to release miracles, salvations, healing and deliverances.  Why?  Because He has given us that spiritual territory. We have to live like it's ours and "take it" for the purposes of God.   It won't just happen without our intervention of action-oriented FAITH.  

Our first day in Stockholm was filled with activity and exhaustion.  With a busy travel and preparation schedule, some of us stayed up 36 hours or more without sleeping.  But we made every moment count!  It was great to connect with so many friends from Mission SOS in Stockholm.  They are like a 2nd family and home for me.  I love them!  Our 2 Bible School teams have bonded together and become one.  We are making an impact on Stockholm for Jesus!  

After doing a lot of preparation the first day, we did one large evening outreach together at a local square just outside a busy shopping mall.  Ben Laws and "Coffe" were the MC's.  We had special music, fire breathing and students who preached the gospel.  A crowd of people continued to gather to observe what we were doing throughout our outreach program.  

We had 6 or 7 people confirm that they gave their lives to Jesus and one woman who received an instant healing.  She had trouble hearing from one of her ears, but right after receiving prayer, she said, "Hey, could you turn that music down.  It's very loud."  God instantly opened up her ear through a miracle.  Her back was also healed from pain that she had been experiencing.  We believe that this is just the beginning of what God is going to this week!  

Today the MCM Ministry School is departing for Stockholm.  We're partnering with Mission SOS Bible School and Church to reach people throughout the region.  Stockholm is a multi-cultural city with around 180 nationalities represented.  It will be a great opportunity to bring the hope of Jesus Christ rot so many people.  

Our team of students will be ministering in a wide variety of ways through: dance, drama, testimonies, preaching and much more.  This is their opportunity to put into practice the teachings they have heard all year long.  What an exciting time as they believe God to demonstrate himself through signs, wonders and miracles to the people of Stockholm!  

No, I haven't planted a church, but I thought this video was quite entertaining!