Kategoria: BOOKS/KIRJAT

Arto Boa’s devotional book The Keys,
Faith is Real

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old
received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so
that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” (Heb 11:1-3)

The children were asked at school to explain: What faith is?
One answer was something like this: “Faith is to convinces oneself on something that isn´t true. It´s something like believing in father Christmas.” But is faith like this? Is faith trying to convince oneself something to be true? No, Faith is God´s reality´s testimony in our heart and in our mind. Faith doesn´t base on a lie, it’s not jumping on empty space, in the word´s actual meaning. Faith basis in the Word of God! Our faith´s ground and base is the Word of God. By His Word God created everything.

In the letter to Hebrews it says, that God´s Word is living and powerful. It feels amazing to think about the enormous power of God´s word, by which all was created in the beginning. The letter to Romans says about faith: “faith comes from hearing, but hearing through the Word of Christ.” Faith is to straighten oneself according to God´s Word. It´s not straightening oneself into false things, but straightening oneself according to the truth. So the faith given by God is believing in FACTS, not convincing oneself.

From where do we get today this faith, that faith that is believing in facts? The answer is already given earlier, we can get real faith from the Word of God! Read it! Listen to it! and this Word shall generated real, God given faith in you. In this God given real faith strong trust is not born in you from circumstances that you are living, but to Jesus Christ. Real faith is always matter of leaning towards Christ, because Jesus Christ is the truth. Faith is given us as a gift, but why? Because the salvation couldn´t otherwise be enduring. For example, if salvation would come through your own deeds, would you get saved? If the salvation would be out of man and man´s deeds, who would be saved? Nobody. But because salvation comes through faith, it´s a gift from God and will be enduring. Without deeds, without merit we get as a gift a strong faith to our Lord Jesus Christ and we can enter to our Heavenly Father´s presence.

You have been given the Holy Spirit, which guides you to lean to that, which isn´t yet visible today. How big God we have, God who is trinity, loving God has given you a firm trust to Him. Faith is, that you see to the reality – disbelief is denying the reality. You may have a fight today with such an external things, which tempts to leave the faith. But don´t do that. External things are just temporary reflection of the reality. Don’t doubt God, He is always speaking the truth to you! If you need to doubt something: Doubt the lies of the devil, he is the father of unbelief! Faith is a paradox. You can be free – but still in the prison. Hungry – but inside nourished. From the lives of Bible heroes in faith, we can learn an important lesson. They didn´t give up their faith for anything. Not tiredness, failures, wrong advices, accidents or criticisms. Instead they gave up everything else because of their faith. They lived an interesting life, which God had planned especially for them.

Today, don´t you give up your faith for any reason. Do instead a firm decision: I´m ready to give up anything else because of my faith and I want to live the life, which God has planned for me. Straighten up today towards the truth, all is not yet visible – but already reality. Keep your sight in Jesus, He died at the cross for you, that is the reality. That was real! He suffered the death at the cross for you! He died substitutionary death that you wouldn´t need to die for your sins. That is real! Be therefore ready to receive even the sufferings. Jesus Christ has already prepared the exit for everything, through faith to you. No matter in what situation or circumstance you are. So reach out with joyful heart and put your trusting faith towards living God. Straighten your sight toward Christ and your faith ignites burning again.

The Power of God’s Word

“And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”
Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. “ (Mat 14:28-32)

You have maybe heard a story about one pastor who wanted to testify his faith to the others. He proclaimed, that he is going to walk on the water by faith. The pastor asked his friends to come also to the demonstration, and all gathered by the pool to see what is going to happen. When the pastor took his first step the spectators were holding their breath. But what happened? The man sank to the water immediately. Why?
The pastor assured, that he had according to his mind, enough faith to go on the waters. But the difference between this pastor and Peter’s walking on the water was big. The word of God. Peter walked primarily on God’s word. Jesus said, come. And on that Word Peter walked. The material, the water, was a secondary element. The most important element was the Word of God. When Peter then focused his sight from Jesus to the circumstances, he saw the storm and the wind, and he started to panic in his mind, oh may, I walk on the waters. When he saw the storm, Peter forgot, that he wasn’t actually walking on the waters, but on God’s word. Peter forgot, that he had got the Word of God: COME! Whether he was in fire or in water, he would be safe, because he had Word of God to that situation.

When God calls you, be brave to go forward, whatever circumstances you are facing around you. You don’t need to pump your “own faith” in you, like it would be a matter of race achievement of a man. When the Word of the Lord meets you, it’s not a matter of what you think, but it’s a matter of the word of God. When you have the Word, Go then bravely forward. Remember, Bible is the Word of God, and it endures walking through the storms of life till home. Take today his Word into your heart, it could be for example from the letter to Romans: “So there is no condemnation for those, who are in Christ Jesus.” If you think of this promise, so if you are today in Christ, so there is God’s word for you, there is no condemnation for you, but Christ’s word carries you till the end to heaven. You have surely heard this lovely word, come, and started walking on it. Remember, that you walk on the promises of the Word, were the circumstances what so ever at the moment. When dark clouds arise on your life, and the storm is getting closer, remember to keep your sight in Christ. Then the word gets into your heart and you dare to walk through the storm.

If you are today sinking into your disbelief, Shout help like Peter, when he was afraid of the circumstances and started to sink. Shout: Lord, help me! And Jesus helps you and raises you from your disbelief. This Bible story about walking on the water, is not a teaching, that we should have a super faith, so that we could walk on the water. The teaching is that our Lord is big, He is over the circumstances. He walks with you through storms, He has the power to silence the fierce winds, and He arises up those which are from disbelief sinking. We don’t need to be afraid, because Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He has given us the Word which endures. So look today at His wonderfulness and grace to the fallen ones. Look at His patience, and you also start to feel,
how the surface under you gets harder. You have heard Christ’s word: COME! So start walking, His word endures forever.

Patience Because of Love

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; It does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. (1 Co 13:4-6)

“Love is patient” -sentence can be interpreted also as follows: God is patient, because He is love. He waited patiently in the days of Noah, when they were building the ark, that people would repent from their sins. God is kind to you, He doesn´t want to destroy you, but save you. But to us humans the request for patience is a life long homework. Be patient, be tolerant, don’t look your own way, seek Him first. We are not patient by nature, we want everything now, or at least very soon! I was once taking my kids to swim to the lake, when dark clouds rose to the sky and soon it started heavy raining. From the back seat of car I heard a prayer: “Jesus, help that we could go to swim and the rain would stop!” For a while it was quiet, but when the rain didn´t stop, I heard addition to the prayer: “ If possible, immediately, thank you!” This funny example shows how we have our own perspective on what is happening, and how and when things should be happening.

What is then God´s perspective? God´s perspective is eternity, the imperishable. Like it is said: Dod raises us for eternity. Eternity and God´s love give us a new perspective to look at the things. Tolerant and patient perspective. We live in time, not outside of it. And that´s why we can´t understand God´s deepest goals in the perspective of eternity. We just have to trust in Him, because He has time and eternity in His hands. And He is the only one, who lives outside the time.

The Bible says about Abraham, that he was a hero in faith, and a very patient man. Abraham lived in tents but waited for a heavenly Jerusalem, a city built by God. Abraham never saw it, he walked forward in the strength of faith, but he understood, that the new Jerusalem will become visible, it’s only a manner of time. We walk in our own ”tent” the roads of the world, and wait for the kingdom of God to come visible in all it´s power. Please, remember this, it´s only a matter of time, when the kingdom comes. Faith gives us strength to surrender our struggle with time to God. We think that God often works too late, or at least in the last moment. But you can believe, that God has always the right motives and the clock working. He grows faith and trust in you. And all this He does gently with time, so that you would become patient. God was tolerant with Moses, when He prepared him to be a leader, who would take Israel from slavery. Moses needed 40 years in the desert, God didn´t need this time – he was ready, but Moses needed this time of preparation. A shorter training could have been in place, but then God couldn´t have shown to Moses, how patient, tolerant, merciful and loving He is. And Moses would have never been a patient, good leader.

Raise your sight today towards God´s promises, their fulfilling is just a matter of time. God is determined when He is taking things forward. if you have sorrow and pain, you know it´s only a matter of time, when you are going to be free of those. All the tears shall be wiped away. Only for a short period of time we are like Abraham traveling towards our destination. The good news today is that the destination is quite close, soon the promises will be fulfilled. Wait for a moment patiently, that the gospel would be preached to all the world. And people could repent and find Jesus Christ as their personal savior.

His love becomes perfect in patience. When pain and desert meet you, remember that it´s only a matter of time, when it ends. Just a moment and we are already in brightness. God is tolerant, patience and kind toward you. He has a perfect plan for your life. Be patience and wait for God. Who so kindly and tolerantly loves you.

Arto Boa’s devotional book ”Keys” is soon available in Italian language. English translation is also in process.

Il libro devozionale di Arto Boa “Chiavi” sarà presto reperibile in lingua italiana. Al momento stiamo anche lavorando per la traduzione in inglese.

Voit myös tilata suomenkielistä, Avaimet – hartauskirjaa tai varata itsellesi italialainen kopio: info@g1international.fi
Se vuoi ordinare il libro devozionale Avaimet in lingua finlandese, o prenotare il libro in lingua italiana contatta: info@g1international.fi

Victory of God’s Kingdom in Your Life

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Mat 6:31-34)

What is God´s kingdom in your life? A short answer to this question could be: God´s kingdom is God´s dominion in your life. What does the Bible say about who´s got the kingdom of God? The kingdom is child like´s, the poor´s and the oppressed ones. Clearly we understand, that the crowd is not victorious material in world´s eyes, but weak and puny. Notice also, that according to the Bible, nobody can earn the citizenship of God´s kingdom. One needs to born to the citizenship of God´s kingdom. You can´t be by your natural good character good enough to enter the kingdom of God. But in the other hand, you can´t be too bad eater, because Jesus paid total price of the sin. If you repent, come to salvation through Jesus Christ you can born above and enter to the kingdom of God. Small sins needs atonement as much as the big sins do.

When we search the kingdom of God, we are first shown the door, by which we can enter. The door is Jesus Christ. The king of the kingdom is Jesus Christ, and as free gift received righteousness, that is pardon, is Jesus Christ. Search first Jesus Christ, then the citizenship of the kingdom, the rights, the grace, and the free gift of righteousness become clear to you. Jesus taught, that the search -order of things is the most difficult thing to us. For the natural order one must first search, what to eat today, what to drink and how to dress up. But because God has promised to look after you, search today bravely his kingdom first, and trust, that when you are under His dominion, He looks after you and your life.

Once a young 14 years old boy heard Jesus´ words: search first the kingdom of God. Boy´s girlfriend was pregnant and separating from him finally. The boy had no home, no money and no place to live. How could he start everything all over again? This boy, which came my friend, was listening our meeting in a park in Russia. When he heard the gospel, the good news to people, he understood, what it means: Jesus is the door, Jesus is the king of the kingdom, and Jesus Christ is also my righteousness. He is the one, who puts me to the right position in front of God. My friend turned first from his heart to look for God´s kingdom and righteousness. As a result of this action chain, I saw how God´s order works. First the boy found the kingdom of God, after that his girlfriend also found it. They got married and founded a lovely family. After that my friend found an apartment and a good job to sustain his family. What is more, his whole family found the kingdom of God and they were reborn to its citizens. When I visited again Russia a year after my friend coming to faith, I was with in the baptism ceremony. I looked at them in white gourmets, my friend´s mother and sister, his young wife and to my friend himself, going as whole family in a beautiful summer day to baptism. Then I understood how sure and trustworthy is the living Word! So don´t worry saying what shall we eat or what shall we drink, or with what may we be clothed? But let first care be for His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these other things will be given you in addition. My friend, search also today with all security of faith and energy the kingdom of God. And trust, that everything else you need is additionally found and given to you.

Sorrow According to the Will of God

For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while.
As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.
For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. (2.Co 7:8)

It’s Lovely and liberating to know, that when the Holy Spirit makes us grief, this grief helps us to achieve salvation. The sorrow according to God’s will is such a sorrow, which has a target. This sorrow leads us closer to Jesus, Not further. World’s sorrow has also it’s target, it takes you further from Jesus. Job’s wife’s sorrow made her curse God, Judas’ sorrow made him commit suicide. It’s terrible to think, that suicides happen daily, when the sorrow of the world gets hold of people. The sorrow of the world gives no escape for a man, it’s perfect despair. The sorrow according to God’s mind gives escape through the work of Jesus on the cross. Who confesses and abandons his sins, finds life and forgiveness. One friend of mine was full of worlds sorrow and he ended up in a desperate act, to take his own life. His suicide attempt took him to hospital instead of death. After a couple of years he got a different kind of sorrow, when he started to see sin as the reason of his despair and to see that there is an escape through Jesus Christ’s work on the cross.

The gospel shows us the sin to be true. Improvement, although through sorrow, is grace to us humans, whose hearts have hardened, and our pride leads astray and in the end affects us death. Jesus talked about sorrow as follows: “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” Jesus doesn’t mean worldly sorrow, but the convert of heart, which makes the poor man sigh for his sinfulness, and seek for God from all of his heart. That kind of person is happy, because he finds salvation through his sorrow. What good does it make if a man would own the whole world, but loose his soul? Although you owned today everything, that can be owned in this world, but didn’t own the citizenship of God’s kingdom, you would own nothing. Although you had sorrow today from your wandering, sorrow how you use your life, receive that sorrow as correction, because it takes you towards sanctification and towards God.

Many Christians have forgotten, how God raises us for eternity. The Bible says it very clearly. Whom the Lord loves, that one He chastised. God allows us to experience also harsh things, so that He could mold and take our motives under the radar of the Holy Spirit. Sorrow is the key for conversion. Conscience is the grip surface, through which God can speak to the fallen man. Don’t despise the grace, that God speaks to you, and gives you the change to convert through sorrow from bad to better, from darkness toward light, from sorrow to joy, from death to life! He will brake every yoke of your life and after your sorrow He will give you peace! Remember: Godly grief leads you to Jesus and to salvation!

Don’t resist God

”You stiff-Necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.” (Act 7:51)

These words said Stephen, and he said so in the courage of the Holy Spirit. In acts it says, that Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit. Human heart in it’s natural condition always resist the Holy Spirit instead of being full of it. If you walk your life full of the Holy Spirit you shall have problems, like Stephen did. On the other hand, if you don’t walk your life in the Holy Spirit, you are the problem.

Religiousness seeks what is man’s, faith seeks what is God’s. The institutions founded by men always seek for the past, past day prophets and ways of doing things. Stephen’s life, however, happened in the very moment, and spoke to that day’s religious community. The presence of Stephen spoke to them in such portions, that after the sermon he was stoned. The truth slashed the hearts of the religious council so badly, that Stephen became the first martyr.

When one reads about Stephen in the book of Acts, and lists his characteristics, they are many. Stephen had a good reputation, he was just to everybody. He was full of heavenly wisdom and faith. He had also power to make things happen. The heavenly vision gave him courage to preach the gospel in the strength of the Holy Spirit. He had died for his own targets and was full of forgiveness. He was in harmony with Jesus Christ. Wouldn’t we need also today such men and women to change the world? Could you be one of them?

How can we then get through our lives as heroes of our own lives. The answer is found in the word RESISTANCE. Stop resisting, if God pulls you through the Holy Spirit to repentance. Stop resisting when God calls you to His work. Stop resisting if the Holy Spirit wants to manifest through spiritual gifts in you. Today, don’t resist the Holy Spirit, be obedient to the Holy Spirit and same characteristics and strongness that Stephen had, are found in you.

I listened once an old man in faith. He encouraged to be obedient to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In the middle of his encouraging speech he lowered his voice, burst into tears, and said: I should have been a missionary in Africa, but I didn’t go to Africa. In his character there was loving wisdom, tenderness and understanding of forgiveness. That’s why it was very touching, when he with a tear drop in the corner of the eye said: don’t let your calling pass you, please go if the Holy Spirit calls you!

The destiny of us all is not to go to the missionary work, but we all should be obedient to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Religiosity is the opposite of the Spirit’s truth, wich in natural tendency is in you. Don’t get crushed under this religious burden. Jesus Christ died and resurrected, that you wouldn’t need to be saved through religious deeds. Come to Jesus and let him cleanse you. He has promised to give you eternal life, when you believe in Him. Be brave today and don’t resist the Holy Spirit! Grab boldly to the promises that are in the bible, Holy Spirit is leading you there. Don’t RESIST the Holy Spirit and you shall be victorious all of your life! Don’t RESIST the Holy Spirit because Holy Spirit is the one that leads you to the good works, which God prepared in advance for you. Your life is gonna be blessed when you make a decision not to resist the Holy Spirit, but to be obedient to guidance of the Holy Spirit! This is the most important thing you must learn and after this your life is not gonna be the same! You shall see great victories when you learn to walk in the spirit!

The Separating Walls Fall Down in Christ

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility.” (Eph 2:13-14)

In Jesus Christ all the separating walls falled down. For Jews it was a surprise when the dividing wall between the Jews and gentiles was flipped over. But at the same time in Christ were turned over some statutes concerning Jews. In Pentecost after the pouring of the Holy Spirit, a lame who had been begging at the beautiful gate, was healed in the name of Jesus. What actually happened then? According to Moses´ statute the lame and the blind were separated from the service. They were not fit for those. Because of the statutes the lame couldn´t enter the temple, but he begged at the gate of the temple. When Peter and John saw the lame beggar, they said: “In the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarian, stand up and walk!” The lame stood up, and at the same time it was dismantled in Christ “the wall” caused by the statutes. The lame went on jumping and praising God. This healing of the lame meant one separating wall falling. He was accepted, he could go to the temple. God brightened the redemption which happened through His son Jesus Christ and acceptance in that moment. The lame man by the beautiful gate was valuable for God.

Also you are valuable for God. Christ has come for flaws and shortcomings, that by nature separate you from the relationship with God. He has come, that you could also hear these words: “IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, THE NAZARIAN: STAND UP AND WALK!” You can get up from your pit! My brother, go jumping and praising forward and run straight to God´s presence. Because all the separating walls are dismantled in Christ. It´s amazing to think, that God doesn´t just dismantle the separating walls, but His goal is to build unity. In the Fall man lost his unity to God and the wall of sin rose between man and God. The idea of all the Moses’ statute books was to show, that in God´s presence one can´t bring anything unperfect to God. But when Jesus redeemed us at the cross, we can come through His blood into unity. Jesus dismantled the wall of sin away. Through Jesus God sees us spotless, perfect and He sees the final result in us through Jesus. He knows already how He is going to re-create us in His image again. God sees the final result in you. The thing He can accomplish.

When we let God, today to come closer to us in Christ, He shall be our peace in this world, wich is often so restless. When there is unity broken in your life and separating walls seem to isolate you, there is one, who can dismantle those. His name is Jesus Christ. Through him we can get contact to God the Father and to our neighbors. He broke the separating walls. Don´t build up today new walls, but let Jesus dismantle all the division walls of hostility. He takes you towards unity, not isolation. Jesus is powerful to lift you up today and unify you again to those things which the world has separated from your life. God doesn´t see you as lame, but He sees you as the target of His love. He always creates new things. Also today He creates new in you and dismantles the strongholds of the mind, which come from your brokenness. Trust in that, that God sees already the final good result in you, although you wouldn’t see it yourself. Trust in Him!