Spiritual Senses #10 – Hearing in the Present for Validation

A Spiritual Kingdom

Noni fruit 2013

 

1. When I was a new Christian, I didn’t know “how” I was supposed to hear the voice of God. My life at the time was 95% prayer along with reading the bible. The thing I wanted most was for my parents to see what my church was all about. Well, one day it seemed I was arguing with my mind. I was being told to see our pastor. I was new. I didn’t want to. I wasn’t ready. The voice argued, “Okay. If you see your pastor, I promise your parents will go to your church”. I was fed up. I called the pastor who just happened to answer the phone. I said I thought I was supposed to see him but I didn’t know about what. He cleverly asked, “Is God sending you?” I broke down and told him about the argument I was having with myself in my mind. He chuckled and invited me over. That day with the pastor, I discovered my potential for the “gifts and calling of God”. The next two years, pastor implemented my gifting and calling. Then, after I became “somebody” in the church, my parents showed up—on the day of my first sermon! God was faithful to his promise.

2. One evening, I was walking to catch the bus home from work when I heard an audible voice to my right say, “Alex is going to pick you up”. As I turned my head to see where this voice was coming from, I saw Alex, who also saw me. He slowed his truck. “Hey!” he called, “You want a ride home?” Alex and I attended the same church. As leaders of different ministries, it became obvious to me that God had something planned, and our connection that day was the beginning of it; so I accepted.

Remember that Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world; that it is spirit. His kingdom operates by spirit even now, whether Christians access it or not. To access it? Live by the Spirit and do not gratify the desires of the sinful nature—and renew the mind (Gal. 5:16-25; Rom. 12:2).

Next week: The Sense of Touch

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Scriptures are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Spiritual Senses #9 – Hearing in the Present with Cultural Roots in the Past

A Spiritual Kingdom

bird of paradise 2011

As usual, my siblings were gathering for prayer and fellowship at dad’s home for the weekend. Everyone was there except for my older brother. When he finally arrived, he approached from the back yard, down the steps that led to our patio. As he descended, I heard a loud clap of thunder, low and directly over his head. I was shocked! Did I hear right? It was a cloudless sunny day.

A few others in the ‘ohana also heard it and one other also saw lightning; but as I said, it was a hot, sunny day with no clouds in the sky.

Today, most of our ancient cultural roots have been lost or altered by changing times. When I began to do genealogical research, I came across some literature on ancient Hawaiian spirituality. I discovered that our elders called the thunder I heard that day “dry thunder”. The cultural meaning of “dry thunder” is significant, rarely experienced today, and generally taken as a myth. My apologies for not explaining it’s meaning here. The Scripture is:

“The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded” (Ps. 18:13 NIV; 2 Sam. 22:14 NIV).

The takeaway from this blog is if the Spirit incorporates our culture into spiritual workings, then who are we to repudiate how the Spirit manifests? More importantly, if a cultural manifestation occurs that follows Scripture and the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22, 23)—then why do we still doubt whether or not it’s from God?

Next time: Hearing in the Present for Validation

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Scriptures are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved; and from the Holy Bible, King James Version, Cambridge 1769. Used by permission. All rights reserved.