Spiritual Realities #1 – The Heart’s Power

All About Power

 

Waihe'e Falls, courtesy D. Mam, 2014

Christians who go to spiritual churches know about the different powers available to them, such as dunamis, ĕxŏusia, ischus, etc. However, few are aware of other powers that are inherent in us. Take the heart, which contains “the hidden man”.

Read the story of Elisha and Gehazi in Chapter 5 of 2 Kings. Elisha’s heart knew that his servant Gehazi had done some dishonest things:

“Did not my heart go with you when the man [Naaman] turned back from his chariot to meet you? Is it time to receive money and to receive clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants? Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever. And he [Gehazi] went out from his [Elisha’s] presence leprous, as white as snow” (2 Kings 5:26).

Elisha displayed three powers from the heart:

First, his heart “traveled like the wind” just at the point where “the man turned back from his chariot”. (In the New Testament, the power references John 3:8).

Second, his heart knew everything Gehazi had done: taken money, clothes, olive groves, vineyards, sheep, oxen, and servants! (In the New Testament, the power references the Word of Knowledge 1 Cor. 12:8).

Third, his heart—moved by the Holy Spirit—gave his mouth power to lay upon Gehazi the leprosy of another man. (In the New Testament, the power is given by the Holy Spirit through the spoken word 2 Peter 1:21).

Important to note that you don’t have to be a prophet like Elisha for the powers to work; after all, you do have a heart don’t you? Just be holy!

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Scriptures are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version, Cambridge 1769. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

# 7b – A Story of Homelessness and of Faith that Purifies the Heart (Part 2 of 3)

2) Help others do the works of faith

I felt comforted that Jesus also had no permanent place to lay his head. Finally, after many nights had stretched into 11 unsettling months, my heart was ready to forgive. Only then did the situation miraculously right itself.

I was home again. In an effort to make peace, I sought out the person whose power had brought me to experience homelessness, unrighteousness, and pain. After all, he was a “positional” Christian, and under God’s law, I owed him nothing except love (Rom. 13:8 NIV). I held out my hand and he shook it, politely inquiring if my unpacking had gone well. I nodded, unable to stop silent tears from streaming down my face. Nonetheless, I was satisfied. I accomplished pono (righteousness) between us and my heart knew God was pleased.

Five months later, the Association let our manager go. Shortly afterwards, I found myself in the laundry room, sharing my homeless story with the head of the Association. I was told to hire an attorney because I had broken no lease terms to warrant an eviction. I could sue.

I considered the advice. Who had more “right” to sue than I had? Then, once again, a bible verse gently “walked” across my mind. “Why not rather be wronged?  Why not rather be cheated?” (1 Cor. 6:7 NIV) These were tough questions. At first, I resisted. What was God after?

“Forgive” quietly echoed in my head. I sighed heavily. I had forgiven. My heart was clean. I tossed out that good-looking temptation.

(A Story of Homelessness…continues in Part 3 of 3)

Scripture from the New International Version (NIV) of the bible.

Life #33 - The Corrupt Heart, an Obstacle to Life

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The prophet Jeremiah wrote a lot about the workings of the heart and it was pretty grim. He said the “heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). He questioned if anyone could even know such a heart because of its evil nature. He called the heart revolting and rebellious, filled with pride and haughtiness (Jeremiah 3:17; 5:23; 48:29 KJV).

The apostles in the early church agreed. They wrote that the heart is ineffectual when it doubts, is slow to believe, and is troubled and afraid (Mark 11:23; Luke 24:25; John 14:27 KJV). The heart is full of lusts, is foolish and darkened (Romans 1:24, 21 KJV). Even Jesus revealed the place where adultery is committed—and it was not in the bed—“But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28 NIV).

What’s more, the heart is depraved because sin resides there and defiles the whole circuit of our actions. Jesus said, “…those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies; These are the things which defile a man…” (Matthew 15: 18-20 KJV).

Yet, worst of all, when Christians harden our hearts (Hebrews 3:15), the resulting unbelief prevents us from entering into any of God’s promises (Hebrews 3:19 KJV)—even the promise of life (John 11: 26 NIV)!

Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; excerpts are taken from our book to be released next year.