Spiritual Realities #2c – The Power to Make Peace: Home Again

All About Power

a different apt.

A new intake representative filled the open position at the apartment complex where I used to live. When my daughter heard this, she took it upon herself to make an appointment with him.

She began to tell him about the circumstances which led to my current homelessness: how management kept sending me eviction brochures, requiring that I reapply to live with my daughter, and after I had left, had maintenance illegally enter her apartment without her permission to make sure my belongings weren’t there. Yep. It pays to have friends in the same complex who kept watch for us!

The intake rep was not a happy man. What words passed between him and the dishonest Christian manager I do not know; but I was home again within a week of my daughter’s visit. Afterwards, the intake rep called us in and personally apologized to my daughter and me, saying I was never removed from the lease document. We could hear the manager “shuffling papers” in his nearby office.

To make real peace, though, I sought him out later—the person whose power had brought me to experience homelessness, unrighteousness, and pain. I found him by the mailbox one day and offered my hand, so that pono (righteousness) might be restored between us. After all, he was a “positional” Christian, and like it or not, Jesus commanded us to agape-love brothers and sisters in Christ (John 13.34; 1 John 2:8, 10; 2 John 5, 6). A command leaves no other options or alternatives open, does it!

In response, the manager took my hand and inquired if I had moved back in “okay”. I couldn’t reply with words, but I suppose my gentle hand-squeeze and the silent tears that ran down my cheeks had said more than enough. Being thus reconciled with a Christian brother, I returned to my previous lifestyle and activities.

Next time: #2d – The Power of Choice: What You Sow, You Reap

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

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!

=====================================================

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

Spiritual Realities #0 – All About Power

curtesy D. Mam,2014

This blog will attempt to explore the different types of power that reside in and with Judeo-Christians based on our relationship with God, the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit of God. Why pick that topic to write about?

Depending on where we live in the world, and what “religion” we believe in, our perspectives on power vary widely. Based on those perspectives, human beings wield power, which is displayed not only in Christian churches, but also nation to nation, kingdom to kingdom, race to race, culture to culture, boss to employee, husband to wife, justice system to criminals, etc., wherever power is exerted according to hierarchy.

As usual, our exploration will be based on the Hebrew and Greek definitions supplied by Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, interspersed with personal stories or national examples to further support our understanding of varying displays of power.

God gives power, i.e. to angels, and particularly to humans. God also allows power, i.e. as it displays itself through demonic forces at work in the world and in the churches.

How should we understand power? How do we recognize different displays of power? Sometimes, power can be obvious. Sometimes, power is also subtly displayed (the preferred method used among “masters). Finally, can Christians counter-act power with power?

=====================================================

A heartfelt “Mahalo” goes out to our global readers, who dare to take a peek at our blog once in a while. Also, a warm “Mahalo nui loa” to our global mockers, whose input not only validates the existence of our “good and evil” world, but also allows us to re-shape it. Imua! —http://maile-makua.blogspot.com/