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.

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?

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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/

Spiritual Growth #8 – A Walk by Faith

In Part or Full?

2014, papaya

Christians, who have “in part” faith, actually have "hope" that our faith is faith. So, we indulge in fun things that have their origins in our fallen nature such as sexual immorality, greed, disobedience, hatred, jealousy, rage, selfish ambition, envy, drunkenness, etc. (Gal. 5:19-21). We “take faith” that regardless of these carnal activities, our salvation is still preserved. However, once these plantings reach full bloom, they decompose into our daily problems such as disease, lawlessness, suicide, crime, loneliness, unhappiness, discord, misunderstandings, revenge, cursing, backbiting, fighting, yelling, lying, screaming, etc. Thus, our tumultuous emotions blind us from ever seeing that our problems began with our in part faith as Christians.

For Christians who choose to follow (akŏlŏuthĕō, be in the same way with) Jesus, at first we find it difficult to let go of the fun things that emerge from our fallen nature (1 Peter 1:6-9). But eventually we do. Now the air seems cleaner, lighter, and life becomes stable, peaceful. The kids might even remark how “boring” it is at home, mistaking peace for boredom. This is the reality of a spiritually mature Christian, one who lives according to the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22, 23). Wisdom informs us how to redeem the time because the days are evil (Eph. 5:15, 16). Joy gives us endurance through difficult times (Heb. 12:2). Patience helps us reach the finish line (Heb. 12:1). And love assures us of success because love never fails (1 Cor. 13:4-8).

It's all about a walk by faith, which is full of substance and proof (Heb. 11:1)!

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

Spiritual Growth #7 – “In Part” Love or Perfect Love

In Part or Full?

 

Courtesy D. Mam, 2014

Believers are to love our enemies (Matt. 5:44; 48); our neighbor in the same way we love ourselves (Matt. 19:19); and God (Matt. 22:37). However, Jesus gave Christians a more realistic way to measure love, and that’s by how he loved us (John 13:34)! The Lord’s love has been more than kind, generous, and patient—filled with grace, yes? Additionally, we’re to love the household of faith, who are our brothers and sisters in Christ (1 John 3:23; 4:21; 2 John 5, 6).

Yet, what’s the reality for most Christians with an “in part” type of love? We don’t really love “that annoying neighbor across the street”, do we? Rather, we avoid them if we can. What about that person who always seems to push our buttons, or who gets us angry or upset? We don’t love them, right? Also, we’ve made a few enemies in our lifetime, so we don’t love them either, do we? An “in part” love emerges from Christians who decide who we’re going to love based on how we feel about them. Really? No matter how we justify it, all Christians who do not love according to God’s command are lawbreakers who practice lawlessness! After all, whoever offends in one part of the law, offends in all parts (James 2:10). Bet you thought Scripture was referring to some other “lawless entity”, yeah?

Christians who love “in full” do not pick and choose who to love; rather, we obey the command and then leave the rest to God. Moreover, because we love the household of faith, we passed from death to life (1 John 3:14) and are not murderers, but have eternal life (1 John 3:15)! We are Christians whose love is made perfect in the Day of Judgment “because as he is, so are we in this world”. At that time, perfect love casts out fear because fear has to do with judgment; and there is no fear in love (1 John 4:17, 18).

Sadly, as more and more Christians abandon the command to love, they will be ruled by fear. Will you be found among them?

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

Spiritual Growth #6 – The Glory of One

In Part or Full?

 

courtesy D. Mam, 2014

We often hear in the churches “…that no flesh should glory in his Presence” (1 Cor. 1:29). So, Christians try to avoid having anything to do with God’s glory. This is an “in part” belief.

The “full” portion is as the apostle Paul indicated—that to God “be glory in the church by Christ Jesus…” (Eph. 3:21). For the church to approach God’s glory is done “by Christ Jesus”. For instance, Jesus gave his followers God’s glory that we might be “one”:

• And the glory which you gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one (John 17:22);

In referencing John 10:30, Vine’s Expository Dictionary defined one (hĕis) as the “union and concord” that exists between the Father and the Son. Likewise, the glory Jesus gave us is meant to bring about that same “union and concord” among brothers and sisters in Christ!

However, children (tĕknŏn) of God often take faith for God’s future glory; so it is unlikely they will apply the present glory in the here and now. In the meantime, sons (huiŏs) of God take faith for the present glory, and accompany our faith with works. Otherwise, our faith is dead (James 2:17, 26).

Today, among the fellowship of huiŏs-sons, the “glory of one” can be seen in operation by our conduct, which gives evidence of the dignity of our relationship and likeness to God’s character*. Thus, when the “glory of one” is displayed among believers, the world sits up and takes notice. The result is, they come to know, recognize, and understand that the Father loves them in the same way he loves Jesus (John 17:23).

The Captain of our salvation continues to bring many huiŏs-sons to glory (Heb. 2:10; 2 Cor. 3:18) that the world might have a life-saving knowledge of Jesus—not just by our words—but by our deeds!

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Greek definitions from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (1981) *and with respect to John 10:30, metaphorically, hĕis stands for “union and concord”.