Spiritual Senses #1 – Perfumed Smell

A Spiritual Kingdom

Courtesy: Dean Williams 2012

We were a young church back then. It was Friday, the day we held our first workshop on the Nine Gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:7-10).

That night, I lay down to sleep, but I was too happy! I tossed and turned, going over the day’s activities, and thanking God for being with us and blessing our presentation. How long I thanked him I do not know.

Then, a scent of perfume met my nostrils. Curious, I got up to check on the source. Everyone was sleeping, so I lay back down again. The scent seemed stronger now. I breathed in the sweet perfume because it smelled so wonderful! However, the perfume seemed to be getting more concentrated. I sat up, thinking a change of air around me might help; but the aroma clung to my nostrils. It was like eating too much sweet cake! The strong perfume began to make me cough. I ran outside, hoping the wind would blow the perfume away; hoping to catch my breath of regular air. After a while, the perfume dissipated, although I coughed a little here and there. Eventually, I headed back to bed. I still had a workshop to finish the next day.

Surprise! I woke up, to find perfume still clinging to my nostrils. Was it just my imagination? After the workshop, all the attendees gathered at the front of the church for prayer. I coughed a few times and worried because it seemed to me that the perfume was coming out of me and spreading into the air around us. At that moment, one of the teenage boys in the group remarked that he smelled perfume. Was anybody wearing any? The answer was ‘no’. Some innate wisdom in me warned that I should keep my mouth shut. Frightened Christians often attribute spiritual occurrences as from the devil—and I wasn’t going to be a fool for anybody’s fear that day.

The Scripture is: “All the while my breath is in me, and the Spirit of God is in my nostrils” (Job 27:3).

Thirty-three years later, it’s been tough-going, growing up and learning about spirit. Today, I’m at a Garden Party; and while I don’t please everyone, I do try to please the Lord.

Next blog-Connecting the Spiritual Sense of Smell

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

Spiritual Senses #0 – Let’s Learn to Interpret the Signs

A Spiritual Kingdom

The Bay, Island of Oahu 2012

From the moment we are born again, our spiritual eyes are opened. Now, we can “see” (ĕidō, perceive, be aware, to know by observation) the kingdom of God (John 3:3 NIV). Yet, since this kingdom is a spiritual one, what we see (ĕidō, perceive, or know by observation) is both exciting and worrisome because:

Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world… (John 18:36);

Not of this world! Exciting because his kingdom is spirit; worrisome because his kingdom is spirit. After all, what can a fleshly person immediately know of “spirit” (pnĕuma, a current of air, wind; *also breath; then especially the spirit, which, like the wind is invisible, immaterial, and powerful).

Our minds lack spiritual understanding about the things we’re beginning to see (ĕidō, perceive, or know by observation). So how are we supposed to interpret the signs that manifest in our daily lives?

After we buy a car, an Xbox, or move to a place whose culture is foreign to us, don’t we take the time to 1) get acquainted with it, 2) learn the manual, and 3) adjust to its matrix, culture, or guidelines until we gain a working knowledge of what’s before us?

If born again Christians can figure out the ways of a spiritual kingdom, we’ll feel more confident to interpret the signs that are sent to help us. Since we are fleshly-beings who are accustomed to using our five senses—smell, see, hear, touch, and taste—then that’s a good place to start.

Next blog-The Sense of Smell.

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Scriptures are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version, Cambridge 1769. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scriptures marked “NIV” 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. *Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, 1981.

Spirit #17 – A Clean Heart and a Right Spirit

Workings of the Holy Spirit

courtesy: Dean Williams 2012

If we listen to the word but don’t do it, we are like people who look at ourselves in a mirror, leave, and then forget what we looked like (James 1:23, 24 NIV). Is the mirror our heart?

1. King Saul received a word from the Lord, but did not do it (1 Sam. 15:3, 9). Then he lied about it (1 Sam. 15:13); got caught (1 Sam. 15:14); and blamed the people for his disobedience (1 Sam. 15:15). His actions mirrored the contents of his heart—so God was not pleased. Saul lost his crown, his kingdom, and the Lord’s Spirit; and an evil spirit from the Lord was sent to trouble him (1 Sam. 15:26, 28; 16:14-16).

2. God chose Eli to be his priest, to offer sacrifices, burn incense, and wear an ephod before the Lord (1 Sam. 2:28). However, Eli honored his sons above the Lord (1 Sam. 2:29)—even while his sons sinned against God, and caused Israel to sin also (1 Sam. 2:17, 22-25, 29). Eli had a faithless heart; so God declared that not one of his family members or his descendants would ever reach old age; and in one day, Eli’s two sons died (1 Sam. 2:30-34).

How does this apply to Christians? Every Sunday we love to listen to God’s word, yet on Monday we don’t apply it. We have dirty mirrors. And if we think the above examples of a king and a priest don’t apply to us, remember that kings wield power (1 Cor. 4:20; 2 Cor. 4:7; Eph. 3:20; 2 Tim. 1:7) and priests offer sacrifices (Rom. 12:1; Heb. 13:15).

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" (Ps. 51:10).

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

Spirit #16 – When God Speaks

Workings of the Holy Spirit

Courtesy: Dean Williams 2012

God is always speaking. Do we know when to listen? For spiritual Christians, he speaks to us by:

 

1. Spirit (Acts 11:12-Peter; 6:10-Stephen);
2. Angels (Luke 1:26-38-Mary);
3. The mouths of his holy prophets (Luke 1:70-Zacharias);
4. Day or night visions (Acts 11:5-Peter; 16:9, 10-Paul); or,
5. A quickened bible verse (—was this you?).

Sometimes, he troubles our spirit to warn us of unpleasant circumstances (John 13:21-Jesus’ betrayal). If it’s to serve a greater purpose, then we are to prepare because God will not change the situation.

He sends dreams to non-Christian cultures, too. When they don’t listen, he sends the dream to others, and they tell the non-listener (Matt. 27:19-Pilate’s wife to Pilate). God troubles or disturbs their spirit to get them to pay attention to the dream (Gen. 41:8-Pharaoh; Dan. 2:3 -Nebuchadnezzar). Otherwise, it’s a dream easily forgotten upon waking up.

God speaks to the non-spiritual person through natural or physical occurrences, i.e. a gathering storm-cloud at sea (so don’t go out in a boat!)

To everybody, God speaks wisdom in the form of advice, concern, or counsel through the mouths of those who care for us, like our family, friends, relatives, co-workers, and those in authority.

The list is unlimited because God is unlimited! Thus, if we hold strict expectations that God speaks only to Christians, then through our arrogance we’ve shortened God’s reach and limited his mercy to all.

Truthfully? Only our little faith and lack of love blinds us to the mysterious ways of God.

We welcome your comments.

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

Spirit #15 – A More Excellent Way

Workings of the Holy Spirit  

courtesy: Dean Williams 2012

Sometimes I wonder if spiritual churches have lost their way. Once a church is charismatic or Pentecostal (defined as displaying the gifts of the Spirit), then the focus is on receiving the Spirit and the accompanying gifts (1 Cor. 12:8-10). All good.

However, the apostle Paul clearly argued for an emphasis on the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22, 23)—more particularly love. The reason for love is to prevent schisms (splits, breaks, rifts) among the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:25) as each member—i.e. the academic or the street person—manifests the gifts. While that is happening, it is important to hold together like glue. Love’s definitions will help guide you (1 Cor. 13:4-7 NIV).

Spiritual gifts accelerate the growth process of faith, whether you’re one who manifests the gifts, or one who is a recipient of the manifestation.

Since God will one day stop spiritual gifts from flowing through you (1 Cor. 13:8-10 NIV) consider the gifts as a means to come to the “unity of the faith”; and the growing of spiritual fruit as the ends—that the church may come to the “measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13).

To fight the good fight of faith (Gal. 5:22, 23; 1 Tim. 6:11, 12) may be admirable; but to be patient, kind, envy-free, not boastful, humble, considerate, selfless, slow to anger, thinks only good, rejoices with the truth, always protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres—is the more excellent way—because love never fails.

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