Greek terms for Anointing

 

Greek terms for "Death"

 

Tent of David

After this, I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it. - Acts 15:16 (NIV)

In that day I will restore David’s fallen shelter —I will repair its broken walls and restore its ruins— and will rebuild it as it used to be. - Amos 9:11 (NIV)

What is special about David's tent? Why does God want to rebuild it? The one difference between the tabernacle of David and the tabernacle of Moses is the presence of special areas in the tabernacle of Moses. For example, in the tabernacle of Moses, there is a place called the Holy of Holies, where only special people at special times can enter. However, it is not so in the tabernacle of David.

I believe that even though there is no Holy of Holies area in the tabernacle of David, the level of God's holiness is still the same. Therefore, I think David and all the worship teams (1 Chronicles 6:31-32) learned how to handle the holiness. Let us also learn how to handle God's holiness.

Communication Skill in God

I struggle with my communication skill in my whole life, especially in spoken communication. I often have self-doubt about the way I am communicating: Should I be more open or reserve? Should I talk more? Should I be silent instead? Should I express things in a better way? Was my body-language/expression/motivation correct? How was my emotion? Should I have longer small talk? Additionally, I often lost words/blank out in the middle of sentences. I often face difficulty in learning new languages and in formal speaking (even in my mother language). When I was little, I did suffer from selective-mutism (which at that time was seen as part of personality). This somehow affect my spoken communication ability, especially when I am tired. But of course, I also know there are many people have more difficulty than me, e.g. communication difficulties that comes with autism.

Communication is defined as a process by which information is exchanged between individuals. Communication (to others and God) is a vital part of our live. It do have a big impact. For example, in leadership, communication is very important in expressing goal / vision / motivation / believe / faith / encouragement / point-of-view, public speaking, understanding, conflict management [1], project management, organization, team building, training, and discipleship.

There are times in life that communication is so tough and might lead to argument, disagreement, chaos, and confusion. However, there are also times that communication is so easy even without many words, heart to heart, and with one vision/thought. 

In a relationship to one another and God, a smooth communication is closely related to the ability to love (1 Cor 13:4-8). Communication is smoother when people learned to forgive and accept forgiveness. Also if they learned for being humble, listening, and investing time.

I believe that God can interfere with our communication. He can speak to people heart that make people understand others and also understand Him. He can make people heart/spirit/thought become one. Moreover, He can help us in learning new languages. There are several occasions written in the bible on how God interfere with the communication between people, e.g.

The LORD said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let Us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” - Gen 11:6-7.

(20) And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time. (64) Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. - Luke 1:20,64

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. - Acts 2:4-6

for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say - Luke 12:12

Even tough now you might feel not confidence about your communication ability, trust God that He can work in your communication with others and with God.

In the Wilderness, Desert, or Solitary Place

The Greek word 'ἔρημος (erémos)' [1] is translated in the bible as wilderness, desert, and solitary place. Wilderness [2] is defined as a region uninhabited by human beings. Desert [3] is defined as desolate and sparsely occupied. 

In the bible, some appearances of 'ἔρημος (erémos)' is in:

• Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 1 & 3; John 1: John the Baptist is preaching in the wilderness.
• Matthew 4; Mark 1; Luke 4: Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.
• Luke 4:42; Luke 5:16; John 11:54: Jesus went out to a solitary place; Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
• Matthew 14; Mark 6; Luke 9: Jesus withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place; Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.
• Luke 15:4: Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country, ...
• John 6; Act 7; Act 13:18; Hebrew 3: Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, ...
• Act 7:30: An angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai.

Wilderness, desert, and solitary place mean a place away from the population/public. It seems like many things, including spiritual growth, can happen in the wilderness. Even though being in a community is undeniably important, a place away from other people (together with God) can also bring growth in your spiritual life.

[1] https://biblehub.com/greek/2048.htm
[2] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wilderness
[3] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desert

Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments

The Holy Spirit is mentioned in both old and new testaments. It starts with

... and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters - Gen 1:2 (NIV)

He appeared in many other stories in the bible. Such as in David:

Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. - Psalm 51:11 (NIV)

Then, why did Jesus said:

But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate [Helper (NKJV), Comforter (KJV), Counselor (CSB)] will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you - John 16:7 (NIV)

I think this bible verse in John is strongly connected to the one in Joel 2:28-32 and Acts 2:17-21:

... I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on My servants, both men and women, I will pour out My Spirit in those days. ...

The main difference before and after Jesus' time might connect to the term 'pouring out the Spirit on all people'. This must be something special. Therefore, I would like to suggest to pray that The Spirit is poured out to us.

Kingdom of God

The following bible verse caught my attention:

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power (1 Cor 4:20, NIV)

It makes me think: what is the meaning of power here? For me, power can relate to the energy flow (energy/sec) or it can also relate to authority and sovereign state.

The bible verse makes me wonder: what is actually the kingdom of God? The kingdom of God (or kingdom of heaven as mentioned in the book of Matthew) is sometimes interpreted as a kingdom in the future or a kingdom now on earth. However, it always means the state of God being in power/authority (over our life, problem, circumstances).

The kingdom of God here on earth are often linked together with the financial or security situation. It seems that some situations make us easier to allow God ruling in our heart. (However, it never said that prosperity makes it impossible to make God our king)

Blessed are you who are poor (in spirit), for yours is the kingdom of God (Luke 6:20, Mat 5:3*, NIV)

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Mat 5:10, NIV) 

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God (Mark 10:25, NIV)

The kingdom of God can be asked (Mat 6:10a), seek (Mat 6:33), taken (Mat 21:43), and received (Mark 10:15). When someone finds the kingdom of God, it seems natural to "give" everything for it (Mat 13:44-46).

Your kingdom come ... (Mat 6:10a, NIV)

But seek first His kingdom ... (Mat 6:33a, NIV)

Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. (Mat 21:43, NIV)

Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. (Mark 10:15, NIV)

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. (Mat 13:44)

The kingdom of God has different "law" compared with any human kingdom. It is also not an easy topic to be understood by our brain. Therefore, Jesus (Act 1:3) and the apostles (Acts 8:12, Acts 19:9) took time in teaching about the kingdom of God. Still, there might be a misunderstanding (Act 6:6-8). The best way to understand the kingdom of God is by experiencing God/Jesus/Holy Spirit to be the King in your heart and life.