Gentleness

 

Greek terms for "Death"

 

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.

Love (1 Cor 13:4-8)

 

God is with you

From time to time we need to be reminded that God is with us. Many bible verses go in that direction, for example:

• God said to Moses (Exo 3:12), to Joshua (Jos 1:9), to Gideon (Judg 6:12,16), to His disciples (Mat 28:20)
• Many people/prophet said that to the people: Moses (Deut 31:6,8), Isaiah (Isa 41:10),  Zephaniah (Zep 3:17), the author of the book of Hebrew (Heb 13:5).
• By signs and wonders: by the presence of manna, cloud, fire, angels, etc.
• Holy Spirit is with us: Eze 36:27, John 14:16, 1 Cor 3:16, 2 Cor 13:14.

During my long journeys (eg. long academic studies/processes, in the effort of praying/believing for something), apart from small voices in my heart and from reading the bible, sometimes God gives me small reminders about His companionship. He suddenly answered my simple prayers/wishes (eg. want to have/eat something, want to talk with someone). Then, He said the simple sentence to me "I am with you". This helped me a lot especially when I feel emotionally tired or when I start to doubt (if I did/decided something wrong). 

The God that loves you is with you.

Operating in the Prophetic Ministry in Church

Because of the risks (Mat 7:15), some churches are reluctant to operate in the gift of prophecies or the office of prophet. The bible stated:

A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. - 1 Cor 12:7-11 (NLT)

Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages. - 1 Cor 12:28 (NLT)

So, rejecting all kinds of prophetic ministry will not be beneficial for a church.

A prophet or someone with a prophetic gift should submit to the leaders (Heb 13:17), do their ministry in love (1 Cor 13), without any arrogance, not intentionally hurt someone else, and be ready for rejection (Mat 10:41, Luk 4:24, Luk 11:49). It is unlikely that God asks someone to speak up a prophecy while not following other parts of the bible.

In my opinion, not every prophecy that someone heard/felt/see/dreamt has to be directly spoken. It can be controlled by the prophet (1 Cor 14:32):

1. Ask God to whom the prophecy is for. It might be just for yourself or your knowledge.
2. If it is for someone else, ask God how and when to mention it. Not every prophecy should be spoken as "God said [something]". No prophecy should bring chaos (1 Cor 14:29)
3. It is good to have confirmation from someone else. Over-interpreting a prophecy will not give a benefit to the person.
4. Prophecy should be according to the bible. Often, a prophet is not someone that does not read the bible.

The church leaders need to have the gift of discernment to have a healthy prophetic ministry in a church.

Note: The word 'Prophet' is defined in various ways in various religions [wiki]. Here, I refer to the definition according to Christianity.  

The Struggle against Sin (Romans 7)

I was reading the bible about faith (Heb 11), holiness (1 Pet 1), and love (1 Cor 13). I was thinking very hard about how it is possible to meet all those standards at the same time. Even though I spent a long time praying and bible-reading, it feels very difficult. This reminds me of Romans 7:

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. - Rom 7:14-20 (NIV)

Even tough I know that theoretically the answer lies on Romans 8, I was struggling very hard. It feels like I am 'beating myself' because I keep failing. I realized that only God can change me:

I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. - Jer 31:33b (NIV)

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. - Eze 36:27a (NIV)

If this struggle happens to you, keep praying, keep asking God to change you, and believe that this is possible. God knows how and when to change your heart. He will never ignore a thirsty heart:

Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. - John 7:37b-38 & Heb 8:10b (NIV)

Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. - Rev 22:17b (NIV)

I believe that flows of living water (Holy Spirit) will able to change our hearts. 

Bezalel: wisdom, skills, and willingness

He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills (Exodus 35:31, NIV)

Bezalel was a man chosen by God to work with gold, silver, bronze, stones, wood (Exodus 35:32-33), yarn, fabrics (Exodus 35:35), to construct (Exodus 36:1) and to teach (Exodus 35:34). To make him able to all of those broad works, God gave him: the Spirit of God, wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and skills.

These days, when many churches/Christian-groups operate online, the need for tech skills and wisdom is increasing. Many people are learning how to use new applications, software, hardware, and skills. To manage online services and meetings, not only tech skill is needed. Often, wisdom is needed to organize/manage, communicate, make decisions, and troubleshoot.

Apart from the gift of ability, one additional important quality is the willingness to come and do the work (Exodus 36:2). In working with technology, many times we learn/obtain new skills as we invest time and work. Sometimes learning these takes emotional energy. That is the reason why willingness is an important characteristic.

Now eagerly desire the greater gifts (1 Cor 12:13a, NIV)

The greater gifts in this bible verse can refer to different gifts depending on the situation. However, we can learn here that the desire for operating in gifts is important. 

Today, if you are in a situation that is possible to learn new technologies or get involved in technology-related services, allow God to use and equip you. Not only with skills, but with some other personal qualities.

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.