Perfect & Mature

 

The term "Learning" in Bible

 

Greek terms for "Death"

 

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

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. 

I believe in miracles for I believe in God

The title above is part of a song (with CCLI number 18981). This simple sentence expresses the reason why we have faith in God.

These days I am reflecting on Hebrew 11, which describes a list of men and women with faith in God. The more I think about them, the more I am amazed by their level of faith. Some of them have a specific God's promises beforehand, some of them don't. Some of them received what God has promises during their lifetime, some of them don't. The reason for them having the faith of God was not man's wisdom/knowledge, not security from their government, or any other than believing God.

For me, it is not easy to have this level of faith. Things like economical problems, uncertainty, relation problems, natural disasters, sicknesses, disabilities, persecutions, long term problems, something that is out of control, or even my weakness can bring me near to skepticism. For some, the struggle leads to questioning God or God's goodness/love. At that moment, it is important to keep holding on to God (through prayer, bible reading, communities, etc). 

I pray that you and I can have an unshakable faith in God for what He is.

Sacrifices in New Testament

For me, it seems that some people believe that after Jesus's sacrifice on the cross, no other sacrifice needs to be made at all and in any condition. Yes, Jesus's sacrifice renews our relationship with God. However, it does NOT mean that sacrifice [θυσίαν = thysian] is NOT mentioned in the new testament.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this is your true and proper worship. (Romans 12:1, NIV)

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable [λογικὴν = logikēn] service. (Romans 12:1, KJV)

Living sacrifice. This verse makes me remember a statement: Worship is an act of sacrifice on the altar, not a performance on stage [1].

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. (Hebrew 13:15, NIV)

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Hebrew 13:15, KJV)

Sacrifice of Praise. Giving praise/thanks becomes a sacrifice when we give praise/thanks to God in a difficult time. An example of this is given by sons of Korah: "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. (Psalm 42:11)"

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. (Hebrew 13:16, NIV)

But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Hebrew 13:16, KJV)

Sacrifice in doing good and sharing/communicate. This verse reminds me that sometimes to do good or to communicate with others needs some sacrifices. 

For me, sacrifice is something difficult to be practiced by my strength. It does cost something. However, I believe that Jesus can enable our hearts to do sacrifices that are according to His will. He will not force us. He can teach us and change our hearts.

Note that "to obey is better than sacrifice (1 Sam 15:22)". In my opinion, obeying God has its own cost, which is often also a sacrifice of our own will.

[1] https://youtu.be/5-_fczbSeDQ