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"Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19

Month: April 2017

“Who Are You?” John 1:19-28

April 30, 2017 /

  

“And this is the testimony of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites to him from Jerusalem to ask him, Who are you? He confessed (admitted the truth) and did not try to conceal it, but acknowledged, I am not the Christ! They asked him, What then? Are you Elijah? And he said, I am not! Are you the Prophet? And he answered, No! Then they said to him, Who are you?…” (John 1:19-22)

The moment we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior our identity is changed. Not outwardly mind you—rather, Spiritually. We are born again. If that confuses you, you’re in good company. Nicodemus, a Pharisee, a teacher of the Law, was equally perplexed (John 3:1-3).

John, known as the Baptist, was called to point all men towards the One who would follow him—but, was not in the least inferior to him. He was called to make all men aware of their sin, and to call them to repent of those sins. Yet, John was different from those of his station. You see, John was born to Zechariah—a priest from the line of Aaron, and from Elizabeth, a relative—the cousin in fact, of Mary, Jesus’ mom. So by all accounts, he should have been found wearing a fine linen tunic and been seen serving inside the splendor and protection of the Temple.

But that’s not where we meet him—God called John—predestining him to be a forerunner. A herald. To be a voice crying out in the wilderness and, that is precisely where we come across him. Clad not in a tunic of fine linen, but rather of rough camel’s hair. In fact, it is safe to say that John was very rough. And not merely in his appearance…

Aside from his severe clothing and wild haired appearance, John also spoke coarsely. Calling those, who perhaps at a different time, would have been his contemporaries, his peers—vipers and hypocrites! You must be dead certain—so to speak, confident, of who you are, and know exactly what it is God has called you to do to be that emboldened—that antagonistic, and impertinently dismissive—of the ruling religious powers of the day! And John was.

He lived to please an audience of One, and only One…

He knew his only mission in life was to prepare the way for the coming of Messiah…

He also knew he was not that Messiah. Nor was he the Prophet Elijah—though in defense of the Pharisees and Priests, John had apparently, somewhat, adopted the appearance of Elijah in that he wore a hair-tunic tied at the waist with a leather belt (2 Kings 1:8). Nor did John consider himself a Prophet. So, when these same authorities came challenging him—asking in whose authority did he rebuke the people, calling them to repent and be baptized, he emphatically stated that his authority came from the One that was standing right in front of them—The One whom their false-piety and high-mindedness would never allow for them to truly see…

John knew both who he was, and who he was not…

He stayed in his own lane—in complete obedience to God’s call on his life—even unto death…

When challenged, concerning your faith, your calling—the work the Lord has placed before you to do, how will you answer? Because, at one time or another, you will be challenged. Are you, like John, rock solid—laser-focused in your certainty of what God has called you to be, or speak, or, to do for the advancement of His Kingdom?

Will you be able to refute others when they challenge your faith or your ministry?

If so how? And by whose authority? What is the basis of the certainty of your calling/ your relationship with Jesus? It, your confidence, should stem from your relationship with the Father. And, to fully grasp His will for your life—you must first know (ginskō, in the Greek; yada, in Hebrew) Him. “Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits” (Dan. 11:32; emphasis my own).

This “Knowing” according to John Rittenbaugh, indicates a close, warm, and even passionate intimacy combined with head knowledge that produces an “edge” in a person’s life. This enables us to trust God and, at the same time, to perceive what He is doing. It is this factor that makes God’s Word authoritative to us.

John had it, this knowing. Jesus Himself confirms that he did, listen to what He tells two of John’s disciples sent to Him for answers: This is the one about whom it is written: “Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You. Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist” (Matt.11:10-11).

And, there is yet another—One greater than John, if fact, He is the One John states that He was unworthy to even unlace the sandals of, Jesus—our example. Jesus had the greatest, most pure, form of this knowing of God and His will. “It is He Who, coming after me, is preferred before me, the string of Whose sandal I am not worthy to unloose” (John 1:27).

Jesus too, knew who He was. He was certain of it. As with John Jesus too was certain unto death. And, as with John, it was, in part, the certainty of that knowledge that emboldened Jesus also, to fulfill the will of the One that had called Him—sent Him, predestined Him, to save souls, to draw all men unto Himself, to restore to right relationship to Himself everyone that has, is, and, will ever, go astray…

So, in order to answer the question posed to you today, like John, you must first know Jesus. And, like Jesus—you must know God—His will for your life, starting with His deepest desire. And that is for you to have a relationship with Him. That He be both Lord and Savior of your life.

And that can only happen when you accept Jesus into your heart…

Then, and only then, will you, too, be truly able to state emphatically who you are! “My Father is honored by this, that you bear much fruit and show that you are my disciples” (John 15:8).

And, if you’re reading this and you’re not sure who you are, then I beg you—now, to ask Jesus into your life as both your Lord and Savior. “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (Romans 10:9-10).

Plainly stated, you will be able to boldly reply to anyone that may ask, who are you? I am a Son/Daughter of The Most High God, saved by His amazing grace…

And that is the most potentially life-changing answer you may ever give to anyone!  Just ask John, or better still, Jesus. “And they overcame him (Satan) because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death” ( Rev.12:11).

“Faith, Love, and Aloha” 1 Cor. 13:13

April 23, 2017 /

“And so faith, hope, love abide [faith—conviction and belief respecting man’s relation to God and divine things; hope—joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; love—true affection for God and man, growing out of God’s love for and in us], these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor. 13:13 AMPC).

 “Aloha” means Love in Hawaiian. Love is defined in many ways. When most people hear the word “Aloha” they interpret its meaning as a mere greeting, a casual hello, but it is so much more than that. I love the way Makanacharters.com explains the true meaning of the spirit of aloha: “The real meaning of Aloha in Hawaiian is that of Love, Peace, and Compassion. It’s the guidelines of how to live a life of Aloha is when the heart is so full it is overflowing with the ability to influence others around you with your spirit.”

 God’s word also gives us the meaning of the word, Aloha. Aloha may sound so simple, yet it is filled with a deeper meaning.

Let’s read: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

This Scripture captures the essence of the “aloha spirit.”

I must be honest and say there are times I don’t always display a true spirit of Aloha. Especially to the ones who are closest to me. We all can agree, just by reading the newspapers or watching the news, that as a society, we have the capacity to be, ‘an impatient people.’ Those who are easily irritated, quick-tempered, quick to anger—and speak, but not quick to listen or pay attention to the ones we love…

And I too am guilty.

And, living with the feeling that time is running out, we’ve become a society fueled by instant gratification—being patient has been left in the proverbial dust…

I know I forget mine there too often! patients that is…

Have you ever noticed that nowhere within the verses of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 does it say that Love is happiness and feeling wonderful? Or that it’s getting what you feel that you deserve? Or, that you must be number one. That your needs should be placed above all others. No, Love requires sacrifice. It requires us to walk in the ways outlined within this Scripture—being patient, kind, loving, etc…

And it must start with me—you, us. This Aloha. This giving of love—of giving our all. It’s a ‘them-first” then me thing. It is my responsibility to first be filled with love so that I may then have love to share. How? Through my relationship with Jesus. The same type of unconditional love that flows from my Heavenly Father. Please, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying to place yourself at the bottom—to never look after yourself. Quite the contrary. What I am saying however, is that before you can give love, you must both know and be known by love.

It is this self-less love that is at the core of true love. True Aloha…

I believe that’s what’s at the heart of this proverb—what is meant in God’s Word; that we should watch over—guard, our heart’s.

“Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23 , AMP).

Let’s be a people who displays God’s Aloha…

We are all brought to Jesus in one of the 3 ways mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13:13. Through Faith, in Hope, and with Aloha. No matter where you are in your walk with Jesus, you possess the ability to leave others seeing what we here on the Hawaiian Islands know and live— “The Spirit of Aloha!”

I had been given an assignment by my Life Coach. She asked  that I write my obituary. The reason, she said, was that I might know now, while alive, might call to mind—see, some of the “results” of my life. By creating a word-picture of how it is I might ‘look’ to others after I’ve passed away…

What would I like people to remember about me?

Before I leave you, I want to challenge you to do some homework. Write your own obituary. Read it to yourself—a friend, someone close, and see how accurate it is, and then…ponder. Ask yourself if you are—or have, come close to being the person you want to be remembered as—now? Ask yourself if your close, and if you aren’t, what must you do to get there— while it’s still today? And with whatever remaining today’s you may have left. Work backwards to accomplish what you feel is your purpose, your call in this life, and do it well.

Do it with the Spirit of Aloha…

We don’t all have to preach that others may come to Jesus. All we have to do is Love as He loves. Unconditionally, and with abandoned. I pray that you will be blessed by reading my obituary, but more, that through the writing of your own you grow in love. So, in that spirit, I’ll go first, here goes…

But, the greatest is Love…

“As I have left this earth to step into the true light of my every existence, I say Three things are more important than my passing. Faith, Hope, and Aloha! To those who knew me, I Love You. I, Angelica Janice-Pua Mohala Kauhako went to be with the one who created me; so, don’t be too sad; live like there’s no tomorrow. I loved and enjoyed being a woman, wife, mother, grandmother, mama, aunty, cousin, sissy, and servant.

Thank you all for allowing me to enjoy the time with you that no one will ever be able to duplicate.

I’ve held Certifications, Diplomas, Acronyms, and Titles; BUT none of that mattered to me considering who I wanted to be for Jesus and to all of you. As I am now in Heaven with my Heavenly Father I’d like to be remembered as one who loved you all well when I did get a chance to spend time with you; some more than others, some just briefly…But nonetheless, time is time. Remind yourself daily that you are valued and loved in this fleeting world. May the Joy of the Lord be your strength during this time of loss, now, and forever.

To those whom God trusted in my care and gave me as my 5%. remember Our Heavenly Father is your greatest asset in this life, and this life is brief compared to the eternal. Smile and remember that Jesus is the giver of dancing giggles. Nothing in this life can compare to being in Gods will. Some days, months, and even some years may seem hard, dark, lonely, never-ending, painful—but if we hang on to Jesus and wait, He promises us to bring us through it. Don’t try to avoid it. Take chances when it comes to loving others, its hard work, it takes risks, sometimes pain, and always commitment. But it’s all worth it, so very worth it. I can only hope that I succeeded in showing you all this before I departed this world. When you feel, you need me or miss me just close your eyes and let the light shine on your face and know that it is Him you need and not me, and that although you may miss me, I am dancing with my Father in Heaven waiting for you to arrive someday.

1 Corinthians 13:13 says, “And now these three remain: Faith, Hope, and Love but the greatest is Love.”

I Love You, But Jesus Loves you more…

Aloha!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I See You.” Luke 19:36-38

April 9, 2017 /

Jesus wasn’t using His natural eyes to see those gathered on the road near Jerusalem’s gate, those crying out Hosanna! —it wasn’t that kind of “seeing” going on that day. The seeing He used was born from His knowledge of us, of them—from His Omniscience…

This type of “seeing” belongs to God alone.  Webster defines this ability to see as: Having complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or understanding; perceiving all things.

Stated Scripturally: “You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely” (Ps. 139:1-4).

Have you ever completely misjudged a person’s intentions? I know I have. You’re certain, convinced that you know who they are and what they’re were made of. You feel as though you know the exact role, the purpose, they were brought into your life to fulfill. Everything about them just seemed to fit your ideal—this “picture-perfect” image you had of them.

And then wham!

That person you just knew would go left suddenly went right—and not just right, but a hard right! You’re left standing slack-jawed and powerless, your hopes and expectations have crashed and burned. You’re left with mere rubble. You’re standing stunned, mangled, from this devastating brush with an unwanted reality that has now landed squarely at your bruised, and bitter feet…

The thing is, it’s only after—the ragged shards of “betrayal” have been removed—when that blindsided feeling of total let down has ebbed, that you’re left to really see the part you played in your own pain.

You were responsible. The other person involved was simply being who they were—who’d they’d always been. It was your misguided expectations of them—how they’d fit into your story—that created the real problem. And so it was—in varying degrees, with the those milling about the city gates—His disciples, those followers, shouting Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest!

They too had a sure level of responsibility for their actions…

A Lamb atop a colt is how He arrived that day (Zech. 9:9). But that’s not how they saw Jesus. For most of those gathered He had come solely to deliver them—and for most, their envisioned deliverance would come not through His sacrifice—but only via a bloodied sword. Not through One who’d willingly lay down His life for all—but through a messianic deliverer, a would-be king, one that would readily shed the blood of those that oppressed his people. And not one who would willingly lay down and shed His own blood…

Passover was about a week away and preparations for this time of sacred celebration was underway. Jerusalem was teaming with those who had come to purchase their lambs and herbs—there grains and figs. The air crackled with a festive joy! And look, there, it’s Jesus! How perfect was this! Their King—the One they knew had been sent to them by Yahweh. After all, no one had ever done miracles like this man.

They had seen Prophets and Holy men before—but this Jesus was different…

They’d witnessed blind men regained their sight, a tax collector who had given away most everything he’d owed to follow Jesus, and the most miraculous of all, the dead that had been brought back to life—not once but twice! So surely now He would free them from this oppressive Roman tyranny—after all, isn’t that why He’d come—to set the captive free (Luke 4:18) …?

A wholehearted sacrifice must cost you something… (2 Sam. 24:23-25).

“The disciples told him, “Rabbi, the Jewish leaders were just now trying to stone you to death, and you are going back there again” (John 11:8)? Yet despite the warnings Jesus received concerning His safety, He went back willingly, into Jerusalem, through those city gates—more, He did it boldly—lovingly, as the Lamb of God. No more silence, no more hiding. He was hand-chosen, Gods Passover Sacrifice.

And He entered knowing full-well that He would be slaughtered soon for the sins of the whole world…

A knowledge seemingly lost on so many of those gathered at the city gates…

Jesus saw their hearts. He’d heard, recognized, each voice He’d created as it sang His praises. He’d watched, knowingly, as they’d thrown down their palm branches and cloaks in homage (2 Kings 9:13) …

Yet what he truly saw was the condition of those hearts…

The motivation behind why most were praising Him—their blind and selfish desires for welcoming His coming. “… because He was near Jerusalem, and they assumed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately [as soon as He reached the city]” (Luke 19:11 AMPC).

Even His closest friends had missed the point of both His time with them, and His return to Jerusalem, listen: “But the disciples understood none of these things [about the approaching death and resurrection of Jesus]. This statement was hidden from them, and they did not grasp the [meaning of the] things that were said [by Jesus]” (Luke 18:34).

It wasn’t their time yet; their hearts were still being shaped to fit His…

However, unlike those present at His Triumphal Entry—only Jesus saw clearly the Truth behind why He was there. Why He’d come at all. And, despite their sins, their ignorance, and the outright betrayal that surrounded Him, despite the blindness of most of those looking at Him for gain, to satisfy some agenda, despite the flat-out hatred that pelted him like stinging stones coming from the religious leaders, He saw one thing only before Him—You, and me…

More, He too saw the fulfillment of His Father’s will. It was always before Him. The reason He’d stepped down across time and eternity was about to unfold. The purpose of His leaving behind the glory of Heaven with The Father and darning a suit of flesh, and blood, and, feelings…

He had set His face towards eternity. And nothing was about to deter Him…

Why would He do this? Why the sacrifice?

Because He is the Alpha and The Omega—seeing your beginning from your end (Rev. 1:8). He saw you in the crowd that day, carrying the weight of your sin and your misguided want of Him—and His heart went out to you. He knew you needed so much more than what you’d be able to get on your own…

You needed a Savior.

He saw you—and so He came for you, with one purpose in mind… And here it is:

“Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude]. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he [will eat] with Me. He who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant him to sit beside Me on My throne, as I Myself overcame (was victorious) and sat down beside My Father on His throne. He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the [Holy] Spirit says to the assemblies (churches)” (Rev.3:19-23 AMPC).

 

“Ruach” Ezekiel 37:1-14

April 2, 2017 /

What struck me as I began to unpack this trove of Scripture was its Triune nature. He is a Sovereign God, a relational God, and, He is Also an Omnipotent God. As I dug into these verses, The Holy Spirit began revealing a mere hint of the unplumbed depths of the God contained within them.

Of His immensity, the enormity of His love…

How He embraces His creation as He did His Cross—because they are one-in-the-same.

And, almost Immediately my mind went to The Gospel of John.

There we’ll witness that it is this same God who stood over the then blank canvas of creation, that had also communed with Ezekiel in his vision. In John, we witness God standing over the very edge of the void using this same Ruach—Spirit, Life-Giving Breath, spoken of in Ezekiel, to speak all of life into existence—not just to these dry bones. “…Everything came into being through the Word, and without the Word nothing came into being. What came into being through the Word was life…” (John 1:3-4).

I find it extraordinary that such an All-Powerful and Holy God would deign to touch mere man. Yet clearly, as evidenced in the opening verse of our Scripture, He did—and still does. The Apostle Paul said it this way: But somewhere it is testified in these words: “What is man, that You are mindful of him, or the son of man, that You care for him” (Heb.2:6)? Ezekiel displays this type of awe when God asks him if these dry—these very dry bones he is witnessing, could ever live again. Within Ezekiel’s response, we witness pure truth. We are simply incapable of being wholly able to take in—fathom, such an All-Powerful God.

Yet we have faith. We who have a relationship with Him. We believe that He is all that He says He is. And, in fact, can do all that He says He can do.

Right off the bat in our Scripture, we witness not only the intimate, relational aspect of God, but we are re-membered with His creative power—witnesses to His Sovereign, unstoppable Will. This same Hand spoken of in this opening of Ezekiel 37 is the very same Hand that flung the stars into the sky—that hung both the moon and the sun. This Hand formed Adam of out dirt and then He blew this same Ruach Breath spoken of in Ezekiel, into him—so that he, like those dead bones, would also come to life.

God used Ezekiel to Prophesy to the dry bones. These bones were representational of children of Israel trapped in Babylonian exile—thinking that their situation was beyond hopeless (the very dry bones), and that their God was incapable of restoring them. Of keeping the promises He had made long ago…

Did the gods of Babylon (this world) have more power than the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? That was the big question on the Israelite’s mind. collectively and individually at the time of Ezekiel’s writing.Had God forgotten them?

Can you relate? Do you ever feel like God has abandoned you—forgotten you exist? Do you ever feel like the gods of this world are winning? The gods of greed, violence, lies—the gods that destroy families and rob people of hope?

“Can these bones live?” Do you believe that I Am who I Am Ezekiel? I know that Israel has lost all faith in me, will you stand in the gap and have faith for them?

That is, in essence, what God was asking him—is asking you…

And within His answer we find a string of pure Truth that unites man’s reliance to God: “O Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”  God alone is Sovereign. Ezekiel acknowledged that yes, he did have faith in God’s ability to do all things—He knew that without God nothing in this death-valley could ever live again (Isa. 55:8).

“Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the Word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones. I will make breath enter you and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am Lord.’ 

Ezekiel obeyed the Lord and Prophesied exactly what God had instructed him to. And while Ezekiel was busy obeying the Lord’s Word, the Lord was busy doing what no man could ever do for His people.

Piece-by-piece, in His perfect time…

“And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone.” Ezekiel obeyed God, and God acted—but, God both had and has a specific and perfect time for all things. There is a Divine order to all of creation…

He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, human one! Say to the breath, The Lord God proclaims: Come from the four winds, breath! Breathe into these dead bodies and let them live.” I prophesied just as he commanded me. When the breath entered them, they came to life and stood on their feet, an extraordinarily large company.”

Even though Israel had rebelled against the Lord, been taken captive and now were living in exile, God had not forgotten the promise He had made to them. And He was about to restore to everything that had been lost—everything their enemy had taken from them…

Listen: “So now, prophesy and say to them, The Lord God proclaims: I’m opening your graves! I will raise you up from your graves, my people, and I will bring you to Israel’s fertile land. You will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and raise you up from your graves, my people. I will put my breath (Spirit; Life-Giving Breath) in you, and you will live. I will plant you on your fertile land, and you will know that I am the Lord. I’ve spoken, and I will do it. This is what the Lord says.”

God has brought you here today—now, just as He did Ezekiel, for a very specific purpose. First and always to remind you of, if you know Him, and to introduce you to, if you don’t, the Truth. That He alone is the Triune God. Sovereign, Relational, and Omnipotent.

And, to ensure that someone has told you that you are loved beyond the grandest of loves that you can imagine. And, that there is nothing—nothing, no circumstance, no sin, regardless how dire or unforgivable it may seem to others—or you, that can stop God from loving you and fulfilling the plan He has for your life—if you are His child.

He wants—more, came into this world, leaving all of Heaven behind, specifically to grab hold of His Cross as if it were a most valuable and precious lover—because it was, it was you. And He laid Himself down on it—unto the point of death, so that you would never have to stay in that hopeless valley of separation from Him. Or continue to live in fear and despair…

He brought you hear today to push aside all the doubts that plague you, those voices that say, “give up, it will never happen, it’s too late!” He sent me here to tell you that those voices are a lie!!

He alone is Sovereign—and commands the Breath of life! And today He has instructed me to speak to your very dry bones—your long dead hopes and dreams. He sent me to tell you to listen, soon and very soon you will hear the sound of rattling…

Take heart beloved, He has sent me to restore your hope—just believe, that’s your part, that those dreams, desires, and, hopes that once lived in that secret place within, though dry—even very dry, are not dead…

God has just spoken life into them and they will live…

“Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts” (Zech. 4:6 emphasis my own).

 

 

 

 

 

 

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