One Question Changed His Self-Perception

Aloha Friends,

Were you ever asked a question that caused you to re-evaluate your beliefs?

This month, Michele and one of our speakers, Joshua Kaina were asked to speak to staff members of a private Christian school on O’ahu. Joshua shared a part of his testimony on leaving behind a LGBTQ+ identity and lifestyle that he has never shared before.

It started with a simple question that his dad asked him.

In 2014, while living an active homosexual lifestyle and contemplating a male to female transition, Josh received a call from his dad, Dwayne. He remained close to his parents, who contended for him in secret prayer and regularly invited him to church events and activities. So this call was not unusual, but the topic was.

His father asked him a question, “is there such a thing as gay in heaven?”

There was a long pause as Joshua tried to understand why his dad was asking such a question. Dwayne continued, “the reason why I ask is because I was praying for you and the Lord showed me that being gay is something that only exists in the flesh, not the spirit.”

What Dwayne did not know was that the Holy Spirit was already planting seeds in Joshua with regards to a life lived in the spirit. This question helped to guide Joshua into deeper reflection and thought. He asked himself, “is there a part of me, a spiritual part, that does not experience these struggles?”

Is there really a difference between who we are in the flesh and who we are in the spirit?

This question, unpacked over several months, would set Joshua up for a divine encounter in 2016 that ushered him into a new season. Not a season as someone who is no longer gay or struggling with gender dysphoria, but an era of discovering what it means to live a life led by one’s spirit instead of the fleshly bits.

Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:13 (KJV)

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Joshua began to discover the truest part of himself, his spirit man, and that a life lived from this higher part of his being would override the passions of his flesh. But let it be known that he did not set out to do that, it happened behind the scenes of his heart and mind as he simply pursued the Lord. 

“The [Holy] Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” – Romans 8:16

In October of 2017, he dropped the label of “gay Christian” and adopted his true identity – child of God. There was no "casting the gay demon away", nor was there any specific discipleship course on LGBTQ+ identity that brought this revelation. He responded to the nudges and promptings of the Holy Spirit to seek answers in the Bible, genuine fellowship and pastoral care. God gets all the glory.

Many believers today are living lives after their flesh. We continue to take on identities, labels, and even diagnoses that do not truly reflect our real selves - our spiritual selves that have been justified by the blood of Jesus Christ before a Holy God. Seeking God's Kingdom and righteousness is to seek after the part of ourselves that is seated in Christ, in heavenly places according to Ephesians 2:6.

And no, this does not mean that we ignore real pain, trauma and feelings of our heart. We can take them to God, honestly and lean on Christian community when able. But, as we learn to live a spirit-led life, healing and wholeness will come as we align with His will and respond to his gentle yoke. Jesus has invited us into intimate communion as our spirit and His spirit have been united.

For Joshua, healing came when he no longer struggled with gender dysphoria as a side effect of living a spirit-led life one day at a time. Though same-sex attractions may persist in his flesh, he found the key to overcome and that is to go higher, to live from the endless supply of love, power and soundness of mind we can all find in the Spirit.

There are no desires that are contrary to the will of God, in the spirit of those who have been born again.

The key for any issue of our heart, temptation of our flesh and woundedness of our soul is to discover the eternal part of our being in God and reign from that position. His Kingdom come, His will be done in our body, our mind, our soul, as it is in heaven.

This year, we hope to focus on overcoming roots and woundedness that lead to sexual dysfunction and identity issues by discovering the power of a Spirit-led life.

To seek His Kingdom and righteousness first so that ALL things may be added to us. 

Are you excited for this? We hope you are.

Your siblings in His eternal Kingdom,

Explicit Movement staff