Living Light

Stirring The Deep

Author Archives: Rachel


by 9 Comments

A Fog of Lies & The Path Out

A Fog of Lies

AND

The Path Out

1 John 5:19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

A thick morning fog masks the creation that lies beneath. It hovers over the earth and prohibits our ability to perceive what is real. But as the sun streams through, we begin to see.

If you once were overweight, depressed, a work alcoholic, alcoholic, people pleaser, without hope, bound by illness, entrapped by fear, enslaved by religion, a fulfillment of your parents’ caustic words, agoraphobic or any type of phobic, then you know the power of a lie. The lies we believe travel deep scripting our lives.

Most of us grossly underestimate the extent that this world is under the sway of the wicked one. All is backwards, reversed, up side down and twisted causing grief, suffering, pain and death. Where do you think all these thoughts and concepts came from that put us and others in such states as above? Perhaps it’s too difficult to admit our world is so twisted, because then what? Ignorance isn’t bliss, the truth is.

Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace

Over creation lays a dense fog of lies. Beginning in the womb, like a poisonous gas this destructive mist infiltrates every aspect of our belief systems, our minds, thus our lives. It touches everything, living little unscathed by its presence. Our perception has been crafted by it; thus all has been marred by its influence; education, history, money, economics, politics, media, medicine, marriage, sex, family dynamics, religion, and relationships. It defines who we are and how we are to live. It defines our value or lack of it. It defines how we work. It defines happiness. It defines how we think and what is important. It defines God. It defines everything.

The penetration of lies into our society, thinking, acting and ways of living is cavernous as an abyss … the more you see the deeper it goes. It’s expansive as the ocean … when you think you see the edge there is more. Like computers, our minds have been programmed by this fog teaching us how to think, act, and believe in ways that foster our destruction. Just take an honest look around and see what we have been creating.

Our minds are very powerful. What we believe, we act on, and manifest. If we believe in lies then we act on them and because they are lies they create pain, suffering, havoc and chaos. Our minds are easily manipulated and used against us on many levels. They can be a prison, and the greatest weapon against us. For one example, consider the type of messaging streaming over the airwaves and how those “airwaves” are demanding more of our constant attention. Look at how it’s altered your thinking. You will see the programming language of evil. It follows all the protocols to program us to think certain ways (repetition, playing on emotions, defining value etc) thus believe and live in a way that to our ignorance ultimately destroys us. Ephesians 2:2 How wise we are to pursue wisdom from above.

The path out is truth, manifested by the Spirit of God. Truth comes from the source of truth, God. If we seek the truth from God, we are opening a door in our minds that allows the sun to start streaming in.

Yet many don’t seek truth from God, because the perception of God has also been marred by this fog. God is not far from us, as many of the lies dictate to keep us imprisoned. Acts 17:27 One of the greatest deceptions is God’s lack of love for us; a real love that affects the detailed interworking of day to day life. The reality is He is vey present in His love, but we can’t “see” Him because of the multitude of lies we believe about Him and us. The lies keep us from seeing and seeking Him. We’ve all had the experience where our own blindness about a situation kept us from seeing it for what it was. When later we become aware of what was really going on, we are amazed at “how blind we were”. In this fog of lies, the moment we glimpse God’s majesty, the experience is corrupted by the programming our minds have been shaped by, as pictured in the parable of the sower of the seed. Mark 4:1-20 Like everything else, our perception of God has been shaped by this corrupted fog keeping us far from Him, by keeping our minds from Him.

Defy the lies and seek. Seeking is key. Because of this consuming fog, seeking is required as the truth has been hidden. We have to seek to be able to see something new, which is the very nature of seeking. Initially, with such a deafening cloak shrouding our ability to see, it takes diligence to seek truth and continue to. This is where most fail, thus live the consequences of the lies they believe. We’ve been programmed to believe all sorts of declarations about what is truth and what it isn’t. But when we dare to seek to truly know, God rewards us with the truth. Truth doesn’t come all at once. It’s little by little, percept upon percept. In time, our minds, lives and souls are transformed.

Where is the door to this path of truth we seek? Christ, the Truth, is the door. John 10:9 God manifested Himself in a man, to show us the way, to show us the truth. He established a corresponding written word to assist us on this path. If we seek the truth, by the guidance of His Spirit, He teaches us the truth. Psalm 119:105, Matthew 7:7, Matthew 11:29 Without the lies, the barriers to experiencing God’s love and truth are removed. He laid a path for us to traverse to move us out of the fog and into the brilliant sunlight; a way of manifesting a new mind, thus a new being.

Pray for the gift of faith to believe that God, the source of truth, rewards those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 Seeking to know Him as He is, is the path out of the prison of our minds and to true liberty and abundant life.


by 15 Comments

The Churches of Revelation

The Churches of Revelation

In Which Group Do you Abide?

I’ve been reading Revelation yet once again seeking understanding from the Holy Spirit. In Chapters 2 and 3, Jesus Christ addresses the seven churches, which are representative of the spiritual state of all of God’s children. (churches=called out ones, 7=completion) Some are called Synagogue of Satan and Satan’s throne; those who are following self-will instead of God thus allowing Satan to be on the throne in their lives. 1 John 5:19, Eph 2:2 Some are warned that their lampstand will be removed; the Holy Spirit which is the oil to their lamp or soul. Matthew 25:29 Then there are the rewards for those who truly are abiding in the light, Truth. These are some powerful images that we would be wise to examine our relationship with God by and heed their instruction as God’s children.

While reading through these chapters, I made two lists – one describing the lives of those who overcome and abide in peace with God and one describing the lives of those who are lost in the deception and lies and suffer for it. The lists don’t contain every detail of these chapters – but it was an enlightening practice. I strongly suggest meditating on these chapters as these truths are now manifesting.

The Overcomers …

  • Eat of the tree of life (Rev 2:7) = They feast on God’s truth which is growing and dwelling in them, changing them and manifesting abundant life to all areas of their lives.
  • Are not hurt by second death (Rev 2:11) = they have eternal life now and are spiritually alive; thus their flourishing lives testify to their spiritual life.
  • Are given hidden manna (Rev 2:17) = they are learning deep truths of God that are taught to them by God Himself and not another human; truths that haven’t been revealed until this time.
  • Have power over the nations (Rev 2:26) = they have spiritual power over the enemy and their prayers affect the nations and that power continues to grow. In the regeneration, they will rule with Christ. (Rev 11:5-6, 20:4, John 14:12)
  • Are given the Morning Star (Rev 2:28) = The Spirit of God dwells within them bringing a true transformation inside and out. (2 Peter 1:19)
  • Given white garments (Rev 3:5) = they have the righteousness of God, demonstrated by growing in obedience to God’s will in all things because of His Spirit is growing in them.
  • Are confessed by Jesus Christ before God and the angels (Rev 3:5) = Jesus stands in their place as their reconciliation to God as their High Priest because He knows them. (Matthew 7:22-23)
  • Are saved from the hour of trial that is coming upon the earth. (Rev 3:10) = Are kept in peace and protection while the world faces tribulation. (Psalm 91:10, John 14:27)
  • Are pillars in temple of God (Rev 3:12) = their lives have been built upon the truth of God (Eph 2:19-22), so God’s spirit can dwell and grow within them.
  • Take part of the New Jerusalem of Heaven (Rev 3:12) = their “church” is God’s temple made without hands, the New Jerusalem, which is their souls.
  • Dine with Christ (Rev 3:20) = the fountain of life dwells in them because they continually feast on the bread of life which is Christ, the Truth.
  • Sit on the throne with Christ (Rev 3:21) = they are among the first fruits with Christ as a part of His body, they are where He is, thus separate from this world and it’s ways.

Those Who Fall …

  • Left first love. (Rev 2:4) =  They do many “good” works, but neglect one-on-one fellowship with God on a regular basis, which without this their “good works” have nothing to stand on. (Matthew 7:22-23)
  • Have their lamp stand removed (Rev 2:5) = Holy Spirit, light and truth of God, taken from them and darkness prevails. (Matthew 25:29)
  • Heed the doctrine of demons, false doctrines, believing them to be truth. (Rev 2:14) = They lack a love for the truth so they can’t discern the holy from the profane, thus they are misguided into believing lies. (2 Thess 2:10)
  • Operate in the likeness of Jezebel (Rev 2:20) = They tolerate, compromise, and overlook false doctrines and principles among God’s people that leads them away from God’s truth and will, thus into greater fear, angst and suffering.
  • Are going through great tribulation in their lives. (Rev 2:22) = They are suffering great hardship and bondage in their lives from their self-will and giving into deception governed by evil.
  • Believe they are alive, but are in truth are spiritually dead (Rev 3:1) = they act according to the flesh life and not the spirit; thus there is no power real power of God flowing through their lives, though God continues for a time to extend His mercy to them.
  • Are non-repentant in the depths of their soul in surrendering their self-will to God. (Rev 3:3) = These continue to accept or live in sin (anything contrary to God’s will) and live their lives by their own will and judgment of goodness. For some, Christ’s sacrifice serves as an excuse for sin. They aren’t being transformed glory unto glory. No spiritual growth.
  • Will have Christ comes upon them as a thief (Rev 3:3) = being fleshy minded and taught, they will not know when Christ is returning, unlike those of the Day, who will know because they are of the Day. (1 Thess 5:4)
  • Don’t buy truth from Christ. (Rev 3:18) = They aren’t His disciples learning from His Holy Spirit directly, but disciples of mankind, thus they buy from the beast.  (Rev 13:17, Matthew 25:9)

Revelation is a huge puzzle that is decoded by the Holy Spirit and by the rest of the Bible, not human intellect. It’s layered with imagery and depths of meaning. I feel the time is upon us, when God is unveiling this book in much deeper layers to those who seek Him in Truth, because the time for it to be manifested is dawning upon us.

Mark 7:16 “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”


by 11 Comments

Are You Spirit-Minded Or Flesh-Minded?

Are You Spirit-Minded Or Flesh-Minded?


Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

 

What is spirit-minded versus carnal or flesh-minded?

The flesh is our self-will and all that it produces and manifests. It’s our self-created values, idols, and philosophies. It’s what we trust and hope in other than God’s truth. It’s the outcomes of corruption that come from following the flesh. Gal 5:19-21 It’s defining and creating our own goodness and righteousness. Isaiah 64:6 It’s based in fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 It’s everything derived from following self and the elements of the world created by self, versus God. Thus, the flesh-mind is one consumed and governed by self and the corresponding beliefs.

Is your hope in the wisdom of mankind? What do your actions show? Do you have a fear of man? Do you strive to please others? To please yourself? If so, your god is man. You serve mankind, and have a flesh-mind, which end is death. We’ve all been there at one point, but it’s not where we are to stay. Galatians 1:10

The spirit is what is of God. It’s knowing God’s truth and living the outcomes of it. Galatians 5:22 It’s a state of peace, rest, love and delight. It’s trusting in God in all things so you enter into a state of internal and external rest in all things. (The rest allows God’s spirit to move through you as He wills, like a leaf directed by the wind. Rest is a testimony of trust.) Hebrews 4:11 It’s becoming like a child who trusts his Father’s complete protection, provision, love and care and therefore lives in delight and in the desires of his heart. Psalm 37:4-5 Mark 10:15 It’s giving over all judgment to God to decide what is good and what isn’t, thus letting Him direct your life. John 5:30 It’s owning Christ’s righteousness and walking in it. When we are spirit-minded we have a mind like Christ, surrendered to God’s will, filled with God’s truth, and governed by the Spirit of God. Galatians 2:20, 2 Corin 5:17

Do you have a fear of God? Do you care about what He thinks above others? Are you seeking and moving into His will in all areas of your life? Is your trust growing in Him? Then you are on the path of being spirit-minded.

Galatians 5:24-25 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish

To be spirit-minded, the flesh has to be destroyed. To remain flesh-minded is death because it’s counter and in opposition to God, who is life.

How do you know you are spirit-minded or flesh-minded?

What do you think about most of the day? What do you talk about? Who do you serve? What do you meditate on? Where do you put your hope? In what/who do you trust? What consumes your time? What do you put first on your list? Who has taught you the beliefs you live by? From who have you gained the “wisdom” you live by? Psalm 1:1-3, 2 Corin 1:12

These answers will tell you who/what owns your mind, the flesh or the spirit. Who/what owns your mind, owns you. We start out imprisoned by a flesh-mind that leads us down paths of destruction and death, but the TRUTH came to set us free.

Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

Which are you cultivating?

Galatians 6:8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life

Because what you believe and focus on you create as a creative being made in the image of God, if you are focusing on and sowing a flesh-mindset, then you are creating corruption leading to death. If you are sowing a spirit-mind, then you are reaping eternal abundant life.

What do you sow? Who do you listen to? What do you read? What do you seek? How do you spend your time? Are they in accordance to the wisdom of mankind or the wisdom of God? Do you know the difference? The flesh-mindset is far more enveloping than most realize. In recent weeks, my eyes have been opening to its pervasiveness. It’s everywhere. 2 Corinthians 13:5

When we sow to the flesh, we search out answers and solutions from mankind’s intellect and wisdom, even in spiritual matters. 1 Corinthians 3:19 If you trust others to teach you about God, you are sowing to the flesh, because you are putting your trust in mankind. Do you see? In everything we are to seek the truth and wisdom of God, because that of the world is a twisted, corrupted, opposing and degenerate version of true wisdom.

When we sow to the spirit, we seek truth from God, we are taught by Him and not by man. 1 Corinthians 2:13-14, John 6:45 We seek to know the truth in all things, we have a love for THE Truth. 2 Thess 2:10. (How to Seek the Kingdom of God)

Gaining a spirit-mind and leaving the flesh mind behind is a journey. When you are on the right path you know it because your life is a testimony to you.


by 17 Comments

Making Sacred Time for God

Making Sacred Time for God

The sun dawns and stirs souls to engage the new day. As the sun brightens their eyes, they grab a cup of hot coffee or tea and spend the next hour, talking, listening and deeply engaging God in the sacred quietness they’ve structured into their lives. They pour out their heart to Him, He listens. He speaks to them of His truths and fashions their hearts and minds to be in unity with Him. Hebrews 8:10-11

Imagine if more people engaged God in this quiet, attentive, and intimate space. If more people did, more would.  People would see the provision, blessing, joy, peace and rest in the lives of those who had spent years seeking, and would know this intimacy of knowing God was the path to their deepest needs and desires. Yes, they would also see the intense spiritual struggle and angst the beginning of this path brings as the flesh-mind is transformed, but they also would see the results of the struggle; a new spirit of love, power and sound mindedness. 2 Timothy 1:7

People wouldn’t be able to excuse this “blessed” life as someone who is, “lucky”, “one of those fortunate types”, or “special”, because many souls of various walks of life would have similar results. They would know the Spirit of God was the common thread being woven throughout these people’s lives and it could be in their lives as well.

But the multitudes don’t seek God.

Why don’t people seek God?

Why don’t many of those who profess to love God not even spend this sacred time with Him each day?

The surface excuse is often not enough time, but the real reasons go much deeper.

Battle of Spirit and Flesh

The fundamental reason is God is Spirit and all you do in drawing near to Him involves the Spirit, and the Spirit and flesh are in opposition. Galatians 5:17 In this context, the Spirit is what is of God and the flesh is what is of mankind’s self-will. The flesh is the mind and it’s production of self-created value, idols, and philosophies in which humans trust and act. If your mind is sown in the will and truths of God, you are spirit-minded giving life to the spirit. If your mind is sown in will of mankind, his “wisdom” and philosophies, you are flesh-minded selling your soul to destruction.

Because this world is under the sway of the evil one who is ruler and instigator of the flesh mind, everything of this world (worldly systems, ideas, wisdom, etc) is of the flesh and counters the Spirit, particularly our seeking God in truth and spirit. 1 John 5:19 The flesh-mind is promoted and prevalent in every dimension of life. It governs, distracts, deceives, consumes, and thus owns most people’s souls.

Here is a sampling of the mindsets of the flesh-mind contrary to seeking God, ones I experienced prior to entering into God’s kingdom. Romans 8:5

  • Our choices, path, decisions and methods are sufficient, so don’t need to really seek God’s truth or wisdom.
  • Life with God would be less ______ (fill in the blank).
  • We will suffer loss if we trust God.
  • We are fine as we are, as we put following self-will above God.
  • Unity with God is NOT what we truly desire, but for us to play god choosing what is good and right for our lives by our “wisdom”.
  • The world’s ways offer deliverance, desirous fulfillment, and happiness, and God’s ways do not.

Most of these reasons for not drawing near to God we don’t admit, even to ourselves. I didn’t. When it came down to the reality of my day to day living, I clung to the flesh-mind because I embraced the lies, which kept me in the pit and in the self-created prison of my mind.

Matthew 16:25 “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

The ability to overcome the flesh-mindset, which consumes this world thus our minds, came when enough truth entered my mind to bring an awareness of the depravity that consumed my life. Realizing the paths I’d chosen were not leading me to where I desired, even at a superficial level, I was motivated to seek God, truly, for the first time.

When a spark of truth shines into our souls and awakens us to the reality that what we’re doing isn’t working, when we feel we have suffered enough, exhausted other pathways, and are tired of running in circles after things that don’t fulfill, then we listen to the spirit’s prompting and make time to seek God. John 3:8 Though we still have much doubt, we venture to the realm of God’s truth by His grace.

Embarking on this journey is similar to a sick person getting healthy. When people’s health degenerates so that death is knocking at the door and a voice inside drives them to fight and not let death enter in, then they make a change. They could have chosen the path of health long before and enjoyed years of vitality, but didn’t. They let themselves physically deteriorate to the point of kissing death.

Many do this spiritually. We have to come to a precipice of wanting to give up our self-will, and be consumed by God’s. So, we deteriorate until our soul comes to a breaking point and something in us calls us to God, then we start seeking God as He instructs us. Matthew 6:33 It’s at this moment we are deeply blessed because our lives shift to a path that will bring spiritual life and thus what we have unknowingly deeply sought and desired.

Initially in seeking God persistence is required, even in the awareness of our depravity, as the flesh continues to war against the spirit. Here is where many give up, and the flesh wins. God is spirit and as we draw near, there will be a battle as we are dominated by the flesh. For those who persist, some days are better than others, but it’s a struggle to be consistent and persistent. Like getting physically healthy, each day you don’t see much improvement but over time as you persevere you reap the rewards. Matthew 7:14

In time, the powers shift in our soul and the flesh is subdued by the growing spirit of truth within. We come to know and drink of the fountain of life and cross a point of never turning back. Our sacred time with God each day becomes a delight and feast for our souls. We enjoy an everlasting and ever deepening intimacy that prepares our soul to become the temple of God. We become spiritual beings crafted in and by the Spirit of God.

I pray you are one of those souls. Matthew 13:23

Matthew 11:5 “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Verses for Meditation

Ecc 2:26 For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

Psalm 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.

Psalm 37:4-5 Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

Psalm 1:2-3 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Matthew 6:32-33 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.


by 8 Comments

The Day of the Lord

The Day of the Lord

1 Corinthians 3:13-14 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.

The Day of the Lord (span of time and testing of Christ; the Word of God, The Day) will reveal each one’s work by fire. Though each one will experience the testing “fire” of this Day, it will turn out very differently depending on what type of “work” each one has engaged in.

The Work

What is the work? It’s what you have built your faith on and trust in. It’s what you’ve established your hope in. We all have faith, it’s a matter of what or whom it’s in. Our actions and decisions show what we truly trust.

The enduring work is establishing a life built on faith on the everlasting God of truth and love. Only God is life and eternal. If our lives are built upon Him and His truths, they will endure. John 6:28-29

The work that doesn’t endure is our faith in anything else of this world; worldly wisdom, our resources, our personal ability and strength, idols of our own making, elements of this physical existence, religious rituals, whatever we are trusting in other than the One true God. Ezekiel 14:4

The “fires” or trials used to test each one’s trust are many and varied. They can take on just about any form. They are what challenge our faith, test the sources of our trust, and push us to the edge of ourselves exposing the truth of our hearts and minds. As the trials come to us to test our faith, our responses will show who or what we honestly trust in, it will reveal the type of work we’ve been engaged in during our lives.

Enduring Work

For those who have cultivated a trust in God and whose work endures, though the fires of testing may look daunting, they will be as a small flickering flame, with no power and easily extinguished.

Their stories will resemble that of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in Daniel 3. They have built up a faith in God through their life experiences and knowledge. Thus when it comes to the ultimate test, they are able to stand strong and refuse to bow down and serve (look to anything for deliverance but God) any god but the God. Thus the fire will have no power in their lives. They know their God and their actions show their trust in His power.

Daniel 3:27 And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.

These are those who will endure and receive the rewards of those who diligently seek God. Hebrews 11:6. Those who deeply trust God will continue to trust in the midst of the greatest challenges of their faith and will come out unscathed. Though the fires seem to be at their door, God goes before them and completely protects them. These will be kept from experiencing the Great Tribulation in their lives, for the fire has no power. Rev 3:10

How are they able to stand in the midst of the fire? Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, they have a life of seeking, knowing and cultivating trust in God and are able to stand at the greatest challenges. These were the ones buying the gold refined by fire from Christ. They are His disciples learning His truths directly from Him, and those truths refine their corrupted spirits to be vessels of light to hold the Spirit of God. Rev 3:18

1 Corinthians 13:14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward

Perishing Work

For those who trust in themselves and other idols and whose works are burned, the fires will be daunting. The fire of testing of the Day of the Lord will cause great grief as what they’ve trusted in comes to nothing. Fear will grip them as what they’ve relied on is threatened and consumed. These are the ones who experience the great tribulation. However, though all the elements that led them from the truth will be burned and they will suffer loss, they will be saved through the fire.

1 Corinthians 3:15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Unlike the ones who bought gold refined from Christ, these did not. They bought their treasures from what isn’t truly life but death, this world’s wisdom and its lies and deception. Rev 13:17 Thus when their faith is tested it reveals their work – building up trust in entities other than God. They lived by their own will, followed what they deemed was good, and didn’t FIRST seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Matthew 6:33

What will your work reveal in the Day of the Lord? What is your hope in … truly?

Revelation 22:12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.

Psalm 146:5 Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the LORD his God,

Romans 15:13  Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit