Living Light

Stirring The Deep

Tag Archives: shepherd


by 12 Comments

Increasing Faith through “Buying & Selling”

Increasing Faith through “Buying & Selling”

Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

A middle aged man wakes each morning scanning the Wall Street Journal while he enjoys his caffeine charge. On the train to work, he pours over his latest business magazine, one of many, soaking in the new trends seeking to be the best leader he can be. He’s proficient in implementing what he has learned and is seeing some results; though not enough for the advancement he wants, so he pushes on. After putting in extra hours at the office in hopes to earn a promotion (adding to his responsibility, time at the office, and stress) he heads home and gives the leftover energy and time to his family. He works hard and makes extensive sacrifices for the sake of his family. The next day the hamster wheel begins again. As the years close upon him, he battles between pushing harder and growing apathy as the youthful competition is at his heels. On the weekend, he goes to a conference in his industry in hopes of gaining insight on how to obtain his goals; the ultimate goal being to rest, enjoy his accomplishments and relax. But for now, the sacrifices must be made; it’s just the way it is, or is it?

Another middle aged man wakes each morning and spends time in communion with God as he enjoys his cup of steaming coffee with cream and sugar. He seeks for wisdom and prays for his employees. He receives specific counsel and instruction on pending business issues. He heads out to the office enjoying a relaxing drive after rush hour. He handles problems with astuteness, formulates creative business solutions with ease and proficiency. Because he trusts that God is in control and the provider, an atmosphere of joy, true care for the employees, and rest permeates the office. After a productive day, he heads home at 4PM before the traffic and enjoys an engaging evening with his family. On the weekend, he enjoys doing what he wants and continuing to abide in peace and rest.

Faith is acting on a concept or idea because we believe it will fulfill a hope. One man had faith in the wisdom of “successful” business practices of his effort, the other in God’s wisdom and His work.

Faith is increased in an idea by “buying and selling”.  This exchange is how we manifest “our truth”.

We “buy and sell” when we learn a concept, then mix our belief with it (faith), then act on it and see the results thus gaining more faith than we started with (selling). The process continues, back and forth. One man learned a business concept (put in more hours at the office), believed it would help him reach his goals, and acted on it.  If you receive (buy) the concept that working 12 hours a day will advance you in your career, then you mix your belief with that concept, and act on it and see results and continue in that direction, you are “buying and selling” that concept.  When you see some results, your faith grows that you are on the right path even though your end goal hasn’t been accomplished. Thus, your faith is established and increased in that concept.

We can “buy and sell”, or establish faith, with one of two kingdoms, which I mentioned in a previous post. One kingdom and all its ways are of God, and the other is counter to God. Thus, when we are buying from one, we can’t buy from the other.

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

When we buy from one kingdom, we sell back to the same kingdom with our actions thus we serve that kingdom because we serve its wisdom and ways.  Which kingdom we have cultivated a relationship with, or “buy and sell” with, is the one we have faith in, thus serve and bear the mark or name of. Revelation 13:17, Deuteronomy 30:19

We glorify and worship with our lives the kingdom we “buy and sell” with. The first man chose the kingdom of worldly wisdom, thus serving its ways and king. 1 John 5:19 John 8:44 The second man chose the kingdom of God’s wisdom, thus serving its ways and King.

In Revelation, Christ Jesus tells us to buy gold refined in the fire from Him. Revelation 3:18  He is instructing us to “buy and sell” faith in Him. Gold is our faith. 1 Peter 1:7  The refinement in the fire is the purifying of that faith that occurs as we continue to “buy and sell” and increase our faith through acting on His ways and truths in our lives.

Here is how it works. We learn a concept from the Holy Spirit. With our current level of faith, we act on that concept; we see the positive results and our faith is increased. As we continue this back and forth exchange, faith in God and His ways grows in our lives and our lives bear the fruit of it:  peace, rest, joy, satisfaction, purpose, and unchanging value.

We “buy and sell” from one of the two kingdoms in all areas of our lives; health, relationships, work, hobbies, purpose, value, etc. Our lives will reflect which kingdom we’ve been fostering faith in and much more as the Day of the Lord dawns.

Which kingdom are you buying and selling with? Are you buying gold, which has been refined in the fire, from Christ? Do you experience the riches from having that precious gold? Or are you a serving the one that will never deliver what you truly seek but manipulates your hope to keep you holding on? Only an investment in the Kingdom of God will return to you what you ultimately seek.

Psalm 57:2 I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.


by 6 Comments

The Path To Our Desires

The Path To Our Desires

Sophie

Poor little thing . . . when Sophie got spayed, she wore a plastic collar for several weeks. Unlike her brother, Malcolm, who was back to normal the next day, she carried the burden of this plastic garb. Though uncomfortable and hindering to her activities, it was necessary for her to properly heal. Without it, she would yank out her stitches, reopen the incision, cause an infection, and delay the healing for weeks – making the situation much worse.

When we first brought her home, the collar was so big she could hardly lift her little head, use the litter box (as it got stuck in the sand), eat and drink. She walked pushing it along the floor. Our hearts broke. We tried a bandage; it didn’t last two seconds. Why the vet put that huge collar on her I don’t know. We cut it to fit her, yet left it big enough so she couldn’t access her stitches. Though smaller, her sleeping, eating, and playing were much more uncomfortable.

Sophie

During the first week, the most critical because she could do the most damage, my eyes hardly left her little frame. If she or Malcolm removed the collar and she tore out the stitches, she would be in a mess. After several days, she stopped trying to remove it; she finally surrendered.

We both wanted her stitches out, Sophie and us. She wanted them out now, but that would have led to more pain and a longer healing process. We wanted them out AND wanted her healed in the best possible way; therefore she had to endure the collar.

Sophie’s situation reminded me of our journey with God. As God’s child, we desire to be who He created us to be, and do the good works He has planned for us. Ephesians 2:10 He places desires in us to motivate and direct us toward these goals. The desires are planted in our hearts, but it’s God who directs our steps to manifesting them. Proverbs 16:9 Often, His path is different from our own and often longer. Like Sophie, the desire was the same, but the paths to getting there were different. She needed the collar to get to where she wanted to be, though she didn’t realize it.

God renews, heals and shapes us to move us into becoming new creations in Him and into the works He has planned for us. Sometimes, the best path has difficulties, like wearing that collar. It’s through difficulties that we are broken, refined, and rebuilt. It can be uncomfortable and seem unnecessary as we don’t always understand why we need the trial. We can feel hindered in doing what we should be doing like Sophie. Yet, with God all is purposeful and for a reason. He won’t give us more than we can handle. Our burdens are the perfect fit to accomplish what is necessary. They provide the best possible journey to prepare us for the life God desires for us, which is ultimately our desire.

Malcolm & Sophie

Further, we can’t compare our path to another’s. What is best for us may not be best for someone else. Therefore, comparing our journey to another’s doesn’t make sense. Unlike Sophie, Malcolm didn’t need a collar. Didn’t seem fair, but they received exactly what they needed to get them to their desired state. We need to trust our caretaker, God, who especially during trying times has a watchful eye upon us, is allowing in our lives what needs to occur so that we end up where we need to be.

When Sophie, stopped fighting the collar and surrendered to it, her life got easier and less stressed. In a similar way, when we are obedient to what God tells us to do, we move forward more easily. Disobedience is a hindrance. Because of God’s grace, we sometimes take advantage and are disobedient to what He tells us to do, but it’s we who suffer for it. It delays our progress to where we want to be. We have to trust His path and trust eases the stress. Though the path is difficult, it’s THE path by which we will experience deep healing, growth and freedom. God doesn’t only care about the works He has planned for us, but the state of our soul. HIS path prepares us for what He has in store.

Our love for Sophie is tremendous, yet how much more is the love of God for us? Our hearts broke for her to wear the collar, but it was for her good. It may be difficult for God to see us in our hardships, but He knows it’s the best. His love is perfect.

Our path to our desires can be difficult and a process. We are battling against the flesh (our self-will wanting to do it our way) and having to let go of being in control and instead trust God in all His ways. We want instant, but instant is a rarity with God. Deep transformation is a journey. And it’s through the journey we build a deep intimacy with Him. God is a trustworthy and faithful Shepherd watching us every step. Psalm 32:8 We have nothing to fear. He wants us to be in an abundant life more than we do. Our part is to trust and obey what He calls us to do today and trust Him with the outcome (our desires).

Sophie was much happier in the end for having worn that collar. Had we done it her way, she would have been much worse. We too are better for the trials God takes us through because we end up in a better place in our soul. As God’s child, if we are abiding in His Truth and seeking His will, we can trust the path we are on is where we need to be, and He is leading us to where we want to be, His way.

Bookmark and Share


by 15 Comments

Left Standing – Ashamed or Glorified?

Left Standing …

Ashamed or Glorified?

When the purity of God’s truth invades our souls it exposes our true beliefs.

After spending a couple years of consistent time one-one-one with God in His Word, I had a life/spirit changing awareness about myself. I realized most of what I believed about Christianity was based on other’s words. Therefore the source of my trust was in others not God, which meant my confidence was in them. Up to that point I assumed I trusted God, but when prompted to take a closer look by God’s Spirit searching in my soul I found a different reality.

As I examined where my truth came from, who and where I went to hear and know truth, it was all centered around others and their words. True their words were supposedly based on God’s truth, but it was still their interpretations and opinions about God’s Word. Along with the multitude of warnings in the Bible about not trusting in others, but God, at that moment I set out to seek God and His truth from Him. Over the years, God has been an incredible and faithful Teacher about Himself. It seems I talk a lot about trust in my blogs, but who we really trust is the core of our faith. It affects everything.

I’ve been reading through Jeremiah and Revelations, some heavy books to say the least, yet amazingly rich. The verses below jumped off the page reminding of this awakening I had some time ago about my belief system, and reminding me to daily examine my beliefs in light of His truth because other’s philosophies can easily creep in unnoticed. 2 Corinthians 10:5

Jeremiah 48:13b “As the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel (house of God), their confidence.”

Jeremiah 48:7 “For because you have trusted in your works and your treasures, You also shall be taken. And Chemosh shall go forth into captivity, His priests and his princes together.”

Verses like these are what compelled me to a paradigm shift in my beliefs – seeking truth directly from God. If we take time to pause, these verses prod each one of us into a deep self-examination, Who do you trust REALLY?

Who do you trust for spiritual protection? Church, or God Psalm 18:30

Who is your shepherd? Church, or God. Ezekiel 34:23

Where/Who do you go to be fed (spiritual nourishment)? Church or God 1 John 2:27

Where do you learn about God? Church or God Jeremiah 31:33

Where do you learn about truth? Church or God 2 Peter 3:16-18

Who do you trust for the surety of your salvation? Church or God Hebrews 7:22, Proverbs 11:15

If we chose the first option – our trust and confidence is in the wrong place.

Many of us need to take an honest look at our spiritual lives – is the source of trust the church and others or God? And if it is the church (Bethel or House of God), then one day, as Jeremiah says, we will experience great shame for that trust, because we should have been trusting God. If it is God then we will stand with Him glorifying Him with our lives.

We all trust ourselves, the wisdom of the world and others in areas where we should be trusting God, but the question is – are we seeking God and spending time with Him so that our trust will be in Him alone? One reason for the multitude of denominations is that people are really following a multitude of different teachers and not the Teacher – one area of great misplaced trust. Matthew 23:10, 2 Timothy 4:3 A teacher’s role is to teach us to learn of God from God. I see very few actually giving this type of instruction. Most of them are spoon feeding us what they call truth, but it is their point of view from where they are on their spiritual journey. It may or may not be truth, and according to the vast warnings in God’s Word most aren’t teaching truth. Fellowship is great for sharing insights but the source of our truth, our Teacher is to be God.

God is to be the source of our trust. When He is it means we go to Him directly, to the Bible which is His words, to Him in prayer, to Him in stillness to hear His voice. He calls us to come to Him one-on-one with the Spirit as our mediator not man. Jesus came not to bring another religion but a relationship – an intimate personal relationship with our Father where we commune with Him one-on-one. So many have neglected cultivating this intimacy and will fall for it. Most have lost or never had a love for the truth, and will be lead astray. 2 Thessalonians 2:10 If you love the truth – you want to dwell in it daily, seek out its mysteries, live by it, and dedicate time to abiding in it.

Don’t give your life, your beliefs over to another. Don’t be one of those who stands ashamed at the end because you looked to others when God was calling you to Him and waiting to open up His magnificent kingdom to you. Listen to others this week – listen to yourself – where are you getting your truth – are you saying he said, she said or God said?

Bookmark and Share