2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
Ezekiel 10:4 Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and paused over the threshold of the temple; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD’s glory.
Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be REVEALED IN US.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
by Rachel 5 Comments
Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
Romans 8:18-19 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.
by Rachel 3 Comments
Proverbs 2:21-22 For the upright will dwell in the land, And the blameless will remain in it; 22 But the wicked will be cut off from the earth, And the unfaithful will be uprooted from it.
Talking about how the sons of God are part of bringing in the kingdom, thus why we are here, and protected by God by His kingdom growing from within – out.
by Rachel 5 Comments
Do you believe this truth; holiness leads to happiness?
My life testifies to this truth; though when I look around it’s dismissed by a multitude of lies, as it once was in my life. The main one being you can’t be truly holy AND happy because the path of holiness leads to continual sacrifice, thus suffering and lack. This is the world’s lie, when in reality the opposite is true; holiness leads to happiness. This lie keeps us from seeking it, thus truly seeking to walk in oneness with God and His perfect wisdom that makes our lives a continual feast. Psalm 138:8, Proverbs 15:15 To understand this dynamic of holiness and happiness is a part of knowing the true God.
Purging False Images
To understand this truth and for it to become real in our life, we first have to set aside all images of holiness; cathedrals, nuns, convents, contrived humility/meekness, anything eternal. Mark 7:7-8, 15 Holiness doesn’t come from the external, but internal. It’s of the heart, thus to know it ALL images related to it have to be purged. When we willing offer this clean slate to God; then the deep instruction of God begins. He destroys the lies and replaces them with truth.
What is Holiness?
Holiness = feeling, thinking and doing what is the most loving and honoring (2 sides of same coin) for ourselves, others and God.
Holiness is the result of an inner transformation of the soul affecting our heart, spirit, and mind. It’s the interworking and result of purity, truth and love that come from being a part of God and obeying God’s truth. We become holy as we obey God’s instruction within our soul; for that is where God communes with us. When we obey we love. We obey when we love God. We obey because God’s ways are love. As we obey we become united to God. Then, holiness shines in us and lights the space around us.
If you continuously abide in pure love for yourself, others and God, what do you suppose the state of your soul will be?
Yes. Happiness.
Brings Abundant Life
Walking in God’s truth, which is obeying His counsel within our soul, is walking in true wisdom. When we act in wisdom, our life is recreated inside and out. Wisdom transforms not only us, but the space around us. It creates a life of inner and outer growing peace, purpose, rest, purity, healing … truly all things that bring abundant happiness and everlasting joy. Christ spirit in us is our wisdom. 1 Corin 1:30, 2 Peter 1:4 His Spirit within us counsels and instructs us in all wisdom, which is the most loving and honoring decision that results in holiness.
Becoming a Vessel of Honor
Once we truly start seeking God, our sin is used for refinement. The consequences of the sin (as an illness, hardship, angst, unrest, stress, etc) present a sign that we are going against God’s will, which we don’t desire for it leads to all those things we don’t want. If we are of God, we desire to abide in love and not have any sin abiding in us. We want purged all that is contrary to God, so we can dwell in perfect unity with Him. 2 Peter 3:11, 13-14 We need wisdom’s rebukes in our spirit so we can walk in the way of righteousness. Proverbs 1:23 As we grow in obedience, which is growing in love; the result is holiness. If we take away honor or love, then we take away holiness and joy.
Happy is he who trusts in God. When we trust we obey. If we trust external things to bring us honor/value/love, we’ll block holiness thus happiness.
Psalm 146:5 Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the LORD his God,
Ask God to build this truth in your life. This transformation within your soul is now possible as Christ is making His home in the souls prepared for Him. Rev 3:8, John 10:9 His spirit in us compels, enables, and empowers us to walk in the purest of love. Without His spirit, we can do nothing. With it nothing is impossible. His spirit is the morning star that is now rising in our souls. As we go through this transition, we are becoming a part of God’s house built without hands for Him to dwell in forever. Ephesians 2:20-21
Psalm 144:15 Happy are the people who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose God is the LORD!
Luke 17:20-21 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; “nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”
by Rachel 7 Comments
Revelation 3:18 “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
In this video, I talk about the transition you will experience as the kingdom of God comes upon you. I go into how you gain the mind of Christ and what that process looks like and means for your life.
Remember the story of the Emperor’s New Clothes?
A vain Emperor who cares for nothing hires two swindlers that promise him the finest, best suit of clothes from a fabric invisible to anyone who is unfit for his position or “hopelessly stupid”. The Emperor cannot see the cloth himself, but pretends that he can for fear of appearing unfit for his position; his ministers do the same. When the swindlers report that the suit is finished, they mime dressing him and the Emperor marches in procession before his subjects, who play along with the pretense, until a child in the crowd, too young to understand the desirability of keeping up the pretense, blurts out that the Emperor is wearing nothing at all and the cry is taken up by others. The Emperor cringes, suspecting the assertion is true, but continues the procession. (Wikipedia)
A similar deception spreads throughout Christianity, by a slight twisting of truth.
In a misunderstanding between a promise and a fulfillment of a promise, the concept of an invisible cloak of holiness exists among Christianity. At the time of confession of a belief in Christ, it’s assumed you receive an invisible cloak that is Christ’s righteousness that makes you holy. With this cloak, God sees you as holy, thus you are no longer in danger of judgment, and can now enter heaven.
This invisible cloak is viewed as sufficient, necessary, and all that is necessary. It’s assumed you can’t become truly righteous while on this earth, thus the need for the cloak. Because you already have the garments of righteousness, though invisible, there is no need to seek true righteousness, and it’s impossible anyway.
With this cloak, people claim holiness where there is none; as demonstrated by their lives imprisoned in sin, thus afflictions, pain, sorrow and hardships. This false belief prevents them from seeking real righteousness as this pretend cloak nullifies the need. These souls have been lead to the kingdom doors, but can’t enter as they embrace the lie. Matt 23:13 Psalm 55:19 As the Emperor, they’ve been fooled.
Revelation 3:17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’-and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked
To enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, we have to be holy and made righteous. Not in a pretend way, but a true transformation that we experience in every facet of our lives.
Christ is returning as a flaming fire to establish His kingdom. 2 Thess 1:7-8 All that isn’t of God will be burned/destroyed. This is what the fire does; it burns away all the dross/impurities. You either become the fire or are burned by it. 1 Corin 3:13-17 If we’ve been prepared by the Holy Spirit, spirit of wisdom, we will embrace the purification of the fire. Through it we will gloriously transform into all we desire to be. However, if we haven’t been prepared, thus no oil, then we’ll not heed the refining fire. Matthew 25: 9-11 We won’t even know to, because we think we already have holiness by our invisible cloak. Instead of rest from embracing the fire, we’ll experience difficult circumstances, which serve the purpose to awaken our soul to our depravity so we’ll turn to truth.
Revelation 3:18 “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.”
The garments of righteousness are real. Christ sows them on us as we learn His truth and obey it. This ability to walk in righteousness is now ours. It’s the POWER of Christ’s spirit rising in our souls. 2 Peter 1:19 There is nothing fake about it.
Be careful not to cling to fake garments like the Emperor. If you don’t believe you need to be made tangibly righteous, you won’t have the faith to grow. Let Christ dine within you feeding you the truth of life, that gives you His mind thus true holiness and righteousness. 1 Thess 4:7-8, 1 Thess 5:23, Revelation 19:8
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
by Rachel 3 Comments
This term has been so common and misused it has lost depth of meaning and the truth it is grounded upon.. here I dive into its understanding. Talking about: How do you know you are born again? What does that mean for your life, now?
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 13:14-15 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
Once Christ washes our feet (Christ Washing Your Feet), THEN we can wash one another’s feet.
When we’ve been washed in the truth by heeding the voice of the Good Shepherd, (thus the love of God is the growing foundation/intention for all we do, as love is the sum of all the commandments), then we have His love. When we have His love, then we can wash another’s feet as our Teacher does because He is in us and we are in Him. We can only give what we first have. We give what we are. Thus love God first, THEN others. Mark 12:30-31
“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet …”
Washing our feet is following/obeying Christ, the truth, in the paths of righteousness. When we follow the light (truth) of Christ, we begin to see. For truth reveals the lies. Only until we are in the light does it expose the darkness within our souls. Psalm 36:9 In this awareness and exchange of truth for the lies, we are set free.
Christ, with truth and love, removes the plank from our eyes; a plank because before He removes it we are in great blindness. But once the plank is removed, we can see in others that truly it’s a speck. Sin/lies are nothing in the face of truth and love. This is what we realize when we begin to see, thus it’s only a speck in another’s eyes from our point of view because we’ve intimately learned the strength of God’s love.
Matthew 7:5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
“… you also ought to wash one another’s feet … that you should do as I have done to you”
We do as we see Our Teacher, Christ, do, as our will becomes His will. John 8:28 He serves mankind by pouring out the words of life (truth); for that is what love does and desires – to give life – therefore we do the same for others. John 6:68 There is no greater treasure than the truth/love of God. We know we’ve found this treasure, when we’ve experienced its power and manifestation in our lives. It’s the nature of the pure love in us to flow to others; thus we wash another’s feet. Prov 12:28
” …. a servant is not greater than his master”
In this intimate instruction to His disciples, Christ taught that some people will receive the words of life and some won’t. If people receive Christ’s words, they will receive our words, because we have been taught by Him. This similitude with Christ is a reflection of the master-servant; teacher-student relationship. However, like Christ, we also will be persecuted (rejected, silenced, etc.) for the words of life we speak. John 13:16
John 15:20 “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greaterthan his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
What does it look like to wash another’s feet?
It’s speaking words of life into their lives with the intention of pure love. Suppose, you have a family member who is rough around the edges, defensive, and sometimes crass. Yet with “enlightened” eyes (no more plank) given to you by following the Good Shepherd, you see the rough exterior as a symptom of a bound spirit. You see beyond the bondage and the beautiful creation she truly is. Because the words of life abide in you and God’s love, now you can speak the love of God into her life. This love will flow unconsciously through your actions. If those words/acts are received, they become healing serum to her soul. They help to burn away the dross/lies she carries around affecting the way she interacts with you and others. Your love helps to free her from the prison of her mind to become who God created her to be. This is the power of truth. This is the power of love.
Yet, some will reject words of life, because what is the fragrance of life to some is the fragrance of death to others. 2 Corin 2:14-17 Each soul is under the care of the Good Shepherd and we can trust in His perfect ways, timing and care. He gives the increase. 1 Corin 3:7
What are seemingly most weak, truth and love, are the most powerful weapons we can possess, as we witnessed with Christ who brought down the enemy of mankind with these two powers.
Living Light