Living in the shining place

I prepared a message for a recent ministry trip to the Solomon Islands, but as I had over-prepared, as I often do, I never got to share it. Now, as I am sitting amongst packed and half-packed boxes, industrial sized heaters, fans and dehumidifiers after flooding some carpets and the general debris associated with moving, I am so grateful the Abba Father had me save that for another time…such as this. So, before the computer is unplugged and packed up and the internet disconnected, let me share some thoughts…

Living in the Shining Place is both the title of Psalm 15 (TPT) and the desire of my heart. I often say, when people quote half a scripture verse about the Lord giving us the desires of our heart, that He does indeed do so…after He change our hearts. So, as we delight ourselves in Him and make Him the desire of our heart, He honours us with more of Himself. (Ps 37:4)

All authority is not equal. For example, a teacher has authority over a student, but only as long as that student is in the classroom. The teacher again, is under the authority of the principal of the school, who in turn is under the authority of the Minister of Education. When it comes to the things of the spirit, I want to be one of those who carry great authority, who is allowed to stand in the courts of heaven and who is recognised as a mighty woman of God in the spiritual realm, whether I have a platform here below, or not.

Nowhere is it more true than in the Kingdom realm, that great authority
comes only when we accept great responsibility. Spiritual discipline does not equal legalism. We are free to choose obedience, we are free to choose to step into deeper water, to dwell with the Lord daily. I want to be a dwelling place of Holy Spirit, not have a visitation every now and again. King David had the same longing and he went to the source…the Lord, to find the answer…the “formula” for lack of a better term.

 A poetic song, by King David

1  Lord, who dares to dwell with you?
    Who presumes the privilege of being close to you,
    living next to you in your shining place of glory?
    Who are those who daily dwell in the life of the Holy Spirit?
2  They are passionate and wholehearted,
    always sincere and always speaking the truth—
    for their hearts are trustworthy.
3  They refuse to slander or insult others;
    they’ll never listen to gossip or rumours,
    nor would they ever harm another with their words.
4  They will speak out passionately against evil and evil workers while commending the faithful ones who follow after the truth.
    They make firm commitments and follow through,

    even at great cost.
5  They never crush others with exploitation or abuse
    and they would never be bought with a bribe
    against the innocent.
    They will never be shaken; they will stand firm forever.

Psalm 15 (TPT)

Let’s pull this psalm apart verse by verse. Verse 1 pose some questions…what do the shining ones look like? How do they gain authority and recognition in the spiritual realm?

We are already seated in heavenly place with Jesus, that is our position and it does not change but wielding great spiritual authority calls for us to step up to take responsibility and to excel at holy living. We are all children of God but not every born-again believer becomes a mature son of God, or part of the ecclesia, while they are here on earth. Sons of God carry greater spiritual weight but are also held responsible in a greater measure.

  Verse 2. They are passionate and wholehearted,
     always sincere and always speaking the truth—
      for their hearts are trustworthy.

  • They do everything to the best of their ability, to the glory of the Lord (excellence)
  • They are always sincere…no hidden agendas, no ulterior motives
  • They speak truth…also to themselves, regardless of how popular it is. They don’t rationalise, spiritualise, justify or deny and they are open to discipline and correction
  • Glowing in the dark is a matter of the heart. If these things are lacking, a heart transplant is what is needed. The shining ones allow the Lord to replace their heart of stone with a heart of flesh, even when the surgery is painful

Luke 6:43 – 45
You’ll never find choice fruit hanging on a bad, unhealthy tree.
And rotten fruit doesn’t hang on a good, healthy tree. Every tree
will be revealed by the quality of the fruit that it produces. Figs or
grapes will never be picked off thorn trees.
People are known in this same way. Out of the virtue stored in
their hearts, good and upright people will produce good fruit. But
out of the evil hidden in their hearts, evil ones will produce what
is evil. For the overflow of what has been stored in your heart will
be seen by your fruit and will be heard in your words.

Verse 3. They refuse to slander or insult others;
     they’ll never listen to gossip or rumours,
     nor would they ever harm another with their words.

  • To refuse is to withhold acceptance, compliance, or permission. Shining ones cannot be dragged into bad conversations because they set themselves against it
  • They use their words to heal, not harm. How do words harm? Lies, gossip, slander, flattery, rumours, insult etc are poison that wounds and kills, not bring life.

Verse 4. They will speak out passionately against evil and evil workers
      while commending the faithful ones who follow after the truth.
      They make firm commitments and follow through,
     even at great cost.

  • Evil prosper when good men do nothing
  • They give honour where honour is due, show appreciation, encourage their leaders and pastors and brothers and sister, without using flattery
  • Matthew 5:37  (AMP) But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’ [a firm yes or no]; anything more than that comes from the evil one.

Verse 5. They never crush others with exploitation or abuse
    and they would never be bought with a bribe
     against the innocent.
      They will never be shaken; they will stand firm forever.

  • We cannot always control what others do, but we can refuse to do it too. We choose to hold ourselves to a higher standard.
  • We receive the promise, the reward…we will not be shaken and we will stand firm forever. EVEN WHEN WE STUMBLE OR FALL THERE IS MERCY, TO FORGIVE US, AND GRACE, TO EMPOWER US TO DO BETTER

Psalm 24: 3-6 TPT
Who, then, ascends into the presence of the Lord?
    And who has the privilege of entering into God’s Holy Place?
4  Those who are clean—whose works and ways are pure,
    whose hearts are true and sealed by the truth,
    those who never deceive, whose words are sure.
5  They will receive the Lord’s blessing
    and righteousness given by the Savior-God.
6  They will stand before God,
    for they seek the pleasure of God’s face, the God of Jacob.

Are we prepared for what sanctification will cost? It will cost an intense
narrowing of all our interests on earth, and an immense broadening of all
our interests in God. Sanctification means intense concentration on God’s point of view. It means every power of body, soul and spirit chained and kept for God’s purpose only.
Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest