Everyday Kingdom
What if the Kingdom of God wasn't just for Sundays - but for every moment of your life?
Everyday Kingdom is where deep biblical truth meets real-world living. Hosted by Kaleb and Rafael, this show unpacks Scripture, explores powerful God-stories, and breaks down big spiritual concepts into practical steps you can live out right now.
From understanding how God speaks, to seeing Jesus in the Old Testament, to finding faith when life is hard, each episode will inspire, challenge, and equip you to walk out your faith with authenticity and courage.
Whether you're a seasoned believer, new to following Jesus, or just curious about Christianity, you'll find honest conversations, relatable stories, and practical wisdom to help you experience the reality of God's Kingdom...every...single...day.
Everyday Kingdom
78. The Chandelier Mindset
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In this episode, the crew talks about what God showed them during prayer - The Chandelier Mindset.
And welcome back to the Everyday Kingdom podcast. I'm Caleb, and I'm here with the Laposaurus. Raphael. Laposaurus. Yes. The joy of the Lord is our strength. Amen. We're pretty strong people. Because we're joyful. But this is Raphael and Miriam, and we are here today talking about whatever God wants us to talk about. Actually, we spent some time in prayer just before we started. And we were just, again, seeking the Lord. That's one of the things that we like to do is a recommendation that we have for any and everyone. Before you go and do anything, ask the Lord. Seek the Lord. Pray. Make prayer part of your daily routine and part of your the habits of your life. And you'll be amazed at the things that God will reveal to you and show you and uh what he'll lead you into. And so, like even for us, as we were praying, um, you know, we were praying, and then I just I just asked each one of you, you know, what is the Lord showing you right now? And so I'd love if y'all are cool with it, I'd love to be able to just kind of share that um here for everybody. But Raf, uh God gave you a really cool picture. Would you mind sharing that with us?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, uh, we were praying, and I just seen this like darkness, and then immediately I seen this like beautiful chandelier. And um it was like an elevator, and uh I was going up and there was four lights, and there was beautiful diamonds in it. It was a beautiful chandelier and it did not have any cords to pull up the chandelier and it just kept on going up and it went above the floor level, and it just kept on ascending, and uh I'm just reminded that God is Lord above the living and of the dead, and um that we trans we are transformed.
SPEAKER_02So that was the picture that you saw, and and Miriam, what does God tell you before we even talked about the picture that Raphael saw?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, because you asked me what is Father speaking to your heart speaking to your heart and he had been talking to me, and I wanted to say this because you you just said, you know, that we like to ask and you recommend asking before, and that father will speak to your heart. And sometimes you might think, Am I even hearing you right? Yeah. And that's kind of what I was thinking as I was listening. Am I even hearing you right? But you asked, so I was like, Well, I'm gonna share. Because I had already kind of thought, well, I don't really have anything right now to contribute. So, Father, I'm just gonna listen. But as soon as you asked, I was like, okay, this is from him. So I just want to encourage anybody out there that might be like, Well, I've asked him, am I hearing him? You know, just trust him and then just go with that. So, anyway, and hopefully you'll be around people that will encourage you to speak up to. So that's important. Um, anyway, so what he told me, or what he was speaking to my heart, was about the way that we view ourselves. And we talk a lot, you know, we as you guys were praying. I think Raphael even said being changed from glory to glory. And so much instead of seeing ourselves as going from glory to glory, we view ourselves as garbage. And so the perspective that we have of ourself is one of just this dirty, nasty, how can I ever? And so we think I gotta change all that stuff. I have to change all that stuff before he could even make me into something worthwhile, when that's not how he sees us at all. And so he just really was challenging me in our perspective of how we see ourselves. And and I believe that as we begin to see ourselves as he sees us, you know, as glorious as clothed in the righteousness of Christ, you know, as we begin to see that, then our our minds can be changed to right perspective. But anyway, that we are going from glory to glory, and that it's not this picture of destitute, you know. But anyway, so that our our minds are changed and we're being renewed in that way. Um, and just as we begin to have that right view of ourselves in him, you know, it was really about perspective. Yeah. And and then you you tied it in with Raphael's vision that the Lord had given him, and I thought, oh my gosh, yeah, because he's raising our perspective.
SPEAKER_02Right. Well, and and you said you you were talking about having a different lens and a and a and a change in perspective. And I thought, how appropriate. So I asked you first, what is God speaking to you? And then I asked Raphael, what's God speaking to you? And that's when Raphael shared that um vivid imagery that he was showing you. And I thought, wow, okay, so Miriam is talking about having a different picture and an image, and then Raphael gets a picture and an image, and that picture or image was that of a chandelier ascending from the depths uh into the heavenly, yeah. Uh and above ground level, like you said, uh, and it was a beautiful diamond chandelier, which if you think a chandelier is a is a light source, and that's exactly who God called us was lights of the world. Like he is the light of the world, and then he goes and he calls us the light of the world. And so there is light, so let your light so shine.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, right.
SPEAKER_02And and don't hide it under a bushel. Right. Uh a city on a hill cannot be hidden. Like there's this, there's a whole bunch of like scriptural and spiritual imagery associated with that. But the the point was that it's like this is the picture that I want you to get, is that you are a beautiful chandelier. And maybe once you were down here in the depths, and that was the picture and imagery that you had of yourself, but this is what I've actually made you to become. And he said that there were no cables attached to it, uh, meaning that there was no uh there there was no mechanism, a visible mechanism causing the growth, which is consistent with uh what Paul says about the scripture that you quoted, which was um uh that as we eat with unveiled face, behold him are being transformed from glory to glory, and this is done by his spirit. And so it's it's just kind of further a pictorial converse uh confirmation of uh the the growth and the transformation, the glory to glory, the elevation is done by his spirit. There's no physical mechanism that you see it happening, it's it's invisibly done by the spirit of the invisible God. And uh, and I loved the the the imagery of the four lights on it, uh even representing the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and and myself, like all of us as one together, you know, in this glorious chandelier that is being elevated. And we know that as you elevate light, it shines for for all to see. And so I just thought, man, what a cool picture that is.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, because it is all together. Because we often think of it as him as separate from us, looking down on us or looking at us, but it really is we are in Christ.
SPEAKER_02And and and what Raphael said was that he's the God of the living and the dead. Yeah. And and I love this because that's the gospel. That that ultimately that's the gospel that we were once dead in sin, right? But we've now been made alive in Christ. And and so it's like if God wasn't only the God of the living, uh, then those who were dead in sin, dead in their trespasses, dead in their spirit, he couldn't be the God of over them.
unknownRight.
SPEAKER_02But he is. And that like to me, that's good news. And that's the proclamation of the gospel is that he is God over all things. And and he causes those that were dead to be alive. Uh, and and so it's that that that raising up from as the imagery was that raising up from the the depths of death and darkness and ugly and whatever it may be down there to light and life, resurrection and uh and and and being raised up. And so Rafi, you look like you got something that you want to say.
SPEAKER_00I'm reminded of uh Isaiah chapter 42. It says, Behold, my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one, in whom my soul delights. I have put my rock upon him, he will bring justice to the nations. He will not cry out or raise his voice, or make his voice heard in the street. When I see the chandelier being raised up, I don't see cables. I see God upholding by his mighty wind, like something that's invisible, like wind. And like Job spoke of a time where you go into the earth and you look for the deepest man of gold, the gold of ovur and the diamonds. The secret of God that is on the tabernacle. No man knows. He writes in Job, no man knows that the secret of the Lord was upon me. The secret of the Lord was upon me, and when I spoke, young men hushed, and when the elders passed me, they sought my counsel, and I was eyes to the blood, and I was feet to the lame, and I was there when people were perishing, and the widow's heart sang for joy as I gave them the good news. Job wrote these things, and he says, in other words, the anointing of God is here the power of God to raise the dead. Why does a widow's heart sing for joy? Because what something that was dead is now something that is living. Like widows' hearts rejoice and they burst into song, they burst into laughter because that's who God is. He literally takes things that are so hidden in the earth, like diamonds. He takes gold where where no one has ever gone. You you know, people go into space and they say where no man has ever gone, deep space, Voyager 9. I I don't know, you know, stuff like that. But there is literally something that is so deep in the earth, and light and darkness are no difference between him, and that's why we can go from glory to glory to glory to glory, and we can go back up and down, up and down, up and down, because that's who God is. There is no difference between him, there's no variance between light and darkness. And so you may be in a dark place, but you're still a diamond.
SPEAKER_02That's a word right there. And that's and that's the that I think that's the core of it, is that this is who God has made you to be. And it's harvesting that like he sees that in you, he calls that out of you. And and I think the invitation is for us to partner with that vision, with who he says that we are.
SPEAKER_01Right.
SPEAKER_02Because oftentimes we get the vision or the perspective that I'm I'm a piece of coal. Right. You know, like I'm nothing, and and and and I'm I'm I'm dark and I'm ugly, and and and that's exactly what we will talk about ourselves or see about ourselves. That's what the enemy will tell us, that's what people around us will tell us that we're worthless, that you're nobody. That's what shame will speak over your life. Yeah, disgrace will speak over your life, and and the word of God is saying, no, no, no, no, no. Like, hold on.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_02I've made you to become something beautiful. Yeah. And you're mine.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_02And I want to raise you up out of that place. That, like you said, we're off the darkness, is not a scary place for God.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Darkness is not a scary place for light. Light, light can go and be anywhere. And and and so it's it's it's not as if the the depths of the coal mines and the diamond mines are are scary places for God to be. He's he's very comfortable being in those places. He's very comfortable getting down into the dirt and the muck and the mire and the ugly of our own lives, of the ugly of our sin, of the ugly of any of that. But why? Because sin has no power over him.
SPEAKER_00I don't I don't even think it's necessarily about sin, the darkness. I I don't, I honestly don't. I think it's more about something that is secret, that is holy, that is good. And there he says, There's I I I am darkness, I am light in Isaiah. He he speaks this, I believe, in Isaiah or Psalms. And there's no difference between him. Jesus goes up the mountain of transfiguration, right? And he looks as though he's darkness, he's at the bottom of the very mountain that he's about to show his glorious light, and he cannot be hid. And people have seen him, and he is a diamond, and he goes up this mountain, and he shows the same person that he's inside, but he doesn't show it to everybody at the same time, he shows it to his father. He shows it to his friends, James, Peter, and John.
SPEAKER_01I just want to offer a thought about that, Raphael, because you were talking about he is darkness, but I think it's not that. I mean, I'm not trying to say that the scriptures aren't saying what they're saying, but what I'm saying is his perspective is wherever I go, there's light. I am light, right? And so that's what our vision of ourselves gets to be, is that I am light. And that no matter where I'm going and whatever I'm addressing, it encounters the light. Right. I'm not encountering the darkness. I'm not even counting the darkness as having any power because it doesn't. But I am light and I'm salt, just like he said that we are. So the it again, it's a mental perspective change of how I see who I am.
SPEAKER_02Right. And and I think too, you were talking about the Mount of Transfiguration, you know, and you in your with your, you have to be careful with that wording too, because people can misinterpret it very simply by thinking, saying hearing you say Jesus is darkness. What you're saying is there's a hidden aspect and an unhidden aspect. The the revealed glory of God at the Mount of Transfiguration is the unhidden light of who he is. But then the hiddenness of him or the darkness, the darkness of him is the everyday man that we saw, or that the people around him saw at that point. Only a few saw his transfigured self, right? Which is the illumination of all of his glory and and who he is. But then the rest of people, they saw the the, and I'll use air quotes, the darkened figure of who he is, or the hidden hiddenness of who God is. And so I feel like I'm tracking with what you're saying there and understanding that. I just want to be very uh explicitly clear about what we're trying to communicate. Um and and like you said, Miriam, to your point, and even like you were saying, Raphael, you know, there are spaces, whether it's be darkness because of sin or situation or whatever it is, God is not afraid to enter into those spaces. Um and he and he it's none of those spaces are prohibitive to him. There's no kryptonite to him. And that's the beauty of it all, is like there is no kryptonite to our God. There is no sin that is too bad that he can't conquer. Uh, there is no darkness that is too dark that he can't illuminate. Um, this is who he is. And what's beautiful about it is because that's who he is, as he is, so are we here in this world. That's what John tells us. And so it's it's coming to a place of understanding that because he is this way, I get to be this way as well. And it's having this repentance or this metanoia, this change in my mind and my direction to go from the the vision of my own life being darkness or being ugly or being down in the depths or being dead, having a transformation that takes place in my mind through metanoia that says, No, you've made me to be the chandelier of light that can go in the depths, it could be up in the mountaintops or wherever it is, but you are transforming my life every moment from glory to glory, so that I am looking like you, shining bright like you, no matter where I go. Because I'm not by myself. Right, because I'm in you. Like it's and it's it's literally all because of him. Like he is the light of life. And if I have the light of life within me, guess what my life gets to look like? Yeah light.
SPEAKER_00That's the beauty of it. The Bible talks about there's light in his wings, right? It says, it also says, Um, those who abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Okay, so the how does light have a shadow? Because he's so brilliant, and when you look at him, you just see light after light, and everything that was previously behind you looks like darkness. Even today, the things I hope I hope we grow so much that we were just like, man, that was good ground. That was such good ground, and and we were rising up above the ground, and we were like seed in the ground, and it comes up. And I pray that we look back on today and tomorrow and and previous generations, and we're just like, man, that was so dark compared to the brilliant light that I see right now. Because that's how God is, that's how God is going from glory to glory.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and and the beauty of it too for us is that we get to live on this side of the cross. So so much of the old covenant writings has language in there that doesn't illuminate the pure fullness of who God is, which we get to see in Christ, you know, where there is no shadow of turning. There it's it is He is the fullness and the epitome of all life and light. And and so it's for us now, we get to live from that space. And so we can look back, like you said, and see wow, that was shadow. That was dark then, but now look at what we get to live from. We get to live from the finished work of Christ. We get to live from our union with him. And in him there is no darkness, there is only light. And so it is this space now that because that's who he is, that's who I get to be. And it's coming into this um clear picture in our own minds so that there is no confusion about it. Yes. That this is who he's made us to be. That we could be in the ugliest of situations in our family life, or we can go and we can minister to those who are who are the the destitute and the the down and outers and the people that the world would cast aside and say, no, you're too ugly for me to be around. You, you're you're you're you're on drugs, you're homeless, you're you're unwanted. I don't want to be around you. I don't want to get that filth on me. We can go into those spaces because we have the light of life.
SPEAKER_01That's right.
SPEAKER_02Because Christ illuminates those spaces and he his the spirit of God emboldens us and empowers us to go and to be a witness into the ends of the earth. That's everywhere. Yes, like this gospel is creeped preached to every creature. And there is no limited amount of, oh, well, if you're this good or if you've got this situation in your life, or if you're of this social status, or you have this much money, it's none of those things. It's every creature in every nation, from every tribe and every tongue, and all will bow because Christ is glorified. Like he is the Lamb on the throne. And and that's the beauty of it for us is that we now get to live from that interpretation, from that space, from that revelation, as the chandeliers of light, you know, being being illuminating the space around us. And that's what we're all called to be and designed to be. So like imagine what happens when you get a room full of chandeliers, right? It's a bright space, right? Right. And that's the calling and and the calling to each and every one of us today. And maybe as you're listening today, like let that be the words of the Lord speaking and piercing your heart, saying you were called to be a chandelier, be a light, be the chandelier. Like you are not, you weren't designed to live in the depths. You were designed to be able to go to the depths to bring people up out of it because you are carrying my life with you.
SPEAKER_00And the gates of hell shall not prevail.
SPEAKER_02They shall not prevail. They have power swung open. That's it. There's no power. There's no power because he has defeated all of it. He holds the keys. And that's who is is residing, living, abiding within us. Like, thank God for that. We can live boldly. I don't no matter what the situation is or the circumstance is, this is how I get to live now. And like put on that lens today and go attack life and watch what happens. You know, spend that time with him saying, Hey, what do you how do you want me to speak today? How do you want me to be today? How do you want who do you want me to talk to today? You know, what do you want to say through me today? What do you want to illuminate in my life today? How do you want me to shine brightly to my friends and my neighbors and my family and my co-workers, my bosses, my kids? Like, how do you how do you want me to shine today? Let me be, I want so let your light shine in me. I'm gonna be a chandelier.
SPEAKER_01That's right. And I think about this, like when a room of chandeliers is like what? It's a ballroom, right? There's a party, it's festive.
SPEAKER_02Come on.
SPEAKER_01So I'm gonna go shine and I'm gonna bring the party with me. Let's go. And we're gonna have fun.
SPEAKER_02Let's go.
SPEAKER_01Like you know, I'm gonna sweat.
SPEAKER_00I was literally. I'm gonna dance. Seriously. I love dancing. And I'm uh I'm I'm not a great dancer, but I'm a joyful one. There you go. There you go.
SPEAKER_02But and and and and and that's the thing. Like, like we're inviting people into the wedding separately. Like it's like this is a party. This is this is a celebration. Get some earrings, get some necklaces, get some fancy, dolled up, get myself dolled up, you know. I'm gonna be looking good.
SPEAKER_00Amen.
SPEAKER_02Amen.
SPEAKER_00I really no, seriously, I love weddings, and that's what chandeliers remind me of. Yeah, and that's honestly that's one of the thoughts that I had in my heart. Yeah I I love weddings, I love the white gowns. I I love the bride of Christ, and everybody's welcome to this wedding. Yeah, everybody's welcome to put on new clothes given by the king.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah. Garments of white. Like that's the the the purity, the righteousness, the victory in Christ that he gives to us. Like, can you receive it today? I think maybe that's part of the invitation is can you receive it today? Can you receive a new lens? Can you receive new garments? Can you receive the ring on your finger? Like, can you receive what has been paid for and provided for you by Jesus? And it's so good. And and and and he wants this so much for you that he was willing to give himself up his entire life literally lay down so that we could have it. And and and to be able to be with him for eternity. Like that is love. There's no greater love than that. And and so the question is, can you receive it today? Are you willing to not only receive it, but to walk in it? To let it be what shapes your your lens and how you see things, how you see your own life, how you see others. Because here's the thing when you get at that revelation about yourself, you begin to see yourself that way, it changes how you see others as well. You become more compassionate, you become more filled with grace, you know, and and the lens now that you see others. You you go mining for those diamonds and you go telling people, hey, no, this that's you're not ugly. You're beautiful. This is what Jesus says about you, this is who he's made you to be. I know it might not seem that way right now, but let him work in your life and and let him pull out the diamonds in you and let him reveal to you the diamond that you are, the beautiful gemstones that you are, what he calls you, the name that he gives you that is so beautiful and so righteous and so pure. Let him have his way in your life. And I promise you, you won't be the same. You won't be the same. Well, thank you for listening to the Everyday Kingdom podcast. Go shine like a chandelier today. We love you guys.