January 1, 2015
2010-2014 have been very trying years in so many ways. Of course all years are filled with the good, the bad and the ugly, but if it
weren't for the peace of God amongst the trials and “valleys of death”, I would
lose hope. Toward the end of this year the Holy Spirit began heavily reminding
me to be like an eagle and not a chicken. Chickens are earthbound, scratching
and pecking always looking at the ground; not able to fly, their only
perspective is from the ground. They
follow each other without even looking where the first one running is going,
they just follow the commotion. When a storm comes they naturally run for cover
in a confused frenzy. Eagles, on the
other hand, are heavenly bound and soar high. They see far beyond what is in
front of them. They are usually solitary birds (yet can recognize his own, another eagle, soaring up to 50 miles away) and don’t follow any “flock” waiting for other birds to direct them. The same storm that leaves a chicken
running for cover is used to the advantage of the eagle. They use the strong
winds to lift them even higher, sometimes even above the low-lying storm
clouds. As I watch my beloved chickens pecking at the ground I realize how much
time they spend looking down, pecking around in a confined backyard. I don’t
want to be a chicken. I know the things the Holy Spirit has revealed to me
require that I have eagle eyes and to not focus in on my earthbound problems;
seeing in the spiritual instead of natural, being eternal minded instead temporal. Instead I pray to be an eagle, not confined to seeing what is
simply in front of, not hiding when the storm comes, but rather soaring in the
storm.
That is easier said than done. As the storms come in and rock my world
and cause all sorts of doubt, emotions and the enemy seems to be taking
territory it is hard to stand in that battle without running to retreat;
crippled in fear. So as I go into another year of spiritual battle I can look and see the training. The difficulties, trials and flat out attacks that were meant by the enemy to crush, paralyze, steal, kill and destroy instead become the strength training tools. I become
more and more comfortable with my weapon and armor. I become wiser to how the
enemy fights; his plans and schemes, I become more aware that I am no longer a
soldier in boot camp training but rather a soldier who has done a few tours. I
know what spiritual war looks like, I know to a fuller understanding now the
prophetic word given to me decades ago from of having a forehead of flint (Ezekiel); a
face set like flint (Isaiah). As I continually remind myself of what command the Lord
has given, I am in a constant fight with myself to be spirit-led instead of
leading myself from a place of emotion, seen circumstances or outcomes I
expected to be different. A soldier of Christ therefore wars from the heavenly
realm, because he/she has spiritual vision. Often times this sort of life is
misunderstood, certainly by the world, but also by many of their brothers and
sisters in Christ. This is the natural and narrowing walk as we draw closer and closer to Him.
2 Timothy 2:3 You
therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that
wars entangles himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him
who has chosen him to be a soldier.
There are many pictures and examples of these people in the
Bible. They are known as the “remnant, overcomers, the 100 fold, Zion, the
Man-child, Sons of Zadok, Holy of holies company, first-fruits, Gideon’s 300, Elijah company, “those
that come out of her”, etc. Each example is a Bible teaching in itself and foreshadows the small and faithful, uncompromising from each generation. These aren't super saints, self proclaimed "elitists", or big name preachers. These are common people, from all walks of life who simply love the Lord with all their heart, soul and mind. They hear the Lord's voice and respond.
The other picture the Holy Spirit has given me continually since 2008 is of Places of Refuge and Lighthouses. That, in this time, the Lord is making these simultaneously. As His hand of favor, protection and blessing is being lifted and judgment begins that He has a remnant that He will use as places of refuge or Lighthouses. I looked into the history of lighthouses and found two very compelling things that from a secular wording stood out as spiritually highlighted. Lighthouses serve two purposes: they warn from danger and they bring into safety. Their light and their siren warn of impending danger.
The other picture the Holy Spirit has given me continually since 2008 is of Places of Refuge and Lighthouses. That, in this time, the Lord is making these simultaneously. As His hand of favor, protection and blessing is being lifted and judgment begins that He has a remnant that He will use as places of refuge or Lighthouses. I looked into the history of lighthouses and found two very compelling things that from a secular wording stood out as spiritually highlighted. Lighthouses serve two purposes: they warn from danger and they bring into safety. Their light and their siren warn of impending danger.
“They serve to warn the sailor of dangerous reefs beneath the
sea or perilous rocky coasts on land, and to guide ships into a safe harbor or
back out to sea. So the message of the lighthouse might be – STAY AWAY, DANGER,
BEWARE, or COME THIS WAY. Every lighthouse tells the mariner, "This is exactly
where you are"….Fog bells were used as well as steam whistles and reed trumpets
and sirens. The sounds they gave out were generally low pitched and very mournful
- almost like a wail.” (http://www.nps.gov)
I cannot help but hear the prophetic voice in the nature of the lighthouse. The mournful cry of impending danger has been heard throughout the land; the alarm has been going off and some are awakened to hear it, others are hitting the snooze button and sleeping in or ignoring the alarm.
I see 2015 as a continual progression of God’s warnings to a sleeping church and to a nation who has turned her back on God in an ever-increasing fast track that is exponentially propelling headlong into judgment. And yet in God’s mercy, grace and love He has always had a remnant. I pray this year those who are slumbering, or have accepted compromise, living as carnal Christians will hear the alarms and will turn back to God. Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.
I cannot help but hear the prophetic voice in the nature of the lighthouse. The mournful cry of impending danger has been heard throughout the land; the alarm has been going off and some are awakened to hear it, others are hitting the snooze button and sleeping in or ignoring the alarm.
I see 2015 as a continual progression of God’s warnings to a sleeping church and to a nation who has turned her back on God in an ever-increasing fast track that is exponentially propelling headlong into judgment. And yet in God’s mercy, grace and love He has always had a remnant. I pray this year those who are slumbering, or have accepted compromise, living as carnal Christians will hear the alarms and will turn back to God. Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.
Malachi 3:1 "I
will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the
Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant,
whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty.
Luke 1:7 And he will
go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of
the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the
righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
Matthew 11:13 “For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 “And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come. 15 “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”
The spirit of prophet type, Elijah, will once again come before the Day of the Lord, for the same purpose that John the Baptist served. What an "odd, intense, fanatic" of a man he was, coming out of the wilderness, wearing camel hair clothes, eating locust and honey. He would not compromise the Word or the calling, he pointed to Jesus constantly, without self-glorification and his call was a call to repentance without mincing words. He was an alarm. He was a lighthouse pointing to THE LIGHT.
John 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
Matthew 11:13 “For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 “And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come. 15 “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”
The spirit of prophet type, Elijah, will once again come before the Day of the Lord, for the same purpose that John the Baptist served. What an "odd, intense, fanatic" of a man he was, coming out of the wilderness, wearing camel hair clothes, eating locust and honey. He would not compromise the Word or the calling, he pointed to Jesus constantly, without self-glorification and his call was a call to repentance without mincing words. He was an alarm. He was a lighthouse pointing to THE LIGHT.
John 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
If there is a yearning in your heart as you read this, I pray you will allow God to move you to a place of truth. Truth in these times, in your calling and truth in allowing Him to place that uncomfortable finger on those places in your heart that He is calling you out of compromise, to live in HIS light and to become a vessel of His light shining through you in these darkening times. I pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ around the globe that may feel like lonesome eagles. I pray for your strength, your courage and perseverance, and thank God for where He has placed you to be an example. I thank God for strategically placing Lighthouses in this world, nation, communities.
