The Lighthouse

Lighthouse – A structure (as a tower) with a powerful light that gives a continuous or intermittent signal to navigators.

In the 14^th chapter of the book of Matthew, we find the story of Jesus feeding five thousand people.  After this time of ministering in word and the miraculous, Jesus sends the twelve over to the next town by boat and He goes away to pray.  The twelve are in a boat already rocked by the wind and waves, but do not even realize it or they are asleep.  At the fourth watch of the night or around 3:00 AM, Jesus begins to walk on the water to them and, suddenly they wake and are frightened not by the rocking of the boat, but by the sight of Jesus walking on the water to them.  They are not sure who or what it is that comes to them.  How can you walk intimately with the Christ and not know Him?  He tells them to not be afraid and Peter responds by requesting to come to Jesus on the water and Jesus simply says “come”.  Peter jumps out of the boat.  He starts out strong walking on the water, but he soon notices the wind and the waves and begins to sink.  Jesus reaches out his hand of strength and lifts Peter from the water and puts him back in the boat.

 

A lighthouse is a lonely structure that has one purpose.  It is there to guide those far from the shore to safety.  It is always emitting the same light regardless of the weather or the time of day.  Its beacon is always strong and bright.  It shines in the fog; it shines in the hurricane, as well as in the calm.  How many times have Believers cried out to God in song that we want more of Him?  How many times have we said, we want more of your anointing, more of your presence oh Lord?  In order to have more of Him, we must leave our safety net, our boat.  Yet, we are so like the twelve.  We are asleep to the peril that lies around us daily, hourly and every minute.  Trouble comes in the night while we are sleeping, still Jesus is on guard.  He is watching and interceding for us and those we love.  Jesus is our lighthouse.  He stands strong and tall.  He bids us to come to Him but the journey is full of trial and tribulation.  We must be willing like Peter to get out of the boat of ordinary and worldly safety and begin to walk toward our lover on the water.  It will be treacherous for water is unstable and not solid.  It will feel uncomfortable and He will beckon at the late hour.  It is an hour of stillness all around.  It will be when natural work has ceased.  But, it is also a time of the miraculous.  The fourth watch of the night is a time of the Kingdom of Heaven coming to earth.  It is a time of the release of deliverance and the manifestation of the Word.  Jesus is the living Word!  He comes to break into your world and leave Himself, His light.  Come away with me my love.  Heaven comes to you tonight.  You have been tossed to and fro.  You are scared of the day and uncertain of what happens next.  But, I stand as a beacon of light.  I will guide you safely to me.  I will provide a refreshing.  I will restore.  I will rebuild areas torn down by life and make something beautiful out of you. 

 

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth!  He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.  The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade.  The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.  The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.  The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.  Psalm 121  NLT

Come Away with Me

Relationships are not so easily maintained. As we grow older and our views and desires change, we often leave people we have loved behind. Some people are only in our lives for a season; consequently, there will be an ending to some relationships. Yet, there are some that will last a lifetime. Those relationships will be tested and tried, but will endure. Today I will share an insight into one of my sisters, Vanessa Battle. Every so often she will share her heart through poetry. Her heart has been to spend intimate, close, and personal time with the love of her life, Yeshua. Listen closely as He bids her to "Come Away with Me".



Come Away with Me My Beloved, into My dwelling place.

Enter into My bed chambers where we can be face to face.


I long for your presence - to commune with you.

I long for your passion to ignite - for you to love me anew


O how I desire you - you are the apple of My eye.

Come away with Me My Beloved, this is My deepest cry.


You are My Bride, the one I adore.

Step into the waters of the deep - step out and leave the shore.


Come away with Me My Beloved.

Trust Me with your heart.


Come away with Me My Beloved.

Let Me show you where to start.


I have so much I want to share with you.

If you would but come to Me.


Not only will I share my heart with you.

I will also set you free.


Free from old mindsets - Free from old desires

Free to be who I've called you to be - Let Me ignite the fire.


A fire that will purge you and make you O so clean.

A fire that will remove the dross so that your value can be seen.


A fire that will create a passion and make you long for Me.

Come away with Me My Beloved.

Come away with Me.



Vanessa D. Battle

Stepping into the Fiery Furnace

I now understand the expression "out of the frying pan and into the fire".  There are times when you feel the heat and you think it is very hot until you fall directly into the fire.  When you fall into the fire, you understand that you did not fully understand what hot was.  You never fully realized what happens when the heat is turned up in your life.

Mishael, Azariah and Hananiah quickly come to mind.  We normally refer to them as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.  The young men who were friends of Daniel.  They were Jewish captives taken by King Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon.  It was not enough that they had become slaves taken from their family and other friends.  But, they thought there was joy in the midst of their pain when they are chosen to be servants of King Nebuchadnezzar.  They were soon thrust into the second major trial of their lives because in order to work for the king, they would be required to defile themselves through food.  God would show favor to them and Daniel through the king's eunuch.  They are allowed to eat vegetables, grains, beans and water.  We commonly refer to this as a Daniel fast.  They passed the test and are able to work for the king.  The king becomes angry because his current staff cannot interpret his dream.  Not only does he become angry with his staff but he decrees that ALL wise men, magicians and etc. will be killed because they cannot tell him what he dreamt and then provide an interpretation.  Daniel and his friends did not even know anything about the king and his dream.  But, they were told quickly once soldiers came to take them captive.  Imagine, captives being held captive while still being held for another reason.  Have you ever inherited someone else's mess?  Mishael, Azariah, Hananiah and Daniel seek the heart of the Lord and are provided the dream and the interpretation.  They are promoted and the king declares there is no god like their god.

Just when they thought they were safe and starting to come out of this season of darkness, it gets darker.  Nebuchadnezzar has a pride and self righteousness problem.  He builds a statute 90 feet tall and puts music to it.  He declares everyone must bow and worship his statute when the music plays or risk being thrown into a blazing hot furnace.  Mishael, Azariah and Hananiah are spotted not bowing and  the king is quickly told.  The same king who had sang praises earlier is now angry that they will not bow to his statute.  He already knew they served a different god.  Remember the dream interpretation?  Now, he is so beside himself that he decides to throw them into a fiery furnace that he heats seven times hotter than normal.   It is already hell, now he wants it hotter than hell.  It is so hot that the guards who throw them in are instantly killed.  Notice, they are not delivered before being thrown into the fire.  While they have stood for righteousness, deliverance does not come before the fire.  They are throw in with all clothes, shoes, hats and etc.  While in the midst of the fire, Jesus joins them and protects them from the flames.  Nebuchadnezzar cannot believe that they are not burning and tells them to come out.  He now declares that there is no other God and death to anyone who would deny that their God is the one true God. 

 "Our Father" by Bethel Church is such a special worship song.  We are calling for the Kingdom of God to come to earth.  The anointing upon this song is simply amazing.  But, there is a cost to declare the Kingdom of God to come and be housed in us.  It requires a house fit for the presence of God to dwell.  How do you prepare for the glory of God to emanate from you?  You are thrown into the fiery furnace with all your clothes on.  Your clothes are unemployment, strife at home, relationships breaking down and ending, health problems, child problems and even questioning your spirituality.  Am I really hearing from God.  People you have trusted no longer trust your judgment; therefore, you begin to second guess yourself.  Am I as mature as I thought?  The decisions I have made and continue to make, are they godly and did I really hear God?  Heat, heat and more heat.  Where are you God?  He is in the fire with you.  Your bands of bondage will burn away and though every part of your clothing is thrown in with you, it will not burn.  When Mishael, Hananiah and Azariah came out of the fire, not one hair, not one piece of clothing or anything about their person was burned or even smelled like fire.  Deliverance comes IN the fire.  When you step out of your furnace, only the aroma of the anointing of the Father is upon you.  Allow the furnace to burn up the things that hold you captive.  Allow depression, poverty, doubt, unbelief, rejection, sickness, shame, guilt, death and all the things you are struggling with be consumed by the fire.  Come out with joy, love, peace, kindness, gentleness and compassion and true deliverance.

Many are struggling.  What you thought you could trust is on shaky ground.  Your cry has been that you want to be used of God.  You feel dry and so far away from Him.  You are isolated and alone.  There is no one nor nothing to trust.  Your tears have become your pillow.  No one understands you or can provide answers for you.  Yet, there is this yearning in your heart for more and more of God.  You push although you don't know how.  Although there is chaos all around, there is still a small spark in your belly.  You experience inner pain on a level you have not felt before.  It is almost too much to bear.  You are in your furnace.  But, Yeshua is with you.  For there is deliverance in the fire.  Stay in the fire.  Do not be afraid.  Only your bands of bondage will be burned.  The Kingdom of God has come to earth.  It is in you, and works through you and it sets the captives free.  It is painful, but stay in the fire.  When you feel overwhelmed, stay in the fire, but remember He is there with you.  Worship in the fire.  Jesus is using the fire.  Jesus is in the fire.  Stay in the fire.

You keep track of all my sorrows.* You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help. This I know: God is on my side! I praise God for what he has promised; yes, I praise the LORD for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me? I will fulfill my vows to you, O God, and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help. For you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light.

Psalm 56:8 -13NLT

A Letter to the Churches: Know Christ - Know God

I had the opportunity to visit with one of my spiritual fathers recently, Bill Magnusen, a true prophet in this age.  As he often does, he extols the virtues of our Lord Jesus and brings light to me.  I always enjoy the fellowship, but more importantly, I love the insight this true man and patriarch of God reveals regarding the nature and character of Christ.  The Father is still speaking through his prophets.  I have shared Mr.  Magnusen's latest writing with you today.  Be blessed!

- KK Roberts

Jesus said, "I am the way, the Truth, and the Life."  When observing the corporate body of Christ, it seems Christ has been put on the "back burner" instead of the front.  Jesus said that we should live for Him and if necessary die for Him.  This level of commitment is not reflected in the average congregation.  Since Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, we should see a greater commitment to Him than is presently demonstrated.  It seems that we preach a gospel that is on whatever level is comfortable.

To state the case simply, deception has come into the body of Christ.  The battle that is raging is so subtle that we have not received the warning.  The Bible reveals this warning; "And they all drank the same supernaturally given drink.  For they drank from a spiritual Rock which followed them-produced by the sole power of God Himself without natural instrumentality and the Rock was Christ." (1 Corin. 10:4 amp)  Nevertheless, God was not pleased with the great majority of them.  These are examples for us.  This Word says we are all partakers of the one common Bread.  The one for whom the common bread represents-Jesus Christ and drink from the same supernatural Rock.

In the Book of Revelations we are further warned, "The dragon was furious (enraged) at the woman and he went away to wage war on the remainder (overcomers) of her descendants, those who obey God's commandments, and who have the testimony of Jesus Christ, and who adhere to it and bear witness to Him.  The Word says, "And they overcame Him by the blood of the Lamb, the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto death".

To restate, Christ has left us His plan lived out through Him.  Jesus empowered the apostles to go out to heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons, open the eyes of the blind, set the captives free, and preach the Kingdom of God.  Now because Christ is not preeminent, the Body has reverted to other means - mainly a watered down gospel of comfort and lip service.  May the Lord open our eyes to the potential of "Christ in you the hope of glory"; "No longer I that live but Christ lives in me"; "I in the Father, the Father in me, and I in you."  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, the Life.  Jesus said, "Have I been so long with you and you still do not know me?"

Prophet Billy Magnusen