PROPHETIC CHAMBER

I wrote this article on Joan of Arc several years ago after reading Mark Twain's incredible book on her life. The Lord has been bringing this article to memory often in recent days and I felt its truth is pertinent to this present transition season.

We are entering a time when the deposit of God's Spirit that rested upon prior great champions will be reinstituted on those who have been prepared for them. This will be a first-fruits harvest that will provoke the Body forward into a season of great harvest.

There are very valuable Kingdom principles that we can learn from the life of this wonderful prophetess. Her courage, valor and obedience will typify many in this last days generation who will give themselves totally to God's plan and purpose. I trust this article is a blessing to you.

The Maid of Orleans

Few women in history are as intriguing as Jeanne D'Arc, the French peasant girl born in 1412, who heard and obeyed Heaven. To some she was a saint, to others a heretic, but history chronicles her as emerging from obscurity to become her nation's youngest military leader.

In 15 months she changed the course of European history. Her eventual martyrdom was satan's attempt to destroy her divine gift, but that same impartation can be inherited by today's "Joan of Arcs" through God's divine justice.

A Supernatural Voice

For her, the unlikely destiny began one summer afternoon at the age of 13. On that fateful day she saw a brilliant light and heard the audible voice of the Archangel Michael, leader of God's armies.

Michael addressed her as "Joan the Maid" with the added admonition to live a pure and virtuous life. He announced her destiny as a God-appointed deliverer to lead the army of France. Joan reported, "I recognized that it was the voice of an angel. This voice has always guarded me well and I have always understood it; it instructed me to be good and to go to church often."

To Joan, the voices of God's spiritual messengers could be distinguished in the same fashion as one person communicates with another. She received audible expressions from the spiritual realm that charged her with the formidable task of uniting a fragmented army and altering the fate and leadership of her nation.

A Deliverer is Born

The extreme hardship of one hundred years of war with England preceded the appearance of Joan. The English occupied considerable portions of France with plans of further expansion until the prophetess shifted the momentum to the French.

The messengers of Heaven conveyed to her a twofold commission: first, to lead an army against the English in defense of Orleans, a crucial and strategic city for the French; and secondly, to restore the throne to its rightful heir, the Dauphin of France, a term used to identify the heir apparent who later became Charles VII. France had not had a crowned king since the death of Charles VI in 1422. Instead, the French crown had passed to the infant king Henry VI of England through a treaty signed by Charles VI.

This twofold mandate was an unthinkable task for an illiterate teenager living in the 15th century. Even so, the messengers from Heaven gave explicit directions. Joan possessed the uncanny willingness to risk life and limb in obedience to their instructions. She relinquished herself totally to the cause of Heaven that launched her into this supernatural arena.

The Mandate Established

To share this vision with the Dauphin of France, Joan journeyed over 300 miles through enemy territory for her first encounter with Charles VII. Charles actually staged a test to determine the authenticity of her revelations.

When Joan entered the huge meeting hall filled with over 300 guests the Dauphin was not seated on his throne. Instead, he was dressed as a commoner and had mingled with the crowd. Led by her supernatural Council, Joan walked directly to Charles and addressed him as the imminent leader of France. Moreover, she also divulged divine insight involving his life known only to he and God. This validated for the eventual king that Joan of Arc was no ordinary maiden.

Subsequently, Charles and his councilmen embraced her vision and allowed her to lead 4,000 troops in support of the besieged city of Orleans on April 29, 1429. The victory was swift and sure!

Phenomenal Victories

After capturing smaller forts that bordered Orleans, Joan surrounded the occupied city and led the assault against the English. Joan was gravely wounded in the conflict, as she had earlier predicted. Nevertheless, by the end of the day she returned to the battle. The mere sight of their courageous leader rallied the French army who promptly routed the remaining English forces. So moved were these hardened soldiers by Joan's anointing and heroism that they "gave up swearing and prostitutes and committed themselves to a virtuous life."

Joan insisted the men under her charge conduct themselves in a manner becoming professional soldiers. She allowed no swearing or lewd behavior and expected commendable character. The men willingly followed her leadership and affectionately bestowed on her the title "maid of Orleans."

In subsequent weeks, several other French cities enduring English occupation were liberated by Joan and her army. So convincing were the early victories that in one confrontation only three French soldiers perished compared to over 2,000 English casualties.

After accepting the surrender of Troyes, Joan persuaded Charles to return to Rheims for his royal coronation. In fulfillment of Joan's directive given by the Lord through Heavenly messengers, Charles VII was officially recognized as monarch of France.

Her Betrayal and Death

Despite her conquests, betrayal from French leaders led to Joan's capture; this too according to her own predictions. In embarrassment, English rulers determined to prove her success resulted from witchcraft and sorcery. They added to her charges heresy - the act of challenging the authority of the church. The representatives of the church who tried her believed God spoke only to priests. It flew in the face of their belief system for God to communicate directly with individuals.

For nearly five months Joan of Arc was imprisoned, not in a facility for women but with English soldiers. Nevertheless, strengthened by the Lord and His Heavenly messengers, she remained steadfast throughout the ordeal.

To validate the charge of heresy, the English employed clergyman and theologians who strenuously examined Joan with the malicious intent of discrediting her testimony. Remarkably, her wise and skillful answers alleviated their entrapping questions. According to Joan, Heavenly messengers regularly brought to her God's perfect council.

Ultimately, the tainted court rendered a guilty verdict and condemned Joan to be burned at the stake. At 9 a.m. on May 30, 1431, the 19-year-old messenger of God was wrongfully executed. As the flames began to consume her body, a cross held before her eyes was Joan's sole request. Her final word was the name Jesus.

Five hundred years after being burned at the stake for heresy, Joan of Arc is declared a saint and revered by the country she saved.

A Call for Justice

The loving eyes of our Heavenly Judge see and record every action of humanity. In this end-time generation the books of Heaven will be opened and restitution offered for injustices committed against God's covenant people.

As with Joan of Arc, satan has battled the saints of God for millennia and seemingly prevailed. Nevertheless, God, as the Righteous Judge, will render a final verdict on behalf of the saints. Daniel recorded:

"I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom." Daniel 7:21-22

Divine justice, released in this age, will be a key to empower God's people. Joan of Arc's life was a prophetic model. There will be many who follow her standard with faithful and obedient hearts and commissioned in awesome ways. Every seemingly lost commission, anointing, and spiritual gift will be redeemed and released to willing candidates.

For thousands of years God's children have been martyred, persecuted, and plundered, but Heavenly justice will decree that all be fully restored and compensated.

All things take place under the all-seeing eye of God, and He has promised to restore all that our adversary has ruined. Clearly Joan, and others like her, received a martyr's reward in eternity. Moreover, they sowed spiritual seeds that will reap the most outstanding deposit of divine grace never before demonstrated.

I Will Restore

The Joel 2:25 promise of restoration is one of the paramount passages of this day. God pledges:

"I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you." Joel 2:25

Joan of Arc was God's appointed representative during a crucial juncture in human history. Abuse of authority from corrupt political officials eradicated the Heavenly deposit entrusted to her. God's just nature will mandate a manifold restoration of this and other lost anointings through faithful and obedient vessels prepared to apprehend and demonstrate this destiny and the Lord's redemptive virtues.

Paul Keith and Wanda Davis
WhiteDove Ministries

PROPHETIC CHAMBER

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

I can still remember when I discovered that Santa Claus wasn't real. I was disheartened and disillusioned but worse, I was scared. I wondered what else wasn't real. What if the things that I had been told about Christ in Christmas weren't true either? Is it all a delusion, a myth, a fairy tale? Glory to the Newborn King, the Lord gave me a sign that calmed my fears.

As I grew up, doubt and skepticism would challenge every area of my life. Believing in something just because someone told me it was true was no longer a possibility for me. "Why?" and, "How do you know?" filled my vocabulary, causing me to question everything from baking cookies to understanding the Bible. If you know me personally, you're nodding your head and smiling as you read this. However, the stark reality is those questions that are such a part of who I am today arose because the darkness of distrust crept into my life.

This darkness would nearly suffocate me when I contemplated death and eternity. I tried to push it down and "just believe," but I didn't know how to make that happen. How could I ever be sure of what I hoped for and certain of what I do not see while living in my uncertainty? I longed to sleep in the heavenly peace that Jesus offered, yet as James points out, "he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind" (James 1:6b). Perhaps you can identify.

While it's true that there are many wonderful symbols that parallel St. Nicholas and Jesus Christ, I didn't need a symbol. I needed a sign of truth that would set me free to worship instead of worry when my fears arose. Fortunately, for seekers like me, the same God that loves us unconditionally (and that includes even in our skeptical state) is also a God of signs and wonders and His light still shines bright.

Among the stories of the advent of Christ, we read about a group of wise men. These men were considered wise because they were trained students of the stars, astrologers, men who "divided the heavens" to determine the future. These men came from the east because they saw a sign. That bright star was a sign and the very light that led them to the King of the Jews, Jesus Christ.

As an adult, Jesus spoke to the wise men of the Bible saying, "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me" (John 5:39).

These men were experts regarding the sacred Scriptures. They contemplated not only the obvious meaning of the texts, but dug in looking for hinted/hidden meanings, too. They didn't just search the written Words but also the individual letters that comprise them. They even pondered each stroke necessary to create the letters. They searched for wonders that would reveal more about God to them.

Jesus astounded all who heard Him at the age of twelve, and I don't think it was because of His reading skills or memorization of the Scriptures. Luke 2:47 tells us everyone was astounded at His insight and understanding of the Scriptures. Within the written Word there are treasures just waiting for us to discover which testify of Him. These signs are there to point and guide all who seek. These pearls will not vanish as the myth of Santa Claus did. The truth can set even the skeptical seeker (like me) free.

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105

There are many lights that shine in every word. In Revelation 22:13, Jesus referred to Himself as the Alpha and Omega, which are the first and last letters of the Greek Alphabet. I believe that He is hinting that the alphabet will provide revelation about Him. Jesus is the Word (the Hebrew Alphabet) that was made flesh. The Aleph and the Tav are the first and last letters of the Hebrew Alphabet. The phrase "aleph and tav" is an expression meaning "the whole alphabet." These letters are eternal and with them God spoke and the heavens and earth were created.

Like other ancient writing systems, the Hebrew alphabet originally was written using pictograms. The pictograph for the aleph is an ox - a strong animal that is used for sacrifice. The pictograph for the tav is a cross - symbolizing ownership, covenant, sign, a mark, and to join two things together.

Looking at the meanings of just these two letters, we see something miraculous that was written long before Jesus came to earth. We see that "in the beginning" God created the strong leader that would be sacrificed on a cross, ultimately joining together God and man by making a new covenant and sealing it with His Blood, placing a mark of ownership on the people of faith so that the angel of death might pass over (Passover) them so they can enter into eternal life.

That is really cool this side of the Cross, but it's even cooler when you discover that God placed a sign in the sacred texts from the beginning. In fact, it is found in the very first line of the Hebrew Scriptures - Genesis 1:1. Translated it reads, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

In order to see the sign, one must look into the Hebrew text.

This sign that God strategically placed in the very first line of the Hebrew Scriptures is the first time we see the Hebrew letters aleph and tav together.

This sign has given rise to perhaps more commentary than any other single verse. Put together, the aleph and tav create a word that has no translatable meaning...or does it?

This unique word isn't really a word; it is an object marker - a sign. In Hebrew, it appears between the words "God created" and "the heavens." Regarding this portion of Scripture, the Sages have said, "In the beginning God created the aleph and the tav before He created the heavens and the earth." That is staggering considering that Revelation 13:8 says that the Lamb was slain BEFORE the foundations of the world.

Could this sign, the aleph and the tav, found in the very first line of the Hebrew Scripture, be pointing to God's redemptive plan for mankind - Jesus, the Lamb who was slain before the foundations of the world? If that wasn't enough, there is yet another sign: "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14, emphasis added).

Although a virgin getting pregnant is a pretty convincing sign, it's not the sign that I am talking about. The sign I am talking about is the actual word - i.e. sign - which is made up of our key Hebrew letters aleph and tav with one additional letter, the vav. The vav is a pictograph of a nail! The placement of this additional letter is astounding. The vav (nail) is found between the aleph (sacrifice) and the tav (cross). Do you see what I see? The nail (vav) is what joins the sacrifice (aleph) to the cross (tav).

This blows my skeptical mind! Furthermore, the Dead Sea Scrolls confirm the letters are so. The Hebrew Bible has not been changed. Beloved, this is not some diabolical myth or some conspiracy made up by the Church, it is the greatest story ever told. God gave Himself to us as a strong yet silent sacrifice that was nailed to the Cross. He is the sign and the sacrifice; He has done it all.

Lord, I Believe - Help My Unbelief!

My spirit soars with the truth that has been revealed...but there is still one more pearl to discover within these magnificent Hebrew letters aleph and tav. In John 14:6, Jesus identified Himself as three things: the way, the truth, and the life. In Hebrew the word truth is spelled aleph, mem, tav. As you recall, aleph and tav are the first and last letters of the Hebrew Alphabet and mem is the middle letter. This reveals that truth is all encompassing - the beginning, the ending and all that is in between.

It's no coincidence that the mem represents water and chaos. In the middle, in the chaotic moments of life, when it seems all hell is breaking loose and we feel like we are drowning, the aleph and the tav surround us. The Truth will set us free to worship instead of worry, to praise instead of panic.

I understand the darkness of doubt firsthand. Sometimes it's just easier to force yourself not to get your hopes up rather than take the chance and get them crushed once again. It takes faith to open the ultimate Christmas Gift, and that is why my life verse became Mark 9:24: "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"

Truth comes from the word Amen, meaning to support, confirm, to be carried. It represents a foster-father, a foster-mother or nurse. Beloved, even in our moments of uncertainty when our faith has failed, the Lamb that was slain from the foundations of the earth is there to hold us, support us, and carry us through.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men" (John 1:1-4).

Jesus, the aleph and the tav, the beginning, the end and all that is in between is the Light - is the sign that has been given to all mankind.

Though it may struggle to shine in the midst of doubt, it is still there. The darkness cannot overcome it. This Light will continue to shine, leading all who seek to find the truth. Whether you are a skeptical seeker like me, or one who has childlike faith, I pray that the sign shines bright, enabling you to worship the Child born in Bethlehem.

Tiffany Ann Lewis
Dancing with the Flame of the Lord Ministries

PROPHETIC CHAMBER

2009 - A Year of Fullness

by Bill Burns

"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come." John 16:13

The following is what the Holy Spirit has revealed to me about what will take place in the Church in the year 2009. However, the revelation begins with the year 2000 and reaches into the year 2012.

The breakdown of these years is as follows:

2000-2006 were named (by the Spirit) "The Years of Teaching and Learning." This was a time in which many of God's people began to be taught by the Holy Spirit according to 1 John 2:27. Those who made the Holy Spirit their teacher received understanding of this present visitation as revealed in Hosea 6:1-3.

2007-2008 were named "The Years of Preparation." That which was learned in 2000-2006 was beginning to be practiced by those who were taught by the Holy Spirit. The prophetic words that came in 2007 and 2008 will carry on into a completeness in 2012.

2009-2011 are called "A Time of Equipping." This will be a time in which the Church will begin to live in and manifest the fullness of the Holy Spirit's fruit and gifts. Miracles will become more common as God's people grow into a fullness of faith and gifting.

2012 will be "The Year of Divine Government." Those who are equipped during the fourth watch (2009-2011) will find themselves living under the power of divine intervention. The Lord will establish His rule over a people who have moved from the Church Age to the Kingdom Age, His Kingdom in manifestation among His people. The Church Age represents man's rule in religious institutions; the Kingdom Age represents God's rule over His people by the Holy Spirit.

The first fruit of the Spirit is love; to know God's love will produce the fullness of God's presence. Ephesians 3:19 "...to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

And, in this relationship of fullness, we shall be perfected. Ephesians 4:13 "...till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ..."

This fullness of Christ (see Colossians 2:9) in us will elevate His Body and bring it forth in a new level of spiritual maturity.

The New Man (Colossians 3:10)

Colossians 3:10 "And have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him."

This mature new man will indeed seek first the Kingdom of God and all of his needs will be met.

Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

As we develop in spiritual maturity, we will see a greater distinction between the Church Age and the Kingdom Age. The revelation of our lives in the Kingdom of God will build our faith. Our faith will then produce Kingdom power by which many of God's people will be set free from all bondage.

Psalm 9:9-14 "The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You. Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the people.

"When He avenges blood, He remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the humble. Have mercy on me, O LORD! Consider my trouble from those who hate me, You who lift me up from the gates of death, that I may tell of all Your praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion. I will rejoice in Your salvation."

The Voice of the Lord

Those who seek first the Kingdom of God will begin to hear the voice of the Lord in a new and profound way. They will hear more frequently and with greater clarity than they ever have before. His voice will become a trumpet to their ears and a guiding light to their lives.

Psalm 29:3-4 "The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the LORD is over many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty."

Revelation 1:10 "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet..."

For many years now some of God's people have been hearing the voice of satan more often than the voice of God. That is about to change because the Lord is going to shout the devil down. God's voice of thunder will come to His beloved in such a manner that satan's lies and accusations will be more readily recognized and overcome. The voice of the Lord will bring victory to those who hear Him.

A Year of Victory Through Praise

The voice of the Lord in our ears will bring forth a spontaneous praise that will be a weapon that will produce victory - victory over the world and satan's bondages that hold God's people in captivity.

Psalm 29:1-2 "Give unto the LORD, O you mighty ones, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness."

Psalm 29:11 "The LORD will give strength to His people; the LORD will bless His people with peace."

Psalm 9:1-8 "I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. When my enemies turn back, they shall fall and perish at Your presence. For You have maintained my right and my cause; You sat on the throne judging in righteousness. You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked; You have blotted out their name forever and ever.

"O enemy, destructions are finished forever! And you have destroyed cities; even their memory has perished. But the LORD shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for judgment. He shall judge the world in righteousness, and He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness."

If we become true worshipers in this season, we will declare the praise that brings victory!

The Fourth Watch

Word of the Lord on December 1, 2008 - The Trumpet:

"I say to you, My people, watch! For, the fourth watch is coming in the very season ahead of you. I have spoken to you that I would come to you as the rain. I will come to you not only as the rain, the flowing down of My Spirit upon the land, but I will walk upon that rain, and I will walk to you and enter into union with you.

"When I come to you, I will translate you into the reality of My Kingdom. When My Kingdom comes upon you, the power will come and be demonstrated in the land among My people because of your desires and the willingness of your hearts. I shall come to those of you who have remained faithful, even as I came to Moses and to Abraham and to David and those who have gone before you.

"I will have fellowship with you and restore, renew and empower you to fulfill your destiny that you may walk forth in the grace and knowledge of My presence. Then, I say, your joy shall be restored, and peace shall be the path before you where I will walk with you.

"Behold, study and learn, for now My Church is entering into the fourth watch, and that revelation will be in My communion with you as My Spirit will teach you all things that pertain to that watch. The watchmen will say, 'What of the night?' But, I say, the morning comes - the night is far spent and the day is at hand. These are days of My power and glory, so be aware spiritually of this new watch, and position yourselves by faith to see, says the Lord."

Word of the Lord on December 15, 2008 - The Trumpet:

Hear what the Spirit says: "As you gain knowledge and understanding of the fourth watch, you will realize that you are on a fast track to the end of the age. It is important that you rise up and enter into that which I have provided for you. Come, I say. Come through the door into the heavenly realm. You will now establish your position in the Kingdom of Almighty God."

What the Lord is speaking to us about in these two prophetic words is that the fullness of the fourth watch will come to us as we gain knowledge and understanding about the fourth watch. Our understanding will produce Kingdom authority in our lives.

The fourth watch for Israel's night watchmen was from 3:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. It is also called the morning watch in which the light of the sun is seen upon the horizon. It is a time when the Morning Star is the guiding light of God's people that will lead them into the Day of the Lord.

Revelation 22:16-17 "'I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.' And the Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely."

The light of the Morning Star will show us the way, and the voice of the Lord says, "Come." Come and drink of this revelation and your part in it. So, we need to know what will take place in the fourth watch. The Scriptures concerning the fourth watch produce a pattern of those things that will begin to take place in this season.

"Fear Not; Come!"

Mark 6:45-51 "Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away. And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray. Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land. Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them.

Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by. And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, 'Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.' Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled."

We must examine this narrative spiritually as it applies to us in the fourth watch.

Jesus sent His Church on their journey of faith and went up to Zion (the mountain of the Lord) into Heaven at His resurrection. In the fourth watch He sees His Church struggling, and so He is now coming to them to fulfill Hosea 6:1-3. We must see Him and call to Him, and He will then come to us. The first thing He tells us is to "fear not" because He is with us in our boat. Then, He takes dominion over the elements (satan's storms) that work against His people.

Peter's faith was quickened by this event, and ours will be also. If we call out to Him, He will call to us and say, "Come."

Matthew 14:28-33 "And Peter answered Him and said, 'Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.' So He said, 'Come.' And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. "But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, 'Lord, save me!'

"And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, 'Truly You are the Son of God.'"

A new level of faith will be birthed in our hearts this year, and miracles will begin to happen with more frequency. It is a year for each of us to walk on the water during the storms and to have victory. The test will be to conquer fear that produces doubt. Again, worship will bring victory. During this time the Church will become more supernatural.

John 6:19-21 "So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. But He said to them, 'It is I; do not be afraid.' Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going."

The Lord's presence took His Church to the place where they were going. That is to say where He is taking us. So, where are we going in 2009? Well, let us follow the Scriptural pattern.

Healing and Provision as We Touch the Hem of His Garment

Matthew 14:34-36 "When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well."

This time of the fourth watch will produce healing as we touch the hem of His garment. Not only will healing be abundantly available to God's people, but so will His provision. This journey into the fourth watch began with the Lord's provision (see Matthew 14:15-21). Even though we find ourselves in tough economic times, God's people will be provided for. The Lord will multiply that which you have because of that which you give. Even as the disciples gave the bread that Jesus gave them to give, it will be so with us.

These are the things that will take place during the fourth watch, and they will be ours if we will only believe. May this year bring the fullness of God's presence into your lives, and may all that He has for you be received as you go forth in faith and into the glory of 2009!

"Divine GPS - Navigation"
by Marsha Burns

The Lord brought to my mind GPS with regard to 2009. GPS - what is it? The Global Positioning System is a satellite-based navigation system made up of a network of 24 satellites placed into orbit by the U.S. Department of Defense. GPS was originally intended for military applications, but in the 1980s, the government made the system available for civilian use. GPS works in any weather conditions, anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day.

We need to know where we are via the Divine GPS for the purpose of setting up an effective navigation and defense against the enemy's attacks. This means heightened awareness and discernment, thus a greater sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.

2000 - Announcement of the Third Day Church, first light of the Kingdom Age.

2001 - We learned to tear down ancient strongholds, and fight more effectively.

2002 - Healing began to relieve God's people of years of rejection and reproach.

2003 - Loyalties were tested; choices were made; lines were drawn in the sand.

2004 - Was marked by separation; the faint-hearted departed.

2005 - We reestablished priorities and regrouped after a severe season of shaking.

2006 - Many at a crossroads in circumstances after burying the past.

2007 - A time of a greater manifestation of spiritual discernment and insight.

2008 - A year of release from past limitations and bondages to rise up in Spirit. A further and clear distinction between being religious and being in the Spirit. Opportunities for spiritual growth brought divine positioning. We continue our journey to the new spiritual plateau as the Lord leads us up!

2009 will bring us to maturity in many of the themes, which began with Y2K. We will continue to mature, particularly in spiritual gifts and the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, as we recognize and understand spiritual reality as opposed to religious exercise. We are in process of a national and global economic repositioning. But, if we are obedient and faithful to God, He will cause us to prosper in the midst of an uncertain economy.

Keywords for 2009: Integrity and Stewardship

As I was seeking God for revelation for 2009, He spoke to me about Lady Justice. She carries the scales of justice in one hand and a sword in the other. Her eyes are covered (blindfolded). She symbolizes the fair and equal administration of the law, without corruption, prejudice, or favor.

• The scales of justice represent fairness and honesty - again, integrity will be of utmost importance.

Proverbs 16:11 "Honest weights and scales are the LORD's; all the weights in the bag are His work."

Proverbs 20:10 "Diverse weights and diverse measures, they are both alike, an abomination to the LORD."

• The sword represents the truth and wisdom, the Word of God.

Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

• The blindfold represents blind justice or God's justice having no prejudice. He is no respecter of persons.

1 Timothy 5:21 "I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality (prejudice)."

Prejudice is defined as an irrational attitude of hostility directed against an individual, a group, a race, or their supposed characteristics. A preconceived judgment or opinion before sufficient knowledge is obtained. There will be ample opportunities to overcome prejudice and every other temptation.

Word of the Lord on December 9, 2009 -Small Straws:

"Beloved, My Word is a great leveler. It is the truth that brings you into a position of stability and equality. When you begin to think that you are either superior or inferior, neither of these perspectives is true. What is true is that I am no respecter of persons, and My love is not biased. It is the work of the enemy to establish prejudice among My people and to make distinctions that favor one above another. Stand against this insidious attack, and arise to the truth of your acceptance in My Kingdom," says the Lord.

Acts 10:34-35 "Then Peter opened his mouth and said: 'In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.'"

This will be a year of judgment according to the principles of God's Word symbolized by Lady Justice. Remember that judgment and justice are the same - judgment if you are on the wrong side of the law - a perpetrator, and justice if you are righteous.

Proverbs 29:26-27 "Many seek the ruler's favor, but justice for man comes from the LORD. An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, and he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked."

It will be a time when corruption on every level will be exposed and brought to correction, as God judges man and his works.

1 Peter 4:17 "For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the Gospel of God?"

2 Peter 3:9-13 "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

"Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells."

Romans 12:21 "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Five Areas for Balance and Integrity

There are five main areas of our lives that will demand balance and integrity:

1. Spiritual freedom and growth. We will continue to find areas of religious bondage in ourselves that need to give way to spiritual liberty. This is the path to the new plateau.

Galatians 5:1 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."

2. Health. Our health depends upon our relentless fight against the enemy of our souls. We can't give in!

John 10:10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

3. Relationships. Relationships have to take their proper place in the grand scheme of things. We will continue to be tested to see if we will accept every other human being for exactly who they are. The Lord wants us to see ourselves and others as He does.

John 15:12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."

4. Employment. Exercise integrity and diligence in what you have been given to do.

Colossians 3:23-24 "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."

5. Economy. Follow the principles of stewardship -

a. Obedience to the Word of God.

Psalm 1:1-6 "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.

"The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish."

b. Giving and tithing.

Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

Matthew 23:23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone."

c. Stewardship - don't squander your resources.

Luke 12:42-43 "And the Lord said, 'Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.'"

d. Spending - you need to make more than you spend.

James 4:1-3 "Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures."

Matthew 6:25-33 "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

"Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

3 John 1:2 "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers."

In a vision I received my new Day-Timer refill, but it didn't come with all of the extra pages like the long-range planner (expense sheets, etc.). It was simply one blank page per day, no frills. I believe this symbolizes what our position should be in the days ahead, which is to simplify, be frugal, and to take one day at a time. God's grace is sufficient, trust Him!

Bill and Marsha Burns
Faith Tabernacle

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