"Yet many of the rulers also believed in Him. But because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they be put out of the synagogue. For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God" (John 12:42-43). When Jesus revolutionized His nation with the gospel of the kingdom, He was continually questioned and criticized for His visionary initiatives and unorthodox methods. The Pharisees were the politically correct referees who sought to silence His voice and penalize any advancement of His message. Knowing that their power and influence were losing ground, their religious mindsets could not comprehend or celebrate the very truths that could set them free from their own man-made bondage.
"Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end ... the zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this" (Isa. 9:7). There is a boldness that is greatly needed among the people of God as our culture continues to self-destruct. We know that truth must be shared, and the kingdom of God proclaimed. And yet the critics and trolls are ever-present, ready to pounce when we begin to challenge the status quo. Though we want to see change and long for victory, we are hesitant to step in the ring and add our voice to the fight. Not only do we fear the enemy's counterpunches, but we wonder if our own friends will cry foul and condemn our speech.
Through a recent prophetic dream, it was revealed that the Lord is calling forth intercessors to release and declare the word of the Lord so the angelic host can act on His command to take out enemy forces. "Bless the Lord, you His angels, who are mighty, and do His commands, and obey the voice of His word" (Ps. 103:20). This exhortation comes through a fellow prophetic intercessor and writer, Madeline James, from Winchester, Kentucky. She contacted me last week with a dream she had where I appeared with a particular dog in the midst of a sniper attack. As she described this dream, it was evident there was powerful symbolism being illustrated with a charge to intercessors.
That which is giving way—that which is crumbling—that which seems to be falling apart—is not doing so simply because of man's sin or the enemy's attacks. These seismic shifts that are occurring in the landscape of our culture are happening because there is a river that is flowing stronger and stronger in the land. It is the river of the Spirit of God. It is a movement of supernatural life, vision and purpose that is flowing stronger and stronger from heaven's high places because of the hunger-filled prayers of His people. It is alive and active, coming in full force, eroding all that is of the flesh and refining all that is of the Spirit.
For those who are looking for an increase of favor and opportunity in the assignments God has given you, focus your attention on the first fruit crop that will open the way for greater harvest and production. Many of you have been given a commission and assignment from heaven and are looking for more connections and opportunities to grow that which has been planted in your heart. However, the Lord is encouraging you to pay more attention to bearing good fruit than on establishing a production platform. It is the first fruit itself that will draw heaven's favor and create a larger platform for growth.
There is a rising group of men and women of God who have been hidden but have been prepared for a mission. They are being called by the Spirit of God to prepare a future generation of kingdom ambassadors who are going to shift culture and transform the earth. Because of the call on their lives, their journey has not been about them, but those following them. The Lord is calling forth history makers who carry a burden for family and a vision for kingdom expansion. There are many in this season who are being called as spiritual fathers and mothers to raise up sons and daughters and plant the seeds for emerging nations. If this is you, the Lord is saying, "Don't look for your own platform; you are to be a platform for others."
Sometimes, the best things take time. Lots of time. Even as we hope for those "suddenlies" and miraculous successes, the reality is that God often calls us to persevere for the long haul. It's at these times of seeming inactivity in the midst of the battle that our faith is truly tested. Not the amount of faith, but the kind of faith required to change a generation. It is a persevering faith that contends for something much bigger than the battle at hand. While we can ponder and pray into another word for the Year, God is looking for those with the faith to believe something for the next 10 or 20. Can we champion something that may take years to establish? Can we dare to be the ones who wait before the Lord, patiently keeping the fire burning and the vision alive so that those who follow us can live and walk in the promises we've been given?
Heading into this busy time of year, I woke up and asked the Lord to direct my thoughts. With so many options before me, I knew I needed to focus my energies carefully. That's when I heard, "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven"(Eccl. 3:1, ESV). I quickly realized that I could slip into automatic gear this time of year and begin to expect certain things, anticipate needs and priorities, and miss what God is doing this time. I felt the Lord's caution and reminder to carefully look and watch for what He is doing in this season, rather than assuming.
There is an invitation being issued from heaven to those who are pursuing the tangible evidence of God's kingdom at work on the earth. The Holy Spirit is exhorting the church to come up higher, not just in prayer, but in practical application of the principles we hold dear. This invitation especially goes out to leaders who are being called up higher in their role of demonstrating the realities of sonship and kingdom authority. Through a series of dreams in recent months, the Lord has highlighted several ways in which we as believers can partner with heaven in the fulfillment of God's plan in this kingdom age. His desire is to release the fullness of heaven's presence, power and reign to a world walking in darkness.
Given some recent events that are making national headlines, I feel compelled to share a dream I had in 2015 in which I had an open vision of the coming days. The weight of its message was clear, and I believe we are getting closer and closer to a shift we could never imagine and a reality we've never known. I was walking down a road with many people. All of the sudden behind my right shoulder, a huge golden beam of light from the heavens shone down and began to move across the sky in front of me from right to left. It was massive, and it was evident it was not manmade but from another realm. It began to engulf everything it touched.
Follow Up
