In this extensive prophetic report titled: Prophetic Directions for 2008, Todd shares twelve crucial directives He received from the Lord for 2008. Each one is significant, yet, when combined, the full force of what's in store for 2008 is sure to launch you into an amazing year, as well as prepare you for the years that follow! Be greatly blessed as you press in for these appointed directives to be established in your life.
"Where there is no vision (no redemptive revelation of God), the people perish…" Proverbs 29:18(Amplified Bible Version)
I take the above-noted proverb seriously. Each New Year, not only wanting, but also needing a clear commission from the Lord concerning direction for the year, I always seek Him about what lies ahead.
With that purpose, recently, I asked my friend Bob Jones (a gifted, mature seer-prophet) about what God was saying to him concerning 2008. In a nutshell Bob said that he had not received a clear directive from the Lord yet. He was still praying about it but he did say this: "I know what the Church needs in this hour. We need a clear clarion trumpet call and we need a clear voice!"
Yes, every word that proceeds from the mouth of God--the living word, the now word, revelation, fresh manna--are absolutely vital. That's why it is imperative that we take the necessary time to listen to God and to hear His voice, His every word.
In fact, a great opportunity comes before us every morning to hear from the Lord. Look at what the prophet Isaiah wrote about why spending quality time with God in the morning marks us for accomplishing God's strategic purposes: "The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned" (Isaiah 50:4, emphasis mine). Church, this year is the year to take Isaiah's word to heart!
Yet there is something more that will mark you. It involves a certain shift that has come to pass concerning the secret place. Namely, there is a whole lot more involved in the secret place than just coming into God's presence to rest, soak and marinade, as good as that is. We're shifting! In fact we need to shift; and it's into something much deeper...being transformed...to the point that we actually become a resting place for the Lord. We become like a landing strip for the presence of the Holy Spirit; a place that holds an atmosphere where God doesn't just come in moments of visitation, but He comes in habitation. As a resting place for the Lord, we're in the best position for hearing the clear clarion trumpet call and God's clear voice. Actually, it's when I'm in that spiritual position that I receive revelation for the New Year.
So here are twelve prophetic directions for 2008. My hope and prayer is that each point will help you both gain and maintain a successful year, one that will launch you into the future strong and full of faith and Holy Ghost power!
1. 2008 IS A YEAR TO DISCERN WHAT IS BEST
"That which is good is the enemy of what is best," said Bob Jones.
Good things will keep Christians in 2008 from the best if they think that when they're "doing what's good" it is "the blessing" of the Lord. I say that because in the midst of doing good things there is often an attitude of complacency. So the challenge is not to settle for, or just be content with, what is good.
Furthermore, unlike any other year, 08 is a year wherein somehow you "determine the bar" and this determination is connected to "you get what you say." By that I mean--the bar will go as high or as far as you set the expectation, as well as by what you say--and God wants you to know that you can't go too high. So why settle for what's good when you can go higher!
Therefore, 2008 is a year to really press in and not look back at yesterday; as good as it might have been, like it's some kind of grid that reflects all that God wants to do tomorrow. The challenge will be to live like the Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 3:20: "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think…" dream or imagine "according to the power that works in us."
Think and walk in an "exceedingly abundantly" mindset because God will do exceedingly abundantly according to the power that works within you! Great faith will establish this in your life. So press in!
2. 2008 IS A YEAR OF ADVANCEMENT AND VICTORY
The Lord said to me that He is going to cause us to triumph, to have victory, not defeat--it's a prophetic decree, it's a prophetic declaration--founded upon this scripture: "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith" (1 John 5:4). Real victory comes out of real faith and God is going to breathe again on what the meaning of real faith is. The only way we are going to overcome is by faith, and there is going to be a supernatural release of faith.
Faith is going to be energized! The level of faith will be so great this year that many impossible things will break through tremendously. So seek the Lord about faith. It's time to walk in solid faith. Great faith! Understand everything that you can about faith and how faith works--to gain your victory. Truly, it's in the simplicity of going back to foundational understanding about what real biblical faith is and how faith works that the most incredible anointing, revelation, and powerful miracles will be released. It's because the Captain of the host is coming on the scene!
We're going to see that the battle truly belongs to the sovereign Lord! Whatever battles you are entering into--battles that you have been fighting for years, battles in your family, financial battles, battles in your body--they're going to be won. This is a year of victory--a year in which the very thing that has defeated you and has been a continual thorn in your side--will be overcome. That's God's promise! You've got it! You've already won because it's a time of triumph--"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14).
Claim--"This year is the year of victory!" Pay attention to what you say and be confident in the Lord. Expect victory!
3. 2008 IS A YEAR OF STARTING OVER, COMPLETION, AND NEW BEGINNINGS
No matter how it's been in the past, this is the year that God is breathing out of Heaven saying, "It's the year of starting over, completion, and new beginnings!" For God is going to give us the opportunity to do again what we failed to do before. This is the year of starting over in your business, or in your marriage, ministry, church, and more. You're not going to keep going around the same mountain. That season is over! Completion! It's a year of opportunity and grace. You're going to get it right this time! You're going to find something new happening in your life!
So, once again, don't settle or be satisfied with those things that are "good" in your life. There is so much more. Be hungry; be desperate. Take it to the next level. Set a goal. Crank it up to the next level in your goals, in your ministry, in reaping souls, in your faith, in your vision. Remember, every time you go higher God will meet you there. That's His promise!
4. 2008 IS A YEAR OF THE DOUBLE PORTION
Last year God asked me an unusual question: "Todd, are you ready to pray for people to receive a double portion?" Then, as I sought the Lord for direction in 2008, He brought that question to my remembrance as He said: "2008 is the year of the double portion"--
"Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be theirs" (Isaiah 61:7).
Instead of shame, it's double honor! Listen. If you have any shame it's going to leave because of restoration; God is going to release miraculous restoration! You're going to have double honor. Honor is favor, esteem and respect. Instead of confusion you will rejoice in your portion. As you live in the land, it's double joy!
What's more, did you know that every first born son, biblically, had the inherited right to receive the double portion? Here's how this applies to you and me.
Since Jesus Christ is the first born, raised from the dead, and you have been made a joint heir with Him, you have the first born right to double portion. You actually have the right to "make a demand" on your Heavenly Father to restore and bring forth double portion inheritance and blessing in every area of your life. You have the right to live in blessing, in double honor, in double joy, and double goodness. You have the biblical right in Christ to receive the double portion blessing of the Father.
When the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, released the first born inheritance, all they did was release the blessing, speak the word, give the impartation, and God made sure it manifested in the life of their first born heirs. I want you to understand, when there is a prophetic decree of double portion, it is God's responsibility to bring it forth. He will be the one that commands whatever He needs to command in your circumstances to bring you the double.
5. 2008 IS A YEAR TO STRENGTHEN YOURSELF IN THE LORD
In the natural, if you want to lift four hundred pounds then you need to exercise, build yourself up and strengthen the little supporting muscles so that your whole core is strong enough to lift heavy weights. Likewise, in the spiritual, if you want to prophesy, see miracles, signs and wonders happen through your life, go into the nations, preach--then you need to exercise and strengthen your core. You need to take in spiritual calories through prayer, devotion, worship, praying in tongues, staying plugged in at church, abiding in the vine, so that you can go the distance.
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You are only as strong as your core, and if you want to manifest the dunamis power of God it's going to depend on the strength of your inner man. (Dunamis is a Greek word from which we get the word dynamic; it means great power, strength, and ability to accomplish something. See Luke 9:1.) That's why it's important to build yourself up in your most holy faith through prayer, getting up early in the morning to pray, meditating on the word day and night-- those simple acts. Yet they are the most important ones to do!
David, during one of his most difficult trials, strengthened himself in the Lord (1 Samuel 30:6). He went into the secret place, called for the priest and asked for the ephod (holy garment). Ultimately, he wanted to seek the Lord, and in the secret place he received God's counsel as he strengthened himself--"Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all" (verse 8).
6. 2008 IS A YEAR OF JUSTICE
God told me that 08 is a year of justice. I'm talking about the kind of justice that comes out of Heaven. It's not about revenge being justice. God is going to establish His justice; He is going to breathe on and bless justice. We're going to see this. The media is going to prophesy, government is going to prophesy, kingdoms are going to prophesy. Laws will change. We're going to make a demand on Heaven and we're going to see God's justice this year, and we're going to see Him bring it forth out of His Kingdom.
Remember, in the spirit, the anointing of justice and moving in justice goes hand in hand with the kingly anointing. It's the kingly anointing that establishes God's judgment and justice. For example, when David reigned as king over all of Israel, he administered judgment and justice to all the people in his kingly anointing (2 Samuel 8:15).
Therefore, hold the ground in the "sphere of influence" that the Lord has given you. It might be for your work place; it might be for your city; it might be for the widows and orphans. Then take it a step further--advance His Kingdom--take more ground for the cause of Christ's justice. As you do, you are walking in your kingly anointing. You are affecting the world around you for the glory of God!
7. 2008 IS A YEAR OF FOCUS
My focus is two more years of greater glory in God's presence--supernatural giving, debt cancellations, miracles, signs and wonders, double portion, build. But don't miss this. No matter what your focus is, when you get something from the Lord this year, when you know the kind of season you are in, be like a pit bull and dig into it. Don't allow any distractions, trials, or even things that appear to be good to creep up on you. If they aren't in line with your mandate, then don't give them any attention. Declare the season you are in, stay the course and don't let it go. See it through until God makes a change.
8. 2008 IS THE YEAR OF THE NATIONS
This is the year to "Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession" (Psalm 2:8). There is something about asking in the right season. We can ask any time, but then there are times when God urges us to ASK NOW!
Today, God is looking for those who will ask Him for the nations, because this is a God-ordained hour when Heaven is breathing on the nations--open doors, opportunities, and acceleration for reaping souls. God is breathing on His beloved, giving us authority over the nations. Listen. God saw Reinhard Bonnke, his passion for the harvest, and He is giving him a nation in Africa!
Nigeria is his nation! For about the last eight years Reinhard Bonnke has spent more time in Nigeria than any other nation. Why? The answer is because he has received God's authority to take Nigeria for Christ. God gave it to him in 2000, and he said that until he reaps a harvest, he's not concentrating anywhere else like he is in Nigeria. What about you?
For those of you who are pressing in hard for taking nations, I have a word for you. You are going to receive from God--the inheritance, the authority, the favor, and the resources--for taking your nation. You will experience quick advancement and you might even see God do more in this twelve month period than He's done in the last eighteen years. And no matter what, it's going to come by double portion! It's "Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations…" and you're going to break through so that you can take it to the next level. Watch, it's going to explode! So pack your bags and go!
9. 2008 IS THE YEAR TO BUILD
Look at what Nehemiah said: "The God of Heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build" (Nehemiah 2:20). Build! That's the season Fresh Fire is in. After the dark night of the soul I received a word from Heaven. God asked me, "Do you know what time it is?" Then He answered, "Greater glory" and "Build! Build! Build!" We've got God's word and so we're focused, we're building, and we're building fast.
Listen. If you're going to plant anything, build anything, launch out into any kind of ministry this is the year to do it. This is the year to create! It's time...there's oil on it! It's a season in which God is fulfilling apostolic visions and dreams. So we need to be like Nehemiah. That means we need to know the season we are in, be focused, have a sword in one hand, and a hammer in the other! Like Nehemiah we need to be aggressive in order to go all the way--"The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force" (Matthew 11:12).
10. 2008 IS THE YEAR TO CONSULT THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM
ABOUT ANY DECISIONS
I was just having time with God in conversation when I received His caution--"Don't make any major decisions without consulting the Spirit of wisdom, first." Now I know that's the word of the Lord all the time, but for some reason God wanted to emphasize it for 2008. He said this is the year to be extra careful with everything you do and plan; that you need to commit your works to Him; that the preparations belong to Him and He will establish your steps (Proverbs 16:9).
So look for the Shepherd that leads. He does so with the spirit of wisdom. In fact, in the Book of Proverbs, the first eight chapters are about wisdom. "She," wisdom, was right there and the Bible says to exalt her, love her, honor her, and embrace her.
Know everything that you can about the gift of the word of wisdom. The Lord said that in 2008 there is going to be a provision of the supernatural word of wisdom and that He is going to give people, mantling them with the gift, the spirit of wisdom.
11. 2008 IS A YEAR OF GREAT ANOINTING
Leviticus Chapter 8describes the time of consecration of Aaron and his sons, the seven days of holiness--"And you shall not go out of the door of the Tent of Meeting for seven days, until the days of your consecration and ordination are ended; for it will take seven days to consecrate and ordain you" (verse 33, Amplified Bible version).
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What happened on the eighth day? Aaron and his sons were ready, they met God's requirements, and they were anointed to perform certain priestly duties on the eighth day (chapter 9:1-4). You want the anointing? You want to be anointed? Then there are certain preparations--purification and consecration--then comes your "eighth day."
God said that this year, in 08, He is going to release a greater anointing; that it's going to be a year of great anointing. I believe it's going to be released into the lives of those who are prepared. Are you prepared through intimacy with Jesus Christ, the Anointed One? Are you a holy living sacrifice unto the Lord?
Leviticus Chapter 9:6and 23 says that after Aaron and his sons did the things God commanded them to do (that they were anointed for), the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. The anointing and the glory of the Lord go hand in hand! There is going to be a double portion--anointing and glory--for those who hunger after God, who walk uprightly and who honor the anointing!
12. 2008 IS A YEAR OF GREAT DELIVERANCES
David cried out to God and he saw great deliverances--"I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth--praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the LORD" (Psalm 40:1-3).
God heard David's cry and He hears your cry! God told me, "Todd, there is going to be an anointing for people to cry out and be delivered. I'm going to release that sovereign anointing which is going to come in an instant, and people are going to be set free." Freedom from whatever it is that's bound you!
"There is coming an authority in 2008,"said God, "when we are going to see great deliverances, spontaneous deliverances, instantaneous deliverances by supernatural intervention." One moment God will break through and in that moment somebody will come into their instantaneous freedom!
Todd Bentley
Fresh Fire Ministries
Email: info@freshfire.ca
February 2, 2008
The Center
32965 Lougheed Hwy. Mission, BC
Contact: 604-814-2287or email info@eastgatechurch.ca
February 3, 2008
Abbotsford Banquet & Conference Center
33738 Laurel Str. Abbotsford, BC
Contact: 604-853-8684 or email office@globalharvest.ca
February 6-9, 2008
North East Metro Christian Fellowship of Atlanta
5835 Oakbrook Parkway Suite F&G; Norcross, GA
Contact: 604-853-9041 or email info@freshfire.ca
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