At our church we run a prophetic listening group that meets once a month to hear from the Lord and pray through visions / dream etc that people from our church may have had. I’d like to give you a sense of what we heard earlier this week, and then on from that my understanding of where we are headed in the near future.
One very strong thread that has been running through our personal lives recently has been the need to become unencumbered of the things of the world. As we live enmeshed in the world, it can prove hard to do, nonetheless there are possibilities. For example, getting out from the crushing hand of debt by not overextending ourselves for the latest new ‘thing’, by consciously divesting ourselves of all the ‘stuff’ that clutters our lives by giving to those who genuinely need it, and…well I could go on, the point being that there is a need to unentangle ourselves from the world.
Why? Well, one of the other threads has been the imagery, given in various dream, of travelling, perhaps even as refugees. The understanding here being that we need to be unencumbered and not weighed down, listening to the Lord, so that when He directs us that we immediately go to do His will.
The third thread we have seen is one of trust in our Lord. That the tumult of the world, distracting as though it may be, is no more than transitory fog compared to Christ. That He is very much in control, like a strong current underlying mirror clear water, He is our peace, and our direction. He knows the end from the beginning – we are not to fear but to trust in Him every step of the way.
I’d like to place these threads within my own understanding of the current times, and what is to shortly occur. I think there are soon to be changes in the world that will radically change how we all live. What they might be, and when, I could speculate, but it would be only that – and that is not what is important. If you’ve been listening to anything on this site over the last 18 months, the message has been to prepare. Not prepare out of fear, but to prepare in trust. Neither necessarily a physical preparation, though that plays a part, but fundamentally a spiritual preparation.
Why this spiritual preparation? Because, if our eyes are on the things of the world, and not on Christ, we will be caught up into the same spirit of fear and panic that will infect millions. In either case we will not be taken out of the tumult, and will indeed suffer loss ourselves, but we will have the anchor point in the midst of the storm, the Solid Rock on which our lives are founded. Then, and only then, rising above rack and ruin, we will have an opportunity to bring in a massive harvest home. For all those who have seen their anchors swept away, we may have that opportunity to show them Truth, where before folly held sway.
But it is my impression (and I would welcome yours) that this will be but a window. As a result of the tumult, strong autocratic systems will be put in place and we will see freedom traded for security. Then, when the control is established, so will come persecution. This is why we will need to raise (and be) disciples, not merely converts. For sure, deep faith will be needed to stand firm then. So, we will have our work cut out for us during the window of grace – hence the preperation now. There will come a time when we will need to ask whether we are willing to literally put our lives on the line for the sake of Jesus Christ.
So, this is what we are hearing at the moment, and my understanding of the times. I hope it helps and blesses you.
The Age To Come 
I’m sorry for sounding cynical, but I’m curious as to what you think the Scriptural warrant is for a “prophetic listening group”? Part of the reason for my cynicism is that I was raised in a “continuationist” denomination and witnessed many manifestations of the Spirit as a child. Many years later, I now have significant doubt as to the validity of much of what I witnessed.
The three threads in your post do not strike me as prophetic; rather they appear to be a rephrasing of what the Bible says (and I have no real argument with what you are saying based on my understanding of Scripture). I’m not a hard cessationist, but I guess I would call myself a soft cessationist. Ironically, whenever I take a spiritual gift survey, prophet is normally at the top of the list.
My wife remembers many of her dreams and often wonders if they have some special meaning from God. Fortunately, in over 24 years, none of them have even remotely had any basis in reality (I say fortunately, because some of them are very strange).
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Hello Warren,
You can be cynical, I don’t mind 😉 It depends what you understand by the prophetic. I suppose most people think of the prophetic as foretelling. This may be part of it, but only part. Much is rather forthtelling, and in particular involved calling people back to the Truth. Funnily enough, much is rephrasing the Bible, well not funnily as the same Spirit is involved. If you look at the prophets in the Bible, much of what they did involved calling people back to the Truth, as well, rephrasing the Torah, if you like.
I do believe that the Holy Spirit is just as active today as He ever was. And, in just the same way couterfeits are just as prevelant. As well as people who just get plain excited and do wacky things 😉 I would suggest what is mainly needed is discernment, something sadly lacking in our modern church, sometimes as people do not want to be judgmental.
Anyway, that’s my initial response, I could proably say much more but I’m a little short on time.
Blessings,
Peter
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Thank you for your response, Peter. I do understand that most prophecy is “forthtelling”, and the calling of people back to the truth contained in God’s Word (although the “foretelling” variety of prophecy sells more books) . If there is any contradiction between a prophecy and the Bible, then the prophecy is false.
I guess the key is in how one arrives at the message. Is it through prayer, the careful study of God’s Word, and the application of reason and experience, or does it come through divine revelation? Is the burden of discernment primarily on the hearer, or is the Godly prophet obliged to always test a message that he believes he has received against Scripture before revealing it? If the Old Testament edict about stoning false prophets was still in place, I’m sure prophets would be much more careful about what they say.
If the spiritual gift surveys that I have taken are at all accurate in saying that I have the gift of prophecy, I guess it would be in my ability to discern where and how the churches I have attended are deviating from God’s Word. I’m not fully convinced that it is a spiritual gift and often suspect that it just reflects my critical nature. Accordingly, I use study and reason to test my thoughts and ensure they have a Scriptural foundation.
Not surprisingly, I have discovered that most church leaders are cessationists when it comes to prophecy concerning their leadership 😦
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Thank you Peter for a very important post. It is so easy to get caught up in the spirit of fear when we listen to the news and the growing intolerance of Christian expression. I think you guys are right and I wish I was doing well in getting prepared. I feel tht I am not. With two little girsl I wish I didn’t live in such times. This causes me fear and anxiety. It is very diificult to focus on Jesus in the midst of the storm, to know and trust that He is with us and will not leave us as orphans. As a pastor I have a responsibility not only to get myself and my family ready, but also my people. And it is challenging to bring up these issues with family and ththers whom God has given responsibility for. Prayer and worship is the preparation
Thank you. Dan
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Hello Warren, I wouldn’t like to put a cap on how God gets our attention, only that He does. As far as how to discern prophecy, I’ve always seen it done best as a group under the authority of the church and in agreement with scripture. Oh and discernment IMHO is not the same type of gift, it is wider than simply applying to prophetic words.
Hello Dan, I have four little ones, so I do understand. I think it’s going to be a tough growing time for us all, as we learn in the only way we really can, that our Lord is sufficient for every need. It’s just our needs and wants that may need untangling.
“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I, said Gandalf, and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
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Peter, you know that we are on the same page as you across the board when it come to the day in which we live and what is to come. It is imperative that we are unencumbered by the things of this world and free to move as the Spirit leads. As you also know however, this is easier said than done.
I am glad that we have no credit cards or such debt, but we have no “assets” as well, according to the worlds standards. We have something much better though…
We have Jesus Christ and our Father own everything so the truth is we have all that we need as we follow Him!
Dan, I have read your comments over the months and know you have an ear to hear what the Spirit of the Lord is speaking in this hour. I also know that these things trouble you as a father who cares about his family. All I can say is that our God is faithful, and that He loves your precious little ones more than you can possibly imagine. Trust him dear brother, for every need, and in every situation.
If only we could have His perspective on these matters at hand, how much more peace we would have!
Our world is changing and soon what we have known and enjoyed in regards our freedom, on almost every front will be taken away or greatly diminished. We are blessed to have lived in such times and I pray that we will use the time that remains wisely and with an eternal perspective; being about the Fathers business in the harvest fields of souls.
Let us prepare our hearts in Jesus presence!
Let us cast aside very weight and the sin that so easily entangles us and run the race set before us with joy, in the grace and strength of the Lord.
No matter what happens here; whether we live or die, as long as we stand true to Christ we will have all the endless ages of eternity to be with the Lord and those we cherish and love. How incredible and awesome is that?!!
Jesus love, grace and hope to all, I pray we will dig deep into the mercy and grace of our Lord where our hearts will be prepared for whatever the future holds!
Blessings always!
Susan
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Greetings. Hebrews 12:1-2 has been on my heart all morning. To divorce ourselves from that which is temporal and pursue that which is eternal. I’ve often mentioned our pastors “hundred year test.” This is a way of determining if something is of importance by asking “will this be important a hundred years from now?” If it won’t have any bearing in a hundred years, it’s probably not all that urgent now.
This is a most needful post as we need to diligently seek the Lords will and let go of anything that would hinder; lest the cares of this life make us unfruitful.
Have a blessed day in Jesus.
timbob
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Thank you for the wonderful truths in this blog. Let me be frank. Satan is frantically and stealthily trying to extend control over global resources (human and physical) that belong to God and need to be won back.
Pray for unity of the body of Christ to become more pronounced. It is a spiritual reality irrespective of denomination or geographical location and power can only flow in the unity. Do not be deceived on this one. It’s crucial we understand the way the Lord works. All strongholds, particularly the major diseases which cause untold suffering and which remain one of the main mechanisms of control, can be flattened through better directed and coordinated prayer.
7,000 HIV child infections a day is simply outrageous. The knock-on effect on poverty is turning this into a catastrophe. Let’s bless this world, for the sake of these children and their Creator, in the Divine and Holy name of Jesus!
God is love and Power and we are assured of an infinite source of both in the Holy Spirit, and in the unity of Christ.
Amen.
Steven
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Soon and very soon we are going to see the King.
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Verily verily brothers and sisters I tell you, overcome and you shall see the King today. The (Holy) Spirit in Revelation 2:7 calls us to His glory “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
We have the perfect example in Him. Should you fall, get up immediately!
Amen,
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If we have the Light of the Son, we also have the Light of the Father! This is the crux of it.
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Oh my, well I haven’t had time to comment and I see I have a few to catch up on.
Susan ,we’re steering well clear of debt as well – we do have a credit card but it is paid off every month in full. Other than that, we’ve steered clear of debt. I think being unencumbered in that way will be most important.
Hello timbob – that hundered years test is probably no bad thing! So much of what we do is urgent but not important.
Hello Steven, you’re welcome, I’m glad this blog helps. It’s my prayer that the Lord be glorified and the Church prepared a little more through it.
Soon brother, soon….
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