It has seemed to me over the past few months that the prophetic pulse has changed from one of warning, to one of encouragement. What need is there of warning when it is clear that the storms are upon us? When it is clear that the wisdom, thoughts, and hope of men is proven insufficient. I see the hysterically tinged worship-fest of the incoming American messiah, and consider it symptomatic of the desperate desire to avoid the pain of our own making. How long will it be before this emissary of the culture of death disappoints us, failing to bring us our earthly salvation?

But I digress. Encouragement is the name of the game, now. To encourage us to shine in these current times.

But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. 1 Cor 14 v3

Truth is, things are not going to get “better”, at least not in the natural. Here is something I received back in 2005:

I had a prophetic dream. As is usual with dreams, upon wakening I could not quite grasp the essence of what I had dreamt.

Considering the reality of what I had been given, the Lord gave me a reference point to be able to anchor the dream and understand it.

I saw the Holy Spirit, brooding over the earth and the seas covering it. I perceived His plans for us. I saw Him dry up all the seas, and as this was done, what was hidden under the seas was revealed – mountains, valleys, plains and trenches.

My understanding was that the seas represented the Lord’s grace in the natural – that is, his physical provision for us. I saw that He will dry up this provision, and in doing so reveal the hidden natures of our hearts – both the highest heights, and the lowest depths.

I saw that this water – the Lord’s grace in the supernatural – would still be available as a source to be drawn upon by those who are based and grounded in the Lord.

What will this mean, and how extensive will it be? I do not know. Only that a time of natural adversity with supernatural blessing will occur, with the intent of revealing what has been hidden under the Seas of Plenty for many years. Both the best and the worst will be laid bare for all to see.

This therefore is my counsel – to seek from the Lord the grace in the supernatural, to provide all needs during this time. Yes, and not just what is needed, but an abundance, that you too may become ‘sons of encouragement’ – Barnabas’s for this time. Consider this story from Mark Mallett (copied below), and understand that you are being prepared – however small and insignificant you perceive yourself to be – to be that salt, that light, that beacon of hope and encouragement, to hook that one soul out from these tumultuous seas. May God bless you richly and abundantly,

Peter

IT was the end of a string of six concerts in several small towns on the Canadian prairies. The turnouts were poor, usually less than fifty people. By the sixth concert, I was beginning to feel sorry for myself. As I began to sing that night several years ago, I looked out at the audience. I could’ve sworn that everyone there was over ninety! I thought to myself, “They probably can’t even hear my music! Moreover, are these really the people you want me to evangelize, Lord? What about the youth? And how am I going to feed my family….?” And on and on the whining went, as all the while I kept playing and smiling at the quiet audience.

Afterward, I was supposed to stay the night in the empty rectory. But I was so upset that I packed everything up and started the five hour drive home through the night. I wasn’t two miles out of town when suddenly I felt the Lord’s presence in the seat beside me. I could “see” Him leaning over and looking squarely at me. He spoke with an intensity that to this very day shakes my soul.

Mark—Don’t underestimate the value of ONE soul.

The words were so powerful, so full of love, so intense that I burst into tears. Because suddenly I remembered… there was one younger lady who came up and spoke to me after the concert. She was visibly moved. I spoke with her and tried to answer her questions, but kept packing my gear, sulking, feeling sorry for myself instead of realizing that the one soul Jesus would have descended to earth to die for alone, was standing before me.

So that I would never forget what He said—what He died for—He repeated those words again, in a love which still leaves me in tears, even as I write this:

Don’t underestimate the value of ONE soul.

I repented, and from that day on began to realize that Jesus was no longer fishing with nets, but with hooks… looking now for one soul here, one soul there, before the coming of the Great Storm.