For the longest time I have wrestled with the desire to journal here again and the internal conflict that the Church is still not ready for the sound of a war prophet. I still don’t think it is. But this heartache that I carry for the Church that the Lord Jesus loved, loves and gave His life for will not abate. And so I must draw my sword and wield it once again in the hope (perhaps even in faith) that the time is near that someone will hear the sound of steel on steel ringing out in its distinctive prophetic way, calling to things long buried that would stir the heart of men and women once again.
The language of a prophet is cryptic, often secretive – walking in shadows and hinting at mysteries. At times it sounds vague and futuristic speaking to the best possible outcomes and heralding hope and times of rejoicing and yet at other times becomes suddenly dangerous even confrontational filled with violence and rage and demanding change and issuing challenge.
I’ve come to realise that church goers love to talk about the prophetic – a term they annoyingly sling at everything that has even the slightest hint of mystery – but have very little understanding of prophetic ministry much less the ascension gift that some are called to steward.
All may prophesy; some are prophets.
Quite frankly the fault lies with the pulpit rather than the pew. Instead of insisting on depth of understanding the prophet and prophetics, ministries glamourised it and built superstar icons and celebrities around it. Suddenly entire congregations were “chasing words.” Don’t get me wrong – I strongly believe that personal prophesy is a foundational element to living a Zoe life and that we all should have a deep desire for the Spirit of God to convey the heart of God to us through prophesy. But personal prophesy is the base expression of the prophet’s calling and stewardship. We got it all wrong! And this goes back to the 70s and 80s. It was always meant to be a stepping stone, a bridge, a portal to something far far greater and more powerful – the corporate prophetic anointing that would raise and release a company of prophets. Where is that today?
It is still born. Aborted. Abandoned. And yet I find myself magnetically drawn to these who once pioneered what a prophetic congregation could look like. Can these Wounded Warriors breathe again? Can they rise on their feet an exceedingly great army? Are they able to recognise the distinctive sound of the sword of the prophet being drawn from its worn scabbard? Let he who hath an ear – hear this sound. The blessing comes by the recognition! And this is what truly sets apart those who walk in the Spirit, being led by the Spirit and those who are playing in the shallow end of the waters.
A Voice Crying Out
I am as the voice of one crying out in the wilderness. For a time and for a season it must be so. But now the Lord has deemed it so to amplify that voice and rally other captains who have withdrawn to the high places and mountain caves. And together we are now calling!
We’re calling to the very same Wounded Warriors of time past to heed the unmistakable sound of the sword of the Lord filling the atmosphere being drawn by authentic expression from proven scabbards.
And this is where the fire gets turned up seven times hotter and self‑absorbed people enamoured by their celebrity pulpit idols get decidedly uncomfortable! Because AUTHENTIC is the standard of Heaven! And there aren’t many churches (and fewer ministries) that have it.
authentic | ɔːˈθɛntɪk | adjective Of undisputed origin in the traditional or original way without imitation, or in a way that faithfully resembles the original intention ORIGIN late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin authenticus, from Greek authentikos ‘principal, genuine’.
Contrary to the vogue narrative of revival, visitation, signs and wonders – we are actually in one of the most dangerous spiritual places right now as the Body of Christ: The Rise of the Counterfeit Church.
It is during this season, when the Spirit of God desires to move us from the bondage of Egypt to the promise of Canaan, from counterfeit to authentic that the enemy – that dragon of old – spews forth his vilest threats, unleashes his strongest attacks against and initiates his grandest deceptions. And yes I do believe that a counterfeit church already exists and casts a very long and dark shadow. Some have lived in the shadow for so long that they no longer recognise the true image.
You must remember that when I speak of the Church I am referring to the collective – to the church catholic. I am not specifically talking about one church or even your church. Ascension gifted stewards have a compelling burden for the Body of Christ and the Church Corporate of Jesus Christ as an agency of the Kingdom. Truly our clarion call, our battle cry is Kingdom!
You would be deaf, dumb, blind or a terrible combination of all to not have noticed the fall of mega church leaders or their closest associates. Lucifer himself ascended to the heights and was found wanting and eventually his rebel throne was cast from the Mount of the North. For years I’ve warned of charlatan prophets, super apostles and “presidential presbytery.” They had the opportunity to humble themselves and repent but chose instead the way of Balaam and either have found or will find themselves confronted by Divine judgement. God is never mocked.
Mega clerical stars. Name brands. Ecclesiastical celebrities. The house of cards – the counterfeit – is being exposed and the wind and the fire is falling to burn away this circus called the modern church until what is left is actually pleasingly Authentic in God’s sight.
The Modern Church: A House of Cards
Do you realise that an entire generation – maybe even two – genuinely believe that the modern church with its back‑walled LCD panels that would rival the Super Bowl, enormous stages more suited to a Beyoncé Tour or everyone’s favourite K‑Pop boy band, and slick production rooms all in the name of ‘a spirit of excellence’ is what real church is all about?
I recently read a statistic that Gen‑Z (those born between 1997 and 2012) have the highest rate of church attendance of any generation. That means they’re somewhere between the ages of 14 and 29 and their idea for church is completely influenced by the modern church and an ultra seeker-sensitive model. This was (and is) a movement in the late 90s and early 2000s that watered everything down so as not to create offence and reduced the standard of God to a mere suggestion guided by the sensibilities of men and committees. Worship as entertainment started right here by the way!
I don’t intend to pen a critique of the modern church but have you ever noticed how in conversation with mature Christians the longing to return to the Days of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, or even more contemporarily Azusa Street Revival is often expressed? Why is that? Why do we want to always go “back” to something? The answer is simple. There is a deep longing in the soul of man to return (to go back) to something genuinely, undoubtedly authentic.
This does not mean that we cannot go forward and that we don’t progress to better things. In fact the Bible is a progression from something imperfect to a covenant that is perfect. Forward momentum to greater understanding and depth. If you want to label that progress then I offer no argument against it.
But if you call spiritual progress the imitation of the world, a church built on hype by a production team tasked with creating the artificial using the artificial, in the hope that they can keep audiences entertained and enthralled long enough for them to throw money into the coffers to fuel monstrous empires and brands then it is truly time for the house to crumble. And God has no problem making that happen.
The Coming Glorious Church
I am walking out of the Wilderness (briefly) to declare the season of shaking. Whatever can – will be shaken. Before we even get to the Refiner’s Fire – the systems of the world that have slithered into the Church are going to be dislodged in a powerful manner. A shaking that breaks the chains that bind and opens the prison doors to release the true Church pure as gold! It’s that simple.
In the year ahead – two more big names fall. One death. One huge church implodes. (This one will be featured on mainstream media in a huge exposé). And don’t think this is satanic. The Angel of the Lord has now drawn a line in the sands of time. The message is clear. Repent. Walk away from evil. Or be swept away by the wind and fire of the Spirit of God.
In all of this mess God has a plan to birth beauty from ashes. I’m already standing somewhere in the future and seeing the birth of something so pure and powerful. So corporate and united that the very gates of hades would tremble at the sound of their full cry – a dangerous company – an Authentic Prophetic Glorious Church.
But in the meanwhile it is not going to be pretty. It is going to be a battlefield. Probably older Christians like myself would remember that we have been here before! We carry all the scars. We wear the wounds of religious wars. There is no smooth transition with God. You have to be prepared to fight to gain ground. To get to the next level. Sometimes it gets really ugly. But the reward is …. Authentic.
God has reserved a people! God has reserved a destiny for a people to usher in the age of the Glorious Prophetic Church. But there is so much to be done before that moment arrives. I have seen it afar off and contrary to the rogue narrative that we are all about to be beamed up out of here by the Rapture – God still has a desire according to His original intention that the Church of Jesus Christ shall be established in this generation and the very gates of hades shall not prevail against it.
Many of you, I know, want be a part of this! Sadly a vast number (maybe even a majority) will not. That is the reality. Narrow is the gate. But for those with the ear to hear what the Spirit is saying, know this: It is going to cost you.
The Price is circumcision. Circumcision of heart. Circumcision of ears.
The Price is vision. Exchange eyes that look but never see.
The Price is the cup of Christ. Drink from it.
The Price is Truth. Your quest for it. Your hunger for it. Your stand for it.
Are you willing to pay that price? Because if you are – what awaits far exceeds our hopes and dreams of how God will use you for the extension of His Kingdom.
I’m hoping to journal again soon about something else on my heart that is suddenly going to explode on the planet and in the church scene. Gen X. You are on my heart! God has a plan. It’s been a minute. But now is your time. Can these bones live again?
Somewhere in the future, We look much better than we look right now.
