Prophetic Waves Hit Gulf
A God-Orchestrated Whirlwind: Confirmations and the Call to the Coast
This journey began a couple of months ago, and the speed at which things are unfolding is truly remarkable. My wife, Susan, had a dream about a location on a map she didn't even recognize. What followed was a torrent of confirmations, so many within the first hour of waking up and continuing into the next day, that to ignore them would have felt like a profound error. It would have made Gideon's discernment look commonplace! So, we heeded the call and came down to the Pascagoula/Gautier region. We felt like we were shaking a prophetic tree, believing that God had treasures, spiritual insights, ready to fall.
However, this journey has not been without its challenges. We've encountered significant spiritual warfare and opposition. It’s during these times of resistance that the Lord brought to my remembrance the story of Nehemiah. Just as Nehemiah was called to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2), I believe this move to the Gulf Coast is a piece of a larger puzzle, a part of God's plan for this region. Now, I'm not comparing myself to Nehemiah, but the parallels resonate deeply. Phrases from Isaiah, like being "repairers of the breach" (Isaiah 58:12 KJV), echoed in my spirit.
The Spiritual Significance of Highway 10: A Wall and a Pathway
Pondering these things from this "high vantage point," I began to see the spiritual significance of seemingly ordinary things. For instance, Interstate 10, running from California to Florida, has played a significant role in my own life's journey. But here on the Gulf Coast, it struck me as almost forming a kind of wall. The train tracks and Highway 90 running parallel further emphasized this linear feature. Having lived in Houston, I've long been aware of the personal significance of this train track and Highway 10.
Reflecting on a time when the Lord was calling me back to Florida from Houston, I remember being in a good place – leading worship, active in church. Yet, there was this persistent prompting, these nudges of the Spirit directing me eastward. While in Florida, I experienced a heightened level of anointing, a greater flow of revelation, words of knowledge, and words of wisdom coming frequently. It was after numerous confirmations – some subtle, some blatant (like a spiritual billboard!) – that I finally yielded. And I encourage you, dear reader, to do the same: when the Lord gives you confirmations, write them down. Honor those dreams and visions He places within you, for as Joel 2:28 (KJV) says, "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions."
I would diligently record these confirmations, adding them to my prayer list. Not to declare and decree presumptuously, but to humbly ask, "Lord, what is the meaning behind these repeated signs?" Initially, I resisted going, but eventually, the prophetic weight became undeniable. I knew I had to obey, or risk being in serious disobedience.
Navigating Spiritual Warfare and the Prayer for Unity
My time in Florida was marked by intense spiritual warfare and numerous physical challenges, including hurricanes, one of which was the devastating Hurricane Katrina. It felt like the saying, "If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it," was being tested. Even though I was relatively isolated, without a strong network of Christian friends or prayer warriors, I felt equipped with spiritual tools to navigate these turbulent times. I now see the profound importance of Jesus's prayer for unity in John chapter 17 (KJV), where He prays "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." The "wall" we need to rebuild isn't a physical barrier, but a unity of believers, linking arms in the spirit. We cannot accomplish God's purposes in isolation. It’s not just me and Jesus; it’s us, together with Jesus – "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11 KJV) is a communal prayer.
Being alone and feeling overwhelmed by the spiritual and physical pressures, I eventually returned to Houston, seeking the support of family, friends, and church. Interestingly, upon returning, the intense warfare did subside, but so did the heightened level of my spiritual giftings. While I felt a sense of disobedience, I also know that "the gifts and calling of God are without repentance" (Romans 11:29 KJV).
The Decimation and a Glimmer of Prophetic Hope
It's a sobering reality that the Gulf Coast region suffered immense setbacks in the spiritual, physical, and economic realms following Hurricane Katrina in the very same year I retreated to Houston. This truly felt like a wall had been broken down (Ezekiel 13:5). Even today, you can see the lingering effects – vacant buildings, businesses that never recovered.
However, a recent prophetic word spoken by Casey Sones in a small trailer house church has resonated deeply with what I sense is happening. To the natural mind, it might seem insane, but it aligns with the often-inscrutable ways of God. As 1 Corinthians 2:14 (KJV) states, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." We can only truly understand God's plans in hindsight.
Echoes of Revival: Pensacola and the Split Pulpit
When I consider the spiritual devastation of this area, I can't help but think of the Pensacola Revival, which began in the 1990s. While I wasn't directly involved, it had a profound trickle-down effect on my life. Many of you have heard me speak about the pulpit splitting in two at Christian Tabernacle in Houston in October 1996. I believe this was, in part, a result of the spiritual momentum generated by the Pensacola Revival. This event became a pivotal point in my life, a powerful confirmation of the supernatural reality of God, even though I wasn't physically present when it happened.
Pensacola, Florida, located near Highway 10, became a focal point, and the revival's influence spread along the Gulf Coast all the way to Texas. People would travel along Highway 10, in a sense creating a spiritual wall of praise as they journeyed to and from the revival. It was during this time, in October 1996, that Pastor Heard at Christian Tabernacle read 2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV): "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." Immediately after reading this powerful scripture, the pulpit split, and a powerful outpouring of the Spirit followed. Miracles continued to occur there for months. Later, I became friends with one of the pastors who was present, and in his presence, the anointing was palpable – the glory cloud of God would manifest. My faith was ignited, moving from one level to the next. It was a powerful realization: the things we read about Jesus in the Bible are real, and we are called to step out and experience them.
This sparked my interest in what God was doing in America, and I followed news of the Pensacola Revival. I even considered going, but never managed to make the trip before the revival ended. Then, Hurricane Katrina became the dominant narrative, overshadowing everything. While the focus was often on New Orleans, the entire Gulf Coast was deeply affected. The spiritual decimation, coupled with the physical and economic devastation, has left a lasting impact.
A Future and a Purpose: Rebuilding the Tabernacle of Praise
Yet, even amidst this backdrop, I can't help but feel an overwhelming joy and excitement. From this prophetic "high vantage point," I know that God has a future and a purpose for the Gulf Coast area. I get genuinely giddy with the anticipation of God breathing new life into this region. I pray that the apostles, prophets, and pastors will catch this prophetic wave that is coming.
I often talk about spiritual waves – dispensations of God's acts flowing from His throne. My prayer is that we, as believers, will position our "surfboards" in the spirit – through prayer and seeking Him – so that we can discern the movement of God and then physically position ourselves to be where He wants us to be. We must follow the glory cloud, being ready for the divine appointments He has for us. I pray that the Lord will use diligent, passionate men and women who seek Him wholeheartedly to rebuild the tabernacle of praise, the tabernacle of David.
This rebuilding is prophesied in Acts 15:14-17 (KJV), where James quotes Amos: "Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things."
Interestingly, I have a personal connection to the concept of the Davidic Tabernacle. I understand a little about spirit songs and the power of spending extended time in praise and worship. I remember times with friends like Kyle, where we would worship the Lord for hours with guitars and harps, caught up in that Ezekiel River (Ezekiel 47), that spiritual water flowing from the New Jerusalem. Time would simply melt away. I can’t help but think that Mike Bickle's vision for the 24/7 prayer and worship at the International House of Prayer (IHOP) might have been inspired, in part, by these very scriptures in Acts and Amos.
Consider the numbers: Acts 15, and Amos 9:11. The number 911 immediately brings to mind a day of national emergency and remembrance for Americans. Amos 9:11 (KJV) states, "In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old." The prophetic implications are clear. Just as Nehemiah, Ezra, and Daniel were involved in rebuilding in their time, I believe the Lord is stirring a similar work in the Gulf Coast region. We may be on the cusp of rebuilding the spiritual, physical, and economic walls of this area.
The Call to Unity and Action
But we cannot do this alone. We need to link up, just as Jesus prayed in John chapter 17. It's time to get off the couch, step outside our church buildings, and shake that prophetic tree. We need to position ourselves by following the glory cloud, constantly asking, "Lord, what is your will today?"
Friends, I believe God is doing something significant in the Gulf Coast. It’s a time of spiritual awakening and rebuilding. If this message has resonated with you in any way, please consider sharing it with your friends and family on social media or through email. Your support helps spread this message of hope and prophetic anticipation. Remember the call: dig deeper and go higher in your walk with the Lord!
No comments:
Post a Comment