Dear Friends, In a series of encounters since Rosh Hashanah, the Lord has been speaking to me about what to expect in 2024 (Hebrew year 5784). Above all, I believe the Body of Christ will see significant EMPOWERMENT this year as we embrace our beautiful friendship and partnership with the Holy Spirit. EMPOWERMENTOn Yom Kippur (Sept 25, 2023), Holy Spirit awakened me saying: “Every encounter with Us is meant to empower you!” As I continued to listen, the Spirit emphasized that God’s goal in every interaction with you as His son or daughter is EMPOWERMENT. The Father truly intends for you to go from glory to glory and strength to strength! It is His strength, not yours, that will be displayed for all to see this year: “Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, "Do you not know what these are?" I said, "No, my lord." Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. Zerubbabel was a governor of Judea who rebuilt Jerusalem’s temple in partnership with prophets Haggai and Zechariah. This man was of the House of David, yet his name meant “seed of Babylon.” Haggai 2:23 describes Zerubbabel as God’s “signet ring;” someone carrying God-given authority to rebuild and restore. "Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of 'Grace, grace to it!'" “Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. ~Zechariah 4:5-10 ESV You will begin to see civil and religious leaders partner together as Zerubbabel did with the prophets to rebuild and restore America, which in its present condition resembles Babylon. These partnerships will happen in other nations, too, as state leaders recognize that the Church has been given viable solutions to reclaim and rebuild. God is opening doors this year for those whose hearts are for restoration. (The Hebrew number 4, “dalet,” means “door.”) Cyrus-like deliverers and Zerubbabel-like government leaders will emerge as anointed public servants. (Isaiah 45:1 & Haggai 2:23). Empowered by prophetic encouragement and insight, these leaders will both start and finish the building processes needed in this new season (2 Chronicles 20:20). Christ will become the Cornerstone and Capstone. THE YEAR OF THE NATIONSIn prayer on Rosh Hashanah, I heard the Lord say: “This is the year of the nations!” God-fearing believers who have been prepared and hidden away in God’s quiver will suddenly be released with piercing, penetrating words for peoples and nations. You will see doors open in various nations for a greater reach of the Gospel and the expansion of God-honoring ministries. God’s heart for believers extends well beyond the restoration of self, family, or even Israel. Covenant-keepers who speak honorably of the Lord will impact tribes and nations: "It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light to the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth." ~Isaiah 49:6 Though the world (including America) will certainly see turmoil in the coming days, I feel so strongly the Lord’s desire to EMPOWER His people as lights and beacons of hope. As you continue to yield in obedience to Holy Spirit, acknowledging your weaknesses, He is going to empower you in measurable ways to meet the needs ahead. This empowerment is a prophetic work, equipping you in advance for situations where you might otherwise feel unprepared. There will be an increased level of corporate empowerment around the world as God’s glory is “broadcast” to many nations simultaneously this year. In encounters this September, the Lord highlighted hydroelectric power as an increasingly important natural resource as well as a symbol of what will be poured out in greater measure by the Spirit on all believers. 2024 will be a glorious time for the Church to arise and shine against the darkness! REFORMERS ARE ARISINGIn recent days, Holy Spirit has been quietly preparing reformers like biblical Hezekiah and Josiah who will emerge at key times during national crises. Even “Josiahs,” anointed children and youths who understand their kingly authority, will be empowered to lead, tearing down demonic strongholds through worship and praise. In one prayer encounter, I was taken on a walk with Father down a golden, heavenly street until we came to a little boy. Father introduced this child to me as King Josiah, the boy who had reigned in Judea from age 8 to his early death at age 39. I saw the crown on Josiah’s head and was permitted to speak with him. Josiah stood before me as an example of a godly young reformer whose heart was fully committed to the Lord (2 Kings 22:2). Reformation ran in Josiah’s blood; his great-grandfather was King Hezekiah, another major reformer in Judah. Like Abraham, Josiah did not consider age an obstacle. At 18 years old he began to seek God, restoring God’s house. He discovered what most scholars believe is a scroll of Deuteronomy (the “Book of the Covenant”). After reading the scroll; in repentance for his nation and in partnership with prophets Huldah and Jeremiah; this young civil leader mourned and prayed for his kingdom. He tore down every altar and high place that his wicked grandfather Manasseh had devoted to idols. Josiah restored pure worship to the Southern Kingdom. My encounter with Josiah revealed that God-given authority is all that’s needed to reform a nation! It was the crown Josiah wore and the anointing he was given to reign that empowered him to bring reformation, not any strength of his own! In fact, in this encounter, Josiah wondered at our modern lack of understanding concerning God-given authority! A similar, fresh anointing is being released from heaven right now to reformers who believe God can change nations! God-fearing believers young and old will tear down demonic strongholds and destroy ungodly altars in hearts and minds and across lands and nations; wherever they are sent. As reformation leads to revitalization, Kingdom creativity will then play a significant role in the rebuilding of broken nations, both spiritually and economically. King Josiah’s comprehensive overhaul included digging up the graves of dead, idolatrous priests to burn their bones on the desecrated altars. In the same way, today’s reformers will partner with Holy Spirit to rediscover the ancient paths. They will root out and bring to the surface hidden secrets of the generations, burn any ungodly structures in the Refiner's fire, and set God’s people free. "GASLIGHTING" GODGod will continue to challenge lies, misconceptions, and accusations spoken against Him out of ignorance or woundedness. He is a GOOD God, and He will be known as good! In another encounter, the Lord showed me that many people today are “gaslighting” Him. Gaslighting is a term used concerning abusers who manipulate or fabricate lies about someone else to remain in control themselves. Gaslighters dishonor and demoralize victims, sowing doubt and setting themselves up as the only ‘sane’ or ‘true’ one in a relationship. I hear Holy Spirit saying those who persist in “gaslighting” God will find themselves silenced as surely as Zechariah the high priest was silenced for doubting God’s goodness and His message: “The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.” ~Luke 1:19-20 Those who believe and speak by the Spirit of Faith will be given platforms from which to proclaim God’s goodness; those who malign or "gaslight" God will find their platforms demolished. (2 Cor. 4:13; Acts 5:3-4.) FASTING IS FIGHTING, BUT INTIMACY IS THE TRUE WEAPON!Finally, the Lord spoke to me at length from Isaiah 58 and Luke 4 concerning a shift toward true fasting and intimacy. I saw a vision of the Lord Jesus being led into the wilderness after being anointed by the Father with the Holy Spirit. Then a vision of His authoritative return to the Temple, with listeners astonished at His teaching. What lay between these two scenes of Christ’s life was the wilderness fast, to which most people attribute Christ’s power. The Lord emphasized that it was not fasting alone that empowered His Son. Even the world fasts for health reasons, yet this does not produce authority! Fasting sharpens the mind and helps both body and spirit to fight, but intimacy with Holy Spirit is the true weapon! Between the wilderness and the temple, Christ was empowered through intimate interaction with His teacher and guide: the Holy Spirit. (John 14:26.) The “weakness” of yielded intimacy and a "fasted" lifestyle will become strength as you allow your encounters with Holy Spirit to empower you this year. Again, empowerment is God’s ultimate goal! 
Maturity and renewed strength are being given to the Bride, but she must choose to open and go through the door of intimacy to find her Beloved, just like the Shunammite in Song of Songs. The ‘Beloved’ of the Songs is a picture of the Son of Man. Song of Songs 5 describes the Beloved’s legs like pillars of marble (alabaster) set on pedestals of gold. His arms are like rods of iron set with jewels. The Son of Man embodies glory, purity, and strength! His eyes are Spirit-eyes (dove’s eyes). Alabaster (a softer stone) is known for being a conductor of light and is translucent, like glory. What a stunning picture of our Lord! The double-edged sword of the Lord includes both Word and the Spirit; truth balanced by grace; a sharp mind and a tender heart. In the same way, the Isaiah 58 fast is a call not just to righteous deeds, but to a loving heart. Works done without love are fruitless. Humiliation of the self through fasting, without any compassion for one’s neighbor, will never move God’s heart or His hand! Authority to heal and deliver will be given to those living a “fasted” lifestyle of intimacy with their Beloved. Apart from Him, you can do nothing! A growing cry from the Bride for intimacy will produce new prayer and worship movements this year. Wholehearted worshipers will break yokes of oppression through their intercession; feed the hungry; and minister to broken souls in the true spirit of an Isaiah 58 fast. Those who open their homes to the spiritually hungry, covering and not judging others’ sins, will see physical and emotional healings increase. Deliverance from demonic oppression will be commonplace. Ruined lives will be rebuilt as a maturing Bride prays and fasts to break the selfish spirit of the age, considering both Christ’s and others’ interests better than her own (Philippians 2:1-11). I see the Bride courageously choosing, like her Beloved, to go through doorways of the most demon-infested places on earth in search of lost souls. She will not hesitate at the door and lose her Beloved! This mature Bride will choose honest, heartfelt relationships over mere systems that legislate holiness. She will reject religious hypocrisy to treasure the “pearl” of the Spirit of God within her. Never have I felt more strongly the cry of the Lord’s heart for His Bride as I do this new year! I hear the Beloved saying over and over: “Let your longing match My desire!” May you and I become the mature Bride our Beloved so desires! May we honor Him in word and deed, with intimacy as our strongest weapon. May Christ’s glory empower us to restore wounded souls and nations. ~Deborah 
Deborah Perkins is a seasoned prophetic writer, speaker, and Christian leader with more than 40 years of ministry experience across denominations. God turned her greatest sorrow into her greatest joy when she discovered that despite a lifelong struggle with partial deafness, she could always hear from God. At God's request in 2013, she founded His Inscriptions, a ministry devoted to helping people worldwide “Discover Life-Giving Communication with God.” Through her website, teaching, books, and individual counsel, Deborah offers discipleship to those who want to grow their relationship with God. Her articles have been published by SpiritFuel, ElijahList, and a number of mass media publications. Deborah especially loves to encourage and equip the Body of Christ in their prophetic and intercessory gifts. She currently lives in New England with her husband of 24 years. They have raised three wonderful sons, a cat named Peanut, and an unspecified number of chickens. For more information about His Inscriptions, please click here. |
Free Link to the Subscriber Resource Library when you join His Inscriptions!
About
Deborah Perkins 
Categories
All
Archives
September 2024
AuthorA severe hearing loss from childhood caused Deborah Perkins to develop what she now calls her secret weapon: tuning in to God's voice. A Wellesley College graduate and an award-winning writer, Deborah is now a wife and mother of 3 boys. Deborah has devoted over 25 years to professional and lay Christian ministry in New England and beyond. Her passion is inspiring people to cultivate greater intimacy with God. 
|
RSS Feed