PROPHETIC WORDS

SPIRITUAL FATHERS AND MOTHERS ARISE!

 

by David Peters

January 2023

In December 2019 (before Covid) I sensed the Lord say this:

“There will be much turbulence in the nations in this coming decade of the 2020’s. Tie yourselves to the belt of truth. Fasten it strongly. Those who stand in truth will do exploits for the kingdom. Nations will rise and fall this decade as will political and societal leaders. For a while, it will seem that evil has the upper hand, but this will be turned by the prayers of God's people. Do not cower in the face of darkness but stand up strong. Though there will be difficult times, there will also be the greatest opportunities for the kingdom of God ever in history. More people are going to hear the gospel than ever before.”

This turbulence will continue in 2023.  However, this is not a time to let darkness overwhelm us. One of the keys for the global Church to navigate these times is for spiritual fathers and mothers to arise.

1 John 2: 12-14 (NIV): “I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.”

Who are spiritual fathers and mothers? It’s those who know him who is from the beginning.  But what does this mean?

Genesis 1: 1-2 (NLT): “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.”

The Hebrew word for formless is tohu and it can be translated chaos.  So the earth was chaotic, empty, and dark. Sound like today? Then God acted. “God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” (Genesis 1: 3 NLT)

God turned the darkness into light and as you read the rest of Genesis 1 he turned the chaos and emptiness into order and beauty.

To know the One who is from the beginning is to know unshakeably that God can bring order and light out of chaos and darkness. To know that the Holy Spirit hovers over every circumstance, waiting for the command to create order and light – in your life, your home, your children, and in the nations.

Sometimes chaos and darkness are the product of our own poor decisions or sin. So we need to examine our hearts and change with God's help. But there is chaos and darkness that is satanic and due to evil. As we resist in faith, prayer, and declaration, God will transform it.  The fathers and mothers who stand in confidence in God's ability to do this, will give great security to those who are spiritually younger.  

2023: THE YEAR OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD

Psalm 23 is a relevant psalm for 2023. Our divine Shepherd restores weary souls, guides us in right paths that honour him, escorts us safely through valleys of trouble, death, and loss, and blesses those who endure with victory, favour, provision, goodness, and mercy. Traversing valleys of adversity victoriously helps fashion people, no matter what age, into spiritual fathers and mothers.

Note the three levels of increasing maturity that the apostle John mentions:

  1. Children – know their sins are forgiven through faith in Jesus and that God is their Father.

  2. Young men and women – the word of God lives in them, they are strong, and have overcome the devil.

  3. Fathers and mothers – know that God turns chaos into order, darkness into light, and leads them through valleys that threaten their existence.

The key is to grow through the levels and not stay children. And we take each level with us while adding the next. The Holy Spirit journeys us into maturity. He is our helper. 2023 may be a stormy year, but those who trust in the Lord will walk with an overcoming spirit. As Saint Francis of Assisi once said:

“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.”

 

PRAYER POINTS

  • Pray for many spiritual fathers and mothers to arise with a fresh desire to strengthen and nurture those who are spiritually younger.

  • Pray that those who are going through a time of adversity will have a fresh experience of encouragement and hope, knowing that God is fashioning something within them that will be an incredible blessing in the days ahead. .

  • Pray for God’s people, that we would have an increased confidence in Him, that no matter what happens circumstantially He will bring order and peace out of the chaos, and enable us to be a living expression of hope and peace in the world.

BIO

 

David Peters has long been recognised as a Prophet, both within New Zealand and internationally. He and his wife Greta are the founders of SpiritLife Ministries and are currently based at Church Unlimited, a large, multicultural church in Auckland. They travel extensively both within New Zealand and overseas, inspiring people to have unwavering hope despite life’s circumstances and equipping them to operate in the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit in daily life. For more info...

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