Jesus prophesied, “I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father” (John 14:12). I call this “doing the double,” and I believe that you and I are part of a generation that has been called to do these “greater works.” By listening to the Holy Spirit and then casting our nets where He tells us to, we will be able to haul in a miraculous catch!
This generation, as it arises and breaks out of the box of traditional limitations, carries a number of distinct characteristics:
- Faith coupled with humility.
- An appreciation for working in teams (gender-inclusive).
- Accountability with relational care, so that wounded warriors can be healed.
- An emphasis of the Fatherhood of God (not only the revelation of Jesus, the Son).
- Diversities of anointing and releasing the Holy Spirit with creativity (the prophet and the seer), etc.
- Increased power, clarity and accuracy.
- An ability to see the target clearly.
The Church is our practice ground but the world is our field of operations. As we come alongside each other to help each other hear and obey the voice of the Spirit, we will find ourselves doing far greater works than Jesus did while He was on earth. Thus making it possible for His effectiveness to be multiplied as more territory becomes part of His Kingdom. Let His Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven!
Prophetic Evangelism
One of the ways of “casting your nets on the other side of the boat” is prophetic evangelism, which simply means listening to the Spirit and acting accordingly to bring the Kingdom to bear on the world around you.
Prophetic evangelism combines the sustained emphasis on evangelism that was ushered in with the Reformation more than six hundred years ago with the over one hundred year emphasis on prophecy that began in 1904 when the Pentecostal outpouring occurred. The earlier Holiness movement shifted into the Pentecostal movement, which shifted into the Charismatic movement, and laid the groundwork for the current Apostolic movement and beyond.
The priesthood of every believer makes it possible for the whole Church to be drawn into new realms of adventure with God. Prophetic evangelism has grown stronger as the Church has matured into a clearer understanding of her bridal intimacy with her Bridegroom Jesus, along with the governmental empowerment (the “bridal rule”) of God’s people.
We are all to be prophetic evangelists, whether we find ourselves in mega-churches and in massive stadium events–or in some back alley ministering to a homeless person, or as missionaries in the jungles of the Congo, or in Starbucks holding a grande cup of Colombian coffee. The same Holy Spirit keeps speaking to us everywhere we go. He will link us with others, equip us, teach us how to combine our gifts, and do signs and wonders through us. People will be unable to deny that this is God in action. The power, the love, and the unity will make Him manifest to a lost world.
A Prophetic Prayer Storm
Foundational to prophetic evangelism–and breaking the way for its advance–is prophetic intercessory prayer. Another initiative of my own ministry has been what we call the Prayer Storm.
We have updated the 24/7 two-century old prayer model of the Moravians in Hernnhut, Germany by establishing an internet-based worldwide community of intercessors who commit to pray for one hour per week for revival in the church, a youth awakening, Israel, and God’s intervention in times of crisis. This virtual house of prayer is storming the heavens even now, fueled by the responsiveness of the Spirit of God to the urgency of the times we live in.
With regular updates and reports, webcasts, and other resources, these prayer warriors are pioneering something that has never before been undertaken–blanketing the world with prophetic intercession around the clock that is not limited to one geographical spot. [See www.prayerstorm.com for more information.] Along with many other ministries, we are doing our part in restoring and re-releasing the global Moravian lampstand, based on these words from the book of God’s law: “Fire shall be kept burning continually on the altar; it is not to go out” (Lev. 6:13, nasb). Yes, you can join the Prayer Storm – the hour that changes the world – and together we can see global presence evangelism take place as it did in the great revivals of the past.
Throughout our intercession, we must listen to the Holy Spirit. Without His ongoing guidance, we will soon flounder and falter. In concert with Him, we have the perseverance, energy, and accuracy to keep praying until we see definite results.
When Jesus Gets Into Your Boat
Prior to the Gospel account of the resurrected Jesus telling Peter, John, and the other disciples to put their fishing net on the right side of the boat, we find another story about Jesus and His disciples in a fishing boat. This story contained in Luke 5:1-11 gives us further insights into the adventure of prophetic discipleship.
The questions this story raises in my mind are: (1) “What happens when Jesus steps into your boat?” and (2) “How can you get Him to step into your boat?”
Let’s answer the second question first. Obviously, you must go to the water first. He will not get into your boat if it is stuck on dry land. Water, always strongly associated with the Holy Spirit, is where your boat needs to be floating. In other words, you have got to get in His presence.
Jesus checks out the boats, sees the one He wants, and invites Himself aboard. Will you say “yes”, to Him? Knowing that your life may change drastically as a result, will you accept His invitation? If He follows His own example, He will get into only one of the boats that He sees. Just one. Will it be yours? What if it is another’s?
When Jesus gets into a boat, He does it because He has something to say. So if He gets into someone else’s boat, regardless of how you feel personally, you need to bless that person (or church, or city) and the word that the Lord Jesus will be bringing them. If He does get into your boat–listen to Him! He may bring a word of correction, clarification, or direction. He will say something like, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
He will tell you to do something that you may have already tried without results. “But Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing….” Still, you will recognize the voice of God’s authority and you will agree: “… nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” The results will prove that you have the Lord in your boat.
In response to your own miraculous catch, will you do what Simon Peter did? He fell down at Jesus’ feet, humbled and awed, completely aware that he did not deserve this phenomenal miracle, and willing to change in any way that the Lord might require. When the Lord Jesus steps into your boat, His presence brings you to your knees. Your response will be humility–and change. When He gets into your boat, it will cost you your boat, your history, and everything you own. What happened to Peter and the others? The catch of fish was so great that they had to have help bringing it in. They brought their overloaded boats to shore, only to drop everything and follow Jesus. No longer would they be known as the fishermen of Lake Gennesaret. They would be changed into fishers of men. Their catch? They shared it with the other fishermen, blessing them instead of hanging onto the blessing for themselves.
A Messenger With A Message
With that one miracle and their response to it, Simon Peter and his partners, James and John, changed overnight from ordinary fishermen who spent their time and energy toiling to earn a living, to messengers with a message; a Kingdom message. From that time forward, they would have something to say and their voices would be heard.
In the same way, when Jesus steps into your boat and changes your life, He will give you a message. You will become a messenger. Far from being a lone voice in the wilderness, your voice will join the voices of other Kingdom messengers. You will enjoy a spiritual synergy and a supernatural convergence with other messengers. You will not be able to claim credit for anything except for having said “yes” to your assignment and to your Lord.
Now God can use you as never before. His blessings will take many forms, and you will hang in there with Him even when the going gets tough. You will go where He goes and do what He tells you to do, living a supernaturally natural life in relationship with Him. Walking down the road together, sitting together–or back on the water in a boat together–your conversations will revolve around the things that are on His heart.
You will be passionate because He is passionate and you will enjoy your journey in the company of His Spirit. Gifted with the prophetic ability to hear Him even when you cannot see Him, you too will embark upon an endless exploration of the diverse challenges of helping to bring in His Kingdom where darkness once prevailed. Yes, this is the purpose of these amazing giftings of the Holy Spirit. This is the power of the Gospel of the Kingdom of our dear Lord Jesus Christ.
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