PROPHETIC WORDS

2022 – A YEAR OF INTENSE PRESSURE AND NEW WINE

by Melissa Holmes

December 2021.

While this word could seem weighty or even scary for those in fear, I felt like it is God’s grace that we know in advance, so we can stand firm and be aware that His hands are at work, and so that the year ahead will not run away with our hope and vision.

A few weeks ago God began to speak to me about 2022 new wine and His church. This word came with a call in my spirit to reverence, to make sure that we remain deeply dependent on the Lord in the year ahead. I sense the new wine comes at great cost to our comfort.

I believe in 2022 the Lord is going to begin to allow the pressing of the church of New Zealand in a greater way, at greater intensity, that will allow the new wine (fresh move of His Spirit) to come forth. I sense His jealous zeal to bring about new wine through His church: Higher wisdom, the miraculous, healing, deliverance, and greater function in relationship with the Holy Spirit.

As the Lord was beginning to share this word with me He began to liken 2020,2021 and 2022 to the three main stages of making wine.

The three main stages to making wine are: Crushing, fermentation and pressing.

 2020 The year of crushing

In the crushing stage the grapes are burst to simply break the skin of the grape. I felt God saying that for many, in our lives 2020 was like the first step, an abrupt blow to our normalcy and our comfort. It was an initial shaking and shock to our apathy and many other areas of our lives. The beginning of a break down of many things that had been running smoothly.

2021 Fermentation and maceration

He likened 2021 to the process of fermentation and maceration.This stage of wine making is where the pierced grapes are left to sit for a time after being crushed, and where the transformative process of fermentation is begun, which turns the grape juice into wine.

I felt that for many, in the natural, 2021 has been a year of waiting, with things still stuck in a breakdown or disarray. In many ways this second stage of the process in winemaking is the death of the grape. I sensed that many have deeply grieved in this season over parts of our life that have become interrupted, lost or robbed. But I want to encourage us that God has been doing a deep work in the middle of the mess of our lives and hearts, if we have journeyed with Him and yielded to Him. I encourage you, as hard as it has been for you, do not set up home in this valley, as He has only allowed it as a place to transition through into the new that He has for you.

 I felt Him say that just like the sitting grapes, there has been maturing and purification in the standing this year, and a transformation take place in you in the waiting and in-between place.

Just like the grape softens in preparation for the squeezing, so have our hearts softened in the waiting, and the soil of our hearts has been loosened up.

All these things have been preparing us for the pressing stage/ the year ahead.

2022 The pressing stage

I felt that 2022 is a completing of the work He began in our hearts, to enable us to carry the new wine, and a final step before He can begin to build in this new era.

The pressing allows the grape to be squeezed and the juice to be released from the softened grape. I believe that we are about to enter a time of greater external circumstantial pressure, but that in the midst of it we will see the Holy Spirit breaking out, and His new wine flowing through us mightily.

Though it does not sound like a fun process, I sensed God saying that there is a grace to surrender our self ambition and self reliance, to make way for the Holy Spirit to move freely and for us to move in step with Him.

 I felt God say tenderly that ‘the pressing is the most intense part of the process, which I know will concern you, but take courage, as there are some things I want you to know…’

1. I will lead you in victory, with vision and strategy to navigate the times, and protection, enabling you to rise despite the pressure.

“If you make the Most High your dwelling – even the LORD, who is my refuge – then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” (Psa 91: 10-11)

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” (Psa 32:8)

“Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.” (Jer 33:3)

2. As the pressure increases circumstantially, My presence will increase dramatically.

“See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.” (Isa 60:2)

3. I will not let you come to ruin; remain yielded and dependant. You may need to stretch, bend and flex, but I will not allow you to be broken by the pressure.

“The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” (Matt 7:25)

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Cor 4:8-10)

4. It is My heart to restore you.

“After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Pet 5:10)

So, I encourage you to stand firm in the year ahead. God is going to show up for you, and I strongly feel that though the new wine comes at a great cost to our comfort, the pressing of 2022 is going to spark Holy Spirit movement throughout the nation, and a new zeal for God will erupt out of our land.

PRAYER POINTS

Prayer is not just us coming to God with a list of requests. As part of our relationship with Him, it is us having a conversation with the Lord, which involves talking and listening on both sides. The following prayer points are some things you can talk to Him about in regards to this prophetic word.

• Ask the Lord to show you what areas of life you have allowed your dependence on Him to wane in. Renew your reliance in that area in prayer and practice.

• Ask Him to show you what areas you are holding onto that He wants you to let go of – in attitudes, ministry, character, etc. Give them to Him and let them go. Pray for the church in this area, too, that God will reveal what we are holding onto that He wants us to let go of.

• Ask the Lord to give discernment to you personally and to the church, that we may discern what He wants to do in the midst of the pressure of these times.

• Ask for discernment regarding the enemy’s plans and how God wants them to be overcome.

• Ask the Lord for vision and strategy to navigate the times, and that will enable you to rise despite the pressure. Pray for this on a personal level and also for the church on a corporate level.

• Pray for a revelation of 2 Cor 4:8,9 “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

• Pray for God’s protection and shield to surround you, your family, and the church.

BIO