PROPHETIC WORDS

THE CHURCH TO COME

by Nina James

This prophetic word was given at the NZ Council of Prophets meeting in Christchurch, February 2021.

The Church

The Lord showed me a landscape upon the earth. He lifted me above this landscape like an eagle, and as I looked down upon the land I saw hundreds of buildings, monuments, and towers. Some were like skyscrapers and others were smaller, some were three to five stories high – they were of all different construction, heights, and materials. I sensed that these structures represented the landscape of the church now.

I was suddenly reminded of the story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11 where the people of the time said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves.”

As I was pondering on this Scripture I then saw God descending from above, and He lifted His arm up and gently, gradually flattened and folded the buildings. He moulded the structure of the buildings into a new form that now existed horizontally on the surface of the level ground. The high towering buildings no longer existed, however the people who were within those buildings now connected together in waves of groups, connected like families across the landscape. Their eyes were now level with one another, and this connection brought an increased respect, admiration and value for each other. I sensed that this new structure is the form of the church to come.

Isaiah 40:4-5 immediately resounded in my spirit…

“Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

As I watched this vision I saw a myriad of different colours resting on the people, dazzling like many reflecting lights, and I asked the Lord, “What are these colours?” He said, “These colours are their unique gifts, abilities, and talents that were given by Me.”

Leadership had its own colour, discernment had its own colour, hospitality had its own colour, and so on, with each different gift and talent. There were mixtures of different colours on the people; each person had multiple colours to different degrees and amounts. I saw them connecting with each other and as they did, these colours would emanate outward toward another person, and the others back to them. This was all happening across the newly levelled landscape and created a vibrant joy and happiness, and the atmosphere was heavenly!!

I heard the Lord say… “My people have cried out from the ends of the earth for the truth and for true Kingdom unity. I have heard the prayers of my people and it is time. I am doing a work in the hearts of My people so that they will understand what true Kingdom unity looks like. And from this place I will reveal the state of their hearts. Yes, even the hidden places they do not see, I will reveal that which is holding them from going deeper in Me and that which keeps them from being the powerful sons and daughters I have called them to be.

Many have honoured Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. I do not desire for them to say the ‘right’ thing when their heart is not in it. I am looking for the genuine, the honest, and the true. In this great season of transformation they will understand the incredible power of being in full agreement – one purpose, harmony and one spirit. I am bringing My church into a new era and in this season they will learn to walk together in unity, diversity, and a togetherness in all the unique ways I have created them.

My desire is for your HEART – it has always been a battle for the HEART– and I am revealing that which has become stale.”

I heard the Lord say the word ‘stalemate!’

I heard Him say, “Many are in a stalemate position and the enemy has deceived you into thinking that you have no right to make your move. You are not called to half-win! You are called to create life and transformation on the earth. You are not called to be people who are stale! You are not to be a stale mate – no longer fresh and pleasant, but hard and dry. This is the era of the Heart. And I will ignite your hearts again.

Many have unknowingly set up idols in their hearts in place of Me. Yes, idols of ministry, idols of success, idols of man. I have seen them glorifying themselves and drawing validation from man and things that are not Me. I have watched while some have moved out into waters that I have not called them into. In this season, and because of My unfailing love towards you, I am going to expose, reveal and bring to light, that which has been on the throne of your HEARTS, for I am a jealous God.”

Plural Leadership and the Church

I saw many gatherings, large and small, forming throughout the earth, and within these gatherings deep connection, authenticity, accountability, and relationship were being forged, undergirded by a plurality of leadership. It was the plurality of leadership working together in real and healthy relationships and great unity that created the conditions for the entire body of Christ to do likewise, and I saw Jesus standing in the midst of these gatherings – Jesus, the great chief, and the head.

I also saw great friction, tension and strife emerge as the Lord initiated this process. People's insecurities and flesh nature came to the surface, as some were holding on to what they have known and the positions they have held. However, through this process the Lord was refining and purifying His people to a depth of security and maturity greater than ever before. This process produced a swift transformation for those who could discern and perceive that it was God’s intention to allow this for their good, and to mature them. We are going to see a greater maturity come out of this level of transformation and a depth of Christ’s character.

As I pondered with the Lord He began to show me a number of things that will come from this transformation of His Church:

I see new initiatives being birthed out of a desire for church to be expressed in new ways. I see men and women stepping out with new templates and blueprints that create an ease to connect with the world and the mountains of influence beyond the territory of the church.

I see people connecting to God-breathed ministries from different parts of the world through technology, and even technology that has yet to be invented. In the next 5 to 10 years we will be amazed by the new inventions created to bring people together throughout the world.

I see people in professions and careers that will only be able to connect and participate in the family of God via new technological initiatives.

Leaders will need, in these days ahead, to be open to the Holy Spirit and sense the Spirit moving in these new initiatives. Many will resist and not see these as being from God because it is not familiar to them, and because they are stuck trying to replicate the old wine skin.

I’m seeing a torch, like when a baton is being passed. There is a new breed of leadership coming in the earth that understands the importance of handing the baton from one generation to the next, and to transition well. This new breed is not age dependent, as many have been trained and tried through the fire. They have been branded with His fiery seal and will forever feel the impression of its scar to call them to the importance and weightiness of anointed legacy.

I heard the Lord say, “Do not hold My young ones back. Do not strap them in behind the seats of a pew. These are the generation that must walk by faith, not sit by faith. And though at times it may seem like wisdom to restrain and rein them in, let them fly and trust, for I am a good Father and it is I that wants to ultimately lead them. They will not be the generation who live to perform and please the machine; their eyes will be focussed and their vision will be sharp because they ultimately desire to please Me. They have an Elisha anointing and they will confront that which has been tolerated by previous generations.”

I see them kneeling before mothers and fathers of the faith, positioned to receive from them with great humility. The old are learning from the young, and the young from the old, because of the humility of their hearts.

BIO