PROPHETIC WORDS

THE FORTIFICATION OF THE CHURCH

by Jacinda Goodsir

January 2022

This is the season where the Lord is strengthening His church and furnishing them with power! This speaks of the role that the Holy Spirit will have in navigating and strengthening the church of God.

“For it is NOT by might, nor by power, but by MY SPIRIT! says the Lord” Zech 4:6.

I heard the phrase, “This is the year of the fortification of the church.” Biblically the word ‘fortify’ means; v. t.) To add strength to; to furnish with power to resist attack.

We are in a season of war, and in times of war everyone must play their part and rules go out the window. Just like in times of war, we will see the byproducts that come with it, such as financial recession. However, we are not of this world, we are of a different Kingdom. The Lord says that we must be ready to be fruitful both In and Out of season!

The enemy will unsuccessfully try to disrupt, dismantle and divide the church, but those who are in tune with the Spirit will have supernatural wisdom and insight that fortifies them. In order to receive supernatural insight and wisdom, we must be willing to let go of what has been, let go of the known to move into the unknown.

This is a time of great innovation, flexibility and adaptation as the church responds to the climate of the day.

In this era we need to be in tune with the Spirit, as intellect, and what has been, will not help the church become who the Lord needs her to become for this season. In fact, if we return to what we know, it will hinder the new move that the Lord is wanting to release right now.

This is the season where the Holy Spirit will lead the church into a place of strengthening, where it becomes impenetrable to the enemy.

Putty in His hands!

I saw a picture, and it was one of multiplication caused by a force intending to break the church. It was the very same force that, rather than breaking the church, caused it to multiply and expand. I watched as I saw one elastic cell split and then multiply, replicating itself each time a force came against it.

For the Lord declares, “That which the enemy meant for harm, I will work for good!”

The past two years have caused the church to become like putty in His hands once more. This softening has prepared His bride to become flexible, adaptable and resilient. The Lord has warmed her up, ready to SHAPESHIFT.

“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” Isa 43:19.  

In order for the new thing to come, the old had to be laid down – Old mindsets, old ways of worship, old structures, old offerings.

Yes, our offerings got old. Many had stopped carrying their cross. Many had forgotten their first love. Yet, through the shaking and pressing of the past two years there has come a new humility and vulnerability within the bride of Christ. Now the Lord says that it is the time to finally “Let go, and let God.” What was once too hard to release is now like dust in our hands. God is reminding me that He creates out of dust. Let go and let God recreate His church, His ecclesia.

The Lord is releasing supernatural wisdom, insight AND foresight to enable His church to be fortified. His church is invincible and indestructible.  

“I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail” Matt 16:18.

Economic shaking 

As we enter 2022 the Shakings continue, but in a different form. Economics will play a big part in the shakings this year as we in New Zealand begin to see inflation increase to all time highs, and petrol rise to over $3.00 per litre. Global ease of getting any product we like will come to a halt as we experience a shortage. This will bring out the best and the worst in people, and it is time for the church to shine!

As in the time of Joseph, we must prepare and become a storehouse. This will be a time when many turn to the church for help, and we must be in a position to extend our hand to those in need. As in the natural, so in the spiritual, and in this season people will develop a hunger and desperation for God. This hunger will only be quenched by the power of the Holy Spirit and an encounter with the love of Jesus Christ. Religion without power will not cut it. So it’s time to throw off apathy and distraction. For the time is NOW to be a first responder! It is time for the supernaturally gifted strategists and administrators to function in order to prepare the storehouse, dig the wells, and mend the nets!

Sent out

For many who have never felt ready, God is pushing you out of the nest! He is saying you have so much in you that will come out of you as you are led by the Spirit. Just like when Jesus sent out 72 disciples in twos, He is sending you! Everything you need is already in you, and as you obey His promptings, and share the message of the Kingdom, it will bring you great joy as you see the harvest respond.

“When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!” Luke 10:17.

This is the time when many will truly realise the authority they carry, as they move in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. God is moving people from watching and receiving, to doing and releasing. There is an urgency for more labourers. We have to break out of the academia mindset of needing to know more, and into the mindset where we say, “Here I am, Lord, choose me!”

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.

• Pray that the church will become aware that it needs fortifying – strengthening, furnishing with power and the ability to resist attack. Pray for this on an individual level, also, for you own life and those you love.

• Pray for a renewed ‘being in tune with’, being led by, and reliance on, the Holy Spirit, and His might and power, not our own human logic.

• Pray that we will become aware of the ‘new thing’ God is doing – not just a general awareness that He is doing something, but a personal and corporate awareness of the details of what He is doing, and how we can cooperate with Him best in that work.

• Pray that our old, outdated, or wrong, mindsets, structures, etc. will be exposed, and for a willingness to surrender them and make the necessary changes.

• Ask for the supernatural wisdom, insight and foresight that the Lord is offering us. Ask for it on a personal and corporate level.

• Pray for peace and a turning to the Lord to receive insight, strategy and help in financial difficulties.

• Ask the Lord where you are playing it safe and wanting to stay ‘in the nest’, and what new assignments He has for you this year.

BIO