The Struggle to Hear God
Jill Austin
Sep 12, 2004
Prophetic Intercession for the Nations
Jeremiah 23:21-22 - I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in My counsel, and had caused My people to hear My words, then they would have turned them from their evil way and from the evil of their doings.
Reese Howell was a radical intercessor during World War II whose prophetic revelation changed the course of the nations. Seeing in the heavens and knowing the plans of the enemy, he was able to then sabotage those schemes before they were fulfilled and release the plans of the Lord.
Can We Go into the Counsel of the Lord and Get Fresh Strategies and War Plans for Today?
I want to share a testimony about the power of prophetic intercession. This kairos hour in history demands that we must know the times and seasons. Can we go into the counsel of the Lord and get the fresh strategies and war plans for today?
During the Gulf War, I kept seeing the same battles taking place on television. I started to get very frustrated and said, "Lord, I don't want just natural television. I want Your 'tell-a-vision.' I want to see what is happening in the heavens over the Middle East. Lord, what is on your heart? There must be more information. I feel the American government is showing us bits and pieces, but Lord, what are You doing in the realm of the Spirit?"
On Sunday morning, my pastor of a congregation of 3,000, told us to stand and pray for Israel. All of a sudden I heard the audible voice of the Lord saying, "Michael." I asked, "Michael, who?" He said, "Michael, the Archangel." Suddenly I had an open vision of Michael fighting over Israel. I asked the Lord what he was doing. Instantly I saw the Prince of Persia and Michael in a fierce battle. The Lord continued, "The Prince of Persia is trying to pre-empt My time table, so that's why I've released Michael. The war will end in three days."
The Lord spoke again and He said, "Gabriel." I asked, "Lord, what's Gabe doing?" Immediately I saw Gabriel moving families and individuals so they wouldn't be harmed. The next night I was at a Baptist pastor's house and met a pastor from Israel. As I shook his hand I said, "I saw Michael over Israel. The war is going to end on the third day." He said, "Michael is the archangel over Israel." When the pastor was flying back to Israel on Purim, the war ended that very day, which was three days later.
Be Willing to Pray Dangerous Prayers
You see, you must be willing to have your antennas up twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Ask the Lord strategic questions about your life, family, work, school, city, and world events. The Lord is raising up prophets in this hour who will go into the counsels of the Lord. Intercession, fasting, and worship accelerate the call of God on each of our lives. Are you available to go deeper into the war room of God?
Prayer: Lord, I'm so spiritually blind. Open my eyes so that I can see what is happening in the realm of the Spirit. I so want to pray dangerous prayers that can stop the plans of the enemy and release Your power. I want to hear Your voice and know Your ways. Help me to pray in a way that establishes heaven on earth so that Your will is done.
Hearing the Voice of God
Hosea 4:6 - My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
I was at an Army base staying with a young couple for a weekend ministry assignment. Right before I left, the young wife approached me and said, "Jill, you've met three of my children, but did you know that I had a fourth child?" I replied to her, "No, I didn't."
She sadly turned to me, with tears welling up in her eyes and softly began, "I want to share with you how my baby died. I was sitting here on the couch, watching my sweet baby in a basinet across the living room. All of a sudden, a black figure walked across the room and just hovered on top of the basinet. I heard my baby struggle for breath, and then she died. I really didn't know what to do. Do you think it could have been a spirit of death?"
Gripped with sadness and shock, I turned to her and said, "Yes, I do." Her story devastated me. As I drove down the road weeping and crying out to the Lord, I asked Him, "All she had to do was rebuke the spirit of death! Why did that baby have to die because of her ignorance?"
In that moment, the Lord simply replied to me, "My people perish from lack of knowledge."
Prophecy and Hearing the Lord's Voice is Not Just Reserved for An Elite Platform Ministry
Beloved, hearing the Lord's voice is not an option. It is survival! The tragedy of this baby dying could have been avoided if she had rebuked that spirit of death in Jesus' name. We are all called to the prophetic lifestyle and to be naturally supernatural. Prophecy is not just reserved for an elite platform ministry. The Lord wants us to hear His voice in everyday life and know how to pray for our loved ones.
However, we must remember that learning how to hear the voice of the Lord is a process. Sometimes you will just get an impression, a prompting, a feeling, a picture, or a knowing. Here's the key: God wants us to love Him so much so that we are willing to risk, be foolish and step out with those impressions. If we are faithful in the little, He will give us more. Do you have your antennas up in the Holy Spirit? Or are you so spiritually co-dependent that you just wait for the next prophet to roll into town, so you'll get your word and transcribe it in your archives?
There must be tenacity in you where you wrestle with God to hear His voice. The Lord asks us to come to Him as little children. Often He will only give me part of the word. As I step out, I then get the next part of it. Don't wait for a full Technicolor vision projected on the wall before you start talking! Start with the small impressions and more will follow. I realize that it is scary to walk on water, but honestly, Beloved, it is more frightening to stay in the boat.
Hearing from God is Your Birthright
It's time to seize our inheritance as a prophetic people. Hearing from God is your birthright. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you. People's very lives depend on our willingness to hear the voice of God. Be a divine detective and ask the Lord to take you through The School of the Holy Spirit! Willingness will take us farther in the Kingdom of God than perfection.
Prayer: Oh Lord, help me to grow up in You. I want to hear your voice and I want You to use my life to bring others to You! Teach me to take my prayers as seriously as You do and help me to remember that the power of life and death is in my tongue. Lord, teach me how to pray.
by Jill Austin
http://www.masterpotter.com
info@masterpotter.com
