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Nate Johnston

ADVICE FOR UNCONVENTIONAL VOICES

Nate Johnston

ADVICE FOR UNCONVENTIONAL VOICES

ADVICE FOR UNCONVENTIONAL VOICES

(This is an excerpt from Letter 18 of Letters to the pioneers found at www.letterstothepioneers.com)


Do you believe you are a voice but are just wired differently? 


Maybe like me you have struggled in your journey to find where you fit when are a little unconventional? 


Just like John the Baptist, you are a bit of an oddball. Maybe your calling and passion have branded you as socially awkward and strange because it bursts out of you involuntarily.


But no, you aren’t strange, you are just wired authentically. 


You don’t have the filter they do. You don’t have the assistant screening your words before you speak them or cutting out what could offend. 


You aren’t politically correct. Not that you want to upset anyone, but your spirit connects to your mouth in a way that isn’t acceptable in the world of proper - aristocratic prophetic ministry. 


So how do you survive in a hyper-critical world where people are always sizing you up, judging what you said, judging what you didn’t say, and assuming they know your heart? 


How do you begin to steward your voice and maintain being a voice without being cut down and thrown out in the trash in your first week? 


How do you stay true to what God is telling you to speak without compromising, cutting yourself down to fit, or suppressing yourself to walk the road of least resistance? 


How do you be a wild voice in this time of history?


How do you last the distance? 


While far from conclusive, here are a few practical things God has taught me over the years that will hopefully help you keep being the unique “You” in this hour;


YOU HAVE ONE ASSIGNMENT. 

John's assignment was simple. He cleared the way for Jesus. If you don’t know your message or assignment, ask God for clarity and begin. Too many voices get stuck in the hesitation stage when they just need to begin. Don’t take on too many functions. Just speak what He gives you and let Him do the rest. 


START WITH WHAT YOU GOT. 

The other thing that stops voices from consistently speaking is feeling like they don’t have what it takes. “I don’t know how to get out the words right. I don’t know how to say it like them. Don’t let your lack of skillset stop you from obeying God. He will always increase your gifts as you step out. This leads me to the next one. 


YOU ARE A ONE OF A KIND. 

You have to quit comparing yourself to others on social media. I’ve done it and it’s sabotage to your authentic flavor and message. Your anointing is greatest when you are true to how God designed you even if it is strange or unique. Trust the way God wired you and refuse to become like everyone else to be liked or to get followers. Just be you and entrust that to God. 


LET GOD GET YOUR MESSAGE OUT.

Stewarding your voice effectively is having to choose not to hide it, but it doesn’t mean you have to fall into the trap of thinking you need to be a marketer. Let God get your message out. You don’t have to pay for ads or try network or rub shoulders to get your message out. Just be faithful to release it and He will surprise you with where He takes it. I have seen far too many people pay and hustle their way into notoriety God didn’t endorse and it’s a hard job to upkeep the doors you pushed down. 


GET OVER YOURSELF.

Being a voice is not about you nor is it attached to your reputation. Of course, people don’t see it that way but you have to learn to see it as God's voice through you. When you do that it helps you speak what He gives you with greater confidence because it’s NOT YOU. So be HIS VOICE in the earth knowing He backs you. 


LIVE IN THE SECRET PLACE

Far too many emerging voices start off right. Their message erupts from their wilderness season and soon gains traction but instead of maintaining their lifestyle of intimacy they begin to shift into a lifestyle of being around other prophets and leaders instead of staying in the posture that launched them. Stay in the secret place so you don’t run dry and burn out. 


HUNGER FOR FRESH MANNA.

While there is nothing wrong with keeping your message consistent, I do believe God wants us to build upon what we receive. Encounters and visitation lead us lot deeper revelation of what we received earlier. Like another layer of insight and anointing, fresh manna will keep you fresh and your oil burning. Don’t be satisfied with the old and don’t rely on old encounters til you run out of juice. Lean in for the fresh.  


KEEP YOUR VOICE HONEST & PURE

People ask me “How much of the revelation you receive from God do you release?” I would say 5 percent. Revelation is sacred and birthed out of intimacy. To share everything would be violating my relationship with God - or PROSTITUTING the gift. You keep your voice honest and pure by increasing your ability to discern what is for the masses and what is for your history. 


TRADE IN THE ORPHAN SPIRIT

I used to operate in a major orphan spirit in my teens and early twenties and it skewed my thinking. It made it impossible for me to work with others and be a voice for the Lord because everything He gave me was filtered through my Identity dysfunction. Many emerging voices wrestle with this and it leads them into a parallel universe of the calling God has for them. It’s a thief and robber. It will cause you to post for likes and share words for affirmation. It will cause you to compete and grab for moments in the spotlight. To be a healthy voice you need to be Fathered into a healthy identity. Seek this more than being heard. Seek this more than releasing your sound so that when you do, it will be pure and powerful to those who hear it. 


DON’T CAST YOUR PEARLS

A big lesson I wish I learned early on is that not everyone is for you and your mission. Many only want to get close to you so that they can steal from the fresh flow coming out of you! I remember being so excited when God started speaking through me that I wanted to tell everyone my deepest thoughts and weightiest revelations. I wanted to share all my dreams, now words fresh off the printing press of heaven, and projects and ideas, and what happened? People stole them, used them, and trampled over them. Which leads me to… 


KNOW YOUR COMPANY

Do you know who labors amongst you? Do you know their heart and motives? I don’t need to elaborate on this one. I have almost thrown in the towel from not paying attention to the red flags that led me to multiple betrayals, slander seasons, and hijacks of my calling. If there is something to pray and fast on it’s to know who your close circle and company are meant to be and who they aren’t.


ALIGNMENTS ARE CONTRACTS

Recently I had a few amazing groups contact me wanting to lock arms and run together. The sentiment is humbling and I know their hearts were probably pure in their desire to run with us but what I have learned over the years is that alignments are contracts. I have entered into covenant and alignments God never asked me to and it’s always shut down my voice for long periods or diluted it. Supporting other movements is kingdom but before you give your word or vow about anything deeper take it into a season of prayer and fasting. 


A SAUL WILL ALWAYS BE WAITING…

When you begin stepping out as a voice I guarantee you that this will happen - a Saul will present themselves. Who is this Saul? A person is normally a leader or a more seasoned voice that sees what is on your life and either doesn’t want you to exceed their level of success or a person who wants to use you to prop up their waning ministry. It happens like clockwork and it’s a deadly trap of flattery and ego-stroking to those new to the game. And when you have been a Lone Ranger for so long you tend to see this sudden interest as favor and hand over the keys to them all too quickly. Please beware! Protect and guard your anointing. Don’t appoint people whom you don’t know or God has not spoken to you about. 


LONE RANGER SEASONS DON’T MAKE YOU ILLEGITIMATE

Not long ago I had a well-known pastor drag someone under the bus in front of me. He said these pastors were illegitimate because they had no covering from a major church or network. As he spoke I saw into his heart and saw the gaping fear of losing territory. He didn’t like the favor they were getting and had to use the only card he had - to discredit this emerging ministry in a need to further validate his own. Let me say this clearly - Lone Ranger seasons are ordained by God. He uses them to purify and heal us before he launches us in a public way. Don’t see them as a bad thing like many do. Covering has become an idol and way of bullying those who are carrying unique messages that would never be approved by the stuck-up clergy of the religious club. If you are Lone Ranger, know that it’s a season God has you in but keep your heart ready for God to bring you to the right people at the right time instead of the wrong people just to appease their need for you to be legit. 


DON’T PAY ATTENTION TO THE PROPHETIC POLICE

Another trap many fall into is listening to the prophetic police. I have spent so many years trying to breathe life and courage back into voices who have been through so much wounding from the mainstream only to see the rise of pharisaical spirit coming from leaders who should know better. They write posts essentially telling the emerging voices to shut up because they don’t know what they are doing. Does a child learn to walk in a day? Did you ride your bike perfectly the first time you rode it? Did the disciples become seasoned overnight? Please disregard the condemnation of these voices who should be stepping into their shoes as fathers/mothers but have failed to do so and have deviated from their calling. No matter what they say, be a voice anyway and let the Father's words over you be the only voice you hear. 


YOU WILL ENCOUNTER JEZEBEL

I don’t want to beat around the bush. You will hit warfare. Regularly. You will have days that are funky and swirly and feel like you are wading through a thick marshland of confusion. Yes, you will face witchcraft, chatter, and chins wagging to pull you down. But the greatest attack will come from the Jezebel spirit. She hates your voice and will try to discredit you and make you feel stupid for speaking at all. She will make you wanna run and give up. And she will send her loyal assassins in to do her bidding. Just like the enemy will position a Saul to bring you into false covenant, she will send one of her representatives in to try to be your best friend and cheer squad but will be positioned there to steal your voice. Don’t fall for her traps! 


STAY IN YOUR LANE

There are days you will wake up to the news of chaotic world events, and then the inevitable tsunami of prophetic voices suddenly prophesying, virtue signaling, or reminding of you what they said about it years ago. That’s fine for them, but what If God didn’t tell you about it? What do you do if the pressure to speak up is mounting but God has something else on your radar? Don’t fall to the pressure to say something simply to appease people or be politically correct. Stay in your lane. If it’s not in your lane, don’t enter the fight. You can’t be everything to everyone. You have to stay within the grace and bounds of your anointing.


YOU ARE NOT A VENDING MACHINE

Hear me say this - you are no one’s personal prophet. The moment someone says that you can be guaranteed that they are saying “Can you hear God for me because i dont invest in my relationship enough to hear Him for myself” The moment you agree to that, you can be assured that you will be called upon by when they need something from God, but instead they will demand it from you. You are nor their vending machine. You are not a psychic. Refuse to enable people who aren't willing to go after God for themselves. Just so you know my heart, I’m not condemning people who are after a prophetic word. I get dozens of these requests daily from people who only know a kingdom where they are disempowered from hearing God for themselves. But YOU are not their answer unless God instructs you to. 


YOU HAVE PERMISSION TO BREAK NEW GROUND

You weren’t given your calling to maintain your post but to extend the borders of the kingdom with it. One of the greatest traps many voices fall into is playing it safe. Trying to uphold an image or reputation. Like I said earlier. This is about you. You are a dead man. Christ Jesus now lives in you. Please don’t play it safe. Be bold. Break new ground. You have been permitted to carve new paths and write new language for the hour. You have been permitted to confront the oil and unveil the new, blow away the dross of the past era, and lead the church into something fresh. 


CHARACTER OVER GIFTING

I prayed years ago “Lord never let my anointing or gifting grow bigger than my character” and I would like to think He honored that. My leash has been short and He deals with me regularly. Too many voices fall into the trap of stopping the Lord developing their character and it begins to show. Don’t ever leave the potter's hands because it’s the safest place to be. 


STAY A NOVICE

Pioneers, stay a novice. This means staying humble and small in your own eyes. Don’t fall into the trap of feeling invincible because you have tasted ten minutes of favor. Popularity is poison to many voices but there is a way to have influence while staying small and teachable. I’ve noticed that those who see God move upon them long-term are those who don’t get lost in the fame and fortune of their success. They also don’t parade themselves or their revelation like it’s the missing link of humanity. Stay a novice.  


LOVE JESUS MORE THAN MINISTRY 

Lastly, don’t take yourself too seriously. Don’t lose yourself in your mission and forget to be a person with needs, a prosperous soul, a healthy marriage and family. Pour more time and focus there than you do pouring out. Above all, love Jesus. Don’t let ministry become your mistress or idol. Last the distance by stewarding this well. Be normal. Be real. Have hobbies. Laugh. Live with adventure. Be creative. Live for the audience of one. 


Nate 


Sow a seed

RELATED prophetic WORDS:

RELATED prophetic WORDS:

By Nate Johnston November 20, 2024
A few days ago, I shared a few thoughts I had randomly posted on social media about how things were going to look different in the days ahead. They bubbled out of my spirit because it just felt overwhelmingly obvious and apparent that there had been a shift. But I felt I needed to give a little more language to this. Now that we are here, I can see how the last four years have been leading us to this very point. Maybe even the last 7 years too. While this word is not political in nature—and regardless of where you stand—it has to be said - the recent election was a major tectonic shift, not only for the United States but for the world. It was that significant. A marker moment. In the spirit, I could see it—a major eruption in the deep that ignited thousands more around the world. I knew right then and there that things were never going to be the same again. It’s crazy how one event can spark so many others, but that’s exactly what it felt like. The world I knew and the life I knew before that day were going to be different. It’s like when 9/11 happened. The world changed in a moment. And in the same way—except positively—this one event converged with the timing of heaven, where God was unleashing something upon the earth. WELCOME TO THE NEW DAWN I believe we are at the dawn of a new day in the body of Christ. But a change that I believe is going to challenge us all deeply. It’s going to challenge us to abandon the survival mentality we’ve grown used to over the years. Suddenly, a door has opened and we are on the other side of something. Soon we will see that the battles of yesterday will fade away as we discover we are no longer in that valley we have camped in for years. We will no longer wrestle with many of the battles that defined the previous season. We may no longer deal with constant red tape and bureaucracy, delays, hope deferred, constant difficulties, or relentless warfare over simple things. But it’s not that there are no battles anymore—it’s just that the nature of the battle has shifted. When Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land, the battle didn’t stop—it changed form. In the wilderness, their struggles were rooted in the harsh environment, discouragement, disappointment, and the mindset of slavery in Egypt. But as soon as they entered the Promised Land, they were surrounded by incredible wealth, resources, and food. They no longer faced the wilderness battles they once did. Instead, they faced new giants in the land. The battle shifted from mental and emotional challenges to an offensive conquest to take territory and evict its inhabitants. After years in the wilderness the Israelites had to learn to wield their sword again and fight with authority. But to effectively wage war in their new season, they had to believe they were powerful and walk in their authority. I believe that’s where we are right now - a season of governmental occupation. The things we’ve been contending for and persisting in may no longer be relevant. We’re shifting into an entirely new playing field of kingdom conquest. And if you are wondering what the next chapter looks like this is what I see. Battles and dead giants. Challenges and great victories. The stakes have gone up but you and I were born for this. It’s going to cause the spiritually dead to come alive and run into their destiny! Beyond this moment, the body of Christ is stepping into something radically different and we need new eyes to see it so we don’t fall back into the death of routine. THE WINESKIN IS CHANGING For years we have known that the old, tattered wineskin we’ve held onto for so long is no longer effective. It cannot sustain the move of God starting to crash on our shores. In fact, when God shows up our current wineskin will seem embarrassing if we are still holding it. Many will see that they haven’t been ready. We’ve been trying to contain God, use God, monopolize God, and brand every revival under our banner. But worse we have believed revival to be one thing based on old seasons when it now looks completely different. There will be no experts beyond this point —only novices at the feet of Jesus. Those sitting on lofty thrones of ambition and milestones will find their structures collapsing. We can no longer build our lives around museums of the past. We must fix our gaze on the future and where God is leading us. A NEW IDENTITY This is a season where God is redefining how we see ourselves in Christ. Over the last four years, God’s people have seen themselves in such a small light. We’ve underestimated who we are in Him, and God is now reinventing us. He’s reminding us of who we are. God is calling us to pull out the stones of remembrance. He’s saying: “Remember where you’ve been. Remember what I’ve brought you through. Now look ahead to where you’re going.” This is the dawn of a new day, a new beginning. We are shifting from survival mentality and wilderness thinking into a place of thriving. We are rediscovering what it means to live with inheritance. We’re returning to sonship and being fathered by God in ways we’ve lost sight of. We’re returning to the BURNING of the original call and fire in our bellies that sent us out. The old map is the new map I hear the lord saying. DELIVERANCE AND RESTORATION This is an hour of deliverance—not just from old methods and traditions but also from the things we’ve normalized. We’ve normalized mental health struggles, depression, and dysphoria. We’ve coddled demons and called it loving or comforting. Now, God is addressing these areas where the church has fallen for other lovers. He’s confronting the lies we’ve believed about ourselves and about Him. As we step into this new day, it will be both confronting and freeing. It’s the tension of saying: “Thank God that season is over!” But also: “Oh no, it’s time to put my big boy pants on.” Yes, this change requires greater maturity and responsibility. THE CICADA STUCK ON THE TREE As I shared that small word I had a glimpse of a childhood memory. Of a favorite tree I used to climb that regularly had hundreds of cicada shells on it. I knew the lord was speaking to me about the church. You see, we have talked for years about the new era, the crossing over, the new wineskin, and the changing of the guard in the church. We have said statements like “The age of empires is over, and the days of family have begun.” But what does that mean and what is the cicada? The cicada is the church and the shell is the church coming out of an old and outdated way. We have been in a season of grace to transition out but now it’s time to leave it in the tree. Let it die. And finally come back to the original plan. Why because Acts 2 is upon us! We are coming back, full circle to Gods first church and shedding off the layers of man. HUMILITY AND AWAKENING Right now many trying to sustain the old regime are growing weary. They’ll soon realize it’s time to lay down their hats and surrender at His feet. Even those who have been worker bees for the old hive are feeling the pull of this awakening. Blindfolds are coming off en masse. There will be a brief coup—a deviant sect claiming to be the new thing but rooted in humanism and man’s wisdom. They will reject the call to humility. For a while, it may seem to divide prophetic voices. But once the fresh move of God crashes upon the earth, even these will repent and surrender. This move will humble the proud, and brokenness will bring deliverance to the rebellious. We will witness thousands running to the altar to exchange their achievements for a glimpse of His face—the very thing they started out pursuing. ALL FOR HIM What we thought was the kingdom is being redefined. What we thought was Jesus is being made clear. All false gospels are being exposed. In this moment, the Father is delivering us from religion and our own ambitions. He is aligning our calling with His purposes. He is becoming our everything. And I don’t know about you, but I can’t do things the same anymore. It’s no longer a time to fear man, rely on common sense, or prioritize rationale. We must move where He is moving—at all costs. DIAGNOSING THE SEASON The change is in the air. You can feel it. It’s as if the spiritual temperature around you has shifted—something is different, and you can’t ignore it. Here are some practical indicators of a season change: You sense an internal shift. Your desires and appetites have changed. What once satisfied you no longer feels relevant, and you find yourself longing for something new, something deeper. You feel like you can’t go back, even if you tried. The door to the old season has been shut, and there’s no way to reopen it. God is making it clear that what was behind you is no longer an option. There’s an urgency or longing that wasn’t there yesterday. Perhaps you feel a fresh sense of expectancy stirring in your spirit—like the ground beneath you is about to move, and you need to be ready to act. You can feel the weight of the shift. Even if you can’t fully articulate it, you know that the path ahead is uncharted, and God is inviting you to trust Him in a new way. Take time to tune into what the Holy Spirit is saying in this moment. Ask yourself, “What is He calling me to leave behind? What is He drawing me toward? What doors are opening, and which ones have closed?” This is not a time to resist the shift—it’s a time to step into it with faith and courage. God is moving, and He’s calling you to move with Him. PIONEERING A NEW PATH And we have entered a season of fresh pioneering. The old ways of advancing the kingdom will no longer work because God is leading us into uncharted territory. We can’t rely on formulas, traditions, or comfort zones. We must embrace the new path God is carving out before us. This requires us to step out in faith, even when we don’t have all the answers. Pioneering isn’t about having everything figured out—it’s about trusting the One who goes before us. Just as the Israelites had to follow the Ark of the Covenant into the unknown, we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and move where He leads. Pioneers it’s time again ti create pathways for others to follow. This is your moment to rise. THE CHARGE TO RENEGADES AND THE NEW DAY SCRIBES And just as we need pioneers, we need untamed renegades and new day scribes and prophets to write the introduction to this new chapter and lead us forward. This is not a time for polished perfection or cookie-cutter ministry. This is a time for wild obedience, raw passion, and unrelenting faith. Renegades, the body of Christ needs your courage. You were made to confront the giants in the land and tear down the altars of compromise. Your boldness will inspire others to rise up and take their place in this new era. Scribes and prophets, your words will ignite fires of revival. Pick up your pens. Open your mouths. The Spirit of God is ready to pour out fresh revelation through you. This generation needs your voice to declare the truths of heaven. Write the blueprints. Prophesy the new path. Lead the charge. We need your untamed hearts to step into this season unafraid of man’s opinions. We need your voices to call the church back to purity and intimacy with Jesus. This is your commissioning moment. I feel to say this - the fresh permission of heaven is upon you! Go where no one else will go. Say what no one else will say. Build what no one else will build. The world is waiting. The church is waiting. Heaven is watching. Let’s turn the page together. “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.” Exodus 14:15 “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.” Isaiah 54:2-3 
By Nate Johnston November 19, 2024
On Sunday, the 17th of November 2024, I had a vision of a field being harvested by a massive harvester. As I got closer to the field, I could see that over half of it was not full of wheat but full of weeds. And I said, “Lord, what is this? What are we looking at?” Knowing already, I realized I was seeing the tares among the wheat. I began to feel discouraged that there were actually so many weeds. This isn’t the great harvest that I believed I would see in my lifetime. And the Lord said to me, “No, this is the harvest before the harvest. This is the time of division that brings repentance and a decision for the body of Christ, so that the next harvest we step into will be the great harvest that was prophesied.” It was then that I saw the harvesting machine crush down the weeds into the soil. And then I felt like the Lord was saying, “But this will be one of the most fruitful times, because the weeds that have been working against the wheat all this time will now be used as fertilizer for the harvest.” This is not a time to fear as things suddenly feel more divided, because it’s not a time of polarizing or dividing the church but of bringing those who have not been bearing fruit—and who have been listening to the voice of the enemy—into a time of great decision. “Will they choose Me, or will they choose man? Will they follow Jesus, or will they follow another version of Jesus?” I heard Him say. Friends, I believe that right now we can either look at the division around us on the earth as something negative, or we can see it as part of a harvest that is leading and pointing us to the greater harvest that has been prophesied. It’s not a time to get discouraged or to hang up our tools. It’s not a time to stop speaking or to stop forging ahead. It’s actually a time to celebrate and get ready because God is leading us toward the great harvest. We’re going to see an incredible reaping of souls in the days to come. I truly believe this is the time where the Lord is saying, “Get the barn ready. Get the barn ready for what I’m about to pour out!” Don’t look to the critics or the naysayers. Don’t look to those who are prophesying doom and gloom, because God is not done with America, and He’s not done with the nations. For while there will be great tension and clashing of ideals and kingdoms, this will be the shaking that shakes the church awake and the right way up! Acts 2 is already upon us and our best days are ahead. 
By Nate Johnston November 20, 2024
A few days ago, I shared a few thoughts I had randomly posted on social media about how things were going to look different in the days ahead. They bubbled out of my spirit because it just felt overwhelmingly obvious and apparent that there had been a shift. But I felt I needed to give a little more language to this. Now that we are here, I can see how the last four years have been leading us to this very point. Maybe even the last 7 years too. While this word is not political in nature—and regardless of where you stand—it has to be said - the recent election was a major tectonic shift, not only for the United States but for the world. It was that significant. A marker moment. In the spirit, I could see it—a major eruption in the deep that ignited thousands more around the world. I knew right then and there that things were never going to be the same again. It’s crazy how one event can spark so many others, but that’s exactly what it felt like. The world I knew and the life I knew before that day were going to be different. It’s like when 9/11 happened. The world changed in a moment. And in the same way—except positively—this one event converged with the timing of heaven, where God was unleashing something upon the earth. WELCOME TO THE NEW DAWN I believe we are at the dawn of a new day in the body of Christ. But a change that I believe is going to challenge us all deeply. It’s going to challenge us to abandon the survival mentality we’ve grown used to over the years. Suddenly, a door has opened and we are on the other side of something. Soon we will see that the battles of yesterday will fade away as we discover we are no longer in that valley we have camped in for years. We will no longer wrestle with many of the battles that defined the previous season. We may no longer deal with constant red tape and bureaucracy, delays, hope deferred, constant difficulties, or relentless warfare over simple things. But it’s not that there are no battles anymore—it’s just that the nature of the battle has shifted. When Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land, the battle didn’t stop—it changed form. In the wilderness, their struggles were rooted in the harsh environment, discouragement, disappointment, and the mindset of slavery in Egypt. But as soon as they entered the Promised Land, they were surrounded by incredible wealth, resources, and food. They no longer faced the wilderness battles they once did. Instead, they faced new giants in the land. The battle shifted from mental and emotional challenges to an offensive conquest to take territory and evict its inhabitants. After years in the wilderness the Israelites had to learn to wield their sword again and fight with authority. But to effectively wage war in their new season, they had to believe they were powerful and walk in their authority. I believe that’s where we are right now - a season of governmental occupation. The things we’ve been contending for and persisting in may no longer be relevant. We’re shifting into an entirely new playing field of kingdom conquest. And if you are wondering what the next chapter looks like this is what I see. Battles and dead giants. Challenges and great victories. The stakes have gone up but you and I were born for this. It’s going to cause the spiritually dead to come alive and run into their destiny! Beyond this moment, the body of Christ is stepping into something radically different and we need new eyes to see it so we don’t fall back into the death of routine. THE WINESKIN IS CHANGING For years we have known that the old, tattered wineskin we’ve held onto for so long is no longer effective. It cannot sustain the move of God starting to crash on our shores. In fact, when God shows up our current wineskin will seem embarrassing if we are still holding it. Many will see that they haven’t been ready. We’ve been trying to contain God, use God, monopolize God, and brand every revival under our banner. But worse we have believed revival to be one thing based on old seasons when it now looks completely different. There will be no experts beyond this point —only novices at the feet of Jesus. Those sitting on lofty thrones of ambition and milestones will find their structures collapsing. We can no longer build our lives around museums of the past. We must fix our gaze on the future and where God is leading us. A NEW IDENTITY This is a season where God is redefining how we see ourselves in Christ. Over the last four years, God’s people have seen themselves in such a small light. We’ve underestimated who we are in Him, and God is now reinventing us. He’s reminding us of who we are. God is calling us to pull out the stones of remembrance. He’s saying: “Remember where you’ve been. Remember what I’ve brought you through. Now look ahead to where you’re going.” This is the dawn of a new day, a new beginning. We are shifting from survival mentality and wilderness thinking into a place of thriving. We are rediscovering what it means to live with inheritance. We’re returning to sonship and being fathered by God in ways we’ve lost sight of. We’re returning to the BURNING of the original call and fire in our bellies that sent us out. The old map is the new map I hear the lord saying. DELIVERANCE AND RESTORATION This is an hour of deliverance—not just from old methods and traditions but also from the things we’ve normalized. We’ve normalized mental health struggles, depression, and dysphoria. We’ve coddled demons and called it loving or comforting. Now, God is addressing these areas where the church has fallen for other lovers. He’s confronting the lies we’ve believed about ourselves and about Him. As we step into this new day, it will be both confronting and freeing. It’s the tension of saying: “Thank God that season is over!” But also: “Oh no, it’s time to put my big boy pants on.” Yes, this change requires greater maturity and responsibility. THE CICADA STUCK ON THE TREE As I shared that small word I had a glimpse of a childhood memory. Of a favorite tree I used to climb that regularly had hundreds of cicada shells on it. I knew the lord was speaking to me about the church. You see, we have talked for years about the new era, the crossing over, the new wineskin, and the changing of the guard in the church. We have said statements like “The age of empires is over, and the days of family have begun.” But what does that mean and what is the cicada? The cicada is the church and the shell is the church coming out of an old and outdated way. We have been in a season of grace to transition out but now it’s time to leave it in the tree. Let it die. And finally come back to the original plan. Why because Acts 2 is upon us! We are coming back, full circle to Gods first church and shedding off the layers of man. HUMILITY AND AWAKENING Right now many trying to sustain the old regime are growing weary. They’ll soon realize it’s time to lay down their hats and surrender at His feet. Even those who have been worker bees for the old hive are feeling the pull of this awakening. Blindfolds are coming off en masse. There will be a brief coup—a deviant sect claiming to be the new thing but rooted in humanism and man’s wisdom. They will reject the call to humility. For a while, it may seem to divide prophetic voices. But once the fresh move of God crashes upon the earth, even these will repent and surrender. This move will humble the proud, and brokenness will bring deliverance to the rebellious. We will witness thousands running to the altar to exchange their achievements for a glimpse of His face—the very thing they started out pursuing. ALL FOR HIM What we thought was the kingdom is being redefined. What we thought was Jesus is being made clear. All false gospels are being exposed. In this moment, the Father is delivering us from religion and our own ambitions. He is aligning our calling with His purposes. He is becoming our everything. And I don’t know about you, but I can’t do things the same anymore. It’s no longer a time to fear man, rely on common sense, or prioritize rationale. We must move where He is moving—at all costs. DIAGNOSING THE SEASON The change is in the air. You can feel it. It’s as if the spiritual temperature around you has shifted—something is different, and you can’t ignore it. Here are some practical indicators of a season change: You sense an internal shift. Your desires and appetites have changed. What once satisfied you no longer feels relevant, and you find yourself longing for something new, something deeper. You feel like you can’t go back, even if you tried. The door to the old season has been shut, and there’s no way to reopen it. God is making it clear that what was behind you is no longer an option. There’s an urgency or longing that wasn’t there yesterday. Perhaps you feel a fresh sense of expectancy stirring in your spirit—like the ground beneath you is about to move, and you need to be ready to act. You can feel the weight of the shift. Even if you can’t fully articulate it, you know that the path ahead is uncharted, and God is inviting you to trust Him in a new way. Take time to tune into what the Holy Spirit is saying in this moment. Ask yourself, “What is He calling me to leave behind? What is He drawing me toward? What doors are opening, and which ones have closed?” This is not a time to resist the shift—it’s a time to step into it with faith and courage. God is moving, and He’s calling you to move with Him. PIONEERING A NEW PATH And we have entered a season of fresh pioneering. The old ways of advancing the kingdom will no longer work because God is leading us into uncharted territory. We can’t rely on formulas, traditions, or comfort zones. We must embrace the new path God is carving out before us. This requires us to step out in faith, even when we don’t have all the answers. Pioneering isn’t about having everything figured out—it’s about trusting the One who goes before us. Just as the Israelites had to follow the Ark of the Covenant into the unknown, we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and move where He leads. Pioneers it’s time again ti create pathways for others to follow. This is your moment to rise. THE CHARGE TO RENEGADES AND THE NEW DAY SCRIBES And just as we need pioneers, we need untamed renegades and new day scribes and prophets to write the introduction to this new chapter and lead us forward. This is not a time for polished perfection or cookie-cutter ministry. This is a time for wild obedience, raw passion, and unrelenting faith. Renegades, the body of Christ needs your courage. You were made to confront the giants in the land and tear down the altars of compromise. Your boldness will inspire others to rise up and take their place in this new era. Scribes and prophets, your words will ignite fires of revival. Pick up your pens. Open your mouths. The Spirit of God is ready to pour out fresh revelation through you. This generation needs your voice to declare the truths of heaven. Write the blueprints. Prophesy the new path. Lead the charge. We need your untamed hearts to step into this season unafraid of man’s opinions. We need your voices to call the church back to purity and intimacy with Jesus. This is your commissioning moment. I feel to say this - the fresh permission of heaven is upon you! Go where no one else will go. Say what no one else will say. Build what no one else will build. The world is waiting. The church is waiting. Heaven is watching. Let’s turn the page together. “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.” Exodus 14:15 “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.” Isaiah 54:2-3 
By Nate Johnston November 19, 2024
On Sunday, the 17th of November 2024, I had a vision of a field being harvested by a massive harvester. As I got closer to the field, I could see that over half of it was not full of wheat but full of weeds. And I said, “Lord, what is this? What are we looking at?” Knowing already, I realized I was seeing the tares among the wheat. I began to feel discouraged that there were actually so many weeds. This isn’t the great harvest that I believed I would see in my lifetime. And the Lord said to me, “No, this is the harvest before the harvest. This is the time of division that brings repentance and a decision for the body of Christ, so that the next harvest we step into will be the great harvest that was prophesied.” It was then that I saw the harvesting machine crush down the weeds into the soil. And then I felt like the Lord was saying, “But this will be one of the most fruitful times, because the weeds that have been working against the wheat all this time will now be used as fertilizer for the harvest.” This is not a time to fear as things suddenly feel more divided, because it’s not a time of polarizing or dividing the church but of bringing those who have not been bearing fruit—and who have been listening to the voice of the enemy—into a time of great decision. “Will they choose Me, or will they choose man? Will they follow Jesus, or will they follow another version of Jesus?” I heard Him say. Friends, I believe that right now we can either look at the division around us on the earth as something negative, or we can see it as part of a harvest that is leading and pointing us to the greater harvest that has been prophesied. It’s not a time to get discouraged or to hang up our tools. It’s not a time to stop speaking or to stop forging ahead. It’s actually a time to celebrate and get ready because God is leading us toward the great harvest. We’re going to see an incredible reaping of souls in the days to come. I truly believe this is the time where the Lord is saying, “Get the barn ready. Get the barn ready for what I’m about to pour out!” Don’t look to the critics or the naysayers. Don’t look to those who are prophesying doom and gloom, because God is not done with America, and He’s not done with the nations. For while there will be great tension and clashing of ideals and kingdoms, this will be the shaking that shakes the church awake and the right way up! Acts 2 is already upon us and our best days are ahead. 
By Nate Johnston November 15, 2024
By Nate Johnston November 15, 2024
We would be honored for you to join us for a VISION CASTING call, where we deliver some strategic vision that the Lord has given Christy and I for 2025 and beyond! All are welcome to join us for a night of prophetic vision casting. In addition to this VISION CASTING call, we will be sending out a private message to all of our Partners, to join us for a special designated time of prophetic prayer! We can't wait to spend these upcoming evenings with you, as we are in great expectation for how God is going to move! VISION CASTING CALL 11.20.24 - at 6PM MT (US MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME - COLORADO SPRINGS) ZOOM DETAILS BELOW Topic: MONTHLY VISION CALL Time: Nov 20, 2024 06:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/6729913267?pwd=ZktPbGpzbjFnMm5YQjBhbk9mSWRDUT09&omn=84985816884 Meeting ID: 672 991 3267 Passcode: 123 PARTNER PRAYER CALL BE LOOKING IN YOUR INBOX!
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