Do you believe you are a pioneering voice?
I would never have called myself "a voice" back in the day. I still don't like titles or any form of label because I've spent so many years getting used to just being "a son" that they make me feel like I'm polishing myself up better than I am.
But I've had to accept that I am a voice in order to deliver this to other voices out there who, maybe, like me, have never fit a particular box or popular preference.
At the very least, I pray your takeaway from this letter is accepting that regardless of your doubts and insecurities or what others have said about you - you can't deny that you know in your spirit that you are called to be a voice, too.
Not the kind of voice you see tickling the ears of the masses with their perfectly articulated verbiage and emotional tones that draw you in.
Not the kind of voice that makes you feel tucked in for a bedtime story, tenderly and slowly appealing to your soul but they are trying to buy you into their narrative.
Not the kind of voice that can speak to your comforts and sell you a story of false hope and aspiration.
No, you aren't the Ted talk type. You aren't trying to massage the intellect of a generation.
You are the voice crying out in the wilderness, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord!"
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 an 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.
Am I speaking to you?
I don't tick all those boxes either and never have.
BREAKING IT DOWN
So, how do you survive in a hyper-critical world where people constantly judge you, judging what you said and 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?
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 where 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 a voice effectively does mean not hiding it, but it doesn't 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 in releasing 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 keep up the doors you push 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 instead 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 in 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 significant 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. Pioneers, 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 only some are for you and your mission. In fact, 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. 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 which led me into 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 I have learned over the years that alignments are contracts. I have entered into covenants and alignments God never asked me to, and it's always shutting down my voice for long periods of time or diluting 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.
Now for the ones you really need to hear;
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 normally a leader or 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 who you don't know or God has not clearly 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 cover from a major church or network. As he spoke, I saw into his heart 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 - God ordains Lone Ranger seasons. 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 the stickup clergy would never approve of in 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!
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 and trying to uphold an image or reputation. Like I said earlier, this isn't 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 given permission to carve new paths and write new language for the hour. You have been given permission to confront the oil and unveil the new, blow away the dross of the past era, and lead the church into something fresh.
This is who you are.
