Friday Fire Prophecies Summary (Oct 95 - Feb 96)
The following is a summary of some of the prophetic Words spoken at Friday Fire Meetings at St Mark's Northbridge between December 1994, and March 1995. As with all prophetic words, these must be weighed and tested with a spirit of humility and repentance. Where Bible passages are referred to, the interpretations given are not intended to be seen as the interpretation of the passage, but as God speaking to his people's current situation by giving an interpretation. Some of the following words have already seen a measure of fulfilment.
NB: If there is a question you have with a prophecy or prophetic messenger, you can only judge by fruit that is produced (Matt 7: 1, 16 ,20). Does it produce righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). It is imperative that you follow a strictly Biblical process of questioning, or you could come under judgment (eg. 2 Kings 1). Never dismiss prophetic words simply because they do not fit your understanding of the Bible - you may be wrong. It is wiser to repent first, in humility, and stay quiet, so that you will remain under Grace (James 4:6). If it is not from God, He will deal with it. For those in ministry, prophetic or otherwise, remember it is not your ministry that is important, but your obedience (Matthew 7:21).
OCTOBER * The Storm - I asked the Lord about the apparent dryness of the blessing at this time - the power being manifested seemed to be waning. He gave me a vision of an incredible storm sweeping in over Sydney from the South-west. It had dark black clouds, lightning, driving rain and winds, and was terrifying. It was easily the worst storm I had ever seen or imagined, and it caused great damage as it passed through the city. The Lord gave me to understand that his awesome power was coming soon, and would hit like the storm I had seen. The damage would be great, but limited to only those structures and authorities in the Church the Lord needed to remove before He could rebuild His house. Unfortunately, there were an awful lot of them, and the confusion caused by the destruction would be great, but the Lord would lay a firm foundation on which to build. I felt the Lord was also saying that many prophesied judgments would accompany this outpouring, on those who had not repented, and ministries would be torn down and replaced.
NOVEMBER *The Wave - I asked the Lord again about the dryness, and the apparent shallowness of the anointing in Australia compared to overseas. He gave me a vision of an immense Tidal Wave, that has risen and was about to break. This wave, like the storm was bigger than anything I had previously imagined. The Lord explained that the wave of his anointing was coming very soon, and would be much bigger than anything we were expecting. It would be as far beyond anything we had previously witnessed as the Toronto Blessing was beyond the earlier anointings. A surfer was riding his board down the breaking wave, which towered above him, and the Lord reminded me of Rick Joyner's vision of the surfer and the wave (see "The Next Wave is upon us" - Morningstar Journal Vol. 2, No. 4, 1992).
* The Depth of the anointing - a week later I was asking again about the shallowness, and considering the comments of many in Sydney churches about the "wave receding", and the "shallowness" of the anointing. Many had expressed concern that the blessings we had received in the last year did not appear to be as lasting as we had hoped. The Lord made it very clear that 1995 had not been the right time for Australia, and reminded me of the "Great Southland" prophecy - that when his anointing hit Australia in power it would result in blessing for the whole world. He showed me the Tidal Wave again, but this time in perspective with people on the beach. They were standing in ankle deep water, complaining that the water was very shallow, and that the tide seemed to be going out, but they did not see the mammoth Tidal Wave towering above them, and about to fall. The Lord showed me that the wave, as it grew bigger and bigger, was drawing water from in front and behind, so that the people on the beach thought the water was retreating, when instead it was becoming part of something much, much bigger. The wave was curled over, and I saw that when it fell it would fall almost vertically where the people were standing, and cut away the beach under them. Immediately, they would be swimming in very deep water, and struggling to stay afloat. I believe the next wave will break very soon, and will have similar immediate effects as the outbreak of the Toronto anointing, but way beyond anything we saw or heard then. It will be accompanied by greater depth: of understanding of God's ways (especially living by Grace), of power, and of holiness, and will have much greater impact in Australia. I had the feeling that it would come early in 1996, but this was not clear.
* The Loose Ends - Many in the church are feeling like they are marking time, or just waiting around. They feel that they are called to some sort of ministry, but different to any existing, and they have no idea what it is. Many are feeling despondent because they don't understand what these feelings mean, and feel guilty because they cannot seem to fit in with what church leaders are wanting them to do. This is the heart response of the Generation of the Righteous, as they do not fit in with the legalistic understandings and practices of much of the church. Even in many renewed churches, the things they were created to do do not yet exist, but they are being stirred by the Spirit because the hour is approaching, and will come suddenly. I feel very strongly that the rapidity with which God will create and establish new ministries at this time will be astounding, and many currently in leadership will be left behind, as they have not repented and got themselves ready for what is coming.
* Like a Child - God reminded me of his word to Bob Jones several years ago. Jesus told him: "It doesn't matter if you're taking a nap or raising the dead - the pay is the same!" This speaks of learning to live under Grace, rather than under the Law - learning to Be rather than simply to do. The Lord reminded me of his words: "Whoever will not accept the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it" (Luke 18:17, Mark 10:15). My baby daughter Sophie (=wisdom) does not concern herself with doing tasks to please me, and doesn't even consider that she is supposed to do anything to please me; she simply plays contentedly in my presence, and gurgles at me every so often, simply accepting herself and her Father's love and care. She is not relating to me out of what she does, but who she is. We must learn to relate to God in the same way, and forgo our own efforts to "win the lost", because that's what we are supposed to do. Our legalism and resultant lack of understanding has caused us to try and build the house ourselves, and our labours have been in vain (Ps. 127:1). We need to understand that the pay is the same! Until the Lord teaches us to be children of the King by His Grace and in His time, we will never enter the Kingdom. This is why our prayers for the release of God's power have never truly been answered, as "The Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of Power" (1 Cor 4:20). We cannot access Kingdom power until we truly enter the Kingdom. We must relax, and allow our Father to teach us and train us to His schedule, not the schedule gained from doctrinal interpretations by various "Theologians".
DECEMBER * Abundant Blessing - The incredible size of the Tidal Wave, and the depth of the water accompanying it speak of the abundance of blessings the Lord will be pouring out on the Church in the next move. These blessing are not just spiritual, but also physical and financial. There are many ministries handicapped because of the lack of resources needed to fulfil their calling. I do not believe this will be relevant soon, as the Lord will provide money and labourers for these anointed works in abundance. It will be necessary to ready ourselves to equip ministries to achieve their calling. With the abundance the Lord gives, we must put aside some specifically to provide others with finances, equipment, and so on. I believe it is the Lord's will for this ministry to tithe 10% of offerings to a special account just for this purpose (the Leadership must, of course seek their own confirmation from the Lord).
* Releasing the Prophetic - At the beginning of 1995, the Lord gave clear instructions that we were to "model the prophetic" to the best of our ability. We have tried to be faithful in this, despite our initial reservations that what we were experiencing at the time was very weak and immature. One Word was that the Lord would "back up" our honest efforts to obey, and He has honoured this far beyond our expectations. Many have experienced the benefits of this emerging ministry through the year, but the Lord wants all his church to be released into the prophetic. The Lord has always promised a Prophetic Church in the last days (Joel 2, etc), and all of his people have a degree of ability to hear his voice. One of the key features of the operation of the Prophetic is that it releases ministry giftings in the Body. This is a major difference between Apostles and Prophets, and the offices of Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher. From Ephesians 2:20, Apostles and Prophets are foundational to the Church. Many have noticed a greater releasing in the prophetic as they witnessed prophetic ministry. (Many nods of affirmation). The Lord wants us to pray for you to be released further into this area, and I expect that when we return after the Christmas break, many of you will have words to share from the Lord, to encourage each of us.
JANUARY * Worship - On holiday in Adelaide, I visited a Vineyard church. At the end of the worship, the leader kept strumming his guitar in a chord progression, and we waited on the Lord. One lady began singing in tongues, but in a different key to the guitar. It didn't clash, but sounded eerily beautiful. The Lord gave me the following word: There is a new release in worship coming to the church, which will be very different to everything that has gone before. It will first sound "out of tune" with current worship styles, which will cause many to reject it, but will be accompanied by a maturity in power and holiness that we haven't seen before. This new worship will be inhabited by the presence of the Lord.
* Adelaide Tidal Wave - We drove along the road leading into Victor Harbour, on the coast south of Adelaide, and I looked over the dunes separating the beach from the road. The thought entered my head: "They won't be much protection when the Tidal wave comes!" I then thought: "What tidal wave?" The Lord then gave me a vision of a wave breaking over the dunes and swamping the houses on the other side of the road, before sweeping up the gulf to Adelaide. A few hours later, we had coffee with a Christian friend, who mentioned a prophecy several years before of a Tidal wave destroying Adelaide, which led to many people leaving town at the time, and some Christians selling houses. I realised that this was the same wave, but the earlier prophet had got his timing and interpretation wrong. The wave would be spiritual, and would have similar effects on Adelaide as the wave I saw coming to Sydney. Many in Adelaide have resisted the outpouring from Toronto because of the packaging, and I feel they will be swamped by the realisation that they were wrong, and wonder how they could have failed to see the truth, but will welcome the wave despite the destruction of established structures and procedures it brings.
* Spiritual Warfare - I believe that much of our ineffectiveness in Spititual warfare is linked to our legalism. The Bible says that "the power of Sin is the Law" (1Cor. 15:56). Satan is the accuser of the brethren, and the basis of his accusation of the saints is the Law: "... through the law we become conscious of sin" (Rom. 3:20). As Christians, we are called to live under the Grace provided for us by Jesus' death and resurrection, and to forsake trying to judge ourselves according to the Law: "Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes" (Rom. 10:40."Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law" (Gal. 3:25)."But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law" (Gal. 5:18). If we were truly living under Grace, the accusations of Satan aginst the Church would have no effect, and we would be able to exercise our authority with much more effect, as we would have nullified the most effective weapon of the enemy against us.
* 1996 Focus - I believe that the Lord wants the Church to have as its foremost goal for the moment the pursuit of understanding of His ways, particularly the understanding of what it means to walk in "Grace in all its truth" (Col 1:6). We must actively ask the Lord to expose our legalism. Constant struggle with Sin should not be a major issue for a Christian living under Grace - "For apart from law, sin is dead" (Rom. 7:8). This will set us free to become the Bride of Christ (see Rev 12:10,11).
* The Firestarters - This city (Sydney) was set on fire two years ago (January 1994 in fact). It was circled about, and burned throughout by evil pyromaniacs. A dozen wicked men touched the lives of every inhabitant in the Sydney area. These things were a sign. I will again set this city on fire! But not with evil, but for good, not by fire bugs, but by my Holy Ghost Fire Starters. There are Holy men of God, who will spark the fires that touch the lives of every person in this city! I am telling you this on the last day of the year, for 1996 will be as different from 1995 as 1995 was from 1994. I told you then, and I tell you now.
* Future History? - I had three consecutive visions regarding 1996. The first was of a school black board- except the "black" board was bright blue! Straight after this came an image of a mouse maze. Thirdly came a vision that I have seen twice before, of a person being shot through the heart with light, and knocked off their feet. The first vision represents going back to school. 1996 is going to be a year of revelatory learning- which may be taken one of two ways. It can stand for learning to move in the revelatory gifts or it can mean learning about the revelatory gifts. As we grow in the prophetic, in using revelatory giftings, gaining understanding of just how the Lord wants to use us in these gifts, we grow in our testimony of Jesus. "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (Rev 19:10). The second vision represents things that pose work for the body of Christ- mentally, spiritually and physically. It will be a year of challenge, as we learn, and grow in Christ, being formed into the likeness and image of Christ. This is what happens when we are presented with a puzzle, not "difficulty" or "trial" but good challenge. Paul exhorts believers everywhere to "love one another with mututal affection; outdo one another in showing honour. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord" (Rom 12:11). A maze may seem perplexing at times, a challenge, yet our focus this year should remain on serving one another, in love, with respect to Christ. This vision may also represent a play on words "A-maze". We will certainly come to the end of this year and delight in what the Lord has done among us! The third vision reiterates that God has released a season of Holiness in the church. This in turn brings with it two things: His cutting down that which is based on pride - or His careful selection of that which is humble, and His impartation of holiness. The third vision was a person being shot through the heart with light. We are commanded to attain the holiness of God, for it is written: "Be holy, for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16). The impact of this light also brought an impartation of power. The Psalmist cried "Let your work be manifest to your servants, and your glorious power to their children" (Psalm 90:16). This cry, I believe, will be answered this year.
* Holiness Unto the Lord - In a vision I had several months ago (after a warning about this season of holiness) in which I saw a man holding a decapitated head. It was not very scary or dramatic, but extremely sobering. He knelt, crying: "He will soon cut off head knowledge, because He is pouring out heart knowledge. The proud shall stand, while the humble kneel. The proud declare, while the humble confess, and those who stand shall lose their heads, yet those in that day who kneel will be filled". The Lord will allow ministries based on pride and presumption to be publicly cut down. Some ministries that have spoken against God's chosen and humble servants will be cut down, and prophecies spoken against these proud people will be fulfilled this year. Those leaders walking in pride will be removed - some will fall to disease, heart attack and stress, while others will reap the consequences of their hidden sin - in some cases being made extremely public. Better we be found kneeling than standing against the Lord! We should always maintain an attitude of humility and repentance.
We offer these words in the hope that they will be a blessing, and we feel that they are genuinely from God. If you have any question about these words, please feel free to contact us for discussion at: