2023: A Year of Revival, Renewal and Empowerment - Understanding God's Movements in the Coming Year
As we enter into the new year of 2023, it is important to be aware of what God is doing in the world around us. As believers, we have the opportunity to be a part of the work that God is doing, and to see His plans and purposes come to fruition in our own lives. Recently, I received a special word from the Lord about what He is doing in 2023, and I would like to share it with you today.
Intimacy with God - Seeking Him with All Our Heart
First and foremost, God is calling His people to spend more time with Him in 2023. He wants us to seek Him with all of our hearts, and to make Him the center of our lives. This means setting aside time each day to pray, read the Bible, and spend time in worship and praise. As Psalm 22:3 says, "But you are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel." As we worship and praise Jesus, we are enthroning Him in our hearts and minds. We are putting Him in the rightful place of authority in our lives.
Evangelistic Revival - Proclaiming the Gospel to the Whole Creation
Another way that God is moving in 2023 is through a revival of evangelism. The Bible tells us in Mark 16:15-18 that "He said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Jesus is bringing this message of salvation to the world through signs, wonders and miracles.
Prophetic Awakening - God Raising an Army of Seers and Feelers for His Kingdom
As part of this revival, God is also raising up an army of prophetic seers and feelers to be used for His kingdom. These seers are lead by the Holy Spirit and can see spiritual realities, such as Godly things, angels, and the workings of God, as stated in Isaiah 30:10 "who say to the seers, "Do not see," and to the prophets, "Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us pleasant words, prophesy illusions." Also Jesus shared that He is using Prophetic Feelers Who can sense the presence of the Holy Spirit or an angel, sense a shift in the spiritual atmosphere, as stated in 1 Corinthians 14:1 "Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy." These gifts are given to us so that Jesus can use us for His glory, witness and establish His kingdom.
House Church Revival - God's Movements in Small Group Fellowship, Worship and Teaching
One of the key areas that we see God working in this year is in the rise of small house churches, similar to those described in the book of Acts. These house churches will be places of miracles, signs, and wonders, where new Christians can come to receive discipleship and grow in their faith In the book of Acts, we see the early Church meeting in small groups in homes, sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with those around them. These house churches were places of fellowship, worship, and teaching, where the believers were able to grow in their faith and share their testimony with others. Similarly, in 2023, we are seeing God raise up small house churches that will be a powerful force for evangelism and discipleship.
Women in Leadership - Empowering Women to Bring the Gospel to the World
But it's not just the small house churches that God is moving in, we also see a big movement this year for women. God is putting women in places of power, using them in every way to bring the Gospel to the body of Christ. We see this in the book of Acts, where women played a vital role in the early Church, such as Priscilla who, along with her husband Aquila, taught Apollos more accurately about Jesus (Acts 18:26) and in the book of Philemon, where Phoebe is identified as a deacon of the church in Cenchrea (Philemon 1:2).
In 2023, we believe that God is calling women to take on leadership roles in the Church & in the secular world, to use their gifts and talents to bring the Gospel to the world. This is a powerful movement that we are seeing and we are excited to see how God will use women to bring about change and growth in the Church.
Embracing Jesus' Models of Prayer - Preparing for Persecution in Last Days
As we continue to consider what God is doing in 2023, we hear Jesus speaking to us, emphasizing the importance of seeing Him as He is depicted in the Gospels. He wants us to understand the significance of the three prayer models He modeled for us in the Bible. Jesus says that in these last days, it will be just like it was in the days of the early Church, when many of the apostles were persecuted for the Lord. And He wants us to be prepared for the persecution that may come by spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In the Gospels, we see Jesus teaching us how to pray through the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), the model prayer of faith (Mark 11:20-26) and teaching on persistence in prayer (Luke 18:1-8). These three prayer models are powerful tools that can help us overcome persecution and get our prayers answered quickly. By studying and applying these prayer strategies, we can experience the power of prayer in our lives, and we can see the hand of God moving in powerful ways.
Furthermore, Jesus also said in Matthew 21:22, "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." This verse shows us the importance of faith in our prayers, as it is through faith that we can receive the answers to our prayers. When we pray with faith, we can be sure that God is listening and that He is working in our lives to bring about His will.
Generous Giving - Prioritizing God's Kingdom and Righteousness
As we continue to listen to what Jesus is saying for 2023, He emphasizes the importance of giving. This includes giving of our time, finances, prayers, love, and heart. Jesus is calling us to extend ourselves and trust in Him, just as the parable of the mustard seed teaches us. In this parable, Jesus teaches that even the smallest of actions, when done with faith and trust in Him, can move mountains and giant trees out of our lives.
In the same way, Jesus reminds us of the importance of giving to the marginalized and oppressed in our society, such as the orphans, homeless, and widows, including battered women. Jesus shared that the church has suffered the last 2 years due to His people not giving and going to church. Jesus shared that this year is going to be one of the best years financially for the church as God's people begin to give. As we approach 2023, it is clear that God is calling us to take a step of faith and trust in Him, to give generously and to prioritize His kingdom and righteousness in our giving. In Matthew 6:33 Jesus says, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." This is a reminder that when we prioritize God's kingdom and righteousness in our giving, we will receive blessings and financial breakthrough in our own lives. Similarly, in Luke 6:38, Jesus teaches, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." This is a promise that when we give generously, God will bless us in return.
Strength Renewal - Waiting on the Lord
Moreover, Jesus emphasizes the importance of waiting on the Lord and renewing our strength through worship, meditation, reading scripture, listening to religious leaders, watching spiritual content, and spending time with Him as crucial to achieving victory in 2023. He reminds us that our strength comes from staying close to God and letting Him work through us, rather than relying on our own efforts.
In Isaiah 40:31, it says "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." This verse teaches us that when we put our hope and trust in the Lord, He will renew our strength and enable us to soar like eagles. In Philippians 4:8, Paul reminds us to focus our thoughts on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. And this is what the Lord wants us to do, to focus on the things of God, and to renew our minds through the word of God.
God's Protection - Surrounding and Safeguarding His People
Furthermore, Jesus also revealed to us that God is actively working to surround and safeguard his people, as stated in Job 1:10. He is providing a hedge of protection that encompasses and defends us from the dangers that threaten to harm us. For those who put their faith in the Lord, He brings a sense of calm and serenity, even amidst the turmoil and confusion that may be present in the world around us. God reminds us through this that He is always in control, He has a plan, and He is actively working to shape and prepare us for the next stages of our journey through life. He is removing the obstacles that hold us back and freeing us from the grip of the enemy, so that we can move forward with confidence and peace in our hearts.
Jesus is bringing healing to the brokenhearted, binding up their wounds and restoring them to wholeness. This is the year of the Lord's favor, and we can be confident that God's favor is with us this year. It is also a year of abundance financially, and the Lord is encouraging us to sow our seed in faith and that He will bless you in return.
As we conclude, let us take Jesus' words to heart and actively seek to be ready for His return. Let us make sure that our lamps are filled with oil, that we are filled with the Holy Spirit and actively growing in our relationship with God. In this way, we will be ready to enter into His presence and partake in the wedding feast of the Lamb.
In 2023, we believe that God is doing something new and powerful. He is calling all of us to represent Him, to be a part of His plan and purpose. He is raising up an army of prophetic seers and feelers, as well as small house churches that will be a powerful force for evangelism and discipleship. He is also empowering women to take on leadership roles in the Church and in the secular world and use their gifts and talents to bring the Gospel to the world.
God is also actively working to surround and safeguard his people, providing a hedge of protection that encompasses and defends us from the dangers that threaten to harm us. He is bringing healing to the brokenhearted, binding up their wounds and restoring them to wholeness. This is the year of the Lord's favor, and we can be confident that God's favor is with us this year. It is also a year of abundance financially, and the Lord is encouraging us to sow our seed in faith and that he will bless you in return.
Let us be open to the gifts of the Spirit and let God tug on our hearts to use us in powerful ways. As we step out in faith and trust in God, we will see the manifestation of His plans and purposes in our lives and in the world around us. Let us seek the Lord today and ask Him how we can be used in this revival of evangelism. Let us be dressed ready for service and keep our lamps burning, filled with the Holy Spirit and actively growing in our relationship with God. In this way, we will be ready to enter into His presence and partake in the wedding feast of the Lamb.
Blessings,
Pastor Timothy Tomlinson
P.S. Throughout the year I will be sharing prophetically in detail more about God's plan and purpose. There is a lot here we will be diving into.
Scriptures used in the video and throughout the blog:
Psalm 22:3 - "But you are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel."
Isaiah 6:8 - "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?"
Mark 16:15-18 - "He said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Isaiah 30:10 - "who say to the seers, "Do not see," and to the prophets, "Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us pleasant words, prophesy illusions."
1 Corinthians 14:1 - "Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy."
Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Luke 6:38 - "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Isaiah 40:31 - "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
Philippians 4:8 - "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
Matthew 21:22 - "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
Matthew 24:44 - "Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."
Luke 12:35 - "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning."
Job 1:10 - "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land."
Matthew 25:1-13 - "“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
