Had our youth group last night. My normal job is to pray at the end of worship. I really enjoy this because I get to track what God is doing in the service and make some prophetic declarations over the music. I don’t know why but I really enjoy that.
The night before I felt lead to take my kids to the beach to play. The wind was blowing a bit but the kids had a good time digging in the sand. The sand was a little steep near the shoreline so I kept the kids away from the water knowing that one wave is all it takes to get one overtaken. Isaac found a coconut and burried it hoping that a tree would grow. I took this picture while I was there.
During prayer last night, I was taken back to that picture. I then heard the word “wave.” That’s it, one word. Holy Spirit then directed me to Isaiah 43:16-21. As I looked back to that picture in my mind I saw the tide rolling in with each wave. The Holy Ghost asked me,
“What can stop the waves?”
I said, “Lord, You know nothing can stop the wave.”
He said, “Who can stop the tide?”
I said, “Lord, You know nothing can stop the tide.”
Instantly I knew what the Lord wanted me to say. I saw a heaviness among the group regarding their ability to achieve victory.
The problem with most youth ministry is that it is centered on behavior modification. We unknowingly teach our youth that God’s acceptance is performance driven, and because of that (I think) many stay under condemnation long enough to realize that this whole thing is futile and walk away when they are old enough to make that decision.
So I saw the wave transform into the Spirit of God (metaphorically speaking) and it invading the youth. I did not have the whole word yet but I knew what I was to say.
At the end of worship I got on stage with the band (sorry, I mean platform 
) and explained everything I explained here. I told them that i sensed that there were people i nthe building that felt like the world was overtaking them and that God would be victorious in their lives. I began to speak about God being high above the troubles of this world and even our sin. I hit that last verse hard
Isaiah 43:21
the people whom I formed for myself
that they might declare my praise.
I quoted Romans 8:38-39 as the band begin to sing their last song again about God being lifted up. I declared victory in their lives and proclaimed the sanctuary a no devil zone. There was a real funk in the air and I was trying to clear it. Kids were weeping but I felt there was more.
Nevertheless I began to pray for the word and the offering thinking the more would happen later. Right there at the end of my prayer a member of the band wispered in my ear that they wanted to play another sone. This was a real challange to me. I felt like I was leading the service and this was a detour. (just being honest here) What could I do? I decided to error toward grace and could always deal with this later. The band went into this song about feeling defeated. I just stood on stage and prayed. Then I began to listen to the lyrics. They spoke about feeling like the world is crashing in around the person and them asking where they can go? Then the chorus kicked in
It’s there I see you
It’s there I know you are real
1 Peter 1:6-9 is a verse God told us to put on our fridge and now I am watching God tell the youth of my church the same thing. Right there on stage as I was praying on the microphone I had an open vision that I declared as I saw it. I saw an army of youth baptized in fire proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ in their schools. I saw a mob of young prophets invading the malls. I saw them laying hands on the sick and them being made well. I saw a cadre of end time prophets proclaiming the praises of their King. I saw the heavens open and the youth ascending and descending, then spreading the revelation they received. It was really awesome.
At the end of the song I explained to the audience that the worship leader was a Psalmist (though I doubt anyone ever called him that before) and that he hears God in song and that he heard the last part of the prophetic word which was that not only would God overtake those situations but in that very hour of testing he would become closer and more real than ever.
This is only the first part of the story. To me, the second part is far greater, but I have to get some work done.
By the way, this is why I don’t keep a journal. It takes so much longer to write this stuff down and I feel like I am wasting time I could be spending in another encounter.
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