Every year there are pastors across America that post their prophetic revelations for the coming year. I never really thought I would join that band-wagon, but I had a dream/vision on New Year's Eve that I felt led to share.

At the beginning of the dream I saw masses of believers, like a giant army, marching through a heavily wooded area. The underbrush was so thick and loaded with thorns and thistles, that the advancing army of people had to lean completely forward to press through. They were resisted and restricted in their pace by all the thorns, vines, and overgrown vegetation that was impossible to avoid. Many gave up in the journey as they grew weary and tired of the energy required to press through. It was as if this group had known a time where waking and forward progress came much more easily, and not all of them were willing to put in the investment or energy required to make the journey. 

Then I awoke from the dream, and felt the Lord dealing with my heart that He was in this in this dream. I went back to sleep and I had a second dream. This same group of people had come to the edge of the wooded area, and there was a wide open field in front of them. As far as the eye could see, countless numbers of Christians had made it through the difficult overgrown area, and like a giant army they kept marching into the open field. I noticed something odd however, instead of increasing their speed, they continued to walk with their bodies leaned forward, as if they were still in the resistance of the underbrush. They were free to walk differently, but they didn't notice. 

When I woke up the second time I asked the Lord about the dream, this is what I felt Him say ... 

The army of believers were the Christians of America. They had known a time of great blessing and outpouring in times past, but the wooded portion of the walk represented the last 10-20 years of the journey of the American church.  Whereas the 60's, 70's, and even early 80's, seemed to be rich with anointing and God's favor, the last 15-20 years required a different level of stamina. (Those who have been believers for more than 20 years will know what I am talking about.) Although we have seen spotted renewal outpourings in the past 20 years, nothing compares to the revivals prior. Revivals that brought hundreds of thousands of people to Christ throughout the USA. From businessmen to hippies, God was truly calling in the harvest. Every outreach effort had impact, every church preaching Christ was growing, the Christian music industry was about Christian music ministry, and everywhere you went believers were talking about Jesus.

Many did not survive the journey through the overgrowth, yet they were completely unaware of their misdirected state. Rather than pressing through the woods, they got side-tracked and lost their way, not realizing they were off-course. They kept talking about Jesus, but they lost focus of who He really was and what mattered to Him. (2 Timothy 3:5) To some of these, the gospel became only a method of personal financial gain, others  began to attack His bride, criticizing her for not being what they thought she should be. Their personal frustrations were turned against her, and they seemed to work harder at trying to destroy her (or some would say "redefine" her) than trying to pursue Christ who died for her. The saddest group of those who did not survive the wooded portion of the journey had completely walked away from the faith. Although they themselves had brought countless souls into the Kingdom in times past, they were so wearied by the difficult journey that they gave up their Christianity completely and returned to the idols Jesus had delivered them from years prior. 

There was great hope however in the open field ... 

Those that had survived the resistance of the overgrown woods were walking into a new season. A season of great opportunity for the American church, if she would realize that the atmosphere changed. God was graduating His children into a season of harvest. Not a harvest of personal agenda, financial increase, debt reduction, or economic deliverance, rather, a harvest for lost souls. He desired to pour out His Spirit on America so that souls could be redeemed, but His bride needed to realize what He was doing and adjust accordingly. She survived the resistance of what was behind her, and that overgrown wooded journey actually prepared her for what lied ahead. It was time for her to change her gait, refocus her priorities, and begin to walk into the field of God's harvest. The harvest of those who were waiting to be introduced to their Savior. 

I realize that prophetic unctions are subjective, so please judge the word to see if it bears witness with your heart. If this was a dream from the Lord, we have an exciting journey ahead of us, and God is counting on us to engage in the harvest. (Luke 10:2)  

The season of resistance is over. The wide open harvest field awaits. May the church truly "be the church" and compel them to come in. (Luke 14:23)