Introduction from Dan McCollam:
Bethany Hicks serves as a prophetic reformer and an apostolic mother who is rewriting what the prophetic and mothering can look like in our generation.
She carries a courageous grace for raising up world changers and a deep passion for equipping every son and daughter to recognize and respond to the voice of God.
With her gift for structures and leadership, Bethany has co-founded the global prophetic training organization The Prophetic Company and serves on faculty for Bethel School of the Prophets. Her books and trainings are sought after and currently being translated into multiple languages around the world.
Dan McCollam
The Prophetic Company Global
"Who Do You Say He Is?"
by Bethany Hicks
Sometimes, it takes courage just to wake up every morning and not be swept into the worldly narrative of the day. As Believers with a divine mandate to conquer the forces of darkness and advance God's Kingdom, it is vital to grasp this timeless truth: Your perception of Jesus unleashes courage.
Why is this so crucial? Because what you see in Jesus sparks the flames of bravery within you. When we, as the Church, witness, experience, and are transformed by the multifaceted nature of Jesus, it infuses us with an unwavering and supercharged courage that renders His Body unstoppable. Even our adversary is keenly aware of this reality, which is why he exerts every effort to distract us with fear. The enemy understands that what we see in Jesus will manifest in and through us; and when that transformation occurs, his days are numbered.
In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it's easy to overlook the profound impact our beliefs can have on our courage and confidence.
Peter's Revelation
The first book of the New Testament reveals a pivotal moment in the life of Peter, one of Jesus' closest disciples, that provides strategic clues for each of us on how courage is apprehended. In the Book of Matthew, Jesus poses a question that would forever alter the lives of His disciples. The crowds were comparing Jesus to a prophet, even calling Him the return of John the Baptist or Elijah, but Jesus was not interested in what other people's opinions were. He wanted to know how His disciples personally saw and thus related to Him.
To grasp the significance of Peter's confession, we must delve briefly into the power in a name. In the New Testament, the Greek word for name, "onoma," encompasses more than mere identification. It embodies everything that the name represents – the thoughts, feelings, and authority tied to it.
God has ordained that a person's name will delineate the scope of their identity, responsibility, and authority. Every name unveils identity and destiny. God's intention in the name He chose for His Son was profound. The name Jesus signifies "Jehovah is salvation." Jesus' name spoke to both His identity as the Savior of the world and His destiny to bring salvation to all of mankind. (Photo via Flickr)
When Peter acknowledged Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, this marked a revolutionary shift in understanding. Peter understood that Jesus wasn't merely a prophet or a wise teacher. He recognized Jesus as the Messiah, the very Son of the living God, the Savior of the world; and this revelation had profound implications for his courage.
Courage to See
Fast forward a few years. After Jesus' resurrection and ascension to Heaven, we see the domino effect of how this personal revelation of Jesus as Savior and Lord transformed the lives of Peter and John. For context, they had just been taken as prisoners and brought before the Jewish council to be questioned on why they were preaching about Jesus. Listen to the response of the Jewish leaders after they interviewed the disciples:
"When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus." (Acts 4:13)
These fishermen were transformed from ordinary to extraordinary because of their association with Jesus. This transformation was apparent to all who saw them, even those who were resisting their message. Their courage was conspicuous to all who encountered them.
Rightly seeing Jesus infuses us with the courage to navigate life's challenges. Just as Peter and John's courage stood out, our courage can be exceptional when we rightly perceive Jesus and who He is currently revealing Himself to be.
Dangers of a Wrong View
Just as a right view of Jesus can catapult us into courage, conversely, a wrong view of Jesus can undermine our courage. The parable of the talents in Matthew 25:24-25 illustrates how a servant's negative perception of his master affected his actions. Seeing the master as harsh led to fear or a lack of courage, which ultimately resulted in the unwise servant burying his talent. Similarly, Judas Iscariot's limited revelation of Jesus as a mere teacher and not as His Lord contributed to his spineless betrayal. A distorted view of Jesus can lead to a ripple effect of cowardice. (Photo via Flickr)
It's About Knowing Him
It's easy to feel pressured to have all the answers before taking action. Yet action is needed if we are going to advance the Kingdom of God. Courage isn't born from having all the answers; it's born from knowing Him. In times of uncertainty, we can echo the sentiment found in 2 Chronicles 20:12, "We don't know what to do, but our eyes are on you." You don't have to know all the answers. You just need to be thoroughly convinced of who Jesus is revealing Himself to be uniquely and allow that truth to fuel you with the courage necessary to act.
Who Do You Say He Is?
In the end, Jesus isn't concerned about what others say about Him; He wants to know who you say He is. Your perception of Him shapes your courage. Like Peter, when you see Jesus rightly, your courage will soar.
Take a moment to reflect on your own perception of Jesus. Embrace the transformative power of seeing Him as the Christ, the Son of the living God. What does that really mean to you? What are the benefits of Jesus being your Savior, your Provider, your Defender, and so much more? As you unpack these revelations, you'll find the courage to face life's challenges head-on, unshaken and resolute. And, your courage will be catalytic in bringing identity to a world full of people desperate to know who Jesus says they are.
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Bethany Hicks
Prophetic Company
Email:Â Prophetictrainer@gmail.com
Website:Â www.propheticcompany.com
Bethany Hicks is an international speaker, co-founder of Prophetic Company, and a best-selling author. Additionally, she is part of the core teaching faculty for School of the Prophets at Bethel Church in Redding, CA. She is known as a strong communicator who releases passion and grace for people to embrace their world-changer identity. Additionally, she carries a strong leadership gift and has served in various capacities such as musician, singer, songwriter, and worship director for multiple churches over the last 20 years. Bethany currently resides in Round Rock, TX with her family.
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