In a series of encounters since Rosh Hashanah, the Lord has been speaking to me about what to expect in 2024 and the Hebrew year 5784. Above all, I believe the Body of Christ will experience a significant strengthening and EMPOWERMENT this year as we embrace our beautiful friendship and partnership with Holy Spirit.
Empowerment
On Yom Kippur (September 25, 2023), Holy Spirit awakened me, saying, "Every encounter with Us is meant to empower you!"
As I continued to listen, the Spirit emphasized that God's goal in every interaction with you as His son or daughter is EMPOWERMENT. Father truly intends for you to go from glory to glory and strength to strength! It is His strength, not yours, that will be displayed for all to see this year.
"Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, 'Do you not know what these are?' I said, 'No, my lord.' Then he said to me, 'This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.'" (Zechariah 4:5-6 ESV)
Zerubbabel was a governor of Judea who rebuilt Jerusalem's temple in partnership with the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. This man was of the house of David, yet his name meant "seed of Babylon."
Haggai 2:23 described Zerubbabel as God's "signet ring," someone who carried God-given authority to rebuild and restore. "On that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel My servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the LORD, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of hosts" (ESV).
"'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of "Grace, grace to it!"'
"Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 'The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel...'" (Zechariah 4:7-10 ESV)
You will begin to see civil and religious leaders partner together as Zerubbabel did with the prophets to rebuild and restore America, which in its present condition resembles Babylon. These partnerships will happen in other nations, too, as state leaders recognize that the Church has been given viable solutions to reclaim and rebuild.
God is opening doors this year of 5784 for those whose hearts are for restoration! (This year is represented by the Hebrew letter "dalet," which has the numerical value of four and symbolizes a door.) Cyrus-like deliverers and Zerubbabel-like government leaders will emerge as anointed public servants (Isaiah 45:1; Haggai 2:23).
Using prophetic encouragement and insight, these leaders will both start and finish the building processes needed in this new season (2 Chronicles 20:20). Christ will become the Cornerstone and Capstone.
The Year of the Nations
At Rosh Hashanah, I heard the Lord say, "This is the year of the nations."
God-fearing Believers who have been prepared and hidden away in God's quiver will suddenly be released with piercing, penetrating words for peoples and nations. You will see doors open in various nations for a greater reach of the Gospel and the expansion of God-honoring ministries.
God's heart for Believers extends well beyond the restoration of self, family, or even Israel. Covenant-keepers who speak honorably of the Lord will impact tribes and nations:
"He says, 'It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light to the nations so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.'" (Isaiah 49:6 NASB) (Photo via Pexels)
Though the world (including America) will certainly see turmoil in the coming days, I feel so strongly the Lord's desire to EMPOWER His people as lights and beacons of hope. As you continue to yield in obedience to Holy Spirit, acknowledging your weaknesses, He is going to empower you in measurable ways to meet the needs ahead. This empowerment is a prophetic work, equipping you in advance for situations where you might otherwise feel unprepared.
There will be an increased level of corporate empowerment around the world as God's glory is "broadcast" to many nations simultaneously this year.
In encounters this September, the Lord highlighted hydroelectric power as an increasingly important natural resource, as well as a symbol of what will be poured out by the Spirit in greater measure on all Believers.
2024 will be a glorious time for the Church to arise and shine against the darkness!
Reformers Arising
In recent days, Holy Spirit has been quietly preparing reformers, like biblical Hezekiah and Josiah, who will emerge at key times in national crises. Even Josiahs – anointed children and youths who understand their kingly authority – will be empowered to lead, tearing down demonic strongholds through worship and praise.
In one prayer encounter, I was taken on a walk with Father down a golden, heavenly street until we came to a little boy. Father introduced this child to me as King Josiah, the boy who had reigned in Judea from age eight to his early death at age 39. I saw the crown on Josiah's head and was permitted to speak with him.
Josiah stood before me as an example of a godly young reformer whose heart was fully committed to the Lord (2 Kings 22:2). Reformation ran in Josiah's blood; his great grandfather was King Hezekiah, another major reformer in Judah. Like Abraham, Josiah did not consider age an obstacle. At 18 years old he began to seek God, restoring God's house. The Book of the Law (or the "Book of the Covenant"), which most scholars believe was the book of Deuteronomy, was discovered during the reign of King Josiah (2 Kings 22).
After the book was read to Josiah, in repentance for his nation and in partnership with prophets Huldah and Jeremiah, this young civil leader mourned and prayed for his kingdom. He tore down every altar and high place that his wicked grandfather Manasseh had devoted to idols. Josiah restored pure worship to the southern kingdom.
My encounter with Josiah revealed that God-given authority is all that's needed to reform a nation. It was the crown Josiah wore and the anointing he was given to reign that empowered him to bring reformation, not any strength of his own! In fact, in this encounter, Josiah wondered at our modern lack of understanding concerning God-given authority!
A similar, fresh anointing for reformation is being released right now to reformers who believe God can change nations. God-fearing Believers, young and old, will tear down demonic strongholds and destroy ungodly altars in hearts and minds across lands and nations – wherever they are sent.
As reformation leads to revitalization, Kingdom creativity will then play a significant role in the rebuilding of broken nations, both spiritually and economically.
King Josiah's comprehensive overhaul included digging up the graves of idolatrous priests to burn their bones on desecrated altars to defile them (2 Kings 23:16). In the same way, today's reformers will partner with Holy Spirit to rediscover the ancient paths. They will root out and bring to the surface hidden secrets of the generations, burn any ungodly structures in the refiner's fire, and set God's people free.
Intimacy Is the True Weapon
Finally, the Lord spoke to me at length from Isaiah 58 and Luke 4 concerning a shift toward true fasting and intimacy.
I saw a vision of the Lord Jesus being led into the wilderness after being anointed by Father with Holy Spirit. Then I saw a vision of His authoritative return to the Temple, with listeners astonished at His teaching. (Photo via Picryl)
What lay between these two scenes of Christ's life was the wilderness fast, to which most people attribute Christ's power. The Lord emphasized that it was not fasting alone that empowered His Son. Even the world fasts for health reasons, yet this does not produce authority!
Fasting sharpens the mind and helps both body and spirit to fight, but intimacy with Holy Spirit is the true weapon. Between the wilderness and the temple, Christ was empowered through intimate interaction with His Teacher and Guide: Holy Spirit (John 14:26).
The "weakness" of yielded intimacy and a fasted lifestyle will become strength as you allow your encounters with Holy Spirit to empower you this year. Again, empowerment is God's ultimate goal!
Maturity and strength are being given to the Bride, but she must choose to open and go through the door of intimacy to find her Beloved, like the Shunammite in Song of Songs. The "beloved" of the Songs of Songs is a picture of the Son of Man. Song of Songs 5 describes the beloved's legs as "pillars of marble" (alabaster) set on "pedestals of pure gold." His arms are like "rods of gold, set with jewels." Just as the beloved in this passage, the Son of Man embodies glory, purity, and strength! His eyes are Spirit-eyes ("dove's eyes"). Alabaster is more translucent and known for being a softer stone through which light can easily be seen. What a stunning picture of our Lord!
The double-edged sword of the Lord includes both the Word and the Spirit, truth balanced by grace, a sharp mind and a tender heart. In the same way, the Isaiah 58 fast is a call not just to righteous deeds, but to a loving heart.
Works done without love are fruitless. Humiliation of self through fasting, without any compassion for one's neighbor, will never move God's heart or His hand. But authority to heal and deliver will be given to those living a "fasted" lifestyle of intimacy with their Beloved. Apart from Him, we can do nothing!
What God Is Doing in and Through His Maturing Bride
A growing cry from the Bride for intimacy will produce new prayer and worship movements this year. Wholehearted worshipers will break yokes of oppression through their intercession, feed the hungry, and minister to broken souls in the true spirit of an Isaiah 58 fast.
Those who open their homes to the spiritually hungry, covering and not judging others' sins, will see physical and emotional healings increase. Deliverance from demonic oppression will be commonplace.
Ruined lives will be rebuilt as a maturing Bride prays and fasts to break the selfish spirit of the age, considering both Christ's and others' interests better than her own (Philippians 2:1-11).
I see the Bride courageously choosing, like her Beloved, to go through doorways of the most demon-infested places on Earth in search of lost souls. She will not hesitate at the door and lose her Beloved!
This mature Bride will choose honest, heartfelt relationships over mere systems that legislate holiness. She will reject religious hypocrisy to treasure the "pearl" of the Spirit of God within her.
Never have I felt more strongly the cry of the Lord's heart for His Bride as I do this new year! I hear the Beloved saying, over and over, "Let your longing match My desire!"
May you and I become the mature Bride our Beloved so desires. May we honor Him in word and deed, with intimacy as our strongest weapon! May Christ's glory empower you to reform and restore these wounded nations.
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Deborah Perkins
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Deborah Perkins is a seasoned prophetic author, speaker, and intercessor with more than 35 years of ministry experience across denominations. Her passion is to communicate God's heart for His people, equipping and restoring individuals to minister more strategically in the fullness of the Spirit of God. Through Bible teaching, Spirit-led prayer, and prophetic counsel, Deborah has mentored both ministry and marketplace leaders to deepen their relationship with God. After a radical, extended visitation with the glory of God, Deborah is now working to expand the House of Prayer movement, establishing sacred spaces for inner healing, personal retreats, and corporate worship gatherings throughout New England. She and her husband Kevan have three wonderful, grown boys, and love raising bees and chickens in their spare time. To connect with Deborah, visit HisInscriptions.com/Contact.
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I have known Deborah Perkins as an intercessor, writer, and prophetic voice for a number of years. The Lord connected us through a prophetic dream in 2017. It was a divine appointment that led to an ongoing collaboration of prophetic insight and revelation concerning the Body of Christ.
