A Competition by the River in Three Days
Recently, I had a peculiar yet powerful dream. It was one of those dreams where I immediately knew God was speaking. If God could put a dream in bold caps lock, this would be it. The urgency and clarity of the dream made it impossible to ignore. I knew that every detail mattered.
In the dream, I walked into a conference setting. The location wasn't grand or large, but it had a massive river flowing beside it. As I entered through the front door, I was immediately confronted by a person. This person began to criticize me, telling me I didn't know what I was talking about, listing their ministry statistics and achievements. They boasted about how God had chosen them for a mighty move of His Spirit, but not me.
Right away, I discerned that this person was operating out of an orphan spirit, striving to manufacture something that wasn't from God. Their charisma, their appearance, and even the way they spoke was familiar—a formula the Church has used for far too long. I stood quietly as they slandered me.
Then this person challenged me. "If you're truly anointed by God," they said, "I want to challenge you to a competition by the river in three days."
Normally, I don't feel the need to prove myself, but something in my spirit told me to agree.
"What's the challenge?" I asked.
They explained, "There's a hummingbird that sits by the river, and it's very hard to allure. The person who can get this hummingbird to sit on their shoulder is the one God has anointed in this hour."
I agreed and went on my way.
Capturing a Hummingbird
In the next part of the dream, I watched this person striving for days, practicing how to capture the hummingbird. They had all sorts of tools: fishing rods, hooks, cages, nets, and various contraptions to try and catch the bird. They even dressed in camouflage and imitated hummingbird noises to try to lure it, but I did nothing; I simply observed.
The day of the competition came, and it was their turn. They spent what felt like an hour striving, yet again, to capture the hummingbird. Sweat dripped down their face, frustration etched into their every movement, but they failed. (Photo via Unsplash)
Now it was my turn. I approached the river with nothing in my hands. I stood still, made a "tsk" sound, and the hummingbird flew straight to me, landing gently on my shoulder. Then I woke up.
I immediately asked the Lord, "What are You trying to tell me?"
The Lord spoke to me clearly: "My Church has been trying for too long to manufacture revival. They have been chasing after past revivals, attempting to recreate and monopolize what I once did. They use their own methods, striving to capture My presence, striving to control My Spirit for their gain and reputation. But I will not place the next move of My Spirit in the hands of those who seek it for themselves. I am looking for a people who will simply be a landing place for My Spirit."
He continued, "Tell them to stop striving and be a landing place for Me again. I will come without measure. I will pour out My Spirit without measure. My signs and wonders will come again, and My glory will shine in the darkest places of the earth. Those who welcome My presence without agenda will see Me move mightily."
I was overwhelmed. I began to weep and even repent, searching my own heart. "Lord," I prayed, "I just want to be a landing pad for You." Then this Scripture came to mind: "... Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. Where is the house you will build for Me? Where will My resting place be?" (Isaiah 66:1). In that moment I cried out, "Lord, let me be a dwelling place for You. Let me create spaces where Your Spirit is welcome, where there is no agenda but You."
The Prophetic Significance of the Hummingbird
As I reflected on the dream, I felt it was significant that the Holy Spirit was represented by a hummingbird. This wasn't random but something the Lord was trying to show me through this. Here are a few thoughts that came to me:
1. Hummingbirds are delicate and sensitive.
Hummingbirds are incredibly sensitive creatures, easily startled and hard to capture. This speaks to the nature of the Holy Spirit; He is not to be manipulated or coerced. He is drawn to places of peace, rest, and stillness, not striving. The next move of God will not be caught through our efforts but through our ability to be a still, welcoming vessel.
2. Hummingbirds are small but mighty.
Though hummingbirds are small, they are known for their incredible strength, endurance, and agility. They can fly great distances despite their size. The Holy Spirit is often underestimated, but His power far exceeds anything we can imagine. This next move of God may come in small, unexpected ways, but its impact will be mighty and far-reaching. (Photo via Unsplash)
3. Hummingbirds eat nectar.
Hummingbirds are drawn to the sweetness of nectar. This represents the sweetness of our intimacy with God. The next move of God will be drawn to places of genuine intimacy, where His people are drinking deeply from the sweetness of His presence, not from the bitterness of striving or self-promotion.
4. Hummingbirds are in continuous motion.
Hummingbirds are always in motion, symbolizing the Holy Spirit's continuous work. He never stops moving, even when we can't see it. The next move of God will be constant and unceasing, flowing through those who are aligned with Him.
5. Hummingbirds are vibrant and beautiful.
Hummingbirds are known for their vibrant colors. This speaks of the beauty and diversity of the Holy Spirit's work in this next season. The move of God will not be confined to one look, one formula, or one method. It will be vibrant, full of life, and expressed in many different ways.
The Warning and the Clarion Call
The warning is clear: We must stop striving. The Church cannot manufacture what God is about to do. The formulas and strategies of the past will not capture the Spirit's movement in this new season. Those who seek to control or profit from this move will be left striving in vain. The Lord is looking for people who will simply be a landing place for His Spirit.
The clarion call is just as clear: Be a landing place. Prepare your heart to be a dwelling place for His presence. Create environments where there is no agenda but to welcome Him. As we do this, the Holy Spirit will come and rest upon us, not through our efforts but through our surrender. This next move of God will be marked by His Spirit moving without measure in places and through people who are yielded and open.
Let us heed this warning and prepare ourselves for what is to come.
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Nate Johnston
Everyday Revivalists
Email:Â everydayrevivalists@gmail.com
Website:Â nateandchristy.co
Nate Johnston is a prophetic voice and worshiper who has a heart to see sons and daughters unleashed into passionate friendship with God and an effective supernatural lifestyle. Through his ministry school, "Everyday Revivalists," he leads people from the basics of the gospel through to being sent and released into their mission field, as well as championing and raising up emerging prophetic voices around the world. His burning cry and desire is to see the Body of Christ become a beacon for the lost by raising up a generation that walks in the love and power of God, representing Him well. Nate and his wife Christy have three daughters, Charlotte, Sophie, and Ava and live in Colorado Springs, CO.
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