MOVING INTO 2024
If you have followed Transforming Truth for a while, you know that I typically slow down right around Thanksgiving each year. I dedicate December to spending time with family, engaging in minimal ministry, and getting still and quiet before the Lord as often as possible. Typically, every January is “blast-off” month for me, and I like to be refreshed at the beginning of each new year so I can begin to personally walk in what God is showing me, and also to lead others into whatever comes next. I never saunter into a new year. I launch.
Prophetically, I sense that 2024 will be an intense roller coaster ride, perhaps similar to 2020. This new year will hold some major thrills for the people of God. I believe there will be a penetrating refiner’s fire like what is described in Malachi 3:
“But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap.He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.” – Malachi 3:2-4
This refiner’s fire will come in multiple ways to the Church, and the result is that we will be more greatly empowered, even as the numbers of those who once appeared committed to Christ will shrink. As Scripture teaches, God’s fire burns away all that is not genuine. You and I must prepare our hearts to watch a thinning of our ranks as the year progresses. I sense that some of the influential forces which God utilizes to accomplish the purifying of His people will come from the government and fallen culture. As we know, it is an election year, and the spirits of deception will be intensely at work. The high demand for greater acceptance of sexual depravity is going to require unapologetic voices from the Church to stand ground on what God deems as holy vs. unholy. This will result in the cultural canceling of many of us at work, at school, and even in churches which have gone apostate. Do not panic! All of this will be part of God’s process to purify the remnant which will carry His HOLY fire moving forward. The hostility and division which is already undeniable in America will increase. There will be greater displays of both random and planned violence. Personally, I will be surprised if there is not a small series of Islamic attacks here on the mainland of the United States before Summer arrives. Jihadists are already within our borders waiting for instructions. Evil is aggressive, and God’s people are seemingly preferring for God not to bother us with any courses of action. For those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, we are recognizing that what we wrestle against is going to require greater skill and commitment in spiritual warfare, beginning with fasting and prayer.
Also, be prepared for the sad, discouraging exposing of church leaders. On December 28, 2023 my wife released a prophetic caution on Facebook about this very thing (follow Amy S. Lyle on FB to read what she wrote). Pastors, prophets, worship leaders will be among those who fail to repent from hidden sins and thus incur the discipline of the Father. As Amy wisely stated in her post, mercy is presently being offered all Kingdom Leaders to repent of hypocrisy and hidden sin. God is willing to keep it between them and Him if they will repent. If not, the curtain will be pulled back. Again – do not panic! Rejoice that God is revealing that now is the time for unholy mixture to be removed from His people. We must become purified to become empowered. The fruit from this refining fire will be unprecedented.
Lastly (for now), the sparks of revival will be exchanged for the flame of revival. Sparks do not spread. Flames do. Sparks can ignite flames for sure, but the flame and the spark are not the same. Leaders of movements that provide sparks from week to week but never actually ignite anything lasting will be called of God to fast, pray, and receive Holy Spirit counsel about necessary changes that are going to be required for the spark to become a flame. Sparks draw crowds, but the flame reveals that the might of God has been drawn to that place, those people, or that particular ministry. We saw many sparks of revival in 2023, but they all died out for one reason or another. Our land is so spiritually dry that even short-lived Kingdom-sparks draw massive attention. Envision what will happen when the lasting flame begins to spread.
2024 will not be business as usual. Do not be caught unprepared. Do not wait to get your own heart holy and filled. Be proactive. Get back in a local church that is grounded in prayer, the written Word, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Place yourself under Kingdom Leaders who are not in it for anything less than the glory of God to undeniably manifest. Lukewarm waters have already been spat out by Jesus – stop showing up to jump in those worthless puddles! If those who are ruined for status quo American Christianity will refuse to go silent, then. 2024 will be a year of incredible reformation for the glory of the King.
What part are you willing to play?