Storm Warnings

Editor’s Note: The following prophetic message by Jim Goll
was given on the eve of the new century, as the year 2000 was approaching. It
preceded 9-11 and the U.S. military campaigns that followed; the corporate
scandals of Arthur Andersen, Enron and others; the collapse of the U.S.
“housing bubble”; the federal bailout of Wall Street and the national
banking system; and other major events directly affecting the U.S. in the
decade after 2000. It is being offered today as an encouragement that God’s
prophets are speaking; but also as a reminder, as James says, that “storm
warnings are being issued to the church” yet “these times of
hardship” can still become “great days of hope” for believers.

We are in the process of crossing a historical threshold in
the history of the United States. We are going from one “room” in the
Spirit to the next in God’s dealings with the nations. God’s plumbline has been
dropped into the midst of the nations to see what character of building
materials we have been using. Evaluation time has come. As we round the corner
to the strategic, pivitol year 2000, the cracks in our personal lives,
families, churches and nation will show forth to determine if our current
foundations needs to be jack-hammered, torn up and repoured, or if they are
solid enough for God’s last days house to be built upon.

A time of pressure is on us. These will be days of hardship and days of hope.
Although certain sectors of the body of Christ have been experiencing times of refreshing, the purpose of
these times have been for strengthening against what lies ahead. We have been
experiencing a Gentle
Awakening; next it will be the Rude Awakening; and then, if the fullness of
the Lord’s will is accomplished, a Great Awakening will follow.

Discerning the Times

What time is it, anyway? What is the prophetic pulse
indicating? Recently, at meetings where I have spoken or attended, fire alarms
have gone off in the buildings. One night, when I was on the road in
California, the fire alarm went off right outside my hotel room long and loud
two times in the middle of the night. Once here in Nashville, Tenn., right at
the close of my message, the fire alarm went off in the rented school building.
While in Sunderland, England, at the close of the last night’s session, the
fire alarm went off. What is God trying to say?

Wake-up calls are being sent through the body of Christ.
Storm warnings are being issued to the church. The voice of the Lord is
beginning to rumble, but soon it will begin to thunder! It’s time to build
storm cellars of prayer (see Psalm 91, Psalm 57) where we will be protected
under the shadow of His wings.

Exposing the Enemy’s
Schemes

While God is using pressure to test our foundations, the
enemy attempts to toss in his two cents’ worth and create confusion and muddy
the waters. In recent weeks, a demonic “spirit
of anxiety” has been unleashed against the saints. When this goes
undetected and not cleansed, it brings in it’s bigger brother named “panic attack.” After this is
released, the door is open to its big cousin named terror. There is a
confrontation with this spirit of fear
in its various forms being waged at this very hour. In these hours, we
will need true discernment like never before.

But the Lord has the antidote! Call 911! Yes, I said,
“Call 911.” Psalm 91:1 promises, “He who dwells in the shelter of the
Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” The Lord is our
defense—call on His name! Let’s agree with Psalm 94: 1-2: “O Lord, God of vengeance; God of vengeance,
shine forth! Rise up, O Judge of the earth.”

The prophet Nahum said it this way, “The Lord is slow in anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no
means leave the guilty unpunished. In whirlwind and storm is His way, and
clouds are the dust beneath His feet”
(1:3). But his admonishment does not stop there. It continues with a
promise in verse 7, “The Lord is good,
a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him.”

Days of Hardship, Days
of Hope

Will we be prepared? Whether it is adverse, strange weather
patterns, global economic recession, or
America’s materialistic Titanic going under, these times of
hardship can become great days of hope. Isaiah said, “For behold, darkness
will cover the earth, and deep darkness the peoples; but the Lord will rise
upon you, and His glory will appear upon you” (Is. 60: 2).

Yes, let’s receive the wake-up call and get ready! Let’s put
on our gospel shoes and be ready to tell others of the hope that resides within
us. Let us overcome anxiety by a revelation of the Father’s great love. Let the
storm warnings be heard loud and clear. But let us also rejoice—for the days of
hardship will lead to days of a great awakening.

About the author: James W. Goll is the co-founder of Encounters
Network, director of PrayerStorm, and coordinates
Encounters Alliance, a coalition of leaders. He has shared Jesus in more than
40 nations worldwide teaching and imparting the power of intercession,
prophetic ministry and life in the Spirit. He is the author of numerous books
including PrayerStorm, Angelic Encounters, Prophetic Intercessor and The
Seer.