The Prophetic Message in Hillsong’s ‘Oceans’

The songs of one season often prophesy the realities for the next.

Consider this for just a moment. Over the past few years, songwriters have been receiving fresh, powerful downloads from heaven.

There are a handful of worship anthems from this season that have an unusual grace on them. Examples include Hillsong United’s “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” and, most notably and recently, “You Make Me Brave,” from Bethel Music’s forthcoming album of the same name.

I have no doubt that Amanda Cook’s powerful and prophetic declaration of worship was birthed in the throne room.

You can watch the official YouTube video of “You Make Me Brave” right here.

What Is a Song Birthed in the Throne Room?

So, what is significant about a song birthed in the throne room? It is a prophetic blueprint for a reality that the Holy Spirit wants to release to and through the church. There is true power released into the earth when the words of heaven rest upon the lips of the children of God. This is not positive confession ideology. Rather, it is living in a place of deep intimacy and connectedness with the Holy Spirit, where we hear what He is saying and align our words to mirror His.

It is one thing to write songs about God; it is another thing for a songwriter to have his or her ear so tuned in to the heartbeat of God that this individual actually starts to hear the sounds, decrees and statements of heaven.

Jesus said that His words were “spirit and life” (John 6:63). This reinforces the fact that something truly supernatural is released when our words align with what God is saying. Songs can be a powerful way of placing the statements of God on the lips of mankind.

I sense that “You Make Me Brave” is a statement heaven so desperately wants to grace the earth with for such a time.

It’s Time for a Courageous Church to Arise!

The time has come for the body of Christ to be brave. Bravery does not ignore circumstances or pretend away fear; instead, bravery stares fear down and still presses onward toward the impossible. This is because kingdom bravery is sustained by a fixed gaze upon a Person, the champion of heaven, who is the song’s central emphasis.

“You Make Me Brave” fuels a courageous church, as it contains line after line of God-centric worship. It begins by focusing on the greatness of God and the humility we experience in His awesome presence.

The sweeping lyrics continue on to declare God’s goodness toward us, His beloved: “You are for us/You are not against us.”

Finally, the song culminates in a bridge that arms worshippers with a powerful declaration about God, their identity and their prophetic destiny to see impossibilities bend low before Jesus: “You make me brave/You make me brave/You call me out beyond the shore into the waves.”

It is certainly beyond coincidental that some of the most powerful songs of this season focus on believers rising up and stepping into the waves or walking upon the waters.

What does this all mean to me?

A Powerful Revelation Is Being Released Through Worship

Interestingly enough, worship songs are becoming a key place where the body of Christ unites rather than divides. Retailers that might not carry books about the supernatural, signs and wonders, miracles, the gifts of the Holy Spirit and other such matters, do sell worship albums that were birthed in environments and cultures that are grounded in such values.

I believe the Holy Spirit is seizing the ever-expanding avenue of worship to ignite fresh fires in the hearts of believers across the denominational spectrum. Through worship, the Spirit is ushering us all into the manifest presence of God and giving the church prophetic instruction on the new normal that is beginning to adjust the expression of modern Christianity.

What believers experience in the raw presence of the Holy Spirit in the midst of worship is ruining them for any form of mediocre or complacent Christianity. Hunger is stirring in their hearts for more. They might not be able to clarify exactly what is awakening within them, but they are starting to say a resounding yes to this summons to walk boldly beyond the shores of “normal Christianity” and step out into ocean of impossibility.

It does not matter what position a denomination or church took on the Holy Spirit’s power, gifts or presence; Jesus becomes our model for what is normal and available.

It does not matter what some book, teaching or conference says about whether or not believers today can walk in the Spirit’s power; the Bible becomes our final blueprint for what is accessible for all kingdom citizens.

It does not matter what measure of hopelessness, impossibility, circumstance and darkness seems to be encroaching upon the earth; our eyes are fixed on the champion of heaven who made a way for all to enter in and experience His eternal salvation, unconditional love and powerful presence.

I still plan to write a formal review upon the formal release of this worship recording. However, I had the privilege of previewing most of the songs while watching the worship live on iBethel.tv and wanted to prepare you for something extremely significant.

The album is currently available for preorder on Amazon.

Larry Sparks is the author of Breakthrough Healing (Destiny Image, 2014). He is a conference speaker, blogger, columnist and host of the weekly radio program Voice of Destiny (www.thevoiceofdestiny.org). Featured in Charisma magazine and on CBN’s Spiritual Gifts webcast, Larry is also founder of Equip Culture—a ministry that equips believers with the tools and resources to live victoriously through the supernatural power of God. Subscribe to his blog at www.lawrencesparks.com. Follow him on Twitter @LarryVSparks.