When we launched the Boiler Room in Greenville, NC back in 2009, we were seeking God’s heart for our city and region. Over the years, we began to discover some of the prophetic promises that God had spoken over the place where we lived. One of these words given by Derek Prince provoked us deeply. In 1975, while visiting eastern NC he prophesied:
“I have found favor with you here in Eastern North Carolina. I will personally come to visit you. There will be a revival greater than the great Wales phenomenon. There will be kings and leaders from north, south, east, and west that will come and study the Eastern North Carolina phenomenon.”
If you know anything about the revival that took place in Wales in the early 1900s, then you understand how profound of a prophetic promise this is for our region. It was reported that 100,000 people came to the Lord in the first year. Many believe it was the Wales revival that sparked the Azusa St revival in the United States around the same time.
The Context of the Prophecy
As I began to research this prophetic word, I discovered some of the context in which it was given. There was a church in Jacksonville, North Carolina that was being influenced by the Latter Rain revival in the 60s and 70s. One of the resources that had deeply influenced their congregation was the book The Power of His Presence by Graham Truscott. This is actually the first modern book written on the topic of David’s tabernacle. This church began to incorporate Davidic worship into their meetings, and God was moving powerfully. Apparently they begin to incorporate musical instruments, prophecy and creativity into their praise and worship, just as David did in his tabernacle. Additionally, they were beginning to experience fellowship and unity with other churches in the area.
In 1975, this group of churches decided to invite Derek Prince in for a series of special meetings. Believers from multiple churches crammed into the sanctuary for the first meeting, which was marked by the presence of God, especially during the music and worship. It was said that “most people cared very little about the apparent lack of space. Only one thing mattered: God was in the house!” Remember that this is the congregation that was beginning to incorporate Davidic worship — musical instruments and prophetic songs were beginning to be released. Creativity and intercession was beginning to flow.
Another facet of these meetings was the coming together of worshipers from various races and church backgrounds. One attendee said “we each began to understand that, although our skin pigments and denominations were different, we were indeed one body.”
It was in this context that Derek Prince released his prophetic word:
“I have found favor with you here in Eastern North Carolina…..”
It Wasn’t About Our Region
For many years I believed that there was something special about our region. We had found God’s favor. Surely we would experience revival before anywhere in the world, or at least our nation. I thought the prophetic word was about our region, but I was missing the point. One day as I was praying for God to fulfil this prophetic promise (which I have done thousands of times), the Holy Spirit began to broaden my understanding of what He was speaking through Derek Prince.
I realized that the body of Christ was coming together in unity around God’s presence when this word was released, and it was the context of united, Davidic worship in which God was speaking about His favor! Although God has a unique destiny for every part of the world, this prophetic word was not that our geography in eastern North Carolina was special. It was God’s stamp of approval upon His people coming together on earth as in heaven. At that time, the Church in our region was worshiping like David’s tabernacle and doing it in unity with believers of different races and denominations. This is in the environment in which God releases his favor! I realized that this prophetic word speaks not just to our region, but to the broader body of Christ. If you want God’s favor in your region — if you want revival — start doing on earth what they are doing in heaven. The prophetic promise isn’t just because of a certain geographic location, it’s because of a certain activity to which God responds.
God likes it when we come together in unity. He likes Davidic worship. That’s why it’s that way in heaven. That’s why there’s harps and bowls of incense. That’s why there’s every tribe, tongue and nation together. I believe God is saying that if we want historic revival, we need to come together with Christians who are different from us and engage in prophetic, musical, presence-centered worship and intercession. There’s a heavenly pattern. There’s a biblical order that attracts God’s favor. David discovered it well before his time, which is why his life, nation and lineage experienced unprecedented favor and blessing.