‘The UK is being given the chance to awaken’

Lydia Bennett (LB): In 1 Corinthians 14:1, Paul says: “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.” For some Christians, prophecy can feel a little strange, even uncomfortable, depending on their church background. How can we eagerly desire prophecy today?

Anne Calver (AC): I think it really comes down to intimacy with the Lord. We give these big titles, saying: “The prophet said…” but really it’s about listening to what God is saying, awakening our senses to his presence, his movement, his voice. Prophecy is hearing God and sharing what you sense he is saying now.

LB: How do we know when a prophetic word is genuinely from God and not just our imagination or emotions?

AC: It’s so important that we weigh everything, so the first thing I do is check everything against scripture. We’re living in an hour where word and Spirit are moving together. So if I sense something, I ask: “Where is this in scripture? Does the word back it up?” Back in 2020, I was struggling with back pain. I asked the Lord: “Why this pain?” and heard two words: “birth pain”. I thought: “Where did that come from?” I looked up Matthew 24:7-8: “There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth-pains.” I realised, maybe we’re in a birth pain moment. So I prayed, “Lord, if this is birth pain, how should the Church respond?” That’s one example of how prophecy works.

LB: And when someone gives you a prophetic word, how do you weigh that?

AC: I ask: “Does it resonate in my heart? Has anyone else said something similar? Is it confirmed elsewhere?” Sometimes it feels completely from left field, but it won’t leave you. It penetrates, like the word dividing soul and marrow, opening up new possibilities you never considered. That’s the beauty of it; God’s dreams are bigger than ours.

Prophecy must bear fruit, bring hope, encourage and strengthen the body

LB: What are some common misconceptions about prophecy?

AC: Many people get nervous and ask: “Is this really God? Could it be another spirit?” I ask that too. There are many voices today; scripture warns about deception in the last days. That’s why accountability is crucial. The prophetic is dangerous in isolation. When my co-author John and I wrote Awaken, his apostolic gift balanced the prophetic. Prophecy must bear fruit, bring hope, encourage and strengthen the body. Anything of the Lord will ultimately bring life. 

LB: You mentioned gifting there. Is the prophetic gift something only a few people have, or can all Christians prophesy?

AC: Everyone can prophesy, because it’s hearing the heart of God. But God also gives particular anointings. Like evangelism, we’re all witnesses, but some are especially gifted. It’s the same with prophecy.

LB: Is it ever right to share a negative prophecy?

AC: I’ve wrestled with that. Think of Agabus predicting famine in Acts, or Joseph interpreting famine in Genesis. These weren’t positive words, but they were needed. It’s how we respond that matters. God’s story is always one of hope, restoration, rescue. Even hard words are opportunities to posture ourselves in faith, not fear. That said, I wouldn’t rush to share sensitive words like births, deaths or marriages. I’d pray over them and only share if I had relationship with the person. The prophetic must operate with pastoral care. And always ask: “What’s the hope here, Lord?”

LB: What if our church seldom celebrates the spiritual gifts. How do we even begin to introduce them, especially where there might be suspicion?

AC: Start with prayer. If the church prays, the gifts will arise naturally. When the disciples prayed after Jesus ascended, Pentecost came. I believe God wants to birth a new move of his Spirit, and it begins on our knees.

LB: Is it wise to prophesy about the rapture, Revelation and so on?

AC: I believe we’re in the last days – we’ve been since Acts. But I’d never put a date on Jesus’ return. What matters is living as though he could return tomorrow. If end times talk stirs us to action, great. If it makes us fearful, that’s not good.

LB: How do we avoid over-spiritualising things?

AC: I’m not sure I believe in ‘over-spiritualising’, but we can become too intense. If we live and move in the Spirit, we should expect him to speak all the time. But we need balance. That’s why we need all the gifts working together; apostolic, evangelistic, pastoral, to keep us grounded.

LB: What if a prophetic word over our lives doesn’t come to pass?

AC: I’ve lived with that personally. God’s promises often require our participation. Joshua had to step into the Promised Land, put his feet in the Jordan, march around Jericho. We can’t just wait passively. The promises of God are often on the other side of a fight.

LB: What about having vivid dreams. Could they be prophetic? And what if we don’t understand them?

AC: Yes, pay attention! Dreams are increasing. Seek the Lord, asking him: “What are you saying?” Go to scripture. Pray Isaiah 11, saying: “Holy Spirit, give me understanding; counsel me.” God wants us to understand. Sometimes he brings others to help interpret. In Awaken, we include dreams and interpretations to model this.

LB: Let’s talk about your new book Awaken. Why this book now?

AC: About five years ago, John and I reconnected. The Holy Spirit fell on our conversations, giving us Emmaus-road style revelation. It began in COVID. We realised we had to write it down, so others could run with it. At the same time, we were making big decisions about church. We couldn’t just hear God and not act. The book came out of that.

I expected promotion, but instead God said: ‘Now we’ll work on your heart’

LB: And what is God saying to you about the UK?

AC: That we’re in a time of awakening. Jesus is coming to his bride. The Church needs to be ready, to clean up, repent, be washed and expect a mighty harvest. Salvation and healing are coming. It won’t be easy, but it will be glorious.

LB: How do we get ready?

AC: Make him Lord over everything. It starts in prayer: “We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” Enquire of the Lord in every step: “Did you say this? If so, I’ll do it.” Don’t just do what seems right; seek his voice and move with him.

LB: How is this awakening different from previous revivals?

AC: In the past, revival touched pockets of the Church. Now I believe the whole UK Church, from charismatic to very traditional, is being given the chance to awaken. God is moving globally, and he hasn’t forgotten his children.

LB: You call Awaken both prophetic and practical. How so?

AC: We kept asking: “If God is saying this, what do we do?” For example, what do we need to stop doing to make room for the new? The old isn’t wrong, but God is forming a new wineskin. People’s roles are shifting. It can feel scary, like going from caterpillar to butterfly. But if we lay our lives before him, he’ll reposition us for his purposes.

LB: Could you give a personal example?

AC: Yes. The Lord asked me to put things down – national teams, even my job. I expected promotion, but instead God said: “Now we’ll work on your heart.” It felt like heart surgery, a hidden season of preparation. Only this year has he said,: “Now step into this.” Scripture shows this pattern: David in the cave, Joseph in prison – wilderness seasons before appointment. God is preparing royal sons and daughters for positions of authority, but first he goes to work on the heart.

LB: What do you hope readers take from Awaken?

AC: I long for the Church to burn with passion, to see a mighty harvest. I hope the book equips and positions believers for that move of God, setting them on fire for him.

Anne Calver is a Baptist minister, a prophetic voice in the national church, pioneer of the Unleashed network of house churches with her husband Gavin, and co-author of Unleash the Acts Church Today. Her latest book, Awaken (with John McGinley), is a prophetic and practical invitation to join the move of God across the UK. It is available from standrewsbookshop.co.uk/product/awaken/