Your Breakthrough May Look Like A Person!

“And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.” — 1 Samuel 20:17 (NIV)

In November 1990, I was sitting in a Bible college meeting listening to a sermon when suddenly, right in the middle of it, God interrupted my thoughts with a simple sentence:

“Your Jonathan is coming very soon.”

Immediately I knew what He meant.

At the time I had been deeply impacted by the friendship between David and Jonathan in Scripture. Jonathan strengthened David, encouraged him and helped position him for his future. I had been praying constantly for growth, wisdom and spiritual acceleration because, if I’m honest, I felt slightly lonely, empty and underdeveloped spiritually. I knew I needed people in my life who carried something I did not yet possess.

So when God spoke about “Jonathan,” I recognised it as an answer to prayer.

The next day, while walking through the Bible college corridors, an older prophetic minister whom I barely knew walked up to me and said:

“God has told me to be your Jonathan.”

Now, his name was not Jonathan, so I knew immediately this was a God moment.

His real name was Bryan.

And over the following years Bryan became one of the great gifts of grace in my life. He coached me, challenged me, taught me and repeatedly pulled me into situations far beyond my comfort zone. He took me on missions throughout Southern Africa where we saw extraordinary things — there were secret police attending meetings, prophetic ministry to government officials and royalty, truly miraculous provision (money appearing in purses!), we were chased by men with guns in Zimbabwe and saw many healings, signs and wonders!

He forced me to preach. Taught me how to prophesy. Saw things in me I could not yet see in myself.

And honestly, much of what God answered in my prayers came through another human being.

That taught me something profoundly important:

Most prayers are answered through people.

The Fire Requires Community

Think about it carefully.

When you pray for encouragement, God often sends a person. When you pray for healing, somebody lays hands on you. When you pray for provision, it usually comes through human generosity. When you pray for wisdom, it often arrives through someone’s counsel.

The grace of God frequently flows through human vessels.

And this is one of the deepest truths about the altar of community: the fire requires relationship.

We are not meant to carry glory alone.

People are sacramental in the best possible sense. By that I mean God often uses ordinary people as carriers of heavenly grace into our lives. Their encouragement, wisdom, generosity, gifts, prayers and spiritual authority become channels through which heaven touches us.

But if we cannot receive from one another, then large portions of God’s grace remain inaccessible to us.

Dishonour creates personal drought.

And honestly, many believers unknowingly limit their lives because they can only receive from highly polished “men of God” on stages with microphones. They expect heaven to move through special personalities but fail to perceive the grace gifts flowing quietly through ordinary believers all around them.

But when a church truly begins seeing Christ in one another, the atmosphere changes entirely.

The altar becomes communal.

An extract from The ALTAR by Jarrod Cooper. Order Your Copy Below. 👇

Believe & Confess Meditation & Declaration

I will recognise and receive the grace of God that flows through the people He sends into my life (1 Samuel 20:17). I will not try to carry glory alone, but will walk in humility, honour and spiritual community (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). God will send encouragement, wisdom, healing and provision through faithful people in His perfect timing (Proverbs 27:17). I will honour the gifts of Christ in others and remain open to receiving from ordinary vessels filled with extraordinary grace (1 Corinthians 12:7). I will not despise hidden people, simple encouragement or quiet obedience, because God often answers prayer through human hands (Hebrews 13:2). My heart will remain teachable, relational and open to the Jonathan relationships God places around me (Proverbs 13:20). The altar of my life will burn brighter as I walk in love, honour and Kingdom partnership with others (Romans 12:10).

👉 If this devotional encouraged you, why not share it with friends on social media or forward it by email to someone who may need to recognise the grace God is sending through people around them today?

🌱 To help us continue producing these FREE resources would you consider sowing a seed using the link above or make a purchase from our online shop. Every little helps. Thank you!

THE ALTAR

Creating lives & cultures ready to host the glory of God.

Something is stirring.

Across the world, hunger for God’s presence is rising—and many are asking: how do we truly host His glory?

In The Altar, Jarrod Cooper calls us back to the place where heaven meets earth—the altar. A place of encounter, devotion, and transformation.

This book will help you:
• Deepen your personal encounter with God
• Build a lifestyle of worship
• Hear His voice clearly
• Create cultures that carry His presence

This isn’t just a book—it’s a call.
When the altar is restored, the fire falls again.

 Order Your Copy Here