"A prophet's job is done when he has delivered God's message."
- both quotes are from A.W. Tozer
What is a prophet? Simply said - he is a man or a woman with a message from God. What makes him (or her) a prophet of his day is not man's approval but God's calling. Chances are that if one seems right for the job, he is not the one whom God is calling. Usually, he is one who is "out of sync" with his generation. God chooses him not because he fits in, but because he doesn't fit in.
You will never find the prophet as a compromiser with this world... imitator of other men...or one caught up in professionalism. He will never be a promoter...religious manager...nor a slave to crowds.
The prophet is one of the main factors of the New Testament Church. Oftentimes, God uses him to lead His people through tumultuous times.
In fact, just to show you how important the prophet is - the church has always been successful as she listened to the voice of the prophet. On the other hand, when she turned a deaf ear to him, she immediately sank into heresy of some sort and drifted away from the Lord.
What is needed today - more than ever - is the voice of the prophet to speak and then to be heard.
There is only one problem. It isn't that the prophet is not speaking for God, but there are many "counterfeits" speaking - coupled with the noise and clatter of the culture which has invaded the church - that are drowning out his voice.
We see other problems arising in the church which are seeking to overshadow the voice of the true prophet.
For one, we have this general attitude that the "message" is really not that significant. The presentation of the message is becoming far more important. To some, the message can appear boring so the preacher feels it needs to be "jazzed up" a bit. It needs to be sensational, emotional, and entertaining. Also, the truth of the message must be "cherry-picked" - leaving out any offensive parts ...sharpness...conviction...or condemnation.
There is a passion among some to be relevant; hence, they go to all lengths to have the message fit in nicely with society.
Let's face it - the most important thing in most churches today is not the message - it is the messenger! People will accept the message as long as they approve of the messenger. Hence, we find that the message depends upon the "celebrity" in the pulpit to carry it into the culture. Forget about the Holy Spirit! He is not very relevant in most circles now that we have the "celebrity" to take His place.
In spite of all this, a holy remnant is crying out - "Where, oh where, are the true prophets?"
As was already stated, the true prophets are speaking, but cannot be heard over the "chatter" of the "fakes" and the "worldliness" that has invaded the church at this time. They cannot be seen for they are "overshadowed" by the "celebrities" that have the hearts of the people.
What has all of this done to the church?
Read the following two (2) quotes from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible to gain a proper assessment of the state of the church in this hour -
"To ignore or reject God's true prophets will result in spiritual death for the church."
"The refusal to hear and obey God's Word, along with the spurning of the prophetic message against sin and evil, are unmistakable signs of apostasy."
Spiritual death and apostasy are the results. But, what is the solution?
Matthew Henry lays it out for us in his comment - "It is the work of ministers to bring people, not to themselves, but to God - to bring those again to Him who have gone a whoring from Him. In the most degenerate times, God left not Himself without witness; though they had dealt very disingenuously with God, yet He sent prophets to them to convince and instruct them, and to assure them that they should find favor with Him if yet they would return..."
Let's examine the Scriptures to see exactly how this works.
2 Kings 17:13 says - "Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep My commandments and My statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by My servants the prophets."
Notice the means by which the LORD sought to bring the people from their idolatries and sins. He raised up His prophets.
What did these prophets do? Did they try to "jazz up" the message with sensationalism...emotionalism...or entertainment? Did they seek to be "relevant" - seeing how they could fit the message nicely into their society? Or did they "cherry-pick" the message - being very selective about the truth that they presented?
No, absolutely not! They delivered the "message" that God gave - exactly the way He gave it.
God "testified against" Israel through His prophets. He "testified against" their conduct...showed them their sins...preached repentance to them...warned them of the fatal consequences of their sins...pressed them to turn from their evil ways...and made them fully aware of His readiness to forgive them - provided that they return to Him and give up their idolatries. He did all of this - through His "prophets."
2 Chronicles 24:19 says - "Yet He sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the LORD; and they testified against them: but they would not hear."
Notice again how the "prophets" were sent by God to "testify against" the people - reproving them for their wickedness...warning them of the judgment to come...exhorting them to their duty...and endeavoring to restore them.
Lastly, Nehemiah 9:26 says - "Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against Thee, and cast Thy law behind their backs, and slew Thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to Thee..."
Once again, we see the role of the true prophet. He is assigned by God to bear testimony against the sins of His people - for the sole purpose of turning them from them by repentance to the Lord.
The most important factor is not the messenger. The most important factor is the message that needs to be proclaimed.
No true prophet can ever become a celebrity. The most significant thing about the prophet is the message that he conveys.
The "celebrities" in the church are robbing God's people from His best. Whenever a believer "idolizes" a man or a woman, he is always led away from the Lord and in the wrong direction.
The true prophet's message does not originate with the prophet. And it cannot be modified by him.
As we quoted A.W. Tozer earlier in saying - "The prophet's sole responsibility is to deliver God's message just the way God gave it."
In the Christian circles, we oftentimes hear 2 Chronicles 7:14 quoted - "If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
Yet, even though it is often quoted, there is no major change being made. Why is that?
Simply because very few preachers are preaching the "message" that will bring forth these results. People - and we are talking about God's people - are not - on their own - going to begin to "turn from their wicked ways" and turn back to Him.
It takes the "prophet" "testifying against them to turn them to God." It takes the preacher - "testifying against" their conduct... showing them their sins... preaching repentance to them...warning them of the fatal consequences of their sins... pressing them to turn from their evil ways...and making them fully aware of God's readiness to forgive them - provided that they return to Him and give up their idolatries.
The church must get back to God's way and order of things; that is, the most important factor is not the messenger, but the message that needs to be proclaimed.
May the church rise up and say - "No more celebrities in our pulpits! Only 'prophets' of God who fear Him and are not afraid to deliver the 'message' that He gives them - even if it means 'testifying against' the sins of the people in order to turn them back to Him."
We at Walking In Truth Ministry realize our obligation before God to speak His "message" to His people during these tumultuous times. We understand that the "message" is the most important factor - and must never be modified in order to "please" the crowds. We are not called to "make a name" for ourselves, but to "point" people to Jesus and "make a name" for Him. We find it almost appalling that anyone would try to "jazz up" the "message" or go to all lengths to have it fit nicely with society. When it is God's "message," it needs nothing added to it! Period!
By the grace of God, we have delivered the "messages" that God had given to us - and we will continue to do so - as He enables us.
Will you help us with your financial gifts?
Sad but true - so many are blessed by this ministry, yet so few support it with their financial gifts. Each day, the numbers are increasing around the world - telling of people who are being reached, touched, and blessed through our written messages as well as our podcasts.
Will you please pray and ask the Lord what He would have you give in order to help us in this task of covering the globe with the Truth of God's Word?
We a t Walking In Truth Ministry have a special need right now. We are in need of someone who can convert my audio messages (podcasts) into the written format for the hearing impaired. If you would like to be used of God in this manner - to type out the words of my audio messages for those on my mailing list who cannot listen but would like to know what is being said in the me ssages - please contact me at - [email protected] This act of kindness will be a great blessing to those who cannot hear.
For those of you who faithfully support this Ministry with your monthly gift, we want to say - "Thank You" - from the bottom of our hearts. We are eternally grateful to you! Surely, God has used you to keep us going strong for Him.
If you would like to be a blessing to this ministry or a faithful supporter, you can make your check out to - Walking In Truth Ministry - and mail it to the following address -
Walking In Truth Ministry
P.O. Box 383016
Duncanville, TX 75138-3016
Or, if you prefer to use Paypal, you can send your financial gift to - [email protected]
You can also send a Money gram - if that means of exchange will work better for you.
We are a nonprofit organization with a tax exemption status.
Thank you ahead of time for your gracious gift,
Connie
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17)
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