THOUGHTS FOR CONSIDERATION: Greetings again my friends. Let us continue looking at the Prophet of God, no has his physical attributes, but as his character and spiritual attributes. God is not so concerned about our physical things (maybe as much as we are) as much as He is about our character and ability to function in a spiritual way. I would freely add our character and integrity is God’s number focus in our lives, not our ability to sing, dance, paint, play a musical instrument, work around the church, speak in tongues, or pay our tithes and offering. Oh no, but God is concerned if we are people of our word. Do we do what we say we will do when we say we will do it? Can we be counted on by sinner a Saints alike? Is our word the “Gospel Truth” or do people hear our words and do an eye roll no matter the topic. And why is God so concerned with this in us? Well, He knows if He cannot count on us to be people of integrity then He cannot use us and we will disqualify ourselves for serve by our own actions and words. One area of our words that a prophet and any Believer MUST take heed not to speak presumptuously. Presumption is to presume (to be bold as to dare, to take for grant, suppose) you know what you are saying is true, but in reality you do not know what you are talking about.
Ant time I hear someone say, “thus sayeth the LORD” my ears perk up and my spiritual antennas go up. When it is all said and done and you say, “thus sayeth the LORD” you are speaking for God and we MUST ALAWYS be right, if not then we saying God is a liar. It is not a questions of almost getting it right oh no, no points for second place, either we are right 100% or either we are wrong. It is like salvation, either we are saved by the grace of God through faith or we are not. Either we ae going to heaven because we are saved or because we have NOT excepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior we are on our way to hell. No middle ground here my friend, God always works in absolutes. The life of a Prophet in the Old Testament was not a happy life. Most Prophets lived not in the palace, but in the prison for telling the king God said change your ways. And for the prophets the people did not really like it was of the Law, which kills, that if a prophet prophesied something and it did not come true then they were immediately stoned to death. Unlike today, not too many people wanted to be a prophet. But that ws then. The Word of God has much to say about prophets. The weeping Prophet Jeremiah has a lot to say about warning prophets to speak truthful, “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.” (Jeremiah 23:16) In verse 21 of Chapter 23 of Jeremaiah we read, “I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.” (Jeremiah 23:21) and in verses 28 and 29, we read, “The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD. 29Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” (Jeremiah 12:28-29) The Bible tells us there is nothing new under the sun and this holds true for prophets, Now, I will be honest, I do not see the need for prophets today. After all we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, who lead and guides us to all truths. Now please do not say (I do not want nor need the emails) David Stahl said he does not believe in prophecy or prophets, I am not saying this. But, what I am saying is, I do not understand the apparent lap over of prophets and the Holy Spirit. Another area we said we would talk about is the swiftness to speak for God as a prophet. When we speak for God we must be sure, be life and death sure, that we are speaking for God. To do this we must take our time and wait to hear God speak maybe again. I do not know about you my friend, but I would rather have God speak a second or third time to me to be sure than to speak for God presumptuously and wrong. You know not to many things we do fast in God turns out better. I find the things we slow down in God and make sure of always turns out for the best. I remember an old Nurse Anesthetist, named Larry Green would always tell the patient moving from the gurney to the Operating Room table, “no points for speed just for grace and accuracy.” So too in God. We need to slow down and make sure we are doing that which God tells us to say and do.
Next month we will continue looking at the “Prophet of God” as we look at how we must NEVER diminish God’s Words. Is this is you my friend? Are you a Prophet of God? To be a Prophet we must be able to hear His voice. Listen closely and you will. Written by David Stahl
