Greetings again my Brethren. When you go to Christian media (a true oxymoron) especially on YouTube you often see many false teachers who call themselves a Prophet of God. My friend we can call ourselves a Prophet of God, but just because I call myself a Prophet of God does not make it so. I mean, I can call myself a truck or a car, sit in our garage. and go beep-beep, honk-honk, but that will never make me a truck or car. Now, when God calls you a Prophet that is a different story. It does not matter what we call ourselves what matters is what God says about us. The Bible God’s written word talks about “Prophets” and more importantly some characteristics and character traits that they must have to be called a “Prophet of God.” As I said last month I would like to begin a whole new section as we continue to look at the Oracles of God. In this section we will look at the Prophet of God in many ways. This month we will look at the “Prophet of God” as a servant and maybe look at two or three character traits. Not too many Christians want to be called a servant, oh no they want to be called a Prophet or Apostle, or I really like this one, some lady calling herself the highest Apostle. Sadly, she knows not God and His ways. I came across a couple where the husband is an Apostle and the wife is a Prophetess. WOW what a holy family they must be. No they are just titles seekers who know not God. One of the first character trait of a Prophet is they are under authority. John writes in John 4:34, “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” It is not the servant’s work, but the Master’s work. The servant works for the Master and not the other way around. The servant of God is under the authority of God. Make no mistake my friend the biggest issue in our lives is how we handle authority. And that is all authority, because God establishes all authority even the police, the IRS, and the entire government. The older I get and walk with the LORD the more I come to understand the saying, “it is good to be in authority, but it is better to be under authority. When I was in the Navy I retired as a LCDR, a man of authority. I started as an Enlisted man, an E2, but with God’s good graces and His plan for our (me and my family) lives I was commissioned an Officer. As I went up the ladder I was given more authority based on my experiences, my application of what I have learned, and the rank on my sleeve. But what always struck me was the faith and confidence my boss placed in me. He backed up my words and actions based upon my character and my fidelity. In Matthew there is a wonderful story that describes what I am talking about. Matthew writes, “And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 6And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 7And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.9For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 10When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” (Matthew 8:5-10) Here a Gentile one of only two Gentiles, that we know of from the Bible, that Jesus ministered too. A Centurion, a solider, comes to Jesus to have his servant healed. Just that thought alone is amazing, a Roman solider asking Jesus to heal his servant. But, even more amazing Jesus talks to him and replies, “I will come and heal him.” Now the Centurion did not expect Jesus to stop whatsoever He was doing and go heal his servant. The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.9For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.” Jesus knew this Centurion knew authority and because of that Jesus knew he had the faith to believe He could heal his servant. Jesus knew this Centurion had the wherewithal to put things together to see a miracle happen in his servant’s life. He understood power and authority, He understood how powerful words and faith are, but more important, notice verse eight, “I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof.” WOW that is the breeding ground of seeing a miracle in someone’s life. The Centurion, in spite of being a man of authority because of his humbleness he could recognize the authority of Jesus. Did you get that my friend? The Centurion’s humbleness enabled him to see the greatness of Jesus. And Jesus’ reply to the Centurion, and the crowd, words only spoken to the Centurion, “Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” I wonder what the disciples thought? Make no mistake my friend, our humbleness makes us great in the eyes of God.
Next month we will continue looking at the “Prophet of God” as we look at how they are sent by God. Is this 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
