Greetings again my friends. Okay this month we continue to look at The Prophet of God as a Servant.  Now I like that word “Servant,” something we all should strive to be in the LORD’s service, but above being a Servant we all MUST be obedient to God in all matters. We must be committed and dedicated to what the LORD wants not to just be called a “Servant.”  Far too many Christians want to be a “Servant” unto the LORD and itself this is a good desire to have, but more than being the very best “Servant” unto the LORD we MUST be the very best committed and dedicated Believer to the LORD.  The beginning of this happened when being a Prophet of God we are called by God.  Unless we are called to be a Prophet by God we will never be a real Prophet of God. Oh how many Christians today run around in the church and say they are Bishops, Apostles, Prophets, even Prophetess, but I hear very few Christians today refer to themselves as a “Servant.”  No praise or exaltation for cleaning dishes or scrubbing pots and pans, but now stand in the Congregation and speak “Thus sayeth the LORD as a Prophet (real or not) and men will rush money to your bosom. Now I love my sweet wife Karen very much.  We have been married for over 45 years and with each passing year the more I see what a gift God has given me.  Now the times are many that I have been proud of her, but the one that really sticks out  to me and has had great impact in our family is when I retired from the US Navy in Stuttgart, Germany and she had to get a US government job for Connie and Josuha (our kids) to stay in the DoD School System.  Well, her choices were either working at the child care facility or get a job working at the Chow Hall.  For all of those non-military folks out there, a restaurant for military folks.  Neither was glamourous, but she said she has raised four of her own kids (and they turned out great) and she did not want to raise others’ kids.  So, she got the much sought after job as a kitchen worker. Duties consisted of mopping the floor, scrubbing a mountain of pots and pans three times a day, serving food on the line, a job no one wanted to do.  And I was so proud of her. She was even known around the Base, no not as a Prophet, Prophetess, or Apostle, but that kind lady who would always say have a nice as she was scrapping food from dirty plates.  One day she was married to a senior Officer and the next day she was scrubbing a mountain of pots and pans.  A “Servant” so her kids could stay in the American School. It took a real woman of God to swallow her pride and selfishness to serve her family and community. Not too many Prophets, Prophetess, or Apostles have the amount of dedication and commitment she has even today.  Above all, if we are in  service to Him and His children we first have to be called of God.  In John we read, “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. (John 1:6) My friend if you are not called of God then you are NOT called. I am amazed at all of the self- promotion in the Body of Christ.  Everyone seems to want to be somebody, everyone seems to want to be an Apostle, a Prophet or Prophetess,  a Evangelist, a Pastor, or Teacher, but no one wants to be called, by God, to what Paul referred to himself most often, a Bondservant or slave of Christ.  Oh boy, you can get a title and the bigger the title the more money you can make. The bigger the title the more power you can build into your kingdom. I wonder why we cannot all just be “Servants” of God, called out men and women of God to go put and lay their lives down for the sake of Christ.  But no, we even have Christian talk shows (an oxymoron) to discuss if someone is an Apostle, a Prophet or Prophetess, an Evangelist, a Pastor, or Teacher. Shame on those people who are more concerned about titles than being a Servant.” I have known many who started as a “Servant,” but now are “mature spiritual leaders” seeking more than being a “Servant,” and have forgotten where they came from. While I am here who puts their name with the word “ministries?” To me that is arrogant only to be out done by people who put their names on the Bible and then sell it.  Now are there:  Apostles,  Prophets (Paul does not list Prophetess),   Evangelists, Pastors, or Teachers, yes, but you can be all of these or some of these and not make a living.  In Ephesians Paul writes, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”  (Ephesians 4:11-12) Notice the word “some” not “some people,” Now I do not know 100% so do not quote me here, but I feel Paul was taking more about the ability to serve as a “Servant” than the title of Office. We see in Luke where God called or appointed 70 more disciples. Jesus had more than 12 disciples, “After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.”  (Luke 10:1) I am sure they operated in some of these Offices, but they were not given a title, they were just “Servants” like we need to be. 

Next month we will continue looking at the “Prophet of God” as we look at how they should not talk quickly not presumptuously. 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