A war is about to begin. King Jehoram of Israel is going to war with the king of Moab. He sends to Jehosh-aphat, king of Judah, and urges him to join with him in the battle. They decide to invade Moab from the south through the land of Edom, whose king joins with them. But they run out of water and are quite desperate. Are they going to be defeated by Moab?
Jehoshaphat feared the Lord and asks, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here that we may inquire of the Lord by him?” (2 Ki. 3:11, nkjv) A servant states that Elisha, who served Elijah, is with them. The king of Judah responds, “The word of the Lord is with him” (2 Ki. 3:12). Elisha is brought before the kings and predicts that God will supply them with water in a miraculous way and that they will win the victory. And so it happened. Read the story for the details.
Prophets of God marked Israel’s history, beginning with Moses. Some, along with their messages, worked miracles, such as Elijah and Elisha. Many performed no miracles but simply gave out the message of God. Some are remembered primarily for their powerful written ministry, such as Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. While there was some prediction, most of their ministry was practical and searching. They called for repentance and a turning back to the Lord.
Prophets were never people pleasers, but rugged, committed servants of the living God. Isaiah was told to write: “That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children who will not hear the law of the Lord; who say to the seers, ‘Do not see,’ and to the prophets, ‘Do not prophesy to us right things; speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits’ (Isa. 30:9-10).
Prophets refused to prophesy “smooth things” but proclaimed God’s message fearlessly. They were often threatened and sometimes killed, but even kings could not seal their mouths. Amos was warned to leave Bethel and to stop prophesying against the evils of Israel. His answer gives us the spirit of every true prophet: “I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: and the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto My people Israel. Now therefore hear thou the word of the Lord” (Amos 7:14-16).
The true prophet was never for hire; he was the Lord’s slave, accountable to Him alone. False prophets were for sale, such as “Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness” (2 Pet. 2:15). Paul could say, “For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God, but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ” (2 Cor. 2:17). In his defense of the gospel of grace, Paul affirms, “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant (doulos, slave) of Christ” (Gal. 1:10). God’s slaves are never for hire, a powerful indictment of the clergy system with its hired ministers and priests.
The Scripture states that the Church is built upon “the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone” (Eph. 2:20). A foundation needs to be laid only once. The apostles and prophets were foundational in giving us the New Testament, in establishing assemblies with a particular structure, and in being a model for later servants of the Lord to follow. There was an element of prediction in some of their writing as in Revelation. But also there was a strong denunciation of sin and a plea for righteousness. James certainly follows in the footsteps of the prophets of old as he cries out against sin in his epistle.
Predictive prophecy that would add to the Scripture is to be rejected. The book of Revelation concludes with a solemn warning: “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book. If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book” (Rev. 22:18). He also adds a warning to those who would take from it. The Scripture is complete and final (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Away then with the claims of the Koran and the Book of Mormon to be further revelations from God.
Having said this, do we still need a prophetic type ministry in the Church today? Teachers are still very active in the churches now. Their task is to exegete the Scriptures and to explain the meaning so that the listeners understand the passage. Understanding is vital if one is to obey. In Ezra’s time the people gathered to hear the Law. “So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God, and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading” (Neh. 8:8). The goal of the teacher is the understanding of God’s Word by the listener. This can then be followed by exhortation. Paul wrote Timothy, “Till I come, give attention to reading to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Tim. 4:13).
But a prophetic ministry goes beyond instruction. Its goal is to touch the heart, to convict, to change the person. Paul describes the effect of prophesy on the hearer: “…he is convinced by all; he is convicted by all; and thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you” (1 Cor. 14:24-25). Surely we need that type of ministry among us.
What are characteristics of the prophet of old that should mark the preacher today?
First of all, he must be a man of God. He needs to be conscious that he belongs uniquely to God and speaks for Him. He speaks “as the oracles of God” (1 Pet. 4:11), with divine authority. Like Paul, he glories in being God’s slave (Gal. 1:10), directed by the Lord and responsible to Him. His is the spirit of Elijah, fearless in confronting evil. He is not a politician, a people pleaser, watching the polls to see what the people want. He does not take a survey of a neighborhood to see what the people wish to hear. He is not an ecumenical preacher, willing to tolerate all sorts of religions and teaching. Jesus never made an alliance with the Pharisees in order to have a greater acceptance, a wider ministry.
The prophet cried out against ritualism and hypocrisy. Isaiah, speaking for God, said, “Bring no more futile sacrifices. Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies—I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting” (Isa. 1:13). God hates the practice of religious rites when the heart is not right with Him. Hence, the call to repent: “Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean. Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil” (Isa. 1:16).
Then followed the promise of forgiveness if there was true repentance and a turning to God. “‘Come now and let us reason together,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool’” (Isa. 1:18).
The evangelist’s cry to repent is primarily to the unbeliever. Paul in Athens proclaimed that God “now commands all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). “Repent and believe” is the message to the sinner (Mk. 1:15). But the prophet’s message is also to the believer who professes to belong to Christ.
In the letters to the seven churches of Asia, the cry to repent is heard time and again. “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent” (Rev. 2:5). The tendency of God’s people is to become complacent and to drift away from truth and godliness. “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away” (Heb. 2:1). God spoke to Ezekiel, “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth and give them warning from Me” (Ezek. 3:17). God’s people desperately need to hear a word from the Lord, spoken with conviction and power.
Finally the preacher needs to live constantly with the realization that he is a steward and must give an account to his Master. “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required of stewards that one be found faithful…He who judges me is the Lord” (1 Cor. 4:1, 2, 4).
Our Lord in His parables told of taking up accounts with His servants. There will be searching questions. Has one been faithful in his character, abhorring evil and clinging to righteousness? For character is basic and most important. Has one been faithful in studying and proclaiming God’s Word? Has one been faithful in obeying the Scriptures concerning the functioning and godly practice of the local church? Has he been a peacemaker? “Pursue peace with all people and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14). “…for they watch out for your souls as those who must give account” (Heb. 13:17).
Long ago the question was asked, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here?” Where are the men who will preach the Word of God with power and conviction, convicting the sinner and saint alike? We need to pray for God to raise up such men today.
Where are the men who will preach the Word of God with power and conviction? WE NEED TO PRAY FOR GOD TO RAISE UP SUCH MEN TODAY.