Amos 3:7
"Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.
The Lion has roared ---
Who will not fear?
The Sovereign LORD has spoken---
Who can but prophesy?"
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How do we recognize a person called to be a prophet? How can we confirm their words are accurate? How do we test the spirit behind their words? How do we discern their character?
True prophets, chosen by God, have a connection to God's heart and intentions.
We can use an example of a delegate in the courtroom in relation to the Judge.
Christian's can be compared to attorneys who present the judge with evidence for mercy & acquittal (prayers). They speak in the 'Well' of the courtroom.
The judge may withhold His thoughts even as He hears and acknowledges their intercession (Luke 18:1-6).
In the case of the prophet...he has access into the Judges very Chambers. He has access as "Special Counsel" and hears the Judges thoughts and intentions...
...directly from the Judges mouth.
This is a more intimate direct encounter and trusted confidential relationship.
The Sovereign LORD shares His heart with true prophets. It's not necessarily to share with the public or congregation. Sometimes it is simply a part of a divine Communication for the sake of table talk as in Psalm 23:5.
"You prepare a table before me... " This is a divine and intimate fellowship & communion.
Other times, it is for public consumption, it is to encourage and empower the people of God.
"Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld;
have faith in His prophets and you will be succesful."
2 Chronicles 20:20
(King Jehoshaphat)
The Prophets spoken of here, by the king, were tried and true. They were descendants of the singing priests appointed by King David.
True prophets are developed over time and go through tremendous refining process initiated by the LORD alone. The relationship is based in deep communion.
During their times of service the Davidic prophets-
1. sang scripture
2. lived in the treasury of the Temple
3. prepared the fresh bread for the table of God's presence.
They were, ultimately trained, refined and chosen by God.
Their 'times' of service were appointed by Urim and Thummim. Meaning chosen by God and not man. They were recognized, both, by Israel's leaders and confirmed and installed by God.
Again, these delegates of justice demonstrated special intimacy with God's Word and were more trusted than others (who were also honored with serving in the house of God).
They weren't more important, they weren't celebrities; they were simply more focused on serving God as the other priests served the people.
Simple & sincere devotion to worship and song- birthed listening hearts.
David and His commanders first assigned these priests to sing as a type of "Air Force" to countermand the "prince of the power of the air". David was a prophetic commander assigning (those like himself) underling prophets.
Isaiah 55:3,4.
They were a type of ancient media, yet, more secluded in most of their work. They were wholly dedicated to knowing God's heart and will...and singing it into the atmosphere.
So as a proof of the prophet's validity...
...they must, first,
establish a "trust" with God, then in turn, a trust with God's people. Trust is another word for Covenant.
Prophets must be Covenant keepers.
In both scriptural instances above (Amos 3, 2Chron.20) these prophets spent more time listening than speaking. Their ears were pierced to the door- post of the LORD'S Courts..
(Exodus 21:6 Psalm 84:10)
...as servants of God not of man. Tho' clearly service to God leads to a servants heart toward all.
So...needing man's attention is not at all in their make up. They do not look for affirmation from their peers although honor is our responsibility to give to those called to serve. Test all words and honor all truth...but always know that men are imperfect at best.
In the scripture quoted above the emphasis is on these 2:
1. Lion's roar-
God's Word
2. singing the scripture-
singing God's royal words.
Why? Because the Lord delights in our Communion with His Spirit. Song brings clarity and opens up heaven's atmosphere.
"He inhabits the praises of His people."
Psalm 22:3
When one faithfully repeats God's true and timely words...in song...
His Spirit illumines and inhabits those words. In other words...God causes those words to come alive.
You can discern the difference between a LIVE WORD and an empty word...
and IT IS...absolutely...
...your responsibility to discern the difference.
I repeat...it is each believer's responsibility to develop discernment.
The above scripture in Psalm 22,
"He inhabits the praises of His people"
is what Jesus spoke, what Jesus prayed, upon The Cross.
He prayed (or muttered) this song of David on the cross.
Jesus manifested as...
THE WORD and
THE PROPHET and
The Song of Songs...
right there as He hung upon The Cross for you and I.
We must approach prophesy, and a prophet's role, as nothing more than a humble servant...
a singing servant...
As Christ most certainly manifested as...
The Servant on The Cross.
The Davidic singers, as well as Christ praying Psalm 22 on the cross-
Demonstrate attentive focused listening and...
An open hearted request for deliverance. A total dependency upon God.
This illustrates the overcoming power of declaring His Word. Your spirit man listens as you declare His Word.
This is how Jesus sustained His human soul in His dreadful time of enduring 'The Passion'.
Here is another example in the prophet Elijah who was fleeing for His life at the time of this encounter:
"The LORD said, Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountain apart and shattered rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake, came a fire but the LORD was not in the fire.
After the fire came a gentle whisper."
1 Kings 19:11,12
The LORD of prophets commands all prophets to stand at attention,
on their mountain (or place of their call) and
attend to the smallest whisper from His mouth.
Elijah was agitated, exhausted, depleted, fearful, demoralized and had become petulant in his attitude and words. He was close to provoking the LORD as Moses had done.
Do not presume to add to God's Words. In the most difficult of times prophets must quiet themselves...
this is absolutely NOT a call to pursue recognition or man's approval.
Prophets must develop a form of attentiveness that few people experience.
ALL PROPHETS MUST HAVE TIMES OF PROFOUND QUIET...and long periods of simply waiting at attention!
The LORD GOD... even requires that His 'chosen ones' should be attuned to the directions of His nod and the movement of His eyes. The very subtle expressions of his cheeks.
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you."
Psalm 32: 8,9
Here is a command from the LORD...
for his prophets to draw near willingly and humbly, to draw close enough to have eye contact and to hear His breath. To come into The Quiet.
In the Book of Revelation John sees Jesus' eyes of fire. Fire's First Love of Passion.
In Song of Songs His eyes are described as "doves by the water streams".
Revelation 1:14
Song of Songs 5:12
Prophets must know both expressions of Jesus' eyes. The Lion and The Lamb.
He longs to give His life and counsel as He did with Moses...face to face. His very presence speaks a language called GLORY.
"Those who look to Him are radiant; there faces are never covered with shame."
Psalm 34:5
Prophets do not bring shame to the body of Christ because they live and walk in the Light of His countenance. They look for the subtle and profound expressions of His eyes.
When they are threatened or become weary they return like Elijah to the cleft in the Rock.
So...the most important 3 things about a prophet are-
1. they live in Covenant
2. they fervently seek God's heart, waiting in His presence
3. they speak life and never speak in man's anger. Like when Moses struck the rock.
So when they minister to man in their prophetic office...
their words will also touch the heart of man. Their words will open the heart.
Compassion and truth will flow from God's heart to a congregation or to an individual by a true prophet. Always a balance of Justice and Mercy will weight their words.
Then, only then, are their words weighty. God's weight is His glory.
There is no mistaking this kind of life flow! Yet you as an individual must also develop attentiveness and discernment. It is a shared responsibility between prophet and congregation.
Scripture informs us, "Do not despise prophecy." Yet, you must develop discernment.
"If an unbeliever comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted...as the secrets of their heart's are laid bare.
So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, God is really among you."
1 Corinthians 14: 24,25
The conviction mentioned above is not about shaming, exposing or accusing... or imposing sin consciousness.
It is about God's heart illuminating, opening and softening the newcomers heart. It's a heart to heart encounter. That is the focus of a true prophet.
"The goodness of God leads to repentance".
Romans 2:4
Have you made time in your small gatherings to experience this wonderful function of Holy Spirit? Have you made time for people to test and discern and grow? Have you given time to function in Holy Spirit's unction?
Prophecy should always open the heart to God's compassion, healing and always give hope for the seeker's future.
Jesus fulfilled the role of Prophet as He was 'The True Prophet' which Moses directed the people to watch for, to recognize.
His Word requires that we learn about each aspect of 'Who' He is. It's only one amazing aspect of His multi dimensional personality.
To announce the arrival of Jesus...the Sovereign Judge of heaven's courts sent angels to announce-
"GOOD WILL TOWARD MAN!"
Good will. 🌄 Shepherds are you hearing and experiencing God's good will? Are you allowing people to function in all gifts and character attributes of the Living God? This is how people grow into their New Birth.
There are 3 levels and adminstrations to New Testament prophecy.
1. Office of Prophet-
Which is a governmental call and is described in detail above in David, Elijah and Jesus.
Ephesians 4:11
2. Spirit of prophecy-
Which will flow into & cover a meeting- enabeling all to flow in the same vein of revelation, understanding and supernatural knowing.
3. Gift of prophecy-
Which entails a personal, individual word (person to person or person to small group) which exhorts, confirms and encourages in a new direction. Like a word of knowledge.
(This will usually confirm something the individual or group has in their heart(s) or has already been praying about or considering)
Prophets speak directly-
1. with God, they learn how to dialogue with heaven
2. they speak life to the atmosphere and to the land
3. Lastly, they speak to renew man's heart.
They are not affiliated with the 'spirit of accusation' which is Satan's 'ministry' or 'office'.
Beware of this 'spirit'.
Always consider God's reaction when Moses struck the rock in anger. Remember a prophet must never presume to speak for God in man's anger. Never. Look for the balance of justice and mercy in the words.
The opening of the book of Revelation begins with...
"The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon take place."
Revelation 1:1
To show His servants!
Only God's true Servants may see into and interpret the book of Revelation...as well as speak a true prophecy. Servant's heart.
Prophecy is all about revealing God's heart. It's all about revealing His beloved Son.
And...
It's all about revealing the God potential in man's heart.
Prophecy flows from a 'heart to heart' and 'face to face' encounter with the Living God. Therefore Life itself flows in the utterance of the words.
Prophecy is about repeating God's intent by the life flow of His Spirit, His breath.
Prophecy does not make the sound of clanging cymbals...meaning it posseses the sound of love and God's good will.
Prophecy never violates, manipulates or presumes upon someone's free will.
Foretelling is a secondary aspect of revealing God's heart and should not be over emphasized or exalted.
God's Holy Bible is complete and the foretelling within is perfect. We never add to His Word tho' understanding and revelation into His Word is ongoing and continuosly unfolding.
Interpretation and application of a prophetic word is often the area where we miss it. It is easy for our own world views to color the interpretations. This is why we submit to leaders, elders and congregation.
Always leave room for questions and prayer and allow the 'word' to rest and stand alone. Allow for testing and discernment.
Prophets are servants of God and never to be exalted as celebrities.
Certainly the emphasis or focus should never be on the Prophet for they are to demonstrate the heart of a servant.
In conclusion,
Prophecy opens the heart to wonder and worship...
Wonder and worship toward a Sovereign Majestic Loving Glorious and Radiant God.
His voice is like "The Sound of Many Waters."
The very sound is full of life giving power... thunderous, majestic, refreshing, healing, wholly awe inspiring and captivating.
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"Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls;
All your waves and breakers have swept over me.
By day the LORD directs His love, at night His song is with me--
a prayer to the God of my life."
Psalm 42: 7,8
Prophecy should always cause you to yearn for the sound of His voice.
Prophecy should always cause you to hunger for God's Word.
Prophecy should always lead you to lean into worship.
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Footnote:
Close Encounters of prophets-
-within the Judges Chambers:
Ezekiel 1:12,13, 26-28
Daniel 7:9,10
Zechariah 2:5
