I have always been partial to the prophets. By far I would have to say my favorite Bible prophet is Elijah. He had boldness, power through prayer, a strong faith (except for that one weak moment), the ability to hear from God, and a fierce opposition to hypocrisy and those who opposed God. My love for prophets does not stop there. I have a great fondness for more modern prophets like the late A.W. Tozer and Leonard Ravenhill. I am reading a Tozer book now and delight in the hard truth he wrote and preached. Ravenhill preached hard and wrote hard books like America is Too Young to Die, Why Revival Tarries, and Sodom Had No Bible.
Prophets speak for God and do not flinch in calling people to repentance. They are fiery, passionate, and bold. They typically see things as black and white with little grey area. They are often loners who are content to be shut up with God until they have God's message to be proclaimed in the public sector. Prophets do not win awards. They are not invited to luncheons. They do not get promoted or highly recognized very often on this earth. They are misunderstood, shunned, and often rejected by their preaching peers.
True prophets are rarely appreciated in their own lifetimes. It is only after their deaths and history tells their story do people begin to place value on their ministries.
Many preachers are spineless. They preach for profit. To preach as a prophet would mean dwindling crowds, smaller offerings, fewer promotions, and bare bones salaries. In this seeker sensitive age preachers like to preach what plays well with the crowds. Repentance has never played well with the crowds. Preaching holy living is another topic not highly requested or written about. There is not much profit in that kind of preaching or writing.
In a day of mega churches we also live with a famine in the land for hearing the word of God preached with boldness and a demonstration of power by prophets who do not care the least about personal profit. There is a place for teaching and preaching. There is a place for exposition of the scriptures to edify and console. There is also a place for prophets.
What happened to the ministry of the prophet? Where are they today to call us to repentance and to not shy away from preaching the hard messages to a soft church age built on entertainment and felt needs preaching. Is there not a need for the people of God to turn from sin and hypocrisy in genuine repentance and mourning?
Many years ago I preached a message in a new seeker church. They did not really know me and when I cracked open the Bible that Sunday morning to preach from Isaiah 6 on the holiness of God you could almost see them choking. I mean literally choking down their donuts, pastries, and cups of coffee while I preached on the holiness of a God who is not revered or worshipped for who He really is. They had been fed a steady diet of love, grace, and ease in Zion.
Typically afterward few people shook my hand. I was not invited out by anyone for lunch. Nobody stood in line to purchase one of my books.
Many preachers profit from ministry. Prophets seldom do. They are more concerned with pleasing God than pleasing people. Prophets at times do not make good pastors. They preach too hard. They refuse to compromise and just play the church game to get along. Prophets ruffle feathers, they rock the boat, and they shake up the status quo. Many churches have no place behind their pulpits for prophets. They long for the celebrity pastor who can build up the budget, attendance, and prestige of the church not present a spotless bride to the Jesus the Bridegroom.
What does this land need? Do we need more preachers for hire or do we need prophets who have been shut up with God. Preachers when they come out they come out with a true message from God to this sinful age. May God let the prophetic mantle fall on His own once again even if it means little personal profit.
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