So it was, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Please let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.”

II Kings 5:8 NKJV

What is a prophet?

Imagine for a moment that your hope in this life was in the words of people today claiming to be anointed prophets or apostles of God. When their prophecies fail to come to pass they say, “Prophets in the New Testament are not always 100% accurate.” When a prophecy seems to come to pass they claim it is proof of a divine anointing. Would you consider your hope built upon an unshakeable and enduring rock or upon the unsteady ground of shifting sand? Would you know anything with certainty or would you ask like Pilate, “What is truth?”

What is a prophet? A prophet is someone chosen by God to reveal the Word of God (1). Notice the period at the end of that sentence. A prophet or an apostle does not choose himself; he does not reveal his own words, thoughts, ideas, hopes, or dreams but reveals the Word that God has given to him (2).

In times past, God spoke to the fathers through the prophets. But in these last days, God has spoken to us directly by His Son in His Word (Heb. 11:1). We have a more excellent prophecy than the Old Testament saints because: 1) We have a greater prophet, God in the flesh, Jesus Christ Emmanuel; 2) We have the full and complete Word of God in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments; and 3) We have the written Word of God, not spoken to us over many generations by mortal men, but written in its entirety in the Bible for every nation, tribe, and tongue to access.

Recently “The Prophets and Apostles Conference” was held in Atlanta. The conference was marketed as, “anointed speakers release[ing] wisdom, strategies and insight that will super-charge your faith to prosper in God’s kingdom….” Key sessions included “Building wealth in good and bad times,” “apostolic economics,” and several sessions on “prophetic ministry.”

All around the world there are so called churches and ministries promoting modern day prophets and apostles who will reveal to you what they think God is saying to them. They generally focus on telling people what they want to hear: how to gain wealth, influence, and prosperity or affirming one’s own will and emotions. Do you want the social gospel, enlightenment, and empowerment? You can go to a “woke” church. Do you want your sin to be affirmed? Go to an “open and affirming church.” Do you want to get rich and stay healthy? Go to a prosperity gospel church. Do you want a church hierarchy with a mortal human leader as “supreme shepherd” who speaks infallibly and cannot be questioned? Go to Rome where you can find the self-prescribed pope and Vicar of Christ who stands in the place of Christ and above God’s Word. Whatever you want, there is a church preaching a prophetic message to meet your desires.

Many of our friends and neighbors have been attracted to and joined with these organizations and promises grounded entirely in men and women who in the worst case manipulate for personal financial gain or in the best case are self-deceived. The end of all these ways is destruction (3).

Throughout the Bible the Lord warns us of listening to prophets that He did not send (4). But sinful man has itching ears and desires to hear false prophecies because they tell us what we so often want to hear rather than what is true (5). Thanks be to God, with the coming of Christ, the Lord raised up for us a Prophet like Him whom we should hear and listen to (Deut. 18:15).

Throughout Christ’s ministry God the Father called us to listen to Christ’s Words (Mark 9:7), Jesus is called the Word made flesh (John 1:1-14), and with the death of the actual apostles, the authoritative prophetic Word of God was complete. In case there was any doubt about this conclusion to the sure word of the testimony of God or any confusion when people rose up in the year 2020 and called themselves prophets, the Lord concluded the Bible with these words: “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; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life…” (Rev. 22:18-19).

Rather than the hopeless words of modern man’s prophecy, those who believe, trust, and rest in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments have an unshakeable and firm hope in that which never fails and will endure forever. Standing on the Word of God is standing on the sure word of prophecy that no one can ever thwart. Standing on the Word of God is listening to the great prophet Jesus Christ who lives and reigns now, continuing His office of Prophet by continuing to reveal His Word the Bible to us by and through His Holy Spirit.

Jehoram did not believe the prophet Elisha whom God had called and spoken to. Many do not believe the greatest prophet Jesus Christ who in these last days has spoken directly to us. That will not thwart the Lord’s work of saving sinners from their sins. Many, even sadly many within the visible church, will despise and reject the prophet of Israel but the Lord will still save His remnant and He will still use the means of His Word to bring about that salvation. Will you listen to the deceitful and vain prophets that are all around you? Or will you listen to the beloved Son of God, Jesus Christ?

Who is your prophet?

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(1) See a few examples: Exodus 3:1-12, I Samuel 3:10-11, Jeremiah 1:5-10, Matthew 4:18-22, Galatians 1:1 for the chosen by God. Exodus 20, Exodus 24, Deut. 18, Deut. 31:12-18, Isaiah 31, Isaiah 40, Jeremiah 1:9, I Thess. 2:13 for speaking the Word of God.

(2) Jesus speaks His own words, “But I say unto you…” because He is God in the flesh. The only prophet who speaks his own words is Jesus Christ Himself. “Christ executeth the office of a prophet in revealing to us by His Word and Spirit the will of God for our salvation” (Westminster Shorter Catechism #24).

(3) For additional reading on False Prophets and Teachers, see “The Lord, He is God” chapters 34, 35, 36, 37, and 38.”

(4) See Deuteronomy 18:15-22

(5) II Timothy 4:1-5

Copyright ©, LikeTheGreatMountains.com, 2020

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