Declaring the Sins of a People: the Prophet’s Plight

Declaring the Sins of a People: the Prophet’s Plight

“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.”

Isaiah 58:1 (KJV)

     God used to raise up prophets to speak to His people, has spoken through Christ (Heb. 1:1-2) His Son, and speaks to those who truly know and follow Him by His Spirit. However, the gift of prophecy is still used today, but I have found that it often comes through preachers (not “ministers” necessarily, but men who are in tune with God and declare and stand for the truth in the midst of a day and age that lives contrary to the Bible and hostile toward Truth).

       Many pastors are called for at least a season to this prophet role. As they seek God, He brings some hard (stern) messages and lays them on their spirit to preach/declare.  Personally, I’ve been there. I’ve sat down with hopes for a year of encouraging people and hopefully having them be encouraged and happy with me, to like and respect me as I share the Word, but then I get into the presence of God and He gives me the “tough” messages that get me labeled as the spoilsport or downer. The guy that people just want to shut up. Ever been there? A part of you wants to shut up, but you know that God has called you to speak. People don’t like you, but God is not only using you but teaching you that you have to fear and respect Him, not man?

Let’s pray:

Lord, help us to speak and shout when you tell us too, but to be silent when you want us to be. And above all, may we Fear You and not people: may we serve You and not our fear of fitting in. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Summing it Up: Hope for When the Storm Hits

Summing it Up: Hope for when the Storm Hits

        Where is this Country headed? It is obvious. If you have ever read the Old Testament through, you have seen how departure from God and wickedness meant the eventual destruction of a nation if something did not change. The needed change is repentance—a complete turn of direction and whole-hearted dependence up on the Lord.

         God presides sovereignly over history, He sets nations up and He determines the exact day of their fall. We have hope! The loving God, the Almighty of all ages has shown His love by sending prophetic voices to His people—that is His nature.

A Prophetic Voice

Hosea. United States Public Domain work.

 

 

A love for people, a passion for truth, a commitment to purity in heart (inner man) and life (outer man).

 

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and John the Baptist are just a few Biblical examples.

I believe Adrian Rogers, Kevin Swanson, D James Kennedy, and Chuck Colson are contemporary examples.

 

   True prophets always told of the impending judgment, the Lord’s love, and His mercy if the people would just repent (change course and devote themselves completely to the Lord). ….however, they were seldom received. False prophets proclaimed peace and messages, visions, and dreams from the Lord that the Lord had not given them. The false prophets were often well received, but utter ruin was their ultimate end.

      A great collapse and fall is coming unless a miracle happens, I will not lie to you. The collective wickedness and sin of this nation has been left largely unpunished for a hundred years in this nation and there is no peace about playing around with thinking that God will delay punishment much longer.

     I love people—I want them to return the truth, to Jesus (John 1)! But I also hate sin—the wickedness and corruption of the day appall me; the great rejection of God and His Word; the lack of righteousness that causes such a stench in our nation! O God, I know that Your people will be taken care of, for we are in Your Hand. But my heart goes out and sorrows—yea grieves!—for all those who are doomed to destruction because of their wickedness.

 

The Personal, Familial, Corporeal, Educational, Economical, and Governmental Answer—the Hope for when the Storm Hits is:

Jesus Christ—The Voice of Uncompromising Truth