Bible Reading: Amos 1-3; Revelation 5.
Memory Verse: “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7 (KJV)
A prophet’s primary function in the Old Testament was to serve as God’s representative or ambassador by communicating God’s word to his people. True prophets never spoke on their own authority or shared their personal opinions, but rather delivered the message God Himself gave them. Several texts make this explicit. In Deuteronomy 18:18 (KJV), God assured Moses, “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.” The Lord said to Jeremiah, “… Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth” (Jeremiah 1:9c KJV). God commissioned Ezekiel by saying, “You must speak my words to them” (Ezek. 2:7). Amos stated in Amos 1:3 (KJV), “Thus saith the Lord; … “
In the New Testament, Paul declares that prophecy is based on revelation (1 Cor. 14:29-30). Thus, prophecy is not based on a hunch, supposition, inference, educated guess, or even sanctified wisdom. Prophecy is the human report of a divine revelation. This is what distinguishes prophecy from teaching. Teaching is always grounded in an inspired text of Scripture. Prophecy, on the other hand, is always based on a spontaneous revelation. The Bible says prophecy is a gift from God and all Christians are free to ask for this gift so that they can get the divine revelation and instructions. So, all you need is to seek the face of God to release this gift to you. Amos 3:7 (KJV) says “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” So, do you want to be taken to the throne room of God, then ask God for the gift, and be ready to pay the price by studying and meditating on the word, preaching the gospel and spending time fellowshipping with God.
Some of the functions of prophecy include; to build up (edify), encourage, and console (1 Cor. 14:3). When people are suddenly confronted with the inescapable reality that God truly knows their hearts and has heard their prayers and is intimately acquainted with all their ways, they are encouraged to press on and to persevere. Prophecy can also disclose the secrets of the hearts of the unbelieving, leading them to repentance and faith in Christ (1 Cor. 14:24–25). At specific occasion a prophetic word can provide us with specific guidance on when to go, where to go, and with whom to go (we see this in Acts 13:1–3). Yet another function of the prophetic gift is to provide us with the resources to wage war against Satan and the flesh and to encourage us in the Christian life. Consider what Paul said in 1 Timothy 1:18–19. There we discover that prophecy is one of the most powerful and reassuring tools God has given us by which we are to wage war in our ongoing battle with the world, the flesh, and the devil.
The way you hold to the foundational truths of the Christian faith and resist the temptation to abandon them, the way you maintain a good conscience before God, is by thinking about and reflecting on and drawing strength from the prophetic words stated in the Bible.
Prayer: Father, please purify me and use me as your vessel.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero