MEM

Who can be a prophet of God?

Edited from ISBE** (see Part I for full commentary)

Freedom of Inspiration:

• Because this Spirit of God acts with full freedom, He can select His organs (Messengers) at will from among every station, age, or sex. The Spirit is not confined to any priestly class or organization.

The LORD’s people should all be prophets (having divine revelation, by God’s Spirit)

Num 11:29 Then Moses said to him, "… Oh, that all the LORD's people were prophets and that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!"

The ultimate Prophet - Yeshua (Jesus)

Deuteronomy 18:15 "The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet … Him you shall hear,

Luke 7:16 … "A great prophet has risen up among us"; and, "God has visited His people."

Matt 21:11 So the multitudes said, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee."

Phil 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

John 17:21 "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us…

1John 2:6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

Matt 23:34 "Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city,

Matt 10:41 "He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward…

Acts 11:27 And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.

Eph 3:5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:

Eph 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

Rev 11:3 "And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth." …10 …because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

Rev 18:20 "Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!"

It is Messiah that appointed Apostles and Prophets

1Cor 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:

1Cor 12:3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God … 4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.

1Cor 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

1Cor 12:11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.

1Cor 12:18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.

1Cor 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

1Cor 12:28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

There are Spirit given positions (Offices) in the body of Messiah, the second one is a prophet (above), yet Paul says we should all desire to prophesy, even if we do not have that particular office (see below).

1Cor 14:1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

1Cor 14:3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. 12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.

1Cor 14:22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. Why? For edifying and exhorting and comforting the church!

1Cor 14:24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. 25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.

There must still be order in the congregations of the saints (peace, one by one, no confusion)

1Cor 14:31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

Judges 6:8 …the LORD sent a prophet to the children of Israel…

In God’s redemption plan for mankind He has sent and will send prophets with a cry to repent or suffer the consequences - that we may understand the goodness and the severity of His Prophetic Word for us.

Rom 11:22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: … toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

The Eternal One will gift some to be prophets as main-stream leaders; yet we all should desire to prophecy because - "…he who prophesies edifies the church" - Amen

To sum-up: There will always be prophets in the body of Christ (the church) and we should all desire to prophecy - Moses wanted all God’s people to be prophets and Messiah said He would send them.

1John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

How we can prove or test for God’s true prophets

* YHVH the Hebrew letters for LORD (the Almighty God’s name); Messiah the Hebrew for Christ; Yeshua the Hebrew for Jesus

** International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

*** The use of Us, Our or We, will normally refer to those that have chosen to be the children of God

Proverbs 1:2 To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding, 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity; 4 To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion --

Proverbs 1:23 Turn at my rebuke; Surely, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.

Proverbs 1:27 When your terror comes like a storm, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. 28 "Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD, 30 They would have none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke. 31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies. 32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them;

Proverbs 1:33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil."

Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 71:21 You shall increase my greatness, And comfort me on every side.

Psalm 94:19 In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.

Psalm 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life.

Psalm 119:76 Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort, According to Your word to Your servant.

We live in a world of commerce in which you expect to get paid for the work you do, and that the same rule applies to all. Yet Yeshua told a parable of workers who all got the same pay regardless of how long they worked, and said that he who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet receives a prophet's reward. So the usual rules of commerce do not apply in His Kingdom. Why would He grant an unearned reward? He who receives a prophet according to his office acknowledges Messiah as the one who reigns over His Kingdom, organizing the structure and assigning offices, and he shall receive a full reward for this.

The purpose of a prophet (see main message)

"God hath thus ordered it, that we may learn to bear one another’s burdens; for no man is without fault, no man without his burden, no man sufficient of himself, no man wise enough of himself; but we ought to bear with one another, comfort one another, help, instruct, and admonish one another."
- Thomas a Kempis

POSITION: Mother, Mom, Mama, Mommy, Momma

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment.

- Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.

- Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in faraway cities. Travel expenses not reimbursed.

- Extensive courier duties also required.

The rest of your life.

- Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5.

- Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.

- Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.

- Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers.

- Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects.

- Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.

- Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next.

- Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. -

- Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.

- Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product.

- Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

Virtually none.

- Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.

None required unfortunately.

- On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

Get this! You pay them!

- Offering frequent raises and bonuses.

- A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent.

- When you die, you give them whatever is left.

- The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life if you play your cards right.

Lena called the airlines information desk and inquired, "How long does it take to fly from Minneapolis to Fargo?" "Just a minute," said the busy clerk. "Vell, said Lena, "if it has to go dat fast, I tink I'll just take da bus."

Lars asked Ole, "Do ya know da difference between a Norvegian and a canoe?" "No, I don't," said Ole. "A canoe will sometimes tip," explained Lars.

Ole is so cheap that after his airplane landed safely he grumbled, "Vell, dere gose five dollars down da drain for dat flight insurance!"

Lars: "Ole, stant in front of my car and tell me if da turn signals are working". Ole: "Yes, No, Yes, No, Yes, No, Yes, No...."

Ole died. So Lena went to the local paper to put a notice in the obituaries. The gentleman at the counter, after offering his condolences, asked Lena what she would like to say about Ole. Lena replied, "You yust put 'Ole died.' "The gentleman, somewhat perplexed, said, "That's it? Just 'Ole died?' Surely, there must be something more you'd like to say about Ole. If its money you're concerned about, the first five words are free. We must say something more." So Lena pondered for a few minutes and finally said, "O.K. You put 'Ole died. Boat for sale.' "

Ole and Lars were on their very first train ride. They had brought along bananas for lunch. Just as they began to peel them, the train entered a long, dark tunnel. "Have you eaten your banana yet," Ole asked excitedly? "No," replied Lars. "Vell, don't touch it den," Ole exclaimed. "I yust took vun bite and vent blind!"

Ole bought Lena a piano for her birthday. A few weeks later, Lars inquired how she was doing with it. "Oh," said Ole, "I persuaded her to svitch to a clarinet." "How come," asked Lars? "Vell," Ole answered, "because vith a clarinet she can't sing."

And dot's enough!!