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by Sandy Shaw
In Luke Chapter 13 and at verse 34, Jesus goes on to speak about His Ministry, referring specifically to Jerusalem, and Jesus knew that it would be in Jerusalem where He would be killed. The city of peace was where religious people killed the prophetic men of God - men who came from the God of Peace, with words which could save and rescue and heal and bring about reconciliation - and give peace to hearts and minds - and even to nations.
Jerusalem stoned and killed the prophets of God. We read of this too back in Chapter 11 verses 47 following.
A prophet is an important person, and important in the eyes of Jesus. He is a man sent from God with a word - with a message. The word is for people - to help them - encourage them - strengthen them - build them up. We also read of how the prophetic word is a LIGHT in a dark place. Peter teaches us that in his letters.
Jesus is the Light of the World - and He also said to us - You are the light of the world. The man coming with a prophetic word brings various ingredients from God which we need to hear and receive, and always there is a message which we need - a word which we so need at that specific time.
Jesus Christ, as well as being the Son of God, and our loving Saviour, was a prophetic Figure. In John Chapter 7 verse 40 He is called ‘That Great Prophet’.
The prophet comes and announces what God wants people to hear and know. He may actually say nothing - but just by his being there - a word is communicated - a message is conveyed and imparted - by a silent look - or smile or frown.
When God is doing something new and fresh, He normally sends a prophet onto the world's scene. Before Jesus Christ came preaching, God sent John the Baptist. What did people do? Yes, many responded - many ordinary people got their lives sorted out and cleaned up - but they imprisoned the prophet and cut off his head.
That was in the days of Jesus. What Jesus is saying here is no exaggeration. People had been doing this to men of God for hundreds of years - Isaiah - Jeremiah - Amos - Ezekiel - ignored, ostracised, rejected stoned, killed.
Who still wants to exercise the ministry of the prophet? Who really longs to have a prophetic ministry? When we read of the job description and the wages, it is a costly calling - a lonely calling - a painful calling - painful in all kinds of ways.
Jesus here is prophetically facing Jerusalem, and preparing to pay the price for our salvation. God - our God - in His Love - continues to send and raise up prophets - with a word - people who will communicate a message.
A prophet is a man who has received a message from God, and this word is burning away in his bones. Jeremiah speaks about that. He passes on what He has heard from God, irrespective of the personal cost.
This is what we so need today - a louder prophetic voice in our nation - where there is so much noise that it is becoming more and more difficult to hear the Voice of God - and recognising the voice of God is becoming more and more difficult.
The prophet is a servant of the risen and living Lord Jesus Christ. He has insight and he is able to see things clearly, and he has the courage to declare what God has to say on these matters.
The prophet is also a sign that God is alive - that Jesus Christ truly cares about the Church - and continues to be concerned about the world - even a world which turns its back on the prophet and upon the God Who sent the prophet.
Prophets were never blurred. They had a sharp edge to what they had to say. They were always clear - concise - precise. You knew exactly what the prophet was saying and proclaiming. He was a KEY. Chapter 11 verse 42.
This is why it is so tragic when people ignore, silence, or stone the prophet. They are throwing away the key which God wants them to have to unlock certain doors - or perhaps lock other doors.
The prophetic word is often the key to some dilemma - the key which unlocks some problem. The prophet comes and says "GOD". If there is ever the need for an anointed prophet to appear on the scene to remind people that there is a God, then surely it is so required today. People have wandered far away from Almighty God, rejecting His Word and His Ways, and the unique ministry of a genuine prophetic man of God. Many are looking for and waiting for such an anointed and authoritative and authentic man to speak. The repercussions and consequences throughout the nation would be amazing as moral messes and sinful situations were suddenly cleansed.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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