What can we learn from past prophets about delivering God's messages today? Jeremiah 28:8 – A Window into Prophetic Ministry “The prophets who preceded you and me from ancient times prophesied war, disaster, and plague against many countries and great kingdoms.” Key Marks of Yesterday’s Prophets • Consistency with previous revelation—each new message aligned with all God had already spoken (Deuteronomy 13:1-4). • Full-orbed truth—warnings of judgment were given right alongside promises of restoration (Isaiah 1:18-20; Jeremiah 31:31-34). • Unflinching courage—prophets spoke hard words at personal risk (1 Kings 22:13-14; Jeremiah 20:9). • God-given authority—“For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21) • Verifiable accuracy—their words came to pass, proving the source was the Lord (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). Patterns to Embrace When Speaking for God Today 1. Stay anchored to Scripture – Teach “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). – Let every modern word be tested by the written Word (1 John 4:1). 2. Tell the hard parts, not just the hopeful ones – “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort.” (2 Timothy 4:2) – Like Jeremiah, include warnings about sin’s consequences—war, disaster, plague—when the text calls for it. 3. Call for repentance and faith – Jonah’s eight-word sermon still sparks national revival (Jonah 3:4-10). – Jesus continued the pattern: “Repent and believe the gospel.” (Mark 1:15) 4. Speak with humility yet boldness – Remember you are a messenger, not the author (2 Corinthians 4:5). – Fear God more than people (Matthew 10:28). 5. Depend on the Spirit, not technique – “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6) – Prayer and obedience fuel clarity and power (Ephesians 6:18-19). Common Pitfalls to Avoid • Soft-pedaling judgment to stay popular—Jeremiah’s clash with Hananiah shows the danger (Jeremiah 28:15-17). • Predicting what God has not revealed—false timelines erode credibility (Matthew 24:36). • Treating prophecy as personal brand building—true servants point away from themselves (John 3:30). Putting It into Practice • Before speaking, ask: “Does this harmonize with all Scripture?” • Refuse to edit out warnings; love tells the whole truth. • Keep an eye on fulfillment—time will test every message. • Trust that, like the prophets of old, God equips ordinary people to deliver extraordinary truth when they simply stay faithful. |
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