Life Walk Lesson 78 — A Prophet in the Kingdom of God
A Prophet in the Kingdom of God
Strong’s Concordance Definition: “A Foreteller (“prophet”); an inspired speaker a poet; a prophet
New Oxford American Dictionary:
Prophet
- person regarded as an inspired teacher or proclaimer of the will of God; a person who advocates or speaks in a visionary way about a new belief, cause or theory; a person who makes or claims to be able to make predictions;
- (the Prophets) (in Christian use) the Books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and the Twelve Minor Prophets; (in Jewish use) one of the three canonical divisions of the Hebrew Bible, distinguished from the Law and the Hagiographa, and comprising the Books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah, and the Twelve Minor Prophets.
Origin: Middle English: from Old French prophete, via Latin from Greek prophētēs ‘spokesman’, from pro “before”+ phētēs “speaker” (from phēnai ‘speak’)
Prophetic:
1. Accurately describing or predicting what will happen in the future;
2. relating to or characteristic of a prophet or prophecy
Origin: late 15th century: from French prophétique or late Latin propheticus, from Greek prophētikos ‘predicting’ (see prophet).
Old Testament Requirements
Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 18:14-22
An Old Testament Prophet must be:
- One from among his own brothers and countrymen
- Will speak the word of the Lord God
14 “For those nations, which you shall dispossess, listen to those who practice witchcraft and to diviners, but as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do so.
15 The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him. 16 This is according to all that you asked of the Lord your God in Horeb on the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, let me not see this great fire anymore, or I will die.’ 17 The Lord said to me, ‘They have spoken well. 18 I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.
19 It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him. 20 But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’
21 You may say in your heart, ‘How will we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’ 22 When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.”
Encouragement:
This Lesson is comparatively shorter because there is so much material available in the Prophetic Literature Tab for you to study, that I have left this lesson brief, so that you can read as you wish from the lists.
Bible Study: Prophesying
Ezekiel 37 -- Prophecy to these bones
Genesis 2:23 "The man said, 'This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman' for she was taken out of man."
Psalm 34:19-20
19 "The righteous person may have many troubles; but the Lord delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken."
1Corinthians 14:1-6
1 "Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.
2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.
3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.
4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.
5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.
6 Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction.?”
1Corinthians 14:12 "So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church."
1Corinthians 14:31 "For you can all prophecy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged."
1Corinthians 12:7-11
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by the means of the same Spirit,
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,
10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and still to another the interpretation of tongues.
11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He distributes etc one, just as he determines."
Romans 12:4-16 Becoming Living Sacrifices as one Body in Christ
4 "For just as each one of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,
5 so in Christ, we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your [the] faith;
7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;
8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, [or: to provide for others] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fever, serving the Lord.
12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
13 Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."
What to Prophecy, Who to Encourage, and Comfort, and How to Build up the Church
Matthew 5:1-20
1 "Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, 2 and He began to teach them. He said:
3 Blesses are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltines, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see you good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the Kingdom of heaven.
20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpass that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven."
John 15:9-17
9 "As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love.
10 If you keep My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commands and remain in His love.
11 I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.
14 You are My fiends if you do what I command.
15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit -- fruit that will last -- and so that whatever yo ask in My name the Father will give you.
17 This is My command: Love each other."
Galatians 5:22-23
22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
13 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
1Peter 5:1-4
1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ's sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed:
2 Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, watching over them -- not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;
3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away."
I believe that the tongues of fire experienced by those who prayed on the Day of Pentecost, after the Ascension of Jesus, are connected with the Zeal of God to accomplish a matter already organized and orchestrated in Heaven from the foundation of the world.
Jeremiah himself said he could not help but prophesy, for it was as fire shut up in his bones.
When the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary, she could not help but bring forth the manifestation of that Holy Seed implanted within her, so that the Word became flesh, and dwelled among us, became one of us, to show us how to live, and become part of His Heavenly Family Kingdom.
James 1:21 "...in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls." [NASB]
I believe Tongues was the initial evidence of the indwelling Holy Spirit, because they all needed to know that each one could individually hear from God. The Spirit of God, however, empowers, enables, and sends us with the gifts He has given each of us uniquely so that all people, but especially the Body of Christ, can know the love of God, and His intimate acquaintance with each of us in our daily lives. In this hope, therefore, walk in Him, and in His Love for all.
