THE PROPHETS OF OLD
& THE EXAMPLE SET FOR PROPHETS OF TODAY

"And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.” (Ezra 9:3 KJV)

When Ezra heard of the sin and abominations that the people of Israel were committing, he became astonished and overwhelmed. As a prophet of God, he had the Spirit of the Fear of the Lord, and was in awe of what our Lord could and would do.

“Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.” (Ezra 9:4 KJV)

Those who had the Spirit of the Fear of the Lord were assembled. Notice it said, “Everyone that trembled at the words of the God of Israel.” You know you have the Spirit of the Fear of the Lord when you tremble before the Lord. Knowing that just a glance in your direction is all God would have to do, for you to be non-existent. How many people that you know, have the Spirit of the Fear of the Lord?

Ezra also knew the importance of the Unity of the Body of believers. He assembled only those who had the Fear of the Lord. When the Lord gathers us you can count on the fact that He will know who has His Spirit.

“And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God, And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.” (Ezra 9:5-6 KJV)

Now Ezra did not commit any abominations. Why is he falling on his knees and crying out to the Lord and praying as if he did the evil? He was united as one body with the people. He called out to God; “For OUR iniquities, For OUR trespass.” Do you see what I am pointing out here? Do you understand that false prophets would not confess their sin along with the body of believers? They would be quick to point out the sin of others, but be too full of pride for having any sin of their own.

BEWARE OF THE WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING
SCRIPTURE SHOWS US HOW A TRUE PROPHET BEHAVES.

NEHEMIAH WEPT, FASTED AND PRAYED FOR DAYS

“And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.” (Neh 1:4-6 KJV)

Nehemiah heard of the distress of the remnant that had survived captivity. The first thing he did was to stop everything he was doing. He started weeping and fasting and praying for days, not minutes, not hours, but days. Nehemiah knew God as “The great and terrible God,” he had the Spirit of the Fear of the Lord. Nehemiah as a prophet prayed day and night for the children of Israel and confessed their sins. He united with them in his confession when he called out to God, “We have sinned against thee; both I and my father’s house have sinned.” In those days to call down disgrace on someone it would be on the father. To honor someone you would honor their father.

This is one of the ways to Test the Spirits. Is the Prophet you are listening to for instruction or teaching, fitting into the mold God has made for His true Prophets? If not then, start reading the Word of God and let the Holy Spirit teach you. Do we really want just another man’s opinion or do we want to learn what the Holy Spirit is teaching us through His Prophets; those who teach, by the Word of God? Now understand, I am referring here to false prophets. If you get a Word from the Lord, bless you. But when you teach I beg that you use the scriptures, lest you fall into the trap.

REMEMBER JESUS HIMSELF, REFERRED TO THE SCRIPTURES, SO IF SOMEONE IS CALLING THEMSELVES A PROPHET AND NOT USING SCRIPTURE I WOULD BE CAUTIOUS AND HESITANT TO LISTEN.

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.” (John 16:13 KJV)

Our Lord is so awesome and His Word is true, for He said He will teach us all things, if we call on Him, SEEK HIM & WAIT UPON HIM. Praise The Lord!

DANIEL THE WISE PROPHET SOUGHT THE LORD FERVENTLY

“And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.” (Dan 9:3-6 KJV)

Daniel, the wise prophet, sought the Lord with prayers, supplications, fasting, sackcloth and ashes, and confessed his sins. He understood the Unity of the body of believers for he confessed, “We have sinned, and have committed iniquity.” Did Daniel even see himself as a prophet for he says, “Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets.” How many prophets were around in those days? Was Daniel such a humble prophet that he would not acknowledge the fact himself? He would just OBEY God and do as he was told.

“To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him; Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.” (Dan 9:9-10 KJV)

Notice verse 10, “Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws, WHICH HE SET BEFORE US BY HIS SERVANTS THE PROPHETS.”

Daniel knew the prophets of his day and knew that God had given them the Laws that they were to live by. Did he know who the false prophets were? Do we know who the false prophets are today ? If you do not know the Word of God and do not seek His face, it will be difficult at best, to be able to discern who they are. How can you test anything if you do not know what to look for? Just because they perform miracles or do something supernatural, does not mean their source of power is from God. Remember the warnings from Our Lord, there will be fire brought from the sky all kinds of signs and wonders, and all of these, by Satan. It is frightening to contemplate how many of those who do not know the Word of God will be deceived. After all, they will think, if it is supernatural, it must be from God.

Do we need more prophets in our day? Or do we need to be reading our Bibles and asking the Holy Spirit to teach us by His Word? You see we have a big advantage over the days of the Old Testament, we have Bibles and the promises of God. We have the Blood of Jesus who has cleansed us from sin.

HOW POPULAR DO YOU THINK MOST PEOPLE
WHO THINK THEY ARE PROPHETS WOULD BE;
IF THEY FOLLOWED ISAIAH’S EXAMPLE?

Isaiah did not tell the people what they wanted to hear. He exhorted them to holiness and to confess their sins. He warned them of what the Lord God would do if they continued in their sin. If we are willing and obedient we shall have the promise of God, we shall eat the good of the land.

“ Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” (Isa 1:16-20 KJV)

There was no political correctness with Isaiah. He did not try to whitewash people’s sins, to be accepted and have more followers. People do you understand, that when the Lord gives to you insight and understanding, He is not making you a prophet? He has given you some gifts so that you will be able to better understand His ways and share them with others. Do not let a familiar spirit come in and rob your house of all the Lord’s blessings. Do not let your pride get you puffed up, thinking you are someone more special in God’s eyes.

WE ARE TOLD TO KNOW THE SCHEMES OF THE DEVIL.

JEREMIAH WAS A PROPHET WHO OBEYED GOD
AND PUT HIS LIFE ON THE LINE TO OBEY.

“In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD'S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD'S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word: If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings. And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you, To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened; Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth. “(Jer 26:1-6 KJV)

God tells Jeremiah to stand in the court of the Lord’s house. He was to speak to the people who came to worship in the Lord’s house. Jeremiah had the Spirit of the Fear of the Lord, for he knew that what he spoke to the people, was true, and that God could curse all the nations of the earth.

“So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD. Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die.” (Jer 26:7-8 KJV)

“So the priests and the Prophets,” took hold of Jeremiah. Who were these prophets? If they were true prophets of God would they want Jeremiah dead? False Prophets will never get the people angry or upset. They will tickle their ears with words that will not convict, and not condemn their sins. They will speak words that people will want to hear of prosperity and good fortune.

Are you looking to those who have familiar spirits? Just because someone can tell you the sin you have committed does not make them a prophet. Remember Satan knows all our sins and can tell his wizards all about us, for wasn’t he the one who led you into sin?

“And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.” (Isa 19:3 KJV)

“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” (Prov 30:5-6 KJV)

Are you listening to a Prophet of God, or a prophet unto himself.

Test it all, test me, do not believe anyone until they have passed the test of God’s Word.

SO YOU ASK HOW DO WE DO THAT?
BY READING THE WORD AND KNOWING IT.

by Linda Marie
© 1998

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© 1997 lindaward@hotmail.com

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