THE PROPHETS OF OLD ARE SO RELEVANT FOR CHRISTIANS TODAY

The past few weeks I have been focusing on the Prophets in Scripture that God would call forward to speak to His People. Illuminate Community Church and Pastor Jason is providing an amazing teaching platform ! These Prophets held several key things in common, although they were all Uniquely Different. It is easy to spend time in the other books of the Bible, and yet these writings reveal SO MUCH WISDOM AND TRUTH that one Must Unpack The Messages They Contain For Us TODAY ! PROPHECIES ARE GIVEN. PROPHECIES ARE RECEIVED. PROPHECIES ARE FULLFILLED. These words go far beyond mere writings. They delve Deeply Into Who God Is, and also Deeply Into His Relationship With Mankind…US. They are like a roadmap of the Spiritual Relationship that God desires with Mankind. They offer questions and answers. They challenge faith and endurance. They bring a unique human identity to shine a light upon God and His Sovereignty and Righteousness. They foretell “future events” that are shockingly accurate, and many Proven With Historical Accuracy that leaves one in AWE ! The beautiful thing about them is the predominant theme that they all share in common: HOW MUCH GOD LOVES HIS PEOPLE ! While there are a multitude of messages, I can clearly see The Fathership of God as He deals with His Children. Children who so often fail to Listen, and go Astray. The messages were for the people of Israel and Judah in most instances, but they are Very Relevant For Us As Well TODAY. The things that we deal with in our struggles and circumstances reflect directly upon ALL who have come before us. Same people, same struggles, same sin, same outcomes. It is so relatable because it is Relationship Driven. As a parent, I want the love and respect of my children. I LOVE THEM UNCONDITIONALLY. Sometimes they listen, and sometimes they don’t. I feel Anger; I feel frustration; I plan actionable consequences for accountability; I expect obedience and humility….but often, I mostly want to POUR OUT MY LOVE ! WE are made in God’s Image, and reading through the Prophets it is easy to RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE. GOD GIVES HIS PROPHETS THE MESSAGE….Will WE HEAR IT ? GOD SPEAKS HIS TRUTH….Will WE RECEIVE IT ? A great number of the PROPHETS also SHOW US THE MOST IMPORTANT THING OUR LIVES MUST FOCUS ON…HIS NAME IS JESUS !

FOR NO PROPHECY WAS EVER PRODUCED BY THE WILL OF MAN, BUT MEN SPOKE FROM GOD AS THEY WERE CARRIED ALONG BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. 2 Peter 1:21

I WILL RAISE UP FOR THEM A PROPHET LIKE YOU FROM AMONG THEIR BROTHERS. AND I WILL PUT MY WORDS IN HIS MOUTH, AND HE SHALL SPEAK TO THEM ALL THAT I COMMAND HIM. AND WHOEVER WILL NOT LISTEN TO MY WORDS THAT HE SHALL SPEAK IN MY NAME, I MYSELF WILL REQUIRE IT OF HIM. BUT THE PROPHET WHO PRESUMES TO SPEAK A WORD IN MY NAME THAT I HAVE NOT COMMANDED HIM TO SPEAK, OR WHO SPEAKS THE NAME OF OTHER GODS, THAT SAME PROPHET SHALL DIE. AND IF YOU SAY IN YOUR HEART, “ HOW MAY WE KNOW THE WORD THAT THE LORD HAS NOT SPOKEN ? - WHEN A PROPHET SPEAKS IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, IF THE WORD DOES NOT COME TO PASS OR COME TRUE, THAT IS A WORD THAT THE LORD HAS NOT SPOKEN; THE PROPHET HAS SPOKEN PRESUMPTUOUSLY. YOU NEED NOT BE AFRAID OF HIM. Deuteronomy 18: 18-23

ALL SCRIPTURE IS BREATHED OUT BY GOD AND PROFITABLE FOR TEACHING, FOR REPROOF, FOR CORRECTION, AND FOR TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS. 2 Timothy 3:16

The beauty of the Prophetic writings in Scripture is just how APPLICABLE THEY ARE TO US INDIVIDUALLY ! God was speaking to His People. US ! The times and culture may have been different, but the Basic Issues Of Men’s Hearts HAVE NEVER CHANGED ! There are a multitude of topics that God’s Prophets touch on, but see if any of these seem RELEVANT TO YOU TODAY ?

MICAH : A focus on Corrupt people who are leaders, both religious and political; Outwardly look good, but Inwardly morally corrupt; businesslike religiosity, but Far From God. God’s Coutroom : He is the Judge, Witness, and Jury. His Goal is for Mankind to SEE THEMSELVES AND UNDERSTAND THEIR SIN AND NEED FOR REDEMPTION. Compelling Evidence: Ignoring God’s Word doesn’t silence it, it only prolongs the inevitable moment you come face to face with it ! ( Pastor Jason Fritz). Man’s corruption and injustice revealed, and he calculates…what can I do to Fix This ? AhhhI, ’ll give more money, I’ll give Bigger and Better Sacrifices…how about my first born child like the Pagan Gods Require ? God sees the Insincereity and how FAR their Hearts are from Him. HE REDIRECTS THEM TO SEE HIS TRUTH AND HIS WAYS ! Micah 6:8 - He has told you O Man what it good, and what does the Lord require of you ? Do Justice and Love Kindness, and Walk Humbly with your God.

Takeaways : We don’t need New Revelation or Knowledge…We Need To Seek God, Be Loving, Walk Humbly In HIS WAYS. WE must Surrender and be Obedient to HIM. God determines Truth and Goodness, not culture. GOD balances Justice with Mercy. SEE JESUS ON THE CROSS…OUR PUNISHMENT TAKEN, FOR OUR SALVATION ! Ultimately REDEMPTION AND RESTORATION OF OUR HEARTS:)

HABAKKUK: He asks God some difficult Questions as he watches a world teeming with violence, discord and disfunction; “ God, do you see all this ? God, where are you…do you care or are you Indifferent ? WHY is this happening ? I need a RESPONSE so I UNDERSTAND ! Justice and Law are being ignored and Corruption and Evil flourish… Are You There ? CRITICAL MOMENT OF FAITH ! Habakkuk could be cynical or doubting…but he is not. He just wants to Understand. GOD REVEALS A TRUTH: HE HAS A HIGHER VIEWPOINT ! Assures Habakkuk that HE SEES IT ALL, and tells him punishment is coming. He also assures him that His People will pay a consequence, but THEY WILL BE REDEEMED BACK TO HIM; HE LOVES THEM. God’s Will Must Be Trusted ! Habbakuk must WAIT to see the final outcome, and Trust God…and Habakkuk does. He Chooses FAITH. Habakkuk moves from His Perplexity to God’s Perspective to PRAISE !

Takeaways: It is a Good Thing to take our questions to God for Understanding if we are not cynical or doubtful. We must learn to See His Sovereignty and Power and TRUST HIS WILL ! Some answers must be Waited Upon as God Establishes All Timing and Results. God’s solutions often involve Accountability and not always what We Want. Waiting often brings CLARITY paired with CORRECTION ! THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH ! Not emotions, not works…but TRUST ! For WE who follow Christ, JESUS finished everything for us. HE is All We Need:)

BUT HE WHO IS JOINED TO THE LORD BECOMES ONE SPIRIT WITH HIM. 1 Corinthians 6:17

ON GOD RESTS MY SALVATION AND MY GLORY; MY MIGHTY ROCK, MY REFUGE IS GOD. Psalm 62:7

ABIDE IN ME, AND I IN YOU. AS THE BRANCH CANNOT BEAR FRUIT BY ITSELF, UNLESS IT ABIDES IN THE VINE, NEITHER CAN YOU, UNLESS YOU ABIDE IN ME. I AM THE VINE; YOU ARE THE BRANCHES; WHOEVER ABIDES IN ME AND I IN HIM, HE IT IS THAT BEARS MUCH FRUIT, FOR APART FROM ME, YOU CAN DO NOTHING. John 15:4-5

There are Many Many more Prophets in the Bible. Their Words are a source of Relevance and Truth that Every Christian should be striving to Understand. GOD’S TRUTH IS FOUND IN HIS WORD. Our journey is to Dig Deeper. Hunger For More. Pray and Wait, and Pray some more. APPLY HIS WORD TO OUR OWN LIFE AND PERSON ! ASK HIM ! Ask Him for ALL YOU NEED, and TRUST HIM ! When Jesus took His Last Breath on the Cross, He said “ IT IS FINISHED “. Jesus is The Way, The Truth, And The Life…COUNT ON IT :)

DIG DEEPER/JAA

AND WE HAVE THE PROPHETIC WORD MORE FULLY CONFIRMED, TO WHICH YOU WILL DO WELL TO PAY ATTENTION AS TO A LAMP SHINING IN A DARK PLACE, UNTIL THE DAY DAWNS AND THE MORNING STAR RISES IN YOUR HEARTS. 2 Peter 1:19

Amen