Growth in Godliness
A Prophet's Calling is to Tell the Truth
The final quote in the picture above is from Matthew 7:15, "Beware of prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves." Shepherds most often wear clothing made from sheep, as their skill is to tend to and profit from them. Therefore, "Beware of prophets who come in sheep's clothing,' is just another way of saying, beware of false shepherds.
Isaiah tells us in chapter 30, verses 9-11, "That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD, which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits. Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, and cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us." Just as there are false prophets, even so, there are false sheep. Jesus, unlike false prophets, always and only spoke the truth. He is the source of truth, He is the truth, He is Almighty God.
A Prophet's Calling can be Revealed by the Road They Take
One way to detect false sheep is when it becomes clear that professing believers would rather hear and go the way of the worldly than God's way. Even so, false prophets would rather please the sheep that keep them in business than tell the truth and jeopardize their income. Jesus never said that following Him would be easy. "Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." (Matthew 8:20) Jesus also said, "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' ’'If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you ..."If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin ..."If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well. 25"But [they have done this] to fulfill the word that is written in their Law, THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE.' (John 15:20-24)
Jesus, by His words and deeds pronounced all men sinners and guilty of His death. He was the prophet of all prophets.
The Prophet's Calling is Revealed by the Message they Proclaim
"Oh, sinful nation, people weighed down with guilt, Offspring of evildoers, sons who act corruptly! They have abandoned the LORD, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they have turned away from Him.
Where will you be stricken again, as you continue in your rebellion? The entire head is sick and the entire heart is faint. From the sole of the foot even to the head. There is nothing healthy in it, only bruises, slashes, and raw wounds; Not pressed out nor bandaged, nor softened with oil." (Isaiah 1:4-6)
Both sides of the Lord must be made known (Justice and Mercy) if a prophet is to be faithful. Therefore, the house must be cleaned when God's people fall into sin, whether in Israel or the Church. God tells us in 1 Peter 4:17, "For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" This statement by the Apostle Peter was made nearly 2,000 years ago, and it has become relevant during every era.
God's people, by His grace, always begin well at first, but often, there is a falling away, backsliding, or going off the Road. The believers are the ones who set forth the right path to follow for the world; if we don't, who will? The Prophet's Calling is to proclaim the sin in the camp and the cleansing that follows acknowledgment. Repentance and faith are proclaimed to the lost who are believers in name only.
A prime example of the prophet's calling and this kind of repentance on the part of God's people is Ezra 9. As prophesied, God's people, Israel, went into bondage, and upon their return, they committed the same sins that led to bondage in the first place. However, many people repented, and God restored those who devoted themselves to change and acted upon His commands. It is folly to think that such a fall away and restoration belong to Israel alone, not the church.
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