Theme: The Season of the Spirit
Text: Joel 2:28, Acts 2:16 – 18
lThe Ephesians Commission – The Prophe
As we learnt early this year that the Apostolic Ministry is not the gift, but rather the person who functions as an Apostle is the gift, likewise all the other elements making up the Ephesians Commission, including the Prophet. In other words the gift is not Apostolic, Prophetic, Evangelistic, Pastoral or Tutorial graces but rather the person with the grace function in that capacity.
Although Abraham is not the first person to be considered as a Prophet, however with the principle of first mentioning, he is the first person in the Bible to be called as a Prophet or to be addressed as a Prophet, yes he is the first person to be directly called as a Prophet by the Bible.
“Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine”, Genesis 20:7 KJV.
In this reference and text, we see the first thing about the person called as a Prophet. In the background story of this text, it was God who testified to Abimelech about Abraham as a Prophet. Abraham didn’t call himself or made it known to others that he is a Prophet. The first thing is God calls a man as a Prophet and two he didn’t announce himself but God did, meaning it is God who makes known the Prophet to the world and the Kingdom.
I believe is time that we allow God tell the world and the Church about us, than we harking who we are to others. I met one young minister of God, who will always go like “You know I’m a Prophet, right?”. He does this when he wants to influence your decision.
And the sad news is when you err because of a Prophet’s lies, you bear the punishment yourself and not him. We will look at this in details later on. Inclusion, understand that it is God who calls a man to be a Prophet and two He is the same one who makes known the Prophet to the world and the church.
HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE THE LORD?
Revelation 2:2-5
I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars. You also possess endurance and have tolerated many things because of My name and have not grown weary. But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place - unless you repent.
The Christian life for everyone starts with John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world”. We all become God’s children because instead of giving us the raw deal, ie. the full penalty for our sins, out of love He made His Son bear the punishment for our sins.
Love must be two-way. We must love God just as He first loved us. Some of us started our Christian life with zeal. We wanted to live for God in whatever situation and circumstance we found ourselves. Over the years, so many things happened to us and our love for the Lord faded away. Sometimes things we asked the Lord, which He did for us, stood between Him and us and we chose those things instead of God, the provider. !
This situation is the same as the one depicted
in the passage for meditation today. Ask yourself when was the last time you spoke to someone about the love of God. How often do you make time to be in the Lord’s presence? When was the last time you told someone about something God did for you? What is taking the place of all those engagements? Rekindle your love for the Lord; it is critical now.
Prayer
1. Thank God for His continued love for you as demonstrated by His continual provision and protection for your life.
2. Ask for grace to return to the love for God that you once demonstrated and walk in those paths again.
3. Father, I thank You for Your endless love for me. Please help me to show back the same love towards You henceforth.
Declarations
Father, I thank You for Your great love for me. I know I do not deserve it but Your grace has found me. I declare my continued unwavering love for You. Today, l Iean on Your power and shake off every weight and sin that easily besets me. I get rid of anything that is competing with my love for You. I declare that by the power of the Holy Ghost I let go of all such sins and lay them at the cross. I pursue holiness without which no one will see You; so help me God!
Have a blessed month loving the Lord God Almighty
Prayer
O Thou who sit on the throne and unto the Lamb be praise, glory and honour, now and forever. I thank Thee for this word. I ask forgiveness for proclaiming myself into something I’m not and also for sounding my own bells and seek for the living God for His Glory.
I ask for the wisdom to live wisely. I pray that Thou who is the Lord of the harvest will send Thy holy Prophets to make ready Thy people for Thy coming in Jesus name. Amen
Hallelujah