Year 6, Day 139: Ezekiel 13

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Discipleship Focus: Prophet

• Prophet: A prophet is one of the fivefold ministry categories that is used throughout the Bible and especially lifted up in Ephesians 4:11. The prophet is primarily concerned with whether or not the people are hearing the voice of God.  The prophet is also concerned about whether or not the people are responding to God’s voice.

This is a great day to do a back-to-back message about the prophet.  Today, we get to hear God speak about the false prophets.  In the opening verses, God makes it very clear that He is upset with the false prophets because they prophesy false messages.  They claim that the Lord has said one thing to them when in reality God has not given the message that they attribute to God.

Prophets should be concerned about whether the people of God are hearing God’s message and living up to God’s will for their lives.  These false prophets are concerned with telling the people what they want to hear.  They are concerned with giving a message of hope.  They are using the name of God to proclaim something they want to be true rather than proclaiming what God actually says is true.

Prophets need to be careful to be in tune with God.  None of us will always speak truth.  We’re human and sinful and we occasionally mistake our will for God’s will.  But when a prophet attributes something to God, they need to be sure that it is actually God speaking the message. 

All of us can learn that lesson.  As we share our faith with others, we need to share from our heart.  But we need to be clear with people when we are sharing from our heart and when we are sharing from God’s heart.

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