Are Modern Day Prophets Real

Who are we listening to when it comes to ingesting spiritual truth?  It's an important question, and an issue that has a lot to do with discernment.  I want to begin by quoting Scripture from the book of Hebrews.  Chapter 1:1-2 says, "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe."   

We know from the books of the Old Testament that God did reveal Himself and His instructions to the minor and major prophets of the time.  Take for example the books of Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Jonah.  All of these historical accounts contain depictions of the Lord informing His followers what to do in order to stay connected to Himself.  Most of the time, the stories follow an arc that goes something like this: God warns Israel to repent or face judgement, Israel may or may not listen, and then God follows through.  It's a lot like how a loving parent disciplines their child.  Sometimes the kids listen, but often they don't.  When the Israelites did listen, God relented from the chastisement.  When they didn't ... punishment eventually followed.  

In the later days, Jesus became the vehicle for God's atonement and grace.  We know the story well.  Christ endured horrific punishment, died for our sins on the cross, and then rose again to bridge the gap between a sinful people and a Holy being.  This offer of love and forgiveness still stands today.  

Notice what Hebrews says in particular - Christ serves as God's mouthpiece for us today.  Where God spoke through prophets in the past, He later sent His son to grant us revelation through the recorded parables of the Bible.  This is what we read today, and what we discuss in churches two-thousand years later.  It's quite an amazing feat, I must confess my amazement every time I think about it.  A narrative written so seamlessly over the span of thousands of years; and it all flows together so well.  

Now please understand that I am not a cessationist.  In other words, I do not believe that all supernatural miracles and events ended with Jesus and the apostles, never to occur again.  I think that through prayer and fasting, God heals people and grants miracles even today.  Scripture says that believers will go on to do "even greater things" in the eras following the Resurrection.  

But I do want to offer a warning for Christians in the present time.  Our current technology has made it increasingly convenient to spread ideas and discuss important concepts.  Religious discussions are no different.  Most of the time, I'm fully on board with this reality.  The Internet is a great way to bridge the generational gap, as well as transcend the physical boundaries of geography.  But it also allows for a new fad that I refer to as the Modern Day Prophet.  Essentially, this is a group of people on YouTube or some other facet of the Internet, who set themselves up as God's mouthpieces.  They provide hours and hours of instruction and guidance to a multitude of vulnerable listeners.  But it remains to be seen whether or not it is good guidance.  Often it isn't.  

You will hear them say things like, "The Lord spoke to me in a dream last night, and this is what He wants us to do."  Or perhaps something such as, "God showed me what is going to happen next month."  The wording can differ, but you get the idea.  

The consequences are real for following false prophets and false teachers.  Many have lost their retirement savings as a result of listening to these people.  And some have even lost their lives.  

I believe that this is where we need to be really careful, and listen with ears to hear.  Jesus is God come in the flesh, for whom it has been appointed heir of all things (the Alpha and the Omega).  His red letter words in the Bible are the ones we need to be listening to on a regular basis.  This isn't to say that people today cannot be in spiritual communion with the Lord, or that they never have legitimate visions - but when they claim to be speaking on behalf of God, things can become problematic quickly.  

Remember also that Scripture says if a self-proclaimed prophet gets even one prediction incorrect, then they aren't a prophet of God.  This is common when it comes to the so-called modern prophets of our day.  They tend to excuse or explain away situations where whatever it is they predicted didn't come to pass.  It happens with such frequency that it is almost laughable.  This means that they are playing a different kind of game, one in which good people can be led astray.  Instead, turn your time and attention toward the Bible and Godly pastors who are willing to preach the truth.  This type of spiritual leader is becoming more and more rare, so if you find one, hang on to them for dear life.  Our salvation can depend on it.    

Elsewhere in Hebrews it says, "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."  Many Bible scholars refer to this passage - and many like it - as a  foreshadowing of the Messiah.  In the same way that this specific order of priesthood was eternal, so Jesus is the eternal savior.  If he can save someone back then - he can save you and I today.  It's a promise that never expires.  

It is always better to seek counsel through Scripture than through one of the  talking heads on television or YouTube.  Things tend to go better that way for everyone involved.  

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"Hell is tolerant, they take everyone. Heaven isn't, you need Jesus to get in."

- Mark Driscoll

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God's Suffering Servant

We are no stranger to the notion of suffering.  As I write this, our generation has come out the other side of a worldwide pandemic, we are standing precariously close to the possibility of a third world war, and natural disasters continue to strike our country regularly.  I think it would be safe to say in general, that we are beginning to lose any false sense of security.  You know what I mean; that little voice in your head that says things like, "that stuff only happens to other people in other countries."  They do happen to us, and in our own country as well.  So the time has come to grapple with the reality of suffering, at least from a Biblical sense.  I say a Biblical sense, because this subject so often lends itself to asking the tough question, "why do bad things happen to good people?"  Let's tackle the issue right here and now.

I won't spend too much time on the nuts and bolts theological explanation of suffering.  I believe that the Bible has  clearly laid out the story of how sin entered into an otherwise perfect Garden of Eden.  Once man decided to disobey God all those thousands of years ago, subsequent populations have had to struggle with famines, illness, and death.  Life wasn't originally meant to be this way, but we sinned through Adam and Eve, and now we exist in the aftermath of that rift.  

In addition to this spiritual argument, we also have at our disposal the book of Job in the Bible.  I find this to be far more compelling in it's treatment of the human condition.  Namely, because God actually answers Job at the very end of the book.  What an incredible sneak peek we have from our Lord regarding how and why human beings go through trials and difficulty!  Not so much from an immediate gratification perspective, but more so from the standpoint that a good and holy God would even take the time to answer us at all.  

As some of you know, Job was stricken with all manner of calamity during his life.  Scripture says that he was covered with sores, and that he lost livestock and even his family.  At one point, Job's wife implores him to "just give up, curse God, and die" (Job 2:9).  I would imagine that was quite the dinner table conversation.  Throughout the book, Job pleads with God for answers.  He essentially makes the argument that since he is a righteous man, he therefore doesn't deserve to be punished or to suffer.  Job's friends give him some really rotten advice, except for Elihu, who actually seems to defend God rather than blame Job.  

Job makes a handful of proclamations regarding his terrible situation.  Often, he simply laments because he doesn't have anyone on his side.  There seems to be no one who can advise him clearly, or who can suffer with him.  And here lies the real thrust of my point.  Jesus is in fact our representative before God.  He was God's suffering servant, and the only person ever to have walked the Earth who was holy enough to offer himself as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28).  This is exactly what Job was hoping for.  The future Messiah was exactly the type of consoling friend that Job had longed for from God.  He didn't know it at the time, but mankind's atonement for sin was slated to enter onto the global stage a couple thousand years later.  Who would have suspected that a carpenter from Nazareth could change the course of human history?  

As we read the different ways in which the book of Job foreshadowed the coming of Christ, keep in mind that this account was written two-thousand years before  Jesus was born.  In fact, some say it is the oldest book in the Bible.  

Job 9:32-34 says, "He is not a man like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court.  If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both, someone to remove God's rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more."  Tell me this doesn't sound like a plea for the atonement and the covering of Jesus.  The perfect penitent, ready to sacrifice himself for our sins.  

Job 17:3 says further, "Give me, O God, the pledge you demand.  Who else will put up security for me?"  In the New Testament, we are in fact introduced to the idea that no one is holy or righteous enough to meet God's pledge head on.  We do in fact need an intermediary to fill in for us instead.  Christ alone puts up "security" for us in God's eyes.  This is the only reason that Christians today can approach the throne of God boldly in prayer and supplication.  

While this foreshadowing is fascinating in it's own rite, what I think is more applicable for us today is the fact that only through God's suffering servant, can we have any kind of peace.  God eventually answers Job and his friends at the end of the story, but what He says isn't necessarily comforting.  The Lord reminds them that they are not God, and only the real God is sovereign and righteous.  Essentially telling them, "Who are you to judge me and tell me that you shouldn't ever suffer?"  Point taken; we are not God.  

But we also need to remember that He knows our pain and our struggles on a personal level.  Jesus is one part of the Holy Trinity - he is God's son.  So in effect, we have a savior that knows what it's like to struggle, feel physical pain, and be humiliated.  Re-read the account of his crucifixion if you need to.  My point is simply that our God is no stranger to illness and death.  He is not aloof or uncaring, as some have described Him to be in the past.  When we cry, so does God. And when we feel joy, so does He.  

And some day, if we are saved and have taken Jesus up on his offer to accept the grace of salvation - we may finally get specific answers to our questions about suffering.  But at that point, I suspect it will no longer matter.  Because we will be in the presence of His true love and perfect grace.  As Scripture says, "No eye has seen what God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Cor 2:9).  And He does love us.  

So be at peace, even if it's impossible to do so in the human sense.  We have a God that has suffered on our behalf, so that someday we won't have to.  Until that time, get on with living, so that you can help other people know and understand God's love.  Doing so may just help you heal as well.  Sacrificial love has a way of doing that.    

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Listening for God's Truth

It is so very, very easy to become distracted in our culture today.  We often spend much of our time going back and forth to activities for our children (or grandchildren).  We spend time trying to keep up with the Joneses, keeping our house clean, trying to be a good employee, etc.  It is no wonder that many of us don't have much time leftover to delve into spiritual things or Biblical truth.  In fact, I think it is much easier to come home after a long day and drop into bed exhausted, relieved just to be home.  We can wait until Sunday morning to hear about God; or so we think. 

I will always remember one evening in particular; a memory that sticks out in my mind so much that I enjoy recounting the story to this day.  I was at a function organized for some of the children in the community out at the local country club.  It was set up in order recognize achievement - and they always had a free meal.  Parents would bring with them loads of food and plenty of desserts.  This particular evening was no different, there were tables of treats as far as the eye could see.

It was also not uncommon at these events for the parents and caretakers of the children to be distracted for short periods of time, often helping with the food and the event itself.  Out of the corner of my eye I noticed one young child walking back to his assigned table with a full plate and a beverage.  This is normal at a banquet of course, but as I took a closer look, I noticed that his plate was stacked high with donuts, brownies, and cookies.  I had to sit down because I started laughing so hard.  It was evident that mom and dad were not paying close attention.  The young man saw his chance at culinary freedom, and loaded his plate accordingly with whatever he wanted.  I can't imagine the sugar rush that must have transpired shortly thereafter.

As we all know, donuts and brownies taste good, but they aren't good for us.  Quite the opposite in fact.  The trade-off for our momentary joy is usually a feeling of fatigue that soon kicks in, and another four-hundred or so calories that stick to our bodies.  The rush is short lived - not to mention the feeling of guilt that rears its ugly head later.

And I believe it can happen just the same way when we turn the discussion toward spiritual things.  When we are tired or distracted, it is easy for the bad things to sneak onto our plates.  It is easy to put God and the Bible fairly low in our daily hierarchy, isn't it?  After all, many of us are on the go from the moment we get out of bed to the time we cash it in for the night.  It is only natural that our plates are full of junk food.  We've no time for anything else.  But is this really true?

We load up with a quick bit of political correctness here, maybe a dab of lukewarm spirituality there.  But nothing that will give our souls the protein we need in order to stay healthy and fit.  Instead, we often ingest things that give us a quick rush of satisfaction, followed by fatigue and unnecessary calories.

I think it is important to ask the question, “Are we taking time to listen for God’s truth?”  And it is a good idea to ask it of ourselves at every step throughout our lives.  Are we really listening?  We have only a short time here on this planet.  Are we filling that time with spiritual truths from God, or with worldly wisdom that sounds good at the time, but doesn't really keep us full?

Author and philosopher C.S. Lewis once wrote that human beings are built to run only on God, and nothing else.  He goes on to say further, that all of human history is the long, terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.  There is a lot of truth to this statement, especially when we see so many people settling for pseudo-spirituality and half-truths.  Is a culture where we deny our own gender, redefine marriage, and put our freedoms ahead of unborn children really what God would endorse?  It’s something to think about. 

So what is the answer to this dilemma?  I believe the solution is literally at our fingertips - recorded in the actions and words of Jesus himself.  God has generously related them to us in the pages of the Bible.  We must keep digging into what Christ said and did.  We must bring our full intellect - with all of our doubt and certainty, joys and struggles - to an understanding of Scripture.  Watching the news media won't get us there.  Reading and studying only secular writing and philosophy isn't enough either.  We must begin to fill our “dinner plate” with the right food, and the sooner the better.  With the correct spiritual diet, I am betting the distractions will slow down.  Maybe they will even transition from a loud roar for our attention, to a small trickle as we begin to allow God into our busy lives.

I wonder about that little boy and his heaping plate of treats from time to time.  It brings a smile to my face whenever I think about it.  I am sure that at some point, mom and dad probably noticed what had happened.  They most likely took it upon themselves to admonish and correct the young man.  If we are lucky, God will do the same for us.  It is no good sitting down to a meal with the wrong type of food.  Fortunately for you and me however, there is usually a grocery store with a fresh produce section just around the corner.  If we listen to our bodies closely enough, we will know when it's time to change our diet.  That time is probably as soon as possible. 

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