ESOCS Devotional 24 August 2024 – Sure Word of Prophesy
MEMORY VERSE: “If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account.” Deuteronomy 18:19
TEXT: DEUTERONOMY 18:15-19
The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear, 16 according to all you desired of the Lord your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.’
17 “And the Lord said to me: ‘What they have spoken is good. 18 I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. 19 And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him.
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The prophet is a channel through which God speaks to His people. Every prophet is called and commissioned by God. In verse 15 of our text, it is written: “The Lord your God will raise up a prophet …”. The gift of prophecy is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. God gives the chosen ones within the congregation. In ESOCS, we have a good number of them. (Joel 2:28; Ephesians 4:11).
In the beginning of their relationship with God, Israel desired not to behold any more the fearful and awesome presence of God. Then, God appeared to them in the form of a great fire with thunderous voice. They did not want to perish at the sight of God. Thus, God promised to raise a prophet through whom He will reveal His will. From then till date, there has been no congregation of true believers where God failed to raise a prophet.
Prophets of God live among you. When you find one, it is an obligation that you should hear him, pay attention and obey him when he speaks in the name of God. Before God spoke of the promise to raise prophets for Israel, they had Moses as a sample of what a prophet should be: “God will raise up a prophet like me,” Moses said. Moses was a sample of humility and truth. He earned the honour and respect of the Israelites because of the true message he brought to the people and the confirmation of his messages through signs and wonders. Today prophets must be seen and proven to be so.
Christians are forbidden from making inquiries from divination in the manner of pagans. In Deuteronomy 18 :14, Moses warned: “The nations you will dispossess listens to those who practice sorcery and divination… God has not permitted you to do so.”
Holy prophets of God do not presume; they speak exactly as God revealed to them. Those who speak otherwise are false prophets. Their messages run contrary to the word of God. They also live the opposite of what the scriptures says. Their targets are personal gains. They are manipulative. They fight among themselves and contend over customers like traders. Do not fall prey. The Bible says that “By their fruits you shall know them” (Deuteronomy 18: 17-19).
Our God does not speak in vain. His words are truth and He performs them all. You can rely on His words.
- We serve the God of truth: He speaks the truth and does the truth.
- Father, keep me away from liars, in Jesus name. Amen.
Further Reading: Isaiah 49:1-13; Matthew 10:1-22
ESOCS Devotional 24 August 2024
