In modern churches we need encouraging and uplifting preaching, the kind that makes people aware of God’s love and encourages Christians in their position in Christ. We also need another kind of preaching; one that is less popular. We need modern day “prophets” who – like Isaiah, Jeremiah and Joel – will point out the shortcomings of God’s people and call them to repentance. We need the kind of preaching that leads to heart-searching, confession, and putting things right.

Henry Blackaby wrote, “I sense that the Christians of our day need not just preachers; they need a special kind of spokesman for God. Put the name “prophet” over him if you want.” [1]

We need men who’ll speak for God declaring what God sees.

Vernon McGee asked what good is a guard dog if it doesn’t bark when an intruder is breaking into a house? He said the church needs men who will do a little barking. It’s true. We need preachers who point out wrong when there is wrong. If the saints are watching R-rated movies, gossiping, spending more money on entertainment per year than missions, and show little concern for the lost – they need to know. Jesus told the Laodicean church that things weren’t right, and the modern church needs prophets who walk closely with Jesus to point out what’s wrong. Not arrogantly, but in love. But point things out they must.

Jeremiah, speaking for God, told the Israelites, “Amend your ways and your doings” (7:3), “Do not trust in..lying words” (7:4) and “This is a nation that does not obey the voice of the LORD” (7:28). That was straight talk! Yet it was exactly what the people needed to hear. It was not time to give a soothing message when the people were living in sin.

A.W. Pink wrote, “Did the Lord Jesus preach a sermon in the temple on the love of God while its sacred precincts were being made a den of thieves?” [2] No. It was not time for that. It was a time for confrontation.

May God raise up a new generation of preachers who are not afraid to call a spade a spade and have a passion for holiness in His church. May God give them the grace to say what needs to be said in a spirit of love. Has God called you to be a prophet?

David Hunt

Footnotes
[1] Blackaby, H. Chosen to be God’s Prophet, (Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Ten, 2003) p6
[2] Pink, A.W. Elijah (Banner of Truth Trust, Edinburgh, 1963) p266

“Only long, continued, faith-filled travailing prayer can bring true revival.”
A.W. Tozer

“All revival begins, and continues, in the prayer meeting.”
Henry Blackaby

“When the Holy Spirit moves to create a deep desire for revival in the
churches and awakening in society he does that from within, by stirring
up a burden in the hearts of his people and prompting them to pray.”
Errol Hulse

“Most revivals have their roots in long periods of behind-the-scenes
intercessory prayer.”
Wesley Duewel

“Every great revival in history has been preceded by weeks, months -
even years – of earnest prayer. It was true of the Great Awakening in
America. It was true of the Welsh revival. More recently, it was true
of the revivals in Indonesia and Korea.”
Lloyd Hildebrand

“I know of no revival that is not connected in some way with powerful,
believing, intercessory prayer.”
Selwyn Hughes

One thing that’s very easy to do is make assumptions. Several years ago I visited a church in Sydney and a lady walked right past me, at close range. Since I was a visitor, I thought it was quite rude of her not to say hello or even acknowledge me. But then I discovered after the service that she was blind! She wasn’t being rude at all. I then felt ashamed for having ‘judged’ her based on an assumption.

Readers’ Digest (June 2003) reported the story of a lady who was standing in a crowded bus. She noticed a man who was holding on to the same pole as her staring at her. When the bus came to a stop, he said, “Excuse me. This is my stop.”

“Well, go ahead” she said.

“And this is my pole,” he replied.

She was completely perplexed. What was his problem? But he then picked up the pole and took it with him, having purchased it for his shower curtain! Again, an assumption was made.

We’re wise to give people the benefit of the doubt, and to beware of assuming things. Because after all, things aren’t always as they seem!

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A person who attends church every week is a Christian.

A book that has sold a million copies is a good book.

A person who is always smiling is doing well in their life.

If we feel good about a relationship, then it’s right.

An old person is mature.

Missionaries don’t have marriage problems.

Everyone with a fish sticker on their car is a Christian.

A mentally handicapped person cannot understand the gospel.

In MANY situations, it’s a good thing to ask ourselves, “Am I making an assumption?”

David Hunt