It is a curious fact that in the days of Israel, even though a prophet himself might be generally rejected by the people, they usually listened whenever he proclaimed (either orally or in writing), "Thus saith the Lord." They did not always accept nor act on the prophet's message, but they listened with a degree of respect, because they believed God was communicating with them through the prophet's words. The office and ministry of a genuine prophet implied authority and commanded attention.
But in order to be a true prophet, an individual needed more than a mere confidence that God had called him. The genuineness of such a prophetic ministry was revealed not only in his proclamation of God's message but in every activity of his daily life as an instrument of God. The same is true of a preacher of God's Word today, for there is a sense in which the contemporary gospel minister can have a prophetic ministry—the type of calling that characterized the Bible prophets, especially those who were reformers.
The following are some of the characteristics of a true prophet that made his ministry more efficient, captured attention, and radiated authority, and that, when appropriately incorporated into our ministries, can do a similar work for us.
Agent of the Holy Spirit
It was commonly believed in Bible times that no one—not even the agent him self—had the right or authority to oppose the message of one upon whom the Holy Spirit "descended" or "fell." Jonah, for example, "escaped" from the Lord but eventually fulfilled his commission. When Elijah, following his own impulses, fled from Jezebel, he seemed to have fled also from the Lord, but God's angel overtook him. Similarly, when Jeremiah resolved to throw off the prophetic mantle, he could not, for the word of the Lord was like "a burning fire shut up in... [his] bones" (Jer. 20:9). Likewise Paul cried out, "Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" (1 Cor. 9:16). Thus we see that when the Spirit of God takes possession of a prophet, his message overflows in an. irrepressible stream, regardless of the personal wishes of the prophet himself or the person to whom his message is directed.
Spirit-filled reformer
The prophet-reformer tried to curb both the political and religious abuses of the people and their leaders. Under the guidance of an illumined conscience he deliberately ignored established traditions and customs when that became necessary in order to obey the Author of his message and calling. He was uncompromising; he was not a conformist. He persisted in reform as long as his Master's will was clear to him. The sense of God's guidance imparted a confidence. In him was found no hesitation; he did not vacillate. And these characteristics were generally recognized by the people as proof of his divine calling.
To some he might appear to be a self-centered individualist, but behind appearances were circumstances that required him to stand alone for right when necessary. He was an individualist for God, aflame with an inner fire ignited by the Holy Spirit. He felt compelled to preach God's message, whether in the street, in the marketplace, in public meetings, or to individuals to whom he was sent. Only by so doing could he find peace and be filled with a sense of having fulfilled his mission. Only then could he stop proclaiming and return quietly to his home.
God-called
The work of the Bible prophet was not inherited, as was the Aaronic priesthood. There was no prophetic caste comparable to the priestly one that existed in the days of Israel. In a similar way, there is today no such thing as a pastoral, ministerial, or preacher "caste." It may be an honor for a minister's son to follow in his father's footsteps, but the son is not obliged to do so. When Whitefield was ridiculed because he was not in the "apostolic succession," he retorted, "My powerful ordination comes from the pierced hands of the Lord." It was said of Jesus Christ that He was made a minister, and Paul states that he was placed in the ministry by the will of God (see Heb. 8:2; Rom. 15:8; Acts 26:16; Eph. 3:7; Col. 1:23, 25). This distinction seems to have been ignored by some Christian ministers. They have "made themselves ministers" by long years of study and by investing their all in this endeavor. But they overlook the fact that they cannot be made ministers by anyone except God Himself.
Can we declare humbly, yet confidently and without presumption, that we truly have been called and made ministers? We must face this question, for our times demand ministers and preachers made such, as were the prophets of old, by God and not by man. Tom Skinner, in his book Worlds of Revolution, said that one of the most unfortunate things about religion in this century is that we have so many religious leaders who have never really been called of God (see p. 255).
Unconditionally in God's hands
The true prophet was God's spokesman. Neither personal nor public interests deterred him in his mission. If the one to whom his message was directed was not in harmony with the will of God (be he the high priest or a teacher of the common people), he could not in the least influence God's servant. The prophet's whole being was subject to God and His cause. He bore a revelation that, even though under stood, was at times despised by educated, intelligent men who lacked an enlightened conscience. As a reformer, it was the prophet's work to alter the normal course of matters and divert them to channels in which God would have them flow.
The prophet was a devoted follower of God and His holy law. To him, God's cause was paramount and made him the servant, not only of God, but of God's covenant people. This sense of divine responsibility frequently involved persecution, threats of death, and actual loss of life. He was a constant watchman for God, an uncompromising steward of that which he had received in trust. Grounded in the law of God, in justice, in equity, and in truth, he refused to dilute his message with ambiguities, formalism, praise, compromise, prizes, or gifts.
His awareness of being unconditionally in God's hands made him brave and bold, even daring. Indeed, his calling demanded this kind of stability and direction, because God Himself was that way, and he represented God by his attitudes and deeds. He did not cater to king or prince.
He never exploited the people, nor did he employ demagoguery, for he did not seek or need votes to retain his office. He received from God all that he needed. At times he stood alone, like Elijah, although a minority usually received his message and renewed their loyalty to God. Being a prophet was seldom popular, for a prophet was called upon to speak plainly. He was not a sought-after man even in the circles of the church.
Crises seemed to draw him as iron to a magnet. God's message caused him to be restless with a holy dissatisfaction. At times when his mission crossed the paths of errant leaders he provoked conflicts. At other times he rushed tempestuously into situations with an energetic exhortation on his lips or some good news to instill hope. But always he was loyal to God, justice, truth, and the cause of the innocent.
Frugal, austere, and modest
Though a prophet was not usually from the ranks of the priesthood, in some cases men combined in themselves the offices of both priest and prophet. Jeremiah and Ezekiel are examples. Such a combination seems contradictory, for the priests tended to be traditionalists, whereas the prophets tended to be activists. The priests were formalists, tied to ceremonial monotony; the prophets were innovators who called the people away from the status quo. The former were identified by a uniform, the latter by attire that seemed to rebuke wealth and ease.
The key
The gospel ministry today needs the distinctive spirit, direction, style, form, and content of the reforming prophets of old. The ministry of these reformers and their distinctive characteristics resembled those of that prophet whom Moses declared would arise like unto himself— Jesus Christ, our divine Lord. It was "the Spirit of Christ which was in them" that made it possible for these men of prophetic ministry to reproduce Him whom they represented—the Prophet of prophets.
If we preachers today permit this Spirit to work in us, we will manifest the Saviour in our ministries. The hour through which God's church is currently passing requires that we give first priority to having the characteristics of a prophetic ministry. The divine enabling for its accomplishment will not be delayed if the conditions are met.
Only when its ministers manifest the qualities of prophetic ministry will the church be able to reveal the glory of God, which is to illuminate the whole earth.
