The Heart of the Prophet: Obedience or Disobedience

The Heart of the Prophet: Obedience or Disobedience

It is true that all of the fivefold ministries require obedience to God, but in by opinion the obedience for the office of the prophet is at a higher level. We who are prophet not only gave the word of God, but also demonstrate the prophetic word.

Let us take a look at the prophet Hosea. The word of the Lord came to Hosea. Telling him to take him a wife of whoredoms or a wife of adultery. How many of us would have been obedient to this word? Imagine Hosea telling is friends that God has told me to marry a prostitute. They would think that Hosea had taken leave of his senses. This is why I say that the level of obedience is much higher that any of the fivefold ministries. He or she must know without a doubt that they are hearing from God. They must carry out the word of God without no variation. I wondered how many of Hosea friends try to talk him out of doing God’s spoken word. Obedience to God‘s word well separate you from religious people, friends, and family members. There may be times you will walk along on the path of obedience, but in order to carry out God’s instructions you must have unquestionable obedience to God. The level of your obedience will determine at what level God can trust you. Many years ago when God was teaching me obedience he spoke this to my spirit. If you can learn to obey me in the small things the large things will not be a problem.

Learning obedience from respect or love. Respectful obedience can take you a long ways. Obedience out of love will take you to the highest level in God. You can out of respect of obedience to God and still be complaining and fussing about your assignment. I am just doing this because God said for me to it, but I really don’t want do this. Actually this not obedience from the heart it is just being respectful. Respect lacks one important ingredients it will not sacrifice its life. “… become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Phi 2:8) This level of obedience can only come from love. Now we understand what Jesus said, “If you love me keep my commands.” There some assignment that God gave us can only be carried out in love. It was God’s love that took Jesus to the cross. Only in God’s love could the prophets old and the New Testament fulfill their assignment.

“at that time the LORD spoke through Amoz's son Isaiah:

"Go loosen the sackcloth that's around your waist, and take your sandals off your feet." So that's what he did: he went around naked and barefoot. Then the LORD said, "Just as my servant Isaiah has walked around naked and barefoot for three years...” (Isa 20:2-3)

You thought that Hosea assignment was difficult to go and married a woman who he knows would not be faithful to him. How about Isaiah assignment: "Just as my servant Isaiah has walked around naked and barefoot for three years...” Take off your clothes and sandals and for three years and prophesy the coming destruction of this people.

(Let me say something right here. God never speaks destruction of any nation without hope of redemption. There are many so called prophets that only speak of destruction, death, and devastated. The problem is that God away speak to our hope more that to our destruction. Yes, God told his people of the things that was about to happen, yet spoke of their hope of redemption and restoration. God’s greatest hope is to restore a nation, not to destroy it. Be very careful of prophecies that only speak of destroying, God plan is life not death. Even in Israel greatest time of disobedience God’s plans were to bring them back to show his love not his wrap)

The cost of disobedience can be the cost of a nation. Remember the prophet Jonah. He was instructed to go and speak to Nineveh. Nineveh has a hatred for the Jews and the Jews have a prejudice toward Nineveh. I thank Jonah prejudice was greater that is obedience to God. It's unfortunate that we allow our prejudices and misconceptions keep us from following God directions.

Once I learn a great lesson from God. There was a Punk Rock church who has asked me to come and minister to their congregation. I was shocked at the way they were dressed and the color of their hair. I have every intention of straightening out this whole mess. They begin to worship and praise in a way that touch the heart of God. I realize that God was looking at the hearts and not the color of their hair. It was me who needed straightening out that I could look beyond my traditions and teaching and see them thought the eyes of God.

Perhaps, Jonah traditions and prejudice prevent him from following God’s word. His disobedience shows a lack of love toward the people God needs him to speak to. Prophets, we don’t have the privilege of choosing or rejecting our assignment, we are called only to obedient in love.

There is something you have been assigned to do whether you like it or not. Jonah has a nation to save, bring their hearts back to God. I have stated before. God is more willing to bring life that death. The disobedience prophet could not let away from God. He was provided special transportation for the place God have told him to go. Jonah was transported by the great fish to his destination.

Jonah found his place of obedience with in the belly of the fish. “Those who cling to vain idols leave behind the gracious love that could have been theirs.” Jonah 2:8. It was in the fish that Jonah found his love and obedience to his Lord. The nation (city) of Nineveh saved my the preaching of Jonah.

Your call to the office of the prophet, will it be a call of obedience from the heart of God’s love or one of disobedience, the choosing his for you to do.

Prophet for Hire?

“They have left the straight path and wandered off to follow the path of Bosor's son Balaam, who loved the reward he got for doing wrong.” (2Peter 2:15)

“How terrible it will be for them! For they lived like Cain did, rushed headlong into Balaam's error to make a profit, and destroyed themselves, as happened in Korah's rebellion.” (Jude 1:11)

Do mislead God’s people for the love of money, and do not sacrifice your integrity for the reward of men. I think that there are two lessons we could learn from Balaam. When God give you instructions followed the instructions and do not try to change the instructions to be more compatible to your taste. Do not give up your obedience to God for the love of men reward, which could be flattering words or financial gain. In the day and times that we live in. Many churches arrange the honorarium, the minister receive even before he arrives at church. If he takes a special offering the arrangement with the church is probably 60 / 40, 40% going to the minister and 60% to the church. I do believe when a minister come and preach that he should be reasonably compensated. Paul did teach us that when the word is minister, we should exchange what he has imparted unto us which is the word of God, and give unto him of our finances. Some ministers are in love with money and the only go to churches who supplies them with the finances they are seeking for. Yes, the labor is worth is hirer.

He was a prophet with a well known name, so the pastor ask me about bring him to the church, I thought it was a bad idea. Plus, he was asking for an honorarium of $5,000 per night. That was a little high for me. Pastor decided to bring him anyway, he came and preaches, something about bubble wrap, and some other off the wall stuff. Pastor came back and apologizes, saying I have more to offer that he ever had.

Balaam desire was more for money then obeying God's instructions. When they sent for him he was instructed of God not to go, but when more honorable men, with larger moneybags Balaam heart was for the money than obeying God's will. The Scriptures clearly stated that who he blessed was blessed and whoever the curse was curse. He quickly found out he could not curse whom God had blessed. So, in order to receive his reward he told the Moabites how to bring a curse up on Israel, make them sin by violating God's covenant. So they brought their most beautiful woman to seduce men from following God's word. We see his true desire was the reward a man. As I have said so often people are drawn toward the prophetic ministries, and some will ask if they can give you a certain amount of money if you would pray a special blessing. How much do you charge to give us winning the lottery numbers? You must guard your heart from the love of money and the reward of men.

A preacher was preaching in this particular city, and he have started a church there, it was very rough financially, he believed that God was faithful to his word and would take care of every financial need. Someone asked him to come and visit them; they were persons who were very well off financially. After being there for while they finally came to their intended purpose, they were willing to finance the ministry if he would not preach certain things. She wrote out a check and put a 1 then asked him how many zeros should she put behind the one. He made a statement she did not have enough money to pay him to be disobedient to what the Lord has given me to minister.

The word integrity and holiness (or Holy) came from the same root word. You as a prophet of God must walk integrity in everything you do. They may question your message, but there should never be a question concerning your integrity.