More than a title . . .

Sometimes when asked what I do or where I work, I mentally think: wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, mentor, child of God and more. Even though the person asking is thinking more about a career and less about titles, those titles describe what I do, even where I work.

Today, I’m thinking of the titles of my Lord, and the list is much longer than my list. Today’s devotional focuses on three of them by examining an Old Testament passage. It tells how the exiles came back to Jerusalem from Babylon and made Joshua the high priest. However, Zechariah the prophet spoke of another person using a term that refers to the promised Messiah. It was the ‘Branch’ who would be a priest forever.

Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord. It is he who shall build the temple of the Lord and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”’ And the crown shall be in the temple of the Lord as a reminder to (those saved from exile in Babylon). (Zechariah 6:12–14)

Echoing the prophet’s words and other OT references, God’s people argued about Jesus. Some said, “This really is the Prophet,” referring to the One Moses said God would raise up after him, the One to whom the people must listen. They realized that Jesus is that Prophet.

The writer of Hebrews spoke of Jesus saying, “Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” also calling Him the great high priest of our confession, and who holds that office forever. (Hebrews 2:17 & 6:20) This writer realized that Jesus is also a Priest.

The Magi searched for the ‘king of the Jews’ the One who later came into the city of the King, humble, riding a donkey, the One whom Pilate recognized as King of the Jews, and His followers called, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus is that King, the King of kings.

These titles also reveal what Jesus does. Prophets speak forth the Word of God. This Prophet Jesus IS the Word of God made flesh and dwelt among us. Priests mediate between God and man, man and God. This Priest lives forever to intercede for us and to take our prayers and needs before the throne of heaven. Kings rule over their kingdoms. This King rules an everlasting Kingdom, the Kingdom of light, truth, promised to those who love Him, a kingdom that cannot be shaken and He shall reign forever and ever!

In the end, when Jesus returns and His glory is seen, this new song will praise Him:

“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

Around the throne, all living creatures, the elders, angels numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, will say with loud voices: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

And every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, will say, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped. (Revelation 5:9–14)

^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, sometimes I have no words, just these from Your Word that declare Your glory. You are Prophet, Priest, and King. You are the Lamb who was slain. You are my Lord and my God, forever and ever loving and interceding for me, and for all Your people. Worship . . .  

The Spiritual gift of Prophecy

Isaiah 20:1–22:25, Luke 7:36–8:15, Job 5:8–16

In the spiritual gifts listed in Romans 12, the one most difficult to live with seems to be the first. It is called a gift of prophecy, a word that means ‘to discern and declare the will of God.’ Those who study spiritual gifts have found that the people who have this gift are black and white in their judgments, hold terribly high standards, usually feel as if no one measures up including themselves, and can be blunt and unwavering.

Another characteristic of the prophetic gift is being quick to see sin and desire repentance. This can mean less optimism, more pessimism, and would rather be sorry for sin than go to a party.

When I do the ‘gift tests’ my scores are high for perceiver (and teacher, which is an ‘information gatherer’ who loves research). I find the surveys are right. The prophetic gift is hard to live with, but even teachers can be resented for popping up with things like, “The reason that happened . . . .” for we are analytical and always wanting to share what we know.

God can use the gifts He gives and each of them has value for kingdom building, as long as the Spirit is in control and not the flesh. Isaiah and the other prophets are examples for what the gift of discernment or prophecy looks like. Today’s reading shows how it worked in Isaiah:

In that day the Lord God of hosts called for weeping and mourning, for baldness and wearing sackcloth; but behold, joy and gladness, killing oxen and slaughtering sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine. “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” The Lord of hosts has revealed himself in my ears: “Surely this iniquity will not be atoned for you until you die,” says the Lord God of hosts. (Isaiah 22:12–14)

Isaiah expressed God’s frustration with people who partied rather than repented. For them, a party was a way to escape conviction of sin. Some of us do become overly focused on guilt and the fact that we do not measure up to God’s high standards. For that, we need continual reminders that Jesus died for our sin and that we are not saved by our performance, but by His grace. A party is not at all helpful.

Eliphaz, one of Job’s comforters, may have had some gifts but he does something that shows he really has no idea what God is doing. He is too quick to accuse and condemn Job for sin when in reality, Job’s faith is being tested. Eliphas is totally out of the loop and I suspect the reason is spiritual pride. He says this: “As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause, who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number . . . .” (Job 5:8–9)

He is right that God does great things, and is quick to praise Him, yet is terribly judgmental toward Job. His words, “As for me . . . .” come across as “I am better than you, Job.” He offers praise but he does not give God any credit for grace that enables him to seek God. Whatever gift Eliphaz may have had, it became twisted when pride crept in. Ask me how I know!

God’s people have one or two dominant gifts from the seven listed in Romans, but Jesus Christ had all of them in full perfection. He knew and proclaimed the will of God perfectly, never sliding into despair, or spiritual pride. The Pharisees thought the prophetic gift should be totally judgmental, not realizing that all gifts are balanced by God’s character. A prophet also must display mercy and grace. Isaiah showed that, and Luke tells of how Jesus showed grace to the Pharisees . . .

One of them invited Jesus to dinner. A sinful woman heard of it and went to the man’s house with an alabaster flask of ointment. She wept as she wet the feet of Jesus, wiped them with her hair, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

The Pharisee saw this and said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” He thought that his perception made him a prophet who could judge this woman.

Jesus knew not only the mind of God but also perceived what the man was thinking. He said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you . . . . A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

To his credit, the Pharisee got the answer right. He said it would be the one for whom the moneylender cancelled the larger debt.

Jesus then said, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:36–50)

The true prophetic gift condemns sin, but to be like Jesus, it also forgives sinners.

Tested and True

An acquaintance sent me an email with a brightly colored attachment. It was “The Sayings of. . . .” a well-known, self-proclaimed prophet. I glanced at it and pressed the ‘delete’ key.

My devotional book seems stuck on false prophets right now. I’ve thought that they are not a problem, but the ‘To:’ line in that email was filled with names. Will those people know that this person is teaching anti-biblical stuff? The person that sent it claims to be a Christian. Obviously she doesn’t have any idea that what she is promoting falls into the category of what Jesus calls “bad fruit.”

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. (Matthew 7:15-20)

The early church was particularly vulnerable. They had the Old Testament, but the New Testament was still in the form of letters being circulated to each congregation. They didn’t have the full book of God’s guidelines as we do today. Still, they needed to watch out for false prophets.

As happens today, some people seized on Christianity as a way to make money. The early churches were wary of those who made excessive appeals for money. Paul, who preached the truth, was content with basic support and set a good example. He even engaged in part-time tent-making to provide his own needs. As for his ministry, he wrote, “For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:17).

In those days, the church was also wary of those who hung around too long. In other words, a true prophet didn’t wear out his welcome. His ministry and mission were more important so he kept moving. Those with false teaching were more interested in serving themselves and staying where the gravy flowed.

Then as now, those who taught the truth also lived it. While false teachers can mask their inner lives and fool others, they often teach one thing and practice another. I know a man that teaches anger management, but he himself easily flies into a rage. He does not have the Spirit of God so he cannot practice what he preaches.

Because Jesus lived what He taught and because He was totally selfless, Jesus could say, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). He is the true prophet, and only those who teach what He taught and strive to live as He lived have a message I want to hear. No one else measures up.