The Calling of a Prophet
TEACHER
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Lesson 3
BASIC BIBLICAL TEXT
Isaiah 6.6-8
Jeremiah 1.4-9
Ezekiel 2.1-3
BASIC BIBLICAL TEXT
Isaiah 6.6-8
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar.
7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.“
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
BASIC BIBLICAL TEXT
Jeremiah 1.4-9
4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying,
5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew "you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.“
6 "Alas, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am too young.“
BASIC BIBLICAL TEXT
Jeremiah 1.4-9
7 But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am too young.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.
8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.
9 Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "I have put my words in your mouth.
BASIC BIBLICAL TEXT
Ezekiel 2.1-3
1 He said to me, "Son of man, "stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.“
2 As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.
3 He said: "Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day.
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GOLDEN TEXT
Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.
1 Reis 19.16
AIMS
Define prophetic ministry as a result of God’s calling;
Comprehend that because of the callenges, the prophetic calling was rarely accepted easily by the prophets;
Bring to conscience that the prophetic calling is about a role in church, but also in society.
INTRODUCTION
The ministry of a true prophet is marked by the calling that precedes it.
Priests were chosen according to sacred tradition and family inheritage. The prophet was chosen directly by God. Their authority was anchored in this memory.
1. THE EXPERIENCE OF THE CALLING
The prophetic ministry was initialy marked by the visit of the Holy Spirit, springing capacity and transforming him in na authentic representative of the Lord for the people.
However, it was also necessary that a message was brought to the prophet: the content and purpose of his mission.
1.1. Examples of Calling
There are examples of prophets who were proved by their ministries, but its not said how and when that happened.
1.1.1. Elijah e Elisha
Elijah appears in the biblical text with so big of an authority, and so efficient in his decclarations it is impossible to doubt his calling. His sucessor, Elisha, was indicated by God, but it was Elijah himself who communicated that (1Kings 19.16).
1.1.2. Isaiah
Isaiah’s calling, on the other hand, is detailed in the sixth chapter of his book, on the eight verse.
This experience gave him purpose for his life and transformed his character, his will and his personal dreams. Everything became secondary compared to his mission.
1.1.3. Amos
The prophet himself talks about his calling (Am 7. 14,15).
Why does he say he wasn’t a prophet? It seems like he said he wasn’t a seer who prophetized by payment. His profession was to be a peasant, but God appeared, interrupted his activity and commisioned him to go to the North Kingdom to deliver His message.
2. PRESENTED OBJECTIONS
As it may seem glorious, those callings were rarely accepted easily by the prophets (Ex3.11;4.10) (Jr 1.6).
2.1. Possible Reasons for the objections
2.1.1. A Lifelong calling
A prophet is not called for an isolated fact. The calling would end a cycle in his life that should be left behind. Everything that has this lifelong characteristic springs fear.
2.1.2. A Calling for many aspects of life
The prophetic activity was not exherted in leisure time. When someone was called by God, all areas of their lives were transformed. Elisha left everything behind to follow Elijah and become his successor. Amos left his cattle to go to the North, facing oppositions.
2.1.3. The Calling involved hard tasks
The first mission assingned to Samuel, when he was still a boy, was to declare God’s sentence to Eli’s home. Jonah tried to get away from his mission, clearing that he didn’t wish that position for himself. And what can we say about Hosea, called to mary a prostitute as part of his mission?
2.2. The calling had a commandment
Although Isaiah set himself available to go, many passages clarify the fact that his calling wasn’t about an invitation, but a divine commandment.
There’s also the example of Jeremiah, who, because of the stoning, decided to keep silent facing the evil around him.
He tries to stay silente, but an irresistible fire takes upon his heart and sends him to preach.
3. THE PURPOSE OF THE CALLING
3.1. Called to rebuke
The prophets would work as moral breaks for the people, priests and kings, that would often be apart from God and would follow a sinful path.
God would send a prophet to rebuke them in their practice and desires.
3.2. Called to utter sentences
On 1 Kings, in the fourteenth chapter, Joroboam sent his wife to Ahijah, for him to declare what would happen to his son, who was sick.
Even though she was disguised and the prophet was blind, the sentence was uttered: his son would die and his lineage would end. Jehu also prophetized basically the same thing to Baasa, king of Israel.
3.3. Called to intercede
Daniel was called for a prophetic ministry. He would pray three times a day for the restoration of Jerusalem.
2 Kings chapter 19 narrates that when Hezekiah receives the communication of war from Assyria, he sends a message to Isaiah, asking him to pray.
An incommon passage was when God forbid Jeremiah to pray for the people, letting him know He wouldn’t listen in this matter.
CONCLUSION
Ministry isn’t a matter of human capacity, but divine choice.
Every legitimate calling will need legalization, which comes through the laying hands of the church, efficiency and people’s recognition. All of them are requested.
May God bless
your life!
EBD ADVEC
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