All Are Prophets

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Numbers 11:28-30: And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord Moses, stop them.” But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!” And Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.

What is a prophet? What does a prophet do? What are the qualifications?

A prophet is a person who tells other people about God. A prophet tells others about God's judgment regarding sin and God's judgment of mercy and grace. A prophet's qualifications are simple. A prophet is filled with the Holy Spirit, who knows he/she is loved by God and saved by the blood of Jesus, God's Son and God Himself. A prophet has the power from the Holy Spirit, the third person of God, that drives out fear and worry and jealousy.

Joshua, Moses' right hand man and eventual successor to the role of leader, thought that someone else speaking for God would diminish the role of Moses. At the same time, Moses knew that it would be wonderful if all of God's people experienced the power of the Spirit. In that way more and more people would hear of the wonderful works of God.

And here is the Good News! All God's people have experienced the power of the Holy Spirit. Through Holy Baptism we have received the washing of rebirth and renewal. Through the power of the Word of God, our lives are changed by grace. We have had the Spirit poured onto us and in us.

And now is the time to stop resisting His power and let Him do what He does through us. Let Him take away your fear and worry. Grab hold of His strength that will give you confidence and boldness. Holy Spirit, remove the influence of Satan and our own sinful flesh that resists Your power, lead us more fully to be moved to serve, to speak, and to be more fully Your prophets. And all God's children say...