Jeremiah 1:4-5
“The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “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.”
INSIGHT
-The Bible mentions prophets in both the Old and New Testaments. They are classified as either major and minor prophets. Prophets receive messages from God, mainly concerning events that will take place in the future and conveys them to a certain group of people or singular person, whom God intends to hear the delivered message. Jeremiah, one of the major prophets had a personal encounter with the Lord. He was apparently raised in a godly, priestly home, and the Lord chose him to have a personal encounter with Him and His word. Jeremiah was called to be a prophet of God before the foundations of the world. True prophets are called by God and no one should assume that he/she is a prophet or prophetess, as some call themselves into what they are not called into. Only God can reveal ones true calling. 1 Corinthians 12:29 reveals that, “Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?” Prophecy is a gift from God and a prophet is called and chosen by God.
PRAYER
We sing to You Lord a new song. We sing praises to Your name and make known Your salvation day after day. We declare Your glory among the nations and Your marvelous deeds among all the nations and all the people. Great are You Lord and most worthy of praise. Only You Abba Father are to be feared before all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but You Lord made the heavens and the earth. Splendor and majesty are before You, strength and glory are in Your sanctuary. We worship You Lord in the splendor of Your holiness. Only You Lord anoint Your chosen people. Only You anoint the heads of prophets with oil. You knew us before we were formed in our mothers wombs, and ordained us before the foundations of the world. May Your divine purpose prevail in our lives. Many are prophets among us and yet they do not know, reveal Your chosen prophets according to Your divine purpose. Loving Father; we humbly ask You to be with all the youth. Be with those who are not going to school at this time that you may shape their future. Deliver them from peer pressure that they may not fall into the snares of the evil one. Settle their hearts with wisdom as they wait on You for reopening of the schools. Have mercy on all the health worker Jesus who are responsible for taking care for those who are sick. We pray for special protection in their lives. May many of them turn to You and may Your healing virtue heal all those who are sick. Take away the tide of COVID-19 from our nation and all the nations of the world merciful Father. Thank You for protecting us from all forms of disease and calamity. Thank You for protecting us from the smiting sun and moon. Thank You for sustaining us and blessing us. Thank You for Your presence in our lives. We declare an overflow in our relationships, marriages, families, churches, businesses, careers, schools and nation. Father You give us the ability to create wealth, we thank You and bless Your holy name. Remember those who do not have food, shelter and clothing that You may reach each one of them at their points of need. Use us dear Master for the glory of Your name. May our cups always overflow with Your goodness Abba Father. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives and we shall dwell in Your house forever. Amen
Matthew 3:11-12
“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
INSIGHT
-John the Baptist a prophet of the Lord was called to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah. He was consumed by the message of repentance like other prophets including:- Jeremiah, Isaiah, Joel, Daniel, Zechariah, Jonah and many others. A prophet should then lead fellow men to repentance and warn them of the consequences of sin. He/she should lead a holy life and focus on the holiness of God. Even though sometimes he may be seen as judgmental and could be rejected for being outspoken, he should always speak the truth as the Lord instructs. Like Stephen and John the Baptist who were persecuted for speaking the truth, a prophet should stand firm in faith. A prophets main message should lead people to Christ and focus on His second coming. According to Acts 10:43, all prophets should witness that, through Jesus’ name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins. A prophet should also be led by the word of God and reveal the mysteries of God as instructed. He/she should be led by the Holy Spirit and pray for His impartation on the people.
PRAYER
Lord You are slow in anger and not slack in Your promises but wish that all men should come to repentance, forgive us all our sins and bring us all to life everlasting. Your love and mercy consumes our hearts, thank You for loving and giving us Your only begotten Son to be the propitiation for our sins. No one can love us more that You do Jesus, thank You for loving us. Help us to love You and one another as we love ourselves; through the perfect love that You have given us. Your perfect love cast out all fear and creates in us confidence of living with You forever. Thank You for loving us Father. Give us the grace to forgive all those who have offended us and renew Your steadfast spirit within us. Unite us loving Father with our family members, friends, neighbors, spouses and colleagues according to Your will. We humbly ask You to instill in all those who do not know You with the gift of salvation that they may come to repentance and eternal life with You. All souls belong to You Jesus, thank You for loving us. Baptize us with Your Holy Spirit and fire, and fill our hearts with Your gifts and fruit that we may bear much fruit according to Your divine will. Thank You for loving us Holy Spirit. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forever more. Amen
1 John 4:1-4
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
INSIGHT
-John the apostle reveals that since the Holy Spirit dwells in us, we are able to discern Him from other spirits present in the world. He cautions that we should not trust every spirit but test them first. The foundational teaching of a prophet should be built on the birth, death and resurrection of Christ. We are cautioned against prophets that pose as true witnesses of God but are counterfeit in orientation and do not proclaim that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh from God. Before Paul and Silas were throne to prison, they discerned the spirit of a slave girl possessed by the spirit of divination also known as the python spirit. Her masters made profit out of her predictions of people’s future and could tell that Paul and Silas were servants of God; who proclaimed the message of salvation. After some time; Paul prayed for her and the Lord delivered her from the evil spirit (Acts16:16-18). We should then distinguish the Spirit of truth from the spirit of falsehood (1 John 4:6). Some prophets operate under both spirits and can cause spiritual misalignment among their congregants. They tell of false and deceptive visions to gain a following (Lamentations 2:14). Like the slave girls encounter, some also use their seer abilities to enrich themselves. It is advisable then to test every spirit and the Holy Spirit who dwells in us will direct us in all truth.
PRAYER
I love You O LORD, my Strength, my Rock, my Fortress, my Deliverer, My God, in You I put my trust. You are my Shield and the horn of my salvation, my Stronghold, I will praise You all the days of my life. I call upon You LORD, who is worthy to be praised and You shall save me from all my enemies. Fill us with the gift of discernment Holy Spirit and save us from the spirit of deception we humbly implore You. Reveal to us the spirit of falsehood and deliver us from false prophets. Save all Your people Lord and bring us all to life everlasting. We acknowledge that only You Jesus are our Lord and Savior; who became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld Your glory. Only You are the Rock of our salvation, we put all our hope and trust in You. Thank You for becoming our ever present help Holy Spirit in our time of need. May Your grace overtake us and may Your presence always go with us. Our Father who art in heaven; hallowed be Your name; Your Kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from evil; for thine is the Kingdom the power and the glory; forever and ever. Amen
Daniel 6:3
“Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.”
INSIGHT
-Daniel a prophet of the Lord was able to accurately interpret dreams through the power of the the Holy Spirit. He disclosed king Nebuchadnezzar’s dream the first time and gave its interpretation when the magicians, soothsayers and all wise men of Babylon could not do it. He also gave an interpretation of the second dream which echoed the first, that king Nebuchadnezzar’s reign would soon come to an end. Given his great pride in seeing that his great kingdom was built by his own hands, king Nebuchadnezzar said, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?” (Daniel4:30). While these word were still in his mouth, king Nebuchadnezzar was judged for his pride, he fell and later realized that all glory and honor belongs to God. Like Daniel, a prophet should have an excellent spirit from the Lord. He/ she should have the ability to see dreams and visions, and accurately interpret them as the Lord reveals. Daniel was put in charge of all the wise men, governors and satraps in Babylon and given other major responsibilities due to the fact that he had the ability to accurately hear from God. Like Daniel, Joseph became a governor in Egypt as he accurately interpreted Pharaohs dreams. A prophet should have the ability to hear from God. He/she should also be a leader, only led by the Holy Spirit. A prophet’s disposition should match his position, as a leader and not a follower, always walking with the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER
We bless You LORD, Most High for only You are worthy to be praised. We praise You and honor You forever. Your dominion is everlasting and Your kingdom transcends from generations to generations. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing, we are nothing without You Holy Spirit and can do nothing without You. You do according to Your will through Your army in heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain Your hand or say to You, “What have You done?” Only You are the LORD of lord and King of kings, our everlasting Father, Your reign endures forever. Fill us Holy Spirit with Your excellent spirit that we may walk in dominion, to rule and reign on the earth according to Your will. We are priests and kings to You Almighty Father, may all that we say and do bring glory to Your name. Reveal to us dreams, visions, revelations and their interpretations. Fill us with Your wisdom, knowledge and understanding, and help us to bear much fruit for the glory of Your name. Fill our children with Your excellent spirit that they may become Your generals Jesus. May they walk with You always and serve You according to Your divine purpose. Heal all the children who are sick and cover them with Your precious blood. Deliver them from peer pressure and other evil influence and guide them in the light of Your salvation. Give all our leaders Your excellent spirit that they may only do Your divine will. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forever more. Amen
John 4:19
“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet.”
INSIGHT
-At Jacobs well Jesus spoke the the Samaritan woman and revealed to her that she had five husbands and the one she presently had did not belong to her. At this the woman marvelled and proclaimed that Jesus was a prophet. This gave her confidence in Him and when Jesus asked her to receive living water, she did not protest but freely received the river of water that yield salvation. Jesus proved that He was not only a prophet but God. After receiving the gift of salvation, the Samaritan woman went and called many others who also partook of the living water. From Revelation 1:1-3, we also see that the revelation from Jesus Christ is the word of prophecy and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. The word of God is the revelation of Jesus Christ and those who hear His voice are His sheep and they follow Him, and He gives them eternal life.
SUMMARY
There are various prophets in both the Old and the New Testament. Prophets have special and distinct characteristics as revealed from the reviewed Biblical references. The book of Jeremiah reveals that Jeremiah was called to be a prophet to the nations before he was formed in his mother’s womb. A prophet therefore is chosen and called by God before inception. Like Daniel and Joseph, a prophet should be able to see dreams and visions and accurately interpret them. These qualities gives prophets and prophetesses an edge as they and considered leaders, led by the Holy Spirit and not just followers. John the Baptist proclaimed the message of repentance as he prepared the way for the coming of Jesus Christ. Other prophets including; Jeremiah, Hosea, Isaiah, Nehemiah, Jonah, Joel, Zachariah, Daniel and many others spoke the message of repentance which brought many back to God. A prophet should then speak the message of repentance and lead fellow men to Jesus Christ. John the Baptist baptized with water and spoke clearly that one who is more powerful than him, that is Jesus Christ would baptize the people with the Holy Spirit and fire. Jesus is our greatest prophet. He is the word of God and blessed are those who hear and follow His word. A true prophet should base his/her message on these facts, and proclaim the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. If a prophet does not acknowledge that Jesus has come in the flesh from the Father, he/ she is not a true prophet but bears the spirit of antichrist. Paul and Silas realized that the slave girl witnessed through the spirit of divination and her masters deceived many for a profit. We are then called to test every spirit through the gift of discernment, and the Holy Spirit who dwells in us and with us will lead us in all truth.
PRAYER
We praise You Holy Spirit for Your presence in our lives. Baptize us with Your holy fire and lead us in all truth. All we need is You in our lives, comfort us, heal our wounds, help us, lead us, direct us, surround us with Your hedge of fire, bless us, grant us Your favor and lead us to life everlasting. Lead all Your people to life everlasting loving Jesus. Help us to realize that the time is short and You are coming. Prepare us Jesus for Your second coming. We humbly ask You to heal all those who have been affected with COVID-19. Protect all the young ones from contracting COVID-19. Protect us all Jesus from COVID-19 and other illnesses that may cause us pain. Protect us Lord with Your righteous hand. Deliver our nation and all the other nations of the world from the tide of COVID-19 we humbly implore You. Deliver us merciful Father from false prophecies and lead us in Your way of truth. Fill us with Your gift of prophecy, discernment, faith, wisdom, knowledge, understanding, excellence and many other gifts as You please Holy Spirit. Fill our hearts with Your fruit of love and help us love You and our neighbors as ourselves. Help us to see You and know You as You are Holy Spirit. Help us to draw near to You as You draw near to us. Help us to abide in You fully as You abide in us. Our faith and hope of salvation is in You Jesus, all we need is You in our lives, families and nation. Heal our nation from corrupt, poor governance, selfishness and mismanagement of resources. Heal our hearts from fear, anxiety, pain, pride, unforgiveness and every other thing that is not of Your kingdom. Heal all our wounds loving Jesus, we surrender all to You. Amen