7-30-17 At many Times and in Various Ways

Scripture:  Ephesians 2:19-22

Hebrews 1:1-3a

In the past (before our time) God spoke to our ancestors (people in our faith family who died before we were born) through the prophets (who were the prophets?) at many times and in various ways, (God uses the personality and skills of different people to proclaim His word) but in these last days (we are still in these last days) he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.  (The prophets were imperfect messengers of God’s word in that they revealed a small part of God’s word whereas the Son reveals all of God’s word…according to John, Jesus is God’s word…made flesh)

          The prophets were ordinary people called by God to speak on his behalf. They were passionate about the living God and many gave their life for His purpose. You don’t have to go back 3000 years to see people with such passion:

Maximilian Kolbe (Polish Franciscan, died at Auschwitz), 1941

Edith Stein (Carmelite nun, died at Auschwitz), 1942

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, (April 9, 1945) Lutheran Pastor and member of the German Resistance

Wang Zhiming (1907 - December 29, 1973) Chinese pastor, publicly executed

Martin Burnham, 2002 missionary killed by terrorists after being held captive for a year.

Jacques Hamel – Priest killed in the 2016 Normandy church attack.

So too, many of the prophets died for their faith in God. How then can we take our faith or leave it? How can it be such an easy thing for us? Why do we (I) seek comfort more than the cross of Christ?

          Who are the Prophets?

SLIDES FOR EACH SECTION BELOW:

Old Testament Prophets

Major Prophets

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel

Minor Prophets

Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

Other Prophets

Elijah, Elisha, Gad, Micaiah, Nathan, Samuel

New Testament Prophets

John the Baptist, John the Revelator, Agubus, Anna, Barnabas, Paul the Apostle

What is the role of a prophet?         Deuteronomy 18:18-20

I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account.

God speaks to us through the prophets      Hosea 12:1

I spoke to the prophets, gave them many visions and told parables through them."

God reveals His plans to the prophets.     Amos 3:7

Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.

Why did God send prophets?         2 Chronicles 24:19, NKJV.

“Yet He sent prophets to them, to bring them back to the LORD; and they testified against them, but they would not listen.”

The gift of prophecy is intended to build up the church and unify it.  Ephesians 4:11-13, NKJV. "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;"

Jesus didn’t come to get rid of the law and the prophets, rather to reveal all of it perfected and complete: Matt 5:17-20   "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Luke 18:31-33

Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again."

Acts 10:42

All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

Acts 28:24-25

From morning till evening Paul explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.

Ephesians 2:19-22

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

          As a church we are to be a prophet of God and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ through everything we do – through our programs, our worship, our service and through the lives of each individual believer.

Elijah and the widow of Zarephath / Rich man in hell – Lazurus and Abraham

Luke 16:27-31   "He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' "'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"

CORNERSTONE

My hope is built on nothing less / Than Jesus' blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame / But wholly trust in Jesus' name

When Darkness seems to hide His face / I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale / My anchor holds within the veil

Christ alone; cornerstone / Weak made strong; in the Saviour's love
Through the storm, He is Lord / Lord of all