SO YOU WANT TO BE A PROPHET?

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 38 | Sabbath: February 10th, 2024
Memory Verse: Matthew 21:35
Matthew 21:35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.
Weekly Proverb: Proverbs 18:4
Proverbs 18:4 The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
Introduction: There are a few evangelists today that call themselves prophets and some that call themselves apostles. And there are others that use other titles. Do they really want to be prophets and apostles? What must a prophet endure? What are the life experiences of an apostle?

1. Why was the apostle John in prison on the isle of Patmos? Revelation 1:9.
Revelation 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
2. Did he just happen to be there or was he chosen to be there? John 21:20-23.
John 21:20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
John 21:21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
John 21:22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
John 21:23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
3. What was to be the chosen fate of his fellow apostle Simon Peter? v 18, 19.
John 21:18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
John 21:19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
4. Why was the apostle Peter chosen for this mission? v 19ab.
John 21:19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
5. How did Peter use this prophecy for the benefit of the kingdom? 2 Peter 1:12-15.
2 Peter 1:12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
2 Peter 1:13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
2 Peter 1:14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.
2 Peter 1:15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.
6. A prophet doesn’t only bring good news. Often he has to bring bad news. What happened to the prophet Jeremiah after preaching bad news? Jeremiah 38:1-6.
Jeremiah 38:1 Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son of Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people, saying,
Jeremiah 38:2 Thus saith the Lord, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live.
Jeremiah 38:3 Thus saith the Lord, This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which shall take it.
Jeremiah 38:4 Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt.
Jeremiah 38:5 Then Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand: for the king is not he that can do any thing against you.
Jeremiah 38:6 Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.
Question: Consider the number of prophecies in the scriptures that speak of judgement. What does this mean to the prophet that can only bring good news?
7. The lives of many throughout the scriptures are used as signs and prophecies. How did God use Ezekiel’s wife? Ezekiel 24:16abc, 18.
Ezekiel 24:16 Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down.
Ezekiel 24:18 So I spake unto the people in the morning: and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded.
8. How was Ezekiel commanded to accept this sign? v 15-18.
Ezekiel 24:15 Also the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
Ezekiel 24:16 Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down.
Ezekiel 24:17 Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind the tire of thine head upon thee, and put on thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not thy lips, and eat not the bread of men.
Ezekiel 24:18 So I spake unto the people in the morning: and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded.
9. How did God use the life of Ezekiel’s wife to make a point? v 19-24.
Ezekiel 24:19 And the people said unto me, Wilt thou not tell us what these things are to us, that thou doest so?
Ezekiel 24:20 Then I answered them, The word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
Ezekiel 24:21 Speak unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the excellency of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pitieth; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left shall fall by the sword.
Ezekiel 24:22 And ye shall do as I have done: ye shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.
Ezekiel 24:23 And your tires shall be upon your heads, and your shoes upon your feet: ye shall not mourn nor weep; but ye shall pine away for your iniquities, and mourn one toward another.
Ezekiel 24:24 Thus Ezekiel is unto you a sign: according to all that he hath done shall ye do: and when this cometh, ye shall know that I am the Lord God.
10. How was the prophet Isaiah used? Isaiah 20:1-4.
Isaiah 20:20 In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against Ashdod, and took it;
Isaiah 20:2 At the same time spake the Lord by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.
Isaiah 20:3 And the Lord said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia;
Isaiah 20:4 So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.
11. How long did he walk naked and barefoot? v 3.
Isaiah 20:3 And the Lord said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia;
12. Who dare place themselves in the shoes of the apostle Paul? 2 Corinthians 11:23-33.
2 Corinthians 11:23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
2 Corinthians 11:24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
2 Corinthians 11:25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
2 Corinthians 11:26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
2 Corinthians 11:27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
2 Corinthians 11:28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
2 Corinthians 11:29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
2 Corinthians 11:30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
2 Corinthians 11:31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
2 Corinthians 11:32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:
2 Corinthians 11:33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
Conclusion: Anyone can call themselves a prophet, an apostle, or a bishop. These are all used as titles to bestow prestige on the man. Today’s popular evangelists don’t have to live the lives of biblical saints that truly gave there lives at God’s command. What can a true prophet expect? Instead of tailored clothes, nakedness. Instead of a mansion, prison. Instead of joy, grief. Instead of prestige, death.