“The church is a non-prophet organization.” Do you agree? For tax purposes, churches in our country are identified as “not for profit” organizations. But where are the prophets? Who speaks for God?
Stephen spoke prophetically when he talked about Moses. Moses promised Israel that God would not leave them without a word. When he climbed Mt. Nebo, he did not descend. But God raised up Joshua to lead the people. Moses looked further into the future, to a time when another messenger would come, not just to speak a word from God, but a word as God.
When Moses received messages from God, he spoke “living words” to the people. Our God is alive. Those who speak for him offer life-giving, living words from God. God is in favor of life. He wants people to live abundantly and eternally. The true prophet speaks from God’s word today with a broken heart. Their role is not to predict the future, but to say, “Thus says the Lord.”
How do we know what God says? He has spoken once and for all, in and through his Son (Hebrews 1:1-4). As long as we have Jesus, we will never be a non-prophet organization. When Jesus was baptized, the voice from heaven said, “This is my Son whom I love. Listen to him.”
