April 14, 2021: SOAP #4150:  1Samuel 15-16; 1Chronicles 5; Matthew 1

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 1: 22 All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”— which means, “God with us.”

OBSERVATION: It is not what the prophets said, but “what the Lord had said through the prophet.”  God is not bound to honor the prophet’s word; He is bound to honor His word. 

The gift of prophesy is one of the nine gifts listed in 1Corinthians (14;31.) It can be ministered through any believer.  They speak forth what God is saying in the present.  It may be a word of exhortation, edification, or comfort.  It may be recognized as a gift of prophesy or not, but it brings God’s desired affect to the hearers.  What it does is more important than what it is called!

A prophet must be careful to speak for the Lord.  He must limit himself to just what the Lord is saying.  (1Corinthians 12:10)   It may be easy to get carried along with the energy of a prophesy, but when the “prophet” goes beyond what God is saying, and it does not come to pass, it hinders the validity of the true word of the Lord. 

I do not believe that a prophet is a prophet because he claims to be a prophet.  God honors the true prophets by bringing His word to pass.  People can recognize prophets by seeing God’s words brought to pass. (1Samuel 3:20)

APPLICATION:  Speaking for the Lord is a high honor; it is also a great responsibility.  To think that God would use a man to communicate to people is amazing.  To think that a man could speak for God is fearful.  I am honored that God uses these daily SOAPs to speak to people (myself first).  I am also fearful/careful to write out only what He gives me.  Many times, they are prophetic, not that they foretell the future, but in that they give forth the Word of the Lord to someone. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, guide my words as I present God and His Word in these daily SOAPs.  I desire to faithfully communicate your truth and your love.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!