<p class="s18"><span class="s17">WHAT DID JESUS HAVE IN MIND WHEN HE DIED </span><span class="s17">TO ESTABLISH THE CHURCH?</span></p>
<p class="s21">​<span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">Several weeks ago, I</span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20"> asked the following questions</span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">, “What is our prophetic witness?” and “Where is our prophetic voice?”</span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20"> At the core </span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">of prophetic witness and prophetic voice is the word “prophetic.” </span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">This word is grounded in the</span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20"> history of the prophets of the Old Testament.</span></span></p>
<p class="s21">​<span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">The word prophet comes from the Greek word </span></span><span class="s22"><span class="bumpedFont20">prophētēs</span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">, which is made up of two Greek words</span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">,</span></span> <a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=G4253&amp;t=KJV"><span class="s24"><span class="bumpedFont20">prό</span></span> </a><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">meaning</span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20"> “To tell beforehand, before, in front of” and </span></span><span class="s22"><span class="bumpedFont20">phēmi'</span></span> <span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">meaning</span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20"> “to tell, to speak.”  A prophet, therefore, is a foreteller of future events.</span></span></p>
<p class="s21">​<span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">The role of the prophet was much different from the role of the priest. Simply put, the prophet stood before the people on behalf of God, while the priest stood before God on behalf of the people. The prophet was the voice of God sharing with the people “Thus says the L</span></span><span class="s26"><span class="bumpedFont20">ORD</span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">.” Additionally, while the priests were comforting the afflicted, the prophets were afflicting the comfortable.</span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20"> It was the prophet, after seeing what God saw, spoke what God said, and challenged the people to do what God desired.</span></span> <span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">Accordingly,</span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20"> the prophets were not the most </span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">favored among the people.</span></span></p>
<p class="s21">​<span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">Because of the intimate relationship that the prophet had with God, and because the prophet foresaw what God revealed, the prophet, as the forete</span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">ller of future events, spoke on behalf of God. The prophet was God’s mouthpiece, spokesperson, representative, ambassador, delegate, messenger, envoy, etc. </span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">Although the prophets were not favored among the people, they sustained a cherished relationship with God.</span></span></p>
<p class="s21">​<span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">Moses was called by God to be a prophet</span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">, and is a significant example of </span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">what it mean</span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">t</span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">to have an intimate relationship with God and speak on the behalf of God</span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">. In Deuteronomy 34:10, God </span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">said</span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20"> of Moses, “</span></span><span class="s27"><span class="bumpedFont20">10 </span></span><span class="s22"><span class="bumpedFont20">But since then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.</span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">” </span></span></p>
<p class="s21">​<span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">Following are examples of prophets who heard from God, then spoke for God: [</span></span><span class="s28"><span class="bumpedFont20">Ezekiel</span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">] </span></span><span class="s22"><span class="bumpedFont20">“</span></span><span class="s27"><span class="bumpedFont20">7 </span></span><span class="s22"><span class="bumpedFont20">You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they </span></span><span class="s22"><span class="bumpedFont20">are</span></span><span class="s22"><span class="bumpedFont20">rebellious.”</span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20"> (Ezekiel 2:7). [</span></span><span class="s28"><span class="bumpedFont20">Amos</span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">] </span></span><span class="s22"><span class="bumpedFont20">“</span></span><span class="s27"><span class="bumpedFont20">7 </span></span><span class="s22"><span class="bumpedFont20">Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.</span></span><span class="s27"><span class="bumpedFont20">8 </span></span><span class="s22"><span class="bumpedFont20">A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy?</span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20"> (Amos 3:7, 8). [</span></span><span class="s28"><span class="bumpedFont20">Balaam</span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">] </span></span><span class="s22"><span class="bumpedFont20">“</span></span> <span class="s27"><span class="bumpedFont20">8</span></span><span class="s22"><span class="bumpedFont20">And he said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the Lord speaks to me</span></span><span class="s22"><span class="bumpedFont20">…</span></span><span class="s22"><span class="bumpedFont20">” </span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">(Numbers 22:8). </span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">[</span></span><span class="s28"><span class="bumpedFont20">Deborah</span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">] </span></span><span class="s22"><span class="bumpedFont20">“</span></span><span class="s27"><span class="bumpedFont20">6 </span></span><span class="s22"><span class="bumpedFont20">She sent and summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you, ‘Go, take position at Mount Tabor, bringing ten thousand from the tribe of Naphtali</span></span><span class="s22"><span class="bumpedFont20">…</span></span><span class="s22"><span class="bumpedFont20">” </span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">(Judges 4:6). </span></span></p>
<p class="s21">​<span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">The prophets pronounced a prophetic word of judgment to those who </span></span><span class="s20"><span class="bumpedFont20">were rebellious to God’s purposes and plans. Additionally, the prophets presented a prophetic word of hope to those who had sunken into the deep valley of hopelessness and despair, and needed to know that God was with them and would deliver them.</span></span></p>