Where is the Prophetic Voice?

Where is the prophetic voice for our nation? For our world? It seems a strange question to pose, yet in light of the crisis nature of current events, it is one we must be asking.

"Prophets are God's emergency men for crisis hours." Leonard Ravenhill
[A 2-minute clip to hear the context of his statement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj8uRaFU3X8]

This is the time for a voice to ring out, to sound the alarm, to issue a decree.

Make no mistake, we have no need for the type of, "Peace! Peace!" prophecy which has infiltrated our airwaves. Sadly, there will always be those who can be found "making profit dishonestly. From prophet to priest." (Jeremiah 8:11) They will seek to declare gain as godliness, as they treat the 'brokenness of God's people "superficially, claiming, 'Peace, peace,' when there is no peace."

Equally tempting is the posturing intellectualism which poses as prophecy. We live in a time where squabbles are considered holy discourse.

Squabbles: a noisy quarrel about something petty or trivial.

True prophecy is not petty, nor is it trivial. It has little concern for winning arguments or the approval of a select group of men. True prophecy is too preoccupied with God for any of those matters.

So we press on, not despising prophecy, but rather desiring it. We long for the true prophets - the emergency men as Ravenhill puts it. We have heard it repeated, "without revelation people run wild - without vision, the people perish." Yet how rare it is to hear this type of pure, unwavering, unquestionable holy decree!

The brokenness is felt. The perishing is evident. Yet the revelation is absent. The collective cry rises within us, just as it always has with God's people during these crisis hours, "Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?" (Jeremiah 8:22)

Why no prophet, why no voice crying out from the wilderness? I fear the price of isolation is too costly, too reckless, too at odds with the 'influence at all costs' society in which we live. "What good is a message from heaven if we can't share it with as many people as possible?" We think to ourselves.

Before long our love for the reach of the platform overtakes our reverence. Our sensibilities of maintaining the system take precedence over purity.

'Far too costly!' is the cry. 'Much too extreme!'

"Indeed, the Lord God does nothing without revealing His counsel to His servants the prophets. A lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken; who will not prophesy?" Amos 3:7-8

Catch a vision with me and let it start with the Lord God who has spoken:
"He made the earth by His power!"
"Established the world by His wisdom!"
"And spread out the heavens by His understanding!"
Jeremiah 51:15

This God is one of WHEN not IF statements, "When He thunders..."

Catch a vision with me - of One high and lifted up. It is He who creates, forms, and rules, both before and after, and unto everlasting. This vision is of One who holds all the rights, for mercy and also for judgment. He is the Lord God compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations. And, He disciplines with justice and who will by no means leave the guilty unpunished.

This prophetic revelation, of the One true God, will lead you not to perishing, but to everlasting life. Are you are able to see it?

This nation needs a prophetic voice. This world as well. Cry out then for the prophet - one who prepares the way. Long for the vision to be revealed. And once you have cried out, once you have desired - wait.

You say, "I have cried out, I have longed to see! Yet still I am blind, thirsty, broken!"

Wait. Believe. For we know, "Without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." Hebrews 11:6

He will come, He will have compassion upon you, for He has promised to be One who rewards those who diligently seek Him. Diligently seek Him today!

My desire is to be a man who prays.

Will you join me in prayer? Lord, we pray for true prophets in this nation and in the world. We desire Your prophetic revelation to be made known to us. Give us these kinds of eyes to see!

What things are you praying for? Reply to this letter and let me know. I'd like to join with you in praying for them.

-Derek

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All Scriptures in this issue are taken from the CSB translation