"Be Counted"
January 29, 2006

The New Testament Lesson: Romans 10: 14 - 17
The Old Testament Lesson: Deuteronomy 18: 15 - 20

As the body of Christ, the church is called to prophetic ministry and each individual has a part!

I.  The Promise of Prophets
   A. You’ve seen them on the street corners.
        1. more often than not they are a little wild eyed and expression
        2. Many times they are very clean and their hair isn’t combed.
        3. They speak to you without introduction and preamble.
        4. They can be quite demanding.
        5. If you think I’m talking about street people, you’re wrong.
        6. I’m talking about that group of people known as prophets!
   B. Prophets are not in the category of “bring them home to meet mom”
        1. They are often belligerent.
        2. They tell us things we don’t want to hear and are unlikely to believe.
        3. They are full of dire warnings and reminders of sin.
        4. And they are something that god has promised to us!
            a. They are listed among the gifts God has given to the church.
            b. It is listed as a gift of the Holy Spirit.
            c. But when you meet a prophet, they seem more like an imposition!
        5. Prophets do strange things and say strange things.  The key is that they do it in God’s name!
   C. Prophets are nothing new in the History of God’s dealing with us.
        1. Moses is considered a prophet by Jews…Christians…and Muslims!
            a. He was sent by God to deliver messages.
            b. He arrived on Pharaoh’s doorstep without an invitation.
            c. Then he said “Thus says the Lord: Let my people go!
        2. He also acted as a prophet when he brought the Law down the Mt.
            a. Here’s is what God expects of you.
            b. Here’s what you can expect from God in return.
        3. And He is being a prophet in toady’s passage.
            a. He offers the people of Israel a very important promise.
            b. God is going to send you another prophet who will be like me.
            c. That prophet will announce God’s word of liberation!
        4. the church has related this passage to one very special one: Jesus.
   D. Being a prophet was one of Jesus major roles.
        1. He is defined by Theology as the model for Prophet, Priest and King.
        2. He functioned in each of these roles during his earthly ministry.
        3. And he continues them today both among and through his people

II.  What exactly is a prophet?
   A. There is a popular misconception about the job of prophet.
        1. Most people immediately think of someone who foretells the future.
            a. Since the prophets said things like Jonah (40 days and wham!)
            b. They did tell people what God was planning to do.
        2. Thus, there is the mistake that they are fortune tellers.
            a. “You are going to meet a tall dark handsome stranger.”
            b. “Invest all your money in oil companies!”
            c. And “The Steelers are going to win the Superbowl.”
            d. A matchmaker, stock analyst and sportscaster all rolled into one
            e. The aspect of future telling is only a by product of their real job.
   B. The main point to what Prophets did was to understand God’s heart.
        1. They were people who were sensitive to the Spirit of God.
            a. They knew how God was feeling about what was going on.
            b. They could tell when actions and behavior grieved God.
            c. They were very aware of injustice in the world around them.
            d. Of course, they were then in tune with what God would do!
        2. The 2^nd part of that is that they said something about what they saw.
            a. When kings were oppressing the poor, they stood for the poor.
            b. When the rich were ignoring the Law of God, the pointed it out.
            c. When priests were trying not to make waves, they created a tempest
        3. As you can imagine Prophets were not very popular.
            a. When everyone one else was having a good time, they pouted.
            b. They are the original party killjoys.
        4. Of course, the prophets were loved by those who loved justice!
            a. down and out people want someone to stir the Status quo
            b. They need someone with power who is tell the Truth.

III.  How would you like to have that job?
   A. Now that you know the job description, you can see Jesus in it.
        1. Jesus was the one that tax collectors and prostitutes invited to parties.  But when he made a Pharisee’s guest list, they were often sorry.
        2. People who were sick and outcast, like lepers, flocked to Jesus.  People who had it made were very uncomfortable with “Sell it all!”
        3. People who held advanced degrees argued with Jesus, but The uneducated commoners listened with rapt attention
        4. People who were well aware of their sin came for forgiveness But the self righteous Scribes were unhappy with Jesus
   B. Jesus was the fulfillment of what Moses promised to Israel.
        1. God will raise up for you a prophet like me!
            a. God will not leave you without a witness.
            b. There will be one to speak the truth to you so you can understand.
        2. But Moses, knowing the people adds a line.
            a. “you shall heed such a prophet.”
            b. If God speaks, you’d better listen.
            c. It’s going to be on the final exam!
   C. But Jesus isn’t done speaking for God!
        1. this very day, in your hearing, a prophet has spoken!
            a. The words that I have spoken are part of Jesus’ prophetic work.
            b. Lest you think that I’m putting on airs, you can be a prophet too!
        2. You see, we are called to be the body of Christ together.
            a. And through us, Jesus continues to speak prophetically.
            b. All those things that need to be said, he wants to say through us!
        3. Where there’s oppression, injustice, Jesus wants to speak through us.
        4. Where the rich exploit the poor, Jesus wants to speak through us.
        5. Where political leaders abuse power, Jesus wants to speak through us.
        6. Where morality has been forgotten, Jesus wants to speak through us.
   D. Jesus wants to speak through us: we are His prophetic voices.
        1. The question is not whether Jesus wants to speak through us.
        2. The question is whether or not we will have the courage to stand and be counted!

     Peter Cartwright was a Methodist preacher.  One Sunday morning, he was told that President Andrew Jackson was in the congregation and he was warned not to say anything controversial.  When Andrew Cartwright stood to preach, he began, “I understand that Andrew Jackson is here.  I have been requested to be guarded in my remarks.  Andrew Jackson will go to Hell if he doesn’t repent!”  After the service, President Jackson shook hands with Peter Cartwright and said “Sir, if I had a regiment of men like you, I could whip the world!”

     Friends, that’s just the way God wants us to be: uncompromising toward the Truth.  And that’s just want God has in mind for us: to whip the world and make it all God’s own.  Amen?  Amen!

And as you go from this place, may you walk in the way of Christ Jesus and May God always find you faithful!