What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter." Is. 5:20, NLT.
In the middle of that confusion, one voice rises to the surface. That voice is the voice of the prophet. Prophets are the heralds of God's voice; they bring clarity and instruction in the midst of confusion. That is what John the Baptist did in his day. How did John describe himself to the Pharisees of his day? In John 1:23, NIV, we gain a clear picture of who John the Baptist is - he is the messenger chosen to prepare the way for the Messiah. John says,
I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.
Today, we have a myriad of voices. Each voice is clamoring for attention. Each voice is trying to rise above every other voice at the table of humanity. Each voice is trying to speak over every other voice. And, the tongues of so many speaking have become the gate to hell. The average person has tuned out. Why? They no longer want hell in their life. Can anyone blame them? No. We can't blame people for tuning out given the condition of what is taking place in the world today.
In the midst of that swirl of human wisdom, divine guidance is needed. People are asking basic questions that require answers like 1) Why am I here, 2) What is my purpose, 3) Is there anything greater than this? Christians are asking the same questions and more. They know that there is more; they have tasted more. Believers are hungry for genuine prophetic ministry. And we have some. But, not enough, and not to the level that it needs to be to establish Christ's kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. But that is what is needed.
What we need is the voice of the prophet. We need the "one voice" that John heard and declared to his generation. Instead, we have many voices speaking to our generation. But amidst the many voices, we have confusion. That is what many voices bring. We need clarity. The clarity that only the Holy Spirit can bring. When we stop speaking our own words, which we speak for personal gain, and speak with the "one voice", everything will change.
What will the "one voice" bring? Besides bringing clarity, it will also bring unity. Jesus clearly said, "The one speaking from himself seeks the own glory, but the One seeking the glory of the One having sent Him, He is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him." Jn. 7:18, Berean Literal Bible. When we speak from our own authority, strength, and gifting we speak for ourselves to bring glory to ourselves. God has winked at this in the midst of His prophets. But now, that will change.
God is calling His prophets to speak with the "one voice". Jesus and John the Baptist were in unity; there was no competition between them. John said, "He must increase, but I must decrease." Jn. 3:30. John didn't have a ministry empire that would complete with Jesus's kingdom. Unfortunately, we have many ministry empires that are competing with Christ's kingdom for an audience. But Jesus is looking for us to become an army - an army ready to obey His command.
In 2018, I attended a conference being held by the Association of Related Ministries International (ARMI) overseen by Andrew Wommack. During one of the meetings, Barry Bennett spoke. In his message, he shared how God spoke to him from Luke 9:13 during one of his missions trips. What Bennett heard next floored him. God spoke to him what he spoke to the disciples: "You feed them." While Bennett was sharing, I heard God's speak to me:
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Matt. 10:8.
Suddenly I realized that what Jesus said wasn't a suggestion, it was a command. That changed my theology. Now I understood how the disciples felt when Jesus said to them: "You feed them." And I realized how far short I was from the Biblical command of Jesus. Jesus expects His Church to heal those who are sick. He expects His Church to cleanse those with leprosy. He expects His Church to raise the dead. He expects His Church to cast out demons. I have done 2 of the 4. I have cast out demons. I have seen the sick healed. But I have fallen short of the command.
When we hear the "one voice", we are thrust into a sudden position of dependency. Before Him, we become needy. We recognize how far short we have fallen of His command. And, when that happens, suddenly we recognize that when we stand before Him, we are judged by Him based on our obedience to His command. I realized Jesus expected me to do what he commanded me to do. And I realized just how short I had fallen. That is the one voice.
In our need and dependency on Him, we recognize the greatness of who He is. Jesus isn't just one person among many. No, He is the One; He is the Messiah. Remember what happened to Isaiah,
I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Is. 6:1, NIV.
When Isaiah saw the one who sits on the throne, he was undone. Then he heard the "one voice". Prophets must be undone by the one to hear the "one voice". That happened to Jesus's inner circle (Peter, James, and John) when he was transfigured before them. What they saw and heard changed them: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" Matt. 17:5, NKJV. When prophets begin hearing Him, the prophetic movement will be transfigured and transformed.
Why is our instruction to Hear Him? Because Jesus is the one prophet like Moses. In Deuteronomy 18:15, NLT, it says, "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him." Jesus is that prophet. Jesus Himself was and is a prophet. Jesus was a prophet: "I must be on my way today, tomorrow, and the next day; it is not right for a prophet to be killed anywhere except in Jerusalem." Lk. 13:33, Good News Translation.
Much of the Church has forgotten that Jesus was and is a prophet. If we cannot hear the one voice, especially from His prophets, then what makes us different from the people Jesus describes in Luke 11:50, 51, which says,
That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.
Many are looking for a great awakening. I hope a great awakening does come to America. But before that great awakening comes, I believe that we need a rude awakening. The Church be shocked to its spiritual senses. Church, our spiritual hearts are barely beating. Prophets, we need to deliver such a spiritual shock that it will resurrect the Church to its glorious calling in Christ. For that to happen, we must hear, and respond, to the one voice, His voice, the voice of THE Prophet - Jesus Christ.
When that happens, and it will happen, a transfiguration and transformation will take place amongst God's prophets and within the prophetic movement and will spread to the Chuch and world. Get ready! You are about to hear His voice like you have never heard Him before.
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