Where are the Prophets?

Where are the Prophets, Where is the voice of the prophet in the land?

Yes, I hear an occasional prophecy that I bear witness to from some prophets. Yet, overall, the silence of the prophetic voice in the Church concerns me. And I’ve seen a clamping down on prophets and prophecies by leaders in the Church. Historically, when that happens, the Church begins its descent into deep doctrinal and spiritual error. The corrective voice of the prophet is removed to make way for the voice of error and heresy. So, I must ask the question: Where are the prophets? That’s what I’d like to talk about in this post.

Jesus made this statement to His own home town after He read from the book of Isaiah in His own synagogue: “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.” Luke 4:24, ESV. When making that statement, He provided well known, scriptural examples of that truth: Elijah and Elisha. Elijah was sent to a foreigner to sustain him in the prophesied famine. Elisha, through prophecy, was able to heal a foreigner, Naaman, who was leprous. Here, Jesus shows us a hidden truth in scripture that’s in plain sight: there were MANY widows and lepers in Israel, but TWO received the prophets in their day.

Elijah and the widow of Zarephath

I am constantly amazed at how few receive the prophetic voice. God sends prophets to us when He wants to help us. They bring us heaven through the prophecies they give. Yes, prophecies from prophets do make a difference. When and where true prophets aren’t received, widows starve and lepers remain as lepers. Not that God wasn’t willing to send His prophets to them. He was. He is. The issue: Few are willing to receive God’s prophets, even if they lay at death’s door. Jesus’s summation on this matter: “You will no doubt quote this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal Yourself! Whatever [miracles] that we heard were done [by You] in Capernaum, do here in Your hometown as well.’” Luke 4:23, Amplified Bible.

What did Jesus mean by what He said to them? Basically, you claim you’re a prophet, prove it, do miracles like you did in Capernaum. Unfortunately, that’s the same voice of skepticism leaders and believers approach prophets with today. The result: the same as in Elijah’s day, Elisha’s day, and Jesus’s day: Few are touched by God’s power, many are not because they do pursue God’s prophets. Further, although there were many prophets in Israel during the days of Elijah and Elisha, Jesus doesn’t mention them. Rather, He only points to Elijah and Elisha, for they had what it took to deliver results. Few can and do deliver results in the prophetic office and ministry.

Results matter when it comes to prophetic ministry. No results. No respect. No authority. As Jesus points out, power matters, for it delivers results. The Apostle Jude describes the state of the prophetic ministry: “They are like clouds blown along by the wind, but never bringing any rain. They are like leafless trees, uprooted and dead, and unable to produce fruit.” Jude 1:12, CEV. Fruitless. Lifeless. Dead. When that’s the case, we’re better off not receiving any prophetic from that “prophet”. They’re a walking travesty, an oddity among genuine prophetic ministry; all show, no go. They “have not wrought any deliverance in the earth.” Isaiah 26:18.

Where true prophets minister and true prophetic words are given, life flows. God uses prophecy to raise us from our place of death. Prophecy, real, results oriented prophecy, brings supernatural life into our lives. How desperately we need that life transforming power of prophecy and prophetic ministry in the Church today. Few know what that kind of prophecy looks like. Few have experienced the power of genuine prophecy. Instead, we’ve been inundated with problems in prophecy and prophetic ministry. Why? Like the children of Israel in Jesus’s day, Elijah’s day, and Elisha’s day, we lack prophets who can bring results. That must change.

Hence, my question: Where are the prophets? Not those candy coated, candy striped prophets we have today. No, the rough, gruff prophets who smell like the desert and sound like thunder from heaven. Jesus asked the people of His day: “What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing?…What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.” Matthew 11:8-9, ESV. In our day, Jesus might ask, Did you go out to see the gay, flamboyant prophet? John the Baptist was wild eyed. If he were in the World Wrestling Entertainment LLC (WWE), we might call him, the raging prophet from nowhere. If he were from Louisiana, we might call him, The Raging Cajun.

Yes, God still anoints the unusual, the extreme, and those out of the ordinary; He still raises up prophets who look out of this world. The Apostle Paul reminds us, “consider your calling, brothers and sisters, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the insignificant things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are”.

“As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God.” Psalms 42:1, NKJV.

If you ask me, we could use a little more of this; rather than the candy coated prophets that we have today. We could use more rough and gruff. That’s who Elijah was. He didn’t ask anyone to follow him or like him. In fact, he was hated or feared. And he was unapologetic. Elijah had God’s attention. God liked and followed Elijah because he had a pure heart after God. And that’s what prophets have — a heart after God. As King David said, “As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God.” Psalms 42:1, NKJV.

Are you thirsty for God? Really thirsty? Do you pant for His voice? Do you await His call in the morning? If so, then you may be called as a prophet. And we, the Church, need you. You are vital to God’s mission on Earth. The need for prophets and prophecy has not diminished in the New Testament Church. No. It’s increased our need for prophets and prophecy. We need prophets and prophecy today.

Leaders, those who have isolated and excluded prophets and prophecy, I want to challenge you to rethink your position. I ask you to consider the depth of the need in your church or ministry for God’s clear voice. Yes, your people, whether they say it or not, are hungry to hear God speak into their lives. Them hearing God won’t diminish your leadership. Rather, they will more readily look for your leadership to help understand what God is saying to them and how to apply what He’s saying to their lives.

Prophets, I want to speak to you, as a prophet. It’s time to stand up, to be heard, to proclaim God’s unadulterated voice to a Church and world desperate to hear Him. Speak! Now is the time. Proclaim! Now is the time. Prophesy! Now is the time. You’re needed. It’s time to come forth from your caves and dens to the light. God is seeking “A voice of one calling: ‘Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rugged land a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all humanity together will see it.’ For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” Isaiah 40:3-5. Be not silent any more. Speak! It’s time to be heard and seen.

Let us pray!

— Scott Wallis

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