Declaration 2022: The DevotionalsSample

Prophets, False Prophets, and No Profit  

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor." Luke 4:18

Nowadays prophets offer prophetic services, prophetic ministries, and even courses teaching how to be prophetic and travel the church circuit giving prophetic pronouncements.  But what does the Bible teach us about prophets, and how do we distinguish a true prophet from a false one? And what does it mean to be prophetic in today's world at the start of 2022 in the face of climate injustice? 

The most popular term for a prophet in the Old Testament is "called one" or "commissioned". A prophet is someone called to be a spokesperson for God, to forthtell what God desires. But what are the prophets supposed to be speaking about?

Eight hundred years before the birth of Christ, God raises up the great prophets of the Old Testament to forth-tell God's will. Elijah, Hosea, Amos, and Jeremiah are all born into a period of great social injustice in Israel. The rich were getting richer, and the poor poorer. In opposition to this moral crisis, God calls the prophets to hold the rich and powerful to account. The prophets do more than discern or look into the future but instead challenge the rich and powerful to change their ways. Thus, they intervene in situations of injustice (see 1 Kings 21), affect social change (see Isaiah 16-17), and reassure the people that justice will prevail (Isaiah 29:19-20). 

Nowadays, the role of the prophet as "a thorn in the side" of the rich and powerful has been neglected and it’s urgent for the Church to release the gifting of real prophets to speak truth to power – to challenge the social, economic and political forces that seek to undermine climate justice, criminalize youth, maintain racism and sexism and continue to impoverish people around the world. A false prophet will not speak truth to power and has little benefit or profit for advancing God's kingdom. 

Jesus is the supreme prophet of God. In his life and ministry, as stated in his manifesto in Luke 4, He stands in the tradition of the great prophets of Israel by seeking justice for the downtrodden. Modern-day prophets should do the same. 

Reflection: 

• What will you do in 2022 to challenge climate and other injustices in society?  
• How will you live your life differently to care for the planet?  
• Pray for all prophets who speak truth to power.

By Professor Robert Beckford