The Man of God - Old Testament
The Man & Woman of God - New Testament (Part 2)
Jeroboam did not take well to the Word from God and decided to attack the messenger instead of heeding the message. The results shows a wise lesson to be heeded even today. In trying to strike at God's messenger, his hand he pointed at the messenger with withered (dried up). He wisely came to his senses and asked the man of God to pray for him and his hand was restored to health. "1 Kings 13:4-6; "4 And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in
again to him. 5 The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD. 6 And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it was before." His hand was restored but he was not restored to his senses in his mind and was still wanting to harm the man of God. God did not allow this and God told the prophet to leave quickly and by a different route he came to save the prophet. This
section of scripture illustrates no only the duties of a prophet but also illustrates the utilization of word of knowledge and word of wisdom, part of the manifestation of holy spirit that available on a temporary conditional basis to the prophets of old but is available to believers today on a daily basis. "1 Kings 13:7-10; "7 And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward. 8 And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place: 9 For so was it charged me by the word of the LORD, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest. 10 So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel."
God protected Elijah after he informed the king of Samaria, Ahaziah, that he would die because he had sought direction from a false God (Baalzebub the god of Ekron). Ahaziah did not take it well, to say the least. He sent a troupe of fifty men to go get Elijah, not once but three times. The first two times, Elijah called fire down from heaven and burned up the aggressors. The leader of the third group saw the errors of this action and wisely pleaded for his life and the lives of his men before Elijah. God sent his angel to Elijah to tell him he had won and not to destroy this third group of fifty. "2 Kings 1:9-13; "9 Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went
up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down. 10 And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. 11 Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly. 12 And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from
heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. 13 And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight. 14 Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight. 15 And the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king."
The extent of God's protection over Elisha. When the king of Syria sent his army to surround the city (Dothan) to kill Elisha, God filled the mountains around the city with angels on horses and chariots of fire. That's is how important God's servants are to him. "2 Kings 6:13- And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. 14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. 15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? 16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha."
God supplies His "men of God" with total protection, even from the entire country they are in. "Jeremiah 1:17-19; "17 Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. 18 For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land. 19 And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee."
God told Isaiah that no weapon formed against him would prosper, that this protection was "the heritage of the servants of God. "Isaiah 54:17; "17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD."
- MEN OF GOD WORKED MIRACLES
Moses' staff becomes a snake and devours the snakes produced by Pharaoh's magicians. "Exodus 7:8-11; "8 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 9 When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent. 10 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent. 11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments."
Elisha, following the revelation from God, throws salt into the spring source of the water, and God healed the water.
"2 Kings 2:19-22; "19 And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren. 20 And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him. 21 And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land. 22 So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake."
The man of God (Elisha) feeds 100 men with 20 loaves of bread and a small amount of fruit.
"2 Kings 4:42-44; "42 And there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat. 43 And his servitor said, What, should I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thus saith the LORD, They shall eat, and shall leave thereof. 44 So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the LORD."
The preceding represent only a few examples of each category of attributes of men of God and only a few out of many examples of performance in the duties of prophets of God. Next we will cover the New Testament men an women of God.
THE MAN & WOMAN OF GOD - DISCIPLE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
As we covered in the previous section covering the man of God / prophet, we covered the men of God / prophets of the Old Testament who had the Spirit of God "upon" them. Their abilities from God were conditional and not something they always had available to them to use at will. With what Jesus Christ made available for us, men and women of God have the Spirit of God within them. It is the "Christ in you the hope of glory", Colossians 1:27. Through the manifestation of holy spirit, the born again believer who believes to operate the power of God in their lives has the ability to do all of the things the Old Testament men of God did and greater weapons to utilize in our spiritual battle. Just as Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.", John 14:12. Jesus performed the same miracles that the Old Testament prophets performed as well as some they did not. None of the Old Testament prophets were involved in direct conflict with the Devil as Jesus was. When he was able to identify and cast out Devil spirits (demons), he was performing miracles that were not available to the Old Testament prophets and with his death and resurrection he made it available for the Born Again believers to obtain overcoming power to defeat the adversary on every front. Jesus said that we would do the same works he did and even greater works. One of the "works" he performed was prophecy, both speaking the Words God gave him to speak and foretelling things to come.
Remember, Webster's dictionary defines a prophet as: "(1) An authoritative person who foretells the future, (2) Someone who speaks by divine inspiration; someone who is an interpreter of the will of God." In the New Testament Church, there is an availability for the Church that goes beyond what was available for the Patriarchal and Kings of Israel and Judah periods of the Old Testament.
In the First Century Church, Paul says in his letter to the Ephesians, that God placed in the Church (the Body of Christ) five different ministries to which some believers in the Body of Christ are called. These five ministries were to be available until all believers had advanced to the stature and fullness of Christ, which is something that will not happen until Christ Jesus returns to claim his Body, the church. We have fairly defined what a prophet as is listed in the following scriptures by Paul. Apostle is defined as "a person sent by another; a messenger; envoy. They functioned in similar function as the spiritual leadership in the church. Evangelists - this title is applied to Philip (Acts 21:8), who went from city to city preaching the Gospel. Evangelists were the traveling missionaries of the First Century Church who went from place to place building "seed churches" and then moving on to further spread the Gospel. Pastors were the church leadership on the individual worship location level, they "tended to God's sheep," the needs of the individual believers in their particular church location. Teachers were men and women in the church, highly knowledgeable of God's Word, who had through
"studying to show themselves approved (2 Timothy 2:15)" had been called to teach others who in turn would be able to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."). Timothy was a "teacher" in the First Century Church."Ephesians 4:11-15; "11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:"
Men of God / Prophets of the New Testament are like the prophets of old, yet having a higher degree of capability than the prophets of the Old Testament. The increase in God given capabilities is the result of the new birth. Whereas the Old Testament prophets and men of God had the Spirit of God on them conditionally, EVERY born again believer has the same Spirit of God within them twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, year after year. Where ever there are believers today, and the need for a prophet comes along, there is the availability for God to give the necessary revelation to a member of the body of Christ in the area in need.
"1 Corinthians 12:7-11; "7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."
Dividing to everyman severally is the key to the First Century prophets in the section of scripture. Prophets in the Church primarily performed the speaking forth of God's Word to people as illustrated in 1 Corinthians chapter 14, where instruction is given to the Corinthian churches to correct the improper use of the parts of the "manifestation" of holy spirit given to every believer that was intended for use in the worship service. In this instruction, Paul said that they "ALL" could prophesy one-by-one so that all the church could learn and be comforted. This New Testament prophecy that "all" could do was for the instruction and comfort of the believers at the worship service. That means the availability from God to All believers to give inspired messages directly from Him was available and still is available today. "1 Corinthians 14::29-32; "29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge [*prophets]. 30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. 31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets."
The first of the prophets recorded in the New Testament was John the Baptist. The prophet who was called to prepare the way for the ministry of Jesus. John's mission was foretold in prophecy by the prophet Isaiah in the book of Isaiah chapter 40, verse 3; "3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God." John was the only man that God's Word says was filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb (from birth), Luke 1:15. "Luke 3:1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, 2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." Jesus had said of John, "Luke 7:28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."Jesus said there was no greater prophet of all of the Old Testament prophets than John, yet..."he that is in the kingdom of God" is greater than he who was the rated by Jesus as the greatest prophet of all. Those who are in the "kingdom of God" today are the Born Again believers who are the Body of Christ, the Church.
Jesus Christ was the next prophet in succession after John the Baptist. He spoke the words God gave him to speak and spoke prophecies of thing that would come to pass in the future, some of which to our day are yet to be fulfilled.
"John 14:10; "10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."John 17:8; "8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me."
"Mark 13:5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: 6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. 8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. 9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. 10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations. 11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. 12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. 13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: 15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house: 16 And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment. 17 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. 19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. 20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. 21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: 22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. 24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, 25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. 26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. "
Jesus gave the prophecy before his ascension into heaven of what would happen after he was gone until his return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He substantiates the prophecy of Daniel concerning the End Times and thereby substantiates the prophecy of Revelation.
There were prophets in the First Century Church who did prophesy events to come in the future. These were prophecies to benefit the believers of that day and time, as well as prophecy extending to our day and time and beyond. The largest number of these prophets were not full time prophets in the Church, they were ordinary Born Again believers who God used when there was a need to speak His will and direction to those who were not listening to God.
The man of God, Agabus the prophet, came to town with "the prophets from Jersualem" to warn the Church of a coming great drought, and well in advance, the believers who received this message prepared relief materials to send to the believers in Judea.
"Acts 11:25-30; "25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. 27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. 28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. 29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: 30 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul."
The prophets of the Church at Antioch received instruction and direction to ordain Barnabas and Saul (Paul) for a special assignment God had for them to do."Acts 13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away." 4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister."
There is the record in the scriptures of a remarkable "Outbreak of Prophecy" directed to the apostle Paul when he decided to go to Jerusalem, after God told him not to go to Jerusalem. Per Paul in verse 22, he was "bound in the spirit" determined no matter what to do what he wanted to do. He even admits that in every city he went to God used believers in that city to prophecy to him through "the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit-new birth), not to go to Jerusalem and that if he did, prison and afflictions were waiting him there. A significant number of Disciples giving prophetic warning and God went to extreme lengths to get Paul to stop.
"Acts 20:22-24; "22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: 23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God."
Paul, still refusing to follow what God had told him for his benefit sails on toward Jerusalem. Upon reach Tyre, he encounters more believers with the same Word of prophecy for him.
"Acts 21:3-4; "3 Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden. 4 And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem."
Again Paul ignored God's warning through everyday believers like you and I. God even went to extremes to change Paul's mind. Paul ends up staying with Philip the evangelist who had "four daughters who did prophesy " to Paul as well. Then God had the prophet from all the way from Judea to the south, Agabus again, to travel to Paul and intercept him, to stop him from going to Jerusalem. Even with all of this Paul would not be convinced.
"Acts 21:7-11; "7 And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day. 8 And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. 9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. 10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. 11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles."
Titus was left by Paul in Crete to to ordain elders (pastors) there to oversee the Church in the various cities on the Island. It had been brought to Paul's attention from what a prophet in Crete said that the members of the church there were liars, teaching things they were not supposed to teach, and were deceiving the Body of Christ on the entire Island.
"Titus 1:10-14; "10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. 12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth."
