In my previous post I wrote about the power of crosswinds that cause us to veer off course. However, one sure way of staying on track with Jesus is the practice of following Him, one step at a time.
In recent days I have been reading through one of the minor prophets,[minor – due to the shorter length of the book] Amos… meaning in Hebrew, ‘carried by God.’ As a result I have also enjoyed significant conversations around the life and experience of this farmer/shepherd who was called to be God’s mouthpiece to a rebellious people. I am struck by God’s choice of Amos and many other similar biblical characters. They don’t seem to be the celebrity type preachers which are in vogue today. God seems to by pass the best qualified, most knowledgeable and self-sufficient people and appoint the flawed and unlikely candidates for His purposes. If I was a recruitment consultant I would probably not have appointed Amos to go and speak truth to power.
UNLIKELY CANDIDATES
But we also see God’s seemingly absurd choice of the youngest of seven brothers. A young shepherd boy, David. And God finds support in Aaron for Moses who tries to excuse himself from a high calling with his speech impediment. God’s ways are always higher and wiser than ours. A brash, impulsive and uneducated Peter was chosen by Jesus to a significant role amongst the early Church. And Saul who was later named Paul who openly persecuted the people of God. He was chosen to take the Good News to the Gentiles. Would you have appointed Peter or Paul to join your pastoral team? I doubt it!
SEEING THE UNSEEN
My last blog post HERE reflected upon the impact and effect of crosswinds on transport but more importantly the influences of these crosswinds on believers today. I was awoken inwardly by a question as God speaks to Amos and asks him the same question on two occasions, what do you see? This kind of question defies human reasoning but opens the way for the story of God speaking to a simple farmer/shepherd. God is engaging Amos in conversation with a question. To see with the eyes of the heart and to know the counsel of the Lord seems to be part of the prophetic calling.
However, it is my personal conviction that we desperately need Pastor/Teachers who can shepherd and teach with open eyes.[1] Evangelists who can see the need of outsiders with compassion to be transformed by the power of God’s Spirit. Apostles and Prophets who walk humbly with God and know what it means to wait in God’s presence and see, in order to encourage and strengthen the Church! Rather than trying to manage God let us rather allow Him to disciple or train us!
“What do you see, Amos?” “A plumb line I replied.” [2] A gift of grace to be encouraged to see the unseen. Paul affirms this reality of new creation; “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” [3]
GOD’S KINGDOM IS HERE
As church communities celebrate and live out their faith in a world tainted by reckless selfishness, injustice, poverty and idolatry we desperately need to hear the voice of the true prophet. God will hear the cry of our prayer for a releasing of the genuine, pure and godly voice of the prophet. Although unsettling, the wind words of the prophetic voice have a way of smelling out hypocrisy, injustice and drawing us to give our full attention to the undivided worship of the living God.
Jesus’ message in Galilee began with a powerful statement, “Time’s up! God’s kingdom is here. Change your life and believe the message.” [4]
WORDS OF LIFE
We have unfortunately too often linked the prophetic words of life only for speculative end-time teaching. These teachings are usually a distraction to our calling to BE God’s new creation. But the voice of the appointed prophet calls us repeatedly to an ‘undivided heart’ a ‘listening ear’ and our desperate need to change and return to the centrality of Jesus. The wind words of the Spirit calling His Church to a unity in diversity, not based upon doctrine but relationship with the King.
We cannot live on a diet of regurgitated empty words and platitudes. Our exposure to true prophetic teaching begins while we read The Book. Read the scriptures inspired by the Spirit for our benefit. Stories that weave reality and purpose into our thinking, praying, living and giving. Allow scripture to read us and permit the Spirit to transform how we see God and how He sees us including our vocation.
[1] Ephesians 1:18 NIV
[2] Amos 7:18 NIV
[3] 2 Corinthians 4:18
[4] Mark 1:15 The Message