The Rise of A Prophet

Luke 7:11-17 KJV

“And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak… And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.”

 

The Rise of A Prophet

The kingdom of heaven and earth are two different realms. The realm of spirits and the realm of mortals, and the link of communication between earth and heaven is the spirit of God in conjunction with his word.

There are certain signs through which the kingdom of heaven uses to announce its purposes on earth. These signs could be the birth of a child, the death of a man, the rise of kings or the rise of prophets. These may seem like natural occurrences but they are indeed pointers to heaven’s purposes.

In the book of Ezekiel, for instance, God said to him,

“Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down. Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind the tire of thine head upon thee, and put on thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not thy lips, and eat not the bread of men.” (Ezekiel 24:16-17 KJV)

In Ezekiel’s days, Israel had abandoned the worship of God and has gone lustfully after other gods, while still claiming to have God. Apart from other signs God had used prophet Ezekiel to witness to the hearts of the rebellious house of Israel (for God said, they are a rebellious house and they would not hear though I give them many signs), the death of his wife would be one sign that will undeniably catch their attention to what God is about to do. Causing the death of a dear one to Ezekiel was symbolic to the extent to which God was willing and desperate to bring Israel back together.

The church of God is God’s Israel today, and when it begins to appear that God is speaking incessantly, it is required of us to begin to pay uncommon attention. And how will he speak? Through his prophets.

God usually tells His prophets what he is about to do. He uses them as signs to both prepare their hearts personally and also prepare those who are willing to pay attention to what is about to come, and if need be, intercede to prevent it, or prepare to receive it for good.

In the account of Luke gospel chapter 7, the death and eventual rising of a young man was not just another occurrence or event of the miracle of the dead being raised, but a spiritual indicator to something new—The Rise of a Prophet.

Heaven hardly does anything without giving a sign, just as we have seasons, day and night that signifies different events as when to rise and when to sleep, when to plant and when to harvest that which have been planted (Eccl. 3), so also, in God’s agenda in bringing his will down to earth (Matt. 6:10), there are things that serves as pointers.

God is raising men in this end times.

From our discussion in view today, A prophet cannot rise without such announcement. “…Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.” Though a prophet even before he was placed in the womb and conveyed down to earth where it will be fulfilled, but until his announcement would come from the Lord in time (i.e. leave the heavenly realm and find its way to the earth realm), he would remain dead and unknown.

When the time for the manifestation of a prophet arrives, it takes a decree which has already been issued in heaven ever before the prophet was conceived in material form into this world to activate that earthly ministry.

We all have a place in God’s kingdom, and God knows every one’s place in him. We are all carefully fitted and joined together in him, with everyone having a role to play in time according to the will of God. It is God’s desire that we are both united and in tune to form a formidable force. Therefore he is saying,

 

“…Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, AND BEGAN TO SPEAK.”

 

The Voice of the Prophet

When can the voice of the prophet begin to be heard? It is at the announcement of heaven. Until the time of heaven’s announcement, that man had remained dead and cannot speak. What this means is, even thou the man decides to speak for himself, his voice will be unheard and will not carry the effect or reach to the people it was meant to affect.

But when he has risen, and began to speak, then, the speaking is no more a regular speech, it is now a voice from heaven legally given (allocated) to him to become activated in this side of heaven so that it can bring the necessary effect heaven desire or seeks to achieve.

“And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.” – Luke 7:16-17 KJV

 

The Prophet’s Earthly Announcement And Appointment By Heaven

What does the prophet’s earthly announcement and appointment by heaven produces? According to the text in Luke 7:16-18, it produces:

1. The Honour of the Prophet – “And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God.”
2. The Acknowledgement of the Prophet – “…saying, A great prophet is risen up among us”
3. The Message of the Prophet – “…God has visited his people”
4. The Fame of the Prophet – “And this rumour of him went forth throughout all judaea, and throughout all the regions round about.”
5. The Impact of the Prophet. – “And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.”

Whether or not the people confess this, these four indicators are constant, clear and undeniable. No prophet can rise who is not first known in heaven and announced on earth. Luke 7:11-16; Jer. 1:5

No prophet can rise without a sign on earth. Isaiah 7:14; Matt. 1:21; Luke 7:11-16

• The Honour is conferred.
• The Acknowledgement is confirmed.
• The Message is clear.
• The Fame is global.
• The Impact becomes a witness.

 

These all became possible because of an announcement. “Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.”

A true prophet of God must Arise only by the issue of heaven, not self-advertised but appointed. The purpose of his ministry and any other ministry the believer has in Christ, is to bring the purposes of heaven down to men. It is for, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Let us remain open to what the Lord is doing at this time, for here is the Rise of a Prophet.

 

“Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.”