The Voice of God

As we continue with the prayer of the prophets in the midst of persecution, we discover how steadfast they were in their commitment to Christ.

Acts 4:27-30

27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

BEHOLD THEIR THREATENINGS

Take note that Peter acknowledged the fact that Jesus’ trials were ordered by God. This is where we often miss the true origin of our suffering. We never stop to consider that it just might be ordered by God. David testified; I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me (Psalm 119:75). Suffering is an essential part of the New Covenant. It should not be a surprise to the people of God. In spite of doctrines to the contrary, God the Father has determined that we should be partakers of the sufferings of Christ. Paul’s testimony was, That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (Philippians 3:10).

During the salvation experience we who are born of God, experienced the power of Christ’s resurrection, in that He raised us up from the dead. Having been buried with Him in the baptism of death, the resurrection from the dead is a physical feeling that cannot be refuted. We literally felt the lifting off of sin and bondage. We literally felt the love of God flood our hearts. These things are real in all who are born of God. We have fellowshipped with Him in death and in His resurrection by the operation of God. But wherein are we to fellowship with Him in His sufferings?

FELLOWSHIP IN SUFFERING

Some have thought the sufferings of the saints were necessary simply because Christ once suffered for us. But that is not the concept of fellowship. To fellowship is to be a present partaker. It is the life that Christ is living in our body that is being persecuted and suffering for the sake of righteousness. But as He lives in us, we also live and move and have our being in Him. Therefore, we are together in any suffering. Paul persecuted the early church until one day the Lord spoke to him; “Saul, Saul, why persecute thou me?” Paul had never seen Jesus before that day. He had never laid a hand on Him. Yet, the Lord asks, “Why persecute thou me?” Jesus was in the flesh of all those saints whom Paul had beaten, killed and thrown into prison. He was a present partaker of the trials of the believers. There was fellowship in the suffering. When we agree to suffer in the flesh, we show forth the life of Christ. Let us not forget the heart of our salvation. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life (Romans 5:10).

Christ must be allowed to live His life in our flesh in order for the world to know that He lives. His life is a life of contradiction to the course of the world. It is a light that condemns the powers of darkness, and the princes of this world. Therefore, it follows that Christ would be and is the most hated individual in the history of mankind. The next question is, “Why is suffering a part of the New Covenant?”

2 Thessalonians 1:4-5

4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

It is the Father who determined that the suffering of the sons would be a token of righteousness. The patience of the saints in persecutions and tribulation is a manifestation of our submission to the will of the Father and the testimony of Jesus Christ. It speaks to the fact that we are willing to fellowship in the suffering of our Master. GRANT UNTO THY SERVANTS, THAT WITH ALL BOLDNESS THEY MAY SPEAK THY WORD

Acts 4:29

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

They wanted God to allow them to continue to preach in all boldness in spite of threats. Have you considered that these people were putting their lives on the line for the privilege to preach the gospel and/or testify of Christ? This puts today’s church to shame, because some are offended by the prospect of certain people knowing they are Christian. Be honest, are you bold to speak of Christ; or do you hide behind what has come to be called political correctness? However, a more telling question would be whether you are indeed loving and caring enough to mention Christ to those who are lost in a meaningful way. Are you willing to go to your relatives deliberately to minister Christ to them? Have you ever felt shame or embarrassment because of Christ? Did the humiliation finally get to you? Maybe you have simply been slow to minister Christ due to a lack of love or zeal to do so. Be honest about it. If any of these things are true then, ask the Father for forgiveness and the courage to walk in the boldness of Christ.

Acts 4:30

By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done….

They wanted God to get the attention of the people by stretching forth His hand to heal and do signs and wonders in the name of Jesus. Take note of all the issues they did not have to deal with before asking for this miracle ministry.

They were already on one accord with the Father.

They were not ashamed nor offended by the suffering they endured.

They anticipated even more suffering, but did not allow it to be a deterrent.

They never lost sight of the fact that God was always in control.

They understood that their good and bad experiences were ordered by God.

Therefore, signs and wonders did follow them.

Acts 4:31

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

After the prayer, they were all given over to the Spirit. They were controlled by the Holy Ghost. This manifestation of the Spirit is what is needed to give us confidence in ministry. It gave them boldness to go forth to do the works of Christ. They were not wavy or double- minded; nor were they given over to fear for their own lives. They were completely given over to the will of God.

Acts 4:32

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul:

When we are of one heart and one soul, we will be able to do great works of God. The preachers will preach and intercessors will be able to intercede, and the prophets will prophesy.

THE SPEAKING OF THE PROPHETS

What are the prophets to say? If they are to confirm the message given to the apostles, then they too must be of one heart with God and the apostles of God. There can be no division; for the confirmation of the message, must come from the singleness of their heart. They must be living epistles, able to be read of men. The prophets of God must be of a serious disposition and not given over to joking and vain babbling. The prophet must consistently pour themselves into God by abandoning his/her own agendas, ways, desires and ambition. They must be given over to declaring the oracles of God. These oracles must come from a vessel that delights in them.

If the prophets of God all met the criteria above, then their prophesying would carry the anointing that is able to pierce the hearts of men. The prophets of old, often said, “Thus sayeth the Lord.” Then they would proceed to utter the thing that they have heard of the Lord. However, in the New Covenant, the Lord has taken the prophetic gift a bit further. The prophets of God are given the present truth regarding the Word of God; which they prophesy to the church in one accord with the apostles.

Luke 12:11-12

11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:

2 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say. How is it that the Holy Ghost will teach you what to say?

He will do unto you as He did unto Christ. He will speak through you. This is what Jesus meant when He said, “. . . the words that I speak are not mine.” It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life (John 6:63).

The words of the prophets must be the words of the Holy Ghost. They must be spirit and life to the hearer. God must be able to speak through you and not just to you. Therefore, the ministry of the prophet is not rooted and grounded in only hearing God, it is also established when the soul of the prophet is on one accord with God. This allows the vessel to be open to God. It is lean, pure in mind and thought. It is driven by love for God and man. It is a pitiful heart towards the people and a reverential servant’s heart towards God. God is able to and will speak at any time through such a vessel. Recently, I was in a conversation with four of the pastors in one of our churches. We were discussing the Word and its impact on the nations. Suddenly, I heard myself speak of a leader, and that God had judged him and that they would hear of it. Where did that word come from? We were not speaking of that leader. Nevertheless, a week later, he was dead. God spoke through me. I was not told of the demise of the leader and then passed that knowledge on to the pastors then present. No, God spoke through me of such a happening separate and apart from any knowledge, understanding or reasoning I may have had. The prophets of God must live in such a way that God is able to speak through them at any time or place. Purity of heart is the key to accomplishing this. Love is the power to purify self.

Finally, my friends and co-workers in the Kingdom, do all in the name of our Lord Jesus. To do so, is a statement of the identity of the power that is operating in and through you. Go up before the Lord with a pure heart. Purge yourself of all unrighteousness. Let all the words of your mouth and the meditations of your heart be acceptable in His sight.