Let the Weak Speak (Part 27)
The Prophets – Walking the Talk (2)
Remember – the purpose of this series is to release the potential that is within us to build successful ministries, kingdom businesses, and to be world changers who really make a difference in this world. That will always involve change but we don’t need to panic because all of the change God requires from us is by way of exchange. And so we simply come to the place of exchange – the Throne of Grace – where we have the opportunity to trade our weakness for his strength!
We are no longer wearing ourselves out chasing signs and wonders – we are signs and wonders and so we are destined to be the most exciting thing that is going on wherever we are!
Isaiah 8: 18
18 Here am I and the children whom the LORD has given me!
We are for signs and wonders in Israel
From the LORD of hosts,
Who dwells in Mount Zion.
Joel 3: 9 – 10
9 Proclaim this among the nations:
“Prepare for war!
Wake up the mighty men,
Let all the men of war draw near,
Let them come up.
10 Beat your plowshares into swords
And your pruning hooks into spears;
Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’”
IT’S TIME TO LET THE WEAK SPEAK! LET THE WEAK SAY, “I AM STRONG!”
We have been going through the Hebrews 11 “Hall of Faith” and looking at the lives of some of those listed there who although they were far from perfect were successful in overcoming the weaknesses of their flesh and fulfilling God’s purpose in their generation by faith!
In the past few sessions we continued doing what the writer of Hebrews does and began to race on through the rest of the folks that are mentioned here who all overcame their weaknesses by faith and saw the supernatural strength and power of God manifested in and through their lives! So far we have looked at Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, and Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, and Isaiah.
Hebrews 11: 31 – 40
31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. 32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again.
Jeremiah tried to say that he couldn’t speak because he was too young but the LORD told him not to be afraid because he was with him and that he had put his words in his mouth.
Jeremiah 1: 4 – 12
4 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
5 “ Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
6 Then said I: “ Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”
7 But the LORD said to me: “ Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you (that is our authority), and whatever I command you, you shall speak (but we are still under authority).
8 Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,” says the LORD.
9 Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me:
“ Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down,
to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant.”
11 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?”
And I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”
12 Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word.”
The prophet (seer) says what he sees before he sees what he says! Remember – we are not moved by what we see – we move what we see by what we say!
LET THE WEAK SAY, “I AM STRONG!”
Much later – after much hardship – Jeremiah decides that he is no longer going to speak for the LORD but he discovers that is not easy because the word of the LORD becomes like a fire on the inside of him and he can’t remain silent!
Jeremiah 20: 7 – 9
7 O LORD, You induced me, and I was persuaded; you are stronger than I, and have prevailed. I am in derision daily; everyone mocks me.
8 For when I spoke, I cried out; I shouted, “Violence and plunder!” because the word of the LORD was made to me a reproach and a derision daily.
9 Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, nor speak anymore in His name.” But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not.
The message of the true prophet to the church is rarely popular because it usually threatens the status quo and disturbs the comfortable. Jeremiah is often referred to as “the weeping prophet” but God’s word has a tremendous promise for those who sow in tears!
Psalm 126: 5 – 6
5 Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.
6 He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
LET THE WEAK SAY, “I AM STRONG!”
Jeremiah is the prophet through whom God reveals the plans that he has for all those who will simply place their trust in him.
Jeremiah 29: 11 – 12
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
When we seek him with all of our heart we find everything that is on his heart! Remember – his eyes run to and fro across the whole earth to show himself STRONG on behalf of those whose hearts are completely his!
Not many people responded to Jeremiah’s message because they preferred to listen to the false prophets who prophesied “peace and safety” but ultimately everything that Jeremiah prophesied came to pass vindicating him as the true prophet of the LORD!
We need to understand that God appointed and anointed an ordinary and imperfect youth who was all too aware of his own weakness to minister in extraordinary ways as his mouthpiece to his people!
LET THE WEAK SAY, “I AM STRONG!”
The LORD told Ezekiel not to worry about people’s faces or how they looked at him because he had made his face strong against their faces and his forehead strong against their foreheads.
Ezekiel 3: 4 – 11
4 Then He said to me: “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them. 5 For you are not sent to a people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, but to the house of Israel, 6 not to many people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, had I sent you to them, they would have listened to you. 7 But the house of Israel will not listen to you, because they will not listen to Me; for all the house of Israel are impudent and hard-hearted. 8 Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and your forehead strong against their foreheads. 9 Like adamant stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not be afraid of them, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.” 10 Moreover He said to me: “Son of man, receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears. 11 And go, get to the captives, to the children of your people, and speak to them and tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ whether they hear, or whether they refuse.”
“That you may know that I am the LORD” is a phrase that occurs sixty-six times in the book of Ezekiel. Tragically, we have often replaced knowing about God for actually knowing him. The problem with that is that our source of information may not be accurate! Remember – a diluted message leads to deluded people! Our deepest need is not to know more about God but to know him in the fullness of his glory! That was the cry of Paul’s heart and that must be the cry of our heart!
If you have a problem with mime or drama as a means of communicating truth in church then you should study Ezekiel and have a look at some of the things that God asked him to do in order to get the attention of his people.
When Ezekiel’s wife died the LORD told him that he was not to mourn for her! Do you think he was able to do that in his own strength? No way! But through this he became a sign and a wonder to the people.
LET THE WEAK SAY, “I AM STRONG!”
Ezekiel got the revelation of God’s heart transplant that would be made available under the New Covenant when the heart of stone could be replaced by a heart of flesh. He also got the revelation of dry bones coming alive and many other prophetic pictures that he couldn’t have fully understood.
Remember what Jesus said to his disciples.
Matthew 13: 16 – 18
16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
Remember – the prophet always says what he sees before he sees what he says!
1 Corinthians 14: 1, 3, 31, 39
1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy …3 …he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men…31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged…39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy
LET THE WEAK SAY, “I AM STRONG!”