THE PROPHETIC CALL-BY ART KATZ
QUOTE-ART KATZ
The Prophetic Function
The quintessential function of the prophetic call is given to Jeremiah at the inception of his ministry:
Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant" (Jer. 1:9-10).
In this statement, the first expression of the prophetic calling is judgment. Unless we have a stomach for that, we will not be allowed the privilege of the word that builds and plants. Note the order of the words: the hardest thing first. Everything that is painful to the flesh and that will earn for us the displeasure of men must first be addressed. The prophet is called to pluck up and break down the things that are dear to men. This includes their religious traditions, the false things that they have celebrated for generations and the things that they want to cling to because it has to do with their identity, their dignity and the way in which they even see themselves. Men will kill for this, and yet the prophet has got to tear down and destroy. And the things that are false will be contended for fiercely! His word then is destructive before it is benevolent. Unless we are willing to speak the destructive word, we will never be used for benevolence. The prophets who were faithful to speak the word of exile and judgment were also the ones likewise who were given the privilege of speaking the creative word of restoration and return.
A prophet identifies falsity and ruthlessly destroys it. There is something about his word that is like a fire. It is plucking up, rooting out and destroying before it is planting and rebuilding. Who wants to hear men like that? Prophets not only bring things into question; they absolutely reduce it to rubble before your eyes. For you to pick it up after that is to touch the unclean thing. They have identified it, and now you are stuck with that word. It is little wonder that such men are not welcome in places where people want to continue their mode of lifestyle unchallenged.
Read here:
http://www.peacemakers.net/unity/thegiftofprophecy.htm#propheticcall
The Anatomy of Deception-By Art Katz
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ANATOMY OF DECEPTION-By Art Katz
Swarna Jha