THE TRUE PROPHET OF GOD

To many the word NEWS has a wide range of definitions depending on the understanding of the word and its relevant application, especially to professional journalists around the world. When a story comes to the knowledge of the public, it is expected that it must have gone through a thorough analysis and check by the relevant authorities. Then comes the part that ensures that all involved parties in the news are given a fair sense of hearing so that both sides of the story are not only heard but the final story that is released to the public allows for them to make an informed conclusion.

When these above stated guidelines are disregarded, a major part of the ethics of the profession of journalism can be said to have been thrown out of the window. In most cases where it occurs, it appears to be that the writer is doing the bidding of a party to the story; to ensure that only one side is heard, and carry out an agenda; in most cases to bring disrepute to the other party of the story.

Without any form of doubt, when this continually occurs and become a trend, it then calls for concern and worry. It becomes obvious to all that a grand conspiracy to pull down the affected individual or body at all cost is in place. Again, it could be that certain practises of the involved individual are not completely understandable to the other party or perhaps they do not intend to come to terms with their mode of operation. Worst of all is if the said individual is a servant of God. Such a person should obviously be allowed to make their claims and then get the judgement that follows from their Creator.

As a person with no particular interest and inclination to the most persecuted Man of God that I have seen in recent times, Prophet TB Joshua, from Nigeria, I can say without any fear that the way and manner that the media has constantly attacked the Man has called for my writing this article. As a professional writer I have found myself constantly having to do follow ups on religious activities and their leaders around the world. I can boldly say that I have a complete dossier of different men of God which include their background, practises, habits, doctrines, etc.

It should be noted that I will never hold forth for any Prophet of God or even criticize their works as I believe strongly in the Almighty God and the fact that He is the all knowing, the only One who cannot be deceived by any living being born of a woman. I will only try to ask certain questions and then leave you to give answers to them and in so doing help yourself to take a well informed position regarding prophets of God such as TB Joshua. The questions go thus:

1. Who is prophet of God?
2. What is the role of the Prophet in the church?

3. How will one know a true prophet of God?
4. Are there any qualifications required to be a prophet?

Let us try to give answers to this questions one after the other.

1. Who is a Prophet of God?
In Exodus 7.1, God assigned roles to Moses and Aaron,

• Moses was to function as "God" to Pharaoh
• Aaron was to function as the prophet of Moses
Based on Exodus 7.1, we can arrive at the following conclusion,

• The job that a prophet does for God is the same job that God assigned Aaron to do for Moses.

So the Lord said to Moses: "See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet." Ex 7.1

In Exodus 4.16, God said that Aaron would function as "spokesman to the people" on behalf of Moses.

As shown by Exodus 7.1 (above), God assigned Aaron the job of serving Moses in the same manner as a prophet serves God.

Based on Exodus 7.1 and 4.16, we can arrive at the following Bible definition,

A prophet is any person who serves as God's spokesman to the people.

(God told Moses, ) "So he (Aaron) shall be your spokesman to the people. And he himself shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God." Ex 4.16

2. What is the role of the Prophet in the church?

Zechariah 1.6 gives the following information,

• A prophet is a servant of God
• A prophet speaks forth the words and commands ("statutes") that he or she receives from God

• (God said, ) "Yet surely My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets (to speak forth), did they not overtake your fathers?'' Zech 1.6a

Second Peter 1.21 gives the following information,

• A prophet is a holy man of God
• A prophet speaks for God as he or she is moved (Greek: phero) by the Holy Spirit

for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved (phero) by the Holy Spirit. 2 Pet 1.21

phero -- "to bear, carry," is rendered "moved" in 2 Pet. 1:21, signifying that they were "borne along," or impelled, by the Holy Spirit's power, not acting according to their own wills, or simply expressing their own thoughts, but expressing the mind of God in words provided and ministered by Him.

3. How will one know a true prophet of God?
a. Acts 2:17-18, "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:"

Age makes NO difference in being a prophet.
b. 2 Peter 1:21, "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." A true Prophet only prophecy in the name of the Lord. He only seeks to glorify the Lord. He will never seek glory to himself. NEVER!

c. 2 Peter 1:20, "Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation."

A true Prophet NEVER gives his private interpretation. He only shares what the Lord reveals. Scripture defines Scripture, not man.

d. Jeremiah 28:9, "The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him."

A true Prophet will be 100% accurate. There is absolutely no margin for error.

e. Deuteronomy 18:21-22, "And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follows not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him."

The true Prophet of the Lord predicts that which does come to pass. If the Prophet's predictions fail, they are exposed as NOT of God.

4. Are there any qualifications required to be a true prophet of God?

There are no external and/or educational qualifications required to be a true prophet of God. God does as he wills. He can decide to choose the least of men as His prophet. Perhaps the only criteria is willingness on the part of the Prophet. Prophets as recorded in the Holy Bible where recorded to have presented themselves to God, on ordination.

With proper understanding of the above answers to questions earlier asked, it beats my imagination to see people take up positions on issues concerning prophets of God, most times without even attempting to make a first hand analysis of the involved persons. Thanks to the fact that I will never hold forth for any prophet, lot less TB Joshua, who I have never met, and do not intend to meet in the foreseeable future, I will not bother to write about some of his enviable activities and actions in my possession thanks to my dossier. I believe that I will serve as a means of selling him to the world and my readers.

My advice to individuals and the world a large is very simple: A prophet of God is a sacred position of authority, bestowed by God on his select few, for no particular reason other than the fact that He has deliberately chosen them to carry out His assignments. Touch the anointed of God. Even when there are reasons to criticize them, caution should be exercised. Let God, who they claim to represent, be the Final judge.