Spiritual Appraisers
We need prophetic preachers who can speak to the condition of the people and provide spiritual guidance in these times.
The preacher delves into the significance of the Greek word 'Opheleo,' which means to provide assistance or benefit, emphasizing the resulting gain or profit, both materially and spiritually. This term is used in various contexts in the Bible to highlight the importance of deriving spiritual benefit, such as in John 6:63 and Hebrews 4:2. The sermon also explores the value of circumcision in the Jewish tradition, its symbolic meaning, and how it relates to justification and righteousness before God, as discussed in Romans 2:25. The preacher emphasizes the need for believers to daily appropriate the Gospel, understanding that our acceptance by God is solely through Christ's righteousness, not our own works.
Text
A prophet is one who knows his times and what God is trying to say to the people of his times.
What God says to His Church at any given period depends altogether upon her moral and spiritual condition and upon the spiritual need of the hour. Religious leaders who continue mechanically to expound the Scriptures without regard to the current religious situation are no better than the scribes and lawyers of Jesus? day who faithfully parroted the Law without the remotest notion of what was going on around them spiritually. They fed the same diet to all and seemed wholly unaware that there was such a thing as meat in due season. The prophets never made that mistake nor wasted their efforts in that manner. They invariably spoke to the condition of the people of their times.
Today we need prophetic preachers; not preachers of prophecy merely, but preachers with a gift of prophecy. The word of wisdom is missing. We need the gift of discernment again in our pulpits. It is not ability to predict that we need, but the anointed eye, the power of spiritual penetration and interpretation, the ability to appraise the religious scene as viewed from God?s position, and to tell us what is actually going on.
Sermon Outline
- The Need for Prophetic Preachers
- The Current State of the Church
- The Gift of Prophecy Needed
- Word of Wisdom Missing
- Gift of Discernment Required
- Ability to Appraise the Religious Scene
Key Quotes
“A prophet is one who knows his times and what God is trying to say to the people of his times.” — A.W. Tozer
“They fed the same diet to all and seemed wholly unaware that there was such a thing as meat in due season.” — A.W. Tozer
“We need the gift of discernment again in our pulpits.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We should seek out preachers who can provide spiritual guidance and speak to our current condition.
- We need to be aware of our own spiritual state and the state of the church around us.
- We should pray for the gift of discernment and the ability to appraise the religious scene.