Where Are the Prophets?
The church needs courageous men of prophetic vision who are willing to serve and wait on God in the long silences, rather than seeking to produce a product.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the urgent need for courageous prophets within the church, contrasting them with the easily produced preachers of the modern age. He calls for individuals who are willing to seek God earnestly and wait in silence for His guidance, rather than rushing to deliver messages without divine inspiration. Tozer highlights the importance of a simple and humble heart that longs for God's presence, urging believers to cultivate a deep spiritual life that prioritizes listening to God. He expresses a personal longing to be among those who serve God faithfully and glorify Him through their prophetic vision.
Text
O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. --Psalm 63:1-2
But it is within our hearts and our beings that God searches and looks. It is our spiritual heart life that is to be simple. It is in our hearts that we are to meditate and be silent. It is deep within our beings that we must be courageous and open to God's leadings.
If there ever was an hour in which the church needed courageous men of prophetic vision, it is now. Preachers and pastors? They can be turned out in our schools like automobiles off the assembly line.
But prophets? Where are they?
The simple, humble, and courageous men who are willing to serve and wait on God in the long silences, who wait to hear what God says before they go to tell the world--these do not come along too often. When they do, they seek only to glorify their God, and His Christ! Christ the Eternal Son, 134-135.
"Oh Lord, I long to be one of those 'courageous men of prophetic vision.' I've been around long enough to see the futility of the assembly line product. I quiet my heart today; I will 'wait on God in the long silences;' and then I'll go with only the word that I receive from You--only for Your glory. Amen."
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of a Simple Heart
- The Need for Courageous Men of Prophetic Vision
- The Rarity of True Prophets
- Prophets are not mass-produced like assembly line products
- They seek only to glorify God and His Christ
Key Quotes
“If there ever was an hour in which the church needed courageous men of prophetic vision, it is now.” — A.W. Tozer
“The simple, humble, and courageous men who are willing to serve and wait on God in the long silences, who wait to hear what God says before they go to tell the world--these do not come along too often.” — A.W. Tozer
“I quiet my heart today; I will 'wait on God in the long silences;' and then I'll go with only the word that I receive from You--only for Your glory.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must cultivate a simple heart and be willing to wait on God in silence, seeking only His word.
- We need to be careful not to produce a product, but rather to seek to glorify God and His Christ.
- We must be willing to serve and wait on God, rather than seeking to be successful or popular.