Have you ever heard someone say that God sent them to warn them or give them a message? Someone might have told you that God sent them to a certain church?
Did you believe that person or did you respond by a rolling of the eyes or shaking of the head. As if, in your opinion, this person thought they were so spiritual, that they could hear from Almighty God who, in turn, used them to deliver His messages. Many people will ridicule this person either to their face or behind their backs.
Is this message from God?
So the question is, does God send people, in his stead, to deliver messages from Him?
Are these people messengers or prophets, like in the Bible?
Are personal prophecies from these sent ones valid, and if not, are these “prophets” subject to God’s punishment or the punishment stated in the Bible?
Are we supposed to believe everything someone tells us “Is from God” actually is? Are we supposed to believe anything they’re saying?
(Addendum: Here’s an interesting passage from Judges:
Jdg 3:20 And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat.
Jdg 3:21 And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:
Scripture doesn’t verify the Judge, Ehud’s claim. This is a matter of conjecture, but I don’t believe God sends assassins to kill rulers. )
This is a centuries-old question. People have been speaking and acting as God’s messengers throughout history. If we are to get spiritual guidance in this life, we need to discern if a message is or is not from God and act accordingly. Going down the wrong paths, because of spiritual guidance, has tremendous risks attached. We need to be able to have confidence that whatever path we choose, we must be willing to follow God’s Spirit.
Does Almighty God still send people on missions to give directive information today and why?
As we see from scripture, the answer is Yes, He does. Throughout the history of mankind and for it’s benefit, God has entrusted certain individuals with the responsibility of delivering His messages.
The King Speaks
Why did God need to use people instead of speaking audibly?
Kings throughout history have used their trusted servants, who’s job it was to obey and issue proclamations wherever commanded. After all, the king is King, and there is no protocol which demands he speak personally. He does it at His pleasure and as He sees fit. We need to recognize and remember this. The king is the ultimate power in a locality and in the locality of earth, God is King. If one chooses to disregard a message from the King, it’s at the risk of their own peril.
Face to face with God
Another possible reason for God’s using a single person can be understood from scripture.
Context – After Moses delivered the 10 Commandments, we can see Israel’s population react in stark fear to God presence on the mountain, as He confirmed Moses’ position as His representative.
Exo 20:18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.
Exo 20:19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.
Exo 20:20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
Exo 20:21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
People simply don’t comprehend the greatness, the majesty, the glory and the power of God. Throughout the Bible, being in His presence and hearing his voice, reduces those before Him to bowing in submission with their faces to the ground. It is an unforgettable, life changing experience.
I believe the people were afraid of dying, while Moses was not, was because they broke the 10 Commandments regularly and they thought judgement was imminent.
He does it again
Nearly every book in the Old Testament reveals a messenger or message sent or in place by God’s foreknowledge for a specific purpose. Even the book of Esther, which doesn’t even mention God, shows how one Jewish girl did God’s will to save the whole disbursed nation of Israel.
Yes, even Jesus was sent from God.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Hebrew Word Study
apostellō – ap-os-tel’-lo
From G575 and G4724; set apart, that is, (by implication) to send out (properly on a mission) literally or figuratively: – put in, send (away, forth, out), set [at liberty].
To research and understand the scripture where our Savior revealed His being sent from God is a window into how he moved in great power and faith, while on the earth.
Questions
But, what about today? Do people hear from God and are then directed to go tell others what God is saying? Are certain people called out to a prophetic ministry while others are not? Is there supposed to be a prophet in every church, as well as an apostle, pastor, evangelist and teacher?
If there is any confusion on these subjects, we should immediately search the scriptures, rather than take someone’s opinion as gospel, for clarity on the subject. The Holy Spirit will lead you to the truth in easy stages are you seek light from God’s word.
How to find the answers
People have searched the scriptures for centuries for answers to many of these questions. Including the noble Bereans in Acts 17.
Act 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
In the New Testament, we still find more individuals sent by God. Angels, prophets, apostles, witnesses, who are sent by God with a purpose.
Jesus said His Heavenly Father did miracles in front of people and people still doubted. Even His disciples doubted.
There have always been doubters, except perhaps, when God showed up on the mountain top next to Moses. So, if we hear someone pronounce a message is “from God”, should we believe it or shall we be like the noble Bereans and search to find out the truth? It still takes faith.
There’s only one place we know there are no doubters. In heaven.
Sent Ones
Missionaries are compelled to bring God’s message the unreached, much like the Prophet Jeremiah expressed:
Jer 20:9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
Apostles are sent, going forth to reach the heathen world, so are evangelists, to preach the kingdom of God is at hand, and likewise pastors and teachers. These people, called to the five-fold ministries, are appointed and anointed by God and sent to His Church to train them for ministry work.
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Is everyone, who says they are sent from God, truly sent from God? Sadly, no.
Is everyone, who believes they are sent from God, truly sent from God? Alas, no.
Is everyone, who has a position of leadership or ministers in the church, are they truly sent from God? Unfortunately, no.
Could You be sent by God?
Do we, ourselves, believe that we are sent from God, so as to live our lives knowing that our failures will bring shame to His name? Do we have the humility of Moses before God, to take the disparaging of others without taking vengeance or rather the brashness of the apostles, wanting to call fire down from heaven on our opponents?
With God’s sending, He provides the patience, the provision and the perseverance to complete our assignments. Thank God for that.
We should realize and accept the fact that circumstances are different now than in Bible times, so that while the nature of man is the same as then, methods to reach them have evolved.
In Today’s World
With our ability to reach people worldwide in a moments time, our methods need to adapt to today’s audience. Being sent now doesn’t always mean one on one meetings, as it did back then.
Love Calling
Having a message from God to whoever you connect with needs to be driven and motivated by God’s concern for their lives and must have the ring of His voice in it. We need faith which depends less on our wise plans and more on God’s willingness to intervene on people’s behalf. More on our belief that God will hear and answer our and their prayers and less on our faith supplying their needs.
As we are sent by God, we should concentrate on tirelessly asking, seeking, and knocking on behalf of those we are sent to. People who are needing a miracle from God must know how to contact Him when they need to (and they will). We are sent reveal their answer by revealing Jesus and the love and concern their Heavenly Father has for them.
Sent like Jesus
Jesus demonstrates the perfect humility of one who is sent from God in the book of John he states:
Joh 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
Joh 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
Joh 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
After His resurrection from the dead, we hear our our Lord’s commission to His disciples and to us.
Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
Joh 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them,and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
We are sent.
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