The Robe of the Prophet
The Robe of the Prophet
Dare to operate in this wonderful gift!
The people of Israel clearly discerned that Jesus was a wearer of the Robe of the prophet.
“I see you are a prophet, sir,” the woman said. (Joh 4:19)
“This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee,” the crowds answered.” (Mat 21:11)
They knew this through the miracles, signs and wonders that He performed.
“Seeing this miracle that Jesus had performed, the people there said, “Surely this is the Prophet who was to come into the world!” (Joh 6:14)
The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. They all were filled with fear and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us!” they said; “God has come to save his people!” (Luk 7:15-16)
So the Pharisees asked the man once more, “You say he cured you of your blindness —well, what do you say about him?” “He is a prophet,” the man answered. (Joh 9:17)
Peter clearly emphasized this same point when he addressed the people in Jerusalem.
“Listen to these words, fellow Israelites! Jesus of Nazareth was a man whose divine authority was clearly proven to you by all the miracles and wonders which God performed through him. You yourselves know this, for it happened here among you.” (Act 2:22)
Note: The true test of a prophet does not lie in the ability to do signs and wonders.
“My dear friends, do not believe all who claim to have the Spirit, but test them to find out if the spirit they have comes from God. For many false prophets have gone out everywhere. This is how you will be able to know whether it is God’s Spirit: anyone who acknowledges that Jesus Christ came as a human being has the Spirit who comes from God.” (1Jo 4:1-2)
The ability to prophesy does not mean that God has appointed you in the Office of a prophet.
In the Old Testament God often allowed his Spirit of prophecy to fall upon non-prophets like a cloak or a mantle.
“Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him. He took some of the spirit he had given to Moses and gave it to the seventy leaders. When the spirit came on them, they began to shout like prophets, but not for long. Two of the seventy leaders, Eldad and Medad, had stayed in the camp and had not gone out to the Tent. There in the camp the spirit came on them, and they too began to shout like prophets.” (Num 11:25-26)
Even King Saul temporarily received the Robe of the prophet.
“When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a group of prophets met him. Suddenly the spirit of God took control of him, and he joined in their ecstatic dancing and shouting. People who had known him before saw him doing this and asked one another, “What has happened to the son of Kish? Has Saul become a prophet?” (1Sa 10:10-11) (See also 1Sa 19:21)
This same Saul, however, when not amongst the prophets, was so inadequate at hearing God that he even consulted a witch in his desire to hear from God.
“So Saul disguised himself; he put on different clothes, and after dark he went with two of his men to see the woman. “Consult the spirits for me and tell me what is going to happen,” he said to her.” (1Sa 28:8)
God promises this Robe of the Prophet to all the New Testament saints.
“But when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Act 1:8)
“And it shall be in the last days, says 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. (Act 2:17)
New Testament prophets have a very specific task.
It was he (Jesus) who gave gifts to people; he appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers. He did this to prepare all God’s people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ. (Eph 4:11-12)
The early apostles clearly demonstrated their prophetic abilities wherever they went.
“Many miracles and wonders were being done through the apostles, and everyone was filled with awe.” (Act 2:43)
“Many miracles and wonders were being performed among the people by the apostles.” (Act 5:12)
“Stephen, a man richly blessed by God and full of power, performed great miracles and wonders among the people.” (Act 6:8)
We are now all exhorted to desire this prophetic gift above all others.
“Pursue love, but strive eagerly for the spiritual gifts, above all that you may prophesy.” (1Co 14:1 NAB)
Be careful, this is not a game!
Simon, the sorcerer, used to make money with his magic tricks. Seeing the power of the Holy Spirit, he thought it was an excellent opportunity for making even more money.
“Simon saw that the Spirit had been given to the believers when the apostles placed their hands on them. So he offered money to Peter and John, and said, “Give this power to me too, so that anyone I place my hands on will receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter answered him, “May you and your money go to hell, for thinking that you can buy God’s gift with money!” (Act 8:18-20)
Jesus is calling us, even now, because He wants to fill us with his Spirit and grant us the Robe of the prophet.
On the last and most important day of the festival Jesus stood up and said in a loud voice, “Whoever is thirsty should come to me, and whoever believes in me should drink. As the scripture says, ‘Streams of life-giving water will pour out from his side.’ ” Jesus said this about the Spirit, which those who believed in him were going to receive. At that time the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not been raised to glory. Some of the people in the crowd heard him say this and said, “This man is really the Prophet!” (Joh 7:37-40)
The Robe of the prophet, just like the rest of the armour of God, is Christ himself, the Prophet of prophets.