Day 12, Thursday (March 21) - Living into His Name

Posted on: March 21, 2019
by: Gerrit Dawson, Senior Pastor

WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?

Prophet
Day 12 Thursday

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EXPLORE THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST

For us there is one God, the Father,
from whom are all things and for whom we exist,
and one Lord, Jesus Christ,
through whom are all things and through whom we exist (1 Corinthians 8: 6).

DEUTERONOMY 18: 15-19

“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ And the LORD said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.

JOHN 6: 11-14

Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”

CONSIDER

A Biblical prophet is not a fortune teller. Nor a clairvoyant about the future. A Biblical prophet speaks the Word of God into a present situation with immediate actions for God’s people to take. The prophet speaks of the future only in regard to two present realities. 1) The LORD’s promises to the people based on his continuing character of covenant faithfulness. 2) The LORD’s warnings about future consequences based on how the people respond to him today.

Moses was a great prophet because he relayed the LORD’s Word, both to the Pharaoh and to the LORD’s people, with constant application to present action.

Moses foretold that the LORD would one day send again a prophet of his stature. By Jesus’ day, people were looking for a Messiah to save them from oppression and set the world right. They often called this expected Messiah the Prophet.

When Jesus began his ministry of miracles, people were reminded of the miracles that occurred in the days of Moses, and they hailed him as the long-awaited Messiah Prophet who brought God’s Word in power to a desperate people.

So through the centuries theologians have considered Jesus to have three “offices,” or roles, he fulfills with authority. One of these is the office of prophet, for like no other he who is the Word made flesh brought God’s Word to bear in the present moment as he gave people hope that the future kingdom of God would indeed dawn.

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PRAY THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

Begin with the Jesus Prayer. Pray it reflectively several times, for yourself or on behalf of another.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Then pray the day’s prayer slowly and repeatedly for at least a minute (that’s about seven times). Allow the prayer to take you into the meaning of the day’s facet of Jesus’ name. Pray it for yourself and/or on behalf of another. Take your time and trust this process!

Lord Jesus Christ, giver of the law of love, prophet of truth and architect of earth’s future, shape me by your Word this day.

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LIVE INTO THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

He has granted to us his precious and very great promises,
so that through them you might become partakers of his divine
nature . . . For this very reason, supplement your faith with
virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness,
brotherly affection and love (2 Peter 1: 4

1 CORINTHIANS 14: 1, 3

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy . . . the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.

CONSIDER

The office of prophecy continues in the community of Christ’s people. Again, this was not magical foretelling of random events. This was, and is, the present application of God’s Word to particular circumstances that also have future implications.

How are sermons and Bible studies prophetic?

Recall a time when you heard Scripture explained in a way that seemed to address exactly a situation you were going through.

How do you hope Jesus would fulfill his title of Prophet in your life today?

Close by singing through these verses from Isaac Watts. The words fit the same tune as “Rejoice the Lord Is King.”

Great Prophet of my God, my tongue would bless thy name:

By thee the joyful news of our salvation came,

The joyful news of sins forgiven,

Of hell subdued and peace with heaven.

My Savior and my Lord, my Conqueror and my King,

Thy scepter and thy sword, thy reigning grace, I sing:

Thine is the power, behold I sit in willing bonds beneath thy feet.

Isaac Watts. Join All the Glorious Names. 1707.