In each of these brief articles, we examined a singular aspect of what happens When God Speaks. But God doesn't only speak personally and directly into His creation and to His people. Often, He delivers His message through a messenger.

This week's article launches PART II of our series. For the next twelve weeks, we will be looking at God's Prophets.

Who are God's Prophets? What do they do? What role do they play with God's people? Do they speak God's Word only to individuals and the Church, or do they also speak to the nations, the kingdoms, and the cultures of our world? Can a prophet tell me something I wouldn't know otherwise? Can I come to a fuller understanding of God and His power through words He speaks through a prophet? Does God call and equip different kinds of prophets for different kinds of tasks? How do God's prophets fit in with the other ministries that God has ordained? In trusting a prophet to hear from God, might I begin to focus on him or her instead of the Lord? Can a prophet "see" things even when God isn't showing him/her? Are prophets more vulnerable to some temptations than others are? How do Old Testament prophets differ from New Testament prophets? How do New Testament prophets differ from modern-day prophets? Do modern-day prophets even exist? And how does God prepare His prophets for His service?

Inherent with the idea that a prophet speaks for God is the fundamental idea that a prophet must first hear from God. If God speaks a Word to a prophet that is not directly confirmable by Scripture, how can that prophet be certain that he or she has truly heard from God? Are there safeguards to keep God's Prophets from going astray? What is meant by the phrase "the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets?"

Bear in mind, each of these weekly articles are merely broad-brush overviews. We are not attempting to produce the definitive word on the subject of Prophets and Prophetic Words but rather to create a "launch pad" for further individual study, contemplation, and discussion. In fact, one of the things we have been doing all along is seeking feedback from our readers. So, send us your comments and feedback and we will post them on our site.

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For the next two weeks, we will be examining the burden of the prophetic Word and defining the word "prophet" a little more carefully. Then we will look at the differences between Old and New Testament prophets. From there, we will go on to explore some of the various ways in which prophetic ministry is expressed. We will also be examining some of the dangers and pitfalls of the prophetic ministry, the means that God uses to prepare His prophets, and the idea that because prophets are human, their messages tend to be slightly flavored by their own personal, theological viewpoints. Let's begin by looking at The Burden of the Word of the Lord.