Words, words, and more words! How better could we characterize our 33-week odyssey titled Prophets and Prophetic Words? At the outset of our series, we promised to challenge the thinking of our readers. We said, "Chances are, at the end of this series, you will view the realm of the prophetic in a fresh, if not invigorating, way." We hope we have fulfilled that promise.

Prophetic Voices do indeed assault us everywhere we go. We have learned that we hear prophetic words not only when we gather with God's people, we also encounter them on radio and television, in books, film, and music, on Internet websites, and even in supermarket check-out lines. Prophetic words are the words that shape and change us, both individually and collectively, and for better or for worse. Such words contain the amazing power to transform culture, and even launch nations, according to the ideas they contain.

God and the devil are engaged in a war for our minds. Their weapons are their ideas, embodied in their words, and delivered through the many voices that serve them respectively. Only two kingdoms, two cultures, two sets of principles, ultimately exist in this world. One is the kingdom of this world, headed by Satan and promulgated through his words. The other one is the kingdom of God, headed by our King, the Lord Jesus Christ, and spread through His Word.

God's Prophets bear unique responsibilities in this world. Amidst the cacophony of so many voices clamoring to be heard, they must hear God's Word clearly, without distortion, and then deliver it to the hearers for whom the word is intended. This enormous obligation comes as a unique, individualized burden to each one who is called to fill this significant role in God's kingdom work. The task of being God's messenger comes with a high price tag. Prophets must first hear the call, then submit themselves to a life-long process of preparation, all the while faithfully executing their assigned, personal missions from God.

Each of God's word-deliverers has been formed by God into a distinctive, one-of-a-kind, message-bearing envoy. No two of God's prophets look exactly alike, or speak exactly the same message. Some prophets speak their messages primarily to the Church, while others speak into the broader, worldly, marketplace of ideas. Some prophets are so bold and outspoken that they end up becoming martyrs, surrendering their lives for the sake of the gospel. Others surrender their lives through quiet, humble service to others - a service with few words spoken, yet so powerful of a testimony that the prophetic, life-changing, Word of God is manifested through their yielded lives.

When God Speaks, holy, transforming, creative energy is released into creation. Nothing is more purely the Word of God than that Word spoken by Him without the aid of one of His messenger-servants. When God speaks, He creates, sustains, restores, corrects, directs, judges, and even on occasion, foretells the future.

Among other things, so far God's Word has created the physical universe, brought forth life (plant, animal, and human), birthed a nation for Himself, formed and shaped many other nations, and brought countless millions of individual souls who have personally heard Him speak into their hearts and minds into a saving relationship with Him. What future fruit of God's personally delivered prophetic Word yet awaits us? Oh, that we would long for and seek to hear His Word to us every day!

This article is the last of our series on Prophets and Prophetic Words. We hope you have benefitted from participating, and we continue to welcome your input.

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