There are those that talk, speak, preach and then there are those that are voices...
When they speak, you can't help but "feel" their voice, yes you hear it but you feel something churn inside of your Spirit! Once you are aware of this you will make one of two choices. You will stay or you will go, if you go and are like most people you will justify your departure by slandering the voice. This voice shakes you, stirs you like you've never been stirred before, down deep!! At this point you analyze your religious experience, you've heard every sermon in the book but nothing like this has ever happened in you. What is this I feel, how does he know everything about me and I have only heard him preach for a few minutes? There are five "office gifts" in the New Testament that minister to the Church and the Nations of the world.
"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:" (Ephesians 4:11-12 KJV)
Each of these leadership positions in the church are by divine design, not by career choice on the part of the individual, they are God's Chosen Voices! The night before Jesus died, He was betrayed by a kiss from a friend and as the soldiers came near Jesus said "I Am He" and when He spoke the whole band of soldiers fell backward to the ground. As the Son of God He was our Savior on a Cross but the ministry office He held on earth was that of a Prophet. The word "Prophet" means "inspired speaker", in other words, he doesn't speak unless activated by the Voice of God! The Prophet is rarely understood completely, even by his closest friends. He often just sits quietly in a crowded room because his spiritual radar is sweeping the room for reasons even unknown to himself at the time. When he walks into a room he often intimidates everyone, just by his presence. This uncomfortable presence often scatters the crowd which breaks his heart but he cannot grieve this power source which is God Himself!! Know this, if someone intimidates you, don't run from them, hang around because they are the ones that can teach you things that no one else can, so stay, listen and learn. Those that follow his ministry and listen to him on a regular basis do it because they know he has a gift that they must be around no matter how it makes them feel at times because they know God talks to him!!! They also know when he preaches, he preaches the "Word of God", not his ideas or opinions. While Samuel was the Prophet in Israel, the "Philistines were subdued and they came no more into the coast of Israel and the Hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel." (1 Samuel 7:13)
The Bible goes on to say that every city that Israel had lost to the Philistines was returned to Israel. The Prophet may shake you but he will protect you from the enemy, if you choose to regard him as a Prophet. Make the right choice and "Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; BELIEVE his PROPHETS, so shall ye PROSPER."
(2 Chronicles 20:20 KJV)
I Believe,
Scott L. Boatner