By Andrew Williams
Series: The Year of the Prophet- Month 1: The Anatomy of a Prophet
Week 2: Distinction and Definition
Anchor Scripture: “Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live.” — Genesis 20:7 (NKJV)
The Teaching
It is a profound biblical fact that the very first time the word “Prophet” (Nabi) is used in the Bible, it is not in connection with a person preaching a sermon or foretelling the future. It is used by God to describe Abraham’s role as an intercessor. God told Abimelech that because Abraham was a prophet, his prayers carried the weight to preserve life.
This reveals a core pillar of the prophetic office: the Prophet’s primary work happens when no one is watching. Before the Prophet is a “voice” to the people, they must be a “remembrancer” to God. Intercession is the furnace that fuels the prophetic word. A prophet who only speaks to men but does not plead with God is like a hollow pipe with no water—there is sound, but no life-giving flow.
To be an intercessor means to “stand in the gap.” The Prophet stands between the holiness of God and the frailty of man. They feel the “secrets” of God (Day 7) and the “burdens” of the people (Day 12), and they weave them together in the secret place of prayer. You are called to be a spiritual lawyer, arguing the case of God’s mercy over the lives of those you are called to serve. Your public authority is harvested from the seeds you sow in private tears.
Prophetic Insight
Many desire the “platform” of the prophet, but few desire the “pavement” of the prophet—the place where you go low in prayer. If you are called to this office, you will often find yourself “groaning” for people who don’t even know they are in trouble. This is the “Birth Room” of the prophetic. When you pray as a prophet, you aren’t just asking for things; you are legislating in the spirit. Your prayers are not suggestions; they are declarations of God’s will that clear the way for His Word to be established.
The Activation
Today, choose one person or one situation that has been on your mind. Instead of talking about it to others, go into your “secret place” and talk to God for it. Don’t use “form prayer”; use the “prophetic groan.” Ask the Lord to show you His heart for that person, and then “pray them through” until you feel the spiritual release in your heart.
Daily Prayer: Lord God, I thank You that You have called me to be a bridge. I accept the mantle of the intercessor today. I choose to stand in the gap for my family, my church, and my nation. Give me Your heart for the lost and the broken. Let my prayers carry the weight of Your Spirit, and let life be the result of my time in Your presence. I am Your prophet; I am Your intercessor. Amen.
