By Andrew Williams
Series: The Year of the Prophet- Month 1: The Anatomy of a Prophet
Week 4: The Nature and Responsibility of the Office
Anchor Scripture: “Thus Ezekiel is a sign to you; according to all that he has done you shall do; and when this comes, you shall know that I am the Lord God.” — Ezekiel 24:24 (NKJV)
The Teaching
As we continue our study of the Prophet’s responsibility, we find a dimension of the office that is perhaps the most costly: The Prophet as a Sign. There are seasons in the life of a prophet where God stops giving them words to say and begins giving them a life to live. In these moments, the prophet’s personal circumstances—their marriage, their family, their finances, or even their grief—become a “living sermon” to the people of God.
Throughout Scripture, we see prophets being used as “theatrical signs.” Hosea was commanded to marry a woman who would be unfaithful to show the nation how God felt about His people. Ezekiel was told not to mourn the death of his wife as a sign of the coming judgment. Isaiah walked barefoot and naked for three years as a sign against Egypt.
To be a prophet is to realize that you are a visual aid for the Kingdom of Heaven. You are a “living letter” (2 Corinthians 3:2). People are not just listening to your voice; they are watching your life to see if the God you speak of is real. Your life is not your own to live as you please; it is a billboard that God uses to catch the attention of a distracted world. When the life of the prophet is in alignment with their message, the word carries an undeniable authority.
Prophetic Insight
Being a “sign” means that your personal seasons of “crushing,” “waiting,” or “abundance” are often larger than you. If you are going through a particular trial, it may not be because you did something wrong, but because God is using your response as a sign to others. The Prophet is often a “first-fruits” participant in what God is about to do. If God is about to bring a season of joy to the Church, the Prophet often feels it first. If He is about to bring correction, the Prophet feels the weight of it in their own home. Your life is the “demonstration” that precedes the “declaration.”
The Activation
Look at the current season of your life—whether it is a season of hiddenness, a season of battle, or a season of unusual favor. Ask the Holy Spirit: “Lord, what are You saying to the people around me through the way I am living right now? How is my life a sign of Your heart?” Commit to living this day with the awareness that someone is “reading” your life to find out who God is.
Daily Prayer: Lord God, I thank You that You have called me to be a sign and a wonder. I surrender my life to be a living parable for Your glory. Forgive me for any time I have lived as if my life were my own. Consecrate my actions, my reactions, and my seasons to Your purposes. Let my life be a clear and accurate reflection of Your heart, so that when others see me, they are drawn to You. Amen.
