The Lord had a conversation with Jeremiah as He commissioned him to go forth as a prophet!
God speaks about the past
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5
God reminds Jeremiah about knowing him and calling him to be a prophet since before he was born. God’s call to a prophet far surpasses man’s decision, intention, or passion. It all has to do with God’s will. God is the one who calls someone and anoints them to be His mouthpiece on the earth. The office of the prophet cannot be achieved by our effort. It is not because of consistent attendance or good behavior that one is called a prophet. It is birthed, developed, and ordained by God and for God’s purpose! However, God will develop the character of a prophet to match up the call and the gifting of God in their lives.
God speaks about the present
Then said I: “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” But the Lord said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. Jeremiah 1:6-7
When God spoke to Jeremiah, He told him not to consider himself unqualified for being young. Since the prophetic call comes from the throne room of God, it has very little to do with the age and the stage of man and has more to do with the anointing and the call of God. The qualifications for prophetic are not dependent upon the person’s age, education, status, or gender. God is looking for someone whom He can trust! The enemy will try to throw darts of doubt at a prophet about their adequacy for the job. It is important for the person not to take the bait and try to prove the call of God in their lives. Otherwise the person can get derailed and distracted from God’s purpose!
God’s work in a prophet’s life
Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. Jeremiah 1:9
The scripture tells us that He touched Jeremiah’s mouth. While all of us as believers are called to be careful with our words, there is a greater level of expectation for the prophet of God. A prophetic man or a woman of God cannot afford to pollute their words by speaking things that are defiling, belittling, untrue, or twisted. Since there will be mistakes, a prophetic person should be quick to admit they were wrong and try to make it right. Denying or justifying it, will cause a prophet to lose credibility before God and/or before people.
It’s a good thing for God to touch our mouths. Sometimes, He will stop us from stating something. There are times that He needs to shape the words a little differently, so they can be delivered in a more compassionate way. At other times, He needs to purify our words before He allows us to share them.
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23
Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? James 3:10-11
A prophet’s mouth must be dedicated for the work of God and doesn’t belong to the prophet anymore. There is deep work that God has to do in a prophet’s heart in order to cleanse the mouth of any unrighteousness spoken. Bitterness in a prophet’s heart must be dealt with otherwise it will pollute the word of God and the will of God in delivering it to others. God is looking for consistency in our words that brings forth living waters to others and don’t harm people.
What is God expecting a prophet to do? I will share about this in the next devotional.
Trust is so huge in God’s eyes. We are expected as prophets to be wise, and speak only What God tells Us to, no more and no less, and know when to do it. Being attached to God’s heart is Big, because one only wants God’s heart when the gift operates.
Amen! The immensity of being His mouthpiece is no easy task and cannot be taken lightly.