A Prophet Is Known By His Service

Vessels from the Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit
in the Cincinnati Museum Center-Union Terminal
on February 18, 2013

In 2 Kings 3:11-12 you’ll notice that, as a young prophet, Elisha had no great miracles, stories, or prophecies preceding him. However, he had a reputation of service to Elijah:

"But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may enquire of the LORD by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah. And Jehoshaphat said, The word of the LORD is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him" (2 Kings 3:11-12).

Prophets, and other ministers, are not exempt from service to the divinely appointed authority in their life, and that reputation of service will precede them as they enter into the next level of prophetic ministry.


Elisha had the respect of a servant who knew the difficulties of service, but who also knew how to recognize the prophet in Elisha. It was this servant who opened the door for Elisha to begin his public prophetic ministry.

In our day, too many so-called "prophets" have failed to submit themselves, discipline their natures, or serve their elders. They often begin, but rarely finish their instruction in service, and so they pervert their purpose.

God’s prophet is never exempt from a life of service.

 

-Stephen Kuntzman (8-4-2011)