In ancient Israel, during the times of the kings, armies would sweep through either on their way to victories or retreating from defeats, but in either case, the people would suffer the wrath and frustrations of either side. Crops would be razed, animals taken, goods plundered, women raped, pregnant ones would be disemboweled, warriors skinned or impaled alive, boys for slavery, men for death, and yes, times were fierce. And it was in those days that God called the prophets to speak to the people, to warn them of their godless ways, to repent, and to turn back to God. But most often, they did not listen more than their rulers would. As it was then, so it is today.
Where are the voices warning America and other nations to turn back to God? Why can’t they be heard? Why don’t we see them on national television or on the President’s Council of Advisors? Why do we not see them on any of the political pundit's podcasts? What about on any popular Christian talk shows or evangelical meetings or alongside the mega-televangelists? Or why do we not read their warnings in any of the magazines, and what of the books that are written about these days? Are any written without a gleaming eye to sales and profits? Isn’t there a single prophet who speaks the words of the Lord in all this corrupt land we call America? Or have they all been cast together as dried branches fit for the fire?
I have heard many people speak ill of the prophets of old, saying that they were bipolar, unsteady, emotionally unstable, prone to outbursts, disobedient, and more. But it is so easy to judge another when you are several thousand years removed from them, their culture, their language, and the times they lived in. If the things they witnessed occurred in our days, then you would more than likely respond in the same fashion as they did.
You would weep bitter tears as you watch the bullets mow down family, friends, neighbors, and strangers indiscriminately, as pregnant women are ripped open with knives and their babies torn from their wombs, as hordes of violent men rape your wives and daughters. Your soldiers flayed alive and have poles run through their anuses and out through their mouths. Would you stay silent and watch as the old ones are hacked into pieces by machete-wielding men and women soldiers hell-bent on tormenting the helpless with great pleasure? And your homes ransacked and all your goods destroyed, looted, and taken before your eyes? Your animals and livestock killed, and your crops set on fire? Will you stand there in peace and composure, praising God, who is allowing this to happen, and nod your head in approval?
And yet such people do indeed speak evil of those prophets who had to endure the wrath of God upon their people because they chose to ignore the warnings given and committed sins upon sins until there was no more room to repent. Those prophets wept bitter tears in horrific agony as they watched the wrath of God being poured out upon a nation that refused to forsake its evil ways. Upon members of their own families and, in some cases, themselves. They had cried out to the people to turn around, or they would die of their sins. They cried out to the religious leaders, the political elite, the other prophets, the town elders, the merchants, the farmers, the businesses, the soldiers, the prostitutes, their wives, sons, and daughters. The louder they cried, the more harsh the resistance until they were murdered, cast into prisons, exiled, or pursued until exhaustion overtook them. Their families and friends abandoned them, strangers shunned them, and they lived in caves fed by ravens as was with Elijah or boarded with aliens as did Elisha.
But today? Such prophets are nowhere to be found because no one wants to hear the truth, and lies are much more profitable. So make it sound terrible, but keep it at a minimum. Mix in a lot of sugar to make it easier to swallow, and write with an edge to perhaps find the book on some best-seller list. And numerous writers do exactly that as they jockey for the right to be called “prophets” of God. And not to be left out are the fiction writers whose books have been made into films, and they find themselves stars of enough importance to be called “prophets” of end times. And more than enough followers to begin a new religion based on their works.
So, once again, I ask you, where are the voices that speak up for the Lord? Whose cares are not for the treasures of this world, who scorn the applauses of men and throw the money back into their faces! Where are those men? Whose faces are set forward with grim determination to hold the line no matter the cost or loss? Where are they to be found, for indeed they must exist to confront this faithless generation calling themselves “Christians”!
I will say this, if they continue to hold their peace despite the call of God to speak up, then God will raise up another, and if that man will not speak, then God will raise up yet another and another until a man steps forward and speaks without fear, and having a bold heart with an iron forehead. That man will not buckle under peer pressure, neither will his eye be taken by the glittering gold of this world, nor his heart snared by desirable women or dogs. That man will scorn televised popularity and reject the media circus, and ignore clarion calls of divine authorship. His eye is single and his footsteps firm. He is here to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and the Father’s will and none other. That man will know the Master’s voice and the Master’s will and do it though the price will exact an immense toll, suffering, pain and loss. But His joy will be complete in Jesus Christ and his love pure and unstained. He will do as the Father commands in heaven. This man will show the grace, mercy, love, joy, patience, humility, and peace of the Lord Jesus Christ even as his words arouse fierce opposition and hatred.
These are the men that God calls to speak to this faithless generation of luke-warm believers, of politcal evils, judicial corruptions, open perversions and all other forms of wickedness that are causing the faithful to become faithless. These men will expose the false teachers, the doctrines of devils that have captivated millions, the hirelings among the wolves, the harlots behind the pulpits, the lovers of vanity and these men will not listen to the cries no love! No love! If these men did not love the Lord and the souls of men, then you would not hear their voices ringing out through the din of modern christendom.
So, again, where are they to be found? Why are we not hearing their words? And what passes for prophets in the weak body today have nothing in common to the ones of old nor of those who are called to speak boldly in His name, and who do not need the permission of men to speak out! These men are among us even as I write though their voices are silent for reasons unknown.But if they are silent because of fearful hearts or a timid spirit or awaiting the approval of men, woe, woe, and woe.
Now, lest any of you reading this thinks to themselves that they are called to speak out, there are just a few very important things to consider. This is a calling that God appoints, not a man. You will be completely broken from what you think you are to be reformed according to His will. This world means nothing and your love places Jesus Christ in front of everything and everyone. Your will is not yours anymore, but your will is to do the Father’s will in heaven. All your dreams, hopes, ambitions, desires, passions, and goals will be taken away from you just as gold being purified, the fiery heat dissolves the impurities. You can bring nothing to Him but your heart, He will fill you with Himself. Your will is to do His will, nothing more, nothing less.
This is what He means when He tells all to count the cost of discipleship. This call is a total 100% committment to Jesus Christ. No man when placing his hand on the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God. You need to fully understand what the cost is and if you are willing to pay that cost of being His disciple. For many are called but few chosen. Your calling to be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ will take you to a cross where your self must be crucified. Your self meaning everything that you are, nothing left behind. Your dreams, your sexual whims, your mind and heart and all the tresures you’ve collected over the years. All will be taken from you, and nailed to the cross. Then you will receive a new robe called righteousness, a cross, and told to follow Him. Those are the conditions of your salvation, your calling in Christ. Do not listen to the false prophets of unconditional love for they have never taken up the cross of Christ. You will learn to suffer even as you praise His name with joy and great love. This is the calling of Jesus Christ, this is the cross of Christ. Are you willing to carry it? Are you able to bear the cross He gives you?
And so God calls, the Father of heaven and earth, calls out for true and faithful servants to serve the Lord Jesus Christ, and just as God called out, Adam where are you? So is God calling out to those who will serve Him without fear or trepidation, where are you? He wants you to speak to this faithless generation of lukewarm believers as servants of Jesus Christ in these final days. If you hear the call, then you need to speak as Samuel did when he heard the call, Speak, your servant is listening.
May the Lord live within your hearts and fill your minds with His knowledge and grace in the Lord Jesus Christ.
I remain a brother in the faith of our Lord Jesus to those called in Christ.
Edward L Ordway
