GOD SPEAKS THROUGH PEOPLE PART 12
Good day to all: being used by God as a messenger is a great honour and privilege, and I believe the key is to receive and carry it out with humility.
Here’s a summary of the last five Old Testament prophets and God’s message today. They convey warnings, calls to repentance, and promises of restoration. These messages applied to Israel, Judah, and still speak to us today. Let’s explore each prophet’s overarching message and its relevance. times, and how Jesus’ words confirm their timeless meaning.
1. HABAKKUK – Trust God’s Plan
Habakkuk prophesied against Babylon’s oppressors and questioned God about the problem of evil and injustice. Judah had to learn to trust God even in times of great darkness.
Today, as in Habakkuk’s time, we are still called to trust God even though we do not understand His ways.
Jesus’ Words to Trust God:
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- “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” (John 14:1)
- “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Have faith in God.” (Mark 11:22)
- “What I do ye understand not now; but ye shall understand hereafter.” (John 13:7)
QUESTION:
Where in your life is it difficult to trust God’s plan? Pray and ask Him for faith to hold fast to His timeline as Habakkuk did:
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- “I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower; I will look out, and see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am rebuked. Then the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that runneth easily.” (Habakkuk 2:1-2)
- Like Habakkuk, we must wait and listen for the voice of the Lord. As you pray and wait, write down those spontaneous thoughts—it is the Holy Spirit speaking to you. Do not try to change or paraphrase them. Write them down just as they come. Share them with others. In English, we call it journaling – it is God speaking to you.
2. ZEPHANIAH warns Judah and the nations of the coming “Day of the Lord” and calls them to repentance.
God continues to warn us against spiritual complacency and invites us to a life of holiness and dedication.
Jesus’ Words
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- “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17)
- “Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” (Matthew 24:42)
- “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be weighed down with surfeiting and drunkenness and the cares of this life.” (Luke 21:34)
QUESTION:
Are there areas in your life where God is calling you to greater dedication and purity?
3. HAGGAI – Seek first God’s Kingdom – After the exile, Haggai encourages the people to rebuild the temple and put God first in their lives.
We are then gook called to set our priorities straight and seek God’s kingdom first.
Jesus’ Words
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- “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
- “He who loves Me will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” (John 14:23)
- “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)
QUESTION:
Where in your life have other things perhaps taken the place of God’s kingdom?
4. ZECHARIAH – Zechariah encourages the people with visions of renewal and the coming of the Messiah. He reminds them that God’s work is done by His Spirit.
God still works by His Spirit to restore and guide His children.
Jesus’ Words
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- “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6 – repeated in context of NT)
- “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever.” (John 14:16)
- “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by Me.” (John 14:6)
QUESTION:
How do you allow the Holy Spirit to guide and transform you?
5. MALACHI – Malachi addresses the people about their laxity in worship and announces the coming of Elijah, referring to John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus.
We are still called today to be vigilant and to keep ourselves ready for Jesus’ return.
Jesus’ Words
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- Behold, I send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.” (Mark 1:2)
- “Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” (Matthew 24:42)
- “Therefore, be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Luke 12:40)
QUESTION:
How are you living today to be ready for Christ’s return?
IN SUMMARY:
What does God want to teach and say to us today in His Timeless plan and eternal call?
The last five prophets call us to:
1. Faith (Habakkuk)
2. Repentance (Zephaniah)
3. Priorities (Haggai)
4. Life in the Spirit (Zechariah)
5. Watchfulness (Malachi)
Jesus himself confirms these calls and invites us into a relationship where we:
Trust, Live out repentance, Follow His Spirit and Watchfully await His coming.
It is clear from this summary that we need to spend time in God’s Word constantly:
1 Joshua 1:8— “This book of the law must be the guideline for everything you say. Meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it; then you will succeed in whatever you do, and then you will prosper.”
We are coming to the end of the OLD TESTAMENT part of our series, and I am sure everyone has compiled something from the prophets’ messages (prophecies) that they received, to realise that it was written for US.
God gives His Word to gain a deeper understanding and to build a deeper relationship with Him – It is by no means the end – on the contrary it is the beginning of deeper Bible study for everyone – whether by studying the Bible more faithfully every day with a specific plan and/or by formally enrolling as a student in our Bible school, or another – as the Holy Spirit will lead you.
Read each prophet’s message and seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance on how to apply it to yourself.
Write down what God tells you – do not try to change or paraphrase it. Just like Habakkuk, wait on the Lord and journal: write down those spontaneous thoughts – it is the Holy Spirit’s voice to you.
Feel free to share how this series has personally helped you grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ and experience the Holy Spirit as your helper! There’s a spot on the website where you can leave a comment, or you can send a WhatsApp message to 082926 5062. We’re excited to hear your story!
Listen Wednesdays at 13h30 on RADIO CAPE PULPIT – remember if you haven’t done so yet, download the Radio CAPE PULPIT app (APP) – go to your smartphone’s PLAY STORE and search.
Next week, we’re launching a brand-new series! I’m really excited to share it with you and hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we enjoyed creating it.
SHALOM
Amanda