Bishop Eric Menees
“[14] Therefore the
Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a
son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)
Let me ask you: What comes
to mind when I say “prophecy?” Do you think of Isaiah speaking of the
coming of the Christ? Do you think of John the Baptist coming out of the
wilderness, calling people to repentance and dressed roughly in a camel hair
shirt and leather belt – long hair and straggly beard?
Actually, I think of
Archbishop Foley Beach and Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali. To look at them, you’d not
recognize them as having the gift of prophecy but, in fact, they do have that
anointing and exercise it regularly. This past week I was blessed to witness
them exercise this gift at the International Catholic Congress of Anglicans.
Through sermons and teaching, they built up the Body of Christ, which is the
Church, inspiring all those listening to serve the Lord and glorify His Name.
Throughout history, God
the Holy Spirit has selected men and women to “proclaim the Glory of God and
edify man.” In the broadest terms, that is the definition of the Gift of
Prophecy. Sometimes that gift is very specific, as we saw with Isaiah and the
prophecies of the birth of the Messiah. Sometimes the prophecies are for
building up the Bride of Christ – the Church – as we see in St. Paul’s first
letter to the Corinthians, chapter 12.
From the time of Jesus to
the present, men and women have been given the gift of prophecy to proclaim the
Good News of Jesus Christ. Haven’t you been in church and listened to a sermon
that you just knew in your soul was anointed? Perhaps it stirred your
heart and mind to seek a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ? Perhaps it
stirred your soul to reach out and serve others? Perhaps it convicted you to
examine your life and repent. Perhaps it was a strange and warm affirmation
that you are loved beyond your wildest imaginations. Why do these sermons stir
us? Perhaps 2 Peter states it best: “For
no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as
they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21)
It is my sincere prayer
that everyone of my clergy will pray that God the Holy Spirit will grant them
the gift of prophecy, that their sermons will be inspired and inspiring –
glorifying God, and blessing and equipping the people of the church to actively
bring people to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ!
I pray you all a truly
blessed Lord’s Day!
Catechism Questions 142 - 144
142. How should
you think of the human body?
My body is the good and God-given
means of my experience, expression, enjoyment, love and service within God’s
good creation. But sin and death now infect this world, and my body will
degenerate and die. (Genesis 1:26-31; 3:19)
143. Where do
you go after you die?
When I die, my body will perish
but, by the will of God, my soul will live on, awaiting resurrection and final
judgment. (1 Corinthians 15:42-44)
144. What is the
resurrection of the body?
When Jesus appears on judgment
day, he will bring all the dead back to bodily life, the wicked to judgment and
the righteous to eternal life in the glory of God. (John 5:25-29; 1
Thessalonians 4:13-17)
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