Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro

Big Idea: The prophetic ministry of the church has its origin point, its example, and its commission in Christ.

To understand prophecy in the church, we must know Christ as The Prophet.

The prophet is the one through whom Yahweh speaks to His people with authority and effectiveness.

Heidelberg Catechism question 31.

Q.

Why is he called Christ, that is, Anointed?

A. Because he has been ordained by God the Father, and anointed with the Holy Spirit, to be our chief Prophet and Teacher, who has fully revealed to us the secret counsel and will of God concerning our redemption; our only High Priest, who by the one sacrifice of his body has redeemed us, and who continually intercedes for us before the Father; and our eternal King, who governs us by his Word and Spirit, and who defends and preserves us in the redemption obtained for us.

The church has long understood that Jesus’ title as Christ carries with it a threefold office.

He is simultaneously the Prophet, the Priest, and the King over the church and the entire universe.

Eusebius in the third and forth centuries and Thomas Aquinas in the 12th century both expounded upon this element of Christ’s character.

John Calvin and Martin Luther further explored it.

Many Bible scholars and teachers today continue to teach and meditate upon these things.

They are important for us in understanding who Jesus is and what His ministry was designed by the Father to accomplish.

Our understanding of our own ministry is directly tied to our understanding of the character of Christ.

Since our calling is to carry on His ministry, we function under Christ in these same roles as His church.

As Prophet, Christ speaks the truth of God into the world, bringing light into darkness.

He also leads his chosen people out of sin and into righteousness.

As Priest, He makes atonement for our sins and makes a clear path for us to commune with the Father.

As King, He rules with wisdom, truth, and justice over all of creation and especially his church.

He goes to war on our behalf against evil, falsehood, and the principalities of darkness in this world.

Today we will focus on the prophetic ministry of Christ as understanding His prophetic ministry is foundational in our ability to understand the churches prophetic ministry.

Tension

Truth

I. Origin point: a truer and better Moses

From the Philadelphia Confession

Chapter 8: Of Christ the Mediator

1.

It pleased God, in His eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only begotten Son, according to the covenant made between them both, to be the mediator between God and man; the prophet, priest, and king; head and saviour of the church, the heir of all things, and judge of the world; unto whom he did from all eternity give a people to be his seed and to be by him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified.

9.

This office of mediator between God and man is proper only to Christ, who is the prophet, priest, and king of the church of God; and may not be either in whole, or any part thereof, transferred from him to any other.

10.

This number and order of offices is necessary; for in respect of our ignorance, we stand in need of his prophetical office; and in respect of our alienation from God, and imperfection of the best of our services, we need his priestly office to reconcile us and present us acceptable unto God; and in respect to our averseness and utter inability to return to God, and for our rescue and security from our spiritual adversaries, we need his kingly office to convince, subdue, draw, uphold, deliver, and preserve us to his heavenly kingdom.

Three specific ways Christ is “like moses” but even greater.

1. Moses spoke God’s word, Jesus is the Word.

He is the incarnate wisdom of God.

2. Moses lead people out of slavery, Jesus leads us out of slavery to sin.

The best Moses could do was to give the people a better material life.

Christ grants us both material and spiritual freedom.

3. Moses wrote down God’s word, Jesus writes God’s Word on our hearts.

Christ sends the Holy Spirit who speaks God’s word directly to the souls of people.

Christ, the living Word, is able to dig deep into the human heart and divide our folly from truth in a way that grants us vision and new life.

II.

Example: Prophetic ministry in the life of Christ

Jesus came to bring light into dark places, to proclaim freedom to those in slavery to sin, good news to those who had none, and revelation to those who lacked understanding.

Jesus often used healing of blind people as an opportunity to contrast those who live in darkness with those who live in light.

His prophetic ministry was about revealing truth and enlightening those who were in the spiritual dark.

The Pharisees understood exactly what he was saying that they were offended just like many today continue to be offended by Christ’s attempts to enlighten the world.

III.

Commission: Christ’s call on the church

His prophetic peace is ours.

His prophetic authority is ours.

His prophetic ministry is ours.

His prophetic teaching is ours.

His prophetic presence is ours.

Ultimately the church is called by Christ to carry on where He left off.

Christ is the root of all ministry.

Since He is the ultimate Prophet, he is the heart of all prophetic ministry.

So if we want to be a prophetic church, it is imperative that we seek to know Christ, his life, his message, his mission, and his methods.

Application

Heidelberg Catechism question 32.

Q.

Why are you called a Christian?

A. Because I am a member of Christ by faith and thus share in his anointing, so that I may as prophet confess his name, as priest present myself a living sacrifice of thankfulness to him, and as king fight with a free and good conscience against sin and the devil in this life, and hereafter reign with him eternally over all creatures.

How can we honor and operate in the prophetic office of Christ?

By making it our aim to know Christ above all else.

By refusing to remain silent about all that Christ has done.

By learning to hear and follow the Holy Spirit so that Christ can direct our way and empower our speech.

These things come through prayer, the study and meditation upon God’s word, and through encouragement and equipping in the local church.

If you want to press into Christ, I would suggest seeking more of those things in your life.