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As Christians, we interpret the "prophet" mentioned in Deuteronomy in terms of the life and ministry of Jesus. To a lesser degree, all Christians are prophets in the sense that they speak God's works to the people.
E. Stanley Jones was a great missionary and a great spokesman for his Lord, but his ministry began on a rather embarrassing note. When he preached his first sermon in his old home church, a large crowd of friends was present to see Stanley give a good account of himself. He had prepared well, but had not preached a half dozen sentences when he was distracted and his mind went completely blank. Obviously, he was a very embarrassed young man as he blurted out, "Friends, I am very sorry, but I have forgotten my sermon," and turned and started down the pulpit stairs.
Then it seemed that a Voice said to him, "Haven't I done anything for you?" "Yes," replied Stanley, "you have done everything for me." "Well," answered the Voice, "couldn't you tell that?"
So, instead of going to his seat, Stanley stood in front of the pulpit and said, "Friends, I cannot preach, but I love Jesus Christ. You know what my life was in this community -- that of a wild, reckless young man -- and you know what it now is. You know he made life new for me, and though I cannot preach I am determined to love and serve him."
God "put the words in his mouth and he spoke to them."
-- Randolph
As Christians, we interpret the "prophet" mentioned in Deuteronomy in terms of the life and ministry of Jesus. To a lesser degree, all Christians are prophets in the sense that they speak God's works to the people.
E. Stanley Jones was a great missionary and a great spokesman for his Lord, but his ministry began on a rather embarrassing note. When he preached his first sermon in his old home church, a large crowd of friends was present to see Stanley give a good account of himself. He had prepared well, but had not preached a half dozen sentences when he was distracted and his mind went completely blank. Obviously, he was a very embarrassed young man as he blurted out, "Friends, I am very sorry, but I have forgotten my sermon," and turned and started down the pulpit stairs.
Then it seemed that a Voice said to him, "Haven't I done anything for you?" "Yes," replied Stanley, "you have done everything for me." "Well," answered the Voice, "couldn't you tell that?"
So, instead of going to his seat, Stanley stood in front of the pulpit and said, "Friends, I cannot preach, but I love Jesus Christ. You know what my life was in this community -- that of a wild, reckless young man -- and you know what it now is. You know he made life new for me, and though I cannot preach I am determined to love and serve him."
God "put the words in his mouth and he spoke to them."
-- Randolph
