The Heritage of the Prophetic Word

Recalling the prophets and the apostles' words requires us to look backward, not to relive our past, but because history informs our present in so many ways. There is within the Body of Christ a heritage of the prophetic. The genealogies that Matthew provides contain evidence of Christ's identity as the Messiah and that of His people. Just take a look.

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: three patriarchs of faith. Rahab and Ruth, whose presence is in the record, look forward to the grafting in of the Gentiles. King David - prophetic worshipper and murderer. Again, listed in this auspicious record, Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, who came out of Babylon and whom Haggai reminded that God was with him, that the Spirit remained with, and not to fear, even as the Lord prepared to shake the heavens (Hag. 2:4-7). Christ’s genealogy itself declares the prophetic redemptive plan of the Lord for the earth and stands as a fulfillment to God's word to David that expresses, "I will set upon your throne, the fruit of your body" (Ps. 132:11b). If one takes the time, one can find the redemptive thread throughout the entirety of the Old Testament. Yes, there are indictments against the people of God. Yes, there are judgments rendered from God because of sin. BUT God constantly calls His people back, redeeming our sinful past to facilitate our future in Him!

For those who question where they stand with the Lord and feel unworthy of Christ's sacrifice, this is good news! This is the gospel: that no matter how far you've strayed, redemption is near because Emmanuel, God with us, has stepped into our lives, transforming not just our human nature but our bloodline, as well. We are redeemed in totality! There is no inherited guilt to condemn those who are in Christ Jesus! The Son makes free those enslaved to sin, enabling us to stand boldly before the throne of grace. What a beautiful picture of the redemptive nature of prophecy! Where we are now is not where we will be. Christ, through His first advent, has made possible our participation in His second.

Perhaps your heritage is not one of godliness. That's not a problem for our God. 1 Timothy 2:5-6 declares, "For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time." His identity and subsequent death and resurrection make your testimony possible. The line and the Lion of the Tribe of Judah are still announcing what they for thousands of years, that in Christ, things change. Lives are redeemed. You change, I change, enabling us to step into the prophetic, testifying that Jesus is the Christ, Son of the Living God!