Character of a Prophet
By Lillis Boyer 4/14/07




                                                                                                                                    "See as I see" by Lillis Boyer (copyright)

Prophets must be like evergreen trees. One characteristic of evergreens is their high content of water. Survivialists know that eating a handful of their needles can supply much needed water and nutrients, especially vitamin C in emergency situations. They must be like these evergreens, they must be a high source of LIVING WATER , of God's word and full of spiritual nutrients like endurance even in the midst of extreme heat, drought, snow and cold of winter. Like the evergreen, prophets must be flexible, have teachable spirits, and be under proper spiritual covering and authority. To be teachable is to be humble. And to be truly humble is to know fully HIS love and his love for His body.

Paul says it well:

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing".

There too many lone 'clanging cymbal' prophets in the church today! Their message is not love. There is no lasting fruit as a result. They need to join the rest of Gods orchestra, and join in making a divine symphony of praise with all the other worshipping saints!

The stronger prophetic call one has on their life, the more wilderness, dying, winter, desert time they will have to go thru, until true humility and love is worked in their lives. They may go thru extraordinary trials, and tribulations. The winters may be long, cold, and cruel, like the snow on the evergreen tree. Yet to the unsuspecting onlooker, it is a beautiful sight! And as these evergreen 'prophets' learn to welcome the winter seasons, and learning the blessing and protection of spiritual covering, then they and their words will become rich, green and full of life-sustaining water and nutrients for many!

In the end knowing LOVE incarnate, knowing the One who first loved us, with ALL our heart, mind, soul and strength, and loving our neighbor as ourselves is what it is really all about. And that means even being willing to lay down our 'ministry' if asked to, for the chance to let someone else shine. To allow someone else to be raised up above ourselves. Following in the footsteps of the one who so willingly gave up HIS position, HIS LIFE!:

"for He did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing,taking the very nature of a servant,being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man,he humbled himself,and became obedient to death,even death on a cross!Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name. (Philippians 2:6-9)

The evergreen welcomes the winter season. It welcomes the dying process. It welcomes the cold of the snow. It welcomes, submits, and bows to the snow. It allows the snow to fully cover, to clothe it.