Your Sons & Daughters Shall Prophesy - Prophetic Gifts Today In The New Testament Church

Makeup: Traits That Characterized a Prophet

• Shemaiah, realizing that both Judah and Israel were covenant peo ples, told King Rehoboam boldly to return and not fight against his brothers (1 Kings 12:22-24). • Jonah predicted restoration of Israel's border (2 Kings 14:25) and then, under duress, was sent to the wicked city of Nineveh, of which he was well aware (Jonah 1:1-2). • Huldah the prophetess brought a word of judgment concerning Jerusalem, yet encouraged King Josiah so much that a minor revival resulted (2 Chronicles 34:22-33). • Jeremiah so believed in the restoration of Judah that he publicly bought land even when the oppressor occupied it (Jeremiah 32:14-15). • Ezekiel brought lamentations over six nations for specific sins (Ezekiel 25-32). • Amos spoke boldly and informedly about six foreign nations of his day, specifying certain cities for divine judgment (Amos 1, 2). I would like to close this chapter with a story of a modern-day prophet who reminds me of Samuel. The anecdote took place at the turn of the century in the country of Armenia. The similarity between Samuel and the old Russian cannot be missed, and the story clearly illustrates the con tinuity and unity of prophecy. Demos Shakarian, founder and former president of the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International, tells the story. Shakarian was a California dairyman who walked with God in an unusual way. His Fel lowship reached more than a billion people each year with the life-chang ing message of Christ's love. His exposure to prophetic activity was part of the rich heritage connected with Spirit-filled Armenian churches. The following episode involves his grandfather (also named Demos) and is told by Demos in his personal story, The Happiest People on Earth-an amazing validation of prophecy at work today. In the year 1900, when Isaac [Demos' father] was eight and his younger sister, Hamas, was four, the news arrived that a hundred Russian Chris tians were coming over the mountains in their covered wagons. Everyone was pleased. It was the custom in Kara Kala [in Armenia] to hold a feast for the visiting Christians whenever they arrived. In spite of the fact that he didn't agree with the "full Gospel" preached by the Russians, Grand father considered their visits as times set apart for God, and insisted that The Shakarian Story

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