“Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom…” ~ Ezra 1:1
REFERENCE:
The Bible is a book of prophecies,’ containing over a thousand eight hundred prophecies. A prophecy is a prediction of future events (near or far). The power of prophecy is revealed in the fulfillment of many prophecies like the one in our verse of consideration today. Jeremiah gave a prophecy about the limit of Israel’s captivity in Babylon, which came to pass as predicted 66 years later. Indeed, God watches His words to perform them.
All through the Bible, God’s prophets/servants spoke whatever God’s Spirit put in their hearts in faith and by faith. They did not seek external signs or confirmations to check the integrity of their prophecies. If Jeremiah had looked at the duration of the captivity, the provocation of Israel, the vastness and cruelty of the Babylonian world power, he would not have prophesied.
When God wants to do anything, He will do it without consulting man or circumstance. There is enough power in His spoken words to bring whatever He says to pass. God is the only one who can look at darkness and say, ‘Light,’ and darkness will become light. The power of prophecy is rooted in the fact that there is an Omnipotent God who ensures His words come to pass.
Peter calls the Word of God the ‘more-sure’ word of prophecy. Anything God has promised you in His word is prophecy; it is as good done because there is power to back it up and ensure it comes to pass, regardless of your circumstances. Jeremiah did not know how God would free the captives but knew God would, so he spoke boldly about the coming freedom, and it was so.
Have you found a prophecy concerning you in the Bible? Don’t say, “It is not expressly speaking to me;” you will be cheating yourself. Jeremiah mentioned no names, but what God said still happened. Every promise in the Bible is a prophecy concerning your life, family, work, situation, academics, children, etc., and by the power of prophecy, God’s power will come to pass.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL TEXTS:
I Peter 1:19-21, Isaiah 55:11, and Proverbs 4:20-22
PRAYER:
+ Dear Lord, today, give me the faith to believe the prophecies spoken concerning me in Your word.
+ Father, assure my heart that every scripture I hold on to today will surely come to pass in my life.
Amen