Greatest Prophet by Frederick Hoehn, copyright 2014, all rights reserved. Chapter 1 Jesus said, “Among those born of women a greater Prophet has not arisen than John the Baptist, Nevertheless, he that is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.” “Those born of women” encompasses most people. But there were two who weren’t born of women. The first man, Adam, whom God made from the dust of the earth. Adam didn’t need a mother because he came into existence as an adult man. Later, God took one of Adam’s ribs, and made Adam’s wife Eve out of it. But why would Jesus say that the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than John the Baptist? Because, at that moment, John wasn’t part of the Kingdom of Heaven. John the Baptist was the “voice of someone shouting in the wilderness, make the paths of the Lord straight.” John the Baptist prepared the way before Jesus. John did a great work, and baptized people in water with a baptism of repentance. Later, Jesus’ disciples baptized people in water to signify that they had become born again Christians. Still later, after Jesus had been raised from the dead, and after he had ascended to heaven, on the Day of Pentecost, we first got the Baptism with the Holy Ghost with the speaking in unknown tongues. This is spoken of in Acts 1:8, Acts chapter 2, Acts chapter 10, and Acts chapter 19. Paul the Apostle said, “I thank God I speak with tongues more than you all.” He means the unknown tongue (language) that you speak in after Jesus has baptized you with the Holy Ghost. This is only for Christians, of course. If you’re a Christian, ask Jesus to baptize you with the Holy Ghost. “When you pray, believe that you receive the things you ask for, and you shall have them.” (Mark 11:24) The evidence that someone has been baptized with the Holy Ghost is that they’ll speak in an unknown tongue. It’s a language unknown to the person speaking. How can someone speak in a language they’ve never learned? Because, after being baptized with the Holy Ghost, the Holy Ghost gives them the words to speak in that unknown tongue. But how is it that after doing the great work of preparing the way before Jesus, and after publicly identifying Jesus as the one who baptizes with the Holy Ghost, John the Baptist wasn’t part of the Kingdom of Heaven? Because John began to doubt. John saw the spirit coming like a dove and landing on Jesus. That was the way John knew that Jesus was the Baptizer with the Holy Ghost. But because John told the King that it was not lawful to have his brother’s wife, John was put in prison. John was right, of course, and the King wrongfully imprisoned John. Sometimes the righteous are persecuted for being righteous. Jesus said, “In the world, you’ll have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” As John sat in prison, no doubt thoughts came to him about whether Jesus really was the Messiah, the Savior. John sent some of his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you he that was supposed to come, or are we looking for someone else.” At least John thought highly enough of Jesus that he believed Jesus would answer that question truthfully. Some false prophets would claim that they are legitimate even when they’re not. Chapter 2 Such a false prophet was Joseph Smith who founded Mormonism. Smith claimed that God the Father and Jesus came and spoke with him face to face. That, of course, did not happen. Moses was talking with God, and hearing God, but not seeing Him. Moses said to God, “Let me see you.” God said, “No man can see my face and live.” So then, how did Joseph Smith see God’s face and Live? He didn’t, because if he had, it would have killed him. Another false prophet was Mohammed, who started a false religion called Islam. Followers of Islam are called Muslims. Muslims say that God’s name is Allah, but that Allah does not have a Son, Jesus. Muslims say that Jesus was a good man, and a prophet, but not the Son of God. In saying that, they’ve contradicted themselves. Jesus claimed in the Bible to be the Son of God before the Jewish High Priest, and before his disciples. So then, if the Muslims were correct, and Jesus is not the Son of God, then Jesus is not a good man, but a liar; not a prophet, but a false prophet. But the Muslims are wrong, Jesus is the Son of God, and God doesn’t call himself Allah. Another false religion is Jehovah’s Witnesses. They say that there’s no hell. But Jesus said there is a fiery hell, where their worms don’t die, and where the fire is not quenched. Where there’s crying and gnashing of teeth. Now someone’s lying, either Jesus is lying, or the Jehovah’s Witnesses are lying, and I know Jesus is not a liar. The Jehovah’s Witnesses also say that only one hundred forty four thousand will go to heaven. Wrong, John the Revelator looked into the future and saw thousands of thousands in heaven. One thousand thousand is one million, much more than the Jehovah’s witnesses say. When John sent his disciples to Jesus to ask Jesus if He was the one who was supposed to come, Jesus told them to go back to John and tell him what they had been seeing Jesus do. He healed the sick with miraculous healings, he preached the gospel to the poor. He did the things that the Messiah, the Savior would do. Jesus said that John was the Greatest Prophet, but that was two thousand years ago. Is it possible that there might be a greater prophet since John the Baptist? I don’t think I could come up with much of a list of prophets since John the Baptist, could you? Paul was an Apostle, and may have given some words of prophecy. In the New Testament, it says, “All may prophesy.” (All Christians.) But just because someone gives a word of prophecy doesn’t make them a prophet. Kenneth E. Hagin said he walked in the office of a Prophet, and I believe he did. Hagin also gave the qualifications of walking in the office of a Prophet in one of his books. Perhaps it was, “I Believe in Visions.” You have to have two in a certain category of the nine gifts of the spirit listed in First Corinthians. I’d have to go read that book again, and I no longer have it. You could contact Kenneth Hagin Ministries, on the web at www.Rhema.org There was a man half a century ago out of Indiana who was called a prophet, but I’m not so sure. In some churches, you can be elected to the position of “Apostle.” Personally, I don’t think people ought to call themselves an apostle or a prophet, unless God has appointed them to those offices. So then one might wonder whether K. E. Hagin is a greater prophet than John the Baptist. But that would be very hard to measure. Hagin has had the advantage of printing presses, public address systems, radio, television, the Internet. Things that were not available to John the Baptist. The Bible says, “To whom more is given, more will be required.” With those advantages that Hagin had, it should be expected that he would reach more people. We’ll just have to wait until Judgment Day to find out who’s who in the sight of God. But although Jesus showed that John the Baptist had fallen into doubting, I believe that John the Baptist made it to heaven. Surely God would not allow one of His important servants like John the Baptist to wander into hell. When the messengers came back from Jesus to John the Baptist, I believe John came to the right conclusion, and chose to believe in Jesus. But John had to come to Jesus the same way we all do, by making a choice ourselves to believe the gospel message, and the words of Jesus, and accept him for ourselves. “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead, you’re saved. For with the heart man believes for righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made for salvation.” (Rom 10:9,10) Just pray a simple prayer like this: “Lord Jesus, I accept you as my Savior. I believe God raised you from the dead. Thank you that I’m now a Christian.” ___James chapter 1 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are dispersed around, greetings. 2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various temptations, 3 Knowing this, that the testing of your faith works patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, so you'll be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God for it, who gives to all men liberally, and won't find fault, and it shall be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. 7 For let that man not think that he'll receive anything from the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted, 10 But the rich, in that he is made low, because as the flower of the grass he'll pass away. 11 For the sun has no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower of it falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes, so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. 12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation, for after he's been tested, he'll receive the crown of life, that the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt any man, 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it produces sin, and sin when it's finished, produces death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, nor shadow of turning. 18 He chose to father us with the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 19 So, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, 20 For the anger of man doesn't accomplish the righteousness of God. 21 So, lay apart all filthiness and the unnecessary naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man seeing his natural face in a mirror, 24 For he sees himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seems to be religious, and doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is for nothing. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. ___James chapter 2 1 My brothers, don't have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if a man with a gold ring comes to your assembly in fancy clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes comes in also, 3 And you have respect to him that wears the fancy clothes, and say to him, "Sit here in a good place," and say to the poor, "Stand there, or sit here under my footstool," 4 Aren't you then partial in yourselves, and have become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, hasn't God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have despised the poor. Don't rich men oppress you, and bring you before the judgment seats? 7 Don't they blaspheme that worthy name by which you're called? 8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor like yourself," you do well, 9 But if you have respect of persons, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as sinners. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not kill." Now if you don't commit adultery, yet if you kill, you've become a breaker of the law. 12 Speak in such a way, and do, as those who'll be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has shown no mercy, and mercy rejoices against judgment. 14 What does it profit, my brothers, though a man says he has faith, and doesn't have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister needs clothes, and lacks daily food, 16 And one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you don't give them the things that are needed for the body, what good is that? 17 Even so faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yes, a man could say, "You have faith, and I have works, show me your faith without your works, and I'll show you my faith by my works." 19 You believe that there is one God, you do well, the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But don't you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see how faith worked with his deeds, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, and he was called the friend of God." 24 You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also wasn't Rahab the prostitute justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For like the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. ___James chapter 3 1 My brothers, don't be many masters, knowing that we'll receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man doesn't offend in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3 See, we put bits in the horses' mouths, so they'll obey us, and we turn around their whole bodies. 4 Look also at the ships, which though they're so large, and are driven by fierce winds, yet they're turned around by a very small helm, wherever the captain wants. 5 Even so, the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how great a matter a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of sin, so is the tongue among our members that it makes dirty the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of animals, and of birds, and of snakes, and of things in the sea, gets tamed, and has been tamed by mankind, 8 But no man can tame the tongue, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless God, the Father, and with it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be. 11 Does a fountain send out at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brothers, produce olive berries? Or a vine, figs? So no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh. 13 Who is a wise man, possessing knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good lifestyle his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, don't glory, and don't lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom doesn't descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be reasoned with, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace by those who make peace. ___James chapter 4 1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your lusts that war in your members? 2 You lust, and don't have, you kill, and desire to have, and can't obtain, you fight and war, yet you don't have, because you don't ask. 3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask wrongly, so you can consume it on your lusts. 4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God. 5 Do you think that the scripture says for nothing, "The spirit that lives in us lusts to envy?" 6 But he gives more grace. So he says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he'll run away from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and cry, let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he'll lift you up. 11 Don't speak evil about each other, brothers. He that speaks evil about his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil about the law, and judges the law, but if you judge the law, you're not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy, who are you that judges someone else? 13 Go on now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we'll go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and make a profit," 14 Actually, you don't know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is a puff of steam, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. 15 For you ought to say, "Lord willing, we'll live, and do this, or that." 16 But now you rejoice in your boastings, all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin. ___James chapter 5 1 Go on now, you rich men, cry and howl for your miseries that shall come on you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your clothes are moth eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are rusted, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire. You've heaped treasure together for the last days. 4 See, the wages of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which you've kept back by fraud, shouts, and the shouts of those who've reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath. 5 You've lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton, you've nourished your hearts, like in a day of slaughter. 6 You've condemned and killed the just, and he doesn't resist you. 7 Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is getting near. 9 Don't grudge against each other, brothers, so you won't be condemned, see, the judge stands at the door. 10 Take, my brothers, the prophets, who've spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 See, we count them happy that endure. You've heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. 12 But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, not by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath, but let your yes be yes, and your no, no, so that you don't fall into condemnation. 13 Is anyone among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is anyone merry? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he'll be forgiven. 16 Confess your faults to each other, and pray for each other so you'll be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man is does a lot of good. 17 Elijah was a man subject to the same kind of passions that we are, and he prayed earnestly that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. 19 Brothers, if any of you strays from the truth, and someone converts him, 20 Let him know, that he that converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.