He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.
—MATTHEW 10:41, NKJV
GOD REWARDS THOSE who receive and bless prophets. Those who are hospitable to prophets get God’s attention. Prophets are sent representatives, so rejecting prophets is tantamount to rejecting God.
The treatment of prophets is a sign of a person’s heart toward God. Favor, blessing, promotion, and financial breakthrough are some of the blessings that come into your life when you receive a prophet of God. Even if you are called to prophetic ministry, honoring God’s prophets brings rewards.
The widow of Zarephath received Elijah as a prophet because he was a prophet. She extended to him the hospitality he requested of her (1 Kings 17:9–16). She acted on his words in faith. In obedience to Elijah’s instructions, she used the last of her flour and oil to make the prophet food. She thought she and her son would starve to death, but God rewarded her for taking care of His prophet Elijah. “The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by Elijah” (1 Kings 17:16, NKJV). Later on, after what seemed to be a fatal tragedy—her son’s sudden death—she was rewarded for her faithfulness to Elijah when her son was restored to life (1 Kings 17:17–24).
Something similar happened to the Shunammite woman who received Elijah’s successor, Elisha, into her home. The woman said to her husband, “Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly. Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there” (2 Kings 4:9–10, NKJV).
She not only acknowledged the call and anointing on Elisha’s life—but she also exercised her faith to make provision for that call and anointing to operate in her life. God rewarded her by fulfilling the word given to her through the prophet that her barrenness would be removed. The woman had a son, and when that son got sick and died, God used the prophet to raise him back to life (2 Kings 4:16–17, 34–37).
The words and ministry of a prophet are valuable, and when we welcome them, they bring rewards, benefits, and blessing. You can receive a prophet’s reward in many ways: divine intervention, impartations, confirmation of direction, blessings, and the breaking of curses. Other ways in which you can receive a prophet’s reward include the following.
Encouragement. This is one of the assignments of prophets. They will encourage people that others have forgotten. If you need encouragement, get around prophets. In Acts 4:36, Barnabas is called the son of prophecy or the son of encouragement.
Judas and Silas, being prophets themselves, exhorted the brothers with many words and strengthened them.
—ACTS 15:32
The LORD God has given me the tongue of the learned, that I may know how to sustain him who is weary with a word; He awakens me morning by morning; He awakens my ear to listen as the learned.
—ISAIAH 50:4
Conviction. Without conviction, there is no change. Conviction is the grace of the prophet. Their words pierce the heart to produce lasting change.
When they heard this, they were stung in the heart and said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
—ACTS 2:37
Hope. Prophets can step into hopeless situations and prophesy a miraculous turnaround. Prophets can see beyond discouragement and despair. They can see restoration, change, and hope. (See Ezekiel 37:11–12.)
Miracles. If you want to see miracles, step out in faith on the words of a prophet. Peter obeyed the word of the Lord and caught a great number of fish (Luke 5:5–6).
Warning of and exposing the enemy’s plans. Elisha warned the king of Israel concerning the plans of the enemy because the Lord opened his ears to hear the plotting of the enemy (2 Kings 6:10–12).
Revealing root issues. It is a true blessing when a prophet gets to the root of a problem to address what is hidden beneath the surface. Roots are the source of what is growing. Is the root rebellion, pride, rejection, bitterness, or unforgiveness? Prophets will reveal and deal with the root issue so people can walk in freedom.
Even now the axe is put to the tree roots. Therefore, every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
—MATTHEW 3:10
Sensitivity to the Spirit of God. Prophets know when the Holy Spirit is grieved or vexed and also when the glory has departed (Ichabod, see 1 Samuel 4:19–21). It is amazing that some people can carry on when God’s glory has departed, but the prophet cannot act as if the glory is still there when it has lifted. Prophets are grieved when the Holy Spirit is grieved or vexed.
Don’t grieve God. Don’t break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don’t take such a gift for granted.
—EPHESIANS 4:30, MSG
Prosperity. Prophets hurt when they see the people of God struggle because of disobedience. (Consider, for instance, the Lamentations of Jeremiah.) Listening to God’s voice and responding with obedience is a key to prosperity.
I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for.
—JEREMIAH 29:11, GNT
Times of refreshing. Churches and believers need seasons of refreshing. A prophetic atmosphere refreshes and provides rest and water in dry places. Refresh means to revive or reinvigorate, as with rest, food, or drink; to renew by stimulation. We are refreshed in the presence of the Lord.
So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return [to God] that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat, of reviving with fresh air) may come from the presence of the Lord.
—ACTS 3:19, AMPC
Other rewards. Prophets also help us go through God’s chastening and correction the right way (Heb. 12:11–13; Rev. 3:19). They challenge our comfort zones (Amos 6:1, 4) and call us to rise out of sin and rebellion. Their foresight, as well as their discernment of the times and seasons, help us to stay poised, purified, and prepared for the future.
We are intimately linked in this harvest work. Anyone who accepts what you do, accepts me, the One who sent you. Anyone who accepts what I do accepts my Father, who sent me. Accepting a messenger of God is as good as being God’s messenger.
—MATTHEW 10:40–41, MSG
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Your Word says if I receive a prophet as a prophet I will receive a prophet’s reward (Matt. 10:41). I choose to honor Your prophetic voices. I put a demand on the anointing You have placed on their lives to receive from their gifts.
I set my faith in motion to act on what You have spoken over my life through Your Word and Your prophets. I believe in the Lord my God, so shall I be established; I believe His prophets, so shall I prosper (2 Chron. 20:20). I will produce the fruits of righteousness and give You all the glory as Your word is established in my life in the name of Jesus.