Continuing from our previous post.
To be a minister or priest in the nominal Church of to-day, one must bring with him a plentiful store of that which Paul despised and left behind, namely, human wisdom (1 Cor. 1:17; 2:16). There is a wisdom learned by the mature, "even the hidden," "which the Spirit teaches." This is not taught in the great schools, seminaries of men, neither can it be learned there, but it is "freely given to us of God." Ministers are no more called of God with them. They are made as newspapers are made. Blank paper (sometimes very blank) is put into a machine, impressions are made on it, and it comes out finished. It is wrapped and stamped and is ready to be sent away. We may search the Scriptures in vain for any one instance of Gods sending through such a channel.
Typically, when one is incline to take up the ministry, in the aspects of becoming a minister or preacher they enroll in one of the many various seminaries established by the professing church. If perchance one was raised a Baptist they most likely would enroll in a Baptist seminary, a Methodist to a Methodist seminary, Lutheran to a Lutheran and so on and so forth There are however now great schools (All Faiths Ministries) in which it matters not what ones back ground or up-brining was only that they seek the ministry in some manner or form, these are more than happy to accommodate those so inclined. Most of these enrollees come with good intentions, but lacking any real scriptural knowledge, save a few verses and passages they may have learned over the years they are for the most part ignorant of the truth. The problem is that in enrolling in one of the great schools of men the only wisdom (knowledge) they will gain is that of the wisdom of men, “babble” as the Lord calls it, with one school’s teachings contradicting that of the next. And so it is that the blind continue to follow the blind with nothing to offer their flocks but the same old errors and theories that have been taught in the professing church since it first fell away.
However, God has raised up a new mouthpiece. He sheds increasing light to a little flock who are willing to receive it, and spread it abroad without fear. To those who humbly and prayerfully search for the truth; having but one aim, the glory of God; one desire, to do his will; one hope, to share that glory--according to his promises.
We should not look for light (in the nominal churches) where little remains but the fading reflections of a former glory. That sickly hue which now appears is but the smoke illuminated by the piercing rays from the part of a hand which, high on the wall, is writing, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
VERSE 17 “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.”
"I am rich." I have all the spiritual light that exists in the world. I have gotten riches; have still more enriched myself; have much goods laid up for many years. All others are too poor to add to my store. I have all that is worth having, and need no more. " I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow." (Rev 18:7)
Of course she cannot recognize her own picture, she is "blind." "And knows not that thou art the wretched one," etc. Just as the Jewish house fell, because they knew not THE TIME OF THEIR VISITATION (Luke 19:44) so, must their counterpart of this dispensation. The visitation (the presence) of the Lord is as a stone of stumbling and rock of offense to both the houses of Israel (Isa. 8:14 and Heb. 3:5-6).
The fleshly house failed to recognize his presence in the flesh; the spiritual house refuse to acknowledge his presence in a spiritual body (unseen by the natural eye). Just as he could be seen by the eye of flesh in his first visitation, so he must be recognized in this only by the eyes of our understanding--the only spiritual eyesight we now possess. When we are made like him, bye and bye we shall see him (physically) as he is.
If she is so blind that she cannot recognize her own condition and location (both according to prophecy, and on the stream of time), how can it be expected that she should see his (condition and location, a spirit being, invisibly present even now). When she has learned this, she will realize her own true condition, and it will be "pitiable, and poor, and naked." (R 505)
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