The Great Illuminator

[Chad]

The Great Illuminator
A.W. Tozer

The New Testament draws a sharp line between the natural mind and the mind that has been touched by divine fire. When Peter made his good confession, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matt. 16:16), our Lord replied, "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven" (16:17). And Paul expresses much the same thing when he says, "No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost" (1 Cor. 12:3). The sum of what I am saying is that there is an illumination, divinely bestowed, without which theological truth is information and nothing more. While this illumination is never given apart from theology, it is entirely possible to have theology without the illumination. This results in what has been called "dead orthodoxy," and while there may be some who deny that it is possible to be both orthodox and dead at the same time I am afraid experience proves that it is.

Revivals, as they have appeared at various times among the churches of the past, have been essentially a quickening of the spiritual life of persons already orthodox. The revivalist, as long as he exercised his ministry as a revivalist, did not try to teach doctrine. His one object was to bring about a quickening of the churches which while orthodox in creed were devoid of spiritual life. When he went beyond this he was something else than a revivalist. Revival can come only to those who know truth. When the inner meaning of familiar doctrines suddenly flashes in upon the heart of a Christian the revival for him has already begun. It may go on to be much more than this but it can never be less.

 

[univac]

Fully Agree in spirit and truth John 4:21:23,
There is a lot of controversy due to the understanding of Revelation which separate not only the dominations but the believes, and creates confusion, mainly in post tribulation, pretribulation Rapture, postmillennialism, Amillennialism
One say's I'm right you wrong, meaning I have holy spirit you don’t and so on and use the Scripture against scripture to no prevalence and ban those who don‘t comply to there believe on this matter. But the only thing gained is slandering and hate, Just what the devil wants, and who doesn’t love his brother is a murderer. I'm sure our lord would be very disappointed. Its because of the self of one that grieves the holy spirit.
For there is only one Father and one teacher thriugh Christ by the Holy Spirit.

God bless

 

[Coconut]

One say's I'm right you wrong, meaning I have holy spirit you don’t and so on and use the Scripture against scripture to no prevalence and ban those who don‘t comply to there believe on this matter.

Actually, disagreements involving prophecy (or any scripture) is not meaning to say "I have the Holy Spirit and you don`t" That would quite an assumption for anyone to make. Paul would`nt be praying for those who already had received the Holy Spirit to be enlightened, if wisdom and revelation were akin to having the Spirit. These are not evidence (fruits) of the Spirit anyways. (Gal 5:22)


Eph 1:13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,
having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you.


I dont recall Chad ever having banned anybody who does`nt agree with his personal beliefs on prophecy. I`m not sure exactly what point you are trying to make here.

Php 1:15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.

Eph 5:8 For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

1Co 13:9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.