Let me remind you now that modern orthodoxy has made a great blunder in the erroneous assumption that spiritual truths can be intellectually perceived. There have been far-reaching conditions resulting from this concept - and they are showing in our preaching, our praying, and in our singing, in our activity and in our thinking. I contend that we are in error to believe that Bible study can remove the veil that keeps us from spiritual perception. I know that when we go to Bible school we have to learn theology, Old Testament and New Testament introduction, Old Testament and New Testament synthesis, and on and on it goes. The courses have long names, and I suppose the people who study them think they have something. They could have something provided they have the divine illumination of the Holy Ghost. Until they receive that illumination - that inward enlightenment - they will not have anything because Bible study does not, of itself, lift the veil or penetrate it. The Word does not say, no man knows the things of God except the man who studies his Bible. It does say that no man knows the things of God except by the Holy Ghost. It is the Spirit who wrote the Bible and who must inspire the Bible. Let me quote a little motto - I dont recall where it came from, To understand a Bible text takes an act of the Holy Spirit equal to the act that inspired the text in the first place. Personally, I believe that is true. In 2 Tim. 3:16 , Paul said, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable..., and that supports Jn. 3:27 , A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. - A. W. Tozer
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 05:34:02 +0000