Post by LDM on May 19, 2010 16:55:15 GMT -5
Seven Lamps of Fire
by George Warnock
lovestthoume.com/PDF-Files/Seven_Lamps_of_Fire.pdf
Excerpt and commentary below from Lovest Thou Me website:
During the past year or so, we have been introduced to innumerable voices from both the past and present, proclaiming the necessity for us as believers to die to our flesh and live by the power of the Holy Spirit. Having come to grips with this unpopular spiritual reality, there was still the great question of ‘how to accomplish this death?’ How does the man of God walk in the Spirit in this dark world?
Jesus said, “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me” John 5:30. We are charged to live in exactly the same way. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” Romans 12:1. Not going our own way or doing our own thing or speaking our own words. I have been greatly encouraged by the spiritual insights shared in this little book by Brother George Warnock.
Here are some excerpts:
The Apostles Judged with Inner Light
It is not difficult for us to recognize that Jesus walked with this inner Light abiding in His heart and mind. But it is thought to be unscriptural to teach that God wants His people to walk in the same Light, that we might be as He is in this world (see 1 Jn. 4:17). How else will He be glorified, except it be the same glory that was on Jesus, resting on His people? "And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one". Let us be assured of this: our Lord Jesus wants to share His glory with His people -- for it is this, and nothing short of this, that will cause the world to know that "Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me" (Jn. 17:22, 23).
The early church walked and shone in the world about them with this inner Light. They were nothing in themselves. But Peter was able to say, "In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk". Stephen shone with that Light .. and they saw his face as the face of an angel. As the false leaders of religion stoned Stephen to death, the heavens were opened: and those Seven Lamps of Fire before the throne shone upon him, with the Light of the Lamb of God. Saul of Tarsus saw this martyr fall at the feet of those who slew him, and held their garments -- indicating that he was giving his consent.
Relentlessly this zealous Pharisee pressed forward in his cause, which was to wipe the church off the face of the earth. Then one day the same Light that shone from the face of Stephen, burst forth upon this enraged man and smote him to the ground. He saw the Light that was brighter than the noonday sun .. and so brilliant a Light that it blinded his eyes. But that Light penetrated deeply into his heart and soul .. and gave him a deep inner vision, and he was born anew by the same Light that had blinded him. Eventually the Light he carried made a mighty impact on nations who sat in darkness. We are not going to make an impact on nations by telling them about the Light that visited planet Earth and who is now up there in Heaven. We must see the Light for ourselves, and walk in that Light, if we are going to sweep away the darkness that overwhelms the world in which we live. [Seven Lamps of Fire – George Warnock, Chapter 7]
O, that we might be so ‘in the Spirit’… that our judgment have no measure of self involved, but be the righteous judgment of a Holy God. Religion is very good at separating the things pertaining to God from God, as if the gifts of God were able to somehow stand on their own merit. This is carnal. Another excerpt concerning the prophetic:
…People continue to cry out: "We need another Elijah! We need another John the Baptist!" But God has something even better in mind…
…for the Testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (see Rev. 9:10; 22:9). Is he not reminding us, who are often captivated by the charisma of some great prophet -- that the Testimony of Jesus in the earth is something better than having a great prophet?
It is a corporate Testimony, a people moving in such union with Christ that they speak as one voice, and shine as one Light, in this world of darkness. They do not come to this mutual Light by ecumenical dialogue, but by coming under the Lordship of Christ who walks among the lampstands, following the Lamb wherever He goes, and loving not their lives even unto the death.... [Seven Lamps of Fire – George Warnock, Chapter 5]
If these words strike a responsive chord in your spirit and you would like to read this book, it is available at the link above.
by George Warnock
lovestthoume.com/PDF-Files/Seven_Lamps_of_Fire.pdf
Excerpt and commentary below from Lovest Thou Me website:
During the past year or so, we have been introduced to innumerable voices from both the past and present, proclaiming the necessity for us as believers to die to our flesh and live by the power of the Holy Spirit. Having come to grips with this unpopular spiritual reality, there was still the great question of ‘how to accomplish this death?’ How does the man of God walk in the Spirit in this dark world?
Jesus said, “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me” John 5:30. We are charged to live in exactly the same way. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” Romans 12:1. Not going our own way or doing our own thing or speaking our own words. I have been greatly encouraged by the spiritual insights shared in this little book by Brother George Warnock.
Here are some excerpts:
The Apostles Judged with Inner Light
It is not difficult for us to recognize that Jesus walked with this inner Light abiding in His heart and mind. But it is thought to be unscriptural to teach that God wants His people to walk in the same Light, that we might be as He is in this world (see 1 Jn. 4:17). How else will He be glorified, except it be the same glory that was on Jesus, resting on His people? "And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one". Let us be assured of this: our Lord Jesus wants to share His glory with His people -- for it is this, and nothing short of this, that will cause the world to know that "Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me" (Jn. 17:22, 23).
The early church walked and shone in the world about them with this inner Light. They were nothing in themselves. But Peter was able to say, "In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk". Stephen shone with that Light .. and they saw his face as the face of an angel. As the false leaders of religion stoned Stephen to death, the heavens were opened: and those Seven Lamps of Fire before the throne shone upon him, with the Light of the Lamb of God. Saul of Tarsus saw this martyr fall at the feet of those who slew him, and held their garments -- indicating that he was giving his consent.
Relentlessly this zealous Pharisee pressed forward in his cause, which was to wipe the church off the face of the earth. Then one day the same Light that shone from the face of Stephen, burst forth upon this enraged man and smote him to the ground. He saw the Light that was brighter than the noonday sun .. and so brilliant a Light that it blinded his eyes. But that Light penetrated deeply into his heart and soul .. and gave him a deep inner vision, and he was born anew by the same Light that had blinded him. Eventually the Light he carried made a mighty impact on nations who sat in darkness. We are not going to make an impact on nations by telling them about the Light that visited planet Earth and who is now up there in Heaven. We must see the Light for ourselves, and walk in that Light, if we are going to sweep away the darkness that overwhelms the world in which we live. [Seven Lamps of Fire – George Warnock, Chapter 7]
O, that we might be so ‘in the Spirit’… that our judgment have no measure of self involved, but be the righteous judgment of a Holy God. Religion is very good at separating the things pertaining to God from God, as if the gifts of God were able to somehow stand on their own merit. This is carnal. Another excerpt concerning the prophetic:
…People continue to cry out: "We need another Elijah! We need another John the Baptist!" But God has something even better in mind…
…for the Testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (see Rev. 9:10; 22:9). Is he not reminding us, who are often captivated by the charisma of some great prophet -- that the Testimony of Jesus in the earth is something better than having a great prophet?
It is a corporate Testimony, a people moving in such union with Christ that they speak as one voice, and shine as one Light, in this world of darkness. They do not come to this mutual Light by ecumenical dialogue, but by coming under the Lordship of Christ who walks among the lampstands, following the Lamb wherever He goes, and loving not their lives even unto the death.... [Seven Lamps of Fire – George Warnock, Chapter 5]
If these words strike a responsive chord in your spirit and you would like to read this book, it is available at the link above.