Leaders Wo Are Spiritual Visionaries
The church's lack of spiritual discernment has led to a surrender to the world, and the only solution is to seek spiritual vision and guidance from God.
The preacher delves into the meaning of 'chrestos,' emphasizing its significance in describing that which is useful, suitable, excellent, and serviceable. 'Chrestos' embodies kindness, goodness, and benevolence, contrasting harshness and bitterness. This kindness is reflected in loving affection, sympathy, friendliness, and patience, urging believers to exhibit kindness in their words and actions, reflecting the nature of Christ. The sermon explores various biblical instances where 'chrestos' is used, highlighting God's kindness, the importance of forgiveness, and the gentle, benevolent nature of Christ's yoke.
Text
The great deficiency to which I refer is the lack of spiritual discernment, especially among our leaders. How there can be so much Bible knowledge and so little insight, so little moral penetration, is one of the enigmas of the religious world today. I think it is altogether accurate to say that there has never before been a time in the history of the church when so many people were engaged in Bible study as are so engaged today. If the knowledge of Bible doctrine were any guarantee of godliness, this would without doubt be known in history as the age of sanctity.
Instead, it may well be known as the age of the church's Babylonish captivity, or the age of worldliness, when the professed Bride of Christ allowed herself to be successfully courted by the fallen sons of men in unbelievable numbers. The body of evangelical believers, under evil influences, has . . . gone over to the world in complete and abject surrender, avoiding only a few of the grosser sins such as drunkenness and sexual promiscuity.
That this disgraceful betrayal has taken place in broad daylight with full consent of our Bible teachers and evangelists is one of the most terrible affairs in the spiritual history of the world.
Yet I for one cannot believe that the great surrender was negotiated by men of evil heart who set out deliberately to destroy the faith of our fathers. Many good and clean-living people have collaborated with the quislings who betrayed us. Why? The answer can only be, from lack of spiritual vision. Something like a mist has settled over the church as "the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations" (Isaiah 25:7). Such a veil once descended upon Israel: "For their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read.
It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts" (2 Corinthians 3:14-15). That was Israel's tragic hour. God raised up the church and temporarily disfranchised His ancient people. He could not trust His work to blind men.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Great Deficiency
- A. Lack of spiritual discernment among leaders
- B. Bible knowledge without moral penetration
- II. The Age of the Church's Babylonish Captivity
- A. The church's surrender to the world
- B. The role of evil influences
- III. The Cause of the Betrayal
- A. Lack of spiritual vision
- B. Collaboration with quislings
- IV. The Veil of Spiritual Blindness
- A. A mist settled over the church
- B. A veil covers the hearts of men
Key Quotes
“If the knowledge of Bible doctrine were any guarantee of godliness, this would without doubt be known in history as the age of sanctity.” — A.W. Tozer
“That this disgraceful betrayal has taken place in broad daylight with full consent of our Bible teachers and evangelists is one of the most terrible affairs in the spiritual history of the world.” — A.W. Tozer
“The answer can only be, from lack of spiritual vision.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must seek spiritual vision and guidance from God to avoid the trap of worldliness.
- We must be aware of the dangers of evil influences and take steps to resist them.
- We must turn to Christ to remove the veil of spiritual blindness and gain spiritual discernment.