THE EDUCATION OF GOD

There is a saying (even in the "church" today) that says, a reader is a leader, well that my friend is flat out false.  God's education for leadership comes not by books, videos, courses, lectures, or tests, but by the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and revelation as we submit to His work. In John we read,  "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."  (John 16:13)  Now when "the Spirit of truth is come" talks about the coming of the Holy Spirit a promise to send the comforter and also when He comes into our lives we will begin to know truth and understanding the things and ways of God.  Later on in John 16 we read, "All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take (talking of the Holy Spirit) of mine, and shall shew it unto you."  (John 16:15) That is the Holy Spirit will take the knowledge and understanding of Jesus and show them to us, how simple. This is how we can have the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5).  Notice Jesus did not say we had to go to Bible School  (also include seminaries) for two, three, or four years then do two more years for a Masters and another year or two for a doctorate to learn the things God has for us. Why Brother Paul (Saul then) was in Bible School and God kicked him out.  in Matthew Jesus was talking to Peter and He said, "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. ¹⁸  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."  (Matthew 16:17-18) What was revealed to Peter that "flesh and blood" (man's teaching and ways) could not reveal to him?  "And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.'  (Matthew 161:16) The revelation of who Jesus Christ is. Oh my friend I am here to tell you unless the Holy Spirit reveals the things of the Spirit to us we will never get them. I shared this truth to pastor of an Original Free Will Baptist Church  in our area and now Karen and I were told we were not welcome.  Now I will be honest I never spent one day in a Bible School as a student yet I have taught all over the world in Bible Schools.  I am not saying Bible Schools are not of God (I have seen some really good ones), but will say most Bible Schools are a big waste of time and money.  They use man's education  and not God education. I mean if God has called you to minister the word of God, why go to man to learn how?  Oh I know it is easier to learn from man who you can see than from God who you cannot see. Anyhow God's tests hurt we must die to our ambitions and desires, but not so in man's Bible School.  In my training days (which are still ongoing) I was in the US Navy and Charles Haun would come and stay weeks (while he would travel to churches and places in our area) with us and Charles and the Holy Spirit would take me to school or I would travel to FL where Charles lived and school was in session.  For years this happened and for years God would open (by His Holy Spirit) my heart and mind and fill it with deep revelations, truths, and understandings that are not found in a Bible School where head knowledge and worldly ways are taught.  An education in God like this is priceless, but this is the way the disciples and others that followed them were educated. There were no Bible Schools in those days just the Holy Spirit and men as teachers who paid the price to receive understanding and revelation from God through experiences and His dealings and judgments. With less men of God who really know Him and His ways around gave great rise to resident Bible Schools (students on campus) to fill the void.  In recent years (say the last 100) numbers have really sky rocketed. And of course with all of the Bible Schools comes the denominational doctrine and specific unique teachings from those who sponsor the Bible Schools. What follows can only be false truth or at best half truths, with both are deception.  Do all of the Bible Schools teach the same thing?  Do they all have the same Spirit? No and No.  Thus the graduates of these Bible Schools will only add to the confusion and deception within the Body of Christ.  Oh I know your favorite denomination says they teach the truth, but if so I guess everyone else is teaching lies/non-truths. What is the standard of truth taught in a Bible School?  Please do not say the word of God for many Bible Schools do not use the Scriptures. Maybe the number of Bible Schools have much to do with the  deception that fills the pews and hearts today. After all most teachers (not me) want to be called "Dr., " but no one wants to be called a servant.  After all with the title "Dr." comes prestige, honor, and if getting paid for preaching or pastoring the title "Dr." commands more money.  And now you can go on-line and get a doctorate degree in six months or worse go to one of these fly by night Bible Schools that are so called "accredited" not by a professional organization, but by a church or organization that wants to make money for the staff.  Maybe they are well meaning, but the spirit of these schools (will not call then Bible Schools) are all wrong.  I for one am tired of seeing these charlatans rob people, but worse spread more confusion and deception within the Body of Christ.  Now I know it is the person's money and let the buyer beware, but most Christians (especially young) have little to no common sense when it come to things of the Spirit.  After all a good snake oil sale men can even sell ice to Eskimos.  In the end they have turned the LORD's house into a den of thieves.  They have  stolen money, defrauded people under false pretense, and worse caused more confusion and deception within the Body of Christ. Jesus told the Bible teachers in His days  "And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves."  (Mark 11:17)  Not just "a house of  prayer" as Luke and Matthew says, but much more it is to be "of all nations the house of prayer." In the Greek, the words: "all" (Greek #3957) everything, everyone, and wholly and "nation" (Greek #1484) gentiles or heathens. In other words the house of God is to be all and all to everyone and a wholly place.  It is to be the place where truth is taught, the place where we can become whole again before God), the a place where we find reconciliation with God and man, but in Mark we read the religious folks (like many today) and even the Bible teachers of the day have marketed the house of God to a point Jesus had to refer to His house as a "den" (a place of vipers, snakes, and not a place where God's Spirit dwells) and called the people who run the temple "thieves."  The Gospel is not for sale my friend.  Yet "Christian education" is bought and sold every day.  A diploma in "Christianity" is sold to the lowest bidder, but in reality the integrity and wholesomeness of the Gospel has been cheapened and in some cases I know totally lost for money and influence. My friend the Gospel is not for sale.  Jesus paid a dear and eternal price (His life) for the Gospel and we must not sell it by marketing and merchandising the Gospel in fly by night on-line and pseudo resident (classes two or three days a week) Bible Schools.  If the course material is from books and videos of people (who you have never meet) you are not getting anything of the Holy Spirit at best you are going to get that person's revelation and for me that will never do. It is the Holy Spirit who will lead and guide  us to all truth not a video, self-help book, or a special curriculum.  My friend most Bible School's provide head knowledge, but revelation comes by way of the Holy Spirit.  God's education is received not by reading text books, watching video, writing papers, or taking tests.  It is not won by promotion, but by many prayers and tears. It is attained by confession of sin and much heart searching and humbling before God; by self surrender, a courageous and uncomplaining embracing of the cross, and by an eternal, unfaltering looking unto Jesus crucified. It is not gained by seeking great things for ourselves, but rather, like Paul, by counting those things that are gain to us as loss for Christ. That is a great price. but it must it must be unflinchingly paid by one who would be not merely a nominal but a real spiritual person  of men, a leader whose power is recognized and felt in heaven, on earth and in hell. God's highest level of education is reserved for those who have qualified in secret. It is that element of sovereignty that begets awe and a great humility in those to whom dedication and commitment is entrusted. The Church is painfully in need of education by the Holy Spirit not from books and videos. I wait to hear a voice and no voice comes.  I love the back seat in conferences. I would always rather listen than speak, but there seems to be  no clarion voice to listen to.  God's education come by way of loss to one's self and ambition.  I wonder how much that cost?