<TITLE>03. Par 11-15</TITLE>L-11 Another thing that I'd like to read you, it's found in the book: "How Did It Happen?" And this is by the historian. And, "How Did It Happen?" by R. C. Hazeltine, the history of the early churches. And here on page 180, "The spiritual Gifts In Irenaeus' Time, A.D. 177 to 202." Now, the reason I'm quoting this, it's going on tape (You see?), and--and it'll be taken off on books.
"It was in Irenaeus' time that the most of the apostolic church of France had all the gifts of the Holy Ghost." That was from him teaching. See? "Irenaeus' church members at Lyons (That's Lyon, France.) spoke with tongues. It was not uncommon to see someone dead brought back to life. Healing was--healing was an everyday occurrence in all the evangelistic--evangelical churches everywhere. (That Irenaeus knowed how to teach.) Miracles were frequent. In fact, those churches were never without a miraculous manifestation of God's Presence either by vision, super-extension of the elements of nature, and a miracle, to remind the evangelical Christians of that day they was His beloved disciples. But from the history of the past, we cannot glean a single instance of raising the dead in the first Roman church."
That's people that don't--not interested in either side; they just telling the truth. It's historians.

L-13 That's why I think Irenaeus, because (You see?), he had the same faith that Paul and the disciples had handed down. That's why I believe that he was the angel of the church of Smyrna, because he was--he had the same Scriptural teachings; and the same Scriptural teachings upon the basis of God's Word will produce the same thing every time. If you will just simply take God's formula and carry it out to the letter, no matter what the churches say, just follow it just the way it says, it'll produce the same thing. And that's what Irenaeus did.

L-14 Now, I think that Polycarp was a fine man, understand; but I say that he leaned too much to organize the church, and like the Nicolaitanes was doing. They were organizing the church, and--and bringing a brotherhood together. Which seems all right intellectually, but (You see?), the Spirit is so far ahead of the intellectual till the--you can't even think right to--to the Spirit. "My high thoughts are higher than your thoughts," saith God. "My ways are higher than your ways." So there's only one way to do; that's just follow Him by the blueprint. That's right.

L-15 Now, we might think, if you was going from here... If I was going to Chicago tonight, I might get out here and get me a compass and say, "Now, let's see, Chicago sets right this a-way. All right, I'll take right off." I wouldn't get out of Jeffersonville. See? I got to get me a road map. And it's... There's a lay--way lined out that I can go to Chicago in six or seven hours of travel by automobile, but I can't just cut any way. The airplane just can't cut any way; he's got a--a air line or a certain height and things that he has to fly, of certain degrees that he has to stay in.
There's a way made, and God has a way. God has the way for His church, for His people. And He never did intend it to be controlled by popes, cardinals, archbishop, or general overseers. The Holy Spirit is the Tutor of the church of the living God, to raise it. And all the holiness don't go to a cardinal or a priest, to make him a holy man in the--in the church anything. The laity is just as right--much right to the Holy Spirit as any preacher, pastor, deacon, trustee, whatevermore. Laity...


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