In the last few centuries many who were used by the Lord were Nazarites. They had no office and no arrangement in so-called Christianity, but they voluntarily offered everything. For example, D. L. Moody was originally a shoe salesman, but he was a Nazarite. On his trip back to China, John Sung threw his doctoral diploma into the ocean; he was a Nazarite and powerful in the gospel. Brother Nee’s father worked in the customs office and always expected his son to acquire some status in the world, yet Brother Nee consecrated himself to be a Nazarite when he was newly saved. Although he never studied at a seminary, he received much light and revelation from God. When the Lord’s recovery was raised up in China, God greatly blessed us. In the beginning in northern China, the elders of some large chapels said, “Leave them alone. They are just like little children playing around.” At that time I did not understand, but looking back according to the light we have seen, I see that we were raised up by God according to the principle of the Nazarite.
The brothers in the churches must see that if we are not Nazarites in this last age, God will raise up others to be Nazarites and turn the age through them. Self-appointed elders and apostles are of no use. John the Baptist was born a priest, but he did not become a priest; instead, he became a Nazarite voluntarily. The priests could not usher in Christ; it was a Nazarite who ushered in Christ. David was not brought in by a priest or a judge but by a Nazarite. David typifies Christ, and the kingdom brought in by David typifies the kingdom that Christ will bring in. Both David and his kingdom were brought in by a Nazarite; similarly, Christ and His kingdom will be brought in by Nazarites.
In this last age God will use Nazarites. The service in this last age can be entrusted to only one kind of people—Nazarites. They can receive God’s revelation, be prophets, administrate God’s people, and fight for God’s kingdom. The basic requirement of service lies not in arrangement but in being a Nazarite. If we assume some status, God will turn to others and raise up genuine Nazarites. We should not think that because we are young, we cannot be old like Eli. Some are “old Elis” even at a young age. When others meet us, we are not fresh, bright, or lively, but instead, we are dull, stale, not lively, not fresh, and without God’s speaking.
All the problems lie in our attitude toward our living and the esteem that we have for our own honor and glory. If our attitude is wrong, even having the “Urim” and “Thummim” of a priest will be of no use; God will instead look for a “little Samuel.” Even though we are rich in experience, what is the use if God does not come to us? In contrast, the little Samuel did not know anything, but God came to him again and again. When God found him, Samuel did not understand and even went to consult Eli. In serving, we must not assume any status. No arrangement is reliable, and we can have no trust in some so-called seniority. If we depend on arrangement, we will surely fall into the condition of Eli. On the contrary, we must continually hold fast to the Nazarite’s status of voluntarily living for God in order to be fresh and to have light in our speaking.
God no longer uses the Israelites or the Levites, nor does He use people such as the priests and judges who were ordained and arranged by Him; rather, He uses Nazarites who voluntarily consecrate themselves. In order for God to use a person, he must be a Nazarite. Samuel in the Old Testament turned the age, and John the Baptist in the New Testament turned the age. Church history shows that all who were used by God were Nazarites. May the Lord open our eyes to see this principle.
