No other earthly writer has moved me to my core like A.W. Tozer. Thoughts too big for me the Psalmist wrote...and when I read our brother's words it is of a great pointing heavenward; a flaming arrow that divides my soul unto greater seperation and hunger for the divine; hungry to be hungry to worship our Divine One.
kim-marie
The Counselor by A.W. Tozer
Excerpts Chapter One
Never think for a minute that there will be a time when you will not be tempted. He is tempted most effectively when he thinks that he isn't being tempted at all.
Now, a plain word here about the Christian church trying to carry on in its own power: that kind of Christianity makes God sick, for it is trying to run a heavenly institution on an earthly manner. For myself, if I couln't have the diviine power of God I would quit the whole business. The church that wants God's power will have something to offer besides social clubs, knitting societies,the Boy Scout troops and all of the other side issues.
We have been taught in some good evangelical circles, "You serve Jesus, you can have all the fun you want, and you won't have that ugly hangover!"
That was Christianity for the sake of fun, Christianity as an entertaining medium. The whole thing is offensive and foul before God Almighty. My brother the cross is not fun and is never was fun.
There is such a thing as the joy of the Lord which is the strength of His people(see Nehemiah 8:10);there is such a thing as having "joy ubspeakable and full of Glory" (1Peter 1:8)But the idea that Christianity is another form of entertainment is perfectly ridiculous.
When I sing "Amazing grace how sweet the sound," I am worshiping God Almighty. If you want to call "entertainment" that which they do before the throne when they cry day and night without ceasing, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty"(Rev 4:8), then I'm an entertainer. If it isn't entertainment--and it isn't--then I am a worshiper.
The Church must worship beloved!
Now, here was Peter standing up, and he lifted up-and that should be the business of the Church-to stand up and lift up.
The Church must be a witness to powers beyond the earthly and the human; and because I know this, it is a source of great grief to me that the Church is trying to run on its human powers.
Faith now is a beginning and an end. We have faith in faith-but nothing happens. They had faith in a risen Christ and something did happen. That's the difference.
People want the benefits of the cross but yet they do not want to bow to the control of the cross. They want all the cross can offer but they don't want to be under the Lordship of Jesus.
But, let me remind you, the cross of Jesus Christ always changes men's plans. The cross of Christ is revolutionary, and if we are not going to let it be revolutionary in us nor let it cost us anything or control us in any way, we are not going to like a church that takes the things of God seriously.
There is only one safe place for a sheep-at the Shepherd's side, because the devil doesn't fear the sheep-he just fears the Shepherd.
Your spiritual safety and well-being lies in being near the Shepherd. Stay close to Jesus and all the wolves in the world cannot get a tooth in youu
kim-marie
The Counselor by A.W. Tozer
Excerpts Chapter One
Never think for a minute that there will be a time when you will not be tempted. He is tempted most effectively when he thinks that he isn't being tempted at all.
Now, a plain word here about the Christian church trying to carry on in its own power: that kind of Christianity makes God sick, for it is trying to run a heavenly institution on an earthly manner. For myself, if I couln't have the diviine power of God I would quit the whole business. The church that wants God's power will have something to offer besides social clubs, knitting societies,the Boy Scout troops and all of the other side issues.
We have been taught in some good evangelical circles, "You serve Jesus, you can have all the fun you want, and you won't have that ugly hangover!"
That was Christianity for the sake of fun, Christianity as an entertaining medium. The whole thing is offensive and foul before God Almighty. My brother the cross is not fun and is never was fun.
There is such a thing as the joy of the Lord which is the strength of His people(see Nehemiah 8:10);there is such a thing as having "joy ubspeakable and full of Glory" (1Peter 1:8)But the idea that Christianity is another form of entertainment is perfectly ridiculous.
When I sing "Amazing grace how sweet the sound," I am worshiping God Almighty. If you want to call "entertainment" that which they do before the throne when they cry day and night without ceasing, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty"(Rev 4:8), then I'm an entertainer. If it isn't entertainment--and it isn't--then I am a worshiper.
The Church must worship beloved!
Now, here was Peter standing up, and he lifted up-and that should be the business of the Church-to stand up and lift up.
The Church must be a witness to powers beyond the earthly and the human; and because I know this, it is a source of great grief to me that the Church is trying to run on its human powers.
Faith now is a beginning and an end. We have faith in faith-but nothing happens. They had faith in a risen Christ and something did happen. That's the difference.
People want the benefits of the cross but yet they do not want to bow to the control of the cross. They want all the cross can offer but they don't want to be under the Lordship of Jesus.
But, let me remind you, the cross of Jesus Christ always changes men's plans. The cross of Christ is revolutionary, and if we are not going to let it be revolutionary in us nor let it cost us anything or control us in any way, we are not going to like a church that takes the things of God seriously.
There is only one safe place for a sheep-at the Shepherd's side, because the devil doesn't fear the sheep-he just fears the Shepherd.
Your spiritual safety and well-being lies in being near the Shepherd. Stay close to Jesus and all the wolves in the world cannot get a tooth in youu
Comments
Post a Comment