======================================================================== A SACRED GIFT OF SEEING by A.W. Tozer ======================================================================== Summary: A purified and Spirit-controlled imagination is the key to experiencing the presence of God and understanding the mysteries of Christianity. Topics: "Spiritual Perception", "Imagination" Scripture References: Psalm 119:18, Isaiah 40:31, Matthew 5:8, Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 2:9, 2 Corinthians 4:18, Ephesians 1:18, Colossians 3:2, Hebrews 11:1, James 1:5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DESCRIPTION ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of imagination in understanding and serving God, clarifying that imagination should not be confused with the imaginary. He asserts that the Bible is the most realistic book, presenting the reality of God, humanity, sin, and the afterlife. Tozer highlights that a cleansed and Spirit-controlled imagination allows believers to see spiritual truths reflected in the natural world. This sacred gift of seeing enables Christians to appreciate the beauty and mystery of the divine. He warns against a rigid mindset that fails to recognize the depth of Christianity. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ As God created us, we all have to some degree the power to imagine. That imagination is of great value in the service of God may be denied by some persons who have erroneously confused the word "imagination" with the word "imaginary." The gospel of Jesus Christ has no truck with things imaginary. The most realistic book in the world is the Bible. God is real. Men are real and so is sin and so are death and hell! The presence of God is not imaginary; neither is prayer the indulgence of a delightful fancy. The value of the cleansed imagination in the sphere of religion lies in its power to perceive in natural things shadows of things spiritual. A purified and Spirit-controlled imagination is the sacred gift of seeing; the ability to peer beyond the veil and gaze with astonished wonder upon the beauties and mysteries of things holy and eternal. The stodgy pedestrian mind does no credit to Christianity! ======================================================================== Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/aw-tozer/a-sacred-gift-of-seeing/ ========================================================================