(Audio Sermon Clip) Seeking And Seeing God
A.W. Tozer passionately calls the Church to restore a high, reverent view of God, emphasizing that the Church’s vitality depends on truly seeing and revering the Most High God.
This sermon emphasizes the importance of having a high view of God, highlighting how the Church's perception of God impacts the spiritual life of its members. It contrasts the reverence and worship that come from a high view of God with the worldly and superficial attitudes that arise from a low view. The speaker calls for a restoration of the vision of the Most High God, pointing out that a proper understanding of God simplifies church services and leads to a faithful generation that stays true to the faith.
Full Transcript
I believe that I have surveyed the whole Church of God and I know something of Church history and the development of the work of God through the years, and I believe I know something of the Scripture, and I'm in a position, I think, where I speak to tell you these two things. One of them is, I say, the restoration of the vision of the Most High God. You see, we have too low a view of God now, and that is why the Church has such a low place.
The Church rises or falls altogether depending upon her view of God. If she takes a high view of God, her people are inclined to be reverent and worshipful and solemn and brave. If she takes a low view of God, they become funny and flippant and foolish and live worldly lives and give up to the flesh.
If she takes a high view of God, she simplifies her Church services immediately. If she takes a low view of God, she has to drag in every kind of theatrical touch in order to keep her people coming. It depends upon her view of God.
The old Presbyterians used to have such a high, noble view of God. What is the chief end of man? To glorify God and enjoy him forever. Many of that school of thought held high views of God.
Rarely do you know the result of that. The result of that is that generation after generation following generation they stay true to the faith. But as soon as you take a low view of God and get to thinking of God chiefly, as they think of him now, chiefly, that God is a pal or that he's my partner or that he's the go upstairs or that he's uh that he you call him by some other name a living ball one girl said he was well now as long as we think like about God like that we've never seen God imagine Moses tumbling in the fire and smoke on Mount Sinai referring to God in any other way than in awful solemn terms what we need in the United States is a revelation of what the philosopher called the mysterium tremendum the tremendous mystery and what the Bible calls Jehovah high and lifted up Isaiah saw him with his train filling the temple the trouble with you dear young people and God knows I love you as I've told you before I do I love young people I love the twinkle in their eye I love their their little giggles and I love everything about kids I love you and I don't like the word youth at all but I love young people I love them but they're being cheated in this awful hour in which we live they've never seen God and they've never seen very many people that have and so you poor kids are victims of an elder generation that never saw God and so they've had to teach you to crash and drag in every kind of crap that try to keep you happy and if you tell me the truth you don't respect them for it you go along with it but you don't respect them for it my brethren we need to see God again
Sermon Outline
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I
- The Church’s condition depends on its view of God
- High view leads to reverence and faithfulness
- Low view leads to worldliness and superficiality
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II
- Historical examples of high views of God
- Consequences of losing a high view
- The need for restoration of God’s vision
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III
- The mystery and majesty of God as seen by Isaiah
- The failure of the current generation to see God
- The impact on young people and the Church
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IV
- Call to seek God’s presence anew
- Rejecting shallow and worldly substitutes
- Embracing reverence and awe for God
Key Quotes
“The Church rises or falls altogether depending upon her view of God.” — A.W. Tozer
“If she takes a high view of God, her people are inclined to be reverent and worshipful and solemn and brave.” — A.W. Tozer
“What we need in the United States is a revelation of what the philosopher called the mysterium tremendum the tremendous mystery and what the Bible calls Jehovah high and lifted up.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Examine and elevate your personal view of God to foster deeper reverence and worship.
- Encourage the Church community to seek God’s presence rather than relying on entertainment.
- Mentor young people to encounter God’s majesty and mystery rather than superficial faith.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Tozer emphasize a high view of God?
Because the Church’s spiritual health and worshipfulness directly depend on how highly it esteems God.
What happens when the Church has a low view of God?
It becomes flippant, worldly, and resorts to entertainment to maintain attendance.
Who does Tozer say is most affected by the Church’s failure to see God?
Young people, who are deprived of a true vision of God and are taught superficial faith.
What biblical example does Tozer use to illustrate seeing God?
Isaiah’s vision of God high and lifted up in the temple, filled with awe and reverence.
What is the main call to action in this sermon?
To restore the vision of God in the Church and seek Him with reverence and awe.