Feeding on God's Word in Obedience and Humility
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the necessity of faith, obedience, and humility in feeding on God's Word for spiritual growth and understanding.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the necessity of feeding on God's Word with faith, obedience, and humility. He explains that true faith comes from hearing the Scriptures, which serve to purify and instruct believers. Tozer illustrates that safety from spiritual dangers comes not just from knowing the Word but from obeying it, much like a driver must follow road signs. He also highlights the connection between humility and understanding truth, asserting that only the meek can be guided by God. Ultimately, pride leads to straying from the truth, while humility opens the door to divine guidance.
Text
Faith, constant meditation on the Scriptures, obedience, humility, . . . 3. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). The Scriptures purify, instruct, strengthen, enlighten and inform. The blessed man will meditate in them day and night. 4. To be entirely safe from the devil's snares the man of God must be completely obedient to the Word of the Lord. The driver on the highway is safe, not when he reads the signs but when he obeys them. So it is with the Scriptures. To be effective they must be obeyed. 5. Again, there is a close relation between humility and the perception of truth. "The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way" (Psa. 25:9).
In the Scriptures I find no shred of encouragement for the proud.
Only the tame sheep can be led; only the humble child need expect the guidance of the Father's hand. When all the evidence is in it may well be found that none but the proud ever strayed from the truth and that self-trust was behind every heresy that ever afflicted the church.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - The importance of faith in understanding Scripture - Meditation on the Word as a daily practice - The role of obedience in spiritual safety
- II points: - The Scriptures as a source of purification and instruction - Strength and enlightenment through God's Word - The necessity of obeying Scripture for effectiveness
- III points: - The relationship between humility and truth perception - Guidance from God for the meek - The dangers of pride and self-trust in faith
Key Quotes
“Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” — A.W. Tozer
“The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.” — A.W. Tozer
“Only the tame sheep can be led; only the humble child need expect the guidance of the Father's hand.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Make daily meditation on Scripture a priority in your life.
- Practice obedience to God's Word to ensure spiritual safety and effectiveness.
- Cultivate humility to better receive God's guidance and truth.