Fencing With Masters
The sermon emphasizes the importance of coming to God with a humble spirit and a willingness to listen to His truth, rather than being defensive and resistant to sound doctrine.
A.W. Tozer addresses the challenge of modern believers who approach God with their defenses up, often resistant to sound doctrine due to their own desires and distractions. He emphasizes the rarity of individuals coming to worship with an open heart, ready to receive God's message. Tozer laments the spiritual apathy that has led many to turn away from truth and instead seek out comforting fables. He calls for a return to humility and a willingness to listen to God's voice, urging believers to lower their guards and approach Him with sincerity. The sermon serves as a reminder of the importance of being receptive to divine guidance in a world filled with distractions.
Text
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. --2 Timothy 4:3-4
Every one who has come to the years of responsibility seems to have gone on the defensive. Even some of you who have known me for years are surely on the defensive--you have your guard up all the time!
I know that you are not afraid of me, but you are afraid, nevertheless, of what I am going to say. Probably every faithful preacher today is fencing with masters as he faces his congregation. The guard is always up. The quick parry is always ready.
It is very hard for me to accept the fact that it is now very rare for anyone to come into the house of God with guard completely down, head bowed and with the silent confession: "Dear Lord, I am ready and willing to hear what You will speak to my heart today!"
We have become so learned and so worldly and so sophisticated and so blase and so bored and so religiously tired that the clouds of glory seem to have gone from us. Christ the Eternal Son, 108-109.
"Lord, quiet my own heart before You and give me that humble spirit of listening. Whenever I come before You (including this morning!), may it be with my 'guard completely down, head bowed.... ready and willing to hear what You will speak to my heart today.' Amen."
Sermon Outline
- The Problem of Defensiveness
- The Consequences of Defensiveness
- The Need for Humility
- The importance of coming to God with a humble spirit
- The need to quiet our hearts before God
Key Quotes
“Every one who has come to the years of responsibility seems to have gone on the defensive.” — A.W. Tozer
“It is very hard for me to accept the fact that it is now very rare for anyone to come into the house of God with guard completely down, head bowed and with the silent confession: 'Dear Lord, I am ready and willing to hear what You will speak to my heart today!'” — A.W. Tozer
“Lord, quiet my own heart before You and give me that humble spirit of listening.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must make a conscious effort to quiet our hearts and come to God with a humble spirit, ready to listen to His truth.
- Defensiveness and resistance to sound doctrine can lead to a turning away from truth and a turning towards fables and false teachings.
- Humility is essential in our relationship with God, allowing us to listen to His truth and receive sound doctrine.