Give God the Control
To truly experience salvation, we must surrender to God's will and acknowledge His sovereignty in our lives.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the necessity of surrendering control to God, asserting that true salvation requires acknowledging Jesus as both Savior and Lord. He stresses that our lives are filled with decisions that ultimately determine our eternal destiny, and that rebellion against God's authority is the root of sin. Tozer warns that those who refuse to submit to God's will face the consequences of their rebellion, which he describes as the essence of hell. He calls for a recognition of God's sovereignty in our lives, urging believers to embrace His guidance and control. The sermon serves as a reminder that true freedom is found in surrendering to God's will.
Text
I know that I am being repetitious - but this needs to be said again and again: our Lord will not save those whom He cannot command! The lifetime God has given us down here is a lifetime of decisions. Each person makes his own decisions as to the eternal world he is going to inhabit. We must decide to take Jesus for what He is - the anointed Savior and Lord who is King of kings and Lord of all lords! He would not be who He is if He saved us and called us without the understanding that He can also guide us and control our lives. The root of sin is rebellion against God, and hell is the Alcatraz for the unconstituted rebels who refuse to surrender to the will of God.
There are many arguments about the reality of hell.
A man might endure fire and brimstone and worm - but the essence of hell and judgment for a moral creature is to know and be conscious that he is where he is because he is a rebel! Hell will be the eternal domain of all the disobedient rebels who have said, "I owe God nothing!"
Sermon Outline
- Our Lord's Authority
- God's sovereignty in salvation
- The importance of surrendering to God's will
Key Quotes
“Our Lord will not save those whom He cannot command!” — A.W. Tozer
“The root of sin is rebellion against God, and hell is the Alcatraz for the unconstituted rebels who refuse to surrender to the will of God.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must make a conscious decision to surrender to God's will and acknowledge His authority in our lives.
- Understanding God's authority helps us make decisions that align with His will and avoid rebellion against Him.
- Disobedience and rebellion against God lead to separation from Him and ultimately to hell.