God at the Center
The sermon emphasizes the importance of prioritizing God in our lives, avoiding the idolization of the church, and keeping Him at the center of our thoughts and actions.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of placing God at the center of our lives, using Jacob's transformation from naming a place Beth-el to El-beth-el as a metaphor for spiritual growth. He warns that many Christians remain at the initial stage of recognizing God but fail to prioritize Him above all else, including the church. Tozer challenges believers to reflect on their true interests, questioning whether they focus more on their church or their relationship with Christ. He asserts that while church involvement is valuable, it should never overshadow the personal connection with God. Ultimately, Tozer calls for a shift from merely acknowledging God to making Him the central focus of our lives.
Text
After Jacob's first memorable encounter with God in the wilderness, he called the place Beth-el, which means "the house of God." Many years later, after he had suffered and sinned and repented, and discovered the worthlessness of all earthly things, he renamed the place, El-beth-el; literally "the God of the house of God." Thus Jacob had shifted his emphasis from the sacred place to the God he had met there. God Himself now took the center of his interest. We need to consider that many Christians never get beyond Beth-el. God is in their thoughts but Re has not been given first place.
Faithfulness to the local church is a good thing; but when the church becomes so large and important that it hides God from our eyes, it may become a good thing wrongly used.
Always God must be first-and we ought never forget that the church was never intended to substitute for God! What is our primary interest? Is it Beth-el or El-beth-el? Is it my church or my Lord? Is it my creed or my Christ?
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Prioritizing God points: - Jacob's shift from Beth-el to El-beth-el - From sacred place to the God he met there
- The Dangers of Idolizing the Church points: - When the church hides God from our eyes - The church was never intended to substitute for God
- The Question of Priorities points: - Is it Beth-el or El-beth-el? - Is it my church or my Lord?
Key Quotes
“God Himself now took the center of his interest.” — A.W. Tozer
“Always God must be first-and we ought never forget that the church was never intended to substitute for God!” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Make God your primary interest and not let the church become a substitute for Him.
- Regularly seek God, read His Word, and make Him the center of your thoughts and actions.
- Remember that the church was never intended to replace God in your life.