God Is Not a Railway Porter
The sermon emphasizes the importance of understanding God's character and power, and encourages listeners to reverence Him as their Father rather than treating Him as a servant.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of understanding the true character of God, urging believers to move beyond viewing Him merely as a means to fulfill their needs. He challenges the notion that God exists to serve humanity's desires, likening this misconception to treating God as a railway porter. Instead, Tozer calls for a deeper relationship with God, recognizing Him as the Creator who holds the universe in His hands and deserves our reverence and worship. He encourages believers to acknowledge their position as servants of God rather than expecting Him to cater to their demands.
Text
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a span and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? --Isaiah 40:12
We must be concerned with the person and character of God, not the promises. Through promises we learn what God has willed to us, we learn what we may claim as our heritage, we learn how we should pray. But faith itself must rest on the character of God.
Is this difficult to see? Why are we not stressing this in our evangelical circles? Why are we afraid to declare that people in our churches must come to know God Himself? Why do we not tell them that they must get beyond the point of making God a lifeboat for their rescue or a ladder to get them out of a burning building? How can we help our people get over the idea that God exists just to help run their businesses or fly their airplanes?
God is not a railway porter who carries your suitcase and serves you. God is God. He made heaven and earth. He holds the world in His hand. He measures the dust of the earth in the balance. He spreads the sky out like a mantle. He is the great God Almighty. He is not your servant. He is your Father, and you are His child. He sits in heaven, and you are on the earth. Faith Beyond Reason, 44.
"God, I fall on my face before You in worship this morning. Forgive me for those times I have treated You as though You were my servant, somehow expected to meet my demands. I am Your servant, Lord, and I humbly bow before You today. Amen."
Sermon Outline
- The Character of God
- The Problem of Reduced God
- The Proper Understanding of God
- God as Creator and Father
- God's Sovereignty and Power
- The Importance of Worship and Humility
Key Quotes
“God is not a railway porter who carries your suitcase and serves you. God is God. He made heaven and earth. He holds the world in His hand. He measures the dust of the earth in the balance. He spreads the sky out like a mantle. He is the great God Almighty. He is not your servant. He is your Father, and you are His child.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must strive to understand God's character and power, and to reverence Him as our Father.
- We should not treat God as a servant who exists to meet our demands, but rather as our loving and sovereign Father.
- Worship and humility are essential in our relationship with God, and help us to recognize His sovereignty and power.