Growing Faith and Increasing Capacity
Faith and capacity are necessary for spiritual growth, and can be developed and increased through Scripture study and interaction with the Holy Spirit.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the necessity of faith and capacity for receiving God's blessings, asserting that faith must be rooted in Scripture and actively exercised to grow. He likens faith to a muscle that strengthens through stretching, while also acknowledging the varying spiritual capacities among individuals. Tozer encourages believers to recognize that their souls are not fixed but can expand through the Holy Spirit's work, allowing for greater reception of God's generosity.
Text
To receive in a measure more in keeping with God's liberality five things are necessary. The first is faith. We must be convinced that God is kind, generous, goodhearted and ready to bestow His blessings upon His people with the bounty of a king. To have faith we must immerse ourselves in the Scriptures. And faith must be exercised if it is to be effective. Faith, like a muscle, grows by stretching. The second is capacity. That we differ from each other in spiritual capacity is too evident to need proof; but the reason is a great mystery and lies too deep for our understanding, certainly too deep for discussion here.
It is enough to say that whatever his capacity each man can increase it if he will.
The human soul is not a hard-baked vessel with a fixed size; it is a living thing capable of growth and expansion as it interacts with the gracious actions of the Holy Spirit.
Sermon Outline
- Faith and Capacity for Growth points: - Faith is necessary for growth - Faith must be exercised to be effective
- The Nature of Faith points: - Faith is conviction of God's goodness - Faith is developed through Scripture study
- The Nature of Capacity points: - Capacity varies among individuals - Capacity can be increased through the Holy Spirit
Key Quotes
“Faith, like a muscle, grows by stretching.” — A.W. Tozer
“The human soul is not a hard-baked vessel with a fixed size; it is a living thing capable of growth and expansion as it interacts with the gracious actions of the Holy Spirit.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must exercise our faith to see it grow and become effective.
- We can increase our spiritual capacity through interaction with the Holy Spirit.
- Scripture study is essential for developing faith and conviction of God's goodness.