Guidance Is by the Spirit
True guidance and holiness come from making decisions in the will, not just following emotions.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of trusting the Holy Spirit's guidance over our own fleshly desires and emotions. He argues that while emotions are a valid part of our personality, they should not dictate our spiritual lives, as true religion and righteousness stem from the will. Tozer expresses concern over Christians who focus excessively on their feelings rather than on Jesus, highlighting that genuine faith should lead to a deeper desire to emulate Christ in all aspects of life.
Text
We can always trust the moving and the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives and experiences, but we cannot always trust our human leanings and our fleshly and carnal desires. That calls for another word of balance. We know that the emotional life is a proper and noble part of our total personality. But by its very nature, it is of secondary importance, for religion lies in the will, and so does righteousness. God never intended that such a being as mankind should become the mere plaything of his or her feelings. The only good that God recognizes is the willed good. The only valid holiness is a willed holiness.
That is why I am always a little suspicious of the overly bubbly Christian who talks too much about himself or herself-and not enough about Jesus.
That is also why I am more than a little concerned about the professing Christian whose experience does not seem to have resulted in a true inner longing to be more like Jesus every day in thought, word and deed!
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Balance
- The Nature of Emotional Life
- The Only Valid Holiness
- Willed holiness
- The importance of inner longing
Key Quotes
“God never intended that such a being as mankind should become the mere plaything of his or her feelings.” — A.W. Tozer
“The only good that God recognizes is the willed good.” — A.W. Tozer
“The only valid holiness is a willed holiness.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Make decisions based on your will, not just your emotions.
- Cultivate a true inner longing to be more like Jesus every day.
- Be aware of your human leanings and desires, and seek guidance from the Holy Spirit.