Keep the Torch Burning
We must not let the devil's influence undermine our values and faith, but instead keep the torch of truth burning.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the urgent need for Christians to stand firm in their faith and defend the truth of Jesus Christ amidst a culture that seeks to undermine patriotism and spiritual conviction. He warns against the complacency that allows false ideologies to flourish, urging believers to reject the notion that faith can be passive or indifferent. Tozer highlights the historical legacy of prophets, apostles, and reformers who fought for the truth, challenging the modern church to avoid cowardice and keep the torch of truth burning brightly. He calls for a revival of boldness in declaring the unique Lordship of Christ and the necessity of obedience to Him, rather than succumbing to societal pressures. The sermon serves as a rallying cry for Christians to engage in the spiritual battle against evil and uphold their faith with courage.
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The clever proponents of evil political ideologies are spending millions to make us Americans ashamed to love our country. By the use of all available media of communication they are persuading our people that there is little left worth defending and certainly nothing worth dying for. They are building up in the public mind a picture of an American as a generous, tolerant, smiling chap who loves baseball and babies but is not too much concerned about fringe political theories.
This synthetic American subscribes to the doctrine of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man and lets go fishing-everything will be all right. And so in religion, especially among the Protestants. Let a man rise to declare the unique Lordship of Jesus Christ and the absolute necessity of obedience to Him and he is at once branded as a hatemonger and a divider of men. The devil has brainwashed large numbers of religious leaders so successfully that they are now too timid to resist him.
And he, being the kind of devil he is, takes swift advantage of their cowardice to erect altars to Baal everywhere. The Bible is a book of controversy. The Old Testament prophets were men of contention. Our Lord Jesus while on earth was in deadly conflict with the devil. The Apostles, the Church Fathers and the Reformers were men of controversy. They fought the devil to the death and kept the torch of truth burning for all succeeding generations. Is our contribution to history to be the ignoble one of letting the torch go out?
Sermon Outline
- The Threat of Evil Ideologies
- The Impact on Religion
- The Biblical Model of Controversy
- Our Responsibility
- Keeping the torch of truth burning
- Not letting the devil win
- The Apostles and Reformers
Key Quotes
“Is our contribution to history to be the ignoble one of letting the torch go out?” — A.W. Tozer
“The devil has brainwashed large numbers of religious leaders so successfully that they are now too timid to resist him.” — A.W. Tozer
“The Bible is a book of controversy.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must be bold in our faith and not afraid to speak out against evil ideologies.
- We must be willing to confront the devil and his influence in our lives and in the lives of others.
- We must keep the torch of truth burning by standing firm on our values and faith.