Listening to God Before We Speak for Him
To truly speak for God, we must first learn to listen to Him in silence.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of silence and listening to God before speaking on His behalf. He reflects on how true understanding and revelation come from a quiet heart, as exemplified by David's experience of musing in silence before speaking. Tozer suggests that many Christians would benefit from taking time to be still and listen for God's voice, which can lead to profound spiritual healing and insight. He warns that a busy mouth often hinders the heart from receiving divine truth. Ultimately, he calls for a return to the practice of silence to deepen our relationship with God.
Text
Holy men of soberer and quieter times than ours knew well the power of silence. David said, I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred. My heart was hot within me; while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue. There is a tip here for God's modern prophets. The heart seldom gets hot while the mouth is open. A closed mouth before God and a silent heart are indispensable for the reception of certain kinds of truth. No man is qualified to speak who has not first listened.
It might well be a wonderful revelation to some Christians if they were to get completely quiet for a short time, long enough, let us say, to get acquainted with their own souls, and to listen in the silence for the deep voice of the Eternal God.
The experience, if repeated often enough, would do more to cure our ulcers than all the pills that ever rolled across a desk.
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Silence
- A closed mouth before God and a silent heart are indispensable for the reception of certain kinds of truth
- The heart seldom gets hot while the mouth is open
Key Quotes
“The heart seldom gets hot while the mouth is open.” — A.W. Tozer
“A closed mouth before God and a silent heart are indispensable for the reception of certain kinds of truth.” — A.W. Tozer
“It might well be a wonderful revelation to some Christians if they were to get completely quiet for a short time...” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Take time to get quiet and listen to God in silence to deepen your understanding of Him and yourself.
- A closed mouth before God is essential for receiving certain kinds of truth and becoming qualified to speak for Him.
- By listening to God in silence, you can experience spiritual growth and self-reflection.