Long Before the Lord
To effectively speak to others about God, one must first spend time in prayer and seek God's guidance.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the necessity of spending significant time in prayer before addressing others about God, using Moses as an example of someone who spoke to God before speaking to the people. He warns against the dangers of rushing into ministry without first being grounded in prayer, suggesting that true spiritual fruit requires a deep and sustained connection with God. Tozer calls for a return to the Biblical norm of prioritizing the secret place of prayer over public preaching, urging believers to cultivate a disciplined spiritual life.
Text
But whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with Him, he would take the veil off until he came out; and he would come out and speak to the children of Israel whatever he had been commanded. --Exodus 34:34
It is written of Moses that he "went in before the Lord to speak with him...and he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel." This is the Biblical norm from which we depart to our own undoing and to the everlasting injury of the souls of men. No man has any moral right to go before the people who has not first been long before the Lord. No man has any right to speak to men about God who has not first spoken to God about men. And the prophet of God should spend more time in the secret place praying than he spends in the public place preaching....
One swallow does not make a spring nor one hot day a summer; nor will a few minutes of frantic praying before service bring out the tender buds or make the flowers to appear on the earth. The field must be soaked in sunshine over a long period before it will give forth its treasures. The Christian's heart must be soaked in prayer before the true spiritual fruits begin to grow. The Root of the Righteous, 121-122.
"Lord, it seems like much of what we've been emphasizing all year requires that we slow down from our frantic pace. It takes great spiritual discipline to 'spend more time in the secret place praying than we spend in the public place preaching.' Quiet my heart today, slow me down I pray. Amen."
Sermon Outline
- The Biblical Norm
- Moses' example of going before the Lord
- The importance of prayer before speaking to others
Key Quotes
“No man has any moral right to go before the people who has not first been long before the Lord.” — A.W. Tozer
“The Christian's heart must be soaked in prayer before the true spiritual fruits begin to grow.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Prioritize prayer and spend more time in the secret place than in the public place.
- Recognize the importance of spiritual discipline in your life and ministry.
- Slow down and seek God's guidance before speaking to others.