Our First Responsibility
Our first responsibility is to God and our own souls, not to the public, and prioritizing this relationship is essential for a genuine faith.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes that our primary responsibility is to God and our own souls rather than to the public. He encourages believers to prioritize prayer over preaching, suggesting that a deep, personal relationship with God will sustain and nourish their spiritual lives. Tozer highlights the importance of spending more time in the secret place with God, allowing the inflow of the Spirit to keep our hearts and minds refreshed. He calls for a commitment to cultivate our acquaintance with God, ensuring we have the spiritual resources to help others. The sermon concludes with a prayer for focus on this vital responsibility.
Text
I rise before the dawning of the morning, and cry for help; I hope in Your word. My eyes are awake through the night watches, that I may meditate on Your word. -Psalm 119:147-148
Briefly, the way to escape religion as a front is to make it a fount. See to it that we pray more than we preach and we will never preach ourselves out. Stay with God in the secret place longer than we are with men in the public place and the fountain of our wisdom will never dry up. Keep our hearts open to the inflowing Spirit and we will not become exhausted by the outflow. Cultivate the acquaintance of God more than the friendship of men and we will always have abundance of bread to give to the hungry.
Our first responsibility is not to the public but to God and our own souls. God Tells the Man Who Cares, 115-116.
"Lord, why does our first responsibility so easily get crowded out? Quiet me today that this first thing might get the time and attention it deserves. Amen."
Sermon Outline
- Our First Responsibility
- The Dangers of Prioritizing the Public Over God
- Cultivating an Acquaintance with God
- The Consequences of Neglecting Our First Responsibility
- Staying in the Secret Place
- Keeping Our Hearts Open to the Spirit
Key Quotes
“See to it that we pray more than we preach and we will never preach ourselves out.” — A.W. Tozer
“Cultivate the acquaintance of God more than the friendship of men and we will always have abundance of bread to give to the hungry.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Make prayer a priority over preaching and public appearances.
- Cultivate a deep and intimate relationship with God in the secret place.
- Keep your heart open to the inflowing Spirit to avoid exhaustion and maintain a genuine faith.