Personal Responsibility for Revival
Revival is a work of God among people, and individual Christians must take responsibility for their own spiritual growth and development.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the significance of personal responsibility in the context of revival, asserting that the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost was upon real, identifiable individuals rather than an abstract group. He stresses that the effectiveness of a church is directly tied to the spiritual condition of its individual members, and warns against the misconception of relying on an unseen collective for revival. Tozer calls for each believer to recognize their role in fostering a genuine move of God within their community.
Text
That "glorious band, the chosen few, on whom the Spirit came" at Pentecost, were not wraiths nor were they composed of an extract of pure humanity dwelling on another plane. They were people. The names of some of them are listed by the Holy Spirit. Though it did not suit God's purpose to furnish us with a complete roster of every one present, those mentioned were certainly human enough. When the Spirit came on that memorable day He could only fall upon persons who were present, who could be identified, who were known to each other and to the community. There was no invisible body for Him to enter. He entered the bodies and souls of the men and women who were in that prayer meeting.
No church is any better or worse than the individual Christians who compose it.
To look beyond the known members to some mysterious group which is imagined to be there, secretly prepared for a revival, is to err seriously in a province where error can be costly.
Sermon Outline
- The Nature of Revival
- The Importance of Personal Responsibility
- The Dangers of Looking Beyond the Visible Church
- Looking for a mysterious group can be costly
- Individual Christians must focus on their own spiritual lives
Key Quotes
“No church is any better or worse than the individual Christians who compose it.” — A.W. Tozer
“He entered the bodies and souls of the men and women who were in that prayer meeting.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Take responsibility for your own spiritual growth and development.
- Focus on your own spiritual life rather than looking for a mysterious group to bring revival.
- Recognize that no church is better or worse than its individual members.