Praise Reporters
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the necessity of sharing spiritual blessings within the Christian community as a reflection of true faith and love.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the profound human desire to share spiritual blessings, illustrating how this impulse can lead individuals to selflessly wish for the well-being of others, as seen in Moses' plea for Israel's forgiveness and Paul's deep sorrow for his fellow Jews. This vicarious love transcends reason, demonstrating that true spiritual experiences compel believers to engage with their community and share their blessings. Tozer argues that those who isolate themselves from the church lack the deep connection to Christ's love and miss the essence of spiritual fellowship, which is rooted in the desire to share God's grace with others.
Text
The irrepressible urge to share spiritual blessings can explain a great many religious phenomena. It even goes so far as to create a kind of vicarious transfer of interest from one person to another, so that the blessed soul would if necessary give up its own blessing that another might receive. Only thus can that prayer of Moses be understood, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin-; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written (Exodus 32:31, 32).
His great care for Israel had made him incautious, almost rash, before the Lord in their behalf. Moses felt that for Israel to be forgiven was reward enough for him. This impulsive uprush of vicarious love can hardly be defended before the bar of pure reason. But God understood and complied with Moses request. The intense urge to have others enjoy the same spiritual privileges as himself once led Paul to make a statement so extreme, so reckless, that reason cannot approve it; only love can understand: I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh (Romans 9:1-3). In the light of this it is quite easy to understand why all great Christian teachers have insisted that true spiritual experience must be shared. The careless person who remarks that he does not need to go to church to serve God is far from understanding the most elementary spiritual truths. By cutting himself off from the religious community he proves that he has never felt the deep urge to share-and for the very reason that he has nothing to share.
He has never felt the constraining love of Christ, so he can go his way in silence. His withdrawal from the believing fellowship tells us more about him than he knows about himself. Being let go, they went to their own company. So it was in the Early Church and so it has always been when men meet God in saving encounter. They want to share the blessed benefits.
Sermon Outline
-
I
- The urge to share spiritual blessings
- Vicarious love in prayer
- Examples from Moses and Paul
-
II
- The importance of community in faith
- Consequences of isolation from the church
- Understanding true spiritual experience
-
III
- The role of love in spiritual sharing
- Historical perspective on sharing faith
- Encouragement to engage with the religious community
Key Quotes
“Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.” — A.W. Tozer
“I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.” — A.W. Tozer
“By cutting himself off from the religious community he proves that he has never felt the deep urge to share.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Engage actively in your church community to share and receive spiritual blessings.
- Reflect on the love of Christ and consider how it motivates you to support others in their faith journey.
- Recognize the importance of fellowship in deepening your own spiritual experience.