Prayerful Digestion of God's Word
A strong and lasting faith is developed through a prayerful digestion of God's Word, which comes effortlessly to the heart as we elevate our conceptions of God.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes that true faith is not achieved through forced belief or sheer willpower, but rather through a genuine acquaintance with God via the Scriptures. He highlights that faith naturally arises when we approach God's Word with humility and openness to the Holy Spirit. Tozer cites Job and Paul to illustrate that understanding and digesting God's Word prayerfully leads to a strong and enduring faith. This process requires us to set aside self-confidence and allow the Spirit to work within us. Ultimately, such faith is built on a solid foundation, ensuring its longevity.
Text
How then shall unbelief be cured and faith be strengthened? Surely not by straining to believe the Scriptures, as some do. Not by a frantic effort to believe the promises of God. Not by gritting our teeth and determining to exercise faith by an act of the will. All this has been tried--and it never helps. To try thus to superinduce faith is to violate the laws of the mind and to do violence to the simple psychology of the heart. What is the answer? Job told us, Acquaint thyself with him and be at peace; and Paul said, So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
These two verses show the way to a strong and lasting faith: Get acquainted with God through reading the Scriptures, and faith will come naturally.
This presupposes that we come to the Scriptures humbly, repudiating self-confidence and opening our minds to the sweet operations of the Spirit. Otherwise stated: Faith comes effortlessly to the heart as we elevate our conceptions of God by a prayerful digestion of His Word. And such faith endures, for it is grounded upon the Rock.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Futility of Forced Faith
- A. Straining to believe the Scriptures
- B. Frantic efforts to believe God's promises
- C. Determining to exercise faith by willpower
- 'II. The Answer: Acquaintance with God'
- 'A. Job''s advice: ''Acquaint thyself with him and be at peace'''
- 'B. Paul''s advice: ''Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God'''
- III. The Role of Scripture in Faith
- A. Reading the Scriptures humbly
- B. Repudiating self-confidence
- C. Opening minds to the Spirit's operations
Key Quotes
“Faith comes effortlessly to the heart as we elevate our conceptions of God by a prayerful digestion of His Word.” — A.W. Tozer
“Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” — A.W. Tozer
“Acquaint thyself with him and be at peace;” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- To develop a strong and lasting faith, focus on getting acquainted with God through prayerful digestion of His Word.
- Read the Scriptures humbly and repudiating self-confidence to deepen your understanding of God.
- Faith comes effortlessly to the heart as we elevate our conceptions of God, so focus on elevating your understanding of God rather than forcing faith.