Real Worship
True worship is not just a ritual, but a deep and personal relationship with God that transforms our lives.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of true worship, warning against living a mundane, secular life like Esau, who was born of the earth and returned to it without spiritual fulfillment. He urges believers to offer their bodies as living sacrifices to God, which is the essence of spiritual worship. Tozer encourages a deep, personal connection with Jesus, suggesting that recognizing His beauty and love can awaken the soul from spiritual slumber. He highlights that true fascination with God leads to a transformative worship experience that transcends earthly existence. Ultimately, Tozer calls for a complete surrender to God to experience the fullness of His presence.
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If you do not have this fascination, it could be that you are but another Esau. What a tragedy to be born of the red clay and live and die and be buried in the red clay. Shakespeare said of Caesar, "That though he be the emperor yet give nature time and nature will reduce him to a bit of clay that might be used to keep the wind away." The great Persian poet Omar Khayyam said, "When you drink out of that vessel, drink reverently; it may be your grandfaither's dust out of which it is made."
What a tragedy to be born out of the red clay and live a secular, earthly life and then die and be buried out of sight in that same red clay. But if you feel the charm, the tug and the pull of God, you will know what the Holy Spirit meant when He said, "I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship" (Romans 12:1). How do you get out of the religious rut? You get out of the rut by giving God your all, letting God have you completely.
Concentrate your whole life on God and His Son Jesus Christ. Then seek to know the sweet fascination of loving God. You cannot stay asleep very long when the beauty of Jesus is before your eyes. Some have been asleep long enough. If you could only wake to the voice of your Beloved. If you could only be awakened and roused and hear Him speak, it would be sweeter than the voice of the mocking bird, sweeter than the sound of the harp. The voice of God's Son--that would get you out of the rut, and that would get you out of your sleep. Jesus Christ is God's music, God's poetry, God's art, God's beauty, God's all.
Sermon Outline
- The Tragic Life of Esau
- The Call to Worship
- The Voice of Jesus
- Offering Our Bodies as Living Sacrifices
- Seeking to Know God
- The Beauty of Jesus
- The Voice of God's Son
Key Quotes
“What a tragedy to be born of the red clay and live and die and be buried in the red clay.” — A.W. Tozer
“You cannot stay asleep very long when the beauty of Jesus is before your eyes.” — A.W. Tozer
“Jesus Christ is God's music, God's poetry, God's art, God's beauty, God's all.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Give God your all and concentrate your life on Him and His Son Jesus Christ to get out of the 'religious rut'.
- Seek to know the fascination of loving God and experience the beauty of Jesus in your life.
- Let the voice of Jesus awaken you to a deeper spiritual life and stir you out of your spiritual slumber.