Seeking God With All Our Heart
A.W. Tozer teaches that a spiritual renaissance can be experienced by getting dissatisfied with oneself and setting one's face like a flint toward transformation.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the necessity of seeking God with all our heart, urging Christians to become dissatisfied with their spiritual state as complacency hinders growth. He encourages believers to pursue a radical transformation in their lives, advocating for a determined and wholehearted approach to their relationship with God. Tozer highlights that true spiritual progress requires an active and forceful pursuit of God, akin to pressing on toward a goal. He reminds us that a contented soul remains stagnant, while a passionate heart seeks continual improvement and deeper connection with the divine.
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I have previously shown that any Christian who desires to may at any time experience a radical spiritual renaissance, and this altogether independent of the attitude of his fellow Christians.
The important question now is, How? Well, here are some suggestions which anyone can follow and which, I am convinced, will result in a wonderfully improved Christian life.
1. Get thoroughly dissatisfied with yourself. Complacency is the deadly enemy of spiritual progress. The contented soul is the stagnant soul. When speaking of earthly goods Paul could say, "I have learned to be content" (Philippians 4:11); but when referring to his spiritual life he testified, "I press on toward the goal" (3:14). "So stir up the gift of God that is in thee" (2 Timothy 1:6, KJV).
2. Set your face like a flint toward a sweeping transformation of your life. Timid experimenters are tagged for failure before they start. We must throw our whole soul into our desire for God. "The kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it" (Matthew 11:12).
Sermon Outline
- I points: - Get dissatisfied with yourself - Complacency is the enemy of spiritual progress
- II points: - Set your face like a flint toward transformation - Throw your whole soul into your desire for God
Key Quotes
“Complacency is the deadly enemy of spiritual progress.” — A.W. Tozer
“The kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Recognize complacency as the enemy of spiritual progress and take steps to overcome it.
- Throw your whole soul into your desire for God and make a sweeping transformation of your life.
- Be willing to take risks and be forceful in your pursuit of God.