Strength in Weakness
The sermon highlights the difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief, emphasizing the importance of security in God's presence and the consequences of unbelief.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the contrast between the man of faith and the man of unbelief, illustrating how true faith allows one to endure obscurity and wait for God's timing without anxiety. In contrast, the man of unbelief seeks immediate validation and is prone to inflate his achievements for external approval, revealing a deep-seated insecurity. Tozer warns that this need for present success leads to superficiality in modern Christianity, where the church and its leaders often compromise their integrity for appearances. Ultimately, he calls believers to trust in God's judgment rather than seeking immediate recognition, as true worth will be revealed in the future. The sermon challenges listeners to reflect on their faith and the motivations behind their actions.
Text
We may need to look closely to discover the relation between inflation and unbelief, but such a relation does nevertheless exist. The man of faith is so sure of his position before God that he can quietly allow himself to be overlooked, discredited, deflated, without a tremor of anxiety. He is willing to wait out God's own good time and let the wisdom of the future judgment reveal his true size and worth. The man of unbelief dare not do this. He is so unsure of himself that he demands immediate and visible proof of his success. His deep unbelief must have the support of present judgment. He looks eagerly for evidence to assure him that he is indeed somebody.
And of course this hunger for present approval throws him open to the temptation to inflate his work for the sake of appearances.
This need for external support for our sagging faith accounts for the introduction into religious activities of that welter of shoddy claptrap that has become the characteristic mark of modern Christianity. The church and the minister must make a showing, and nothing would seem to be ruled out that will add to the illusion of success. At the root of this is plain unbelief. Religious people are simply not willing to wait till the Lord comes to receive their reward. They demand it now, and they get it, a circumstance over which they will shed bitter tears in the day of Christ.
Sermon Outline
- The Relationship Between Inflation and Unbelief
- The Consequences of Unbelief
- The Root of Unbelief
- Religious people's refusal to wait for God's reward
- The introduction of shoddy practices in Christianity
Key Quotes
“The man of faith is so sure of his position before God that he can quietly allow himself to be overlooked, discredited, deflated, without a tremor of anxiety.” — A.W. Tozer
“The church and the minister must make a showing, and nothing would seem to be ruled out that will add to the illusion of success.” — A.W. Tozer
“Religious people are simply not willing to wait till the Lord comes to receive their reward.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must learn to wait patiently for God's reward and not demand it now.
- We must be willing to be overlooked and discredited in order to maintain our faith.
- We must avoid the temptation to inflate our work for the sake of appearances.