The Eternal Spirit
The church has declined because it has become reliant on unscriptural methods and means, and has forgotten the power of the Holy Spirit.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the necessity of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church, arguing that reliance on methods and equipment has overshadowed the true power that comes from the Eternal Spirit. He critiques the modern church's dependence on various attractions and programs, suggesting that these have become a substitute for the genuine presence of God. Tozer calls for a return to the basics of faith, where the Holy Spirit is the central focus, rather than the distractions that often accompany church activities. He reminds believers that true effectiveness in ministry comes not from human methods but from the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
Text
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. --Acts 1:8
You know, the Church started out with a Bible, then it got a hymnbook, and for years that was it--a Bible and a hymnbook. The average church now certainly wouldn't be able to operate on just a hymnbook and the Bible. Now we have to have all kinds of truck. A lot of people couldn't serve God at all without at least a vanload of equipment to keep them happy.
Some of these attractions that we have to win people and keep them coming may be fine or they may be cheap. They may be elevated or they may be degrading. They may be artistic or they may be coarse-- it all depends upon who is running the show! But the Holy Spirit is not the center of attraction, and the Lord is not the one who is in charge. We bring in all sorts of antiscriptural and unscriptural claptrap to keep the people happy and keep them coming.
As I see it, the great woe is not the presence of these religious toys and trifles--but the fact that they have become a necessity, and the presence of the Eternal Spirit is not in our midst! The Counselor, 41.
"Lord, we've been taught good methods in Seminary; we've emphasized the need to be technologically up-to-date to reach our generation. As I do indeed commit myself to excellence in reaching people for Christ, help me to remember that the power is not in the methods or the means, but in the Person of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
Sermon Outline
- The Decline of the Church
- From a Bible and a hymnbook to a vanload of equipment
- The attractions we use to win people may be fine or cheap
- The Holy Spirit is not the center of attraction
Key Quotes
“The power is not in the methods or the means, but in the Person of the Holy Spirit.” — A.W. Tozer
“The great woe is not the presence of these religious toys and trifles--but the fact that they have become a necessity,” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must commit ourselves to excellence in reaching people for Christ, but remember that the power is not in the methods or the means, but in the Person of the Holy Spirit.
- We should focus on the presence of the Eternal Spirit in our midst, rather than relying on unscriptural methods and means.
- We must prioritize the scriptural methods and means, and not rely on the latest trends and technologies.