The Need for Reverence
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the need for true worship and reverence in the church, warning against the dangers of secularism and the loss of awareness of God's presence.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the critical need for reverence in worship, lamenting that many in the church have lost the sense of God's presence due to the allure of secularism. He argues that this secular mindset leads to a dilution of the gospel and worship, hindering the emergence of spiritually minded individuals and movements. Tozer calls for a return to true worship, asserting that if God is to be honored, we must recognize His holiness and our need for genuine reverence. He warns that without this awareness, the church risks losing its spiritual vitality and connection to God. Ultimately, Tozer urges believers to confess their need for authentic worship and to seek a deeper relationship with the divine.
Text
Many persons who have been raised in our churches no longer think in terms of reverence, which seems to indicate that they doubt God's presence is there! Much of the blame must be placed on the growing acceptance of a worldly secularism that seems much more appealing than any real desire for the spiritual life that is pleasing to God. We secularize God; we secularize the gospel of Christ and we secularize worship! No great and spiritually minded men of God are going to come out of such churches, nor any great spiritual movement of believing prayer and revival. If God is to be honored and revered and truly worshiped, He may have to sweep us away and start somewhere else!
Let us confess that there is a necessity for true worship among us.
If God is who He says He is and if we are the believing people of God we claim to be, we must worship Him! In my own assessment, for men and women to lose the awareness of God in our midst is a loss too terrible ever to be appraised!
Sermon Outline
- The Problem of Secularism
- The Necessity of True Worship
- A Call to Revival
- Confessing the Need for True Worship
- The Role of Believing Prayer
Key Quotes
“If God is to be honored and revered and truly worshiped, He may have to sweep us away and start somewhere else!” — A.W. Tozer
“In my own assessment, for men and women to lose the awareness of God in our midst is a loss too terrible ever to be appraised!” — A.W. Tozer
“We secularize God; we secularize the gospel of Christ and we secularize worship!” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must prioritize true worship and reverence in our lives, recognizing God's presence and power in our midst.
- Secularism and a worldly mindset can lead to a lack of spiritual growth and revival, and we must be aware of this danger.
- Believing prayer is essential for revival and restoring our awareness of God's presence and power in our lives.