The Power God Recognizes
A.W. Tozer's sermon highlights the essential role of the Holy Spirit in the church, urging believers to seek divine power over human capability.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the critical role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church, lamenting the neglect of His presence among evangelical Christians. He contrasts the powerful, creative work of the Spirit as depicted in Scripture with the diminished role He plays in contemporary Christianity, where human intellect and personality often overshadow divine influence. Tozer warns that the only power recognized by God is that of His Spirit, while many church leaders rely on their own abilities. He calls for a return to recognizing the Holy Spirit's majesty and power, urging believers to seek divine intervention rather than relying solely on human effort.
Text
"Woe to the rebellious children," says the Lord, "who take counsel, but not of Me, and who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin." --Isaiah 30:1
The continued neglect of the Holy Spirit by evangelical Christians is too evident to deny and impossible to justify....
It is not, however, the frequency of the Spirit's mention in the Bible or in other writings that matters most, but the importance attached to Him when He is mentioned. And there can be no doubt that there is a huge disparity between the place given to the Spirit in the Holy Scriptures and the place He occupies in popular evangelical Christianity. In the Scriptures the Holy Spirit is necessary. There He works powerfully, creatively; here He is little more than a poetic yearning or at most a benign influence. There He moves in majesty, with all the attributes of the Godhead; here He is a mood, a tender feeling of good will....
The only power God recognizes in His church is the power of His Spirit whereas the only power actually recognized today by the majority of evangelicals is the power of man. God does His work by the operation of the Spirit, while Christian leaders attempt to do theirs by the power of trained and devoted intellect. Bright personality has taken the place of the divine afflatus. God Tells the Man Who Cares, 108,110-111.
"O Lord, work powerfully, creatively; move in majesty. Send the divine afflatus to overshadow our intellect and personalities. Come in power, for Jesus' sake. Amen."
Sermon Outline
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I
- Introduction to the neglect of the Holy Spirit
- Scriptural importance of the Holy Spirit
- Disparity in recognition of the Spirit
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II
- The power of the Holy Spirit in the church
- Contrast with human power
- Consequences of neglecting the Spirit
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III
- Call for divine intervention
- Prayer for empowerment
- Conclusion and reflection
Key Quotes
“Woe to the rebellious children, says the Lord, who take counsel, but not of Me.” — A.W. Tozer
“The only power God recognizes in His church is the power of His Spirit.” — A.W. Tozer
“O Lord, work powerfully, creatively; move in majesty.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Recognize and prioritize the role of the Holy Spirit in daily life and church activities.
- Seek to replace reliance on human intellect with a dependence on divine power.
- Engage in prayer asking for the Holy Spirit's active presence and work in our lives.