Why Settle Down?
A Christian should not settle down, but rather seek spiritual advance and progress in their walk with God.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes that Christians should not settle for a stagnant spiritual life after coming to know the Lord. He critiques the misleading notion that believers receive all of God's spiritual provisions at conversion, which he believes hinders spiritual growth and fosters complacency. Tozer argues that true joy comes from pursuing spiritual advancement and encourages believers to emulate the Apostle Paul's aspiration for deeper faith. He warns against the 'creed of contentment' that can stifle one's spiritual journey. Instead, he advocates for a continuous quest for a more profound relationship with God.
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Why should a Christian "settle down" as soon as he has come to know the Lord? I blame faulty exposition of the New Testament for stopping many Christians dead in their tracks, causing them to shrug off any suggestion that there is still spiritual advance and progress beckoning them on. It is the position of some would-be teachers that everyone who comes into the kingdom of God by faith immediately obtains all there is of God's spiritual provision. I believe that such a teaching is as deadly as cyanide to the individual Christian life.
It kills all hope of spiritual advance and causes many believers to adopt what I call "the creed of contentment." I am sure you agree with me that there is always real joy in the heart of the person who has become a child of God.
Sound teaching of the Word will then hold out the goal of moving forward, emulating the Apostle Paul's desire to become a special kind of Christian!
Sermon Outline
- I points: - The Problem of Settling Down - Faulty Exposition of the New Testament
- II points: - The Lie of Immediate Spiritual Provision - The Creed of Contentment
- III points: - The Goal of Spiritual Advance - Emulating the Apostle Paul's Desire
Key Quotes
“I believe that such a teaching is as deadly as cyanide to the individual Christian life.” — A.W. Tozer
“It kills all hope of spiritual advance and causes many believers to adopt what I call 'the creed of contentment.'” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Christians should continually seek spiritual advance and progress in their lives.
- Faulty teaching can lead to a mindset of contentment and stagnation.
- Emulating the Apostle Paul's desire to become a special kind of Christian is a worthy goal.