Posted on 01/01/2015 8:06:45 PM PST by metmom
DEEP INSIDE EVERY MAN there is a private sanctum where dwells the mysterious essence of his being. This far-in reality is that in the man which is what it is of itself without reference to any other part of the man's complex nature. It is the man's "I Am," a gift from the I AM who created him.
The I AM which is God is underived and selfexistent; the "I Am" which is man is derived from God and dependent every moment upon His creative fiat for its continued existence. One is the Creator, high over all, ancient of days, dwelling in light unapproachable. The other is a creature and, though privileged beyond all others, is still but a creature, a pensioner on God's bounty and a suppliant before His throne.
The deep-in human entity of which we speak is called in the Scriptures the spirit of man. "For what man knoweth the things of man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God" (I Cor. 2:11) . As God's self-knowledge lies in the eternal Spirit, so man's selfknowledge is by his own spirit, and his knowledge of God is by the direct impression of the Spirit of God upon the spirit of man.
The importance of all this cannot be overestimated as we think and study and pray. It reveals the essential spirituality of mankind. It denies that man is a creature having a spirit and declares that he is a spirit having a body. That which makes him a human being is not his body but his spirit, in which the image of God originally lay.
One of the most liberating declarations in the New Testament is this: "The true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23, 24) . Here the nature of worship is shown to be wholly spiritual. True religion is removed from diet and days, from garments and ceremonies, and placed where it belongs-in the union of the spirit of man with the Spirit of God.
From man's standpoint the most tragic loss suffered in the Fall was the vacating of this inner sanctum by the Spirit of God. At the far-in hidden center of man's being is a bush fitted to be the dwelling place of the Triune God. There God planned to rest and glow with moral and spiritual fire. Man by his sin forfeited this indescribably wonderful privilege and must now dwell there alone. For so intimately private is the place that no creature can intrude; no one can enter but Christ; and He will enter only by the invitation of faith. "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Rev. 3:20).
By the mysterious operation of the Spirit in the new birth, that which is called by Peter "the divine nature" enters the deep-in core of the believer's heart and establishes residence there. "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his," for "the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God" (Rom. 8:9, 16). Such a one is a true Christian, and only such. Baptism, confirmation, the receiving of the sacraments, church membership-these mean nothing unless the supreme act of God in regeneration also takes place. Religious externals may have a meaning for the God-inhabited soul; for any others they are not only useless but may actually become snares, deceiving them into a false and perilous sense of security.
"Keep thy heart with all diligence" is more than a wise saying; it is a solemn charge laid upon us by the One who cares most about us. To it we should give the most careful heed lest at any time we should let it slip.
Ping
Thanks.
Amen.
I used to read A.W. Tozer 35 years ago, and it is very nice to be reminded of his words. Thank You.
Typical Tozer,hits it out of the park.
.Thanks for the ping mm!
:)
What’s that supposed to mean?
I’ve just started reading Tozer again.
We have a whole stack of his books on our bookshelf.
What a treasure trove.
Thanks for posting this. I’ve encountered quotes from Tozer before, but hadn’t read him. Will save.
-JT
I wish there was a branch in the Philippines too. There are millions of thirsting souls in the Philippines. I just try to witness to as many as I can, in the time I have. I think it was one of America’s most famous evangelists, the former shoe salesman, Dwight Moody (Moody Bible institute) that said he felt like a lifeboat on the sea of humanity, and said he was trying to get as many people saved as possible, in the time he had on earth. Keeping people out of Hell, the soul winners motive.
I think it is important to interpret “worship Him in spirit and in truth” correctly. We are to worship Him not with outward devotion but with inward devotion — a correct heart attitude and in line with the truth of Scripture. It is not an emotion or a mental state so much as it is mental obedience to God’s revealed truth. Minus His truth revealed by His Spirit in scripture, worship easily becomes prey to human will. Faith has no object in that case. Faith with no object or with the wrong object is of no value no matter how well intended.
Deciphering between our own will and the will of God requires the compass of God’s revealed Word. That is extremely important but I do not see any emphasis here. We do not find the answer within us, even as Christians. His Spirit works through Scripture to sanctify us for worship, for service, for life.
Adding to my previous post, the emotions are fruits, not seeds. That is a truth we learn in Scripture. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness...... So I want to be clear that I was not advocating truth minus the work of the Spirit. After all, the Holy Spirit is the author of Scripture. It is the means by which He sanctifies us, and we can test whether our faith in it is real by the fruits that we see. The fruit is not the means.
I hope that is clear. With so much error being taught in the church I think it is vitally important that we stay grounded to the Spirit authored Scripture.
Tozer was brilliant. Once in a rare while I think he missed the mark.
>>One of the most liberating declarations in the New Testament is this: “The true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23, 24) . Here the nature of worship is shown to be wholly spiritual. True religion is removed from diet and days, from garments and ceremonies, and placed where it belongs-in the union of the spirit of man with the Spirit of God.<<
Well written and clear. Can’t find many writers like this today who can compare and contrast well. Good piece. Thanks.
ping
Is Aiden Wilson Tozer any relation to A.W.Tozer? Haven’t seen that last name for awhile. I read Tozer’s stuff years ago. Haven’t been back there for awhile. I was reading Barnhouse and Lloyd-Jones back then. That was some serious Bible study. Very deep. Not as shallow as it seems to be these days. Those guys were true theologians.
Ping for later
Thank You. He is a favorite.
VERY well said.....
Thank you.
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