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  AN INSTRUMENT FOR GOD TO USE
  by A.W. Tozer
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Summary: To please God, a person must be just an instrument for God to
use, dependent on the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish His work.

Topics: "Dependence on the Holy Spirit", "Being an Instrument for God"
Scripture References: Zechariah 4:6, John 15:5, Acts 1:8, Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 2 Corinthians 3:5-6, Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 3:20, Philippians 4:13, 1 Peter 4:11

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DESCRIPTION
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A.W. Tozer emphasizes that to truly please God, one must be an
instrument for His use, much like household appliances that require an
external power source to function. He illustrates that without the
empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, even the most talented
individuals in the church are ineffective in their roles. Tozer calls
for a reliance not on natural gifts but on the dynamic power of God to
energize and bless the work being done. He urges believers to seek
effectiveness through surrendering to the Spirit's leading, rather than
depending solely on their abilities. The sermon concludes with a prayer
for deliverance from reliance on human gifts and a desire for God's
power to flow through His people.

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CONTENT
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If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone
ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in
all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the
glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. --1 Peter 4:11

To please God, a person must be just an instrument for God to use. For a
few seconds, picture in your mind the variety of wonderful and useful
appliances we have in our homes. They have been engineered and built to
perform tasks of all kinds. But without the inflow of electrical power
they are just lumps of metal and plastic, unable to function and serve.
They cannot do their work until power is applied from a dynamic outside
source.

So it is in the work of God in the church. Many people preach and teach.
Many take part in the music. Certain ones try to administer God's work.
But if the power of God's Spirit does not have freedom to energize all
they do, these workers might just as well stay home.

Natural gifts are not enough in God's work. The mighty Spirit of God
must have freedom to animate and quicken with His overtones of
creativity and blessing. Tragedy in the Church: The Missing Gifts, 5-6.

"Lord, deliver us from our dependency on natural gifts. We hunger for
effectiveness in Your work, but too seldom turn loose to let Your power
flow through us. Amen."

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/aw-tozer/an-instrument-for-god-to-use/
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