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  MATURE LIVING
  by A.W. Tozer
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Summary: Bible-believing Christians must cultivate sober graces and live
among men like sons of God, despite the world and the church's
opposition.

Topics: "Christian Living", "Spiritual Devotion"
Scripture References: Matthew 5:14-16, Romans 8:31, Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 4:1-3, Philippians 2:14-15, Colossians 3:2, 2 Timothy 4:2, Hebrews 12:1-2, James 4:10, 1 Peter 5:5-6

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DESCRIPTION
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A.W. Tozer emphasizes the urgent need for spiritual devotion in the
modern church, which has become complacent and dismissive of virtues
like meekness, humility, and obedience. He warns that the current trend
of self-promotion and trivial pursuits in religion is detrimental, and
urges believers to take action before it's too late. Tozer likens
spiritual neglect to a farmer ignoring his fields, stressing that
Christians must cultivate the sober graces and live as true heirs of
God. He encourages the faithful to rise above societal pressures and
remain steadfast, reminding them that with God on their side, they can
overcome any opposition.

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CONTENT
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The absence of spiritual devotion today is an omen and a portent. The
modern church is all but contemptuous of the sober virtues--meekness,
modesty, humility, quietness, obedience, self-effacement, patience. To
be accepted now, religion must be in the popular mood. Consequently,
much religious activity reeks with pride, display, self-assertion, self-
promotion, love of gain and devotion to trivial pleasures.

It behooves us to take all this seriously. Time is running out for all
of us. What is done must be done quickly. We have no right to lie idly
by and let things take their course. A farmer who neglects his farm will
soon lose it; a shepherd who fails to look after his flock will find the
wolves looking after it for him. A misbegotten charity that allows the
wolves to destroy the flock is not charity at all but indifference,
rather, and should be known for what it is and dealt with accordingly.

It is time for Bible-believing Christians to begin to cultivate the
sober graces and to live among men like sons of God and heirs of the
ages. And this will take more than a bit of doing, for the whole world
and a large part of the church is set to prevent it. But if God be for
us, who can be against us?

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/aw-tozer/mature-living/
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