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  MIRED IN THE 'ROTE'
  by A.W. Tozer
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Summary: A.W. Tozer emphasizes the dangers of rote worship and the need
for genuine feeling and expectation in spiritual practices.

Topics: "Spiritual Growth", "Worship"
Scripture References: Isaiah 29:13, Matthew 15:8

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DESCRIPTION
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A.W. Tozer emphasizes the danger of being mired in 'rote' worship, where
repetition becomes devoid of feeling and meaning. He argues that this
internal attitude stifles spiritual growth and expectation, leading
believers to accept the status quo rather than seeking a transformative
relationship with God. Tozer calls for a revival of genuine belief and
engagement with Scripture and hymns, suggesting that true worship should
be filled with wonder and anticipation. He warns that when worship is
overly structured, it limits God's ability to move among His people. The
sermon challenges listeners to break free from complacency and embrace a
more vibrant faith.

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CONTENT
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. . . Everybody knows just what will happen, and this has become our
deadliest enemy. We blame the devil, the "last days" and anything else
we can think of, but the greatest enemy is not outside of us. It is
within--it is an attitude of accepting things as they are. We believe
that what was must always determine what will be, and as a result we are
not growing in expectation. As soon as someone begins talking like this,
the Lord's people respond by getting busy. What I am talking about,
however, is internal. It is a matter of the soul and mind that
ultimately determines our conduct. Let me show you the progressive
stages. I begin with what I will call the rote.

This is repetition without feeling.

If someday someone would read the Scripture and believe it and would
believe what is sung in the great Christian hymns, there would be a
blessed spiritual revolution underway in a short time. But too many are
caught up in the rote, repeating without feeling, without meaning,
without wonder and without any happy surprises or expectations. In our
services God cannot get in because we have it all fixed up for Him. We
say, "Lord, we are going to have it this way. Now kindly bless our
plans." We repeat without feeling, we repeat without meaning, we sing
without wonder, and we listen without surprise. That is my description
of the rote.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/aw-tozer/mired-in-the-rote/
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