A.W. Tozer emphasizes the vital necessity of relying on the Holy Spirit's wisdom and guidance over human talents and methods in Christian leadership and life.
This sermon emphasizes the crucial need for the Holy Spirit in Christian leadership, highlighting the importance of yielding to His guidance, wisdom, and power. It points out the tendency to rely on human talents and abilities in churches today, stressing the necessity of the Holy Spirit's illumination in all aspects of ministry. The call is for a deeper reverence for God and a greater dependence on the Holy Spirit's provision and anointing, rather than on worldly methods and strategies.
Full Transcript
A. W. Tozer, We Need Him More and More But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. John 14, 26 I have reason to suspect that many people are trying to give leadership in Christian churches today without ever having yielded to the wise and effective leading of the Holy Spirit. He truly is the spirit of wisdom, understanding, and counsel.
He alone can bring the gracious presence of the living God into our lives and ministries. You may think it out of place for me to say so, but in our churches today we are leaning too heavily upon human talents and educated abilities. We forget that the illumination of the Holy Spirit of God is a necessity, not only in our ministerial preparation, but in the administrative and leadership functions of our churches.
We need an endowment of the Spirit of God. We sorely need more of His wisdom, His counsel, His power, His knowledge. We need to reverence and fear the Almighty God.
If we knew the full provision and the spiritual anointing that Jesus promised through the Holy Spirit, we would be far less dependent on so many other things. I have said it before and I say it now. We need the Holy Spirit more and more, and we need human helps less and less.
Jesus is victor. Lord, we're drowning in human helps, modern methods, business principles, and growth strategies. But in all too many cases I fear that we are indeed lacking the endowment of the Spirit of God.
Send us to our knees, Lord, that we might be reminded that we need Him more and more. Amen.
Sermon Outline
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I. The Role of the Holy Spirit
- The Holy Spirit as Helper and Teacher
- Spirit of wisdom, understanding, and counsel
- Brings the presence of God into life and ministry
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II. The Problem of Overreliance on Human Ability
- Churches leaning too heavily on talents and education
- Neglecting the illumination of the Holy Spirit
- Need for spiritual anointing beyond human methods
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III. The Necessity of the Spirit's Endowment
- Desire for more wisdom, counsel, power, and knowledge
- Reverence and fear of Almighty God
- Less dependence on human helps, more on the Spirit
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IV. Call to Prayer and Dependence
- Acknowledging our need for the Holy Spirit
- Rejecting modern methods without Spirit's guidance
- Praying for Spirit's endowment and power
Key Quotes
“We need the Holy Spirit more and more, and we need human helps less and less.” — A.W. Tozer
“He truly is the spirit of wisdom, understanding, and counsel.” — A.W. Tozer
“Send us to our knees, Lord, that we might be reminded that we need Him more and more.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Seek the Holy Spirit's guidance daily rather than relying solely on your own abilities.
- Pray regularly for an endowment of the Spirit's wisdom and power in your life and ministry.
- Prioritize spiritual dependence over modern methods and human strategies in church leadership.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the Helper mentioned in the sermon?
The Helper refers to the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised to send to teach and guide believers.
Why does Tozer criticize reliance on human talents?
He believes that overreliance on human abilities neglects the essential guidance and power of the Holy Spirit.
What does it mean to have an endowment of the Spirit?
It means receiving the Holy Spirit's wisdom, counsel, power, and knowledge to effectively live and lead in Christian ministry.
How can believers increase their dependence on the Holy Spirit?
By humbling themselves, praying earnestly, and seeking the Spirit's guidance rather than relying solely on human methods.
What is the main prayer expressed in this sermon?
A prayer for God to send the Holy Spirit to empower believers and remind them of their continual need for Him.
