Bragging About God
God desires for His children to love and adore Him so much that they are continually in His presence, in spirit and in truth.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of understanding the true nature of God, warning against the tendency of Christians to brag about the benefits they receive without a genuine desire for worship. He expresses concern over the shallow mindset that overlooks God's holiness and sovereignty, urging believers to cultivate a deep love and adoration for Him. Tozer highlights that God's ultimate desire is for His children to be in His presence, worshiping in spirit and truth, which transforms the soul when Jesus is invited into one's life. He reminds us that God's plan of salvation was meant to turn rebels into worshipers, restoring the intimate relationship with Him that was lost in the Garden of Eden.
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Basic beliefs about the Person and the nature of God have changed so much that there are among us now men and women who find it easy to brag about the benefits they receive from God-without ever a thought or a desire to know the true meaning of worship! I have immediate reactions to such an extreme misunderstanding of the true nature of a holy and sovereign God, for I believe that the very last thing God desires is to have shallow-minded and worldly Christians bragging about Him.
Beyond that, it does not seem to be very well recognized that God's highest desire is that every one of His believing children should so love and so adore Him that we are continually in His presence, in spirit and in truth.
Something wonderful and miraculous and life-changing takes place within the human soul when Jesus Christ is invited in to take His rightful place. That is what God anticipated when He wrought the plan of salvation. He intended to make worshipers out of rebels; to restore the place of worship which our first parents knew when they were created!
Sermon Outline
- The Problem of Shallow Worship
- Bragging about God without true worship
- The extreme misunderstanding of God's nature
Key Quotes
“Something wonderful and miraculous and life-changing takes place within the human soul when Jesus Christ is invited in to take His rightful place.” — A.W. Tozer
“He intended to make worshipers out of rebels; to restore the place of worship which our first parents knew when they were created!” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We should strive to love and adore God with a deeper understanding of His true nature.
- True worship involves being continually in God's presence, in spirit and in truth.
- God desires to make worshipers out of rebels, restoring the place of worship that our first parents knew.