Decisions or Disciples?
Accepting Christ as Lord and Savior is just the beginning of a lifelong journey of spiritual growth and perseverance.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the need for a deeper understanding of what it means to accept Christ, challenging the notion that mere acceptance leads to an easy Christian life. He argues that true discipleship involves a continuous struggle against temptation and spiritual warfare, rather than a passive existence. Tozer warns that without acknowledging the fight and commitment required, believers risk spiritual deterioration. He calls for a return to the biblical understanding of faith that includes perseverance, prayer, and worship. The sermon serves as a wake-up call for Christians to recognize their ongoing responsibilities in their faith journey.
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Today we need people who dare to question the status quo and say, "Wait a minute here. Where do you find this in the Bible?" The idea that all you have to do is to accept Christ and you are in is a great mistake. It leaves people with the impression that if they accept Christ they have no fight to fight, no warfare, no job to do and no temptations. They are just in. When you accept Christ rightly as your Lord and Savior you are in, but to be honest, you have just started to fight. People get converted and we do not tell them that they must fight all the way through to heaven because of the spirit of degeneration and the tendency to deteriorate.
They must fight, pray through, suffer it out and live in praise and worship, because if they do not they will deteriorate.
Read the history of the Christian church if you can keep your faith and keep from weeping.
Sermon Outline
- The Status Quo
- The Reality of the Christian Life
- The Importance of Perseverance
- Praying through
- Suffering it out
- Living in praise and worship
Key Quotes
“When you accept Christ rightly as your Lord and Savior you are in, but to be honest, you have just started to fight.” — A.W. Tozer
“They are just in. When you accept Christ rightly as your Lord and Savior you are in, but to be honest, you have just started to fight.” — A.W. Tozer
“Read the history of the Christian church if you can keep your faith and keep from weeping.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Recognize that accepting Christ as Lord and Savior is just the beginning of a lifelong journey, not the end.
- Make a commitment to persevere in your faith, even when faced with obstacles and challenges.
- Prioritize prayer and living in praise and worship to maintain a right relationship with God and resist temptation.