Learning to Lean as He Leads
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of obedience to Christ as a demonstration of love and a pathway to experiencing His presence.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes that true obedience to Christ is a demonstration of our love for Him, which in turn allows Him to reveal Himself to us. He acknowledges the challenge of remembering and adhering to numerous commandments, suggesting that we should rest in faith and wait for Christ's teachings to touch our lives. When His teachings resonate with us, obedience becomes a natural response. Tozer illustrates this with a testimony about a man who prayed for deliverance from shipwreck, highlighting that one cannot be saved from experiences they have never encountered. Ultimately, he encourages instant obedience to Christ's teachings as a sign of total commitment, promising that God will manifest Himself in our lives.
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Obedience to Christ proves we love Him, and in return He shows Himself to us. You say, "There are so many commandments, how can I obey? How can I remember them all, and can I be sure I am obeying?" In faith and love rest, wait and look. Then as His teaching touches your life, conform to it. There are some teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ that you would never get into because they would not touch you. They would not impinge on you in your present state. But as soon as they do touch you, then you automatically, sweetly and quietly obey.
A man was giving testimony about being shipwrecked and praying, and about how the Lord delivered him.
A dear old man of God went home, got on his knees and wept before the Lord. "God," he said, "You never saved me from shipwreck." And the Lord said, "Son, have you ever been at sea?" The man answered, "No." Of course you cannot save from shipwreck a man who has never been offshore. There are things that do not touch you, but the moment they do, obey instantly. For instance, the Bible says, "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:22). If you do not have any husband, why worry about that one? But if ever the words of our Lord Jesus Christ touch your life, instantly--because you are totally committed--gladly and quietly obey and do what you are told.
He said that is your part, and His part is to manifest Himself to you and get you out of the rut.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - Obedience as a demonstration of love for Christ - The challenge of remembering commandments - Resting in faith and love
- II points: - The transformative power of Christ's teachings - Obeying when His teachings touch our lives - The importance of instant obedience
- III points: - Understanding personal relevance of scripture - The example of submission in relationships - God's response to our obedience
- IV points: - The metaphor of shipwreck and deliverance - The necessity of personal experience in faith - God's faithfulness in our obedience
Key Quotes
“Obedience to Christ proves we love Him, and in return He shows Himself to us.” — A.W. Tozer
“The moment they do touch you, obey instantly.” — A.W. Tozer
“God's faithfulness in our obedience.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Reflect on which teachings of Christ currently touch your life and commit to obeying them.
- Practice resting in faith and love to better understand and remember His commandments.
- Recognize the importance of personal experience in your faith journey and how it relates to obedience.