Lord, Give Me Yourself
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the necessity of God-awareness for true communion with God and the fulfillment of our spiritual needs.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of having a personal relationship with God, highlighting the tragic reality that many believers live without a true awareness of His presence, much like Absalom who remained distant from his father, the king. He argues that knowing God is the essence of eternal life and the ultimate purpose of our creation, which was marred by sin. Tozer asserts that Christ's redemptive work was to restore our connection with God, and that the Holy Spirit's role in sanctification is to enhance our God-awareness. He concludes that if we could make only one request of God, it should be for His presence, as that encompasses all we truly need.
Text
Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem and saw not the king's face, though the king was his own father. Are there not many in the kingdom of God who have no awareness of God, who seem not to know that they have the right to sit at the King's table and commune with the King? This is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is a hard and grievous burden.
To know God, this is eternal life; this is the purpose for which we are and were created. The destruction of our God-awareness was the master blow struck by Satan in the dark day of our transgression.
To give God back to us was the chief work of Christ in redemption. To impart Himself to us in personal experience is the first purpose of God in salvation. To bring acute God-awareness is the best help the Spirit brings in sanctification. All other steps in grace lead up to this.
Were we allowed but one request, we might gain at a stroke all things else by praying one all-embracing prayer: Thyself, Lord! Give me Thyself and I can want no more.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - The Importance of God-awareness - The Consequences of Ignorance - The Role of Christ in Redemption
- II points: - Understanding Eternal Life - The Purpose of Our Creation - The Work of the Holy Spirit
- III points: - The Nature of True Communion with God - The Request for God's Presence - The Fulfillment of Our Spiritual Needs
Key Quotes
“To know God, this is eternal life; this is the purpose for which we are and were created.” — A.W. Tozer
“To give God back to us was the chief work of Christ in redemption.” — A.W. Tozer
“Thyself, Lord! Give me Thyself and I can want no more.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Seek to cultivate a deeper awareness of God's presence in your daily life.
- Make your prayer life centered around the desire for God's presence rather than just His blessings.
- Reflect on the purpose of your creation and how it aligns with knowing and communing with God.