Sending Something Better
The truth of Christianity is confirmed through the power of the Holy Spirit, not external evidence.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes that the truth of Christianity should not rely on external evidence or the achievements of notable individuals, but rather on the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. He argues that true New Testament Christianity is validated not by logic or human reasoning, but by the inner experience and guidance of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life. Tozer calls for believers to seek a deeper connection with the Holy Spirit, who reveals truth and empowers the Christian experience beyond mere intellectual assent.
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However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. --John 16:13
Our trouble is that we are trying to confirm the truth of Christianity by an appeal to external evidence. We are saying, "Well, look at this fellow. He can throw a baseball farther than anybody else and he is a Christian, therefore Christianity must be true." "Here is a great statesman who believes the Bible. Therefore, the Bible must be true." We quote Daniel Webster, or Roger Bacon. We write books to show that some scientist believed in Christianity: therefore, Christianity must be true. We are all the way out on the wrong track, brother! That is not New Testament Christianity at all. That is a pitiful, whimpering, drooling appeal to the flesh. That never was the testimony of the New Testament, never the way God did things--never! You might satisfy the intellects of men by external evidences, and Christ did, I say, point to external evidence when He was here on the earth. But He said, "I am sending you something better. I am taking Christian apologetics out of the realm of logic and putting it into the realm of life. I am proving My deity, and My proof will not be an appeal to a general or a prime minister. The proof lies in an invisible, unseen but powerful energy that visits the human soul when the gospel is preached--the Holy Ghost!" How to Be Filled With the Spirit, 29-30.
"Lord, open our ears that we might hear when the Holy Spirit speaks. Amen."
Sermon Outline
- The Problem with External Evidence
- The New Testament Approach
- The Power of the Holy Spirit
- The Spirit's invisible but powerful energy
- The Spirit's role in convicting the human soul
Key Quotes
“I am sending you something better. I am taking Christian apologetics out of the realm of logic and putting it into the realm of life.” — A.W. Tozer
“The proof lies in an invisible, unseen but powerful energy that visits the human soul when the gospel is preached--the Holy Ghost!” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must trust in the power of the Holy Spirit to guide us into truth and convict our souls.
- We should not rely on external evidence to confirm the truth of Christianity, but rather on the Holy Spirit's work in our lives.
- The Holy Spirit is the ultimate proof of Christianity's truth and power.