A.W. Tozer The Pursuit of God
Chapter 2, The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing (Part 2)
Tozer writes, “I have said that Abraham possessed nothing. Yet was not this poor man rich? Everything he had owned before was his still to enjoy: sheep, camels, herds, and goods of every sort. He had also his wife and his friends, and best of all he had his son Isaac safe by his side. He had everything, but he possessed nothing. . . . After that bitter and blessed experience I think the words “my” and “mine” never had again the same meaning for Abraham. The sense of possession which they connote was gone from his heart. Things had been cast out forever. His inner heart was from from them. The world said, “Abraham is rich,” but the aged patriarch only smiled. He could not explain it to them, but he knew that he owned nothing, that his real treasures were inward and external."
Amen.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Monday, November 19, 2007
The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing (Part 1)
If you read this blog very long, you will figure out quickly, I appreciate the writings of A.W. Tozer. I would like to spend a few blogs sharing one of my favorite chapters from Tozer.
A.W. Tozer - The Pursuit of God
Chapter 2, The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing (Part 1)
. . . it would seem that there is within each of us an enemy which we tolerate at our peril. Jesus called it “life” and “self,” or as we would say, the self-life. Its chief characteristic is its possessiveness: the words “gain” and “profit” suggest this. To allow this enemy to live is in the end to lose everything. To repudiate it and give up all for Christ’s sake is to lose nothing at last, but to preserve everything unto life eternal.
The way to deeper knowledge of God is through the lonely valleys of soul poverty and abnegation of all things. The blessed ones who possess the Kingdom are they who have repudiated every external thing and have rooted from their hearts all sense of possessing. These are the “poor in spirit.”
Later in the chapter Tozer states, “As is frequently true, this principle of spiritual life finds its best illustration in the Old Testament. In the story of Abraham and Isaac we have a dramatic picture of the surrendered life as well as an excellent commentary on the first Beatitude.”
Tozer goes on to describe in how Abraham became a ‘love slave of his son.’ He writes, “As he watched him grow from babyhood to young manhood the heart of the old man was knit closer and bordered upon the perilous. It was then that God stepped in to save both father and son from the consequences of an uncleansed love.
Tozer continues by describing the story in Genesis 22 of Abraham and Isaac going to the mountain to offer a sacrifice with the idea that Isaac was going to be the one sacrificed, however after Abraham was obedient enough to perform the sacrifice, the Lord provided a different sacrifice. During this time, Abraham surrendered his love for Isaac to obey the Lord. Tozer writes, “Now he was a man wholly surrendered, a man utterly obedient, a man who possessed nothing. He had concentrated his all in the person of his dear son, and God had taken it from him.”
Stay tuned
A.W. Tozer - The Pursuit of God
Chapter 2, The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing (Part 1)
. . . it would seem that there is within each of us an enemy which we tolerate at our peril. Jesus called it “life” and “self,” or as we would say, the self-life. Its chief characteristic is its possessiveness: the words “gain” and “profit” suggest this. To allow this enemy to live is in the end to lose everything. To repudiate it and give up all for Christ’s sake is to lose nothing at last, but to preserve everything unto life eternal.
The way to deeper knowledge of God is through the lonely valleys of soul poverty and abnegation of all things. The blessed ones who possess the Kingdom are they who have repudiated every external thing and have rooted from their hearts all sense of possessing. These are the “poor in spirit.”
Later in the chapter Tozer states, “As is frequently true, this principle of spiritual life finds its best illustration in the Old Testament. In the story of Abraham and Isaac we have a dramatic picture of the surrendered life as well as an excellent commentary on the first Beatitude.”
Tozer goes on to describe in how Abraham became a ‘love slave of his son.’ He writes, “As he watched him grow from babyhood to young manhood the heart of the old man was knit closer and bordered upon the perilous. It was then that God stepped in to save both father and son from the consequences of an uncleansed love.
Tozer continues by describing the story in Genesis 22 of Abraham and Isaac going to the mountain to offer a sacrifice with the idea that Isaac was going to be the one sacrificed, however after Abraham was obedient enough to perform the sacrifice, the Lord provided a different sacrifice. During this time, Abraham surrendered his love for Isaac to obey the Lord. Tozer writes, “Now he was a man wholly surrendered, a man utterly obedient, a man who possessed nothing. He had concentrated his all in the person of his dear son, and God had taken it from him.”
Stay tuned
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
How much do we Love the Lord? Part 3
Spurgeon Morning and Evening 9/3/07 – AM
Song of Solomon 1:7 “Thou whom my soul loveth”
Why do we love Jesus? Because he first loved us.
Why do we love Jesus? Because he “gave himself for us.”
We have life through his death; we have peace through his blood.
Though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor.
Why do we love Jesus? Because of the excellency of his person.
We are filled with a sense of his beauty! an admiration of his charms!
a consciousness of his infinite perfection!
His greatness, goodness, and loveliness, in one resplendent ray, combine to enchant the soul till it is so ravished that it exclaims,
“Yea, he is altogether lovely.”
Blessed love this—a love which binds the heart with chains more soft than silk, and yet more firm than adamant!
Song of Solomon 1:7 “Thou whom my soul loveth”
Why do we love Jesus? Because he first loved us.
Why do we love Jesus? Because he “gave himself for us.”
We have life through his death; we have peace through his blood.
Though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor.
Why do we love Jesus? Because of the excellency of his person.
We are filled with a sense of his beauty! an admiration of his charms!
a consciousness of his infinite perfection!
His greatness, goodness, and loveliness, in one resplendent ray, combine to enchant the soul till it is so ravished that it exclaims,
“Yea, he is altogether lovely.”
Blessed love this—a love which binds the heart with chains more soft than silk, and yet more firm than adamant!
Saturday, November 10, 2007
How much do we Love the Lord? Part 2
I do not know where I read this, but an author asked a question of Christians about our patriotism. If we would be patriotic enough to suffer and even die for our country, how much more would we do for our Lord? This was a very convicting question for me. What about my family? I know I love them enough to suffer for them and even die for them. Am I willing to do this for the Lord.
In the book by Dennis Miller, Searching for God Knows What, on page 203-204 he provides an interesting take on actions we take when we are in love. He states, “I’ve a friend who has a leather-bound day planner, and on an inside page of the planner there is a space for facts about a spouse: her dress size, her favorite foods, her favorite music. Amazingly, this is not a page my friend created on a blank sheet of paper; rather, he bought it from the company that makes the time-management system. We laughed together at the oddity of the idea of trying to calculate, plan and structure knowledge that would be meaningful to a woman only if her husband knew it, as a consequence of his love. The whole point of intimacy is that you want to know things, random facts; you are driven to them because this woman has taken you captive, not that you would write them down as a matter of discipline. Imagine calling your wife to tell her you love her and then hanging up the phone to check off the action on your to-do list.”
How many of us treat the Lord like this? Again, I am convicted by how many times I pray, read, go to Church out of duty, to have the ability to mark off what I have done for the Lord.
Lord, I pray for a fresh love in my heart for you. One which shows I will ‘call you’ to tell you I love you, because of my want to make you happy. I want to die to myself for you. I want to love you with all my being. And also, move this love for my family, friends, co-workers and all mankind. Like in Luke 10:27, I want to live the two Commandments. “He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'*; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'*" Amen.
In the book by Dennis Miller, Searching for God Knows What, on page 203-204 he provides an interesting take on actions we take when we are in love. He states, “I’ve a friend who has a leather-bound day planner, and on an inside page of the planner there is a space for facts about a spouse: her dress size, her favorite foods, her favorite music. Amazingly, this is not a page my friend created on a blank sheet of paper; rather, he bought it from the company that makes the time-management system. We laughed together at the oddity of the idea of trying to calculate, plan and structure knowledge that would be meaningful to a woman only if her husband knew it, as a consequence of his love. The whole point of intimacy is that you want to know things, random facts; you are driven to them because this woman has taken you captive, not that you would write them down as a matter of discipline. Imagine calling your wife to tell her you love her and then hanging up the phone to check off the action on your to-do list.”
How many of us treat the Lord like this? Again, I am convicted by how many times I pray, read, go to Church out of duty, to have the ability to mark off what I have done for the Lord.
Lord, I pray for a fresh love in my heart for you. One which shows I will ‘call you’ to tell you I love you, because of my want to make you happy. I want to die to myself for you. I want to love you with all my being. And also, move this love for my family, friends, co-workers and all mankind. Like in Luke 10:27, I want to live the two Commandments. “He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'*; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'*" Amen.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
How much do we Love the Lord? Part 1
2 Corinthians 5:14-15
14For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, Oct. 22 AM
How much owest thou unto my Lord? Has He ever done anything for thee? Has He forgiven thy sins? Has He covered thee with a robe of righteousness? Has He set thy feet upon a rock? Has He established thy goings? Has He prepared heaven for thee? Has He prepared thee for heaven? Has He written thy name in His book of life? Has He given thee countless blessings? Has He laid up for thee a store of mercies, which eye hath not seen nor ear heard? Then do something for Jesus worthy of His love. . . . . Love should give wings to the feet of service, and strength to the arms of labour. Fixed on God with a constancy that is not to be shaken, resolute to honour Him with a determination that is not to be turned aside, and pressing on with an ardour never to be wearied, let us manifest the constraints of love to Jesus.
14For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, Oct. 22 AM
How much owest thou unto my Lord? Has He ever done anything for thee? Has He forgiven thy sins? Has He covered thee with a robe of righteousness? Has He set thy feet upon a rock? Has He established thy goings? Has He prepared heaven for thee? Has He prepared thee for heaven? Has He written thy name in His book of life? Has He given thee countless blessings? Has He laid up for thee a store of mercies, which eye hath not seen nor ear heard? Then do something for Jesus worthy of His love. . . . . Love should give wings to the feet of service, and strength to the arms of labour. Fixed on God with a constancy that is not to be shaken, resolute to honour Him with a determination that is not to be turned aside, and pressing on with an ardour never to be wearied, let us manifest the constraints of love to Jesus.
Monday, November 5, 2007
C.S. Lewis on Giving
WARNING: Do not continue reading this post unless you want to be convicted and see another level of Christian giving.
C. S. Lewis in Mere Christianity provides the best way to know if we are giving enough of our money to the work of the Lord and for His kingdom. (P.82)
“I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditure excludes them. I am speaking now of “charities” in the common way. Particular cases of distress among your own relatives, friends, neighbours, or employees, which God, as it were, forces upon your notice, may demand much more: even to the crippling and endangering of your own position.”
Wow, we would have to call on our faith in Him to provide. Amen.
C. S. Lewis in Mere Christianity provides the best way to know if we are giving enough of our money to the work of the Lord and for His kingdom. (P.82)
“I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditure excludes them. I am speaking now of “charities” in the common way. Particular cases of distress among your own relatives, friends, neighbours, or employees, which God, as it were, forces upon your notice, may demand much more: even to the crippling and endangering of your own position.”
Wow, we would have to call on our faith in Him to provide. Amen.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Family and Youth Ministry
In my class at Tabor on Family and Youth Ministry we studied a book on family based ministry and I would like to share a couple of paragraphs from the paper I wrote on it. The most important point I want to make is the last sentence which I have bolded.
Family-Based Youth Ministry by Mark DeVries
Before I provide the thesis of the book, I would like to spend a paragraph sharing what the author thinks is a crisis in the youth ministry of many Churches. The author states the ways youth ministry is being developed and implemented in most Churches does not provide the foundation for the young people to become mature in Christ. His concern is that the young people are becoming ‘reactive Christians.’ He states, “. . . they are constantly waiting for someone or something to attract them, to involve them, to impress them. A reactive Christian always puts the responsibility for his or her spiritual life on someone else.” (p. 28) This crisis does not allow for the young people to mature in the faith to a point that becomes their faith. It is not becoming a faith that they own and fight for against all the ‘anti-Christian’ movements in society.
I think the best synopsis of the thesis presented by the author is stated in the introduction when the he writes, “One of my working assumptions is that the contemporary crisis in youth ministry has little to do with the programming and everything to do with the families.” (p. 17) The author then spends the rest of the book defining how the family is the most important factor in a young person’s life for helping them appropriate a faith of their own. It was interesting and encouraging to me when he made comments such as the most important things a parent could do is to talk about their faith in the home and bring the young people into ministry with them.
Family-Based Youth Ministry by Mark DeVries
Before I provide the thesis of the book, I would like to spend a paragraph sharing what the author thinks is a crisis in the youth ministry of many Churches. The author states the ways youth ministry is being developed and implemented in most Churches does not provide the foundation for the young people to become mature in Christ. His concern is that the young people are becoming ‘reactive Christians.’ He states, “. . . they are constantly waiting for someone or something to attract them, to involve them, to impress them. A reactive Christian always puts the responsibility for his or her spiritual life on someone else.” (p. 28) This crisis does not allow for the young people to mature in the faith to a point that becomes their faith. It is not becoming a faith that they own and fight for against all the ‘anti-Christian’ movements in society.
I think the best synopsis of the thesis presented by the author is stated in the introduction when the he writes, “One of my working assumptions is that the contemporary crisis in youth ministry has little to do with the programming and everything to do with the families.” (p. 17) The author then spends the rest of the book defining how the family is the most important factor in a young person’s life for helping them appropriate a faith of their own. It was interesting and encouraging to me when he made comments such as the most important things a parent could do is to talk about their faith in the home and bring the young people into ministry with them.
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