Reclaiming Christianity: A Call to Authentic Faith by Tozer A. W

Author:Tozer, A. W. [Tozer, A. W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gospel Light
Published: 2009-05-01T00:00:00+00:00

Power to Exalt Christ

Then the power of the Holy Spirit brings the magnetic power to draw us to Christ, exalting Him above all else and above all others. We must demand more than correct doctrine, though we dare not have less than correct doctrine. More than right living, though we dare not have less than right living; more than a friendly atmosphere, though we dare not have less than a friendly atmosphere. We must demand that the Word of God be preached in power, and that we hear it in power.

In 1 Thessalonians, Paul said to them, “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake” (v. 5). When the Spirit of God through the Word is preached in power and is heard in power, then the objectives of God are wrought. Holy men are made holy, and sins forgiven, and the work of redemption is done.

The way to obtain this is through prayer, faith and surrender, the old-fashioned way; and I know none other. As God’s people, you have every scriptural right to demand that you hear the Word in power, and if you do not hear the Word in power, you have a right to rise up and ask why. If you are hearing nothing but teaching, nothing but instruction, with no evidence of God in it, and the preacher cannot say, “I appeal to God” to say whether this is true or not; if this cannot be, then you have a right to demand that somebody preach that can.

On the other hand, every man who stands in a pulpit to preach has a right to expect that the congregation believe in power and are so close to God, so surrendered, so full of faith and so prayerful that the Word of God can work in power.

Fellowship in the Holy Spirit

It is amazing how religious social atmospheres can permeate a church so that it is hard to tell which is of the Holy Spirit and which is simply nice social contact. I believe both ought to be in the church, and I believe they both can. When the Early Church met and broke bread, they fulfilled both their spiritual communion and their social fellowship. Therefore, there is no reason why they cannot be fused. There is not any reason why the warm cordiality of social fellowship cannot be made incandescent with the indwelling Holy Spirit so that when we meet and shake hands and sing and pray and talk together, we are doing both. We are having social fellowship, thus the mighty union and communion of the Holy Spirit.

Let us be very careful that it is both. To try to destroy or prevent social contact and social fellowship is to grieve the Spirit, because the Spirit made us for each other and He meant that there should be social fellowship and friendliness together.

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