Click on the links to navigate through this page. Chapter Forty Background Chapters One thru Three Chapters Four thru Eight Chapters Nine thru Thirteen Chapters Fourteen thru Eighteen Chapters Nineteen thru Twenty-One Chapters Twenty-Two Thru Twenty-Five Chapters Twenty-Six Thru Thirty Chapters Thirty-One thru Thirty-Four Chapters Thirty-Five thru Thirty-Nine Chapters Forty thru Forty-One Chapter 40 -- The Man and the Machine This editorial was first published on November 15, 1961 This editorial is certainly not dated! It's so sad when people value themselves according to the things they possess rather than their relationship with God. p. 170: "Were I concerned solely with the ways of the world, this piece would never be written; but when the children of God accept the world's values it is time some Christian spoke up." This is so true. It's bad enough when the unsaved get caught up in the materialism around us, but as Christians, we're supposed to know better. p. 172: "A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven." (John 3:27). We've been given so much from heaven, why do we focus so much on the things of earth? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. In Christ, Lisa I have a daily calendar with quotes from Leaves of Gold. Today's quote relates well to this chapter: "It's good to have money and the things that money can buy, but it's good, too, to check up once and a while and make sure you haven't lost the things that money can't buy." -- George Horace Lorimer The Bible verse that's referenced is Acts 8:20. Lisa Some things do not change over the years. This was written by Tozer in 1961 and I think the problem is no different today. In fact in may ways it is worse. Christians are so very impressed with the material rather than the spiritual. We have the tendency to focus more often on the temporal than the eternal. May God in His great mercy forgive us and help us to keep an eternal perspective and not be so much consumed and impressed with all the trappings of today's temporal value system. p. 170: "Were I concerned solely with the ways of the world, this piece would never be written; but when the children of God accept the world's values it is time some Christian spoke up." This is so true. It's bad enough when the unsaved get caught up in the materialism around us, but as Christians, we're supposed to know better. yes yes how true!!! p.172 "So I watch the man drive proudly by and wonder why he does not understand that true excellence lies in moral character, not in the beauty or elegance of a souless machine." (or a house) I heard Ravi Zacharis this week speak about Christians today and he said the main problem is that many Christians are way too shallow. Perhaps this is why we value the temporal over the eternal spiritual. I pray God will help each of us value what God values and not be duped by the enemy to get a false sense of value from the world. Linda S. Chapter 40 The Man & The Machine Insecurity is the basis for this chapter. So many people are insecure for so many different reasons - their looks, their shape, their talents etc. So they purchase items to make them feel better or more important when the world sees them or they have a face lift. Do they stop being insecure ? Only for a moment when someone compliments them, the rest of the time they continue to worry. I was never insecure. I still do not care what people think of me, so this is a hard idea for me to understand. But I know God has given each of us talents. I feel you need to find out what you are good at and then go about doing it to the best of your ability. You will never get it perfect and eventually someone will come along who can do it better, but that is not the issue. Doing your best with the talent God gave you is what it is all about. Not doing it just so people notice you or give you praise when you are done. If you know you did the best job you could do, you need no one to tell you that. And then you will not be insecure anymore. Linda K. When I read this chapter, my initial reaction was that it was so unrelatable because cars do not hold any attraction for me apart from filling a desire for reliable, practical transportation. However, I think nearly everyone has something that attracts them and draws them in. I came across these verses that seem to relate as I was having my devotions on Sunday morning: "Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertaintyof riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselved the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed." I Timothy 6:17-19 And then there are Jesus' words: "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions." Luke 12:15 Gayle Sadly it is true that people--even Christians, are focused on worldly pleasures... and it gets worse each generartion and is accepted! I am reminded of 1 Peter... "...For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And God, in his mighty power, will protect you until you receive this salvation, because you are trusting him. It will be revealed on the last day for all to see. 6 So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while... Dear brothers and sisters, you are foreigners and aliens here. So I warn you to keep away from evil desires because they fight against your very souls. 12 Be careful how you live among your unbelieving neighbors. Even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will believe and give honor to God when he comes to judge the world...God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God’s generosity can flow through you. 11 Are you called to be a speaker? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then God will be given glory in everything through Jesus Christ. All glory and power belong to him forever and ever. Amen." Let's live a life for God and not for the desires of the flesh and look forward to our interior excellence shining forth as bright as the sun (Tozer pg 172) Sandra Chapter Forty-One Background Chapters One thru Three Chapters Four thru Eight Chapters Nine thru Thirteen Chapters Fourteen thru Eighteen Chapters Nineteen thru Twenty-One Chapters Twenty-Two Thru Twenty-Five Chapters Twenty-Six Thru Thirty Chapters Thirty-One thru Thirty-Four Chapters Thirty-Five thru Thirty-Nine Chapters Forty thru Forty-One Chapter 41 -- Leaders and Followers This editorial was first published on November 29, 1961 We're ending the book well. I really liked this chapter. Once again, I don't feel that it's dated. p. 174: "In the church of God there must be leaders; but the leader must also be a follower." This is so true. If the leader is not following Christ, then everyone will flounder. We need to make sure that whomever we follow is walking closely with God, and teaching what the Bible says. The only way we can know that is to be studying the Bible ourselves. Followers can't be lazy, but need to be diligent. As the leader for this study, I appreciate what Tozer said on the top of p. 175: "The true and safe leader is likely to be the one who has no desire to lead but is forced into a position of leadership by the inward pressure of the Spirit and the press of the external situation." This was certainly true for me. I hope that I've done this well for the past 41 weeks. What do you look for in a Christian leader? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this subject. I'd also like to hear your thoughts on this study as a whole. We've taken 10 months to go through this book, and I appreciate your participation through it all. I know we've been somewhat frustrated with the book, but over all, I've really enjoyed your comments and insights, and I've gotten alot out of this study. What was your favorite chapter in this book, and why? If you want to review, you can read all of our comments here: http://www.gracecommunityallentown.org/warfareofthespirit.html. For those of you in the local group, we're going to meet on November 11 after church. We're going to take a break until after the New Year, then start Evelyn Christenson's book "A Journey into Prayer". If you know of anyone who would enjoy this type of e-mail study on prayer, invite them to join us! The more the merrier! In Christ, Lisa Chapter 41 Leaders and Followers pg 174 In the church of God there must be leaders, but the leader must also be a follower. I am not a leader or a follower. I can take charge of doing something when I want to and I can follow along when in a church service or bible study. But I do not always want to be in charge, and I cannot always follow some one either. I must live on my own path in this life. Some people like to be leaders for the prestige. Some people only follow because they are afraid to think on their own. That is why I like our pastor. He is a leader in the church, yet humble enough to admit he can't do everything. He knows where to go for help and he gives credit where it is due. And that is how everyone should be. Nobody really accomplishes anything without someone elses help. Lisa I think you have done a great job running this book study and I thank you for the time you put into it. Is the next book on prayer the one we will meet 1 time a month for or is it the book for the online study ? Are we doing them both or only 1 ? I look forward to our meetings, I do hope they continue. As for my favorite chapter it was 32 The Days of our Years I learned not to take the day for granted, but to make the most of each day. And I have done that each day since I read that except for 1. I was tired and I knew I was not making the most of the day, but I was to tired to do anything. But at least I paid attention to how I spent the day and I guess sometimes we do need to rest. Have a great week everyone. Linda K. This was a great chapter! First, I liked what Tozer said about following the Chief Shepherd. As it is true, the fact is we need a leader who is faithfully following the Lord (as Tozer states on pg 174) He also made the great point that if one detaches himself from the flock of Christ "...he misses the green pastures and the still waters." (pg 174) We do need the fellowship of other followers of God in order to help encourage and edify each other. (1 Thess. 5:11"...encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing."; Hebrews 3:12,13 "Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." Tozer also made clear the importance of choosing a leader who is open and willing to follow God's lead and then leads the people in that way. "We should pray that the Lord would send us leaders; and then we should pray for those leaders when they appear." (176) AMEN!!!! What a great statement to end with. :) Just an added thought... I liked the sentence on pg 176, "One hundred blind men cannot see any better than one." Good point! I think my favorite chapters were chapter 9 "What Made David Run" --which showed Christ's love played out in David's life--and chapter 31 "The Perils of Too Much Liberty" because it reminds us how we are free in Christ. This last one was great too :) Once again, thank you all for including me in this book study. It has blessed me each week. I have really enjoyed growing and learning with you all as we tossed different verses and thoughts. It was neat to see the different angles people took as we discussed each chapter. I am looking forward to seeing you all as we are on Home Assignment next year. Be blessed and enjoy the group meeting in November! Sandra This was a wonderful chapter to end the book. There were many good points made. Yes the last sentence was best of all. p.176~ "We should pray that the LORD would send us leaders; and then we should pray for those leaders when they appear." I also liked the point that Tozer made on p.175 bottom. "That is why unqualified democracy is not good for a church unless every voting member is full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom." This is sort of like leadership by the poll-taking or by the popular vote. I liked Tozer's definition of the true leader in the middle p.175 "The true leader will have no wish to lord it over God's heritage, but will be humble, gentle, self-sacrificing and altogether as ready to follow as to lead when the Spirit makes it plain to him that a wiser and more gifted man than himself has appeared." P.174 bottom also made a good point "If the teacher speaks not according to God's Word there is no light in him." Chapter 34 was interesting to me especially where it mentioned on p. 143 in the middle "These sins are so common that they have been accepted as normal by the average church and are either not mentioned at all or referred to in smiling half-humor by the clergy." Those sins are enumerated on the previous paragraph and cause some consternation to me. Linda S.