The Warfare of the Spirit

It was good to get together on Sunday. Our next local meeting will be on July 8, right after church. Bring some picnic food to share.

Chapter 22, The Meaning of Christmas

First published on December 17, 1958

At first I thought, oh no, another Christmas essay in the summer! But this was a good essay for me to read, and for me to meditate on.

John 1:14 -- And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

This is the meaning of Christmas.

Sometimes at Christmas, even when we’re thinking of “Baby Jesus in the Manger”, we forget about the mystery of the Word becoming flesh. Nowhere else in the history of the earth does this happen, but in the form of Jesus in Bethlehem, so many years ago. Tozer’s essay this week really drives this home.

When we tell people about Christ coming as a baby at Christmas, and dying on Good Friday, and rising on Easter, we’re not telling a story about a good man or a prophet, but about God incarnate. That’s more than most people want to think about, but anything less would be dishonest.

I like what Tozer says at the bottom of page 93: “Whenever Christ is preached in the power of the Spirit, a judgement seat is erected and each hearer stands to be judged by his response to the message. His moral responsibility is not to a lesson in religious history but to the divine Person who now confronts him.”

Do I always make that clear when I’m talking to unsaved people? I hope so.

It’s something to keep in mind as we go into our summer ministries.

In Christ, Lisa

Several thoughts in this chapter 22 spoke to me.

1. Middle page 91~ "We must not forget that the Church is the custodian of a truth so grave and urgent that its importance can not be overemphasized, and so vast and incomprehensible that even an apostle did not try to explain it....." confession "I do too often forget and I miss the gravity and urgency."

2. p.92 first paragraph.~"While faith contains an element of reason, it is essentially moral rather than intellectual". question~ Could this be the reason it is rejected?

3. p.92 next to last paragraph in the middle~"The sum of the New Testament teaching about this is that Christ's claims are self-validating and will be rejected only by those who love evil."

question~I heard it said that pride is what keeps most from coming to Christ for salvation, but could this be the answer that those who reject Christ actually love evil?

4. "Whenever Christ is preached in the power of the Spirit, a judgment seat is erected and each hearer stands to be judged by his response to the message. His moral responsibility is not to a lesson in religious history but to the divine Person who now confronts him."

Thought ~ If only more people could realize the gravity of their decision.

Linda S.

Reading this weeks chapter made me realize more deeply why so many of the people we are working among here in Mombasa don't celebrate Christmas. To them, Jesus is only another prophet or "god" added to their plethora of "gods" ...not their Saviour!

Then I read Lisa's thoughts....(to which I agree whole-heartedly) "When we tell people about Christ coming as a baby at Christmas, and dying on Good Friday, and rising on Easter, we're not telling a story about a good man or a prophet, but about God incarnate." How much more should this make us, as God's children, dwell on the TRUTH of the gospel and celebrate our Saviour's birth not only on Christmas, but always!

Sandra

My heart gets terribly heavy when I read that! For those who we love dearly, it can be almost unbearable to think that they are standing to be judged. I do not doubt for a moment the zeal that Tozer had for the Lord and the love he had for Jesus Christ. But sometimes I wonder if he ever had a heavy heart for the lost. Our Lord most certainly did. (I guess Tozer isn't speaking to the lost, so my statement is rather irrelevant. sorry)

I do confess, as I did before, I am one that enjoys the romance of the Christmas season. Even as I read what he wrote on pg. 90 "So completely are we carried away by the excitement of this midwinter festival..." I confess, just the words midwinter festival excites me. Let me clarify it is not a righteous, godly excitement....maybe a similar excitement someone has when they go to a sporting event, or to a concert to hear live music, or to stand in front of an original, famous painting .... but I just love it. The word midwinter festival makes me think of the cold regions of the world, and their history. Of the druids, of Norway, Siberia, Labrador, Newfoundland...why? I have no idea, but I am rather fascinated by it. So I hang my head in shame that I am not thinking on the same page as Tozer.

Maybe my heart is worse off than I suspected! But, I there may be hope...when I read on pg. 92..."The same man who will check his tires and consult his road map with utmost care before starting on a journey may travel for a lifetime on the way that knows no return and never once pause to ask whether or not he is headed in the right direction." The action of a lost, fallen human being should not surprise us in the least.

Without the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit the gospel makes NO SENSE AT ALL. The gospel has no appeal, and is uncomfortable to the ears of fallen man. HOWEVER, when the Holy Spirit opens a deaf mans ears, he is enlightened and the gospel makes all the sense to him. The piece of the puzzle that was missing has now been found. The gospel now has overwhelming appeal, not only is it comfortable it is now the greatest of all comfort. It IS comfort.

Tozer writes on pg. 93..."The sum of the N.T. teaching about this is that Christ's claims are self-validating and will be rejected only by those who love evil." How sad it is that eventhough Christ validated Himself, He is rejected. How this must tear at the Father and Son's heart.

But before we are quick to pass judgement on unbelievers, may we not be too quick to forget...all of us, at one time, were one of those 'who love evil." May God help me to speak and live a life that echoes God's love, mercy and grace, to those who do not know it...yet.

Renee'

Chapter 22

I think the celebration of Christmas, Christ's birth, may not be the reason most people celebrate it, but it gives Christians a good opportunity to make known the reason for the holiday.

It is up to the listener to decide to believe in Jesus or Santa. I think we must make sure to tell people what we believe so they know the truth.
Linda K.

It is up to the listener to decide to believe in Jesus or Santa. here's a question...who is more in error...he who knows WHY he celebrates Christmas, but fails to proclaim it...or he who does NOT know why he celebrate Christmas?

Who is in error...the blind man who stands before a beautiful sunset and fails to proclaim it or his friend who sees the beautiful sunset but fails to explain it to his blind friend? hmmm. gulp.
Renee'

Chapter Twenty-Three

Background

Hello All!

Chapter 23 – A Glance Back and a Look Forward

First published on December 31, 1958.

Happy New Year!

Actually, it’s not New Year, but this article was written for New Year’s Eve.

Looking Back:

We have to be careful when we look at our past. God forgives us when we confess and repent, but we often continue to dwell on our past sins. Satan does enough accusing — we don’t have to accuse ourselves. Revelation 12:10 says: “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.”

I like what Tozer says on page 96: “To demand too much of ourselves is to admit tacitly that we have at least some degree of confidence in our moral ability, and of course it is also to admit that our confidence in God is correspondingly weak.” We need to depend on God for our strength, and when we fail to do so, we need to confess, repent, and start over again. We know that we will fail, but we also know that we will be forgiven.

Looking Forward:

We are on the path of sanctification. As we grow in our walk, we should be following Jesus more closely. On page 97, Tozer quotes John 10:4: “And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.”

We know the Master’s voice. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t be saved. The question is, are we always listening?

Have a good week. At our local meeting, I made a miscalculation. At our next meeting on July 8, we’ll be covering four chapters: 22 thru 25.

Have a good week. Pray for Community Day and VBS coming up, that God would be glorified, and the lost would be reached.

In Christ, Lisa

p. 95 middle paragraph really inspired me. "'It's difficult climbing a mountain while looking back'. A quick glance over our shoulder is good, for it will sober us and remind us that we must some day give an account of the deeds done in the body."

To dwell in the past seems to me would be counter productive to making progress on the journey.

I also liked what Tozer stated on p.96 first paragraph. "we must be careful to avoid two opposite errors: the first is being too easy on ourselves and the second is being too hard".

other thoughts on p.96 "we do not always do God service by scourging ourselves..." " the man who knows himself deeply will not expect anything of himself and will not be disappointed when he fails to produce."

Brother Lawrence's statement when he stumbled and fell really spoke to me. "O LORD this is what You may expect of me if You leave me to myself."

He then accepted forgiveness, thanked God and gave himself no further concern about the matter."

then on p.97 mentions about not minimizing sin but magnifying grace.

That wonderful grace that is greater than all my sin.

All PRAISE BE TO GOD!!!

All glory and praise to the Lamb that was slain, Who has born all our sins and has cleansed every stain.

Hallelujah, Thine the glory! Hallelujah, amen!
Hallelujah, Thine the glory! Revive us again.

I find it is not easy to reach this delicate balance.
Linda S.

Chapter 23

I do not sit New Years Eve and look back on the year to see how it went. I just figure it is over and it is time to move forward in another New Year. Actually I do that most every day of the year.

pg 96 Brother Lawrence said He stumbled - ask and accepted forgiveness - thanked God - moved on with no further concern about the matter. And that is what we must do.

I spent 43 years sinning in God's eyes. I have told some of you a little about my life, but by far not much. But God knows everything I did and he wanted to save me anyway. So if he can forgive all that I have done, why should I dwell on it.

You cannot change the past, the last week, the last day or the last minute. If you did right or wrong it is done. You can learn from the past, but that is all. The only thing you can change is how you act and respond in the future. God wants us to grow and to do that we must keep moving forward.

So dump your baggage, you will feel alot better without it.
AMEN
Linda K

Some quick thoughts on ch/ 23...
I am 'one of those' who usually finds myself 'looking back' over the past year, and yes, I do it usually on New Years Day or the day before. I used to really get hung up on this though, so I can see the dangers. My tendency was to look back over the past year, decide I had once again fallen short of my expectations, so most certainly, I was convinced, I had once again fallen short of my Heavenly Fathers expectations, also.

As pg. 96 mentions, there is a danger of either being too easy on ourselves or being too hard on ourselves. And if I didn't feel defeated and miserable, than I was SURE it was because I was being too easy on myself. This leads to spiritual paralysis.

In time, I have come to realize that this is not a healthy excercise and it is NOT from God, but a tool used successfully in the hands of Satan for my defeat! And yet, all that said, I do feel it is good to focus on the past year, of how the Lord has sustained me, kept me and loved me inspite of myself.

I liked the illustration given on pg. 97, "The footprint of the obedient sheep is always found within the larger footprint of the Shepherd." How encouraging, beyond words to express...that our Shepherd has such LARGE footprints!!
Renee'

Chapter Twenty-Four

Background

Chapter 24 – Singing Commentary

This editorial was first published on February 25, 1959.
Tozer makes some good points in this chapter:

P. 98 – “Let a man be quoted often enough and be dead long enough and he is likely to be canonized by his grateful readers and his writings given oracular standing before the Christian public.” I hope we’re not doing this with Tozer!

P. 99 – “We find it easier to turn to the commentary than to brood long and lovingly over a difficult passage, waiting for the light to break.” I find that I tend to do this with my Ryrie Study Bible. It’s too convenient to look down at the footnotes. I like Tozer’s description of having “borrowed armor” (p.99). If we’re going to withstand the “wiles of the Devil” (Eph 6:11) we need armor that’s made for us, not borrowed from someone else. We also need the “sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God” (Eph 6:17). Sometimes it’s too easy to read commentaries and Christian books about the Bible rather than the Bible itself. I like reading books like what we're doing now, we just need to be careful that it doesn't replace regular Bible study.

As much as I like to sing, and I like hymn lyrics, I’m not a great fan of poetry. Often, I find that phrases are somewhat tortured by the author in order to fit the rhyme and meter. But for someone else, Wesley’s commentary could be a wonderful addition to their library.

Have a great week! Come out to VBS if you’re able.

In Christ,

Lisa

Yes there are many good thoughts regarding commentaries in this chapter by Tozer.

And I agree that one danger is that the commentary becomes known as an authority(p.98 bottom).

As long as we use the commentary just to comment on the Word of God and do not substitute it as the revealed authority above the Bible.

I surely liked and could strongly relate to Wesley's comment regarding the problem of hardening Pharaoh's heart. (p.100 bottom)

" There needed, Lord, no act of Thine,
If Pharaoh had a heart like mine:
One moment leave me but alone,
And mine alas is turned to stone!"

Thus I truly agree with the other comment about Wesley that "he saw also the necessity of a prevenient working of divine grace in the heart before the lost man can repent." (p,101)

"Such is the stubbornness of man!
So deep in me the evil lies!
Chastised a thousand times in vain,
I still against Thy judgments rise;

Not all thy judgment can convert
This sinner, or this sin remove,
Unless Thou find it in Thy heart
To soften mine by pardoning love."

I do like Wesley's commentary, but yet God's Word says it all....
Romans 3:23 All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
Linda S.

Yes, I have fallen in to the trap of spending more time focussing on a commentary of a verse or an entire book written about scripture than the scripture itself. Here again, there are dangers on both sides and blessings, just the same. For us not to glean the wisdom and insite on our forefathers of the faith seems foolish, but never let any of them take the place of our Blessed Holy Spirit. And I am sure those wise believers who have gone before us, would hail a big AMEN to that.

We live in a time and we've been swept away by the mentality of taking the quick and painless way to things of God and everything else. Yet, when we experience the wonderful counselor of our Counselor God's Spirit...there are few things to compare it to. But we want it fast and we want it in our timing and God just doesn't work that way. I sat in a bible study a few weeks ago, and it was a good study, but what troubled me was how many of the C.'s said they liked the bible reading because it only took a few minutes of their time. Kind of like fast food for the Christian. How long can we live on fast food to maintain our bodies?? Not only do I feel it is the hurry up and giving me a blessing attitude, I am convinced more and more that most evangelical Christians really do not believe that God speaks to us and is as active in our lives as any human being can be. The last thing any of us want to do is be still and know that He is God. When was the last time I made that comment to someone that I was being still to know God? But how more often do we hear Christians say, along with the world...I am bored. Really, how can any Christian be bored when a priviledge we have is to begin to scratch the surface of the depths and riches of Christ!! That reminds me back to the Dr. Jeremiah book where he said "We have as much of God as we want."
- Renee'

"I am convinced more and more that most evangelical Christians really do not believe that God speaks to us and is as active in our lives as any human being can be." I agree with your statement. What's really sad is that this becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. If someone is not looking for God to speak to them, and is not listening to that "still small voice", then God won't speak to them and won't be active in their lives!
Lisa

Chapter Twenty-Five

Background