The Knowledge of the Holy

"God is a person and can be known in increasing degrees of intimate acquaintance as we prepare our hearts for the wonder."

- A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy, Chapter 23, pg 116

"The Knowledge of the Holy" is yet another great book that I've read from the 20th century author and preacher A.W. Tozer.  In this book Tozer goes into reverential detail about the nature of God.  Since Tozer was himself a man who daily bowed down to God's holiness and majesty, it is therefore very fitting that this book was the last book Tozer wrote (he passed away two years after its publication).

The importance of understanding God's nature can (and will) have an impact on an individual's life and very soul.  As Tozer wrote, "The mightiest thought the mind can entertain is the thought of God."  And equally important is being aware of false views of God, which could directly damage and erode a person's mind through the act of idolatry, as Tozer explains "Wrong ideas about God are not only the fountain from which the polluted waters of idolatry flow; they are themselves idolatrous.  The idolater simply imagines things about God and acts as if they were true."  If you believe something "true" about God, your life (and worship) will reflect that truth; if you believe something "false" about God, your life (and worship) will reflect that falsehood. 

In "The Knowledge of the Holy" Tozer devotes chapters to each of God's attributes, including the self-sufficiency of God, the eternality of God, His faithfulness, His justice, His mercy, His grace, and His holiness.  If you love God, you will want to know Him.  Ignorance of God and love for God are not synonymous acts.  This book will enlighten and educate your mind to the right knowledge of God, to ensure that your life and thoughts will reflect His true character.  As Tozer concludes,

"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.  The history of mankind will probably show that no people has ever risen above its religion, and man's spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God.  Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God."
- A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy, Chapter 1, pg 1

The Root of the Righteous

"The Christian is strong or weak depending on how closely he has cultivated the knowledge of God."

- A.W. Tozer, The Root of the Righteous, Chapter 2, pg 14

The book "The Root of the Righteous" is a collection of essays by the 20th century preacher and writer A.W. Tozer.  All the essays deal with the important biblical truth that in order to truly live a godly life that will bear much fruit, one must first be grounded in, or "rooted" in, God Himself.  As Jesus stated "I am the vine; you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:5.  Tozer's book helps give both biblical and experiential counsel to help ensure one is indeed rooted in Jesus Christ on a day to day basis.

Tozer goes through the many areas of a Christian's life that needs to be rooted in God, from such angles as spending much of your time with God, and being around others who also sacrifice their time for the Lord, so they can help you be grounded in Him; Tozer stated it this way, “No man has any right to offer advice who has not first heard God speak.  No man has any right to counsel others who is not ready to hear and follow the counsel of the Lord.  True moral wisdom must always be an echo of God’s voice.”

Tozer goes through a host of other issues that a Christian must deal heartily with to ensure rootedness in God, such as developing a strong prayer life that parallels your life, as he wrote it, “Prayer at its best is the expression of the total life... our prayers are only as powerful as our lives... we pray only as well as we live.”  Another important aspect of the Christian life that must be attained in order to exercise daily righteousness is having a thankful heart. Tozer explains the importance of thankfulness as follows, “Thanksgiving has great creative power.  The heart that is constantly overflowing with gratitude will be safe from those attacks of resentfulness and gloom that bother so many religious persons.  A thankful heart cannot be cynical.”

Tozer goes through a whole list of other important and meaningful categories of the godly life needed to keep us thoroughly rooted in God, which makes "The Root of the Righteous" a meaningful resource to ensure we follow Jesus' commands of "remaining in him to produce godly fruit."  As Tozer concludes...

“In every Christian’s heart there is a cross and a throne, and the Christian is on the throne till he puts himself on the cross; if he refuses the cross he remains on the throne.  Perhaps this is at the bottom of the backsliding and worldliness among gospel believers today.  We want to be saved but we insist that Christ do all the dying.  No cross for us, no dethronement, no dying.  We remain king within the little kingdom of Mansoul and wear our tinsel crown with all the pride of a Caesar; but we doom ourselves to shadows and weakness and spiritual sterility.”

- A.W. Tozer, The Root of Righteousness, Chapter 18, pg 78-79

The Grace of Repentance

"Repentance is so central to the Gospel that without it there can be no salvation."

- Sinclair Ferguson, The Grace of Repentance, pg 14

This short book (only 61 pages in length) by Sinclair Ferguson on the subject of repentance is enough to convict a Christian of any kind of shallow and superficial form of repentance that he/she may have been practicing throughout their spiritual lives.  Or on the other hand, it will convict those Christians who have not been engaging in regular repentance at all since their initial conversion, as Sinclair states, "Repentance is the lifelong process of the restoration of sinners... it must be an inescapable, ongoing, and permanent necessity."

An erroneous view of repentance is the idea that repentance is simply saying you're sorry for your sins, (a very passive action).  However Sinclair goes through the much deeper and transforming power of real repentance as such, "Biblical repentance is not merely a sense of regret that leaves us where it found us.  It is a radical reversal that takes us back along the road of our sinful wanderings, creating in us a completely different mind-set... That means more than forgiveness; it includes sanctification, a transformed life.  It involves those who are saved in turning away from sin.  That turning away is repentance."

Definitely the most important aspect to correctly understand about repentance is it's main focus on God's true nature.  A person can only truthfully repent of his/her sins when they truly understand and seek God Himself.  Ferguson writes it this way, "This spirit of repentance is created by a sense of who God is and by an awareness of the true character of sin.  It is a God-centered response, indeed the beginning of true God-centeredness.  Turning away from sin and turning back to God belong together."

For those Christians who have not yet taken the time to commit themselves to an actual study of the doctrine of repentance, I would suggest that such a study be under taken, and that you begin your study with Sinclair Ferguson's book "The Grace of Repentance."  It will begin you on a lifelong journey of genuine heart-rending repentance of your sins, and through that repentance you'll be genuinely exposed to God's heart-healing and transforming forgiveness and grace.

"God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance."  - Romans 2:4

Why I Am A Christian

In 1957 a book was published entitled "Why I Am Not A Christian" which was a collection of essays by Atheist philosopher Betrand Russell.  In these essays, Russell explained the reasons why he would not come to and embrace the Christian faith.  In 2003 pastor and theologian John Stott published a book entitled "Why I Am A Christian", which was written in response to Russell's book.

In Stott's "Why I Am A Christian", he writes out what are to him the seven most personally meaningful reasons that he has given his life (and found the purpose of his life) in Jesus Christ.  Some of those reasons are the "The Claims of Jesus", specifically regarding being divine in nature (one with the Father) and yet living a life of humility serving others, as Stott wrote "Why am I a Christian?  Intellectually speaking, it is because of the paradox of Jesus Christ.  It is because he who claimed to be his disciples' Lord humbled himself to be their servant."  Another reason is the Cross.  Stott was a Christian because the Cross demonstrates that Jesus not only became Man to be close to us and live among us, but also to suffer with us, and to suffer for us.  Stott stated it as such, "Why am I a Christian?  One reason is the cross of Christ.  Indeed, I could never myself believe in God if it were not for the cross.  It is the cross that gives God his credibility... In the real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it."

And perhaps most importantly, Stott gives the main reason he was a Christian - not because he sought after Jesus, but because Jesus sought after him.  Stott borrows a description from poet Francis Thompson referring to Jesus as the "Hound of Heaven" who tirelessly hunts down and pursues sinners while they are lost and helpless in sin.  Stott put it this way, "Why I am a Christian is due ultimately neither to the influence of my parents and teachers, nor to my own personal decision for Christ, but to the 'Hound of Heaven'.  That is , it is due to Jesus Christ himself, who pursed me relentlessly even when I was running from him in order to go my own way.  And if it were not for the gracious pursuit of the Hound of Heaven I would today be on the scrapheap of wasted and discarded lives."

To read both intellectually compelling and heart touching reasons why one ought to be a Christian, take up John Stott's book "Why I Am A Christian" and learn from one of the greatest Bible teachers in modern times about how Jesus Christ was his ultimate reason for identifying himself as a life-long Christian.

"If we become aware of the relentless pursuit of Christ, and give up trying to escape from him, and surrender to the embrace of 'this tremendous lover', there will be no room for boasting in what we have done.  There will only be room for profound thanksgiving for his grace and mercy, and for the firm resolve to spend time and eternity in his loving service."

- John Stott, Why I Am A Christian, Chapter 1, pg 31

Wide As The Waters

Subtitle - "The Story of the English Bible and the Revolution It Inspired"

Written by historian Benson Bodrick, the book "Wide As The Waters" is a marvelous retelling of the historical journey of the English translation of the Bible throughout the centuries.  Bobrick begins with John Wycliffe's hand-written English Bible in 1382, to William Tyndale's English-printed  New Testament in 1526, to the King James Version of 1611 (and many other lesser known but important English Bible translations, such as the "Coverdale Bible", the "Great Bible" and the "Geneva Bible").  The reader is taken on an almost unbelievable expedition of the incredible spiritual, social, and political achievements of the English Bible that began in England and would spread out touching all four corners of the globe.  Where it went, the English Bible brought with it liberty of conscience, individual significance and freedom, and most importantly God's eternally relevant truths in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

For those who wish to embark on the past excursion of the travels and triumphs of the most world-changing translation of the Holy Scriptures, then let Benson Bobrick be your guide as he takes you through the adventure of a lifetime that is the glorious history of the English Bible.

"Next to the Bible itself, the English Bible was (and is) the most influential book ever published."

- Benson Bobrick, Wide As The Waters, Prologue, pg 11

"Absolute Surrender"

Subtitle: How To Walk In Perfect Peace With God

 "There is no other choice for us; we must either deny self or Christ."
- Andrew Murray, Absolute Surrender, Chapter 4, pg 69

"Absolute Surrender" is the third book I've read by the early 20th century South African preacher Andrew Murray.  The same practical but firm way of writing that Murray exhibited in the first two books I've read, he repeats in this one with meaningful insight and exhortation.  In "Absolute Surrender" Murray's thesis is to turn away from one self and commit your life to complete servant hood to God in order to set apart every day of your life as a means to obey Him and to praise Him and to glorify Him.  Murray wrote, "Christianity had its origin in the omnipotence of God.  In every soul, Christianity must have its continuance in that omnipotence.  All the possibilities of the higher Christian life, have their origin in a new understanding of Christ's power to work all God's will in us."

Murray also demonstrates that the only possible way for any Christian to ever surrender completely to Jesus Christ is by the sole means of the Holy Spirit.  Murray points out that not only is self-denial impossible to be achieved or maintained by one's own strength, even more so to be kept in Christ is equally impossible without the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.  Without the Holy Spirit residing in you, you cannot hope to maintain yourself in Christ.  Concerning this all-important truth, Murray writes, "The work of the Holy Spirit is to enable you every moment to remember Jesus, and to trust Him.  The Spirit has come to keep the link with Him unbroken every moment."

For a meaningful, concise and firm exhortation of the doctrine of self-denial and submitting wholly to God, Andrew Murray's "Absolute Surrender" would be a helpful treatise to guide you to a level of biblical yielding and servant hood in such a way as to truly honor Jesus Christ as Lord over all.

"I, who have been bought with the blood of Christ, have been bought to live every day with the one thought: How can I please my Master?"
- Andrew Murray, Absolute Surrender, Chapter 9, pg 145

"A Passion For God"

Subtitle: The Spiritual Journey of A.W. Tozer

"Tozer's messages pierced hearts and illumined minds with a profundity uncommon among Bible teachers and preachers.  Indeed, spiritually alert people recognized that he possessed unique charisma - a sacred anointing."

- Lyle Dorsett, A Passion For God, Chapter 1, pg 16

A man whose books have become a source of great blessing to me personally over the past two years, is a man named Aiden Wilson Tozer.  After reading a couple of his books, I felt the strong desire to learn more about the man himself, and so I read through the book "A Passion for God: The Spiritual Journey of A.W. Tozer" by Christian biographer Lyle Dorsett.  In this biography, Dorsett takes you through Tozer's life, from his birth in 1897 until his death in 1963.  Tozer is considered one of the most profound and insightful Christians authors of the 20th century.  Though Tozer has always been regarded as a very gifted author, Dorsett points out that it was actually Tozer's strong biblical preaching that most people were blessed by in his own time.  Particularly among Tozer's admirers were youth and young adults who would flock to hear him preach God's Word in ways that struck them meaningfully and convictingly (unlike many preachers during that time).

One fact that Dorsett focused on about Tozer's life which is especially meaningful to me as a Christian, was that Tozer was completely untrained theologically.  Tozer absolutely loved reading as many books as he could, but he was completely self-studied, having never attended Bible college or seminary.  Yet God used him mightily for the great benefit of the world-wide church, both then and now.  For people like myself, who have never gone to Bible college or seminary, Tozer's life is a great witness and testimony to God being both able and willing to use those whom the world often deem's as "unworthy" for the work of the Lord.  Tozer himself once said "To serve God you need neither a title, an office or a business card."  That truth is perhaps the greatest blessing I've taken from Dorsett's biography on Tozer.

In addition to recommending Lyle Dorsett's insightful book on one of the most important preachers and authors of the last century, I would also recommend the books of Tozer himself.  Both his life and his writings can be a tremendous blessing to those who have not yet had the chance to enhance their hearts and minds under his enduring legacy as they continue to serve God with all their life.

"Tozer's messages - whether written or spoken - caused people to thirst for Living Water, hunger for the Bread of Life... In the final analysis, those who imbibed Tozer's fare were spiritually enlivened and hungry for more of Jesus."

- Lyle Dorsett, A Passion For God, Chapter 6, pg 112

"Echoes From Eden"

"Although the human mind stubbornly resists and resents the suggestion that it is a sick, fallen planet upon which we ride, everything without our consciences, our innermost spirit, confirms that the voice of God is sounding in this world - the voice of God calling, seeking, beckoning to lost men and women!"

- A.W. Tozer, Echoes from Eden, Chapter 1

 

In his book "Echoes from Eden" A.W. Tozer deals with how God has constantly been calling out to sinful mankind to return to Him, ever since He first called out to Adam after he and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden and hid from God's presence (hence the name of the book).  Tozer points out the many diverse ways in which God unceasingly calls out to us (conscience, nature, morality, the Church, the Scriptures, and the Holy Spirit).  Concerning the call of God through Scripture, Tozer declared, "God is calling us with many, many voices, but there is no doubt that He entreats mankind most perfectly in the revealed Word of God."  But even the Scriptures by themselves are not a sufficient voice to successfully call men and women to God, but rather the voice of the Scriptures need to be heard through vocals of the Holy Spirit speaking within us.  Concerning the paramount important of the voice of the Holy Spirit, Tozer wrote, "God is speaking to mankind with more than one voice, but it must be said that the dearest, most distinct and most easily distinguished voice is that of the Holy Spirit.  The call and reproof and conviction by the Holy Spirit give grave and serious meaning to all other voices calling men home.  If it were not for the presence of the Holy Spirit speaking through the consciences of men and women, no other voice would have any significance."

God's voice is the one voice that contains within it the whispers of salvation and the answers to our deepest heart cries.  His voice does not go silent, does not rest nor sleep.  It is the loudest and yet most tender and diverse voice in the universe.  It is ever-speaking, ever declaring His love for us, and unceasingly summons us to Himself.  How could we venture to deafen ourselves to such a loving and pursuing voice?

"There is a divine voice that continues to call.  It is the voice of the Creator, God, and it is entreating them.  Just as the shepherd went everywhere searching for his sheep, just as the woman in the parable went everywhere searching for her coin, so there is a divine search with many variations of the voice that entreats us, calling us back."

- A.W. Tozer, Echoes From Eden, Chapter 1

"The Expository Genius of John Calvin"

"In all of life, one supreme passion consumed John Calvin: the glory of God.  All truth revealed in Holy Scripture, Calvin believed, was intended to make known God's glory and to lead the reader to behold and adore His majesty."

- Steve Lawson, The Expository Genius of John Calvin, Chapter 3, pg 39

Written by Steve Lawson, this book explores the preaching methods of John Calvin.  In addition to being a Reformer and a theologian, Calvin was also a preacher who pastored his own church in Geneva, Switzerland.  Calvin helped to sustain and spread the 16th century Protestant Reformation, and he did that not just through his books (such as the "Institutes of the Christian Religion" and his 22 volume Bible Commentaries) but also through his faithful and time-enduring preaching of the Word of God, as Lawson writes, "Calvin's convictions forced an emphasis on the priority of the pulpit.  As the Bible was opened, reformation was unleashed."

Through this book, Lawson goes through the methods of Calvin's preparation and delivery of his sermons.  Calvin's method of preaching is referred to as "expository" which means to preach the Bible from within its own context and to proclaim what the original authors actually meant (which was a rare form of preaching in that time), rather than taking verses out of context and creating one's own meaning.  Reading Lawson's book, you come to realize the intense love John Calvin had for the Scriptures and his fervency in defending its truths.

"As a man, preacher, writer, and theologian, Calvin was unflinching in his pursuit of God.  He was an ardent Bible student and an impassioned servant of the Lord.  Week after week, month after month, year after year, and decade after decade, he anchored himself to the biblical text, then made it known to his people."

- Steve Lawson, The Expository Genius of John Calvin, Chapter 3, pg 50

"Called By Christ"

"We should surrender ourselves to Christ and His service to the same extent that He surrendered Himself for our salvation." - Andrew Murray

This is the second book I've read by pastor and writer Andrew Murray (1828-1917).  The first book being "Humility" and this second book being "Called By Christ."  In "Humility" Murray addressed the need for Christians to recognize their low and solemn state as sinners before a righteous and holy God.  In "Called By Christ" Murray addresses what Christians are to do in order to be developed as missionaries for God specifically within the foundational setting of a local church, as Murray wrote, "I have a deep burden on my heart for foreign missions.  But I have an even deeper concern about the one thing on which missions most depends: the state of the home church."  Murray stated that individual Christians must seek after and live out a holy and Christ-honoring life first within a local church before they can even begin to be fruitful on the mission field abroad.  Concerning this important truth, Murray wrote, "There can be no forward movement in missions, no great offering of life, without a deepening of the spiritual life of the church leaders and a real spiritual revival among the church members."

In "Called By Christ" Murray points out the many callings that we have on our lives that are needed to be fulfilled in order to be true Ambassadors for Christ and Ambassadors of change in the world.  Such callings include,

1. The call to have a healthy and vigorous prayer life - "The measure of prayer is the measure of power" - Andrew Murray

2. The call to be totally dependent on God for all things - "The secret of our strength for the work God has given us is absolute dependance on Him.  God meant this to be an inconceivable privilege and honor.  He intended for us to live in utter dependance on Him, just as His Son lived.  Jesus, in fact, went to the grave to prove how surely God will work mightily for one who gives himself up completely to His will." - Andrew Murray

3. The call to live sacrificially as Jesus did - "Just as Jesus' love showed itself in a life of intense and unceasing action, so our love must be ready to wait on His will and to place our abilities at His disposal.  We should constantly be on the lookout to see, not how much we can manage to keep for ourselves, but what we can find to give Him who has given His all so unreservedly for us." - Andrew Murray

May we all seek out, pay close heed to, and answer the call of Christ to be His disciples which will replicate His example on earth of complete and unselfish devotion to doing God's will for the specific purpose of furthering the advancement of His kingdom.

"Give God no rest until Christ has the place in your heart that He claims.  Let devoted loyalty to His kingdom be the fruit of intense attachment to His person." - Andrew Murray, Called By Christ, Chapter 3, pg 31