Chapter One -- Following Hard after God
I really enjoyed the line, "where God's previous working meets man's present response.." Do I have a special love for God in the depths of my soul? Am I hungry and thirsty? Do I have a level of dissatisfaction? Tozer has a way of getting deep inside of me, he describes the "moaning of creation" to be restored to God's original intent. To be truly honest, most of us (self included), are much too independent of God. The definition on Pg 13 of eternal life covers it: "This is eternal life, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent" (Jn 17:3) I believe this word "know" is as deep as the word for intercourse, ie to "know your wife". How many of us know our Lord this intimately? Or do we really want to....would we feel too exposed? Remember how Jesus, while with his disciples, on many occasions (knew) their thoughts and commented to them about those thoughts. Wow, what if our wives (knew) all our thoughts? Jesus(God) wants to be so intimate with us, so close, so helpful, so caring.
Tozer: "In making Himself known to us He stays by the familiar pattern of personality. He communicates with us through the avenues of our (soul): of our minds, our wills and our emotions. The continuous and unembarrassed interchange of love and thought between God and the soul of the redeemed man is the throbbing heart of New Testament religion. This intercourse between God and the soul is known to us in conscious personal awareness. It is personal...it is conscious."
Questions to consider and talk about? (or) Raise your own questions for this site?
1) After the step of "accepting Christ", do I have a sincere desire to know Him?
2) What benefit do I reap that is not currently present in my life?
3) Have I become complacent regarding the working out of my faith?
4) Am I discouraged with my relationship with God or God's relationship with me?
5) Do I try to pursue God-and (something attached) or just God Himself? pg 18
6) Does it seem to me that God is irrelevant to my every day life, that He just doesn't really fit, that I just say that He does because this is what "Christians" are supposed to say?
You know God, I am just living my life out here. Sometimes you seem involved
other times not. You don't know about technology, or computers, or science,
or my budget, or my automobile, or my kids highschool principal. I do
realize that you know something about carpentry but, I want help with
more than you can offer, God. How do you fit and what do you want
from me, at this moment?
7) What am I thirsty for?
8) What will I commit to do (right now) to change things. Will I allow my brother's to hold me accountable? Well...............
posted by BPC @ 11:52 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Thanks to Brian for setting up this blog, and for getting us started on this journey that we all can pray, "God, make us come alive again!"
However, before I begin chapter one, I think we should start with the preface...for I am the one who is content to corectly set forth biblical principles, unaware that there is an absence of HIS PRESENCE in what I do.
I am the one holding "right opinions" --- but so often I feel that I am so far from true spriritual worship.
"It is not mere words that nourish the soul, but God Himself..." If worshipping Him in spirit and truth is central to what God seeks, then I am the one who needs to "find God in personal experience."
At the risk of exposing myself to each of you, I am humbly confessing that already, just reading the preface of this book, that I am generally aware of the lack of real relationship experience with God. I say "generally" because if I were to follow the path fully, I would probably become undone---->I have been given the keys to the kindgom, but I sometimes feel that my own selfishness has led to not just failure to enter the realm of "walking with God"...but that I may have dropped these keys somewhere (like I might lose my car keys ), and now have discovered that I may not be able to find the keys, nor the way back and then somehow find God so my life will get back on track.
My mind says, "I want to ignite my own candle" and renew my passion for God. But my heart and my inner self has this undercurrent of activity and a sense that life is so consumed with "activity" and doing the right things, that the song of defeat has already started its chorus.
Well, Bri, I guess today, the reality MUST be that it is God who is pursuing me...!
I am hoping that this journey will lead us all on a path of personal renewal, revival, and spiritual restoration to God that will become contagious to our families, friends and community.
Honesty, humility, meekness...this is the heart our Father desires and ministers to.
Men, there should be no risk, in any of us coming before each other while our hearts are fixed on God. We are here to encourage, relate-to, and pull-up alongside each other.
Oh how the Father loves us, that we should be called the children of God. Where by we call, Abba (Daddy)...you are mine, and I am yours.
We must manage our time with the heart of a steward, with the power you provide; in light of Your Kingdom. "Your statutes stand firm, holiness is in your house, for endless days oh Lord!"
Lord we want to be "undone" in your presence. When we are undone you can "do" what only you can do.
Father, only you (by your Spirit) can prune us and shape us toward Godliness as you build your church. We desire to know you more and honour you...daily. We know we can trust You.
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