. . . there is at the root of true religion an inward witness, an awareness of God and Christ at the farthest-in core of the renewed Christian's spirit given to him by the Spirit of God.
This experience results from faith in and obedience to the Scriptures.
It is the end result of Bible doctrine but it is not that doctrine. It is a consciousness of God and spiritual things too deep and wonderful to utter or even think. If this sounds too extreme or mystical let me remind my readers that it was once an accepted and expected phenomenon in most Protestant churches.
In happier and holier times conversion was held to be (among other blessed things) an immediate acquaintance with God in living, spiritual experience.
This came about as the result of the Word preached in the power of the Spirit. And let's remember one thing more.
Even today there are those who can testify that they too know what I am talking about here.
We do not need to appeal to the dead past for support of our teaching. God still has His thousands who know what the inner witness is.
verse
Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
— John 17:3
thought
Eternal life is
prayer
O Spirit of God, show me Christ and the things of Christ.
https://cmalliance.org/devotionals/tozer/
Knowledge by spiritual experience is not mental, it is intuitive.
It is consciousness, it is acquaintance with something or someone by direct awareness.
It might help the reader to understand what we mean by such words as awareness and consciousness if he were to ask himself how he knows he exists, how he knows he is himself and not someone else, how he knows he is alive and not dead. The answer is simply that he knows these things by conscious awareness of which reason is no part.
Let him attempt to prove to himself that he exists, for instance, and he will find that the he who is doing the demonstrating must first be aware that he exists before he can begin to prove that he does. When the French philosopher, Descartes, sought to get to the root of all knowledge he thought away all accepted facts, went back till he found the one irreducible element of knowledge that could not be challenged and came up with his celebrated Cogito, ergo sum, I think, therefore I am.
But let no one imagine for a moment that with his little syllogism Descartes went all the way back. He did nothing of the kind. The truth is that he was by intuition aware of his existence before he ever began to notice that he was thinking. His self-knowledge antedated thought and all he did was to prove to reason that he existed by proof that it could understand: I think, therefore I am.
This illustrates but does not explain what we mean by religious knowledge by direct spiritual experience. Stated in other language this means simply that there is at the root of true religion an inward witness, an awareness of God and Christ at the farthest-in core of the renewed Christian's spirit given to him by the Spirit of God. This experience results from faith in and obedience to the Scriptures.
It is the end result of Bible doctrine but it is not that doctrine.
It is a consciousness of God and spiritual things too deep and wonderful to utter or even think.
verse
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
— Romans 8:16
thought
As we, by faith and in accordance with scripture, open our hearts to God, the Holy Spirit witnesses to our spirit that we are children of God. God's inner witness to us!
prayer
Abba, Father, thank You that I am Your child.
https://cmalliance.org/devotionals/tozer/
In a recent letter a man from Jamestown, NY, quoted a statement from an editorial, Three Degrees of Religious Knowledge, . . . and asked for clarification.
The quotation was taken from that part of the editorial dealing with the third degree of knowledge: . . . it is knowledge by direct spiritual experience . . . Since it was not acquired by reason operating on intellectual data, the possibility of error is eliminated.
The letter comments on this as follows: This statement seems to me to parallel the Roman Catholic doctrine of papal infallibility. I was always taught that the holy Scriptures are the only rule of faith and life. My observation has been that most of the false cults base their so-called doctrines and revelations on personal spiritual experience. I would appreciate your further clarification on this editorial statement . . . defining the boundaries with which `direct spiritual experience can be depended upon without danger of departure from the revealed Word of God as contained in the holy Scriptures and as projected in the earthly life of Christ.
This matter deserves further explanation and I'll be glad to make it.
In my editorial I said that there are three degrees of knowledge open to Christians.
The first is the common knowledge shared with all normal persons, namely, the data furnished by the senses and by reason operating upon such data. This embraces all knowledge of natural things from the first scrap of knowledge enjoyed by an hour-old baby to the highest reaches of scientific information acquired by the pooled efforts of the race.
The second is the knowledge received by faith. It consists of data given by divine revelation and received by the believing mind without proof. It is taken on trust and cannot in the very nature of it be demonstrated as being true. Were proof possible then it would belong in the first category and faith would be unnecessary.
The third kind of knowledge is that given by direct spiritual experience. This differs radically from both of the others.
It has nothing to do with the senses and so is not physical or natural data. It has nothing to do with ethics or doctrine and so is not moral or theological knowledge. I do not believe that God teaches doctrine by direct unmediated experience. The exact opposite is true.
The Scriptures are the source of all rational knowledge about moral and religious things, except those things that are revealed by nature as mentioned in Psalm 19:1-4 and Romans 1:19-20, and they are few and inadequate.
verse
The man who thinks he knows something does not know as he ought to know.
— First Corinthians 8:2
thought
There is head knowledge, head and heart and just heart knowledge. In knowing God (not just about Him) the heart must be involved.
prayer
O God, I want to know You! Take me beyond intellectual knowledge to that of the heart. In Jesus' name.
https://cmalliance.org/devotionals/tozer/
Our constant effort should be to reach as many persons as possible with the Christian message, and for that reason numbers are critically important.
But our first responsibility is not to make converts but to uphold the honor of God in a world given over to the glory of fallen man.
No matter how many persons we touch with the gospel we have failed unless, along with the message of invitation, we have boldly declared the exceeding sinfulness of man and the transcendent holiness of the Most High God.
They who degrade or compromise the truth in order to reach larger numbers, dishonor God and deeply injure the souls of men.
The temptation to modify the teachings of Christ with the hope that larger numbers may "accept" Him is cruelly strong in this day of speed, size, noise and crowds.
But if we know what is good for us, we'll resist it with every power at our command.
To yield can only result in a weak and ineffective Christianity in this generation, and death and desolation in the next.
verse
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus https://cmalliance.org/devotionals/tozer/as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
— Colossians 2:6-7
thought
Receiving Christ as Lord and continuing to live in Him is the way to life transformation. To preach Him and receive Him as less than Lord is to seriously modify the Good News.
prayer
May I personally experience and share with others the Good News, Father, without modifying it in any way for whatever reason.
https://cmalliance.org/devotionals/tozer/
Now the serious Christian wants to escape both extremes.
Yet he is much concerned about the whole matter of numbers and is eager to find the will of God for his life and ministry.
Should he go out for larger crowds or accept smaller ones as the will of God for him?
Does success in the Lord's work depend upon numbers?
Is it possible to make up in quantity what is lacking in quality and so accomplish the same result?
Perhaps an illustration or two might help.
If our country should be visited by a famine and you were put in charge of feeding the starving in your section of the city, would numbers matter? Most surely they would.
Would it not be better to feed five hungry children than two?
Would you not feel obligated to feed hundreds rather than tens, thousands rather than hundreds?
Certainly you would.
Or if a ship sank and your church were given a rescue boat, would numbers mean anything?
Again the answer is yes.
Would it not be better to save ten than two, 100 than fifty?
So with the work of God.
It is better to win many than few.
Each lost one brought home increases the joy among the angels and adds another voice to the choir that shall sing the praises of the Lamb.
Plainly Christ when He was on earth was concerned about the multitudes.
And so should His followers be.
A church that takes no interest in evangelism or missions is sub-normal in every way and desperately in need of revival.
verse
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
— Matthew 28:19-20
thought
We are to make disciples of all peoples, all ethne. Each of us, all of us are so commissioned by our Lord. But it is disciplesof Christ we are to make. Some people will turn back rather than be disciples (John 6:66).
prayer
Make me a discipler, Lord, not just a Good News announcer.
https://cmalliance.org/devotionals/tozer/
The question of numbers and their relation to success or failure in the work of the Lord is one that disturbs most Christians more than a little. . . . There are Christians, for instance, who dismiss the whole matter as being beneath them. . . .They prefer to sit around the Lord's Table in a select and tight little circle, admiring the deep things of God and, I very much fear, admiring themselves a wee bit also.
This is a kind of Protestant monasticism without the cowl and the beads, for it seeks to preserve the faith of Christ from pollution by isolating it from the vulgar masses.
Its motives may be commendable, but its methods are altogether unscriptural and its spirit completely out of mood with that of our Lord.
The other and opposite school is the most vocal and has by far the largest following in gospel circles today.
Its philosophy, if it can be called a philosophy, is that "we must get the message out" regardless of how we go about it.
The devotees of this doctrine appear to be more concerned with quantity than with quality.
They seem burned up with desire to "bring the people in" even if they have not much to offer them after they are in.
They take inexcusable liberties both with message and with method. The Scriptures are used rather than expounded and the Lordship of Christ almost completely ignored.
Pressure is exerted to persuade the people (who, by the way, come to the meetings with something else in mind altogether) to accept Christ, with the understanding that they shall then have peace of mind and financial prosperity, not to mention high grades in school and a low score on the golf course.
The crowds-at-any-price mania has taken a firm grip on American Christianity and is the motivating power back of a shockingly high percentage of all religious activity.
Men and churches compete for the attention of the paying multitudes who are brought in by means of any currently popular gadget or gimmick ostensibly to have their souls saved, but, if the truth were told, often for reasons not so praiseworthy as this.
verse
When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
— First Corinthians 2:1-2
thought
Have we given way to a superficial, bouncy, fun-filled, engaging, culturally-in-tune Christianity in order to attract people? Jesus Christ and Him crucified is our message, which means death to self ? a message geared to spiritual quality rather than quantity.
prayer
O Lord, may I in no way try to diminish your Lordship or disguise Your cross or mine. "Thou, O Christ, art all I want; more than all in Thee I find."
https://cmalliance.org/devotionals/tozer/
The question of numbers and their relation to success or failure in the work of the Lord is one that disturbs most Christians more than a little.
On the question there are two opposing schools of thought.
There are Christians, for instance, who dismiss the whole matter as being beneath them. These correspond to the lovers of high-brow music who firmly refuse to admit that there is anything of any real value other than that composed by Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. They know they are in the minority and glory in the fact, for in their opinion it is a very, very superior minority and they look down their noses at all who enjoy anything less complicated than a symphony. Of course this is cultural snobbery and tells us a lot more about such persons than they would care to have us know.
They remind one of the unco-learned of whom Colton wrote, "So much they scorn the crowd that if the throng by chance go right, they purposely go wrong."
Now among religious persons I have met a few who are guilty of a kind of spiritual snobbery of which they are doubtless wholly unaware.
These have recoiled so violently from popular, cheap-Jack Christianity that they simply have no longer any sympathy with crowds.
They prefer to sit around the Lord's Table in a select and tight little circle, admiring the deep things of God and, I very much fear, admiring themselves a wee bit also.
This is a kind of Protestant monasticism without the cowl and the beads, for it seeks to preserve the faith of Christ from pollution by isolating it from the vulgar masses.
Its motives may be commendable, but its methods are altogether unscriptural and its spirit completely out of mood with that of our Lord.
verse
Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself . . .
— Psalm 4:3
thought
There are those whom Yahweh sets apart for Himself. And there are those who set themselves apart ? seeing themselves as a spiritual elite above the throngs of "common believers."
prayer
Lord, deliver me from conscious or unconscious elitism. Only You can make me godly. I am and will always be a sinner saved by Your grace!
https://cmalliance.org/devotionals/tozer/
The last cause I shall name is nonobedience.
Truth is given to be believed and obeyed.
Certain truths can only be believed, the reason being that they are revelations of fact and contain no command or instruction to be carried out.
Other truths must be obeyed or for the hearer they have no meaning. "I will come back" (John 14:3) is a statement of fact which cannot in the nature of it be obeyed; there is nothing in it to obey; it can only be believed. "Go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19) is a command which can only be obeyed. It is addressed to the will, and the only proper response is obedience.
We cannot possibly discharge our obligation to such a passage by trying in some dubious manner to "believe" it, though I am sure many try to do just that.
Is it any wonder that confusion arises?
We will go far to simplify our religious concepts and unify our lives if we remember these four points:
First, truth is a spiritual entity and can be grasped in its inner essence only as the Spirit of truth enlightens our hearts and teaches us in the deep, mysterious recesses of our souls.
Secondly, since God is love we must surrender ourselves to love or we can never know the truth of God in its higher meaning.
Thirdly, we must come to the Word with the simple faith of a child, ready to believe it whether we can understand it or not.
And lastly, we must obey the truth as we see it, trusting God with the consequences.
verse
He replied, 'My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice.'
— Luke 8:21
thought
There is truth stated declaratively ? we are to believe it. There is truth given in imperatives ? commands ? we are to believe and obey it. It is the Spirit who teaches as we listen in faith and who empowers us to obey what we have heard. But we must put it into practice.
prayer
Forgive me, Lord, for sometimes treating imperatives addressed to me as just declaratives. Is is for me to rise up and carry out those imperatives.
https://cmalliance.org/devotionals/tozer/
Now lest I be misunderstood and so succeed only in confusing things still further, let me assure my readers that I am and have always been a staunch advocate of theology, and regularly teach doctrine systematically in pursuance of my pastoral calling.
I joyfully recognize that there is an outline of divine truth fitted to the human mind and intended by its Author to be received by it.
I think no one can become a strong Christian who is not a theologian of some sort, but it is altogether possible to be a theologian and not be a Christian at all.
Bible doctrine without love is but a shadow of truth; doctrine held in love is very truth indeed, and we dare not allow ourselves to be satisfied with anything less.
Another source of religious confusion is unbelief. The writer to the Hebrews attributed Israel's failure to benefit by the truth to a breakdown in their faith. "But the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith" (Hebrews 4:2).
The thought of holding holy truth in unbelief is a frightening thing.
For the unbelieving mind to tinker with the truth of God is as terrible as was the unauthorized act of Saul when in fear and unbelief he offered a burnt offering at Gilgal. "I thought, `Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the LORD's favor.' So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering" (1 Samuel 13:12).
So the king explained his act, but there is something spine-chilling about it all.
An unholy man tried to do a holy act and tragedy followed.
From that hour Saul's life degenerated till at last, deserted and terrified, he died by his own hand.
verse
For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.
— Hebrews 4:2
thought
There is truth we hold at arm's length. We believe it intellectually but are not living it. There is truth we embrace and lovingly practice. There also may be truth we are rejecting altogether.
prayer
Father, may I receive Your truth in faith and lovingly live it!
https://cmalliance.org/devotionals/tozer/