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Today's Tozer's devotional


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#21 Lori Smith

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Posted 20 December 2012 - 06:09 AM

A. W. Tozer in The Purpose of Man: Designed to Worship writes, "God made the fruit, blessed it and told us to help ourselves" (p.33). Well, I believe Christian mysticism is the understanding that Jesus has paved the way for us to help ourselves to God Himself. Indeed, Tozer also writes that man's true purpose is that "we might worship God and enjoy Him forever" (p.28). Can anyone think of anything better than that? Fruit is sweet, but God's Spirit is infinitely sweeter. Fruit fills the belly, but only God can fill our spirits. Thus, I certainly think mysticism is a very very good thing.
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In The Pursuit of God, A. W. Tozer writes, "Jesus taught that He wrought His works by always keeping His inward eyes upon His Father. His power lay in His continuous look at God (John 5:19-21)."

#22 Kevin Blankenship

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Posted 20 December 2012 - 06:38 AM

Since becoming a devoted reader of AW Tozer and several more (I let my posthumous pastor, Brother Tozer pick many of my books for me, plus the Bible of course) I have always viewed Christian mysticism in a good light. When I hear the phrase; "He/She is a Christian mystic!", I don't think of it a a negative appellation, but rather, to the contrary, I see them a actual livers of the deeper life in Christ....to the point where the Spiritual and the Physical intertwine. I believe that is where we ALL should be aiming. Just my opinion based on information gathered over a few years.
To Candace: Yes, that is something that aggravates me is when people, (usually proponents of the Thomas Campbell movement, who say that they "speak where the Bible speaks, and are silent where the Bible is silent.) They are the first to say that the word 'Trinity' is not in the Bible. Therefore they have a certain view of the God-head (I've not wasted my time looking up their view as their entire doctrine is so legalistic that St Paul would likely roll his eyes and move on to the next one if he was here and visiting churches), and they believe that Faith in Jesus is not enough for salvation. I actually went to a church within this DENOMINATION ("we are NOT a denomination!", they shout) for almost a year, since I had friends going there that almost had me convinced that I was absolutely hell-bound if I didn't take the Lord's supper exactly once a week! I didn't want to go to hell, so I tried being a (one of these). EVERY sermon that minister (they don't believe in calling the pastor, a 'pastor, reverend. etc etc, but Minister is okay) preached about was the necessity of water baptism for salvation. Well, I looked around me and every single soul (at or past the age of accountability) had been baptized and I began wondering why he kept preaching sermon after watery sermon on baptismal regeneration when it was obvious that every single soul (minus the children of course) had been baptizo' ed (immersed). So I asked him. I didn't return. He was plainly preaching ANOTHER gospel. He was NOT preaching the Good News of Christ. He was propagating a "distinctive" by repetition. Well, another one of their favorite pet peeves is using words that are excepted by most if not all Evangelistics such as 'rapture' "Trinity" etc etc. Modern day Pharisee-ism. Rant over.
Christian mysticism? A good thing. As far as I'm concerned. I wish I were one.
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#23 childofrevival

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Posted 20 December 2012 - 01:23 PM

Thoroughly enjoyed reading these comments! I do not believe any of the 'mystics' thought of themselves as being such - they were just men and women who had a deep (high?) experience of God. They often made others uncomfortable as they wrote and spoke about things that were not common to others. Their lives were lived on a different plain and must have been quite lonely. I think Caleb and Joshua must have had the same, lonely experience in the wilderness, for they had seen what the other ten spies couldn't see in Canaan and had to endure 40 years of wandering before they could enter in. I like to imagine how often they sat in their tents at night talking about their experiences, possibly every time Moses came for a visit, for he also, had experienced God. Maybe this forum is just a lot of us 'sitting in our tents' expressing our longing for more of HIM.
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#24 Charles Miles

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Posted 20 December 2012 - 02:31 PM

I would never compare my experiences to those of Tozer, Simpson, Brother Lawrence, or the other "mystics", but I do know that the warm, peacful, spiritual contentment that is felt when we find ourselves communing with Holy Spirit is something I desire more of every day. I do generally find this while on my knees with the Word open before me. Many of my old friends find that I am a bit strange now, but that`s OK, I know who I am and what I seek. Once in a while I feel more like Baalem`s donkey when we have a comittee meeting at our church and I simply won`t go ahead with some of the plans suggested. But that`s OK too. I`m certainly not the only one who listens and waits on the Lord. As the reverend said earlier, we don`t all have the same job within the Body, but I do think if we are all attuned to Holy Spirit all things work together for the good of the Body.

I don`t have anything else to say about the guiding of Holy Spirit, but I do know when He is present and I pray He always feels welcome within my life. Oh Lord, make me a useful tool for your service...

Charlie
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