How Christ is Revealed by the Holy Spirit: Not Through Intellect | A.W. Tozer Sermon
Summary
In this episode, hosts walk through A.W. Tozer’s sermon on how Christ is revealed by the Holy Spirit rather than human intellect. They discuss the limitations of the "natural man" and argue that spiritual truths cannot be fully apprehended through academic study or logic alone. The conversation highlights the distinction between knowing "about" God and personally knowing Him, emphasizing that the Holy Spirit is the necessary agent for divine illumination.
Topics discussed
The natural man cannot understand spiritual things
Introduction to Tozer's sermon on John 3:27
The blunder of orthodoxy in assuming intellectual perception
Evil consequences of believing we can know God with minds
Intellectual knowledge vs. spirit-revealed knowledge
Growing up in church without knowing God
Comparing intellectual brilliance to knowing God
The balance between intellect and spirit
Intellect is not the vehicle for divine apprehension
Common sense: God gave us another means of comprehension
Revisiting the difference between spirit and intellect
The meaning of apprehending God intimately
Technical interlude and plugs
John 16: The Spirit guides into all truth
God reveals things to those who love Him by His Spirit
Knowing your individuality by intuition
Modern orthodoxy's blunder in assuming intellectual perception
Choosing theological camps vs. divine illumination
Bible study does not lift the veil without the Holy Ghost
Accusations of Gnosticism regarding intuition
Defining intuition in a biblical context
Looking at the Creator, not just the creation
Chat interactions and audience appreciation
Understanding Bible texts requires Holy Spirit illumination
Jokes about John 3:16 and bumper stickers
The struggle to explain faith rationally
The cross of Christ is foolishness to the world
Knowing about God vs. knowing God Himself
The dog analogy: knowing about vs. knowing
Jesus Christ must be revealed by the Holy Ghost
We only know Jesus as the Spirit reveals Him
Paul's intellect vs. demonstration of the Spirit
A story about a woman's conversion experience
If reasoned into Christianity, reasoned out of it
Discussion on Thomas à Kempis and Imitation of Christ
Living the Kingdom culture vs. following the law
Philosophers reducing faith to ignorance
Being supernaturally convinced vs. intellectual argument
Letting go of arguments when you know God
Cultivating a love for men who know God
Knowing God despite books on atheism
Christianity as a miracle beyond science
Being okay with the world thinking you are a fool
Reflecting on how God orchestrated life
Leaving future events in God's hands
Gratitude for those who know eschatological details
Discussion on God's foreknowledge and choice
The Shroud of Turin and Noah's Ark as proof
Faith not dependent on archaeological discoveries
Christianity proven by great men believing in it
Bowing down to the Great Man, not great men
Tozer's beef with the church fathers
Learning at the feet of Jesus, not men
Humorous interruption about armour bearers
Story of meeting a man of God at an event
The story of George Jeffries and the Welsh Revival
The anointing comes from God, not men
Knowledge of God received by inner anointing
The spiritual man judges all things
The Holy Spirit waits to be honored
Appreciation for Tozer's combative style
Identifying the target of Tozer's criticism
The value of having a platform for argument
Preaching the gospel and letting chips fall
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