Sermon Central
-
Tozer: God's Tools
Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 21, 2011 (message contributor)
TOZER: GOD'S TOOLS
A.W. Tozer once talked about God's tools:
"The HAMMER is a useful tool. But the nail, if it had feeling and intelligence, could present another side of the story. For the nail knows the hammer only as an opponent a brutal, merciless enemy who lives to pound it into submission, to beat it down out of sight and clinch it into place.
That is the NAIL's view of the hammer, and it is accurate except for one thing: The nail forgets that both it and the hammer are servants of the same workman. Let the nail but remember that the hammer is held by the workman and all resentment toward it will disappear. The carpenter decides whose head shall be beaten next and what hammer shall be used in the beating. That is his sovereign right. When the nail has surrendered to the will of the workman and has gotten a little glimpse of his benign plans for its future, it will yield to the hammer without complaint.
The FILE is more painful still, for its business is to bite into the soft metal scraping and eating away the edges till it has shaped the metal to its will. Yet the file has, in truth, no real will in the matter, but serves another master as the metal also does.
It is the master and not the file that decides how much shall be eaten away. What shape the metal shall take and how long the painful filing shall continue.
Let the metal accept the will of the master and it will not try to dictate when or how it shall be filed.
As for the FURNACE, it is the worst of all. Ruthless and savage, it leaps at every combustible thing that enters it and never relaxes its fury till it has reduced it all to shapeless ashes. All that refuses to burn is melted to a mass of helpless matter, without will or purpose of its own. When everything is melted that will melt and all is burned that will burn then and not till then the furnace calms down and rests from its destructive fury."
(A.W. Tozer, "The Root of the Righteous." From a sermon by Jeff Strite, God Was With Him, 7/11/2010)
Related Sermon Illustrations
-
A Little Boy Was Leading His Sister Up A ... PRO
Contributed by David Elvery on Nov 14, 2004
A little boy was leading his sister up a mountain path and the way was not too easy. "Why this isn't a path at all," the little girl complained. "Its all rocky and bumpy." Her little brother kept on up the mountain, ...read more
-
Most Of Us Are Familiar With This Song – It's The ...
Contributed by Robert Marsh on Mar 22, 2005
Most of us are familiar with this song – it’s the theme from the television show Friends. But have you ever caught the lyrics to the song? They read, in part: So no one told you life was gonna be this way Your job’s a joke, you’re broke, your love life’s D.O.A. It’s like you’re always stuck ...read more
-
The Other Day, Hunter My 6 Year Old Shocked Me As ...
Contributed by David Schaal on Sep 10, 2003
The other day, Hunter my 6 year old shocked me as I came in the door. He said Dad, did the trash man come yet? I said, “I think so,” he said,” Good, I will go get the trash can and bring it in.” I thought, “ I am such a great leader, I have taught my son the responsibilities of taking care of and ...read more
-
Dorothea Day's Poem "My Captain" Is The Christian ... PRO
Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Jun 30, 2005
Dorothea Day’s poem “My Captain” is the Christian response to Henley: Out of the light that dazzles me, Bright as the sun from pole to pole, I thank the God I know to be For Christ the conqueror of my Soul. Since His, the way of circumstance I would not wince nor cry aloud. Under that ...read more
-
This Bomb Was Tested Above The Arctic Circle On ...
Contributed by Tim Richards on May 24, 2005
This bomb was tested above the Arctic Circle on October 30, 1961. The explosion was so intense that the flash was visible over 600 miles away. People felt the air move over 160 miles away. Everything in a radius of 15.25 miles was completely destroyed. Very severe damage extended to a distance of ...read more
Related Sermons
-
Discipleship - Fully Devoted Followers Of Jesus Christ
Contributed by Dr. Jonathan Vorce on Sep 6, 2017
We are commanded by God to "make" disciples. This message can aid in the developing of fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
-
Keep The Fire Burning
Contributed by Kevin L. Jones on Feb 20, 2020
A sermon addressing the need to stir up the gift that God has bestowed upon us.
-
Peter Denies Jesus Series
Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Apr 8, 2016
Peter's denial of Jesus in Luke 22:54-62 shows us the danger of following Jesus in our own power.
-
Lent From Ashes To Alms
Contributed by Bruce Lee on Feb 23, 2015
The Season of Lent is a time to live out discipleship in the world. A close look at how God rewards us as we journey these forty days of Lent From Ashes to Alms. How do you answer the call of Lent?
-
#4: Turn From Your Evil Ways Series
Contributed by Archie Luper on Jul 7, 2007
STORY: Wife goes with husband to doctor. Not good, husband has but one week to live. Extend time by cooking, rubbing feet, back, take golfing, fishing, etc. Be as affectionate as when you were first married. This might extend his life. “Honey, what did do
