A.W. Tozer on the Holy Spirit: All That Jesus Would Be

Is the Holy Spirit waiting to do for you all that Jesus would do if He were here on earth? In session three of the A.W. Tozer Classic Sermon Series, Matt Hepner and TopLobsta read and react to Tozer's message "The Presence and Ministry of the Holy Spirit: All That Jesus Would Be!"

Working from John 14:15-17 and 14:26, Tozer warns that a church can organize, hire a pastor, form a choir and keep turning the crank without the Holy Spirit, and nobody notices for years. Matt and TopLobsta talk through the modern church model of announcements, five songs and a speech, fellowship that has become a social club with a mild religious flavor, and the "religious toys and trifles" churches now depend on.

Then Tozer answers the big question: who is the Holy Spirit? He is not enthusiasm, courage or energy. He is a Person with will, intelligence and love, who can be grieved, quenched and ignored. Spirit is another mode of being that can penetrate matter and personality (1 Corinthians 2:11-12). The hosts dig into Peter's shadow, Paul's handkerchiefs, Nicodemus coming by night, speaking in tongues, and why the Holy Spirit must be Lord or He will not come at all. Tozer walks through the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds, then demands chapter and verse from Scripture: Job 26:13, Job 33:4, 2 Corinthians 3:17 and 2 Corinthians 13:14.

The episode closes on the heart of the message: the Holy Spirit is exactly like Jesus, gracious, loving, kind and gentle, and because He loves us, He can be grieved. If you've ever wondered what real Spirit-filled living looks like beyond Sunday hype, this one is for you.

Segments:

0:00 Intro: Tozer Session 3 on the Holy Spirit

0:40 John 14: "Another Comforter"

1:29 Why the World Cannot Receive Him (Bigfoot Tangent)

5:33 John 14:26: He Shall Teach You All Things

6:44 Tozer's Outline for the Message

12:51 Running a Church Without the Holy Spirit

15:11 Announcements, Five Songs and a Speech