Notes of Faith September 27, 2024
Until He Appears
Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13
Epiphany is the English rendering of the Greek epiphaneia, meaning “appearance or manifestation.” In Western Christendom, Epiphany commemorates the coming of the Magi—Christ’s first “appearance” to the Gentile world. In the East, Epiphany celebrates the baptism of Jesus, also commemorating His appearance at the beginning of His public ministry.
1 Tim 6:11-16
11 But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which He will bring about at the proper time — He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.
Paul uses epiphany to refer to the first appearance of Jesus (Titus 2:11), but more often to refer to His Second Coming as in Titus 2:13. And he connects the two: The grace of God that appeared with Christ is the grace that teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live “soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age” as we wait for His “glorious appearing” at the end of the age (Titus 2:12-13). Christ’s first appearing revealed the grace that teaches us how to live until He appears the second time.
We are saved by grace to be “zealous for good works” until the appearance of our Savior, Jesus Christ (Titus 2:14).
I cannot think of even one lonely passage in the New Testament which speaks of Christ’s revelation, manifestation, appearing or coming that is not directly linked with moral conduct, faith and spiritual holiness. A.W. Tozer
Born in rural Pennsylvania, born again in Akron, Ohio, Aiden Wilson Tozer began his lifelong pursuit of God at the age of 17.
Walking home from work one day, he heard a street preacher say: "If you don't know how to be saved, just call on God." When young Tozer got home, he climbed into his attic and did just that. In many ways, that simple act would characterize Tozer's entire life and ministry.
In his early 20s, just after his ordination ceremony, he retreated to a quiet place in the woods and prayed what he later wrote down and titled, The Prayer of a Minor Prophet. In it he said:
“Give me a Vision to see and courage to report what I see faithfully. Make my voice so like thine own that even the sick sheep will recognize and follow thee.”
It seems God granted his request, for Tozer gave himself to three main tasks: prayer, study, and proclamation. He was known to arrive at his office in the early morning, change into a pair of old pants so he wouldn't wrinkle his slacks and pray for up to three hours at a time - beginning on the couch, but soon moving to the floor, face buried in the carpet.
He made time for sustained study as well, mostly meditating on Scripture, but also reading deeply of many authors – early church fathers, mystics, writers of the Middle Ages, Reformers, Puritans, philosophers, and even his contemporaries – impressive, considering his formal education ended at the sixth grade.
What Tozer heard from God through prayer and study he spoke to men through books and sermons. Tozer wrote The Pursuit of God, perhaps his most popular work, on an overnight train, equipped with just a Bible, notebook, and pencil. His books and sermons cut to the heart and healed many spiritual ills.
No doubt A. W. Tozer was unique. He had the grit of an early-century midwesterner and a shepherds heart.
His countenance was stern but his sense of humor was warm. His mind was steel and his rhetoric sharp. But these only made him a gifted man. It was his deep devotion, his abiding dependence on the Spirit - his painstaking attention to the beauty of Christ - that made him a servant of God.
A.W. Tozer ministered until his death in May 1963. His body rests in Akron, OH, under an epitath that simply reads:
“A. W. Tozer - A Man of God”
In his life and after his death, Tozer was regarded by many as a modern-day prophet, perhaps due to his prayer long ago in those woods.
The writings of this man are deep and filled with the wisdom of God, most likely from the time he spent in intimate closeness with God. My earnest prayer for you and me is that we would walk through this life in like manner, though we battle fiercely with our old nature, staying close to God, being obedient to His Word, as we await the glorious appearing of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Pastor Dale