"There is an essence of truth, and it may follow the form of words as the kernel in an English walnut follows the conformation and configuration of the shell. But the shell is not the kernel and the kernel is not the shell; and so while the truth follows the form of words, it sometimes deserts it. There is great heresy in holding the form to be essence and putting the kingdom of God in words so that if you have the words right you have the whole thing, and if you can get a better set of words, you have more truth. This is not necessarily true.
[...]
Paul alleged, 'The kingdom of God does not lie in words at all. The kingdom of God lies in the power that indwells those words, and you cannot have the power without the words; but you can have words without the power.' And many people do have words without power.
It is the power of the Spirit operating through the Word that is the gospel."
- A. W. Tozer, "The Nature of God's Kingdom: Not in Words Only"
Note to self:
1. Never elevate words above the power of God. If my words do not carry the power of God within them, then they are only empty words that will fall away and not accomplish any purpose. And it does not matter how nicely I put them or how many words I know or how eloquently I explain them. They will all fall on deaf ears and be not just a waste of my time, but the time of my hearers as well. And they will draw attention only to me, not to Jesus Christ.
2. In order to FILL my words with power, I have to be FILLED with the power of God's words. I have to let them become more than just words to me, to yield to them, to affect me, to move me, to pierce me, to shape me, to transform me, to teach me, to lead me into all truth. Then the words that arise out of my heart will also have the same resurrection power that will bring both death [to the old life, to bad habits, to sin, to things that are unpleasing to God] and life to those who hear/read them. And this will release us into a freedom that enables us to live a life with God that goes deeper than words, deeper than knowledge, deeper than the reality of what we see.
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