Receptivity is not a single thing; rather, it is a compound, a blending of several elements within the soul. It is an affinity for, a bent toward, a sympathetic response to, a desire to have. From this it may be gathered that it can be present in degrees, that we may have little or more, depending upon the individual. It may be increased by exercise or destroyed by neglect. It is not a sovereign and irresistible force which comes upon us as a seizure from above. It is a gift of God, indeed, but one which must be recognized and cultivated as any other gift if we are to realize the purpose for which it was given.
Failure to see this is the cause of very serious breakdown in modern evangelism. The idea of cultivation and exercise, so dear to the saints of old, has now no place in our total religious picture. Pg. 74-75
Discussion
Pgs. 68–77
1. Divine Immanence — God Is Everywhere Present
Pgs. 68–69
Main Thought: God’s presence is an objective reality. There is no place where God is not, whether we recognize His presence or not.
Tozer begins with the doctrine of divine immanence: God is present throughout His creation, yet He is not confined by it. He is the uncaused Cause of all things. Throughout Scripture, we see that no one can escape His presence. Adam attempted to hide, Jonah fled, David acknowledged God’s inescapable presence, and Solomon recognized that even the heavens cannot contain Him. Jacob discovered that God was present when he had been unaware of Him.
What does it mean to say that God is everywhere present? How is this different from saying that God is in everything?
Psalm 139:7 asks, “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?” Why do you think people sometimes attempt to hide from God, even when they believe He is everywhere?
Genesis 28:16 records Jacob saying, “Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.” How often might we be unaware of God’s presence simply because our attention is elsewhere?
2. God’s Presence and the Manifestation of His Presence Are Not the Same
Pgs. 70–71
Main Thought: God is always present, but there is a difference between the reality of His presence and our conscious awareness and experience of Him.
Tozer distinguishes God’s universal presence from the manifestation of His presence. Although God is everywhere, not everyone experiences fellowship with Him in the same way. God desires to make Himself known, and Scripture connects the manifestation of His presence with love and obedience. We do not bring God nearer through our actions; rather, we respond to the God who is already present.
What is the difference between knowing intellectually that God is present and actually living in conscious fellowship with Him?
John 14:21 says, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me ... and will manifest myself to him.” What relationship does Jesus establish between love, obedience, and the manifestation of His presence?
Can we mistake an emotional experience for the manifestation of God’s presence? Conversely, can we experience genuine fellowship with God without a strong emotional response?
3. Spiritual Receptivity Is the Key
Pgs. 72–76
Main Thought: Spiritual receptivity involves an inward longing for God accompanied by a willingness to respond to Him. Religious activity and emotional experiences must never become substitutes for genuinely knowing God.
Tozer asks why some people seem to find God in ways that others do not. His answer centers on spiritual receptivity: a heart inclined toward God and willing to act upon that desire. He also warns that religious activities themselves can become distractions. Entertainment, admiration of personalities, emotional responses, and even fellowship can draw our attention away from God when they become ends in themselves.
Tozer asks, “Why do some persons find God in ways that others do not?” (Pg. 72). What do you think distinguishes someone who genuinely pursues God from someone who merely participates in religious activities?
Tozer identifies distractions such as entertainment in gospel meetings, glorification of men, dynamic personalities, and emotional responses. How can otherwise good religious activities become substitutes for genuine fellowship with God?
Tozer warns against making the Word of truth conform to our experience. When have you been tempted to judge what Scripture says by what you have personally experienced, rather than allowing Scripture to correct your understanding?
4. How to Draw Nigh to God — Trust, Obedience, and Humility
Pgs. 76–77
Main Thought: We do not pursue God to make Him present. We pursue Him because He is present, and we desire to know Him.
Tozer concludes that God’s universal presence is a fact. We have been given the capacity to know Him, but we must respond to His overtures. Drawing near to God is not a matter of producing a particular feeling or manufacturing a spiritual experience. It involves trusting what He has revealed, obeying His Word, and approaching Him with humility.
Trust — Hebrews 11:6: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
Obedience — John 14:23: “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”
Humility — James 4:10: “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”
Why must our pursuit of God begin with faith rather than with a desire for a particular feeling or experience?
How does obedience demonstrate genuine love for God? Is there an area of your life where you know what God requires but have been reluctant to obey?
James 4:8 says, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” If God is already everywhere present, what does it mean for us to draw near to Him?
Takeaway
God’s universal presence is a fact, not a feeling. Pg 77
God is already present. Our responsibility is to respond to Him through faith, obedience, humility, and a genuine desire to know Him.
The question is not whether God is near to us, but whether we are drawing near to Him.