Faith of Our Fathers: "Dangers of Arrogance and Defeat" – A.W. Tozer

Date: February 20, 2026
Host: WDAC Radio Company
Speaker: A.W. Tozer

Episode Overview

This episode features a classic sermon by A.W. Tozer, renowned 20th-century preacher and author, focusing on the twin dangers that threaten the Christian life: arrogance in the wake of success, and discouragement or defeat following failure. Tozer warns the faithful against the spiritual perils of both pride and despair and provides practical advice for navigating seasons of victory and loss. His timeless insights blend personal anecdotes, biblical examples, and direct exhortations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Danger of Arrogance

• Definition and Illustration:
  • Arrogance is described as "the sin that follows in the wake of success" (00:58), with Tozer humorously recounting experiences with "the arrogance of the rich lady" and individuals who "bought their way through life" and develop a "tone of command" (01:09–01:45).
  • Tozer draws parallels between secular arrogance and its unwelcome entrance into the church, recounting personal frustration at being unable to reach a "very famous preacher" due to the latter’s perceived self-importance (01:46–02:25).
• Divine Response to Arrogance:
  • Tozer warns, "God will never let you...get away with that" (02:31). For Christians, arrogance prompts God’s loving discipline.
  • He highlights Jesus’ humility on Palm Sunday—the moment of public acclaim which could have led to arrogance, but instead, Jesus "dismissed the little donkey, went into the temple...and then a week later went out to die" (03:03–03:49).
  • Quote:
    • “Watch out arrogance. Watch out the danger of arrogance, assuming that you are somebody...The Lord had no servants. He bossed nobody around.” — A.W. Tozer (02:31–02:56)
• The Ephemeral Nature of Public Approval:
  • Public praise is fleeting: "They may say hosanna today, but next Friday they’ll say, ‘away with this man from the earth. Crucify him.’" (04:14)
  • Tozer urges listeners to "never tie yourself up to public opinion and never accept any success...as being due to your superior gifts," instead to "thank God for anything you get, and then go on." (05:00)

The Danger of Defeat & Discouragement

• Overconfidence Leading to Defeat:
  • Using the story of Israel’s defeat at Ai after triumph at Jericho, Tozer cautions against overconfidence post-victory (05:12–06:03).
  • Israel mistook God’s work for their own, resulting in humiliating defeat: “Their defeat followed their victory. As effect follows cause.” (06:06)
• The Spiritual Consequences:
  • Defeat can sap "hope and optimism and drive" (06:14), likened to having "no stomach for religion."
  • Quote:
    • “That’s discouragement. That’s loss of stomach. In the kingdom of God, a lack of victory, a defeat or two, a good hard reversal often drives us into a state where we have no stomach for anything.” — A.W. Tozer (06:37–06:58)
  • He assures that such discouragement does not sever the believer’s relationship with God: “They haven’t become unborn again...Christ is still pleading their cause...Heaven is still their home. But for the time being they've lost their stomachs.” (07:27–07:51)
• Danger of Defeatism:
  • Tozer identifies "defeatism"—allowing a temporary setback to become a permanent mindset—as the real threat (08:03).
  • Like Proverbs’ "A good man falleth seven times, but he getteth up again" (08:28), perseverance is key.

Personal Anecdotes and Applications

• Young Preacher’s Setback:

  • Tozer assists a discouraged young preacher who failed his ordination exam, encouraging him that even Abraham Lincoln experienced defeats: “If God has called you, go...buy some books and study...the next time you’ll go through, all right.” (08:32–10:05)

• Dealing with Repeated Failures:

  • Tozer recalls a man who, after having two bad turns as a Sunday school superintendent, refused further responsibility out of discouragement (12:25–13:31).

• Practical Encouragement:

  • Tozer insists: “Suppose you pray for something and don’t get it...Don’t let that finish you off...Go to the Scriptures, search it out, get right with God. Give God a chance at you and then try it again and press on.” (10:06–11:12)
  • He admits his own tendency to pessimism but endeavors to "take the resurrection side and the victory side and live on that side of things" (11:33)

Tozer's Four Rules for Moments of Discouragement

(14:49–20:55)

1. Don’t Accept the Judgment of Your Discouraged Heart (15:07)

   • "A discouraged heart will always go astray...If Gideon had accepted the judgment of his own heart, he’d have stayed in that depression...But God said, ‘Get up, thou mighty man of God!’" (16:13–17:28)

2. Make No Major Decisions While Discouraged (17:40)

   • “Never say yes...never say no to anything while you’re blue...if you make a decision when you’re discouraged, it’ll be the wrong decision every time.” (17:52)
   • Advice against quitting, resigning, or making large moves during spiritual lows: “Get down before God and get straightened out. Get the sunshine in.” (18:31)

3. Remember—Failure Doesn’t Diminish Your Value to God (19:09)

   • “Preachers sometimes ... play golf with the big boys...but remember...the fact that you have failed doesn’t make God any less loving toward you and doesn’t affect God's love for you at all.” (19:09–19:51)

4. Cling to God’s Promises (19:55)

   • “Go to the Bible and read the promises. Read the promises. Read the promises. Until your heart begins to leap with the joy of the promises. They're still good, even though you’ve suffered reverses.” (20:12)

Memorable Quotes & Closing Appeal

• “God is everything. Not success, not victory, but God. Not winning, not losing, but God. God is everything.” (20:55)

• “My victory can’t enrich God, and my defeat cannot impoverish God. If I make good, I bring God nothing. And if I peter out, I rob God of nothing.” (21:20)

• Final Encouragement & Favorite Verse:

  • “Thou wilt light my candle: the Lord God will enlighten my darkness. This poor little light of mine. Maybe it’s gone out. Maybe the little candle has gone out. Well, God’ll light your candle for you—He’ll light it, and He will enlighten your darkness. Believe it. Amen.” (21:46–22:30)
  • Rallying cry: “We’re not going to let victory spoil us nor defeat defeat us. We’re going to take them in stride. Win or lose, we’re on God’s side...because that is a prerogative of faith.” (22:40)

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• "Arrogance is that sin that follows in the wake of success...Watch out arrogance. Watch out the danger of arrogance, assuming that you are somebody." — A.W. Tozer (00:58–02:56)
• "If you get established and accepted in your field as being a victorious, successful person, you’re in danger." — A.W. Tozer (04:09)
• "Discouragement...is hardly a sin. But it can lead to any number of sins." — A.W. Tozer (06:38)
• "Suppose you pray for something and don’t get it...Don’t let that finish you off...Give God a chance at you and press on." — A.W. Tozer (10:06–11:12)
• "Don’t accept the judgment of your own discouraged heart about yourself." — A.W. Tozer (15:07)
• "Make no important decisions while you’re discouraged." — A.W. Tozer (17:40)
• "Failure...doesn’t make you any less dear to God." — A.W. Tozer (19:09)
• "Go to the Bible and read the promises. Read the promises. Until your heart begins to leap with the joy of the promises." — A.W. Tozer (19:55)
• "God is everything. Not success, not victory, but God. Not winning, not losing, but God." — A.W. Tozer (20:55)

Important Timestamps

• Opening and Introduction of Tozer: 00:05–00:58
• Arrogance After Success: 00:58–05:11
• Dangers of Defeat & Discouragement: 05:12–08:28
• Personal Anecdotes (Discouraged Preacher): 08:29–12:23
• Four Rules for Times of Discouragement: 14:49–20:55
• Final Encouragement, Verses, and Benediction: 20:55–22:56

Takeaways

• Success can breed a subtle spiritual danger—arrogance—which distances us from Christ-like humility.
• Defeat can foster discouragement and defeatism, diminishing spiritual appetite and leading to paralysis, but in no way diminishes God’s love or promises.
• Practical spiritual wisdom is given for lifting oneself out of discouragement—do not judge yourself by your lowest moments, avoid major decisions in valleys, remember God’s unchanging love, and renew hope with His promises.
• The ultimate anchor for both victory and defeat: “God is everything. Not success, not victory, but God.”