5.The Lord Must Rule Our Bodies - Zac Poonen
Kakinada Meetings 2012: The Kingdom Of God
Summary
The speaker discusses the difference between earthly and divine authority, asserting that while Jesus Christ has ultimate authority over all things, He does not have authority over individual people. This is because humanity possesses free will, which means people cannot be forced to accept God's rule or live holy lives. Therefore, true change and conversion must come from the individual's own choice.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
The promise of God ruling the earthThe scripture in Zechariah prophesies that one day the Lord will be king over all the earth, though today He is not fully accepted as Lord by the people living here.Zechariah 14:9
Who has authority over the earth today?Jesus declared that all authority on earth is given to Him, meaning He controls the weather, earthquakes, and famines, yet the devil holds sway over the people of the world because human free will is respected.Matthew 28:18
Free will makes us different from machines or bicyclesGod cannot make people obey Him against their will because humans are not like bicycles that can be steered entirely by another; true holiness requires a free choice to yield.
Yielding your free will to GodEvery knee will bow one day, but because God will not force us now, the most important step in life is voluntarily surrendering our will and making Jesus king in our hearts.
How sin and a lack of surrender cause sicknessWhile many sicknesses stem from living in a world under the curse, at least twenty percent of illnesses among believers are rooted in unconfessed sin, bitterness, and unforgiveness.
God prepares everything before creating manGod spent the first five days lovingly preparing a wonderful home for Adam and Eve before creating them on the sixth day and giving them a day of rest and fellowship.
The simple test in the gardenGod placed Adam and Eve in the garden with a simple test involving a single forbidden tree to see whether they would listen to Him or listen to the devil.
God hides His truths from the cleverJesus noted that God hides spiritual truths from the clever and intelligent—those who rely on their own brainpower—and reveals them to humble babes.Matthew 11:25
Approaching the Bible like a baby instead of a donkeyJust as a donkey could see the angel that the clever prophet Balaam could not, believers must approach scripture with humility rather than intellectual pride, asking the Holy Spirit to open their eyes.
Elisha and his servant's spiritual visionWhen surrounded by an army, Elisha's servant was afraid until God opened his eyes to see the horses and chariots of fire surrounding them, proving that those free from the love of money can see God's spiritual protection.
Finding God's will by presenting your body on the altarRomans teaches that to experience the good and perfect will of God, we must first present our bodies as a living sacrifice, just like the burnt offerings in Leviticus.Romans 12:1–2
The detailed burnt offering in LeviticusUnlike other offerings where parts could be kept, the burnt offering was cut completely into separate pieces and placed entirely on the altar for God's fire to consume.
Surrendering our eyes, tongue, and handsMaking Jesus king means placing specific parts of our body on the altar—choosing what we look at with our eyes, what we say with our tongue, and how we use our hands during daily temptations.
Living for God on Monday through SaturdayTrue Christianity is not just about Sunday morning worship and singing, but about how we live our daily lives at home, in the office, and online throughout the week.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit through total surrenderWhen we sincerely yield our bodies and confess past sins of the tongue, eyes, and hands to God, His fire will fill us with the Holy Spirit and transform our lives.
