Austin CFC - Zac Poonen 2019 - Session 1: God's Destination for Man
Austin CFC Conference with Zac Poonen on May 4-5, 2019 Theme: Patiently Pressing On to Perfection Session 1: God's Destination for Man www.AustinCFC.com
Summary
God desires to make us like Jesus Christ, which requires our free will and cooperation. Unlike inanimate objects, humans have the capacity to choose life or knowledge, a choice that can lead away from God if pursued without divine guidance. The core message emphasizes trusting in God's perfect provision during difficult times, understanding that His plan is always good even when circumstances feel like a 'stone' instead of the 'bread' we expect.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
God's plan to make us like JesusGod has a wonderful plan to make believers like Jesus Christ, and any failure in this is solely due to a lack of cooperation on our part.
Why God gave us free willPlanets and trees obey God perfectly because they have no choice, but they cannot become children of God; true sonship requires free will.
The mistake of choosing knowledge over lifeAdam chose the tree of knowledge instead of life, leading humanity away from God, much like clever people and scientists who pursue knowledge without God.
Trusting our Heavenly Father in every situationJust as a father knows how to give good gifts to his children, our Heavenly Father controls every detail of our lives and will never give us a stone when we ask for bread.
The greatest truth in the BibleJesus prayed that the world would know that the Father sent Him and that the Father loves His disciples just as much as He loves Jesus.John 17:23
Predestined to become like ChristGod foreknew us before the foundation of the world and predestined our ultimate destination to be conformed to the image of His Son.Romans 8:29
The cost of following JesusGod is determined to make us like Christ through trials and discipline, and while we can drop out if we refuse the training, doing so forfeits our eternal reward.
Let patience have its perfect workThrough unexpected delays and trials, we must let patience have its perfect result so that we may be complete, mature, and lacking in nothing.
The danger of complainingWhen we complain or murmur during trials, we act as though God is no longer in control, whereas He actually knows every detail of what is happening to us.
Man as the crown of creationUnlike inanimate objects, man was created with the unique capacity to receive and radiate the life of God.
The reality of the new birthMany people have a shallow or intellectual conversion without genuine repentance, but a true new birth means the Spirit of Christ actually comes to dwell within.
The evidence of spiritual birthJust as a newborn baby breathes and cries for milk, someone truly born again begins to pray and earnestly desires the sincere milk of God's word.1 Peter 2:2
Doing our one percentGod performs ninety-nine percent of the work in our lives, but He requires us to exercise our free will and do our one percent of cooperation.
