How Jesus Pleased the Father - Zac Poonen - May 27, 2016
http://rlcfchurch.org/having-the-mind-of-christ RLCF Family Conference 2016 - Message #1 River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The central message is that a Christian's ultimate ambition must be to please the Lord, which should remain the same whether they are on Earth or in heaven. The speaker contrasts worldly ambitions—such as fame, money, or building mega-churches—with the singular goal of pleasing God. He encourages all believers, regardless of spiritual gifts, to examine their lives to ensure their current direction aligns with pleasing Christ.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
What was the ambition of the Apostle Paul?Paul followed Christ as an example, and his ultimate ambition—whether at home or absent from the body—was to be pleasing to the Lord.
Does God's outward blessing mean He is pleased?Using the example of the six hundred thousand Israelites in the wilderness who received daily miracles yet failed to please God, the speaker warns against equating answered prayers and material blessings with divine approval.
The sun and rain on the righteous and unrighteousMaterial blessings like sun and rain come upon both the godly and the ungodly, proving only that God is a good God rather than proving personal spiritual approval.
Why did Jesus live thirty-three and a half years?The six hours on the cross took care of past sins, but the entire life of Jesus from birth to adulthood was designed to show mankind how to live.
The Father's testimony of being well pleasedUnlike the Israelites who saw miracles and displeased God, Jesus lived thirty ordinary years without miracles or ministry and yet the Father declared He was well pleased.Matthew 3:17
The oneline autobiography of JesusJesus summarized His life by stating He came down from heaven not to do His own will, but only the will of the Father who sent Him.John 6:38
The requirement of a perfect sacrificeGod commanded in the Old Testament that animal sacrifices must be without defect, pointing ahead to the spotless life of Jesus who never sinned in thought, word, deed, attitude, or motive.Leviticus 22:18
Sympathizing with our weakness in temptationJesus can sympathize with our weaknesses not in physical ability or intelligence, but in the intense struggle of facing temptation without sinning.Hebrews 4:15
Prayers with loud crying and tearsDuring His days on Earth, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears, asking to be saved from spiritual death and sin.Hebrews 5:7
The danger of becoming dull of hearingIgnoring the promptings of conscience and the Holy Spirit leads to spiritual deafness, making it impossible to truly understand spiritual truth.
We have the mind of ChristPaul testified not just by quoting a verse, but from his own life experience that he possessed the mind of Christ through dying to self and following the Lord.1 Corinthians 2:16
Forgiving others as an ordinary manBecause Jesus considered Himself an ordinary man even when falsely accused, He readily forgave those who spoke against Him, setting a standard for believers to forgive completely.
Concluding prayer for obedience and humilityThe speaker concludes by asking God to drive the message deep into every heart, preserving believers in humility and preventing anyone from wasting their life.
