The Difference Between Being Small and Being Broken - Santosh Poonen - September 30, 2018
http://rlcfchurch.org/difference-between-being-small-being-broken River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The speaker contrasts the temporary popularity of following Jesus with the true nature of discipleship. He argues that when being Christian becomes popular, it often lacks the cost of true commitment, contrasting this with the profound meaning of Jesus' 'glorification.' True glorification, according to the speaker, is not about being lifted up by the world's standards, but rather involves going down and dying to self for God's glory.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Following Jesus when it is popularPeople often follow Jesus when it is convenient or popular, much like the crowds who witnessed the raising of Lazarus and wanted to be around a miracle worker.
The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorifiedWhen Greeks and crowds throng to see Him, Jesus redefines glorification not as being lifted up in the world's eyes, but as going down into death.
Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and diesJesus explains that just like a small grain of wheat or an atom that must be split to release power, He and His followers must die to bear much fruit.
Smallness is not our choice, but brokenness isHaving a small, mundane life is beyond our control, but choosing to let God break us through our circumstances is up to us.
Putting the grain into the groundTrue brokenness is an internal state that begins when God takes our small world and places it deep in the ground to die.
Jacob: God must prevail over our self-relianceAfter years of deception and running, God wrestled with Jacob, dislocated his hip, and left him leaning on a staff so that God could finally prevail in his life.Genesis 32:28
Joseph: Going lower to preserve many livesJoseph endured being thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, and falsely imprisoned, yet he recognized that God meant these trials for good to preserve people.
Moses: Falling on your face instead of defending yourselfAfter forty years of hidden brokenness, Moses responded to false accusations and rebellion not by defending himself, but by falling on his face before God.
Jesus: Facing trouble of soul to glorify the FatherEven Jesus faced deep trouble in His soul, submitting Himself entirely to the purpose of falling into the ground and dying to glorify the Father's name.John 12:27
