7) Those Who Give God Their Best - Zac Poonen
The Local Church: A Pure Bride For Christ Visit our website for more information: www.cfcindia.com
Summary
The speaker uses the story of Cain and Abel to teach that God accepts offerings based on the heart's attitude, not the offering itself. He emphasizes that giving God's very best, motivated by gratitude, is what matters most. Furthermore, he draws a parallel to Matthew 5, teaching that reconciliation with one's brother must happen before any offering can be accepted by God.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Cain and Abel bring their offeringsAdam taught his children Cain and Abel to bring offerings from their professions to show gratitude to God.
Why did God accept Abel's offering and not Cain's?Many falsely teach that Abel's offering was accepted because it had blood, but the text shows God had regard for Abel's heart attitude first because he brought the best.
God rejects offerings from an unrepentant heartJesus taught in Matthew that if your brother has something against you, you must leave your offering and go be reconciled first.Matthew 5:22
The same principle in MalachiIn Malachi, the priests offered blind, lame, and sick animals that cost them nothing, and God refused to accept them.Malachi 1:6
Paul's farewell to the Ephesian eldersPaul reminded the elders in Acts 20 of how he lived among them with humility and proclaimed the whole purpose of God.
Paul warns of coming wolvesPaul warned that savage wolves would enter the church and some would speak perverse things, but they failed to take the warning seriously.
The church in Ephesus in RevelationDecades later, the Lord told the church in Ephesus in Revelation that they had left their first love and needed to repent.
Building a church that meets real needsThe speaker shares how he started a church to offer practical help for real struggles rather than dead rituals.
Embracing persecution and obeying every commandHaving enemies and facing persecution allows believers to actually obey commands like loving your enemies and blessing those who curse you.
Claiming God's promises like checks in a bankBelievers should not just admire promises on a wall, but deposit them in the bank of heaven by faith.
The path to unity through humilityPhilippians 2 teaches that true unity requires getting rid of selfishness and pride, and treating others as more important than yourself.Philippians 2:2–3
Christ's supreme example of humilityJesus humbled Himself from heaven to become a man, a servant, and to die like a criminal, which is why God exalted Him to the highest place.
