The Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation -- Zac Poonen -- August 29, 2021
http://rlcf.church/media/sermons/the-spirit-of-wisdom-and-revelation River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The central message is the necessity of seeking the fullness of the Holy Spirit to gain the boldness required to witness for Christ publicly, regardless of ridicule. The speaker urges listeners to move beyond a merely 'good' Christian life to one characterized by shameless devotion to Jesus. True spiritual growth is demonstrated by being willing to confess Christ even when it brings shame.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Are you ashamed to witness for Jesus?The speaker challenges listeners to examine whether they have true Christ-like humility and the boldness to publicly testify about Jesus, contrasting adult believers with simple children who recite memory verses.
Seeking the fullness of the Holy Spirit for powerSharing his personal story from 1963 as a young naval officer, the speaker explains how he had to overcome his fear of man and shame through the power of the Holy Spirit to openly preach the gospel.
The sudden transformation of the Holy SpiritBeing filled with the Holy Spirit is not a slow, gradual process over years, but a sudden transformation from fear and locked doors to immediate boldness, just like turning on electric power.
Moving past preschool ChristianityConfessing Christ among other believers is easy preschool Christianity, and true spiritual growth comes from deciding never to be ashamed of Jesus where others mock Him.
The two ministries of the Holy Spirit in EphesiansPaul's letter to the Ephesians highlights two primary ministries of the Holy Spirit: the revelation of Christ found in chapter one, and the power of Christ found in chapter three.
Revelation versus intellectual Bible school knowledgeThe speaker contrasts traditional Bible schools, which produced old testament false prophets and required Paul to spend years in the desert to unlearn chaff, with the true spirit of wisdom and revelation from the Holy Spirit.
What is eternal life?Eternal life is not merely living forever, which even those in hell or angels do, but refers to the very quality and life of God defined as knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ intimately.
Knowing God as a personal fatherKnowing God as a father means not being anxious or worried when things go wrong, unlike orphans who have no one to turn to in times of trouble.
How God uses trials to draw us to HimselfGod often uses difficult circumstances, insecurity, and trials like snakes or cancer to wake nominal believers up and turn their hearts wholeheartedly back to Him.
Taking hold of eternal lifePaul instructs Timothy, his close co-worker of 25 years, to take hold of eternal life, meaning we must continually press on to know God and Jesus Christ more deeply.
Learning to hear God through scripture stoplightsInstead of rushing past difficult verses like a farmer avoiding a rock, believers should respect spiritual stoplights in scripture and wait on God until they hear His voice.
Moving beyond seat-warmer ChristianityBelievers should move past merely warming a seat on Sundays and develop a genuine burden to help younger brothers and sisters personally and one-on-one.
From a hand pump to a river of lifeWhile early witnessing can feel like exhausting labor on a hand pump, being filled with the Holy Spirit turns a believer's life into an overflowing river of living water.
A desperate thirst for a higher lifeJesus invites anyone who is desperately thirsty for a deeper, fearless, and overflowing Christian life to come to Him continually and drink freely.
How rich God became when He got youPaul prays that believers' eyes would be enlightened to see the incredible truth that just as a billionaire treasures his only child above all wealth, God considers Himself rich because He gained us as His children.
