Through Trials To Abundance - Zac Poonen
Proclaiming The Whole Purpose Of God Visit our website for more information: www.cfcindia.com
Summary
The speaker emphasizes that God's ways are not human ways, often using weakness, poverty, or difficult circumstances to teach profound lessons that mere education cannot. He illustrates this using the example of a man who was blessed through raising a child with a mental handicap, showing that God uses unique, sometimes difficult, paths for His greatest ambassadors. The core message is that God's plan is perfect, and we must trust His process, recognizing that the Holy Spirit provides personal, tailored training for each believer.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
God gives us what we need, not what we ask forWhen we pray, God gives us what we truly need to depend on Him and learn humble obedience, even when it looks nothing like what we asked for.
Witnessing to the spiritual authoritiesBelievers are called to be witnesses not just to the world, but to Satan and heavenly authorities by remaining faithful through trials.Ephesians 3:10
The training of Brother Param through a handicapped childGod chose to mold a powerful church planter not through a bible school, but by giving him a severely handicapped son to care for over 32 years.
Tested within our abilityGod never allows His servants to be tested beyond their spiritual ability, granting them the grace to endure without complaint.1 Corinthians 10:13
The Holy Spirit's private tuitionJust as royal sons received private tutors in a palace, the Holy Spirit gives each believer personal, customized training to make them like Jesus.
A greater miracle than physical healingRejecting unrealistic messages of universal healing, God sometimes chooses the greater miracle of sustaining grace through lifelong affliction.
Keeping Paul humble with a thorn in the fleshEven the great Apostle Paul received a thorn in his flesh to prevent him from becoming proud and facing God's opposition.
The danger of pride and God's oppositionThe most difficult thing for God is keeping a man humble after blessing him, because God actively opposes the proud.
Fatherly discipline through trialsGod disciplines His true children because He loves them, often using trials to refine them like silver in a fire.
Refining us in the fireGod preserves our lives and keeps our feet from slipping by taking us through testing, fire, and heavy burdens.
The Hebrew word Raya for abundanceThe place of abundance, or Raya, corresponds to Psalm 23 where the cup overflows with blessing after the fire and testing.
Looking back with gratitudeWhen we stand with Jesus in eternity and look back over our lives, we will finally see that God did all things well.
Singing of His goodness through eternityBelievers will praise God through eternity for what He has done, what He will do, and above all, that Jesus has done all things well.
