Zac Poonen - God Renews Us And We Enter His Rest

Speaker: Zac Poonen Title: God Renews Us And We Enter His Rest Date: 06-21-2015 Our Goal as Christians is this: To be an exact reflection of Jesus, the Son of God (Romans 8:29) We do this individually by growing in purity in our personal lives (1 John 3:2-3) We do this corporately by becoming fully functioning members of a local Church (Ephesians 4:11-16)

Summary

The speaker discusses the importance of understanding the New Covenant established by Jesus, noting that while the Old Testament is not abolished, it offers crucial lessons from history. He emphasizes that God restores what sin has damaged, pointing to the Holy Spirit and the Word of God as the two essential elements for spiritual renewal. True understanding of scripture, especially regarding Christ, comes through the Holy Spirit, not just intellectual study.

Outline

The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.

An Old Testament picture of spiritual transformationGenesis chapter 1 serves as the Bible in a nutshell, illustrating how God remakes a dark, empty life when the Holy Spirit and the word of God operate together.

Why studying the Bible with the Holy Spirit mattersStudying Scripture without the Holy Spirit can lead people completely astray, whereas humility and simple trust allow God to reveal His truth.

Living by every word that proceeds from GodJust as the Israelites depended on daily manna in the wilderness, Jesus taught that humans must live by every word that comes from the mouth of God.Deuteronomy 8:3

God's thoughts versus human thoughtsGod's ways and thoughts are higher than human ways, and His word never returns empty without accomplishing the purpose for which He sent it.Isaiah 55:8–11

Moving beyond a substandard Christian lifeMany believers treat God's commands as mere suggestions, living a defeated third-rate Christian life while maintaining a decent external testimony before people.

What we can learn from the PhariseesJesus noted that the Pharisees had correct doctrines and clean external lives, but their inner life was corrupt, serving as a warning against outward religion without inner purity.Matthew 23:2–3

The New Covenant standard of motives and thoughtsA true New Covenant Christian is as concerned about pure private thoughts, attitudes, and motives as they are about public words and actions.

God wants children, not robotsUnlike inanimate creation that obeys automatically, God gave humans free will because He desires children who choose to yield to Him out of love.

Jesus as the perfect example of the Spirit-filled lifeThe genuine work of the Holy Spirit always makes a person more Christlike, producing love, sacrificial living, and freedom from counterfeit emotional displays.

Renewed day by day into the image of ChristJust as God took six days to remake the earth, He works patiently in believers day by day to conform them to the image of Jesus Christ.2 Corinthians 4:16

The Sabbath as a picture of divine restGod rested on the seventh day after His work, establishing a pattern that points to a spiritual rest for His people.Exodus 20:8–11

Finding rest for your soul by taking His yokeJesus invites the weary and heavy-laden to take His yoke upon them and learn humility and gentleness, promising inner rest for their souls.Matthew 11:28–29

Fearing lest we fall short of God's restEntering God's rest is not optional; believers must be diligent and fearful lest they neglect this vital promise and fail to enter it.

Ceasing from our own works through faithEntering this rest means ceasing from our own struggling and trusting God completely, knowing we have a heavenly Father who cares for us.

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Zac Poonen - God Renews Us And We Enter His Rest

Zac Poonen · June 22, 2015 · 1h 19m

The Holy Spirit The Bible Becoming like Him