Zac Poonen - God Tests Us Before He Can Use Us

Zac PoonenMay 2, 202227mWatch on YouTube

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Speaker: Zac Poonen Title: God Tests Us Before He Can Use Us Date: 05/01/2022 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

God uses testing periods to prepare believers for ministry within the body of Christ, much like Moses was prepared for years in the wilderness. Every member of the church, regardless of perceived usefulness, has a function from the Holy Spirit for the good of the whole body. Believers must take these testings seriously, as they are God's way of equipping them for their divine purpose.

Outline

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

The church compared to a bodyFirst Corinthians 12 compares the church to a human body with Christ as the head, where every single part has been given a specific function.

Useless and functioning partsJust as a paralyzed hand remains part of the body while doing no work, many believers are part of Christ's body but remain useless and inactive.

The Holy Spirit works through everyoneEvery true believer has received some manifestation of the Holy Spirit meant for the good of the whole body, whether large or small.

Testings as preparationThe trials we face in our homes, marriages, and finances act as God's preparation and testing to equip us for ministry.

Moses and the timeline in EgyptGod told Abraham that his descendants would be in Egypt for 400 years, but the actual time turned out to be 430 years because Moses was not ready at age fifty.

Delays caused by lack of responseIf we do not respond to God's training in our private lives, laziness and stubbornness can delay God's plan or cause us to waste our lives entirely.

Everyday spiritual functionsWhile not everyone is called to be a preacher or prophet, everyone can have a powerful ministry of encouragement and building others up in daily life.

Judas was not a traitor from the beginningJudas Iscariot started out wholehearted like the other disciples, otherwise Jesus would have made a mistake in choosing him.

Jesus was limited as a manJesus lived on earth as a man with limited knowledge of the future unless the Father revealed it to Him, as seen in His interactions with the fig tree and Lazarus.

Losing your crownJust as Judas failed his testing and lost his crown to Paul, believers can miss out on the ministry God prepared for them through laziness and failure.

Breaking human prideMoses went from being a mighty prince at age forty to a humbled shepherd at age eighty, because God had to break his self-reliance before using him.

Joseph and Jacob trained through trialsBoth Joseph and Jacob had to undergo long periods of testing, slavery, and discipline before they were ready to fulfill God's calling.

Jacob's breaking at PenielAfter years of grabbing and deceiving, Jacob was finally broken when his thigh was dislocated, and he held onto God crying out for a blessing.Genesis 32:24–26

A call to fulfill your ministryDo not let success in worldly pursuits overshadow whether God has succeeded in making you what you should be in the body of Christ.

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