Following Jesus' Perfect Faith - Santosh Poonen
Bangalore Conference 2014: A NEW GENERATION OF SPIRIT FILLED WITNESSES
Summary
The speaker emphasizes that God prepares believers for ministry through testing in private settings, specifically at home and work, rather than just on Sunday. He draws from 2 Timothy 2:2, stressing that passing on the gospel requires entrusting it to men who are not only faithful but also full of faith. Ultimately, the message is that true faith is cultivated through brokenness, drawing parallels to Isaiah 53 to counter the devil's narrative that suffering means God is against us.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
God prepares us through secret testingJesus spent thirty years in Nazareth being tested in his home and workplace before entering his public ministry, showing that God prepares us in secret.
Entrusting the gospel to faithful menPaul instructs Timothy in 2 Timothy to entrust the gospel only to faithful men, pointing out that true faithfulness is being full of faith.2 Timothy 2:2
How God extracts faith through BrokennessGod extracts faith from our lives through periods of Brokenness and reaping consequences, which often feel painful and confusing at the time.
It pleased the Lord to crush himIsaiah 53:10 speaks of the Lord being pleased to crush His servant, which can be misunderstood unless we recognize God's loving and eternal plan.Isaiah 53:10
Without faith it is impossible to please GodHebrews 11:6 makes it clear that faith is the one thing that brings the deepest delight to God, far above outward sacrifices or religious deeds.Hebrews 11:6
The Old Covenant heroes and something better for usHebrews 11 records many heroes of faith who did not receive the ultimate promise because God foresaw something better for New Covenant believers.
Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author of perfect faithHebrews 12 points us past the partial examples of the Old Covenant to Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who endured the cross.
Father, into thy hands I commit my spiritJesus expressed the ultimate statement of faith in Luke 23:46 by surrendering completely into His Father's hands during intense inner and outer suffering.
The grape being crushed to produce new wineJust as a grape is squeezed to release wine, God allows our lives to be pressed through trials so that the life of Christ can be brought forth.
Will the Son of man find faith on the earth?When Jesus returns, He is looking for men and women who possess genuine faith, trusting Him completely even when circumstances feel overwhelming.
