Through Death To Fruitfulness - Zac Poonen
Summary
The central message is that God chose believers not for anything they do, but so they can bear fruit for His glory. This fruit encompasses the Spirit's virtues (love, joy, peace) and making a lasting, eternal impression on others through one's character and daily life, which constitutes one's ministry. The speaker emphasizes that understanding this primary purpose prevents believers from being distracted by worldly achievements or temporary good deeds.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Why did God choose us?God chose believers not because of any inherent goodness, but so that they would go and bear fruit that remains.John 15:16
The primary purpose versus secondary thingsJust as a child's main purpose at school is education rather than playing games, God's primary purpose for believers is bringing forth fruit, not merely making money or having an easy life.
The two aspects of spiritual fruitFruit refers to the fruit of the spirit in our own lives, such as love, joy, and freedom from anxiety, as well as leaving an impression of eternity on others.
Our ministry is how we liveEveryone has a ministry through their daily reactions, speech, and attitude toward money and people, even without standing behind a pulpit.
Hating your life in this worldJesus taught that those who love their life in this world will lose it, while those who hate it will keep it to eternal life.
The true desire to see JesusLike the Greeks who asked to see Jesus, believers should look past empty rituals and music to truly encounter Christ in every situation.
The grain of wheat must dieJust like a grain of wheat must fall into the earth and die to produce a harvest instead of sitting alone in a glass case, a believer must die to their own choices and ambitions.
Joy that remains through persecutionTrue biblical joy remains constant and is even expressed by jumping for joy when people hate, insult, and persecute you for standing up for Christ.
Moses at age forty versus age eightyAt forty, Moses rejected the world's honor, the passing pleasures of sin, and Egypt's wealth, but he was still not ready to deliver Israel because he relied on his own strength.
The power of breakingJust as bread was broken to feed five thousand, perfume released its scent only when broken, and an atom releases tremendous power when split, God must break a believer to use them fully.
Testing whether we are truly deadDead men do not complain; a true test of whether we have died to self is whether we hold any inward complaints against difficult bosses, family members, or circumstances.
Avoiding spiritual isolationRefusing to die to self leads to a life of a wandering star without true integration and fellowship in a local body of believers.
