The Importance of Dying to Our Own Will - Zac Poonen - March 10, 2013
http://rlcfchurch.org/act-like-men-and-be-strong River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The central message is that true spirituality is not demonstrated by intellectual knowledge, emotional excitement, or public displays of faith, but by the yielding of one's will to God's will. The speaker warns against the deception of equating Bible knowledge or emotional fervor with genuine spiritual life, pointing to Matthew 7:14 which describes the narrow way. True discipleship requires denying one's own will in daily life, not just on Sunday.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
The narrow way and the broad wayJesus taught at the end of the Sermon on the Mount that very few find the narrow way to life, while many go down the broad way to destruction.Matthew 7:14
The great deceptions of our timeMany believers mistakenly think that having correct Bible knowledge or intense emotional excitement in worship equals true spirituality.
Saying Lord Lord without yielding the willPeople can have their intellect and emotions stirred by calling Jesus Lord, yet still fail to deny their stubborn human will to do the Father's will.
Building on the rock versus building on sandA person who hears God's word and gets excited about it but fails to practice daily self-denial is building their spiritual house on sand.
Evaluating true spiritualityBelievers must not evaluate their standing by gifts or knowledge, but by how much they deny their own selfishness and flesh in daily life.
Taking up the cross dailyFollowing Jesus requires a daily action of saying no to our self-will and becoming entirely unaffected by human criticism or praise.Luke 9:23
Walking as Jesus walkedUnder the New Covenant, believers are called to walk in the exact same path of self-denial and obedience that Jesus walked.1 John 2:6
The New and Living WayBelievers have confidence to enter the holiest place through the blood of Jesus and by a new and living way inaugurated through the veil.Hebrews 10:19
The tearing of Jesus's flesh and willThe veil represents the human flesh and self-will of Jesus, which was torn throughout his thirty-three and a half years as he refused his own will to do the Father's.John 6:38
Christ did not please himselfJesus lived a life entirely governed by listening to the Father and refusing to please himself or act on his own initiative.
Fullness of joy in God's presenceBy choosing to walk the New and Living Way of self-denial, believers remain in God's presence and experience unchanging fullness of joy.Psalm 16:11
