26th January 2020 - You Can Begin Now To Live As Jesus Lived - Zac Poonen
26th January 2020 - Christian Fellowship Meeting - Bangalore. For more sermons please visit https://www.cfcindia.com/
Summary
The central message emphasizes that one's inherent being or character ('what you are') before the Lord is more crucial than the actions one performs for God. Drawing from Acts 1, the speaker points out that Jesus' ministry pattern was to first *be* something and then *do* things, suggesting that service without a foundational identity in Christ can lead to hypocrisy.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Call to worshipThe speaker invites the congregation to set aside all other thoughts and turn their hearts toward the Lord Jesus.
The supremacy of the name of JesusThe speaker proclaims that there is no greater name than Jesus, and that every knee in all creation must bow to Him.
Prayer of adoration and surrenderThe speaker leads a prayer acknowledging God's majesty through the Psalms and thanks Him for the privilege of being His children.
Opening prayer and scripture readingThe speaker begins with a prayer for God's presence and reads the memory verses from Isaiah 42:16 and Deuteronomy 32:46-47.
Being more important than doingThe speaker emphasizes that who we are before God is more vital than what we do for Him, noting that focusing solely on service can lead to pride and hypocrisy.
Discerning false teachers through characterThe speaker warns against being deceived by false apostles and suggests that we can discern them by looking at their personal lives and families rather than their outward accomplishments.
The danger of false brethrenPaul experienced the deception of false brothers in the church, which brought great pressure and burden to his heart for the churches he oversaw.
How can we follow such a man?While Paul's heavy burdens and sufferings seem impossible to replicate, we can follow him by observing his footsteps in the way he lived.
Beginning your Christian life where Jesus beganTo follow Jesus, one must start by practicing submission to imperfect authorities, just as Jesus submitted to His earthly parents.
God's promise to those who submitGod will not support those who refuse to submit to the authorities He has placed over them, but for the wholehearted disciple, He guarantees that all things will work for good and no test will exceed their strength.
Why we appoint imperfect leadersChurch elders are often imperfect people, but they are appointed to lead; the speaker emphasizes that one should submit to God's authority rather than seeking to obey or disobey a person.
Finding God in the midst of boredomBy imitating Jesus's patience with boring sermons, we can learn to use moments of apparent emptiness to seek personal revelation from God through His Word.
Do not condemn yourself for your past mistakesEven if you feel hopeless or carnal like the Corinthians, believe that God can redeem any mess and that He views you as His beloved child.
The three stages of a Christian lifeA successful Christian life involves recognizing that without Christ we can do nothing, realizing that with Christ we can do everything, and being merciful to those who are less spiritual.
A prayer for a new beginning through God's powerBelievers can reject condemnation and ask for the Holy Spirit's power to start walking in Jesus' footsteps, no matter how many times they have failed.
