Elders: Endure to the End as Godly Examples -- Zac Poonen -- December 12, 2020
http://rlcf.church River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The central message is the necessity of continuous, daily surrender to Christ, which is the antidote to spiritual backsliding. The speaker emphasizes that true discipleship requires loving Jesus above all else and constantly taking up the cross by dying to one's own preferences and self. This daily process allows the life of Jesus to be manifested in our actions, relationships, and attitudes.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
The danger of backsliding among eldersBacksliding among elders always happens gradually when Christ ceases to be the absolute center of our lives and other things take His place.
Taking up the cross dailyFollowing Jesus requires dying to our own preferences, choices, and interests every single day without exception.
Carrying the dying of Jesus 24/7Paul describes a 24-hour attitude of bearing about the dying of Jesus so that the life of Jesus can be manifested in our mortal bodies.
God cooperates by delivering us to deathWhile we choose our attitude toward self, God cooperates by using circumstances, job pressures, and difficult people to deliver us over to death.
Spiritual authority and the fear of the devilTrue spiritual authority does not come from an appointment or human respect, but from walking so closely with Christ that the devil is scared of us.
Producing the life of Jesus in othersThe ultimate goal of our ministry is that the life of Jesus is not only manifested in us, but also produced in the flock we shepherd.
Rejoicing when others surpass usLike John the Baptist, a true elder delights when people follow a fellow elder and when he himself is pushed into the background.John 3:26–27
Christ must increase and I must decreaseTrue church builders are desperate to decrease so that Christ can increase, holding no jealousy toward others who go ahead of them.
Being content to be only a voiceIn a world driven by videos and prominence, a true servant of God is content to be known simply as an ordinary voice pointing people to Christ.John 1:20–23
The warning of King Saul's self-justificationKing Saul started out humble, viewing himself as the least, but he gradually drifted into self-justification and disobedience when blessed by God.
To obey is better than sacrificeAll the sacrifices we make as elders are worth nothing if we fail to obey God in our personal lives regarding anger, lust, and integrity.
Demas and the danger of loving the worldDemas was once a close co-worker of Paul, but he eventually deserted the ministry because he loved this present world.
Suffering shipwreck through a bad conscienceBelievers suffer spiritual shipwreck when they fail to keep faith and neglect maintaining a clear, sensitive conscience before God and men.1 Timothy 1:19–20
