Yielded, Blessed And Broken - Zac Poonen
Summary
The central message is that Christians must bear witness to Christ through their entire way of life, not just by speaking about Him. Drawing parallels from Israel's failures and the calling of the early church, the speaker emphasizes that being a witness means living so visibly for Christ that neighbors and colleagues see the transformation in one's life. This calling is empowered by the Holy Spirit, and the responsibility to meet the needs of others, even when feeling inadequate, is a divine command.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
What was God's purpose for Israel?God called Abraham so that through him and his descendants, all the families of the earth would be blessed, serving as a witness to live by His principles.Genesis 12:2
What is the difference between bearing witness and being a witness?Bearing witness is telling people what Jesus did, whereas being a witness means our daily life shows how wonderful it is to live for Christ.
Why did Christ become a curse for us?Christ became a curse on the cross so that the Blessing of Abraham and the promise of the Holy Spirit might come to all nations.
What is the first lesson from the feeding of the 5,000?Like the little boy who handed over his five loaves and two fish, we must give everything we have to Jesus without holding anything back.Matthew 14:15–18
What was symbolized by the Old Testament burnt offering?The priests had to cut the bullock into pieces piece by piece, picturing how we must present every part of our bodies and lives to God.
Why do we need the blessing of the Holy Spirit?Just as Jesus looked up to heaven and blessed the food, we need the promise of the Spirit so we can lead others into eternal fellowship with God.Matthew 14:19
Why did Jesus need the anointing of the Holy Spirit?Even though Jesus was sinless and knew the scriptures, He prayed and received the Holy Spirit at His baptism to empower Him for ministry.
How should we pray for God's power like Jacob?Like Jacob who laid hold of God and demanded a blessing, we must come to God in persistent prayer until He renews His fire in our lives.
Who is the true baptizer in the Holy Spirit?John the Baptist pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away sin and the one who immerses believers in the Holy Spirit and fire.
What is the significance of Jesus breaking the loaves?After taking and blessing the loaves, Jesus broke them, showing that God must break us before our lives can become a blessing to thousands.
What does it mean to take up the cross daily?Following Jesus requires dying to ourselves every day and overcoming sin, which is the essential missing message in modern Christendom.
What does it mean to humble yourself under God's mighty hand?Humbling ourselves means allowing God to use difficult circumstances to crush our self-will and pride so we can be exalted over sin.
What troubled Jesus's soul as He approached the cross?Jesus was troubled only by the impending break in fellowship with His Father when He bore our sins, teaching us that broken fellowship with God should be our greatest concern.John 12:27
What is God's promise for every believer who believes?Rivers of living water will flow from the innermost being of every believer who yields, receives God's blessing, and undergoes His breaking.John 7:37–39
