Austin CFC | Zac Poonen - A Godly Attitude Towards Money and Sex | 2020-08-08
Summary
The speaker emphasizes that true Christian life is not merely about reaching heaven, but about prioritizing God above all else. He draws from John 14:21 to teach that loving Christ more than anything—including money or sex—is the primary condition for experiencing the Father's love. This commitment to Christ must be lived out daily as a demonstration of discipleship.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
A testimony of faithful leadershipBrother Benoit introduces Zac Poonen, sharing how Poonen's consistent godly standards have been a blessing and an example of true Christian living.
The true nature of salvationTrue salvation is not just about escaping to heaven, but about loving God and seeking His glory above our own selfish desires.
The goal of being transformed into Christ's likenessWhile we are not perfectly like Jesus yet, our purpose is to continually purify ourselves and grow in His attitude toward money and sex until He returns.1 John 3:2
Loving God more than anything elseBy comparing scriptures, we see that to be a disciple, we must love God supremely, even above our most precious earthly relationships and wealth.
Money should be under our feetGold is good when it is in God's presence, but we must ensure money is a servant under our feet rather than something that controls our minds.Revelation 21:21
Living with a kingdom-focused attitudeWe must run from the pursuit of wealth and instead make the same confession as Jesus: that our kingdom is not of this world.John 18:36
The right attitude toward moneyFollowing the example of Jesus and the apostles, Christian workers should not seek salaries or use prayer letters to solicit funds, but rather trust God to provide through others.
God's design for sexSex was created by God as a holy means for marriage and procreation, but lusting after someone outside of marriage is spiritually dangerous.
Fleeing temptation through God's graceTo overcome the temptations of lust and greed, one must submit to God, flee from situations that trigger sin, and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit.
A call to take your Christian life seriouslyThe speaker encourages believers to honor God and avoid frustrating His purposes by seeking worldly pleasure or wealth over spiritual faithfulness.
What are the New Covenant principles of tithing?The speaker explains that there is no command to tithe in the New Testament and that tithing was part of the Old Covenant law used to support the Levites.
Maintaining faithfulness in money and sex within marriageThe speaker concludes by advising couples to avoid possessiveness over wealth and to use their resources for God's glory while practicing mutual respect.
Handling money and marriage with loveSpouses should avoid wasteful spending for show and use loving communication to maintain right attitudes toward money and sex.
The responsibility of Christian women regarding modestyChristian women should avoid dressing in ways that provoke lust in others, as they share responsibility for the temptation caused.
Presenting your body as a living sacrificeTo overcome temptations of money and sex, believers must offer every part of their body—eyes, tongue, hands, and mind—to God through the transformation described in Romans 12.
