The Pathway to True Worship - Zac Poonen - August 14, 2016
http://rlcfchurch.org/the-pathway-to-true-worship RLCF Youth Conference 2016 - Session 17 River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
True Christian living is rooted not in seeking heaven, but in a deep, personal relationship with Jesus Christ, which is sustained by devotion and fellowship. The speaker emphasizes that life must be a continuous 'sacrifice of praise' to God, meaning giving thanks regardless of difficult circumstances or unanswered prayers. Furthermore, one must embrace God's plan for their life, recognizing that sacrifice and obedience, as exemplified by Christ, are essential for fulfilling God's will.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Why knowing Jesus in your youth is wonderfulComing to know Christ at a young age before major life decisions are made keeps you from the heavy regrets of mistakes, allowing for an exciting life of walking closely with Jesus.
God has a specific plan for your lifeBelieving that God planned every day of our lives beforehand means accepting His path, which invariably involves the path of sacrifice modeled by Jesus.
What is the sacrifice of praise?Unlike Old Testament sacrifices that cost little, the New Testament commands us to offer a sacrifice of praise by thanking God continually even when things go wrong and we face trials.Hebrews 13:15–16
Trusting Romans 8:28 enables true thankfulnessWe can give thanks in all circumstances because God works everything together for good for those who love Him, and failing to give thanks reveals a lack of faith in this promise.Romans 8:28
Generosity and sharing please GodGod's nature is to give sacrificially, and when we share with others rather than hoarding for ourselves, the generous person is watered and prospered by God.
Seeking God intimately and dailyDeveloping an intimate personal relationship with Jesus involves seeking Him earnestly in private, reading His word, and meditating on it consistently.Song of Solomon 3:1
All things are lawful, but not all things are profitableJesus refused to use His power outside of His Father's direct will, showing us that we must lay aside permissible things that do not contribute to our spiritual growth.1 Corinthians 6:12
Refusing to be mastered by food or sexual desireWe must not let physical appetites or sexual desires master us, and the specific biblical instruction for sexual temptation is to run away from it rather than trying to stand and fight.
Daily self-denial as the path of discipleshipFollowing Jesus requires daily self-denial where we give up things that attract us for His sake, which is the foundation of true worship and pleasing God.Luke 9:23
Worshipping the Father in spirit and truthJesus explained to the Samaritan woman that true worshippers would worship the Father in spirit and truth, moving beyond mere physical and emotional expressions of religion.
Spiritual worship defined in Romans 12True spiritual worship is defined as presenting our bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, cutting up our old habits, eyes, tongue, hands, and feet to use them solely for God.
The four steps of communion with GodOur relationship with God progresses through prayer, thanksgiving, praise, and finally worship, which is the most difficult step because it requires offering ourselves completely to Him.
Never offering to God that which costs nothingFollowing David's conviction at the threshing floor, we must never offer God service that costs us nothing; our devotion should cost us time, comfort, and sacrifice.
Overcoming the spirit of grabbing like JacobJust as Jacob lived his early life as a grabber, humans are born with a grasping spirit, but we must reach the point where we let go of everything and grab hold of God for His blessing.
Abraham's worship on Mount MoriahThe first mention of worship in the Bible is when Abraham surrendered Isaac, demonstrating that true worship means giving up what we hold possessively so God can return it with a double blessing.Genesis 22:5
Trusting God for ministry and marriage rather than grabbingInstead of aggressively grabbing for a ministry, a career, or a marriage partner, we should rest in God's will and let Him provide at the right time.
Job's response of worship in total lossWhen Job lost all his property and children, he fell down and worshipped, acknowledging that he brought nothing into the world and that the Lord has the right to give and take away.
