Zac Poonen - Press On To Perfection In Controlling Your Tongue

Zac PoonenFebruary 14, 202224mWatch on YouTube

In this collectionZac Poonen379 messages

Speaker: Zac Poonen Title: Press On To Perfection In Controlling Your Tongue Date: 02/13/2022 Our Goal as Christians is this: To be an exact reflection of Jesus, the Son of God (Romans 8:29) We do this individually by growing in purity in our personal lives (1 John 3:2-3) We do this corporately by becoming fully functioning members of a local Church (Ephesians 4:11-16)

Summary

The central message is the necessity of continually striving for spiritual perfection, using the tongue as the primary area for growth. Drawing from James 3, the speaker emphasizes that controlling one's speech is foundational, as mastering the tongue will enable control over the entire body. He urges listeners to move beyond mere activity in faith and focus on tangible progress in their lives.

Outline

The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.

Hebrews 6:1 and the Christian walkThe speaker explains that the inscription on their church pulpit declares 'let us press on to perfection,' reflecting a testimony of continual spiritual progress rather than complacent spiritual stagnation.

God's disappointment with spiritual stagnationGod is not angry with His children when they make mistakes, but He is deeply sad and disappointed when they remain in the same spiritual grade for years without making progress.

Where do we start?Amidst many good Christian teachings, the speaker points to James chapter 3 to identify the exact starting point for pressing on to perfection.

Stumbling in many ways and mastering speechJames acknowledges that all stumble in many ways, but states that anyone who does not stumble in speech is a perfect man able to bridle the whole body.James 3:2

Movement without progressThe speaker shares his own early Christian experience of being saved yet caught on a spiritual merry-go-round for fifteen years, marked by constant activity but unchanged speech habits in the home.

The horse's bit and the ship's rudderThe Holy Spirit uses the illustrations of a horse's bridle and a ship's tiny rudder to show how directing the tongue allows one to control the entire body.

Boasting and the example of John the BaptistHuman beings naturally boast, but true spiritual growth requires embracing John the Baptist's attitude that Christ must increase while we must decrease.

A world of iniquity that no man can tameThe tongue is a world of sin that can set a forest on fire, and the Bible states that no human being can tame it by their own self-effort.

Looking at the heart instead of external controlMerely keeping quiet while harboring a bad attitude or feeling superior to a spouse reveals pharisaical self-righteousness rather than true heart transformation.

Blessing and cursing from the same mouthJames points out the inconsistency of praising God with the same mouth used to curse human beings who are made in God's likeness.

Reaching a place of desperationAfter years of defeat, the speaker spent days in prayer, fasting, and seeking God for the Holy Spirit's control over his speech.

Seeking the tongue of fireClarifying pentecostal theology, the speaker explains that he sought the biblical tongue of fire representing a tongue completely controlled, purified, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Balancing grace and truthA truly Spirit-controlled tongue possesses both grace to comfort the broken and truth to administer strong rebukes when necessary, reflecting the ministry of Jesus.

The turning point in 1975In January 1975, after setting a firm goal to stop losing his temper and crying out to God, the speaker experienced a permanent upward shift in his spiritual life.

Moving from Romans 7 to Romans 8Believers should not lean on 'no condemnation' prematurely while remaining content in sin, but must honestly cry out like Romans 7:24 over their speech before walking in the victory of Romans 8:1.

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Zac Poonen - Press On To Perfection In Controlling Your Tongue

Zac Poonen · February 14, 2022 · 24m

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