The Lord's Table: A Re-Commitment to Die to Self — Santosh Poonen — August 10, 2024
http://rlcf.church River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The sermon emphasizes that true participation in the Lord's Supper requires a radical re-commitment to dying to self, mirroring the disciples' focus on Jesus. The speaker urges the congregation to shed all personal plans and desires, recognizing that following Christ means living by faith rather than self-effort. This surrender is necessary to truly partake in the life Christ offers.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Approaching communion with fresh wonderThe speaker invites listeners to imagine what it was like for the twelve disciples sitting with Jesus, urging us not to let communion become commonplace but to approach it with fresh wonder.
A simple faith for children and adultsPoonen expresses a burden to keep messages simple so that children can understand, noting that the early disciples were simple, uneducated men whose strength was simply having their eyes fixed on Jesus.
Coming to the meeting with the mindset of dyingThe speaker challenges the congregation to come to the Lord's table as if they are sentenced to death, ready to stop living for themselves completely.
Crucified with Christ in GalatiansReading from Galatians, Poonen emphasizes that rebuilding what was once destroyed makes us transgressors, and that we must live by faith because we have been crucified with Christ.Galatians 2:18
How do we live tomorrow as dead people?Poonen raises the practical dilemma of how to handle daily tasks like work, family, and responsibilities if we are supposed to be dead to ourselves.
The glove illustration of being filled by ChristUsing a thin surgical glove as an example, the speaker illustrates that a dead person or a glove has no power of its own and must be filled and moved by God to function.
Paul's thorn in the flesh and human weaknessTurning to 2 Corinthians, Poonen explains how Paul had to stop relying on his own strength through a thorn in the flesh so that God's power could be perfected in his weakness.
There is hope for the weak and helplessThe speaker encourages anyone who feels weak, helpless, and good for nothing, because it is in that exact state of emptiness that God can fill and use them.
A prayer of repentance and surrenderPoonen leads a prayer thanking God for His cleansing blood and repenting of times when they tried to live in their own strength.
Remaining helpless all our daysThe prayer asks God to keep the church so helpless that only His resurrection power can lift them up in every situation.
