God Wants to Bless Us and Make Us a Blessing - Zac Poonen
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Summary
The central message emphasizes that believers must live with the constant awareness that God sees every part of their being—thoughts, attitudes, and motives. The speaker stresses that the only person whose opinion truly matters is Almighty God, urging listeners to fight the tendency to live for the approval of others. This focus on God's opinion is presented as the key to freedom from hypocrisy.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Recognizing that all things are laid bare before GodEvery part of our inner life, thoughts, motives, and hidden attitudes toward others is completely visible to God, whom we ultimately have to do with.Hebrews 4:13
Realizing there is only one person with whom we have to doWe must fight the daily battle to stop catering to the opinions of others and live solely aware that God's opinion is the only one that counts for eternity.
Breaking free from hypocrisy and actingThe word hypocrite originally meant an actor, and Jesus most strongly condemned this sin of acting a part, which is a major danger for Christians seeking holiness when they are around others.
Rejecting old covenant excuses for failureBelievers living under the new covenant must never excuse personal failures, discouragement, or moral falls by pointing to examples of old testament figures like Elijah or David.
God's method of bringing us to absolute zeroResurrection only comes after complete death, which is a state of absolute zero where we can do nothing, much like Jesus waiting for Lazarus to be fully dead in the tomb.
Giving up self-effort and human clevernessAs long as we think we can achieve spiritual victory through our own effort, or try to help God produce results like Abraham tried with Ishmael, we create complications for His work.
The deadness of Abraham and SarahGod waited until both Sarah's womb and Abraham's body were as good as dead before fulfilling His promise, establishing faith upon the principle of coming to a zero point.
The blessing of Abraham and Christ becoming a curseChrist became a curse on the cross in order that the blessing of Abraham—receiving the Holy Spirit and becoming a blessing to every family we encounter—might come to us.
Waiting for the wine to run completely dryJust as Jesus waited at the wedding in Cana and by the lake with the disciples until human resources ran completely dry, God waits for us to reach zero before He pours out His abundance.
Dying to the applause and opinions of menTrue spiritual breakthrough requires dying to the desire to impress others, gain a great name, or seek human praise.
Following Jesus' example at the River JordanThe Holy Spirit came upon Jesus only after He submitted to total death in baptism, showing us the path of the cross and dying to our own ambitions.
Surrendering our life plans to God's willYoung people and all believers must bow before God and surrender their personal career, marriage, and life plans to follow His perfect will.
Brought to zero like Moses and the disciplesThroughout scripture, figures like Moses and the disciples had to be brought to a place of utter weakness and zero self-reliance before God could use them powerfully.
God wants to fulfill a mighty purpose through youRegardless of weakness, age, or past failure, God wants to bring every believer to zero so that rivers of living water can flow out to bless everyone they encounter.
