How the Altar of God is Defiled — Santosh Poonen — May 21, 2023
https://rlcf.church/media/sermons/how-the-altar-of-god-is-defiled River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The sermon emphasizes that God's glory manifests most powerfully not when life is perfect, but when we are in a problem, mistake, or helpless situation. Drawing from John 2, the speaker argues that God uses these 'signs' or problems to reveal His glory, contrasting this with the idea of presenting a 'cleaned up' life. Ultimately, the message encourages people to bring their struggles to God, as that is where His glory can be manifested.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
How God manifests His gloryGod's glory has always existed, but under the New Covenant, He wants us to partake in it and manifest it through human involvement rather than distant displays of power.
The miracle at Cana and starting with a problemJesus's first sign in Cana manifested His glory when a real problem arose at a wedding, showing that God's glory under the New Covenant begins with helplessness and mistakes rather than perfection.John 2:11
The hindrance of unbeliefOne of the saddest verses in the Bible describes how Jesus could not do many miracles in certain places because of the people's unbelief and self-reliance.Matthew 13:58
Involving human participationInstead of acting entirely apart from us, God asks human beings to fill water jars or bring what little they have so He can turn it into a miracle.
The poor widow's offeringJesus observed people giving to the treasury and declared that a poor widow who gave her last two small coins gave more than all the rich contributors because she gave out of her poverty.
Despising the Lord's table with defiled offeringsIn Malachi, God rebuked the priests and people for bringing blind, lame, and sick animals as sacrifices while outwardly pretending to serve Him.
Leaving the first love in EphesusThe church in Ephesus had great doctrine, perseverance, and hatred of false practices, yet they were rebuked by the Spirit for leaving their first love.
Understanding the mother's love as a picture of first loveFirst love resembles the relationship between a mother and her child, where the mother's constant thought is what else she can give to nourish and care for her child.
The attitude of an unworthy servantTrue disciples serve God not to earn a reward or demand repayment, but out of unmerited grace, maintaining the posture of an unworthy servant whose only desire is to serve the Master.
The feeding of the five thousand and the boy's lunchWhen faced with a massive crowd and no food, Jesus tested Philip, while a little boy handed over his meager five loaves and two fish for God to perform a miracle.
Giving what you cannot keepCiting Jim Elliot's famous words, believers are encouraged to freely give what they cannot keep in order to gain that which nobody can steal from them.
A concluding prayer for eternityThe speaker closes in prayer, asking God for help to live fully in light of eternity and to offer everything afresh without holding back.
