A Heavenly Life: 3.A Heavenly Life, Home and Church - Zac Poonen
Summary
The speaker argues that a true Christian life, exemplified by Jesus' baptism, requires three continuous elements: living with 'heavens open,' being filled with the Holy Spirit, and hearing God's voice affirming pleasure. He critiques modern Christianity for replacing this genuine walk with mere titles, rituals like tithing, or prosperity gospel. True discipleship involves daily submission to self-denial, mirroring Christ's willingness to be buried and raised.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
What did Jesus' baptism establish?When Jesus was baptized, He started a process establishing a new relationship between God and man, demonstrating how we are to live on Earth.
The narrow gate leads to a narrow wayA false gospel teaches that the narrow gate alone leads to life, leaving Christians discouraged and carnal, whereas Jesus taught that the narrow gate leads to a narrow way.
Three vital experiences along the narrow wayAt Jesus' baptism, three things happened that should characterize our daily walk: heavens open over us, the Spirit of God descends upon us, and we hear God's voice.Matthew 3:16–17
Water baptism as a symbol of dying to selfJesus' baptism symbolized submitting His body totally to death to self, showing us the path of daily surrender rather than relying on outward religious acts.
Hearing God say 'I am well pleased'Even the youngest believer can hear God's approval through a clear conscience as light reveals and cleanses un-Christlike areas daily.
Keeping a blameless conscience alwaysPaul made it his daily aim to keep his conscience completely clear before both God and men without exception.Acts 24:15–16
Apologizing without regard to earthly dignityIf you want a heavenly life, you must drop false human dignity and be willing to apologize to anyone you have wronged, regardless of their social status.
Receiving God's thoughts through the Holy SpiritGod gives us His Holy Spirit so we can know His thoughts and replace our selfish, adamic ways of thinking with heavenly ones.1 Corinthians 2:11–12
God's thoughts versus human thoughtsGod declares that His thoughts are as far above our earthly, self-serving thoughts as the heavens are above the earth.Isaiah 55:8–9
Rejecting self-improvement and human honorChristianity is not a self-improvement program to gain a good reputation among men, but a call to seek only the Father's approval.
Every thought measured by loveAny thought that does not originate in genuine love for people is an evil thought, showing we need the Holy Spirit to change our inner nature.
The lesson of King Saul sparing AgagSaul's failure to completely destroy Amalek pictures how Christians often want to rid themselves of bad traits while keeping the 'good' parts of their natural flesh.
Laying everything on the crossWe must bring all our natural abilities, good qualities, and corrupt tendencies to the cross, dying completely so God can raise us into a heavenly life.
God's unconditional love as our foundationGod loves us unconditionally as we are, and His love empowers us to love others without waiting for them to change first.
Bringing heaven down to build a heavenly churchHaving received this wonderful heavenly life, we have a responsibility to pass it on and build a truly heavenly church for Christ.
