God Needs Men to Represent Him - Zac Poonen - April 6, 2012
RLCF Spring Conference 2012 Session 1: April 6, 2012 http://rlcfchurch.org River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue, Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The speaker argues that the true meaning of eternal life is not merely living forever, but rather knowing God and Jesus Christ personally, as defined in John 17:3. He critiques Christians who rely solely on quoting scripture or who exhibit spiritual ignorance, contrasting this with the life empowered by the Holy Spirit, which is the 'Living Word.' True rebirth involves an internal realization of one's adoption as a child of God, guided by the Spirit.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
What is eternal life?Jesus defined eternal life in John 17:3 as knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent.John 17:3
Knowing scriptures versus knowing GodLike the Pharisees, many believers search the scriptures thinking eternal life is in them, but refuse to come to Jesus to have life.John 5:39
The witness of the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, prompting us to cry out Abba Father.Romans 8:16
The natural hunger of a newborn babyJust as a healthy newborn baby automatically cries out for milk, a truly born-again believer has a natural, burning hunger for God's word.
Taking hold of eternal lifePaul exhorted Timothy, his longtime coworker, to fight the good fight of faith and take hold of eternal life.1 Timothy 6:12
The privilege of knowing God directlyUnder the New Covenant, everyone from the least to the greatest can know the Lord personally, a privilege Old Testament prophets longed for.Hebrews 8:11
Jesus explained the FatherNo one has seen God at any time, but the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father has explained Him.John 1:18
We are now the light of the worldJesus stated He was only the light of the world while in the world, and subsequently assigned that responsibility to His disciples.John 9:5
God looks for a representative manIn the very first book of the Bible, Job, God sought a man he could point to and boast about to Satan.
God waits until His man is readyGod waited centuries in Egypt and the wilderness, letting go of Moses's self-confidence until he was completely broken and unable to speak in his own strength.Genesis 15:13
Jesus rebukes unbelief in His disciplesJesus expressed grief over the unbelief and perverseness of His own disciples when they failed to cast out a demon.Matthew 17:17
Searching for one upright manThrough Jeremiah, God challenged Jerusalem to find even one man who seeks the truth so He could pardon the city.Jeremiah 5:1
Sent as Jesus was sentJust as the Father sent Jesus into the world to show what God is like, Jesus sends believers into a corrupt Christendom to manifest His life.John 20:21
