Depending on the Father Like an Infant - Santosh Poonen - November 19, 2017
http://rlcfchurch.org/sermons/depending-on-the-father-like-an-infant River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The central message is that to truly enter and be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, one must adopt the childlike mentality—being unbothered by the things the world values. This requires a deep, exclusive focus on knowing God, casting aside all other attachments, including self-righteousness or worldly achievements. Becoming a new creature in Christ means recognizing and knowing no one or nothing according to the flesh.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Becoming like little childrenThe disciples asked who was greatest, but Jesus told them they must become like little children to even enter the kingdom of heaven.
Unaffected by the world's esteemA little child is unaffected by what the world esteems as great, such as riches, status, or speaking ability.
Recognizing no one according to the fleshPaul states that if anyone is in Christ he is a new creature, which means from now on we know no one according to the flesh.
Knowing Jesus beyond the physicalJesus went up to heaven so that believers would not know him after the flesh, but rather through a spiritual connection.
Depending on the father like an infantAn infant is completely helpless and depends on caregivers to remove dangers, illustrating our need for total dependence on God.
The slow poisoning of self-sufficiencyEating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil brought a slow spiritual death where people get by without depending on God.
The Son can do nothing of himselfJesus lived by the standard of doing only what He saw the Father doing, refusing to use His own power to meet His needs independently.John 5:19
The temptation in the wildernessWhen tempted to turn stones to bread, Jesus refused because the Father had not given Him that direction, choosing child-like obedience.
Good for nothingTrue humility means realizing we are good for nothing apart from God, following the example of Jesus who stated He could do nothing of Himself.
The Creator who humbled HimselfAlthough all things were created by Him, Jesus emptied Himself and took the form of a servant in the likeness of men.Colossians 1:16
Loud crying and tears in the days of His fleshJesus offered up prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears, facing the constant pull toward self-dependence and death.Hebrews 5:7
Finding grace at the throneWhile mercy is given freely, believers must actively find grace by laying down their self-will and depending completely on God.
I can do all things through ChristAfter counting all things as loss and dying to self-sufficiency, Paul declares he can do all things through Christ who gives him strength.
