25th July 2021 - Sunday Church Service | Be Ready For Christ's Return - Zac Poonen
25th July 2021 - Sunday Church Service | Be Ready For Christ's Return - Zac Poonen
Summary
The message emphasizes the importance of being prepared for Christ's return by examining human failure through the story of Adam and Eve. The speaker highlights that a key lesson from the Garden of Eden is the unwillingness to take responsibility for sin, as Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent. God's response, which involved addressing the serpent first, teaches that we must learn to own our failures rather than deflecting blame.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Israel waiting for Christ's first coming and the lesson from Adam's sinIsrael waited 1500 years for the Messiah but missed Him, much like humans repeat Adam and Eve's failure in the garden by refusing to take responsibility for sin.
God's pattern of appreciation before correction in RevelationExamining the letters to the churches in Revelation shows that God always begins by appreciating the good deeds He sees before addressing their sins.Revelation 2:2
Paul's approach to the troubled Corinthian churchPaul wrote to the deeply flawed church in Corinth by first thanking God for the grace, spiritual gifts, and richness given to them in Christ before addressing their divisions.1 Corinthians 1:2–4
Encouraging one another to save people from sin's deceitfulnessRather than constantly exhorting or correcting others in a human way, scripture tells us to encourage one another daily so people are not hardened by sin.Hebrews 3:13
The difference between a teacher and a fatherTeachers lack patience with those who fall behind, whereas fathers are patient and willing to work with those who are truly willing to learn and repent.
Two types of believers at the appearance of ChristWhen Christ appears, some believers will have bold confidence while others will shrink away in shame because they were not ready for His return.1 John 2:28
The judgment seat of Christ and the opening of memory scrollsAll believers will appear at the judgment seat of Christ where every deed, word, and thought stored in their memory will be evaluated like a video tape.
Confessing sin to have it wiped out by the blood of JesusIf we confess our sins instead of blaming others, God is faithful to forgive and cleanse us, blotting out our unrighteousness from the record.
The thief on the cross who took the blameUnlike Adam who blamed his wife, the repentant thief on the cross humbly acknowledged that he justly deserved his punishment, and Jesus welcomed him into paradise.Luke 23:40–41
Growing in spiritual maturity and being ready at any timeJust as a child learns to walk by falling less and less, a growing believer sins less frequently, ensuring they are ready whenever Christ returns.
