The Fragrant Anointing of Goodness - Santosh Poonen - January 15, 2017
http://rlcfchurch.org/sermons/fragrant-aroma-goodness River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
Jesus' ministry demonstrated that God's focus is not on adherence to religious law, but on genuine goodness and faith. The speaker emphasizes that faith, even amidst sin, is what draws God's power, contrasting this with self-righteous legalism. True Christian living involves doing good, fulfilling the spirit of the law rather than merely observing its letter.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
What draws Jesus to sinners?Examining Matthew 21, the speaker notes that Jesus was drawn not to sin itself, but to the faith of tax collectors and harlots who believed He could solve their problems.Matthew 21:32
Lawfulness versus doing goodReading from Matthew 12 where Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, the speaker contrasts two types of religious people: those who live by self-righteous lawfulness and those who do good.Matthew 12:9–21
The characteristics of self-righteous lawfulnessPeople living by self-righteous lawfulness are typically proud, uncaring toward others, and quick to impose their own standards, mirroring the spirit of the Pharisees that put Jesus to death.
God's goodness as true spiritual lifeJust as rotting flesh produces a foul odor of death, a purely lawful life without God's goodness stinks in God's nostrils, whereas His goodness is the true life of God working within us.
Healing the withered hand and the anointing of goodnessJesus commands the man with the withered hand to stretch it out on the Sabbath, demonstrating that the fulfillment of the law is to do good and releasing the fragrant anointing of goodness.Matthew 12:13
The approval of God in secretLooking at Isaiah's prophecy quoted in Matthew 12, the speaker emphasizes that God's approval begins with living a life dedicated to doing good in secret, just as Jesus did for His first thirty years.
Characteristics of the anointed servant of GodGod anoints His servant with the Holy Spirit to proclaim justice over sin, refuse self-seeking quarrels, avoid self-defense, and care for battered reeds and smoldering wicks.Matthew 12:18
Seeking God's anointing specifically to do goodReviewing Isaiah 41 and Peter's summary in Acts 10, the speaker concludes with a call to pray for the Holy Spirit's anointing—not for human applause or ministry status, but simply to do good to others.Isaiah 41:17
