Brother Zac Poonen’s advice on his 80th Birthday
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Summary
The speaker discusses themes of assurance in salvation, emphasizing that true security comes from a deep, personal relationship with Christ, not just belief. He advises believers to live simply, avoid unrighteous gain through deceit, and to confess sins immediately to both God and people. Ultimately, he stresses the importance of daily devotion and maintaining a heart free of malice.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Are you expecting to be alive when the Lord comes?Reading 1 Thessalonians 4, the speaker notes how Paul used 'we who are alive,' expressing an eager expectation for Christ's return, yet later in 2 Timothy recognized when his earthly departure had come.
Having absolute assurance of salvation through a personal relationshipRather than holding a once-saved-always-saved Calvinist view, the speaker explains that enduring to the end matters, yet he possesses total personal assurance of his salvation much like the absolute commitment in a marriage.Hebrews 3:14Revelation 3:5
God loves those who forsake earthly attachmentsGod loves those who have forsaken attachments to earthly things, relatives, property, and their own lives just as He loves Jesus, a profound security that frees believers from anxiety and the temptation to cheat for money.
Living simply and avoiding unrighteous moneyBelievers are urged to live simply, avoid debt, and never tell lies or cheat for money, remembering the severe curse that came upon Gehazi for taking money wrongfully.
Quickly confessing wrongs and starting each day with GodThe speaker advises being quick to confess faults to God and others without shifting blame, ending every day at peace, and beginning each morning with focused time with God.
The only thing serious in life is sinWhen dealing with others, do not make unreasonable demands or say 'I told you so' like an expert; instead, focus on fixing problems together because sin is the only truly serious thing in life.
Eliminating sin completely like a dangerous diseaseSin—such as anger, dirty thoughts, and murmuring—must be eliminated completely from life because it is worse than cancer, following God's pattern of immediately offering a solution when humanity fell.
Building deep relationships with childrenParents must play with their children, meet them at their level, and pray that their children will grow to become spiritual brothers and sisters.
The three secrets of the Christian life: humilityBased on Philippians 2, the three secrets of the Christian life are that God became man, became a slave, and accepted a criminal's death on a cross, meaning those who humble themselves the most will be exalted.Philippians 2:5–8
Growing closer to God means seeing yourself lowerAs the Apostle Paul grew older and closer to God, he moved from calling himself the least of the apostles, to the least of all believers, and finally the worst of all sinners.
Recognizing we are sinners saved by graceTrue spiritual growth does not make a person feel holy and superior, but rather gives a revelation of God's holiness, causing them to recognize their ongoing need for grace as sinners saved by Christ.
Singing a testimony of grace with familyThe speaker concludes by reading and singing a personal testimony song with his children about being a wretched sinner saved by God's great grace.
