29th March 2020 - Looking In Three Directions - Zac Poonen
29th March 2020 - Christian Fellowship Meeting - Bangalore. For more sermons please visit https://www.cfcindia.com/
Summary
The speaker encourages the congregation to quiet their spirits and focus their thoughts entirely on Christ's love, goodness, mercy, and grace. He emphasizes praising God for His mighty power, forgiveness, and faithfulness, drawing strength from scripture passages like Psalm 139. The message concludes by encouraging the audience to redeem the time by studying God's Word in preparation for the days ahead.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Welcome to the Sunday morning serviceThe speaker welcomes the congregation to a time of singing praises to the Lord.
The exaltation of Jesus ChristA recognition that God has exalted Jesus far above all things and that we stand at His feet.
Preparing our hearts for His presenceAn invitation to quiet our spirits, lay aside distractions, and concentrate on the love, goodness, and mercy of Christ.
A prayer of gratitude for God's mercyThe speaker begins with a prayer thanking God for the cross of Calvary, His forgiveness of sins, and His immense love.
Reflecting on God's promises and the current seasonThe speaker references past scriptures about being watchmen and God's encompassing presence to frame the importance of using time well during periods of restriction.
Looking up to the throne of GodThe speaker calls believers to look upward at Jesus on His throne as the primary way to overcome panic and find strength.
God's absolute sovereignty over all creationGod carries out His will exactly as He intends, and to Him, all inhabitants of the earth are nothing compared to His power.
The danger of having a small view of GodMany Christians live in fear of worldly authorities because they do not truly know the magnitude and power of God.
Looking up to Jesus on the throneThe primary direction we must look this year is upward, recognizing Jesus as the holy and sovereign ruler over everything.
Looking in after looking upWe must first behold the holiness of Jesus before looking into ourselves; looking inward at our own flesh without seeing Christ's purity only leads to discouragement.
Seeking light on our own sinsFollowing Isaiah's example, we should pray for God to reveal our own impurities rather than spending our time pointing out the faults of others.
The reward of judging ourselves rightlyIf we faithfully judge our own lives and confess our sins, we can face Christ's judgment with confidence and a clean record.
Being available to look out for othersA spiritual person does not just look up to God and in at themselves, but also looks out to see the needs around them and makes themselves available to serve.
The blessing of generous givingUsing the example of a businessman who gave increasing percentages of his profits to God, the speaker shows how God provides for those who prioritize His work.
A call to worship and praiseThe message concludes with a call for the congregation to stand and lift their voices in praise to the Lord.
