God's "China Cabinet" - Santosh Poonen - September 16, 2012
http://rlcfchurch.org/gods-china-cabinet River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The speaker cautions against the misconception that God's pleasure in using a person or ministry is determined by worldly success or recognition. He emphasizes that God can use anyone, even those He is not pleased with, to accomplish His purpose, citing examples like Pharaoh, Balaam, and Judas Iscariot. True measure of God's favor lies in the heart and life of the individual, not the visible ministry.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Does being used by God mean He is pleased with you?God can use anyone to accomplish His purposes—even wicked figures like Pharaoh, Balaam, or even a donkey—so being used in ministry does not automatically mean God is pleased with the quality of that person's life.
The trash can versus the china cabinet in God's houseIn a large house there are vessels of honor and vessels of dishonor, representing believers whose lives either embarrass God or are proudly displayed by Him like a treasured china cabinet.2 Timothy 2:16–21
What is worldly and empty chatter?Worldly chatter originates in the world, promotes self, lacks the power of the Holy Spirit, and drains spiritual power from a believer's life like holes in a leaking vessel.
The mouth speaks out of what fills the heartJesus warns that what we blurt out actually stems from the inner resentments, thoughts, and treasures we have allowed to accumulate and fill up in our hearts.
Rendering an account for every careless wordGod keeps a precise record of every casual word we speak about politics, sports, or others, and we will render an account for them on the day of judgment.
Cleansed by the blood of JesusThough our past words are recorded, the blood of Jesus cleanses us completely, casting our confessed sins into the depths of the ocean with a 'no fishing' sign attached.
Who is responsible for the cleansing?While only the blood of Jesus cleanses from sin, believers must actively choose to take a step of faith and cleanse themselves from worldly, self-filled chatter and habits.
Jeremiah's self-pity and God's call to repentanceWhen Jeremiah complained and wallowed in self-pity during his trials, God told him to repent, take back his worthless words, and extract the precious from the worthless to become His mouth again.Jeremiah 15:15–19
Coveting the gift of prophecyNew Covenant prophecy is not predicting the distant future, but speaking words of edification, exhortation, and consolation as God's mouthpiece to build up the body of Christ.
Speaking words according to the need of the momentBelievers filled with the Holy Spirit should let no rotten words proceed from their mouths, but only words that impart grace and meet the exact need of the moment for those who hear.Ephesians 4:29
