Reaching Forward to What Lies Ahead -- Zac Poonen -- March 14, 2021
http://rlcf.church/media/sermons/reaching-forward-what-lies-ahead River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The sermon focuses on the danger of spiritual complacency, using the Laodicean church as an example of those who feel they have 'need of nothing.' The speaker emphasizes that true Christian hope is not merely seeing Christ at His return, but rather becoming completely like Him in thought, motive, and attitude. This requires a daily, purifying pursuit of Christ's standard, moving beyond self-satisfaction to a state of constant spiritual need.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
What made the church in Laodicea lukewarm?The Lord rebuked the Laodicean church not for being openly worldly, but for their self-satisfied claim that they were rich and had need of nothing.
What is our true blessed hope?The ultimate hope of a believer is not merely seeing Jesus when He appears, but being completely transformed to become exactly like Him on the inside.
How do you test your spiritual hope?Having the right theological answer is not enough; the true test is whether you actively purify yourself every day to reach Christ's standard.
Will you let Jesus be the Lord of every room?Just as a guest is kept out of certain rooms, believers often keep areas of their lives closed off to Christ instead of letting Him rule completely.
Loving the truth about yourselfWith so many deceptions in the heart and flesh, the only safeguard is loving the truth about oneself so God will not allow us to remain deceived.2 Thessalonians 2:10–11
What am I still lacking?Unlike the rich young ruler who felt a sense of complete self-satisfaction, a true believer maintains an attitude of dissatisfied satisfaction.Matthew 19:20
Lord, what about us?When Jesus spoke about the difficulty for a rich man to enter the kingdom, the disciples honestly acknowledged their own wealth rather than falsely thanking God they were poor.
True spiritual poverty and wealthAbraham was extremely rich in material possessions, yet he truly became poor the day he placed Isaac on the altar, showing he valued nothing more than God.
Pressing toward the markWe must forget both past failures and past successes, pressing forward into the future for the high calling of becoming like Jesus.
