The Law Of The Spirit_2.The Law Of Brokenness by Zac Poonen
Three Important Laws
Summary
The speaker explains that the Old Testament Law's purpose was not to be perfectly kept, but rather to reveal humanity's need for God's grace. He focuses heavily on the Tenth Commandment—'Thou shalt not covet'—as the only internal law, noting that even outwardly righteous people, like the Rich Young Ruler, failed at this internal standard. True freedom comes not from keeping the law, but from honestly acknowledging our inability to keep it and turning to Christ for help, which leads to inward purity.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Why God gave the old covenant lawThe old covenant law was never meant for man to live up to God's standard on his own; its purpose was to help man see his need.
The Ten Commandments and the inward tenth commandmentThe first nine commandments deal with external actions, but the tenth commandment addresses the inward heart by forbidding coveting and lust.
Jesus and the Rich Young RulerJesus listed the external commandments to the Rich Young Ruler but exposed his attachment to money, revealing that keeping external rules is not enough.
Testing honesty through the lawGod gave nine external commandments and one inward commandment to test if people would honestly acknowledge their inability to keep the inner standard.Romans 8:3
The impossible standard of the Sermon on the MountThe Sermon on the Mount presents an impossible standard that humbles us, moving us from trying in our own strength to recognizing our total defeat.
The three stages of God's workGod leads us through three stages: difficult, impossible, and done, bringing us to an end of our own New Year resolutions and self-effort.
The necessity of brokennessUnlike the corporate world that values self-confidence, God requires brokenness, using trials to strip us of self-sufficiency just as He broke Jacob.
Where is true faith located?Faith is not something we dig up inside ourselves; it is placed in an outside object that is worthy of trust, like looking to Jesus to save and keep us.Matthew 9:28
Overcoming the law of sin like Peter walking on waterJust as gravity pulls everyone down, the law of sin pulls human nature down, but Jesus overcame and proved humanity can live without sin.
Glorying in doctrines versus manifesting the life of ChristChristians often argue over doctrinal differences while remaining selfish and loving money, possessing religious gadgets without the electricity of Christ's life.
The greatest promise is partaking of God's natureThe ultimate promise of Scripture is not material wealth, but that we can partake of God's own divine nature through the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Avoiding extremes and seeking the genuine Holy SpiritWe must test spiritual experiences against the life of Jesus, avoiding both fanatical extremes and dead orthodoxy to receive the true power of the Spirit.
God gives the Spirit to the thirsty and the defeatedGod fills those who come to the end of their own strength in utter defeat, just like the disciples catching fish only after admitting they caught nothing.
