27th January 2019 - Manifesting The Life Of Christ - Zac Poonen
27th January 2019 - Manifesting The Life Of Christ - Zac Poonen
Summary
The speaker emphasizes the unique and distinguishing nature of Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead, citing Romans 1. This resurrection, unlike other resurrections, proves His divinity and power, setting Him apart from all other religious leaders or figures. The message stresses that remembering this unique victory over death is crucial for understanding who Jesus is.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Opening worship and prayerThe service begins with congregational singing and a heartfelt prayer of adoration, thanking God for the privilege of being His people.
Reciting the memory versesThe congregation recites last week's verse from Jeremiah and today's foundational verse from Hebrews 12:1 regarding running the race with endurance.Jeremiah 3:14–15
The significance of the resurrectionThe speaker argues that while many focus on Christ's death, it is specifically His powerful resurrection that proves He is the Son of God and distinguishes Him from all other religious leaders.
Jesus was not interested in proving Himself to menWhile many saw Jesus' crucifixion, He did not seek to prove His victory over His enemies, but rather focused on being a witness of His resurrection.
The difference between bearing witness and being a witnessBearing witness is stating facts about Jesus, but being a witness means our very lives must serve as proof that Christ is alive through our mercy and love.Acts 1:8
Being saved by His life and the necessity of living before GodTrue salvation involves being saved not just from God's wrath through Christ's death, but also being saved by His life to reflect His character, which requires repenting even for secret sins known only to God.Romans 5:9–10
Rejecting the desire for human praiseWhen tempted to take credit for good deeds or seek the admiration of others, we must immediately reject those thoughts to ensure all glory goes to God.
Cleansing ourselves from filthinessWhile Christ's blood cleanses us from past sins, we must actively cleanse ourselves from wrong motives and attitudes through the power of God.2 Corinthians 7:1
Cultivating a personal fragrance for ChristUsing the Song of Solomon as an example, the speaker describes how our lives should produce a fragrance for God alone, regardless of whether we face trials or praise.
The manifestation of life and fellowshipGod's nature includes life and fellowship, which was made visible to us through the person of Jesus Christ. Unlike the Old Covenant where glory had to be veiled, Jesus manifested a life that could be touched and felt.1 John 1:1
The purpose of the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit was given so that the same life manifested in Jesus can be manifested through us, allowing us to stand firm against all opposition.
Developing a life of constant dependenceWe must develop a life of constant dependence on God, especially when we fail; instead of just asking for forgiveness, we should investigate the causes of our sin to eliminate them and grow in Christlikeness.
A test for your attitude toward correctionThe speaker uses a personal test to determine if one is truly humble: observing whether your reaction to someone's praise is the same as your reaction to their rebuke.
The advantage of learning from others' mistakesBy observing the sins and failures of others without judging them, you can achieve a 'double promotion' in spiritual growth by avoiding the same pitfalls.
A call to die to self and live for ChristThe speaker concludes with a plea to abandon old ways and allow Christ to rule every area of life—including private thoughts—so that the life of Jesus can be manifested in the believer.
