How God Started the Work of CFC — Zac Poonen — April 12, 2023

Zac PoonenApril 18, 20231h 54mWatch on YouTube

Note: Due to technical limitations during this informal meeting, the audio recording was not very clear. We have done our best to enhance the audio quality, and decided that the content was still worth publishing despite the lower quality. We apologize for any inconvenience. --- https://rlcf.church/media/sermons/how-the-lord-began-the-work-of-cfc River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA

Summary

Genuine works of God always begin with a burden and prayer, tracing historical examples from Martin Luther's Reformation to John Wesley's emphasis on holiness. The speaker argues that the full purpose of God—encompassing salvation by faith, the Holy Spirit, and a life of holiness—has been repeatedly obscured by corruption and materialism within Christianity. He advocates for a return to authentic, non-worldly Christian living, using his experience in India to illustrate the need to counter the influence of money in church leadership.

Outline

The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.

Every work of God begins with a burdenTrue movements of God start with prayer and a deep, long-held weight for a specific truth, much like a pregnancy.

The Reformation and the recovery of faithMartin Luther's burden for the truth of salvation by faith helped spark the Protestant Reformation after centuries of false doctrine.

The decision to serve God rather than moneyThe speaker realized he must prioritize God's kingdom over financial security, deciding that money would never be the master of his ministry.

A desire for the power of the Holy SpiritReflecting on a preacher's invitation to come forward, the speaker describes his intense longing not for tongues, but for the actual power of the Holy Spirit.

God will not call you to serve without providing powerThe speaker shares how a word from a mentor helped him overcome unbelief by realizing that God would never call someone to His service and then refuse them His power.

The necessity of offering sacrifices that cost us somethingUsing the book of Malachi and the example of King David, the speaker explains that true worship and revival require an offering that involves real personal cost.

The attitude of a true discipleTrue discipleship requires an attitude where one does not possessively cling to material things like houses or cars, but rather chooses the love of God over the love of money.

Surrendering possessions to GodThe speaker recounts how he gave away his savings and even lived with the expectation that God might destroy his house to ensure he never worshipped his possessions.

The expansion of the Gospel of the KingdomThe message concludes by defining the Gospel of the Kingdom as a life of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit that overcomes sin.

Understanding the power of the New CovenantThe speaker recounts how God opened his eyes to the reality of the New Covenant, where sin no longer has dominion over the believer and the devil must flee.

A specific calling to the poorUnlike many evangelists who focus on big cities for resources, the speaker felt called by God to reach the poor and even married a doctor dedicated to serving lepers.

Maintaining unity and trusting God's provisionThe speaker emphasizes that true strength comes from yielding to one another in love and relying entirely on God's provision rather than banks or loans.

Maintaining integrity and handling conflict among leadersThe speaker explains that when elders fall into sin or cause division over money, they must be dealt with strictly to protect the church's integrity.

The three-story building of faithFaith is built on a foundation of God's love, a first story of personal walk with a clear conscience, and a second story of healthy family life.

Teaching children respect and diligence in God's wordChildren should be taught to respect everyone regardless of social status, and believers must be diligent in studying Scripture to avoid a laid-back attitude.

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River of Life Christian Fellowship

How God Started the Work of CFC — Zac Poonen — April 12, 2023

Zac Poonen · April 18, 2023 · 1h 54m

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