How God Evaluates a Church - Zac Poonen - August 26, 2018
http://rlcfchurch.org/how-god-evaluates-a-church River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
God requires human free will and conscience to achieve holiness, as mere obedience like that of a robot is insufficient. The speaker emphasizes that all choices, leading to either life or destruction, are ultimately the individual's own responsibility, not God's doing. Furthermore, consequences for sin are not immediate; people often continue in sin because they do not believe in the eventual judgment for their actions.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Why did God permit Satan to exist?God cannot make a person holy without personal choice, otherwise they would merely be robots like the planets and stars that lack free will and conscience.
The law of sowing and reapingEvery man reaps what he sows, and the quality of the seed determines the fruit; God shows no partiality in this law of consequences.
Why punishment is not executed immediatelyBecause the sentence against an evil deed is not executed immediately, people continue to do evil, failing to realize judgment is coming later.Ecclesiastes 8:11
Exercising our spiritual muscles against resistanceJust as muscles need resistance to grow strong, God allows Satan to tempt us in daily life so that spiritual food is converted into spiritual strength.
Jesus learned obedience through sufferingJesus came as a helpless baby to be an example for all ages, learning obedience through the suffering and self-denial of human life.
Depending on the power of the Holy SpiritJust as a lightbulb needs electricity to shine, humanly impossible commands become effortless when we rely on the power of the Holy Spirit.John 15:5Philippians 4:13
Satan tempting David to number IsraelThe only direct Old Testament temptation by Satan outside of Genesis occurred when Satan tempted David to take a census, revealing a reliance on military strength rather than God.
God's displeasure with relying on human strengthGod was angry because numbering the fighting men indicated a dependence on the arm of man instead of trusting the Lord for victory.
God is not impressed by mega-churches or numbersGod does not measure success by large crowds or statistics, choosing instead to focus on spiritual quality rather than bulk numbers.
The thinning of the crowd when Jesus preached the crossWhen Jesus demanded that His followers eat His flesh and drink His blood by dying to self, the mega-church of thousands dwindled down to just twelve disciples.John 6:2
Following a living person rather than mere doctrineTrue discipleship is drawn to the manifested life, integrity, and humility of Jesus Christ and His followers, not merely correct doctrinal statements that even Satan can agree with.
David refuses to offer God that which costs him nothingWhen offering a sacrifice at the threshing floor of Ornan, David refused a free gift, declaring he would never offer to God an offering that cost him nothing.1 Chronicles 21:18
The site of the temple built on sacrificeSolomon built the house of God on Mount Moriah where Abraham and David both established the principle of offering sacrifices that cost them something.2 Chronicles 3:1
Yielding everything we own to the LordIn the New Covenant, true surrender means recognizing that everything we have belongs to God, living a life of self-denial and stewardship rather than keeping a portion for ourselves.
