Strengthened Through Trials to Strengthen Others -- Zac Poonen -- March 3, 2021
http://rlcf.church/media/sermons/strengthened-through-trials-strengthen-others River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The sermon emphasizes that the Christian body, established by the Holy Spirit, is composed of many diverse members, each with a necessary function. It cautions against feeling insignificant or believing that only certain gifts (like preaching) are valuable, pointing out that even seemingly weaker members are crucial. True church life involves actively building up the local body through mutual encouragement and utilizing the gifts God has given every believer.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
God's people as a bodyUnlike the old testament kingdom, believers on the day of pentecost became one body in christ through the baptism of the holy spirit.
The necessity of weaker membersScripture teaches that the members of the body which seem weaker are actually more necessary, yet famous preachers often miss this truth.
A gift for every single personEvery single member is given some manifestation of the spirit for the good of the whole body, and nobody is left out.1 Corinthians 12:7
Avoiding a paralyzed connectionJust like a paralyzed hand whose connection to the head is gone, believers can become useless burdens if they fail to maintain a living connection with christ.
Ministry comes through the spirit, not bible schoolEffective ministry in the body of christ comes through depending on the holy spirit and walking with god rather than through academic degrees or head knowledge.
The purpose of trials and afflictionGod allows us to go through trials so that we can comfort and strengthen others with the exact strength we received from him during our own afflictions.2 Corinthians 1:3–4
Shattering self-confidenceUnlike the world which values self-confidence, god's kingdom requires us to be broken so we realize that apart from christ we can do zero.
Pruning for more fruitThe father prunes every branch that bears fruit through trial and affliction so that it may produce more fruit.John 15:2
Joseph prepared through sufferingJoseph was sold as a slave and imprisoned falsely, yet god used those trials to prepare him to preserve lives and forgive his brothers.
Moses humbled in the wildernessMoses went from being a powerful prince in egypt to a shepherd in the desert for forty years until god broke his self-reliance.
David prepared in obscurity and afflictionDavid was despised by his family and chased by saul for years, learning to trust god rather than grabbing the kingdom for himself.
Paul's thorn in the fleshTo prevent paul from becoming proud due to the great revelations he received, god allowed a messenger of satan to humble him.
Timothy's stomach problemsEven timothy, a genuine seeker of christ's kingdom, had frequent stomach problems that kept him humble and dependent on the lord.1 Timothy 5:23
Stopping self-condemnation and prideSelf-condemnation is often rooted in having high thoughts about yourself and wanting a big ministry instead of being happy to do small things for god.
Being a nail that encourages othersWe should be willing to be like a nail in the body, using simple words of encouragement in everyday conversations, emails, or phone calls to lift others up.
