Getting God's Certificate, Not Man's - Zac Poonen (Telugu)
Kakinada Conference 2013 - Seek Good And Not Evil, That You May Live: 2. Getting God's Certificate - Not Man's - Zac Poonen (Telugu)
Summary
The sermon emphasizes that true wisdom requires the ability to discern good from evil, comparing this to a child who cannot distinguish between mud and playthings. The speaker warns that spiritual immaturity prevents believers from recognizing what is truly good, citing examples like consuming inappropriate media or holding unforgiveness. The central message is that genuine growth is necessary to discern God's standard over man's, as only God is inherently good.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Seek good and not evilWe study Amos chapter 5 verse 14, which tells us to seek good and not evil so that we may live and have the Lord with us.
Calling evil good and good evilIsaiah 5 verse 20 speaks of people who call evil good and good evil because they lack the discernment to tell the difference.
Like a child needing to grow upJust as a little child puts mud in their mouth or touches dangerous things because they cannot tell what is harmful, believers must grow up spiritually to discern good from evil.
Only God is goodWhen a young man asked Jesus how to get eternal life in Mark 10, Jesus asked why He was called good, stating that only God is good.
Doing good on the SabbathJesus challenged the Pharisees in Mark 3 by asking whether it is lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath day.
Nothing good in the fleshRomans 7 verse 18 states that nothing good dwells in our flesh, showing that human standards of good and bad are flawed.
The tree of knowledge and the tree of lifeIn the garden of Eden, God commanded Adam not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, because eating from it brings death.Genesis 2:9–17
Trust in the Lord with all your heartProverbs 3 verses 5 and 6 instruct us not to lean on our own understanding but to trust in the Lord so He can direct our paths.
Mary and MarthaMartha was busy with good work in the kitchen, but Mary chose the best thing by sitting at Jesus' feet to listen to His word.
Leaving earthly work for God's callFishing to earn a living is a good thing, but if Jesus calls you to follow Him, staying behind becomes the wrong choice.
Being a servant of GodRomans 6 verse 22 explains that becoming a servant of God happens when you are freed from sin, not merely by changing your earthly job.
Jesus lived an ordinary life before His ministryBefore His baptism at age thirty, Jesus worked faithfully as a carpenter and cared for His family, pleasing God completely without doing full-time ministry yet.
Creation and daily renewalIn Genesis chapter 1, God examined His creation daily and saw that it was good, mirroring how the Holy Spirit and the Word work to renew us day by day.
The inner man renewed every dayPaul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4 verse 16 that even though the outer man decays, the inner man is renewed every day.
Looking at the inside, not the outsideWhile people look at the outside and give human certificates, God looks at the heart and evaluates what is truly inside.
Seeking God's approval above man'sWe should not care for the opinions or praise of men, but instead seek to be found truly good in the eyes of God.
