Asking With Wrong Motives - Santosh Poonen - August 20, 2017
http://rlcfchurch.org/asking-wrong-motives River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The sermon emphasizes that understanding grace frees believers from the slavery of sin, drawing parallels between this freedom and the divine purpose woven into every aspect of life. The speaker encourages the audience to view every day, no matter how mundane, as purposeful because God has already recorded it in His book. Furthermore, he draws lessons from Jesus' interactions with the Pharisees, noting that Jesus remained un-intimidated despite their earthly power.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
God's detailed plan for every day of our livesGod wrote down the days ordained for us in His book before we were born, meaning no day is pointless and we can live with faith amidst ordinary circumstances.Psalm 139:13
Jesus's fearless interaction with the PhariseesThe Pharisees and Sadducees continually tested Jesus by demanding a sign from heaven, but Jesus was never intimidated by their earthly authority.
Avoiding the trap of becoming untrustingThe disciples quickly forgot Jesus's miraculous provision of food and feared His anger, mirroring our own tendency to cower in guilt rather than trust God's care.
Beware of the leaven of hypocrisy and false teachingJesus warns the disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy, and the Sadducees, whose teaching rejected the supernatural.
An adulterous generation seeks after a signBelievers often prefer spectacular physical miracles over the humble preaching of the way of the cross, feeding an adulterous spirit that glorifies the material over God.Matthew 16:4
Why prayers go unanswered due to wrong motivesPeople often fail to receive what they ask for because they pray with wrong motives, desiring blessings merely to spend them on their own worldly pleasures.James 4:3
You cannot serve God and MammonDevotion to our own earthly self and constant requests for physical gratification put us at hostility toward God, making it impossible to truly serve Him.Matthew 6:24
Bringing legitimate needs to God with the right heartWhile it is right to ask God for help in physical, financial, and emotional struggles, we must allow the Holy Spirit to search our motives and be content with God Himself.
Putting no confidence in the fleshLegalism is a mindset of trusting in one's own ability and righteousness, whereas true spiritual growth begins by putting zero confidence in the flesh.
Counting all things as loss to know ChristFollowing Paul's example, we must abandon our own legalistic righteousness and consider everything as rubbish in order to gain Christ and the power of His resurrection.
Surrendering our reputation to walk in graceThe greatest hindrance to moving from law to grace is the desire to preserve our good reputation among others, which we must willingly surrender to find true victory over sin.
