Excerpt from the message: The Maximum Christian And The Way Of The Cross - Zac Poonen
To listen to the complete message click here : https://www.cfcindia.com/sermon/the-maximum-christian-and-the-way-of-the-cross
Visit our website for more information: https://www.cfcindia.com
Summary
The speaker emphasizes that God desires a pure testimony in every location, not necessarily a large one. Drawing from Malachi, he contrasts the Israelites' habit of offering their sick, lame, and blind animals—the leftovers—with what God truly desires. He urges listeners to examine how they give their best to God in terms of time, energy, and money, warning against offering only the minimum or the leftovers of one's life.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Why the book of Malachi mattersThe Lord pointed the speaker's fellowship to Malachi, the last prophet before Christ, to understand how God rebuked the Jewish people for not taking His word seriously after hundreds of years.
Where is my honor?God confronts the priests in Malachi 1, asking why they despise His name by presenting defiled food and worthless sacrifices on the altar.Malachi 1:6
Giving to God what costs nothingThe Israelites looked through their flocks for the lame, blind, and sick animals—those that were a nuisance or dying—and offered those to God instead of their best.
Would you give a gift like that to a governor?God challenges the people, asking if they would ever dare to give useless things or old food as a gift to a human governor in their state.
Wishing for a priest to shut the gatesGod expresses a wish that someone would shut the temple gates rather than allow people to bring such unacceptable, sick, and blind offerings.
Giving your best to God in time, energy, and moneyReflecting on his own conversion as a young officer in the Indian Navy, the speaker decided to live his entire life for Christ and eternity rather than worldly ambition.
Having an eternity without regretThe speaker aims to help people live a life without regret so they are ready when Christ returns and evaluates their lives.
Setting aside Israel for a worldwide pure offeringBecause Israel became narrow-minded and exclusive, God prophesies in Malachi 1:11 that He will set them aside and raise up a pure offering among all the nations from east to west.
Offering the best instead of leftoversInstead of the blind and lame leftovers, God's future people across the globe will give Him their very best in a pure offering.
Two ways to divide ChristiansChristians can be categorized not just by denomination, but by whether they give the minimum or the maximum to God in time, energy, money, and life.
Calculating what to giveSome believers calculate what the bare minimum is that they must give to God, while others ask how they can do the maximum to show gratitude for the cross.
How gift-giving reveals the quality of a relationshipJust as you would not buy the cheapest possible birthday gift for someone you truly love, your approach to giving God your best reveals the true quality of your relationship with Jesus Christ.
Excerpt from the message: The Maximum Christian And The Way Of The Cross - Zac Poonen
To listen to the complete message click here : https://www.cfcindia.com/sermon/the-maximum-christian-and-the-way-of-the-cross
Visit our website for more information: https://www.cfcindia.com
Summary
The speaker emphasizes that God desires a pure testimony in every location, not necessarily a large one. Drawing from Malachi, he contrasts the Israelites' habit of offering their sick, lame, and blind animals—the leftovers—with what God truly desires. He urges listeners to examine how they give their best to God in terms of time, energy, and money, warning against offering only the minimum or the leftovers of one's life.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Why the book of Malachi mattersThe Lord pointed the speaker's fellowship to Malachi, the last prophet before Christ, to understand how God rebuked the Jewish people for not taking His word seriously after hundreds of years.
Where is my honor?God confronts the priests in Malachi 1, asking why they despise His name by presenting defiled food and worthless sacrifices on the altar.Malachi 1:6
Giving to God what costs nothingThe Israelites looked through their flocks for the lame, blind, and sick animals—those that were a nuisance or dying—and offered those to God instead of their best.
Would you give a gift like that to a governor?God challenges the people, asking if they would ever dare to give useless things or old food as a gift to a human governor in their state.
Wishing for a priest to shut the gatesGod expresses a wish that someone would shut the temple gates rather than allow people to bring such unacceptable, sick, and blind offerings.
Giving your best to God in time, energy, and moneyReflecting on his own conversion as a young officer in the Indian Navy, the speaker decided to live his entire life for Christ and eternity rather than worldly ambition.
Having an eternity without regretThe speaker aims to help people live a life without regret so they are ready when Christ returns and evaluates their lives.
Setting aside Israel for a worldwide pure offeringBecause Israel became narrow-minded and exclusive, God prophesies in Malachi 1:11 that He will set them aside and raise up a pure offering among all the nations from east to west.
Offering the best instead of leftoversInstead of the blind and lame leftovers, God's future people across the globe will give Him their very best in a pure offering.
Two ways to divide ChristiansChristians can be categorized not just by denomination, but by whether they give the minimum or the maximum to God in time, energy, money, and life.
Calculating what to giveSome believers calculate what the bare minimum is that they must give to God, while others ask how they can do the maximum to show gratitude for the cross.
How gift-giving reveals the quality of a relationshipJust as you would not buy the cheapest possible birthday gift for someone you truly love, your approach to giving God your best reveals the true quality of your relationship with Jesus Christ.
