21st January 2018 - Jesus Should Be The Glory In Our Lives - Zac Poonen
1. Baby Dedication: Do Not Stumble The Children - Zac Poonen 2. Jesus Should Be The Glory In Our Lives - Zac Poonen
Summary
The message centers on the profound lesson from Matthew 18 regarding the desire to be great, contrasting the worldly desire for recognition within the church with the humility of a little child. The speaker urges the congregation to meditate on the simple thoughts of a baby to achieve spiritual growth, while also balancing this with the maturity required for adult responsibilities within the church.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Welcome and praiseThe speaker welcomes the congregation and invites them to lift their eyes to the Lord in praise and thanksgiving for His wonderful love.
Reflecting on God's wondrous loveThe congregation sings about how Jesus purchased them through His blood and set them free from condemnation.
The danger of seeking greatness in the churchUsing Matthew 18, the speaker warns that many Christians harbor a desire to be well-known or famous for their virtues within the church, rather than focusing on being great in the sight of God.Matthew 18:1
Maintaining a child-like attitude in ChristTo be great in God's sight, we must maintain the humble thoughts of a child regarding ourselves while remaining mature in our responsibilities toward the church.
The warning against despising little onesJesus warns us not to despise children; we should value them because their innocence reflects a glimpse of heaven that even angels notice.
Taking responsibility for the spiritual direction of childrenInstead of blaming children for their wandering, parents must judge themselves and act as under-shepherds to bring them back to the path of discipleship.
A prayer of dedicationThe speaker begins by praying for children being dedicated to God, asking for protection and wisdom for their parents.
A time of corporate praiseThe congregation joins together to magnify the Lord, thanking Him for redemption, salvation, and His role as a Shepherd.
God as our wall of fireReflecting on Zechariah 2:5, the speaker explains that true security comes from God being a wall of fire around us rather than relying on human defenses.Zechariah 2:5
Finding our glory in JesusWhile we may face enemies and fears, God promises to be a wall of fire around us and the glory in our midst, which means we should find no pride in ourselves but only in Him.
The danger of glorying in worldly advantagesWhen we take pride in things like education, wealth, or even cleanliness, we inevitably begin to despise others who lack those things.
Developing a deep, personal devotion to GodTrue worship is a spiritual devotion that leads to obedience and a personal friendship with Jesus, moving beyond mere external religious activities.
God treats us according to how we treat HimLiving with the attitude that everything we have is from the Lord brings true happiness. God is impartial and responds to us based on our relationship with Him.
The difference between accusation and intercessionUsing Zechariah 3 as a picture of the New Covenant, the speaker shows how Satan acts as an accuser of our imperfections while Jesus intercedes for us. We should follow Zechariah's example by seeking to make our brothers glorious rather than pointing out their defects.Zechariah 3:1–5
Overcoming life's mountains through the Holy SpiritDifficult habits and massive problems in life will be flattened not by human strength, but by the power of the Holy Spirit and God's grace.
