"Today a lot of people think "If only we had money we could so many things for Christ." Really? If so, Why is that the God who made Abraham a billionaire, and Job a billionaire, and Solomon and David billionaires, why did He make Peter and Paul paupers? Wasn't there something wrong there? No. Why did He make the apostles so poor when made all these old testament (billionaires) same God. It is because that abundance of wealth would have prevented Paul and Peter from preaching an authentic gospel. They would have depended more on money than the Holy Spirit like a lot of Christians do. See I come from India which considered a third world country etc... the object of mission work for 200 years, 98% not even Christian by name. And I have seen the amount of third rate Christianity in our country because of dependence on money. All the prayer letters that go out asking people for money, money money because they need it. They have produce Almighty God to a beggar. And what I say is that I wish people would see that earnest for the power of the Holy Spirit, without me you can do nothing, but as today Christianity says without money you can do nothing. That's not the gospel. Jesus said "Without me you can do nothing." and if My Heaven Father has not planted it is going to be pulled out." Zac Poonen from his sermon "Only One Life Will Soon Be Past
http://www.sermonindexpodcast.com/sermons/Only%20One%20Life%20Will%20Soon%20Be%20Past%20by%20Zac%20Poonen.mp3
You can listen to this sermon online or download it with itunes podcasts.
As I have posted about sermonsindex.com, I found sermon one to be very rich in biblical and practical truth. I felt very challenged just by how sometimes I view God. We serve HIM! We are His workmanship.
One thing Zac mentions in his sermon as well is: what is our motivation for what we do? Is it to please Jesus or do we have other motivations driving us? He mentions the quality of what we do as well. It was very encouraging to me as a missionary. We can't get caught with the numbers and how well we think we are doing. We are called to simple obedience to please God. It refreshing to hear someone remind me of that truth. Jesus lived 33 years on earth. Only 10% of his life was public ministry. (These are my own thoughts now.) What about the other 90%? What did that look like? If you met Jesus when he was 25 what would have you thought? He lived his life doing the Father's will. May you find peace in what Jesus has called you to do today!
One thing Zac mentions in his sermon as well is: what is our motivation for what we do? Is it to please Jesus or do we have other motivations driving us? He mentions the quality of what we do as well. It was very encouraging to me as a missionary. We can't get caught with the numbers and how well we think we are doing. We are called to simple obedience to please God. It refreshing to hear someone remind me of that truth. Jesus lived 33 years on earth. Only 10% of his life was public ministry. (These are my own thoughts now.) What about the other 90%? What did that look like? If you met Jesus when he was 25 what would have you thought? He lived his life doing the Father's will. May you find peace in what Jesus has called you to do today!
