======================================================================== BELIEVE THREE TRUTHS ABOUT GOD by Zac Poonen ======================================================================== Summary: This sermon emphasizes the shift in approaching God after Jesus came to earth, focusing on the importance of addressing God as both Lord and Father in prayer. It highlights the significance of understanding God's love and care, the authority He holds over the universe, and the need to align with His perfect plan. The message encourages a close relationship with God, listening to the Holy Spirit's guidance, and respecting Him in all aspects of life. Duration: 59:52 Topics: "Relationship with God", "Prayer and Authority" Scripture References: Matthew 6:9, Acts 4:24, 2 Corinthians 12:8, Isaiah 43:1, Zechariah 2:8, John 21:7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DESCRIPTION ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This sermon emphasizes the shift in approaching God after Jesus came to earth, focusing on the importance of addressing God as both Lord and Father in prayer. It highlights the significance of understanding God's love and care, the authority He holds over the universe, and the need to align with His perfect plan. The message encourages a close relationship with God, listening to the Holy Spirit's guidance, and respecting Him in all aspects of life. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ When Jesus came to earth, he completely changed the way in which man is to approach God. And that became real after the day of Pentecost. We are not to pray like the people in the Old Testament. But most Christians still pray like Old Testament people. But most Christians still pray like Old Testament people. Jesus said in Matthew 6, verse 9, pray then in this way, Our Father who art in heaven, that is how we are to address him. It's very important to understand that. It's good to pray Lord, calling him Lord, because he is Lord. But he has got a double relationship with us. He is our God and he is our Father. So, when you pray and you say Lord, that's right. We read even in the Acts of the Apostles, they prayed like that. In Acts chapter 4, verse 24, when they were praying after they came out of the prison, they prayed Oh Lord. There is nothing wrong in praying like that. The Apostle Paul, when he had a thorn in the flesh, He says in 2 Corinthians 12, verse 8, I entreated the Lord to take it away. 2 Corinthians 12, verse 8. So, there is nothing wrong in calling him Lord. But if you only call him Lord, there is something wrong. Because we must also call him Father. How many times when you pray, do you say Daddy? You pray to God like that? Daddy. That is the way we should pray most of the time. Because Jesus said that. In the Old Testament, nobody could pray like that. In the Old Testament, there was a temple, which had three parts. And that one most holy place was covered with a curtain and God was living there. God is in heaven, but he was giving his presence only in that place. And nobody could go there. But when Jesus died, that curtain was torn into two. And now we can go right inside. That's why we can call him Father. And I want all of you who are born again, right from the beginning, to learn to call him Father. We must develop that habit. Because it will bring a great security into our life. Think of an orphan, who has no father or mother. If he has a problem, he has to go to some uncle or auntie or relative, who may not take care of them. The uncle or auntie may be kind to him, but he is not sure. But your children are not like that. Can you imagine how helpless your little children will be, if their father and mother both die? They will be helpless in this world. And that is how many Christians behave when they are in trouble. They act as if they have no father, no mother. Now that is alright for the unbeliever. That is alright for the millions of nominal Christians, who have never surrendered their life to Jesus Christ. Once upon a time, you were a nominal Christian or a Hindu. God was not your father. But when you received Jesus as your Lord, something wonderful happened. Not only your sins were forgiven, but Almighty God became your father. So he taught his disciples to pray like this. Our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, and thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. There are many other things he taught us to pray. Even for our earthly needs, give us this day our daily bread. There is nothing wrong in praying for our earthly needs. God, give me a house to live in. Help me to rent a house or build a house. Help me to find a job. Lord, please help my children to get a good education and get a job. That's right. Because that is part of this prayer. Give us this day our daily bread. The way to earn our daily bread is by working. Therefore, it's right to pray that they will get a job. And therefore, it's right to pray that they will do well in their examination. It's good to pray for our children that they will get married. Because there is so much of sexual sin in the world. And the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 7 verse 1, To avoid sexual sin, get married. That is one way to overcome sexual sin, get married. The Bible says that. So it's right to pray for that also for our children. So, all these earthly things God is interested in us. See, take Adam. God gave him a wife. God gave him a home in the Garden of Eden. And God gave him a job as a gardener in the Eden. God planned it. I must give Adam a wife. I must give Adam a home. I must give Adam a job. That is how the Bible begins. This is our father. You must believe that for yourself and for your children. I have a father in heaven. I am not an orphan. Do you know that the people in the Old Testament were orphans? They could never call God Father. You read how all the great men prayed. Moses, Elijah, anybody. Oh God Almighty. That is how John the Baptist prayed. John the Baptist prayed. But now, when we become children of God. I don't say Oh God Almighty. I say Daddy. Daddy. We can call him God Almighty. But I prefer to call him Daddy. Because that brings a closeness between us. You know there are a lot of songs. Even in English and Tamil. Where we sing to Jehovah. To talk about God as Jehovah is right. But when you sing a song to him and call him Jehovah, that is wrong. Because I have to call him Father. What does your child call you when he comes to you? How does he call you mothers? Do they call you Mrs so and so? Can I speak to you? Supposing your son comes to you and says, Thirumathi, I want to speak to you. You think he is angry with you. You are not Thirumathi to him. You are Amma. And Appa, your son, you are a father to him. So when I go to God. And I say Oh Jehovah. God will say, what is wrong with you? Are you angry with me? I say, Daddy. Develop this habit. There are so many wrong habits we have learnt from Christendom. Not only in the area of money and pastors and all that like we have spoken about. I can write a book on the wrong habits Christians have. This is one of them. Calling God Jehovah. Call him Daddy. He is your father. Jesus said it. Pray like this. And you read the whole New Testament. See if anybody called him Jehovah. No. It is all these English and Tamil song writers. Because they don't know the Bible. Now we have, God has given us understanding. You may say it is a small thing. It is not a small thing. If I see your son coming and calling you Mr. or Mrs. so and so. I will think your son has got a wrong relationship with you. And that is how I feel. Lot of God's people do not have the intimacy with God that we can have when we call him father. You know, I never knew God as intimately as a father. Even for 16 years after I was born again. What is the result? I was often worried. I was depressed. Discouraged. Often in a bad mood in the house. Easily angry. All these problems came because I did not know God as my father. But when I came to know God as my personal father. Jesus said be like a little child. That's wonderful. I don't come to God like some very clever Bible scholar. When I pray to God, I pray to him like a one year old child. That's how you must pray. Daddy. And you can ask God for anything. He won't give you everything that you ask for. That doesn't matter. But we can ask for anything. I am not afraid to ask God for the most impossible things. If you are clever, then you will analyze and say what shall I pray, what shall I not pray. But a one year old child never thinks about all that when he comes to the father. I can imagine a one year old child telling his father something like that or a two year old child. Daddy, I want an elephant, a real elephant you must get me. Not a toy elephant, a real one. Or I want a real aeroplane, not these toy aeroplanes. Father won't get it for him. No. But the father will smile. How bored my child is that he can ask me for so many things. I pray for some things like that, like asking for an elephant. I say Lord, I want to live up to the age of 90. And I want to be healthy to travel and preach the word of God. That is like asking for an elephant. But I can ask. If God gives it to me, good. If he doesn't give it, that's fine. Don't be afraid to ask God for anything. Small things. The other day I was traveling from America. From one plane to another plane and came here. I had to change my plane in Hong Kong which is half way between here and America. So when I got into the other plane, I forgot my cap in the first plane. That is not worth much money. I came to Bangalore and I said, oh, I forgot my cap there. So, Daddy, can you please get me that cap from Hong Kong? It's not worth very much. But give it for me. And I opened my box, expecting to see a miracle that the cap was there. It was not there. But two days later, the airline sent the cap to me. And I got it. Such a big airline company dealing with millions of people, sending one cap to one small airline. Such a big airline company dealing with millions of people, sending one cap to one small airline. Do you know why? Because I am a child of the King of Kings. You also. Why don't you ask God for small things, big things, anything? If God doesn't give it to me, I am not going to have a complaint. But I can ask. Sometimes we don't get because we don't ask. So, God won't be bothered about that small thing. He is bothered about the small things. Small, small things, you forgot something in the house. Lord, please remind me where did I leave it? See, the cap is not the important thing for me. I don't care if I don't get it. What I got out of it is that my father cares for these little things for me. That is what excites me, not the cap. I may lose that cap one day, so what? But I got some understanding of my father. Now, you can get that if you keep praying about little things to your father. I want to tell you three things from here. Number one, God cares about you. As a father, No matter how much you have fallen into sin, If you come back to him, He will welcome you. You know the story of the prodigal son which Jesus said? That father was a man who had many servants in his house. The son says that, my father has so many servants. How many people do you know in Tamil Nadu who have got many servants working in their house? Not one or two. You may have one servant working in your house. But many servants, Only a crorepati can have that. And so we know the father was a multi-crorepati. And the son said, Give me half my share. Only two sons. How much did the father give it? The father gave it. How much do you think he got? Was it thousand rupees? One lakh? No. He must have got minimum one crore. And he goes off. Now how long does it take to spend one crore? Even if you waste it everyday, it will take you a few years. He wasted it in so many years. Then he comes back. After that he comes back. Already the father has wasted half of his property. As soon as he left the house, As soon as he left the house, the father's property became half. As soon as he took half of his property, he comes back. And the father sees him. And the father runs. It is the only place in the Bible where you see a picture of God running. There is only one place in the Bible where you see God is running. Who is he running for? Is it for some mighty apostle Paul who is coming back after some great work he has done? No. He is running for a wretched sinner who has ruined half his property. And he embraces him. He takes off his ring and puts it on his hand. You know what that is? That is a picture of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. And he makes a big feast. This is the picture Jesus gave us of our father. That means even if you have made a mess of your life, Don't stay far away saying, Oh God will not receive me. He is waiting for you to come back. He will run to welcome you. He will embrace you. This is the God who is our father. No matter how much you have fallen, Remember God loves you. He will never stop loving you because that is his nature. Nobody can change God's nature. His nature is to love. Nobody sitting here need feel, Oh I have made such a mess of my life. God will never accept me again. You know when Peter was going to deny the Lord three times, And the Lord warned him in advance. Luke 22 He tells him verse 31 Satan has asked for permission to sift you. Luke 22 verse 31 Jesus knew that because he was in touch with his father. And the father revealed to him, Satan has asked permission to sift Peter. He is going to tempt him. He is going to tempt him to deny you. And he will deny you. Within by next morning he will deny you. So the Lord told Peter, Verse 34 Before the cock crows, You will deny me three times. Before the cock crows, You will deny me three times. If you know that someone is going to be strongly tempted, You ask yourself. Tonight you know that a brother is going to be strongly tempted. Lord, we will pray that he should not fall into this sin. Lord, we will pray that he should not fall into this sin. Why didn't Jesus pray like that? He says in verse 32 I have prayed for you. But I am not praying that you will not fall. You will fall. I will not pray that you should not fall. Why is that? God's wisdom is greater than ours. God's ways are not our ways. I will tell you. The Bible says in Hebrews 7.25 Jesus is always praying for us 24 hours. Jesus is praying. Just like he prayed for Peter. Sometimes he prays that we will not fall into sin. Sometimes he does not pray that we should not fall. And you need to understand why Jesus does not pray that we should not fall. Here is the reason. God has to humble us in many ways. And he tries to humble us by difficult situations in our place of work. He may humble some of you young people by difficult parents who do not understand you. He tries to humble you by financial loss in your business. He tries to humble you by sickness in the family. There are 101 ways in which God tries to humble us. Because humility is very important for God. Because if he is not able to humble you, God becomes your enemy. God is the enemy of all proud people. God does not want you to be your enemy. So he tries to humble you with various circumstances. Maybe he gives you a very difficult wife to humble you. Or a difficult husband to humble you. Or a rebellious son to humble you. And if you are such a hard person that you do not humble yourself, And if you are such a hard person that you do not humble yourself, Then God's last method Then God's last method Is to make you fall into sin. You may fall into adultery. You may fall into some terrible sin and lose your testimony. And everybody will know about it. That is the last method. God does not want anybody to fall into sin. But if that is the only way to humble a person, Then he will even do that. And then Jesus will not pray that you should not fall. Let him fall. Because I have tried every other method to humble him. He is too proud. Peter was like that. He was so strong. There was no way to humble him except by he has to deny. That is why Jesus did not pray that he will not fall. Because if he did not fall, he would be proud. And if he is proud, he will not be ready to be the mighty apostle on the day of Pentecost. How can he be an apostle if God is his enemy? Then how can he be an apostle there? But he prayed for another thing. He said, Simon, you will fall. I will not pray that you will not fall. But I prayed something else for you. That when you fall, And you reach the bottom of the pit, When you are down there, It is so low that you cannot go any further. It is so low that you cannot go any further. I am praying that you will not lose your faith. What is lose faith? What is the meaning of losing faith? That when you have gone right to the bottom of sin in your life, Say, oh, there is no hope for me. God does not love me now. That is loss of faith. He says, I am praying that you will not lose your faith. That even when you reach there, So low that you cannot go lower, I pray that you will believe that God loves you. So what is faith? What is faith? Faith is to believe that God loves you Even when you have reached the bottom most level of sin. Sin is a serious thing. God does not want you to sin even a little bit. He does not even want you to have a dirty thought. But if you keep on sinning, If you reach the bottom of the pit, God still loves you. You can say, Father, Please help me to come back to you. I want to turn from sin. You cannot come back to the father If you still want to live in the far country with the pigs. No. The father will not come there. But if you are willing to leave the pigs And leave your old friends And leave that country and come back, God will receive you. No matter how much you have fallen, Even if you have wasted crores of his rupees, He will welcome you. Because he is your father. So that is faith. I remember one young man Who used to come to our church in Bangalore. He was not born again. He was defeated. One thing I liked about him He was absolutely honest. He never pretended anything. I always like honest people. Even if they are sinners. So he would come to me And say, Brother Zack, I again got drunk. I again started smoking cigarettes. I again fell. Then one day, He was being transferred to another town. And he still hadn't accepted Christ. So he came to say goodbye to me. And as he was leaving, I said, see, I don't know when you will reach The bottom level of sin. I don't know when you will reach One day you will reach there. And when you reach there, Remember two things. God loves you. I love you also. You can always come to my home. My door is open. I won't despise you Because you have fallen into sin. God doesn't despise you either. You can come back to him. I saw him some years later. Born again. A good brother in a church. See what God can do. Don't give up hope For your wayward children. Tell them, God loves you. I love you too. I don't agree with what you are doing. It's all wrong what you are doing. But I love you. So we must be secure In this love of God. So that's the first thing. The second thing in that prayer Is our Father Who art in heaven. So that's the second thing We must remember. That he Runs this universe from heaven. There's a verse in Isaiah Which says he calls the stars by name. Even if there are one thousand stars You will not be able to remember all the names. There are crores and crores and crores of stars. He calls them by name. He can do anything. There's nothing he cannot do. He can shut the mouths of lions When his servants have to be protected. And in the second century When the Christians were thrown to the lions He opened the mouths of the lions To eat up the Christians also. So That depends on what God thinks is best. In Daniel's time he shut the mouths of lions. In the second century When the Christians were thrown to the lions He opened the mouths of the lions To eat them up. But he can do anything. He can stop anybody From doing any harm to you. You remember when Jesus stood before Pilate Pilate tried to scare him. Just like a lot of people Try to frighten Christians. Don't you know I can do this to you? Your boss may say that. Your landlord may say that. Maybe you are a poor helpless worker. Your boss or landlord threatens you. Don't you know what I can do to you? This is how Pilate was. Pilate was a mighty governor and ruler. And Jesus was like a helpless carpenter All beaten up by the soldiers. And he stands there Bleeding His clothes all torn. Pilate sitting with his royal robes. And It says when Pilate asked him a question Luke John 19 verse 9 Pilate says Where are you from? Jesus just Keeps quiet and Says nothing. Pilate gets angry. I ask a question and somebody This poor man will not answer me. Verse 10 You don't speak to me. Do you know who I am? Don't you know I have The power to release you right now Or to crucify you. I can imagine Pilate angry because He has never heard anybody like this. He is Very angry. His face is red. Don't you know I have The power to crucify you Or to release you. And Jesus is not excited. He is Cheerful Quiet Without any anger Quietly he says Sorry Pilate You have no authority over me. Unless my father Gives it to you You cannot touch A hair on my head. Do you know that This is what we can also say? Wherever we are taken Even if we are taken to a court Even if we are taken to a court You cannot touch me. You cannot touch a hair on my head. Because I have a father Who runs this universe. That is the faith you must have. God can do anything. There is nothing he cannot do for you. What a wonderful thing I don't know what problem You are facing in your life. But I am sure it is not a bigger problem Than Jesus was facing before Pilate. They were going to kill him. You know There is a dignity About a child of God. What do you Do you think Jesus stood like this? Oh please please Don't kill me. I never did anything wrong. He was the king of kings. Even though his clothes were torn He was the king. And Pilate was sitting with all those robes But he was a slave. He was a slave to the opinions of people. He was afraid If I don't kill these people These fellows will complain to me to Caesar I will lose my job. Who was the slave and who was the king? The man with the big robes Was the slave. And this one with torn clothes Was the king. That is the position As Christians. I remember once When some religious people Took me to a court And I stood there before the judge. It was quite a long distance. So he cannot hear what I am saying. But I quietly said You can do nothing against me. Because except what my father Tells me He couldn't do anything. He could not do anything. What a wonderful example Jesus has given. Nobody can touch us. We must know the promises Of the bible. That is why it is important For you to read the bible. See Zechariah chapter 2 Wonderful promise. Verse 8 The last part Is a promise to God's people. If anyone touches you He is touching the apple of God's eye. Have you ever tried Touching the apple of your eye? Don't try it Because it will hurt you. You know sometimes We have accidentally touched our eye And it is painful. No other part of the body We feel pain like that. Anywhere we don't feel pain. But if anybody touches The apple of your eye I am the apple of God's eye. Do you know that? You are the apple of God's eye. How can somebody touch you And God do nothing? If somebody touches The apple of your eye Do you just sit back And do nothing? It is a wonderful promise. You know I love reading the bible. Because I become so rich With these promises. They deliver me from all fear And anxiety and tension. You may say I am a poor person I don't know any Superintendent of police or MP I don't know anybody. But you know the king of kings And you are the apple of his eye. You must live in a close relationship With your father. You must say My father who art in heaven You can do everything There is nothing you cannot do. You can stop wicked people From doing things. I can tell you so many stories Of that how God does miracles. That is the second thing You must know. First that God loves you And cares for you Even if you fall God cares for you And loves you. And secondly that God This God is your father Who can do everything. Then the third thing Thy will be done On earth Matthew 6 verse 10 As it is in heaven. You must believe That God's plan for you Is the best for you. What God says Is much better for you Than what you think. Ask God to fill you With the Holy Spirit. And God Tells you something Through his spirit Listen to it. Listen to the voice Of the Holy Spirit. All your college And young boys and girls All the other worldly Boys and girls Are doing so many things. But Jesus lives in your heart. Don't do like that. Don't dress Like those girls dress. They may invite you to the movies Don't go. Say no. I don't go. God's plan is the best. They may say Oh we enjoyed that movie. Say no. God's plan for me Is the best. He doesn't want me to defile my mind By watching that dirty cinema. You must believe That God's plan for you Is the best. And if you don't have the courage Ask God to give you the courage. No. I accepted Christ 52 years ago When I was 19 and a half years old. I was in the navy With all my friends. We used to Go to the cinemas And drink and all that. And then I accepted Christ. And one day After I accepted Christ Two of my friends came We were in the naval base In Kerala. They came to my room And said come Let's go to the cinema Inside the naval base. I didn't want to go. Because I have now Accepted Christ. Before that I used to go with them. I would call them and go. Now I didn't Want to go. But I did not have The courage To say to them I am a Christian. I thought they would Laugh at me. What? But last week You came with us. What happened? I was afraid. But I didn't want to go. So we were walking Towards the cinema theatre. And I was praying Quietly Lord Please save me from this. I don't know how. I don't want to go. But I don't have The courage to tell them And we walked Half a mile To the cinema theatre Inside the base. There was a Notice outside Today's cinema Is cancelled. I said praise the lord. They were disappointed And I was happy. That was a miracle. That's one of the first Miracles god did for me. I learnt What almighty god He will even cancel A cinema for everybody Just for one child of his Who is over there. I said lord What all you do For one child of yours. I was so encouraged. Then I came home Very happy. And the lord said to me Next time I will not cancel The cinema. You have to say Yourself next time I will not go. So by the time I got courage Next time they asked me I said sorry I don't go next time. But god saw my weakness And he encouraged me. God's plan Is the best. In everything Listen to that voice Of the holy spirit. And I want to say Another thing. Don't think that the way God led another brother Is the way he should Lead you. Or don't think The way god led you Last year Is the way he should Lead you now again. We are not living by Rules and laws. By the holy spirit. Once he may tell you To go this way Another time He may tell you To go this way. Never into sin. Never. But god's ways Can be different. So don't say Oh brother Zach did this So I am going to do that. Or to preachers I say Don't say Brother Zach Preaches like this So I am going to Preach like this. No. You are different. Don't imitate Another preacher. Let god make you The way he wants You to be. Don't think back Yes god led me Five years ago like this So he is going to Do the same thing now. No. That's a law. We must be Led by the holy spirit. Say lord That's why everyday I must be in touch With the holy spirit. Ok. We read about We heard earlier About Peter. He walked on the water To go to Jesus. He almost sank. The lord held him up. They walked back On the water Into the boat. Now we see another time. John 21 They went fishing And They couldn't catch anything. And in the morning It says the lord came. And he stood at the beach John 21 Verse 4 Asked them Have you got any fish? And John the apostle Said to Peter Verse 7 It is the lord. What did Peter do? He took off his garment And jumped into the sea And swam to the water. Did he try to walk On the water? Did he say One year ago I walked on the water So I am going to Step out and walk. He would have gone down. Just because the lord Made you walk on the water One year ago It doesn't mean He will do it always. Now you have to swim. Once he cancelled The cinema for me Next time I have to Say no myself. He may have done A miracle for you One year ago. Now he doesn't do it. He says now you swim. God's ways Are not always the same. And we shouldn't think Because he did it like that For somebody else Or he did it like that For me I am always going to Do it like that. That is to live By a law which says Thou shall always Walk on the water. Thou shall now swim. I like something here. It says here That Peter Verse 7 Put on his Outer garment Because he was Stripped for work. He put on his Garment and then Swam to the Lord. You know He was just bare chested Working with all the others. Why did he put on His garment? I see there A tremendous respect For Jesus. Yeah it is alright For John and Thomas To see me like this Without any shirt. Now I am going To the Lord. He put on my shirt And then swam. I learnt something From that. When we come to Jesus We must have A respect for him. It is not like We are dealing with John and Thomas And other people. Peter had that respect. We must have that respect When we come to Jesus. What a wonderful God we have. And as you go To your homes Remember these Three things God loves you As a father Far more than You realize. He rules in heaven And he can do Everything for you. And remember He has a plan For you And his plan Is the best. So respect him And listen to The Holy Spirit's voice. Let's pray. While our heads Are bowed in prayer Will you say Lord I want you to make This conference A turning point In my life. Lift me to a much Higher level of walk With you than I have ever known. Please help me. I know you will do it. Because you are my father. You are my daddy. And I am your Precious child. I am the apple Of your eye. Thank you. In Jesus name. Amen. ======================================================================== Video: https://sermonindex2.b-cdn.net/gzWC_kdvXug.mp4 Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/zac-poonen/believe-three-truths-about-god/ ========================================================================