Becoming a Blessing
Zac Poonen's sermon emphasizes the importance of using God's gifts to bless others and the need for faithfulness in small acts of service.
Zac Poonen emphasizes the importance of using the gifts of the Spirit, likening them to the organs of the body that serve specific functions to bless others. He illustrates that just as the widow in 2 Kings 4:1-7 experienced overflowing blessings by pouring out her oil, we too must share our blessings to impact our communities positively. Poonen reminds us that selfishness leads to stagnation, while generosity brings divine replenishment, as stated in Proverbs 11:25. He encourages believers to start small, being faithful in little acts of service, which can lead to greater ministries. Ultimately, our calling is to be a blessing to all families on earth, fulfilling our birthright in Christ.
Text
The gifts of the Spirit are compared in 1 Cor.12 to the organs of the human body - the eye, the ear, the hands and the feet. We need eyes to see, ears to hear, hands to help others and feet to take us to different parts of this world. Even so, God has given us these gifts of the Spirit, so that a needy world around us can be blessed through them. He wants to give us power to free people from Satan's grip over their lives and from their frustrations and their fears.
When God anoints our heads with His oil, our cups WILL overflow with blessing to others. And if we keep pouring our oil into the vessels of others, we will find like the widow found (in Elisha's time - 2 Kings 4:1-7) that there is enough power and blessing in the anointing of God to help every single person who comes across our path. There wasn't a single vessel that remained unfilled with oil that day in that poor widow's house. Her whole neighbourhood was blessed through her. And our neighbourhood can be blessed in the same way too.
But we have to keep pouring out into the lives of others. That is a Divine law. If we selfishly keep God's blessing for ourselves alone, it will begin to stink like the manna did, even if our blessing came from heaven (like the manna did) in the first place.
Proverbs 11:25 says that it is only the one who waters others who will himself also be watered by God.
Jesus became a curse for us on Calvary's cross so that we might receive the blessing of Abraham - the promise of the Spirit (Gal.3:13). The blessing of Abraham is described in Genesis 12:3 as "being a blessing to all the families of the earth". This is what it means to be a servant of the new covenant : To be a blessing to EVERY family that we meet on the face of the earth. That is our birthright in Christ.
So, let us not "despise the day of small beginnings" (Zech.4:10). Maybe the Spirit will urge us to start by writing a letter of encouragement to just one person whom God lays on our hearts.
God may test our eagerness to serve Him by sending just one needy brother across our path - one hungry visitor. What will we do? Will we seek God for power to help that brother?
If we are unfaithful in such matters, we will miss everything that God has planned for us. To live under the anointing constantly, we must be faithful in the smallest of matters. It is through small actions that all mighty ministries begin. That is how the rivers of living water (that Jesus spoke of) began to flow from the sanctuary. It began as a trickle, but later on became a mighty river (See Ezek.47:1,9).
May God help us all to be faithful in the little things.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Understanding the gifts of the Spirit
- Comparison to the human body
- Purpose of the gifts
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II
- The anointing of God
- Overflowing blessings
- Example of the widow and her vessels
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III
- The law of giving
- Consequences of selfishness
- Proverbs 11:25 and its implications
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IV
- The blessing of Abraham
- Being a blessing to others
- Our birthright in Christ
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V
- Starting small
- Responding to needs
- Faithfulness in small matters
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VI
- The significance of small actions
- Beginning of mighty ministries
- Flow of living water
Key Quotes
“When God anoints our heads with His oil, our cups WILL overflow with blessing to others.” — Zac Poonen
“If we selfishly keep God's blessing for ourselves alone, it will begin to stink like the manna did.” — Zac Poonen
“To live under the anointing constantly, we must be faithful in the smallest of matters.” — Zac Poonen
Application Points
- Look for opportunities to bless those around you, starting with small acts of kindness.
- Be faithful in serving even one person in need, as it can lead to greater blessings.
- Remember that every mighty ministry begins with small, faithful actions.