Power for Life and for Service
To live a life that pleases God and to fulfill His will, we must seek God's power and be baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Zac Poonen emphasizes that both our need for salvation and the ability to live a life pleasing to God can only be met through His power, not our own strength. He notes that while some believers recognize this early and seek God's power, others struggle for years before turning to Him, and some resign themselves to a life of defeat. Poonen highlights the importance of the Holy Spirit, explaining that being born of the Spirit makes us children of God, but being baptized in the Holy Spirit empowers us to fulfill God's will and serve effectively. He encourages believers to seek the Holy Spirit's power to become bold witnesses for Christ, rather than accepting limitations as part of their personality. Ultimately, the sermon calls for reliance on God's strength to live victoriously and serve faithfully.
Text
We could never have met that first need by ourselves. God had to meet it. It's likewise with the second. We cannot live a life that pleases God or that fulfills all His will, in our own strength. Some are wise enough to acknowledge this right at the beginning of their Christian life and so they seek for God's power straight-away. Others discover it the hard way - by trying and failing repeatedly for many years and then turning to God for His power.
Unfortunately there are still others who after falling and failing repeatedly, finally resign themselves to a life of defeat, believing that it is impossible to live victoriously in this life.
This also applies to our serving the Lord and being a witness for Him. Most believers realise, immediately after their conversion, that they should be witnesses for the Lord. But they often find themselves tongue-tied and powerless. Some accept this as an unfortunate trait of their personality, and give up all hope of ever becoming powerful witnesses for Christ.
Others realise that God has promised them the power of the Holy Spirit. And so they seek God for this power and receive it. And they are filled with boldness and endued with supernatural gifts to be fiery, unashamed and effective witnesses for Christ.
It is one thing to be born of the Spirit. That's how we become children of God. But it's quite another thing to be baptized (immersed) in the Holy Spirit. That's how we become empowered to be what God wants us to be and to do what God wants us to do.
Sermon Outline
- The Need for God's Power
- The Need for God's Power in Living a Victorious Life
- The Need for God's Power in Serving the Lord
- We should be witnesses for the Lord
- Seeking God's power for effective witnessing
Key Quotes
“It's likewise with the second. We cannot live a life that pleases God or that fulfills all His will, in our own strength.” — Zac Poonen
“It is one thing to be born of the Spirit. That's how we become children of God. But it's quite another thing to be baptized (immersed) in the Holy Spirit.” — Zac Poonen
“That's how we become empowered to be what God wants us to be and to do what God wants us to do.” — Zac Poonen
Application Points
- Seek God's power for a victorious life by acknowledging your need for it.
- Recognize the difference between being born of the Spirit and being baptized in the Holy Spirit, and seek the latter for empowerment.
- Resign yourself to a life of victory by seeking God's power and being filled with the Holy Spirit.