(Clip) You Will Not Be Discouraged When Jesus Is With You
Zac Poonen teaches that the presence of Jesus brings fullness of joy and prevents discouragement, urging believers to truly experience God's presence beyond mere Bible reading.
This sermon emphasizes the continuous presence of the Lord in our lives as a source of deliverance and joy, leading to a life free from discouragement and sin. It challenges believers to test their awareness of God's presence through a simple yet profound examination of their actions and attitudes, particularly after moments of prayer and Bible reading. The key point is that being in God's presence should naturally lead to a life marked by joy, righteousness, and anointing in speech and actions.
Full Transcript
The Lord has been with me every time and he has delivered me. And that's why I never get discouraged. Never, I can't even remember the last time I got discouraged 20-30 years ago.
Why? How can you be discouraged when Jesus is with you? If you get discouraged you are testifying Jesus is not with me right now. There is one way by which I have found out to test whether I am in the Lord's presence all the time or not. It's a simple test.
For myself it has worked for many years. No, we can all imagine, I am in the presence of God. Especially when you have a little quiet time in the morning, you read the Bible and you pray, I am in the presence of God.
How can you get up from that place and go and sin? How can you go and lust after a woman after that? How can you get angry with your wife after that? Were you in God's presence? No, you were just reading the Bible. You could be reading the Bible like you read a science book. That's all.
It doesn't mean God's presence. For myself this is the test. If you want you can accept it.
Psalm 16 verse 11, in the middle of that verse it says, In thy presence is fullness of joy. Did you hear that? In God's presence there is not just joy but fullness of joy. It's like an overflowing fountain.
Where there is an overflowing stream all the time, everything will be green, nothing will be dry. Is your life like that? Fullness of joy. Never discouraged.
Never in a bad mood. Fullness of joy in God's presence. Then every word that comes out of your mouth will have an anointing and a freshness about it.
In ordinary conversation or if you are a preacher from the pulpit also.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Personal testimony of never being discouraged
- Jesus' presence as the source of encouragement
- Discouragement indicates absence of Jesus
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II
- Common misconception of God's presence during Bible reading
- Difference between reading Bible and truly being in God's presence
- Testing the reality of God's presence in daily life
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III
- Psalm 16:11 - fullness of joy in God's presence
- Joy as an overflowing fountain in the believer's life
- Effects of God's presence on speech and mood
Key Quotes
“Why? How can you be discouraged when Jesus is with you?” — Zac Poonen
“In thy presence is fullness of joy. It's like an overflowing fountain.” — Zac Poonen
“If you get discouraged you are testifying Jesus is not with me right now.” — Zac Poonen
Application Points
- Examine your daily life for signs of Jesus' presence through joy and peace.
- Do not settle for mere Bible reading; seek a genuine encounter with God.
- Recognize discouragement as a signal to reconnect with Jesus and His presence.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I know if Jesus is truly with me?
Zac Poonen suggests testing your life for fullness of joy and absence of discouragement as evidence of Jesus' presence.
Is reading the Bible enough to be in God's presence?
No, reading the Bible alone does not guarantee God's presence; it requires a heartfelt connection beyond intellectual reading.
What does 'fullness of joy' mean in this context?
It means an overflowing, continual joy that sustains and refreshes a believer, not just temporary happiness.
Why should discouragement be a concern for believers?
Because discouragement can indicate that Jesus is not currently present in their hearts or lives.