Zac Poonen

Two levels of faith in the Christian life

Two Levels of Faith in the Christian Life (Zac Poonen)

Ajay Chakravarthy

Are You at Ease in Zion? (Ajay Chakravarthy)

Don't be afraid - Satan has been defeated

Don't be Afraid - Satan has Been Defeated (Zac Poonen)

Santosh Poonen

Building the Church as the journey into the Most Holy Place

Building the Church as the Journey into the Most Holy Place (Santosh Poonen)

God’s Original Plan for Church Leaders (Zac Poonen)

Our Relation to Earthly Authorities (Olu Talabi)

Annie Poonen

Jesus Christ teaches us to forgive others

Jesus Christ Teaches Us to Forgive Others (Annie Poonen)

The spirit of the Harlot and the spirit of the Bride

The Spirit of the Harlot and the Spirit of the Bride (Santosh Poonen)

Questions and Answers at RLCFFC2020 (Zac Poonen)

God Desires a Pure Testimony in Every Place (Santosh Poonen)

Speakers include Santosh Poonen, Ajay Chakravarthy, Olu Talabi, Zac Poonen, and others

RLCF Sermons

Brokenness and Compassion (Zac Poonen)

“I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it NOW. Let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again” – Stephen Grellet (1773-1855).Under the Old Covenant, no one could behold the glory of God. Under the New Covenant, because the Spirit of the Lord is WITHIN us, we have liberty to behold His glory (II Corinthians 3:17-18)! This is why we must continually seek to be filled afresh with the Holy Spirit.To truly see Jesus is to be blind to all other sights; and to truly hear Jesus is to be deaf to all other voices (Matthew 17:5,8).  "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim."  How "dim" are the things of earth to someone who is actually in heaven in the physical presence of God?  So dim that they would be like complete darkness!  Spiritually, under the New Covenant, we too can increasingly enter into this undistracted life, while here on earth!Jesus is not preparing many holy individuals who will then reign with Him; but He is preparing ONE holy Bride (Ephesians 5:27).When God allows us to overcome in some area, let us not try to attach any glory to ourselves because of it. The best we had to offer Jesus was “our vile body” (Philippians 3:21). When we recognize that, it will preserve us in humility, so that Jesus can transform it to be conformed to the body of HIS glory.

“I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it NOW. Let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again” – Stephen Grellet (1773-1855). Under the Old Covenant, no one could behold the glory of God. Under the New Covenant, because the Spirit of the Lord is WITHIN us, we have liberty to behold His glory (II Corinthians 3:17-18)! This is why we must continually seek to be filled afresh with the Holy Spirit. To truly see Jesus is to be blind to all other sights; and to truly hear Jesus is to be deaf to all other voices (Matthew 17:5,8). "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim." How "dim" are the things of earth to someone who is actually in heaven in the physical presence of God? So dim that they would be like complete darkness! Spiritually, under the New Covenant, we too can increasingly enter into this undistracted life, while here on earth! Jesus is not preparing many holy individuals who will then reign with Him; but He is preparing ONE holy Bride (Ephesians 5:27). When God allows us to overcome in some area, let us not try to attach any glory to ourselves because of it. The best we had to offer Jesus was “our vile body” (Philippians 3:21). When we recognize that, it will preserve us in humility, so that Jesus can transform it to be conformed to the body of HIS glory.

Heaven: Undistracted Devotion to Jesus (Santosh Poonen)

The New Covenant Message (Zac Poonen)

Filled with the Spirit and with Mercy (Zac Poonen)

The Secret of Godliness (Zac Poonen)

Wolf Characteristics: 1. biting and devouring Genesis 49:27; dividing and scattering John 10:12 From the desert / place of emptiness Jeremiah 5:6; Isaiah 34:14; blesses God at the same time! James 3:8-12. Wolf behavior in the church: slanderous words (James 4:11); result: no hunger for Word, no growth (I Peter 2:1). “rash” words (Proverbs 12:18); daggers instead of balms. discord-sowing words (Proverbs 6:19b); corrupting (Ephesians 4:29); deep, long-lasting damage (Proverbs 18:8). gossipy, busybody words; greater tendency in women (I Tim. 5:13; Titus 2:3-5); make it your goal to mind your own business (I Thessalonians 4:9-12; II Thessalonians 3:11-15). Zion the true Church: radical = from the root up! (Mark 11:20); if you see bad fruit coming out of yourself; if you hear bad fruit coming out of someone else. no man to stand in the gap (Ezekiel 22:23-31); The Good Shepherd (John 10:11-13); shepherds of the precious (Acts 20:28-29). Zion! glorious resting place for God (Isaiah 11:1-10); who tremble at God’s Word (Isaiah 65:17-66:2).

Ravenous Wolves (Santosh Poonen)

This is the True Grace of God (Zac Poonen)

RLCF Men's Conference 2015 Session 8. Acts 26:16-18 – Paul was entrusted with the ministry of “eye opening”. Ephesians 1:18-23 The Eyes of Your Heart Enlightened - 1. (v18a) You are called with a purpose; I Corinthians 9:24-26 – to finish second is to lose; I John 3:1-3 – we shall be like Him; Hebrews 6:17-20 – an anchor for the soul. 2. (v18b) You have a doting heavenly Papa; Isaiah 49:16. 3. (v19) You have surpassingly great power; v22-23; Romans 16:20 – Satan crushed under our feet; Ephesians 3:16-21 (TLB, MSG) - Jesus will be more and more at home in your hearts; rooted and grounded in love with the saints; know the full extent of God’s love; live full lives, full in the fullness of God; Jesus will be glorified in the church. Ephesians 4:1-3 - Amen! So, walk worthy!

Running With Purpose (Santosh Poonen)

Matthew 18:11-22If your “brother” — i.e., your husband/wife, children, or a brother/sister in the local church — sins against you, seek reconciliation with them privately and gently first (Galatians 6:1; Matthew 18:15). Remember that you are trying to win your brother/sister, not the argument!To "win your brother," is to have the attitude that Jesus had.  When He looked down from heaven and saw Saul "breathing threats and murder" against Him and His family, Jesus didn't think how He could destroy Saul, but rather, "I must win Saul!"  He did win him, and Paul became one of the boldest witnesses for Jesus.When attempts to privately and gently win a brother are unsuccessful, the elders and the church have authority to deal with it (Matthew 18:16-20). This usually comes at the expense of our own earthly reputation, but that is where we demonstrate our value of and sense of protection for God's family.Let us love like Jesus did -- "to the end" (John 13:1). This means that we will be tested with disappointment and sacrifice along the way.  But, when we live this way in forgiveness and reconciliation, then Christ WILL be present in our midst (Matthew 18:20). This is the true Church that Jesus is building.To love the Head, Jesus, is to love His Body as well.  May we recognize our need of EVERY member of the body in which God has placed us!"I need you, you need meWe're all a part of God's bodyStand with me, agree with meWe're all a part of God's bodyIt is his will that every need be suppliedYou are important to me, I need you to surviveI pray for you, you pray for meI love you, I need you to surviveI won't harm you with words from my mouthI love you, I need you to survive."

Matthew 18:11-22 If your “brother” — i.e., your husband/wife, children, or a brother/sister in the local church — sins against you, seek reconciliation with them privately and gently first (Galatians 6:1; Matthew 18:15). Remember that you are trying to win your brother/sister, not the argument! To "win your brother," is to have the attitude that Jesus had. When He looked down from heaven and saw Saul "breathing threats and murder" against Him and His family, Jesus didn't think how He could destroy Saul, but rather, "I must win Saul!" He did win him, and Paul became one of the boldest witnesses for Jesus. When attempts to privately and gently win a brother are unsuccessful, the elders and the church have authority to deal with it (Matthew 18:16-20). This usually comes at the expense of our own earthly reputation, but that is where we demonstrate our value of and sense of protection for God's family. Let us love like Jesus did -- "to the end" (John 13:1). This means that we will be tested with disappointment and sacrifice along the way. But, when we live this way in forgiveness and reconciliation, then Christ WILL be present in our midst (Matthew 18:20). This is the true Church that Jesus is building. To love the Head, Jesus, is to love His Body as well. May we recognize our need of EVERY member of the body in which God has placed us! "I need you, you need me We're all a part of God's body Stand with me, agree with me We're all a part of God's body It is his will that every need be supplied You are important to me, I need you to survive I pray for you, you pray for me I love you, I need you to survive I won't harm you with words from my mouth I love you, I need you to survive."

I Need You, My Brother, My Sister / Sermon Series: To Save That Which Was Lost - Part 5 (Santosh Poonen)

(Matthew 18:11-17)In our relationships, we all have some level of knowledge (I Corinthians 8:1).  From there, however, we face the choice of either continuing to pursue knowledge -- which will only make us proud -- or pursuing love, which will build others up.  Love is the greatest of them all, and is how the church is built.It is when we build the Church, however -- as opposed to a congregation or a club -- that we open ourselves to the risk of being hurt, because we are drawing close to each other.  When we love, we make ourselves vulnerable, but that is the only way we can experience true unity.  Thankfully, God's Word clearly shows us how we can be reconciled in relationships where there has been friction or even sin.In order to eventually experience true reconciliation, however, we must first ensure that we have the right attitude of love in our heart.  Two aspects of this attitude of love are:1) To cover up another's disgrace.  Joseph is the first person called "righteous" in the New Testament, and this is because he chose not to publicly humiliate Mary for what was outwardly perceived as sin.  That is why the Father could use Joseph as to raise His Son, Jesus.  God needs men and women with this spirit to build the Body of Christ today.2) To build others up after they've fallen, by uniting with Jesus in the ministry of intercession.  When Joshua the high priest was covered in filthy garments (Zechariah 3:1-5), Satan immediately came alongside to accuse him.  But, the Lord rebuked Satan, and removed Joshua's filthy garments.  Zechariah could have joined hands with Satan in accusing Joshua for what was factually correct ("knowledge"), but instead he joined wholeheartedly with Jesus by adding a turban on top of Joshua's head ("love").  Likewise, God is looking for those who will build others up, not tear them down.When Cain was jealous of Abel, his face showed it -- he couldn't even look God in the eye (Genesis 4:5-7).  God warned him that if he didn't deal with that resentment, an enemy was crouching at the door seeking to devour him.  That enemy was sin.  Cain didn't heed God's warning and was devoured by that sin.  Likewise, when we face any situation of conflict, whether in the home or in the church, let's remember that the person with whom we are facing that conflict is not our enemy.  We have only ONE enemy -- sin!  And, we are our brother's keeper.Let us beware of partnering with the Devil in the spirit of accusation, which often begins with a little curiosity to know others' faults and condemn them.  Instead, let us partner with Jesus in the ministry of intercession, which covers others.

(Matthew 18:11-17) In our relationships, we all have some level of knowledge (I Corinthians 8:1). From there, however, we face the choice of either continuing to pursue knowledge -- which will only make us proud -- or pursuing love, which will build others up. Love is the greatest of them all, and is how the church is built. It is when we build the Church, however -- as opposed to a congregation or a club -- that we open ourselves to the risk of being hurt, because we are drawing close to each other. When we love, we make ourselves vulnerable, but that is the only way we can experience true unity. Thankfully, God's Word clearly shows us how we can be reconciled in relationships where there has been friction or even sin. In order to eventually experience true reconciliation, however, we must first ensure that we have the right attitude of love in our heart. Two aspects of this attitude of love are: 1) To cover up another's disgrace. Joseph is the first person called "righteous" in the New Testament, and this is because he chose not to publicly humiliate Mary for what was outwardly perceived as sin. That is why the Father could use Joseph as to raise His Son, Jesus. God needs men and women with this spirit to build the Body of Christ today. 2) To build others up after they've fallen, by uniting with Jesus in the ministry of intercession. When Joshua the high priest was covered in filthy garments (Zechariah 3:1-5), Satan immediately came alongside to accuse him. But, the Lord rebuked Satan, and removed Joshua's filthy garments. Zechariah could have joined hands with Satan in accusing Joshua for what was factually correct ("knowledge"), but instead he joined wholeheartedly with Jesus by adding a turban on top of Joshua's head ("love"). Likewise, God is looking for those who will build others up, not tear them down. When Cain was jealous of Abel, his face showed it -- he couldn't even look God in the eye (Genesis 4:5-7). God warned him that if he didn't deal with that resentment, an enemy was crouching at the door seeking to devour him. That enemy was sin. Cain didn't heed God's warning and was devoured by that sin. Likewise, when we face any situation of conflict, whether in the home or in the church, let's remember that the person with whom we are facing that conflict is not our enemy. We have only ONE enemy -- sin! And, we are our brother's keeper. Let us beware of partnering with the Devil in the spirit of accusation, which often begins with a little curiosity to know others' faults and condemn them. Instead, let us partner with Jesus in the ministry of intercession, which covers others.

Being Your Brother's Keeper / Sermon Series: To Save That Which Was Lost - Part 3 (Santosh Poonen)

4 Every-Day ResolutionsThe reason New Year's resolutions are set up for failure is that it's such a long period of time.  Instead if you faithfully live out "today" resolutions every day, you will find that you make great progress by the end of the year.  God is the God of TODAY (Psalm 118:24; II Corinthians 6:1-2; Hebrews 4:7).  Even when He created the world, He did so one "today" at a time.But, what shall we resolve to change?  For most people, it is changing what they do.  Yet, the New Covenant is not in "DO-ing" but in "BE-ing".  No matter how much progress is made in the field of Artificial Intelligence, it is still "artificial", because those robots don't have the human nature.  Similarly, many Christians only have artificial righteousness,  because they don't have the Divine Nature.  When Jesus first explained the New Covenant (Matthew 5:3-9), He taught that when the attitude of our heart is right -- poor in spirit, mourning, meek, hungering and thirsting, merciful, pure, etc. -- then God gives us His Divine Nature so that we ARE like Him.  Here are 4 "every-day" attitude resolutions that we can have right now, today!...1. BE thankful. Notice the 3 stages of gratitude in Colossians 3: having a thankful attitude (v15); then singing in your heart with thankfulness (v16); and finally giving thanks outwardly (v17).  Of the 10 lepers who were healed, it was only the man of the despised class (Samaritans) who came back to give thanks.  When we think nothing of ourselves, gratitude will come easily.  It's when we think we are or deserve something, that grumbling and complaining comes out instead.2. BE merciful.  We are called to be perfect in showing mercy (Luke 6:36; Matthew 5:48).  Showing mercy to others is not something we need to "work towards."  We can start right now.3. BE faithful.  Faithfulness is not in gritting our teeth or guilting ourselves into doing some tasks consistently.  Rather it is in BEING faith-full, and diligence and dependability overflowing out of that.  Jesus also said that our faithfulness is tested in the little things (Luke 16:10-12).  Here are 2 "little" areas in which we can be faithful to our spouses, our children, and those with whom God has placed us in the local church: (i) "I will pray for you" (ii) "I will be here for you -- at home, at the church meetings, etc.4. BE ready.  In our hearts, we must be standing right by the door at all times, expecting Jesus to come (Luke 12:35-40).  Then we won't be caught off-guard when He returns.Ask God, and He will give you grace to BE this way TODAY!

4 Every-Day Resolutions The reason New Year's resolutions are set up for failure is that it's such a long period of time. Instead if you faithfully live out "today" resolutions every day, you will find that you make great progress by the end of the year. God is the God of TODAY (Psalm 118:24; II Corinthians 6:1-2; Hebrews 4:7). Even when He created the world, He did so one "today" at a time. But, what shall we resolve to change? For most people, it is changing what they do. Yet, the New Covenant is not in "DO-ing" but in "BE-ing". No matter how much progress is made in the field of Artificial Intelligence, it is still "artificial", because those robots don't have the human nature. Similarly, many Christians only have artificial righteousness, because they don't have the Divine Nature. When Jesus first explained the New Covenant (Matthew 5:3-9), He taught that when the attitude of our heart is right -- poor in spirit, mourning, meek, hungering and thirsting, merciful, pure, etc. -- then God gives us His Divine Nature so that we ARE like Him. Here are 4 "every-day" attitude resolutions that we can have right now, today!... 1. BE thankful. Notice the 3 stages of gratitude in Colossians 3: having a thankful attitude (v15); then singing in your heart with thankfulness (v16); and finally giving thanks outwardly (v17). Of the 10 lepers who were healed, it was only the man of the despised class (Samaritans) who came back to give thanks. When we think nothing of ourselves, gratitude will come easily. It's when we think we are or deserve something, that grumbling and complaining comes out instead. 2. BE merciful. We are called to be perfect in showing mercy (Luke 6:36; Matthew 5:48). Showing mercy to others is not something we need to "work towards." We can start right now. 3. BE faithful. Faithfulness is not in gritting our teeth or guilting ourselves into doing some tasks consistently. Rather it is in BEING faith-full, and diligence and dependability overflowing out of that. Jesus also said that our faithfulness is tested in the little things (Luke 16:10-12). Here are 2 "little" areas in which we can be faithful to our spouses, our children, and those with whom God has placed us in the local church: (i) "I will pray for you" (ii) "I will be here for you -- at home, at the church meetings, etc. 4. BE ready. In our hearts, we must be standing right by the door at all times, expecting Jesus to come (Luke 12:35-40). Then we won't be caught off-guard when He returns. Ask God, and He will give you grace to BE this way TODAY!

4 Every-Day Resolutions (Santosh Poonen)

Old Man:The Old Man obeys the lust of the flesh, he is a slave of sin (John 8:34), whatever the lusts in his flesh tells him to do, he will do.  When he sins he does it because he wants to, just like a pig who wallows in mud. In the Old Testament, the old man is pictured as the Israelites who were slaves in Egypt.Lust of the Flesh:The lust in our flesh will always be there till the last day of our life. We will always need to battle the lust in our flesh. We feed the flesh by giving into its desires.The Old Man was like a unfaithful servant who always let the lust of the flesh into my heart and caused me to sin.New Man:When I repent of my sins and receive God's forgiveness (Acts 3:19, I John 1:9), I'm born of His Spirit and have a new man that is created in the likeness of God in righteousness and holiness (Eph. 4:24). My old man is crucified with Christ (Rom. 6:6). Though my sins were as scarlet I'm made white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). I'm like a cat who when I fall in the mud I get back out, unlike the pig I don't want to remain in sin.The New Man is a faithful servant who does not want to sin but may still fall into sin and give into the lust of the flesh, if the new man is weak.The New Man must be strengthen through God's Word (I Peter 2:2; Heb. 5:12-14), God's Spirit (Eph. 3:16), and Grace (I Peter 5:5; Heb. 13:9, Rom. 6:14). If I fall into sin I shouldn't justify myself but rather see if I've been faithful to be fed in God's word, sought the power of God's Holy Spirit and if I've been humble so as to receive His grace.We don't automatically overcome sin, we need to be obedient to put to death the flesh with the help of God's Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:13). May the Lord help each of us.

Old Man: The Old Man obeys the lust of the flesh, he is a slave of sin (John 8:34), whatever the lusts in his flesh tells him to do, he will do.  When he sins he does it because he wants to, just like a pig who wallows in mud. In the Old Testament, the old man is pictured as the Israelites who were slaves in Egypt. Lust of the Flesh: The lust in our flesh will always be there till the last day of our life. We will always need to battle the lust in our flesh. We feed the flesh by giving into its desires. The Old Man was like a unfaithful servant who always let the lust of the flesh into my heart and caused me to sin. New Man: When I repent of my sins and receive God's forgiveness (Acts 3:19, I John 1:9), I'm born of His Spirit and have a new man that is created in the likeness of God in righteousness and holiness (Eph. 4:24). My old man is crucified with Christ (Rom. 6:6). Though my sins were as scarlet I'm made white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). I'm like a cat who when I fall in the mud I get back out, unlike the pig I don't want to remain in sin. The New Man is a faithful servant who does not want to sin but may still fall into sin and give into the lust of the flesh, if the new man is weak. The New Man must be strengthen through God's Word (I Peter 2:2; Heb. 5:12-14), God's Spirit (Eph. 3:16), and Grace (I Peter 5:5; Heb. 13:9, Rom. 6:14). If I fall into sin I shouldn't justify myself but rather see if I've been faithful to be fed in God's word, sought the power of God's Holy Spirit and if I've been humble so as to receive His grace. We don't automatically overcome sin, we need to be obedient to put to death the flesh with the help of God's Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:13). May the Lord help each of us.

Why Am I Still Tempted? (Ajay Chakravarthy)

Jesus' words to us when times get extremely difficult are, "Straighten Up! Lift Up Your Head!" because our redemption is that much closer (Luke 21:28).During difficult times, let us not shrink back in fear, but let's pick up the fight even more earnestly. We must first recognize, however, where our battlefield is. Let's always refuse to fight against people, so that we can focus our fight against the spiritual forces of darkness (Ephesians 6:12).Here are 3 areas to fight for:    1. Fight to preserve your personal devotion to Jesus (II Corinthians 11:2-4). In being devoted to Jesus, it is important that we clearly identify the true Jesus whom we are following, among all the "other Jesuses" that some who call themselves Christian follow.    2. Fight for a deeper foundation of love (I Corinthians 13:4-8a MSG). When God's people were being led astray by conspiracies and unfounded fear, God was looking for someone who would stand in the gap (Ezekiel 22:30). Seek to be that person who bridges the gap with love. When you find a gap between you and your spouse or you and another brother/sister or between other brothers/sisters, fight earnestly for unity in that situation through through prayer. We will have such a passion for unity only if we love without hypocrisy (Romans 12:9), not just in word, but in deed (I John 3:18). This love... never gives up; cares more for others than for self; doesn’t want what it doesn’t have; doesn’t strut; doesn’t have a swelled head; doesn’t force itself on others; isn’t always “me first”; doesn’t fly off the handle; doesn’t keep score of the sins of others; doesn’t revel when others grovel; takes pleasure in the flowering of truth; puts up with anything; trusts God always; always looks for the best; never looks back, but keeps going to the end. This love never dies. God will allow us to be tested in such a way that we realize that we can never produce such a love by natural means. It requires the supernatural love of God being shed abroad in our hearts, which will constrain us -- yes, "force us" -- to love this way; we will be left with no option but to love!    3. Fight for the territory around us (Joshua 13:1).When Joshua was "old and advanced in years", he didn't realize it. That's why God had to wake him up and speak to him that very much of the land remained to be possessed. It is possible for us as a church to have an "old and advanced in years" mentality, where we glory in the past. Yet, God wants us to look at the areas around us that are still under the control of Satan, and storm those gates of hell. God placed us as a church in this area for a purpose. Let's allow God to plant a burden in us for the people around us -- our neighbors, coworkers, friends, etc. Cultivate a tongue that "gossips the gospel", looking for any opportunity to lead people to Christ, and draw them into fellowship so that they too can grow as His disciples.    Amen.

Jesus' words to us when times get extremely difficult are, "Straighten Up! Lift Up Your Head!" because our redemption is that much closer (Luke 21:28). During difficult times, let us not shrink back in fear, but let's pick up the fight even more earnestly. We must first recognize, however, where our battlefield is. Let's always refuse to fight against people, so that we can focus our fight against the spiritual forces of darkness (Ephesians 6:12). Here are 3 areas to fight for: 1. Fight to preserve your personal devotion to Jesus (II Corinthians 11:2-4). In being devoted to Jesus, it is important that we clearly identify the true Jesus whom we are following, among all the "other Jesuses" that some who call themselves Christian follow. 2. Fight for a deeper foundation of love (I Corinthians 13:4-8a MSG). When God's people were being led astray by conspiracies and unfounded fear, God was looking for someone who would stand in the gap (Ezekiel 22:30). Seek to be that person who bridges the gap with love. When you find a gap between you and your spouse or you and another brother/sister or between other brothers/sisters, fight earnestly for unity in that situation through through prayer. We will have such a passion for unity only if we love without hypocrisy (Romans 12:9), not just in word, but in deed (I John 3:18). This love... never gives up; cares more for others than for self; doesn’t want what it doesn’t have; doesn’t strut; doesn’t have a swelled head; doesn’t force itself on others; isn’t always “me first”; doesn’t fly off the handle; doesn’t keep score of the sins of others; doesn’t revel when others grovel; takes pleasure in the flowering of truth; puts up with anything; trusts God always; always looks for the best; never looks back, but keeps going to the end. This love never dies. God will allow us to be tested in such a way that we realize that we can never produce such a love by natural means. It requires the supernatural love of God being shed abroad in our hearts, which will constrain us -- yes, "force us" -- to love this way; we will be left with no option but to love! 3. Fight for the territory around us (Joshua 13:1).When Joshua was "old and advanced in years", he didn't realize it. That's why God had to wake him up and speak to him that very much of the land remained to be possessed. It is possible for us as a church to have an "old and advanced in years" mentality, where we glory in the past. Yet, God wants us to look at the areas around us that are still under the control of Satan, and storm those gates of hell. God placed us as a church in this area for a purpose. Let's allow God to plant a burden in us for the people around us -- our neighbors, coworkers, friends, etc. Cultivate a tongue that "gossips the gospel", looking for any opportunity to lead people to Christ, and draw them into fellowship so that they too can grow as His disciples. Amen.

Straighten Up! Lift Up Your Head! (Santosh Poonen)

Matthew 20:17-24The disciples, beginning with James and John, saw the approaching glorification of Jesus as an opportunity for them to be exalted to positions of authority. What we can understand from Jesus' response to them is that there are two types of people in the world -- takers and givers.The kingdom of the world is characterized by takers -- whether in their marriages, their home life, the work place, the church, etc. The kingdom of heaven, on the other hand, is characterized by givers, beginning with Jesus who came to serve, not to be served.When you progress in the kingdom of the world, you can expect to be served more and more. If you progress in the kingdom of heaven, on the other hand, you will serve others more. Takers always expect others to meet their needs, and so they will eventually get offended over something or the other -- in their marriages, homes, church, etc. -- and leave. Givers, on the other hand, when they see a need, stick it out and seek God for the grace to meet those needs through them.God wants to make all grace abound to us, not so that we can be takers who accumulate more for ourselves, but so that we can be givers who do good to others as a result (II Corinthians 9:6-8). Because Paul was a giver, not a taker, he refused to be financially dependent on the church in Ephesus, and provided for his own needs (Acts 20:25-35).Jesus also said that following Him on this way of serving involves a cup of suffering (Matthew 20:22-28). This is why we emphasize the way of the cross over all the other good earthly causes with which we could get taken up. Every other emphasis results in a hope that will disappoint (Romans 5:5).The true hope that we have been given is one that we can be completely assured of, because God both said it and then took an oath on it (Hebrews 6:13-20). This hope thus becomes an anchor for our soul.We must ensure, however, that the anchor isn't just sitting unused in the boat, or hanging limply over the side. Our anchor must go all the way into the ground at the bottom of the ocean for the boat to be steadfast.We are told that the anchor reaches "within the veil", into the Most Holy Place where God dwells. Drawing on the design of the Tabernacle, if we get stuck along the way with just the forgiveness of our sins and baptism in water (Outer Court), our hope will disappoint. If we go further, but get stuck with just the experience of being baptized in the Holy Spirit, or doing some service for God (Holy Place), our hope will still disappoint.Let us therefore follow Jesus our Forerunner all the way into the presence of God (Most Holy Place), and be anchored there as worshipers of God. When God is all we seek, we will find that He fills us according to our needs, and causes rivers of living water to flow out from our innermost being (John 7:38).

Matthew 20:17-24 The disciples, beginning with James and John, saw the approaching glorification of Jesus as an opportunity for them to be exalted to positions of authority. What we can understand from Jesus' response to them is that there are two types of people in the world -- takers and givers. The kingdom of the world is characterized by takers -- whether in their marriages, their home life, the work place, the church, etc. The kingdom of heaven, on the other hand, is characterized by givers, beginning with Jesus who came to serve, not to be served. When you progress in the kingdom of the world, you can expect to be served more and more. If you progress in the kingdom of heaven, on the other hand, you will serve others more. Takers always expect others to meet their needs, and so they will eventually get offended over something or the other -- in their marriages, homes, church, etc. -- and leave. Givers, on the other hand, when they see a need, stick it out and seek God for the grace to meet those needs through them. God wants to make all grace abound to us, not so that we can be takers who accumulate more for ourselves, but so that we can be givers who do good to others as a result (II Corinthians 9:6-8). Because Paul was a giver, not a taker, he refused to be financially dependent on the church in Ephesus, and provided for his own needs (Acts 20:25-35). Jesus also said that following Him on this way of serving involves a cup of suffering (Matthew 20:22-28). This is why we emphasize the way of the cross over all the other good earthly causes with which we could get taken up. Every other emphasis results in a hope that will disappoint (Romans 5:5). The true hope that we have been given is one that we can be completely assured of, because God both said it and then took an oath on it (Hebrews 6:13-20). This hope thus becomes an anchor for our soul. We must ensure, however, that the anchor isn't just sitting unused in the boat, or hanging limply over the side. Our anchor must go all the way into the ground at the bottom of the ocean for the boat to be steadfast. We are told that the anchor reaches "within the veil", into the Most Holy Place where God dwells. Drawing on the design of the Tabernacle, if we get stuck along the way with just the forgiveness of our sins and baptism in water (Outer Court), our hope will disappoint. If we go further, but get stuck with just the experience of being baptized in the Holy Spirit, or doing some service for God (Holy Place), our hope will still disappoint. Let us therefore follow Jesus our Forerunner all the way into the presence of God (Most Holy Place), and be anchored there as worshipers of God. When God is all we seek, we will find that He fills us according to our needs, and causes rivers of living water to flow out from our innermost being (John 7:38).

Givers and Takers, and The Pathway to the Throne (Santosh Poonen)

When Jesus listed the commandments to the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:18-19), he omitted the one commandment that had to do with the inner life — the Tenth Commandment on coveting. All the other commandments deal with outward righteousness, but this commandment deals with the inner life. If that man had been honest, he would have admitted that his inner life was rotten despite all his outward good works. What Jesus was trying to tell him was that the only thing that would give his good works value was if they stemmed from eternal life. To receive that eternal life on the inside, he had to throw away everything that he considered valuable, and follow Jesus.All the things that God allows us to have on this earth — money, sports, career/job, ministry, marriage, reputation, righteous deeds, etc. — are all “0”s. The “1” thing that can give them value is Jesus. Without Him being the central part of them all, no matter how many “0”s you have, they all add up to nothing at all.Some years later, another rich young man (Saul of Tarsus) faced the same dilemma. He, however, was honest to acknowledge that even though he had kept all the outward commandments blamelessly and zealously (Philippians 3:4-6), he couldn’t keep the inner commandment at all. Seeing the evil that was present INSIDE him, caused him to evaluate his outwardly blameless life as “wretched” (Romans 7:7-8,21,24). So, putting no confidence in his good works, and treating his “good life” outside of Christ as rubbish (Philippians 3:3,7-11), Paul obtained eternal life in Jesus, and became the greatest apostle of God’s kingdom.Whose example will you follow today? The rich young ruler who was too afraid of having his world come crashing down, and so remained a hypocrite? Or will you follow Paul, who, seeing things from eternity’s perspective, threw away everything else in order to gain Christ?

When Jesus listed the commandments to the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:18-19), he omitted the one commandment that had to do with the inner life — the Tenth Commandment on coveting. All the other commandments deal with outward righteousness, but this commandment deals with the inner life. If that man had been honest, he would have admitted that his inner life was rotten despite all his outward good works. What Jesus was trying to tell him was that the only thing that would give his good works value was if they stemmed from eternal life. To receive that eternal life on the inside, he had to throw away everything that he considered valuable, and follow Jesus. All the things that God allows us to have on this earth — money, sports, career/job, ministry, marriage, reputation, righteous deeds, etc. — are all “0”s. The “1” thing that can give them value is Jesus. Without Him being the central part of them all, no matter how many “0”s you have, they all add up to nothing at all. Some years later, another rich young man (Saul of Tarsus) faced the same dilemma. He, however, was honest to acknowledge that even though he had kept all the outward commandments blamelessly and zealously (Philippians 3:4-6), he couldn’t keep the inner commandment at all. Seeing the evil that was present INSIDE him, caused him to evaluate his outwardly blameless life as “wretched” (Romans 7:7-8,21,24). So, putting no confidence in his good works, and treating his “good life” outside of Christ as rubbish (Philippians 3:3,7-11), Paul obtained eternal life in Jesus, and became the greatest apostle of God’s kingdom. Whose example will you follow today? The rich young ruler who was too afraid of having his world come crashing down, and so remained a hypocrite? Or will you follow Paul, who, seeing things from eternity’s perspective, threw away everything else in order to gain Christ?

Seeing the Evil Present in a “Good” Life (Santosh Poonen)

Everyone in the world is in pursuit of a "good life". But, whether it is a self-centered worldly-minded way of living on one extreme (Jude 1:15), or a self-righteous works-minded way of living on the other (Isaiah 64:6), both are equally detestable in God's eyes. Just because the former may seem more evil outwardly, that can deceive us into thinking that we are somehow better because our works are outwardly "good."These 2 extremes are evident in all areas of life, e.g.:- Money: On one extreme, money can be your master, controlling your thoughts and actions, and becoming the source of your security; this love of money is the root of all forms of evil (I Timothy 6:10). On the other extreme, you can think that godliness is in being materially poor, or that by being generous or philanthropic you can earn your way into eternal life. Both of these extremes are detestable to God.- Sports: On one extreme, sports can be your idol, captivating your time and thoughts. On the other extreme, you can think that complete abstinence from playing or watching sports makes you more pleasing to God. Both of these extremes  are detestable to God.- Career/Job: On one extreme, your career or job can become your identity, leading you away from the kingdom of heaven. On the other extreme, you can neglect your earthly studies in school or work at your job, spending your time instead on religious activities like prayer meetings and Bible studies; yet, God, observing your unfaithfulness with your earthly responsibilities, will not be able to entrust heavenly riches to you (Luke 16:11). Both of these extremes are detestable to God.- Ministry: On one extreme, your lust for ministry can become your passion, yet you can justify it because it's "God's work." On the other extreme, you can neglect the gifts God has given you and lose sight of His purpose for placing you in His Body. Both of these extremes are detestable to God.- Marriage: On one extreme, your evaluation of your marriage can come from a "Hollywood" standard of how "in love” you feel with each other.  On the other extreme you can be proud of the "godly marriage" or "godly home" that YOU built. Both of these extremes are detestable to God.- Reputation: On one extreme, you can allow the opinions of people to hold you in bondage.  On the other extreme, you can have a "couldn't-care-less" attitude about it, preventing you from being able to receive counsel from godly people who care about you. Both of these extremes are detestable to God.- Righteousness: On on extreme, you can turn God's grace into license to keep on sinning (Jude 1:4). On the other extreme, you can strive in your own strength to overcome sin, and think that that is godliness. Both of these extremes are detestable to God.The rich young ruler came to Jesus asking what other good works he needed to do to EARN his way into eternal life (Matthew 19:16); Jesus' answer made it clear that it was instead a life that he had to ENTER into (v17)! The rich man's life was like a tower of good works that he had built, and he expected Jesus to tell him what other building blocks he needed to add so that he could finally reach heaven (like the Tower of Babel).  What Jesus told him essentially was that the one thing he was lacking was the foundation, implying that the whole tower would need to be torn down and rebuilt.  This was something the rich young man was unwilling to do, and so he missed out on eternity.Jesus isn't calling you to try to live a GOOD life, but to receive His ETERNAL life.  The difference between the two is the difference between heaven and hell. It doesn't matter what age you are -- even if you have mere seconds to live, like the thief on the cross -- risk it all today to make Jesus your EVERYTHING. It will be the best decision of your life!

Everyone in the world is in pursuit of a "good life". But, whether it is a self-centered worldly-minded way of living on one extreme (Jude 1:15), or a self-righteous works-minded way of living on the other (Isaiah 64:6), both are equally detestable in God's eyes. Just because the former may seem more evil outwardly, that can deceive us into thinking that we are somehow better because our works are outwardly "good." These 2 extremes are evident in all areas of life, e.g.: - Money: On one extreme, money can be your master, controlling your thoughts and actions, and becoming the source of your security; this love of money is the root of all forms of evil (I Timothy 6:10). On the other extreme, you can think that godliness is in being materially poor, or that by being generous or philanthropic you can earn your way into eternal life. Both of these extremes are detestable to God. - Sports: On one extreme, sports can be your idol, captivating your time and thoughts. On the other extreme, you can think that complete abstinence from playing or watching sports makes you more pleasing to God. Both of these extremes are detestable to God. - Career/Job: On one extreme, your career or job can become your identity, leading you away from the kingdom of heaven. On the other extreme, you can neglect your earthly studies in school or work at your job, spending your time instead on religious activities like prayer meetings and Bible studies; yet, God, observing your unfaithfulness with your earthly responsibilities, will not be able to entrust heavenly riches to you (Luke 16:11). Both of these extremes are detestable to God. - Ministry: On one extreme, your lust for ministry can become your passion, yet you can justify it because it's "God's work." On the other extreme, you can neglect the gifts God has given you and lose sight of His purpose for placing you in His Body. Both of these extremes are detestable to God. - Marriage: On one extreme, your evaluation of your marriage can come from a "Hollywood" standard of how "in love” you feel with each other. On the other extreme you can be proud of the "godly marriage" or "godly home" that YOU built. Both of these extremes are detestable to God. - Reputation: On one extreme, you can allow the opinions of people to hold you in bondage. On the other extreme, you can have a "couldn't-care-less" attitude about it, preventing you from being able to receive counsel from godly people who care about you. Both of these extremes are detestable to God. - Righteousness: On on extreme, you can turn God's grace into license to keep on sinning (Jude 1:4). On the other extreme, you can strive in your own strength to overcome sin, and think that that is godliness. Both of these extremes are detestable to God. The rich young ruler came to Jesus asking what other good works he needed to do to EARN his way into eternal life (Matthew 19:16); Jesus' answer made it clear that it was instead a life that he had to ENTER into (v17)! The rich man's life was like a tower of good works that he had built, and he expected Jesus to tell him what other building blocks he needed to add so that he could finally reach heaven (like the Tower of Babel). What Jesus told him essentially was that the one thing he was lacking was the foundation, implying that the whole tower would need to be torn down and rebuilt. This was something the rich young man was unwilling to do, and so he missed out on eternity. Jesus isn't calling you to try to live a GOOD life, but to receive His ETERNAL life. The difference between the two is the difference between heaven and hell. It doesn't matter what age you are -- even if you have mere seconds to live, like the thief on the cross -- risk it all today to make Jesus your EVERYTHING. It will be the best decision of your life!

A Tower Of Good Works (Santosh Poonen)

If we overcome, Jesus promises to give us a new name (Revelation 2:17). But, that new name will not be about us or our overcoming. Rather, it will be: the name of God, the name of the Bride of Christ (the Church), and Jesus' new name (Revelation 3:12).  The name and image that will be stamped on us will have nothing to do with us individually, and everything to do with Jesus!The spirit of heaven is to make Jesus preeminent. So, the Bride of Christ seeks no other identity or name except to be called, “Jesus' delight” and "married to Jesus” (Isaiah 62:2-5).Let us walk this way of faith so that as people interact with us, they encounter less and less of ourselves, and more and more of Jesus. Then we will truly be ready for heaven.

If we overcome, Jesus promises to give us a new name (Revelation 2:17). But, that new name will not be about us or our overcoming. Rather, it will be: the name of God, the name of the Bride of Christ (the Church), and Jesus' new name (Revelation 3:12). The name and image that will be stamped on us will have nothing to do with us individually, and everything to do with Jesus! The spirit of heaven is to make Jesus preeminent. So, the Bride of Christ seeks no other identity or name except to be called, “Jesus' delight” and "married to Jesus” (Isaiah 62:2-5). Let us walk this way of faith so that as people interact with us, they encounter less and less of ourselves, and more and more of Jesus. Then we will truly be ready for heaven.

Heaven: Jesus and the Bride in Whom He Delights (Santosh Poonen)

Sermon Series: To Save That Which Is Lost (Part 2 of 5)Matthew 18:11-17Jesus came to earth to save that which is lost. This must also be the mission of every local expression of the Body of Christ -- toward others within the church and toward those around us in the world. If 99 out of the 100 sheep are safe in the fold, Jesus' heart is for the 1 that is not. When we share His burden, we will never be jealous of the love and joy of the Father over a prodigal who returns.In the midst of a Christendom that increasingly teaches that sin is okay, we must learn to balance the holiness of God with the love of God. The Devil, as the father of all lies, loves to portray God as someone waiting to catch us in sin so that He can send us to hell. Yet, the Bible teaches the exact opposite, that God is actually longing that everyone will repent (II Peter 3:8-9). That is why, God still allows this world to exist as it does, despite all the suffering in it. When Jesus does return and puts an end to all suffering, it will also mean the end of all opportunities to repent. "Tomorrow" is not the day of salvation, today is!If you need forgiveness today, it does not reduce God's love and mercy, any more than taking a cup of water out of the ocean reduces its supply. But, God invests His love in us so that His love will flow through us toward others. Having been forgiven and justified (Romans 4:25), God gives us the Holy Spirit as an initial deposit (II Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 1:14) of the love that He wants to shed abroad in our hearts (Romans 5:1-5). Jesus also needed grace for this, and, starting with the introduction (Luke 2:40) He finished the "book of grace" all the way to the end (Hebrews 2:9). Paul also finished his "book of grace" (II Timothy 4:7), despite the fact that he was an enemy of Jesus for the first half of his life. What God did for Jesus and for Paul, He wants to do for you.We see this in the lavish feast that the father threw for his son who had returned (Luke 15:22). It was an initial guarantee of his love for his son, as the first of many "feasts" he wanted to have with him. Let us seek to receive God's love increasingly, which goes beyond just forgiving our sins, but also preserving us from sin, as we dwell in the Father's presence constantly.If we don't keep ourselves in this love of God, all our sincere attempts to exhort or help others in their faults will only cause more harm -- like a building that is architected correctly, but whose foundation is not good. When we keep ourselves in the love of God and recognize the mercy He has shown us, we will be able to have mercy on others in snatching them from the fire (Jude 1:22-23).

Sermon Series: To Save That Which Is Lost (Part 2 of 5) Matthew 18:11-17 Jesus came to earth to save that which is lost. This must also be the mission of every local expression of the Body of Christ -- toward others within the church and toward those around us in the world. If 99 out of the 100 sheep are safe in the fold, Jesus' heart is for the 1 that is not. When we share His burden, we will never be jealous of the love and joy of the Father over a prodigal who returns. In the midst of a Christendom that increasingly teaches that sin is okay, we must learn to balance the holiness of God with the love of God. The Devil, as the father of all lies, loves to portray God as someone waiting to catch us in sin so that He can send us to hell. Yet, the Bible teaches the exact opposite, that God is actually longing that everyone will repent (II Peter 3:8-9). That is why, God still allows this world to exist as it does, despite all the suffering in it. When Jesus does return and puts an end to all suffering, it will also mean the end of all opportunities to repent. "Tomorrow" is not the day of salvation, today is! If you need forgiveness today, it does not reduce God's love and mercy, any more than taking a cup of water out of the ocean reduces its supply. But, God invests His love in us so that His love will flow through us toward others. Having been forgiven and justified (Romans 4:25), God gives us the Holy Spirit as an initial deposit (II Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 1:14) of the love that He wants to shed abroad in our hearts (Romans 5:1-5). Jesus also needed grace for this, and, starting with the introduction (Luke 2:40) He finished the "book of grace" all the way to the end (Hebrews 2:9). Paul also finished his "book of grace" (II Timothy 4:7), despite the fact that he was an enemy of Jesus for the first half of his life. What God did for Jesus and for Paul, He wants to do for you. We see this in the lavish feast that the father threw for his son who had returned (Luke 15:22). It was an initial guarantee of his love for his son, as the first of many "feasts" he wanted to have with him. Let us seek to receive God's love increasingly, which goes beyond just forgiving our sins, but also preserving us from sin, as we dwell in the Father's presence constantly. If we don't keep ourselves in this love of God, all our sincere attempts to exhort or help others in their faults will only cause more harm -- like a building that is architected correctly, but whose foundation is not good. When we keep ourselves in the love of God and recognize the mercy He has shown us, we will be able to have mercy on others in snatching them from the fire (Jude 1:22-23).

Keep Yourselves in the Love of God (Santosh Poonen)

Sermon Series: To Save That Which Is Lost (Part 1 of 5)Matthew 18:11-17“It is mainly the deeds of a love so noble that lead many to put a brand upon us. See how they love one another, they say, for they themselves are animated by mutual hatred; how they are ready even to die for one another, they say, for they themselves will sooner put to death” (Tertullian, 'The Apology').Imagine a church full of gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, and knowledge; full of faith, where mighty works of power are manifest; which gives all its possessions to feed the poor; in which some have even been killed as martyrs. Yet, Jesus would write a big ZERO over all of it if it didn't have love.This Divine love keeps no record of wrongs and does not rejoice over others’ sin (I Corinthians 13:1-6). God cursed Ham because he rejoiced over his father's failure, but blessed Shem and Japheth because they covered it up.Love covers a multitude of sins, and is hospitable without complaint, serving according to the measure of the gift that God has given (I Peter 4:8-10).

Sermon Series: To Save That Which Is Lost (Part 1 of 5) Matthew 18:11-17 “It is mainly the deeds of a love so noble that lead many to put a brand upon us. See how they love one another, they say, for they themselves are animated by mutual hatred; how they are ready even to die for one another, they say, for they themselves will sooner put to death” (Tertullian, 'The Apology'). Imagine a church full of gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, and knowledge; full of faith, where mighty works of power are manifest; which gives all its possessions to feed the poor; in which some have even been killed as martyrs. Yet, Jesus would write a big ZERO over all of it if it didn't have love. This Divine love keeps no record of wrongs and does not rejoice over others’ sin (I Corinthians 13:1-6). God cursed Ham because he rejoiced over his father's failure, but blessed Shem and Japheth because they covered it up. Love covers a multitude of sins, and is hospitable without complaint, serving according to the measure of the gift that God has given (I Peter 4:8-10).

The Church Characterized By Love (Santosh Poonen)

Matthew 18:5-14    What is it about children that God loves? They represent the opposite of what the world esteems – status, ability, accomplishment. Therefore, the world does not have any value for them. But let us realize that to receive a little child is to receive Jesus, and to despise a little child is to despise Jesus!Jesus gave a very stern warning about not causing little children to stumble (Matthew 18:7-11). Children are going to come across stumbling blocks in the world, so it is important that the church and every home represented in it must be the one place of safety for them.We must be able to say to the children in our homes and in the church: “Imitate me as I imitate the Father.” So, whatever they see us do and say, they ought to be able to know that that is what the Father is like (John 14:9). We are not there yet completely, but we must constantly be pressing forward toward this goal.The hand/foot. So, for example, are the habits that you indulge in, things in which you can invite a child to partake with you? Can a child look at your attitude toward money and know that that’s what Jesus is like?The eye: Do you have a radical attitude toward lust (I Peter 4:14-16). So, for example, is the type of music you listen to or movies you watch, something in which you can invite a child to participate with you. Are the jokes you tell the kind at which you can invite a child to laugh with you? God doesn’t say that we are to be holy because He said we should; that was the Old Covenant. Under the New Covenant, He calls us to be holy because He IS holy. That means that we can see His holiness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, like little children, simply become imitators of Him as we partake of His Divine Nature.The tongue: Children absorb much of what they hear, even subconsciously. Let us ensure that we are not a stumbling block to them by allowing in our speech any bitterness, wrath/clamor (how we speak to each other at home), slander (how we speak about others at home), complaining, (Ephesians 4:31; Philippians 2:14-15), etc.The heart: Let us be imitators of God in having a perfectly merciful, forgiving attitude toward others (Luke 6:36; Eph. 4:32-5:2).

Matthew 18:5-14 What is it about children that God loves? They represent the opposite of what the world esteems – status, ability, accomplishment. Therefore, the world does not have any value for them. But let us realize that to receive a little child is to receive Jesus, and to despise a little child is to despise Jesus! Jesus gave a very stern warning about not causing little children to stumble (Matthew 18:7-11). Children are going to come across stumbling blocks in the world, so it is important that the church and every home represented in it must be the one place of safety for them. We must be able to say to the children in our homes and in the church: “Imitate me as I imitate the Father.” So, whatever they see us do and say, they ought to be able to know that that is what the Father is like (John 14:9). We are not there yet completely, but we must constantly be pressing forward toward this goal. The hand/foot. So, for example, are the habits that you indulge in, things in which you can invite a child to partake with you? Can a child look at your attitude toward money and know that that’s what Jesus is like? The eye: Do you have a radical attitude toward lust (I Peter 4:14-16). So, for example, is the type of music you listen to or movies you watch, something in which you can invite a child to participate with you. Are the jokes you tell the kind at which you can invite a child to laugh with you? God doesn’t say that we are to be holy because He said we should; that was the Old Covenant. Under the New Covenant, He calls us to be holy because He IS holy. That means that we can see His holiness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, like little children, simply become imitators of Him as we partake of His Divine Nature. The tongue: Children absorb much of what they hear, even subconsciously. Let us ensure that we are not a stumbling block to them by allowing in our speech any bitterness, wrath/clamor (how we speak to each other at home), slander (how we speak about others at home), complaining, (Ephesians 4:31; Philippians 2:14-15), etc. The heart: Let us be imitators of God in having a perfectly merciful, forgiving attitude toward others (Luke 6:36; Eph. 4:32-5:2).

Imitate Me As I Imitate My Father (Santosh Poonen)

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