Praising God Always for All Things & Examining Ourselves Properly (Telugu) — Zac Poonen

Satan as the Accuser of God’s Children

When God looks down from heaven upon this earth It says the eyes of the Lord are always moving around the earth all the time. What do you think he is looking for? We know that the devil is also got all his demons roaming around the earth looking for something.

The devil is a created being so he can be only in one place at one time. But he has got millions of demons so they can be all over the world at the same time. And what do you think the demons and the devil are looking for?

What do you think the demons and the devil are looking for? Revelation 12 .10 says He is the accuser of the brethren. That verse is in the middle. And in the book of Job we read that he told God I am roaming around the whole world.

So Satan is roaming around the whole world looking at people. And his job is to find fault with some child of God and talk about it. And the main reason is that he is so jealous that God is blessing us.

Many years ago when he was not Satan but an angel he was in the garden of Eden. But then he sinned and God put him out of the garden of Eden. We read that in Ezekiel 28. And then God made a man Adam and put him in the garden of Eden.

And gave him a wife and they were together. And Satan was so jealous that Adam and Eve have now come to the place where I was once. So he schemed and manipulated to get God to push them out. He knew that if they sinned God will have to put them out.

So he didn't tell God anything. He just made them sin. And God put them out. Now today he has seen how God is blessing his children even though we are in trouble and trial we are faithful to God. So Satan is looking at all God's children to find some fault to accuse them.

He is called the accuser of the brothers. And the accuser of the sisters. So remember that. That when you look at other believers to find some fault to accuse them you are actually doing the devil's job for him.

Why don't you look at other believers to see something good in them. There is some good. Even if there are some bad things there are some good things. Why do we always try to find some fault in our husband or wife or neighbor or other believers.

And when we find that fault we tell it. So usually we don't tell it to that person unless it's the wife otherwise we tell it to everybody else. We tell so many people. But that is what the devil is doing.

And when you do it The devil holds your hand and says that's wonderful let's do that. So when God looks down from heaven He sees the devil roaming around criticizing finding fault. And all the billions of the devil's children also go around doing the same thing.

And God sees some of his own children also doing the same thing. Criticizing. Murmuring about something that's going wrong. Complaining. Whenever we murmur or complain about something that happens in our life.

Maybe the food was not good. Or something went wrong in the office. Or some mistake that your husband or wife did which caused some confusion in the home. Or they lost the house keys. They don't know how to open the house now they lost the keys.

So many things can go wrong in our life. And there are people who are quick to murmur, grumble, criticize, find fault. So when God looks down from heaven he sees all these people murmuring, grumbling, finding fault.

So when you murmur and find fault you are actually saying Satan is in control of this world he is causing a lot of confusion. And that is the darkness that God sees in the world. Why is the world full of darkness spiritually?

Because of murmuring. Grumbling. Criticizing others. Complaining about things that are happening in our life. Complaining about people. It's darkness, darkness, darkness. And the author of it is the devil.

Trusting God’s Providence Instead of Complaining

All these people are saying the devil is in control of this world. But among all these crores of people like that There are a few people. Very few. Who never complain. Who never grumble. It's not because they don't have problems.

They may have bigger problems than you. But they say Romans 8 .28 says that God makes everything work for our good. And they believe that. So even if something evil happens They say the world calls it evil.

But because of Romans 8 .28 we call it good. We have a big proof of that. What was the most evil thing that happened in the world? What is the most evil thing? That people killed the son of God on the cross.

That there is no greater sin that anybody committed in this world than that. From the time of Adam. If you ask what is the greatest evil that anybody did. It was not Cain killing Abel. That's nothing.

It was people killing the son of God. That was the worst thing that happened in the world. Now I ask you another question. What is the best thing that happened in the world? That was Jesus dying on the cross.

See the same thing. Which is the worst thing God turned into the best thing. We can say the worst thing that man and the devil did. By crucifying Jesus God converted it into the best thing for the whole human race.

That is God's way of telling us. There is nothing the devil can do to you Which I cannot turn to good. There is nothing the devil can do to you Which I cannot turn to good. Which I cannot do to you. Everything the devil does to you I can turn to good.

But you must trust me. And never grumble. Never complain. See Philippians in chapter 2. Philippians Chapter 2. And verse 14 And 15. Here it says That if you do everything without grumbling and complaining.

Then you will be children of God In the midst of a crooked perverse generation. And you will be like a light in the world. How are you a light in the world? Not by saying I accept Jesus as my savior. That is only the beginning.

That is only the beginning. It is by doing all things Without grumbling Without complaining or argument. This verse says that is how you appear as a light in the world. And why is this world called a crooked and perverse generation here?

Because they are always grumbling and complaining and arguing. Crores and crores of people are grumbling and complaining. Saying the devil is in control. He is messing up everything. In the midst of it there are a few true children of God Who no grumbling, no complaining comes out of their mouth.

Not at home. Not in the office. Not in the bus. Not in the train. You know in the bus and train so many people behave so selfishly. They will push and say that is my seat. Just for half an hour I say okay take the seat.

I will stand for half an hour no problem. But I am not going to be part of the darkness of the world by fighting with you here In the bus. There is enough darkness in the world with so many people grumbling and complaining.

I am a child of God. And God has given me a spirit of thankfulness for everything. So we never grumble or complain seven days of the week. It says that is how you prove that you are a blameless and innocent child of God.

Worshiping God Every Day, Not Only on Sunday

If I live like that from Monday to Saturday. If I live like that from Monday to Saturday. And I come here to worship God on Sunday morning. And I say Lord you are so good. You are in control of this universe.

Thank you for your love for us. Then your words have meaning to God. But if you are grumbling and complaining the whole week. In the house, in the office, in the home and with your husband, wife, everybody.

And then now suddenly you try to praise God. Even the angels will say you are a hypocrite. And God will say you are a hypocrite. Then what did you say in the last six weeks? And now suddenly in half an hour you start praising God.

Worshipping God is not like a light switch. It is not like turning it on or off. You can do that with a light switch. If you turn it on, the light will come. If you turn it off, the light will go. Worshipping God is not like that.

That Sunday morning half an hour, I switch it on. Lord praise you, thank you, hallelujah and all that. And then I go away from here. I switch it off. And fight and grumble and complain and yell at other people.

What is that? You are not a worshipper. You are a hypocrite. But we can change. In the past we were all hypocrites. I was also like that. But I decided I am going to change. I am not going to be like the darkness in the world, grumbling, complaining, murmuring.

So many years ago I finished with that. I don't grumble about circumstances, people, anything. I disagree with many people. Especially preachers who are corrupting the gospel. My biggest disagreement is not with my dear Hindu friends and Muslim friends.

I have no quarrel with them because they don't know about Jesus Christ. My biggest disagreement is with these preachers who are preaching a false gospel. But I don't grumble about them. I say I disagree with them.

But I praise God for everything. And God uses everybody, He uses these false preachers also to sift out the false Christians. We give thanks for everything. Not one day in seven, but seven days in seven.

In the Old Testament they didn't do that. In the Old Testament they would come on Saturday, that was their worship day. And they would clap and sing and shout and blow the trumpets and praise God. And the next six days they will go home and fight and quarrel with people.

And then again they will come on the seventh day and clap and praise and worship God. But Jesus has come with a better message. Why were they like that? Because they did not have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside them.

And if you don't allow the Holy Spirit to fill your heart, you will also be like that. There is only one way to give thanks to God seven days a week. And never grumble and never complain. But always be a worshiper.

You must allow the Holy Spirit to fill every area of your heart. So I told you God is looking down from heaven upon this earth. What is he looking for? What is God looking for? In India. In Andhra. In Kakinada.

And wherever you come from God is looking in that village also. What does he find? Grumbling, complaining, murmuring, all darkness, darkness, darkness. But he is seeking for something. It's written in John 4.

Worshiping the Father in Spirit and Truth

And verse 23 It says the Father seeks. The hour is coming when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. And the Father is seeking for such worshippers. So the Father is looking for worshippers not only on Sunday.

He is looking for those who will worship him everyday. That doesn't mean we have to kneel down all the time and keep praying. It says worship in spirit it says here. In truth and in spirit. And spirit means in our heart.

Not just with our lips. I may open my lips even today maybe only for 2 minutes. But I can worship in my spirit 24 hours. And the Father is looking for those who have a spirit of worship all the time in their life.

Because when we give thanks. And don't grumble or complain about anything. We are saying The devil is not in control of this world. My heavenly Father is in control of this world. Jesus Christ has got all authority in heaven and earth.

So be a worshipper. And even if it has not been like that in the past You can change today. Sometimes a day comes in our life where we finally decide I am going to change. We are going in the wrong direction.

And one day we decide we are going to turn around. And say I have finished with all grumbling, complaining, fighting with people from now on. Even if something goes wrong as I think I say no. God is still on the throne.

And he who turned the death of Christ into something good. Can turn this also into something good. See whatever evil you may be facing from other people cannot be as bad as crucifying Jesus Christ. And if God can turn that into something so good for us Why can't he turn something in your life into something good.

God Turns Curses into Blessings

There is a beautiful verse in the book of Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy. And we read chapter 23. And verse 5 We read that Balaam tried to curse Israel. But see in the middle of this verse. The Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing because he loves you.

Chapter 23 verse 5. In chapter 23 verse 5 in the middle The Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing because he loves you. Who cursed them? God said I will turn this curse into a blessing. I am not saying I will cancel the curse.

That itself would have been good. He said no. I will do more than that. I will turn that curse into a blessing. Because he loves you. Not because you are so good But because he loves you. I thank God for that.

People curse me. God doesn't stop it. He turns it into a blessing before it comes to me. I have seen that happen so many times in my life. He doesn't stop people from speaking evil about you. Let them do that.

I won't stop it. But I will turn it in some way into a blessing. And I can tell you so many stories from my life Where the evil that other people did. God did not stop it But he turned it into a blessing.

And I can tell you so many stories from my life Where the evil that other people did. God did not stop it But he turned it into a blessing. It has happened so many times That now I have learnt to just give thanks whatever happens.

The Lord that person is doing something evil to me. Thank you very much. Praise the Lord. Because you are going to turn it into a blessing. If that man had not done that I would have missed that blessing.

And so we worship and praise God everyday. Then your life will be a very happy life. Your home will be a very happy home. So when you pray and worship God now Just pray one little prayer. Lord, I don't want this to be a habit only for half an hour.

Understanding the Meaning of Breaking Bread

I want this to become permanent for the rest of my life. God bless you. We read in the Acts of the Apostles in chapter 20. And verse 7 On the first day of the week We were gathered together to break bread.

So what did they do when they broke bread on the first day of the week? What did they do when they broke bread on the first day of the week? Paul began to speak to them. We don't know what he spoke. But we know what he wrote in 1 Corinthians 11.

So he must have spoken something like that in Troas also. Many people break bread without understanding its meaning. There is nothing wrong in it. If you obey God Do it as an act of obedience. If you do it with understanding That is even better.

See what it says in 1 Corinthians 14 and verse 20. Jesus told us that we must be like little children in humility. But we must not be like little children in stupidity. Remember that Little children are humble but they are also stupid.

Because they put mud in their mouth when they are 6 months old. But they are humble, they don't have high thoughts about themselves. So Jesus said be like little children in humility. But in our understanding God's word.

It says in this verse. In your thinking you must be mature like men. So we need to understand what breaking of bread is. Don't say I am like a little child, I don't understand. No, word of God says don't be like children in understanding.

Be like little children in humility And in not doing anything evil. So when you come to 1 Corinthians 11 In 1 Corinthians 11 Jesus said Verse 24. This is my body broken for you. Do it in remembrance of me.

So when we come to the Lord's table We say Lord this bread Reminds me of what you did for me on the cross. Lord, this broken bread reminds me of what you did for me on the cross. Every week I remember You walked on the cross.

You made your body broken for me. Why did he walk on the cross. Why did his body get broken. It was because of my sin. So that's what I must think. If nobody had sinned in the world Then there was no need for Jesus to hang on the cross.

Then there will be no breaking of bread. So the breaking of bread reminds us of our sin. It reminds us of all the wrong things we have done in our life. And all the wrong words we have spoken. And all the dirty thoughts we have thought.

And the wrong attitudes we have towards other people. When I think about all that I say Lord Jesus you had to be broken for all this. You had to be crucified for this. I don't want to take that lightly.

So when I break the bread and eat it I am saying Lord I remember it is my sin. That made you die on the cross. You eat that. How can you go and sin again tomorrow and the day after. We may accidentally fall that can happen anytime.

How can you keep that wrong attitude towards somebody here and break bread. Then you are saying I don't care for your dying on the cross. Then we drink the cup. That cup verse 25 says this is the new covenant in my blood.

Which is for the forgiveness of our sins. That also reminds us of our sin. And then it reminds us what Jesus said That we must forgive others their sins against us. Just like God has forgiven us our sins against him.

Forgiving Others Before the Lord’s Table

So when I drink the cup I must drink it with understanding. Lord I remember Your blood was shed to forgive my sins. I have committed crores of sins against you. And in one moment you forgave them all.

Now Lord There are a few people who have sinned against me also. Some may be sitting here. Some may be somewhere else. But Lord Today as I drink this cup Exactly like you forgave me I forgive all of them.

And I am not going to forgive one or two of their sins. But all of their sins. Because you forgave all my sins. Have you got a bad attitude towards somebody right now? Usually we have bad attitudes towards some relatives.

They are the ones we mix very closely. May be some relative cheated you of the property. Family property. May be your wife's relative or your husband's relative treated you very badly. God is not saying what they did is right.

What they did is very bad. But what the Lord is saying is What you have done to me is much worse than that. How am I treating you? Am I treating you badly? I am so good to you even though you have done so many things against me.

So be like me and be good to them. Or it may be some brother or sister in the church you don't like too much. Like we sometimes say We love everybody. But we don't like everybody. Supposing you go to your wife.

Say I love you but I don't like you. You think she will be happy. I love you very much. But I don't like you. What is the difference? When you don't like somebody you are saying you don't love that person.

I am not saying we have to agree with everybody. But we can love them. We say okay. I accept you as you are. You know I found the more I discover my own sins. The easier it is for me to accept other people who have also got sin.

Supposing I am lame in my left leg. I am always walking like this. Because my left leg is lame. How can I criticize another man whose right leg is lame? What is the difference? We are the same. I have got a weakness on one side and he has got a weakness on the other side.

But we are so foolish. We have got so many weaknesses. But we criticize other people who have also got weaknesses. And we say I don't like you. I won't talk to you. I won't have any fellowship with you.

Now if somebody is always coming to fight with you. Then it is alright. Keep a little distance from such people. The bible says pursue peace with all men. Sometimes the best way to pursue peace is by visiting somebody and showing them that you love them.

Sometimes the best way to pursue peace is by visiting somebody and showing them that you love them. If you want peace with some people then keep a little distance from them and don't visit them. Because if you go there they will fight.

I want peace but I am not going there. I am not telling you to visit everybody's house. But you must have no grudge or wrong attitude towards anybody. You may say I have got some reason. Because the way they treated me.

The way they cheated me. The way they spoke about me. He even slapped me once. How many times you slapped God? With your sins. Every sin is a slap in the face of God. But we don't see it like that. That's why we think we are so holy.

We have not committed so many sins against God. That fellow insulted me 50 times. I have committed maybe 5 or 6 sins in my life. Is that right? We have committed 5 or 6 crore sins. Even if he has committed 50 times he insulted you, forgive him.

Examining Ourselves Before Communion

My dear brothers and sisters. It says here 1 Corinthians 11 Before you eat the bread and drink the cup. Verse 28 Let everybody examine himself. There is no verse in the Bible which tells us to examine other people.

Only doctors examine other people. And that also when they come to him for examination. Otherwise they don't. Otherwise they don't examine. Otherwise they don't examine. But we are not doctors. Even if you are a doctor.

If someone comes to examine you We will examine their body. But we have to examine ourselves. Then we have to eat the bread and drink the cup. So what should I examine myself? Lord, do I recognize that you died for my sins?

Do I hate all the sins in my life? Do I hate all the bad habits in my life? And then do I hate this wrong attitude I have towards other people? And then I confess it. And I can cleanse myself. See the wonderful thing is that It doesn't take long to be cleansed.

The moment you repent and confess You are cleansed immediately. So even if you got many wrong attitudes right now. And you say Lord, I feel convicted. That's wrong. You should say Lord, I feel convicted I am doing wrong.

Repentance and the Thief on the Cross

Then how good did you see me? I am a criminal. How do you think. A thief on the cross. Walking with Jesus Christ. What do you think? The moment he died. On the cross Jesus Christ died earlier. And a little time later The soldiers broke the legs of this man.

And he also died. And he also left his body. And suddenly he finds he is in paradise. And Jesus is there. And Jesus says, let's walk here. Let me introduce you to all these people in paradise. And they go to Abraham And Noah And Moses.

And Jesus says, this is my new brother. And Abraham looks and says What did he do in his life? He never did anything good. He only killed people and stole money. How is he in paradise? Because he confessed his sin at the last minute.

And he repented. And Abraham and Noah are surprised. We did so much good. But this man did nothing. But Jesus says, he did do one good thing. He repented of his sin. He confessed his sin. And that is the basis on which All of us are going into God's kingdom.

But that thief would have been so grateful That the Lord forgave his sin. And what do you think would be the biggest sorrow And regret in that thief's mind in paradise? Oh Lord, I feel so sorry That I did not have more time on this earth To show good to other people.

You were so good to me. And I didn't even get one day To do show good to other people. Can I go back now? Lord says, no, you can't go back. And he says, no, you can't go back. But you and I are not like the dying thief.

We did not go to heaven. As soon as we were forgiven We are still alive. And the Lord has forgiven us As much as he forgave that thief. I believe that I may not have killed people. I may not have committed adultery.

But when I stand with the thief in heaven And he looks at the sins He committed outside the body. And I look at the sins I committed in my mind. And I put it together. I'll say, brother, I committed As many sins as you did.

Only you committed outside the body. I committed it inside the body. But in God's eyes, I am a sinner Like you. And I am as thankful as you That Jesus died for me. But I had one advantage over you. God gave me a few years on earth To show goodness to other people.

Loving Those Who Do Not Love Us

To show goodness to somebody Who deserves it. Even the heathen will do it. Jesus said, if you love somebody Who loves you. You don't get any credit for that. The worldly people do that. But a Christian is one who Loves people who don't love him.

He greets people who don't greet him. He forgives people who don't forgive him. Do you have somebody Who has not forgiven you? You forgive them. Jesus forgave people When he was hanging on the cross. So that is the spirit With which we must come To the Lord's table.

Seeing Jesus in the Breaking of Bread

And when we come with that spirit Something will happen. See Luke chapter 24. Luke 24. There were two people walking to Emmaus. And Jesus was walking with them After the resurrection. And it says in verse 16.

Their eyes were prevented From recognizing him. They thought he was just another man. They didn't know it was Jesus. And they walked for more than two hours. Or probably three hours. Because it was about ten kilometers.

Ten kilometers. They walked three hours. They didn't know who he was. Talking, talking. He was explaining the bible And all that. They didn't know who he was. They heard his voice. They couldn't recognize the voice.

They looked at his face. They couldn't recognize it was Jesus. Then they went to the house And in the house. It says here Verse 30. He took the bread And broke it. Suddenly they saw The holes in his hand.

Suddenly they recognized Hey, this is Jesus. It says their eyes were opened In the breaking of bread. Do you want your eyes To be opened in the breaking of bread? So many people come to the Breaking of bread blind.

They go away blind. Many times when I come To the breaking of bread I say Lord Open my eyes That I can see Jesus. Who can see him? Jesus said Bless another pure in heart. They will see God. I'll tell you why I want to be pure in heart.

Because I want to see God. Not when I go to heaven Not when I go to heaven. It's not then that I want to see God. I want to see God now. Do you know that you can See God now even before You go to heaven?

Purity of Heart Requires Forgiveness

If you are pure in heart Pure in heart means I have forgiven everybody. If there are ten people Against whom I have a grudge And I forgive nine of them. My heart is not pure. If there is one person In this room Whom you have not forgiven.

Or there is one person Anywhere in the world Whom you have not forgiven I can give it to you. In writing You will not see God. I am not interested in Somebody repaying my debt. I am not interested in Somebody coming and saying Brother Zack please forgive me.

Even before he asks I have forgiven him. Why? Because I want to see God. If I don't forgive him I won't see God. I want to tell you something. Many of us are not Growing spiritually Because we cannot see Jesus.

Many of us are not Growing spiritually Because we cannot see Jesus. By breaking the bread. They will open their eyes To see Jesus. I prayed today Lord when I break the bread And drink the cup today. In my heart I want to see Jesus His love His goodness.

I want to see more of it. I want the Holy Spirit To fill my heart. I want to be a person Who loves like Jesus. A person who is kind A person who is good. I want to be like that To others Especially to those Who are harming me.

Cleansing the Heart from Grudge and Bitterness

I may not meet them. I may not visit their house. The Pharisees didn't go Visiting the houses Of all the Pharisees Who hated him. I am not asking you To visit the house Of all the people who hate you.

You may not visit Any of their houses. What I am saying Is this Love them in your heart Forgive them in your heart Even if you never see them. Say Lord I have no grudge Or bitterness Against any of them In this world.

I have no grudge Or bitterness Against any of them. Today I am going to Test myself. I am going to cleanse myself. I want the blood of Jesus To cleanse me. From the wrong attitude I had for so many years.

I want the blood of Jesus From the wrong attitude I had for so many years. I want the blood of Jesus To cleanse me. Will you see Jesus? It has happened to me Many times. I want it to happen Again to me today Amen.