Rejoice In What God Has Done For You — Zac Poonen

Praise the Lord brothers and sisters. Like we say this is the day the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it. We always open Our message by turning to the Bible because that is the only book in the world that is God's communication to man without error.

Bible Translations and the Authority of Scripture

Godly men have written many books. But if they are godly they are based on the Bible, so I want to say a few words about Bible translations in English. Because some people are confused about it. Let me give you a little history about 420 years ago or so.

There were translations even before that but 420 years ago the King in England King James Decided to have a good translation of the Bible. I Mean not because he was born again, but because more a lot of people in England were Christians by name.

So he Collected a lot of scholars fortunately many of those scholars were God-fearing people and Asked them to translate the Bible. But he gave them one instruction Don't let your translation disturb any existing traditions in the Church of England.

That condition. You know you that means The church traditions became more important than the translation. So if they found something in the translation that was going against the church traditions, they could not translate it like that.

Because otherwise he'd cut off their heads. The King had an authority like that those days you need to know How it was? Anyway, because they were God-fearing people they the King James translation is a very good translation, but It is in the language of the English of 1600s and Some of those things some of those words mean different today.

For example the word prevent. You know what prevent means it means to stop someone. But in 1600 it means to go ahead of someone in one Thessalonians 4 It says when Christ comes again We who are alive will not prevent.

Those who are already died. They will rise up first. So it's not that we are going to sit on their graves and prevent them from rising up this crazy idea. But it means we won't go ahead of them. So therefore sometimes we read for example charity.

Charity means today giving money to the poor. In 1600 it meant love. So that's the reason why People who Like in India where English is a second language for most people. They can get a wrong understanding because it says in 1 Corinthians 13 charity is the greatest.

So people think giving money to the poor is the greatest thing in the world. It's not what it means. So there are some limitations when you use King James Version. I say that because if you are reading one you probably get some wrong understandings of some of those things.

But when I was converted that was the only in good English translation available and that's what I read in 1959. But because I knew a little bit of English I could understand the charity meant love. But then later on about 10 -12 years later the New American Standard Bible came out and that's what I've been using for 50 years.

And the more I've read that I feel that is the most accurate Translation In English available today, but even there they Compromised a little bit maybe to a new American means to please some of the American people and I'll give you one example where they said, you know In 1 Peter 3, it says a woman must adorn herself.

Not with gold jewelry or expensive dresses but they Translated it in 1 Peter 3 verse 3 is not merely With gold jewelry, which means something completely different. And not with gold jewelry and not only with gold jewelry.

Two different meanings, but they added that word merely. But they put in an italics to show it is not in the original that is are added. Why did they add it? So you see even in translation people sometimes bring their own Thoughts into it.

For example in the King James Version Acts chapter 12 the word Passover is Translated as Easter. There was no Easter in Jesus time. So we had to be careful in these things the main message of the Bible is to teach us to love God with all our heart and to love others as ourselves.

But some of these things are for example, one of the things that those King James Version translators did was They came in Matthew chapter 3 to John the Baptist. He immersed people in water and the New Testament was written in the Greek language and the Greek word for immersed or dipped is Baptizo.

That's a Greek word. And that's how it was written there. Immersed dipped if in Greece if anybody said I dip my hand in a bucket of water. He'd say I baptizo my hand in the bucket of water. That's the meaning of it but if they're Translated the word baptizo as immerse and that Jesus taught we must immerse people when they are after they are believers.

It would have disrupted and broken up the whole Church of England. Because they were sprinkling babies. They were they were not immersing people the Church of England. Anglican Church is not immersing people even today and Because it was sprinkling babies so these Translators they had some respect for God.

They said we can't translate that as sprinkle because that's not the meaning of the word. So what to do. We can't translate is immerse because that will disrupt the entire Church of England and the king will cut off our heads.

So to save their heads. They had to think what to do and they were clever. They invented a word in the English language, which nobody knew the meaning of in 1600 baptism. Today we know if we speak about it as an English word, but it is not an English word.

If you go to English dictionary, you'll find a word called Dobie. Dobie. Dobie is a Hindi word Washerman, but because the English folk lived here, they learned the word Dobie and sahib. Those are all words you find in the English dictionary, but they're not English words.

Yeah, Hindi words, which I am imported in the English language like that baptizo was a Greek word. Imported into the English language by in 1611 by those translators because they didn't want to lose their heads and disturb church traditions.

So what happened people got the Book the Bible and they read the word baptism and never heard that word before. You say what does that mean? Everybody's wondering what is this new word? We never heard it before and they said ah.

That must be what they do to the children in the church and They say when the children are born into a Christian family, they say oh, it's a child of God automatically. Because you know in the Old Testament If you're born of the seed of Abraham, you are a Jew you didn't have to take a decision to become a Jew.

You're a child of Abraham. You are a Jew. So they imported that they were all old covenant Christians really like today also a lot of old covenant Christians. They imported that into Christianity and said if you're born into a Christian family, you're a Christian like the children of Abraham or Jews and.

So if they're a Christian the next thing they must be baptized so that they sprinkle on the head. So the people read the word baptism and they said that must be meaning What they do in the church and so they word came child baptism.

But they don't immerse the child. So I'm just telling you how. How the devil has corrupted truth. But in spite of that people came through to understand and over a period of time so They understood for example.

Even the New American Standard Bible doesn't translate it translate baptism as immersion because that word got Adopted into the English language the word baptism. I wish they had translated it as immersion.

But you know what will happen all the Christians who believe in sprinkling won't buy the New American Standard Bible and when people publish a Bible they think of Business concerns are important people must buy this Bible we translate so that's also in the mind of the translators.

So there are so many things like this. And then because some words are difficult to understand and some expressions in the Greek are difficult to understand people thought of Paraphrasing. Paraphrasing means not translating but taking a full sentence and putting it in more easy to understand words or expressive words.

And one of the first paraphrases was by a man called JB Phillips in England. I don't know whether he was a God-fearing man because The back of the first publication of that book JB Phillips is a picture of him smoking a cigar.

That's his picture anyway, but then in the 1970 or so a God-fearing man Translated the Living Bible. Now he was a very godly man who translated that very godly man because I have met him and He started a publishing house called Tyndale house.

They even published one of my books. But Ken Taylor, he was a very humble God-fearing man he's dead now gone to be with the Lord and I found the Living Bible paraphrase Excellent in many places, but remember it's not a translation.

It's a paraphrase. So it's good sometimes to read it. But if you want the accurate word go to the NASB. I Say this because many people are confused. So I found great help in the Living Bible is perhaps the best paraphrase of the Bible there is in the English language.

But there's another one that's come much later Called the message Paraphrase that is good in some places. But not as good as the Living Bible overall but the reason I come to that is Because there's one paraphrase in the message Bible, which is perhaps the best I have ever read about that verse.

Jesus’ Authority and the Call to Rejoice

That's what I want to speak about today. That's why this introduction Luke Chapter 10. I have never read a paraphrase as good as the message paraphrase for this verse. But I want to tell you that the message paraphrase is not very accurate in many many places.

So I would not recommend if you want to read a paraphrase read Living Bible. Mm-hmm, but message paraphrase in Luke chapter 10. The reason is because you should not try to Claim something written in a paraphrase and expect God to keep it because it's not perhaps his word it may be a man's Interpretation of God's Word and then you try to claim that and it doesn't work.

Because that's not what God said. That's where you got to be careful about Paraphrases so whenever you think of promises and commands go to the NASB, but for general reading to understand a little more some what I do is I get the meaning from the NASB and then to See some other aspect of it.

You know, the Greek language has got many Sighted meanings to words. Okay Luke chapter 10. We read that Jesus sent out 70 disciples verse 1 To go ahead of him and Preach and then they came back. This is Luke 10 verse 17 They came back with great joy and said Lord even the demons are subject to us in the name.

Imagine if you went out somewhere in your entire life you are always scared of demons and Here you go out and Jesus told you to cast out demons and you go out and say in the name of Jesus get out Of this man and the demon goes boy, you'll be excited.

You'll be excited that Satan was listening to you and wherever you went. Those demons were just scared of the name of Jesus. They were really excited and said Lord Luke 10 17 even the demons are subject to us in your name it's a natural excitement that you and I would have also had if we had nobody had ever done it before and Now they were doing it and then he said to them I want to tell you something about Satan.

I Was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning, you know, that's when Satan fell the first sin in the universe. You know what it was when it created being His name we don't know his name is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible.

He was the head of the angels. They call him Lucifer, but that is the Latin name Latin translation of Morning Star so he was known as the Morning Star Isaiah 14 and Latin is was called Lucifer. So they call it Lucifer, but that was not his name.

Nobody knows his name he was just known as the Morning Star and He was made by God as the head of the angels, but he was not happy with that. You know how people love position and titles. Even today among Christians love to be pastor bishop reverend right reverend and all types of things.

Well, it began there all those love for titles and all in position began with the head of the angels. God appointed him to be the head of all the millions of angels millions and millions of angels. God created them with a word and This Morning Star was the head of all the angels.

But he was unhappy. Imagine being unhappy when you're the most important person in the world in the universe. But he was unhappy because there was one person above him. That was God. That's terrible when You are unhappy that even God is above you.

You know very subtly sometimes. So he anyway, let me come to this so this Morning Star said I want to be like God. I Want to go above him. I want him also to be my authority. He created him. God is the one who created him and he wanted to be of him.

This is stupidity of The devil and he wanted to be like God. There are human beings who want to be like God. You know, there's a verse in the Psalms which says about God. Holy. I Don't remember the Psalm 130 something holy and reverent is his name.

Referring to God whose name is reverent God. Holy and reverent is his name. But do you know the number of people in the world who take that title reverent so-and-so reverent so-and-so reverent so-and-so.

It's the same old desire that the devil had I want to be like God His God's name a little reverent. I will take reverent so-and-so or more than that right reverent so-and-so that is even higher than reverent.

That same spirit Has come down all the way through millions of years. Very subtle the desire to be above somebody. Even if you don't take a title it can be in us. Wanting to boss over people even in the church.

To rule people to tell people what to do. I'm the boss here. Listen to me I've seen that in cleaning teams sometimes in the church where somebody is no go and clean this the way they speak. It's like I'm the reverend here.

Even if they don't use that title and in the midst of such a world where all man was corrupted Jesus came and became a servant. Never forget that. And if you want to be like Jesus begin by being a servant of others and Never taking titles and position to rule over others.

Anyway, they came and said Lord. This is amazing. And Jesus said I've seen Satan fall like lightning from heaven and Then he told these people not only over Demons I give you authority. Over serpents scorpions over all the power of Satan.

And that's given to us when you're filled with the Holy Spirit. You have authority over all the power of Satan. That's why it's so important to be filled with the Holy Spirit. I Was born again and baptized.

Way back in 59 61 baptism. But I could never cast out a demon until I was Baptized in the Holy Spirit and anointed in the Holy Spirit. I don't know whether I could. I never tried but I was scared if I saw a demon-possessed person.

I Wouldn't know what to do but once I was anointed with the Holy Spirit I Had authority. I could tell a demon to go and it would go immediately one sentence so he said I Have given you authority and over all the power of the enemy.

Nothing that the enemy does will hurt you. That applies to us. If you are submitted to God There is a promise that nothing that Satan does will hurt you. But you means in terms of eternity I mean Satan succeeded in killing Paul and Peter and John and all these people all the different James and everybody else, but he didn't hurt them for eternity.

No, it's only temporary. Nothing can hurt you no one can like. One paraphrase no one can lay a hand on you. They can't hurt you eternally. Now here is the where the message Bible paraphrase comes in verse 20.

Don't rejoice in this that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are in heaven. And the message paraphrase goes something like this not. Don't rejoice in the authority you have over spirits, but that last part.

Rejoicing in God’s Work Rather Than Our Own

Not what you do for God. But what God does for you. That should be your agenda for rejoicing. Think of that. Not what I do for God. Have you done this for God? Have you done that for God particularly those who are in Christian work?

They can think I've done this for God. I haven't wasted my life. I've done this. I've done this some of you sitting here who've been here for some years. You can also feel I've done I've done this in this church.

I've done that in the church. I've done this for God. I've done that for God. I'm not one of those people who just sit here and just listen to the messages. I've done so many things and Jesus says to do you particularly.

Don't rejoice in what you have done for God. Can you take that word today all of you all the way from the elders from me downwards to anybody? Think of yourself my brother sister. Don't some of you who have worked hard and done something for the Lord in this church.

Don't you feel Like congratulating yourself that you've done something for God. You're not like one of these people who just come and warm the chairs and sit here and go away. I have done something for God and That word is for you then.

Don't rejoice in what you have done for God. But in what God has done for you. I'll tell you what. It's a very blessed thought for me because that puts me at the same level as the rest of you. If you think of what I have done for God what you have done for God and I may be above you.

Because I may have done more for God than you. But when I think of what God has done for me that puts me at the same level as you and that's what a lot Of people don't like. They don't like me at that to be at the same level as other believers.

They want to be a little above them. How can I be above them if I'm always talking about what God has done for us? I can be above them if I talk about what I have done for God and what you have done for God.

Let's compare it. Oh brother. I've done a lot more and The Lord says don't rejoice in what you have done for God. Oh what you're doing for God whether it's preaching or some of you music for example music is one of the greatest snares in Christendom particularly musical instruments.

Have you noticed that in the Old Testament Psalms they talk about so many musical instruments, but in the New Testament There's not a single word about instruments. That the early Christians used they could not afford to buy any instruments but the Old Testament the Psalms is bang this and Play this and play that.

So those of you who play instruments praise God for that. Don't glory in it. Don't glory in what you can do for God. Make this a rule in your life. I Rejoice in what God has done for me. As that puts me in the same level as other people I'm not.

God’s Authority Over Believers

And the first part of that sentence was 21st part. Don't rejoice in your Authority over evil this is message paraphrase. But in God's authority over you. See the difference. My authority over evil. I Tell a demon to go when in the name of Jesus he goes up and I begin to think I'm somebody.

That's how a lot of preachers have ruined themselves. Not in your authority or evil or you can even rejoice in the fact that you overcome sin. I Have finally overcome anger praise the Lord. But the Lord says don't rejoice in it.

I Overcome watching pornography. Wonderful. But don't rejoice in it because you're glorying over other people who have not overcome it. It's a good thing to overcome evil but Not in your authority over evil, but in God's authority over you rejoice in that.

It's one of the most finest paraphrases of that verse. I've ever read in any translation I in fact I wrote it in the front of one of my Bibles. Don't rejoice in your authority over evil, but in God's authority over you and I said Lord Please help me never never to rejoice in my power over sin or my power over demons of my power or anything.

But how much authority do I allow you to have over me? That's the most important thing and I want to ask every one of you sitting here. How much does God have authority over you to tell you what to do and what to keep your mouth shut.

When somebody abuses you and to immediately confess your sin when to ask forgiveness immediately. That's God's authority over you. God tells you ask him forgive ask forgiveness from him and you go immediately and do it.

You don't think about it for one week and then decide then God has no authority over you. There are so many things that God says to you in a meeting. But you've forgotten it before the day is over. But you rejoice in your authority over sin or over the demons.

Listen to this word today not in Your authority over evil, but rejoice in God's authority over you. Which means that you're the type of person who as soon as God says something you run. As soon as he tells you go and ask forgiveness you ask forgiveness.

As soon as God says to you go and pay back that debt you got the money with you. Why don't you pay back that debt? Do it immediately. That is the type of Christian who's going to be most useful for God on earth.

So remember these two things there. Not in your not in your authority over evil, but in God's authority over you. And the second thing is Not what you do for God. But what God does for you. That should be your agenda for rejoicing.

If you keep those two sentences in your mind, I believe it'll make a tremendous difference In your Christian life. I've sort of reminded myself of it. So let me just say a few words about the second sentence not what I Do for God, but what God has done for me that makes me equal with everybody sitting here.

I love that. Do you love to be equal with all the brothers and sisters here? Be honest. Or do you like to be just a little bit above? Are you some of you sitting waiting to become an elder or something?

Humility and the Danger of Spiritual Ambition

You're going the way of Satan. Not by becoming an elder but wanting to be an elder. That's the way of Satan. Becoming an elder maybe the Holy Spirit's work, but wanting to be or loving to be. That's the devil.

If I love to sit here and I want people to listen to me, aha. I've got a little bit of the spirit of Satan in me. Or if you want to come up here and want everybody hear you you've got a little bit of Satan in you but If your desire is whether I sit here or anywhere I can meet somebody in their in their home.

Or somebody comes to my home I can share something of what God's goodness to me and bless them and encourage them. You may never sit in this pulpit and yet you may be a greatest blessing to people in this church.

Because you're always seeking to bless people with God's Word even when you speak on a phone or write an email. Always thinking of can I share one sentence with them to bless them? You don't have to sit here to do that.

Because God has done so much for you. Not what you do for God. But what God does for you, there's so much of competition in Christendom. About wanting to be prominent in the church to be in the world.

It's okay in the world. All everything is like that. You have to go higher and higher higher, but in the church. You know, what is the right way? It's the opposite of the world. It's going down. Are you a little lower than other people?

Now than you were a year ago. I mean in your own estimation. They may think highly of you. But in your own estimation, you're down and you're going down and down. That shows God's authority over you. Let me give you the example of the Apostle Paul, which I've often quoted.

Paul’s Growth in Humility

In the year 55 AD Paul was converted around the year 30 AD. 25 years after he became a Christian, 25 years after being born again. He wrote about himself in 1 Corinthians 15. 1 Corinthians was written about 55 AD, 25 years after Paul was a Christian.

So what is Paul's opinion of himself? After he's been a believer for 25 years and he was a mighty Apostle. He had written scripture. He had planted churches. He had cast out demons. He had healed the sick.

Probably raised the dead. He says about himself 1 Corinthians 15 verse 9 I am the least of all the Apostles. I mean he had to acknowledge that he is an Apostle. There's no pride in that if you're an engineer and you say I'm an engineer and you may not be proud of it.

You're just stating a fact if you say I'm a teacher. You I'm a teacher. There's no pride in that. You're just stating your profession and he was an Apostle. Not not he's not saying that in pride. God appointed him as an Apostle.

You can't be an Apostle unless God appoints you one. You can't say a God. I want to be an Apostle. God decides that but he says among the Apostles. I'm the least. Down in the list. Paul is number. Paul says my name is the bottom.

I'm the least of all the Apostles on earth today. That is 25 years after he was born again. Five years later he writes Ephesians and What does he think in Ephesians, he's grown a little more spiritually in five years.

I'm sure he was grown more spiritually in five years. So this is 60 AD. Paul has now been a believer for 30 years. And now he writes in Ephesians to Ephesians chapter 3. What was he earlier the least of all the Apostles?

Now in Ephesians 3 verse 80 says I am the least of all the believers in the world. Look how his opinion has gone from the least of all the Apostles to the least of all the believers in the world. He's growing spiritually.

Another five years 65 AD is about two years before he died before he was killed he writes 1 Timothy. That is five years now five years after he wrote Ephesians and Now he says what does he was least of all the Apostles and the least of all the believers now he comes 1 Timothy 1 verse 15.

He says I am the number one sinner in the whole world. Wow. Now usually among Christians most Christians you meet it's the other way around they start off in saying I was a great sinner and Now I'm one of the Saints now one of the senior Saints.

And now I'm one of the elders or one of the. I'm going up and up and up and up in my own estimation exact way the devil went. Be careful. That's the way the devil went. Paul went the other way. How did Jesus go?

Christ’s Humility and the Way Downward

Jesus was God. And he became a man that itself is a big drop and as a man He washed people's feet, which is the job of a slave. Going further down and I do you think sleeve is slave is about the last position on earth is anything lower than that.

Yes, there is Criminals Who are in jail who were crucified in those days and Jesus went down there also, even though he's not a criminal. He took the position of God became man man, but that's called humility man became like a slave.

That's humility and he took the place of a criminal. That's humility. That's why I say the three secrets of the Christian life are humility humility humility going down you almost never hear that in any church and Even those even though we have preached that for many years in this church.

I Don't know how many of you are going that way in your own mind. In your own thinking you really believe you're going down. It's your estimate of yourself in God's eyes much smaller than it was When you were here some years ago.

What about you who are singing up here playing instruments and singing when you came into this church, you never did anything like that. But now you're up there. Position of prominence. Those high places are dangerous.

I'm not saying we shouldn't be there. I mean I'm here. It's a position of importance and position. I be here, but I to be careful what I think of myself when I'm sitting here. In my mind if I'm not constantly going down.

If my agenda for rejoicing is not what I do for God. But what God has done for me if that is my agenda for rejoicing what I do for God. That I can speak and I'm gifted. I'm going in the wrong direction.

I Warn you my dear brothers and sisters. There are only two spirits operating in the world. One is the spirit of the devil. We're going to right from the time even though he had such a high position wanting to go up and up and up and up.

And he was cast down. Finally, he'll be sent to the lake of fire and to the bottomless pit before that. Bottomless pit we ever thought of that expression revelation 20 of Everything has a bottom, but this has got no bottom.

No bottom means you know what it means. If you're thrown into a bottom when you have you're thrown into a pit, which has got a bottom you finally hit bottom. What if you're thrown into a bottomless pit.

You just keep going down and down and down. When are you gonna stop? You're not gonna stop. He's gonna keep going down and down and down and down and down till one day God pulled him out from there and threw him into the lake of fire.

That's what we read in Revelation 20. So that's one direction people are going. To one because they want to go up and up and up and God pushes them down. The other is the way Jesus went from the highest position went to the lowest place and God raised him up.

Gave him a name which is above every other name. Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and He will exalt you in due course. And I'll tell you what I understand that exaltation to mean. That exaltation does not mean I will be made an apostle.

Or an elder. Or a prophet. No, that's not what I'm looking for at all. I will be exalted over sin in my life. That's what I'm looking for. That no sin. Not one bad thought. Will be able to rule me. Not one comparison of myself with others and looking down on that person will be able to rule me.

I will esteem every brother and sister not as most spiritual than myself that would be imagining a lie. Supposing you say brother Zach you must esteem yourself as less spiritual than everybody sitting here.

How can I do that? Because I know it's not true. You told Jesus you please imagine that you're less spiritual than everybody else. See how could he do that? That's not humility. That's artificial garbage.

Humility is to consider yourself less important than others. Jesus was the most spiritual person on earth. He could say follow me and you can be very spiritual and you can know that you're more spiritual than everybody else in this church and Yet you may be the humblest person in the church.

Because you consider everyone is more important than you. That means you have time to speak to the lowest Lowliest person. You have time even to speak to a three-year-old child. If he comes to speak to you.

Pharisees were not like that. Only Jesus had time for three-year-old children. I want to ask all of you grown-up people. Do you have time for children? Do you have time to smile at children and Say hello to them and talk to them when you come to church or you talk only talk to the older people.

Become more like Jesus. Talk to little children. Let them see a smile on your face. Love them. Not what you do for God, but what God has done for you. Let that be your agenda for rejoicing from today onwards.

Spiritual Growth Through Gratitude and Service

So meditate on what God has done for me so many things beginning with Sending his own son to die for us. And so many other things he has given us health. Boy, am I thankful at the age of 84. To have the health that I have.

Never have to never having gone to a hospital with any type of sickness. It's it's God's mercy. I can't glory in that but It's God's goodness. We have to be thankful for the measure of health we have.

I Can't do all the things I did when I was 30. That's because the outer man decays. The Bible says the outer man decays, but I want my inner man. As the outer man is decaying. I want the inner man to grow spiritually.

Every one of you the outer man decays. Once you cross 20 or 25, it's decay all the way down. But the inner man must be growing. Yet the outer decaying is automatic the inner growth you have to work on it and.

And just like the outer man is decaying your inner man must grow. That's what it says in 2nd Corinthians 4 and verse 16 to 18 the outer man decays, but the inner man grows. So we consider everyone is more important than us that is why Jesus washed the disciples feet.

He did not think there was any job, but it was too low or mean for him to do in India. Cleaning a toilet is considered to be a very mean lowly job. I remember in the Navy. They had a special department.

Those are the cleaners of the toilets. Ordinary sailors did not do that. That's Indian society. But Jesus took that job. That's why I say elders are spiritual toilet cleaners, but they had to clean up the mess that other people make.