Balanced Christianity 7. Question Answer Session - Part 2 — Zac Poonen

Okay, we continue to answer these questions. Will you please be seated? Thank you. These are some questions by written by some young people. What kind of temptations did you go through? How did you learn from them depending on if you gave in or not?

Temptation Is Common to All Humanity

You know the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10 13 that we are all tempted in exactly the same way. The devil will sometimes make you think wrongly. That your type of temptation is special. That nobody in the world is being tempted like you.

If the devil can convince you listen carefully if the devil can convince you That you are being tempted in a special way. Unlike other people he's got you. You'll feel sorry for yourself and you'll think you're some type of Crazy person who's being tempted in a special way.

And then that weakens you that means you Don't believe what God's Word says in 1 Corinthians 10 verse 13 Which says no? Temptation has ever come to you. That is not common to all the people in the world.

I believe the Bible and so Any temptation that comes to me I believe 1 Corinthians 10 13 There's comes to everybody in the world. Jesus was tempted with the same temptations. So don't let the devil ever tell you that you're being tempted in a special way.

As if you're you didn't come from the race of Adam. As if others came did not come from the race of Adam every human being came from the race of Adam and That poison that the devil injected into Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden.

It's the same poison That's come down to all of us, and it's the poison of wanting to do your own will. That's the root from which All these fruits come which have got a thousand names of sins. So we're all tempted in the same way and we got to resist in the same way and follow Jesus in the same way and We can overcome.

We must that's the other thing we must believe that. One that we're all tempted in the same way and second that Jesus was tempted in every single point and overcame. Proving to us that we can overcome.

But he overcame in the power of the Holy Spirit and by prayer. And if you do that you can also overcome and then the light of God will shine through you. The hindrances that we face in our earthly life and the Christian life are exactly the same for everybody.

We are all tempted by the love of money and things like that and If you find someone has overcome. It's not something that happened overnight. You can be sure of that also. Overcoming temptation is a lifelong battle at different levels.

Spiritual Growth Through Progressive Victory

Jesus had lived already for 30 years and Then he was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days. I don't know what all temptations he faced then. And at the end of the 40 days, he was again tempted with three temptations that we read off but he had already been tempted for 40 days and the temptations you read off in Matthew chapter 4 of turning stones into bread or Proving that you're the son of God by jumping from the roof of the temple.

These are all very high level temptations and When we are at a lower level, we don't understand the full implication of that. So it's something like education when you're in the kindergarten. You don't understand the type of problems that 10th grade student is facing.

And the 10th grade student doesn't understand what a graduate student is facing and he doesn't understand what a PhD student is facing. Christian life is a progression and Every temptation you conquer gives you a promotion to something higher.

It's just like you go from one class to another to another to another. The Christian life is a growth. So when you face temptation, that is the way you progress into the next level of the Christian life.

Because when you I mean take a subject like mathematics. If you're finished with kindergarten mathematics, then you go to first grade mathematics where you learn something new and in the beginning. That new area whether it's multiplication or division is tough.

But for all of you multiplication division has become very easy now. Because you've gone past it. So at each year where you're learning something new in the beginning, it's tough. But it's like learning how to swim in the beginning.

It's tough, but then after a while, it's very easy. So remember the temptation is like that. You battle it, battle it, battle it and after some time you get over it and Then you move on to the next one and the next one and that's one and that is the way of spiritual growth.

So We mustn't think of Getting somewhere where's another brother was being faithful for the Lord for 30 -40 years. How you can get there? You'll get there in 30 -40 years, but you can't get there overnight.

But very often we look at Some godly older brother and wish we could have What he has immediately and you can't it's like a young student looking at a PhD Person and saying oh, I wish I could have that you can have that but it takes time.

Discerning Gossip by Examining Motives

Okay. Another question is can you help me understand? What is gossip sometimes talking with brothers or my wife? I'm troubled. Wondering if this is gossip. What is the difference in gossip and just discussing a person?

What they did or what they said very often whenever you're in doubt about anything whether it's a sin or not. The best way to check is what is your motive? Because many things it's very difficult to discern is that sin or not what I'm saying what I'm doing.

Then ask yourself. What is my motive in saying that for example? Elders in a church who are discussing about some particular person in their church. You have to because you may want to help that person or if one person is being a bad influence.

On others in the church and you discuss about that person and you speak frankly. All that you know about that person and your suspicions and all that you. That's a very good thing to do because your motive is to protect others.

You know if there are people who are predators. Coming along in the church. You definitely have to know about it and warn people. That's not gossip that's a very healthy thing and Jesus would expect us to do it and anyone coming in with a bad influence into the church that's influencing the lambs.

The sheep may be strong enough to stand against it so that type of conversation is not bad. And even at home sometimes a husband and wife have to talk about Their children or other people if other people are influence on their children.

They may want to keep your children away from the influence of certain families. To talk about it is perfectly okay because your motive is good but if your motive is only to tear down that person or to say I'm better than that person or With a bad motive.

Then of course you to ask yourself. What do I gain by this discussion? Or are you trying to Make your wife or husband feel bad about that person because you feel bad about that person. For what purpose you if you ask the motive I believe very often you'll be very clear whether it's sin or not.

So two people saying the same thing may be sin for one person and not sin for another person like I just said an Elder may speak about a certain person. And it may be necessary not a sin and for you to talk about that person when it doesn't even concern you.

It may be a sin because you're not accomplishing anything by it. So always examine your motive. What is. How do I practically. Isaiah 58 verse 7 says divide my bread with the hungry and invite the homeless poor into my house.

Caring for the Needy with Wisdom and Priority

I want to be obedient and diligent to do unto the last of these Distinguish works in God's leading especially given Jesus words. You have to see first of all How how much you you know if you got a home.

You you remember there are wife and children there also who got to agree with what you're planning to do. You can't just bring a homeless person into your house without consulting your wife or See whether there could be other dangers for your children.

Many of these verses that are found in the Old Testament Are in relation to Israel. In the New Testament, it always says do you see your brother in need? 1 John chapter 3. Do you see your brother lacking food?

Or clothing and you don't help him. There's something wrong James chapter 2 and 1 John chapter 3 in both cases in James is talking about faith. How can you say your faith if you don't help a brother who's in need 1 John 3?

How can you say you love if you don't help a brother who's in need always the emphasis is on your brother. Not on a stranger. Remember that All men will know you're my disciples not when you love them, but when you love one another now doesn't that's not the way most Christians Understand it.

They think they are one level higher than Jesus. Many foolish Christians think they are one level higher than Jesus and they say well people know that we are Christians when we show Our love to them. I'm sorry to say that's not what Jesus said.

Let's go down to Jesus level and not try to be super spiritual more spiritual than Jesus. Jesus said all men will know you're my disciples when you love one another. That's what I say. I'm not saying we shouldn't love others, but that's not how we demonstrate the love of Christ.

So because the world is full of needy people. And Jesus didn't go around Making shelters for all the blind Bartimaeus as he found. No Paul didn't go around Establishing homes for widows and orphans some people feel called to do that go ahead and do it.

There were plenty of needy widows and orphans in Paul's time, but he didn't do it. Because he's calling was he said I've got to build my church. I've got to do what is most important and not do what is of secondary importance.

I mean if Your dog is sick and your child is sick. You know who she you should take care of first. It's not that you don't love your dog, but your child is more important something like that when we see the relative importance of What God has commanded in relation to other things we must have a priority here.

So in the Old Testament Everybody was your brother. And it is your brother who is in need because they were all Jews Abraham Isaac and Jacob's children. And even the story of the man who was lying Wounded on the street.

It says the Levite and the priest went by that was his their brother lying there. Because everybody in Israel was your brother they were all children of Abraham Isaac and Jacob so it was a brother who was lying on the street and not just anybody and Then a Samaritan came along who was not related to the Samaritans were not descendants of Abraham Isaac and Jacob.

He came and picked up someone who was not even part of his family. That's what Jesus was emphasizing that these guys The Levite and the priest was a member of their family was lying there. And they didn't care for him and this Samaritan who was not even related to that person went and helped him.

So Jesus was putting those Jews to shame so even when Jesus spoke about In the last day I will sit and I'll divide the sheep from the goats, and I'll say to them You saw me hungry, and you fed me and you saw me thirsty, and you gave me something drink you saw me homeless and you welcomed me and They asked when did we do that and Jesus said in as much as you did it as.

You did this to the least of these strangers. No. To the least of these my brothers read scripture carefully. Jesus was not talking about Bringing strangers into your house. You can do that if you want.

I'm not against that, but you think you got to be wise. You'll have a lot of problems, but Jesus was speaking about the his brothers. You read scripture carefully. In as much as you didn't do it to the least of these my brothers.

Or you did it to the least of these my brothers who are the brothers of Jesus the born-again children of God. It's not referring to every Tom Dick and Harry in the world. We can help everybody in the world, but that's not what that verse is saying.

That's all I'm trying to point out so very often. People take these verses and condemn themselves. Because they're not able to help everybody in the world you you live in a country like India. With the millions who are needy I tell you.

You'll become a nervous wreck trying to help everybody there is so we've discovered that and We've helped millions of poor people with hundreds of thousands of rupees. But we limit ourselves to what it says in Galatians 6 and verse 10.

Let us do good to all men, but especially to the household of faith. We follow that. This is a question about Christians practicing yoga. Many support and even encourage this but are there dangers for Christians who practice this?

Yoga, Physical Exercise, and Spiritual Discernment

It's a controversial thing because some of it has got satanic roots. See yoga in its origin has got. It has come from Hinduism and some of it. They say is worship of the Sun or not and. But some of it is just physical exercise, I don't have to Do yoga to practice those exercise to keep yourself physically fit is a good thing.

You know To bend your body and be flexible and things like that. I don't have to practice yoga to keep myself physically fit. There are many other Exercises which you go to the internet there are a lot of exercises that Do the same physical fitness you don't have to call it yoga.

But when you call it yoga it involves sometimes it's like karate and other things where they get involved with Evil spirits and things like that so Avoid that part of it. So I don't have to do yoga to keep myself physically fit like the people say I Can keep there are many many exercises I can do without it.

Anything that is doubtful. Is better to avoid? And if you feel uneasy about anything Avoid it. It's like you know if you feel that Some water has been polluted don't drink it. Even if you have a doubt, maybe it's not polluted, but you have a slight doubt about it, then avoid it.

Well food you feel that's a bit spoiled food. Don't eat it because you'll get sick. Same principle we got to follow in many things in the Christian life if you're Little doubtful about something avoid it find some other exercise, which has got nothing to do with demonic spirits.

Okay, worshiping in the spirit. I've already answered that If there's an unrighteous life in your ancestors. Can can you have generational curses to third fourth generation? What aspect can these be seen you know all these things are because?

Generational Curses and the New Covenant

Many people have not Understood that the old covenant has been abolished. We are not under law today this business of God cursing up to the third and fourth generation. Where do you find it you find it in the New Testament.

Can you find anywhere in the epistles anything like that no? You find it in the Old Testament law that God gave Israel and though there was a curse under the law without a doubt. And it says all those curses finally found their fulfillment in Jesus when he hung on the cross.

Galatians 3 13 says Christ became a curse for us. Because it says cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree. He was cursed. And every curse was removed. Then they people talk about generational curses that if your ancestors worshipped idols or did something wrong well it depends where your Generation goes.

I belong to a very cursed. I'll tell you honestly. I belong to a very cursed race called the race of Adam it was cursed all the way from centuries back, and you belong to it too in case you didn't know and There are a lot of curses in that but one day the Holy Spirit cut me off from that tree called Adam and Planted me grafted me into another tree called Jesus Christ.

What generational curse have I got now tell me? If you're not properly born again. If you've only got an intellectual faith in Christ you probably have generational curses. But if you have really been cut off from Adam and last placed into Christ.

I don't have any generation. Those old generations are gone. I've been cut out from that tree and grafted into Christ. And it's all people who don't have a genuine experience of being born again who have all these problems.

See for example. There are many people who say that Believers can have evil spirits. They can have demonic spirits, and they use a word called demonized. Say what you like. But if you got an evil spirit, I can say without any doubt that you're not born again.

Or if you were born again once you lost your salvation, and that's how that evil spirit can came into your heart. I cannot believe that Jesus Christ and an evil spirit can live in my heart at the same time.

Now if you can believe that you're going to be really crazy. It must be another Jesus the Jesus I believe in cannot dwell in a heart with an evil spirit. So how in the world can a believer have an evil spirit?

Only one way he's not really born again. He imagines that he's born again because when I've talked to people about this. They say we've been in meetings where believers were cast. Demons evil spirits were cast out of believers.

I see sure because they were not really born again. They I mean I met lots of people who claim to be believers were not born again. Not really saved not really believers. And so they probably stood had evil spirits or what it proves nothing but Christ.

2nd Corinthians 6 it's very clear and was 14 onwards. What fellowship has Christ. Christ with demons. There is no fellowship between Christ and a demon. It's impossible generational curses. Demons and all cannot be found and I don't care which charismatic Teacher teaches it he is wrong.

God's Word is right. I'm sorry to say they have been very influential charismatic teachers who have taught tithing who have taught Overloading by shepherds who've taught generational curses and who've taught believers can have demons and a whole lot of other absolute nonsense and rubbish and Because they've earned a reputation as teachers others have believed them.

You know what? I say What Abraham said they have the Bible? Why don't they read the Bible? Why do they go to all these other? Charismatic preachers and get deceived by them you say but they're influential people fine.

A lot of influential preachers may teach which are things which are not in the Bible. Always ask them to show you something in the New Testament. The Old Testament there were so many things. I find that one of the main things I've discovered in Christendom today.

Is that the vast majority of Christians have not understood that the Old Covenant has been abolished completely. They keep going to the Old Testament and reading one of why shouldn't I do this? Why can't I do this?

The Old Covenant, Tithing, and Christian Ethics

Think of this whole business of tithing. It's not a word about it in the New Testament and yet people go there. They say Jesus told the Pharisees to tithe in Matthew 23 correct because they were under the Old Covenant.

What else? He told the lepers who were cleansed to go and show themselves to the priests. Why. Because they were under the Old Covenant so We must see that on the day of Pentecost something happened the Old Covenant is abolished.

Hebrews chapter 8 is very clear. Ask God to show you how everything in the Old Covenant has been abolished. We are in the New Covenant now. People say you mean we don't have to keep the Ten Commandments.

We keep the Ten Commandments at a much higher level. We don't just don't commit adultery. We don't even lust in our heart. We'd not just we don't murder. We don't get angry. So if you're obeying it at a higher level.

There's no need for those external commandments if you're obeying it within. That's the way we are free from the law by keeping it at a deeper level so Please ask God to show you clearly. What does it mean to be free from the Old Covenant completely?

Lending Money and Teaching Children Responsibility

Can a believer give his money for interest? If you're lending money to a believer Be very wise. Because the Bible says Jesus said when you lend Don't expect it back. Do you know he said that? So if you lend some money to a believer, and he does not return it.

Don't come complaining to me. I remember when somebody complained to me. I said the fault is yours. You should have given it expecting nothing back. That's what Jesus said in other words give only what you can afford to give as a gift.

So what should be the extent of your loan to a brother only what you can give as a gift. Then you'll have no problem. If he doesn't return it you say fine. It was a gift in any case and I can't give you more than that but If you do decide for some special reason to give a loan it's not right to take interest from a believer and I Would say you've got to be very careful because a lot of tension has come Between people.

I've come across when people lend something and they expect it back In. But you can lend to unbelievers. I mean if you're running a bank or something is perfectly okay. Seeing that we don't put value Our idolized materialism as believers.

What's the way? To bring up our kids to guide them and teach them treat things in our home properly. Definitely. We don't place value on material things in the sense that if our children accidentally Broke something we're not going to get upset Over it.

I mean accident can happen to anyone. I Shouldn't love some material things so much that I get upset if they accidentally broke something. But if they did something deliberately, that's more serious because there I'm dealing with the child's disobedience.

Which is a very serious thing and also if a child is not treating Material things in the house carefully we have to teach that children how to treat everything carefully their own property or If they have a bicycle they must take care of it not just leave it lying around and everything they have their clothes.

We have to teach children the value of material things and not to Just throw it around carelessly or not care for it. There's no conflict between that and materialism. We are not materialistic. But we have to teach people to treat everything we have carefully and wisely.

Returning to Scripture and Testing Teaching

I got saved more than 10 years ago where I believed a lot of wrong things and as recently that I started looking at what the Bible says and Listen to preachers who teach the truth. So I'm struggling a lot and seeking the Lord.

What advice do you have? How can I start afresh? Well first of all thank God that you Got light on certain things. There are many people who live their whole life without getting light on these things so you to be very thankful and I you know when I got converted I I was Born into an Orthodox Church.

I was baptized as a baby all sprinkled. And I didn't know much of the Bible when I got converted when I was 19. But as I started reading the Bible, I found that a lot of things taught by many churches were not in the Bible.

So I made a decision and I'm glad I made that decision. I was nearly 20 years old. That I would not accept anything if I didn't find it in the Bible. I don't care which church preached it. I don't care even if it was a church that I respected some godly man was there didn't make a difference to me.

If it is not in the Bible, I wouldn't accept it and that has protected me for 57 years. And I would recommend it wholeheartedly to you because you won't have to change your mind later on. Because you say well, let me see it in the Bible.

So if somebody teaches you something ask yourself, is it in scripture? So now that you found the truth you try and Unlearn all those things and just take a take and decide that in future I'm going to only go by what I see in the scriptures and Start that way.

You've heard I've heard you say brother Zach that what you hear from me is secondhand and You should get it directly from the Lord. Well, what I mean is that You can receive truth from me. But you must take it before the Lord and say Lord show it to me in scripture.

Let me see it so that I'm gripped by it. You know, I used to tell people in our church back home that Everything you I teach you you must go into scripture and see it for yourself there. So that it's no longer something that I believe because brother Zach said it and I trust him no I Seen it in scripture.

He showed me the scripture and I found it straight from scripture. Now Lord make this truth real for me from the scriptures and Help me to know it and I used to tell them supposing one day I get up in the church and say, okay fellas I don't believe all these things anymore.

You you'll have to turn to me and say brother Zach we pray for you. But we already believe it because even though we got it from you secondhand once we take took it to the Lord. You must be so gripped by it That you got it from the Lord.

Now I'm not saying that I'll go back on what I've taught what I'm saying. You should be so strong in it because you're connected to the Lord. That's very very important. Whichever preacher you hear. But you say when I read the Bible learning don't get much revelation.

Revelation That Transforms Life

What is the difference between revelation and getting a bright idea in scripture? The difference is this a bright idea is something which you think of sharing with other people to get honor. You know in sharing meetings a lot of brothers and sisters share something.

Sounds very profound and they get some honor for it. Ah, everybody thought I'm very smart and clever because I shared it that is honor-seeking. It'll kill you. Revelation is that when you see something it changes your life.

It changes the way your life live it changes your values. That is revelation and Bright ideas are worth nothing that will only give you honor make you proud make you lose God's grace. That's very dangerous.

But seek God for revelation Lord things. I don't care whether I share it with others or not. I want something that will change my life. That's how you distinguish in revelation and other things. Okay.

Obeying Parents and Marriage Authority

In a Situation where parents are not United and tell you to do two different things. Whom should I obey things? I mean not things which are not sinful well. It's a very difficult decision to answer to give for that.

Because both your father and mother are your authority so You talk to them directly and say who am I supposed to obey. You tell me this and you tell me this. I Hope it's not so difficult as that. But if it's not a sinful matter.

You tell them well, this is not a sinful area. So can you give me the freedom to choose which I should do? What about what does the Bible say about remarriage for a divorced person where the spouse is still alive?

Okay, I'll tell you what the Bible says. It's very clear what the Bible says and that is Romans and chapter 7. And it says in verse do you not know brethren? Verse 2 a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he's living.

That applies the other way also husband to wife wife to husband. So that if her husband dies She's released in from the law, but if while her husband is a living. If while her husband is living Romans 7 3 She is joined to another man.

She shall be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she's free from the law, then she's not an adulteress even though she's married to another man. That is scripture. You can take it or leave it you can go by what modern Christendom says.

Or what scripture says the Bible says call her an adulteress. Or call him an adulterer. Now it's true. There are many people who are like that and sometimes their partner has already Married somebody else is no way of going back.

I'm not saying they cannot be forgiven. But I don't believe that they should now compound that by going and Marrying again and some of these things you need to go to a godly person and seek counsel because The Christendom today is full of compromising churches evangelical churches accept divorce.

Marry divorce people. I don't care if the whole world does it. You either accept scripture or you accept today's Christendom. Most of today's Christian Christendom is in a Babylonian captivity and We don't we've never permitted divorce in our church in 40 years that we have had 70 80 churches.

We have never had a single case of divorce till today and we will never permit it. If people want to get divorced as they go somewhere else. If you divorce people want to go and get married. I said there are a hundred other churches you can go and join go and join one of them.

But we are not going to lower God's standards because once you lower God's standard in the church in one area is just a matter Of time before you go down in other other areas and down after some time.

You'll be a thorough Babylonian Church. And this is how the devil does. Devil doesn't drag people down suddenly one step at a time. He's smart and we don't want to go that way. This is something to do with physical health.

Go Go and ask your doctor, you know in the Old Testament there were laws about Physical relationship and going to the temple those you don't have any such laws sexual relationship with a wife and. That in in the New Testament, there are no such laws on that.

What about if I'm married and parents are unconverted my parents or husband's parents? You got to love them, but the principle is you got to leave your father and mother and cleave to your husband or wife.

That's very important. If you don't allow your father and mother to influence your life. Your married life. Otherwise your married life will be very unhappy. What type of life needs to be manifested from the leaders for the glory of God to grow brighter in the lampstand.

Standards for Christian Leaders and Preachers

Yeah, if you're a leader that applies to you, but I don't think you should judge your leaders but I would say one thing and that is. Sometimes people have asked me Brothers and what type of people preachers would you invite?

To speak in your church. I Say I don't invite a person to speak in our church just because he's a good preacher. There are many good preachers in the world. I would not invite them. We have a specific calling in our church to build the body of Christ to lead people to live a godly life.

So whenever I'm considering inviting someone to speak in our church, I would ask a few questions. I'd like to find out certain things. One. Is he a humble? Approachable person. Or he's one of those preachers whom who disappears from the pulpit after the meeting is over and I won't talk to anybody and It's not approachable or you got to go through ten secretaries to meet him or even one secretary.

Is he approachable. Is he humbled you sense a spirit of humility in him. Very very important. That's number one. And secondly, I would like to see I'm talking about the type of people. I would invite to speak in our pulpit.

Secondly, I would want to find out what is his attitude to money? Is he even if he doesn't ask for money? Is he sort of greedy? Does he want money? Is that a big factor in his ministry? I wouldn't invite him.

I don't care if he's the best preacher in the world. And Another thing the Bible says if a man can't bring up his children properly, how can he? Teach the church. So I would say I want to find out our his children.

I'm not going to find out if his children are preachers. What I do are his children following the Lord. Are they born again? Because The children know us much better than everybody in our church. Let me tell you that your children know you much better Than everybody in your church and you can fool people in your church, but you can't fool your children.

They see you all the time. So if children have seen their father and decided not to follow his faith that tells me a lot about the father. I Would not invite a person to speak in my church whose children are not following the Lord.

The next thing I would ask is what are his closest co-workers like not all his co-workers, but his closest ones. To find out what a person he's like, you know, if I look at Timothy, I get a pretty good idea of what Paul was like.

I mean, there are a few on the fringe like Demas and all who fall away. But those are the ones who backslid Jesus also had a Judas Iscariot In his crowd, so I don't look at the Judas Iscariot. But I want to look at the ones who are closest to this man.

If I look at the Timothy, I know what Paul is like. So I want to see what this man's closest co-workers like. And then another question I would ask is since we are building the church. Has this man built a local church somewhere or is he just a wandering preacher who goes around?

Preaching here and there and building nothing. Well, if that may be his calling let him do that. He's got nothing to teach us because we're building local churches. So if he can show me a church that he's built and I'd like to see whatever church it is.

And if I can see a man having all these values, I'd say brother, please come. I believe we have a lot to learn from you. We'll sit at your feet and learn. So it's a very small number of people that we feel free to invite to our church so because We have certain standards and we don't want to lower those standards because as I said once you lower the standards.