03 Our Goal Is to Think Like Christ — Zac Poonen

The Christian Life and the Goal of Becoming Like Christ

So we want to continue our study of the subject of the mind of Christ. You have heard me say many times that God has got a goal for us. It's very important to always see that goal. If you see a football match, the eleven people on one side are always trying to put the ball into the goal.

Even when they pass it back, their aim is to get to the goal. To avoid the opposing side, because there are eleven people trying to prevent you from getting to the goal. And you have to weave around them and a good football player knows how to weave around them and get to the goal.

So football is a very good picture of the Christian life. And we must look at other God-fearing believers as helping us to get to the goal. Not those who are just playing for money. You know, just like nowadays we read in the papers that there is a fixing of cricket matches, football matches, where they give a player money to lose a game.

That type of playing for money and not to win the game. That type of fixing has been going on among preachers for many years. That type of fixing has been going on among preachers for many years. But preachers have been bribed by rich people and all to keep quiet on certain difficult subjects.

Don't reveal my sin to anybody, here is some money. That type of fixing has been going on in Christendom for two thousand years. But a good football player will never take money in order to lose a game.

And a true servant of God will never be influenced by money or by honor. He will not be interested in numbers. He will be only interested in going to the goal. I will tell you something, there are very very few people in the world who are trying to kick the ball into the goal.

And whenever God starts a new group of churches, that is because all the old teams of churches are not kicking towards the goal. And in these two thousand years, God has always raised up some new group of churches in many parts of the world.

Because all the other teams have started playing for money and fixing and all that. And so God gives some dump and starts a new group. And then after 40 -50 years, that new group also becomes corrupt.

Because the new generation does not have the vision of the older generation. And even sometimes the co-workers of the founder lose the vision. And they are more interested in numbers than in making disciples.

And so they lower the standard in order to get more people. If Noah had lowered the standard, instead of 8 people, he could have got 80 people in his group. And if he had lowered the standard some more, he could have got 800.

But none of them would have got into the ark because God would not have allowed them to get into the ark. The whole purpose of God saving 8 people was to save a new generation that was not corrupt. The Bible says in Genesis 6, that the whole world was filled with corruption.

Genesis 6, and we read in verse 5, that God saw the wickedness of all men was great on the earth. And every thought he had in his mind was only evil. Every thought was evil. Verse 12, all flesh had corrupted God's way on the earth.

Everybody. And God says, now if it goes on like this, there will be no human race left. But, verse 8, there was one man Noah. And he not only kept himself, he kept his wife and children also in the right way.

He had 3 sons and 3 wives. And he decided, even if everybody in the world becomes corrupt, I am going to keep my family pure. And we are living in those days. Jesus said, the last days will be like the days of Noah.

That means, we have to have people like Noah also. To decide, that even if everybody in the world gets corrupt. Even if everybody in my church gets corrupt. I am going to keep myself and my family pure.

Noah's children were grown up. They were married. But he still had a control over them. He said, you must keep your way pure. He did not interfere in their home life. But he said, you have to keep yourself pure.

And so, we also have to be like that in these days. Even if we are only 8 people, we are going to keep ourselves pure. Even if I am the only family, I am going to keep myself pure. I don't want to lower the standard in the church and make the church bigger.

Because if Noah had done that, God would have said, none of you are fit to continue the human race. Noah, I thought you at least would keep yourself pure. But you also have become corrupt like the others.

Now I have to destroy the whole human race. But he did not do that. Noah did not compromise. See, there is a title given to Noah in 2 Peter 2 verse 5. He is called here by the Holy Spirit. A preacher of righteousness.

A man who preaches righteousness. Not a preacher who preaches prosperity, healing or blessing. There are so many preachers who preach miracles and healing. Didn't God have the power to heal the sick in the time of Noah?

Didn't God have the power to heal the sick in the time of Noah? Didn't there be sick people in the earth at that time? Then why didn't Noah preach healing? Didn't there be poor people in those days? Why didn't Noah preach the message of prosperity?

He was a preacher of righteousness. Because that is the only thing that would save the world. And he is looking for preachers of righteousness. If you are a preacher, be a preacher of righteousness. Otherwise, stop preaching.

Keep your mouth shut and go and do some business or something. And if Noah was not a preacher of righteousness, The number of his church would have increased from 8 to 80 to 800 to 8000. And God would have destroyed all of them.

Then we wouldn't be sitting here today. How many of you recognize that all of us are sitting in this hall because of Noah? One man's righteousness, Not two people, one man. One man. He influenced his wife.

He was the head of his home. He would not allow any unrighteousness in his home. He was the father of three sons and he said, I will not allow any unrighteousness in this home. And because of that, All of us are alive today.

Are you happy that you are alive? I am very happy that I was born. Because I am going to live for eternity with Jesus in heaven. And who do I have to thank for that? One of those people is Noah. I say, Noah, thank you.

Four thousand years ago, you stood for God. If you had not stood for God, there would be no human race in the world today. If you had not stood for God, there would be no human race in the world today.

I would not be alive today. I cannot spend my eternity with Jesus. But because you stood one man against the whole world, I am alive today. I can spend my eternity with Jesus. That is why when I go to heaven, I have to shake hands with Noah.

Righteousness, Discipleship, and the Purity of Christian Families

But do you know what is intriguing? If God can find a preacher of righteousness, He can save many people through him. There are many people preaching other things. Be a preacher of righteousness. And make sure that all your children are born again.

Not one or two. All of them must be born again. And they must marry born again wives. And they must teach their children, Your grandchildren also, how to be born again. That is what God wants today. Don't just sit back and say, Oh brother, children are different.

Some people grow up worldly. What to do? What to do? They choose somebody themselves. We have to allow the marriage. We don't yield like that. Why has God made you the head of the house? You are not to just sit back and let your wife and children go whichever way they like.

If your children go astray, I will tell you what to pray for them. I had four boys and I brought them up for 18 years in my house. I brought them up very strictly. I never gave them money to buy useless things.

I never gave them what they wanted. I gave them what they needed. But I gave them a lot of love and instruction and guidance on the godly ways. And I said to them when they left home for college, If you go astray, I will not blame you.

I will blame myself that I did not bring you up properly for 18 years. The world is full of people who blame others. What to do brother, my children have gone astray. You blame them, they will never get converted.

You go and weep before God and say Lord, I brought them up wrong. That's the first thing. Secondly, you pray for your children. What type of prayer? If your children are going astray, shall I tell you how to pray for them?

Pray that they will have a road accident and break their legs. See, how can you pray like that? Then it's better to go to hell, is it? I would pray like that for my boys. If you go astray, first of all, I will blame myself.

Then I will do a second thing. I will pray you will have a road accident and break your legs and lie in a hospital. And there, lying in the hospital, you will seek God. Your legs will become alright after a few weeks.

But your heart will also become alright. But many parents don't pray like that. Oh Lord, please give them a good job. Give them a good house. Give them a good looking wife. What about their soul? What about their spirit?

What about if they are glorifying the devil? What is the mind of Christ? God even disciplines His people so strongly when they go astray. I want to be like God. Dear brothers and sisters, none of our children should go to the devil.

How many families there are here? What is the mind of Christ for your children? Do you want the mind of Christ for your children? Do you want the mind of Christ for your children? Christ thinks that none of them should go to hell.

Not only that they should not go to hell, some of your children have accepted the Lord and are baptized. And you are so happy. Oh, my children are baptized. Now I have got a good testimony in the church.

Everybody thinks that so and so brother's children are baptized. If you are happy with that, they will never become disciples. You may say, Lord, I am not happy they are baptized. I want more than that.

You did not say just baptize them. You said make them disciples. I want all my children to be disciples of Jesus Christ. They may not be preachers, that does not matter. Preaching is a gift God gives to some people.

I never prayed that my children will be preachers. I said make them bold witnesses for Jesus Christ. Even the women have to be witnesses for Jesus Christ. So that is what we must pray. When the whole world was corrupt, there was one family standing for God.

The Church Must Preach Repentance and Righteousness

I believe these are the days in which we are also living. Christendom is going into corruption. Shall I tell you something? Some elders in our churches are also not understanding the need to stand for righteousness.

They think the main thing is to go out and preach. Go and preach to the unbelievers. I believe in that 100%. You can preach all your life, but if you do not have righteousness, there will be no church for Jesus Christ.

You can preach all your life, but if you do not have righteousness, there will be no church for Jesus Christ. There are churches that preach the gospel. Look at the condition of those churches. Even those who speak in tongues.

The pastors are committing adultery. The best leaders in India are committing adultery. Why? These are all people doing evangelism. But they do not have righteousness. God has raised up some churches in India to preach righteousness like Noah.

Do you want to know God's definition of a church? Here is the definition Jesus gave of a church. This is the mind of Christ about a church. Luke chapter 15. Luke chapter 15. He spoke about one sheep that went astray in the verses 4 to 7.

But then He spoke about 99 sheep in the fold. That 99 sheep is the church. That one sheep that has gone astray we can say is an unbeliever or a backslider. Whichever way, he is a sinner. If he is an unbeliever, he is a sinner.

If he is a backslider, also he is a sinner. And what does that sinner need? Not belief first. He needs to repent. See what Jesus said when this one sheep is brought back by the shepherd. When this one sheep is brought back by the shepherd.

The shepherd is so happy. Verse 6, Rejoice with me. He says, For I have found my sheep which was lost. When does the Lord say I have found my sheep which was lost. Not when he comes to the meeting. Not when he raises his hand and says I have accepted the Lord.

Not when he signs some decision card. I accept Jesus. When does Jesus say I have found my sheep that was lost. He himself says in the next verse. When that sinner repents. When he repents. When he turns from his sin.

And the message of repentance is what is missing in today's Christianity. Everything is faith, faith, faith, faith. You go and look in these Christian book shops. And show me one book that preaches repentance.

There will be 100 books there on faith. And faith for what? Not faith to overcome sin. Faith to get money. Faith to get healing. Faith to get all types of things for this earth. But nothing for heaven.

Is that the faith that Jesus taught? The Bible says Jesus is the author of faith. Author means someone who writes a book. If Jesus is the author of faith He has written some faith in my heart. And he did not write faith in my heart.

For earthly things. He wrote faith in my heart to overcome sin. And then he said other things I will add to you. Don't worry about it. So repentance is what Marks the sheep that has come back. Let me tell you elder brothers If you allow a person to come to your church To become a part of your church He was not repented.

And if you don't keep on preaching repentance In your church. Your church will become like all the dead churches around you. And Jesus will leave your church. And in your town He will start another church.

Which is not connected with CFC. And Jesus will not be with that CFC church. And he will be with that other church. Because CFC church has stopped preaching repentance. Jesus is not loyal to CFC church.

I am also not loyal to CFC church. I want to be a church that preaches repentance. And then what will happen in that group of 99. Here is Jesus definition of a church. Verse 7. The last part. The church is 99 people who need no repentance.

If there are 5 people in that church 5 people who need no repentance. If there are 90 people in that church 90 people who need no repentance. If there are 300 people in that church 300 people who need no repentance.

I don't know the size of your church. That is not important. But what is the quality of the people sitting there. Can you say that all the people sitting here Need no repentance. How can you say of a group of people They need no repentance.

I thought We are always committing something wrong. We need to repent. Do you know that we have to pray Forgive us our sins everyday. Don't we need to pray everyday. Forgive us our sins. When do we have to pray that prayer.

Daily Dependence, Sin, and Growing in Spiritual Understanding

Jesus taught us to pray. Our father who art in heaven. He didn't say we have to repeat that prayer. Read carefully. Read the bible slowly. Pray then in this way. He didn't tell us words. He told us a way.

He didn't say repeat these words. In fact in verse 7 He says don't keep on repeating. Don't keep on saying our father who art in heaven. Our lord be thy name. Don't say this. In verse 7 he says Don't keep on repeating.

In verse 9 pray like this. This is the way all our prayers should be. Always we must think of our father. Our father who is in heaven Who has all power. We must think of his name first. Not our name. Lord your name.

Your kingdom. Your will. Then we can think of our needs. Why do we say this is something we need to think about everyday. Because there is one sentence in this prayer Where he says daily. Verse 11 Give us this day.

Our daily bread. What about tomorrow. Tomorrow you pray the same thing. So here is a prayer That we should have in our spirit. Even if we don't repeat it. The spirit of this prayer should be in us everyday.

That is why we give thanks When we eat our food. Thank you lord. You have given me my food for this day. When I pray over my food I am not praying for tomorrow's food. I am praying for this particular meal.

Thank you for this food. Blessings to our body. So if this is daily Then the next prayer also must be daily. Forgive us our sins. Today. Tomorrow I will again have to say Forgive us our sins. So you say brother I thought you preach victory over sin.

Now you are saying that you sin everyday. I want to explain something to you. There are two types of sins in our life. One is what we know is sin. There are other areas Which we still don't know is sin.

But god does not judge us for that. Maybe after six months I will get light on something which is sin In my life. See for example I have discovered certain things as sin in the last one year Which I did not know before.

But those sins were in my life for 50 years. And I didn't even know it. I am not talking about adultery and backbiting. Everybody knows it is sin. Even worldly people know that. I am not talking about anger and lusting with the eyes.

Everybody knows that is sin. I am talking about certain subtle things Which we don't think is sin. For example When number of believers are sitting together For fellowship You do all the talking. If you are the most mature person And they all want to listen to you.

Then by all means talk. Paul was in a church in Acts 20 Where he spoke for about 10 hours 10 hours. That's ok. But otherwise if you are sitting in a conversation And you keep on talking. Don't let other people talk.

Even though you may be talking spiritual things. It's a sin. But you may not know it is a sin. Because you say we are only talking about spiritual things. We are only talking about the bible. So many spiritual things I am telling them.

Yes that is true brother and sister. But why don't you let those other people also say something. Maybe after 5 years you will get light. I should not be talking so much. Because I am same age as these people.

I am the same age as these people. If I don't encourage them to talk and share How will they grow. You will find out that day. When you sit like this and talk too much You will feel it is a sin. Even if you are talking spiritual things.

When you walk with God God will give you light. For example I will give you another example. If you do something good to some brother And you expect him to thank you for it. You know that's a sin. See that's not a sin.

To expect somebody to say thank you It is a sin. To say thank you is a good habit. To say thank you is a good habit. We must all say. In my disciples. Even if somebody gives me a cup of water I say thank you.

I do the same. If somebody gives me a cup of water I say thank you. If somebody has helped me in a small way Even after 20 years I will remember it. I will say brother. I remember 20 years ago You helped me thank you very much.

We must be thankful. If you are not thankful that's a sin. But when you do something for somebody else And you expect them to thank you That's a sin. Some of us are like that. Some of us parents are like that.

Why are my children not thankful to me. For all that I did for them. You say that is my right as a parent. You have not yet seen that it is a sin. So it's alright for you. After 10 years you will discover that is also a sin.

You expect thankfulness from anybody. I have got light on it. I am not judging you. Because it may not be a sin for you yet. It may be a sin for you after another 10 years. It's like a 10th standard student Studying some physics or science.

And he looks at his 1st standard younger brother. And he says ok. You don't know science and physics and all now. There is nothing wrong in that. After 10 years you will understand what I am understanding now.

So it is true in the Christian life also. Don't judge other people. I have learnt that through many years. The mind of Christ is don't judge other people according to your standard. Many times I say Lord this is sin for me.

But it is not sin for that person. Maybe he is in the 1st standard. How can I expect him to know what I have learnt in the 10th standard. This is one of the biggest mistakes people make. If I understand it you must also understand it.

Supposing a 10th standard boy tells his 1st standard brother. If I understand physics you must understand it. Then who is the fool. The 1st standard boy or the 10th standard boy. The 10th standard boy is the fool.

How can a 10th standard boy expect a 1st standard boy to know what he knows. If you understand this simple truth You will never judge another person. Because you will say he is in no lower class. And you will not say that in pride.

I am in the 10th standard. No that little 1st standard boy may one day go ahead of you in his studies. So don't be proud. We must say in humility. Okay I am older than you. I am 10 years older than you.

I joined school before you. You may be cleverer than me. But I have spent more years in the school. You may be cleverer than me. But I have spent more years in the school. But other children like us have not studied that much.

You should know that. Some parents judge your children by your standard. I am 50 years old. I know what is good and bad. But your poor son or daughter is only 17 years old. How do you expect them to know what you know at 50.

Teach them. Be patient with them. I remember once I was talking to a brother. And I was telling him this is how it is. He just could not understand. And I was getting very impatient with him. I was trying to explain the spiritual truth to him.

But I was not able to. And the Lord spoke to me. How many years did it take you to understand that truth. I said Lord it took many years. And the Lord said be patient with him. Don't be in a hurry. I learned a lesson that day.

That many things I preach. People will not understand after one hearing. That is why. If you have heard me for 25 years You have heard me say many things. Repeated for 25 years. Why? Because until you are free from that sin You have to keep hearing it.

For example you have heard me say Don't backbite against others. Don't judge other people. You have heard me say that for 25 years. And if you keep doing that sin Then I have to preach it for the next 25 years.

And not only that There are new people coming into our church Who have not heard these things. There are children growing up in our church Who have not heard these things. When I preached it 25 years ago They were not born.

Or some of them were 2 -3 years old. They could not understand. So we need to keep saying it again and again. It is very important to understand this. There are sins in our life Which we don't see. But if you walk with the Lord After one year you will see it.

Serving Christ Without Seeking Human Thanks

Why do I say that to expect thanks From other people is a sin? I will show you a verse in Matthew 25. We are trying to understand The mind of Christ. It says in the final day. Matthew 25 verse 32 When Jesus sits on His throne.

Verse 31 When Jesus sits on His throne. Verse 31 All the people will be gathered before Him. He is going to separate the sheep from the goats. The goats are all the unbelievers. What does He tell the sheep?

Verse 34 Come and inherit the kingdom prepared for you. Why? I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me to your house. I was naked and you gave me dress to wear.

I was sick. You did not heal me. You just visited me. I am greatly encouraged by that verse. I don't have to heal the sick person. I just got to visit him. I was in prison. You did not deliver me from prison.

You just came to see me. And the godly righteous people will say Lord when did we see you hungry and thirsty. I never saw you. I never saw you sick or naked. Listen to this wonderful answer. The king will say verse 40.

If you did it to one of these poorest smallest least of my brothers. You did it to me. So when you helped a brother You did not help him. You helped Jesus Christ. So don't expect thanks from that brother.

Expect thanks from Jesus Christ. If I preach to you. And you are helped by my preaching. I don't expect thanks from you. I say Lord I am doing it for you. So many elders People are not thankful to me.

I have labored for 10 -15 years. These fellows are not thankful. Elder brother you are the sinner. You are the sinner. You did not do it for Jesus. You did it for people. Stop doing things for people.

Start doing everything as unto the lord. When you serve God's people Don't expect thanks from them. Because the lord says If you did it to the least of these You have done it to me. But you know I got light on that.

More than 25 years after becoming a believer. And I did not read it in a book. I did not hear it on a tape. Once when I was expecting Some brother whom I helped so much To be thankful to me. That's the time the lord said to me You are the sinner.

I was surprised I am the sinner. What did I do to him. I only helped him. Yes but you were expecting thanks from him. That day I got light. How is it. I did not get light In the previous 25 years. In 1st standard you don't understand everything.

2nd standard you understand some more. 5th standard you understand some more. 10th standard you understand some more. That is how we must grow. That I get light on more and more things. In my christian life I have not finished my education.

I have still got many years to go To finish this education. So in 2010 I am going to get some light On some things that are sin in my life today. Which I don't see as sin today. It's good to humble ourselves.

Like Job. Perhaps I have sinned. Maybe what that brother says is right. Maybe I am wrong. I have sometimes spoken to some young brothers Brother I don't think that is a godly way to do it. Even sometimes I tell some elder brothers I don't think that is the right way to do it.

But some of them Say no. No no. I know what I am doing. I say ok brother do it your way. I am not a dictator. I am only your brother. Do it your way. And he does it his way. And he makes a mess of the situation.

Then he says Brother you were right. It's ok brother. God will forgive you. But you have spoiled so much of God's work. Always humble yourself. I am not saying you must agree with me. Just go to God. And say perhaps I have sinned.

Perhaps I am wrong. It's always good to say Perhaps I am wrong. You come with that attitude to the Lord. The Lord will show you so many things. I come to the Bible even today like that I say Lord there is so much truth in this.

I still need to learn. I will tell you. That is why I don't have time to watch television. That is why I don't have time to watch television. I say Lord There is still so much in this book I have not understood.

Studying Scripture and Seeking More Light

Where is the time to watch television. It's good. We need some time to relax and all. Your mind is so full of tension. You are working the whole day. You need some relaxation. You are working the whole day.

Your mind is full of tension. You need some relaxation. People try to relax themselves. But don't watch dirty cinemas. That will spoil you more. I am not saying you should read the Bible. Because your mind may be so heavy.

You can't study the Bible. But at least sometime during the day Study the scriptures. At least 15 minutes a day. Study the scriptures. This year Make a rule in your life. I am going to spend 15 minutes at least every day To study the Bible.

And if you understand English And you have got internet You can go to our internet site. We have got hundreds and hundreds of messages. And there are so many Tamil DVDs now. You can listen to MP3 audio.

They are not very expensive. You can listen to one message For the price of one cup of coffee With 10 messages in it. One message is only one cup of coffee. The price. That's all. It's very cheap. Your life can be changed.

Think of these things. Lord, I want to really study the scriptures this year. I want to be like Noah. Bring up a godly family. To stand for righteousness in a corrupt earth. Especially if you are an elder brother.

Please study the scriptures. And if you are an elder brother's wife Please humble yourself and support your husband. Don't be a headache for him. We are living in the last days. Ask God to give us more and more light on ourselves.

Keeping Families Pure in a Corrupt World

Lord, I want to have the mind of Christ. Even if the whole world is corrupt. I want to keep myself and my family pure. You have more control over your family than over the church. Because your children are in your home.

Your church people you see only one or two hours in a week. But your children are in your home Everyday. They go to school, college and come back. And when they go to school and college They are mixing with all types of worldly people.

When they come back You have to purify them. Like you tell your children to go and have a bath. Spiritually you have to give them a bath. Just like little babies. The mothers have to bathe them everyday.

Even if your son or daughter is 20 years old. They go to college and they come back filthy. Many of them don't know how to bathe themselves spiritually. You as a father and mother Must give them a bath spiritually.

Like Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. You have to wash the feet of your children spiritually. If you live in this world Supposing you are wearing chappals. Not shoes but chappals. And you walk down the dusty streets.

However careful you are. Dust will come on your feet. Even if you walk one kilometer Your dust will come on your feet. And like that I say However careful you are. If you live in this world One day some sin will come on you.

Some thoughts Something will come. And therefore We have to be very very careful Lord I want to cleanse myself. I want to cleanse my family members. That they must always be pure everyday. We have a responsibility as fathers and mothers.

Don't be satisfied. Oh I cook food for them everyday. I go to work and earn money. I pay their school fees, college fees. That is not enough. The mind of Christ is Keep your family pure Like Noah. And even if everybody in the world is going astray Be a testimony for Christ.

That is how the great godly men Through the ages have been testimonies for Christ. For example Job He was a testimony in his time. And all the prophets In the midst of all the false prophets. Sometimes god will have one true prophet.

See in Elijah's time There were 850 false prophets. One true prophet. It's like that today also. There are 850 false prophets in Christianity. And there will be one true prophet. One true prophet who stands for righteousness.

Condemning the World Through a Different Way of Life

If god has placed you in some village or town You are to be that true prophet for god. There is another word that is spoken about Noah In Hebrews 11 I believe we can learn something from that man. It says in Hebrews 11 That when he prepared this ark To save his family.

Verse 7. By that action He was condemning the world. By that action He was condemning the world. How can you condemn the world. Not by words. You are all sinners. You are all going to hell. That's not what it says here.

He condemned the world By concentrating on building the ark. Until the time God told him that I am going to judge the world. He was also like the others Making a lot of money Buying property and all that.

But when he was 480 years old God said I am going to destroy the world. You build an ark. And Noah realized I have to pay for the ark from my pocket. Because those days there was no America To write reports to get money.