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Discussion Forum : Articles and Sermons : Importance of Following the Manufacturer’s Instructions by Zac Poonen

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 Importance of Following the Manufacturer’s Instructions by Zac Poonen


[b]Importance of Following the Manufacturer’s Instructions[/b]
[i]by Zac Poonen[/i]

The Bible is the “Manufacturer’s Instructions.” If you buy an
expensive electronic gadget, you will get a booklet of instructions
along with it that tells you how to use it. You will be very careful
to follow those instructions exactly, because you don’t want that
expensive gadget to blow up or be spoilt. In fact the manufacturer
usually advises that the equipment should not be switched on or used
until you have read all the instructions. Who manufactured us? God!
Here in the Bible are the instructions on how we can function best as
human beings. If you don’t follow these instructions, you can mess up
your life or your marriage. Many have done just that, because they did
not do things God’s way. Who can they blame for that? No-one but themselves

Even many believers have messed up their lives because they have not
been careful to follow the “Manufacturer’s Instructions.” Even for
physical health, I believe the best thing to do is to obey the
Scriptures first of all. When the Lord says, “I am your Healer,” He
means, “I am your health.” We need to be healthy in order to serve God.
And if you want to be healthy you have to follow certain laws concerning
what you eat and what you don’t. A glutton can never be healthy.
God says, “Give attention to My words, for they are health to
all their whole body” (Prov.4:20-22).

In the same way, to be spiritual, you must follow certain laws
concerning spirituality. You have to humble yourself if you want
grace, for God gives His grace only to the humble. You have to believe
in order to receive something from God, for God gives us according to
our faith. All these are spiritual laws. It will go well with us if
you follow these laws.

In Deut 6:4, we read, “The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!” We don’t
worship three Gods. God is one in three Persons. Then in verse 5, the
first commandment is described in another way. This is what Jesus
quoted in Matthew 22:37: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your might.” That is the first
commandment. That means that we don’t have any place in our hearts for
family, property, job, or money - because ALL of our hearts is given
to God. This is Instruction No.1 in the “Manufacturer’s Instruction”
Manual. Don’t operate the human machine before you have obeyed this
commandment. What will happen when you love your wife with all your
heart. You will love your wife even better! You will love your neighbour
better. You will even love your enemies, because you don’t have any
hatred in your heart anymore.

Jealousy, hatred, bitterness and all other sins against others are
caused by not loving God with all your heart. The part of your heart
that should be loving God is filled with jealousy. We overcome sin not
by battling sin primarily, but by loving God with all our hearts. When
we love God with all our hearts, the love of money and property and
evil lusts will all go away. Consider a girl who is in love with Mr.A,
who is not such a good person. Her parents try their best to stop her
from loving him but they can’t succeed. Then one day this girl meets
Mr.B who is far more handsome, richer and a more pleasant person.
Suddenly all her love for Mr. A disappears. How did that happen? That
can be called “the expulsive power of a new affection”. A new love
drove out the first love. Apply this to the Christian life. Here you
are lusting after so many evil things that God forbids. You try and
try to give up these bad habits but cannot, because you love those lusts.
Then one day, you see the glory of Jesus and begin to love Him
with all your heart. What happens. This new love has driven out the
old affections. Then we have no more interest in the things of this world.
It’s “the expulsive power of a new affection”. This is the secret of
victory over sin. Love God with all your heart and with all your soul -
which means with all your intellectual power.


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SI Moderator - Greg Gordon

 2009/12/25 12:52Profile
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Joined: 2002/12/11
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 Re: Importance of Following the Manufacturer’s Instructions by Zac Poonen

Quote:
We overcome sin not
by battling sin primarily, but by loving God with all our hearts. When
we love God with all our hearts, the love of money and property and
evil lusts will all go away.


Amen. A great word!


_________________
SI Moderator - Greg Gordon

 2009/12/25 12:53Profile





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