December 21 | Daily Devotion | Have A Sense Of Gratitude To The Lord | Zac Poonen

This daily devotion by Zac Poonen emphasizes that the Christian life is intended to be a journey of continuous growth fueled by a deep sense of gratitude and the power of the Holy Spirit.

I. The Limitation of External Experiences

• Fear Despite the Resurrection: On the day Jesus rose, the disciples were hiding behind closed doors out of fear (John 20:19). Even after Jesus appeared and showed them His hands and feet (John 20:20), they were still found behind locked doors eight days later (John 20:26).

• The Need for Inner Change: Seeing the risen Lord was an amazing experience, but it did not immediately deliver the disciples from fear or change their lives. External miracles alone are often insufficient for lasting transformation.

II. Receiving the Holy Spirit vs. The Baptism of Power

• Initial Reception: On the day of His resurrection, Jesus breathed on the disciples and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit" (John 20:22). Zac Poonen notes that because Jesus' words are always accomplished immediately (like His commands to storms or lepers), the disciples received the Spirit at that moment.

• The Promise of Power: Despite having the Spirit, Jesus later told them in Acts 1:8 that they would receive "power" when the Holy Spirit came upon them to be His witnesses. There is a distinction between having the Spirit and being clothed with His power for service.

III. The Mystery of the Spirit’s Ministry

• Like the Wind: Jesus compared the Holy Spirit to the wind in John 3:8, noting that it blows where it wishes; you hear the sound but cannot dictate its direction.

• No Fixed Formulas: Spiritual life cannot be defined by rigid "mathematical" formulas (like 2+2=4). The experience of being filled with the Spirit varies for everyone, as seen in the different accounts in the book of Acts (e.g., Pentecost, Cornelius, and Ephesus).

• The Error of Dictating to God: Many Christians fail to be filled with the Spirit because they try to dictate exactly how He must move, which contradicts the sovereign nature of the Spirit.

IV. Gratitude as the Motivation for Seeking Power

• Beyond "Fire Insurance": If a person’s only interest is escaping hell and going to heaven, they will likely never seek the power of the Holy Spirit.

• The Role of Gratitude: Seeking the Spirit's power is for those who are so grateful for what Jesus has done that they want to live entirely for Him and represent Him accurately as witnesses.

• Ability to Live the Standard: Without the power of the Spirit, it is impossible to live according to the high standards Jesus set in the Gospels.

V. The Absolute Gravity of Sin

• The Weight of One Sin: We must recognize the "awesomeness" of sin. One single sin is enough to send a person to hell and separate them from God's presence forever.

• The Lesson of Eden: As recorded in Genesis 3, it only took one sin to put Adam and Eve out of God’s presence.

• Taking "Small" Sins Seriously: Believers are urged to take individual acts seriously—such as one lie, one instance of backbiting, one lustful look, or one outburst of anger.

• Conviction vs. Guilt: The Holy Spirit convicts us of our failures (He does not merely make us "feel guilty") so that we are driven to seek God earnestly for the power to overcome.

VI. The Principle of Progressive Growth

• The School Analogy: Growth in the Christian life should mirror a child's education. A student moves from grade to grade, learning more each year. Similarly, a spirit-filled life should show definite, yearly progress in overcoming sin and becoming more like Christ.

• Overcoming Enslaving Habits: Habits that have enslaved a person for years are often overcome "little by little" rather than overnight.

• The Father’s Concern: Just as a parent would be disturbed if a child stayed in the same grade for years without learning anything new, God is concerned when believers are defeated by the same sins year after year.

VII. A Call to Passionate Spiritual Maturity

• Spiritual Ambition: Believers should have the same passion for their spiritual growth as they do for education, career success, or providing a comfortable life for their families.

• Continual Illumination: True maturity involves constantly receiving "light" from God on new areas of sin. Knowing that lying or anger is a sin is considered a "kindergarten" lesson; mature believers continue to discover deeper areas where they need to align with Christ.

• Lifelong Journey: Zac Poonen shares from his own experience of 66 years as a believer, stating that even at nearly 86 years old, he still sees a "long way to go" and must constantly look to Jesus for further transformation.

Bible Verses Mentioned

• John 20:19 – The disciples hiding behind closed doors for fear.

• John 20:20 – Jesus showing His hands and feet to the rejoicing disciples.

• John 20:22 – Jesus breathing on the disciples to receive the Holy Spirit.

• John 20:26 – The disciples still behind shut doors eight days later.

• John 3:8 – The wind blowing where it wishes (analogy for the Spirit).

• Acts 1:8 – The promise of power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.

• Genesis 3 – The account of the first sin and its consequences.