Four Challenging Exhortations - Santosh Poonen - October 23, 2011
http://rlcfchurch.org/four-challenging-exhortations River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The speaker shares reflections on the importance of remaining deeply connected to the local body of Christ, emphasizing that individual spiritual growth is dependent on community. He then presents four challenging exhortations, focusing on the passage from 1 Timothy 4:16, which stresses paying close attention to both one's own life and teaching. The central message is that genuine salvation and spiritual assurance come from maintaining a balance between sound doctrine and lived, practical Christian life.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Four challenging exhortationsThe speaker shares four deeply convicting exhortations born from his time away, beginning with a focus on First Timothy.
Pay close attention to yourself and your teachingReading from First Timothy, the speaker highlights that true salvation and growth involve paying close attention to both life and doctrine.1 Timothy 4:16
Doctrine and life as two spiritual legsLife and doctrine are like two spiritual legs that must be equal in length; otherwise, a believer walks with a spiritual limp.
The danger at the judgment seat of ChristThe testing of our spiritual growth happens during the week in our relationships, preparing us for when opportunities to develop are gone at Christ's return.
Being filled versus being fullThere is a vital difference between relying on a past experience of being filled with the Spirit and being full of the Spirit right now.
A life or death matterLiving without the constant fullness of the Holy Spirit is a life and death matter, necessary to produce Christ-like love and patience in trials.
Honest, humble, and hungryGod keeps believers full of His Holy Spirit if they always remain honest about their condition, humble, and hungry for His righteousness.
Learning the fullness of the Father's timeJesus lived in perfect timing with the Father, teaching us not to run ahead or lag behind, but to trust His patient and perfect timing.Galatians 4:4
God shouting with joy over youWhen a believer turns back to God in honesty, God runs to meet them and rejoices over them with shouts of joy.
