Words of Encouragement - Ajay Chakravarthy & David Lane - December 22, 2019
http://rlcfchurch.org/words-of-encouragement River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The central message emphasizes that receiving forgiveness of sins and being born again is an impossible feat by human effort alone, requiring divine intervention. The speaker draws parallels from the blind man in John 9, the Virgin Mary's conception, and the testimony of Joshua and Caleb, all illustrating that only God's power makes the impossible possible. Ultimately, the call is to seek a transformation that mirrors the life of Christ, moving beyond merely living a moral life.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Receiving forgiveness is impossible without GodJust as we could not save ourselves or cleanse our own guilt when we were first born again, we must come to God empty and acknowledge our complete inability to forgive ourselves.
The blind man and spiritual sightLike the man born blind in John 9, we had no hope and no way of saving ourselves until God reached down and opened our eyes.
The assurance of forgivenessWhen we confess and forsake our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.1 John 1:9
Producing the life of Jesus is equally impossibleJust as a virgin birth is humanly impossible, living the life of Jesus and being transformed from glory to glory cannot be done in our own strength.
Mary's response to the impossibleWhen Mary asked how she could bear the Son of God as a virgin, the angel declared that the Holy Spirit would overshadow her and that nothing is impossible with God.Luke 1:30–37
Having the faith that sees the impossibleBy faith in the Holy Spirit's work, the veil is taken away so we can behold the glory of Jesus and be transformed into His image.
The cry of the heart to see ChristDespite listening to countless messages, our lives often fall short until God reveals Himself directly to our hearts, much like Isaiah experienced.
Isaiah's vision of the LordIsaiah saw the Lord high and exalted upon a throne, heard the seraphim cry out that God is holy, and recognized his own unclean lips in the presence of the King.
Living in the presence of a consuming fireIsaiah describes those who can dwell with the consuming fire as those who walk righteously, reject bribes, and ultimately see the king in his beauty.
David's one ultimate desireKing David desired only one thing from the Lord: to dwell in His house all the days of his life and behold the beauty of the Lord.
Beholding the glory of the Lord with unveiled faceBelievers today have the privilege of beholding the glory of the Lord in a mirror with unveiled faces, being transformed into the same image from glory to glory.
Finding peace through seeing the face of JesusWhen we make it our lifelong cry to seek and see the face of Jesus Christ, many of the tedious struggles and problems in our lives will naturally fade away.
