Valuing Close Friendship With the Lord — Ajay Chakravarthy — June 26, 2022
https://rlcf.church/media/sermons/valuing-close-friendship-with-the-lord River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The central message is the necessity of maintaining an intimate, constant connection with the Lord, comparing it to a branch staying attached to a vine. The speaker emphasizes that true closeness requires being 'upright,' which means being right in the sight of God, not just in our own eyes. He urges listeners to prioritize this relationship over past spiritual highs and to overcome spiritual 'snoozing' by actively choosing to wake up and respond to God's call.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Who does God choose for close friendship?God is not close friends with everyone, but is intimate with the upright, meaning those who are right in the sight of God rather than merely in their own eyes.
God shares His secrets with His friendsJust as God chose to tell Abraham before destroying Sodom and Gomorrah because Abraham was His friend, He desires to share His heart with those who maintain closeness with Him.Genesis 18:17
Warning against living on past spiritual historyBelievers must not rely on past spiritual victories like retired athletes living on old medals; today is the day to seek a fresh and intimate walk with the Lord.
The spiritual snooze button and small inconveniencesIn the Song of Solomon, the bride hesitates to open the door to her beloved because of minor inconveniences, illustrating how spiritual snoozing and unaddressed weights hinder our fellowship with Christ.
The cost of hesitation and the pain of distanceAfter the bride finally opened the door, her beloved had turned away, showing the deep sorrow of experiencing distance from the Lord due to initial hesitation.
Afflictions as a tool to earnestly seek GodGod allows difficulties and corners in our lives so that in our affliction we will earnestly seek Him and value His fellowship even more.
The woman with the bleeding issueAfter enduring 12 years of suffering and disappointment with physicians, a woman's affliction finally led her to press through the crowd and touch Jesus for healing.
Jacob wrestling with GodFaced with the terrifying threat of Esau, Jacob was left alone and wrestled with God until he grabbed hold of Him, declaring he would not let go without a blessing.
Searching until He is foundWhen the bride searched frantically for her beloved through the city, she eventually found him and held on tight, never wanting to experience that painful distance again.
Corrie ten Boom's experience in God's shadowReflecting on her imprisonment in World War II and a later unexpected slip on ice in Holland, Corrie ten Boom learned that sometimes God leads us in the darkness of His shadow, proving His presence is even closer.
Asking for a cupful and receiving an oceanAfter confessing irritation with a nurse and setting matters right, Corrie ten Boom was filled by the Holy Spirit, realizing God wants to give us an ocean of His grace rather than just a cupful.
Two precious things: a clear conscience and intimacy with GodBelievers should guard two extremely precious things above all else: a clear conscience set right before God and man, and deep, unbroken intimacy with the Lord.
The nearness of God as our greatest goodEchoing the Psalmists, our ultimate ambition should be to desire nothing else on earth besides God, declaring that the nearness of God is our ultimate good.
