A Dwelling Place for God Like Heaven Upon Earth -- Santosh Poonen -- June 13, 2021
http://rlcf.church/media/sermons/dwelling-place-god-like-heaven-upon-earth River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The central message emphasizes that true love for God is demonstrated by keeping His commandments, as stated in John 14:23. The speaker warns that merely claiming love for God is insufficient; one must actively obey His word. Furthermore, the sermon suggests that the presence of God, or 'heaven,' can dwell on earth through the Holy Spirit, making the believer's life and community a dwelling place for God.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
If anyone loves me he will keep my wordBelievers cannot assume they love God simply by going through the motions or singing on Sundays; true love is proven by obeying His explicit words.John 14:23
I will not leave you as orphansJesus comforts His disciples by promising He will not leave them as orphans, providing a childlike confidence that our Father will take care of everything.
He who has my commandments and keeps themJesus repeatedly emphasizes that the one who has His commandments and keeps them is the one who truly loves Him and will be loved by the Father.
Making our abode with himThe Father, Son, and Holy Spirit desire to come and make their permanent home, or abode, wherever believers faithfully keep His word.
A trail of heaven wherever Jesus wentDuring His thirty-three years on earth, Jesus left behind a continuous trail of heaven because the presence of God went everywhere He walked.
All scripture is inspired by GodFathers must take responsibility for leading their children in daily Bible reading, recognizing that we must live by every word that proceeds from God's mouth.
God hides himself in the unappealingGod intentionally makes His word unappealing to the flashy, worldly mindset to test whether we truly hunger for His life-giving power.
Hidden from the wise and revealed to babesJesus praised the Father because spiritual truth is hidden from the intelligent and proud, but revealed to humble infants who approach God with childlike hearts.Matthew 11:25
Is it time for you to dwell in your paneled houses?Through the prophet Haggai, God rebukes His people for neglecting His temple while prioritizing their own homes, resulting in spiritual barrenness and wasted efforts.
Long for the pure milk of the wordHaving been born again by the enduring word of God, believers must put aside malice and hypocrisy and long for spiritual milk like newborn babies.
Living stones built up as a spiritual houseGod is taking individual believers, marriages, and homes as living stones and building them into a spiritual dwelling place for holy sacrifices.
Keep your behavior excellent among the gentilesBy living as aliens and strangers who abstain from fleshly lusts and maintain excellent behavior, we cause outsiders to eventually glorify God.
Christ also suffered leaving an exampleWhen reviled, Jesus did not revile in return and made no threats, leaving a pattern for us to follow when we face unjust suffering.1 Peter 2:21
Impress these words of mine on your heart and soulGod commands His people to bind His words to their hearts, minds, and actions so that His word acts as a guardian over their lives.
Teach them diligently to your childrenParents are explicitly commanded to talk about God's word when sitting at home, walking, lying down, and rising up.
As the days of heaven upon earthWhen we faithfully keep and teach God's word, our days, marriages, homes, and church communities become a true dwelling place for God like heaven upon earth.
