Give Your Best to God and He Will Open Heaven Over You -- Santosh Poonen -- January 3 2021
http://rlcf.church/media/sermons/give-best-god-open-heaven-over-you River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The central message is that true blessing comes not from the teaching received, but from the obedience demonstrated in daily life. The speaker emphasizes that living by God's word today, through small acts of faithfulness, is more important than making grand, year-long resolutions. He draws from Jeremiah 12 to critique hypocrisy, noting that merely going through the motions of faith is insufficient; genuine devotion must come from the innermost being, not just from lips.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
The true blessing is in obedienceHearing teaching week after week brings no benefit without actual obedience, and those who obey a little will be far more blessed than those who hear much and do nothing.
Living by grace one day at a timeNew Year's resolutions usually fail because God calls us to live by His grace today, making daily obedience the key to a spiritually blessed year.
Why 2020 was the best yearTrue fulfillment comes not from easy circumstances, but from Jesus becoming sweeter and more precious through trials.
If you ran with footmen, how will you compete with horses?Jeremiah's struggle with the prosperity of the wicked highlights that if minor hardships tire us out, we must lean on God's grace for the severe trials ahead.
Raising the water level above the rocksInstead of removing unchangeable circumstances, God often raises the water level of His grace to lift us completely above our trials.
Why spiritual weariness happensWeariness in the Christian life often stems from giving God leftovers and half-hearted sacrifices rather than our absolute best.Malachi 1:13
Give your best to the Lord todayWe are called to give our daily best to God, making His name great and leaving a pure testimony of humility and holiness.
Test Me and see if I will open heavenGod challenges His people to bring their best and test Him, promising to open the windows of heaven and pour out overflowing blessings.
