Words of Encouragement -- Ajay Chakravarthy & David Lane -- November 8, 2020
http://rlcfchurch.org/words-of-encouragement River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The message emphasizes the necessity of balancing God's love with the seriousness of His judgment, drawing parallels from parables like the ten virgins. True devotion requires a constant, internal commitment to Christ that is visible not just on Sunday, but every day in all aspects of life. Ultimately, believers should live with the awareness that God sees the heart and the private actions, leading to a life lived solely to please Him.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
The kindness and severity of GodRomans 11 teaches that God has both kindness and severity, and neglecting either leads to a spiritual imbalance.
The parable of the ten virginsJesus shared the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25 to show that not everyone who claims to know the Lord will enter the wedding feast.Matthew 25:10
Realizing second chances have limitsLuke 16 illustrates through the rich man that after death comes judgment, and people cannot rely on having another chance to repent.Luke 16:27
Cleaning the inside of the cupAs Jesus told the Pharisees in Luke 11, God looks at the hidden flask of the heart rather than just the outward appearance that everyone sees.Luke 11:39
Fearing God instead of worldly anxietyWhile the world is gripped by anxious fear over earthly events, believers are called to fear missing out on God's promised rest by living before His face.
Moving from mental agreement to realityMental understanding of the fear of the Lord from childhood is insufficient if it does not change private life and behavior away from the church.
Asking for the spirit of the fear of the LordIsaiah 11 lists the attributes of the Holy Spirit, prompting the speaker to pray specifically for the spirit of the fear of the Lord because he cannot produce it himself.
God's sovereign will in the new covenantDaniel 4 and Jeremiah 32 remind us that when God declares 'I will' in the new covenant, He faithfully puts His fear in our hearts so we will not turn away from Him.
Letting the Holy Spirit teach the fear of the LordPsalm 34 serves as a prayer where the Holy Spirit invites children to learn the fear of the Lord.
Becoming a disciple of the kingdomMatthew 13 contrasts merely understanding parables like a scribe with becoming a true disciple who brings out treasures from a changed heart.
Having the eyes of the heart enlightenedTrue spiritual growth requires the Holy Spirit to enlighten the eyes of the heart so that obedience flows from inner reality rather than just systematic teaching.
