Words of Encouragement - Olu Talabi, David Lane - March 17, 2019
http://rlcfchurch.org/words-of-encouragement River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The central message is that believers must actively resist the devil and the temptations of the flesh by standing firm in faith and the power of the Holy Spirit. The speaker emphasizes that resisting Satan, as instructed in James 4:7 and 1 Peter 5:8-9, will cause him to flee. Furthermore, enduring suffering and trials, rather than giving in, is how God perfects, establishes, and strengthens us in Christ.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Who is behind the scenes of temptation?The speaker points out that throughout scripture, from Judas to Peter, there is a hidden instigator—Satan—stoking human flesh and testing believers.
How should we interact with the tempter?Believers are instructed to interact with the devil by submitting to God and resisting his deceptions.
Resisting the devil when trials grow hotWhen temptations feel overwhelming and the devil returns repeatedly, believers must persist in God's strength because the enemy will flee.
What happens after we endure suffering?Enduring temptation and standing against Satan aligns believers with Christ's own suffering, leading God to perfect, establish, and strengthen them.1 Peter 5:8–10
Does an unbridled tongue make religion worthless?Examining James 1:26, the speaker confronts human logic, which rebels against the idea that failing to control one's speech renders other good deeds worthless.James 1:26
Looking to God's word above human logicRather than relying on personal feelings or logic, believers must tremble at the word of God, recognizing that scripture cannot be broken.
Can anyone tame the tongue on their own?Though introverts might assume commands about speech apply only to loud extroverts, James 3 makes clear that no human being can tame the restless evil of the tongue.
Crying out for the Holy Spirit to put deeds to deathRealizing our own inability to control our speech produces a deep desperation for the Holy Spirit to help us put to death the deeds of the body.
