Words of Encouragement - Ajay Chakravarthy & Dave Bertsch - May 31, 2020
http://rlcfchurch.org/words-of-encouragement River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The speaker encourages listeners to accept all of Scripture as God's Word, rather than reinterpreting passages to fit personal comfort. He uses examples from Matthew 15 and Luke 16 to warn against being a 'weed'—someone who gets offended or justifies themselves before men rather than submitting to the truth of God's Word. Ultimately, the message stresses that discipleship requires being willing to offend others, even family, in order to obey God rather than people.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Taking God's word at face valueInstead of reinterpreting difficult scriptures or making excuses, we must love the truth and receive every word of God when it convicts us.Matthew 6:15
Recognizing the weed of offenseWhen Jesus or the Word corrects us, getting offended is a test showing we may be weeds rather than fruit-bearing seeds.Matthew 15:1
Avoiding scoffing and self-justificationLike the Pharisees who scoffed at Jesus' teachings on money, we must watch out for the sin of self-justification when God's truth exposes our hearts.
Choosing to please God rather than menWalking with Jesus means we must be willing to risk offending others, including family members, to obey God and follow Christ.Galatians 1:10
Being violent with sin in our bodiesJesus teaches radical action against sin, calling us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices and deal violently with anything that leads us astray.Matthew 5:29
Recognizing Jesus through the SpiritPeople in Jesus' day were confused about His identity until Peter declared Him the Christ, a revelation given only by the Spirit.
The promise of the New Covenant in JeremiahReflecting on Jeremiah's ministry and suffering brings us to the great New Covenant promise where God writes His law on our hearts and remembers our sins no more.
Living the Christian life by the SpiritWithout the Holy Spirit, scriptures, church, and the life of Christ cannot be lived out, making it essential to continually ask for the Spirit.
