Brokenness and the Inspired Authority of God - Santosh Poonen - February 10, 2019
http://rlcfchurch.org/brokenness-inspired-authority-god River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The speaker emphasizes the difference between the Old Covenant, where fear was often imposed, and the New Covenant, where God inspires a genuine fear of Him. This inspired reverence is presented as the secret to holiness and walking the narrow way. He warns that the comfortable 'broad way' is easily tempting, while true discipleship requires continually tuning oneself to the Holy Spirit's voice to remain on the narrow path.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
God's everlasting covenant to never stop doing goodGod has committed Himself to an everlasting covenant where He promises to never stop doing good to His people.
God inspiring the fear of Him from withinUnlike the Old Covenant where fear was beaten into people, the New Covenant involves God inspiring the fear of Him directly within our hearts.
The narrow path versus the comfortable broad pathThe path to life is exceedingly narrow, and God allows a comfortable broad path on either side to test who is truly listening to His voice.
The two parables of the sons and the vine growersJesus tells parables in Matthew about two sons and unrighteous vine growers to highlight the difference between mere religious talk and genuine obedience.Matthew 21:28
The two groups of people represented by the sonsThe first group talks about obeying God to impress others but fails in secret, while the second group initially says no but repents and obeys quietly.
Bearing fruit in the secret areas of lifeWhen God looks for fruit in our lives, He examines secret areas such as our tongues, purity, jealousy, bitterness, and whether we defend ourselves.
Always doing the things that please the FatherJesus had the constant presence of the Father because He always did the things that pleased Him, suffering in the flesh to put aside His own will.John 8:25–26
The difference between planting stones and planting seedsWords spoken without God's backing are like stones without life, whereas a life yielded in obedience carries the living authority of God.
Falling on the stone and being broken to piecesWhen we come to Jesus, we must be broken from hard, unbroken stones into small pieces rather than being scattered like dust when judgment falls.
God forming Adam and His church out of dustGod cannot use inflexible stones or even smaller unbroken pieces, but when we are crushed to dust, He can breathe the breath of life into us.
Abandoning self-pity and rights to become dustYielding to God means abandoning our stone-like human rights and reputation so that we never raise our voices in self-defense when mistreated.
