Bearing Fruit By Abiding in God's Love - Santosh Poonen - January 12, 2020
http://rlcfchurch.org/bearing-fruit-abiding-gods-love River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The speaker draws parallels between the suffering of a child and the immense suffering of Christ on the cross, emphasizing the depth of divine love. He reflects on the Father's willingness to endure the agony of the crucifixion so that salvation could be accomplished. The message encourages the audience to remember the cost of sin and the depth of God's love, comparing it to the profound, sustaining presence of God in one's home and church.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Speaking from John 15 on God's loveThe speaker introduces John 15, sharing a personal experience of watching his young son suffer through a painful medical procedure to illustrate the deep agony of the Father watching Jesus suffer on the cross.
The master plan and the pain of redemptionBefore time began, the Trinity knew that fulfilling the plan of salvation and crushing the serpent's head would cost the Father the pain of losing His Son.Galatians 4:4
Taking the devil to CalvaryRecalling a story about a disabled Scottish man, the speaker explains that whenever the devil tempts us to doubt God's love, we should point him to the wounds of Calvary where he suffered his greatest defeat.
Abide in me and bear fruitJesus commands believers to abide in Him, explaining that just as a branch cannot bear fruit apart from the vine, any lack of joy, love, or peace in our lives stems from a failure to abide.John 15:4
Called friends, not slavesJesus calls believers His friends rather than slaves, inviting them into a relationship of shared knowledge and trust rather than obedience motivated by fear of punishment.John 15:14
The serious warnings in the book of JudeJude urgently warns against the dangers of falling away, citing historical examples like Cain, Balaam, and Korah who maintained outward religion while harboring secret sin, bitterness, and pride.
Keeping yourself in the love of GodInstead of falling into division and complaining, believers are called to build themselves up in the faith and keep themselves securely positioned in the love of God.
The searchlight of God's individual loveGod's love is like a powerful searchlight shining down on every human being, and the devil's main tactic is trying to trick us into stepping outside of that circle of light.
Pruning and taking away for more fruitThe Father prunes and removes unhelpful things from our lives so that we can bear more fruit, requiring us to trust His love even when difficult losses occur.John 15:2
Abiding through simple obedienceRemaining in the love of God is practically achieved through simple obedience to the promptings of the Holy Spirit within our cleansed conscience.
He will keep you from stumblingWhen we focus on keeping ourselves in the love of God rather than struggling in our own strength, God faithfully keeps us from stumbling.
