Testing Your Godliness - 1: Love Your Enemy - Santosh Poonen - May 4, 2014
http://rlcfchurch.org/testing-your-godliness River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The speaker emphasizes that true godliness is measured not by programs or activities, but by a deep, increasing love for God and for fellow believers. He argues that a genuine love for God is demonstrated through loving one's spouse, children, and church community self-sacrificially. The message warns against treating Christ or the church as a 'project' or a cause to be promoted, stressing instead that obedience must originate from the Lord's sovereign will.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
The danger of our love growing coldAs Christ's return draws near, believers must stay connected to the body of Christ so their love does not grow cold.
Working for Christ versus obeying ChristQuoting A.W. Tozer, working for Christ often becomes a substitute for simple obedience and genuine fellowship with God.
God is love and the test of our godlinessBecause God's very nature is love, the true test of spiritual maturity and godliness is the measure of love in our hearts.
The ultimate test of your loveAnyone can love nice people, but the real test of godliness is how we treat those who mistreat or inconvenience us.
From the beginning, it wasn't about eye for an eyeOld Testament laws were given because of human hardness of heart, but God's original intent from the beginning is love.Matthew 5:38
Love your enemies and pray for your persecutorsJesus calls believers to love their enemies so they may truly resemble their heavenly Father, who sends rain on both the evil and the good.
Divine love versus human effortTrying to love through our own strength and techniques will eventually fail; we need the eternal, divine love that comes from God.
Laying down our lives for the brethrenJust as Jesus laid down His life for us, we demonstrate the love of God by laying down our lives in daily friction and relationships.1 John 3:16
The compelling force of Christ's loveGod intends for His love to become a compelling inner force in our lives, illuminating everything we do like the sun.
Related messages
- Testing Your Godliness - 2: Who is Your Enemy? - Santosh Poonen - June 8, 2014Santosh Poonen · 50m
- Testing Your Godliness - 3: Love From the Center of Who You Are - Santosh Poonen - June 22, 2014Santosh Poonen · 52m
- True Godliness is a Great Mystery - Santosh Poonen - November 20, 2011Santosh Poonen · 54m
