Press On and Learn to Praise God — David Lane & Jarrod Schnell — January 24, 2024
http://rlcf.church River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The speaker urges listeners not to become stagnant in their Christian walk, using examples from Joshua and Paul's writings to emphasize the need to press on toward Christ. The central message is that the goal of life is conformity to the image of Christ, requiring continuous effort to excel more and forget what lies behind. The speaker also draws encouragement from the story of Leah, suggesting God sees and blesses those who are overlooked or unloved.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Joshua and the Land RemainingThe speaker shares an exhortation from the story of Joshua regarding the danger of stagnation in the Christian life and how much remains to be possessed.
Excelling Still MorePaul encourages believers to excel still more in their walk with God, continuing to press on toward the high calling in Christ Jesus.
Learning from Faithful EldersSeeing older believers who maintain a passionate devotion to the Lord without losing their fire gives hope against becoming hard or set in one's ways.
Leah's Difficult SituationLeah is given in marriage to Jacob by her father Laban, but Jacob does not love her and instead loves her sister Rachel.
The Lord Sees Leah's AfflictionSeeing that Leah is unloved, the Lord opens her womb while Rachel remains barren, leading Leah to name her first son Reuben because the Lord saw her affliction.
Consumption by the TrialAs Leah bears more sons, her focus remains heavily on winning her husband's love, illustrating how trials can overshadow our view of the Lord over time.
Naming JudahAfter bearing her fourth son, Leah stops looking for her husband's approval in that moment and declares that this time she will praise the Lord, naming him Judah.
A Warning Against DriftingThough Leah experienced a moment of true peace and praise, she later slipped back into striving and unrest with Rachel, serving as a warning to keep our eyes fixed on God.
God's Goal of BrokennessGod uses trials to bring us to a place of complete surrender where we seek Him above all things and praise Him regardless of our circumstances.
