Love That Covers - Santosh Poonen - June 12, 2016
http://rlcfchurch.org/love-that-covers River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The speaker cautions against assessing one's spiritual life solely by personal feelings, warning that this self-centered focus can lead to complacency. Drawing from Jude, he emphasizes that believers must actively 'contend earnestly for the faith,' which requires more than just maintaining a private relationship with Jesus. True discipleship involves caring for the community and the needs of others, not just oneself.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Assessing spiritual health by feelingsThe speaker notes a natural tendency in his flesh to measure his spiritual progress merely by how good he feels about his own personal walk with God.
Contending earnestly for the faithLooking at the book of Jude, the speaker explains how Jude shifted from writing about common salvation to urging believers to actively contend for the faith rather than remaining passive.
Hidden reefs in the love feastsJude warns about hidden reefs in church gatherings—people who outwardly participate but whose primary characteristic is caring only for themselves and ignoring the needs of others around them.
Selfish prayer versus true intercessionTrue spiritual life involves building oneself up and praying in the Holy Spirit, moving past the self-centered prayer that only cries out when catastrophe strikes our own family.
Following Christ's example of compassionAs the end of all things draws near, believers are called to look beyond their own security and let the river of God's life flow out to reach others, just as Jesus left heaven for our sake.1 Peter 4:7–8
Being squished in the body of ChristJust like building with bricks or surviving the tight quarters of Noah's Ark, being integrated into a local church means rubbing shoulders with others, which tests our love and forces us to mature.
Prayer for healing and confessionJames instructs believers to call for the elders of the church when sick, to pray for one another, and to understand that physical sickness is sometimes tied to unconfessed sin.
The power of effective, fervent prayerUsing Elijah as an example, the speaker highlights how an ordinary person in touch with God can pray effectively, accomplish much, and turn a sinner back from the error of their way.
The ministry of accusation versus intercessionWhile the devil constantly accuses the brethren and feeds our curiosity for gossip, Jesus ever lives to intercede, calling us to partner with Him in bearing the burdens of others.
Covering others through fervent loveInstead of prying into negative news or gossip about others, a life of fervent love runs in the opposite direction and covers faults by taking them to God in secret prayer.
Responding to God's planted burdensGod wants to soften our hearts so He can plant burdens in us for teenagers, children, and struggling brothers and sisters, moving us from being bench warmers to active intercessors.
