River Church - Messages
By River Church
River Church - MessagesNov 14, 2021
The Reason for Grace
Sin is seen as a burden, but one that has been borne by Christ.
It is a debt, but one that has been paid by Christ.
It is an offense, but one that has been removed by Christ.
It is an illness, but one that can be healed by Christ.
It is defiling, but one can be made pure through Christ.
- J.J. Henderson
Do the Work
Picture a long, narrow ridge with a sheer drop-off on either side… On the ridge there is a path, the Disciplines of the spiritual life. This path leads to the inner transformation and healing for which we seek. We must never veer off to the right or the left, but stay on the path. The path is fraught with severe difficulties, but also with incredible joys. As we travel on this path, the blessing of God will come upon us and reconstruct us into the image of Jesus Christ. We must always remember that the path does not produce the change; it only places us where the change can occur. This is the path of disciplined grace.
-Richard Foster
Sabotage
The enemy loves to sabotage the plans of God. The only way he will succeed in that is if we take our eyes off Jesus, stop trusting Him, and give up. Recognise the sabotage, Resist it and Rely on God.
Those Who Know Your Name
God knew you first, He makes Himself known and in knowing Him more deeply, we come to realise how fully we are known.
The Joy of the Lord
Andy & Kim Lund were back for a visit to share with us some of what the Lord is doing in their new season and to encourage us to contend for the JOY of the Lord that is our strength!
Times of Testing
“Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in he wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart…” Deut 8:2
The Open Secret
“For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” James 3:16
Win the War in Your Mind
'What consumes our minds, consumes our lives.'
Referring to Craig Groeschel's book, 'Winning the War in your Mind', Mark Lonsdale shares his journey on the battle that goes on in his mind and gives us some tools on how we can train our minds of these unhelpful 'ruts'.
3 STEPS TO HEALTHY THINKING:
1. Identify the lie
2. Remove the lie
3. Replace the lie with the truth
Identity Series - I am an Ambassador (Christ Commissions Me)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation ... We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
2 Corinthians 5:17-19
Identity Series - I am a Citizen (He is my King)
Because I am a citizen of Heaven...
• The world is not my home
• I have unique protection and benefits
• I have an amazing King
Identity Series - I am a Saint (He is my Saviour)
Dave explains the process of justification, sanctification and glorification as we journey with Jesus from birth, through salvation and into our promotion of eternal life with Him.
Identity Series - I Am a Servant (He is my Master)
1. I have access to His PLANS
2. I have access to His PROTECTION
3. I have access to His PROVISION
4. I have access to His PRAISE
Identity Series - I am a Child (He is my Father)
Four truths:
1. The Father loves me unconditionally
2. The Father embraces me
3. The Father forgives me
4. The Father transforms me
Identity Series - The Identity Gap
The first of our new series on 'Identity'. Understanding 'the identity gap' is an important introduction to the 5 weeks to come.
You're the Sermon
You are the only sermon some people will hear. We are the only Bible they will ever read. We are the only prayers they may ever know. How do people experience you?
Fear of God
“He who kneels before God, can stand before any man.”
- Ezra Taft Benson
Psalm 1
Jesus has picked us up off Wicked Way and placed us on Righteous Road! Join Dave as he walks us through what God has taught him through this powerful Psalm.
New Beginnings
God is not in the business of second chances. He is far better than that. Rather, He gives us new beginnings!
“Therefore, if ANYONE is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17
Plenty Plenty More (2024)
BELIEF RESULTS IN ACTION...Hear and do this new year!
The Meaning
Jesus is the reason for the season! Because God is a promise keeper we can trust His future promises.
Cosmic Christmas
Dave's passion and love of science is contagious as he takes us on a cosmic journey through time and space this Christmas, revealing the Creator of our universe and how science can't not point to Him!
Be Useful
God uses broken and imperfect people - because that’s the only kind that there are!
Contentment
WHAT STEALS OUR CONTENTMENT?
Go to Grow
“What gave Elisha the holy boldness to ask for a double portion? I think it’s the simple fact that Elisha didn’t withhold anything from God. And if you give all of yourself to God, you can ask and expect that God will give all of Himself to you because that’s precisely what He wants to do. We have not because we ask not, and we ask not because we’re not all in!”
• Mark Batterson
PRACTICE WITH PURPOSE - FASTING
“Fasting confirms our utter dependence upon God by finding in him a source of sustenance beyond food.” Dallas Willard
PRACTICE WITH PURPOSE - COMMUNITY
“I am a justified/righteous, reconciled, called, chosen, loved by God saint, son/daughter of God, co-heir with Christ, one of many brothers and sisters in God’s family, a citizen of God’s kingdom, part of the community.“ ⁃ Derek Morphew
PRACTICE WITH PURPOSE - SABBATH
Sabbath = stop; rest; delight; worship
PRACTICE WITH PURPOSE - SIMPLICITY
“If money has a grip on your heart, give some away and feel the inner release. Simplicity is freedom, not slavery. Refuse to be a slave to anything but God.” - Richard Foster
Come Empty
'The joy of the Lord is our strength! When we lose His joy, we lose our strength.' - Danie Grobbelaar
PRACTICE WITH PURPOSE - SILENCE & SOLITUDE
Luke 5:16 “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
PRACTICE WITH PURPOSE - SCRIPTURE
“If we feed our souls regularly on God’s word, several times each day, we should become robust spiritually just as we feed on ordinary food several times each day, and become robust physically. Nothing is more important than hearing and obeying the word of God.”
⁃ David Watson
PRACTICE WITH PURPOSE - INTRODUCTION
The start of a new series on the practices that kept Jesus in the presence of our Father.
What Concerns You?
We know the specific concerns of God only through relationship with Him.
POWER THROUGH PEOPLE - Vuyo's Testimony
Meet Vuyo! He has an incredible life-song of how God has shown His power through people and used them to reveal Himself, growing his relationship with Jesus through trials and hardship.
PROMISES & POWER - Still Speaking
The Holy Spirit still speaks today, reminding us of the promises and power of God.
PROMISES & POWER - Godly Lives
There is no power of God outside of a personal relationship with Him.
WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST
The nuts and bolts of Christianity - our identity in Christ.
PROMISES & POWER - Standing in Faith Through Unanswered Prayer
Dave shares a heartfelt message in how we can stand firm when our prayers go seemingly unanswered.
PROMISES & POWER - What's in a Name?
We dig deeper into Psalm 23 and discover 8 'Jehovah' Names and the promises within them.
PROMISES & POWER - Past the Sell By Date
Do the promises of God have a sell by date?
PROMISES & POWER-Yes & Amen
"One of the great tasks of discipleship and biblical faith is to root your identity in Christ and not in the order around you!" Mark sayers
PROMISES & POWER
PROGRESS IS MADE POSSIBLE & PRACTICAL THROUGH THE PROVISION OF THE POWER & THE PROMISES OF GOD
WORSHIP IS WARFARE
'When we don't know what to do, Lord, we look to you.'
FORESHADOW - DAVID
This is our great challenge from the life of David- to live a life surrendered to the will of God!
INFINITE, INTIMATE (Week 2)
How do we worship and praise God?
'Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.' Romans 12:1 MSG
INFINITE, INTIMATE
Worship engages the whole person, thereby driving our beliefs down into our lives.
Timothy Keller
FORESHADOW - JOSEPH
“But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:19-20
S.M.E.A.C with Keir Tayler
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:14-15
FORESHADOW - MOSES
Ultimately, Moses is the prototype picture of what the messiah would come and do for the world and not just for a nation.
FORESHADOW
“The new is in the old concealed; the old is in the new revealed.” ~ Augustine