Rise Up
Vision Sunday
February 7, 2021 • Pastor Denny Curran
The vision of River of Life Church has always been to reach the lost. Every week, we strive to teach christians the following - 1.) To Know Christ River of Life exists to lead people into a life-changing encounter with Jesus. "I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead." - Philippians 3:10-11 NIV 2.) To Grow in Christ River of Life desires to provide resources for all who come to faith in Christ to help them grow in their relationship with him! 3.) Show Christ to Others and the World River of Life encourages every believer to find an area where they can serve others in the church, locally, and around the world. "After this the Lord appointed seventy-two[a] others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." - Luke 10:1-2 NIV The harvest is plentiful, and we as christians are called to win souls. "I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[a] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people," -Ephesians 1:16-18 NIV Our prayer for YOU is that you would find freedom in Christ. We pray that you would grow in your relationship with Christ and the purpose He gives you. Finally, we pray that you would show Christ by the way you live your life. Our desire is that you would see HOW important it is to know God and know him even better.
How to Rise Up When You Can't
January 31, 2021 • Pastor Adam Haugen
“I no longer call you servants... I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you.” -John 15:15 (NIV) Jesus describes the relationship he wants to have with us in this scripture Knowledge of someone is not enough. Relationships will altar the course of our lives. What is a friend? The definition of a friend is one who has your best interests in mind. - A friend loves you, a friend encourages you, supports you, sometimes holds you accountable, they listen to you, and they believe in you. - When you understand that Jesus loves you, and that He wants your life to have purpose, more than anyone in the http://universe...guess what means, we can fully trust him. Why are we talking about a real friendship with God in a series called Rise Up? At River of Life Church, we believe the idea of rising up in our faith may feel overwhelming for some of us, and that is because we are often times trying to do it in our own strength. We want to Rise Up in our marriage and be a better spouse. We want to Rise Up in our parenting and love our kids more fully. We long to Rise Up in our faith and live with integrity in a world of constantly shifting sands. We desire to Rise Up in our finances. We want to Rise Up in our physical health. We want to Rise Up in our career. We want to Rise Up in our relationships. If we want to truly Rise Up in our lives, what we need more than anything is to be restored in relationship with the God who can then help us Rise Up and live the life He has created us for. In John 5, we read about the pool of Bethesda. The pool of Bethesda was a place of miracles and restoration. The Bible says that every once and awhile, an angel of the Lord would come and stir the waters. The first person to get in the water would be healed of whatever disease or paralysis or problem they had. The pool was surrounded by crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed. One man who was sick for 38 years, unable to move, was desperate to go into the pool to be healed. Scripture tells us that Jesus saw him and approached him. "When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?” (John 5:6) What do you need from Jesus today? Jesus asked the paralyzed man what he needed. He responds in John 5:7a, “I can’t for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up.” Notice that at first he says he can’t. We can relate to this statement sometimes. We often won’t Rise Up until the pain of maintaining becomes greater than the challenge of change. “Then Jesus says, ‘Rise up. Pick up your mat and walk.’” At once the man was healed and picked up his mat and walked." -John 5:8-9 If you are at the spot today where you admit, "I want to be healed of whatever it is I have been struggling with," Jesus is here to help you Rise Up! The man’s obedience in faith brought restoration. We come to seasons where we must come to the realization that we can’t do this alone. We can’t fix our life on our own, so therefore, we need to surrender our lives to God. We can't just know about God. We want God working in our lives. "Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” -John 5:14 (NIV) Jesus doesn’t want a Pool of Bethesda relationship with us. No one hung out at the pool after they were healed. Jesus isn’t looking to answer our prayers and then leave. He’s longing for relationship and that means life change. As you are lying next to the pool of opportunity, and you are trying so desperately to get into the pool, you may be recognizing that you can’t on your own strength. There is a promise that Jesus is standing next to you saying, “What do you want from me today?” If you want to rise up in your faith when you can’t (ask yourself this question): 1. Do you want to get well? Just like the story, Jesus sees you, he knows when you are hurting, and he is asking you the same question. 2. (If yes), Admit that you cannot do it on your own. Admit to God and maybe to others that you need help and wisdom. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” -James 4:10 Find a Life Group and surround yourself with people who are also trying to encounter Jesus daily. God never designed life to be alone. “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." -Proverbs 27:17 3. Jesus wants relationship, not to simply be your rescuer in time of need. "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." -Romans 5:8
Shame
January 24, 2021 • Pastor Denny Curran
"Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything." -Luke 15:11-16 Guilt and shame kept the prodigal son from returning home to his family. Guilt admits that we've done wrong, and corrects itself through repentance. Shame takes over our joy and enthusiasm for God, and keeps us from experiencing His presence on a daily basis. Shame brings isolation and death. Shame tries to hide what we've done. It justifies and blames others for our actions. God didn't create us for shame. Guilt says, "I messed up and I need to go to God." Shame says "I AM messed up and I have to hide from God. I need to go it on my own!" Shame takes us away God. Scripture shares this truth - "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?" -Romans 7:24 "Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin." -Romans 7:25 We are DELIVERED through Jesus Christ from our shame. "I will rise up and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee;" -Luke 15:18 (DARBY) "Fix your eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." -Hebrews 12:2-3 It's time to rise up. Jesus understood the power of shame and its effects on us. He took on our sin and shame to the cross on our behalf! "because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!" -James 2:13 When the prodigal son returned home, the father received him, forgave him, and gave him a new destiny. THIS is what Jesus wants to do for you! Verses to Memorize: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” -Romans 10:13 NIV "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." -1 John 1:9 NIV "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God." -Ephesians 2:8 NIV "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." -Romans 8:1 NIV Let us rise up and go to our Father.
The Things Unseen
January 17, 2021 • Pastor Kirby St. John
"Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, “I will set up my camp in such and such a place.” The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.” So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places. This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Tell me! Which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?” “None of us, my lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.” “Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.” Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city. When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked. “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked. Elisha told them, “This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to Samaria. After they entered the city, Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men so they can see.” Then the Lord opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria. When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?” “Do not kill them,” he answered. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master.” So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory." - 2 Kings 6:8-23 In the current state of our world, it's easy to feel like God's hand is far from your life. In these seasons, we may not see the following things - 1. His Presence 2. His Protection 3. His Provision 4. His Plan 5. His Peace 6. His Power 7. His Perspective It's time to rise up and trust that God's presence is with us. In the battle, we can trust in His protection and provision in our lives. We can trust in His plan because He offers us His peace. Rise up in His power and choose His perspective. Trust the process. It's time for the church to rise up. As Christians, we may have differences of perspective, but as we read in 2 Kings 6, the king was commanded to "feed his enemies." How can you show the love of Jesus to those around you this week? In a week of making history in our nation, now more than ever, we need to show the love of Christ to those around us. This battle is not our own.
Serve
January 10, 2021 • Pastor Denny Curran
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you." - Isaiah 60:1-2 NIV What type of light are you shining? This week, Pastor Denny speaks about how as believers, we can let our light shine by the way we live our life. 1.) Get out of Bed! In today's passage, God is encouraging Israel to wake up. He is about to do something that He doesn’t want them to miss out on. What God does next is incredible, supernatural, and earth shaking. "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” -Ephesians 5:8-14 NIV Ephesians 5 is a reminder to believers that darkness, or living in darkness is equivalent to sleeping. "And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed." -Romans 13:11 NIV 2.) It's time to rise up and shine. "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” -John 8:12 NIV Jesus is a light that has come to live in you. He shares HIS light with us. When we come to Christ, we receive His light. Our light comes from living FOR Christ. Finally, our light comes from what we DO. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." -Matthew 5:14-16 NIV It is impossible to conformed to the image of Christ without the Holy Spirit, the Word, and Authentic Community. "Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Matthew 20:28 NIV The church cannot be made up of consumers. The church must rise up and choose a position of serving. "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God." -John 3:19-21 NIV "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Jesus is the light of the world— no other name where man can be saved." -Matthew 5:14 NIV
Mountain Moving Faith
January 3, 2021 • Pastor Denny Curran
"He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” -Matthew 17:20 NIV "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him." -Mark 11:22-23 NIV "He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you. -Luke 17:6 NIV 1. Human Weakness "When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. "Lord, have mercy on my son," he said. "He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. -Matthew 17:14-15 NIV Our human ability will only take us so far, even our normal spiritual walk won't change some circumstances. 2. Divine Power "So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the boy's father, “How long has he been like this?” "From childhood," he answered. "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." -Mark 9:20-22 NIV Jesus cares about your yesterdays. Talk to God like he is your friend and share your struggles with him. "If you can'?" said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes." -Mark 9:23 NIV Jesus didn't say to understand everything, he just said, believe! 3. Faith and Fasting Different Types of Faith: A. Saving Faith B. Serving Faith C. Supernatural Faith "He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move.” -Matthew 17:20 NIV "He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer.” -Mark 9:29 NIV Stay connected to Him!