River Church - Messages: Recent Episodes
River Church
A collection of weekly sermons from River Church International, Zululand, South Africa. Visit us at https://www.riverchurchint.org.za/
'Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.' ~ Proverbs 4:23
Dave walks us through scripture, sharing with us all the ways that life with Jesus is better in so many ways!
The moon "shines" at night because its surface reflects sunlight, not because it produces its own light. In the same way, our lives should reflect the Son, Jesus Christ, and the light His character brings to the world.
Shelley shares with us, a heartfelt teaching from Psalm 126 on how God longs to lead us out of captivity into HIS promises. The ‘too good to be true' promises of God that bring joy and the life & freedom that come from desert places.
Religion in our time has been captured by the tourist mindset. Religion is understood as a visit to an attractive site to be made when we have adequate leisure. For some it is a weekly jaunt to church; for others, occasional visits to special services. Some, with a bent for religious entertainment and sacred diversion, plan their lives around special events like retreats, rallies and conferences. We go to see a new personality, to hear a new truth, to get a new experience and so somehow expand our otherwise humdrum lives.”
~ Eugene Peterson
Slow yourself down, or miss the opportunity for the miraculous to work in our lives and the lives of those around us.
“A life without lack is one that carries no fear of evil. Our confidence in God soars far above wants and fears… the complete sufficiency of the life without lack is based upon the presence of God…”
~Dallas Willard
The power of God can change even the most hopeless of lives and situations; by speaking HIS words we bring dry bones to life.
We're so focused on the problem or the obstacle that we miss the provision of God by not trusting His promises.
“Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she will respond as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out.” ~ Hosea 2:14-15
We take a look at how David was able to take on Goliath because of his confidence in who God is and the fact that He had already prepared him for battle with tools he knew how to use, giving him the certainty of victory.
Psalm 84:5-7
'Baka' - a poetic play on words of how God can turn our tears into a well that will bring life to all around.
We are made for intimacy with God. Don’t be fooled by proximity to God. Draw near by faith, with time and in the right posture.
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25) Embrace His pace!
Following on from Andy's message to us last week, Marc asks some challenging questions on where our faith lies and teaches on the importance of obedience as we follow Jesus.
If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child, and having God as his Father. If this is not the thought that prompts and controls his worship and prayers and his whole outlook on life, it means that he does not understand Christianity very well at all.
- ~ J.I. Packer
How long can you carry the weight of a worn out soul? How long can you fight against the grace that can make you whole? Will you slow down and take a breath? Will you come to Me and find your rest? ~ JESUS
Statistics show that 75% of the 60 000 thoughts we think a day are negative, and 95% of those are repetitive. So where does that lead us? A powerful message on how to transform our thinking by taking captive thought patterns and training our minds to form better neural pathways.
"Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way."
Viktor E. Frankl
Our emotions are REAL but they're not RELIABLE! It's helpful for us to recognise our emotions but not let them govern our behaviour. Our will to serve God is what needs to govern our behaviour. We need to learn to identify our emotions, discover their trigger and decide intentionally what to do with them by praying over them and processing them fully.
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
The start of our brand new 6 week series on holistic personal renewal!
'I have come that you might have life to the full. '
~Jesus
(John 10:10)
“Either sin is with you, lying on your shoulders, or it is lying on Christ, the Lamb of God. Now if it is lying on your back, you are lost; but if it is resting on Christ, you are free, and you will be saved. Now choose what you want.” Martin Luther
Ending off our 'Pivotal' journey through Acts with Dave teaching on how Paul lived his life for Christ.
We are still here because our purpose is not yet complete - to be a witness to those who are far from God. Marc impresses on us the importance of using every opportunity we have to point people to Christ through this simple Good News message:
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Repent.
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Turn to God
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Demonstrate your repentance by how you live out the rest of your life.
Discover how Paul remained patient during times of imprisonment and what we can learn from him, when we face trying times.
Rudolph Schutte from Church Unlimited, Nelspruit, shares a powerful message on how the life giving river of God flows through us, bringing His presence into the lives of the people around us. When we are under the 'influence' of the Spirit we walk, talk, interact with and see people the way Jesus did.
Testimonies are the 'cairns' in our lives that show you where God has been along the way. They are the evidence of God being right there with you through the many tests of life.
“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”
1 Corinthians 13:2
'Spiritual disciplines do not transform you they open you to the god that can providing an opportunity for the holy spirit to transform you.'
Marc reminds us of the importance of priceless partnerships as we do all we can to establsih His Kingdom on earth.
Our Vision for 2025 and beyond: 'To be those who demonstrate and declare the Kingdom of God through selfless service, under the authority of Jesus Christ, being empowered by the Holy Spirit.'
'You cannot experience Kingdom Fruitfulness unless you have experienced Kingdom Freedom.' Dave teaches on the rescue and restoration that Psalms 126 points us towards.
Jesus wants us to be partakers, not spectators. What seeds are you planting for the lives of others?
“But when [in God’s plan] the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the [regulations of the] Law, so that He might redeem and liberate those who were under the Law, that we [who believe] might be adopted as sons [as God’s children with all rights as fully grown members of a family].
Galatians 4:4-7 (AMPLIFIED VERSION)
Earth’s crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God;
But only he who sees, takes off his shoes.
~Elizabeth Barret Browning (Aurora Leigh)
What's our response when delays and difficulties come our way? Another pivotal moment for the early church as we take a look at how Paul responded in these situations.
Another pivotal moment as we journey through the book of Acts.
‘Chapter 15 is the turning point, “centrepiece” and “watershed” of the book, the episode which rounds off and justifies the past developments, and makes those to come intrinsically possible.’
Ernst Haenchen
'...they placed their hands on them and sent them off...sent on their way byt the Holy Spirit.' Acts 13:3-4'
Sometimes, success looks like suffering. Don't get so caught up in the bars, that you can't see the spaces in-between them.
When we are involved with what God is doing we need not fear the insults and mockery of others, because we know that in the end our faithfulness will be worth far more than our popularity! Andrew shares on how getting involved with God is a 'Pivotal Moment'.
Whose prayers will be answered on the other side of my obedience? Dave continues with Part 2 of our 'Pivot Series' as we journey through the book of Acts.
The pivotal moment that changes Paul's life, brought about by the obedience of an unseen hero - Ananais.
The CALL is personal
The CALL is scary
The CALL requires obedience
The CALL is to love
The 3 tenses of the christian life: the past present and future of what God has done by His grace, for His glory to give us godliness through Jesus Christ.
'I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God’s great mystery.' Colossians 2:1-4 MSG
Danie challenges us to 'surge forward' in the things we need breakthrough for because have a Father who is concerned about us and because Jesus has won the battle that we can never win.
'Pivot' - Big moments and little moments of clarity that change our lives forever. Week 6 takes us into Acts 6 when the disciples discover the gift of service and how it unlocks the hidden potential in believers.
Continuing with our 'Pivot' series, we're into Acts 5 with a fresh take on Ananais and Sapphira.
Dave teaches on another pivotal moment for the disciples - the transformation of Peter through his revelation of who Jesus was, the restoration of his true identity in Christ and the renewal of his entire being through the Holy Spirit.
Another pivotal moment in the lives of the disciples as they Jesus did, after He was gone.
“Christian community is only this. We belong to one another only through and in Jesus Christ.” ~Dietrich Boenhoffer
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14
“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.” Psalm 130: 5-6
Brent Brading visits us with a powerful message on why your personal revelation of Jesus matters so much. The more of Him we see, the more of Him we will reflect!
Following on from last week's message of 'Taming the Tongue', Mark turns our attention to working on our character and how important constructive criticism can be.
“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21
The most important thing about a man is not what he does, it is who he becomes...we are becoming who we will be-forever. Dallas Willard
Rudolph and Sonja Schutte, friends from Church Unlimited Nelspruit, joined us this Sunday. What is the difference in Exodus 3 and Exodus 33, in Moses' experience of the Presence of God?
Stick with us on this one... It gets better after the first 2 and a half minutes! What is the difference?
On Comrades Marathon Sunday, Dave asks us..."What wild and crazy adventure, has God planted in your heart?", as we run the race He has set before us.
Jesus gave thanks and then God multiplied what was in His hands. What is your attitude to life in good times and bad?
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
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
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.
God knew you first, He makes Himself known and in knowing Him more deeply, we come to realise how fully we are known.
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!
“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
“For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” James 3:16
'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:
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Identify the lie
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Remove the lie
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Replace the lie with the truth
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
Because I am a citizen of Heaven...
• The world is not my home
• I have unique protection and benefits
• I have an amazing King
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.
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
Four truths:
1.The Father loves me unconditionally
2.The Father embraces me
3.The Father forgives me
4.The Father transforms me
The first of our new series on 'Identity'. Understanding 'the identity gap' is an important introduction to the 5 weeks to come.
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?
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.
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
Jesus is the reason for the season! Because God is a promise keeper we can trust His future promises.
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!
“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
“Fasting confirms our utter dependence upon God by finding in him a source of sustenance beyond food.” Dallas Willard
“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
“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
'The joy of the Lord is our strength! When we lose His joy, we lose our strength.' - Danie Grobbelaar
“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
The start of a new series on the practices that kept Jesus in the presence of our Father.
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.
Dave shares a heartfelt message in how we can stand firm when our prayers go seemingly unanswered.
We dig deeper into Psalm 23 and discover 8 'Jehovah' Names and the promises within them.
"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
PROGRESS IS MADE POSSIBLE & PRACTICAL THROUGH THE PROVISION OF THE POWER & THE PROMISES OF GOD
This is our great challenge from the life of David- to live a life surrendered to the will of God!
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
Worship engages the whole person, thereby driving our beliefs down into our lives.
Timothy Keller
“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
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
Ultimately, Moses is the prototype picture of what the messiah would come and do for the world and not just for a nation.
“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” Luke 19:31
What motivates you? As citizens of heaven on earth, Jesus teaches us what our motivation should be.
Running the race well means sacrifice and dying to self in order to live like Jesus did.
It's sometimes really tough getting out of bed in the morning, to face another day full of life's frustrations and struggles. So, what's the point of it all?
“And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptised and wash your sins away, calling on His name.”Acts 22:6
The famous last words of Jesus:
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations” Matthew 28:19
“Go and preach the gospel to all creation” Mark 16:15
“repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations. You are witnesses of these things.” Luke 24:47–48
“As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” John 20:21
“You will be my witnesses … to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
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WHO is my neighbour?
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WHY should we love others?
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WHAT does it mean to love your neighbour?
“From Jesus, the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Ephesians 4:16
- WHY DO WE NEED TO CHANGE? 2. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE MORE LIKE JESUS? 3. HOW DO WE BECOME MORE LIKE JESUS?
What is God’s purpose fr all His children? What is God’s purpose for me personally? How do I fulfil God’s purpose?
Did you know?...
Salvation is not only about 'knowing about' Jesus. Do you KNOW Him? And does He KNOW you?
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
2 Corinthians 5:17
As we celebrate the coming of our King this Christmas, Marc teaches on waiting...and how to do it well.
A raw and real message straight from the heart. A personal testimony of a forgotten child, found.
Jesus didn’t come to change God’s mind about us, but rather He came to change our minds about God.
⁃ Richard Rohr
“Spiritual growth and vitality stem from what we actually do with our lives, from the habits we form, and from the character that results.” ⁃ Dallas Willard
It has always been God’s intention to include all people as part of His family through faith in Christ. The Father has adopted us into His family, giving us His Spirit to affirm that we are His children. In Him we find identity, inheritance, intimacy and insight into the things He has freely given us.
Danie & Ronel visit us from City Life Church in Durban and shares a powerful message on what God is doing, what the devil is doing and what we should be doing in times like these.
`Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.' Proverbs 22:6
Both married and singles are critical in the church and are needed to advance the Kingdom of God.
“God sets the lonely in families…” Psalm 68:6
Week 1 WHY FAMILY?
Week 2 MARRIED & SINGLES
Week 3 KINGDOM PARENTING
Oct 30th SERIES PAUSE FOR DANIE AND RONEL – APOSTOLIC INPUT
Week 4 ONE ANOTHER
Week 5 ADOPTION
Week 6 GROWTH
Mark shares from his heart on why and how humility and forgiveness must always overcome pride.
Our generous Father in heaven showers down gifts on us to be used by us, for the common good of others!
For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Romans 11:36
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift… is to lead, do it diligently….” Romans 12:6-8
'We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is...giving, then give generously.' Romans 12:6-12
"If your gift is...teaching, then teach;if it is to encourage, then give encouragement." Romans 12:7-8
"If your gift is serving others, serve them well...And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly." Romans 12:6-7
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith…” Romans 12:6
Acts 4:29-31 ‘“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable Your servants to speak Your word with great boldness. Stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.’
"Jesus, turn the tables of our hearts and clear away everything that doesn't honour you."
How do we bring about lasting change when it comes to the things we struggle with in doing life as a disciple of Jesus?
Dave adds 8 tracks to our playlist that will keep us on the road to discovering true life with Jesus.
'...put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.' Col 3:1-17
It's been a full year since Andy and Kim Lund handed over the leading River Church. Andy brings us an encouraging word about finding your value, identity and purpose in Jesus alone.
In Christ, we can discover and live free as our true selves. As citizens of Heaven, this world is not our home...it's time to stop believing and living lies about who we are.
Mark Lonsdale's message reminds us about the real and lasting change Jesus brings when you choose to allow Him to work in your life.
Feeling like could blow any moment now? Psalm 131 can be the perfect pressure valve to release some steam in times like this.
Does your life have purpose? To truly know God we must truly know who He made us to be. He gets our Attention, speaks our true Identity over us and then sets us on Mission to live out our calling.
How's your gospel doing? Have you laid your life down completely and wholeheartedly for the plans and purpose of Jesus? Does what you profess with your lips, line up with how you live your life?
We are created to live a missional life, but when do we go and what does it mean God says 'No'?
Jesus challenges us over and over again to leave the safe comfort of the shore and launch out into deeper waters. How do you respond to that call? He doesn't ask you to get into His boat, rather, Jesus gets into yours. You are not alone.
This week, as a church community, we will be fasting together in Response, Repentance and Readiness. Marc teaches us more on this important practice in preparation...
Just as the needle on a compass always points to magnetic north, so should our lives always point people to Jesus.
When we seek God as our source, when Jesus is our focus, we will discover true freedom, joy, peace, and purpose in bringing life to the world around us.
Dave shares 5 scenes from the Bible that will challenge you to ask yourself, 'What's that in your hand?' And what are you going to do with it?
As we say goodbye to 2021 and look towards 2022, what are you expecting for the new year and why can we expect great things?
Never be afraid of an ending...God is all about new beginnings and the promise that covers both:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28
Our 8th and final FAITH ESSENTIAL...looking towards the future and what it holds for us if we are in Jesus.
Our 6th Faith Essential is the 'laying on of hands'. Why is this so important and where do we see happen in scripture?
Is there a God and does He care about me? What is faith? What is faith for? Where does faith come from? How do we grow in faith? Week 4 of FAITH ESSENTIALS and these are the questions Dave helps us answer.