East River Fellowship: Recent Episodes
East River
This world has moved into a season of unprecedented darkness that has been unleashed on earth. We, as believers, are called to be ready, to be serious and watchful in our prayers, and above all else, have fervent love for one another. Easy? No. Possible? Yes. Be encouraged and remember God is for us. And He is with us!
CS Lewis said “Though our feelings come and go, God’s love for us does not.” God has proven His loving attribute to humanity throughout the ages by covenantal relationship with us. He’s been patient even in our sinfulness. That’s love!
Death exists, life exists, and God is true. The book of Jeremiah says, The Lord is the True God; He is the Living God and the Everlasting King. Will you let the True God have His way in your life today?
What we believe about God affects how we live. It affects our views, relationships and how we respond to God. Today we look at grace. God’s grace is unmerited. It is unearned. And it is unlimited.
We are living in a time where it feels like the whole world is going crazy. And yet, we have the assurance that our God rules and reigns and loves from heaven. He is THE Sovereign Lord of the universe. And He is THE Faithful Lord of the universe. Listen to hear the good news!
C.S. Lewis said “Mercy detached from justice grows unmerciful.” The two attributes go hand in hand. Our God is always just and He is always merciful. Always. To be anything other is to contradict who He says He is. That’s really good news for us!
The demands and pace of life are often in the way of taking time to build up your family. In this stay-at-home season with so many events and activities cancelled, it might be the perfect time to hit the ‘reset’ button and add new spiritual disciplines and practices at home.
God’s people are the people of facts and faith. We gladly line ourselves with God’s promises like Joshua and Caleb of old. While the world fears, we can always trust in God’s character, leading, and protection. The result is that you can identify God’s people…they have always been the ones heading into the city to care for the sick, hurting, and dying.
This is not the time to cast off the character of Christ. This is the time to commit to Christ! Committing to obedience is challenging. Obedience in difficult times is even more challenging. Praise God His grace and peace is multiplied to us in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
Before covid-19 we lived in comfortable, familiar territory. Now, all of a sudden, we can’t go back, we don’t know the way forward, what was known will never be the same and times are uncertain to say the least. We don’t like it and we want out of it. So now what? Maybe the very thing we want to resist, God is allowing. Let’s press into Him and discover the peace He offers in uncertain times.
Has the severity of the recent bad news seeded fear, doubt, and anxiety about God’s ability to provide for you and protect you? Here’s 3 steps for you to practice: Talk to God, talk to yourself, and talk to a friend.
Unstoppable faith determines the last man standing. The book of James clearly states we should ask God for wisdom. But, we must ask in faith. We must not suppose. We must not be double-minded and expect God to give to us. Do you want unstoppable, breakthrough assurance in your life? Then we need to meet God on His terms.
When we talk about the resurrection, we talk about hope. In the middle of life’s challenges, like COVID-19, we can have hope. The same God who rolled the stone from the tomb of Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And He is able to roll the stone from your life as well. Jesus Christ is the One who came to give us hope. Not just in this life, but for eternity. Receive Him as Savior today.
Bless God. Seek God. Trust God. Life is a journey. There are ups, downs, hits from the left and right, good things, bad things, right things, wrong things, failures and victories. We are all subject to them and we all have them. But in the journey God is there. His love is with us. Church, let’s bless God, seek God and trust God daily in our lives as we pursue Jesus together!
Faith runs opposite to the arrow of passivity. James 1:5-6 says if we lack wisdom, ask for it. But we must ask in faith. We must be people who anchor ourselves on the Rock. No doubting. With expectations. Spend time with Jesus. Learn His word in order to know Him. In the intimacy of internal submission faith will grow!
How good are your promises. I grew up in a farming community where a farmer’s word and a handshake was as good as a written contract. That would never happen today. We live in a world of contracts and lawyers and loopholes. But there is One who is an eternal Promise Keeper! Let’s look at God’s enduring promises.
The Apostle Paul writes to the churches he founded in Galatia. False teachers were teaching that the Galatians had to jump through ‘religious hoops’ to be right with God. Even today this happens. There are many false teachers who look like and sound like they know the right thing, but they’re controversy and ‘religious hoop jumping’ goes against the Word of God. Do not be bewitched, as Paul says.