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The Way We Desire to Do Ministry at Rivers of Joy

CORE VALUES

Transforming People For Christ

Sustaining A heritage of Excellence

Our core values define what we stand for, express what we most highly value and shape the unique contributions we can offer the community based upon our culture, history and vision for the future. Everything we do must be done in excellence. These discerned and expressed core values then enable us to shape our ministry, guide decision-making, prioritize goals, and determine the best use of our human and material resources. Our core values are foundationally based upon God’s commandments to us to love God and our neighbor (Matt. 22:34-40). Our core values are grouped similarly.

Our Relationship with God

We value and hold fast to the authority of God’s eternal Word, the Holy Bible

We believe the Bible to be the inspired, inerrant and infallible written word of God. The Kingdom He preached energizes our desire for transformation in the world.

2 Timothy 3:16; 4:1-2

We value the power of prayer

God’s word supports all that we do, and we pray without ceasing. We are committed to praying for the ministry of the church and its people.

Luke 6:48; Isaiah 56:7; Ephesians 6:18

We value joyous worship, honoring the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as we exalt the life and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ

We were created to praise and worship God regularly – corporately and individually. Worship is about God and emphasizes His presence and majesty. Worship must challenge, comfort and present in ways the message of God’s love through Jesus Christ and should appeal to both the intellect and emotions of the Believer

Psalm 8:2; Hebrews 12: 28-29

We value faith, trust and belief in God

Jesus Christ’s life, ministry, and teachings: his death, resurrection, and living presence are the foundation of our movement. Our scriptures and worship point to Him; the kingdom He preached energizes our desire for transformation in the world. We preach the gospel and life of Christ and are under the power and guidance of God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. We value the study and application of His Holy Word and the work that we must do to bring souls to Christ.

We value all persons who have confessed belief in Christ and who are striving to exhibit “Christ-like” behavior.

Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; I Corinthians 8:6

We value commitment to being good stewards of God’s provisions of time, money and spiritual gifts.

“But just as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us – see that you also excel in this grace of giving”

2 Corinthians 8:7

Our Relationship with People

We value love and respect for others in the body of Christ.

We will maintain an environment of love for ourselves and others; treat others with love and respect, and love each other as God loves us; be Christ-like in sharing love with respect, and show love for everyone.

Matthew 22:37; Luke 15; John 3:16

We value the identification and utilization of each member’s gifts to serve God and others in excellence.

We support education and training and its role in providing productive ministry and we support a teamwork approach to enable the church to operate in excellence.

Colossians 3:23-24; I Corinthians 13:4-13; Ephesians 4:12

We value relevant evangelism and community outreach that revives and transforms lives and our community.

We are mandated to evangelize others to Christ and we will be the presence of God in our community through accepting the challenge of treating all who come with respect as they are connected to a socially conscious and caring community.

Matthew 28:16-20; I Peter 3:15; Acts 4:34-35

The True Work of the Holy Spirit in Believers Lives

TRUE SIGNS OF THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

“By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.” (John 4:2-3)

SALVATION, BORN AGAIN, SAVED,

Regeneration is an instantaneous work. Conversion to God, the fruit of regeneration, occupies all our life, but regeneration itself is effected in an instant. A man hates God; the Holy Spirit makes him love God. A man is opposed to Christ, he hates his gospel, does not understand it and will not receive it: the Holy Spirit comes, puts light into his darkened understanding, takes the chain from his bandaged will, gives liberty to his conscience, gives life to his dead soul, so that the voice of conscience is heard, and the man becomes a new creature in Christ Jesus. And all this is done, mark you, by the instantaneous supernatural influence of God the Holy Ghost working as he willeth among the sons of men

Publish Post

When a ministry raises people’s esteem of the one true Jesus Christ, who was born of a virgin and was crucified — if it confirms and establishes their minds in the truth that He is the Son of God and the Savior of men — then it is a sure sign that it is from the Spirit of God. If the spirit at work among a people convinces them of Christ and leads them to Him; if it confirms their minds in the belief of the history of Christ as He appeared in the flesh; if it teaches them that He is the Son of God to save sinners; if it reveals that He is the only Savior, and that they stand in great need of Him; and if it begets in them higher and more honorable thoughts of Christ than they used to have; if it inclines their affections more to Him — that is a sure sign that it is the true and right Spirit. This is true even though we are ultimately incapable of determining whether anyone’s conviction or affections reflect real saving faith.

WHY BELIEVING IN THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD MAKES OUR BLOOD PRESSURE GO DOWN ABOUT 35% WHEN WE PRAY

The first of five videos of this one message: (Goodness). 

BIBLICAL FACTS ABOUT PRAYER AND SOVEREIGNTY PART TWO:  THE HEART AND PURPOSE OF PRAYER AND THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD.

Charles e. Whisnant

ACTS 4:23-31

1.   Confidence in God’s sovereignty – the true foundation for prayer. 23-28

2.   Asking for the right things – the true test of prayer. 29-30

3.   The felt realization of God’s presence and power – the true answer to prayer. 31

1A      Believers in both the OT Scriptures and the NT Scriptures had no problem believing in both the absolute sovereignty of God and the necessity of prayer.

·       The early church had no problem with the sovereignty of God in their plight.

·       The first recorded prayer meeting of the early church.

·       Notice how they begin their prayer meeting: 24-25

2A      Prayer can be used as a means of refusing to submit to what we know is the will of God!

·       Abraham was not in agreement with God’s purpose and decided to “pray” in hopes of changing God’s mind.  Genesis `18:17, 23-31

·       Abraham seemed determined to compel his will on God and correct God’s purpose.

·       What happen?  God did not change His mind, but prayer changed Abraham.

·       While God could have came down on Abraham rather hard, God let him vent his fears and then shows us how unreasonable we are acting.  “Verbalizing” our events sometimes shows us our we just blew it out of proportion.

3A    It is not wrong for us to pray what has been termed “selfish prayer.”

·       David and his child:  2 Samuel 12:13-15. David sinned; God told him what was going to happen. Yet David felt he had to still pray. 2 Samuel 12:16. What happen when the child died? Vs 20

o   The servants were expecting David to respond negative. What was his response? Vs 21-23. He in faith bowed to God’s sovereign providence.

·       Habbakkuk challenges God’s apparent inactivity. Habbakkuk 3:1, 2,13,16-19. Result?

o   Prayer with God radically changed the prophet’s whole perspective and attitude.

o   Vs. 2 is real prayer.  Vs 13 show a true understanding and application of God’s purpose in history. Everything that happens involves the people of God.

o   Vs. 6-19  Shows our attitude at what we know is going to happen to our nations.