Then the Lord answered me and said, “Record the vision and inscribe it on tablets, that the one who reads it may run. 3 “For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay. Habakkuk 2:2-3
A couple of Sunday’s ago I shared a message on our vision as a church and with Natasha Carter’s help we were able to capture it in written form! I believe this is God’s dream for our church and by His grace it is certainly coming to pass.
Vision
God has called us to be a dwelling place for Him. Ephesians 2:19-22 tells us that we are no longer strangers, but citizens with the members of God having Jesus Christ himself as the chief cornerstone. It proceeds to tell us that we are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. In the last days there will be places where God is dwelling and where His Presence is enduring. These will be places where people can come and find God no matter what state of life they are in. They can come into God’s living room and find the Father. The vision of RiverLife Fellowship is to be just this. To be a safe haven for all types of people and a place where they can come and find God. RiverLife Fellowship is a home that houses the Presence of the Lord.
There are four practical steps that our body is taking to prepare ourselves for this adventure. These include worship, creating the appropriate atmosphere, becoming a refuge place and prayer.
Worship: God is looking for worshipers. John 4:23 tells us that “the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such to worship him”. Our church family views worship as a lifestyle and not just something to come and do on a Sunday morning. The heart of worship always declares that Jesus is Lord in any and every circumstance. It is something that we do with our entire being on a daily basis.
Atmosphere: There is no place like home. Resting in the comforts of your own home allows you to be just you. It is a place where you can sit down and enjoy the simplicity of life. RiverLife Fellowship welcomes an atmosphere for people to feel at home. For them to sit down in a casual environment and just relax in the Father’s living room. Acts 2:46 states “so continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people”. God wants His home to be a happy place. He desires it to be a place where anyone can come and enjoy his Presence. Our heart is to create this kind of atmosphere at church. To create an atmosphere that supports missions and offers healing and grace. (Luke 15: 11-31).
Refuge: The bible tells us repeatedly that God is our refuge. Church should be a place where people can be taken care of both physically and spiritually. Acts 2:44-45 reveals how the church took care of one another’s needs. We believe church is a workshop and not a showroom. It is a place where people can come and be accepted in their mess. RiverLife Fellowship longs to be real and transparent with the Lord as well as one another, in a safe environment, as we allow God to be our refuge. Psalms 91:4 tells us that the Lord will cover us with His feathers and under his wings we can take refuge. There is no better place for the broken and hurting then under the wings of the Almighty.
Prayer: Mark 11:17 says, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations”. We believe that prayer and intercession is important to God. As we connect to the Father’s heart, we want to join him in praying for the things that concern Him along with praying for each other. Luke 11:11-13 tells us that God wants to give good things to His children. God is a generous and a good God who is gracefully answering the prayers of His people.