In "Dependence" on God

By Aaron R.

As I continue my walk with God, He is continually opening my eyes to the rampant corruption and worldly influences that saturate the culture in which we live. We have grown up in and grown accustomed to a system based on financial independence and security, personal success, and instant self-gratification. As Americans we have been preprogrammed from infancy to rely solely on ourselves. Even those of us who do not find ourselves in the highest tax bracket have rarely wanted for anything. We are constantly bombarded by messages in all forms of media reinforcing these mindsets and ideals.

These ideals, when examined, are in direct conflict with the attributes of God. Patience, humility, and self-control, have no value in today's society. This conflict is not present by accident, but by design. We have much to learn from our brothers and sisters in Christ living in third-world countries. They not only trust Him for the small things, but for food, clothing, and for the future, be it life or death, only trusting that His perfect will be done. Col. 2:8 "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."

Many of us contemporary Christians are in spiritual bondage to the lifestyles we lead and the ideals that have permeated our minds. Placing worth in self and possessions is a major hindrance in our walk with Christ. In the coming days, more and more will be asked of His people to further the bounds of His kingdom. I do not want to be left behind in the Lord's plan for something as petty as love of money or material possessions.

When God opened my eyes to these truths, He showed me the passage in Luke 9:3 where he sent the disciples out and instructed them to leave and take nothing for the journey. I sat and asked myself if I were instructed to do the same would I be able to obey such a command. The answer brought the fear of the Lord. I repented for myself and for the nation. Only by submitting our hearts and minds before the Lord in this area can we realize that which He wants to do through us and in us to propagate His kingdom in this city.

Dependence on God

by Jeneil B.

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." John 15:5

God is infinite, boundless, and efficient! He is our every heartbeat and every breath that we take. We can sing and say these words, but do we really mean it? is He REALLY the air that we breathe? Is He REALLY our every heartbeat? Do we HAVE to have Him every second of the day or are we just satisfied with "Church?"

The heart is an involuntary muscle; without it we're dead physically. Without Christ, we are dead spiritually. Dependence on God means to die to our old nature!!! Dying is knowing that we can do nothing by ourselves or on our own power. We depend on God for everything, as a sheep depends on its shepherd. In John 10, God says His sheep hear His voice and follow Him. They follow Him because they know His voice. Sheep will not follow a stranger because they do not know his voice. We cannot be independent, relying on ourselves and doing our own thing. Seek God first, and wait on Him. He has everything we need. He is the God of our every need, not our every want, but our every need. John 10 tells how the good shepherd lays his life down for the sheep.

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. John 10:14-17

We need to become dependent on the Lord. If we try to walk in independence, then we live as if to suggest there is no Creator. It fails to uplift God as the Prime Mover or Savior of the world. It tends to put the creative act so far away as to cast doubt upon creation itself.

To depend on somebody we have to trust that person. So trust the One who gave everything, the One who gave His life for us. Depend on the One who called us out of darkness and chose us to be a part of His kingdom. Depend on the One who has never let us down, and who will never disappoint us. Depend on the One who made us everything that we are and gave us everything that we have. Our lives are not our own, so we must give ourselves to God and depend on Him for everything.

As the sheep depend on the shepherd for grazing, protection, and life itself, that is how we need to depend on God and say, "I need you, Lord!!! I really need You!!!" We have tasted His life, how can we not be tired of ours? So we must give ourselves to Him, because we will go nowhere and do nothing on our own power. God doesn't want us later, He wants us now!!! On July 4, we celebrate the nation's Independence Day, but I hear the Lord saying, "Let's celebrate our "Dependence Day!"

Explosion

RFC Youth Group

By Dan K.

Try and explain exactly what happens on a Friday night? To say we get together on Friday nights, hang out and have fun would be an understatement. What I can tell you is that we do not have church as usual on Friday nights. The Spirit of the Lord has been moving strongly among His children. There is an explosive atmosphere that takes us to new realms of worship each week, His children cannot help but exalt His Name!

Jesus asked Simon Peter, "But whom say ye that I am?" Peter answered, "Thou art the Christ,..." Jesus replied, "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 16:15-17 God has asked this very question to us personally and corporately and we are answering, "You are the Lord; You are our Father in heaven." The Lord has been blessing us because this is not being revealed by whoever is leading, but by the Spirit.

God is also revealing who we are in Him... sons and daughters in Christ. Once we know who we are, it is our part to take up our cross and follow Him as disciples. John 15:7-8 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. We are endeavoring to remain in fellowship with Him and hide the word in our hearts. We have been asking with a cry, not selfishly for me and mine, but for Jesus and His Kingdom to be revealed to those in captivity and those who are lost. We are also showing ourselves as servants and witnesses to those around us in our lifestyle as being disciples. This does not come freely but with a cost, and we are giving up everything (Luke 14:33) so that it will be to the Father's glory and not our own. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,... God wants to give us to the world since we are called as sons and He loves and wants to make Himself real to us.

Kid's Church News

By Ryan L.

As a Children's Church worker I've found much pleasure in these kids. When I see them raising their hands, crying out and bowing before God I see the harvest of everything that we've poured into them. About fifteen other teens and adults and myself are seeing the fruit from the plowing and planting that we've put into the kids, not only in Kid's Church, but in day-to-day life. I love working with them and with the dedicated and hard-working team members. There are times in Kid's Church when the presence of God is so intense that I can't help but fall on my face and cry, "Holy!" There are also times when we sing songs of rejoicing and we jump and dance, at other times we just worship Him with all our hearts.

Sometimes when I walk out of Kid's Church, I have absolutely no energy. Then I have to ask myself, "Was it worth it?" The truth is, I love working with these kids and even playing with them. I know I'm not going to be working in Children's Church all my life, but God put me there for now and so no matter how hard it is or how fun it is, I'm going to obey God. Sometimes I like to sit on the back row and listen to one of the other leaders tell a story, and by the time they're done, I'm convicted about things in my life. That goes to show that Kid's Church isn't just a place where five people entertain your kids while you're getting God. It's a place where a team of leaders bring the Word of God to a level that they can understand and receive it and be changed by it.

It's not a place where they waste time for an hour and a half, although we do play games at times because kids will be kids. But even while they play games, they're learning about God. As a leader in Kid's Church, I've seen much progress in each of these kids and give praise to God for everything He has done. God is doing something awesome in Kid's Church and I wouldn't miss it for the world. In Kid's Church we pull on them, encourage them, and spur them on to a new place with God and to give up things that hinder them from seeking God. Alone, I could not have accomplished this. Neither could any of my fellow workers. But with a team of excellent, hard-working leaders and with the help of the Most High God it is being done.

The Kid's Church team has felt God leading us to involve the parents in what is happening in Kid's Church. We will begin having a monthly column in the newsletter outlining our schedule and activities. Each monthly Kid's Church verse will be featured in the Sunday Bulletin. We hope this will help you reinforce at home what your kids are learning on Sunday mornings.

RFC Body Life

Blessings to second time Grandparents Howard and Trudy L. They welcomed a beautiful grandson on June 13, 2002, named Chance Michael. He weighed in at 6 lbs. 10 oz. and 19 inches long.

As of July 1st, the church office will be open Monday through Friday.