Worship Soundtracks from RMIRiverSong on Vimeo.

This week is Winter Camp Meeting 2011 here at the River at Tampa bay Church…and I have never been in better services in my entire life. Some people may say things like “wow, that was such a great meeting, the best I have ever been in” and they may have some true feelings behind such a statement; but, believe me when I tell you that out of the thousands of meetings and services I have been to these meeting shave been the most anointed, incredible, and powerful meetings I have EVER been in my entire life.

The testimonies of what God is doing in people’s hearts through soul winning and sitting under the anointing of God during the services bring me to tears almost every night. Last night especially sticks out to me. It was Thursday night. At the end of worship Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne began singing “Holy, Holy, Holy” and the presence of the Lord fell so strongly on the congregation as everyone lifted their voices to sing this song at least 7 times through!

What made this so powerful is that at one point the sound was the loudest and most uniform I have ever heard it in this building, it simply was the best worship ever…it sounded as if angels were leading us in worshiping the King of Kings, our Lord Jesus Christ! All I can say is that I wish all of my friends and family members could make it into these meetings, God is literally unlocking destinies, giving purpose, and showing direction to so many lives!  -Timothy T.

Worship Soundtracks from RMIRiverSong on Vimeo.

This last week has been so amazing. I got the chances to work in kid’s church and that just about blew me away. The fire of God was hitting the adults and the children it was amazing. I got the chances to do phones as well this week and it was amazing how God was touching the people on the phones. So many people were on the phones asking for the fire of God and to be baptized in the fire of God. It was amazing how people were calling in telling me how the fire of God was hitting them in there room in there house.

I had a guy that called in named Paul who was so hungry for God all he wanted to do was win souls and have the fire of God touch him. He started to pray in the Holy Ghost and the fire of God hit him. Then he started to talk about how he just wanted to win souls and go to a church that was on fire for God. Then I got to the chance to sit in services I was so ministered to. I felt the fire of God and it helped me with some things that I was asking God from. God is so amazing and he is touching so many people by this broadcast and I don’t think that we will be able to ever know how this is helping people until we get to heaven. –Charlie H.

Worship Soundtracks from RMIRiverSong on Vimeo.

Foundation Scriptures: Joshua 24:1-28

And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.  Joshua 24:15 AMP

1. The reason most people fail in their life is because they do not understand authority, they do not recognize legitimate authority and they do not make a proper response to authority.

God is Supreme authority—He created everything and is over everything. Every created thing must bow to Him.

Isaiah 45:23

Romans 14:11  

Philippians 2:10-11

God created man in His image and gave them authority over the earth.

Genesis 1:27-28 AMP

The devil is an illegitimate authority. He stole man’s authority from Adam and Eve.

Even though he took man’s authority by deception, God still could not just snatch it back from him. Jesus took it back on behalf of man. The devil never would have crucified Jesus if he had known God’s plan to take back man’s authority and to restore man once again into right-standing with God.

1 Corinthians 2:8 

God uses His authority for GOOD! God is LOVE, His primary motivation is MERCY and His desire is to BLESS!

2. If you want to succeed in every area of your life, you must submit to legitimate authority. By doing so, illegitimate authority can have no place in your life.

You must personally submit your life to the King of kings and the Lord of lords.  

James 4:7 KJV—Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Do not give the devil any place in your life.

Recognize all authorities that God has placed in the earth. Romans 13:1-10

Make a decision to walk in the love of God toward all men at all times.  That includes—and is especially applicable to—your own family.

3. Husbands and fathers—God has set you in place as the head of your home. You not only have authority, but you have responsibility.  
 

Make the decision that Joshua made: as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!

You cannot force your family into serving God—you must influence them in.

Set the example of a godly man, who honors the Lord and is submitted to Him in all things. 

According to God’s plan, you should be the most unselfish person in your house—not the most selfish—as is often the case.

You are the head of the house—not the dictator and not the wimp!

Recognize that your wife is not as tough as you are and live considerately with her so your prayers will be answered.

1 Peter 3:7

Do not be like a bull in a china shop with your children, but do not abdicate your responsibilities to raise them right either.

Don’t irritate and provoke them—raise them tenderly. Correct them and teach them. Ephesians 6:4 

Do not break their spirit. Colossians 3:21

You are the protector or your family. Protect your wife and children from anything that could harm them physically, mentally or spiritually. Protect them from corrupting influences.

You are there to bless your house and to be a blessing to them.

4. Wives and mothers—God has given you your place, under the headship of your husband, to have authority over your household.

Submit to your husband in the fear of the Lord. Submission is not just allowing someone to walk all over you against your will. Do not make your husband force submission on you by rebellion or indifference. Don’t be a bucking bronco or a whipped puppy. You must make the decision for yourself. Decide to submit to your husband—in faith—out of respect to God’s Word.

Submit without giving way to hysterical fears or letting anxieties unnerve you. 1 Peter 3:6

God has given you a pattern in Proverbs 31:10-31

Your husband should be able to confidently trust you, because you only do him good as long as there is life within you. Proverbs 31:11-12

Be secure in the Lord; prepare for the future in faith; speak kindly; take care of your family, while keeping your nose out of everyone else’s. Proverbs 31:25-27

5. Children (of all ages) respect the authority of parents that God has placed in you life. They are there for your good—not your harm. God will hold them responsible for your care and well being.

Obey your parents in the Lord.

Ephesians 6:1-3 AMP—Children obey your parents in the Lord [as His representatives], for this is just and right. 2 Honor (esteem and value as precious) your father and your mother–this is the first commandment with a promise–3 That all may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth.

Colossians 3:20 AMP—Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.

NB Every one of us will give our own account to God for our own thoughts, words and actions. Whether we are in authority or under authority, let us each one honor the Lord in our choices. In doing so, we will fulfill God’s purpose for our lives and we will leave a trail of blessing and not a trail of devastation in our wake!  

Just a few things about the community outreach/toy giveaway held here at the River at Tampa Bay on Sunday, December 13^th. We had to come in at 7:00am but we were still pretty pumped. Even though outwardly there was increased activity in anticipation of the upcoming events of the day, inwardly I felt the peace of God more strongly than I’ve felt in a very long time. It was the most peaceful I can ever remember feeling prior to launching out for the bus ministry. I felt like I was in a zone: there was nothing forced, no fretting or anything like that. It was if the Lord was saying “I’ve got this. You just flow with me.”

We expected a large amount of people and we weren’t disappointed. But one thing became apparent to me though: this wasn’t all about the toys. On our route we picked up over one hundred people for the fourth straight week (During the summer, forty people was a good Sunday). Still, adults outnumbered children four to one…even on toy giveaway Sunday.

The people come now not because of food, though we still give it; nor because of Christmas toys, but because they want to come. They tell their friends and neighbors. There is a man on 22^nd Street who has become a regular. On Sunday he met the bus and then pulled me to the side. He said he was being evicted, so he couldn’t come to church today. But he had evangelized three of his neighbors and they were getting on the bus. It was incredible. I fully expect God to meet his needs and that we will see him on the bus this coming Sunday.

There is a young disabled lady who has been coming faithfully for three months. When she first started coming, she used a walker. She has been using a cane the past two Sundays. There is also a gentleman who is disabled who has been coming faithfully for about a five weeks. This past Sunday, he left his wheelchair and came with a walker. The faith of the people is being built up.

Roderick W

He charged north out of Jerusalem with the ire of Alexander the Great sweeping across Persia and the dedicated resolve of William Tecumseh Sherman in his burning march across Georgia.

Such barbarous resolution and blind loathing for the fans of Christ drove him hard toward his distant destination : Damascus. If you used to be a fan of Jesus living anywhere near Jerusalem, you would not have wished to hear Saul’s knock at your door.

We read this : “As he was traveling, it occurred that he was approaching Damascus, and all of a sudden a light from heaven flashed around him ; and he slipped to the ground and heard a voice exclaiming to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ “( Acts 9:3–4 ). At that moment, Saul’s murderous journey was brought to a divine halt.

No heavenly calligraphy scrolled across the skies with the caution, “Watch out tomorrow, Saul, God’s going to getcha.” God stayed silent and restrained as Saul proceeded with his murderous plan to invade Damascus. At the hour it might have its best impact, God stepped in. Perhaps it’s a sad vehicle accident that claims the life of your buddy. Or it may come thru the passing of a kid. In the hour of deepest grief, your life and the lives of your folks are impacted forever. Often , life’s sudden turns come in the hideous crash of an aeroplane, causing a tragedy that wipes out half a neighborhood. Or in the halting words of your consultant as she admits, “You have cancer.” Like a rogue wave, grief crashes onto the tranquil shores of our lives and knocks us flat. Incredibly, the jolt awakens our senses, and we all of a sudden remember that God is in control, regardless of what.

Don’t rush to judgment.” In his words : “Stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it’ll be overthrown ; but if it is of Almighty God, you won’t be in a position to overthrow them ; or else you could even be found struggling with God”. The young Pharisee [Saul] shook his head in skepticism. “This man was meant to be a spokesperson for Judaism. He taught me much of what I know about Judaism and the Law.

He schooled me in a way to do exactly what I am doing. Saul, naturally, had no technique of realizing that it might be this type of calm reasoning that would hold him together when he later carried the torch for Christ.

He would remind himself that those that battle with him were truly fighting God. He could not think the Sanhedrin would heed such calm recommend and consider going soft on these infidels. If you would permit me a minute of digression here, I believe Peter stayed alive then and in the years that followed due to Gamaliel’s sensible intervention.

I believe this “unexpected ally” saved his life. Saul and the remainder of them would have stoned the entire bunch.

He made use of the words of a sensible professor to save the lives of people who would later play strategic roles in the formation of his Christian church. Keep that under consideration when you’re feeling your situation became hopeless. Irrespective of what you are facing, God is still in control, noiselessly and sovereignly working all things out according to His perfect plan. He has His Gamaliels waiting in the wings.

At the exact moment when their words will have the best impact, they may step out of the shadows and onto the stage to supply their life-saving words.