The Exodus

Part 7: ”You Shall Have no other gods”
Exodus 32
Pastor Ray-Ann Dela Fuente
May 3, 2026
 
Opening Verse:
“God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.”” 
Exodus 3:12 NLT

Introduction:
Welcome to the River of Faith! Today we are in week seven of our series in the Book of Exodus.
In this series we will look at the foreshadowings of Christ foretold in one of the greatest stories ever written in the Old Testament. "Exodus" is defined as "departure " which marks the end of the period of oppression for Israelites in the land of Egypt and their deliverance through the leadership of Moses with the mighty hand of God in full display.

Main Pointers:
“When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. “Come on,” they said, “make us some gods who can lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.” So Aaron said, “Take the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” All the people took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, “O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!” Aaron saw how excited the people were, so he built an altar in front of the calf. Then he announced, “Tomorrow will be a festival to the Lord!” The people got up early the next morning to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. After this, they celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.” Exodus 32:1-6 NLT

1. Disobedience does not happen overnight.

A. Moses went up to the Mountain of God in mount Sinai to meet with God and receive the Lord’s commandments. God had already told Moses that he would be back in that mountain to worship but the its the opposite that happened again.
B. The people have grown very impatient and being left with their own evil desires they began to go back to what they were slaves from. Having a weak leader as Aaron did not help. Aaron saw that they were excited and started pleasing the people instead of God.
C. “throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God —truly righteous and holy.” 
Ephesians 4:22-24 NLT

2. We must not bow down to any idol.

“The Lord told Moses, “Quick! Go down the mountain! Your people whom you brought from the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves. How quickly they have turned away from the way I commanded them to live! They have melted down gold and made a calf, and they have bowed down and sacrificed to it. They are saying, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.’” Then the Lord said, “I have seen how stubborn and rebellious these people are. Now leave me alone so my fierce anger can blaze against them, and I will destroy them. Then I will make you, Moses, into a great nation."
Exodus 32:7-10 NLT

A. God had already told the people not to create any idols. God is a jealous god he would not tolerate any rebellious ways and leave it unpunished.
B. “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols.” Isaiah 42:8 NLT
C. “Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth. He had two horns like those of a
lamb, but he spoke with the voice of a dragon. He exercised all the authority of the first beast. And he required all the earth and its people to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. He did astounding miracles, even making fire flash down to earth from the sky while everyone was watching. And with all the miracles he was allowed to perform on behalf of the first beast, he deceived all the people who belong to this world. He ordered the people to make a great statue of the first beast, who was fatally wounded and then came back to life. He was then permitted to give life to this statue so that it could speak. Then the statue of the beast commanded that anyone refusing to worship it must die.” Revelation 13:11-15 NLT

3. A pure heart can move the heart of God.

“But Moses tried to pacify the Lord his God. “O Lord!” he said. “Why are you so angry with your own people whom you brought from the land of Egypt with such great power and such a strong hand? Why let the Egyptians say, ‘Their God rescued them with the evil intention of slaughtering them in the mountains and wiping them from the face of the earth’? Turn away from your fierce anger. Change your mind about this terrible disaster you have threatened against your people! Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You bound yourself with an oath to them, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven. And I will give them all of this land that I have promised to your descendants, and they will possess it forever.’” So the Lord changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had threatened to bring on his people. Then Moses turned and went down the mountain. He held in his hands the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back. These tablets were God’s work; the words on them were written by God himself.” 
Exodus 32:11-16 NLT

A. It is true that there is no changing the Lord’s mind once its complete and final but that’s not what Moses did. Moses simply reasoned with the Lord and because his heart was pure and sincere for the people God changed His actions. He brought judgment to the people but kept His promise to lead them to the Land.
B. “God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?” Numbers 23:19 NLT

Conclusion:
Our journey in life is like the exodus of Israelites from Egypt. When God promises something we can trust that He will do it. But are we like the Israelites who constantly doubted God? Do smash down our idols and put God above all? Remember that God is a jealous god and we will not share His glory to any other. We must worship and bow down to God alone!

The Exodus

Part 6: "The Covenant- Making God”
Exodus 20
Pastor Ray-Ann Dela Fuente
April 26, 2026
 
Opening Verse:
“The day is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife,” says the Lord.”
Jeremiah 31:31-32 NLT

Introduction:
Welcome to the River of Faith! Today we are in week six of our series in the Book of Exodus. In this series we will look at the foreshadowings of Christ foretold in one of the greatest stories ever written in the Old Testament.
"Exodus" is defined as "departure " which marks the end of the period of oppression for Israelites in the land of Egypt and their deliverance through the leadership of Moses with the mighty hand of God in full display.

Main Pointers:
“Exactly two months after the Israelites left Egypt, they arrived in the wilderness of Sinai. After breaking camp at Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and set up camp there at the base of Mount Sinai. Then Moses climbed the mountain to appear before God. The Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “Give these instructions to the family of Jacob; announce it to the descendants of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.” So Moses returned from the mountain and called together the elders of the people and told them everything the Lord had commanded him. And all the people responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.” So Moses brought the people’s answer back to the Lord.”
Exodus 19:1-8 NLT

1. Only God of the Bible is a covenant-making god.

A. The word “testament” is another word for “covenant”. A covenant is like an agreement or a contract but with very specific difference. A contract can be breached without any moral responsibilities. A covenant once failed is considered immoral or failure of trust.
B. God alone can make covenant with His people. Some are conditional and some are unconditional. God is not only a covenant- making God He is also a covenant-Keeping God.
C. “if they do not obey my decrees and fail to keep my commands, then I will punish their sin with the rod, and their disobedience with beating. But I will never stop loving him nor fail to keep my promise to him. No, I will not break my covenant; I will not take back a single word I said. I have sworn an oath to David, and in my holiness I cannot lie:”
Psalms 89:31-35 NLT

2. The purpose of the commandments was to make them holy.

“Then God gave the people all these instructions: “I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. “You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you. “You must not murder. “You must not commit adultery. “You must not steal. “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor. “You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.” When the people heard the thunder and the loud blast of the ram’s horn, and when they saw the flashes of lightning and the smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear. And they said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak directly to us, or we will die!” “Don’t be afraid,” Moses answered them, “for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of him will keep you from sinning!” As the people stood in the distance, Moses approached the dark cloud where God was.”
Exodus 20:1-21 NLT

A. God gave the commandments to people with His own voice so that they will have a holy fear for the Lord. But as usual they did exactly the opposite of that.
B. “Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.” But sin used this command to arouse all kinds of covetous desires within me! If there were no law, sin would not have that power. At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life, and I died. So I discovered that the law’s commands, which were supposed to bring life, brought spiritual death instead. Sin took advantage of those commands and deceived me; it used the commands to kill me. But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good.”
Romans 7:7-12 NLT

3. Holiness is what matters to God.

“And the Lord said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: You saw for yourselves that I spoke to you from heaven. Remember, you must not make any idols of silver or gold to rival me. “Build for me an altar made of earth, and offer your sacrifices to me—your burnt offerings and peace offerings, your sheep and goats, and your cattle. Build my altar wherever I cause my name to be remembered, and I will come to you and bless you. If you use stones to build my altar, use only natural, uncut stones. Do not shape the stones with a tool, for that would make the altar unfit for holy use. And do not approach my altar by going up steps. If you do, someone might look up under your clothing and see your nakedness.” 
Exodus 20:22-26 NLT

A. God already had warned them about making idols made of silver and gold and still they did the exact opposite of what God told them not to do.
B. God specifically instructed them not to use any gold and silver for the altar but only raw materials uncut and organically from the earth. God wants to clearly distinguish holy things from unholy.
C. “You and your descendants must never drink wine or any other alcoholic drink before going into the Tabernacle. If you do, you will die. This is a permanent law for you, and it must be observed from generation to generation. You must distinguish between what is sacred and what is common, between what is ceremonially unclean and what is clean. And you must teach the Israelites all the decrees that the Lord has given them through Moses.” 
Leviticus 10:9-11 NLT

Conclusion:
Our journey in life is like the exodus of Israelites from Egypt. When God promises us something we can trust that He will do it. But are we like the Israelites who constantly doubted God? Do we know the difference between things that are sacred and things that are not in this world?
Be holy for the God that you serve is holy.

The Exodus

Part 5: "God of the Impossible”
Exodus 14
Pastor Ray-Ann Dela Fuente
April 19, 2026

Memory Verse:
“When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.”
Exodus 13:17-18 NLT

Introduction:
Welcome to the River of Faith! Today we are in week five of our series in the Book of Exodus. In this series we will look at the foreshadowings of Christ foretold in one of the greatest stories ever written in the Old Testament.
"Exodus" is defined as "departure " which marks the end of the period of oppression for Israelites in the land of Egypt and their deliverance through the leadership of Moses with the mighty hand of God in full display.

Main Pointers:
“Then the Lord gave these instructions to Moses: “Order the Israelites to turn back and camp by Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the sea. Camp there along the shore, across from Baal-zephon. Then Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are confused. They are trapped in the wilderness!’ And once again I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after you. I have planned this in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his whole army. After this the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord!” So the Israelites camped there as they were told. When word reached the king of Egypt that the Israelites had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds. “What have we done, letting all those Israelite slaves get away?” they asked. So Pharaoh harnessed his chariot and called up his troops. He took with him 600 of Egypt’s best chariots, along with the rest of the chariots of Egypt, each with its commander. The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, so he chased after the people of Israel, who had left with fists raised in defiance.”
Exodus 14:1-8 NLT

1. God is always ahead of us.

A. The instructions to Moses was very clear even when the people are confused God had already planned what He was going to do and it’s for the purpose that His glory will be in full display for everyone to see.
B. When you are faced with tremendous challenges and fear. You should always ask yourself where is God is all of this? The answer is He is already ahead!
C. “He said, “Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power. He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars. He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though he is surrounded by light.”
Daniel 2:20-22 NLT

2. In your panic, don’t ever question God.

“As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’” But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”
Exodus 14:10-14 NLT

A. As usual the people did what God told them not to do. They panicked and started acting as if they knew what to do and they did not need help. This is the sin of arrogance and lack of Faith.
B. “And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? Will they never believe me, even after all the miraculous signs I have done among them? I will disown them and destroy them with a plague. Then I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they are!” But Moses objected. “What will the Egyptians think when they hear about it?” he asked the Lord. “They know full well the power you displayed in rescuing your people from Egypt. Now if you destroy them, the Egyptians will send a report to the inhabitants of this land, who have already heard that you live among your people. They know, Lord, that you have appeared to your people face to face and that your pillar of cloud hovers over them. They know that you go before them in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. Now if you slaughter all these people with a single blow, the nations that have heard of your fame will say, ‘The Lord was not able to bring them into the land he swore to give them, so he killed them in the wilderness.’”
Numbers 14:11-16 NLT

3. There are times we must stop talking and do what we’re told.

“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground. And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will charge in after the Israelites. My great glory will be displayed through Pharaoh and his troops, his chariots, and his charioteers. When my glory is displayed through them, all Egypt will see my glory and know that I am the Lord!” Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to the rear of the camp. The pillar of cloud also moved from the front and stood behind them. The cloud settled between the Egyptian and Israelite camps. As darkness fell, the cloud turned to fire, lighting up the night. But the Egyptians and Israelites did not approach each other all night. Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the Lord opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side!”
Exodus 14:15-22 NLT

A. Moses may have had a moment of panic himself but as a leader chosen by God he had to learn that sometimes you have to stop talking and just do exactly what God told you to do.
B. No matter what happens the glory of God will be displayed. God did exactly what He said He would do. He was and is the God of the impossible!
C. “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength. “O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name!”
1 Chronicles 29:11-13 NLT

Conclusion:
Our journey in life is like the exodus of Israelites from Egypt. When God promises us something we can trust that He will do it. But are we like the Israelites who constantly doubted God? Do we question Him when things get intense and we don’t know what to do? He is the God of the impossible. He makes a way where there seems to be no way.

The Exodus

Part 4: "The Passover”
Exodus 12
Pastor Ray-Ann Dela Fuente
April 12, 2026
 
Memory Verse:
“When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table. Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.”
Luke 22:14-16 NLT

 Introduction:
Welcome to the River of Faith! Today we are in week four of our series in the Book of Exodus.In this series we will look at the foreshadowings of Christ foretold in one of the greatest stories ever told in the Old Testament.
"Exodus" is defined as "departure " which marks the end of the period of oppression for Israelites in the land of Egypt and their deliverance through the leadership of Moses with the mighty hand of God in full display.

Main Pointers:
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will strike Pharaoh and the land of Egypt with one more blow. After that, Pharaoh will let you leave this country. In fact, he will be so eager to get rid of you that he will force you all to leave. Tell all the Israelite men and women to ask their Egyptian neighbors for articles of silver and gold.” (Now the Lord had caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the people of Israel. And Moses was considered a very great man in the land of Egypt, respected by Pharaoh’s officials and the Egyptian people alike.) Moses had announced to Pharaoh, “This is what the Lord says: At midnight tonight I will pass through the heart of Egypt. All the firstborn sons will die in every family in Egypt, from the oldest son of Pharaoh, who sits on his throne, to the oldest son of his lowliest servant girl who grinds the flour. Even the firstborn of all the livestock will die. Then a loud wail will rise throughout the land of Egypt, a wail like no one has heard before or will ever hear again. But among the Israelites it will be so peaceful that not even a dog will bark. Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between the Egyptians and the Israelites. All the officials of Egypt will run to me and fall to the ground before me. ‘Please leave!’ they will beg. ‘Hurry! And take all your followers with you.’ Only then will I go!” Then, burning with anger, Moses left Pharaoh. Now the Lord had told Moses earlier, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, but then I will do even more mighty miracles in the land of Egypt.” Moses and Aaron performed these miracles in Pharaoh’s presence, but the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he wouldn’t let the Israelites leave the country.”
Exodus 11:1-10 NLT

1. The Passover was a foreshadow of God’s ultimate plan of saving His people.

A. Passover became the most widely celebrated Jewish holiday. It is one of the three “pilgrimage” holiday that Jews all over the world would travel back to Israel to celebrate.
B. The Passover was the tenth and final plague that God brought to Egypt. It was only on this plague that was directly applied to a specific individual which was the “first- born.”
C. “Each year you must celebrate three festivals in my honor. First, celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread. For seven days the bread you eat must be made without yeast, just as I commanded you. Celebrate this festival annually at the appointed time in early spring, in the month of Abib, for that is the anniversary of your departure from Egypt. No one may appear before me without an offering.”
Exodus 23:14-15 NLT

2. The very first Passover points us to Jesus.

“While the Israelites were still in the land of Egypt, the Lord gave the following instructions to Moses and Aaron: “From now on, this month will be the first month of the year for you. Announce to the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each family must choose a lamb or a young goat for a sacrifice, one animal for each household. If a family is too small to eat a whole animal, let them share with another family in the neighborhood. Divide the animal according to the size of each family and how much they can eat. The animal you select must be a one-year- old male, either a sheep or a goat, with no defects. “Take special care of this chosen animal until the evening of the fourteenth day of this first month. Then the whole assembly of the community of Israel must slaughter their lamb or young goat at twilight. They are to take some of the blood and smear it on the sides and top of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the animal.”
Exodus 12:1-7 NLT

A. The details on the very first Passover was undeniably pointing to something that was going to happen is the future. God was intentional with the details because it was a foreshadow of what was to come.
B. “Get rid of the old “yeast” by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us. So let us celebrate the festival, not with the old bread of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread of sincerity and truth.”
1 Corinthians 5:7-8 NLT
C. “He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.” Isaiah 53:7 NLT

3. Jesus is the Lamb of God who was sacrificed for us.

“Then Moses called all the elders of Israel together and said to them, “Go, pick out a lamb or young goat for each of your families, and slaughter the Passover animal. Drain the blood into a basin. Then take a bundle of hyssop branches and dip it into the blood. Brush the hyssop across the top and sides of the doorframes of your houses. And no one may go out through the door until morning. For the Lord will pass through the land to strike down the Egyptians. But when he sees the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe, the Lord will pass over your home. He will not permit his death angel to enter your house and strike you down. “Remember, these instructions are a permanent law that you and your descendants must observe forever. When you enter the land the Lord has promised to give you, you will continue to observe this ceremony. Then your children will ask, ‘What does this ceremony mean?’ And you will reply, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, for he passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt. And though he struck the Egyptians, he spared our families.’” When Moses had finished speaking, all the people bowed down to the ground and worshiped. So the people of Israel did just as the Lord had commanded through Moses and Aaron. And that night at midnight, the Lord struck down all the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn son of the prisoner in the dungeon. Even the firstborn of their livestock were killed. Pharaoh and all his officials and all the people of Egypt woke up during the night, and loud wailing was heard throughout the land of Egypt. There was not a single house where someone had not died.”
Exodus 12:21-30 NLT

A. The imagery in the Passover was just undeniable. An innocent lamb must be slaughtered and it’s innocent blood must be applied to the doorposts of the Israelites and the angel of death will Passover them.
B. No wonder Jesus kept saying “let those who have ears let them hear.” All the signs points to Him and still up to this day millions of Jews celebrate Passover and still miss the point.
C. ““The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”
John 1:29-31 NLT

Conclusion:
Our journey in life is like the exodus of Israelites from Egypt. When God promises us something we can trust that He will do it. But are we like the Israelites who constantly doubted God? Do we miss the sign that points every thing back to Jesus? God is the master story teller. We must pay careful attention to every detail because they are there for a reason.

Easter 2026

The Biggest Losers
1 Corinthians 15
Pastor Ray-Ann Dela Fuente
April 5, 2026

Memory Verse:
“If our hope in Christ is good only for this life, we are worse off than anyone else.”
1 Corinthians 15:19 CEV

Introduction:
Welcome to the River of Faith! Today is Easter Sunday and we are so glad that you are here with us!
When was the last time you've experienced winning? It could be as simple as a game you joined for fun, or something that felt like winning that happened to you recently. How did that make you feel? Now when was the last time you lost? It could be the same as something that felt like losing?

Main Pointers:
“And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.”
1 Corinthians 15:17-20 NLT

1. You can either be a winner or a loser in faith that you choose.

A. Yes the argument is that everyone is claiming that their religion is the right one. But if you examine closely and compare the claims of the Christian faith nothing will even come close.
B. The Bible dares us to think how important the claims of Christianity are. If Christ is not risen then we are the biggest losers on the planet period! It's win or go home. There's nothing in between or to be safe. It's either it's true or everything is a lie. Think about it? What religion in the world would dare you think that way?
C. “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.”
1 Corinthians 9:24-26 NLT

2. Only Jesus defeated the unbeatable.

“But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:51-57 NLT

A. The greatest mystery of resurrection is in its promise of eternity. Death is nothing but separation. It's a separation of body to the spirit and soul. In Christ there is a promise of transformation where the physical will be replaced by the immortal.
B. The reason for death is sin and because all of us have sinned we will all experience death but Jesus did what no other man have ever done. He defeated sin and death once and for all!
C. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23 NLT

3. In Christ we are more than winners, we are conquerors.

“I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles.”
1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 6-7 NLT

A. We can talk about evidence and first- hand witnesses but some will still question and doubt, but the result of the resurrection remains undeniable.We become conquerors in Christ.
B. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
Romans 8:35-37 ESV

Conclusion:
Easter is about Jesus winning so we don’t live in defeat anymore. It's the story that changed history forever. Jesus defeated what no man can ever defeat. Sin & Death! All of us can never defeat sin and death but we don't have to. Jesus did and God rose Him again to prove it! It's either we're the biggest losers or are we? No! Overwhelming victory is ours through Jesus Christ!

Palm Sunday 2026

"You Are Born to Worship" 
John 12
Pastor Ray-ann Dela Fuente
March 29, 2026

Opening Verse:
“Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt."
Zechariah 9:9 NLT

Introduction:
Welcome to The River of Faith Church! Today is Palm Sunday! This marks the official start of the “Holy Week” or what we also call as the “Passion Week of Christ!”.
Palm Sunday marks one week before the Resurrection or Easter. The triumphal entry is very important because it was the fulfillment of the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9 about the coming Messiah. Here we celebrate Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem where His followers gathered palm branches and spread their cloaks on the road as Jesus entered the city riding a donkey.

Main Pointers:
“After telling this story, Jesus went on toward Jerusalem, walking ahead of his disciples. As he came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples ahead. “Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying that colt?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’” So they went and found the colt, just as Jesus had said. And sure enough, as they were untying it, the owners asked them, “Why are you untying that colt?” And the disciples simply replied, “The Lord needs it.” So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on. As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen. “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”
Luke 19:28-38 NLT

1. Not all who comes to worship do it with the right purpose.

A. The triumphal entry was the fulfillment of the prophecy about a humble king who enters His kingdom riding a donkey. The garments placed upon the road and palm branches are a sign of praise being lavished on Him.
B. Unfortunately many in the crowds came with a different motive. Many welcomed Him hoping that He was their messianic deliverer who will free them from the Romans. Some came just because of the miracles they've heard.
C. “Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it. That was the reason so many went out to meet him—because they had heard about this miraculous sign."
John 12:17-18 NLT

2. Worship without true transformation is just about the experience.

“But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.”
Luke 19:41-44 NLT

A. Many of the ones who hailed Him king and shouted "Hosanna's" have quickly turned against him and shouted "Crucify Him" in just a matter of days. The very same city that hailed Him king has abandoned Him.
B. Worship without true transformation will always be inconsistent and weak.
C. "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water."
James 3:9-12 NIV

3. You are born to worship, so if it's not Jesus, it's something else.

“But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!” He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”
Luke 19:39-40 NLT

A. The pharisees tried to silence the crowd for they were furious that they were hailing Jesus as king. Jesusspoke the truth by recognizing that if people don't praise Him something else has got to do it because He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.
B. “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua 24:14-15 NIV

Conclusion:
As we get ready for “Holy Week” let’s ask ourselves, have I missed the point? Do I come for You? Am I trusting in you alone? Are you Jesus my Lord and Savior? Let’s take advantage of this time to recognize Jesus for who He is.

The Exodus
Part 2: "God's Mighty Hand”
Exodus 7
Pastor Ray-Ann Dela Fuente
March 15, 2026

Memory Verse:
“So Moses told the people of Israel what the Lord had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery.”
Exodus 6:9 NLT

Introduction:
Welcome to the River of Faith! Today we are in week two of our series in the Book of Exodus. In this series we will look at the foreshadowings of Christ foretold in one of the greatest stories in the Old Testament.
"Exodus" is defined as "departure " which marks the end of the period of oppression for Israelites in the land of Egypt and their deliverance through the leadership of Moses with the mighty hand of God!

Main Pointers:
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pay close attention to this. I will make you seem like God to Pharaoh, and your brother, Aaron, will be your prophet. Tell Aaron everything I command you, and Aaron must command Pharaoh to let the people of Israel leave his country. But I will make Pharaoh’s heart stubborn so I can multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. Even then Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you. So I will bring down my fist on Egypt. Then I will rescue my forces —my people, the Israelites—from the land of Egypt with great acts of judgment. When I raise my powerful hand and bring out the Israelites, the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron was eighty-three when they made their demands to Pharaoh.”
Exodus 7:1-5, 7 NLT

1. Even with pharaoh’s stubbornness the mighty hand of God was in full display.

A. After a lengthy conversation with God of how inadequate he was, Moses finally listened and obeyed. He went to Pharaoh and delivered the message. However, the pharaoh treated the Israelites with harsher punishment. The people become more discouraged.
B. God had already established His holiness to Moses in the burning bush and this time He was about to teach Him about His Mighty Hand.
C. “For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.” So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen.”
Romans 9:17-18 NLT

2. God’s anointing is always superior to the devil’s counterfeit.

“Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Pharaoh will demand, ‘Show me a miracle.’ When he does this, say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down in front of Pharaoh, and it will become a serpent.’” So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did what the Lord had commanded them. Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a serpent! Then Pharaoh called in his own wise men and sorcerers, and these Egyptian magicians did the same thing with their magic. They threw down their staffs, which also became serpents! But then Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. Pharaoh’s heart, however, remained hard. He still refused to listen, just as the Lord had predicted.”
Exodus 7:8-13 NLT

A. Pharaoh was a god to the Egyptians but we all know that there is no one like the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This world will try to imitate what only God can do but it will always fall short.
B. Remember God was also teaching Moses about His power. Moses needed to recognize the difference between God’s anointing and the devil’s counterfeit.
C. “Pharaoh’s magicians tried to do the same thing with their secret arts, but this time they failed. And the gnats covered everyone, people and animals alike. “This is the finger of God!” the magicians exclaimed to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh’s heart remained hard. He wouldn’t listen to them, just as the Lord had predicted.”
Exodus 8:18-19 NLT

3. When telling pharaoh failed, God had to show him instead.

“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn, and he still refuses to let the people go. So go to Pharaoh in the morning as he goes down to the river. Stand on the bank of the Nile and meet him there. Be sure to take along the staff that turned into a snake. Then announce to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to tell you, “Let my people go, so they can worship me in the wilderness.” Until now, you have refused to listen to him. So this is what the Lord says: “I will show you that I am the Lord.” Look! I will strike the water of the Nile with this staff in my hand, and the river will turn to blood. The fish in it will die, and the river will stink. The Egyptians will not be able to drink any water from the Nile.’”
Exodus 7:14-18 NLT

A. There were about twenty references of pharaoh hardening his heart. Half of it was pharaoh doing it to himself and the other half God was hardening his heart.
B. This shows that God is all-knowing. He had already predicted that this will happen. He was only exposing the stubbornness of the heart while matching it with His power and might.
C. “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”
Jeremiah 17:9-10 NLT

Conclusion:
Our journey in life is like the exodus of Israelites from Egypt. When God promises us something we can trust that He will do it. But do we recognize the hand of God in our lives? Can we tell the counterfeit from God’s real anointing? Even when we are stubborn and we refuse to believe God will do what He says He will do.

The Exodus

Part 1: Holy Ground
Exodus 3
Pastor Ray-Ann Dela Fuente
March 8, 2026
 
Memory Verse:
“God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act.”
Exodus 2:24-25 NLT

Introduction:
Welcome to the River of Faith! Today we are starting a brand new series in the Book of Exodus.In this series we will look at the foreshadowings of the coming of Christ foretold in one of the most amazing stories in the the Old Testament. Thousands of years before Jesus came.
"Exodus" is defined as the "departure ". This marks the end of the period of oppression for Israelites in the land of Egypt and their deliverance through the leadership of Moses and the mighty hand of God!

Main Pointers:
“One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.” When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied. “Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.”
Exodus 3:1-6 NLT

1. God’s holiness was displayed in the burning bush.

A. This was the first time the word “holy” appeared the Scriptures. Holiness in its plain meaning means “set-apart.” Holiness involves separation which means there is no one else like God. God is set apart from everything He created.
B. Was it the ground itself that was holy? No, it was the presence of God that made it holy and God was about to teach Moses the major difference between what was divine and what was human.
C. “God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?” Numbers 23:19 NLT

2. God in His glory also showed compassion for His people.

“Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live. Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.””
Exodus 3:7-10 NLT

A. Theophany is when God choose to manifest himself to His people in a visible form. God choose fire to reveal His glory to Moses. Fire purifies yet it did not consume shows the power of God matched with His unfailing love for His people.
B. In the burning bush God also showed His love and genuine concern for His people. This was the first time God called Israelites“My own people” and later gave a personal name to them. God is as intimate as He is mighty.
C. “I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.”
Psalms 40:1-3 NLT

3. God is eternal, He is unchangeable.

“But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.” But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?” God replied to Moses, “I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors —the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.”
Exodus 3:11-15 NLT

A. The personal name God gave Moses (YAWEH) speaks of His eternal glory and unchangeable character. As we mentioned earlier that God is holy. He was to be set apart from all the gods of Egypt that’s why He gave them a personal name.
B. By saying that He is the “Great I Am” God had established to Moses that He alone is God. He always was, always is, and forever will be.
C. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Revelation 22:13 NLT

Conclusion:
Our journey in this life is like the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. When we call God answers but when God answers we must respond with faith and complete trust in Him. Are we going to grumble and complain like the Israelites did or are we going trust Him like Moses trusted in the Lord.

Intimacy: The Language of God

Part 4: Breakfast at Galilee
John 21
Pastor Ray-Ann Dela Fuente
March 1, 2026

Memory Verse:
“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.”
John 15:9 NLT

Introduction:
Welcome to the River of Faith! Today we are in week four and in the conclusion of our series called "Intimacy: the language of God." The word "intimacy" is not explicitly used in the Bible but it is clearly expressed as a description of what our relationship with God should be like. "Intimacy" is defined as "closeness" with God.

How is God close to us? Can we know certainly that God is close? Today we will dive into one of the most intimate conversations of man with God and it happened during a breakfast in Galilee.

Main Pointers:
“Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter,Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread. “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn. “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.” John 21:1-14 NLT

1. Jesus is intimate even in times of weakness and fear.

A. This was the third time that Peter must've seen Jesus since He was resurrected. The first couple of times Jesus appeared to them but did not speak to him directly. The last time Jesus spoke to Peter was when He told him that he would deny Him three times.
B. How strong can a relationship last after a betrayal? This is the weakness of our human capacity. It is hard for us to forgive and to let go of the hurt. Jesus is different. In our weakness and in fear Jesus stays close.
C. “Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly."
Matthew 26:74-75 NLT

2. What do we mean when we say that we love God?

“After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep. “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.”
John 21:15-18 NLT

A. This must be one of the most if not, the most intimate conversation recorded in the Scriptures of God speaking to the one who betrayed Him while still serving Him breakfast.
B. Jesus did not have to reaffirm His love for Peter. He loved Peter before He met him, He loved Peter when He met him, He loved Peter even after he betrayed Him.
C. “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”
Luke 22:31-32 NLT

3. Each time Peter answered, Jesus commanded.

“After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.”
John 21:15-17 NLT

A. It is remarkable that after the three denials came the three questions of "Do you love me Peter?" What is most interesting is the use of the word love by Jesus compared to Peter's.
B. Jesus asked Peter if he loves Him unconditionally (agape) and Peter replied by saying yes he loves Jesus (phileo) brotherly or relational love. Jesus wanted to move Peter from phileo love to agape love, that's why He followed up every question with a command.
C. “If you love me, obey my commandments.”
John 14:15 NLT

Conclusion:
The intimacy of God to us was in full display when Jesus came and spent His final years with His disciples. He ate and dined with them. Traveled to different places together and even spent His last night with them. The disciples got to see for themselves the intimacy of God in their lives. No wonder after they have seen the resurrected Jesus they all suffered and died for Him.

Intimacy: The language of God

Part 3: Mold Me!
Jeremiah 18
Pastor Ray-Ann Dela Fuente
February 8, 2026

Memory Verse:
“When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into?”
Romans 9:21 NLT

Introduction:
Welcome to the River of Faith! Today we are in week two of our new series called "Intimacy: the language of God." The word "intimacy" is not explicitly used in the Bible but it is clearly expressed as a description of what our relationship with God should be like.

"Intimacy" is defined as "closeness" with God. How is God close to us? Can we know certainly that God is close to us? Today we will learn the different levels of closeness that people have with God and the ultimate goal is to have a relationship with Him as a Potter is to a lump of clay.

Main Pointers:
“The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, “Go down to the potter’s shop, and I will speak to you there.” So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel. But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over.
Jeremiah 18:1-4 NLT

1. The potter always has the full control of the clay.

A. This is one of the most profound illustrations that God used to convey a message to His chosen prophet. A picture so clearly portrayed and was filled with so much wisdom and perspective.
B. What is the relationship of the potter and the clay? The workmanship of the potter is displayed on the lump of clay and when the potter decides that the jar He was working on did not quite turn out as He hoped, He crushed it and started over again.
C. “And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand.”
Isaiah 64:8 NLT

2. The potter's hand molds the clay as He chooses to.

“Then the Lord gave me this message: “O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand. If I announce that a certain nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed, but then that nation renounces its evil ways, I will not destroy it as I had planned. And if I announce that I will plant and build up a certain nation or kingdom, but then that nation turns to evil and refuses to obey me, I will not bless it as I said I would.”
Jeremiah 18:5-10 NLT

A. This is a powerful and very vivid illustration of God's desire to have the same intimacy to Israel as of that of the potter to the clay.
B. God asked "Can I not do this to you?" Implies that it is intimacy that God seeks towards His people and not dominion over them. The illustration of a potter to a clay is an intimate relationship. The potter molds the clay in His own hands to create a masterpiece.
C. “How foolish can you be? He is the Potter, and he is certainly greater than you, the clay! Should the created thing say of the one who made it, “He didn’t make me”? Does a jar ever say, “The potter who made me is stupid”?”
Isaiah 29:16 NLT

3. The one intimate relationship with God is when He can correct and mold you.

“Therefore, Jeremiah, go and warn all Judah and Jerusalem. Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am planning disaster for you instead of good. So turn from your evil ways, each of you, and do what is right.’” But the people replied, “Don’t waste your breath. We will continue to live as we want to, stubbornly following our own evil desires.” So this is what the Lord says: “Has anyone ever heard of such a thing, even among the pagan nations? My virgin daughter Israel has done something terrible! Does the snow ever disappear from the mountaintops of Lebanon? Do the cold streams flowing from those distant mountains ever run dry? But my people are not so reliable, for they have deserted me; they burn incense to worthless idols. They have stumbled off the ancient highways and walk in muddy paths. Therefore, their land will become desolate, a monument to their stupidity. All who pass by will be astonished and will shake their heads in amazement. I will scatter my people before their enemies as the east wind scatters dust. And in all their trouble I will turn my back on them and refuse to notice their distress.”
Jeremiah 18:11-17 NLT

A. The purpose of the potter and clay illustration was to show Israel of How God can still mold them despite of their rebellion towards Him. But even that they rejected the Hand that created them.
B. The real measure of an intimate relationship with God is true obedience to HIS Word and humility in times of discipline. God asked "Can I not do this to you?" If we trust Him completely then we allow Him to mold us freely.
C. “Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.”
Genesis 2:7 NLT

Conclusion:
Who molds you to be the person you are today? All of us are a product of how our parents raised us and how we perceived our surroundings. To have the intimacy (closeness) with God we must have the submission to Him to mold us. Like potter molds the clay with his bare hands God can mold us to be the person that He called us to be. Let Him mold you and create a masterpiece in your life.

Intimacy: The language of God

Part 2: No One Knows You Like He Do!
Psalms 139
Pastor Ray-Ann Dela Fuente
February 1, 2026

Memory Verse:
“what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” Psalms 8:4 NIV

Introduction:
Welcome to the River of Faith! Today we are in week two of our new series called "Intimacy: the language of God."

The word "intimacy" is not explicitly used in the Bible but it is clearly expressed as a description of what our relationship with God should be like. "Intimacy" is defined as "closeness" with God. How is God close to us? Can we know certainly that God is close to us? The Bible tells us that God is not only close but He also knows everything about us.

Main Pointers:
“O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!”
Psalms 139:1-6 NLT

1. God knows you intimately because He is an intimate god.

A. Our thoughts are the most private and intimate part of our human makeup. No one else can know our thoughts other than when we choose to communicate it to others. Yet, David in this Psalm assured us that God alone knows everything about us.
B. God searches the heart and mind of people that's why He knows those whose hearts are turned towards Him.
C. “But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”
Jeremiah 17:10 NLT

2. God is more closer than you think.

“I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.”
Psalms 139:7-12 NLT

A. God is omnipresent, which means that He is everywhere. David here did not only reflect on the omnipresence of God but His desire to be there for us wherever we go.
B. There is no place in God's creation that He is absent. Even in the heavens above or the earth below, all of God's creation declares the greatest of His omnipresence.
C. “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:38-39 NLT

3. God is deeply involved in us.

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! O God, if only you would destroy the wicked! Get out of my life, you murderers! They blaspheme you; your enemies misuse your name. O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you? Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you? Yes, I hate them with total hatred, for your enemies are my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”
Psalms 139:13-24 NLT

A. Now David turned his meditation to God as his intimate Creator. He expressed how deeply involved and intentional God is in the formation of every single human being conceived in the womb.
B. The image of God "knitting" us in the womb tells of the care, precision, and detail that it takes to create us in the image and likeness of Himself.
C. “No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?”
Romans 9:20 NLT

Conclusion:
There may be times where you feel that God is not close to you. There maybe times that  you feel that God is far away. Those are not true! God is a lot more closer to us than we can ever think. The reason why we don't see this is because of the lack of intimacy with Him. Remember "come close to God and He will come close to you!"

Intimacy: The Language of God

Part 1: Nothing Compares to Knowing You!
Philippians 3
Pastor Ray-Ann Dela Fuente
January 25, 2026

Memory Verse:
“Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.”
James 4:8 NLT

Introduction:
Welcome to the River of Faith! Today we are starting a new series called "Intimacy: the Language of God." The word "intimacy" is not explicitly used in the Bible but it is clearly expressed through a description of what our relationship with God should be like. "Intimacy" is defined as "closeness" with God which brings us to this very important question of "are you close with God?" This is a very loaded question that can be answered in a simple way or a very complex way depending on your understanding of who God is.

Main Pointers:
“Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith. Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved. For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort, though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!”
Philippians 3:1-4 NLT

1. Religion is focused on human tradition, relationship with God is focused on intimacy.

A. The apostle Paul in the early church had to deal with people called "Judaizers." These are Jewish Christians who insist that circumcision is still necessary for salvation.
B. The problem with this teaching is that it mixes tradition with Biblical teaching that salvation is by grace alone and by faith alone. It still emphasizes the human effort is needed to earn God's forgiveness.
C. “Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross. Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?”
Galatians 3:1-3 NLT

2. There is only a right relationship with God not a right religion.

“I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault. I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ”
Philippians 3:5-8 NLT

A. If the requirements to becoming closer to God is about being religious and practicing the strictest traditions then Paul would be a champion of it. Many people today still think that by practicing "religion" even without intimacy and faith will make them closer to God. That would be their biggest failure.
B. There was a time in Paul's life that he thought having those things have value but now he considered all of it "garbage" compared to having an "intimate" relationship with Christ.
C. “The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.”
Isaiah 29:13 NIV

3. The goal of intimacy is to become one in Christ.

“and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!”
Philippians 3:9-11 NLT

A. When Paul was a practicing religious jew everything that mattered to him was based on his own works and righteousness but the moment that he became born again he relied on the righteousness of Christ through his faith in Him.
B. This is why "intimacy" with God is so important because you can have all the right things "on paper" but without the relationship or the knowledge to "know" Christ and experience His power, then everything else does not matter.
C. “Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you?”
John 14:9 NLT

Conclusion:
Closeness to God will never be attained by relying on our own actions based on our own works. Many religions today is solely based on human efforts. This is why many people do practice some type of religion but do not have the right relationship with God. Do not be deceived. You can worship with your lips while your heart is very far from God. That is not closeness with God. That is man made traditions.

Discernment: Living Wisely in the New Year!

Part 4: The Power of Discernment
1 John 4:1-6
Pastor Ray-Ann Dela Fuente
January 18, 2026

Memory Verse:
“He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit.Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.”
1 Corinthians 12:10 NLT

Introduction:
Welcome to the River of Faith! Today we are in part four of our series called "Discernment: Living Wisely in the New Year" The word "discern" comes from the Greek word "anakrino" which means to examine, to separate, or to distinguish.

What does discernment do to us as followers of Jesus? It gives us the ability to distinguish lies from the truth and the Spirit of God from the spirit of this world. Do you have the discernment coming from the Holy Spirit? How do you know that it is from the Spirit of God?

Main Pointers:
“Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many falseprophets in the world. This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.”
1 John 4:1-3 NLT

1. Deception is everywhere, we must have discernment to know which comes from the Spirit of God.

A. The early church dealt with many false prophets and just like today there are so many. How do we know which spirit is from God? The Bible is very clear how to identify deception. Do not easily believe everyone who claims they are speaking in behalf of the spirit of God.
B. It is our responsibility to test everything! The Bible warns us that there are many deceptive spirits that like to pretend. The only way to spot falsehood is to be a student of the Word of God.
C. “That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. And the people of Berea were more open- minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly toPaul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men.”
Acts of the Apostles 17:10-12 NLT

2. The most important question to ask, “is it Christ-like?”

“But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.”
1 John 4:3 NLT

A. There are so many pretenders nowadays who uses the name of Jesus for their own agenda but it is really not hard to spot them.
B. Only those who do not have the right discernment fall into believing in them. All you need to do is ask yourself “are they CHRIST-Like?” The Bible says that you will know them by their fruits. Everything is centered around the person of Jesus Christ. Anything that is self-serving, ego-centered, and self-glorifying is not from Christ.
C. “I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward. Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement. Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work.”
2 John 1:7-11 NLT

3. It’s either you have the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.

“But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them. But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us.That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.”
1 John 4:4-6 NLT

A. Look at how John addressed those who are true followers of God. They “belong” to God and victory has already been won! if you read the Gospel of John his main theme in that book is “abiding” in Christ.
B. There is a big distinction. The Spirit who lives in the heart of true followers of Christ is much greater than the spirit of deception. That means true believers of Christ are not deceived. They are victorious over the pretenders because the Spirit of God gives them discernment.
C. “Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming. This manwill come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. So God will cause them to be greatly deceived,and they will believe these lies. Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.”
2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 NLT

Conclusion:
As we take on this brand new year and start this another amazing journey that God has in front of us, we must have the wisdom to know that it is not going to be an easy ride. There are going to be bumps and even strong weather along the journey. There will be distractions and obstacles but all of that is part of the journey itself. With wisdom and discernment we can be prepared and ready to take on any challenge that the road ahead might throw at us.

Always remember that greater is the Spirit of truth that lives in us than the spirit of lies that is in the world. Victory belongs to us in Christ Jesus!

“For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.”
James 3:15-17 NLT

Discernment: Living Wisely in the New Year!

Part 3: Rebuking Negative Mindsets
Judges 6
Pastor Ray-Ann Dela Fuente
January 11, 2026

Memory Verse:
“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”
Philippians 3:13-14 NLT

Introduction:
Welcome to the River of Faith! Today we are in part three of our series called "Discernment."
The word "discern" comes from the Greek word "anakrino" which means to examine, to separate, or to distinguish.

To live wisely is to think wisely and to have the godly wisdom that God gives us we must get rid of all the negative mindsets that control our mind. One of the most dangerous mindsets is the victim mentality. This hinders us from seeing what God is doing and impends our growth in Christ. We must rebuke this mindset if we want to live wisely in the new year.

Main Pointers:
“The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight. So the Lord handed them over to the Midianites for seven years. The Midianites were so cruel that the Israelites made hiding places for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds. Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, marauders from Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east would attack Israel, camping in the land and destroying crops as far away as Gaza. They left the Israelites with nothing to eat, taking all the sheep, goats, cattle, and donkeys. These enemy hordes, coming with their livestock and tents, were as thick as locusts; they arrived on droves of camels too numerous to count. And they stayed until the land was stripped bare. So Israel was reduced to starvation by the Midianites. Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help.”
Judges 6:1-6 NLT

1. We must be careful how we let the challenges in life define us.

A. Defeat is one of the hardest obstacles to overcome in life. It is no doubt that at this time Israel was so defeated that all they could do is to call on God for help.
B. How do problems and challenges in life define you? Does the problem change your attitude or your attitude change the problem? Victim mentality does not happen overnight. It's the constant lying of the devil trying to convince you that you're a victim!
C. “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us."
Romans 8:35-37 NLT

2. Rebuke the victim mentality before it consumes your life.

“Then the angel of the Lord came and sat beneath the great tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!” “Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The Lord brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.” Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!” “But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!” The Lord said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.”
Judges 6:11-16 NLT

A. The Israelites called and once again the Lord answered. Through Gideon the Lord answered them but they were not ready for it. Gideon was so consumed by victim mentality that he could not even hear what God was telling Him.
B. A victim-minded person always finds an excuse not to obey God and justifies it by blaming others for their actions. The problem with victim mentality is we confused our identity based on other people's perception.
C. “Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.
Romans 12:3 NLT

3. Only by the Spirit of God can we ever overcome the spirit of victim mentality.

“Soon afterward the armies of Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east formed an alliance against Israel and crossed the Jordan, camping in the valley of Jezreel. Then the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon with power. He blew a ram’s horn as a call to arms, and the men of the clan of Abiezer came to him. He also sent messengers throughout Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, summoning their warriors, and all of them responded. Then Gideon said to God, “If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, prove it to me in this way. I will put a wool fleece on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised.” And that is just what happened. When Gideon got up early he next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out a whole bowlful of water.”
Judges 6:33-38 NLT

A. It was the Spirit of the Lord that clothed Gideon with power that he even influenced other men and the rest of Israel to rise up and be courageous.
B. “But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:57 NLT

Conclusion:
As we begin the year of 2026 we must be aware of the negative things that we allow our minds to control. We must identify all the negative thoughts and feelings that we subject ourselves to. Rebuke it in the name of Jesus and remind yourself that you are more than
conquerors in Christ. Our identity is not tied in to what happened in the past and what other people did to us. Our Identity is in Christ and in Christ there are no victims but only Victors!!!

Discernment: Living Wisely in the New Year!

Part 2: The Rule of Wisdom
James 1
Pastor Ray-Ann Dela Fuente
January 4, 2026

Memory Verse:
“but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil.”
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 NLT

Introduction:
Welcome to the River of Faith! Today is the first Sunday of 2026. Let's give all the glory to God for allowing us to start the year with much blessing and overflowing grace!

How important is it that we ask God for wisdom this year? What are the most important decisions that you will make this year. The Bible tells us that there is only one person that we should ask when it comes to wisdom and that is God. But first, there is a rule when we ask Him. Today we will learn about the rule of wisdom.

Main Pointers:
“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, or a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.”
James 1:5-6 NLT

1. There is so much supply of wisdom from the Lord.

A. The word to avoid here is "wavering." How often do you waver when it comes to something that you really want to do? You ask earnestly for something just to change your mind because of what?
B. Many christians today lack wisdom and guidance not because there's not much to go around, but because they are like a wave in the sea who doesn't have a firm solid conviction.
C. “There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong."
Hebrews 5:11-14 NLT

2. A fickle-mind gets nothing from the Lord.

“Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.”
James 1:7-8 NLT

A. What James had clearly established was God is the source of all wisdom and He gives it generously to those who seek Him.
B. But the number one reason why people do not get the wisdom from God is their lack of faith and a fickle mind.
C. “When Moses reported the Lord’s words to all the Israelites, the people were filled with grief. Then they got up early the next morning and went to the top of the range of hills. “Let’s go,” they said. “We realize that we have sinned, but now we are ready to enter the land the Lord has promised us.” But Moses said, “Why are you now disobeying the Lord’s orders to return to the wilderness? It won’t work. Do not go up into the land now. You will only be crushed by your enemies because the Lord is not with you. When you face the Amalekites and Canaanites in battle, you will be slaughtered. The Lord will abandon you because you have abandoned the Lord.” But the people defiantly pushed ahead toward the hill country, even though neither Moses nor the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant left the camp. Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in those hills came down and attacked them and chased them back as far as Hormah.”
Numbers 14:39-45 NLT

3. To live wisely is to live for God with consistency.

“So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.”
James 1:16-18 NLT

A. God does not change. He is a rewarder of those who truly seek Him and those who trust in Him alone. Here is how you live wisely in 2026. Be consistent! Don't change your mind. Don't make excuses. Stick to what you said you will do and trust that God will be there every step of the way.
B. “God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?” Numbers 23:19 NLT

Conclusion:
As we begin the year of 2026 let us declare that this will be a year of breakthrough's in our lives. But before we speak about breakthrough we must first learn how to be consistent with our faith. A faith that does not waver. A faith that is not tossed here and there. A faith that is anchored on a solid foundation. It is not easily shaken it is not easily broken. A faith that is consistent just as God who we serve is consistent.

Discernment: Living Wisely in the New Year!

Part 1: Ending the Year with Discernment
1 Corinthians 2
Pastor Ray-Ann Dela Fuente
December 28, 2025

Memory Verse:
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12 NKJV

Introduction:
Welcome to the River of Faith! Today is the last Sunday of 2025. Let's give all the glory to God for allowing us to finish the year with much blessings and overflowing grace!

Some say that it is not about how you start but how you finish. Some may also say that if you start the wrong way that you will also not finish the right way. How are we going to end this year? How are we going to start the brand new one? Today I'd like to start a new series I entitled "Discernment: Living Wisely in the New Year!"

Main Pointers:
“When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”
1 Corinthians 2:1-9 NLT

1. Trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

A. The word "discern" comes from the Greek word "anakrino" which means to examine, to separate, or to distinguish. Discernment is the work of the Holy Spirit that gives us the ability to make proper determinations.
B. Discernment is directly related to the wisdom from the Word of God. As the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth that the wisdom he brings is nothing like the wisdom of the world. (Stephen Hawking)
C. “Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.”
1 Corinthians 1:27 NLT

2. A discerning mind can distinguish right from wrong beyond what is seen or heard.

“But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.”
1 Corinthians 2:10-14 NLT

A. According to Paul a person who does not have the Spirit of God has no interest whatsoever in the things of God. It is foolishness to them. But it is the Holy Spirit that gives a spiritual person the right discernment.
B. “Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ.”
1 Corinthians 3:1 NLT

3. Christians can make wise decisions if they have proper discernment.

"Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.”
1 Corinthians 2:15-16 NLT

A. As Christians we are called to make wise decisions in life and moral judgements. This is the evidence that the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives. He is the one that is giving us proper discernment.
B. “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,"
Philippians 1:9-10 NKJV

Conclusion:
We are ending the year in just a few days. What mistakes did we make this year that we can honestly say I will not make again next year. What bad decisions did we make this year that we can honestly say I will not make anymore next year. We cannot keep making the same mistakes and find an excuse for them. We need wisdom from God. We need the right discernment from the Holy Spirit. Let's end the this year with discernment. Let's start the brand new one with discernment. Happy New Year River of Faith!

River of Faith CHRISTmas Sunday Service

Worthy
Luke 2:8-20
Pastor Ray-Ann Dela Fuente
December 21, 2025

Memory Verse:
“Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.”
Psalms 145:3 NLT

Introduction:
Welcome to the River of Faith! Today is our CHRISTmas Sunday Service and we are celebrating the birth of the Messiah and the Savior Of the world! All glory to God!

What does being worthy mean? The word "worthy" brings an idea of being able to "live up" to a certain standard. In many times and occasions we may feel that we ourselves are "worthy" of a certain degree of honor or recognition. Who alone can "live up" to the standard of God? God's standard is not like ours, His standard is holiness, complete obedience, and surrender.

Main Pointers:
“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior yes, the Messiah, the Lord— has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them."
Luke 2:8-20 NLT

1. All glory of heaven rejoices as God gave His greatest gift on earth.

A. The glory of the heavenly hosts rejoices as the angel delivers the "good news" to shepherds. Humanity's greatest gift was not wrapped in fine linen and cloth. It was not delivered by chariots not announced by trumpets. Jesus was laid in a manger wrapped in strips of linen surrounded by animals.
B. “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”
Philippians 2:6-8 NLT

2. Jesus is the heaven's standard of worthiness.

“Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it. Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe ofJudah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Revelation 5:1-5 NLT

A. Fast forward to when Jesus ascended into the heavens and seated at the right hand of the Father. As the entire heavens look for the one who is "worthy" to open up the seals on the scrolls they could not find anyone "worthy" except for One, the Lamb who has been slain.
B. “And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered—to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.” And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb.”
Revelation 5:12-14 NLT

3. Jesus Christ alone is worthy of all our praise and all of our worship.

“After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
Matthew 2:9-11 NLT

A. The wise men intentionally sought out the new born king of the jews under the guidance and direction of God and when they found him they did what they came to do. They bowed down to worship Him and give him offerings as sign of their worship of Him.
B. “Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:9-11 NLT

Conclusion:
Every year we get to celebrate the most wonderful day of the year. Rightly so, because this day is worthy to be celebrated and remembered not because of the day itself, but because of the person to whom this day is dedicated to. CHRISTmas reminds us of who alone is truly worthy. Worthy of all our praise and worship. To be Him be the glory, honor, and praise now and forever Amen!

River of Faith Topical Sunday

God With Us - Matthew 1:18-25
Pastor Ray-Ann Dela Fuente
December 14, 2025

Memory Verse:
“And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away.”
1 Samuel 16:23 NLT

Introduction:
Welcome to the River of Faith! Today we are just 11 days away from CHRISTmas and we can definitely feel the Christmas spirit in the air. All glory to God!

Where is God? Must be one of the most hard questions to answer. Depending on a person's beliefs or circumstances, you might have different opinions about this question. But where really is God? Can God be really with us? Let's see what the Bible says about God is with us.

Main Pointers:
“This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.”
Matthew 1:18-25 NLT

1. God's presence assures us that we will never be separated from Him.

A. One of the titles of Jesus was "Immanuel" which means "God is with us." When Jesus came into this world He fulfilled this in every literal sense. He showed us what Father is like and because of this we have the assurance that nothing can separate us from Him.
B. “Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you?” 
John 14:9 NLT
C. “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39 NLT

2. God's presence empowers us to accomplish God's will.

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10 NLT

A. All throughout the Scriptures we can find that many victories were attained by Gods people because God's presence empowers them. The opposite happens when God's presence left them.
B. “Then she cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!” When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him.”
Judges 16:20 NLT

3. God's presence overcomes the fears and worries in life.

“What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.” Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!” But he was also afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! It is none other than the house of God, the very gateway to heaven!” The next morning Jacob got up very early. He took the stone he had rested his head against, and he set it upright as a memorial pillar. Then he poured olive oil over it. He named that place Bethel (which means “house of God”), although it was previously called Luz.”
Genesis 28:15-19 NLT

A. When we realize the awesomeness in the presence of the Lord all our fears and worries melts away. There's something in the presence of God that overcomes our anxieties and even the dissatisfaction in life.
B. “Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.””
Hebrews 13:5 NLT

Conclusion:
Maybe we've had circumstances in life that made us doubt the presence of God. I hope that this message inspired us to seek the very presence of God in our lives. The Bible says that if we seek Him we will find Him and it is not hard to seek Him because God is with us. He can be in us when we accept Jesus as the Lord and Savior of our lives.

The Offering: Holy. Pleasing. Acceptable to God!

Part 4: The Power of a Cheerful Heart
Pastor Ray-Ann Dela Fuente
November 30, 2025

Memory Verse:
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”
Proverbs 17:22 NLT

Introduction:
Welcome to the River of Faith! Happy Thanksgiving Church! Today we are in week four and the conclusion of our series I entitled "The Offering: Holy. Pleasing. Acceptable to God!" In this series we are going to study the importance of making the right offering to the Lord. Holy, pleasing, and acceptable to Him.

A lot has been said about what is the right way of giving to the Lord. Is it by tithing or giving 10% of all of your income? Or is it really just based on what you set in your heart to give? Whatever or however you choose to give what is important is your attitude behind your giving.

Main Pointers:
“I really don’t need to write to you about this ministry of giving for the believers in Jerusalem. For I know how eager you are to help, and I have been boasting to the churches in Macedonia that you in Greece were ready to send an offering a year ago. In fact, it was your enthusiasm that stirred up many of the Macedonian believers to begin giving. But I am sending these brothers to be sure you really are ready, as I have been telling them, and that your money is all collected. I don’t want to be wrong in my boasting about you. We would be embarrassed—not to mention your own embarrassment—if some Macedonian believers came with me and found that you weren’t ready after all I had told them! So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly.”
2 Corinthians 9:1-5 NLT

1. A good offering is given not grudgingly but of a willing heart.

A. The apostle Paul commended the church in Corinth because of they're quick response when it comes to giving. Through them the apostle Paul gave us the lesson on proper way of giving to the Lord.
B. If you notice, Paul never brought up the topic on the amount of giving, but he concentrated on the attitude behind the giving.
C. “Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”
Mark 12:43-44 NLT

2. Decide in your heart and then give it cheerfully.

“Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
2 Corinthians 9:6-9 NLT

A. According to the apostle Paul, giving is like planting seeds.The more seeds you plant, the more harvest will be waiting for you. This is the key to make giving a cheerful act.
B. When giving is done cheerfully the result is needs are always met and there's even leftover to share with others.
C. “Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality.”  
2 Corinthians 8:12-13 NLT

3. Generosity is a godly character.

“For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. So two good things will result from this ministry of giving— the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God. As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!”
2 Corinthians 9:10-15 NLT

A. Great things are accomplished when we become cheerful givers. First needs are always met and secondly God is glorified! Let's challenge ourselves not only to excel in faith and other areas of ministry But also in the ministry of giving.
B. “Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.”
2 Corinthians 8:7 NLT

Conclusion:
Holy, pleasing, and acceptable this is the goal of our offering to theLord. May we give Him our best always. May we seek to offer to Him what is holy. May we please Him with our faith. May we offer an acceptable sacrifice our living bodies as an act of worship to Him.

The Offering: Holy. Pleasing. Acceptable to God!

Part 3: Pure Offering
Book of Malachi
Pastor Ray-Ann Dela Fuente
November 23, 2025

Memory Verse:
“The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.”
Psalms 51:17 NLT

Introduction:
Welcome to the River of Faith! Happy Thanksgiving Church! Today we are in week three of our new series I entitled "The Offering: Holy. Pleasing. Acceptable to God!" In this series we are going to study the importance of making the right offering to the Lord. Holy, pleasing, and acceptable to Him.

Malachi marks the end of the Old Testament book of prophets. A four hundred year of silence to follow until God raised another prophet by the name of John the baptist who carried the same message of repentance and coming back to the Lord.

Main Pointers:
“The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to the priests: “A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name! “But you ask, ‘How have we ever shown contempt for your name?’ “You have shown contempt by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar. “Then you ask, ‘How have we defiled the sacrifices?’ “You defile them by saying the altar of the Lord deserves no respect. When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn’t that wrong? And isn’t it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Go ahead, beg God to be merciful to you! But when you bring that kind of offering, why should he show you any favor at all?” asks the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “How I wish one of you would shut the Temple doors so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “and I will not accept your offerings. But my name is honored by people of other nations from morning till night. All around the world they offer sweet incense and pure offerings in honor of my name. For my name is great among the nations,”says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. "But you dishonor my name with your actions. By bringing contemptible food, you are saying it’s all right to defile the Lord’s table. You say, ‘It’s too hard to serve the Lord,’ and you turn up your noses at my commands,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Think of it! Animals that are stolen and crippled and sick are being presented as offerings! Should I accept from you such offerings as these?” asks the Lord. “Cursed is the cheat who promises to give a fine ram from his flock but then sacrifices a defective one to the Lord. For I am a great king,”says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “and my name is feared among the nations!”
Malachi 1:6-14 NLT

1. If sacrifices is neglected it begs the question, what else are we neglecting with the Lord?

A. A 70 year captivity in Babylon before they were allowed to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild it's walls and build the temple again to resume the sacrifices and offerings to the Lord.
B. Malachi calls out the people who came back for neglecting the sacrifices and offerings. Especially to the levites who should know better and have forgotten the covenant that God made with them as priests and caretakers of the temple.
C. “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.”
1 Peter 2:9 NLT

2. The right offering is rooted in obedience by faith always.

“Here is another thing you do. You cover the Lord’s altar with tears, weeping and groaning because he pays no attention to your offerings and doesn’t accept them with pleasure. You cry out, “Why doesn’t the Lord accept my worship?” I’ll tell you why! Because the Lord witnessed the vows you and your wife made when you were young. But you have been unfaithful to her, though she remained your faithful partner, the wife of your marriage vows. Didn’t the Lord make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth. “For I hate divorce!” says the Lord, the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.” You have wearied the Lord with your words. “How have we wearied him?” you ask. You have wearied him by saying that all who do evil are good in the Lord’s sight, and he is pleased with them. You have wearied him by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”
Malachi 2:13-17 NLT

A. Why did God call out the Israelites on their disobedience especially with their marriage? Because it matters a lot to God! God commanded them not to intermarry. God commanded them to honor their marriages. They deliberately disobeyed the Lord.
B. The perfect question was asked "why doesn't the Lord accept my worship?" Because our worship must always be rooted in obedience to Christ and faith in God. You can't raise a hand without a heart that is obedient to the Lord.

3. Have I ever cheat God?

“I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed. Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?’ “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”
Malachi 3:6-12 NLT

A. The faithfulness of God is tied with His promises to us. The Lord do not change like we do. What are we really celebrating in our lives? How do we really define success? Can it be counted by our money? By our material things? Or is it really serving the Lord above everything else in our lives that we can honestly say that we are "blessed" by the Lord our God!

Conclusion:
We live in a world today where it's so easy to use the term "blessed", but blessings are not just experienced through the "good" things that we have in life, but by how deep our relationship with God really is. True blessing and success is having a rich relationship with God. Giving Him our best offering. Holy. Pleasing. And acceptable to Him.

The Offering: Holy. Pleasing. Acceptable to God!

Part 2: Why are you Mad?
Genesis 4
Pastor Ray-Ann Dela Fuente
November 9, 2025

Memory Verse:
“Offer sacrifices in the right spirit, and trust the Lord.”
Psalms 4:5 NLT

Introduction:
Welcome to the River of Faith! Today we are in week two of a brand new series I entitled "The Offering: Holy. Pleasing. Acceptable to God!" In this series we are going to study the importance of making the right offering to the Lord and What God tells us to do when we make an offering to Him.

Genesis is the book of beginnings. In chapter four it tells us about the very first act of worship recorded in the Bible and the first murder ever in the history of all humanity. How did an act of worship lead to murder as one offering was rejected and one was accepted? Let's look at the Scriptures and learn what it means to offer a sacrifice to God which is acceptable to Him.

Main Pointers:
“Now Adam had sexual relations with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. When she gave birth to Cain, she said, “With the Lord’s help, I have produced a man!” Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground. When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected. “Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.””
Genesis 4:1-7 NLT

1. Cain's offering might be acceptable in his own eyes but not with the Lord.

A. There must have been an instruction from the Lord that was given to both Cain and Abel on the necessity of making an offering. It may have been that both offering was accepted by God except the motivation behind it.
B. Sometimes we think that what we offer to God is acceptable in our own eyes but we must really seek our hearts first to make sure that what we offer is pure and led by faith.
C. “It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.”
Hebrews 11:4 NLT

2. Cain's heart was corrupted from the start.

“One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him. Afterward the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?” “I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s guardian?” But the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground! Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother’s blood. No longer will the ground yield good crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.”
Genesis 4:8-12 NLT

A. This story tells us that the foundation of offering our worship and sacrifice to the Lord has not changed from the beginning. God looks into our hearts!
B. Cain's motivation was exposed when he took out his anger towards his own brother and killed him. When asked by God he lied and tried to cover up his own sin. This was the real reason his offering was not accepted in the first place. His heart was never right with the Lord.
C. “We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous.”
1 John 3:12 NLT

3. Abel offered a sacrifice that was holy, pleasing and acceptable to God.

“Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift,”
Genesis 4:4 NLT

A. Abel had the right motivation from the start. He wanted to please God, not compete with his brother. He did accordingly to what the Lord prescribed because of obedience not obligation. He had faith in God because he also had a genuine relationship with Him.
B. “And the Lord sent you on a mission and told you, ‘Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, until they are all dead.’ Why haven’t you obeyed the Lord? Why did you rush for the plunder and do what was evil in the Lord’s sight?” “But I did obey the Lord,” Saul insisted. “I carried out the mission he gave me. I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else. Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.”
1 Samuel 15:18-21 NLT

Conclusion:
We live in a world today where everything is competition. Everything that we do is broadcasted for the entire whole world to see. How can our worship be pure? How can our sacrifice be pleasing and acceptable to the Lord? Do it by faith. Do it out of obedience. Do  it with the willing heart of sacrifice!

The Offering: Holy. Pleasing. Acceptable to God!

Which That Cost Me Nothing
2 Chronicles 7
Pastor Ray-Ann Dela Fuente
November 2, 2025

Memory Verse:
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
Romans 12:1 NIV

Introduction:
Welcome to the River of Faith! Today we are starting a brand new series I entitled "The Offering: Holy. Pleasing. Acceptable to God!" In this series we are going to study about the importance of making the right offering to God. What it truly means and what does God tell us to do when we make an offering to Him.

There are over four hundred references of the word "altar" in the Bible. It is used as early as the Book of Genesis up to the New Testament. An altar is a place of consecration and a place of offering. Often times it represents a place where a genuine encounter with God had taken place. In the altar we are commanded to offer to God which that is Holy, pleasing and acceptable to Him and Him alone.

Main Pointers:
“But after he had taken the census, David’s conscience began to bother him. And he said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt, Lord, for doing this foolish thing.” The next morning the word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, who was David’s seer. This was the message: “Go and say to David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I will give you three choices. Choose one of these punishments, and I will inflict it on you.’” So Gad came to David and asked him, “Will you choose three years of famine throughout your land, three months of fleeing from your enemies, or three days of severe plague throughout your land? Think this over and decide what answer I should give the Lord who sent me.” “I’m in a desperate situation!” David replied to Gad. “But let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands.” So the Lord sent a plague upon Israel that morning, and it lasted for three days. A total of 70,000 people died throughout the nation, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south. But as the angel was preparing to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord relented and said to the death angel, “Stop! That is enough!” At that moment the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. When David saw the angel, he said to the Lord, “I am the one who has sinned and done wrong! But these people are as innocent as sheep— what have they done? Let your anger fall against me and my family.”
2 Samuel 24:10-17 NLT

1. God hates the pride that overcomes the heart.

A. David was well advanced in his years. He had seen some mighty things in his lifetime. He had experienced some of the greatest victories Israel had ever seen. This brought him to a place of tremendous pride instead of humility.
B. We all have pride in our lives. We must be careful that this pride does not overcome us to a point that it becomes very detestable to God! God hates human pride!
C. “And if, in spite of all this, you still disobey me, I will punish you seven times over for your sins. I will break your proud spirit by making the skies as unyielding as iron and the earth as hard as bronze.”
Leviticus 26:18-19 NLT

2. It's in the altar where God teaches us real humility.

“That day Gad came to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” So David went up to do what the Lord had commanded him. When Araunah saw the king and his men coming toward him, he came and bowed before the king with his face to the ground. “Why have you come, my Lord the king?” Araunah asked. David replied, “I have come to buy your threshing floor and to build an altar to the Lord there, so that he will stop the plague.” “Take it, my Lord the king, and use it as you wish,” Araunah said to David. “Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and you can use the threshing boards and ox yokes for wood to build a fire on the altar. I will give it all to you, Your Majesty, and may the Lord your God accept your sacrifice.”
2 Samuel 24:18-23 NLT

A. As soon as David admitted his sin before the Lord the plague has stopped. Now it's time to teach him again how to humble himself before the Lord. The prophet Gad had instructed him to create an altar exactly where God had called the angel to bring upon His judgment.
B. Why did God instruct David to build an altar? Are we altar builders for God? What is the difference of the world's mentality compare to what God really want us to do?
C. “Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”
Luke 12:16-19 NLT

3. Real offering is rooted in obedience and sacrifice.

“But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burnt offerings to the Lord my God that have cost me nothing.” So David paid him fifty pieces of silver for the threshing floor and the oxen. David built an altar there to the Lord and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. And the Lord answered his prayer for the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.”
2 Samuel 24:24-25 NLT

A. Many of our offering today is rooted on convenience not sacrifice. They are driven by compliance but not real obedience to God.
B. “And the Lord sent you on a mission and told you, ‘Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, until they are all dead.’ Why haven’t you obeyed the Lord? Why did you rush for the plunder and do what was evil in the Lord’s sight?” “But I did obey the Lord,” Saul insisted. “I carried out the mission he gave me. I brought back King Agag, but  destroyed everyone else. Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.”
1 Samuel 15:18-21 NLT

Conclusion:
We now enter the season of gratitude and giving thanks to our God. Almost synonymous to giving back to God with our offerings. Are driven by real obedience to God? Do we know how to offer to Him a sacrifice that is holy? Pleasing? Acceptable to Him? Let's start by creating an altar in our hearts where we put down any pride and any hindrances. Let's offer at the altar of our hearts real offerings of thanksgiving, praise, and our bodies as living sacrifice.

River of Faith Topical Sunday

Father Heal Our Land
2 Chronicles 7
Pastor Ray-Ann Dela Fuente
October 26, 2025

Memory Verse:
“O Lord, why do you reject me? Why do you turn your face from me?” 
Psalms 88:14 NLT

Introduction:
Welcome to the River of Faith! Today marks the end of our 21 Day Fast and a celebration of God's faithfulness for another year of Spirit-filled prayer and fasting.

One of the most uttered prayers of many people today is the prayer of healing and restoration. This prayer does not only speak of the physicality but most importantly spirituality. Have you ever prayed for God to heal you and restore you? Have you ever prayed that He does something supernatural? The question sometimes is does God still heal? Does He restore today as He did miraculously many times in the pages of the Scriptures? Let's learn today what it means when we utter the words "Father Heal our Land!"

Main Pointers:
“So Solomon finished the Temple of the Lord, as well as the royal palace. He completed everything he had planned to do in the construction of the Temple and the palace. Then one night the Lord appeared to Solomon and said, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices. At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place.” 
2 Chronicles 7:11-15 NLT

1. God always identifies His people.

A. As we begin to unpack this very powerful verse it is important to establish who God was addressing in this verse. God specifically mentioned "people who are called by My name."
B. This entails people whom God had a covenantal relationship with. In the Old Testament we know these people are Israel and in the New Testament these people are the ones who were the recipients of God's covenant of grace or the people who have put their faith in Jesus Christ.
C. “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’ ” 
Matthew 15:7-9 NLT

2. God made it clear that there is a condition to His promise.

“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place.” 
2 Chronicles 7:14-15 NLT

A. There are three very important components to a genuine revival and restoration of the land. Many today just choose to ignore it. First is the act of humility and total surrender to God.This means accepting God's complete authority in your life.
B. “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” 
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
C. Second is the act of prayer and seeking God. This can only happen if the first one is established correctly in your life.
D. Third is the the evidence of the first two. If God's Word is the complete authority and that you seek Him earnestly the result is genuine revival which is turning away from sin.

3. When obedience is met by faith we will experience the promise-keeping God.

“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy—a place where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart.”
2 Chronicles 7:14-16 NLT

A. Many people today even those that think that they know God deliberately ignore God's instructions to us. People today just naturally assume that they will hear from heaven just because they recited a prayer but it's much more than that.
B. To move the heart of God there must be genuine obedience and repentance. Many people today settle with a "spiritualized" and "emotion-led" experience with God as opposed to a genuine move of God where He promised to hear from heaven, forgive our sins, and bring healing and restoration to our land.
C. “In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”
Jeremiah 29:12-14 NLT

Conclusion:
God has to be the full authority of our lives. His Word is our lamp unto our feet the light that guides our every step. To heal and restore we must first submit and obey. To obey is to turn away from our wicked ways to seek God with all our hearts. To experience a genuine move of God we must do what His Word tells us. Submit, obey, trust in the Lord and turn away from sin! Repeat it every day!

Jesus Walks

Pastor Ray-ann Dela Fuente
October 12, 2025
Part 4: "The Obedience of Christ"
Hebrews 4:14-16

Opening Verse:
“He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.”
John 1:10-11 NLT

Introduction:
Welcome to an amazing Sunday here at River of Faith! We are concluding our series I entitled Jesus Walks! In this series we looked at the examples of Jesus on how to love when it's difficult, how to forgive when we are hurting, and how to care for people who disagree with us or even call us their enemies. To have the mind of Christ is to have the attitude of Christ and to have the attitude of Christ we must learn to love like Christ, and when we learned to love like Him we will have the same compassion as He had. Jesus came so He can "exegete" reveal the Father to us. He is in every way God in flesh and He showed us His love for all humanity.

Main Pointers:
“So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
Hebrews 4:14-16 NLT

1. Jesus is our advocate in heaven.

A. A "priest" is a mediator between God and His people. Jesus is our eternal "High Priest" in heaven who represents Humanity. Remember He was resurrected in a bodily form so we have now a human representation in heaven seated at the right hand of the Father!
B. “For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity— the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.”
1 Timothy 2:5-6 NLT

2. Jesus is the ultimate example of obedience.

“Every high priest is a man chosen to represent other people in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God and offers sacrifices for their sins. And he is able to deal gently with ignorant and wayward people because he himself is subject to the same weaknesses. That is why he must offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as theirs. And no one can become a high priest simply because he wants such an honor. He must be called by God for this work, just as Aaron was. That is why Christ did not honor himself by assuming he could become High Priest. No, he was chosen by God, who said to him, “You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.” And in another passage God said to him, “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. And God designated him to be a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.”
Hebrews 5:1-10 NLT

A. Jesus is for us and not against us! He offered prayers and pleadings, and tears to God the Father on our behalf. In His humanity he learned complete obedience to the Father through the things that he suffered.
B. “He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
Matthew 26:39 NLT
C. “For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.”
John 6:38 NLT

3. Jesus is the perfect mediator between God and man.

“There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office. But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven. Unlike those other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices every day. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people’s sins. The law appointed high priests who were limited by human weakness. But after the law was given, God appointed his Son with an oath, and his Son has been made  he perfect High Priest forever.”
Hebrews 7:23-28 NLT

A. Jesus is our High Priest forever. He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins once and for all!
B. “Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.”
Hebrews 9:13-15 NLT

Conclusion:
We live in a very broken world today with so much division and dissension. People are looking for the answer. People are confused and helpless. They don't know where to turn to or who to listen anymore. Jesus is the answer! He was, is, and always will be! Turn to Jesus and follow His example! He is the answer to all our problems today!!!

Jesus Walks

Pastor Ray-ann Dela Fuente
October 5, 2025
Part 3: "The Compassion of Christ"
Matthew 9

Opening Verse:
“Then he said, “Cut the living child in two, and give half to one woman and half to the other!” Then the woman who was the real mother of the living child, and who loved him very much, cried out, “Oh no, my Lord! Give her the child—please do not kill him!” But the other woman said, “All right, he will be neither yours nor mine; divide him between us!”
1 Kings 3:25-26 NLT

Introduction:
Welcome to an amazing Sunday here at River of Faith! We are in part three of our new series I entitled Jesus Walks! In this series we will look at the examples of Jesus Christ on how to love when it's difficult, how to forgive when we are hurting, and how to care for people who disagree with us or see us as their enemies.

To have the mind of Christ is to have the attitude of Christ, and to have the attitude of Christ we must learn to love like Christ, and when we learned how to love like Him, we will have the same compassion as He did to all kinds of people. What is compassion? To be compassionate is to have a deep sympathy and pity towards others. God's compassion is rooted in His love and mercy. Jesus was filled with compassion. He fed the hungry, healed the sick, comforted those who are grieving.

Main Pointers:
“When Jesus arrived at the official’s home, he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music. “Get out!” he told them. “The girl isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” But the crowd laughed at him. After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up! The report of this miracle swept through the entire countryside. After Jesus left the girl’s home, two blind men followed along behind him, shouting, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” They went right into the house where he was staying, and Jesus asked them, “Do you believe I can make you see?” “Yes, Lord,” they told him, “we do.” Then he touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.” Then their eyes were opened, and they could see! Jesus sternly warned them, “Don’t tell anyone about this.” But instead, they went out and spread his fame all over the region. When they left, a demon-possessed man who couldn’t speak was brought to Jesus. So Jesus cast out the demon, and then the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed. “Nothing like this has ever happened in Israel!” they exclaimed. But the Pharisees said, “He can cast out demons because he is empowered by the prince of demons.””
Matthew 9:23-34 NLT

1. Jesus' ministry was deeply rooted in His compassion for the people.

A. Jesus not only touched the hearts of people He came across with but He was very intentional in meeting them right where they are.

B. Jesus ministered to them emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and even physically. He touched people's hearts not only with His teachings but with His compassion for them. “But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness."
Psalms 86:15 NLT

2. Jesus is our Great Shepherd.

“Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
Matthew 9:35-36 NLT

A. Jesus did not stay in one place and wait for people to come to Him. He went from one village to another and sought out the people to teach them and bring salvation to them. A good shepherd is always driven by compassion for his people.

B. “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep.”
John 10:14-15 NLT

C. “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever."
Psalms 23:1-6 NLT

3. People need the Lord.

“He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.””
Matthew 9:37-38 NLT

A. People were confused, helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus came to meet all kinds of people even those that hated Him and His message.

B. “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me. When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”
Matthew 10:16-20 NLT

Conclusion:
To love like Christ is the greatest calling of every believer in Christ. To follow Christ is to  love the same way as He did and that means to live a life full of compassion. How people will treat us is beyond our control what we control is how we will treat others despite of their actions towards us. Jesus had compassion to people all the time!