Pastor Derrick Golding preached a few weeks ago on letting the river flow. It was such a powerful message, it truly impacted me! He preached on the woman at the well and how Jesus pretty much broke every rule of religion and tradition possible when he was speaking to her. Pastor Derrick made a statement that said “Spiritual hunger cannot be satisfied as long as we compromise moral behavior”. She was compromising moral behavior by being with the fifth man. When Jesus asked her about her husband, she said “I have no husband.” He replied back that she was correct and the man that she was living with now was not her husband either. She was compromising her morality and therefore any hunger that she had for God would never be satisfied as long as she lived in sin. It was if she were trying to fulfill a void in her life that only the Lord could fill. It made me realize that many women today feel that way. It also made me realize that I used to be like that also. Before I knew who I was in Christ, I always sought the acceptance of men. I felt that I had to be the center of their attention and give them what they asked for and if not then I would feel worthless. But I was searching for something that could never be filled by man; only God could fill that void. It’s beautiful what God unlocked in me after I listened to this message over and over. I had to get this word down in my spirit!! I had to get hungry and thirsty for myself!! I got the revelation of letting the river that is inside of me flow out!

–Nicole

God is looking for luscious healthy fruit to be produced from our lives to meet the hunger of the world and nourish those in the Kingdom.  It is only produced through the precious word of God planted as a seed into the soil of our heart.

It is my responsibility to prepare the soil of my heart to receive the precious seed of the Word of God. I closely examine my soil for roots that have gone unnoticed, weeds that have sprung up in a past season, rocks that have worked their way to the surface, or hard crusty ground that needs to be turned over and under to make it ready for the seed because it is a dry thirsty ground.  No one is responsible for my soil except me.

As I welcome the seed into the ground I have prepared, I assume greater responsibility to assure the seed it has optimum attention and I protect it from the birds of the air and flocks of the field which would love to devour it before it has had an opportunity to grow roots. Water and nourishment is essential for the seed to grow. My attention is required on a daily basis to make certain no pestilence attaches itself to my growing plant.

With watchful eye, I tend to my growing plant and take careful notice of developing buds which will develop into delicious fruit.  However, even greater diligence is required to make certain no harm comes to the growing fruit. Frost, disease, neglect, blight, bugs, and thieves will either steal or destroy my fruit if I do not take necessary precautions before the fruit even appears on the branch.

Every Christian I know told me that everything I need is in the Word of God.  When you are young, it does not seem that important.  They were words on a page for me.  My life began to change when I saw my stepsister and brother step out on faith and move into the calling that God had for them.  I began to see them speak the Word of God with the Authority and Power that God has given us. Everything and everyone in their life began to bear fruit.   My sister said that God is no respecter of person and the same thing He did for them He can do for me.  I wanted what God had for me.  I wanted a relationship with father.  My life before Him was full of chaos and confusion.  However, I read the Word of God and began to get clarity and understanding that was always there, I just did not have a revelation of it until now.  The Holy Spirit is so awesome He helps me to understand my place, leads me in my purpose and Gods plan for my life.

I am learning that when trials come I must speak to that situation with the Power and Authority that God has given me.  Speaking the Word of God, angels respond to His Word. Speaking the Word the enemy has to flee.  the Word brought freedom for me,  I can give God unrestricted praise.  God’s Word is life and truth, it is seed to the sower and it bears fruit. I have watched my life transform by the Word of God.  I have spoken the Word into my family’s life and prayed without ceasing.  They look at where I have come from and where I am now and see change.  All of my brothers go to church now and they take their families.  I thank God for the Word.  It feels wonderful to get on the phone with them now and tell how good God is without feeling as if I am offending them.  To God be the glory for the things he has done.

The River just finished it’s Spring Ministers’ and Leaders’ Conference.   The last night ended with the graduation ceremony of the RBI/RSW students.  Since I graduated with my Bachelor of Theology degree, I had to stop and assess how I was doing.  What did I learn in the past three years?

One can always look at all the lectures we heard and all the books we read.  That information was all good and useful.  The stories the instructors told helped us realize that even these seasoned men and women of God have crazy trials and experiences but God is always there to help them through.  All the scriptures we memorized will come in handy as we go do what we’re called to do.

Way beyond the head knowledge we received is what was done in the heart.  You are not aware of changes when they happen, but later you can look back and see that you are not the same person.   I’m aware of a settling in my spirit.  I guess it could be called maturity.  Things that used to ruffle my feathers don’t bother me any more.

–Susan

It has been a time to negotiate with God to take their offenses toward me off the record and not hold it against them and to pray fervently that “the eyes of their understanding will be enlightened,” and their hearts “flooded with light.”  That they might know how wide and how high and how deep and how long is God’s love for them and they may come to know the truth of His love beyond mere knowledge, but would know His love personally and experientially.  And, that the knowledge and experience of His love will bring them to repentance and their eternal salvation.

The reality of this world system has given me a fresh and gripping revelation of the importance of keeping my heart right, and understanding why Jesus emphasized forgiving our enemies, praying for them, feeding them when they are hungry, and not holding anything against them.  And, at last, I can fully let go of the corrupt world system without any hesitation and fully embrace the ways of the Kingdom of God.

–Mary

I would like to Thank GOD for supplying my every need and making it possible for me to come to RBI and to receive daily downloads of the Word of GOD in my life. To be able to sit under the anointing every day and to learn how to yield to the anointing and allow the Holy Spirit to change me on the inside was one of my reasons for coming to RBI. I want a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit that cannot be shaken or stopped by circumstances or persecution in my life. I know now that I can have hands laid on my head every day of the week but until I myself get into the Word of GOD and get the WORD of GOD rooted and grounded in my Heart that is what will sustain me.

–Gary

I then borrowed someone else’s cell phone to call my number and a lady answered my phone.  I quickly asked how she got my phone and she said that her husband picked it up at a gas pump and wanted to make sure it got back to the proper owner. The lady said her husband was at a Bible study at the moment and she just got out of the hospital that day. I said, well thank God, he’s a believer.  Mark 11:24 She gave me her address and I drove to her house then to pick up my cell phone.  I arrived at the lady’s house and she opens the door slowly, as she could hardly move her head or her body.  I asked her if anyone ever told her that God loves her and has a wonderful plan for her life. She said, oh yes, and that she was a firm believer of Jesus Christ and was born again and baptized in the Holy Spirit.  I asked her if I could pray for her complete healing and I placed my hand right on her upper spine behind her neck, I felt a lump as large as a tennis ball.

–Betty

The Word is most effective when it is alive to you, to hear the actual Word of God is to be receptive of God, to get his word sown into your heart will cause drastic changes in every area of one’s life as you begin to apply the Word into areas of your Life. It’s not a formula, as a quick testimony I can give is that, if you have faith like a mustard seed you can move Mountains, I got that word in my spirit along with faith without works is dead, and he who seeks after the Kingdom of God shall not lack one thing. Those three Scriptures right there, just from that I can tell you I have not lacked once, not once. I can say for sure that both my food and gas are supernaturally provided, I am totally against not looking for a job and only believing the Lord for provision, but as someone who has been searching for a job for over 4 years now and could not find one I have made soul winning my job and I have not lacked a single dime since I have been putting that Word to work in my life. I have most definitely seen great fruit from applying the Word of sowing and reaping into my life, just a quick testimony of that, I sowed a car not too long ago and when I needed a car I got one given to me. My advice is to just go out and experience the word for yourself.

–Noble

Over the past few weeks and months of attending The River School of Worship, I have seen a huge difference in my life. The spirit of God has touched and transformed me. Every day I seek him more and strive to become more like him. The word has become my foundation and I’ve tested it and confessed it and it has proven to be SO true! Before I came to school I wanted to buy a Mac Book and I had only 500 dollars that I got as a gift for my high school graduation.  Instead of saving it and hoping that the rest of the money would come in, I sewed it, all of it. I prayed and asked God to provide me a laptop. The Sunday before our classes started I was sitting in a Sunday morning service and a man handed me his Mac Book, exactly the one I wanted.  It brought me to the realization that God is my father and he loves me so much. I have been confessing scripture and listening to the word being taught. It has become my lifestyle. I know that it has built up my faith so that believing God for everything I need doesn’t seem like a burden; it is my way of life. The word of God has proven itself to be so true time and time again. I am so thankful to be here and be able to grow in God and build myself up to be launched into the ministry.

–Christa

Wow!!  “This is only the beginning.” Is all I hear Him saying, and it’s overwhelming something I can’t even fathom, His love, His purpose, His dreams, and His vision for me. I have found myself at His feet multiple times since being here at River Bible Institute. I don’t even know how to explain the pure love I feel for the first time. I do know though, it’s real, without a doubt and like nothing I have ever felt, a deep intimate love of a Father, for me.

He is restoring our relationship and my heart, showing me He was close to me through it all. I’ve just never ever felt so worthy and loved. I am more than enough, I am pure in Him. Since here I have been living by complete Faith and it is exciting, just learning and allowing Him to be my all I depend on, my provider.

I am in awe. I’m having trouble just explaining this feeling in my heart, even as I type this, but I just know it’s Him (the fire of God). God is relentless, and when He wanted all of me, He wanted every part of my life. And when I said yes, to the call, and got on a plane in complete faith, in my spirit I felt Him saying “Kaitlyn, you better get ready! Cause I’m about to move in your life.” I just see and feel Him shifting my life back in alignment with His.

Rodney Howard Browne – He knew what I was getting into! Hahaa, and I can’t stop saying YES, and expecting!! It’s no longer my watch I run on; I’m on God’s time. Kait T.