Ps David Peters encourages us to live a life with eternity in our hearts and anticipation of what is to come.

Ps Joachim shares with us what it looks like to build a deeper reliance on the Holy Spirit

In times of prosperity, it’s easy to become spiritually complacent, relying on our own strength and resources instead of God. Jesus warns the Laodicean church against lukewarmness—marked by self-sufficiency, pride, and spiritual blindness—and calls them to repent and return to His Lordship.

By confessing our true spiritual condition and seeking Jesus’ transformative power, we can live with zeal and purpose for God’s kingdom.

Pain and tragedy can affect anyone, even faithful followers of Jesus — but God remains sovereign and purposeful in every trial.

Though He may not always reveal His reasons, He never makes mistakes and calls us to trust Him fully. In suffering, we are invited to persevere, stay rooted in spiritual disciplines and community, and remain faithful to the mission He has given us.

Reverend Tan Soo In shares about the lessons we can learn from the book of Job.

1. Bad things happen to good and bad people
2. God is always sovereign
3. He always has a reason for what He does
4. He is not obliged to tell you His reasons
5. But He is not a God who makes mistakes
6. He will sort all things out in the end
7. He invites us to trust Him

We are encouraged to be people of perseverance and to trust God and not lose sight of our calling in difficult times. Reverend Tan Soo Inn also reminds us of the importance of spiritual disciplines in helping us keep close to God, and the importance of our spiritual community – to bear one another’s burden.

The undeniable existence of fallen heavenly beings warrants us, as disciples of Christ, to remain vigilant and use the power and authority given to us by Christ in order to overcome through spiritual warfare.

Demons and unclean spirits can physically harm humans but ultimately seek to gain influence over the areas of our lives that we have not fully surrendered to the Holy Spirit through our death to the old self.

Overcoming the darkness in our lives require us to first understanding the significance of Christ’s resurrection and ascension, and subsequently to live in the reality of the power and authority He has delegated to us as part of The Great

Commission.

The Path to Overcoming (The 7 R's)

1. Recognize the enemy’s activity or strongholds in your life.
2. Take Responsibility for the open doors (unrepentant sin, unforgiveness, occult involvement).
3. Repent and seek forgiveness from the Lord for these open doors.
4. Renounce the enemy's authority and activity.
5. Remove any religious or occultic objects and any participation in witchcraft or the occult.
6. Resist the enemy's return.
7. Rejoice in God's victory continually.

1. Our Journey Mirrors Israel’s Journey

Pastor Ernie explains that just as Israel journeyed from Egypt to the Promised Land, believers today are on a spiritual journey. Egypt represents bondage to sin, while the wilderness reflects our present struggles. We are called to worship God, walk in holiness, and live purposefully as lights to the world.

2. Living an Overcoming Life

God has given us all we need (2 Peter 1:3) to live victoriously. An overcoming life is not defined by circumstances, but by:

• Overcoming the flesh through daily surrender

• Growing dependence on the Holy Spirit’s guidance and empowerment

• Walking victoriously through trials with a posture of faith

3. A Call to Surrender

Many Christians today feel spiritually stagnant due to difficult circumstances. Pastor Ernie challenges RiverLifers to adopt the posture of an overcomer—marked by surrender, Spirit-led living, and eyes fixed on God’s promises rather than present hardships.

In a world filled with uncertainty and shifting values, it’s easy to lose direction and faith. Without alignment to God and His purposes, we risk becoming self-centred instead of God-centred.

Ps Vincent Lun expounds on Matthew 16:13-27 and encourages 3 ways on how to stay aligned with God:

1) Know our identity by knowing Christ (vs 13-18)

2) Discover our assignment by knowing our identity (vs 18-20)

3) Count the cost and know the reward (vs 21-27)

Ps Lionel preaches on caring for the poor, and 3 Reasons why God Wants to Care for the Poor.

1. Our God is a compassionate Father (Psalm 68:5-6, Deuteronomy 10:17-19)
2. It’s our practical way of loving God (1 John 3:16-18, James 2:14-16, James 1:27)
3. All humans are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27)

• All humans are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27)
• Jesus closely identifies Himself will all people, especially the poor, weak and marginalized (Matthew 25:34-40)

He invites us to share our experience on being a recipient when they were in need or when they went to care for others in need – could be through overseas community projects, missions trips, local outreaches, and lessons learnt through it.

Ps Joachim preaches about faith and missions.

Missions always starts with a step of faith – Jesus gave a mandate to his disciples to make disciples of all nations and to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth (Hebrews 11:6; Matthew 28:18 – 20; Acts 1:8)

Three examples from the early Church:

1. Peter and the disciples after the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1 –7, 36 – 41)

- Many were baptized by the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues

- Many were saved

2. Ananias and Saul (Acts 9)

- Ananias obeyed God to look for Saul, a man who was persecuting the Church then.

- Saul changed and became the Apostle Paul

3. The start of Paul’s Missionary Journey (Acts 13)

Let us take that bold step of faith and obedience today!

When God opens a door, it signifies a divine opportunity—an invitation to step into new seasons of growth, influence, and faith.

In Scripture, Paul encountered several such doors in his ministry, each requiring courage and discernment.

Despite opposition, he recognized that these moments were orchestrated by God. Revelation 3:7-8 reminds us that what God opens, no one can shut.

But we must act in His timing —Israel’s hesitation at the edge of the Promised Land serves as a sobering reminder that doors do not stay open forever.

At times, doors require persistent knocking. Jesus encourages us to seek, ask, and knock, trusting that in due season, He will respond. RiverLife is in such a season now—a moment ripe for growth, fruitfulness, and harvest.

As disciples, we are called to bear fruit that lasts: through Christ-like character, answered prayers, good deeds, and soul winning.

Let us not miss our moment. The door is open—will we walk through it?