LWCF

​"I know your works. See I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept my word, and have not denied my name."  -Revelation 3:8

The works of Christ have never been contingent on the qualities of humans. His purpose will be accomplished because he is sovereign over all. To prove this truth Christ uses weak and damaged instruments - people like us, with just a little strength. As Paul writes, "For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty..." (1 Corinthians 1:26&27) We pray to be this faithful body, to keep Christ's word, to hold fast to His name.  And to do so  by His strength when we find ours to be so insufficient.  

A note from Pastor Anthony Rea -
When the idea for Living Water Christian Fellowship came into being we were just an online Bible study using Google Hangouts or Skype to study God’s word together.  We started in John’s gospel, and while we weren’t certain what form or direction the Lord was going to move us, He was faithful to us in laying a solid foundation by teaching us about His heart towards humanity and challenging us to trust wholly upon His divine nature.  As is our custom, we moved on diligently to the next verse, the next chapter, and found ourselves studying the Acts of the Apostles - Luke’s history of the early church, a work that that continues to this very day.  All the while the Lord was moving us to a new venture of faith and laying the ground work for what we are today - a baby fellowship of ordinary humans trusting in the grace of an almighty God. 

We recently finished Acts and my heart has swelled with the lessons that our baby congregation has been able to glean along the way.  It is an encouragement to me that our Lord, knowing He would raise our little fellowship up, timed it perfectly so that we would be going through Acts at the very beginning of this ministry.  Like he was saying to us, “pay attention — you’re part of something big!”  Over this time God has remained faithful to us and He continues to build the Body faithfully. It is truly astounding looking at the works that have been done over the past six months alone! I am humbled to be His servant.  

Moving forward, we will continue to faithfully teach God’s word verse by verse in simplicity of heart.  Paul’s letter to the church in Rome is the next book we will begin and I look forward to the lessons God has for us as we are instructed in the same way as the early church. May God keep us, guard us, and carry us. Pray for us. 

All for Jesus’ sake,
Anthony
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​"...I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead." -Revelation 3:1

These are hard words for us to hear from our Lord. They are hard to swallow, and can leave a bitter taste in our mouth. However, we know that He is a true and faithful witness.  His words are not intended to wound, but words like these certainly leave a mark, as they should.  He loves us as a Father. He loves His church like an expectant groom. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful -- open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed." (Proverbs 27:5&6) Our Lord warns us, and corrects our course because His desire is for our eternal souls. Who better to give life to a dead, false, or fraudulent church then THE life-giver, conquerer of death - Jesus Christ. Hear and obey, church.  

"But to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, and who have not known the depths of Satan, as they call them, I will put on you no other burden. But hold fast what you have till I come."
-Revelation 2:24-25

A compromised church with a small contingent of faithful disciples remaining - holding fast to Christ. They are beset on all sides by doctrinal compromise, filth, and lies.  Not knowing who to trust on their left and right.  And all of this is wrapped up in the skin of the church! This is a very real threat. Perhaps you have encountered it yourself. It has happened before and will happen again.  In fact it may be occurring even now. But for those faithful believers in this church Christ says, "Hang in there. Be faithful. Endure." Notice, He doesn't tell them to run away or bail on fellowship with one another but to hold fast what they have. Certainly this path will lead to conflict but our Lord will give them, and us, the required endurance.  Hold fast.