Stay In The River
Stay in the River | The Book of John
Colleen Rouse
July 11-12, 2026
John 7:3-8 NLT
“and Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” For even his brothers didn’t believe in him. Jesus replied, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime. The world can’t hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil. You go on. I’m not going to this festival, because my time has not yet come.””
1. Transformation happens when we RESIST the voices of the crowd
LIFE LESSON 1
Don’t allow people who don’t understand your calling to determine your direction.
LIFE LESSON 2
When your identity is established before God, you don’t need anyone else to determine it. That’s true confidence.
1. Transformation happens when we RESIST the voices of the crowd
2. Transformation happens when we RECEIVE the Truth
John 7:16–17 (NLT)
“My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or merely my own”
LIFE LESSON 3
God reveals Himself more readily to surrendered hearts than skeptical minds.
John 7:37–38 (NKJV)
“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.””
LIFE LESSON 4
Don’t become so attached to what God did miss- God is doing.
1. Transformation happens when we RESIST the voices of the crowd
2. Transformation happens when we RECEIVE the Truth
3. Transformation happens when we REMAIN in the River
LIFE LESSON 5
Every time you read God’s Word, you’re depositing truth the Holy Spirit can bring forth later.
Isaiah 30:21 (NLT)
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”
Psalms 139:23-24 NLT
“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.”
LIFE LESSONS
1. Don’t allow people who don’t understand your calling to determine your direction.
2. When your identity is established before God, you don’t need anyone else to determine it. That’s true confidence.
3. God reveals Himself more readily to surrendered hearts than skeptical minds.
4. Don’t become so attached to what God did miss- God is doing.
5. Every time you read God’s Word, you’re depositing truth the Holy Spirit can bring forth later.
6. Transformation isn’t usually one dramatic moment — it’s thousands of surrendered moments.
Maybe you made a decision to follow Jesus today, or maybe you’re curious what life with Him is all about. Wherever you are on your journey, we invite you to share with us so we can help you discover your next step.
