The Rock Weekly – November 29, 2023

  • Tonight – REGIONAL Prayer & Worship – 7pm in the Chapel.  Growing in the Word – 6pm in the Prayer Room.
  • Family Breakfast this Sunday from 9:00-9:30am. Join us for a free breakfast and time to connect with your church family.
  • Christmas Eve Service: 12/24 – 2pm Extended Worship & 3pm Christmas Eve Service
  • Monthly Corporate Fasting & Prayer – the first Monday-Wednesday of the Month (12/4-12/6)

Abundant Grace

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”  2 Cor 9:8 ESV

“And God is able to make all grace [every favor and earthly blessing] come in abundance to you, so that you may always [under all circumstances, regardless of the need] have complete sufficiency in everything [being completely self-sufficient in Him], and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity.”  2 Cor 9:8 Amplified

Over the past couple of weeks, we have focused on the importance of our Faith.  This is a faith that does not rely on sight, but on hearing the Holy Spirit as we set our eyes on Jesus.  Using the piloting analogy…it is like going from Visual Flight Rules (VFR) to Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), so that when storms come, we don’t crash!  And we also addressed our faith not being in results, but only in the person Jesus – regardless of the results we see, so that we don’t become offended and pulled off-track from the race that has been marked out for us to run.  Sadly, this happens to many and is like the seed that never gets rooted in the ground because it is in shallow soil. (Luke 8:13) 

There is another key component to our walk with Jesus and this is one that takes much of the pressure off of us and puts it on God.  And it is His gift to us!  It is GRACE!  The beautiful thing about our lives being in Christ is that we don’t have to prove ourselves to God.  The Word says that God’s divine power gives us everything we need for life and godliness! (2 Peter 1:3)   As a car is created to run on fuel, so we are created to live by the Spirit…by grace!  This is the grace we are given through Christ by the Spirit!  Outside of this, we truly have no life, for life is not within us – but within Christ in us!  

Let me stop here and briefly define grace.  First, grace is not a license to sin and it isn’t something we can use in conjunction with sinning or living a life that is not in alignment with God’s will.  Grace is a gift of God to us that comes through Faith in Jesus.  Faith activates grace.  And grace is the most powerful force…the WORKING of God’s divine power in us for good works through the Holy Spirit.  Grace empowers us to walk out our life in righteousness and holiness, doing God’s will in every good work that He has created for us to accomplish (before we were even born), and living a life of love as Jesus loved us.  This life cannot be accomplished apart from the abundant grace He lavishes on us!  Actually life itself is meaningless without His grace. 

Ephesians 2:8 tells us, “ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”  When we live our lives in Christ, we don’t need to strive to do things for God or try to attain our position as children of God.  In Jesus, we live our lives from a place of rest and peace as children of God and joint-heirs with Christ.  And yet at the same time, we do make every effort to walk in-step with the Spirit…living in His grace!  It is absolutely amazing and beyond words that our God would give us a grace to come into oneness with Him through Jesus by the Holy Spirit being deposited into us.  And it doesn’t stop there!  God doesn’t just give us enough to scrape by or to sputter to the next gas station (using the car analogy). He promises to give us more-than-enough empowering grace to us to accomplish every good work.  Back to the car analogy, I believe our God not only overflows our gas tank, but puts in the super-high octane gasoline and then gives you the nitrous oxide injection. 

Lord, we thank you that you make all grace abound in our lives so that our lives are fully in you.  For it is in you alone that we live and move and have our being!  Teach us to live in your empowering grace as we walk by faith so that we don’t strive in our own strength and burn out.  But instead, may we burn brightly for you as we have an abundance of your strength and power through grace to accomplish every good work and act of love that you have created us for.  Thank you for lavishing your grace-love on us as your children and beloved ones!  Amen.

GRACE and peace be yours IN ABUNDANCE! (1 Peter 1:2)

I love you and am praying for you! See you tonight and at the Sunday breakfast!
Pastor Mike and your Rock Staff

 

 

IMPORTANT SERVICE & WEEKLY INFORMATION:

WEDNESDAY NIGHT WORSHIP & PRAYER SERVICE  7:00pm * In-Person & On-Line *
Facebook Live:  https://www.facebook.com/rockchurchco
The Rock Online Livestream:  https://www.therock.org/live/

 

YOUTH ~ BASE CAMP (6th – 12th Grade) – WEDNESDAY NIGHT – 7:00pm
Invite a friend and come have a great time. If you have any questions, email jaden@therock.org

 

EMBER – Young Adults (Ages 18-29) – Friday Nights at 6:30pm
https://www.therock.org/ember/
Meet in the Chapel for a time of worship, prayer, teaching, and connection.

 

FOOD BANK DISTRIBUTION – 1st & 3rd Saturday of the Month
https://www.therock.org/foodbank/
Email Lindy@therock.org if you would like to volunteer or have questions.

 

SUNDAY MORNING PRE-SERVICE PRAYER  8:15-9:15am – *In-Person & On-line*
ZOOM Direct Video Link:
           https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85340164797?pwd=V0lmWFRRL0R6Tm56QTdRUHNoMWI3QT09
ZOOM Meeting ID: 853 4016 4797
          ZOOM Phone Option +12532158782,,85340164797#

 

SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE 9:45am  *In-Person & On-line*
           Facebook Live:  https://www.facebook.com/rockchurchco
The Rock Online Livestream:  https://www.therock.org/live/

 

OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE  Here are some ways you can partner with The Rock as you practice generosity – our regular tithe/giving, compassion help, missions, and our food bank.  Click on the following link or graphic.  www.therock.org/give

 

Have a Question, Need Prayer, Help, Feel Alone, or Disconnected?

Please email us at family@therock.org and put QUESTION, PRAYER, NEED HELP, or CONNECT ME at the top of your email.