The Rock Weekly – September 27, 2023

  • Tonight – REGIONAL Prayer & Worship – 7pm in the Chapel.  Growing in the Word – 6pm in the Prayer Room.
  • Every Tuesday Morning, 7-8am – Prayer & Worship in the Chapel
  • Sunday 10/1 – Family Breakfast. Join your Rock Family at 9am in the foyer for our free monthly Family Breakfast.
  • Mark your calendars:  Leif Hetland and Jake Hamilton will be joining us Sunday, October 29th.

 

An Undivided Heart To Glorify Your Name

“Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify your name forever.” Psalm 86:11-12

There is such a depth of knowledge and understanding in these two verses penned by King David!  Let me break this down…

“Teach me your ways, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth.”  

I want to stress the importance of knowing, reading, studying, and meditating on the Word of God and listening to the Holy Spirit who is our teacher (1 Jn 2:27)!  If this is not occurring on a daily basis in your life, I would highly encourage you to change this today and set it as a top priority.  Put it in your calendar and do it before you eat your next meal.  It is better to miss a meal than to go without your “daily bread” of life!  If we do not come to the understanding of God’s will and ways, then we will not walk in God’s truth.  1 John 2:17 (AMP) tells us that, “…the one who does the will of God and carries out His purposes lives forever.”  May we be a people that know the ways and will of the Father so that we can walk in the light of His truth!

“Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.”

A divided heart is one that is deceitful, devious, and faithless to the Lord.  It is one that may try to love the Lord, but is also focused on oneself. We see the effect of selfish ways in Hosea 10:1-2.  We need to be aware of our selfish nature that can try and rise up in our lives and as soon as we see it, feel it, or smell it, we must squash it…kill it!  As we spend time with Jesus, abiding with Him daily, He gracefully, by the Spirit, reveals the areas of our heart that make us unstable due to a divided heart.  Then it is our job, by the power of the Spirit, to allow God to work His will within us for His good purpose (Philip 2:13), and turn from our evil ways, deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and then walk in obedience to the ways of Christ!  I love the way Jesus ties hearing and action together in Luke 8:21… “Hear God’s word and THEN put it into practice”.   If we don’t address our selfish desires, we will be unstable in ALL our ways!  (James 1:8)  And this will not end well.  For an unstable heart will harden one’s heart and put them in jeopardy of abandoning their faith in Jesus. (1 Tim 4:1)

Jesus also addresses the importance of an undivided heart in Matthew 6:22-24. He tells us that if the heart of a person becomes divided, it affects the entire body with darkness.  For it is impossible to have a heart for the Lord and also have a heart (a love or desire) for the things of this world.  And James 4:4 reiterates this by telling us that even if you say you have a love for God, you actually have a hatred toward God and become an enemy of God, if you choose to continue to love worldly things and ‘become a friend of the world’.   And 1 John 2:15 also confirms this.  I’ll let you read that one. 😊

“I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify your name forever.

I know the previous paragraph seems harsh, but the other side of this is that if we learn the ways of the Lord and walk in His truth and keep an undivided heart and not only love our God, but also maintain a fear and reverence and awe of our Lord, THEN we will live out our lives, not only on this earth but for eternity, in the presence of the Lord, praising Him with all our hearts.  And our actions, our voices, and our lives will bring glory to the name of Jesus!  Hallelujah!

Lord, I thank you that as we surrender our lives to you, we place all our faith, trust, and hope in You and we fear your name!  May we be a people who offer our hearts and lives as a living sacrifice, letting go of all worldly desires, denying ourselves, daily picking up our cross, and walking in the footsteps of Jesus as we put into practice His commands… the will of God for our lives!  For the true act of worship and praise to you comes out of denying ourselves and having an undivided heart.  May the Name of Jesus be glorified through our lives forever and ever! 

We love you and we are praying for you as a staff!
Pastor Mike and your Rock Staff

 

“God is never done blessing us, let us never be done blessing Him. As He ever gives us grace, let us ever render to Him the glory of it.” –  Charles H. Spurgeon (in reference to Psalm 86:11-12)

 

 

 

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.