The Rock Weekly – April 9, 2025

  • Men’s Advance! Offsite retreat for Men this September 11-13
  • Youth Summer Camp – July 14-18 For more information and to register go to: therock.org/youth

 

Depending on God for Sustenance

“Then Jesus left the Jordan, full of the Holy Spirit, and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2for forty days to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over, he was hungry. 3The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
4But Jesus answered him, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone.” 
    – Luke 4:1-4 CSB

I find myself returning to this verse almost every month when we do our church-wide 3-days of prayer and fasting, because like Jesus, I also am hungry. lol. 

In all seriousness, I love this verse because it reminds me of a spiritual truth. Jesus is quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, which says, “…so that you might learn that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” The spiritual truth is this: God is our sustainer. 

It’s easy to look in the natural and see food as the thing that fuels us, water as the thing that nourishes us, or oxygen as the thing we need to live. But there’s a greater (spiritual) reality that what we need more than those things is God. We need His voice, His presence, and to do His will. 

In John 4 we see this exchange between Jesus and his disciples. 

“31 In the meantime the disciples kept urging him, “Rabbi, eat something.”
32 But he said, “I have food to eat that you don’t know about.”
33 The disciples said to one another, “Could someone have brought him something to eat?”
34 “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work,” Jesus told them.”
John 4:31-34 CSB

Fasting is the hardest when we stop halfway through Deuteronomy 8:3. It’s hardest when we eliminate food without replacing it with God’s word (spoken and written). My encouragement to you as we wrap up this month’s time of fasting is to make sure you are nourishing yourself with God’s word and by doing His will.  The goal of fasting isn’t to be hungry, but rather to feast on a spiritual food. Bon Appétit. 

Father God, we love you and recognize our great need for you. Thank you for supplying physical food for us. As we fast we ask that you would teach us how to feast on Your word, Your presence, and by doing Your will. Keep us from just “not-eating” and help bring us into a greater understanding of the true nourishment that you provide. 

We look forward to seeing you tonight at 7pm for our worship and prayer service.
Andrew Nemeth & The 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/

 

FOUNDATIONS CLASS – 6:00pm Wednesdays
Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/99757846764?pwd=Tm8zQ0JQWk1xeHFBcEU5anNFN1l4dz09

 

YOUTH ~ ABIDE YOUTH (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

 

FOOD BANK DISTRIBUTION – 1st & 3rd Saturday of each 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.