Rock Weekly Update – September 29, 2021

Entering Abiding Rest

Dear Rock Family,

  • Join us TONIGHT at 6:45pm in the Sanctuary for our Wednesday night service with guest speaker Brian Fenimore as he focuses in on John 15:7 – “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
  • This coming Monday – Wednesday (Oct 4-6), The Rock family will be entering into a 3-day time of fasting and prayer.  Let’s prepare our hearts and minds and enter into His Rest!


“So God’s rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God. So, God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today…

‘Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.’

So there remains a special Sabbath-rest for the people of God.  For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world.  So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.”  (Heb 4:6-7,9-11)

Over the past months, there has been a real test of our ability to remain in, or even find a place of rest and peace.  I find that many try to find rest through relaxation, vacations, fun, sleep, or maybe just checking out from their normal routine.  These methods may give you a sense of rest for a short moment, but it is never lasting. The place of true rest comes only through abiding in Jesus and keeping our thoughts and eyes on Him rather than things that are going on in our nation and around the world.  Let me clarify – I believe we are to be aware of what is happening around us and around the world, but the Word tells us to guard our heart and when an awareness of situations turns into a focus on circumstances, this is a problem!  It opens the door to fear and we quickly become anxious and even overwhelmed. Take a moment and ask yourself where you are spending more time – in worship and prayer and being overwhelmed and in awe of our God OR on Facebook, television, YouTube, or other social media platforms, becoming overwhelmed and fearful of situations and circumstances?   God’s Word tells us that as we meditate on Jesus and put into practice the wisdom of the Word, the God of peace will be with us! (Phil 4:8-9)

I believe the Lord wants to shift our mindset and subsequently our ways into a life of abiding rest.  God desires that we should have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. (Phil 2:5)  I think we all know this, but what does this really mean?  Glad you asked. It starts with our faith and trust being in Jesus – truly believing that Jesus is the answer to ALL our problems.  This is how we initially come to Jesus.  And this is then sustained as we walk in humility (in a complete dependence on Jesus…through the Holy Spirit).  No one can attain abiding-rest on their own.  It is a gift given by Jesus as we come to Him.  In Matthew 11:28 Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will GIVE you rest!”  Hebrews 4 tells us that we are to enter into a Sabbath-rest that has been set apart by God for us as His people…His children.  And His children are those who hear His voice and with a tender-hearted devotion to Jesus begin to walk in His ways – in obedience to His commands.  This is how we find abiding-rest!  When we find this, we have the ability to enact God’s will on earth.  His abiding-rest postures us into a place of authority in Christ by the Spirit.  When our mind is set on Jesus and we walk in His ways (obeying His commands), we then rule with divine power from the heavenly realm down to earth (on earth as it is in heaven), able and ready to punish and destroy every act of disobedience to the kingdom of heaven.  (2 Cor 10:4-6)

We love you!
Pastors Mike & Kristi and your Rock Staff family

 

 

IMPORTANT SERVICE & WEEKLY INFORMATION:

 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT SERVICE  6:45pm * In-Person & On-Line * with Guest Speaker Brian Fenimore

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

Join us in the Student Auditorium!  Contact Pastor Kristi at kristi@therock.org with any questions.

 

1st Thursday of the Month (10/7) Hot Meals & Saturday Morning Food Bank Distribution

https://www.therock.org/foodbank/

Email Lindy@therock.org if you have any questions or would like to volunteer.

 

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

Passcode: 1   (NOTE: The Passcode was added for security,

              but is not needed if you click on the ZOOM link above.)
              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.