The Rock Weekly – August 30, 2023

  • Tonight – Regional Prayer & Worship – 7pm in the Chapel.  Growing in the Word – 6pm in the Prayer Room.
  • Sat, Sept 2 – Castle Rock Day of Prayer – 9-11am at Festival Park in partnership with churches throughout Douglas County. www.castlerockdayofprayer.com 

  • This Sunday – Family Breakfast from 9:00-9:30am in the Foyer.  Come hungry…leave well fed – with Scripture of course. 🙂 
    • Also join us for Pre-Service prayer before the Sunday service, behind the sanctuary, at 8:15am

Establishing The Fortress Before The Battle

“He who abides/dwells in the shelter of the Most High will REST in the protection of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my REFUGE and my FORTRESS, my God, in whom I TRUST…If you make the Most High your DWELLING – even the Lord, who is my refuge – then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your dwelling. For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”  Ps 91:1-2, 9-11

Over the past few weeks, we have been on a journey into the abiding heart of Jesus. I want to encourage us in this journey.  We can’t do it alone. It is impossible.  But we have God’s grace…the Spirit of grace (Zech 12:10; Heb 10:29) And the Holy Spirit has been given to us as our Guide, our Counselor, one who is the Spirit of wisdom, revelation, counsel, might, knowledge, and the Spirit of the fear of the Lord. (Isaiah 11:2)  Paul tells us in Ephesians 1 that we have been marked in Christ by the Holy Spirit as a seal and a deposit that will guarantee our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession.  Oh, what a glorious day that will be!

There are many who believe we are moving into some more difficult times in our nation and throughout the world. And I would agree.  I hope this doesn’t scare anyone.  It shouldn’t.  Not for those who are abiding in the Lord, seeking His presence daily, and meditating on His Word…our daily bread.  In Psalm 27, David writes that there is only One thing that he desires of the Lord, and only one thing that he seeks after…. “That I may dwell in the house of the Lord every day of my life, so that I will gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and seek Him in His dwelling place.” He then pens, “For in the day of trouble, He will keep me safe in His dwelling. He will hide me in the shelter of his dwelling.”  David understood that survival and protection was not going to come from the protection of an army or the strength of a kingdom, but only from remaining in the dwelling of the Lord.

In Psalm 62 David states this again!  

“My soul finds rest in God alone. My salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my FORTRESS, and (in Him) I will never be shaken…Trust in God at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge from danger.”  (Ps 62:1-2,5-6,8)  

I want to challenge us to spend 6 minutes each hour of every day for the month of September (starting Friday) meditating on and praying the Psalms.  The purpose of this is to help keep us in a place of abiding throughout the day, instead of chunks of time in the morning and night.  Allow these Psalms to strengthen your mind and heart all throughout each day. As you do this, it will change your life!  You will find a deeper peace that no longer depends on circumstances around you.  And I believe we need to get this peace established in our hearts now…before the bigger storms come.  And they will come. 😊  But when our hearts and minds are steadfast in Him, it won’t matter how big the storm is or what battles come against us, because we will have already established our trust in the Lord. Remember what Paul tells us in Philippians 4…that when we put into practice meditating on the beauty, purity, excellence, praiseworthiness, love, righteousness, nobility, and truth of the Lord, then the God of PEACE will be with us!  I see this as synonymous to Ephesians 6 where Paul tells us to put on the full armor of God…His belt of Truth, breastplate of Righteousness, the gospel of Peace on our feet, Faith in Christ as our shield and refuge, and the sword of the Spirit – God’s word that we meditate on and implant it in our heart as life to us.

Lord, I thank you for your Word and your Holy Spirit in us that teaches us your ways.  Give us eyes to see and ears to hear what the Spirit is saying that we may walk humbly before you in a constant place of adoration and abiding.  We need your strength, we need your protection, we need your wisdom to lead others in your ways (discipleship), and we need your boldness to proclaim the goodness of God to a lost and dying people who live all around us (evangelism). Thank you for establishing your ways in our hearts now as a fortress for the coming trying times.  We love you with all our heart, mind, and strength!

May the Lord bless you with His wings of protection and a strength and boldness to live by faith – trusting in our Lord and Savior!

Pastor Mike & 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.