The Rock Weekly – January 18, 2023

  • We have CANCELED our Wednesday Night Service or Youth tonight due to poor weather & road conditions.
  • Financial Peace (STARTS this Friday: Jan 20th at 6:30pm)  – Register by Clicking Here
  • Converge 2023 – Regional Gathering with Leif Hetland, Heidi Baker, Lou Engle & Regional Leaders- Feb 8-11. www.therock/converge/
  • Discipleship Training (Jan 23, 30, Feb 6) – Mondays at 7pm in the Chapel.

 

Fasting, Prayer, & The Word – Seeking His Face

Matt 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Isaiah 55:1 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!…”

Psalm 63:1 “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you. My soul thirsts for you, and my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”

 

I am very excited for our 21 days of prayer and fasting and the Bible reading plan that we have jumped into as of this past Sunday.  If you have not engaged in these, I would encourage you to jump in the “waters” now!  It isn’t too late and I promise you won’t regret it…although you might feel a little hungry.  😊 But honestly – that is a good thing.  I have found that one of the benefits of fasting is that I become more aware of my fleshly desires that can often be louder than my spiritual awareness. But when I fast and pray, it curtails my flesh and I become much more sensitive to the Spirit.  I am able to hear and see more clearly in a spiritual sense what the Lord is saying and I get a clearer understanding of His ways, plan, and will. I can’t fully explain this nor do I fully understand it, but through my experience I know it to be true.

David penned these words in Psalm 34:8 “Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the one who SEEKS refuge (or trust) in Him.”  As we press in and seek the Lord through fasting and prayer, we will experience a spiritual nourishment that blesses us beyond what any food of this world could offer. This is God’s promise! And as we read His Word, it begins to cut away rough edges of our heart and adjusts the thoughts and attitude of our mind to align with His. (Heb 4:12)   People sometimes ask me, “How do I abide in the vine?” or “How do I spend time with Jesus?”  Real simple – start with fasting, prayer, and meditating on His Word!

The last thing I want to touch on is that when we wholeheartedly seek the face of God in our prayer, fasting, and meditating on His Word, I believe we actually touch and move the heart of God.  This is the intimacy with our God that births movements of His power in the earth.  And He uses His people to do this…those who seek His face!  He responds to the prayers of His people…of His righteous ones.  “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their prayer.” (1 Peter 3:12)

Lord, As we come to you with wholehearted devotion, prayer, and fasting over the next 21 days, would you move us into a full alignment with your will by your Spirit.  May your living and active Word shape the attitudes and thoughts of our heart. Make us more like you and awaken our spiritual eyes and ears to see and hear your Spirit who you have put within us. Guide us into all truth and make known the mysteries of the Gospel, that the very glory given to Jesus would be given to us to glorify your name that we may reach for the oneness with Jesus and with the body of Christ that Jesus prayed for in John 17. Amen.

I love you all and am excited to be on this journey with you!
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.