Rock Weekly Update – 08/18/21

Fearlessly Endure with Faith

Dear Rock Family,

Mark this:  There will be terrible times in these last days.  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.  (2 Tim 3:1-4)
These are the words of Apostle Paul.  Words that only a few years ago seemed far off, but today accurately describe the temperature of the world we are seeing and experiencing.   Paul goes on to say “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”(2 Tim 3:12)  If Paul had stopped here, we would be quite hopeless.  But he doesn’t!  He goes on to give this charge in the midst of adversity: “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, warn and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction.” (2 Tim 4:2)  And then through his own experience, Paul testifies of God’s faithfulness to us in preparation for the battles we will face… “But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.  And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.  The Lord will rescue us from every evil attack and will bring us safely to His heavenly kingdom.  To Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”(2 Tim 4:17-18)

God did not put us on the earth in this extraordinary time by accident or without purpose.  NO – He placed us here for His divine purpose and as His precious children, He has FULLY equipped us by the Spirit for the tasks at hand.  The question for us in this Kairos time is: Will We Fearlessly Endure with Faith?  Or will we fearfully shrink back from faith? 
Remember – God never gave us a spirit of fear.  Instead He gave us His Spirit which is powerful, full of His love, and full of wisdom – reveals God’s will and giving us the mind of Christ so that by FAITH we can run with PERSEVERANCE the race that God has prepared for each one of us! 

There are at least 10 scriptures in the New Testament where our faith is linked to standing firm or persevering or enduring in our journey as followers of Jesus.  These aren’t often the popular scriptures, as we would rather hear that we can hide in our room and God will fight the battle for us.  Unfortunately, this is not the way God works.  He does fight for His people, but it is often tied to a command to ‘Stand Firm” in the battle.  Here are a few examples of what the Word says regarding this…

  • 1 Cor 16:13 – “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”
  • 2 Cor 1:24 – “Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.”
  • Phil 1:27 – “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.”
  • 2Thess 1:4 – “Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.”
  • 1 Tim 6:11 – “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.”
  • James 1:3 – “…because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

Over these past couple years, the Lord has been teaching us His ways, strengthening us for the battles to come, and preparing us for these “terrible times”.  The difficulties we face in life give us the opportunity to strengthen our faith in Jesus!  Our persevering and enduring muscles get stronger, so that we can continue to run and finish the race marked out for us!  I want to encourage us to evaluate what is of importance in our lives and to let go of the weights and hidden sins that are hindering our ability to run this race with perseverance.  If you are carrying any anxiety, fear, unforgiveness, sin, offenses, jealousy, doubt, selfish ambition, then you are carrying weight that you should never be carrying and your eyes are not FIXED on Jesus…the author and perfecter of your FAITH!  Don’t carry these waits for a moment longer – cast these things off…throw off these weights.  Give them to Jesus.  And don’t return back to them.  1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins (surrender them to Jesus), He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  This means that we give Jesus our weights and He is the one who is faithful to dispose of them!  But don’t go back and pick them up later.  🙂    As we empty ourselves of these weights, we will stand firm in the faith, fight the good fight and finish the race.  And we will receive a crown of righteousness! (2 Tim 4:7-8)

 If we do not stand firm in faith, we will not stand at all. (Is 7:9)

IMPORTANT SERVICE & WEEKLY INFORMATION:

WEDNESDAY NIGHT SERVICE (8/18)  6:45pm * 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 (8/18) – 7:00pm
Join us in the Student Auditorium!  Contact Pastor Kristi at kristi@therock.org with any questions.

1st Thursday of the Month (9/2) Hot Meals & Saturday Morning (8/21) Food Bank Distribution
https://www.therock.org/foodbank/
Email Lindy@therock.org if you have any questions or would like to volunteer.

SUNDAY MORNING (8/22) 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 (8/22) 9:45am  *In-Person & On-line* 
Facebook Live:  https://www.facebook.com/rockchurchco
The Rock Online Livestream:  https://www.therock.org/live/

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

OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE  If you would like to give to The Rock, here are some convenient ways you can partner with us 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


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