The Rock Weekly – October 5, 2022

  • Wednesday Night Prayer & Worship Service – Tonight at 7:00pm in the CHAPEL!
  • Growing In the Word tonight at 6:00pm in the Prayer Room (behind the Sanctuary)
  • Register for Communion Colorado this Saturday, Oct 8th, at the World Arena! www.communioncolorado.org
  • Baptisms on Oct 23rd. Email Family@therock.org

 

First Love Into First Works

“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil…and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” 

Revelation 2:2-5 NKJV

 

I believe the Lord is speaking through Revelation 2 to His church in America (and to each of us individually) in this time we are in right now!  Jesus tells us that He knows our works, our labor, our patience and persistence that is for His name’s sake. But then He moves on to give a heads-up that we have left our FIRST LOVE – our most important Love.   And this is followed by correction to repent and do the FIRST WORKS and then a warning that if we do not adhere, Jesus will come and quickly remove the church (or ministry) from its place.

There is a shaking right now that is bringing an awakening to the church.  Jesus LOVES His bride and longs to be with her, but His bride will only be those who remain/abide in Him and remain in His love (Jn 15:5,6,9) and know Him and do the Father’s will. (Matt 7:21)   We may be good at “doing things for the Lord”, but that is not what Jesus asks of us.  We must return to our First Love in order to do the First Works!  This can’t be done in reverse order!   Let me say it this way, the Lord wants His church (lampstand) to burn for Him, but without His love in us (oil of intimacy), our lampstand will just burn out!  And burned-out lampstands get removed.

So how do we get this oil?  Jesus tells us “apart from me you can do NOTHING.” (Jn 15:5)  Likewise, the Word tells us that without love we are nothing. (1 Cor 13:2)  Have we really taken the time to contemplate what Jesus is saying?  Sadly I have begun to realize that many things I have strived to do throughout my life ‘for Jesus’ have accounted for nothing, because they didn’t come from a place of abiding intimately in His love!  I don’t want another minute of my life (or yours) to be meaningless because we are not abiding in His love and lacking oil and burning out instead of burning brightly!

I pray that we make it our FIRST priority to get the oil of intimacy (time with Jesus…to receive His love) so that our lampstand can be filled with His love-oil and then burn with a bright light so that our lives reveal the Love of Jesus to everyone!  The most important command of Jesus to believers is this: Love each other! (Jn 13:34 & Jn 15:17)  I would propose that this is FIRST WORKS that comes from our FIRST LOVE!  And if we love each other, the other commands will come quite easily.  Of course we will be witnesses of Jesus and of course we will go and tell people about Jesus and disciple them and teach them and pray for their healing…And of course -raise the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit!  (I had to put that in there. 😊)

I wish I could say that once we achieve this, we graduate from it. But that is not the case. We are in a continual pursuit of His love…His oil.  This is the abiding/remaining in His love that comes by First Works… “those who obey His commands remain in His love.” (Jn 15:10)  This is why Jesus tells us to keep our eyes on Him! (Heb 12:2)  

Lord – May the oil of intimacy (FIRST LOVE) with Jesus be so full in us that love (FIRST WORKS) oozes out of every cell of our body to those around us!   

Our lives for His glory!

We love 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.