The Rock Weekly – May 11, 2022

  • Wednesday Night Service – Tonight at 6:45 pm in the Sanctuary!
  • Become a Petitioner for Colorado Initiative #56 to protect the unborn.  Email Steve Gilbertson at Torah2Life@gmail.com for more information. Petitioner training this Sunday after the service.
  • Video Worth Watching. CLICK HERE.  I don’t usually share videos, but I felt this one was worth sharing. It gives great insight into the current situation with Roe v Wade and the Supreme Court. https://rumble.com/v144000-mat-staver-turning-the-tide-through-the-courts.html

 

 

Humility Is Our Battle Armor

Clothe yourselves with Humility. (1 Pet 5:5; Col 3:12)
When we are Humble, the Lord will strengthen us. (Is 41:10)
When we are Humble, the Lord will listen to our prayers. (Ps 10:17; 2 Chron 7:14)
When we are humble, the Lord will raise us up.  (Jam 4:10, 1 Pet 5:6)

Last week I titled the email “Begin Every Battle with Prayer”. Prayer is critically important for us and actually helps position us for what the Lord has on my heart as we get Battle Ready.  We must clothe ourselves with humility in order to fight the spiritual battles that are raging in this world – against the authorities, powers of this dark world, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Eph 6:12)  In this email, I want to focus on a vital piece of BATTLE GEAR we need in order to have victory over the battles we face.  Humility!  If we do not wear it, God will not strengthen us and will actually resist us…which will dramatically reduce our likelihood of victory.  But if we clothe ourselves with humility, our Almighty God will strengthen us, empower us, answer our prayers, and equip us with heavenly power to overcome the enemy!

Prior to 2020, much of the church would have given a head tilt to this comment.  They would have said, “What battle?  We are in a time of blessing and peace.”  But we have been tricked.  Much of the American church has been lulled to sleep over the years…especially throughout my generation and the one before me. We have lowered the defenses in our homes and families are being torn apart.  We have not trained up the next generation for spiritual warfare and they are getting hit from all sides. Drug and suicide rates are off the charts. There is a lack of understanding of identity…not only of gender, but of their spiritual origin – being from God and for God as children of God! We have lived our lives quiet to the silent cry of 60 million babies being killed in our nation over the past 50 years.  There have been isolated times of spiritual revivals and the Lord has moved in mighty ways, but this has been the exception and not the norm for the church.

In addition to not fighting the battles at-hand, the church took a more inward approach where they have worked to build up their programs and facilities. Church success became a “church growth” model focused on enticing Christians to leave another church and come to theirs. And in this, we have seen the majority of the injuries and hurts of Christians come from fights and battles within the church. It is to the point where most Christians in America today have been hurt, not by the outside world, but by the church at some point in their life.  As I write this, my heart is convicted and I want to sincerely apologize to ANYONE who I may have hurt in any way.  Please forgive us!  Isn’t it crazy that the enemy doesn’t even need to fight against us, because we are so busy (in pride) fighting in and amongst ourselves. This is not what Jesus intended for His church!

This brings us back to what the Lord has been impressing on my heart. We are in a time where we MUST NOW HUMBLE ourselves before God so that He will raise us up as overcomers. (James 4:10) We need God to intervene in the battles we are facing. We need God to strengthen and heal us as the body of Christ. We need the wisdom of Christ. For His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. (Is 55:9)  We need His incomparably great and divine power (Holy Spirit) working within our lives. (2 Pet 1:3 & Eph 1:19)  As we put on the nature and character of Jesus, we clothe ourselves with humility.  Jesus reminds us that if we separate the movement of our lives from Him, we can accomplish nothing. We must love Jesus and also have this love for others, or we will not remain in the love of Jesus. (Jn 15:5,10,12)  Humility is oneness with Jesus and with the body of Christ!  Note this…you don’t walk in humility by just loving Jesus. You must have that same love for others…a selfless love! (1 John 4:19-21)

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (Eph 4:2)

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves… In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” (Phil 2:3,5)

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Col 3:12)

 

Lord, May we be a people who humble ourselves as we are led by impulses of your Spirit.  May we always be motivated by love, always forgiving, never judging, and never offendable. May we live selfless lives as a light to the world through our humility expressed as compassion, kindness, gentleness and patience as we humbly value and love others above ourselves. AMEN

 

We love you!
Pastor Mike, Kristi, and your Rock Staff



 

IMPORTANT SERVICE & WEEKLY INFORMATION:

WEDNESDAY NIGHT WORSHIP & PRAYER SERVICE  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 – 7:00pm
Join us in the Student Auditorium! If you have any questions, email jaden@therock.org

 

Ember – Young Adults (Ages 18-29) – Friday Nights at 7:00pm
https://www.therock.org/ember/
Meet in the Chapel for a time of worship, prayer, teaching, and connection.

 

Saturday Morning Food Bank Distribution
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.