The Rock Weekly – March 27, 2024

  • Tonight – REGIONAL Prayer & Worship Night! @ 7pm in the Chapel or via livestream.  Growing in the Word – 6pm in the Prayer Room or via Zoom. See links below. 
  • This Sunday is Easter Sunday! – “Behold The Lamb of God”, Service at 9:45am.  And come early for complimentary family photos! Photos also available after the service.
  • Monthly Fasting – 3 Days of Corporate Prayer & Fasting this Mon-Wed (4/1-4/3)
  • Sunday (4/14) – Rob Morris of Love 146 will be our special guest speaker. Mark your calendar!

New Seasons Cause Change

Song of Songs 2:11-13 TPT  “The season has changed, the bondage of your barren winter has ended, and the season of hiding is over and gone. The rains have soaked the earth and left it bright with blossoming flowers. The season for singing and pruning the vines has arrived. I hear the cooing of doves in our land, filling the air with songs to awaken you and guide you forth.  Can you not discern this new day of destiny breaking forth around you?  The early signs of my purposes and plans are bursting forth. The budding vines of new life are now blooming everywhere. The fragrance of their flowers whispers, “There is change in the air.”  Arise, my love, my beautiful companion, and run with me to the higher place.  For now is the time to arise…”

A week ago, Tuesday, the season officially changed from winter to spring.  I love spring, because it is a season where things go from looking dead to new life…things change!  The birds begin to sing, the trees get new leaves, and we begin to see new growth on the ground.  Although we know when the four seasons will take place, there are seasons and times in life, both spiritually and physically, that shift unknowingly to us.  “For it is God who changes times and seasons. It is God who deposes leaders and raises up others, and it is God who gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning!” (Daniel 2:21)

When God changes a season, our job is to be like the Sons of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what to do!  (2 Chron 12:32)  We are to let go of the former ways (the old wine) and not continue in past mindsets. (Isaiah 43:18)  Instead, we are to be transformed (from old to new) by a continual renewal of our mind by the Spirit in order to know God’s ways for the new season. (Rom 12:2)  For it is by the Spirit that we are able to know, test, and confirm God’s good, pleasing and perfect will…the new season.

Pastor Andrew did a fantastic job last Sunday of describing the shift in seasons we are feeling the Lord take us out of and into.  To reiterate: When Moses took the Israelites out of Egypt…from captivity to freedom, everything changed!  Before they were slaves and the Egyptian leaders told them what to do, but now they were free from captivity and their leading was a cloud by day and fire by night. It was a supernatural season of having clothes that didn’t wear out, having water that poured out of a rock, and food that just showed up every day.  But then God brought them abruptly into a New Season.  Moses died and Joshua became the new leader.  With only 3 days of notice, after 40 years of a past season, Joshua led the Israelites from the wilderness into the Promised Land by crossing the Jordan river that was at flood levels.  And as they crossed over, EVERYTHING CHANGED!  No more water from a rock. No more manna from heaven. And no cloud by day or fire by night to lead them. Can you imagine following a cloud by day and a fire by night for 40 years, and then all of a sudden, you are told that in 3 days you are going to get up and cross the Jordan river and enter into an entirely new and unknown land with lots of enemies.  I’m sure they were thinking, ‘This can’t be right. Aren’t we supposed to only follow the cloud and the pillar of fire?’ But God was shifting them into a new season of conquering kingdoms and taking territory in the land promised to their forefathers.  And this required that they remain strong and courageous, meditating on God’s Word day and night and obeying everything written in it. They responded with trust and obedience and experienced the miraculous power of God as they stepped into new territories and conquered 31 enemy kingdoms! Obedience and faith in Jesus are paramount to our success in shifting seasons!  

One last thought as we approach Easter Sunday.  As the Israelites were given 3 days to prepare and on the 3rd day they crossed the Jordan and everything changed…Jesus died and on the 3rd day He resurrected and EVERYTHING CHANGED!   We went from an Old Covenant into a New Covenant! And now we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ and have the confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus! (Heb 10:14,19)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Cor 5:17 

We are into a shifting season and change is in the air.  As we prepare to celebrate the Resurrection Day of our Savior, may we meditate on God’s Word and walk in radical faith and obedience to our King Jesus!  

All praise and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb! 

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/

 

GROWING IN THE WORD – 6:00pm Wednesdays
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7709609677?omn=83428418208

 

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.