The Rock Weekly – February 26, 2025
- TONIGHT: Regional Prayer & Worship Night – 7pm in the Chapel
- Family Breakfast this Sunday at 9am in the foyer
- Corporate Prayer & Fasting is coming up March 3rd – 5th!
- Corporate prayer & worship times: Mon (3/3) & Tues (3/4) at 5:30-7pm in the Chapel & Wed (3/5) at 7pm in the Chapel
- Sunday, March 9th – Baptisms. Email Family@therock.org
Prayer is the Essence of Life with Christ
Charles Spurgeon: “Prayer is the breath of heavenly life…the autograph of the Holy Ghost upon the renewed heart.”
Pastor Jim Cymbala (Brooklyn Tabernacle): “Prayer is the source of the Christian life, a Christian’s life-line…We are not New Testament Christians if we do not have a prayer life.”
You may have read the title of this email and thought of many other things that you would call the “essence” of our life with Jesus, and I would likely agree with you. However, if prayer leaves the life of a follower of Jesus, then I would strongly suggest that the follower will eventually leave Jesus. I believe we are seeing the Holy Spirit reintroduce prayer back into the heart of the Church in this opportune time, because the days are evil and the ‘end-time’ believers will not survive without it!
Jesus tells us that His church will be a House of Prayer! That should give us some insight into the importance of prayer. The negation of this statement would be that “without prayer, you are not part of the house of Jesus.” I know this is strong language, but my heart is to open our eyes to all we are doing and possibly begin to adjust our lifestyles to not only step up our prayer life, but also make it a priority in our walk with Jesus…both individually and corporately! Jesus tells us in Matthew 24 that “the love of most (followers of Jesus) will grow cold, but the ones who stand firm (in faith) to the end will be saved.” The ones who stand firm in faith will be those who live their lives in prayer, consistently listening and hearing the word of the Lord and engaging in prayers that align with heaven!
I would propose to you that your prayer life is indicative of your dependence on Jesus, your faith, and your relationship with Him. A life of prayer reveals our humility and need for a Savior and Lord; while a lack of prayer suggests self-reliance and spiritual complacency. We may say we are Christians, but true followers of Jesus are those who listen to His voice and then follow Him. (Jn 10:27) The Bible tells us, “The righteous will live by faith. And if they shrink back, I (God) will not be pleased with them.” (Hab 2:4, Rom 1:17, Gal 3:11, Heb 10:38) And Romans 10:17 tells us that, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing, by the word (utterance, that which is spoken) of Christ.” I find it interesting that God’s version of righteousness is based on those who live their lives by faith. It isn’t what we can do for God that matters. He isn’t looking for ones who can prophesy, drive out demons, or perform miracles. He is looking for those who humble themselves as a living sacrifice and renew their mind in prayer, so they can know God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will and then DO the will of God. (Matt 7:21-22 & Rom 12:1-2) This requires a life saturated with prayer which will propel us into the action of faith…the action of God’s will!
Lord, I pray that you light us up with the baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire. Would you set the burden of prayer in our hearts and minds and give us the 1 Corinthians 2 mind of the Spirit to know the thoughts of God and understand what God desires for us, that we may pray in words given us by the Spirit – expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. And from this place, may we pray and intercede by the Spirit with groans that words cannot express, in accordance with God’s perfect will! (Rom 8:26-27) Amen!
I love you and am excited to engage into a deeper prayer life with all of 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/
FOUNDATIONS CLASS – 6:00pm Wednesdays
Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/99757846764?pwd=Tm8zQ0JQWk1xeHFBcEU5anNFN1l4dz09
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
FOOD BANK DISTRIBUTION – 1st & 3rd Saturday of each 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.