Rhythm of the Father’s Love

Hi Rock Family!
*We are planning a shorter service this Sunday so we can go out together as ministers of reconciliation and ambassadors of Jesus! (2 Cor 5:18-20)  Would you pray and agree with us for a commissioning of the Father’s Love and a boldness of the Spirit to be led into the harvest field to reveal our Father’s love to those who are prodigals, hopeless, lost, poor, and oppressed.  This is His heart and He WILL answer our prayers!  Don’t miss these opportunities.  I promise to give you a full “refund” if you don’t have an amazing time.  🙂

**Sunday, July 4th – Family Picnic after the service.  We will provide BBQ sandwiches and hot dogs.  We kindly ask if those with last names starting with A-R to please bring a side dish and last names starting with S-Z to bring a dessert to share with everyone.  And invite others!

I believe the Lord has been releasing “waves” of preparation for His Church…His bride.  What has changed recently is the intensity and size of these waves.  They have begun to feel more like quakings and shakings in the earth, and in a sense, they are.  There is a washing, a cleansing, a purification of the bride that is required. (Ep 5:27)  What feels like an “attack”, may actually be the finger of the Lord as He writes on our hearts the very plans and purposes He has for this generation and the generations to come. (Heb 8:10)  We are entering a new era, a time like no other.  There is not a precedence for this.  We cannot do things the same way they have worked in the past or try and re-create a move of God.  This move is like no other move the world has ever experienced.  If we try and hold on to the “traditions” of the church, the traditions of what we know and are comfortable with, we will override the move of what the Spirit desires to do through us.  God is calling us to switch over to “autopilot” and allow His Spirit to lead – no matter the cost or how foreign these ways are to our thinking.  The “override”…which is going back to our understanding, will be counter to the ways of the Spirit and detrimental to those who chose this direction.  “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways from your ways and my thoughts from your thoughts.” says the Lord. (Isaiah 55:9)

Galatians 5:17 in the Passion Translation explains this “override…“When your self-life craves the things that offend the Holy Spirit you hinder Him from living free within you! And the Holy Spirit’s intense cravings hinder your self-life from dominating you! So then, the two incompatible and conflicting forces within you are your self-life of the flesh and the new creation life of the Spirit.”
Put another way, God says, “I will put my Spirit within you and MOVE you (lead you) to walk according to and follow my commands and have spiritual awareness to carefully see, know, and accomplish your ways and ordinances.” (Ezek 36:27)

For those who respond with a “yes” to this invitation, we are about to enter into an adventure and a journey that will blow our minds!  For those who have seen the movie Lord of the Rings, we are about to leave the Shire for the first time!  We are being called to now live and walk by the Spirit…without human reason or understanding.  We are to live in the rhythm of the Lord – of His Love, His plan, His ways.  Moses was leading God’s people through the wilderness to the promise land when he asked of the Lord, “Teach me your ways so I may KNOW you and continue to find favor with you.”  Moses and the Israelites went on an extraordinary journey when they left Egypt (The Shire).  As we say “yes” to the Spirit’s leading, we enter into a glorious journey that exceeds reasoning, understanding, and even our imagination.  And the Lord responds with two things.  First, He says, “My Presence will go with you.”  And then He gives a promise that comes out of His first statement… “I will give you rest.” (Ex 33:14)  

God’s plan for us isn’t to live by rules or traditions, but to live in His Presence and in that place we will remain in His rest.  However, “rest” isn’t a destination or an immobile state, it is a position of our mind and heart in the midst of accelerated Spiritual movement.  God’s peace given through the Spirit sets us in a position to overcome the immense battles with enemy forces that will face us as we take new territory.  He will give us His heart, which is a LOVE for people!  God’s will for us is to intimately move with the rhythm of His LOVE so that this LOVE overflows out to the world and becomes the motivation of every movement of our lives.  He gives us His Spirit for this purpose…to move us in the very same LOVE that moves Him!   This LOVE will override any fear that has held us back in past seasons.  This LOVE is the breaking force, the extreme light, the face of Christ, that obliterates all darkness!

ARE WE READY?
Lord – May our hearts and minds be in a position to MOVE with the Rhythm of the Father’s LOVE!

IMPORTANT SERVICE & WEEKLY INFORMATION:

WEDNESDAY NIGHT SERVICE (6/23)  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 (6/23) – 7:00pm
Join us outside the Student Auditorium for an outdoor service!  Also, Summer Camp is July 22-24 and is open for registration!  CLICK HERE.   Contact Pastor Kristi at kristi@therock.org with any questions.

1st Thursday of the Month (7/1) Hot Meals & Saturday Morning (6/26) Food Bank Distribution
https://www.therock.org/foodbank/
Email Lindy@therock.org if you have any questions or would like to volunteer.

SUNDAY MORNING (6/27) 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 (6/27) 9:45am  *In-Person & On-line*
Facebook Live:  https://www.facebook.com/rockchurchco
The Rock Online Livestream:  https://www.therock.org/live/

May we remain in the Father’s love and reveal Jesus to the world as we love others with an unfailing love!
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, COVID help, and our compassion/food bank.  Click on the following link or graphic.  www.therock.org/give

Need Prayer, Help, Feel Alone, or Disconnected?
Please email us at family@therock.org and put PRAYER, NEED HELP, or CONNECT ME at the top of your email.