The Rock Weekly – October 11, 2023

    • Tonight – Prayer & Worship – 7pm in the Chapel.  Growing in the Word – 6pm in the Prayer Room.
    • Every Tuesday Morning, 7-8am – Prayer & Worship in the Chapel
    • Square One – Tuesday from 9-11am on 10/24, 10/31, 11/07, and 11/14 – a place where moms of little ones find friendship, mentorship, acceptance, and encouragement, while seeking God’s guidance for laying a strong spiritual foundation for their families.  RSVP  
    • Sunday, Oct 29th.  Special guest Leif Hetland and worshiper Jake Hamilton will be joining us!
    • REFRESH Conference 10/26-10/28 at Bridgeway Church Tickets are Free. REGISTER 

    The WAR on SIN!

    This past Sunday, we declared war on sin in the church and have made a determination to live our lives according to the standard that is set by God and not by mankind. If you missed the service, I would encourage you to watch it.  And although I feel the zeal of the Lord over this, I will say that I am not 100% sure what exactly ‘declaring war on sin’ means.  Sometimes we step out in faith, hearing His voice, and then He responds.  In this process, God is bringing His Church to a crossroads…to a ‘valley of decision’ where we are either going to decide to go after Truth and the standard set by God and His Word or we are going to decide to go our own way, making exceptions to the Word of God, and making up our own determination of what is right and what is wrong.  We see this warned of in 2 Timothy 3:1-9 and 2 Timothy 4:3-4.  Pause here and read these Scriptures.  Paul is warning Timothy and us of what is to come and I believe what is now upon us!  That many people will choose to love the pleasures of this world rather than to be lovers of God (and we can’t do both! – 1 Jn 2:15) and many people will determine in their hearts not accept the truth of the Bible, but will purposely turn away from truth and align themselves with what justifies their desires and lifestyle.  This is not a time that is coming…it is a time that is here now!

    For this letter, I want us to focus on Ephesians 5:1-3, 5-6, 11-17 as a guide to how we will win the war on sin.  Open your Bible to Ephesians 5 and follow along as you read on.

    (Vs 1-3) Paul starts by telling the Church to be a people who imitate God.  Note that he doesn’t say, ‘Act a little like God, but you can sin a little, because it is really tough to walk like God.’  NO!  He says straight out, ‘Live your life like God.’  This is similar to Peter’s statement in 1 Peter 1:15, “ Just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.” Paul then explains in verse 2 what this means… “Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us…”  But Paul doesn’t end there.  He then comes against sin in the Church saying, ‘Among you, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.’  Notice that Paul is not allowing any room for the Church to tolerate sin…’not even a hint’!  Whatever sin we concede to as an acceptable tolerance, if not eventually dealt with, will eventually dominate our life and lead to physical and spiritual death and no inheritance in the Kingdom of God.  That is a serious repercussion!

    Eph 5:5-6 “For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.”

    If we love people in their sin without giving them the truth to get out, then we are loving them with the love of this world that will take them to hell.  If we truly love those who are walking in sin with the love of Jesus, we will speak truth and risk the chance of offense or more to call them out of their sin.  There is a veil that blinds the minds of those walking in sin, but truth sets people free (John 8:32)!

    (Vs 11-14)  Paul reiterates here to, “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness (sins), but rather expose them…everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible.  That is why it is said: Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”  Paul is telling the Church that if you are in sin, don’t hide it, but expose it to the light…the light of Jesus! This is where GRACE comes in.  When we confess our sins and repent and turn from our sin, God brings in the ‘nuclear sin bomb’ and wipes out ALL the sin that is exposed to the light!  1 John 1 says, God forgives our sins because the blood of Jesus purifies us from ALL sin and all unrighteousness.  This is probably the hardest part to understand with our minds.  It is mind blowing that we serve a God who hates sin so much, because it separates His children eternally from Him, that He would send His only Son, to die a sacrificial death, so that we could live again eternally through His Son Jesus! NOW THAT IS AMAZING LOVE!

    (Vs 15-16) And so now having this grace from Jesus to overcome sin, Paul goes on to now warn us, after having our sins wiped out, that we are to, “Be very careful, then how you live your life – not as unwise, but as wise (having the mind of the Spirit), making the most of every opportunity, being fully aware that the days we are in are evil.”  Paul says this another way in Romans 6:15-18.  In summary this says, Don’t think that grace will keep you from a life of sin. You are to be obedient to the Lord and live righteously. For if you live with sin, you will become a slave to sin and that leads to death.

    Lord, may we not allow the foolishness of the world to entice us into sin, but may we live our lives being filled with the Spirit. Strengthen us to not only live a life of righteousness and holiness, but to share the truth with others and therefore love them with the same love of Christ that is able to set people free from sin and death.  May you give us a Spirit of wisdom and revelation to understand what God’s will is and give us the strength to walk in it.  And may we be innocent of the blood of all, because we did not shrink back or hesitate from declaring the whole truth and will of God. (Acts 20:26–27)  I love you all!

    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.