The Rock Weekly – March 15, 2023

  • Prayer & Worship Tonight at 7pm in the Chapel.
  • We will NOT have Growing in the Word tonight.
  • Dr. Ben Carson will be at The Rock Thursday, 3/23 at 6:45pm.  NO signup or cost, but come early for seating.

Upside-Down Preparation

When God prepares us for a task, He strips away our ability to do it our way or to accomplish the task in our strength, so that we rely on Him and He gets the glory.  When we do it our way, without humility, we end up serving man and not God!

We believe strongly that the Lord is preparing His church for the greatest outpouring of the Spirit the world has ever seen.  It is coming soon.  We don’t know when, but the birth pains have begun.  “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.” (Matt 24:7-8)   With this, the Lord is preparing His people and asking His people to prepare and be prepared. 

However, the mindset of most believers in the church is that in order to be prepared, we must be at our strongest and have the things in place so that we can help God.  But what the Lord has been revealing to His Church is that He is more interested in the preparation of hearts, than in the preparation of bodies, minds (head knowledge), and resources.  He is looking for those who are humble in heart and will depend completely on the Lord and not on their own strength, resources, wisdom, successes, or ways. 

Here are a couple “proof” examples in the Bible:

  • When Joseph stepped in as the 2nd in command over the most powerful nation in the world under Pharaoh, there was no preparation other than the preparation of Joseph’s heart. And in a single day, the Lord gave heavenly strategies to Joseph, unmerited favor, and the authority to rule over Egypt.

  • When Moses took the Israelites out of Egypt, they had no resources and no plan.  Yet the wealth of the nation of Egypt was given to them in a single day and they were sustained with water from a rock, food from heaven, clothes that didn’t wear out, and a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night to guide them.  Every bit of their success was because of God and He wanted them to know it! And one thing we know about Moses is that “Moses was the most humble man on the face of the earth!” (Num 12:3) He wasn’t always that way. The Lord had to prepare his heart in humility for the assignment at hand.

  • When the Lord called Gideon to lead His people out of captivity, Gideon was able to bring together 32,000 in his own ability, and then the Lord, with two ‘whacks’, whittled his army down to 300 men before they overtook 135,000 enemy soldiers!

  • The 12 and 72 disciples that Jesus sent out were not allowed to take anything with them for their assignment to go and preach the gospel, heal the sick, and cast out demons.  “Take nothing for the journey – no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic.” (Luke 9:3) They were completely unprepared, but their hearts were prepared!

  • And the only time Jesus describes His heart to us is with these two words – Gentle and Humble.  (Matt 11:29)

Our preparation for the Lord’s tasks is to prepare our heart before the Lord. If we are up for the task, it is likely that the Lord will strip away things in our life that we think are necessary to complete the assignments He has for us.  Don’t hold too tightly to the things of earth that have no value in heaven…and this includes our talents and giftings! The Lord is not concerned about what we can do for Him, how well we can preach, our ability to gather a crowd, or even how articulate we are with our prayers.  He is looking for those who will lay it ALL down and depend on His Spirit, with eyes on Him, ears attentive to His voice, and learning to follow Him with wholehearted devotion and radically obedient love!

Lord, May we have a heart like David, a heart after your heart!  Show us your ways O Lord and teach us your paths. Guide us in your truth and teach us, for you are God our Savior, and all our hope is in you all day long.  For you guide the humble in what is right and teach us your way. And all your ways are loving and faithful for those who keep your covenant and decrees. (Psalm 25:4-5,9-10)

I love you all and am so grateful to walk with men, women, and children who are humble in the sight of God!

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.