The Rock Weekly – May 20, 2026

  • Live Prayer With Israel w/ Worship – Saturday (5/30) 9-10:30am – Lighthouse Prayer Room

Go to www.therock.org/events for more information and other events

 

What We Hate Is As Important As Who We Love

“Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your strength.”  Deut 6:5

“Fear the Lord your God, serve Him ONLY and take your oaths in His name. Do not follow other gods, the gods of the people around you; for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and His anger will burn against you, and He will destroy you from the face of the land.” Deut 6:13-15

 

Hello Rock Family, 

So often we focus solely on “loving” God that we miss an important part of what Scripture is communicating. This command to love has two sides: it not only directs where the devotion of our hearts should be, but also establishes where our devotion should not be. 

To truly love God with ALL our heart, soul and strength, there can be NO competing love for anything else other than Him. 

“DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD OR ANYTHING IN THE WORLD.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in them. For everything in the world – the cravings (love) of sinful man, the lust (love) of his eyes, and the boasting (love) of what he has and does – comes not from the Father, but from the world.” – 1 John 2:15-16  (words in parenthesis are my addition)

After Jesus was baptized and fasted for forty days in the wilderness, Satan came to tempt Him by offering to give all the kingdoms and splendor of this world in exchange for worship to him.  Notice that Satan didn’t ask Jesus to stop loving the Father, he simply tempted Him to love and worship something else as well. Thankfully for us, Jesus resisted by quoting Deut 6:13 (stated above).   

Satan has not changed his strategy. One of his greatest lures in every generation is the temptation to love worldly treasure alongside God.  The temptations to idolize money, success, approval, pleasure, and worldly gain are REAL. They appeal to the desires of the flesh and become spiritually deadly when embraced. I want to reiterate that Satan is not asking people to completely reject God; he is just inviting them to also love something else.

The Apostle Paul warns in 1 Timothy 6:10 that the love of money and worldly things can lead people away from truth and faith, causing them to “pierce themselves with many sorrows.” Therefore, may we flee from these temptations and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness (1 Tim 6:11). 

May we not only LOVE God with ALL our heart, soul, and strength, but also HATE and DESPISE every worldly affection that seeks to compete for our devotion. 

“No one can serve two masters. Either he will HATE the one and LOVE the other, or he will be DEVOTED to one and DESPISE the other. You cannot serve both God and Money (worldly treasure).” – Matt 6:24

“The one who LOVES their life will lose it, while the one who HATES their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” – John 12:25

 

Lord Jesus, by Your Holy Spirit, help us to walk in whole-hearted devotion to You. Let the eyes of our hearts be single-focused so that we may be full of light and give no place to the darkness of this world. May we love You with ALL our heart, ALL our soul, and ALL our strength! Amen.

I love you and am praying for you often.
Pastor Mike and your Rock staff




 

IMPORTANT SERVICE & WEEKLY INFORMATION:

WEDNESDAY NIGHT WORSHIP & PRAYER SERVICE  7:00pm *Children’s Ministry available*
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 ~ ABIDE YOUTH (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 –
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.