The Rock Church - Just A Thought

The Fruit of The Spirit

2011-08-28T00:33:37Z

I love a good piece of fruit. There is nothing like a fresh sweet Georgia peach in the morning, or Florida orange after a long run. But there is more to fruit than the pulp. The next time you slice a cantaloupe open notice all the seeds. See, while we enjoy the pulp or meat of the fruit, and benefit greatly from it, the fruit exists for the seed. Fruit is designed to reproduce. Now think with me for a minute about The Fruit of The Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. The Function of the Fruit of The Spirit is much like the pulp or meat of the fruit. Its function is to feed, to nourish, to satisfy, to supply, to energize. Fruit gives life to the body into which it is introduced. It produces life, energy, vitality, and vigor. The Fruit of the Spirit does the same thing in our spirits, it supplies the life of Jesus Christ to our souls. It nourishes, strengthens and encourages. However, we get shortsighted and think that is all there is. Like natural fruit, The Fruit of the Spirit contains the seed of the life of Christ. The Fruit in our life is meant to drop the seed of Christ’s life in others all around us. The Fruit of the Spirit is about the tangible, discernible, transforming reality of Christ in our everyday lives, and then the spreading of that seed into the lives others. So what Fruit are your producing in others; what seed are you dropping inside those around you?

This blog was taken from a message shared at TRC. To listen to the message, click here.

The Spirit and The Word

2011-08-19T20:25:58Z

Do you have any idea the extremes that the Holy Spirit went to in order to bring you God’s message in the form of The Bible, The Word of God? For example, are you aware that God used somewhere around 40 authors, writing in three languages to compose the Bible. He inspired and authorized each of them, overseeing them to make certain that the integrity of the message was maintained. Did you know that He called scribes who were so consumed with accuracy that they counted every single word and letter. They knew for instance that the Torah, or the first five books of the Hebrews Old Testament, contained exactly 400, 945 letters, that the middle word was the word “searched” in Lev 10:16, that the middle letter was in the Hebrew word translated “belly” in Lev 11:42. Did you realize that the Holy Spirit moved on a group of people living north of the Dead Sea to hide manuscripts in caves, and He kept them hidden and safe for centuries, until in 1947 when He led a little shepherd boy to find them. Since then the Holy Spirit has used scholars to verified the accuracy of what we now call the Bible, in large part because of these Dead Sea Scrolls. The question then is why? God did all this so that you and I could take the Bible in our hands and read it, fully confident that it is God’s message to us. He did it because He wants that message not just on the pages, but on our hearts.

This blog was taken from a message shared at TRC. To listen to the message, click here.

The Key to Abundance

2011-08-16T18:41:51Z

The Sea of Galilee and The Dead Sea are only about 65 miles apart from one another in Israel. But there is a world of difference between them. The Sea of Galilee is brimming with life. It waters are sweet, clear, and cool. It’s fisheries were prominent during the New Testament period and were famous throughout the Roman Empire. It’s shores were lined with a nearly continuous string of thriving settlements. The Dead Sea, on the other hand, is the antithesis of life. It’s waters are 7-10 times saltier than the oceans. Nothing lives in it; in fact, if you put salt water fish into The Dead Sea, they soon die. In antiquity it was known to some as the Stinking Sea, or the Devil’s Sea. The two seas have one striking similarity and one stunning difference, that being the Jordan River. This river flows into both of these bodies of water. It flows in the north end of the Sea of Galilee and out the south end. However, herein lies the difference. The Jordan River only flows into the Dead Sea; it never flows out. Nothing flows out of it. Do you get the irony and the analogy to abundance. Many people think abundance is about supply. Yes, supply is crucial. However, The Key to Abundance is not in the filling; it is in the flowing. It is what you allow to flow through you that gives you abundance, not what you can accumulate. If God can get it through you, He will get it to you. That’s The Key to Abundance.

This blog was taken from a message shared at TRC. To listen to the message click here.

Life In The Spirit

2011-07-26T15:38:53Z

Catchy phrase isn’t it, “Life In The Spirit”, sounds really spiritual, mysterious even. But it should not be. See, “Life in the Spirit” is meant to be lived out daily as part of a life truly separated to God. One of the best pictures of Life in the Spirit is found in a vision God gave Ezekiel. Christ, who is the man in the vision, shows him a river flowing from the temple of God, a river representing the Spirit of God. This river gradually got deeper and deeper until it was “water in which one must swim” (Ez 47:5). Many a sermon has concentrated on that phrase; hence some of the mystery. Perhaps we have missed the point. Read the story again and pay close attention to what happened. Four times Christ draws a line and each time Ezekiel says he “brought me through the waters” to that point. At each point Christ showed him something about that particular place. One was ankle deep, another knee deep, waist deep, etc. Then Christ brought Ezekiel through to the bank again and showed him incredible things about the places the Spirit of God flows. Seems to me that the point is not any certain place in the river; rather, it is that Ezekiel “look with his eyes, hear with his ears, and fix his mind on everything God was showing him.” (Ez 40:4) Yes, I certainly want to go deeper with God; but to go deeper I must daily set my eyes, ears, and heart on Christ and all He is showing me. That is Life In The Spirit.

This blog was taken from a message shared at TRC. To listen to the message click here.

Under Pressure

2011-07-19T20:08:27Z

Ever been under pressure and made a decision and then wonder, “What was I thinking?” There is a story in the Bible where a man named Aaron made that exact mistake (Exodus 32). Moses, their leader, had been away visiting with God for what seemed like an eternity. The people began to put pressure on Aaron to do something. “Moses could be dead for all we know! You have to do something!” So Aaron did that which was comfortable. He made a false god like the ones they were accustomed to seeing while slaves in Egypt. Very unwise. Fast forward a couple of days and Moses finds himself under pressure, pressure from the people because of their fear that God would no longer walk with them on their journey. What did Moses do? He pulled up his stakes, moved his tent outside the camp, and met with God, face to face. Instead of bowing to the pressure, Moses did that which was uncomfortable; and Moses heard from God. Very wise. If you are trying to live a life that is set apart for God, then there will be pressure. In those times you will be tempted to do that which is comfortable, to act according to what you know, to do what you know you can do. Or you can choose to do that which is uncomfortable and rely completely upon God. No, it is not comfortable, but it is wise. And when you are trying to live under pressure, you will do well to live by wisdom, rather by that which is comfortable.

This blog was taken from a message shared at TRC. To listen to the message click here.

Why A Separated Life Matters.

2011-07-13T17:32:40Z

Seems the trend in many Christian circles today is to be more and more like the world. The trend is anything but new; Paul addressed it over two thousand years ago in a letter to Corinth. There he called for the Christian to “be separated” (2 Cor 6:16-18), to be different. This was not about religion or legalism, but about walking in the fullness of God’s purpose for life. Paul highlights two powerful truths found in the person who will live a life separated or devoted to God. First, a separated life prepares us to welcome God. See, God promises to “dwell” with those who live a life devoted to Him. “Dwell” means to occupy a house in a fixed position or state. God does not just want to come by for a visit; He wants to stay. He is not interested in the guest bedroom; He wants the Master suite. God will dwell where there is a separated life. Secondly, a separated life prepares us to be welcomed by God. God will “receive” those who live devoted to Him. “Receive” actually means to take into one’s favor. God favors those who live a life devoted unto Him. Much been said about God’s favor, but little of it has to do with being different. Yet God says He favors those who live all out for Him. You want to live in God’s constant presence? You want to walk in God’s favor? A life that is decidedly lived for God will find the blessing of these powerful truths in it. That is why a separated life matters.

This blog was taken from a message shared at TRC. To listen to the message click here.

All Your Heart

2011-03-17T15:20:35Z

What does the saying “all your heart” mean to you? We use the phrase, “I love you with all my heart, I want this with all my heart, I am committed with all my heart.” But do we consider those words, their gravity, what they communicate? For example, Proverbs 3:5, a well quoted text, says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart…”. Trust, means to hide in for refuge. Heart, means the center of mind, will, and emotions. All, means the whole thing. So, how do you take all of your mind, will and emotions, the center of your being, and hide them in God as a refuge? We are given clues to help us in Proverbs 3. We are told to “not forget God’s teaching” and to “let our heart keep His commands.” We are told to “lean not unto our own understanding” and “in all our ways acknowledge Him”. We are also told to “not be wise in our own eyes.” Do you get the picture? You have to remember Him, listen to Him, follow Him, obey Him, lean on Him. And you must do so completely, totally. To trust the Lord with all your heart means, well... this is not Burger King, you cannot have it your way. You can certainly go your way, but your cannot go your way and trust Him. Many people quote this verse with great confidence that God is going to guide them. That certainly is true; however, if you want Him to direct your paths, you have to go His way. He is not the Burger King, He is the King of kings.

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Harvest Rain.

2011-03-10T16:04:31Z

What did you have for breakfast this morning: Cereal, Grits, Coffee, Oatmeal, Pancakes, Fruit, Donuts? Did you stop to think that God made some incredible things happen at just the right time, in just the right season, in just the right order for there to be a harvest so you could enjoy that breakfast: Rain, Germination, Pollination, Growth, Seed production, Fruit production? I just bet you the farmer thought about it all; rare is the unbelieving farmer. And a few generations ago we would all have thought about it. Today we have gotten so far removed from the planting/harvesting process that when we sit at the table we forget that God sends just the right rain, at just the right season, to produce just the right harvest. See, when God sends the rain, He always has harvest in mind. The same is true spiritually. When God sends spiritual rain, He always has spiritual harvest in mind. The point is that the disconnect between rain and harvest has made us less aware and less connected to what God is up to. When God begins to move in your life, when He breaks the drought and rain begins, when He begins to stir His Sprit within you and around you, it is for much more than playing in the rain. God sends just the right rain, in just the right season, for just the right harvest. So when God begins to rain, you begin thinking harvest. Pray for the harvest. Prepare for the harvest. Participate in the harvest.

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More Rain.

2011-03-03T19:16:00Z

The “Dust Bowl” of the 1930’s has always fascinated me. For decades farmers had plowed deep into the soil of the Midwest, yet without any techniques to prevent soil erosion. Then the drought of the 30’s hit. Without sufficient moisture the top soil literally turned to dust and blew away. I mean as far away as the East Coast; some experts even say much of the dust ended up in the Atlantic Ocean. Oh what the farmers of the Midwest would have done for more rain. Spiritual drought can be even more devastating than natural drought. It can turn what was once fertile ground for the Holy Spirit in your life into dust, then when the winds of life blow you can end up in places you never dreamed. So what brings more of God’s rain into our lives? Hosea chapter 6 tells us that two things increase God’s rain, especially in times of drought. First, “return to the Lord” and second, “know Him” and acknowledge Him. In short, being completely devoted and fully trusting in the Lord will bring more of the rain of His Spirit in your life. Do you feel that you have been plowed over by life? Does it seem that everything has turned to dust? How long has it been since you felt God’s rain? Turn to Him, trust Him, and “As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” (Hosea 6:3) Friend, God is ready to bring more rain.

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I Think I Hear Rain!

2011-02-24T20:00:00Z

One spring when I was about 10 years old, my family and I went fishing off of Rocky Ford Road. It was one of those days when the sun was shining bright but not hot and we were just catching fish like crazy. It was great. Breaking into the serenity of this day my mother said, “I think I hear rain” to which we all immediately responded, “No way, it is just your imagination.” A few minutes later we all heard it. Have you ever heard rain coming through the woods? It is a beautiful sound, that is of course unless you have wondered half a mile away from the truck while fishing. It came a thunderous downpour. We started running back to the truck, tripping and falling, sliding down in the wet mud. When we all finally piled into the truck, nobody said a word for several minutes. My mom broke the silence with “I told you I heard rain!” There is a similar story in the Bible. Elijah heard rain before he ever saw any sign of it. But once he heard it, then it did not matter what anybody else said, it did not matter what he saw, or did not see, in the sky, it did not matter how long it had been since it rained. All that mattered was Elijah heard rain. See, what you hear in the spiritual, predetermines what you will see in the natural. What are you hearing? What is God saying to you? What is over the horizon? Hold on to it, pray for it, believe for it because it is on the way. As for me, “I think I hear rain!”

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