Merry Christmas Rock Family!
It is December and the Christmas season is upon us. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year as we remember and celebrate the coming of our Lord in the form of a baby.
This year has presented us with many challenges already and in the coming days and weeks, there may be new ones on the horizon. It looks like things have the potential to get pretty “bad” relatively soon for people who claim Christ as their king. Regardless of the timeline of the coming persecution, we’re promised that it is coming. How can we prepare for it? What should we do when it comes? How can we prepare our children if the full-blown persecution comes after our time on earth is over? Before we address these things realize that this is not something that we should fear. We are told that we should practice our faith and walk out the things that we believe. Jesus told us that whoever is faithful in little will be faithful with much and whoever is not faithful with little will not be faithful with much. If we can’t prepare to fight in these times we have less of a chance of properly living when Christians’ property and lives are being taken.
So how do we live life in a way that’s pleasing to Him in light of our times? Let’s go to the word. Right at the onset of the Christmas story, the first chapter of Luke has Zechariah’s prophecy about his son, John the Baptist. This is what is says:
Luke 1:68-79 ESV Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath that He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
This year, as we’re moving into the celebration of Jesus’ first coming, we’re being bombarded with a lot of things that we’ve never had to deal with. But this year, as we have been doing, and for every other year until Jesus comes back, let’s prepare people’s hearts for the next coming of the King! Let’s remember what the Bible says in Ephesians 6 that our enemy isn’t flesh and blood and that we don’t have anything to fear as we move forward with the gospel.
Right after the prophecy, Zechariah gives we get some insight into the Christ child’s life. It says:
Luke 1:80 ESV “So the child grew and became strong in spirit…”
Jesus Himself said that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. So we need to get strong in the spirit! Let’s remember to feed ourselves a spiritual diet (not just the tasty holiday treats) that we can grow strong and healthy on. Let’s feed our families and nourish them with the pure milk of the Word of God so we can grow up healthy and strong enough for whatever comes in the future.
We want you to know that The Rock Church will continue through December as we have been with the church services and current children’s and youth church services that are open. (See our website for a full listing of times and availability for these services www.rockchurch.com There is a projected rise in Covid-19 cases and potential health orders and restrictions that may be coming from the state and the county so let’s continue to be responsible as we gather for church. That means the use of masks in shared spaces, physical distancing, three seats between households, and please make use of the hand sanitization stations and restroom facilities to wash your hands. We will do our part as a church to sanitize and disinfect shared surfaces throughout the week around the church service times. Also, if you are not feeling well and are exhibiting any symptoms please enjoy the church service on our online platforms and return when you are better. As we have been saying: “We don’t want to spread anything but the gospel!”
This Christmas season let’s purpose in our hearts to be fear-free. The God who came in the form of a baby, born in a manger, born to be our Savior and Deliverer, is the same God who is saving and delivering today. We can be free to celebrate and spread the good news that Jesus is alive and He is coming again!
Thank you for advancing the Kingdom and loving people to life. Merry Christmas!
Pastor Dan Roth
See our Christmas season schedule
Special Events www.rockchurch.com/events/Christmas Children’s Ministry: Wednesdays at 7 pm for 2nd to 6th grade and Sundays at 9 am, 11 am, and 1:30 pm (Spanish) for 2-year-olds to 6th grade. Youth Ministry: Wednesdays at 7 pm and Sundays at 9 am, 11 am, and 1:30 pm for 7th to 12th graders.
