Rushing Grove Pentecostal Church

06/01/2026

Our Protector
June 1, 2026

No matter what dangers lie ahead, our strong and faithful God will guide us to safety.

Psalms 121:1-3
1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

Psalm 121 describes the safety that is found in the Lord. Today and tomorrow, we’ll look at several verses to better understand how we are truly secure in God.

“I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord” (vv. 1-2). When this psalm was written, robbers hid in the mountains, waiting for travelers to become their unsuspecting victims. Not only that, but wild animals also posed a threat.

Our lives can be like mountainous territory. Do you wonder what dangers lurk in the future? Thankfully, the Lord is our helper; He is able to protect us, regardless of what lies ahead. He knows everything and has all the power necessary to rescue us.

“He will not allow your foot to slip” (v. 3). God has provided everything we need in order to avoid sin. The Holy Spirit directs and empowers us, and the Word lights our path. Yet at times, we choose to sin. Even then, He upholds us, enabling us to walk in His way.

These opening verses focus on the Lord’s ability to protect us. Whether trouble originates with others, external circumstances, or our own sin, we can find ourselves in danger and at risk. Thankfully, we have a loving Father who leads us to safety.

06/01/2026

05/31/2026

A Love That Transforms
May 31, 2026

Loving difficult people isn't natural, but it's one of the ways others see Christ in us.

Matthew 5:43-45
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
If we responded simply from natural impulses, we’d be kind to those who are kind to us and vengeful toward those who hurt us. It’s human nature.

Jesus clearly teaches us to love even our enemies. And He lived out what He taught: Christ loved us enough to die for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8-10). He offered His love without waiting for us to be deserving of it.

When we respond to hostility with love, something remarkable happens. First, the Father is pleased, which brings His children joy, peace, and deep satisfaction. Second, we get to watch how God moves in the relationship. Sometimes hearts soften. Sometimes reconciliation happens. Sometimes we simply become more like Jesus in the process.

There’s also an internal transformation. We become aware that the Holy Spirit is working from within, enabling divine love to flow through us in ways we couldn’t manufacture on our own. Galatians 5:22-23 lists nine qualities of spiritual fruit that He produces in believers—and love is the first one mentioned.

Loving difficult people isn’t natural—it’s supernatural. And it’s one of the clearest ways others see Christ in us.

05/31/2026

Scripture Verse for Sunday, May 31st:

05/30/2026

How to Love Others
May 30, 2026

When we rely on the Holy Spirit, we can love even the unlovable.

Matthew 22:35-40

Jesus told the disciples, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 7:12). This is commonly called the Golden Rule, and most of us would probably agree that, in theory, it’s a good foundation for a healthy relationship. In practice, though, the principle is tough to live up to consistently.

It’s easy to love when others treat us well. But how do we respond when their behavior is hurtful or unpleasant? The truth is, Jesus meant for us to love others all the time, not just when they’re lovable. Regardless of their attitude toward us, we are to think about the relationship qualities we value—like loyalty, trust, encouragement, forgiveness, acceptance, and protection—and let these flow from us toward the other person.

When we care for others in the way the Lord prescribes, relationships thrive and deepen. Loving as Jesus commanded is impossible on our own, but the good news is, we don’t have to do it alone. The Holy Spirit lives in us and empowers us to love in ways we never could by ourselves.

Consider how you hope others will treat you—with kindness, patience, and grace. Ask God to show you one relationship where He wants to work through you today, and trust Him to provide what you need to love as Jesus loves.