Hey, all you overcomers out there! Look alive,because you don’t want to miss what’s coming up!  Keep reading to find out.

Sometimes it’s nice just to have everything go as planned.  I enjoyed that last Sunday.  I also appreciated Priscilla’s quiet exhortation to listen for the Holy Spirit’s leading and then obey.  That last worship song was great.  I hope you were blessed by the message as well, because I was surprised by the joy I found in sharing it with you.  Something special is beginning to happen among us, and I pray that we will come together in unity to accomplish His mission for our church.

When next we meet, Linda will have something special to share with us and I will be continuing our study of Jesus’s messages to the seven  churches.  We will examine the message to the church in Philadelphia.  No, not the one in Pennsylvania.  🙂 This is the original Philadelphia, named for two founding brothers who showed uncommon devotion to each other.  Thus comes the name meaning city of brotherly love.

This is one of the churches for which Jesus had no stern words.  He praised them for having a little power, faithfulness, and obedience.  Furthermore, he promises them reward.  He does not make clear what specific form these rewards would take.  Some scholars have interpreted this passage as a statement of things to occur just before His return, but to do so violates the consistency of the broader text.  The messages we have already considered were clearly meant for the time in which they were given.  There is no reason to change direction here other than the difficulty of understanding the text in the same light.  Finally, he ends as before with a promise to the overcomer.  It is a message of permanence and belonging.  Come explore this with us and be blessed!  The text is found in Revelation 3:7-13.

Remember each other in your prayers as we finish the week.  Let each other know that you care.  The prayer requests will give you a chronicle of all that we have faced lately.  I also know that Priscilla is not feeling well right now.  Remember the Potts family and their current house guests and pray for a resolution that is good for all.

See you Sunday.

Love y’all,

Larry