Posts

Bulletin for 10-2-22

Birthdays and Anniversarie

None this week

Prayer requests:

Sharon Best, Steven’s mom, her cancer seems to have returned in liver, aggressive chemo planned.

Chloe Birdwell, relative of the Weeks’s, great improvement, in extended care now. Keep praying, please!

Bobbie Taylor, has gall bladder problems. Surgery to be scheduled.

Paul Tyler has a bad sort Parkinson’s. Please pray for him, his family and friends.

Tonita, Paul’s friend, heart valve replacement needed

Dianthia Grubbs, has been having some stomach problems

J R Medellin, Tiffany’s (Chance) husband, still doing well. Vanessea is doing well after her surgery.

Shirley Weeks, Steve’s mom, continues to have trouble.

Leslie Girvin, had a fall and sprained both wrists, 6-8 weeks recovery.

Sarah, Chris Girvin’s sister, on hospice care

Robert and Sue Waller, health issues

Darla Nitti, Wendi’s mom, not doing well.

Leta, has a recurring cancer, prayer request from her granddaughter via our website.

Tammy Jones, Weeks’ neighbor, kidney failure/dialysis

Sympathy: Please remember the family of Darlene Hollingsworth in your prayers. Her son, Jonathan, is on David’s Special Olympics team. She passed away and services will be held this week.

Article:

A message to your church

If Jesus wrote a message to your church, what would it say?

In the Revelation of Jesus Christ, our Lord gave seven messages to seven churches. These churches, located in the province of Asia, were the initial recipients of the whole letter John penned (Revelation 1:4, 11).

John received a startling vision of the Lord. The authority of the Holy One to send these messages is established by the description John gave (Revelation 1:12-16), and the declaration Jesus made (Revelation 1:17-20)..

Jesus knew these churches. To each of them, he began with, “I know.” He is the one who “holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands” (Revelation 2:1). Jesus knows who his people are, both collectively and individually, and he sees their labor for him.

Each message was individualized. Each drew upon the unique nature of the particular community among whom the saints dwelt.

Ephesus was hard-working, persevering, intolerant of evil, discerning, and enduring. From the outside they would seem to be ideal. But their motivation was lacking. They had left their first love and needed to repent.

Smyrna was suffering and poor in the eyes of their community. They were slandered by self-described Jews. But in the eyes of the Lord they were rich, praise-worthy, and victorious. Jesus encouraged faithfulness at the cost of death. He conquered death, and promised the same to them.

Pergamum shared a ZIP code with Satan. The seat of emperor worship was located there. The pressure to deny Jesus would have never relented. Even though they saw one of their own killed, they held firm to Jesus’ name and did not deny his words. Yet they were tolerant of those who proposed compromise. Food was scarce, peer-pressure was harsh. Some among them were willing to go along with the demands to worship the emperor. For the sake of these compromisers the congregation needed to repent. Jesus would provide the nourishment and the freedom that truly mattered.

Thyatira was working, loving, faithful, and growing. But some were tolerant of sexual immorality and idolatry. Some needed to repent, while others needed to hold fast. Jezebel was once a queen, but Jesus is the true king, and he grants his authority to those who conquer.

Sardis had a name of usefulness, but to Jesus they were dead. Most were not serving Jesus, but there were still a few “names.” Remember, Jesus knows who his people are. He knows their names. If you are his, he knows your name. While many garments had been soiled, some were walking with white garments. They were worthy.

Philadelphia was small and held in contempt by many, but Jesus was proud of their faithfulness. Those who were vexing them would one day bow before them. He tells them to hold on, keep your crown, and receive the name of God, the name of the church, and the name of the Lord.

Laodicea was not useful. They were not hot like the springs in Hierapolis, nor were they cold like the refreshing water in Colossae. These Christians took the temperature of their city instead of changing it. They thought they had everything they needed, but they were lacking everything of importance.

Jesus knew all these Christians. He loved each of them. The promise he made to Laodicea is one of the sweetest promises we can imagine: Open the door and have fellowship, conquer this life and reign for eternity.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne” (Revelation 3:21).

Jesus implores everyone to hear what he says to the churches (Revelation 3:22).

If Jesus directed a message to your congregation, what would it say? If he wrote one directly to your heart, what would the message be?

Lee Parish, link to original article