THE SCOOP WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
January 27, 2024 / Vol. 4 Southside Church of Christ 800 Elmira Avenue Durham, NC 27707 info@sside.org www.sside.org 919.688.3535 STAFF Orlander R. Thomas Senior Minister William A. Stephens Minister Emeritus Wiley Shearin, Jr. Elder Emeritus D’Andrea Fanning Candice P. Blount Church Administrator Quentella Williams Executive Assistant DEACONS John Alcox Anthony Green, Sr. Arthur Hackney John Mathis Chester Mayfield, Jr. Roger McDougal Joe Williams Keith Wright
WEEKLY WORD
You Are Inalienably Endowed with Power From GOD By RICKI FULLER
Genesis 1:26-27 reveals every human being’s identity is derived from GOD, Who Created heaven and earth! Our very essence is birthed from the will/command of our Strong GOD Who is interpreted by scholars as Elohim as seen in Genesis 1:1 (el: strength/strong). Many of us have been taught, and can quote by memory Genesis 1:1, and verses 26 through 27. Since those Scriptures are indelibly imprinted in our minds, a necessary query is whether we human beings truly believe in our hearts/minds that we are innately bearers of GOD’s Image as stated in the verses that many of us have memorized? And, another question becomes evident as to why many of us do not live our lives as though we believe we are GOD’s Image? It has been studied and concluded by social and psychological scientists that imprinting usually starts at birth. Imprinting studies have revealed that humans and other animals tend to mimic the sounds, actions, behaviors of their parents or other adults (caretakers) or even older siblings. Hence, many of us who have been taught Biblical truths are endowed/equipped with the necessary tools to live according to GOD’s Will (whether at the infancy of our physical births or the infancy of our mental, moral, religious developments). Similarly, and possibly causing contrast, a clause written in the United States Constitution declares that all ‘men’ are created equal by their Creator with certain inalienable rights … life, liberty, pursuit of happiness. Could it be that many of us do not victoriously live as designed/commanded by GOD because the imprints in our minds have been thwarted/transformed by inhumane experiences thrust upon us due to societal/political inequities and spiritual wrongs/lies? If so, it is high time TODAY that we allow the Holy Scriptures to be reimprinted in our minds/hearts.
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NOW is the time we live as GOD’s offsprings! Beloved, from the beginning, we Are inalienably endowed with GOD-power to overcome negatives that have crept into our minds due to inequalities/hatreds experienced by millions of our relatives for hundreds of years! By creative nature, because of GOD/Elohim we are strong! PERIOD. Paul conveyed it in Romans 12:2: “And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].” Jesus proclaimed that He had/has overcome the whole world, and He declared followers to be in Him per John 14, 15 and 17! Therefore, we cannot be defeated! Romans 8 serves to remind us of who we are, and the depth of our blessedness. We are co-heirs/co-overcomers with Christ! We have HolySpirit empowering us in a plethora of ways. Thank You Lord for enabling/empowering us to overcome negative strongholds!
“So God created mankind in his own image” -Genesis 1:26
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