OUTHSIDE SCOOP WEEKLY
IT’S FALL YA’LL!
EDITION 41
12 NOVEMBER 2023
BULLETIN
IT’S THE SAME, FOR SURE! KNOW This; You Are Included! By Sis. Ricki Fuller Due to our human estate being riddled with the potentiality to regularly sin, it appears that many of us tend to forget who we are and Whose we are. Case-in-point, as we focus on ‘Restructure’ this month, undoubtedly at some time or another, many of us find ourselves not feeling or believing we can actually be ‘the habitation’
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 Ricki Fuller Women’s Counselor Candice P. Blount Church Administrator Quentella Williams Executive Assistant
of GOD.
Here’s encouragement for us to KNOW, with a surety, through the magnificent life and ministry of Jesus Christ, that Father GOD decidedly made us His abode-His dwelling placeHis habitation in cooperation with Holy Spirit! As recorded in John 14:16-17, we read Jesus’ promise that Inhabitant/Paraclete/Comforter/Holy Spirit would accompany His believing followers. Each one of us who believe and follow Christ’s precepts have been made (and continue to be) His temple (collectively and individually)! Thinking about that (selah-ing) brings shouts of gratitude and joy! (See I Corinthians 6:19-20) At the points of confessing belief that Jesus Christ Is The Son of GOD, and of being baptized into Him, we become His dwelling place-His temple through whom He shines out to the rest of the world. Regardless of what pictures/concepts people of the world toss to us about their perceptions of us, we are GOD’s children/habitation. Hence, what the evil world says or does has absolutely no bearing/influence with us. This is true because it is made abundantly clear in both John 10:28 and Romans 8:37-39 that we are safe in GOD’s (Father-Son-Holy Spirit) care! We cannot be snatched/plucked out of His hand. PERIOD! This month’s reference scripture stresses that GOD’s grace is rich toward us in that He has saved us and made us free through Christ to be His ambassadors. Not only that, but on a spiritual note, He makes us sit in heavenly places with Christ Who makes intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25). And, also, Holy Spirit makes intercession for us (Romans 8:26)! With all that said, hopefully we can see GOD’s Love at work for us and in us! Prayerfully, we can see/sense and acknowledge how powerful and all-encompassing GOD’s Grace is in our lives. Through the agency of Jesus Christ, we have been restructured and are continually being in the state of being restructured. Yes, He wants us to know that there is nothing that can separate us from Him especially since we have both Christ and Holy Spirit
Deacons John Alcox Anthnoy Green, Sr. Arthur Hackney John Mathis Chester Mayfield, Jr. Roger McDougal Joe Williams Keith Wright
praying for us and intervening on our behalf. Look at Ephesians 6:12-13 to see one of the reasons why intercession is consistently being made for us. Hallelujah! Commensurately, the unity/union in GOD showers the same grace to us individually and collectively. View some lyrics from William Murphy’s song entitled ‘Same Grace’: “After all that I’ve been through, I’ve got a story to tell you, He wouldn’t let the devil consume me, Because GOD knew He could use me… He’ll do the same for you… ‘Cause He’s given you the same grace.” Beloveds, there’s a grace on your life to release the glory of GOD! The same grace!
w w w . s s i d e . o r g
1