T H E S C O O P
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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
Candice P. Blount Church Administrator
Quentella Williams Executive Assistant
John Merriweather Online Campus Minister
Dineen Merriweather Online Campus Director
DEACONS
John Alcox
Anthony Green, Sr.
Arthur Hackney
John Mathis
Chester Mayfield, Jr.
Roger McDougal
Joe Williams
Keith Wright
W E E K L Y W O R D
OVERCOMING-TO-OVERCOMERS
By RICKI FULLER
Over the last forty-seven (47) weeks we have been guided by studying and internalizing GOD’s Word regarding what and how to overcome our past hurts and fears This determined and intense study has helped, and is helping, us gain a deeply revealing understanding of the blessed position in which GOD has placed us To assure our position in Him, He sent Jesus Christ to earth to teach His commands, and to instill GOD’s Love within us!
Due to the excellent lessons and inquiries established by Brother Thomas and his ministerial staff and team we are, prayerfully, more aware of GOD’s Love and His intention for us
As we, faithfully, recognize and appreciate His Love we are, hopefully, enriched and encouraged to embark upon letting go of everything that might hinder us from religiously living as GOD so designed per Genesis 1:26-28 and Ephesians 1:314 Also to help solidify our intentional learning so we may become (and remain) overcomers, the writer of Ecclesiastes clarifies GOD’s purpose for humankind His clarification reads as follows:
“All has been heard; the end of the matter is: Fear God [revere and worship Him, knowing that He is] and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man [the full, original purpose of his creation, the object of God’s providence, the root of character, the foundation of all happiness, the adjustment to all inharmonious circumstances and conditions under the sun] and the whole [duty] for every man {person} ” (Ecclesiastes 12:13 AMPC)
As it pertains to overcoming the things in our past that have hindered us from living our GODpurposed authentic selves, the sense given in the above verse concisely and logically asserts that humankind’s initial and ultimate duty / responsibility is to reverently Know and worship GOD! To know Him and to revere Him results in
people religiously keeping His commandments. When we religiously keep His commandments (Love) it leads us to living ‘happy’ lives The writer further emphasizes that the resulting happiness enables overcoming which he describes as “the adjustment” of “all inharmonious circumstances and conditions” on earth
Therefore, according to Solomon, the whole / entire / overarching duty of mankind is to always humbly submit to GOD in honest recognition of Who He Is! While gleefully submitting to Him, we receive His Peace which incentivizes us to give Him all our ‘inharmonious circumstances and conditions.’ In so doing, we become successful overcomers who adore / reverence GOD, our Creator Who, in turn Guides us through overcoming Strongholds, Trauma, Shame, Failure, Fear, Anger, Brokenness, Hurt, Grief, Conflict, and Distrust!
Thank You, Lord, for guiding Brother Thomas and his team of ministers/leaders and teachers to engage Southside in studying Your Word so we all may learn to be overcomers who consistently rely on Your Will for our lives! Thank You for guiding us to recapture the Healing and the Wholeness we already possess upon our repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38)! Through Christ’s Sacrifice, His Victorious Overcoming, and The Holy Spirit living in us, You guarantee(d) our ability to overcome! Hallelujah, we are Overcomers!
Sister Ricki Y. Fuller SLIM Executive Liaison
P E T I T I O N S
November 24, 2024
