"Are Your Ears Awake?" and Advent Thoughts

"Are Your Ears Awake?" is how Eugene Peterson in his popular "Message" paraphrase, renders "To him who has ears to hear . . ." in Revelation chs.2-3. It is a question, a directive the Spirit gives to the churches. So, are we listening to what the Spirit says to the church, to this church? Honestly, I think at least (!) some of the time, many of us would have to say "No, I'm not listening." At least as well as I could! The question itself presumes that any given local body of believers will have folks who listen to the Spirit through God's Word and those who are not attentive and receptive to the preaching and teaching of Scripture. God have mercy on us all. And, thank God, He does! Pastor Funk and I will be wrapping up our series on the seven churches in Revelation chs.2-3 within a few weeks, the last message being on November 21. I hope you will come and listen. After that, we will be preparing the congregation here for the Advent season. Jesus comes to us everyday I believe, but during this time of special focus upon His incarnation, we will prayerfully prepare and enthusiastically preach, His arrival. Are we ready? I simply want to encourage each of you who might be reading this, we do have a Wonderful Savior. He is a Savior because we need saving. We don't just need help or a little bit of counsel. We need our sins forgiven and we need to work out (not work for) this salvation on a daily basis. God is working in you, in us as a church to help us better reflect the glory and humility of His Son (Philippians 2:1-13). He'll never let you/us go. Rejoice in that. Rejoice in Him! We serve a Mighty Good Savior. Let's prepare for His coming!

P.S. on a final note: If you are not sure of the love of God in Christ for you, please, when you visit the church, come talk to me. I'd love to share with you His goodness and how you might become a follower of Jesus Christ.