VII, Part 9: VFC Thomasville // Jamie Nunnally

 We've been focusing on the first 3 chapters of Revelation and looking at 7 letters to 7 churches that are direct messages from Jesus to real first century churches in modern-day Turkey.

 Besides a few exceptions, the letters all contained four major parts:

 1. Introduction – "I am the One..."

 2. Commendation – "I know your works..."

 3. Correction – "I have this against you..."

 4. Promises – "To the one who overcomes..."

 In this message, Lead Pastor Jamie Nunnally considers what Jesus would say to us if we were to get a letter written from John?

 Following the 4 sections of each Revelation letter, I want to give you 4 final timeless truths for us to respond to this morning:

 1. Jesus knows you and He is everything you need.

 The first part of each letter was Jesus' introduction of Himself.

 Because He knows you, He knows what you need.

 Jesus is not only aware of our struggles, He is the solution to them.

 John 10:14 NLT 

 He doesn't diagnose your life from a distance, He steps into your life with you.

 2. Jesus sees you and celebrates what's good.

 In every letter in Revelation, Jesus starts the same way—"I know your works." Before He corrects them, He commends them.

 Psalm 103:8-14 NLT 

 God isn't only your Judge, He's your Dad. He is not standing over you with a clipboard making note of all your mistakes.

 God doesn't just see where you failed; He sees where you fought. He doesn't only point out your mistakes; He celebrates your progress.

 3. Jesus loves you enough to correct what's wrong.  

 God doesn't leave us where He found us.

 Correction is not rejection, it's redirection toward who you're becoming.

 Prov. 3:11-12 NLT 

 The enemy's voice brings shame, but God's voice brings change.

 God doesn't correct you because He's mad at you; He corrects you because He's committed to you.

 4.  Jesus' promises for your future are greater than the failures of your past.

 Even though God corrected His churches, He always gave them a promise of something good that would happen if they repented and returned.

 Overcomers aren't those who never fall, but those who refuse to stay down.

 2 Peter 1:4 NLT

 God's promises are activated by obedience. Obedience turns a promise from possibility to a guarantee.

 On the other side of your obedience is a version of your life you haven't seen yet, but it's what you really want.

 Jesus knows you, and He is everything you need.

 Jesus sees and He celebrates what's good.

 Jesus loves you enough to correct what's wrong.

 And Jesus has promised something greater if you respond.

 And VFC is not just a church with a past to celebrate; we're a church with a promise to step into. Respond, repent, and return.

 Do you have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to you?