The family history of the human race begins with God. The book of Genesis is history, not fantasy and the story of Genesis chapter 2 is the story of our beginnings.

1. We are of God: God formed man (Genesis 2:7) and God breathed life into man. Only then did man become a living creature.
2. The world was made for man: we are not merely one small part is the vast machine that is the universe: we are special!
   1. We are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26,27).
   2. Eden was created just for Adam as his special environment.
   3. The special attention given to God’s creation of man and woman shows their special place in God’s heart and in God’s creation.

To fail to live in this knowledge is to deliberately chose insignificance and despair over eternal significance and hope, hope that can only find its realisation in God our Creator!

Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches

Two things are mentioned to each of the six churches mentioned in Revelation chapters 2 and 3: conquest or victory and listening to the Spirit.

Conquest: It is expected that we be conquerors, overcomers, victors. The example given is that of Christ (Revelation 3:21). Just as Jesus overcame and conquered so can we. The result of Jesus’ overcoming was that He was raised from the dead and declared to be the Son of God with power (Romans 1:4). He is now seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven. We too will receive blessing and honour as conquerors (cf. Revelation 3:12). But we must realise that the overcoming comes in repentance and submission; in obedience to God, just as Jesus submitted to the Father’s will. Our place in God’s kingdom is based on abiding by His rules.

Listening: And how do we live by His rules? By listening to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. An army looks to its commander before taking action. An orchestra follows one conductor, yet we fail to even stop and listen, never mind obey!

We need to believe that God by His Spirit is speaking to us and we need to start listening.

Revelation 3:20 sums it up. Somehow we have managed to push Jesus out of our lives like some door to door salesman who is no longer welcome. But Jesus stands at the door of our lives and our churches knocking, seeking a real encounter with His people on a personal and a church fellowship level.

If we listen we will overcome!