In Your Tears He Gives You Joy

Sunday is winding down yet today's messages given at The Grove are still stirring my soul.  First I ask God for forgiveness for not always being obedient; and I thank Him for his loving patience.  He knows my character and who I will ultimately grow into.  Hallelujah.

Our 7:30 service was preached by Rev. Wendell F. McGinnis, Jr. Senior Pastor of North Baptist Church in Woodbury, New Jersey.  His message was taken from Romans 8:25-38..."What's in Your Wallet." He referenced the mastercard commercial with the uncivilized vikings...doing what they wanted because they had their mastercard.

He cited Romans 7:24-25 and also Ephesians 2 in his sermon and focused on Romans 8:31 "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" KJV but only on these words… "If", "be", "who (or what)", "can be" "against us?"

If can be substituted with the word "since" - Since God be for us.

It's not a question of whether God is or is not for us--Read Romans 8:29-30 -- This is God's perfect plan for us.  For US...not the angels.

Be can be substituted with the word "exists" -  - Since God exists for us.

Exists not just for us but where? In us...we have the holy spirit within us and God's love and protection surrounding us.

Who (or What) -- referring to ³⁸ "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Since God exists for us; Who (or what) can be against us?

Be again can be substituted with the term "exists" - Since God exists for us; who (or what) can exist against us?

Against refers to competition between two entities.  Who can compete when up against the power of God?

So think on this and savor it.

Since God exists for us; who (or what) can compete against His love and power? Just know we are on the winning team.

What's In My Wallet? Jesus how about yours?

_________________

At our 11:00 service, our own Rev. Larry Hopson brought the word from Luke 5:1-11.  This is the story of Jesus teaching by the shore of Galilee (also known as Gennesaret).  The throng of people were pressing against him so he stepped into one of the ships that were docked there.  After he finished his teaching, he asked Simon to  launch the ship out into the deep and to drop their nets for fish.  Simon was not very happy about that. He complained and grumbled about how they worked all night without success; but yielded to Jesus’ request.  “And when they had done this, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes; and their net brake.” Luke 5:6

Rev. Hopson used this story to explain that we have to separate ourselves from our position of safety and take the risk of moving away from our comfort zone.  He said that no matter how hard our circumstance, that if we persist and persevere "even in our tears God gives us joy."  Even though Simon grumbled and complained, his circumstance changed because he did what Jesus told him to do.  His grumbling and complaining turned to joy and astonishment.

D-Notes:

• Do not stay comfortable
• Be humble but sharp
• Be wise as a serpent yet gentle as a dove
• You need spiritual food to nourish your soul.
• You cannot stand on the shores if you want to catch the big fish in your life.  You have to launch your boat into the deep.

You have to leave your SURE behind in order to strengthen yourself through the help of Jesus Christ. The only way we can be strong and self-assured is through Jesus.

Good Word.