Newsletter Aug 30th

GREETINGS FROM BARBEE’S GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH

I don’t know how many hundreds of times, maybe even thousands of times, over the years, someone has come to me and said something like this: “Pastor Ed, you have got to help me”. Then, they begin to share their burden. Usually, it is a situation with no easy, simple solution. It may be a family problem. It could be a crushing financial obligation. Others were facing serious medical issues. For some, it was spiritual. Perhaps it was a crisis of faith, or a difficult to overcome temptation to sin. It could be mental or emotional attacks from the devil. Each individual faced their own particular battle.

I offer any insight or counsel the Holy Spirit gives me to share. I pray for—-and —–with, the one who is hurting. Also, I try to offer encouraging words from God’s Word, the Bible. Sometimes, I show them 2 Corinthians 12:7-9. In that Scripture Paul tells about his “Thorn in the Flesh”. Let’s not debate what Paul’s “Thorn” was today. Just agree that it was powerful, troubling, and difficult to overcome. In a sense, the Lord acknowledges Paul’s pain. Then, the Lord assured Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you”. What is God’s “Grace” anyway? Some describe it as “God’s Favor”. It truly is that. God looks with love, compassion, and blessing, upon us when He bestows His grace upon us. However, God’s grace is so much more. God’s grace is God’s power brought to bear upon a situation. An unsaved person, on their way to Hell, experiences God’s grace and the power of that grace saves them, changes them into a new creation, and reroutes them to Heaven.

A second beautiful, encouraging Scripture is 2 Corinthians 9:8:
“GOD IS ABLE”‘ . God is God. He is almighty. He has the power to do anything He desires to do.
“TO MAKE ALL GRACE ABOUND TOWARD YOU”. God has the power, and the desire, to make “All Grace” available to us. “All” means “all we need”. Not only that, but God’s grace “abounds”. It spills over. When we use all we need for our particular situation, there is still more grace leftover.
“THAT YOU, ALWAYS HAVING ALL SUFFICIENCY IN ALL THINGS , MAY ABOUND TO EVERY GOOD WORK”. God’s grace is “always” available to the Believer. That grace makes us sufficient for every situation. No matter what our problem happens to be, no matter how desperate we are, when we walk with the Lord, there is enough of God’s grace to lead us to victory. We become “Overcomers” in Christ Jesus.

Most of us have had our “Red Sea moments”, our “Jericho walls obstacles”, our “walk through the Valley of the shadow of death fears”. At the time, we thought, “How can I survive this?” Let your mind stroll through the halls of your memories. Think of the many times that God’s grace brought you through to victory.  Your “Thorn” was painful. But God’s grace was sufficient. Truly, it is “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound”.  We can join the Apostle Paul in saying, “Yes, God’s grace is what brought me out of my bad situation and gave me strength to continue to serve Jesus”

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS

1. Sunday School is at 9:00 am
2. Morning Worship and Children’s Church are at 10:00 am. Also available in the parking lot at 10 on 99.1 FM and on the website after 12:30 pm
3. Prayer and Bible Study are at 6:30 pm on Wednesday in the Fellowship Hall
4. Revival Services—-October 11-14—-Rev. Mark Cadwell—-Are you praying ? Planning to attend? Inviting Others?

Enjoy God’s powerful grace today

Pastor Ed and Deacons of Barbee’s Grove Baptist Church