Shepastor: "What Shall We Say to These Things?"

Romans 8: 31-39, KJV
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We are living in some perilous times…Over 120 people killed this past weekend in Paris, France. Islamic terrorists…ISIS raining bullets upon innocent, unarmed people…walked up into an arena of people enjoying a concert and just started spraying bullets upon the unsuspecting crowd. Hundreds of young girls kidnapped in Nigeria. 147 students Massacred in Kenya... What shall we say to these things? We have our own “ISIS” attacks right here in the Greater Cleveland Area and other parts of the United States…senseless drive by shootings killing 5 and 3 and 6 month olds. We’ve seen violence over these last few months like we’ve not seen in a very long time. There used to be “honor among thieves.” But those days are gone. Killings are happening everywhere in most brutal and inhumane fashion.

What shall we say then to these things?
Sometimes we wonder why…sometimes we wonder if we’ve been forsaken…sometimes we wonder if God has forgotten us…sometimes we wonder why these persecutions and tragedies have to happen…why we have to face all of these problems. Unfortunately the shallow theology being espoused by many tele-evangelists and churches today don’t prepare God’s people for the living of these days…being a Christian does not exempt you from pain. Being a Christian does not exempt you from persecution. Being a Christian does not guarantee that you won’t face some pain, some sickness, some disease, some death, some brokenness. No, no…being a Christian sometimes places a bulls-eye and target upon your back!

The enemy of our souls seeks to wound, and break, and crush and beat down and discourage the man of God, the woman of God…but listen to how Paul responded to “these things…”

>35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Are you persuaded? Are you persuaded? Have you made up your mind that no matter what comes you are going to serve the Lord? Are you persuaded? Are you determined to walk with Jesus? Are you persuaded? Even when you see the righteous being slain, even when you yourself have to face principalities and powers? Nothing can separate you from the love of God! God will never leave you or forsake you. Through Christ we are more than conquerors because He loves us! We are more than conquerors over sin, more than conquerors over sickness, more than conquerors over mean spirited people…more than conquerors over ISIS…more than conquerors over gang bangers….more than conquerors over enemies…more than conquerors over folks acting crazy on the job…in our homes WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS!!!

If God be for us, who can be against us?
Don’t allow yourself to be governed by fear. Tell yourself, “God is for me!” Don’t allow yourself to be governed by defeat…tell yourself, “God is for me!
Don’t allow other people to condemn you and beat down your esteem. Tell yourself, “God is for me!”

Keep on walking with the Lord. Keep on talking with Him. Keep on letting Him tell you that you are His own! He will give you joy, He will give you peace…He will give you blessed assurance. When you are tempted to give up, to fall prey to the discouraging voices from within and without, remind yourself the God is for you!

Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris
www.shepastorchris.org