Thursday, July 24, 2014

NOTHING CAN SEPARATE




Today’s Bible readings are 2 Chronicles 11:1-13:22, Romans 8:26-39, Psalm 18:37-50, & Proverbs 19:27-29


Romans 8:35-39
35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It seems to me that the same things that people have always struggled with, when it comes to trusting God, have always been the same. Why is that? It is because the enemy uses the same old tricks to deceive people. One of his best tricks is getting people to think that because things don’t always go the way that they would like them to that God is not fair.

What is the first thing that you hear when tragedy occurs?


1.      How could God let this happen?


2.      Why did God do that?


3.      Why didn’t God stop it?



4.      If God is love then why do all these bad things happen?


It is as though God gets blamed for everything & thanked for nothing. I know that satan wants people to think that every time a bad thing happens it is because God does not love them. It is tempting to feel that way but it is not true.

When calamity comes it can’t separate us from God’s love. The truth is that it is His love that will get us through it. That is the primary reason that satan wants us to think that God doesn’t love us. Thinking this way will keep us from receiving what God offers—His great love.

The truth of the matter is that satan is the one behind destruction, death, & disease—NOT GOD!!!

John 10:10

10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

 

Acts 10:38

38 And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

We see here 2 witnesses from scripture that proves it is the enemy, satan, who is behind sickness, death, & destruction. God is not the one who gives these things. He doesn’t have them to give. God gives exactly the opposite. He gives:


1.      Life


2.      Hope


3.      Peace


4.      Healing


5.      Deliverance


6.      Restoration


7.      Blessing



 

Don’t let the lies from satan convince you that God doesn’t love you. What we face in life is not proof that God is against us. It is proof that there is an enemy that is trying to destroy us. On the contrary, the fact that you have survived it & are here today is proof that there is a loving God who cares for you. It is also proof that those things can’t separate you from His GREAT LOVE. When things get tough never run from Jesus. Instead, run to Him. His arms are wide open & His love can’t be stopped!!!

 


Pastor Richard Schlotter

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