WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:02.000 We are in Romans chapter 8. 00:00:02.080 --> 00:00:05.440 We're going to be reading verses 31 through 39. 00:00:05.599 --> 00:00:09.839 So if you are able, would you please stand for the reading of God's word? 00:00:14.800 --> 00:00:17.679 Romans chapter 8, starting in verse 31. 00:00:18.480 --> 00:00:21.440 What then are we to say about these things? 00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:24.640 If God is for us, who is against us? 00:00:24.960 --> 00:00:30.160 He did not even spare his own son, but gave him up for us all. 00:00:30.399 --> 00:00:34.640 How will he not also with him grant us everything? 00:00:34.960 --> 00:00:38.880 Who can bring an accusation against God's elect? 00:00:39.200 --> 00:00:41.039 God is the one who justifies. 00:00:41.280 --> 00:00:43.280 Who is the one who condemns? 00:00:43.759 --> 00:00:45.840 Who is the one who condemns, I should say? 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:50.880 Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more has been raised. 00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:55.039 He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. 00:00:55.200 --> 00:00:58.000 Who can separate us from the love of Christ? 00:00:58.240 --> 00:01:06.799 Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 00:01:07.519 --> 00:01:12.400 As it is written, because of you we are being put to death all day long. 00:01:12.560 --> 00:01:15.599 We are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:21.680 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:39.359 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 00:01:39.920 --> 00:01:41.599 Please pray with me. 00:01:42.719 --> 00:01:44.560 Lord, we thank you so much for your word. 00:01:44.959 --> 00:01:52.879 We thank you that we get to hold it in our hands, that we get to take it home with us, that we get to open it whenever we want. 00:01:53.040 --> 00:01:54.879 Lord, that it's such a privilege. 00:01:55.200 --> 00:01:58.400 We thank you for this specific text here this morning in Romans. 00:01:58.560 --> 00:02:02.640 Lord, I pray that you would help me to rightly divide your word here this morning. 00:02:02.959 --> 00:02:15.840 That we would not leave here unchanged, but we would come with open hearts to the things that you have for us, the changes that you want to make, the way that you want to encourage us this morning, the way that you want to convict us this morning. 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:18.639 Lord, help us to just be clay in your hands. 00:02:18.800 --> 00:02:26.479 Lord, we pray that the power of your word here this morning would affect our lives to become more and more like Jesus, we pray. 00:02:26.639 --> 00:02:27.759 In Jesus' name. 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:28.479 Amen. 00:02:28.719 --> 00:02:30.000 You may be seated. 00:02:31.840 --> 00:02:34.879 So my wife and I love to garden. 00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:41.759 For years we've been growing pretty much the most amount of vegetables that we possibly can in our yard. 00:02:41.919 --> 00:02:54.000 So a couple years ago, I made a very small greenhouse with a warming mat in it so we had a place to start seeds so that we could then transplant them into our garden boxes. 00:02:54.240 --> 00:03:09.360 And basically, this greenhouse and this warming mat gave them a warm, controlled environment to protect these seeds and these little plants as they started to grow, and to protect them from things like wind and cold and big temperature fluctuations. 00:03:09.599 --> 00:03:18.080 And the greenhouse allows us to start the seeds way before we should be able to, before the weather is actually permitting us to. 00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:21.520 And the seeds will germinate fairly quickly in this little greenhouse. 00:03:21.599 --> 00:03:29.680 And that warming mat it keeps the soil warm, it helps with the seed germination, but also with root growth. 00:03:29.759 --> 00:03:33.199 Those roots will grow right down to the bottom of that container. 00:03:33.599 --> 00:03:40.159 And what it does is it really gives them a jump start before we transplant those plants into our garden boxes. 00:03:40.400 --> 00:03:47.439 But you can't just take those small plants from the greenhouse and just put them into the garden when they're ready. 00:03:47.599 --> 00:03:50.240 You have to do something that's called hardening off. 00:03:50.319 --> 00:03:52.240 You have to harden the plants off. 00:03:52.479 --> 00:03:59.360 You see, they have been in this controlled environment their whole life, and they haven't been exposed to the elements yet. 00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:06.080 They haven't been exposed to the wind and the cold and the direct sunlight and the big temperature swings that we see every day. 00:04:06.240 --> 00:04:09.439 So you have to start slow to harden these plants off. 00:04:09.759 --> 00:04:14.960 You'll pull them out of the greenhouse and you'll set them outside maybe just for a couple hours the first day. 00:04:15.039 --> 00:04:18.240 And then maybe a few hours more the next day. 00:04:18.399 --> 00:04:22.959 And then you'll leave them out overnight, and they're still in that container. 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:31.759 And then you'll leave them out maybe for a couple days, still in that container, and then the next step is to transplant them directly into the soil of those garden boxes. 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:40.160 And even then, they go through a bit of shock coming out of that container where their roots are exposed to this new soil. 00:04:40.399 --> 00:04:56.879 But after that whole process, these little tiny plants are hardened off, they're strengthened from that periodic exposure that we've been exposing them to over time, and then they're able to handle the elements of the real world outside. 00:04:58.720 --> 00:05:04.879 These plants would actually prefer to stay in that controlled environment. 00:05:05.120 --> 00:05:07.199 And you might be asking, why not leave them? 00:05:07.360 --> 00:05:11.839 Why not make a bigger greenhouse and leave them in that controlled environment? 00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:21.040 Because our greenhouse gets sweltering hot in the summer, and those plants would absolutely fry if we left them in that controlled environment. 00:05:21.199 --> 00:05:26.879 Because as the saying goes, and maybe you've heard it, too much sunshine makes a desert. 00:05:28.240 --> 00:05:31.279 And that's what I hope we walk away with today. 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:41.600 In answer to the question of why God allows hardship and exposure to different elements that we really don't like in our life. 00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:54.160 To answer the question of why don't we get all sunshine and roses all the time as we walk in this faith that we're in in Jesus Christ. 00:05:54.399 --> 00:05:56.879 So these verses start out in verse 31. 00:05:56.959 --> 00:06:00.160 It says, What then are we to say about these things? 00:06:00.319 --> 00:06:05.680 So we need to do a quick recap of what verse 31 is referring to here. 00:06:05.839 --> 00:06:14.319 So over the last handful of weeks, as we've been in chapter 8, we've been talking about the battle of the flesh versus our spirit. 00:06:14.560 --> 00:06:18.720 And we talked about the role of the Holy Spirit in all of this. 00:06:18.959 --> 00:06:26.720 We talked about how we have been adopted into the family of God, and now we're co-heirs with Jesus Christ. 00:06:26.879 --> 00:06:34.160 And then last week we talked about the hope that we have in Christ because of the future that we can look forward to with him. 00:06:34.879 --> 00:06:41.439 That future, that perfect relationship that we get to look forward to with him in paradise. 00:06:41.680 --> 00:06:46.399 And we talked about how we need to be living with that eternal perspective. 00:06:46.639 --> 00:06:56.160 And how we should, and how we need to have the hope of Christ, and to have that deep within us and to have our hope in him and in him alone. 00:06:56.399 --> 00:07:03.120 And then last week we ended with how all things work together for good for those that love God. 00:07:03.920 --> 00:07:10.720 Even when we're suffering, even when we're being persecuted, even when we're being wrongfully treated. 00:07:11.680 --> 00:07:16.800 So Paul takes all of that that we've been talking about in chapter 8 so far. 00:07:16.959 --> 00:07:18.720 And in verse 31, look at it again. 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:22.720 It says, What then are we to say about these things? 00:07:22.959 --> 00:07:24.560 And here's his conclusion. 00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:28.639 If God is for us, who is against us? 00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:31.839 You know, this statement alone can be a whole sermon. 00:07:31.920 --> 00:07:34.879 We could spend the whole day just on that one statement right there. 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:47.600 But in these eight words, we have the whole power of God, the creator of everything, the sustainer of life, the warrior who is our defender on our side. 00:07:48.480 --> 00:07:53.839 And if he's on our side, it doesn't matter who or what is on the other side. 00:07:54.079 --> 00:07:57.040 He's bigger, he's stronger, he's greater. 00:07:57.279 --> 00:07:59.759 And nothing holds a candle to God. 00:08:01.839 --> 00:08:05.439 And the thing is, is that we get to be on his team. 00:08:05.839 --> 00:08:10.319 And not only do we get to be on his team, we get to call him father. 00:08:11.519 --> 00:08:16.160 All of that is if God is for us. 00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:20.639 And if God is for us, it's only because of the blood of Jesus. 00:08:21.279 --> 00:08:29.759 If he's not for us, then we'll fall under the authority of his judgment, which we're going to get into in a little bit. 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:43.840 But if you have committed your life to Christ, if you have placed your faith in him, if you've accepted the forgiveness from Jesus for your sins, you can be confident that God is for you. 00:08:44.720 --> 00:08:47.440 That if isn't for followers of Jesus Christ. 00:08:47.600 --> 00:08:52.480 That if is for those that haven't placed their faith in Jesus Christ. 00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:58.799 So if you're a follower of Christ, you can be confident that God is for you. 00:08:59.840 --> 00:09:07.279 So my question is, why does this come right after the section that we got through last week on suffering? 00:09:08.799 --> 00:09:15.679 And why is Paul telling us that all things work together for good and then he jumps right into this? 00:09:15.919 --> 00:09:26.399 I think personally the answer is because I think we can so often associate our trials and our suffering with Satan being so powerful that he can just mess with us whenever he wants. 00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:33.600 I think Paul knows the tendency that believers can fall into where we give Satan too much credit. 00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:39.120 Yes, Satan is powerful and he's strong, but he doesn't have free reign over us. 00:09:39.440 --> 00:09:41.679 He can't do whatever he pleases to us. 00:09:41.840 --> 00:09:48.480 And we get a glimpse of that in the book of Job, where Satan has to get permission from God to afflict Job. 00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:55.919 And God gives Satan specific parameters that he has to stay within, within the affliction of Job. 00:09:56.399 --> 00:10:01.039 I think we can fall into this idea that Satan can mess with us at will. 00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:05.919 And everything's his fault whenever our life isn't all sunshine and roses. 00:10:06.559 --> 00:10:29.360 But I think if we've learned anything from chapter 8 so far, it's that God uses trials and suffering to refine us, to keep us humble, to make sure that we don't fall in love with this world, but that we maintain hope and a longing for the future that we have in paradise and perfect relationship with Him. 00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:35.360 So honestly, if anybody ever tells me, you know, pray that Satan stops attacking me. 00:10:35.679 --> 00:10:41.840 My first honest thought in that moment is, well, have you learned what God wanted you to learn in the trial? 00:10:43.279 --> 00:10:49.840 Has God refined you in the way that he intended when he allowed that trial to first come upon you? 00:10:50.559 --> 00:10:52.879 Because, and please hear me in this. 00:11:05.519 --> 00:11:15.600 Now, the other side of this, the side that I think we don't like to think about or talk about too much, is that we blame Satan for things that he's not even involved in. 00:11:15.919 --> 00:11:21.600 It's just that we made a really stupid decision and we're paying the consequences for it. 00:11:21.759 --> 00:11:25.120 And we're suffering those consequences for our own foolishness. 00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:31.279 And then we either blame God or Satan for our own consequences that we brought on ourselves. 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:38.320 And we do that when we're really the only ones to blame, because we let our flesh take over for a moment. 00:11:38.399 --> 00:11:41.679 Or maybe we allow our flesh to take over for a season. 00:11:41.919 --> 00:11:50.000 And in God's grace and mercy, like we talked about last week, he can even work that together for good. 00:11:50.799 --> 00:11:58.559 He can work our consequences for our own foolishness, even together for good, for those that love him. 00:11:59.039 --> 00:12:09.039 So I think Paul's mentioning that nothing can stand against God so that this Roman church doesn't give Satan too much credit for the suffering that they're experiencing. 00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:19.039 Or act like Satan can do anything that he wants to them by saying that if God is for us, then who can stand against us? 00:12:19.279 --> 00:12:22.320 And the answer to that is obviously no one. 00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:26.240 Now look at how God is for us in verse 32. 00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:33.200 He says, He did not even spare his own son, but gave him up for us all. 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:41.679 If you want to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is for us, just look at Jesus. 00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:47.279 That is as for us as you can possibly get. 00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:54.799 If someone is willing to lay down their own child to save you, I would say that that person is absolutely for you. 00:12:55.039 --> 00:13:08.000 When God was testing Abraham and testing his faith in Genesis, which a bunch of us, if you're doing the one-year reading plan, just read through, God asked Abraham to sacrifice his own son Isaac on the altar. 00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:16.720 God knew if he's willing to sacrifice his own son, that this guy would be faithful to do whatever God asked of him. 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:21.360 And of course, God didn't have Abraham follow through on it, it was just a test. 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:28.720 But God wanted to know if there's anything that Abraham would hold back from him, including his son. 00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:35.919 Just like God has proved there is nothing that he will hold back from us, including his son. 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:37.759 Verse 32. 00:13:38.720 --> 00:13:45.039 He did not even spare his own son, but gave him up for us all. 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:51.039 How will he not also with him grant us everything? 00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:59.360 If he won't even hold his own son back from us, what else would or could he possibly hold back from us? 00:13:59.919 --> 00:14:06.720 But I think we often fall into this, you know, God gave me Jesus, but he won't give me more money. 00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:11.600 God gave me Jesus, but he won't give me that car. 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:18.399 God gave me Jesus, but he won't give me that relationship that I so desperately long for. 00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:25.200 You know, if he's not gonna hold back Jesus from us, he's not gonna hold back anything from us. 00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:28.639 But here's the kicker that is good for us. 00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:31.360 You see that qualifier in there? 00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:43.360 So often I think we ask God why he's holding back something like that five million dollar lotto ticket that we just can't seem to find. 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:52.799 And God's sitting there saying, You can't have that because you'll destroy your life and you'll destroy every single relationship that you have. 00:14:53.039 --> 00:14:57.919 That five million dollars is not what you need, it's actually what would destroy you. 00:14:58.080 --> 00:15:05.519 And that's why I'm saying no to your request for that five million dollar lotto ticket, even though you promise to tithe off of it. 00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:12.320 But he will not withhold any good thing from us. 00:15:12.559 --> 00:15:14.240 Psalm 84, 11 tells us that. 00:15:14.320 --> 00:15:17.440 It says, For the Lord God is a son and shield. 00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:20.080 The Lord grants favor and honor. 00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:27.279 He does not withhold the good from those who live with integrity or those who walk uprightly. 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:30.320 You know, with my kids, we have a rule in the house. 00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:35.120 They have to ask before they can eat anything that can be classified as a dessert. 00:15:35.679 --> 00:15:39.279 But they never have to ask us if they want to eat fruit. 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:45.039 If I gave them dessert every time that they asked, they probably wouldn't be very healthy, would they? 00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:50.159 But with the fruit, I would never want to withhold any good thing from them. 00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:58.159 I think so often God has to say no to the things that we're asking for because he knows that they will not be healthy for us. 00:15:58.559 --> 00:16:02.399 We think it'll be, but he knows that it will not be. 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:09.440 You know, I hate saying no to my kids, especially about things that I know that they will enjoy in the moment. 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:14.559 But I have to if I know that it will not be healthy for them. 00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:21.200 But God is so glad to give us the things that he knows will be healthy for us. 00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:27.200 He has no reason, he has no desire to hold those things back from us. 00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:30.559 You know, he knew what would be best for us. 00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:33.200 So he gave us Jesus. 00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:41.600 So he gave us the Holy Spirit in abundance and overflowing and not withholding any of that from us. 00:16:42.320 --> 00:16:44.399 Look at verse 33 with me. 00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:48.720 Who can bring an accusation against God's elect? 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:51.279 God is the one who justifies. 00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:53.679 So the elect, that's us. 00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:56.799 The ones that he is for. 00:16:57.360 --> 00:17:05.920 And not only does he give us his only son, he did it so that we can be saved, so that we can be justified through Jesus. 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:15.599 So that as verse 33 tells us, no one can bring an accusation, that sticks at least, against us before God. 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:17.519 And that includes Satan. 00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:19.920 You know, Satan is called the accuser. 00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:24.079 That's one of his names, and that comes from Revelation 12, 10, and I want to read that to you. 00:17:24.400 --> 00:17:44.480 Says, then I heard a loud voice in heaven say, The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have now come because the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been thrown down. 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:54.000 You know, I just imagine Satan sitting there accusing us of all of these things that in reality we're guilty of, aside from the blood of Jesus. 00:17:54.400 --> 00:18:00.000 But I just imagine that Jesus sitting at the right hand of God, and an accusation comes and he says, paid for. 00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:02.799 Another one comes, says, No, I took care of that one too. 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:08.960 And I just picture God saying, No, I accredited their account with righteousness. 00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:12.400 And don't you dare talk about my kids like that. 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:16.079 That's how I picture that going down in heaven. 00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:20.240 But that is one of Satan's names, the accuser. 00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:24.079 But do you know what one of Jesus' names is? 00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:25.839 Our advocate. 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:35.359 According to 1 John chapter 2, verse 1, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous one. 00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:44.240 An advocate means one who pleads another'cause cause before a judge, a legal assistant. 00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:46.160 But look at verse 33 again. 00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:51.359 It says, Who can bring an accusation against God's elect? 00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:57.519 You know, I think Satan's figured out that it really doesn't do any good to accuse us before God. 00:18:57.759 --> 00:19:01.440 But his arguments because of Jesus have no weight. 00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:06.000 So I think his next tactic is to accuse us directly. 00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:10.960 And I think he gets much better results when he goes with that strategy. 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:15.279 He tells us and he feeds us lies like you're so worthless. 00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:18.240 You know, there's no way that God could love you. 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:20.799 There's no way that anyone could love you. 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:25.440 If anyone knew who you really are, they would never talk to you again. 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:33.119 If anyone knew what you've really done in your past, no one would ever accept you again. 00:19:33.599 --> 00:19:44.160 Or he might say things like, you know, God used to forgive you for that sin that you struggle with, but it's just been too many times, and he's frustrated with you and he can't stand you anymore. 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:46.559 That's what Satan sounds like. 00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:50.400 But what did we learn in the first verse of chapter 8? 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:55.119 That there is now no condemnation in Christ Jesus. 00:19:55.359 --> 00:20:04.000 If you hear a condemning voice and you're a follower of Jesus Christ, you need to know right away that you are not hearing God's voice. 00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:08.559 When you hear that voice, we need to remember this verse. 00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:11.839 Highlight it, circle it, underline it, memorize it. 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:16.319 Who can bring an accusation against God's elect? 00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:20.799 And don't just remember it, but believe it. 00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:22.480 Do you believe that? 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:28.000 That nobody can bring an accusation against you, a follower of Jesus Christ. 00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:36.400 We need to know that we don't have to sit there and take those accusations and even wonder if they're true. 00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:39.279 But we need to know that they're lies. 00:20:39.599 --> 00:20:47.039 And we need to never start to believe them or give them any kind of validity, because they're straight from the mouth of Satan. 00:20:48.160 --> 00:20:52.160 As soon as you hear those accusations, remind yourself of this verse. 00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:55.039 Who can bring an accusation against God's elect? 00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:59.039 And the answer to that is absolutely no one. 00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:01.359 Look at verse 34. 00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:05.119 Who is the one who condemns? 00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:10.960 Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more has been raised. 00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:16.160 He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. 00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:24.640 The only one that truly condemns, that truly judges with authority, with a rightful authority, is God. 00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:29.680 Satan tries, but doesn't have the authority to condemn. 00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:34.880 And the thing is, God only condemns those that reject him. 00:21:35.920 --> 00:21:41.359 Now the word intercede here simply means to intervene on behalf of another. 00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:43.759 So I want us to kind of put this together. 00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:50.400 Last week in verse 27, we saw that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us according to the will of God. 00:21:50.640 --> 00:21:56.880 Here it says Jesus intercedes for us at the right hand of God as an advocate. 00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:59.839 What a team that we have working. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.680 Working on our behalf. 00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:04.240 We are on the right side. 00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:05.440 We are on the right team. 00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:07.839 We are on the right side of eternity. 00:22:08.079 --> 00:22:14.559 And we see all three persons of the Trinity here in chapter 8 that are on our side, that are for us. 00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:20.160 Verse 26 talks about the Spirit Himself intercedes for us according to the will of God. 00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:23.920 Verse 31, if God is for us, who can be against us? 00:22:24.079 --> 00:22:25.519 And now verse 34. 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:30.559 Jesus is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. 00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:34.480 The Trinity, think about this, the Trinity is for us. 00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:38.160 They are all working for us, they're all rooting for us. 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:45.279 And if God is for us, no one and no thing can stand against us. 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:46.799 Verse 35. 00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:51.279 Who can separate us from the love of Christ? 00:22:51.599 --> 00:23:00.559 Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:04.079 Remember what verse 18 said in this chapter. 00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:13.519 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. 00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:20.000 And right here he says, affliction, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword. 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:25.440 None of that can separate us and stand between us and God. 00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:31.119 The word nakedness here, it means to not even be able to afford clothes. 00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:33.119 Completely destitute. 00:23:33.359 --> 00:23:37.200 And the word sword here is talking about death by sword. 00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:41.200 Having your life taken from you. 00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:49.119 And none of those things can separate us or even steal the hope that we have for the eternity that awaits us. 00:23:49.359 --> 00:23:52.640 Those things all pale in comparison to God. 00:23:53.440 --> 00:23:57.920 They pale in comparison to that same God that is for us. 00:23:58.559 --> 00:24:00.000 Look at verse 36. 00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:05.440 As it is written, Because of you we're being put to death all day long. 00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:08.000 We are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. 00:24:08.160 --> 00:24:15.519 So this is quoting Psalm 44, 22, speaking of further persecution and martyrdom that the church was facing at the time. 00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:24.720 And he goes on in 37, No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:33.759 Through all of these trials and suffering and even death, we are more than conquerors, it says. 00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:39.359 You see, God doesn't barely win his battles, he destroys his opponents. 00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:44.160 And we have this unique position that we're in on this earth. 00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:48.960 Because conqueror is always referring to someone that has already won. 00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:50.480 That's what that word is for. 00:24:50.640 --> 00:24:51.920 That person's a conqueror. 00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:53.920 That means they have already won. 00:24:54.240 --> 00:25:00.079 But we don't have an English word for someone that is still in a battle but is already guaranteed victory. 00:25:00.319 --> 00:25:04.000 Because in no other place do we really know that, you know, or see that. 00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:08.079 But that's where we exist in this place as believers on this earth. 00:25:08.400 --> 00:25:14.480 So we fight these battles that we have already knowing that we're victorious. 00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:17.680 Because Christ has already won the battle. 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:26.799 And it's kind of confusing when you think about how our position is in this time, being in the midst of a battle, but knowing that it's already won. 00:25:27.440 --> 00:25:33.599 But what we need to remember is that it's not of our own strength, that it's not of our own effort. 00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:50.000 Notice the end of verse 37, it says, but through him who loved us, through the sacrifice of Jesus, through the intercession and the counsel of the Holy Spirit, through the power of God, we are more than conquerors. 00:25:50.400 --> 00:26:02.240 Still struggling through persecution and trial, still struggling and battling with our own flesh, but knowing that we are already victorious through Christ Jesus. 00:26:03.359 --> 00:26:06.960 Even if we're facing anything that we see in verse 38 and 39. 00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:08.000 Look at those with me. 00:26:08.240 --> 00:26:26.000 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any created thing, nor the kitchen sink. 00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:33.839 You can throw that in there too, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:35.839 In other words, nothing. 00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:41.200 Paul is just throwing in everything that he possibly can. 00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:46.880 And by saying any created thing, he's saying anything but God. 00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:49.599 God is the only thing that is not created. 00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:54.640 So nothing can separate us from the love of God. 00:26:55.440 --> 00:26:58.319 No created thing will be able to separate us. 00:26:58.480 --> 00:27:01.279 Not just from God, but from God's love. 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:07.279 And that love of God is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:10.640 We're gonna face those things that he just mentioned. 00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:13.440 But those things have already been conquered. 00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:14.799 Think about that. 00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:18.079 All of those things have already been conquered. 00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:28.000 You know, what do you think our lives would be like if we face trials and tribulations with this attitude that Paul is telling us to face them? 00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:36.079 You know, if we had this attitude, well, if this thing is coming my way, it's because God wants to refine me. 00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:45.440 So if it's for my own good, then I should be willing to go through this. 00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:52.319 And I have God for me, and I have Jesus and the Holy Spirit interceding for me. 00:27:53.359 --> 00:28:00.160 And then what if we have the attitude of, and you know, I also know that God will not withhold any good thing from me. 00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:04.319 And the thing I'm facing is already defeated. 00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:08.640 And I'm already more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus. 00:28:08.880 --> 00:28:13.839 And what if we remembered that nothing can separate us from the love of God? 00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:19.680 Think of what our outlook on trials would be like if we remembered all of these things from the get-go. 00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:24.319 I think we'd probably whine a lot less, wouldn't we? 00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:26.960 Oh God, why am I going through this? 00:28:27.200 --> 00:28:28.960 Get me out of this, Lord. 00:28:29.119 --> 00:28:30.799 You know, but what if we had this attitude? 00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:32.960 Oh, okay, I'm facing a trial. 00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:34.720 It's for my own good. 00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:36.000 God's for me. 00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:37.359 Nothing can separate me. 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:38.799 I'm more than a conqueror. 00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:40.640 What if we actually had that attitude? 00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:46.720 I think it would completely change the outlook that we have on the life that we face every day. 00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:48.799 And I want to end with this. 00:28:49.839 --> 00:28:52.640 That thing that I mentioned in the beginning. 00:28:53.039 --> 00:28:56.079 All sunshine makes a desert. 00:28:56.720 --> 00:29:06.480 If we had this utopian, no trial, no stress life once we came to faith in Jesus Christ, I think it would stun our growth. 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:09.519 I think it would make us complacent. 00:29:10.960 --> 00:29:16.720 I think we would be putting our Bibles down because we thought that we had it all figured out. 00:29:16.960 --> 00:29:22.400 I think our prayer life would suffer and probably be just reduced to what we do before meals. 00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:29.279 I think we would probably be satisfied in this world and not be longing for the next. 00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:37.279 You know, if you want to find the opposite of a desert, then you need to find a rainforest. 00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:42.720 If you want to find a rainforest, you have to go where there are storms taking place all the time. 00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:47.519 And you have to go through seasons where a hurricane is a constant threat. 00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:50.319 And sometimes those hurricanes come to shore. 00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:54.640 You know, our natural tendency is that we want to run from storms. 00:29:54.799 --> 00:29:57.359 We want to run from persecution and from trials. 00:29:58.640 --> 00:30:03.839 But have you ever met somebody that you really admire in the faith? 00:30:04.880 --> 00:30:13.359 You know, the people that I've met that I really admire the most in the faith are the people that will tell you what they've gone through. 00:30:13.920 --> 00:30:16.640 And you just look at them and be like, you went through what? 00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:19.359 And you came out the other side? 00:30:19.680 --> 00:30:21.759 And you're not mad at God? 00:30:24.720 --> 00:30:32.000 And I say all of this to remind us that trials and persecution are tools that God is using to refine us. 00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:36.480 As we talked about in the beginning, to harden us off. 00:30:37.599 --> 00:30:56.400 And he starts us off by pulling us out of the greenhouse for short periods at a time, and then leaving us in the weather for a night, and then maybe for a couple days, and then finally putting us in the environment that he wants us to be in, which is the environment in which we're going to bear fruit. 00:30:57.359 --> 00:31:12.960 But at the same time, the environment where we bear the most fruit is where the wind is, where the storms come and the rain showers come, where temperature swings happen overnight, and that's just a regular part of what we experience. 00:31:13.440 --> 00:31:25.759 But the wind and the rain and the direct sunlight and the temperature fluctuations can be really good to keep a plant healthy and strong and resistant from disease. 00:31:26.079 --> 00:31:37.039 And God uses those same things in our life to harden us off and to make us stronger so that we can flourish for his kingdom. 00:31:37.359 --> 00:31:48.720 You know, when I have this perspective on trials, which I'm trying to do more and more, it really makes James chapter 1, verses 2 and 3 make a lot of sense to me. 00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:50.000 And I want to read those to you. 00:31:50.160 --> 00:32:02.319 It says, consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 00:32:02.559 --> 00:32:11.039 And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be a mature and complete, lacking nothing. 00:32:11.920 --> 00:32:17.039 You know, becoming a Christian doesn't mean all sunshine and roses, obviously. 00:32:17.279 --> 00:32:20.799 But it does mean you have an advocate. 00:32:21.440 --> 00:32:24.079 And that you're being interceded for. 00:32:24.799 --> 00:32:27.680 It does mean that God is for you. 00:32:28.480 --> 00:32:34.559 And he's gonna be the one that wants to walk you through these trials and to make you better for it. 00:32:34.880 --> 00:32:42.960 And I think most importantly, we need to remember that it's God that's going to love you through the trial as well. 00:32:43.279 --> 00:32:45.119 Will you please pray with me? 00:32:46.480 --> 00:32:53.440 Lord, it's not fun talking about trials and storms and affliction and persecution and all of those things. 00:32:53.680 --> 00:32:57.440 But Lord, we know that you use those things for good. 00:32:57.680 --> 00:33:00.559 That you work all things together for good. 00:33:00.720 --> 00:33:08.880 And you use those hard times as much as we don't like them, Lord, to mold us and to shape us into the people that you desire us to be. 00:33:09.039 --> 00:33:13.440 Lord, that are stronger, that have thick skin and soft hearts. 00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:19.759 Lord, so I pray that we would be those people, that we wouldn't run the other way when trials come and when things get hard. 00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:22.480 But we would ask that question from the beginning. 00:33:22.640 --> 00:33:24.160 Lord, how do you want to refine me? 00:33:24.319 --> 00:33:25.599 How do you want to grow me? 00:33:25.759 --> 00:33:33.440 How do you want to strengthen me through this difficulty that lies ahead, through the difficulty that you are allowing for this season? 00:33:33.680 --> 00:33:41.920 Help us to know that there is already victory in Christ in those situations, even when we're in the thick of it and we can't see the other side. 00:33:42.079 --> 00:33:49.680 Help us to know that you are for us and that nothing can stand in between you and us and your love for us. 00:33:49.839 --> 00:33:58.000 Help us to remind ourselves of those things and to know that there is no accusation that can be brought against us to you. 00:33:58.559 --> 00:33:59.839 Because it's already paid for. 00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:02.400 You've already given us that righteousness. 00:34:02.480 --> 00:34:08.079 You've imputed, you've you've filled our account with righteousness because of our faith in Jesus. 00:34:08.320 --> 00:34:12.639 You've forgiven us of our sins because of the blood of Jesus Christ. 00:34:12.880 --> 00:34:29.199 So, Lord, we come to you with faith, just knowing that all of this is taken care of, knowing that you know the beginning from the end, and knowing that you always have what's best in mind for us, and that you will withhold no good thing from us. 00:34:29.440 --> 00:34:34.000 But help us to have confidence in these things we pray in Jesus' name.