~Hello Friends! Here is a copy of today’s sermon transcript from my visit to my all-time favorite radio station, AM 1490, WKRO in Cairo, Illinois. God Bless You!~
ARE YOU PERSUADED?
Derek E. Eurales, Jr.
Text: Romans 8:28, 35-39
We live in a time where, more than ever before, we have to know what we believe and in whom we trust. The question of faith comes up daily, and we have to first answer it for ourselves before answering it for others.
We are part of a society that is fed by input, even to the point of addiction. We love information, little known “facts” (Careful what you receive to be “fact”), etc. The popular 1980s movie, “Short Circuit”, has a robot as a character named “Number Five”. He coined a phrase “Input, Input!” In our quest for input, we’ve left the Book of Input given Before Leaving Earth. We’ve left the Bible.
How can we be persuaded that nothing will separate us from the love of God if we don’t have a working, living, moving, breathing relationship with Him or His Word? The Bible is God’s love letter to humanity. But how can we say we love Him if we are not striving daily to know what His love letter says to us? We cannot allow the cares of the world, with its trials, to separate us from God’s love. We’ve got to get in The Book and get God’s wisdom on the inside of us, so we can truly become persuaded. I have a question for you: Are you persuaded?
There are two ways to become persuaded: 1. Solidify your relationship with God (Make sure you’re born again); and 2. Become a student of the Bible. (Paul became persuaded after he suffered many things for the sake of Christ and learned what it means to have victory in Him)
Romans 8:28, 35-39 (NKJV)
| 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Verse 28 commentaries: There is a qualifying criterion to having all things work together for good…the recipients of such a promise must love God, and must have been called according to God’s purpose for them. Now, does the statement “all things” in the above verse mean that God sanctions evil? Absolutely not. Nor does it mean that the sins of humanity cause all natural disasters. God loved humanity enough that He, at creation, placed within us the capacity to choose our path. Some choose the good, while others choose evil. So what that means is when we find ourselves in a bad situation, whether it was brought on by our own wrongdoing or not, if we are the “those who love God, [and] those who are the called according to His purpose” then we know (regardless of the outcome) that things will work out for our good. (Emphasis added)35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Verse 35 commentaries: While one would normally think in terms of “what”, the ascribing of “who” to tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, and sword brings a human distinction to the problems people face. Now, the essence of the word “who” is lost in other translations of the Bible differing from the King James Version, possibly rightly so, but it is still interesting that the King James Version, and even the New International Version renders “who” not “what”. Reference 1 Samuel 17 and the account of the “uncircumcised Philistine” (v. 26, 36) David dealt with as a young man. Through this example, we should take on an attitude of “Who dares to defy the plan of God by bringing this problem to(insert your name)?” |
| 36As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Verse 36 commentaries: A reference to Psalm 44:22, this lets us know that we are already set up as part of a proverbial “hit list”. The question is, have you made the devil’s “hit list” or not? How to make the hit list: a person fulfilling purpose and destiny for Christ will most assuredly make the “list”. SO, if you find yourself facing all kinds of opposition, calamities, distresses, and even the dreaded “drama”, it could be due to our wrongdoing, but it could also mean that you made the devil’s “hit list”. I believe the latter is true for you. I believe your name has made its way onto the hit list! |
| 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. |
| Verse 37 commentaries: The person who has his or her hand in God’s hand will thwart the assassination attempts of the enemy and will also receive situational victories above and beyond any victory that can come by other means. Hence, the reference “more than conquerors” takes its meaning from the very principle of degree. Regardless of the enemy’s attacks, and regardless of the plans of evil against you, the outcome looks promising for you!38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, |
| 39nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Verse 38 and 39 commentaries: Paul was persuaded (won over) to the idea that NOTHING or NO ONE had the ability to keep God’s love from us. That is, the love that is ours through our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. |
What problem are you facing today that has the power to keep God’s love from you? The answer is, of course, none. But do you know that to be true for yourself? Are you persuaded?
Author, speaker, musician DEREK E. EURALES, Jr., loves to share his faith, motivation, and music. His book, Principles of Christian Living, has become a “must read” for believers of all ages. To order your copy, click here.