Week 37 - Free Weekend Program for Street & Vulnerable Children

Text: Romans 8:36-39

Theme : More Than Conqueror

Verse 36 “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered”

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Christians know by faith that God love them because He gave His life as a sacrifice to take away our sin, the same Spirit enables us to love Him back; We love because He first loved us.1 John 4:19 . This love is not passive, it is not tugged into a corner, rather, it is active! Passionate and expressive. When the women at the well experienced Christ, she left her water jar and went telling others about Him, it was that serious and urgent. John 4.

Everyone who is called by God has a deep passion for the Gospel, they want others to hear about Christ and to experience His love in the forgiveness of sin; the kind of love that comes without condemnation, the same that empowers us to go and sin no more. John 8:11. However, we live in a world steep in darkness (ignorance and lies) where flesh and satan dwell and there is a price to pay if we must shine the light of the Gospel; but we must not fear or draw back because God has promised to be with us. Nothing can take away His love for us.

Christian (pilgrim’s progress) endured many trials and persecution because of his faith, but by the grace of God, he didn’t go back. he told his wife and children about the pending judgment, the celestial city and the celestial king (Christ) but they thought he was delusional (mad), they mocked him; it grieved him to loose them as he fled from the city of destruction - unbelief & sin to faith in Christ with his eyes fixed on the celestial city. Pliable and obstinate sort to take him back, the worldly wise man came against him, leading him astray towards civility and legality, he met Apollon and many more dangers. Through false accusation, Faithful was murdered - killed at vanity fair, yet, Christian kept going.

This may sound like a beautiful story and it is, but it is the REAL Christian life, the life of all who live by faith in Christ “for Christ sake, we face death daily” we die to self that we may live for Him, we deny ourselves, putting to death daily the deeds of the flesh Romans 8:13.

More than that, we face troubles and persecutions of all kinds as a result of our faith in Christ, some people are ostracised (cast off), denied opportunities, others tortured and killed because they chose to live for Christ and are determined to obey Him, following the example of their master, who endured suffering from sinful men even unto death. Hebrews 12:3

In Acts 7 & 8, Deacon Stephen was stoned to death for speaking about his faith in Christ; talking about the resurrection of Christ made the people so angry, they killed him; Apostle Paul was eventually beheaded. Many early missionaries died of malaria here in Africa as they persevered to teach about Christ to people who have never heard of Him. Jim Elliot, a missionary dedicated his life to sharing the Gospel with a tribe in Ecuador, they killed him there. John the Baptist was beheaded for telling the truth.

But you may ask “ why did they endanger themselves to the point of death ?” The answer is this, the love of God compels us, we MUST tell others and warn them of the pending destruction except they repent. This message, which is the gospel can make people hate you, it can make them angry because they are in the flesh and are ruled by sin and satan. John 8:44.

Jesus said, if the world hates you, remember it hated me first. John 15:18. For some people, killing Christians has become to them “a service to God” “we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered” Apostle Paul was like that due to ignorance till the Lord met Him on his way to Damascus. Acts 9.

The world is opposed to Christ, to the gospel and they will be opposed to you as you bring the gospel to them. Yet, we must not fear. We must love them enough to tell them about Christ, about the pending judgement even if it cost our lives or we suffer for it. When we started this Free Weekend Program last year, a brother was leading us, many men came and threatened us physically, people advised me to stop because my life was at sake, I was scared, others encouraged me to continue, but God helped us and we continued. today, am happy to see you all learning about the Celestial King -CHRIST and His kingdom.

Even if they were to kill me now, I am content! knowing that I have taught you the gospel from Romans chapters 1-8 and God by His grace will work through you to spread this message to others. Do not be afraid, God has promised to be with us and not even death can take us away from Him. Jesus said “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28

Let nothing discourage you, “is your strength too small? Match forward!” this was the potters’ advise to Christian (pilgrims progress).

Verse 37 “ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

Despite all the troubles, challenges, persecution and even death, we have the surpassing victory because God is with us, He loved us. Our bodies may die through hunger -famine, trials, persecution or sword but our soul will live forever in paradise. A good example is the story of Lazarus in Luke 16. His physical body suffered a lot here on earth, but his soul went to be with God in paradise.

Remember our hymn -

“Though all the world forsake me and satan tempt me sore,

through Jesus I shall surely reach the goal”

Our goal is the celestial city, the city of the great king, Christ Jesus! John 14:3

Verse 38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Are you convinced? Convinced that nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus? Convinced that Nothing can stop God from loving you?

1. How about sin? Can it separate us from the love of God?

No! The blood of Christ avails for us and the Holy Spirit gives us power over sin.

2. How about death? Can it snatch us from the heart of God and from His love for us?

No! death unites us eternally with God.

3. How about the troubles of life? Will they cause us to deny and reject faith in Christ?

No! The Holy Spirit is present to help us persevere to the end, still loving God. 1 Cor. 10:13, Hebrews 12:1-3

4. How about angels? Can they convince God to disown us or take away our inheritance in Christ.

No! Angels do only the will of God, God has predestined us, He has finished the work of our glorification even though we are yet to experience it. Ephesians 2:6

5. What of demons? Can they force God to stop loving us by bringing more accusations and condemnation ?

No! Christ paid it all. Romans 8:1.

5. Is there anything present now or anything in the future that can cause God to change his mind concerning us?

No! Nothing.

6. Can witches cause us to turn away from Christ? Can they turn our destiny around and block us from going into the celestial city?

No! the only power they have is to lie and deceive but the gospel goes forth as light (truth) to dispel darkness (falsehood).

Nothing in heaven or earth or in all creation has power to separate us from the Love of God in Christ. We are sons by adoption, Christ purchased us with His Blood, the Holy Spirit is the assurance, the guarantee that God’s promise of eternal glory will come to pass in our lives.

Let us rejoice continually and do our best to tell others about Christ, though they dislike and hate us, though we suffer hardship, though they kill us, we must persevere and keep going. You can start by praying for them, you can invite your friends to join this program, you can warn them against idols, about the pending judgment and you can tell them about the love of Christ that surpasses all.

May the Lord bless you richly.