Romans 8:38-39

 ³⁸For 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 creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Nothing that happens today and nothing that will come tomorrow can separate us from the love of God. When I think about God’s love I think about John 3:16: ¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

What great love God has for us and Jesus’ love is great as well, John 15:13 says, ¹³Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.  

Jesus laid down his life for us to give us the opportunity to experience salvation, peace, love and joy. I’ve always loved the scriptures I began with today because it shows just how great God’s love is. When I was a teenager, I can remember satan trying to tell me that no one loves me. No one cares about me. What a lie! He’s tried to tell each of us that at some point in our lives though.

The verses above are irrefutable proof that God, the creator of the universe loves you and absolutely nothing can separate you from the love of God. He loves you regardless of what you do, don’t do or should be doing. God loves you and nothing can change that. You can’t do anything to make God stop loving you. You can get in sin and separate yourself from God’s love but that doesn’t make God stop loving you. Nothing can stop Him from loving you.

Here’s the truth in the scriptures about the love of God: Jeremiah 31:3 – ³The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

An everlasting love is an endless love. It never stops and has no end. That’s hard for our minds to conceive but just think about that for a moment. 100 years from now, 1,000 years from now, even 1,000,000 years from now, God is still going to love each one of us just as much as He does today. That’s incredible. That’s the God we serve.

Don’t let satan trick you into thinking no one loves you. God does and a lot of other people in your life do as well. Find anyone in your life who is a true Christian and you’ll find out that they love you more than you’ll ever know. How do I know that?

 It’s because a true Christian is focused on knowing God and the more you know God the more His love begins to overtake your life. And when His love overtakes your life, you can’t help but love others. 1 John 4:7-8 sums it up,  ⁷Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  ⁸He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

God is love so if you need more love in your life, start reading your Bible and praying more and you’ll have God’s everlasting love start overtaking your life.

Romans 2:3-5

 ³And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

 ⁴Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

 ⁵But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

When I read this scripture and really got to thinking about what it was saying, I really wish I would have read and understood it sooner in my life. I used to be this foolish person Paul was speaking to. I would sin and think that God had more mercy on me than on a sinner since I was a “Christian”. Thinking back I was crazy to think that. The true reality was that I was blinded by satan.

The sad part was I couldn’t have been more wrong now that I’ve matured as a Christian and I understand more about the things of God. Matthew 5:45 says,  ⁴⁵That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. and Galatians 6:7 says,  ⁷Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

It still rains on you whether or not you’re saved or lost and you still reap whatever you sow as well. Being saved gets you to heaven but by no means gives you a license to sin just because you can pray and get forgiveness later. All of your actions have rewards or consequences regardless of whether or not you’re saved.

We serve a just God and if you willfully sin, I can guarantee you that it will bring destruction into your life. It doesn’t matter how much you say you love God, if you really loved Him then you wouldn’t commit that willful sin. God knows your heart and that’s what a lot of people don’t fully understand. They’re deceived.

 Romans 2:16 says, ¹⁶In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.  Another translation of verse 16 is: The day will surely come when God, by Jesus Christ, will judge everyone’s secret life, this is my message.

If you have a secret life where you’re sinning when no one’s looking, your day of judgment is coming. Numbers 32:23 says, ²³But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

I encourage you today to let the blinders fall off of your eyes and pray for the understanding of God’s word each day. That one prayer has changed my life because the more I learn from the word of God, the more it changes me.

My final scripture is Ephesians 5:1  ¹Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; Following God is a lifestyle and it has to be something that starts when you wake up each morning and doesn’t end until you fall asleep at night. The easiest way I’ve seen in our time to keep away from sin is WWJD, just ask yourself, “What Would Jesus Do?” Then do that.

This Week’s Sermon is entitled:

“Make Your Excuses Be The Reason You Serve God!”

 Please Visit My Sermon Podcast Page To Hear Message

Scriptures Used: Romans 3:27-28, Romans 3:23-24, 1 John 1:9, Matthew 19:16-22, Matthew 6:24, Romans 10:9-13 

Romans 3:27-28

 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Romans 3:23-24

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

1 John 1:9 

 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 Matthew 19:16-22

 16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Matthew 6:24

  24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

 Romans 10:9-13

 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Why not make the excuses that are keeping you from doing God’s will be the very reasons you start serving God with all your heart? You’ve let it control and influence you and keep you from God. Why not decide that that you’re tired of it keeping you from God and make it lead you start serving God?

We all have excuses or as some people call them ”reasons” why we’re not doing God’s will each day. The thing I want to emphasize to you today though is that it’s completely up to each of us how we choose to let those excuses influence us. They can continue to be what keeps you from doing God’s will and receiving the many blessing He has for you. They can also be what makes you decide you need to sell out to God and do His will and receive the many blessings that He has stored up for you. It’s your choice…

Acts 28:21-23

 ²¹And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.

 ²²But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.

 ²³And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

 ²⁴And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

It’s amazing to me that the Jews in Jerusalem were so keen on killing and destroying Paul when he was in their city but they didn’t care what he did when he was gone.

If you read Acts 27-28, it was quite a trip to Rome by ship. The Jews had plenty of time to send letters or messengers to the Jews in Rome. They didn’t though as Acts 28:21 states above. Why?

I think the reason they didn’t care was because when Paul left, he was no longer a threat to them. He was now someone else’s problem and they probably felt like the Jews in Rome would act just as they did. They only cared when he was preaching Jesus in their city.

They were wrong though, if they did feel like the Jews in Rome were just like them because they weren’t. They allowed Paul to speak about Jesus without any persecution. Some even believed what Paul was saying. (Acts 28:24)

I guess what really stands out to me today is how caught up the Jews were in their own little world. They only focused on what affected them directly. They had no concern for the Jews in Rome and felt no need to inform them Paul was coming there. They felt so passionate about destroying Paul that they had made multiple plans to kill him. Yet they didn’t feel the need to send a letter to the Jews in Rome? It was because it didn’t directly affect them. It wasn’t their problem.

How many of us are just like that though? We don’t think about anything else in the world because it doesn’t affect us directly. We only care about what directly affects us. Famines and diseases fill our world. Thousands of children live on the streets and die of hunger each day. Countless places in the world still don’t have access to clean water. It doesn’t affect us directly though so it’s not our problem.

I think Jesus thinks otherwise though from his statements in Matthew 25:41-45:  ⁴¹Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:  ⁴²For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:  ⁴³I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.  ⁴⁴Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?  ⁴⁵Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

As Christians reaching out to those in need is part of our mission here on earth. Each time you reach out to someone less fortunate you in the world, you’re touching heaven. You’re ministering to Jesus. Colossians 3:23-24 says:  ²³And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;  ²⁴Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Let everything you do in this life be to and for the Lord, whether it’s helping someone in need or just being a Christian example in your workplace.

Today I want to share another song from Matthew West’s new album entitled “My Own Little World”. Since the first day I really listened to the words of this song, I find myself thinking about the lyrics from time to time. I’ve saw areas of my life where I live in my own little world without looking at others around me.

I encourage you to listen to this song today and let it sink in. Then decide that you’re not going to be like the Jews were and live only within your own little world.

Acts 26:17-18

 ¹⁷Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

 ¹⁸To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

What does sanctified mean? Another translation of this verse says, “…who are set apart by faith in me.” Being sanctified is being set apart from others.

As Christians we are set apart from the world because of our faith in Jesus Christ. What a joy it is to be different! In my life I’ve always enjoyed be different. What a boring place it would be if everyone in the world was the same. The level of your faith is what decides how set apart you are though.

I believe some Christians in the world today are closet Christians. You’d never know they were Christians by some of their actions. What a shame that is too because they’re sowing bad seeds for their harvest in life.

Putting your faith fully in Jesus is what sets you apart. You’re not fully putting your faith in Jesus unless you follow His word and keep His word. James 2:26 says Faith without works is dead. If you don’t have an outward showing of your faith, I’d have to question if your faith is truly there.

Having faith in Jesus is not about going to church on Sunday, it’s about taking Him with you on Monday. If you can start your day without seeking God, I have to wonder where your faith really is. I personally find myself reading and praying each morning because I need God’s direction for my life.

I encourage you to look at your faith today, examine your heart and really ask yourself where your faith is at. If it’s not fully in Jesus, I encourage you put it there. You’ll have the best life you ever imagined if you put your faith fully in Jesus because your life couldn’t be in any better hands than His.

Acts 20:24

 ²⁴But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Another translation of verse 24 is “…But my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus”. My life is worth nothing unless… What a statement to even make. 

This scripture sums up why God chose Paul to write two-thirds of the New Testament. He was so committed to doing God’s will that nothing else in life mattered to him. How different would our churches be if everyone adapted that same mentality? A lot more people would come to know Jesus, I guarantee you that much.

In our world today, there are so many distractions and there is a “standard” of how things are supposed to be. It truly is the last days as described in 2 Timothy 3, where men are lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. Even in some of our churches you see people that are more worried about what they want to do than what God wants them to do. I’ve found myself in that position many times.

I have my plans for my life but God has plans for my life as well. Being the hard-headed person I am, I’m finally beginning to learn that God’s way is much better than my way. It just took me trying things my way and failing time after time after time.. you get the picture. Then finally doing it God’s way and having a better life than I ever imagined. His way and His plan are always better for you, if you can just choose to trust Him and follow His plan.

If you go through each day without God, you’re on an uncertain path with no direction. The news bothers you, the economy makes you nervous, your bills make you worry, etc… You’re always uptight because everything that happens in the world affects your life.

If you go through each day with God though, your path is certain and it ends in eternity. The news doesn’t matter, the economy doesn’t affect you, your bills are in God’s hands etc… Nothing matters but doing what God wants you to do because you realize this world is not your home. You’re just passing through so nothing in this world concerns you.

Some Christians fall in the category going through life without God. They constantly worry and are too involved in the world.  Myself though, I choose to join Paul and say that my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus. In the end, all that matters is if you did what Jesus wants you to do while on this earth. Are you doing His will for your life?

Acts 18:9-11 

⁹Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:

 ¹⁰For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.

 ¹¹And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

As I read this scripture, I couldn’t help but think about the fact of what a great privilege it is to live in the United States. God’s told me to not be afraid of what people think before, but He’s never told me to not be afraid that someone was going to hurt me.

In our world today in various countries, God is still telling people this same thing though or they’re reading it in this chapter. When they speak about Jesus, it endangers their life.

It made me realize that what I’m doing for God is extremely safe and easy to do compared to many others. God’s told certain people like Evangelist L.R. Clinton to go to other countries and preach the gospel where Christians are being persecuted. They still go though because God placed the vision inside them and that is something I do understand.

What has God asked you to do? If it doesn’t involve persecution, imprisonment or possible death, what makes it so hard?

I know I don’t understand your situation but Jesus came to this earth, was beaten, and died on a cross so that we might have life. I’ve finally realized that the least I can do for Him is to do the things He’s asked me to do.

I shared a video with my sermon Sunday called “Reason For The World” and I believe that song was completely God-inspired. I’m learning to realize that everything here is just temporary and all that matters is what we do for God.

In eternity, how much wealth you had, what possessions you obtained, or your social status won’t matter. All that will matter is what you did with your life and what you did for God.

 So how’s your eternity judgment looking?

Acts 16:16-18

 16And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

 17The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

 18And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

I’ve read this story before and always focused on the woman being freed from the demon spirit. This time though something else stuck out to me. It was Paul, being grieved. Another translation of verse 18 reads, “This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and spoke to the demon within her…”

 Paul freed this woman so she would be free but according to these scriptures he freed her primarily because he was tired of dealing with her day after day. 

How many things in our lives are we tired of dealing with? Why don’t you do something about it? That’s what Paul did.

He had a problem that was bothering him so bad that he dealt with it. I think a lot of things would change in our lives if we would just get tired enough of dealing with it. If we just have enough strength and courage to ask God how to fix this problem, it’d be fixed by now.

 A lot times in life it’s easy to settle and deal with things the way they are. If it’s not the way God intended it to be though, I personally refuse to settle. I plan to pray and follow God out of the situations in my life that aren’t of Him. What about you?

 What problem can you speak to today and pray to God about? He’s ready to answer if you’re ready to ask.

Acts 12:3-11

 3And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
 4And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
 5Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
 6And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
 7And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
 8And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
 9And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
 10When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
 11And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the LORD hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

I read this chapter today and couldn’t help be amazed at the miraculous thing God did here. I normally don’t include so much here but I really just wanted to share every detail of this.

The scripture that comes to mind so easily with this story is Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)

After reading this aloud to myself and really just picturing in my mind what happened here, I can literally feel my faith increasing. Since God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34), I know that if God can do this for Peter he can do it for me too.

I may not need freeing from prison but the same faith that the believers had for Peter to be freed is the same faith that we need for our lives. Faith is what the true Christian lifestyle is built on. In fact, the Bible says without faith it’s impossible to please God because anyone who comes must be that He is real (Hebrews 11:6).

My point today is that if you’re saved you have faith and if you need more faith dig into God’s word. I know I personally can use more faith in my life so I’m digging deeper into God’s word each day.

I’ve got big things that I’ believing God for this year and it’s going to take some big faith to receive them. I’m not worried for a moment though because I’ve got an unlimited supply of faith building material like the passage I shared today right at my fingertips.

If you need more faith, read and study your Bible more and spend more time praying instead of worrying or fearing. If you have bills stacking up or any situation that’s beyond your control, get your Bible out and begin to read God’s life-changing word and watch His power begin to work in your life.
I use it a lot but Mark 9:23 will always be one of my main scriptures. It says “…If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” You just have to believe.

This Week’s Sermon is entitled:

“Can God See That You Have The Faith?”

 Please Visit My Sermon Podcast Page To Hear Message

Scriptures Used: Acts 14:8-10, 1 Samuel 16:7 & 1 Samuel 15:22

Acts 14:8-10

 8And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked: 9The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, 10Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

1 Samuel 16:7

 7But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

1 Samuel 15:22

 22And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

God is not like man because He looks at your heart. You can fool man by your appearance but you can’t fool God because He knows your heart. 

Sometimes God will ask you to do things before He moves on your need because He wants to see how much you believe.  If you do whatever He asks you to do then you’re showing God your faith. He wants to see your faith because your faith is the key that unlocks your miracle.  Show God your faith by being obedient to Him this year.

Side Scripture: 1 John 2:15-17

15Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Below is a song that’s really been ministering to to me and it ties in with this scripture. This world is not our home so don’t fall love with it. Fall in love with Jesus and and all the things of God. All that matters in eternity is what you did for God. Listen to this song and let the words sink into your spirit. Realize that the reason for the world is to make us long for home.