If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all,
how will he not also along with him graciously give us all things?
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?
It's God who justifies.
Who is he that condemns Christ Jesus who died?
More than that, who was raised to life, is at the right hand of God,
and is also interceding for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall trouble, or hardship, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
As it's written, for your sake we face death all day long.
We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors.
Through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life,
neither angels, nor demons,
neither the present, nor the future, nor any power,
neither height or depth,
nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God,
that in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Let us pray, just ask God to bless his word to us.
Lord, we just pray that you will open our hearts and mind,
and that you bless your precious word to every one of us.
We thank you and we love you.
In Jesus' name, amen.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Paul wrote this letter about 57 AD,
even before the persecution is coming to the Romans church,
as if he was prophesying what the church in Rome will go through.
To answer this question,
who will separate us from the love of Christ?
There is nothing, small or big,
in this world or the world to come
will separate us from the union
and the deep relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.
And because of the different blessings,
the different promises,
the different privileges the Lord gave us,
which continue to strengthen
and to inspire us to continue in this journey,
journey of faith and journey of life.
And if you review with me quickly, loved one,
these promises in chapter 8.
First, he said,
there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
So don't allow guilt and condemnation to rule your life
because Jesus took your condemnation
and my condemnation on Calvary.
And second,
we are able not to allow anything to separate us
from the love of God
because we become his children.
And the Holy Spirit testifies
and witnesses to our spirits
that we become the children of God
through Christ Jesus.
And also because we have been called
to suffer with Christ.
And we cannot join with his glory
unless we experience what it means
to suffer with Christ.
And he said,
all the creation is also suffering.
And the creation in agony is waiting in hope,
which is waiting the children of God
for that ultimate salvation
that will be also hope for the Holy Creation.
And also he talks about
the Holy Spirit is interceding our behalf,
especially in the difficult times.
When you're not able to pray
or to know how to pray,
you have the Holy Spirit inside of you
taking this agony deep inside,
bringing it before the throne of God.
And God the Father,
who understands the language
and the need of the Spirit,
will answer you and me
according to our needs
through the intercede of the Holy Spirit.
And then he said,
another thing which is continue to inspire us
and not allow anything to separate us
from the love of God,
that whatever happened to you or to me,
not everything happened to us is good.
Sometimes evil around us
and evil happened to us.
But the good news and the miracle,
which is only God can do,
whatever hurts,
whatever disappointed we're going through,
the loving God will take this evil things
and turn it in miraculous way
for your good and my good.
For those who love him
and who've been called according to his purpose
in order every one of us
to be more like him.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
You know, it says in verse 31,
if you look with me,
what then shall we say in response to this?
In response to this,
it's probably relate to the previous verses,
especially 28 to 30.
But then say,
if God is for us,
who can be against us?
In other words,
if God is with you
and in your side,
you are the majority,
if everything else against you.
If God for us,
who can be against us?
You know,
Elisha, the prophet,
the king of Aram in 2 Kings,
turned against him
because he was giving counsel
to the king of Israel
and also prophesy
against the king of Aram.
So the king of Aram,
when they brought his army
and surrounding the prophet
and his servant.
And this is what 2 Kings 6.15 says.
When the king of Aram
wanted to capture Elisha,
it says,
when the servant of the man of God
got up,
went out early the next morning,
an army with horses and chariots
had surrounded the city.
Oh, my Lord,
what shall we do?
The servant asked,
don't be afraid,
the prophet answered,
those who are with us
are more than those
who are with them.
And Elisha prayed,
oh, Lord,
open his eyes
so he may see.
Then the Lord opened
the servant's eye
and he looked and saw
the hills full of horses
and chariots of fire
all around Elisha.
So when God is for you,
indeed,
you are the majority.
also,
when God for us,
we will be able
to overcome fear.
And this is what Caleb
and Joshua say
to the people of Israel
after they spied the land
and the people are scared.
It says
in Numbers 14.9,
only don't rebel
against the Lord
and don't be afraid
of the people
of the land
because we will
swallow them up.
Their protection
is gone,
but the Lord
with us,
don't be afraid
of them.
And Psalm 118.6,
the Lord
is with me,
I will not
be afraid.
What can
man
do
to me?
I want to say,
loved one,
it's not only
God for us,
but also
he is with us.
And the presence
of God,
we see it
in different way.
In the Old Testament,
in the most holy place,
the Holy of Holies,
the presence of God
was there in a special way
where is the Ark
of the Covenant,
where is the mercy seat
above the Ark,
and where is the cover
above the seat of mercy,
which is above the Ark
of the Covenant.
And the Lord God
was speaking
from above the cover.
And that cover,
it's called
the Shekinah glory,
which is
the very presence
of the Lord.
But we see
the presence of God
in the New Testament,
it's more intangible
way through
Jesus Christ.
Like he say
in first,
like he say
in John 1,
14,
the Lord
become a flesh
and made
his dwelling
among us.
We have
seen his glory,
the glory
of the one
and only
who came
from the Father,
full of grace
and a truth.
And I want
to say
his presence
now is
with us
by the Holy Spirit.
I think one
of the most
beautiful things
for us
as the children
of God,
when not only
just close your eyes
and bow your head
and feel the presence
of God,
but the presence
of God
continuously
with us
by the presence
of the Holy Spirit.
It reminds me
of the Queen
of England
many,
many years ago.
it used
to visit
the widows
and the boar
in England.
And one day
she visited
one of the widows
in one of the churches
and one of the brothers
in the church
heard about it
and he said,
I want to go
to see what's happened.
So he went
to the widow
which used
to go to the church
and he sat
and he started
asking the question,
I heard the queen
came to visit you.
And she said,
yeah,
and she was
very excited
and she said,
she sat here
and so loving,
so kind
and was very happy
about that visit.
And this brother
from the church
said,
well,
I will ask her
if Jesus
come to visit her.
I want to see
how her respond.
And he said,
sister,
she said,
yeah,
does Jesus
come visit you?
And she looked
at him,
he said,
no,
he doesn't come
visit me,
he with me
always.
Continuously,
he's with me.
And this is what
we experience,
loved one,
in our walk
with the Lord.
One of the approve
that indeed
he's with us,
like in verse 32,
if you look,
he who didn't
despair his own son,
but give him up
for us all.
And you know,
when he said
that the sacrifice,
the atonement
of our Lord Jesus
is not only
for a small group
of people,
but it's for us all
and it's sufficient
for our humanity.
But the one
who benefited
from this atonement
is those
who open their hearts,
humble themselves,
and receives
God's gift,
what Jesus did
on the cross
for every one
of us.
and he said
if he gave us
the ultimate
sacrifice,
the ultimate gift,
the gift of gifts,
wasn't he able
to give us
the small things
we need?
The one who gave us
life and put
the breath of life
in us
wasn't able
to give us
the food we need
for this life.
If he gave us
this body,
wasn't able
to give us
the clothes we need
for this body.
Indeed,
the Lord can,
will provide
because he is
our shepherd
all the time.
In verse 33,
who will bring
any charge
against those
whom God
has chosen?
It's God
who justifies.
Who will bring
any charge
against those
who have
been chosen?
You know,
those who've been
elected
or chosen,
they've been
approved
and accepted
by God the Father.
So who can
bring accusation
or charge
against them?
You know,
the evil one,
the Hebrew word
Satan,
which means
the one who
resists,
and devil,
the Greek word,
which means
he's the accuser.
And this is
what he does
day and night,
24-7,
against the
children of God
in the presence
of God.
But we have
our lawyer,
our defend
attorney,
who's standing
in the presence
of God
is defending
his children.
And this is
what we read
in Revelation 12,
verse 10,
the Lord
cast down
the accuser
who accused
the brethren
before the Lord
day and night.
But then he said
they overcome
him by the
blood of the Lamb,
by the word
of their
testimony,
and they
did not
love their
lives so
much as
to shrink
from death.
And then he
said,
it's God
who justified.
And this
justification
is not like
what the Pharisee
used to do.
But when we
say we are
justified,
or Jesus
justified us,
he is not
only forgive
us our sins,
but also he
gave us
his righteousness.
He didn't
forgive
just our
sins,
but give us
all the
qualification
we need
to be
justified
or be
right before
the Lord
and forgiven
as if we
never been
sinned
before.
So no one
can bring
accusation
and succeed
against me
and you
as the
children of
God,
because
our
Redeemer
continue
to pray
for us
because he
is the
one to
intercede
in our
behalf.
Verse 34,
who is
that he
that
condemns?
Who is
he that
condemns?
A Christ
Jesus
who died
more than
that who
was raised
to life
is at the
right hand
of God
and is
also
interceding
for us.
Who can
condemn?
For the
one to
condemn,
he has
to have
three
requirements.
First of
all,
he has
to die
and to
rise.
He has
to be
alive,
sitting on
the right
hand of
the Father
and he
to intercede.
And this
is only
applied to
our Lord
Jesus.
So no
one have
the right
to condemn.
But the
one who
intercedes
for us
who is
our
Savior.
So there
is no
condemnation
for those
who are
in Christ
Jesus.
And we
see many
verses
which show
Jesus
is the
one to
intercede,
is the
one who
is sitting
on the
right hand
of the
Father.
Let me
quickly,
if I
may,
read
some
verses
about that.
Mark
16,
19.
After the
Lord Jesus
had spoken
to them,
he was
taken up
into heaven
and he
sat at
the right
hand of
God.
So Jesus,
he didn't
finish what
he came
to when
he just
died,
buried,
and raised,
but he
continued to
intercede
24-7 for
every one
of us.
Colossians 3,
1.
Since then
you have
been raised
with Christ,
set your
heart on
things above
where Christ
is seated
at the
right hand
of God.
Hebrews 1-3,
after he
had provided
purification
for sins,
he sat
down at
the right
hand of
the majesty
in heaven.
Hebrews 2-20,
and sat
down at
the right
hand of
the throne
of God.
Hebrews 8-1,
we do
have such
a high
priest who
sat down
at the
right hand
of the
throne of
the majesty
in heaven.
1 Peter 3-22,
who has
gone into
heaven and
is at
God's
right hand
with angels,
authorities,
and powers
in submission
to him.
And see
how he
intercedes,
Hebrews 7-25,
because he
always lives
to intercede
for them.
Hebrews 9-24,
he entered
heaven itself
now to
appear for
us in
God's
presence.
1 John
1-2,
it's known
verse,
he writes
in order
for you
not to
sin,
but if
anybody
does
sin,
we have
one who
speaks
to the
Father
in our
defense,
Jesus
Christ,
the
righteous
one.
Verse
35,
if you
look with
me,
who
shall
separate
us
from
the
love
of
Christ,
shall
it
trouble
or
hardship
or
persecution
or famine
or nakedness
or danger
or sword.
he talks
about some
of the
heroes
of faith,
Hebrews 11,
he say,
they were
stoned,
they were
sowed into
two,
they were
put to
death
by the
sword
and
mistreated.
people
and
they were
called
polycarb
and
polycarb
was
the
disciple
of
John,
the
disciple
of
Jesus.
And
he was
a
bishop
in
Asia
Minor
and
polycarb,
he was
in his
80s
and they
captured
him and
they asked
him to
deny
Jesus.
He refused,
they brought
him to
stadium and
people is
watching and
they asked
him to
deny
his
Lord.
And
he said
for 84
years he
was faithful
for me
and you
want me
in the
end of
my life
to deny
my Lord.
And he
refused
and he
burned
the life
in the
front of
many people
but he
kept his
eyes on
the Lord
and in
the most
difficult
moment in
his life
he refused
to deny
his
faith.
In
verse 36
as it's
written
and this
is taken
from
Psalm
44
verse 22
for your
sake
for your
sake
we face
death
all day
long.
We are
considered
as a
sheep
we are
considered
as a
sheep
to be
slaughtered
for your
sake
we face
death
all day
long.
And if
you look
to the
list
loved
one
which
Paul
went
through
in
2
Corinthians
11
23
it's
a long
list
because of
the time
we're not
going to
read it
but may
I read
a few
verses
for example
1 Corinthians
15
30 to
31
Paul
said
why do
we
endanger
ourselves
every hour
he says
I die
every day
I mean
that
brothers
and 2
Corinthians
4
11
to
12
for
we
who
are
alive
are
always
being
given
over
to
death
for
Jesus
sake
so
that
his
life
may
be
revealed
in
our
mortal
body
so
then
death
is
at
work
in
us
but
life
is
at
work
in
you
know
Paul
when he
stood
before
Nero
and
shortly
he
murdered
after
he
wrote
2nd
Timothy
the
last
epistle
he ever
written
he said
in
2nd
Timothy
4
16
17
no
one
no
one
came
to
my
support
but
everyone
deserted
me
we
are
considered
as
sheep
to be
slaughtered
and
this
is
the
topic
which
we
see
it
in
the
Middle
East
before
I
continue
I
like
if
I
may
just
show
you
a few
pictures
and
what's
happening
to
many
Christians
in the
Middle
East
and
we
are
considered
as
sheep
to be
slaughtered
the
Coptic
brothers
21
one
of them
from
Sudan
in
the
beaches
of
Libya
you
see
the
verse
almost
literally
fulfilled
as
our
brothers
has
been
taken
as
a
sheep
to be
slaughtered
next
please
next
in the
most
difficult
moment
of
their
lives
they
keep
their
eyes
on
the
Lord
and
one
of
the
voices
we
heard
in
Arabic
when
they
showed
the
video
in
the
darkest
moments
they
crying
out
Lord
Jesus
Lord
Jesus
next
please
another
family
we
minister
to
who
is
from
Iraqi
Christian
her
husband
been
kidnapped
by
ISIS
and
came
with
two
of
her
children
Mario
12
Marianne
is
14
but
in
spite
of
the
difficulty
they
experienced
healing
in the
midst
of
suffering
next
please
and
some
of
you
probably
knows
about
Rami
who
was
a
member
in
the
church
I
was
pastor
in
Gaza
he
refused
to
deny
his
faith
and
in
the
darkest
hour
of
his
life
he
kept
his
eyes
on
the
Lord
and
his
testimony
continue
to
inspire
us
and
to
encourage
us
next
please
and
he
left
a
wife
two
children
and
his
wife
was
pregnant
and
now
she
is
raising
three
children
by
herself
in
the
West
Bank
you
know
it's
the
picture
we
saw
in
front
of
us
this
is
what
happened
to
our
master
to
our
Lord
Jesus
himself
Isaiah
prophesied
when he
said
in
53
verse
6
we
all
like
sheep
have
gone
astray
each
of us
has
turned
to
his
own
way
and
the
Lord
has
laid
on
him
the
iniquity
of
us
all
and
see
what
he
say
in
verse
7
he
was
oppressed
and
inflicted
yet
he
did
not
open
his
mouth
he
was
led
like
a
lamb
to
the
slaughter
and
as
a
sheep
before
her
sharers
is
silent
so
he
did
not
open
his
mouth
and
my
question
loved
one
if
the
Lord
allow
us
to
talk
or
to
walk
in
the
same
road
will
we
continue
to
follow
the
Lord
if
there
is
a
price
we
have
to
pay
as
followers
of
Christ
are
we
willing
to
pay
that
a
price
in
verse
31
after
he
gave
a
list
about
different
things
a
trail
sword
could
separate
us
and
then
the
answer
in
verse
31
no
in
all
these
things
we
are
more
than
corn
cookers
through
him
who
loved
us
why
Paul
said
we
not
just
only
have
a
victory
or
conquer
but
we
are
more
than
conquerors
and
I
think
one
of the
reasons
because
in the
tough
time
we
learn
things
we
probably
couldn't
learn
in any
other
way
the
most
precious
lessons
in our
walk
with the
Lord
we
learn
it
in
the
toughest
days
of
our
life
and
also
in
the
difficult
times
loved
one
we
see
the
Lord
in
a
way
we
never
saw
him
before
the
disciple
realized
indeed
he's
the
son
of
God
after
the
storm
and
also
I
want
to
say
our
faith
will
be
tested
in
the
difficult
time
not
when
everything
is
going
fine
if
it's
genuine
faith
or
not
so
I
pray
may
God
help
us
all
whatever
we
go
through
to
continue
to be
faithful
to
the
Lord
he
says
suffering
in
Romans
5
3
to
4
suffering
produce
perseverance
and
perseverance
produce
character
if
you
want
to be
more
like
your
Lord
don't
complain
much
about
the
trial
and
the
tribulation
but
say
Lord
what
do
you
want
to
show
me
in
the
time
of
disappointment
in
the
time
of
disappointed
when
the
time
I'm
hurt
Lord
build
me
to
be
more
like
you
and
suffering
you
produce
perseverance
produce
character
and
characters
produce
hope
and
hope
will
not
disappoint
us
because
God
poured
his
love
in
our
hearts
I
end
with
verses
38
to
39
for
I
am
convinced
this
mean
past
and
also
now
I'm
convinced
that
neither
death
nor
life
neither
angels
nor
demons
neither
the
present
nor
the
future
nor
any
powers
neither
the
present
nor
the
future
and
verse
39
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
you know
loved one
it's not
worth it
don't
allow
anything
small
or big
affect
your
relationship
with the
Lord
or
even
separate
you
from
the
Lord
I
end
with
this
story
about
Hook
Candy
who is
a minister
in
Scotland
when he
was dying
in the
last moments
of his
life
was laying
on bed
and his
friends
surround
him
and then
he asked
them to
bring
him
a Bible
and then
when they
brought
the Bible
he realized
he lost
his sight
so he
asked them
to open
at Romans
chapter 8
verse
38 and
verse 39
and he
said
put my
finger
on these
verses
and then
he asked
is my
finger
on these
verses
they said
yes
and without
speaking
more
he said
my beloved
children
I'm going
to leave
you
and I
will be
with the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
tonight
and in
this way
he departed
depending on
the word
of God
you know
the promises
of God
the word
of God
this is
where we
stand
and this
is why
we consider
it it's
worth it
to live
the rest
of our
life
not for
ourselves
but
for the
one who
gave his
life for
every one
of us
I'm really
grateful for
the blessing
and the
privilege
to share
with you
my brothers
and sisters
because we
belong to
a bigger
body
the body
of Christ
and when
part of the
body is
suffering
the whole
body is
suffering
in spite
of all
the difficulties
God really
helped us
and we
really grateful
for the
partnership
and for
the church
that we
work together
and especially
in the last
12 months
there's
hundreds
we minister
to thousands
of Iraqi
Christians
who fled
the persecution
of ISIS
and came
to Jordan
many of them
didn't have
much
maybe just
the clothes
they have
but God
helped us
by his grace
to minister
to one another
to learn
from one another
and to grow
and the Lord
always is the
shelter
and also
even in Gaza
we say
they say
about 14%
of the people
in Gaza
sympathize
or agreed
with ISIS
doing
so please
pray for the
Christians
in Gaza
and for all
Gaza people
because also
it became
very dangerous
for them
and we
praise the
Lord that
we not alone
and we'll
never be alone
because he said
I will be
with you
always
and please
keep us
in your
prayer
thank you
and God
bless you
Amen
please stand
with us
church
Father let me
dedicate
all this
life to
thee
in whatever
worldly state
thou wilt have
me be
not from sorrow
pain or care
freedom dare
I claim
this alone
shall be my
prayer
glorify thy name
be glorified
in me
be glorified
Be glorified in me
Be glorified
Can a child presume to choose
Where or how to live
Can a father's love refuse
All the best to give
More thou givest every day
Than the best can claim
Nor withholdest thought that may
Glorify thy name
Be glorified in me
Be glorified
Be glorified in me
Be glorified
Be glorified in me
Be glorified
Be glorified in me
Be glorified
If thou callest to the cross
And its shadows come
Turning all my gain to loss
Shrouding heart and home
Let me think of thy dear son
To his glory came
And in deepest woe pray on
Glorify thy name
Be glorified in me
Be glorified
Be glorified in me
Be glorified
Be glorified in me
Be glorified
Father let me
Father let me dedicate
All this life to thee
In whatever worldly state
Thou would have me be
Not from sorrow
Pain or care
Freedom dare I claim
This alone shall be my prayer
Glorify thy name
Amen
May that be our prayer
Brother Hana, thank you so much
for bringing the word to us this morning
We're grateful for you
If we invite you to stay around
Downstairs there's lunch
that you can take some lunch
and then around 12 o'clock
Hana will start a presentation
presenting more detail
about his ministry
ongoing ministry in Gaza
and in Jordan
ways that you can be praying for them
If this is something that
the Lord seems to be putting on your heart
and you wanted to give financially
to support them
you can also
you can write a check to Trinity
and designate it for them
and we'll pass that on to them
and you can also get more information downstairs
and if you're signed up for the prayer emails
you will get regular updates from Hana
and the other missionaries that we support
will pass them on to you as they come in
so if you're not on that list
fill out one of the welcome cards
or email the office
call the office
sign up for the prayer email list
so you can be updated
and be encouraged to pray
Tonight for our evening service
Dustin Hawkins will be preaching
concluding our service
our series in 1 Samuel
so I invite you to come out
and listen to him
and go with this word of blessing
May the God of hope
fill you with all joy
and peace in believing
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit
you may abound in hope
and all God's people said
Amen
Go in peace