Nothing Can Separate Us From The Love Of God Series

In the year of 2006 for 7 days and 7 nights God woke me up out of my own little world and said, go to India and hear the cries of the people. When I landed on Indian soil God said, I have sent you like the Apostle Paul into Athens, in the name of the 'unknown God.'

So today in the name of the Unknown God, to those who have never heard of Jesus, and sadly to those who have received Jesus yet do not truly know Him, not living in the victory, do not know of His unconditional love.

Let us go on a journey together. For those who have your Bibles turn with me to the book of Romans.

Romans 8:38-39 'For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor 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.'

The Apostle Paul said for I am persuaded that nothing can separate us from the love of God.

Why was Paul so convinced?

Paul had already encountered the risen Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus and suffered many horrendous things from the sake of the gospel. Paul had been put in jail many times, beaten with whips five times, beaten with sticks three times, stoned and left for dead, shipwrecked three times, his life in constant danger, he’d gone hungry and thirsty and was cold from not having enough clothes. Yet Paul was convinced that nothing could separate him from God's love. Paul knew the circumstances of this world had any power over him. But most important was that Paul knew and experienced personally God's love. Paul knew that regardless of circumstances and his own performance, that nothing could separate him from the love of God. Paul had a revelation that since the beginning God had loved him. Even when he was persecuting the church, even when rejecting Jesus, as the messiah, the saviour of the world.

Paul knew of God's love. Paul knew that everything depended upon God’s love – who God is, what He has done and will do. He knew that nothing or no one could change God's love and that God's love never ends.

God’s unconditional love and faithfulness, is who He is, and what He has done and for His own reputation. He must fulfill His promises.

For God's own reputation, so that the world may know Him. That is God's heart. Both the Old and New Testament testify to this.

In the Old Testament...

Psalm 106:8 ‘Nevertheless He saved them for His name’s sake, That He might make His mighty power known.’ The writer of the Psalm testifies that the Lord God Almighty delivered the Hebrew people from slavery and oppression, to make His mighty power known to all people.

In the New Testament...

The Apostle John writing to the church says in 1 John 2:12 ‘I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you, for His name’s sake.’ Once again for God's own reputation. He is reminding them, reminding us we are forgiven, we are set free. God is love, unconditional, unending love. God delivers and rescues. God continually forgives because God so loves.

Like the Apostle I too am convinced that nothing can separate me from the love of God.

Why am I so convinced?

Because God so loves. I received Jesus as my Lord and Saviour from an early age. I was going to heaven praise His mighty name! In my teenage years many things in this world started to come into my life. I discovered my father rejected my mother and for many years was having a relationship with another woman. My sister was diagnosed with cancer and given 2 years to live. After the death of my father, my mother became mentally disturbed and was lost to us for many years. I had my career, my sport, my life and became too busy for God. I lived my life for myself. Many years passed. I had everything this world could give... a wonderful husband, successful career, no financial debt, and physical health, yet felt so far away from the living God. I had become spiritually dry. Trapped in my own selfish desires. I had no love or concern for anybody outside of my family.

Then one day...

I cried out to God and said Father take my life, take it! I don't care what you do with it, whether I live or die, just give me time with you. From that moment I started this incredible journey of living in surrender to the Father's will. God said those 30 years you have wasted I will produce much, much fruit, because you will testify of my love. You will testify my love, favour and blessing never left you in all those years you were doing your own thing. You will be able to testify I am the God of love who wants to set people free.