Paul asks the question, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword (Romans 8:35)? The answer is that none of these things can separate you from Christ’s love unless you allow them to. So the important question today is this: Will you allow any of these things to separate you from Christ?

Paul was determined that nothing would separate him from Christ. 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 creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38,39).

The Bible says, Ye are complete in him [Jesus], which is the head of all principality and power (Colossians 2:10). So you must be determined not to allow anything to separate you from being complete in Christ. He is the one who makes you righteous and holy, and you must be satisfied with Him. For he [God] hath made him [Jesus] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (II Corinthians 5:21). We are to be just like Jesus.

Tribulation

Let’s go back to Romans 8:35 and look at the things listed in that verse one by one. First, will tribulation separate you from Christ? Tribulations try your faith, endurance and patience; they cause suffering and give you a cross to bear. Tribulations can be ferocious, but why let them separate you from Christ when He is the one who helps you to overcome them?

Jesus said, These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33). Jesus came from Heaven to Earth and became a man, and He was subjected to the same things we are. Nothing separated Jesus from His Father, so you should let nothing separate you.

Tribulations come to all people, but the devil seeks to exaggerate them in a child of God’s life. He tells you that your tribulations would go away if you would just quit serving the Lord, but don’t listen to him because he is not concerned about lifting your load. His only goal is to send your soul to hell for eternity. That is why Jesus brought everything you need to overcome the devil, and He put them within your reach.

Tribulations can deepen your union with Christ if you allow them to. Paul said, If so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together (Romans 8:17). He also said, We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience [knowledge from Heaven]; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us (Romans 5:3-5). That divine love casts out all fear. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear (I John 4:18).

Use Faith, Not Feelings

Tribulations will try your faith, but they cannot defeat your faith unless you allow them to. That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ (I Peter 1:7). The devil will try to make you think God has forgotten you, but the Bible says His eye is always upon you for good. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

When you are going through a severe trial, you may wake up some morning and feel like you are not saved; and the devil will immediately say, “See, you have lost your salvation just like I said you would.” But don’t listen to him. The Bible says, Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy (I Peter 4:12,13). You will suffer for Christ’s name’s sake, but you can learn to glory in those sufferings with not only joy but exceeding joy.

Paul did not let his many tribulations separate him from Christ. He wrote to Timothy, his son in the Lord, Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day (II Timothy 1:11,12).

Paul knew he had committed everything to God, and you must know that you too have committed everything. Then you will have nothing to fear or worry about, and the Holy Ghost within you will confirm that you are walking in the light of Jehovah God.

Distress

The second thing listed in Romans 8:35 is distress, which is extreme anxiety, sorrow, pain or anguish. Distress will come to everyone at one time or another; but when you handle it God’s way, it can be a testimony to who you are in the Lord. The Bible says, But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses (II Corinthians 6:4).

Distressing situations are a proving time for children of God; and while you are going through them, you must remain patient and calm and carry God’s anointing. You can’t let yourself get upset like people in the world do. You must lean on God’s sufficient grace, and He will make you strong. Paul said, Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong (II Corinthians 12:10).

Turn your distressing burdens over to Jesus. He said, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). Unload on Jesus and look for God’s comfort, which can come in many forms.

Paul found comfort in his distress through the faith of others. Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith (I Thessalonians 3:7). Always remember that your faithfulness to God can be a great strength to others.

Jesus Experienced Distress

Jesus was in great distress and agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, but He endured all that He did for us. And being in an agony he [Jesus] prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground (Luke 22:44). Jesus tried to keep His disciples awake to help Him pray, but they fell asleep when He needed them the most. Never let God find you sleeping when He wants you to be awake. You must carry every burden for the lost that He wants you to and be available to Him at any time.

Take time to ponder all that Christ has done for you and stand for Him. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds [pull back or lag behind]. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin (Hebrews 12:3,4). But Jesus did shed His blood just for us.

Jesus loved us too much to lose the battle for our souls; and God loved us so much that instead of coming down to save His Son who was hanging on the Cross, He turned His back on the scene so the plan of redemption could be completed. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me (Mark 15:34)? God had not forsaken His Son; He just could not watch what He was going through.

God loves His children today in the same way, and He will not allow you to endure more than you can bear without making a way of escape for you. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (I Corinthians 10:13).

When you feel like you can’t take any more, stop and look around. If you see no way of escape, then just settle down and tell the Lord you can take some more. He knows what you are going through, and He understands. He will anoint you in a great way and bring you out in His time.

God Will Deliver You

At one time, there was much distress in the land of Israel because God allowed a famine to come upon it. Elijah was a true prophet of God; and the Lord told him to stand before wicked King Ahab and say, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word (I Kings 17:1).

The famine arrived just like God had said it would, but God sent Elijah to stay by a brook; and He took care of him there. So he [Elijah] went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook (I Kings 17:5,6).

As the famine continued, the brook dried up; so God sent Elijah to a widow woman’s house. When he arrived, she was out gathering sticks to make a fire so she could make one last cake for herself and her son before they would starve to death; but the Lord told Elijah to tell her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth. And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah (I Kings 17:13-16).

The widow woman had to use divine faith to give that last cake to Elijah instead of her hungry, little boy, but she obeyed God. Then her meal barrel and oil cruse were running over, and they stayed that way throughout the remainder of the famine.

Persecutions

The third thing listed in Romans 8:35 is persecutions. In the spiritual sense, persecution is hostility, persistent harassment or ill treatment because of your religious beliefs. Some of you ask for persecution because you socialize with people who are against what you believe in. Jesus said, And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends (Luke 21:16). When that happens to you, separate and don’t keep going back to them.

Jesus went on to say, And some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls (Luke 21:16-19). You need to stop bothering with those who don’t want help and get busy helping those who do.

The hostility and harassment of others should only drive you into deeper fellowship with the Lord. I have always looked at myself as a big spike and persecution as a sledgehammer. Every time the hammer comes down, it drives me a little deeper in the Lord and makes me stronger.

Sinners do not separate from their evil lifestyles just because people persecute them. Many times, they become even bolder in what they believe and do; so why should God’s people do any less? Some of you let your family members be bolder in their persecution of you than you are in standing for Christ, but that should not be. If people don’t agree with you, that should not matter as long as God agrees with you.

You must be willing to suffer for Christ’s sake just as Paul was. That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death (Philippians 3:10). There will be difficult situations that hit you hard in this life, but Paul learned how to face them God’s way; and that saw him through.

Pay No Attention to Persecutors

Don’t dwell on the negative part of your persecutions; rejoice that you are like Christ. He said, Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also (John 15:20).

When you are persecuted for Christ’s sake, Heaven will be yours. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:10). Sinners may persecute children of God, but they have no power to really do anything. Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth (Romans 8:33).

You will be persecuted for being different, but you have to separate from the world. The Bible says, Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you (II Corinthians 6:17). You must be as holy as God is. It is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy (I Peter 1:16).

Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48). You will never be perfect if you are separated from Christ.

Nothing Between You and God

The fourth and fifth things mentioned in Romans 8:35 are famine and nakedness. Jesus endured the Cross so you could be saved; would you renounce Him to get food or clothes? Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).

The last things Paul mentioned are peril and the sword. Will you let extreme danger or the threat of death separate you from the One whose side was pierced so you could have God’s grace? Jesus said, Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28). No one can damn your soul but Lord God Almighty.

Paul knew without a doubt that God would deliver him from anything he would face. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen (II Timothy 4:18).

Paul knew anything was possible with Christ. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us (Romans 8:37). What is being more than a conqueror? The Lord let me know that it means you can conquer all the devils that come after you and still have plenty of power left through the blood of the Lamb to defeat more devils.

When the end was drawing near for Paul, he knew he would be going to Nero’s chopping block; but he didn’t let that separate him from Christ. Instead, he left Timothy and all of us with these encouraging words: But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing (II Timothy 4:5-8).

Who or What Persuades You?

This is a crucial hour; and the things you allow to persuade or influence you other than God, His Word and divinity are the things that will separate you from Christ. You must know who is persuading you because the devil is out to deceive you, and there are seducers all around who are trying to get your attention. Paul said, But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived [themselves] (II Timothy 3:13). Many people are so deep into flesh and the devil that they are even deceiving themselves, and they don’t know it.

Paul did not want Timothy to fall into that trap; so he went on to tell him, But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them (II Timothy 3:14). Paul wanted Timothy to always remember the godly things he had learned and the godly people who had taught him.

Timothy had allowed himself to be persuaded by the right people and the right things, and you must know where your persuasion and learning come from, too. Any persuasion other than the truth will lead to death because only through the truth can you be free. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32). The truth can set you free from false doctrine, devil bondage, worldly traditions and so much more.

What is truth?—the Word of God, and it is powerful. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

Does the truth have first place in your life? Does it light your way? Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path (Psalm 119:105). You must hide the Word in your heart and let it become a part of you. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee (Psalm 119:11).

Don’t Follow Traditions

Under the Old Testament Law, there were many laws and traditions the people were required to follow; but since Jesus came, we are now in the age of grace and no longer have to live under the Law. However, some people refuse to give up their traditions, and they let those things separate them from Christ.

Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread (Matthew 15:1,2). If people want to eat without washing their hands, that is up to them; but the Bible doesn’t teach against it. The scribes and Pharisees just wanted to find fault with Jesus.

But he [Jesus] answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition (Matthew 15:3)? The people had many traditions that transgressed the love laws of God that Jesus had brought, but they didn’t believe that. Then Jesus went on to say, Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition (Matthew 15:6).

Many people today are being persuaded to follow traditions rather than truth, and that is why many religions and churches today are spiritually dead. Paul gave this example: Commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth (I Timothy 4:3). The Lord put things in the Law to keep the Jews separated, but it didn’t work because the Jews mixed with the world anyway.

Traditions are destroying people’s souls, and many are headed to hell because of their traditions. Those who do not hear the truth or willfully refuse it cannot be saved. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:8,9).

Only Listen to Truth

Jesus told of a rich man who ignored the beggar Lazarus who sat daily at his gate. The rich man died and went to hell while Lazarus died and went to Heaven. Lazarus represented the truth, and the rich man did not want any part of that truth.

After the rich man was in hell, he thought that if Lazarus could be raised from the dead and tell his brothers about hell, they would be persuaded to believe the truth; but that wasn’t so. And he [Jesus] said unto him [the rich man], If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead (Luke 16:31). Suddenly, the rich man had a missionary spirit, but it was still a selfish one because he was only concerned about his five brothers.

Do you allow people to convince you that God’s Word is not the truth? In the Garden of Eden, Eve knew the truth; but she allowed the serpent to deceive her. God had told Adam and Eve not to eat of or even touch the fruit of the forbidden tree or they would die, but Eve listened to the devil when he said that God was not telling her everything. And the serpent [the devil] said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat (Genesis 3:4-6).

When Adam and Eve sinned, they died spiritually just as God had said they would. That one sin wrecked the whole world, and billions of souls are in hell today because of it. After thousands of years, people are still so deceived about sin even though the Bible says, The soul that sinneth, it shall die (Ezekiel 18:20).

Paul scolded the Galatians saying, Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him [the Lord] that calleth you (Galatians 5:7,8). Paul knew that people did not know God like they should and that the preaching of the Gospel seemed foolish to some. For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe (I Corinthians 1:21).

Those who don’t believe the truth in the Word will wind up in hell, so are you more persuaded by the preaching of the Cross or by man’s philosophies? Worldly philosophy is being taught everywhere today, but it does not give any glory to God; and people are being damned by it. We need prayer, not philosophy, in our schools.

Preach the True Gospel

The Apostle Paul was continually teaching people never to be separated from the truth. Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes [new converts] followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God (Acts 13:43). God’s grace is all the divine favor you will ever need; and without that grace, you would have no freedom.

Paul knew the value of preaching the truth, but he also knew of the destruction that came with people being persuaded by any other so-called gospel. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed (Galatians 1:6-8).

You are foolish to listen to those who are not preaching the true Gospel, and you must never allow anyone who comes against the will of God or God’s true servants to persuade you to follow a lie. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned (Mark 16:16).

Paul went on to say, For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:10-12).

Like Paul, you have to learn all you can about Jesus and the Gospel because salvation only comes through Christ, the Savior who died for you. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13). The love of God brought truth, and that truth brings you nigh to God. You must never be separated from that truth even a little bit.

No More Separation

If you have let anything separate you from Christ, you must put everything aside and come to Jesus. He loves you with unending love, so accept that love today.

If you are a sinner or a backslider, lift your hand and say this prayer right now: Oh, God, I am lost. I have sinned against you, and I am so ashamed; but I thank you for your grace and for your loving mercy. I know you are giving me this opportunity to get right today, and I know it could be my last call. I am going to accept the call so I can go to Heaven and not to hell. I know without a doubt you died for me. Come into my heart, Jesus! Come on in, Jesus! Believe that Jesus has come and thank Him for saving your soul.

Believe for a Miracle

If you need a healing or a miracle, it is waiting for you. The Bible says, With his [blood] stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). I am not a healer; I am just a believer in God’s truth, and there is healing in His truth. You may have AIDS, cancer or heart trouble, or you may be crippled; but God heals every sickness, disease and affliction.

When Jesus was on Earth, all He did was speak the Word; and sickness was destroyed. He spoke, and devils had to obey because of the blood power going forth in His voice. He said to the woman with the issue of blood, Thy faith hath made thee whole (Matthew 9:22). Jesus said to the devils that were tormenting a man’s son, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him (Mark 9:25).

Jesus came to destroy sickness and disease, and devils had to go out no matter how bound the person was. The works that Jesus did when He was here, He is still doing today. All things are possible to those who believe, so I am believing with you for your healing.

Lord, I bring those who are sick or afflicted, those who are suffering with AIDS. I bring those who are blind, deaf, crippled or have little, deformed babies who will never be normal without your touch. You have given that healing touch again and again through the holy name of Jesus. It comes through your gift of miracles, your gifts of healing and the power in the divine blood of Jesus. Heal! in the name of Jesus. Heal! in the all-powerful, blood name of our Lord.

The healing power is now flowing, and it will linger in your body or in the body of those you have prayed for until it brings complete deliverance. All you have to do is believe the truth. Notice all changes daily, and then write or email and tell me about your miracles.

Let the Spirit In

Now that you are saved and healed, you must go on to seek the baptism of the Holy Ghost. You will need that Holy Ghost fire to get out of here on Rapture Day because He is the one who will change you. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed (I Corinthians 15:51,52).

The Holy Spirit is the one who will keep you living without spot, wrinkle or blemish. That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:27).

You can start seeking the Spirit by saying the word “glory.” Then continue glorifying and praising the Lord until the Holy Ghost comes in. Let Him speak all He wants to, but never do it within yourself. The Holy Ghost must be the one who does the speaking just like He did on the Day of Pentecost. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:4).

Through the divine blood of Jesus, you have healing for your soul, mind and body. Take on the mighty anointing in that blood and use it so you will be separated from the world but never from Christ. Then one glorious day, Heaven will be yours!