Made for More
Sermon Series: The Winning Way
37. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.
38. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come.
39. 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 8:37-39
God’s Abundance
The doctrine or teaching of God’s abundance should always be understood within the context of this verse. God’s abundance is provided in order that we might overcome, defeat, triumph, and gain the victory over every threat that would keep us from experiencing the fullness of the Love of Christ. If we interpret God’s abundance from the position of personal gain, we run the risk of not only misinterpreting the Grace of our Lord, but also we risk not being able to realize our full potential in Christ.
The early Church recognized God’s Abundance as their keeping power in the midst of persecution. They were persuaded that God’s Power was greater than the forces of this world. Their internal strength came from God’s Abundance. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. You might go as far as to say that they were filled with the Power of God. Their concern was not merely to squelch the suffering but to endure the suffering with victory. Here is where we run into a major misunderstanding with modern day Christianity.
Modern Christians believe that if we are experiencing God’s Abundance this should eliminate the need for suffering. The Power of God, to the modern Christian, should keep suffering at bay and should deliver us from all evil. While that does sound solid, it provides very little basis for Christian growth and maturity. Yes, God does provide for our needs abundantly, but God does not exempt the believer from trials. When we undergo trials and struggles, these can become the necessary steps for us to develop our faith and even become overcomers through God’s strength. Ask yourself this question, “what testimony would I give of God’s Power if I never faced a problem?” The answer is “none.” There would be no testimony without a test. But when we are able to proclaim that God was faithful and that His Hand of Grace kept us through every struggle, then we are testifying of God’s Abundance. We give the Glory to God by acknowledging how he kept us during those moments of crisis.
You would not give much credibility to a soldier who never faced a battle. While they might appear to be a strong soldier by their pristine uniform, they would not display any rank on their sleeve nor would they exhibit any medals on their chest because they never faced conflict. In the military, soldiers earn rank through various challenges. Those who overcome such challenges are awarded medals for bravery, valor, and even for wounds inflicted upon them while facing enemy threats. During my military service, I witnessed some of my comrades trying to look impressive by adorning themselves with ribbons and citations on their chest. But when they faced inspection by our officials, those trophies were quickly stripped away because they were not earned. Our victory as a member of God’s army works in a similar manner. He rejoices when we have faced the tests and the trials by tapping into His Abundance. God longs for us to discover His Power of Deliverance. Only then can we proclaim to the world, Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.
So, from the standpoint of God’s Abundance, the believer is not afraid to face a trial and furthermore, can rejoice in the trial. The true believer is thoroughly convinced that they are more than conquerors through Him. They also know and are thoroughly convinced that God’s Love is not diminished. But the Love and Grace of God is poured out more abundantly in times of crisis. We were made for more of God’s Power.
This is an incredible passage as the Apostle Paul considers God’s Abundance to far exceed any threats to the believer’s security. 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. In surveying all that is known, none of those forces are capable of separating the child of God from the Love of God. God’s Abundant Love is so great that not even death can drive a wedge between God’s Love and the believer’s heart. Not angels, nor principalities, nor powers can cause this separation. Paul is doing some spiritual bragging because of the confidence he has in God’s Abundance. O that we would all have that level of persuasion. O that we would simply trust God that much. We can have that level of trust when we embrace the fact that we were made for more.
The Believer’s Capacity
The other part of this equation is our capacity to receive God’s Abundance. If we think only of God’s Abundance, we may focus more on what God can do and not fully comprehend what God can accomplish through His Church. The concept of capacity finds its origin in God’s creation of man. God said, “Let us make man (humans) in our likeness and in our image.”While we are living in earthen vessels, something has been deposited into our being that is like God. Yet, many are living at the earthen vessel level and have never tapped into their divine capacity.
Let me share an experience that happened to me when I was nine years of age. My siblings and cousins were playing a game to see who could keep their eyes on the sun the longest time. (Yeah I know, that was dangerous to the eyes, but back in the day we were desperate for entertainment). This was a type of I dare you game. While I was gazing at the sun for a brief moment, I saw a vision that I have never been able to explain nor fully comprehend. For lack of a better description it was “something big inside of something small.” It made no sense to the mind and yet I saw it in the vision. My cousins asked me what I had seen, but at the time, I had no vocabulary to describe this unusual phenomenon. The one I am using pales in comparison to what I really saw and can still visualize in my memory. Upon asking Jesus to come into my life, the vision came back to me that this was the Lord Jesus Christ living and abiding in our hearts. Certainly, that definition satisfied, because what else could be greater? This vision has more to it, however. Why? Because we were made for more. That something big inside of something small should dominate the smaller vessel. The great mystery is that it fit and by no means endangered the smaller vessel while at the same time it took complete control in every way. It preserved through its power. It gave ability beyond measure. That power overcame every threat. That same power caused the smaller vessel to retain its size. The only thing that changed was ability. Here is the conclusion. We were made for more, not in a way that makes us better than everyone else. We were made for more in a way that we have the Power of God to accomplish God’s Will.
Paul explains it better than me. In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. I would have settled for being just a conqueror, but the verse says we are more. Why? Something big (God) is now residing in something small (me). It seems strange and yet God made it happen. The Apostle Paul goes further in describing this mystery as the Power of God dwelling in the believer. 2 Corinthians 4:7, we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the Excellency of the Power may be of God, and not of us. In possessing this treasure, does it remove me from the world of threats? No, but it keeps me despite the threats. Paul further states, we are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not forsaken, cast down but not destroyed. We can brag about our Big God living inside of us. We can boast with Paul and acknowledge, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.
You and I have the capacity for more. Here are several reasons for such a capacity for more. First, we were created with greater authority over the elements. Yes, that is correct. There are objects bigger than us, but they do not have authority over us. When Christ entered our lives, He endowed us with Greater Authority from God. John 1:12, But as many as received Him, to them He gave power (authority) to become the children of God, even to those who believe on His Name. Simply put, things should not be ruling over you and you declaring you don’t know what to do. You pray that God would lead you through those situations in order to bring Glory to His Name.
Not only were you made for more through God’s Authority, but you also have a new nature by which you can respond to things around you. You can show more kindness now because you have God’s nature. You can share more joy because you have God’s Spirit producing fruit in your heart. You can overcome the evil with good because your God is producing goodness in you. You were made for more. If the world is bad, guess what you should be doing? You should be showing the Goodness of God in you. You were made for more. If the world is bearing bad fruit, where is your good fruit? Galatians 5:22-23, but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Show the world you have more.
You were made for more because of God’s Love. Absolutely, the greatest power in all the universe is God’s Love. The greatest force in the universe is not the gravitational pull between the planetary systems. It is not light, even though light can travel at a speed 386,000 miles per second. The greatest force in the universe is not heat nor cold, it is not space nor the density of stars that have imploded. The greatest force in the universe is not infinity that takes us beyond the realms of the known. Paul declared the greatest force in the universe. He said, “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.” You and I have been given God’s Love to dominate our little vessel yet not destroy it. God’s Love has been given to take charge over every action that we take. As the smaller vessel, we yield our control to our Big God who resides in our hearts by faith. Looking into the brightness of the Son, we see God’s Amazing Love shining in our hearts for all the world to see. My prayer is that you catch the vision and become more. Expand your capacity and become everything God wants you to be. You were made for more.