Is the door really closed??

As I considered my options I couldn’t help feeling discouraged. It seemed like I would not

get the breakthrough I was looking for. Should I even keep trying to pursue this opportunity

I asked myself?

 

I have been seeking the Lord for the next steps in my career and I took the step and tried something

new but I was stopped dead in my tracks. Did I hear God wrong?

Was this the direction he wanted me to go in?

 

We all have doors the Lord wants us to go through but there are times when it seems like the door is

tightly shut. At times it feels like the doors the devil has closed can’t be opened again but the Lord helped me

to see the truth.  The devil is not that powerful. He doesn’t have the power to close a door and keep it closed.

 

“And to the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Philadelphia write; These are the words

of the Holy One, the True One, He Who has the key of David, 

Who opens and no one shall shut, Who shuts and no one shall open; 

I know your [record of] works and what you are doing. See! 

I have set before you a door wide open which no one is able to shut;”

Revelation 3:7-8

 

“And the key of the house of David I will lay upon his shoulder; he shall open and no one shall 

shut, he shall shut and no one shall open.” 

Isaiah 22:22

 

From God’s word, it is clear that when God opens a door, the devil has no power to close it and when

a door is closed he has no power to open it. So just because the devil closes a door doesn’t mean

it will stay closed. That door will be opened. We must not let him deceive us into believing the door

can’t be opened. When I got this understanding I continued pressing forward. I did not give up.

I have faith God will breakthrough for me.

 

Before I go any further I want to add something,

The only time we should stop trying to go through a door is if God has said no but other than that,

we need to by faith keep going through the door. So what I am writing about are the doors the devil tries

to close. Those are the doors we need to bust open.

 

All doors the enemy has closed are meant to be gone through. It can be so discouraging when

things don’t seem to be working out but don’t stop praying and moving in faith.

 

The enemy is always trying to close doors that God wants us to go through. In the book of Ezra,

we read how the Israelites started rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. They were making progress but the

Samaritans opposed them. (Ezra 4:4) They didn’t want the Israelites to finish so they wrote and sent

a letter to the King of Persia who was the ruling power at that time. The letter was malicious and was

the enemy’s way of closing the door on the Israelites. The Samaritans got their wish because the

king commanded the building of the temple to be stopped immediately.

The door had been closed.

 

“Then the work on the house of God in Jerusalem stopped.” 

Ezra 4:24

 

But that was not the end of the story.

All the doors the enemy closes can be opened. He has no power to keep any door closed. Always remember

that.

 

In the next chapter the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah prophesied to the Israelites. They encouraged the

people to start building again which they did. The Samaritans tried to stop them again this is what

happened;

 

“Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the province [west of] the River, Shethar-bozenai, and your associates,

the Apharsachites who are [west of] the River, keep far away from there. 

Leave the work on this house of God alone; let the governor and the elders of the Jews build this house

of God on its site.” 

Ezra 6;6-12

 

You can read all of the good things the king decreed but the point is this,

 

The enemy tried to close the door of opportunity on the Jews but he had no power to do anything.

The door God opened for His people would stay open no matter how hard the devil tried.

 

Don’t give up when the door seems to be closed on you. If God has not closed it then the

door is still open. The devil has no power to close and keep a door closed.

It is only God who has that power.

 

What to do when a door seems to be closed by the devil? 

 

The bible is very clear on what we are to do when that happens.

 

“Keep asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; 

keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you. 

For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking

finds; and to him who keeps on knocking [the door] will be opened.” 

Matthew 7:7-8

 

Don’t give up on the things God has put on your heart. Keep asking, keep seeking and

keep knocking.

Don’t be discouraged when things don’t work out. Keep looking to God. Keep praying to Him.

Things will work out for you. He will breakthrough for you!

Don’t let the devil deceive you in thinking the door can’t be opened. It’s not true.

Every door that he “closes” is not really closed!

Be encouraged today friends.

Bless you.

 

Rolain

 

 

When you don’t know what to do…

“After this, David inquired of the Lord saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? 

And the Lord said to him, Go up. David said, To which shall I go up? 

And He said, To Hebron.”

2 Samuel 2:1

 

When David was faced with a difficult situation he sought the Lord. He sought the Lord for

answers whenever he could. He rarely did his own thing and seeking the Lord was why he

succeeded. 

He never boasted to be the most intelligent or strongest. His confidence was in the Lord and it showed

in how he dealt with problems. 

When he didn’t know the next step to take, the direction he was supposed to go or when a problem was

bigger than him he ran to God for help and answers.

 

I was encouraged by that. What happens when we are in over our head or when we are out of ideas?

What do we do when we are confronted by troubles that threaten to stop us dead in our tracks?

Do we look to people or to God?

 

Going to God should be the first thing we do. He will help us no matter what we face.

Going to God made a difference in David’s life.

Going to God gave him victories wherever he went.

Going to God gave him the answers he needed.

 

When you go to the Lord for help, He will step in and help you. Situations will change,

and problems will be solved when God gets involved.

 

The word is simple today.

When you don’t know what to do, ask the Lord for help.

When you need help against a powerful enemy ask the Lord for help.

Don’t try to do it on your own. The Lord is with you.

 

“David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver

them into my hand? And the Lord said to David, Go up, for I will surely deliver [them] into 

your hand.” 

2 Samuel 5:19

 

Bless you friends

 

Rolain

 

 

In the face of overwhelming odds……

“And the Philistines gathered to fight with Israel, 30 000 chariots and 6000 horsemen and troops like sand 

on the seashore in multitude.” 

1 Samuel 13:5

 

Saul and his army were in serious trouble. The enemy outnumbered them 1000 to 1 (it could have been more).

The enemy had cornered them with no way of escape, they were trapped!

 

As I read this story I think about the battles, the trials, and the storms we face. They vary right?

Some are not as devastating, then there are some that have the potential to rip your world apart.

But whatever the case storms are difficult. They test us, they rock us to the core. They show us who we

really are and where our faith and focus are.

 

Saul and Jonathan were in real danger. To add to the fact that the army they were facing outnumbered

them 1000 to 1, they had no weapons! (read 1 Samuel 13:19-22)

The only people with weapons were Saul and Jonathan. It’s crazy to think they had 2 swords

between them!  How big was Saul’s army? He had a 600 strong army (read 1 Samuel 13:15)

 

So as you can see, their chances looked grim. But this is where the story gets interesting because against such

overwhelming odds something amazing happened. What happened is a lesson, a strategy for us to use as we

face the terrifying storms, the trials, and the challenges.

Let’s take a look at what happened;

 

“One day Jonathan son of Saul said to his armor bearer, “come let us go over to the Philistine garrison

on the other side.” But he did not tell his father.” 

1 Samuel 14: 1

 

So to backtrack a bit, the only people with swords were Saul and Jonathan but Jonathan decided to go over

to the Philistine garrison without telling his father which meant he had one sword.

With one sword Jonathan would face an entire garrison! Had he lost his mind???

Look at what he told his armor-bearer;

 

“Jonathan said to his officer who carried his armor, “Come. 

Let’s go to the camp of those men who are not circumcised. Maybe the Lord will help us. It doesn’t matter

if we have many people, or just a few. 

Nothing can keep the Lord from giving us victory.” 

1 Samuel 14:6

 

Jonathan was brave but his dependence was on God. That’s why he was so confident, so sure.

His faith wasn’t in his ability with a sword. His faith was in a God who was stronger than any enemy

he would ever face. And it wasn’t his sword that delivered him. It was his faith in God. That made all the difference.

And that’s how powerful faith in God is.

What situation are you facing today? What kind of storm are you in? Is your faith in God or are you focused

on something else??

It’s not the people you know, your intelligence, where you work,

how much you serve in your church that will get you through the storm.

It’s faith through and through. Faith really does move mountains.

Faith in God is not a lost cause.

There are times when it seems like God is silent and taking matters into our hands seems like the next

best thing but it isn’t. Give God room to move. Put all of your faith in Him and see the things He will do.

God knows everything. There is not a single thing that gets past Him.

In your darkest season trust Him. It’s your faith in God that makes all the difference.

Bless you, friends.

 

Rolain

 

 

 

Don’t take your “foot off the pedal”….keep hoping and trusting!

“One day some men from the tribe of Judah went to Joshua at Gilgal. One of those men was Caleb

son of Jephunneh. He said to Joshua, “You remember what the Lord said at Kadesh Barnea. He was

speaking to the prophet Moses about you and me. 

Moses, the Lord’s servant, sent me to look at the land where we were going. I was 40 years old then.”

Joshua 14:6, 7

 

Caleb is officially one of my favorite bible characters now. I get pumped up every time I read

his story. He was one of the spies that was sent out to spy out the promise land and he was one

of two spies who believed YAH would deliver the Canaanites into their hands.

His faith in YAH was crazy!

His story challenged me so much. In Joshua 14, he goes to Joshua to ask for the mountain YAH promised

him all that time ago.  Let me rephrase that, he tells Joshua to give him the mountain YAH promised

him. There was no asking…..

 

The crazy thing about this story is that Caleb was promised the mountain when he was 40 years old.

And at the age of 85 he was ready to take what YAH promised him. (Joshua 14:10) He waited 45 years for

the Lord’s promise. His faith didn’t waver in all that time. He held on firmly to what the Lord promised him.

 

I don’t know about you but my faith is stirred every time I read that. The Lord is faithful and will

not fail to fulfill what He promised us. We need to make sure we don’t give up and falter in our faith.

If you do falter then get back up. Put your hope in the Lord again. Don’t stay down, don’t

stay discouraged.

No matter how long it has been, hold on to your faith. Hold on to the Lord’s promise.

Caleb didn’t let his age stop him from possessing the Lord’s promise.

At 40 his faith was in YAH and at 85 his faith was still in YAH and stronger than ever!

Don’t let anything stop you from trusting YAH.

 

He never gave up or lost hope. He was patient and confident in the Lord’s faithfulness! His trust

was not in himself, no. His faith was in the Lord.

 

“So give me the mountain country the Lord promised me that day long ago. Back then you heard that

the Anakite people lived there. And the cities were large and well protected. 

But now with the Lord helping me, I will force them out, just as the Lord said.” (italics mine)

Joshua 14:12

 

Wow! That faith!

 

It’s not too late. The Lord has not forgotten about you so don’t throw in the towel! Hold on to the promise

even though it seems like it’s not going to happen.

To be honest with you, there were things I stopped praying about but after reading about Caleb I am back.

That’s what the Lord wants, for us to keep holding on to the promises He has made. No matter what people say,

hold on to the promise.

Don’t let go it. The Lord is faithful and will fulfill what He promised!

 

ACT ON IT – Firstly, write down the things YAH promised you.

Secondly, Go boldly to YAH and ask Him for those things you have stopped praying about

Thirdly, Talk to someone about it.

And lastly, Is there something you need to start doing? Caleb’s faith was in the Lord but he

had to go fight. What do you need to do today as a demonstration of your faith in YAH?

 

And that is it friends. Hold on to the promise of the Lord until he brings it to pass. There will be plenty

opportunity to give up but don’t. The Lord is is faithful to us always!

Bless you.

Rolain

He knows your name……

“So he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree in 

order to see Him, for He was about to pass that way. 

And when Jesus reached the place, He looked up and said 

to him, Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay 

at your house today. “

Luke 19:4, 5

 

I read this passage of scripture during the weekend and was left

in awe.

This story is so familiar but there is a deep truth in it.

We forget that Jesus never met Zacchaeus!

All Zacchaeus wanted to do was see Him. (Luke 19:3)

Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector. I highly doubt he

was a christian. (read Luke 19:7)

 

“What’s the deep truth”, you might be asking?

 

“And when Jesus reached the place, He looked up and said to

him, Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your

house today. ” (emphasis mine)

Luke 19;5

 

Jesus called Zacchaeus by name! He knew exactly who he

was.

No one told Jesus who he was. He

didn’t research “top tax collectors in Jericho”!   🙂

That should give us hope friends.

 

Like Zacchaeus, your name is known. Jesus knows you!

There is no such thing as a statistic in God’s eyes. We are ALL

important and precious in His eyes!

You may have lived by another truth all your life but the real

truth is Jesus knows who you are by name! No matter who you are

He knows you. No matter the things you have done, He knows

you and longs for you to turn to Him!

Come to Him as you are.

 

Jesus came to save the people of the world.

A lot of people think He came to make the righteous

better but that’s not it. He came to save the world. He came

to save the lost.

The righteous are not better than everyone else. We are broken

people who realized we needed a Savior.

 

“And Jesus said to him, Today is [Messianic and spiritual]

salvation come to [all the members of] this household, since

Zacchaeus too is a [real spiritual] son of Abraham; 

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was

lost. “

Luke 19:9, 10

 

Friend, remember this truth, He knows your name!

 

Rolain

Form your purpose.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY.

How do we accomplish what God has for us……? Proverbs 20:18 gives us some insight.

Form your purpose by asking for counsel,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

then carry it out using all the help you can get.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Form your purpose by asking for counsel, then carry it out using all the help you can get. Proverbs 20:18

God bless.

 

Rolain.P