A world without trouble….??!!!

²³ Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have

worked much harder,been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and

been exposed to death again and again.

²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.

²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was

shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,

²⁶ I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from

bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city,

in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.

²⁷ I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger

and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.

²⁸ Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 

1 Corinthians 11:23-28

 

I think you will agree with me, Paul went through an a lot of hard times. As I read this

scripture I began to think:

Did Paul ever think God had abandoned or hate him?

He was shipwrecked, beaten, stoned, whipped, hungry, naked and a lot more.

I think it would be easy to get discouraged and think God was punishing him.

But that is not the case here. Paul is not complaining when he writes this.

He is giving glory to God, He is praising God!

We know without a doubt that God was with Paul through every step of the way.

God was with Paul when he was in prison

God was with Paul when he was whipped

God was with Paul when he was at the point of death,

when death was knocking at the door God was by his side!

 

God never left Paul, not once! He was by his side through it all….

 

God was with Paul when he spent a whole night at sea adrift on

a board!

When he was in danger from bandits and his own people, God

was with him!

In toil and hardships God was with him!

When he had nothing to eat or drink, when he was naked, God

was with him.

 

The trials Paul went through drew him closer to God.

The trials he went though strengthened his faith in God.

 

What troubles are you going through?

I want you to know, as you go

through the storm God is with you. He knows exactly what you are

going through. He will not abandon you!!

Praise God in the storms you are going through right now.

He wants to reveal His greatness to you.

He cares about you and will never leave you alone!

 

Rely on Him, call on Him in those times.

As God was with Paul, He is with you!

 

Rolain

 

The “Man” who walked out on a city………!!

That evening, after the sun was down, they brought sick and evil-afflicted people to Him, the whole city lined up at His door! He cured their sick bodies and tormented spirits. Because the demons knew His true identity, he didn’t let them say a word. 

While it was still night, way before dawn, He got up and went out to a secluded spot and prayed. Simon and those with Him went looking for Him. They found Him and said, “Everybody’s looking for You.”

Jesus said, “Let’s go to the rest of the villages so i can preach there also. That is why I’ve come.”   Mark 1:32-39 

 

I guess the disciples were pretty confused! Why did Jesus want to go to another town when the whole city was lined up at their door??!!! It was something they probably couldn’t comprehend. They had become rock stars literally overnight, people knew them by name but the star of the show wanted to leave, let me rephrase that, was leaving…..!

It wasn’t like they were doing something meaningless. They were teaching the masses, healing the sick, casting out demons and so much more, amazing things were happening at that place, but Jesus wanted to leave..!!!

They were popular but that was not enough of a reason for Jesus to stay. Have we missed something in this day and age? It seems like being popular takes precedence over everything else.

Jesus didn’t do what he did so He could be popular. He wasn’t looking at how many “likes” or “comments” he got. His mission was to save us and that took precedence over everything else!

He wept for people, His heart broke for people, He reached out to the outcasts, He ministered to the little children, and the list goes on and on…..He did things that made Him unpopular but that didn’t matter……the call of God on His life was more important to Him. Please understand what I am saying, I am not attacking you if you have a large following and I am not saying get rid of your following if you have one….Jesus was always been followed but his focus remained on the real mission, saving people! The magnitude of the people that followed Him didn’t change His focus.

What is important to you as you live this life? Is being popular more important than ministry? Does it take precedence over everything else in your life? Let us evaluate our hearts as we walk the path God has set before us.

While it was still night, way before dawn, He got up and went out to a secluded spot and prayed. Simon and those with Him went looking for Him. they found Him and said, Everybody’s looking for you.” Jesus said, “Let’s go to the rest of the villages so i can preach there also.” This is why I’ve come. Mark 1:38, 39.

Jesus was clear about what was important to Him after he prayed. He may have been clear before but the word showed Him going to pray and making a non-negotiable decision. You may be confused about your purpose or confused about what is important but prayer will make it clear, very clear! That is how powerful prayer is…….

Rolain

 

The city that fell by a mere word!!!

 

By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted;                                                                                                                                                                                but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. Proverbs 11:11

I have been getting so angry at how people have been treating the EBOLA outbreak. The other day

a couple of guys were talking when one of them started coughing. One of the other guys jokingly

said he had EBOLA!!! Everyone in the group starting laughing thinking it was so funny. I couldn’t

believe how lightly they were treating it. Our country is still safe from EBOLA but I don’t think that

warrants a joke. This is just one case I mentioned but there many like it where people think its

so funny to joke about EBOLA. The truth is, it’s not funny. We don’t have the right to joke about a virus

just because we are in the clear!!

The scripture I shared teaches us a principle. By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted. Is that not

amazing??? But we also learn a city can be overthrown by the mouth of the wicked!!

 

A city is overthrown by negative, destructive words is another way we can look at that scripture! The wicked don’t

know better so they are excused but what about you and me who know better??? We are not excused! It sounds harsh but

it’s the truth. What does it help if we are emulating the wicked. The wicked are bringing the city down with their words and

the righteous doing the same! This ought not to be so brothers and sisters……!!

 

The people joking about the virus don’t really understand the power of their words!

“By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted”   – I think we can agree being blessed is not an overnight thing.

It takes time and work. God has done a lot so we could be blessed and continues to help us walk blessed. Jesus had

to die so we could be blessed, God had to give up His one and only Son so we could be blessed. As we are blessed the city

is exalted but it’s not easy!

“but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked”  –  It just takes words to overthrow a city! The wicked don’t have to

do much, they just have to open their mouth. Words have power we don’t fully comprehend. Let us speak life to counter the

evil the wicked are speaking over our city and nation and over our own lives. We must not allow the words of the wicked to

destroy our city! We have a responsibility to speak life over our city. As we have been blessed we should spread the blessing!

 

Let us not remain silent friends. Every nation has problems, real problems but let us be the ones that speak life. If a city can

be overthrown by the words of the wicked just just imagine what can happen when the upright speak life!!!!!

Rolain

 

Is there hope for the world?

Is there hope for the world? The world has really lost it’s way or maybe it’s always been like this but I never noticed. As I have asked this question there is another question that must be asked. Can we as Christians do anything to make a change? I read a scripture a few days ago that has made me think about this:

“And he said, Oh, let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again only this once. Suppose ten [righteous people] shall be found there. And [the Lord] said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.

And the Lord went His way when He had finished speaking with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.” Genesis 18:32, 33

We all know the story. Abraham started at fifty people and kept on asking God if He would spare the city till he got to ten and yes, God would spare the city if there were at least ten righteous people. That brings me to my next point. I think God would preserve them not only because He was a just and fair God but because He knew that ten people would be enough to turn that city around! In fact, I don’t think God wanted to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah!!!!! I know it is a crazy thought but hear me out. I say that because of Ezekiel 33:11. It says,

Say to them, As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?

I know this verse was directed to Israel but it also revealed God’s heart concerning the wicked. Judgement will come for the wicked but before it does He gives them a chance to turn from their wicked ways!!!

Then another thought came to me. If ten people was enough for God to use, how much more can He do now? There are more than ten Christians in each city, town, community, state. As Christians we can make a difference if we ask for God’s help. This is a challenge for all of us. I know there are Christians doing big things for God and we salute them. This post is to honour them and encourage the rest to stand up and do their part and to let people know there is hope for the world. A lot of people will die without knowing God but we must each do our part to save as many……..We are the “ten” God has called. The world may think there is no hope but there is. They may think God has turned His back on them but He hasn’t. There is still hope…..! We are in the last few minutes of the game and every second counts. God in His love and mercy made it possible. The game is not over. There is still hope…….

Rolain

 

How God Works On Our Behalf……

Where are you at in this season? Are you satisfied with where you are? Are you in a place where you don’t need anything? Or are you in a place where you need God to come through for you? Have you looked at your life and come to a realization that you need more of God? Are you in a place where if God doesn’t come through for you, you will go under? Does it seem like you just pray and pray with no answer? If you are in that place I would like to share something God revealed to me.

When God revealed this to me I was trusting God for some things. I would pray and pray but nothing would happen. It was a really puzzling time for me because I was not getting what I was trusting God for. Puzzling and frustrating until God showed me what I was doing wrong. Please get me, praying is important. You cannot be an effective Christian if you don’t pray. But what I am saying is, you can’t just stop at prayer. There must be more. In that frustrating season i was reading the story of the four lepers in the book of Kings. They were in a really bad situation. Look at what the word says,

It happened that four lepers were sitting just outside the city gate. They said to one another, what are we doing sitting here at death’s door? If we enter the famine-struck city we’ll die; if we stay here we’ll die. So let’s take our chances in the camp of Aram and throw ourselves on their mercy. If they receive us we’ll live, if they kill us we’ll die. We’ve got nothing to lose.   2 Kings 7:3,4

I don’t know about you but that is a really bad situation!! But God managed to help them and a whole nation because of a simple act. They got up from where they were and starting moving!! And that is what God showed me. It is not enough to pray or to even desire. There needs to be more and that more is moving, you doing something!! So I was praying and trusting God but only as I started moving and doing something did God come through. Doors began to open, things began to happen. It is important in our trusting that we step out and do something. without works faith is dead. And the action may be something small, calling a friend, going somewhere, writing that letter, but do something!

As the lepers got up from where there were and started moving God did something amazing and that applies to you. This way that we follow is one of grace and I am in no way advocating for a works based life. The pharisees thought works would save them but they didn’t. What I am saying is, there needs to be a balance. There comes a time when we need to get up and act and that is the way God works on our behalf. A lot of the times we think God works by Himself, alone, but He works through people. That is the way He has chosen to move.

This is not an easy word. I am trying to walk in this daily. At times I forget I need to act. Sometimes I am just plain lazy, at times scared but if we are going to see God move on our behalf we will need to step out. My prayer for you is that God will show you what you need to be doing in your life at this moment. Amen

Rolain.

 

God is to blame for my problems?????

I don’t know anyone in this life who has never had a bad thing happen to them. We live in a broken world where bad things happen and we as children of God are not exempt from it. In this lifetime there will be suffering and pain but where we err a lot of the time is we blame God or a friend, or a system or the government, or the wife, husband and the list carries on instead of looking at ourselves first.
As children of God we need to know in our heart that God has only the best for us. His plan for us is good! God does not have any evil plans for you. His plan for you is not to be sick or poor or lonely!!! He has a good plan for you.
Let us take a look at Joshua because he had to learn that God’s plan for him was good. In Joshua 7 we read the story of Ai. This was a small city compared to Jericho. Joshua had just defeated Jericho and now they had to face Ai. It was so small that Joshua sent 3000 men to fight! Ai was supposed to be a walk in the park but it wasn’t. Instead they got defeated and to make it worse other surrounding cities would attack them and defeat them because of what Ai did!!! This was a problem and look at how Joshua responds.

Joshua said, “Oh, oh, oh…Master, God. Why did You insist on bringing this people across the Jordon? To make us victims of the Amorites? To wipe us out? Why didn’t we just settle down on the east side of the Jordon? Oh, Master, what can I say after this, after Israel has been run off by it’s enemies?
When the Canaanites and all the others living here get wind of this, they will gang up on us and make short work of us – and then how will You keep up Your reputation?
Joshua 7:7-9

Can you believe him? “Make us victims”, “wipe us out”, “gang up on us”….! These were the words used and a lot more. Joshua totally missed it here. From trusting in God, he went to fear! He forgot that God’s plan is always good. As much as I would like to sit here and criticize him I know I have prayed the same prayer and thought the same thoughts!! Have you? When things go wrong we look to other people to blame. It must be that person, we tell ourselves but we can’t keep on thinking like that. We need to trust the fact that GOD is GOOD. He will never do anything to harm us. He loves us.
The reason the Israelite s failed to defeat Ai wasn’t because God did something wrong, it wasn’t because He liked to confuse them, or it wasn’t because God liked seeing them fail!!!!
They were defeated because some one man sinned! Achan failed to listen to God and disobeyed Him.
When things go wrong who do we look to? Is the first instinct to look outside of ourselves?? That needs to change. God is not to blame for your problems. God is not unfair and cruel and evil. He is good. God is not the problem, you are! It’s you and me!! God wants the best for you but how often do we mess it up. Before you blame God look inside you. Start with yourself.

Is God to blame for the evil in the world and the pain and the suffering? No He is not. Let us trust in His goodness. He is good. Do you believe that???

Rolain

 

 

Miracle in South Africa….

I have been on tour in South Africa. It has been an amazing experience especially since this is my first time in South Africa. My pastor’s wife released an album called “Yahweh” and that is why we were on tour. Here is the title track. I hope you enjoy it…….

 

South has been amazing but that was not the case when I first heard I was going. I was filled with fear because of all the stories I heard. We were in Johannesburg which is ranked number 10 of the most dangerous cities in the world! I was really filled with fear about going but God dealt with me in that area. When I got there we were not robbed or held at gun point or anything crazy. It was actually safe! Please understand, I am not saying that it’s the safest place in the world but what I am saying is that you need to have your eyes wide open and I am also saying God will protect no matter where you go if you trust in Him!

The next thing that was on my mind was what God had for me in South Africa. I believe that when I travel there is something God wants to speak to me about and something He wants me to see that I can’t see at home! So I went with that mindset and God indeed showed me things that I never saw when I was at home and He spoke to me about things that I was struggling with at home. So in other words I heard Him so much clearly!
Now for the main thing. I was in  South Africa for four days. I arrived in South on Friday and left on Monday. Our performance was scheduled for Sunday but on Saturday during practice I sprained my foot! It started swelling badly in the evening and I was limping. I was worried about it but then I remembered what I learned at Bible School. It was not an accident that the Pastor taught this but he spoke about your spirit being able to sustain your physical body. He taught that our spirit can be so strong that it can sustain our physical bodies!

Proverbs 18:14 says,
The strong spirit of a man sustains him in bodily pain or trouble, but a weak and broken spirit who can raise up and bear?

So when I realised my ankle was sprained that verse jumped out of my spirit and I started declaring my healing! There was no way I would have a sprained ankle when I travelled so far to minister. On top of that I asked for prayer and the pastor in charge of the team prayed for my ankle.                                                                 The next day we ministered I danced like I was supposed and gave it 110% and I waved those flags like I was a mad man!!! My ankle was completely healed, praise the Lord!!! God is good indeed. That was my miracle on tour. There are a few things I learned from that.

– The spirit man can be so strong that it can sustain the physical man.

– There is power in the laying on of hands and

– God is still the God of miracles…..!

And that ends my testimony.

Rolain.P