The word you need to hear when you are in a difficult place…..

“Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of

Mary and her sister Martha.”

John 11:1

 

Mary and Martha were going through a really hard time. Their brother

Lazarus was very sick. They must of thought the sickness was serious

if they had to send for Jesus.

 

“Therefore the sisters sent to Him saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love

is sick.”

John 11:3

 

Yeshua’s response is something I really believe we need to embrace and receive

in this season. The world around us is crumbling. The systems that have been established

for so long are shaking and breaking.

Can we keep on looking to man as things are getting crazy and crazy?

How can we explain the pressure that we experience on a day to day basis??

Let’s look at Yeshua’s response after being told that Lazarus was sick;

 

“When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death,

but for the glory of God, and the Son of God may be glorified

through it.”

John 11:4

 

The amazing thing is this, Yeshua knew things would get harder for the

sisters. He knew Lazarus would die. And that’s what makes His declaration

so powerful.

Through Lazarus sickness and eventual death Yeshua knew He would be glorified

because He would have the opportunity to show the people His power!

He would have an opportunity to show the people how weak the enemy really was

by raising Lazarus from the dead!

That’s amazing to think!!

 

The enemy may try to lie to you that he is more powerful than God but he really isn’t.

Your pain and hardship is an opportunity for Yeshua to be glorified.

Understand this, He doesn’t go around causing chaos so He can then come in and

save the day. If He did, then we would be in real trouble.

The God we serve is loving and merciful. He would never let harm come to us. It’s the enemy that

goes around causing chaos hoping we would be destroyed in the process. But like I said, the enemy

is not as strong as he thinks he is.He is a defeated foe!!

 

The enemy thought he had dealt this family the ultimate blow but he was SO wrong!

He had no idea that the evil he had planned would be an opportunity for Yeshua to be

glorified. Let’s look at how badly he was beaten;

 

“Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’

sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.

But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many

of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus. ” (emphasis mine)

John 12:9-11

 

The enemy was defeated badly!

So in your situation know that the enemy has no chance. It may seem like he has the

upper hand at the moment but YAH will turn your situation around because He is stronger

and has already defeated him!

 

I want to show you one more thing,

 

“Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did,

believed in Him.

But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did.”

 

“Then from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.”

John 11:45, 11:53

 

After reading the response to the amazing miracle Yeshua performed by

some of the Jews and the Pharisees one things is clear to me.

 

The enemy hates all that is good!

 

What an amazing miracle Yeshua performed but there were still people who

totally missed it. All they had was hate in their hearts for Yeshua.

They even went as far as plotting the death of Lazarus who did nothing but

get raised from the dead!! That really gives us insight into what the enemy really thinks

about YAH and us.

 

Let that sink in, the enemy hates all that is good and I don’t just mean that in a general way,

he also hates everything good in your life!

He doesn’t want anything good happening for you. He would love it

if he could take you out. He wants to see you discouraged and hopeless.

It would bring him satisfaction to see you fail and miss YAH. He hates

you and wants you gone! Let me rephrase that, he hates us and wants

us gone!

 

But we are under the protection of the Almighty! No matter how hard he tries

and no matter what kind of weapons he fashions they will not prevail over us

because we belong to YAH. He is protecting and watching over us.

In the hard times have faith. Look to YAH. He will carry you through.

He will be glorified in your dark times. The enemy may try but he cannot respond

to that truth!

Praise to Yeshua!!

Bless you friends!

 

Rolain

 

 

 

 

 

 

The inside job!

 

“So observe and practice all they tell you; but do not do

what they do, for they preach, but do not practice. “

Matthew 23:3

 

Jesus was speaking to the multitudes and his disciples about the

Pharisees. The things they did were so crazy.

 

“Now Jesus turned to address His disciples, along with the

crowd that had gathered with them.

The religion scholars and Pharisees are competent teachers in

God’s law. You won’t go wrong in following their teachings on

Moses. But be careful about following them.

They talk a good line, but they don’t live it. They don’t take it

into their hearts and live it out in their behavior. It’s all

spit-and-polish veneer.

 

Their lives are perpetual fashion shows, embroidered prayer

shawls one day and flowery prayers the next.

They love to sit at the head table at church dinners, basking

in the most prominent positions, preening in the radiance

of public flattery, receiving honorary degrees, and getting

called ‘Doctor’ and ‘Reverend’.”

Matthew 23:1-9

 

They were all about the outward man. They

wanted to be seen, they wanted to be respected, and a whole

heap of other things but they missed something very

important – the inner man. They were not interested about who

they were on the inside. Let me share a scripture with you that

will bring more understanding of what I am saying,

 

“You’re blessed when you get your inside world-your mind and 

heart-put right. 

Then you can see God in the outside world.”

Matthew 5:8

 

How much time are you putting into working on the inner man?

How much time are you putting into changing the way you think?

How much time are you putting into developing your character?

How much time and effort are you putting into loving God with

all of you?

The Pharisees focused on the wrong things.

Because of that they missed Jesus.

If we are to grow in our relationship with God we need to take

more time focusing on the inner man.

We need to be real with ourselves about who we are and bring

it to Jesus. Where is your heart? Where is your mind?

Are you becoming like Christ daily?

Let’s not make the same mistake the Pharisees made.

Let’s get the inside man right first.

 

 

What’s the point of being in a position of power and influence

but you lie, cheat, steal, tear down people, and gossip??

Who are you helping if you have all the money in the

world but are rude, arrogant, brash, cruel, angry

all the time, unloving, uncaring and so on???

 

Let’s take more time working on the inner man. You are blessed

when you do that.

Bless you friends

 

Rolain

 

 

 

The challenges of a righteous man….(part 1)

Good day friends!

I will be doing a four part series on David the man after God’s

heart. David loved God with all of his heart but it wasn’t easy.

He went through a lot and his relationship with God was tested

immensely! I want to talk about some of the challenges he faced.

There is no doubt God had an amazing plan for David’s life but

we need to realise that the enemy didn’t sit back and let it be. he

fought and at times he seemed to be victorious BUT

God was with David and saved him from all of his trials! I hope

and pray this series is a blessing to you. Let’s get started….

 

“Then the Jebusites said to David, You shall not come in here.

But David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the City of David.

And David said, whosoever smites the Jebusites first shall be

chief and commander. Joab son of Zeruiah [David’s half sister]

went up first, and so he was made the chief.

1 Chronicles 11:5, 6

 

This was one of David’s worst decisions. This decision would

impact his life in a way he would never expect. Instead of

seeking the Lord like he always did he turned to his flesh!

He left the decision of who would be his chief and commander

to a test of physical strength! Now get me right, there are a

few things Joab did right but the bad things far outweigh the

good.

You might think I am over exaggerating but look at the

consequences of David’s decision:

 

Joab murders Abner against David’s wishes.

(Read 2 Samuel 3:21-30)

Okay fair enough, Abner had killed Joab’s brother Asahel but

Joab still went against David’s wishes.

 

Joab kills Absalom, David’s son (Read 2 Samuel 18:14, 15)

Yes, Absalom took over David’s kingdom and even sought

to kill him but after being instructed by David (2 Samuel 18:5)

to not kill Absalom, Joab still went ahead and killed him.

 

Not convinced Joab was the wrong choice? Let me share a

few more incidents that will convince you otherwise:

 

Joab kills Amasa (Read 2 Samuel 9:10)

 

Joab betrays David by supporting Adonjah rather than Solomon

the promised king. (1 Kings 1: 7)

 

To conclude read 2 Samuel 23:8-39

All of David’s mighty men are mentioned but Joab’s name

is not there.

 

Look at how one decision made in the flesh impacted David’s

life. David always sought the Lord in his decision making.

But this one decision made in the flesh cost him much.

We need to always seek the Lord when making decisions. And

please understand,

I am not talking about deciding between drinking coffee

or tea tonight. 🙂  That’s not the kind of decision making I am

talking about. I hope you get the gist of what I mean.

David made a mistake. He made a really important decision

without seeking God and he paid a hefty price for it.

May we always seek the Lord in everything we do.

As we seek the Lord for His direction and guidance in the

decisions we have to make know it pleases Him.

It shows Him our faith in Him.

So as I end the lesson is this,

 

Seek the Lord! Things go horribly wrong when God is taken

out of the decision making process. Seek the Lord in every decision

you make!

Bless you….

 

Rolain

 

 

 

 

God’s plan for him took him to Egypt…..!

And the patriarchs [Jacob’s sons], boiling with envy

and hatred and anger, sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt;

but God was with him,

And delivered him from all his distressing afflictions and

won him goodwill and favor and wisdom and understanding

in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him governor

over Egypt and all his house.  Acts 7:9, 10

 

Joseph’s brothers held nothing back. The word is very clear

how they felt about him. They were boiling with envy, hatred,

and anger toward him. They wanted to do him harm!

When they sold him as a slave they thought that was the

end of him!

I think the enemy does something similar. he brings things

in our lives to take us out, to do us harm. he doesn’t want

us fulfilling our destiny.

But he is seriously misinformed. Like Joseph, God is with

us in the desert, in the storm, in Egypt!

Consider this:

God had a plan for Joseph but he had to go to Egypt for it

to come to pass!

I believe we all have an “Egypt”

to go through but that is not the most important thing to

remember. The most important thing to remember is,

God is with you!

 

Because God was with Joseph in Egypt the word says,

 

He delivered him from ALL his distressing afflictions

(which in reality are many). God will deliver us as well.

 

He won him goodwill and favor and wisdom and

understanding in the sight of Pharaoh, King of Egypt!

Wow….!!!

 

Pharaoh made him governor over Egypt and all his house!

 

That is so crazy right! That all happened in Egypt!!

His brothers wanted to take him out but God stepped in

and turned things around. He delivered Joseph from

the evil plans of man.

God protected him. Anything could of happened to him

but it didn’t because God was with him!

Did Joseph understand at first? Off course not. He had

dreams in his heart, dreams he believed were from God!

But even though he was confused and even though he felt

abandoned, even though he was in fear, even though he

was rejected, even though he was misunderstood, even

though his faith in God waned, even though he was locked

up,

God was with him through it all..…!

 

Friends, please let that truth sink in deep. He is

with us. He knows exactly where you are, what you are

facing. He has not abandoned you, He has not cast you

into the darkness, He has not disowned you, He doesn’t

want to harm you….never! He is with you. He loves you

with an everlasting love! Don’t ever forget that.

be encouraged…….God bless you!

Have a great weekend!

 

Rolain

 

 

 

 

The truth behind God’s plan for you.

God has a plan for you! That is a fact…… It’s beyond anything you

could ever comprehend.
However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. (‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭9-10‬ NIV)
Today, I would like to challenge you to pursue the plans God has for

you.

Don’t believe the lie that you are just a statistic! You are more than

a number! You are important!

But this is the thing, His plans for you are not like anything you have

ever known!

Let me show you what I mean:

Mary.
Now in the sixth month [after that], the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee named Nazareth, To a girl never having been married and a virgin engaged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, Hail, O favored one [endued with grace]! The Lord is with you! Blessed (favored of God) are you before all other women!

And listen! You will become pregnant and will give birth to a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus.

And Mary said to the angel, How can this be, since I have no [intimacy with any man as a] husband? (‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭26-28, 31, 34‬ AMP)
Gideon
And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, The Lord is with you, you mighty man of [fearless] courage.

The Lord turned to him and said, Go in this your might, and you shall save Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you? Gideon said to Him, Oh Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Behold, my clan is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house. (‭Judges‬ ‭6‬:‭12, 14-15‬ AMP)
Jeremiah
Then the word of the Lord came to me [Jeremiah], saying, Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. [Exod. 33:12; Isa. 49:1, 5; Rom. 8:29.] Then said I, Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am only a youth. [Exod. 4:10; 6:12, 30; I Kings 3:7.] But the Lord said to me, Say not, I am only a youth; for you shall go to all to whom I shall send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. (‭Jeremiah‬ ‭1‬:‭4-7‬ AMP)

 

Moses
And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters and oppressors; for I know their sorrows and sufferings and trials. And I have come down to deliver them out of the hand and power of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a land good and large, a land flowing with milk and honey [a land of plenty]–to the place of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.

Come now therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring forth My people, the Israelites, out of Egypt. And Moses said to God, Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt? (‭Exodus‬ ‭3‬:‭7-8, 10-11‬ AMP)
It seems to me like God always called people to something much

bigger than themselves! His plan for their lives always required them

to stretch their faith because it could not be accomplished in their own

strength! God’s plan for them always seemed impossible!

One thing is clear, we need God! We will need

to put our entire hope in Him if we are going to have any sort of

chance.

Believe Him for the impossible! Believe Him to do what only He can

do.

He wants us to believe in Him. But more than that He wants to show

Himself strong in our lives. He wants us to know as we trust Him,

He will come through for us……

By faith begin to declare what He reveals to you.

It may seem like the odds are against you but speak up, believe God!

It may seem like the finances and resources are not available but

believe!

The roads to your destiny may appear closed but believe God!

You may look at what is in your hand and think, “I don’t have what

it takes” just believe God!!

When it comes to purpose it’s not about how much you know, how

intelligent you are, where you were born, how strong you are, who you

know, how rich you are and so on!

It’s about your faith!!

Do you have faith in God??

Do you believe He can do the impossible in your life?

That’s what matters…..

He responds to your faith,

not fear or doubt.

He will respond to someone who will trust Him with all

that is in him. He will respond to someone who will not be moved

by what is happening around him.
The enemy is always trying to keep you from seeing the truth.

He wants you to see the negative. He wants you discouraged.

He wants you to lose hope. He doesn’t want you to know God

has a plan for you!

He hates God’s plan for you.

No matter what you go through, hardships you encounter, don’t

ever forget that God has a plan for you. Just because you are

having a bad day and nothing seems to be happening doesn’t

mean you don’t have a purpose.

Pursue the dream God has given you!

Rolain

A love that cannot be explained……!

THOUGHT OF THE DAY.

During my devotional time I read something truly amazing about God’s love. I just had to share it!  🙂

God views Christians the same way He views Christ: sinless and perfect.

Don’t fear He will discover your past. He already has.

Don’t fear disappointing Him in the future. He can show you the chapter in which you will.

With perfect knowledge of the past and perfect vision of the future, He loves you perfectly in spite of both.  Max Lucado

 

Is that amazing or what??!! God sees us the same way He sees Christ!!! That is too much for me to comprehend. All I will say is, walk in that love. My past mistakes and my future mistakes don’t hinder me from receiving His love. He loves me! HE LOVES ME! God’s love is truly amazing…… It cannot be explained. Praise the Lord indeed!!!

Rolain.