Is Jesus ever late?

“[As for me] I am poor and needy, yet the Lord takes thought and plans for me.

You are my Help and my Deliverer, O my God, do not tarry!”

Psalm 40:17

 

Is the Lord ever late?

As I think on this question there are things I am trusting Him for. Some of those things

are things that need to happen in the next few days and the next month. Some of the other things

have passed the timeline I made for them.

 

Is the Lord ever late?

 

As I continued to meditate on Psalm 40:17 Jairus came to mind.

His daughter was really sick and if nothing was done she would die. He decided to go to Jesus for help.

If there was anyone who could help He could. (Mark 5:22)

Everything seemed to be going well. Jesus had agreed to go to see his daughter but on the way,

some of his friends met him and told him not to worry the Teacher any longer. His daughter

didn’t make it. She had died.

Jesus was late?

But when all seemed lost, when it seemed like Jesus was late something incredible happened.

 

“Overhearing but ignoring what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, Do not

be seized and struck with fear; only keep believing.”

Mark 5:36

 

Jesus continued on to Jairus’s house and brought his daughter back to life!!

When it seemed like He was late, He really wasn’t.

Help us, Lord, to wait on You when all seems lost, even when it doesn’t seem to make sense!

 

The last story that came to mind was of Lazarus and his sisters. (John 11)

He was very sick and on the brink of death so his sisters sent for Jesus.

He loved this family very much. (John 11:5)

So you would think Jesus would go immediately but He didn’t.

 

“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. [They were His dear friends, and He 

held them in loving esteem.]

Therefore [even] when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He still stayed two days longer in the same 

place where He was.” 

John 11:5, 6

 

By the time He got to Lazarus, He found out he had been dead for four days! I think it’s almost definite

that the sisters thought Jesus was late, extremely late! I can imagine them seeing their brother getting worse

and worse and feeling so powerless. Where is He? Why is He late?

That’s what I think they were asking themselves.  And eventually, their brother died.

What emotions were they going through?

 

I can identify with that because there have been things in my life I have been trusting God for that haven’t

come to pass yet and it’s been years, like over fifteen years of waiting on the Lord. Earlier in my walk with

Him I thought He didn’t care. I thought He enjoyed seeing me suffer. I thought He enjoyed getting my

hopes up only to crush them but I was so wrong. As I have grown in my walk with Him I have begun to

understand that the Lord is never late! His word shows us this truth so powerfully. There are so many stories

of Him coming through for His children at just the right time. Their idea of early might have been

wrong but God always came through at the right time.

 

What are you waiting on Him for, today?

As we ask the Lord to not tarry may we understand that He is never late. He comes through

at the right time. It may not be when we expect it but it’s at the right time.

He knows what you need. He has heard your prayers. He will not ignore you and He does not delight in

getting your hopes up. He wants to give you what you are trusting Him for.

Don’t lose heart and give up. The Lord will not tarry.

He loves you!

 

Bless you

 

Rolain

 

 

He changed His environment…..

The Lord wants to do some incredible things in you and through you and because of that you need

to pay attention to what you are exposing yourself to consistently. You need to take a long hard look at the

people you call your friends and ask yourself if they are encouraging you in your faith or are killing

your faith. You need to take a long hard look at all that you digest (social media, music, media) and ask

yourself if it’s strengthening your faith or killing it.

How is it at home? Have you created an environment for Yeshua to speak to you easily or are there

just too many distractions? (I am dealing with this right now)

All this matters. Like I said in the beginning, the Lord has incredible things in store for you.

Let’s look at a story in the bible that will bring home what I am talking about.

 

In Mark chapter 5 a man named Jairus meets Yeshua. His daughter is near death and has come to

the Him for help. The Lord agrees to go with Jairus and we pick up the story when Yeshua

arrives at the house.

 

“And when He had gone in, He said to them, Why do you make an uproar and weep? The little

girl is not dead but is sleeping. 

And they laughed and jeered at Him. But He put them all out, and taking the child’s father and mother

and those who were with Him, He went in where the little girl was lying.”

Mark 5:39, 40

 

The Lord was about to perform a miracle but in order to do that He had to put out the people

who were laughing and jeering at Him. He had to change the environment. It would be impossible for

Him to do what needed to be done if the people stayed.

 

And that is why the parents stayed. They may have had their doubts but their little faith was enough.

All the Lord needs is a little faith. But doubt, and fear are a different story.

In the very next chapter we look at how the Lord could not do any miracles except heal a few people here

and there because the majority of people didn’t trust Him, doubted Him.

 

“But Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor (deference, reverence) except in his [own]

country and among [his] relatives and in his [own] house. 

And He was not able to do even one work of power there, except that He laid His hands on a few 

sickly people [and] cured them.” 

Mark 6:4,5 (emphasis mine)

 

If there is no faith it makes it hard for the Lord to move, very hard!

 

But to my main point, the Lord had to change His environment by putting out the negative crowd.

If the Lord did that how much more do we need to? We need to take a long hard look at every aspect

that makes up our environment that I mentioned earlier and start making some decisions.

If we are to walk in all the amazing things the Lord has for us we need to cut off the things that

are weighing us down, the things that keep us in fear, the things that make us doubt YAH, the things

that contradict the word the Lord gave us about your lives. When I talk about things I am also talking

about people. We have some really toxic relationships and think it’s okay but it’s not. Those toxic

relationships are doing you major harm.

We need to ask for the Lord’s help and wisdom. This can only be done successfully with Him.

On that final thought enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Bless you friends

 

Rolain

 

 

Spend time with God today…..

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

Don’t underestimate the power of a quiet time.

This is something the Lord has been showing me in this season. It seems like the amount of distractions

have increased exponentially today. But we must keep at it, we must fight through, we must put down the

phone/turn off the TV and spend time with Him.

This is something we must take seriously. Let me show why;

 

“The council members were astonished as they witnessed the bold courage of Peter and John,

especially when they discovered that they were just ordinary men who had never had religious training.

Then they began to understand the effect Jesus had on them simply by spending time with him.

Standing there with them was the healed man, and there was nothing further they could say.”

Acts 4:13

 

“Then they began to understand the effect Jesus had on them simply by spending time with Him.”

 

I love this so much. Something happens when we spend time with Yeshua. We are empowered, we are

changed. Look at the disciples for instance,

They had changed. The Pharisees who killed Yeshua noticed something different in them.

They were bold, and fearless and had just performed a miracle. They had only seen that in one other man,

Yeshua!

Time with Yeshua had changed them. They were no longer the same. They were filled with the Holy Spirit.

All of this and more happened as they spent time with Yeshua.

I have found this to be true in my life. The more time I spend with Him the more sensitive I am to His voice

and leading. The more empowered I am…..

 

The world is getting darker and darker in need of light. We can be that light, the answer to the darkness but

we need to spend time with Him. The disciples were able to turn the world upside down because of the

empowerment they got from spending time with the Him and I believe that’s His desire. He wants us to

be a light in the sphere’s we are in.

It’s in His presence we find peace, purpose, identity, strength, joy and love. So in other words everything we need.

The answers to the storm we are facing are found in His presence.

The strength we need to endure are in His presence.

The wisdom we need now, is in His presence.

There is always room to be better and I want to be better. I want to spend more time with Him.

Let’s do all we can to spend as much time as we can with Him…..

Blessing to you

 

Rolain

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s about people not fame……!

“At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all

who were sick and those who were demon-possessed.

And the whole city was gathered together at the door.

Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases,

and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons

to speak, because they knew Him. “

Mark 1:32-34

 

Talk about a successful ministry! Yeshua had the whole city

at His door. Miracles were taking place, people were being

touched, diseases were being cured, demons being cast out.

It’s the desire of many ministers that their ministry flourish

like what we read in this passage.

 

Let’s look at another scripture,

 

“Now in the morning having risen a long while before daylight,

He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He

prayed.

And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him.

When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking

for You.”

Mark 1:35-37

 

Yeshua was popular. He was the talk of the city. I can only imagine

what His followers were thinking!

 

“We made it to the big leagues”

“We are going to be so rich’

“What am I going to do with all the silver and gold?”

“I didn’t know signing autographs was so much fun”

‘This good news stuff works”

 

I imagine those are the kind of thoughts they were thinking.

 

It’s always nice to have a whole city at your door eager to listen

to you and it’s cool being the talk of the town;

but the story didn’t end there.

Let’s read on,

 

“But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I

may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come

forth.”

Mark 1;38

 

I can see the disciples expressions! I can see looks of shock

and  disbelief!

 

“The WHOLE town is looking for You and you want to leave”, they

must have thought!

 

I don’t even think they went back to say goodbye. Yeshua said,

“Let us go into the next towns,”

 

There is no mention of a farewell.

 

There is such an important lesson in this story.

The gospel is not a broad way show.

Following Yeshua will not bring us popularity, it will

bring persecution, ridicule, and hardships. (Acts 14:22)

Yeshua came to save  mankind! He didn’t come to be famous.

 

If you are in ministry so you can be recognized, then you have

missed the point completely.

If Yeshua came to be popular He would have stayed in that

city. But His calling far exceeded being popular.

He could of been a mega super star but that paled in comparison

to saving a soul. That was much more valuable than any distinction

man could ever give!

 

What is your motive for serving? Are you looking for the

applause, the recognition, for the accolades??

If you never get recognized for the work you do in the

ministry would you stop serving?

What’s more important to you as you serve,

getting applause or seeing a soul transform under the power

of God??

Yeshua didn’t come seeking fame and popularity.

He came to serve!

Let us follow His pattern and put people being transformed

and changed as the main thing.

Bless you friends!

 

Rolain

 

 

 

 

Australia – Part 2

Hi friends!

It has been a week since I got back from Australia and

I have been racking my brain wondering what I should

share with you. It’s crazy!! At first I thought I would

share the places I saw, the fun things I did, but quickly

scratched that. It was fun going to the beach and sight

seeing but there was more that happened. The kind of

stuff that can change a man! Without taking anymore

of your time let’s get started.

 

WHY AUSTRALIA?

 

This is why we went. The Kingdom Festival happens every

year and this year, my pastor’s wife was the guest speaker!

If you live close to the Gold Coast I strongly urge you to

attend Kingdom Festival 2016. In fact, wherever you are

in the world I ask you to prayerfully consider going to

Kingdom Festival 2016. Please click here to find out more.

 

VISION

On the first night of the festival we went for something

called “vision night”. This was where the pastor cast the vision

for Kingdom Festival. I was deeply impacted by the event.

The dinner was held at the Metricon stadium. God told

him Kingdom Festival will be held at the stadium. It seems

crazy but you know what, that stadium will be filled!

Kingdom will be held at the Metricon because God said

so and because His people believed Him!

The vision was so clear, so precise. That is what vision

is supposed to be, very clear, precise with no room for

misinterpretation! I was moved. The pastor had faith

and he was declaring what God showed him. That is what

faith is. It is being bold

enough to speak and declare what God has revealed

even when it doesn’t make sense.

I want to challenge you about your vision. Is it clear?

Can someone run with it after they read it? I am speaking

to myself as well. I am still unclear about what God has

in store for me but I want to be clear. I want my vision

to be as clear as day!

 

The Metricon

 

MIRACLES

One of the speakers at the Festival had raised numerous

people from the dead (not at the Festival but in his life)

Lots of people were healed during the Festival because

of him. I am sharing this because I realized something.

The days of miracles is not over. We are living in the

end times and miracles are happening. Jesus said

greater things shall you do! I want to do those great

things. It is not for a special set of people but for

anyone and everyone! That is the revelation I got after

hearing the speaker.

 

EVERYTHING ELSE!

I want you to understand something. Going to Australia

was a miracle for me. My church has a congregation of

about 3500 people right. So out of all those people I was

chosen to go. In a team of 6 and I was among those

who were chosen! I don’t take that lightly. God was everywhere

at the Festival.

He was in the people I met, in the word I heard during

the Festival, in every worship song that was sung, in the

fellowship of the saints. I can’t put into words what I

experienced. God put imparted something in me,

something I will fight to maintain! This was not just another trip.

I refuse to stay unchanged! God did some deep work

in me and I refuse to sit on it.

This was not a coincidence but a moment that was

ordained by God.

 

Don’t stop trusting in God friend! He wants to take you places.

He wants to show you how good He is. It’s not about how

clever you are, or how rich you are, which family you came

from, which country you live in. Are you available?

Do you trust Him? There is nothing stopping Him

from blessing you, from bringing the breakthrough,

from healing you! Run to Him!

As I finish I want to share a few more pictures with you.

There was a lot more to share but for the sake of time and space

I cut it short. I hope this post spoke to you.

God’s chosen people!

 

God is moving in Australia!

 

Kingdom Festival!

 

A people hungry for the Lord!

 

A procession unto the Lord!

 

That is me!

 

I love to worship!

 

And that is all I have to share. God bless you all….!    🙂

 

Rolain

 

Challenged by a soldier.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

 

Then Jesus turned to the captain and said,

“Go. What you believed could happen has happened.”

At that moment his servant became well.

Matthew 8:13 (MSG)

 

I read this scripture last night and thought to myself,

Is faith really that simple? Have I made it out to be

complicated, and mysterious?

I was challenged by the Roman centurion’s faith. It was

bold, unwavering…..sure!

 

Jesus offered to go to his house but the centurion refused!!

If I was in his shoes my answer would be a big yes!

“Off course You can come to my house Jesus……”

But not the centurion! He had so much faith in Jesus that

he knew just a word from the Savior would heal his

servant!!! Can you imagine that? That was bold!

 

 

“What you believed could happen has happened. At that

moment his servant became well.”

 

As I meditated on that verse I looked at my own life.

What am I believing for in my life?

What do I believe can happen in my life?

You may have the same questions and let me tell you,

these are important questions.

 

The Roman centurion believed Jesus would heal his servant

and he received what he believed.

 

In my believing, in your believing, are you confident Jesus

will come through for you?

 

Do I believe I will get what I am believing for, do you?

 

Like I said, these are important questions and they must be

answered.

There are things I am trusting God for and after reading this

scripture I am challenged to hold on to what I believing for

no matter how “impossible” they seem.

God will not let me down. When I put my faith on the line

He will respond, it may take time at times, or He may respond in a

way I am not expecting which is almost always the case but

the fact is this, He will respond when I believe in Him, when

I trust in Him completely and He will most definitely respond

to you.

 

He is control friends. Don’t be afraid to believe in Him.

He responds when we put our trust in Him and that is a

fact! All glory to Him!

 

Rolain

 

Will you hold on…???

I had an amazing couple of days this past weekend.

The month of April in my country

marks the end of the first school term so that means holiday

time and holiday camps! And since I serve in our kids ministry

I went for camp with the kids I teach.

This was one of the best camps I have been on. Yes, I was

involved in the planning and organizing of it but I still had fun!

The kids we went with had a blast! As a leader it was a privilege

serving the children.

But what stood out the most for me was how God came and

ministered to me and the other leaders. I have been trusting

God for a lot of things and I have to admit it gets hard. It’s

hard holding on in faith and this weekend my faith was tested.

But in the testing God used the three days I was on

camp to re-adjust my focus.

This is what He spoke to me about:

 

“Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed Him, for they

were all expecting Him.

Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell

at Jesus feet, pleading with Him to come to his house

because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.

Luke 8:40-55″

 

We all know the story very well but there are a few things

that I saw that jumped out at me that I would like to point out:

 

– Jairus came to Jesus because he had faith in Him. He believed

Jesus would heal his daughter. Jairus was desperate! He may

of tried a few doctors but with no luck.

 

– Jesus stopped walking when the woman with the issue of

blood touched Him. I am sure Jesus knew how desperate and

serious Jairus’s situation was but He still stopped?? How do we

know the woman with the issue of blood had that problem for

twelve years and how do we

know she used all her money on physicians with no change?

We know all this because one of the disciples must of taken

the time to speak to her. He must of spent some time asking

questions or Jesus must of simply listened to a healed ecstatic

woman tell Him how she had spent

all her money on physicians with no results and tell Him how

long this went on for!

Whatever the case, Jairus was waiting! What was on his mind as

all this was happened? Did he push Peter to speak up…?

 

“When they all denied it, Peter said, Master, the people are

crowding and pressing against you.” Luke 8:45

 

Where was his faith then?

Did he convince Peter of the absurdity of Jesus question? We

don’t know…..!

Then it happened….!

 

“While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the

house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. ‘Your daughter is

dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.” Luke 8:49

 

What exactly was going through Jairus mind? It was faith

and desperation that led him to Jesus but was that faith

still there? Did Jesus take His time with the woman knowing

Jairus was desperate?? Did He want Jairus to endure

in his faith???

Having faith and enduring in your faith are two completely

different things. We do well when we trust God but is that enough?

We must also learn to endure in our faith. That’s the lesson

I learned on camp.

Jairus had faith in Jesus but his faith was tested. He had to

learn to endure in his faith he soon found out.

Don’t lose hope along the way! Jesus has not forgotten your

faith! Jairus may of felt like Jesus didn’t care or had forgotten

him but He didn’t!

 

“But Jesus, on hearing this, answered him, Do not be seized

with alarm or struck with fear;

Simply believe [in Me as able to do this], and she will be

made well.     Luke 8:50

 

When Jairus faith was failing, Jesus was right there

to encourage him. Jesus wants us to endure in our faith.

You may be trusting God for something and weeks,

months and years have passed without anything happening

but be assured,

something will happen as long as you endure in your faith!

Don’t give up in your faith. Don’t let fear cloud the truth

about your faith.

The truth is, God will come through!

God has heard you and will not let you down!

He wants to help you more than you will ever know!

Your faith is precious to God!

Your faith pleases Him.

As long as you have faith, the enemy will always lose!

 

At the end of the day, Jairus got his daughter back. Jesus

did a miracle in his life because he endured in his faith no

matter how bad things seemed!

Jesus knows where you are at. He has not forgotten about

you. He says,

 

“Simply believe [in Me as able to do this], and she shall be

made well.” Luke 8:50

 

Believe He is able to help you.

Believe He has heard you because He has.

 

As I sign off I want to encourage you to endure in your faith.

That is what I was challenged to do on camp!

God bless….

 

Rolain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What do you believe about prayer?

How does God answer prayers? Is there a formula, a to-do list we have to follow? Well, a friend was speaking to me about prayer and this is what he had to say:

Throughout the Bible, God told His people to do something first before he answered their prayers. 

– God told Moses to strike the rock, and then water would come.

– The prophet told the widow to bake him a cake first. She believed God’s promise through the prophet and was kept alive through the famine.

– Before Jesus could raise Lazarus from the dead, He tested the their faith first, He told the mourners to first roll away the stone, then because of their obedience He brought Lazarus back to life. 

– Jesus told the blind man to go wash in the Pool of Siloam, then he would receive his sight.

– He told the ten lepers to go show themselves to the priests. When they showed their faith by obeying and heading in that direction, only then did God do the miracle. As they went, they were healed. 

 

I thought what he said was very interesting. You may not have an answer to prayer because He wants you to take the first step? As I read what he was sharing, things started popping up that I know God would want me to do first. Not that He is unable to perform a miracle because He is capable.

With that said, I don’t think God expects us to do everything. He wants to see our faith in Him in the first step we take! Do you trust Him, then step out? Have you prayed and not received an answer? Maybe you need to take the first step, in faith that He has heard you!

Rolain

Contemplation of a disciple…..

I was thinking about the disciples yesterday. They seen some crazy things and heard a lot of strange things right? What went through their minds as all these things were happening?

A coin found in the mouth of a fish…. Matt 17:24-27

We all know the story. Peter was asked if his Master paid taxes and his answer was yes. The word continues and says:

“But so we don’t upset them needlessly, go down to the lake, cast a hook, and pull in the  first fish that bites. Open it’s mouth and you’ll find a coin. Take it and give it to the tax men. It will be enough for both of us.” – Matthew 17:26, 27

 

What went through Peter’s mind? Did he get the revelation that Jesus was His source? Was he confident that ALL his needs would be taken care of if he only trusted God because he found a coin in the mouth of a fish!!?? Exactly as Jesus had said! Was he amazed, perplexed? Did he get it, I mean really get it???

Jesus, talking to a Samaritan woman!  John 4:1-42

Jesus does the unthinkable, He talks to a Samaritan woman. His disciples were shocked. What was on their minds?

“Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked. The couldn’t believe he was talking with that kind of woman. No one said what they were thinking, but their faces showed it.”  John 4: 27

 

Did they see the bigger picture? Did they realize that Jesus was seeing a much larger picture? The gospel was not just for a select few but for the whole world!!! Did they realize that? Did they know God loved the WORLD and was about to lay down His life for it?? Did they have a clue?? Did they know how much He loved people? He loved people no matter who they were, no matter their bringing up, what they had done in the past. He had a heart for the lost!!!

The “strange” teachings of Jesus.  John 6:51-56

The disciples had a real battle to decipher what Jesus meant. Some of his disciples abandoned him because of His hard sayings. We read one such saying in John 6:53:

“And Jesus said to them, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, you cannot have any life in you unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood [unless you appropriate His life and the saving merit of His blood]. 

He who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood has (possesses now) eternal life, and I will raise him up [from the dead] on the last day. 

For My flesh is true and genuine food, and My blood is true and genuine drink. 

 

When the disciples heard this, many of them said, This is a hard and difficult and strange saying (an offensive and unbearable message). Who can stand to hear it? [Who can be expected to listen to such teaching?] John 6:60

 

What were they thinking when Jesus spoke these words? How would you have responded if you were in their shoes? “Eat my flesh, drink my blood”!!! They never realized Jesus was speaking about spiritual things. They never realized Jesus knew the future! He was speaking life and they didn’t even know it! How the disciples were tested constantly! We are not called to understand everything about the God we serve but called to trust Him no matter what even when our understanding is limited.

The abundant healing’s Jesus performed. Matthew 8

Part of Jesus mission was to heal us. The disciples saw Him heal people on a daily basis. What were they thinking?

“And behold, a leper came up to Him and, prostrating himself, worshipped Him, saying, Lord, if You are willing, You are able to cleanse me by curing me. 

And He reached out His hand and touched him, saying, I am willing; be cleansed by being cured. And instantly his leprosy was cured and cleansed.”Matthew 8:2,3

Did they ever come to a realization that He was The Healer! Did they ever make the connection that Jesus wanted to heal them soul, body and spirit? He was “willing” to heal and He is still “willing” to heal us today! He is our Healer. He has not changed His plan for us. 

 

The death of Jesus (hope lost) Luke 24:13- 20

“That same day two of them were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jesrusalem. 

They were deep in conversation, going over all these things  that had happened.” 

 

Then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death and crucified him. And we had our hopes up that He was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. 

 

The disciples had lost all hope of victory. Their savior had been crucified. What were they thinking? Did they know the story would turn out differently? Did they know His death would save the entire world? Did they give up on Jesus by ignoring what He told them while He was still alive? Did they dare to believe something as crazy as resurrection?

In their darkest hour, when their chances seemed dim, the greatest victory man would ever experience in ALL of history was about to take place. Jesus death signified His love for them and for us, they just didn’t realize it yet. What were they thinking? Did they regret following Jesus? Were they confused? Were they in despair?

When all hope was lost or so it seemed Jesus had a plan. In the midst of death, life was to emerge. You might have lost hope like the disciples but God has a plan. The darkness you see is not really darkness! Trust Him!

 

I honestly could go on and on but I will stop here. The disciples went though a lot. They had a lot to digest, a lot to learn but God was faithful to them! As He was faithful to them He is faithful to us. Let us take comfort in that fact. We may not understand all He is doing, but we must trust Him. It took the disciples a while to get with the program but eventually they did. Each and every one of them was martyred for their faith in a God. Let us trust in The Lord…..Amen

Rolain.