The promise of God on your life under attack…

“And [that same] following night the Lord stood beside Paul and said, Take courage, Paul, 

for as you have borne faithful witness concerning Me at Jerusalem, so you, must also bear 

witness at Rome.

Now when daylight came, the Jews formed a plot and bound themselves by an oath and

under a curse neither to eat nor drink till they had done away with Paul.

They were more than forty [men of them], who formed this conspiracy [swearing together this oath

and curse].” 

Acts 23:11-13

 

I know I have shared on this verse before but this week God has been speaking to me afresh concerning

this passage of scripture.

Paul had a clear word from God about where he was going. But we see that the very next day

an attack was launched against Paul and that is what I want to speak about.

 

The enemy is not afraid to attack the word God has spoken to you. The enemy wants to destroy the

work God has started in you. he doesn’t want you getting to the place God has planned for you.

he has declared war on you, on the calling God has on your life.

 

After reading Paul’s story I was shown how the enemy was attacking the word of God given to me.

When it comes to finances let’s just my faith has been nonexistent.

I would worry about how my needs would be met and how I would survive the month but God began

to help me through a group of men I am accountable to. He gave me scriptures to stand on and declare

and for a season I was energized and full of faith but somewhere down the line that stopped.

 

I started falling back into worry and fear and that is when God showed me what was happening through

the story of Paul. The enemy was attacking the word God had given me and I didn’t even realize it.

 

I will not let the enemy steal the word God has given me anymore and not just in the area of finances but every

area of my life. He has promised me health, long life, fruitful relationships, restoration, purpose realized

and so much more.

 

I don’t know where you are at today but know that the enemy is attacking the word God has given you.

 

“And he [satan] said to the woman, Can it really be that God has said, You shall not eat from every 

tree of the garden?” 

Genesis 3:1

 

satan had the audacity to challenge the word Eve was given.

he is trying to steal the word God has given

you.

 

Don’t let him steal it. The word God has given you is to carry you and protect

you.  It is to act as a way out of the storm you are in. It’s your light in the darkness.

Without the word you are left vulnerable, hopeless, lost and defeated. The enemy knows this.

 

The way to stop the enemy from stealing the word God has given you is by reading His word and

declaring it! Don’t stop declaring and reading the word no matter how bad it gets, no matter how hopeless

it appears to be.  That’s the mistake I made. I stopped declaring and the enemy took full advantage.

 

God’s word over you will come to pass. It will accomplish what it was meant to do and that is to

nullify the lies of the enemy, to break the chains you are bound by. The word will release you into all

of what God has destined you for. There is so much in store for you. It’s time to walk into it.

Take a stand against the enemy. God is with you.

 

Bless you, friends!

 

Rolain

 

 

 

….the men told them things that made them afraid!

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

“I was 40 years old then. When I came back, I told Moses what I thought about the land. 

The other men who went with me told the people things that made them afraid. But 

I believed the Lord would allow us to take the land.” 

Joshua 14:7, 8

 

This was Caleb speaking to Joshua and he was talking about what happened when the 12 spies

got back from spying out the land of Canaan. That was the land YAH had promised his people.

But instead of going to possess it like the Lord promised 10 of the spies managed to strike fear

into the heart of the nation which stopped them dead in their tracks.

I want to zone in on a specific part of the verse I just shared;

 

“The other men who went with me told the people things that made them afraid.” 

 

We have to be careful what we are hearing from others. There is so much stuff happening around

us that can make us afraid which in turn paralyzes us and makes us inoperable.

This is not a casual call I am making but a desperate one.

As much as we can, we need to beware of what we allow ourselves to hear.

 

Israel failed to enter YAH’s promise land because of 10 men who told them things that made them

afraid.  This is serious.

 

Our country is about to have elections and there are a lot of people saying things that have the potential

to make me afraid but I have made a choice to block out those negative conversations. I have to do that

if I want to hold on to YAH’s promises concerning the nation. I know YAH has an amazing plan for my nation

but listening to all the negative things people have to say about what’s happening or going to happen will

not help me declare and hold on to what I need to hold on to.

 

You cannot operate in faith and fear at the same time. It’s either you believe or you fear. It’s that simple.

Don’t get me wrong, there is a place for news and trying to keep up to date with a situation, or things

happening around you but it gets tricky when those things perpetuate fear and dread instead of

faith and hope. You decide.

 

Joshua and Gideon refused to believe what the 10 men said. They were fully confident that YAH could

deliver them.

On the flip side, are you the one telling people things that make them afraid? It’s so easy to talk about the

bad things. Let’s change what comes out of our mouths.

When you do talk about a problem make sure you have a scripture, or word of encouragement that speaks

directly to the problem. Don’t leave the room or person on a negative.

 

“The mouth of the [uncompromisingly] righteous is a well of life, but the mouth of the 

wicked conceals violence.” 

Proverbs 10:11

 

If you have heard or read things that have made you afraid then bring them to YAH.

Ask Him to replace that fear with faith and peace and hope.

One of my friends had destructive words spoken to him that were directly targeted to what YAH

had called him to.

Those words hit him hard, harder than he could ever imagine. He is still dealing with the effects

of it today.

Negative words are destructive.

Let’s learn to speak life and healing. That brings glory to YAH.

With that I am out…..

 

Blessings to you friends….

 

Rolain

 

 

 

There is another level…….

“Arise [from depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you – rise to a

new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory

of the Lord has risen upon you”

Isaiah 60:1

 

There is another level to move up to in the new year.

This is what has been on my mind in the past few weeks. The level I have been on has been great

for the things I have done so far but that needs to change.

This isn’t about new year resolutions. This is about my life and your life.

Consider this, there is another level, a higher level to operate from than the one you are now.

In your relationship with God, there is another level you can go to. You can go deeper in your

relationship with Him.

There is a new level of revelation, a new level of sensitivity to His voice, a new level of hunger for

His word, a new level of prayer you can go to…..

In your career, there is another level you can go to, in your personal life, there is a new level of

growth you can go to.

I could go on and on but I think you get the picture.

We need to understand God has more in store for us, so we don’t stop dreaming, so we don’t

stop aspiring. No matter your age, it’s not time to slow down. It is time to pick it up, it’s time to

advance, it’s time to pursue, it’s time to engage because there is more, there is another level for us.

Our light is growing brighter and brighter.

 

“But the path of the [uncompromisingly] just and righteous is like the light of dawn,

that shines more and more (brighter and clearer) until [it reaches its full strength and glory in]

the perfect day [to be prepared].

Proverbs 4:18

 

So what about doubts, limitations, hesitations, fears and a host of other things that are holding us

back from going to the new level? They are not going to just sit back and let that happen without a fight.

I can’t ignore the fact that it’s because of those things I am still on this level. I have been too weak

to advance on my own. I failed countless times. So why would this be different?

Aren’t I doomed already? Aren’t we all doomed to fail?

 

That would be true if we were trying to do this in our own strength. YAH is with us and no matter the

amount of times we have fallen and failed He has picked us up and will continue to.

We can’t give up, we can’t lose hope!

YAH will take us to the new level if we truly look to Him.

Even though we haven fallen we still have hope! The things that have held us back will not be able to

hold us back for ever. YAH will win for us because He has already won the war.

Trust Him, cry out to Him for your life.

You don’t have to remain in the same place. It’s time to arise……..

 

“Arise [from depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you – rise to a

new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory

of the Lord has risen upon you”

Isaiah 60:1

 

Blessings to you friends!

 

Rolain

 

A simple message…..

“Then to the centurion Jesus said, Go; it shall be done

for you as you have believed. And the servant boy was

restored to health at that very moment.”

Matthew 8:13 (AMP)

 

“Jesus turned around and, seeing her, He said, Take

courage, daughter! Your faith has made you well. And at

once the woman was restored to health.”

Matthew 9:22 (AMP)

 

“Then he touched their eyes, saying, According to your

faith and trust and reliance [on the power invested in

Me] be it done to you.”

Matthew 9:29 (AMP)

 

Your faith in God counts! The people I mentioned in the

scriptures above all received their breakthrough because

of their faith in God! Let me say that again:

 

All the people I mentioned in the scriptures above got

their breakthrough because of their faith in God!

 

I was challenged when I got this revelation.

The blind men, the woman with the issue of blood, the

centurion who had a sick servant, and many many more

got the attention of Jesus because of their faith.

 

Are there things I am trusting God for?? Yes, yes, yes!!!

As 2016 comes I am challenged to be more resolved in my

faith!

 

Have faith in God!

 

Have faith in God because He is faithful. We are here at the

end of the year because He brought us through!

Man didn’t bring us through. God did!

 

Let us look at the woman with the issue of blood. Her

situation was bad. She had used up all her money on

physicians but her health didn’t get better. Instead it

got worse. She suffered for twelve years! I don’t know

about you friends but twelve years is a long time. There was

no relief for her in man. He didn’t have an answer to her

problem. (He very seldom does)

But anyway one thing led to another and she got healed

by Jesus! She had faith that He would heal her. When she

touched the Master’s cloak her faith was absolute (I WILL

be healed).  It was her faith in Him that healed her from

twelve years of pain!

It was her faith in the Savior that rescued her from the

hold of the enemy!

 

“Then He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you.

Go in peace.” Luke 8:48

 

The woman got to a point in her faith where she believed

Jesus could heal her. Are you at that point?

Are you at a point in your faith where you believe Jesus

is the answer, the only answer??

 

The message today is simple: Have faith in God!

There is so much God has in store for us but we must

trust Him!

 

photo credit: google images

 

Rolain

Looking after the other “Temple”…..

I have already spoken about how my year has been and what I am expecting for 2015. But in this post I am going to speak about something else that is very close to my heart. It’s a passion and desire I have had for many years.

A passion that has brought me joy and has grown me as a person.

And that passion is “Fitness and Health”!

I am passionate about being healthy and staying fit! The origins of that passion can traced back to about 2012 when I was introduced to a group of doctors who worked for something called “Maximized Living”. They are chiropractic doctors but with a difference and they changed my whole perspective on health and fitness.

According to these guys, nutrition, exercise, right thinking, and adjustments all play a part in what you call health! I am not a doctor so I will not even attempt to explain all they do. All you should know is because of them my view on health has changed drastically!

I used to drink soda’s before I met them (Coca – Cola, Pepsi and so many more but it’s been at least 2 years from the last time I had a soda.

I loved all things sugar but once again in the past two years my sugar intake has dropped significantly! I stopped having sugar in tea or coffee.

Honey has been a great substitute! But the battle continues. My desire is to stop ALL artificial sugars! That is the goal.

I have done lots of 5 kilometer runs and even purchased exercise equipment since meeting the maximized doctor’s! I have attempted Crossfit but I am not ready for that yet. There is some work to do till I can do Crossfit! 🙂

These are just a few of the things that have changed since I met Maximized clinic but what does all this mean and what am I trying to say?

My goal is to get you to think about your temple, your body!

We are the temple of God and it is our responsibility to look after it!

A lot of people have not made the connection yet! What you do with your temple will determine how far you will go in your calling!

I have heard it being said, How can you lead and look after the body of Christ when you can’t even look after your own body?

Crazy huh???

There is some truth to that statement. How we look after our bodies is connected to God’s purpose for our lives!

God wants us to live a long and fruitful life but how will that be accomplished if we eat and drink junk and don’t exercise???

How will that happen if you don’t look after yourself??

Please understand what I am saying. We have a part to play in how long we live but it’s God who has the ultimate say. I have heard of people who are health freaks die at a young age. God is the one who has a say on how long you live but you have a responsibility to look after your body.

Let me give you an example of how this plays out in real life. I am a kids leader and as a leader I have to be fit and energetic all the time. But what happens if I don’t exercise and I don’t look after myself? It will be hard to give of myself fully! I won’t be able to jump with them and rum with them and play with them because I am so unfit! So as a leader it is my responsibility to stay fit and eat healthy and think healthy!

I hope that has given you a clear picture of what I am trying to say! Our health is important. So as the new year comes there are a few things I need to do concerning health and fitness. I need to step up and eat better than I am doing now! What I eat has changed so much but I could do better. There are enemies that have to go down! Giants that need to be slayed!

Red velvet cupcake!

I need to make another point clear. I am not talking about total abstinence!! It is okay to have a slice of cake once in a while. It’s okay to have that cheesecake occasionally! It’s okay to spoil yourself but there needs to be a balance! I am serious, a better word would be, I try to be serious during the week and then I spoil myself during the weekend! But even during the weekend I don’t go over the top!

This “enemy” is going down! haha!

As 2015 fast approaches what are some of your health and fitness goals? If you have any??

Just remember to go at YOUR pace! Do what you can do. If your goal is to cut out one teaspoon of sugar compared to the 15 teaspoons you usually have then by all means do so! Haha…..Don’t change anything because someone is pressuring you. It needs to be what you want, a personal conviction.

It took me a long time to change the mindset I had and even now, change is still happening but it has been so worth it! And it’s just the beginning! I am getting healthier as I get older.  What will your testimony be?

As I conclude I would like to leave you with a thought:

She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm.  Proverbs 31:17 (Amplified)

It’s interesting how the Amplified describes strength! Strength here is described as spiritual, mental and physical fitness! So if that is what strength is the question is,

Are you preparing yourself like the Proverbs 31 woman? As a Christian you are complete when you are working on all three areas. You cannot just focus on the spiritual! And you can’t just focus on the mental part. It has to be ALL three! You are the temple of God and you have a responsibility to look after it! But focusing on the spiritual is not enough. You need all three!

With that thought I will leave you friends!

God bless

Rolain

Is prayer enough????

In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part. Matt 6:14,15 (The Message)

For years I have been taught how important it is to add action to prayer. My pastor believes it and so do I. I find it so challenging though. It is not an easy truth. Prayer is not enough by itself. A lot of people think it is but it’s not. People say, prayer is powerful but what does that mean? How is it powerful?
The word you just read is the answer. In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do.
Please understand, our part is not to do everything. If it is then what is the point of prayer??!! We don’t need God then…
and besides, we wouldn’t be successful. We are not perfect and if we had to rely on ourselves we would fail dismally and not accomplish anything!!! Prayer and action go hand in hand. If you are praying for a breakthrough in your health do you know you have a part to play in the answer? To be healthy you must start at eating right. Then there is exercise and and then there is change of mindset. Please remember, your part is not to do everything because if that was the case then why would we need prayer, why would we need God??? But God wants you to do something!! He wants us to do something….I am praying for financial breakthrough but I understand I have a part to play. Being undisciplined with the money is not the answer. Being wasteful is not helping. I am in a way shooting myself in the foot!! I know I need to tithe, give to the poor, save money (a work in progress)!!! That is my part and God will show you your part in the answer to the prayer you just prayed!

The word says, if you refuse to do your part you cut yourself off from God’s part….!!!! That is a pretty harsh truth and it is one I am learning constantly. God is good and He gives us grace to do our part so don’t be afraid, or feel intimidated. He delights in our prayers and He hears our prayers. He loves our prayers. No matter how big the prayer there is always something you can do. Your prayers are not insignificant. Your action just goes to confirm that you believe God has heard your prayer and He has answered you! Prayer on it’s own is not enough. You have a part to play and God in His mercy has extended His grace to you so you can do your part!!!! Amen

Rolain

Cry Out For Justice!

---

What is justice? To be fair I think we have a pretty fair idea of what it is. I am not going to write a whole post defining what justice is….My goal in this post though is to bring more understanding about what justice is. The word says this about justice:

The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of His unfailing love.    Psalms  33:5

The last scripture says:

Evil men do not understand justice but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.    Proverbs 28:5

By the end of this post I hope you will have a clearer idea of what justice is. Very simply put justice is defined as, “the quality of being just, impartial, or fair but this morning after my quiet time I was reading a book written by Bob Sorge entitled “Unrelenting Prayer” which I found very interesting, especially when he spoke about Justice. This is what he had to say about justice:

“We may tend to think of justice in a very narrow way, such as punishment for a crime. But justice is a far reaching term, as wide in its scope as every conceivable form of evil. Even as injustice afflicts men and women in virtually every arena of life, justice is the righteous answer to every wrong”.

– When justice comes to sickness, there is healing.

– When justice comes to poverty, there is provision.

– When justice comes to infirmity, there is wholeness.

– When justice comes to loss, there is restoration.

– When justice comes to torn relationships, there is reconciliation.

– When justice comes to anarchy, there is order.

– When justice comes to imprisonment, there is release.

– When justice comes to reproach, there is vindication.

– When justice comes to rejection, there is acceptance.

– When justice comes to abuse, there is comfort.

– When justice comes to prejudice, there is equity.

– When justice comes to oppression, there is liberty.

– When justice comes to slavery, there is freedom.

– When justice comes to tyranny, there is compassionate leadership.

– When justice comes to crime, there is punishment.

– When justice comes to wrong, there is right.

– When justice comes to indebtedness, there is repayment.

– When justice comes to death, there is resurrection of life.

– When justice comes to destruction, there is reparation.

– When justice comes to calamity, there is relief.

– When justice comes to hunger, there is nourishment.

– When justice comes to weariness, there is rest.

– When justice comes to fear, there is peace.

– When justice comes to violation, there is dignity.

– When justice comes to barrenness, there is fruitfulness.

– When justice comes to abortion, there is protection for the unborn.

– When justice comes to darkness, there is light.

– When justice comes to pain, there is alleviation.

– When justice comes to blindness, there is sight.

– When justice comes to families, there is unity.

– When justice comes to dysfunction, there is health.

– When justice comes to loneliness, there is companionship.

– When justice comes to depression, there is joy.

– When justice comes to anxiety, there is confidence.

 

Please note, this is not a nice poem just to warm your heart. This is what justice is. When I read this I cried out to God for justice. I need justice. The enemy has come and plundered me and he cannot get away with it. You cannot let him get away with all the wrong things he has done in your life. He needs to pay for what he has stolen. He needs to account for all he has done and that is why you should cry out for justice. God is truly the God of justice!!!! I hope you see the power justice has in your life when you cry out for it.

Rolain

Are You Really Healthy?

My week has been good but there has been something that has been nagging at the back of my mind. The issue I have been dealing with is health! If you don’t know, I am passionate about living a healthy lifestyle. I believe that as God has given us divine healing we have a play a part in that. How can you ask God to heal you of diabetes when you are eating junk every single day?? How can you ask God to make you stronger and fitter when you don’t exercise at all?? It really doesn’t work like that. You have a part to play in your healing. God has a plan for you to live a long time but how will you reach that age by sitting on the couch all day and not exercising and eating junk all of your life??? I am not advocating self reliance instead I am just trying to bring common sense to you. The wonderful thing about this is, you can start at where you are at. God has a plan for you no matter what size you are! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. God loves you just the way you are.

Anyway, let me get on with my story. I had a nagging thought about health. Before the year ended I decided to step it up. I started training harder which has been hard. I have been running more and in general exercising more. I am excited because I am seeing results. I am running faster and training harder. My general fitness has increased but this week I realized I didn’t have balance. I realized that as much as cut down on eating junk I was not being strict. My exercise will all be for nothing if I don’t eat healthy! My eating correctly and exercising will all be for nothing if I don’t have a healthy mindset!! Everything else needs to fall in place, exercise, eating right, healthy thinking and so on. That is the full picture. Health is not just eating right and it not just about exercise and it is not just about thinking right!! I need to be doing all those things to be a fully healthy person.

My goal in this post was to let you in on one of my passions but to also challenge you concerning your health. I heard something last year that challenged me and still does. The statement is, “How can you expect God to give you the responsibility of looking after His “body” which is the church when you can’t even look after your own body?”                                                                                                                                                                           I pray you have been challenged to take responsibility of your health. God desires you to be more serious about your health. We as the “light of the world” have the responsibility of being the example! We should be teaching the world how to live a healthy lifestyle because we have the Spirit of God living in us.

Will you be that light and example the world needs? Will you take responsibility for your health?

Rolain

Something just as important as faith!

I was about to write a post on health when i was blessed with a book. A book about health. Before i share what i need to let me give you a brief run down of my life from a health perspective. In the past year i have been taught how my health plays a part in me accomplishing my destiny. If i am sick all the time how am i supposed to impact people. Being whole means that you are strong emotionally, physically, and spiritually. To ignore one aspect is very unwise.
Anyway, i have been taught to do my part by watching how i eat, excercise and a few more other things. As i have been doing these things i have been seeing the change in me. I have more energy, i have lost weight and it feels good. This past week i ran a 5km race. I thought i would struggle but i found it to be fun! As i am getting older i am getting fitter. That is the way it is supposed to be don’t you think?

Ok, let me get back to the book i was given. There is a concept i read that changed the way i view health and my body.
The author who is a Doctor is talking about priorities. As a christian there are a few priorities that are universal. These priorities are, God and then family. These are extremely important priorities in the life of a person. He continues by saying,

” My first reaction was to wonder why the pastor would put health in front of the two big treasures of the Christian world. I asked, Wow, why do you say it’s fitness before faith?
His answer changed my mind-set forever and hopefully it will change yours. He said, “Because I’m no good to God or my family if I’m sick or dead.”
That was a revelation for me that the effective life with God is more than just one component. To have Christian harmony, we have to look at the whole.
It’s really not a vertical order:
– Faith
– Family
– Fitness
– Mission, finance, etc.
It’s really horizontal. All of these are godly priorities, God should be in all of these things, and so require our full attention at the right time and place. ”

Wow right! Our health is important, very important.
We are no good to God and to our families and the world if we are sick or dead!
Let that sink in. I know it is a radical thought but it is one worth meditating on.
How much value have you placed on excercise? How much value have you placed on nutrition? Being healthy should be one of the highest priorities in your life.

As i finish i want to give you a few links that you can refer to. First things first, the book i quoted from is called, Winning My Race. For more information go to http://www.WinningMyRace.com.
For more help on being all that you can be from a health perspective go and Google Maximized Living and Dr Ben Lerner.
Also take a look at this website. Dr Cory who is also part of Maximized Living was very instrumental in making me change the way i viewed health. He is a very commited person and gives 1000% into helping people. This is his website – https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-
Dr-Health-Show/249637255080063
The Dr Health Show

Remember that your fitness plays a vital part in you accomplishing your destiny. You are responsible for how you look after your body. It is a gift from God that needs to be seen as that, a gift.
As i pen off i want to leave you with a statement that sums up the meat of this post:

“Your relationship with God, your family, finances, mental health, and your purpose for living all suffer or are lost completely if your health fails and your life is out of balance.”

Rolain.P