Refuse to give up!

It’s easy in difficult times to throw in the towel. The enemy wants you to give up but no matter how hard things get you must not give up because the Lord has amazing things in store for you and by not giving up you receive what God has for you.

Paul want through a lot in his life but through all that he faced he never gave up. For a run down of all the things he went though read,

2 Corinthians 11:23-26 but I want to focus on a specific story.

Paul was in Lystra ministering and had healed a lame man from birth. But some Jews came from Antioch convinced the people to stone him. When they thought he died they dragged the body outside the city but Paul had not died. And this is what I want to focus on.

Paul nearly lost his life but instead of quitting and giving up, he got up and carried on with his mission. He  went to another town and this is what happened;

 

“They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith.”

Acts 14: 21, 22

 

There was no stopping Paul. At the end of his life he had this to say about his life,

 

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

2 Timothy 4:7

 

What a testimony.

We can’t give up. In fact, we must refuse to give up. So through the hard times keep going. Trust God every step of the way and ask for His help because He helped Paul on his journey. There is a race to run and finish.

Bless you friends

Rolain

God’s purpose for you under attack……

 

We have an amazing purpose to live out that is given to us directly by YAH.

The thing is, the enemy is trying to do all he can to stop us.

As we pursue the dreams Yeshua has put in our hearts we must depend on

Him with our everything.

You may be discouraged and feeling overwhelmed because of the attacks but

take heart because the Lord is with you. Let me share a story with you that illustrates this

truth perfectly;

 

“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.”

Acts 23:10

 

In this verse Yeshua promised Paul he would go to Rome and bear witness of Him.

But in the next verse we read something interesting,

 

“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. 

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

oath and curse]. 

Acts 23;11-15

 

Wow right?! Hours after the Lord spoke to Paul the enemy launched an attack against him!

In the natural Paul had no chance against this attack. There were forty Jews who were in on this

including the chief priests and elders.

But we need to look at what was really happening here.

The enemy thought he could stop the Lord’s purpose for Paul. he is so deceived that he thinks he

can stop YAH.

The Lord had promised Paul he would bear witness in Rome. Nothing would and could stop that

from happening. No matter the weapons the enemy used, they would all fail.

But the enemy thought he could challenge that!

 

The enemy’s plans for you will not succeed. Hold on to that truth with all you got.

The truth is this, he is a defeated foe and no plan against you can prosper because the Lord

is with you.

No matter the scheme, no matter the plan, no matter the weapon, they will all fail because the Lord

is protecting you and guiding you on your journey. His plan for your life will come to pass and that

is why I said you need to trust Him with everything you got. The enemy will try to deceive you into

believing he is winning but it’s a lie.

Trust the Lord’s leading, trust He is protecting you, trust He is in total control.

The journey we are on is long and there is plenty opportunity to get discouraged. But even when we

fall we must always remember that the Lord is with us. He is protecting us and directing our every step.

As I end this post I want you to see how powerful the Lord is. Look at the way he thwarted the enemy’s

attack;

 

‘Now the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul.”

Acts 23:16

 

The Lord used a young man! That’s all He needed. He didn’t break a sweat stopping the enemy’s plan.

The Lord has defeated the enemy and will continue doing so on our behalf with ease!

Don’t be discouraged. Keep trusting, keep praying…..

He will accomplish what He promised you.

Bless you friends!

 

 

 

 

 

 

What God can do with a life…..

“But when some where hardened and did not believe, but spoke 

evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and 

withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of 

Tyrannus. And this continued for two years, so that all who 

dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews

and Greeks.”

Acts 19:9, 10

 

Look at what happens when God gets a hold of someone.

Paul’s life was not meaningless. God used him in such a

mighty way.

 

The word says he reasoned daily at the school of Tyrannus for

two years and because of that “all who dwelt in Asia heard the

word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.”

 

That is pretty mind blowing if you ask me.

The whole of Asia got to hear the good news because of Paul!

Did that happen because Paul was qualified? No!

That happened because of God.

 

Look at what else happened through Paul,

 

“Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 

so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from 

his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil 

spirits went out of them.”

Acts 19:11, 12

 

“And many who had believed came confessing and telling their

deeds. Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought 

their books together and burned them in the sight of all. 

And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty 

thousand pieces of silver. 

So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed. “

Acts 19:18-20

 

Don’t look at your life and think it’s ordinary because it’s

not. God has a plan and purpose for you.

That will look different for us of course.

Your mission is not the same as my mission.

Your gifts and your experiences are unique, specially designed

to help you accomplish what God has called you to do.

 

Don’t despise what you are doing today.

Paul was reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus for two

years! Did he know the whole of Asia would hear what God

had put in his heart? I don’t know.

But everyday for two years he went to the school and spoke

the good news. It didn’t seem like much.

I don’t think he knew this was how the whole of Asia would

hear the good news!!

But God was in control, guiding him. He knew the truth.

 

As I close this post I want you to see the bigger picture.

Your life is important to God.

The world says you are a statistic but not God.

Don’t be discouraged where you are today.

Your life has meaning.

God is in control of your life.

 

God bless you friends!

 

Rolain

 

The man in chains……

Paul was one of the greatest apostles that ever lived. He was

a man who obeyed God 110%, no make that 150%, actually make

that 200%……I think you get the picture!  🙂  When I read the

life of Paul I am challenged by his obedience. Let’s look at the

things he accomplished because he was obedient.

 

He got to share the gospel with Felix who was Governor at

the time. He was a man who had lots of influence. 

Read Acts 24:10-26

 

Paul shared the gospel with King Agrippa and his wife

Bernice. God brought Paul before powerful men

and women to share the gospel.

Acts 25 and chapter 26

 

By the way he carried himself and his faith in God,

Paul was able to minister to the Roman soldiers

Read Acts 27:42, 43

 

Because of his obedience Paul ministered to a whole

tribe on the island of Malta.

Read Acts 28.

 

During imprisonment in Rome, Paul wrote a lot of

the books in the new testament. It is said he wrote,

Ephesians Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.

After imprisonment it is said he wrote Hebrews,

Titus, 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy.

 

Now for the crux of the matter. I will share a scripture that I

believe is the key that opened the door to all the ministry he did:

 

After several days of visiting, a prophet from Judea by the name

of Agabus came down to see us. He went right up to Paul, took

his belt, and, in dramatic gesture, tied himself up, hands and feet.

He said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: The Jews in Jerusalem

are going to tie up the man who owns this belt just like this and

hand him over to godless unbelievers.”

When everyone heard that, we and everyone there that day

begged Paul not to be stubborn and persist in going to

Jerusalem. But Paul wouldn’t budge:

Why all this hysteria? Why do you insist on making a scene

and making it even harder for me?

You’re looking at this backward. The issue is Jerusalem is not

what they do to me, whether arrest or murder, but what the

Master Jesus does through my obedience. Can’t you see that?

Acts 21:10-13

 

Wow right…..Paul had an understanding of obedience. He knew

being obedient allowed Jesus to work through him. And because

Paul was obedient, Jesus did a mighty work in him and through

him!

 

Let’s bring this principle home. God has a plan for each and

everyone of us but we can only walk in that plan when we are

obedient! That revelation hit me hard! I am in a situation where

I have a decision to make. I can either be obedient even though

it’s difficult and uncomfortable or disobey! But the word is very

clear, Jesus works through our obedience!

He has this amazing, uncomprehendible (if there is such a word)

plan for us. It’s just to big to fathom. I don’t think Paul knew all

that God had in store for Him but he simply obeyed, and

trusted! We need to do the same……

I want to live a life of obedience to God and I ask Him to

help me. I rebel a lot and I fight and push back but He wants

me to obey. He wants us to obey!

Will you learn a lesson from the man who lived a life of obedience?

Rolain

 

 

Does that make sense???

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord

with all your heart and mind and do not rely

on your own insight or understanding.

Proverbs 3:5

 

If you are going to walk in everything God has

for you there is something you need to do.

You will need to throw what you know out of the

window!!!

The word says, we must trust in the Lord with

ALL of our heart and mind….that’s clear.

Then it says, “and do not rely on your own

insight and understanding“…not so clear???

Let me share another scripture with you:

 

“Men, I can see that our voyage is going to

be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and

cargo, and to our own lives also.”

But the centurion, instead of listening to what

Paul said, followed the advise of the pilot and

of the owner of the ship. Acts 27:10, 11

 

It’s very clear why the centurion listened to

the pilot and the owner of the ship. The pilot

who I am guessing is the captain had sailed

these seas numerous times. He had years

and years of experience. Wasn’t that

enough? Let me rephrase that, it should

have been enough! But it wasn’t!!

There is a time when experience and insight

play their part but we must be must know

when that time is.

Our own understanding gets in the way of

what God wants to do at times. A lot of the

time our own insight and understanding

excludes God from the equation!

The centurion was not about to listen to a

man who knew nothing about the sea. Paul

was not a sailor so why listen to him???

 

God’s word a lot of the time doesn’t make sense

and calls us to believe in the impossible!

Your destiny doesn’t make sense.

God’s blessing in your life does not make sense.

You are not supposed to be standing but you are

because of God.

Trust in Him with all of your heart and mind.

 

Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear

and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away

from evil. Proverbs 3:7

 

There it is again. Don’t rely on your own wisdom!

 

As you walk the road God has called you to don’t

lean on your own understanding and insight but trust

in Him with all of your heart and mind!

A truly difficult word to live by…….

Rolain

 

 

He gave us His word and Something else……

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

¹³ In Him you also who have heard the Word of Truth, the glad tidings (Gospel) of your salvation, and have believed in and adhered to and relied on Him, were stamped with the seal of the long-promised Holy Spirit.

¹⁴ That [Spirit] is the guarantee of our inheritance [the firstfruits, the pledge and foretaste, the down payment on our heritage], in anticipation of its full redemption and our acquiring [complete] possession of it—to the praise of His glory.  Ephesians 1:14

God has promised us so much. The things He has planned for us

are beyond our comprehension.

Is God true to His word, yes!

Does God keep His promises, yes!

I think we can all agree, that God’s word is solid.

If He says,

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

We can be assured He means it….

If He says,

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19

We know it’s a done deal right? Why, because He said it…!!!!

(a big DUH…..)

Let me get to my point.

We know God’s word is true and He knows

it too but according to Ephesians 1: 14, He has gone an extra step:

He has given us His Holy Spirit as a guarantee we will get

everything He has promised us!!

Let that soak in for a bit…….

 Let me read the word again:

¹⁴ That [Spirit] is the guarantee of our inheritance [the firstfruits, the pledge and foretaste, the down payment on our heritage], in anticipation of its full redemption and our acquiring [complete] possession of it—to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:14

Are you spirit filled? Does the Holy Spirit live in you?

You now know what that means!!!

God wanted to give you a guarantee that He would do

EVERYTHING He promised you so He gave you the

Holy Spirit. He really didn’t have to because

we know His word is ALWAYS true but He did it anyway!!

How He loves us!!!

But the Holy Spirit is not a dormant “force”

that sits idly in you, No!

He is directing you, speaking to you, teaching you and

a whole lot more.

²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  John 14:26

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  Acts 1:8

“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 14:15-18

I will stop there….

When I considered this I was encouraged. There have been really

crazy times, times when I lose sight of what God

is doing in my life, there are times when I struggle with the truth

that God has a plan for me but to know that the Holy Spirit

is THE guarantee I will receive ALL of God’s amazing promises

is too wonderful to comprehend……….Selah!

 

I have taken the presence

of the Holy Spirit in my life so lightly. Please forgive me Lord!

The Holy Spirit loves me but I overlook Him a lot…..!

He is in my life because He was sent by God.

He is in my life because God

has an amazing plan and He wants to guarantee that I will

walk in it!!!

 

Take heart friends….You may be going through hell but the

Holy Spirit is in you making sure God’s word comes to

pass in your life………

 

He is making sure God’s amazing promises materialize

in your life.

If you ever doubted God’s love for you just remember the

Holy Spirit who lives in you…..

He is your guarantee, that God’s word is true….

Amazing right…..All praise and glory to Him!!!

Amen and Amen…..!

 

Forgive me for my ignorance Lord….!

 

Rolain

 

The praise of men…….

I have had a pretty crazy week. So much has happened in such a short space of time and I am not talking about light stuff. I am talking about stuff that is life changing. My world has been shaken never to be the same again. But isn’t that what life is about. Change is the only constant in life. When it comes knocking we have a choice to accept the change or resist it. That is where I am right now. I can accept the change and move forward or resist it……In all of this I want to do what God tells me to do. I want to follow His will.

With all these changes something that has been on my mind. I didn’t feel like writing this week but today I changed my mind. What has been on my mind has been the praise of man. There is so much we do because we want man’s approval but that can get us into trouble. Man’s approval is so fickle. Jesus knew this,Paul knew this. One moment people were praising them and in the next breath crying out for their blood. We can’t live to praise man. In all we do we need to make sure we are doing whatever we are doing because God told us to even in the face of resistance from man. Why do you do what you do? What is driving you, the praise of man or the praise of God???

Rolain

Scars of Loss.

If we are to experience God’s best there is a price to pay. This was so clear to me as I was reading Bob Sorge’s book on prayer. Are you prepared to pay the price, because there is a price?
The enemy has come and taken things, he has come and plundered our stuff but there will be restitution. He will pay for all he has done but there is a price.
I have been deeply challenged by the words I have read. This is what he had to say:

“There is a steep price to pay if we are to experience restitution.
What does qualifying for restitution mean?
And even though there is restitution, the reality of the actual loss is a scar that marks us forever.

Take, for starters, Job.

The indelible mark left upon Job because of the loss of his first set of ten children. Yes, he was changed, healed, restored, and given a second set of children. But nothing could erase the fact that he had lost his first children. They were gone forever, and their absence represented a hole in his heart that nothing could fill. This left an eternal scar on Job’s soul“.

And the Lord turned the captivity of Job and restored his fortunes, when he prayed for his friends; also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.  Job 41:10
We read Job’s story with no clue at the cost he had to pay for restitution. He lost his kids. All his kids. It didn’t mean just because God blessed him with more kids he forgot about the pain and the tragedy of losing his first ten kids. On the contrary the pain of losing his children would forever be with him.

–  Paul is another example of this. Paul was a mighty man of God who God delivered. At the end of his life Paul testifies of God’s faithfulness by saying,

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 4:7

Paul faced impossible opposition! It was not an easy road. For Paul to say what he said, had such a weight and significance. He didn’t just leisurely get there. He nearly died and was actually prepared to die for Christ. His deliverance and glory came at a huge cost. Consider this:

2 Corinthians 11:23-30

²³ Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

²⁴ Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

²⁵ Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

²⁶ In journeying’s often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

²⁷ In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

²⁸ Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

²⁹ Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

As you can see, Paul suffered a lot.

The last person I would like to point out from the book is Naomi. The author says:

Naomi was comforted with Obed’s death, but she never got her husband and two sons back.
Ruth 4:17-22

We like happy endings but we need to realize like Job Naomi lost her family!
She was happy that she had a grandson but the fact remains, she lost her family and she had to live with that truth everyday of her life! She paid a huge price.

What I would like you to see through all of this is, what you have gone through, what you going through is not all for nothing! It is for a testimony! I would like you to start seeing your scars differently. Your scars are a reminder of what happened to you but they are also a testimony of God’s faithfulness. Let me give you one last practical example of what I mean.
I was abused as a child. My dad was a violent man and a drinker. I lived most of my childhood in fear then in shame and insecurity. I was abused physically and verbally. I have scars to prove it. Today, I can look at those scars and hate my dad but I don’t. I look at those scars and they remind me of how God saved me! I have come a long way because of God! The scars are a testimony of God’s faithfulness, do you understand? Look at Jesus, His nails bare the mark of what He paid on the cross. It is a reminder to us of how much He loved us. His scars are a testimony!

The author goes on to say, The point is: The losses are real, and the scars eternal. And yet, the suffering is worth it because of the glory which is revealed in us.

And I will stop there. God is so good. I hope you will look at your scars differently. There is a price to pay to experience God’s restitution.

Rolain