When the enemy seems to be winning the war…….

“When Jabin king of Hazor heard of this, he sent to Jobab king of Madon,

and to the kings of Shimron and Achshaph,

And to the kings who were in the north in the hill country and in the Arabah

south of Chinneroth and in the lowland and in the heights of Dor on the west;

To the Canaanites in the east and west; to the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites,

the Jebusites in the hill country; and to the Hivites below [Mount] Hermon in the land

of Mizpah.

And they went out with all their hosts, much people, like the sand on the seashore in number,

with very many horses and chariots.”

Joshua 11:1-4

 

Jabin wanted to eradicate the Israelites from existence. I think he heard all the stories

surrounding these peculiar people.

 

“When Jabin king of Hazor heard of this, he sent to Jobab king of Madon,

and to the kings of Shimron and Achshaph, (italics mine)

 

What did he hear?

– YAH parting the Jordan river so His people could pass (Joshua 3:14-17)

– Jericho’s massive walls crumbling when the people shouted (Joshua 6:20)

– The sun and moon not moving from their positions for a full day! (Joshua 10:12, 13)

– Rock missiles falling down from heaven crushing the southern kings. (Joshua 10:11)

 

He saw how the southern kings failed in their endeavor to eliminate YAH’s people. But he

had a plan, he would muster up the largest army ever to do the job. His goal wasn’t to cripple the

“enemy” no, he was thinking total annihilation!

YAH’s people didn’t stand a chance or so he thought. This is how the word of God described his army;

 

“And they went out with all their hosts, much people, like the sand on the seashore in number,

with very many horses and chariots.”

 

His army was compared to sand. Sand is uncountable and so was his army, innumerable,

“incontestable.”

 

I am sharing this story because this is a picture I believe of what it is like between me, you and the enemy.

The enemy is constantly trying to attack us because we have a purpose. There is no such thing as

an “easy road” if you are a son or daughter of YAH. The enemy doesn’t want you accomplishing what

YAH has for you at all costs.

He wants to take you out however he can. He is going to play dirty, and unfairly.

But we don’t have to fear because the Lord is fighting for us. The enemy will not be victorious.

The worst thing to do is try to live this life on your own, in your own strength because by yourself

you will lose.

It makes sense why the battle is so intense.

We need to know there is a battle but we also need to know that the God who fights for us has already

defeated the enemy.

 

The Hebrew word satan means “an adversary, one who resists”

That’s his very essence, to resist, to be an adversary.

 

It’s a fact we will face opposition when we are out to accomplish something significant for YAH

Think about Paul who had a mammoth task from Yeshua. This is what he said,

 

“For a wide door of opportunity for effectual [service] has opened to me [there, a great and 

promising one], and [there are] many adversaries.” 

1 Corinthians 16:9

 

Be assured that no matter what the enemy tries, no matter the horde that is in

your way, know this;

 

“The Lord is a Man of War; the Lord is His name.”

Exodus 15:3

 

Satan is a defeated foe and he doesn’t have the last say, far from it!

The “Man of War” has the last say and He is on your side. When you are surrounded by the enemy

call out to Him. When the enemy seems to be winning in your life cry out to the Lord. He will

come to your rescue!

Pursue the calling YAH has for you. He is with you every step of the way.

God bless you friends!

 

Rolain

 

The arrogance of man….

And Saul built an altar to the Lord;

It was the first altar he built to the

Lord.  1 Samuel 14:35

 

Saul built an altar to God. It was probably the only

altar he built to God.

Why he built the altar is not really clear but the point

is this, he built an altar.

Saul building that altar almost seems out of context.

In fact, it’s so out of Saul’s norm that the word says,

 

“It was the first altar he built to God.”

 

Building an altar meant on a very rare

occasion Saul remembered God, he honored God!

It was one of those very rare occasions where

Saul put God first, where Saul stopped to thank

God.

The altar that Saul built tells us a lot about where

his relationship with God was. He didn’t build altars

which meant something.

 

On the other hand let’s look at David.

Building an altar wasn’t out of context for him.

He built countless altars to God. That also said

something about his relationship with God.

David was a man after God’s heart. God was the

most important thing to him….

 

David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:1-5)

David kills Uriah (2 Samuel 11:14-23)

In both these situations David repented to God.

He confessed his sins and asked God to forgive him.

His heart broke because of what he did.

 

David counts his people (2 Samuel 24:1-9)

After counting the people the word says:

David felt ashamed after he counted the people

and said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in

what I did! Lord, I beg you, forgive me for my

sin. I have been very foolish.”

2 Samuel 24:10

 

Once again David humbled himself before God.

He confessed his sin to God quickly!

 

David wants to build a house for God.

(2 Samuel 7:1-18)

Even in peace David still sought the Lord.

He never forgot Him!

 

This is what I am trying to show you,

We need to be like David who built countless

altars to God. He loved God so much. Yes,

he sinned many times but he always turned 

to God. No matter how bad things got he

always turned to God and even in good times

he still turned to thank God!

 

Saul didn’t put God first a lot of the time.

Some would say he was proud. He believed

he could make it on his own. He was a skilled

warrior who was a “head taller” than everyone

else. (1 Samuel 9:2)

Whatever the case we must aim to be like

David who humbled himself before God.

He never relied on his own strength. Instead,

he relied on God and ALWAYS turned to

God, always……

The goal is not to be David but it’s to take

those things that made his relationship

with God stronger and apply them to

our lives.

The goal is not to discredit or attack

Saul but it’s to look at his life and

learn from his mistakes. We all sin

so attacking Saul would be foolish…

 

God wants us to put Him first….

Pride will always resist God.

We need to be humble and allow

God to lead us.

Rolain

 

 

What Does Humility Mean In A Person’s Life?

In the past few days I have been learning about humility. God has been speaking to me through His word and other people about humility. In one of my most recent posts I shared the fact that to be great you need to be humble. I have seen how important a role humility plays in the life of a christian.
The verse I used in that post was James 4:10 which says:

Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant].

But this past week I believe God has been speaking to me about what humility means in a life of a person. The first thing I have seen is, humility is the hallmark of a christian, well it should be a hallmark! The great men and women of the bible and even nowadays are and where humble. They knew who was really in control!
And that is the essence of humility. Humility is coming to a realisation that you are not in control but instead realising God is. It is coming to a place where you know that everything you have and everything you have accomplished is because of God. Yes you had a part to play but it was God who was in control. We need to learn to be humble.
The funny thing about humility is, once you think you have it you actually don’t!

I was reading a post a few days ago and I was struck by a comment the blogger said. They said,
“I still believe the most humble man on earth still thinks too highly of himself for God.”

And that is the truth. We are proud people who need the grace of God.
1Peter 5:6 says:

For God sets Himself against the proud (the insolent, overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful) – [and He opposes, frustrates, and defeats them], but gives grace (favour, blessing) to the humble.

My goal for this post is to make you analyse yourself. Are you humble, really?

Another scripture to take note of is Proverbs 18:12 and it says:

Haughtiness comes before disaster, but humility before honour.

One more important thing to note is, humility is not being a doormat. It is not letting people walk all over you. It is not tearing yourself down and allowing people to disrespect you.
God does not tear you down. God loves you. So why do we tear ourselves down? I have seen people unable to recieve a compliment. You are not been proud if you recieve a compliment. You are fearfully and wonderfully made! I used to think it was wrong but I was taught there was nothing wrong with accepting a compliment. When someone compliments you accept it but in yourself give God the glory!

Humility. I want to be a humble person. I want people to see it. Can people describe you as being humble?
In your own life is God the main focus or is it the things that you do? Is it God you always elevate or yourself?

As I end I want to read an excerpt of a book I was reading that captures humility perfectly. The book is called God’s Secret Agent by Sammy Tippit.

“You know,” the old man continued,” many people come to my country and want to make a big fire for God. I don’t want to make a big fire for God. I want to be consumed by God’s fire until I am ashes. And when I am ashes, then I will see His glory. Do you understand me?
I thought he was asking me if I understood his German. I told him I did.
No, no,” he said,” do you understand what I am telling you?
When I am so much nothing that God is everything, then I will see His glory.

George Whitefield, the great evangelist of the 1700s, once said,” Let the name of George Whitefield rot in hell, but let the name of Jesus Christ be glorified forever.”

I hope you have been challenged. Humility is one of the hallmarks of a christian. Do you have the same attitude as the men I just quoted? Let us ask God for His grace to be humble.

Rolain.

I Refuse. . . .

There is a song that I have been listening to that really stirs something in me. It is sung by Josh Wilson and it is called, I Refuse. There are a few things that challenge me to the core when I listen to that song that I would like to share with you.

As christians, we see so much pain. We experience so much pain as well. And we tend to do nothing at times. A lot of us tend to take a seat back and wait for the “right” people to come and do what we are supposed to be do ourselves. But it is time to refuse. There comes a time when we must make a decision. A time where we refuse some things in our lives.
So I am writing down a few things I have made a decision about. You can make a decision as well. Let us be a generation of people who stand for what is right but refuse and resist the negative.
The power of God is in you and you are not alone.
The Word of God in James 4:7 says: So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you. (Amplified)
With that this is what I refuse,

I refuse to take a seat back and let someone else do what I am supposed to do.
I refuse to be lazy!
I refuse to make excuses when things get too hard.
I refuse to be a mediocre christian!
I refuse to be a teacher who is comfortable with not applying what I teach!
I refuse to be a christian who talks about the power of God but never experiences it!
I REFUSE!!!!!
I refuse to be fake. I see myself being real and genuine to everyone I meet.
I refuse to just sit back while people go to hell!
I refuse to turn my back on the poor and the homeless.
I refuse to procrastinate in doing what I know God has called me to do.
I refuse being content with where I am in my life. God has so much for me.
I refuse living in fear.

There is a part in the chorus that I would like to highlight:
“I don’t want to say another empty prayer”

How many of us pray and don’t expect God to answer? I am one of those people. At times I pray just for the sake of praying and don’t really expect God to answer. But that is not the way. God wants us to come to Him in faith. He delights in our prayers. We need to expect God to answer our prayers. If it is really according to the will of God then our prayers will be answered.
So I refuse to pray another empty prayer! What about you?

Let us move on to the next part.

“Oh, I refuse
To sit around and wait for someone
else
To do what God has called me to do
myself”

How many of us are just sitting when we know what God has called us to do? That needs to change. We have allowed someone else to do what God has called US to do ourselves. We are the right people for the job but we can’t see it. Let me say this, God has called YOU. And it is not because of your talents or your high IQ. But it is because of HIS grace. You don’t have all you need to accomplish what God has called you to do and that is why you need God.
So join me as I refuse to let someone else to do what God has called ME to do myself.

This is the time. We can’t just sit and watch while the world is dying. We are the answer. But we need to resist somethings. We need the power of God to help us. Are you ready to make that commitment? Take some time to think. If you can, listen to the song and allow God to speak to you. He is waiting for us!!!

Rolain.P