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

 

 

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

He was always coming.

 

Now a certain man named Lazarus was ill. He was of Bethany,

the village where Mary and her sister Martha lived.

This Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume

and wiped His feet with her hair. It was her brother Lazarus

who was [now] sick.

So the sisters sent to Him, saying, Lord, he whom you love

[so well] is sick.

John 11:1-3

 

Mary and Martha were in need of a miracle. Their brother

was sick and it didn’t look like he was getting better.

 

Like Mary and Martha I NEED a miracle! I need Jesus

to come through for me. If He doesn’t come through for me

what am I supposed to do? The enemy will win if He doesn’t

come through.

 

“Therefore [even] when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He still

stayed two days longer in the same place where He was.

So when Jesus arrived, He found that he [Lazarus] had already

been in the tomb four days.”

‭‭John‬ ‭11:6, 17‬ ‭AMP‬‬

 

I sort of understand what happened here. Jesus could have left

immediately but He didn’t.

Was He testing Mary and Martha’s faith?

 

But let’s look at what was happening with Martha and Mary.

They had called for the Master but He hadn’t arrived yet.

That time of waiting couldn’t have been easy. As time passed

their brother’s health deteriorated.  Where are you Jesus, was

the question on their minds. How long could they keep

waiting? Did they feel abandoned by Jesus, like He didn’t

care what they were going through?

 

Lazarus died…..

Still no show.

 

Day two……

No show.

 

Day three….

It’s hopless.

 

Day four….

It’s over.

 

As all this was happening, the bible tells us that:

 

“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. [They were His dear friends, and He held them in loving esteem.
‭‭John‬ ‭11:5‬ ‭AMP‬‬

 

Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters very much. It wasn’t

easy seeing the sisters broken at thier loss. He wept with

them!

He is not up in heaven playing cruel jokes on His

people. He doesn’t get a kick from seeing us in pain.

He has a plan for us!

 

When I read this story I think of the things I am trusting

God for. There were times in my life in my trusting that

I would lash out at God because I thought He had abandoned

and forgotten about me. But it’s not true!

There are still some things I am trusting Him for, things

that I prayed for, years ago. Has it been easy? Heck

no. But I know He can be trusted. He has a plan in the

waiting. He has a plan in the midst of the pain. He has a plan!

As I wrap up I would like to challenge you to wait on Him.

He knows where you at, truly!

 

photo credit: google images

 

Rolain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The “Man” who walked out on a city………!!

That evening, after the sun was down, they brought sick and evil-afflicted people to Him, the whole city lined up at His door! He cured their sick bodies and tormented spirits. Because the demons knew His true identity, he didn’t let them say a word. 

While it was still night, way before dawn, He got up and went out to a secluded spot and prayed. Simon and those with Him went looking for Him. They found Him and said, “Everybody’s looking for You.”

Jesus said, “Let’s go to the rest of the villages so i can preach there also. That is why I’ve come.”   Mark 1:32-39 

 

I guess the disciples were pretty confused! Why did Jesus want to go to another town when the whole city was lined up at their door??!!! It was something they probably couldn’t comprehend. They had become rock stars literally overnight, people knew them by name but the star of the show wanted to leave, let me rephrase that, was leaving…..!

It wasn’t like they were doing something meaningless. They were teaching the masses, healing the sick, casting out demons and so much more, amazing things were happening at that place, but Jesus wanted to leave..!!!

They were popular but that was not enough of a reason for Jesus to stay. Have we missed something in this day and age? It seems like being popular takes precedence over everything else.

Jesus didn’t do what he did so He could be popular. He wasn’t looking at how many “likes” or “comments” he got. His mission was to save us and that took precedence over everything else!

He wept for people, His heart broke for people, He reached out to the outcasts, He ministered to the little children, and the list goes on and on…..He did things that made Him unpopular but that didn’t matter……the call of God on His life was more important to Him. Please understand what I am saying, I am not attacking you if you have a large following and I am not saying get rid of your following if you have one….Jesus was always been followed but his focus remained on the real mission, saving people! The magnitude of the people that followed Him didn’t change His focus.

What is important to you as you live this life? Is being popular more important than ministry? Does it take precedence over everything else in your life? Let us evaluate our hearts as we walk the path God has set before us.

While it was still night, way before dawn, He got up and went out to a secluded spot and prayed. Simon and those with Him went looking for Him. they found Him and said, Everybody’s looking for you.” Jesus said, “Let’s go to the rest of the villages so i can preach there also.” This is why I’ve come. Mark 1:38, 39.

Jesus was clear about what was important to Him after he prayed. He may have been clear before but the word showed Him going to pray and making a non-negotiable decision. You may be confused about your purpose or confused about what is important but prayer will make it clear, very clear! That is how powerful prayer is…….

Rolain

 

Do You Really Want To Get Well???

A lot of us know the story of the man who waited by the pool called Bethesda to be healed. He had a lingering disorder for 38 years!!! Apparently there was a story going around that a long time ago an angel stirred the pool and the first person to get in when it stirred would get healed! You can read the whole story in John 5:1-9.

But there are two main things I would like to highlight that stand out in this story.

1. This man had been sick for 38 years!!!! No wonder Jesus asked him if he really wanted to get well! As I thought about his situation I realized we are like that at times. We have been battling things for so long it’s crazy. I have no right to criticize the man because I realized I am in the same boat. There are some things I have been struggling with for ages….. There is a way of life that I have become used to that is not what Christ has planned for me. Are you in the same situation? Is there a mindset that is stopping you from progressing that you have had for years, or a habit you just can’t break??? What excuses have you memorized for people who would stop and ask? When Jesus approached him and asked him what was going on the man gave Jesus a reason. It sounded rehearsed. Listen to it:

The invalid answered, Sir, I have nobody when the water is moving to put me into the pool; but while I am trying to come [into it] myself, somebody else steps down ahead of me.   John 5:7

That’s it!!!! After 38 years that’s all he had to say!! Wow! That’s what I was thinking but I realized we have excuses that we have come to believe. They sound like this:

I don’t have this because I grew up like…..
I am never going to amount to anything because…….
People don’t like me because…..

The list goes on and on but we have these excuses. Not anymore. The excuses need to stop. They are stopping our growth. They are stealing our life and we don’t even know it. We are supposed to be enjoying life but we are burdened and weak and sick. The enemy has lied to us as well as our bad decisions!!!

2.This is the second thing that stands out in this story. There is hope for us. This man with all his wrong thinking and excuses received grace and mercy from God!!! Jesus didn’t leave him in his mess. Instead he helped him!!!! He healed him. This is how the man put it,

He answered them, The Man who healed me and gave me back my strength, He Himself said to me, Pick up your bed and walk! John 5:11

I like that. Jesus is the one who heals us and gives us back our strength!!! Do you believe that?? No matter how long you have been in your situation know that God is for you. He doesn’t want you to stay where you are. He is patient and merciful and kind and gracious. I hope that makes sense!!!

What excuses have you been making?? There are excuses I have been holding on to that need to go. I am tired of going round the same mountain. I am tired of fighting the same battles. It’s time for change. What do you want? God can do the same thing for you. Will you look to Him, will you trust Him??

Rolain.