A thought about the impossible!

                                             photo credit: google images

 

“Lord,”Martha said to Jesus, “if You had been here, my

brother would not have died.

But I know that even now God will give You whatever you ask.”

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

Martha answered, “I know he will rise in the resurrection

at the last day.”

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The

one who believes in me will live, even though they die;

and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.

Do you believe this?

John 11:21-26

 

I had to share the whole passage with you because it’s key to

what I want to speak on today. I was supposed to share

what I am about to share with you last week but something

happened last week to shake my faith. I was trusting God

for something huge and it didn’t happen! I was broken and

wondered why it never came to pass. But I realized

something. Just because something doesn’t happen in our lives

doesn’t mean it is too much for God, it just means it wasn’t

part of His plan for our lives. It took time processing that.

 

Anyway, lets move on. Last week God showed me something

that gave me so much hope! I was thinking about the big

things I am trusting God for but there was one thing in

particular I was doubting. As I was doubting if this thing

would happen I had a thought and wrote it down in my

journal:

 

We all know God does the impossible but there is

something you need to get into your spirit,

God can do YOUR impossible.

Whatever I am believing for that I think is impossible,

God can do. He is doing my impossible!

 

Look at Martha. She believed Jesus was the resurrection

and the life. She believed Jesus could do the impossible!

That was not the issue. But Jesus wanted her to know He

could accomplish her impossible! There is a big difference

between believing God can do the impossible and believing

He can do YOUR impossible!

 

Nothing in your life is too big for God to handle. When

you read of all those great things Jesus did in the bible

know He can do those same things in YOUR life. He cares

about you……

I was so encouraged when I got that revelation. I thought

to myself about the things I was trusting God for. I could

pray to God about that thing. He actually wanted me to

come to Him with “my impossible” things!

 

God has great things in store for you and no matter how

impossible they seem please understand He is the God of

the impossible, the God of YOUR impossible! Don’t doubt

Him. If something doesn’t happen after you have brought

that thing to Him then know that it wasn’t in His plan!

There is no such thing as, too big for God!

He wants to show Himself strong on your behalf!

Trust Him.

Amen!

 

Rolain

Walk and live in Him……

“Walk by the spirit!” I have heard that been said so

many times but if I am to be honest I didn’t fully

understand what that meant. I thought I did

but I really didn’t. Walking and living by

the spirit is not just about speaking in tongues or

praying 24/7 even though those things are extremely

important. I am going to bring a bit more understanding

and hopefully it will help you walk and live by the spirit.

 

This is what the word says about walking in the spirit:

 

But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the Holy Spirit

[responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit];

then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and

desires of the flesh (of human nature without God).

Galatians 5:16

 

It is very clear that as Christians we are supposed to

walk and live in the Spirit. So how do you walk and live

in the Spirit?

Let’s look at another scripture:

 

For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the

[Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are

opposed to the flesh (godless human nature);

for these are antagonistic to each other [continually

withstanding and in conflict with each other],

so that you are not free but are prevented from

doing what you desire to do.  Galatians 5:17

 

As we desire to walk and live in the Spirit we need

to understand something, there is a war going on

in us, a war between our flesh and the Holy Spirit.

We need to understand this. They are in conflict

with each other.

In other words, the flesh hates it when you allow

the Spirit to move through you, the flesh hates

anything Spirit which would be prayer, reading

your word, spending time with God, fasting,

meditating on His word and a whole lot more

and it is the same for the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit

hates flesh. He is opposed to it.

 

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify

the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:16

 

That is God’s desire for us, that we would

walk by the Spirit.

The question is how?

 

Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are

clear (obvious): they are immorality,

impurity, indecency,

Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealously,

anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions

(dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects

with peculiar opinions, heresies),

Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the

like. I warn you beforehand, just as

I did previously that those who do

such things shall not inherit the kingdom

of God. Galatians 5:19-21

 

As I read that scripture I realized

something, walking in the flesh is simply

doing any of the

things mentioned in the scripture above.

This scripture gives us great insight into

how the flesh operates. As I read it I

realized I had given the flesh a lot

of leeway in my life…..!

But we are called to walk and live

in the Spirit.

 

But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the

work which His presence within

accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness),

peace, patience (an even temper,

forbearance), kindness, goodness

(benevolence), faithfulness,

Gentleness (meekness, humility),

self-control (self-restraint, continence).

Against such things there is no law

[that can bring a charge]. Galatians 5:22, 23

 

Walking and living by the Spirit

is fighting against the flesh. It’s about

getting rid of the idols in our lives, working

on that crazy temper, getting rid of envy,

and so on.

It’s about walking in love when we want to

hate, it’s about forgiving someone when

you want to hold a grudge………..

We are not perfect so this fight we are in

is a life long fight! We need the help of the

Holy Spirit to win. This is one fight you

will not win by yourself!

 

Look at one more scripture with me:

 

And those who belong to Christ Jesus

(the Messiah) have crucified the flesh

(the godless human nature) with its

passions and appetites and desires.

Galatians 5:24

 

This is what walking and living in the

Spirit looks like. It’s about crucifying

the flesh with its passions and desires

daily! Is it easy, heck no!

But it’s a fight worth fighting. We want

the Holy Spirit to have total control.

That is the goal…..

May we call on Him to help us walk

and live in the Spirit.

Amen

 

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.

The enemy’s goal for you….

When Saul and his troops heard the Philistines challenge, they were terrified and lost all hope. 

1 Samuel 17:11

 

Each morning and evening for forty days, Goliath took his stand and made his speech. 

1 Samuel 17:16

 

As I read this during my quiet time God spoke to me. This is what the enemy does. His goal is to terrify us and make us lose hope. Without hope we are truly lost. When we are terrified we are crippled unable to stand and fight! God cannot work with people who are controlled with fear. He wants to break the fear off our lives. I am one of those people. One of those people who is fighting fear. I know God has not given me a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind!

 

Look at what the enemy does once the Israelite army is terrified and have lost hope.

 

“Each morning and evening for forty days, Goliath took his stand and made his speech.”

 

The enemy is not content with terrifying you for a day. He wants you terrified as long as he can! He doesn’t want you to ever live with hope. He wants you to constantly live in fear, terrified! He is crazy…..! He will do all he can to discourage you, tear you down, destroy your dreams. He will do anything. Morning and evening for forty days! It’s crazy to think that would work but it did.

Look at the kind of effect it had.

 

“While they were talking together, the Philistine champion, Goliath of Gath, stepped out from the front lines of the Philistines, and gave his usual challenge. David heard him.

The Israelites to a man, fell back the moment they saw the giant – totally frightened.”

1 Samuel 17:23, 24

 

You would think the army would get tired of the same old challenge. But the fact is, they didn’t. We look at them and wonder how they could be so scared but the fear was real for them. Goliath was a giant! I would freak out if I saw a giant. Goliath was not only a giant but a trained one, ready for battle!

 

When I read the story everything made sense. There is something I am about to do but I have been attacked with fear. What if I fail, what if I heard God wrong, a lot of people are saying don’t do it but this is something I believe God wants me to do. These are the things I am constantly struggling with in my head. But I know the reason now. The enemy wants me to lose ALL hope! He wants me terrified, so terrified that I disobey God, so terrified, that I am not effective.

 

The armies of Israel dressed for battle everyday for 40 days only to cower away in fear. They were not fighting, just fearing and out of hope!

That is what the enemy wants for you. Has fear crippled you? Have you lost all hope in God because that is what happened?! They lost hope in God. The enemy succeeded.

We can’t let the enemy win. God has so much for us to do. He wants us to win. He wants us to hope in Him. He wants us to trust in Him.

 

Rolain

 

Miracle in South Africa….

I have been on tour in South Africa. It has been an amazing experience especially since this is my first time in South Africa. My pastor’s wife released an album called “Yahweh” and that is why we were on tour. Here is the title track. I hope you enjoy it…….

 

South has been amazing but that was not the case when I first heard I was going. I was filled with fear because of all the stories I heard. We were in Johannesburg which is ranked number 10 of the most dangerous cities in the world! I was really filled with fear about going but God dealt with me in that area. When I got there we were not robbed or held at gun point or anything crazy. It was actually safe! Please understand, I am not saying that it’s the safest place in the world but what I am saying is that you need to have your eyes wide open and I am also saying God will protect no matter where you go if you trust in Him!

The next thing that was on my mind was what God had for me in South Africa. I believe that when I travel there is something God wants to speak to me about and something He wants me to see that I can’t see at home! So I went with that mindset and God indeed showed me things that I never saw when I was at home and He spoke to me about things that I was struggling with at home. So in other words I heard Him so much clearly!
Now for the main thing. I was in  South Africa for four days. I arrived in South on Friday and left on Monday. Our performance was scheduled for Sunday but on Saturday during practice I sprained my foot! It started swelling badly in the evening and I was limping. I was worried about it but then I remembered what I learned at Bible School. It was not an accident that the Pastor taught this but he spoke about your spirit being able to sustain your physical body. He taught that our spirit can be so strong that it can sustain our physical bodies!

Proverbs 18:14 says,
The strong spirit of a man sustains him in bodily pain or trouble, but a weak and broken spirit who can raise up and bear?

So when I realised my ankle was sprained that verse jumped out of my spirit and I started declaring my healing! There was no way I would have a sprained ankle when I travelled so far to minister. On top of that I asked for prayer and the pastor in charge of the team prayed for my ankle.                                                                 The next day we ministered I danced like I was supposed and gave it 110% and I waved those flags like I was a mad man!!! My ankle was completely healed, praise the Lord!!! God is good indeed. That was my miracle on tour. There are a few things I learned from that.

– The spirit man can be so strong that it can sustain the physical man.

– There is power in the laying on of hands and

– God is still the God of miracles…..!

And that ends my testimony.

Rolain.P

Is Your Faith Really Faith?

I have spoken about faith a lot. Without faith it is impossible to please God but I read something that made me ask the question, is my faith really faith? As I write this, my prayer is you will see faith in a new light.
It was whilst reading the book of James that I questioned if my faith was really faith. This passage of scripture is very popular. I have read it many times but this time round it was different. I was really challenged by what I read. This particular portion of scripture speaks about faith and works. In James 2:14 it says:

What is the use (profit), my brethren, for anyone to profess to have faith if he has no [good] works [to show for it]? Can [such] faith save [his soul]?

It then goes on to say in James 2:18:

But someone will say [to you then], You [say you] have faith, and I have [good] works. Now show me your [alleged] faith apart from any [good] works [if you can], and I by [good] works [of obedience] will show you my faith.

According to James who was inspired by the Holy Spirit, real faith works hand in hand with action. You cannot have one or the other. It is not just believing and doing nothing. He paints a picture of two people. It almost seems like a competition is taking place. It is “faith” which is faith without action vs “works” faith with works. And in this competition “faith” without action loses. He is saying our faith is not really faith until it is accompanied by action (works)! Believing is not enough because according to James 2:19 he says:

You believe that God is one; you do well. So do the demons believe and shudder [in terror and horror such as make a man’s hair stand on end and contract the surface of his skin]!

There are a lot of things we are trusting God for but we need to realise that sitting and waiting is NOT faith! In the things that we have faith for there is a part we have to play.
Please understand, I am not advocating we do things in our flesh and not trust in God. What I am saying is, in the things we are trusting God for there is a part for us to play. Let me give you an example.

Saul and Jonathan and the army of Israel were trapped by the Philistines but to make matters worse Saul and Jonathan were the only ones with swords (1 Samuel 13:22). Saul and Jonathan had “faith” in God. Saul’s “faith” led him to enquire of the Lord through the priest Ahijah (1 Samuel 14:18,19) while Jonathan’s “faith” led him to act. Jonathan’s “faith” led his nation to victory ( 1 Samuel 14:23).
I hope you see as Jonathan stepped out and did his part God STEPPED UP and did His part and that is how it is supposed to be, that is real faith! Our faith needs to be accompanied by works!

James 2:21 says:

Was not our forefather Abraham [shown to be] justified (made acceptable to God) by [his] works when he brought to the altar as an offering his [own] son Issac?
You see that [his] faith was cooperating with his works, and [his] faith was completed and reached its supreme expression [when he implemented it] by [good] works.

You may have faith that God will turn your life around but know you have a part to play. You may be trusting God to bring your destiny to pass but know you have a part to play. You need to act. If you don’t know your part ask God. He will show you what you need to do. You may trusting God for healing, also know you have a part to play. It might be changing your confession. (Some of us make things worse for ourselves by speaking death over ourselves.) It may be changing how you eat. I don’t know, but what I do know is you have a part to play. You may be in poverty and trusting God for financial breakthrough but you have a part to play. You may need to give more, maybe pay your tithes (which a lot of christians don’t do), it might be saving money….etc
Are you starting to see it? I really hope you can. God is faithful and will not abandon us. When we do our part which is a sign of our faith in Him, He will do His part which is the main part, which is the miracle part. I will end with James 2:26 which says:

For as the human body apart from the spirit is lifeless, so faith apart from [its] works of obedience is also dead.

Rolain.