Contending For The Faith

Bishop Ronald D. Roston

An extension of Times of Refreshing and Restoration’s TV program. Presentation & discussion of relevant topics concerning Christian maturity.

  1. Sep 13

    When the Fullness of Time Comes: God's Promises Fulfilled

    Praise God, he continues to bless us not only by adding new listeners to our community, but by his divine protection. During a recent thunderstorm, we had a lightning strike right outside of our house, less than 25 feet from the house and less than 10 feet from the car. Totally split a tree, but no harm to us. Thank you, Yeshua. So as we always say, welcome, welcome, welcome. A big shout out to all of our listeners everywhere. We thank you for tuning in and sharing some of your time with us. We do pray the manifold blessings of God on your life and on the lives of your loved ones. And we do encourage you, if you haven't already done so, to listen to all of our segments. Again, we thank you for being a part of our community of listeners. In this episode of Contending for the Faith, Bishops LaCreece and Ronald Roston explore the biblical concept of "the fulness of time" (Galatins 4:4–5; Ephesians 1:10). They explain how God’s eternal decrees intersect with earthly time, why prophecy was fulfilled in the Messiah, and how believers should live in patient faith while waiting for God’s promises to manifest. The hosts challenge the modern Church to move beyond entertainment to the meat of the Word, take responsibility for the spiritual state of the world, practice holiness, and engage in active discipleship and evangelism. They emphasize faith as an always-now posture and the Church's ’s duty to prepare workers, disciple new converts, and continue the Great Commission until God’s appointed time. The episode also discusses the relationship between Gentiles and Israel in God’s plan of redemption, noting how the Gentile Church plays a role in provoking Israel to jealousy and in fulfilling God’s covenant promises. Finally, the Rostons introduce their next series on the Biblical Fall Feasts — Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot — and invite listeners to continue the journey with them.

  2. Aug 31

    When Heaven's Clock Struck: Understanding the Fullness of Time

    Praise God he continues to bless us by adding to our community of listeners. It's really growing. We do extend a heartfelt welcome to our newest listeners from the following places. Brazil, France, Italy, Bangladesh, Cote d'Ivoire, which is the Ivory Coast in West Africa, the Dominican Republic, Pakistan, California, Ohio, Oregon, and Tennessee in the United States. As we always say, we welcome you, welcome you, welcome you, and we give a big shout out additionally to all of our listeners everywhere. We thank you for tuning in and sharing some of your time with us. We do pray the manifold blessings of God on your life and on the lives of your loved ones and encourage you. We do. If you haven't already done so, listen to all of our sickness. And again, we do thank you for being a part of our community of listening. In the fullness of time, our time, God's time, what's the difference? And how does it impact events? Since God is eternal and dwells in eternity, how does his concept of time affect our concept of time? And the fullness of it. Let's talk about it. God bless you, and welcome to our weekly podcast of Contending for the Faith. I'm your co-host, Bishop LaCreece Roston Roston, along with my husband, Bishop Ronald Roston. We do invite you to get your Bible and notebook and journey with us as we explore topics that challenge us to mature. And our Father and our God we do bless you. In Yeshua's name and we ask you to please open our spiritual ears and help us with our spiritual understanding so that we can hear what you, through your spirit is saying to the Church, we ask this in Yeshua's name and we do say amen. So let's dive into our discussion. The topic is the fullness of time and our base scripture for this segment can be found in Galatians 4, 4 and 5 and Ephesians 1 verse 10. Hear the word of the Lord. But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. That's all of Galatians. And in Ephesians, that in the dispensation of the fullness of times, he might gather together in one All things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are under the earth, even in him. Thus ends the reading of God's holy word. Hidden fullness of time refers to the divinely ordained moment when God sent the anointed Messiah to the earth. The birth of Messiah was not random, but perfectly timed. Occurring with when conditions were perfect. The birth of the Messiah was not random, I repeat, but it was perfectly timed, occurring when conditions were perfect. The perfect moment for Messiah's arrival highlights God's sovereign control over history. A fulfilled promise marks the end of a long waiting period for the promised Messiah. The climax of history refers to the start of the last days, which were inaugurated by Yeshua of Nazareth, who have been in the last days for over 2,000 years. Future consummation also refers to the final future gathering of all things under the authority of Messiah. It refers to the completion of a set period and the arrival of a divinely appointed moment. It appears in the New Testament and describes the planning of history by God to achieve his redemptive goals. It speaks to the perfect timing of Messiah's first coming. It signifies that Messiah was not born at a random point in history, but at an exact, perfectly prepared moment. Political, cultural, and spiritual preparations had taken place. Old Testament prophecy sets an expectation for a Messiah. It marks the fulfillment of the law and marks a transition in how humanity relates to God. The fullness of time arrived when the The Mosaic Law had completed its role as a guardian or tutor. Its purpose was to expose human sinfulness and point toward the need for a Messiah. It refers to the climax of human history when God will gather together and one, all things in Messiah Yeshua. It points to a final state where all of creation is restored to its original harmony under Messiah's authority. The fullness of time is a period when the prevailing conditions match the proclamations of a specific prophecy. It is a time when people are prepared to receive God's specific blessings or curses. It will happen after a long period of time or a series of events. The fullness of time denotes a world order in which heaven and earth are under the government of Messiah Yeshua. When God has brought together all of the elements of previous dispensations, the fullness of time will occur. It's the time God counted best for his plan to be actualized. It's the period in which all his counsels were filled up. The time which the Holy Spirit by the prophets have specified. It is the time to which certain circumstances should extend and beyond which, they should be of no avail. It is the time fully appointed for the completion of the designated period. It is the time when there can be no doubt about the fulfillment of all the prophecies. Everything will be restored and brought together under Messiah Yeshua at that point. He will directly rule over everything in heaven and on earth. The completeness of the seasons will be accomplished. The termination of the old seasons will have occurred, and the beginning of a new one will spring into being. The fullness of time is a biblical phrase that refers to God's plan for the redemption of humanity through his Messiah. The fullness of time also marks the moment when God sent his son so that we might receive adoption as sons. The fullness of times refers to a time when all of God's plans have been completed. There's nothing else that needs to be done. It's a time when God has fulfilled the promises he has made. It is a period when God will manage his execution of events in a way consistent with the fact that his eternal plan and purposes have been completed. The fullness of time is that period which was predetermined in the counsels of God at the right and proper time when the whole course of previous. Preparation is complete. If you enjoy our time together and would like to hear more of our thoughts on mature Christian thinking, pick up on most current books, Living in the New Jerusalem, Now, and the Remnant Church. Both are available on Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and major book outlets everywhere. And yes, yes, yes, you can view our video library on YouTube, at www.youtube.com forward slash user forward slash R-D-R-O-S, and www.youtube.com forward slash at sign Bishop RDR. Okay, let's talk some more about the fullness of time and how it relates to the coming of Messiah and the impact of God's provision on our lives. It is a very clear expression of the concept of time as progressive, divided into periods and culminating in exactly what God intended to take place. The phrase fullness of time corresponds to the time appointed of the Father. When we think of the fullness of time, we primarily reference it to our world and our frame of time. However, we must begin to think of it in terms of the Father and His existence in eternity. The fullness of time is therefore the moment which God had ordained from the beginning for His plan to come to fruition. It is the punct9ual accomplishment of His eternal purpose. It is the divine determination of his will rather than man's expectations that sets the precedence for a manifestation of the promise. It is the time agreed and fixed upon between God and his son from all eternity, in the council and covenant of peace. It is a time that we'll diligently search into by the prophets. Is a time that was diligently searched into by the prophets, was revealed unto them and predicted by them. Here the word of the Lord is recorded in Isaiah 7, 14. Therefore, the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel. And again, the word of the Lord as recorded in Genesis by Moses, and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed, it shall bruise thy hair, and thou shalt bruise his hair. And once again, Isaiah, for unto us a child is born, Unto us a son, this son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. It's a Hebrewism. The fullness of time is a Hebrewism and can be rendered the fullness of days. When the days were fulfilled, the appointed time and the time appointed of the Father. But thou, Bethlehem, Ephraim. Ephrata, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me, that is, to be, the ruler of Israel, whose going forth, have been from of old, from everlasting, and that's in Micah chapter 5, verse 2. It is the moment by which the whole predetermined period of preparation was completed. In Numbers 24, 17, we find these words, I see him, but not here and now. I perceive him, but far in the distant future. A star will rise from Jacob. A scepter will arise from Israel. It shall crest the head of Mullah's people, crack in the skulls of the people of Sheth. The completion of the term is the notion answering to the time appointed of the Father. It is the interval which God ordained should first elapse God's appointed time has come. Man's need for divine intervention has been proved to the fullest. Therefore, the eternal purpose of God comes to pass. Remember the things I have done in the past, for I alone am God. I am God and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish. That's out of Isaiah 46, verses 9 and 10. And out of Isaiah, again, 14, verse 24, the Lord of heaven's army has sworn this oath. It will happen as I have planned. It will be as I have decided. And also in Proverbs chapter 19, verse 21, it reads, you can make many plans, but the Lord's purpose will prevail. The preparation of the world to receive the benefit o

  3. Aug 24

    In the Fullness of Time: God's Perfect Moment Revealed

    Praise God, he continues to bless us. Our community of listeners is growing—welcome to new listeners from Utah, Virginia, Jamaica, Morocco, Naples, the Palestinian Territory, Ukraine, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Iraq, India, Indonesia, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Bangladesh, and everywhere else. We are grateful for your time, prayers, and support. Join hosts Bishop Ronald Roston and Bishop LaCreece Roston as they invite you to open your Bible and notebook and explore the journey of spiritual maturity. They lead the podcast with prayer and ask the Lord to open listeners' spiritual ears and understanding. The episode closes a discussion on the progressive growth of the Church —tracing developments since the post-Constantine era, noting Jewish Christian communities that preserved early practices, the shifts that led to institutionalized forms of Christianity, and the later Reformation that restored Biblical offices, gifts, and spiritual vitality. The goal of progressive growth is the Church must maturation into the reflection of Messiah. The main topic, "in the fullness of time," draws on Galatians 4:4–5 and Ephesians 1:10 to explain God’s perfect timing: the divinely ordained moment for the first coming of the Messiah and the future consummation when all things in heaven and earth are gathered in Christ. The hosts discuss how historical, political, and spiritual preparation—Roman peace, common language, and fulfilled prophecy—made the coming of Yeshua the right moment in God’s plan. Listeners are encouraged to continue engaging with scripture, prayer, and community as the church moves toward maturity. The episode concludes with resources—books and video channels—and an invitation to share the podcast, remain steadfast in faith, and live in expectation of God’s completed purposes. Shalom.

  4. Aug 16

    From Pentecost to Constantine: The Church’s Journey of Progressive Growth

    Welcome to this episode of Contending for the Faith. We greet new listeners from Nigeria, Japan, Ohio, California, Washington, Georgia, New Mexico, and New Jersey. Join Bishops LaCreece Roston and Ronald Roston as they examine how the Church is called to grow in grace and knowledge (2 Peter 3:18). This episode explains progressive growth as the lifelong process of spiritual maturation — progressive sanctification — where believers move from spiritual infancy to Christlikeness through scripture, prayer, fellowship, and faithful practice. The hosts outline key aspects of growth: deepening character and virtues, theological development in light of contemporary understanding, and active concern for social justice and community outreach. They emphasize that growth is intentional, continuous, and meant to reflect the character of Yeshua. Historically, the conversation traces a major turning point with Emperor Constantine’s conversion and the Romanization of the Church. That shift expanded Christianity throughout the empire, altered leadership and membership expectations, and eventually introduced rites and structures that sometimes overshadowed the early church’s repentant, sacrificial fervor. The episode also highlights the persistence of Jewish-Christian communities, the inclusion of Gentiles under the New Covenant, and the biblical foundation for salvation offered to all people (John 3:16–17). The hosts stress that numbers alone do not measure spiritual health; true growth leads to maturity and effective ministry. Using Ephesians 4:11–13 as a guide, the speakers call the Church to the appointed work of equipping believers until the whole body attains unity and maturity in Christ. The goal of progressive growth is for the Church to reflect Messiah in character, ministry, and witness. Listeners are encouraged to continue the journey with recommended resources including the books Living in the New Jerusalem Now and The Remnant Church and the hosts’ YouTube videos. Share the episode, join the conversation, and keep contending for the faith. Shalom.

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An extension of Times of Refreshing and Restoration’s TV program. Presentation & discussion of relevant topics concerning Christian maturity.