https://renewalchristiancenter.org Mon, 19 Oct 2026 02:00:00 +0000 Mon, 19 Oct 2026 02:00:00 +0000 hourly 1 3600 SnapPages.com https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/11/12/don-t-invite-sin-into-your-camp Thu, 12 Nov 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/11/12/don-t-invite-sin-into-your-camp

But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things; Achan . . . took some of them. So the LORD's anger burned against Israel. Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai . . . and told them, "Go up and spy out the region."  . . . When they returned to Joshua, they said, "Not all the army will have to go up against Ai.  . . . So about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, who killed about thirty-six of them.  . . . At this, the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water.
Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the LORD, remaining there till evening.  . . . The LORD said to Joshua, "Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned . . . They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies . . . because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction." Joshua 7:1-12.

The LORD was about to bless His children with a land flowing with milk and honey. Jericho was the first city. The treasures of Jericho were to be devoted to God. But Achan was a greedy man. He stole what belonged to God and put the entire army of Israel in grave danger. Thirty-six men lost their lives because of his greed. Joshua and the elders fell on their faces before God all day long in fasting and prayer, but God was not impressed. He simply told them to get up from their faces and deal with the sin in the camp!

There are many lessons here:
First, it is a sin to take what belongs to God. God has blessed us with all we need to make life comfortable. Do not take the money, the time or anything that belongs to God and use it on yourself. Whatever you do, give God what rightly belongs to Him. Don't allow greed to prevent you from giving God His portion. Give God the portion of your Time, Talents, and Treasures that belong to Him. Stealing from God as Achan did is not worth it. It turns expected victory into  unexpected shocking defeat just as the Israelites experienced.

Second: Prayer can never replace repentance and obedience. God was not impressed with Joshua's fasting and praying all day long. He simply asked him to get up and deal with their sin.
When God points out sin in our lives, we must pay attention, repent and deal with it. Ignoring it regardless of how much we pray, will never bring us victory. We will only struggle endlessly.

Third, sin in our lives makes us liable to destruction. Sin ties the hand of God from fulfilling His promises in our lives. Sin opens the door for the enemy to enter and defeat us. That is what happened when thirty-six Israeli soldiers lost their lives. We must deal with every known sin. Until we deal with sin, we will not experience the true Presence of God. 

PRAYER:
Lord, please help me to be totally faithful in giving to you whatever is rightfully yours.
Help me to avoid the sin of greed. Help me to deal with every known sin in my life. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/11/11/your-jericho-wall-will-fall Wed, 11 Nov 2026 00:15:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/11/11/your-jericho-wall-will-fall

Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. Then the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed (fighting) men. Do this for six days.   . . . On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.
When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in."
. . . When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in,  and they took the city. Joshua 6:1-20

The fear of God had fallen on the land of Canaan. Hearts were melting because the people of God were marching on to possess their divinely allotted territories. God had made a promise and nothing could hold back the fulfillment of that promise.

Jericho was a heavily fortified city with high double walls around it. So, how in the world were the Israelites going to take possession of Jericho? God had a plan in place. He was supernaturally going to collapse the walls of Jericho so that the Israelites could enter and possess it.

That is exactly what God did. He caused the wall to come tumbling down like a deck of cards! I can't even begin to imagine the fear and shock on the faces of the residents of Jericho at the sound of their collapsing walls. Nothing is impossible with God. No one can shut God out. No one can shut
 the children of God out of their inheritance.  Our God is a fighting Lion and no one can stand against Him. There is no fortress erected by Hell that cannot be collapsed by the power of the Almighty God. The enemy might resist but our victory is already assured supernaturally.

May the Lord God of Hosts supernaturally collapse every Wall of Jericho in your life today. May the wall of infertility collapse; may the wall of unfruitfulness collapse; may the wall of financial struggles collapse; may the wall of perennial marital woes collapse; may the wall of demonic attacks against your destiny collapse; may the wall of sickness collapse; may the wall of joblessness collapse; may the wall of lack of promotion collapse; may the wall of hostility on your job collapse; may the wall separating you from your divinely assigned spouse collapse.

May God collapse every hindering Wall of Jericho in your life so you can enter and possess your Promised Land. Charge straight in and possess. The wall has already collapsed supernaturally. 

PRAYER:
Father, I thank you that there is no fortress erected by Hell that can prevent me from fulfilling my destiny. Today, I declare that every Wall of Jericho militating against my destiny has already been supernaturally collapsed by your mighty hand.  I will enter to possess. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/11/10/do-you-really-honor-and-respect-god Tue, 10 Nov 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/11/10/do-you-really-honor-and-respect-god

The LORD of Heaven's Armies says to the priests: "A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my Name . . .  You have shown contempt by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar . . .   "You defile them by saying the altar of the LORD deserves no respect.  
When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn't that wrong?  . . . Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!" . . . Go ahead, beg God to be merciful to you! But when you bring that kind of offering, why should He show you any favor at all?" asks the LORD of Heaven's armies.  
. . . Cursed is the cheat who promises to give a fine ram from his flock but then sacrifices a defective one to the LORD. For I am a great King," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies,  "and my Name is feared among the nations!" Malachi 1:6-14 (NLT)

It is very easy to talk religion and not back it up with action. It is easy to claim that we love God and do nothing to underscore that love. It is easy to say we love, respect, and honor God without doing anything concrete to back it up!
Love, respect, and honor are all action words. The Bible says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son . . ." (John 3:16)

The Israelites made promises to give their best offerings to God but when the time came, they selected the worst among the flock -- the blind, lame and weak animals. God was saddened. The Great King was angry! He challenged them to offer the same gifts to their governor and see if he would accept it! But alas it was just God! They could afford to disrespect him by giving them their rejects! But there was an attendant curse with that kind of behavior! Treating God with contempt has consequences, but our callous human hearts lead us to do that all the time!

We should give our very best to God because He not only gave us His best in the form of Jesus, but He continues to give us His best by way of His Spirit and His word! It is important that we keep the promises we make to God! When you promise to give God a portion of your Time, Talent or Treasure; don't play games with it. Honor your promise to God and you will be blessed.

Do you really love, honor, and respect God? Then let it show in the practical ways in which you serve the LORD with your Time, Talents and Treasures! Give God your best; not your worst!

PRAYER:
Lord, my desire is to honor you with the best of my substance. Please help me never to consume on myself what I should give to you by way of Time, Talents, and Treasures. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/11/09/no-more-reproach Mon, 09 Nov 2026 06:31:22 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/11/09/no-more-reproach

At that time the LORD said to Joshua, "Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again." So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth.
Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt -- all the men of military age -- died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt. All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not.  
. . . And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed.
Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." So the place has been called Gilgal to this day. Joshua 5:2-9

Many of the Israelites who came out of Egypt rebelled against God and died in the wilderness.
They carried the reproach of Egypt with them until they died in the wilderness. Their children were now about to enter the Promised Land and God wanted to ensure that they were right with Him. God did not want them to enter the Promised Land with any reproach.

The circumcision was a sign of their covenant relationship with God. The circumcision signified a new beginning between God and His people whom He was about to bless in the Promised Land. The circumcision also represented the fact that the sins, shame, and reproach attached to their old life of slavery in Egypt had now been "rolled away." There was to be no more shame.
Their past shame was to be no longer attached to their future. The past had been rolled away. The physical circumcision was the sign that God was doing something new in their lives.

In our relationship with God there comes a time when we must make a clean break with our past ungodly activities which brought us shame. God's desire is that our new life in Him should have no taint of reproach whatsoever. God is prepared to circumcise our hearts and roll away every past reproach.

Whatever your past may have been: unfaithfulness to God, adultery, divorce, drug addiction, lying, pornography, stealing, sexual promiscuity . . . it does not matter to God. God is prepared to circumcise your heart and roll away every past reproach attached to your life. God has given you a new beginning.

Don't allow the enemy to beat you down with your past. God has already rolled away every reproach from your life. You are a child of the Most High God. You have been cleansed with the Precious Blood of Jesus. There is no more reproach attached to you!

PRAYER:
Lord, I thank you that I am a new creature in you. Every reproach is rolled away and I am now clothed with the glory and righteousness of Christ. Amen

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/11/08/erect-a-memorial Sun, 08 Nov 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/11/08/erect-a-memorial

When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, "Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight."
. . . In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them  that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever." Joshua 4:1-7

Washington DC is full of memorials and monuments.  We have monuments to Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, Martin Luther King Jr., and Vietnam and on the list goes. All these are maintained at the cost of millions of dollars per annum. Why are those memorials important? Why preserve them at such costs?

They are preserved to serve as a vivid reminder of important historical events and people whose lives have made a difference in the history of the United States. Those memorials are meant to preserve precious memories for future generations. History must be preserved. History must be told. History must not be forgotten. History inspires future generations.

That was God's intent in asking Joshua to preserve the memory of how He parted the waters of the Jordan for the Israelites to cross over into the Promised Land: "In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' Tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD . . . these stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever." God wanted future generations to be reminded of His mighty acts on behalf of His children. God wanted them to be inspired to depend on Him.

It is interesting that the emphasis was on reminding their children about their spiritual heritage.
It is easy for future generations to gloss over their spiritual heritage and never connect in personal ways with God's faithfulness to their parents. God holds us responsible for that.

A few years ago, I had two major back surgeries in one month. Our children were too young to understand how critical it was and how the Lord saved my life from possible paralysis. But I preserved the back brace and the walker I used in my recovery and showed it to them when they were old enough to understand. They are now able to relate to my frequent statement that Jesus heals and Jesus saves! I believe it is imperative that we continually erect memorials of epoch events in our walk with God. Those memorials should be preserved and explained to our children so that they can understand the passion behind our worship of God. Erect a memorial!

PRAYER:
Lord, I thank you for the many amazing things you have done in my life. Please help me to memorialize them to tell future generations about your faithfulness. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/11/07/god-will-part-your-jordan Sat, 07 Nov 2026 01:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/11/07/god-will-part-your-jordan

And the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: "When you reach the edge of the Jordan's waters, go and stand in the river.' "    . . . "And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD -- the LORD of all the earth -- set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap."
. . . Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away . . . while the water flowing down to the Sea of Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.  . . .until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground. Joshua 3:7-17

We often talk about God's miraculous parting of the Red Sea but hardly about the parting of the Jordan River. The two partings served two different purposes. The Red Sea was parted to redeem God's people out of the bondage of Egyptian slavery. The Jordan was parted to enable God's children to enter the Promised Land.

There are many lessons to chew on:
First, God exalted Joshua at the appointed time: "Today, I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel."  The Bible makes it clear that exaltation comes from God. Joshua had humbly and faithfully served Moses for decades before God gave him the leadership after the death of Moses. At the appointed time on the divine calendar, God decided to exalt him in the eyes of all the people. As you faithfully serve the LORD, may He exalt you at His appointed time. May God announce you to the world for all to see that He is with you.  Be patient and humble. It will come.

Second: The waters of the Jordan parted as soon as the feet of the priests, who carried the ark, touched the edge of the Jordan River. The ark was the Presence of God. The Presence of God is the power of God's Holy Spirit at work. You and I carry the Presence of God because the Holy Spirit of God dwells in us.
May every Jordan in your life be parted by the power of God's Spirit living within you.

Finally: The miraculous parting of the Red Sea was not the last time God was going to part waters. It was followed by the parting of the Jordan. May God redeem you out of every bondage by parting your Red Sea and taking you out of the Enemy's territory, and may He part every Jordan in your life so you can enter and possess your Promised Land. God will part your Jordan.
May the parting of waters never cease in your life until you accomplish your divine destiny.

PRAYER:
Father, I thank you that you have the power to part any waters impeding the possession of my Promised Land. I am confident that you will do so for me. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/11/05/be-kind-even-to-the-undeserving Thu, 05 Nov 2026 23:50:21 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/11/05/be-kind-even-to-the-undeserving

Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof and said to them, "I know that the LORD has given you this land . . .  Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you.
Give me a sure sign that you will show kindness to my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them -- and that you will save us from death."
Joshua 2:8-13

In a conversation, I listened as someone reflected over the daily devotional in reference to the role of Rahab. I was captivated by the thought and decided to reflect on it again.

Rahab risked her life to protect the servants of the LORD as they spied the city of Jericho on their divine assignment. Her kindness enabled her to secure divine favor and protection to save her entire family. Not only that, but Rahab also ended up in the divine lineage of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She literally went from "grass to grace." Rahab went from Prostitute to divine Royalty. That is the grace, mercy, and love of our Heavenly Father. He takes nonentities and gives them a new name. He catapults the despised into positions of prominence.

But that is not how humans treat those at the bottom of society's totem pole. We ignore them and keep them humiliated and rejected. In every society, prostitution brings shame and disgrace to families. Prostitutes are not trumpeted by their families. They are usually left unmentioned in conversations. They are not seen at the Thanksgiving dinner when guests are invited.

Rahab was a prostitute who must have endured the same disrespect from her family given to any prostitute. She would have been an outcast in the community. She would have received reprimands and insults from her family due to the disgraceful trade she plied as a prostitute. But Rahab had a heart of gold. Rehab went to battle for the soul of each family member.

Rahab insisted to the spies: "Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them -- and that you will save us from death." Rahab showed kindness to those who might have possibly been deriding and rejecting her. God knew her heart when no one else did. No wonder God looks at the heart and not at one's outside appearance. God saw a heart of gold, not the body of a despised prostitute.

Two lessons to ponder: First, we must learn to show kindness even to those who mistreat and disrespect us. Our kindness might be the only means through which God might save their lives, just like Rahab did for her family.
Second: God is no respecter of persons and so we should be no respecter of persons either. The person you disrespect could be the very vessel God might use someday to save you out of a dire situation.

PRAYER:
Lord, please help me to be kind even to the"undeserving," just like Rahab did. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/11/05/follow-the-ark Thu, 05 Nov 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/11/05/follow-the-ark

Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. After three days the officers went throughout the camp, giving orders to the people: "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out of your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before . . ." Joshua 3:1-4

For forty years, God led the Israelites by the Pillar of Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night. Whenever the Pillar stopped, the Israelites had to stop and encamp. Whenever the Pillar moved, the Israelites had to follow suit. The Israelites were now virtually on the verge of crossing over into the long-awaited Promised Land. Were they going to follow the leadership of God or were they going to bypass Him and chart their own path?

Joshua, as a good leader, was proactive in admonishing the Israelites: "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God . . . you are to move out of your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before . . ."

There is something about human nature that makes us sober and even willingly dependent upon God when we find ourselves in the wilderness. We are willing to submit ourselves to the Pillar of Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night. This might be because we feel rather helpless in wilderness situations. We recognize that without God, we will perish in the wilderness.

But then, our attitudes and thinking sometimes go through dramatic changes when we are about to possess our Promised Land. Suddenly, we sense victory and we hesitate to follow and obey the God who brought us out of the wilderness. There is a sense of "I think I can come out with a better plan than God's." We are not so willing to follow the LORD because we see victory right around the corner! That is the tragic mistake that plagues humanity, endlessly. We start with God but we are not so willing to follow Him when we see the light at the end of our tunnel.

The words of Joshua pulsate with truth today as it did thousands of years ago: "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD . . . follow it. Then you will know which way to go since you have never been this way before." Follow the ark! Follow the ark! Follow the ark!

I want to encourage you never to assume that you know the way of life! Don't ever follow your own plans and thinking! If you start your career, business, job, family, ministry, finances, marriage, and household with God, let Him lead you all the way. Follow the ark! Scripture admonishes us, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take." (Proverbs 3:5-6, NLT)

PRAYER:
Lord, please help me to follow you in everything I do. Amen.  

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/11/04/the-blood-of-jesus-the-only-means-of-salvation Wed, 04 Nov 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/11/04/the-blood-of-jesus-the-only-means-of-salvation

unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house.
If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear."
"Agreed," she replied. "Let it be as you say." So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window. Joshua 2:17-21

Typically, my children and I read this Daily Devotional in the car on our way to school. The children take turns to read on alternate days and then we each give "our take" on what we get out of it. On Fridays, they have negotiated to take a break from "car reading" so their time is their own. It's been a pretty good deal!

On Saturdays, we read the devotional or read directly from the Scriptures and reflect audibly over the reading as a family. This past Saturday, the devotional was Joshua 2:17-21.

As we reflected on the passage, I was struck by the points of application that were made. I immediately said to my family that I would revisit this passage tomorrow. The comment that gripped me was: "If Rahab had not hung the scarlet cord in her window, she would not have been saved from destruction." My wife reminded us that the scarlet cord was the crucial link!

That is a straight and very pointed application. The spies had specifically told Rahab: "This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down . . . "
If there was no scarlet cord, there would be no salvation from destruction for Rahab and her family.

This is also a reminder of the Passover event during the redemption from Egypt, "The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt." (Exodus 12:13).

The Passover blood was the precursor of the Holy Blood of Jesus on the Cross. It was the scarlet cord in Rahab's window. The Blood of Jesus is the only means of salvation from eternal destruction. Let's be passionate and bring whole families under the Blood, just like Rahab did.

PRAYER:
Father, there is no other means of salvation other than the Blood of Jesus. Please help me to be passionate about sharing Jesus with others. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/11/03/saved-by-the-scarlet-cord Tue, 03 Nov 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/11/03/saved-by-the-scarlet-cord

Now the men had said to her, "This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house.
If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear."
"Agreed," she replied. "Let it be as you say." So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window. Joshua 2:17-21

And she tied the scarlet cord in the window!

Rahab desperately needed to be assured that her family would be spared from the impending devastation. The LORD was about to bring judgment on the inhabitants of the Promised Land because there had been so much sin in the land. He was about to uproot the current dwellers and plant His new nation to establish His rule. Rahab, from the human viewpoint, was the least likely fit in the divine agenda.

But, God is no respecter of persons. He is totally sovereign and does whatever pleases Him. He said to Moses: "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will show compassion on whom I have compassion." (Romans 9:15). That is exactly what God did in the city of Jericho. He used a most unlikely instrument, a prostitute named Rahab as a pivotal instrument to deliver victory to His people. Rahab and her family were graciously saved from death.

But there was one condition that Rahab had to adhere to:  Hang the scarlet cord in her window!
Without the scarlet cord, the agreement with the Israelites would not be binding.
Rahab understood this and she did exactly that. She was saved by the scarlet cord. Rahab went with the Israelites and was planted into the family tree of Jesus!

The scarlet cord symbolizes the Saving Blood of Jesus. Just like Rahab tied the scarlet cord in her window, Jesus was nailed to the cross. The Blood of Jesus is our source of salvation from eternal destruction. It is the source of entry into the family of God. Thank God for the Blood!

Rahab was saved by the scarlet cord. We are saved by the Blood of Jesus.
There are many perishing souls who need to "hang the scarlet cord" in their windows to receive salvation. Please don't ignore them. Point them to the saving Blood of Jesus!

PRAYER:
Lord, I thank you for shedding your blood to save me from eternal destruction. Please help me point people to your blood as the only source of salvation. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/11/02/what-are-the-chances Mon, 02 Nov 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/11/02/what-are-the-chances

Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. "Go, look over the land," he said, "especially Jericho."  So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.   . . . Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof and said to them, "I know the LORD has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us . . . Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them . . . "
"Our lives for your lives!" the men assured her. "If you don't tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the LORD gives us the land."
So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. She said to them, "Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves three days until they return, and then go on your way."  Joshua 2:1-16.

For four hundred years, the Israelites had waited to possess the Promised Land. Jericho was the first major city to be taken and Joshua sent out spies to assess the situation prior to the conquest. How was this fortified city going to be taken? How was God going to pull it off? Who was going to help the spies on their mission? These were questions that must have been on the minds of the Israelites!

But God had it all figured out! God used a prostitute as a crucial link in the conquest of Jericho. He used a prostitute to provide protection and a safe haven for the Israeli spies as they scouted Jericho for the impending military onslaught. Rahab hid the spies and safely "let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall."

Question: What are the chances that Rahab will have a house right within the city wall of Jericho so she could safely release the spies through her window? Was this a coincidence? Absolutely not!  From eternity, God had already selected Rahab as the instrument through whom the spies would be protected. God had already earmarked the piece of real estate that Rahab was going to live in! God had strategically given Rahab a house to serve His divinely ordained purposes.

There is no coincidence in God's dealings with humanity. The Bible declares that all the days of our lives have already been ordained by God before they even manifest. From one man, God made all the peoples of the earth and "marked out their appointed times in history and the exact places where they should live." (Acts 17:26).

So it is no coincidence that you live where you live and do what you do. It is no coincidence that you have your particular career or job; behind it all is a grand divine plan! The crucial question is:  Are you using it to fulfill your divine purposes? What are the chances? Coincidence? No!

PRAYER:
Prayer: Lord, I thank you that my life is designed to serve your purposes. Please help me to be cognizant of this at all times so that all I do will bring you honor. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/10/31/we-are-with-you-all-the-way Sat, 31 Oct 2026 23:38:50 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/10/31/we-are-with-you-all-the-way

So Joshua ordered all the officers of the people: "Go through the camp and tell the people, get your provisions ready. Three days from now, you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own."
. . . Then they answered Joshua, "Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go . . . only may the LORD your God be with you as He was with Moses.
Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death, Only be strong and courageous." Joshua 1:10-18

Leadership is a great privilege. It involves helping people to discover their potential and even their destiny. It involves constantly bettering yourself as a leader so you can help better the lives of others. Good leadership is visionary because one must be able to take the community to a better future -- a future that must be clearly painted to enlist the support of the led community.  

Leadership can be exciting and rewarding as the leader sees visible progress in the lives of people. There is no better feeling than seeing those under one's leadership prosper and succeed. But there is also the reality of the challenges one has to deal with as a leader: Leadership is never an easy task. It can be frustrating and extremely draining. It can be a rather thankless way of life when those who have prospered and benefited under one's leadership turn against the leaders and the vision and become adversaries instead of advocates of the vision.

Leaders are not faultless but honest and godly leaders must be encouraged and vigorously supported for the betterment of the community. Followers must not be boot-lickers who jump at  every whim and caprice of the leader. There must be objectivity. Nonetheless, rebellion and a feisty spirit of opposition are detrimental to the well-being of the led community. Such adversarial stances can be quite destructive.  

The words of the Israelites to Joshua were very encouraging:  "Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us, we will go . . . whoever rebels against your word and does not obey your word . . . will be put to death, only be strong and courageous."

The Israelites understood the challenges of leadership and the detrimental effects of rebellion and disunity so they encouraged Joshua and pledged their unflinching support to him. They assured him that they were with him all the way, knowing that the LORD was with him. Are you supportive and understanding of leadership? Can you be counted upon all the way?

PRAYER:
Father, I thank you for the leadership you have set over me. Please help me to be supportive of them so we can all advance the vision you have entrusted to us. Amen

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/10/31/step-out-and-possess-your-territory Sat, 31 Oct 2026 01:28:06 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/10/31/step-out-and-possess-your-territory

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua, son of Nun, Moses' aide: "Moses my servant is dead. Now, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give them...I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river the Euphrates -- all the Hittite country -- to the Mediterranean Sea to the west.
No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them . . .  Keep this book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid and do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:1-9.

Moses was dead and Joshua had been commissioned by God to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. The mandate to Joshua was clear:  Moses' job is done. It is now your turn to step up and fulfill your destiny.

The divine presence was assured:  I will never leave you nor forsake you. I will be with you just as I with Moses. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life!
Don't be afraid and don't be discouraged because I am with you wherever you go.

The divine expectations were clear:  If you are obedient to my law and continually meditate on my word, then you will enjoy unparalleled success and prosperity.
The territory to be occupied was clearly spelled out:  From the desert of Lebanon all the way to the Mediterranean Sea to the west.

The one statement that is easy to overlook is: "I will give you every place where you set your foot."  That is definitely a vital ingredient in the successful possession of the Promised Land. The LORD was telling Joshua:  I have a huge blessing ahead for you but I expect you to boldly step out and possess that blessing. Don't just sit and expect it. Step out and fight for it.

God does not expect you and I to gaze eternally at His promises and keep dreaming about how we will translate the promises into tangible accomplishments. God expects us to take action. God expects us to step out and possess our blessings. God expects us to be courageous in the face of expected opposition as we fight to possess our blessings. We must take every initiative, knock on every door, and boldly fight to possess our Promised Land. It will never come into our possession by folding our arms, claiming it, and even praying endlessly. Step out and possess!

PRAYER:
Prayer: Jesus, you stepped out from heaven into humanity to possess souls.  Help me to step out into my destiny to possess it. Amen

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/10/30/this-is-the-word-of-the-lord Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:11:42 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/10/30/this-is-the-word-of-the-lord

While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the LORD came to Him a second time:  "This is what the LORD says, He who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it -- the LORD is His name:  'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'  
For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the houses in this city and the royal palaces of Judah that have been torn down to be used against the siege ramps and the sword in the fight with the Babylonians:  'They will be filled with the dead bodies of the people I will slay in my anger and wrath. I will hide my face from this city because of all its wickedness.
" 'Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.   . . . and will rebuild them as they were before.  . . .  Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before all nations on earth . . ." Jeremiah 33:1-9

This is the word of the LORD: Call upon me and I will show you great and mighty things which you have never known. I am the One who made the earth and established it.
The LORD is my name.

This city which is experiencing turmoil because of their sin and wickedness; this city from which I have hidden my face in anger, will not remain decimated forever. I will bring health and healing to it. My people will once more be healed and they will enjoy the abundance and prosperity I first gave them in the Promised Land. My people will have security again; I will rebuild them as before. In fact, this destroyed city is about to become my pride and joy. I have designated it to bring me praise and renown before all the nations on earth!

Question: Do you feel as though your life is decimated beyond repair? Do you feel as if God has turned His back on you and allowed you to enter a bitter life of destitution? Do you feel as though your sins have put you in an irreversible predicament?

Well, this is the word of the LORD to you today:
Call upon me and I will show you the amazing things I have in store for you beyond your current pain and frustration. I will show you great and unsearchable things yet to be known!

I have plans to restore your life to a far better state. I am about to rebuild you. Your life is about to bring me joy, peace, and renown among the nations. I am about to announce you to the world! This is the word of the LORD to you today! He will watch over His word to perform it.

PRAYER:
Prayer: LORD, I thank you for the light at the end of the tunnel. I know it is well because your plans for me are for my good and not for evil. They are plans to give me hope and a future and I receive that in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/10/29/disobedience-is-not-worth-it-one-bit Thu, 29 Oct 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/10/29/disobedience-is-not-worth-it-one-bit

But if you refuse to listen to the LORD your God and do not obey all the commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come and overwhelm you:
Your towns and your fields will be cursed. Your fruit baskets and your breadboards (food baskets) will be cursed. Your children and your crops will be cursed.   . . . Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be cursed. The LORD Himself will send on you curses, confusion, and frustration in everything you do, until at last you are completely destroyed for doing evil and abandoning me.  
. . . The skies above will be as unyielding as bronze, and the earth beneath will be as hard as iron.   . . . The LORD will cause you to be defeated by your enemies. You will attack your enemies from one direction, but you will scatter from them in seven!  . . . "You will be engaged to a woman, but another man will sleep with her.  . . . The LORD will exile you and your king to a nation unknown to you and your ancestors. There, in exile you will worship gods of wood and stone!  Deuteronomy 28:15-36 (NLT).

I love Deuteronomy 28:1-14. All Christians love it. Two weeks ago, I prayed it passionately over a family whose house I dedicated. Only yesterday, I prayed it over a baby I dedicated in church. I frequently pronounce those blessings over our Church! Who doesn't love to hear of blessings and prosperity, being the head and not the tail, being a lender and not a borrower, the scattering of our enemies in utter defeat, and the blessing of all the work of our hands?

But do we realize that Deuteronomy has more than fourteen verses? Deuteronomy has sixty-eight verses! There are more verses devoted to the consequences of disobedience than the blessings attached to obedience! This doesn't mean God is more interested in cursing than in blessing us.

It simply tells us that God so loves us that He spends a whole lot more time to explain the ghastly consequences of disobeying Him. He is more concerned about educating us in great detail so as to be "scared away" from the horrible effects of disobedience upon our lives. In short, disobedience is not worth it one bit. I chuckle at the expression "one bit" because several years ago, I had a very good high school English teacher whose favorite phrase was "one whittle." So, disobedience is not worth it "one whittle."

As much as we love to be blessed (and rightly so), we also need to be candidly and forcefully reminded of the real consequences of disobedience. In fact, but for the grace of God, we will be more prone to disobey than obey! May that not be our portion. May we continually gravitate toward righteousness so that the skies over our head will drip heavenly dew and not be turned into bronze to make our land as hard as iron.

PRAYER:
Father, I truly desire to walk with you in obedience. But I also realize that I do not always follow your word. Please help me to be fully faithful to you. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/10/28/this-is-not-rocket-science Wed, 28 Oct 2026 08:18:36 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/10/28/this-is-not-rocket-science

If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully keep all His commands that I am giving you today . . .  You will experience all these blessings . . .  
Your towns and your fields will be blessed. Your children and your crops will be blessed.   . . . Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed. "The LORD will conquer your enemies when they attack you. They will attack you from one direction, but they will scatter from you in seven!  
. . . The LORD will guarantee a blessing on everything you do . . .  Then all the nations . . .  will see that you are a people claimed by the LORD, and they will stand in awe of you. . . . The LORD will send rain at the proper time from His rich treasury in the heavens and will bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them.   . . . the LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you will always be on top and never at the bottom. Deuteronomy 28:1-13

I almost felt uncomfortable revisiting the crux of the matter: Obedience is the key to our blessings. The reason for my discomfiture is because we have seen it in almost every instruction given by God to His children. I have touched on it as it has surfaced in the Scriptures, numerous times! They have not been contrived and forced in. They have "naturally" appeared in the unfolding of the text.

I could either avoid commenting on it (to please people who might complain) or I could faithfully renew our minds on it (which is the fearless and godly thing to do).
I choose the latter because I must faithfully proclaim the truth tirelessly! It is almost like a medical doctor repeatedly saying: eat your fruits and vegetables and exercise to stay healthy!

Jeremiah said: ". . . His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot." (Jeremiah 20:9)  The Apostle Peter said: "Therefore, I will always remind you about these things -- even though you already know them and . . . you have been taught. And it is only right that I should keep on reminding you as long as I live. (2 Peter 1:12-13, NLT). The Holy Spirit will empower you to obey as you hear.

The truth is: Life flourishes only as we adhere to the basics. The basic laws of nature, physics, chemistry, etc. remain the same. We do not get away from them. We only improve on our application to enhance the human experience on earth. God's basic spiritual laws remain the same. They will never change. Obedience remains an unchanging divine principle!

So, child of God, if you want to be blessed by God, there is only one key -- it is called obedience. This is not Rocket Science. It is as simple as it comes. Obey and be blessed

PRAYER:
Lord, none of your commands are given in Scripture by chance. As repetitive as they might be, you have given them for a reason. Help me to obey them. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/10/27/be-kind-hearted Tue, 27 Oct 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/10/27/be-kind-hearted

If you see your fellow Israelite's ox or sheep straying, do not ignore it but be sure to take it back to its owner. If they do not live near you or if you do not know who owns it, take it home with you and keep it until they come looking for it. Then give it back. Do the same if you find their donkey or cloak or anything else they have lost. Do not ignore it.
If you see your fellow Israelite's donkey or ox fallen on the road, do not ignore it. Help the owner get it to its feet.  Deuteronomy 22:1-4

God gave the Israelites a social obligation to be kind and show in very practical ways that they cared about each other.  Straying donkeys were to be given a home until recovered by the owner. Lost items were to be kept until the right owners came to claim them.  Fallen oxen and donkeys were to be helped to their feet. The Israelites were commanded by God to reach out to their fellow citizens in real acts of kindness. Simply put: God's children were to care for each other.  If these simple but rather profound acts of kindness were carried out, the Israelite society would be peaceful and enjoyable to live in.

Needless to say, times have changed.  People are simply afraid to reach out and help others because there could be consequences if things went wrong! In our very litigious society, you could probably be sued if you reached out to help and the other person got hurt or harmed in any way. These are days when we look the other way when we see people being beaten right before our eyes. We are afraid to do things even for our neighbors. But should that be the case?

I believe God is powerful and just to protect those who still take Him at His word. The increasing wickedness of society should not negate the word of God. Kindness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit of God and should never be negated by any form of fear. We must use wisdom and be sensible about when to reach out and when not to. There are definitely times when it would be best to stay put. Nonetheless, that should be the exception rather than the rule!
Being kind-hearted is a Christian core value because it is a fruit of God's Holy Spirit who lives in us. Be kind-hearted. Look for opportunities to show kindness and you will reap heavenly rewards!

PRAYER:
Lord, I ask that you help me to make myself available to those who need my help. Anoint me with wisdom to know and see the various opportunities that you bring my way to express the love of Jesus. Help me to reach out in practical acts of kindness. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/10/26/god-is-with-you-on-the-battlefield Mon, 26 Oct 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/10/26/god-is-with-you-on-the-battlefield

When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you. When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army. He shall say: "Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them. For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory. Deuteronomy 20:1-4.

The events of tomorrow are unknown to us.
We can either panic in restless anticipation or rest in the Lord to see us through.

The battles of life can be quite overwhelming. We can never be sure of what life might throw at us tomorrow. Are we going to have enough to make ends meet? Would we still have a job tomorrow? Are we going to face a severe illness? Is our marriage going to be intact? Are our children going to turn out well? These are all "battles" we face in life. These battles are like "enemies" who come at us with chariots and horses far greater than our capacity to fight back. These "enemies" are all part of our fallen sinful world. They make life less enjoyable and even harsh. But alas, that is life on earth until we enter our heavenly paradise.

Jesus Himself summarized it this way: "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." (John 16:33, NLT)

That is the game-changer! Jesus has already overcome all the battles of life on our behalf so we can be of good cheer! Every day of our lives, we can live with the divine assurance: ". . . Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; Do not panic or be terrified by them. For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory." Deuteronomy 20:3

If God be for you, who can be against you?
Be confident as you face every battle in life because your God is with you on the battlefield!

PRAYER:
Lord, I thank you for the assurance that I am not alone as I face the daily battles of life. Thank you for the assurance that you are with me on the battlefield. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/10/25/be-generous-toward-the-needy Sun, 25 Oct 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/10/25/be-generous-toward-the-needy

If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: "The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near," so that you do not show ill will toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this, the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.
There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land. Deuteronomy  15:7-11.

It is rather interesting that God laid such a careful foundation for peace, prosperity, and the socio-economic wellbeing of His children. He gave them all these laws, commandments and instructions prior to their entering to possess and live in the Promised Land. He made it clear that following His precepts would lead to life but ignoring them is the kiss of death. No aspect of life was left untouched by God as He carefully blessed His children with divine guidance for a great and prosperous life.

One aspect of life that was particularly dear to the heart of God was the plight of the poor and needy in the land. God recognized that "there will always be poor people in the land."
The question was: how were the poor to be handled in society so they could live in dignity to reflect the same image of God that the well-to-do possessed? The poor also have dignity!

God's answer was: "Do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be open-handed and freely lend them whatever they need . . . give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart." It is also interesting that God has given great spiritual clout to the poor against the rich who act wickedly toward them. They can appeal to God and He will stand up for them against the wicked.

How we treat the poor as individuals and as a society truly matters to God. It is important to create margins in our finances and budgets so that we can always rise to the occasion to aid the poor. This touches the heart of God greatly. A society that tramples upon the poor and needy incurs the wrath of God. A person who is not generous toward the needy will not enjoy generosity from God. Be generous toward the needy.

PRAYER:
Lord, the temptation to keep acquiring things that I do not necessarily need is a real one. Please help me to bridle myself and create margins in my finances so that I can help the less fortunate at all times. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/10/24/god-wants-you-to-be-debt-free Sat, 24 Oct 2026 01:40:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/10/24/god-wants-you-to-be-debt-free

At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel any loan they have made to a fellow Israelite. They shall not require payment from anyone among their own people, because the LORD's time for canceling debts has been proclaimed. You may require payment from a foreigner, but you must cancel any debt your fellow Israelite owes you.
However, there need be no poor people among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, He will richly bless you, if only you fully obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today. For the LORD your God will bless you as He has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations but none will rule over you. Deuteronomy 15:1-6

God desires that His children will be debt-free. Every seven years, all debts are to be canceled!
God expects that none of His children will live in poverty because He desires to richly bless His children! God desires that His children will be lenders and not borrowers. His children are to take dominion over the system of the world and not have the world take dominion over us!

These are powerful life-changing truths from God's word. They can change our trajectory in life.
But, again, we see that this is all tied into living obediently for God: "He will richly bless you if only you fully obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today." We just cannot get away from the issue of obedience. Obedience is definitely the key to our total prosperity. It opens the door to every blessing in heaven.

Question: If God desires that we should be debt-free, then why are we in so much bondage to all kinds of debts? Why are we working endlessly and tirelessly just to pay off debts? Why do we keep piling on debt after debt? Why are individuals, families, and nations so crippled with debt? Why aren't we teaching our children to avoid the trap of debt?

Could it be because our priorities are all wrong and we are not obeying God by putting Him first so that His word can guide us to His intended prosperity for our lives? Could it be that our acquisitive propensity keeps escalating because our priorities are all wrong -- buying and sowing to the flesh instead of the Spirit? Could it be because the world has rejected God's principles for financial prosperity and that we, as God's children, have also bought into the ways of the world?

So, how about if you and I decided that we will take God at His word and become debt-free?
How about if you and I decided to pray, seek divine guidance, set the right priorities, and apply God's financial principles to our lives? I believe God means whatever He says in His word. So, if God says He wants us to be debt-free and not live in poverty then that is absolutely possible. Being debt-free frees us up to contribute more substantially to God's Kingdom. Let's aim at it!

PRAYER:
Father, I believe it is your will for me to be debt-free. Please help me to attain it. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/10/23/put-that-false-prophet-to-death Fri, 23 Oct 2026 00:55:57 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/10/23/put-that-false-prophet-to-death

If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, and if that sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, "Let us follow other gods" . . .  "and let us worship them," you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul.  
. . . That prophet or dreamer must be put to death for inciting rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery.  
. . . If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, "Let us go and worship other gods" . . .  You must certainly put them to death. Your hand must be the first in putting them to death . . .  Stone them to death, because they tried to turn you away from the LORD your God . . .   Deuteronomy 13:1-10

God is big on loyalty and He expects the same from us. He has vowed never to leave nor forsake us. He promises that even if our own mother forgets and forsakes us, He will never forget us because He has engraved us on the palms of His hands (Isaiah 49:15).
This is a picture of unrelenting love. Love that is unmovable; love that can never be quenched under any circumstances.

This is the kind of love that caused God to redeem His children out of slavery in Egypt, as He  fought for His children with signs and wonders, bringing the mighty Egyptian army to its knees in utter defeat. This is the kind of love that caused God to sacrifice His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die and save us from our sins. God paid the ultimate price to reconcile us to Himself. God's love is measureless and priceless. God's love for us is the ultimate!

That is the basis of God's uncompromising stand in asking His children to put to death any person or thing who would entice us to be disloyal to the God who redeemed us from the bondage of sin and the clutches of Satan. That person, be it a prophet, a blood brother, a son, a daughter, one's own dear wife or closest friend must die! Nothing should come between you and God!

So, God is simply saying to us: Kill off anything that takes first place in your life over me. Never allow anything in your life to become your god. That thing or person must certainly not be allowed to entice away your heart and loyalty to the God who loves you so dearly and is completely loyal to you.

Question: Is there anything that has taken first place over God in your life? Maybe your job, business, career, or family? These are all good things. But, have you consciously decided that none of those things will replace your loyalty to God? Put that false prophet to death before it enlarges in life and destroys your relationship with God.

PRAYER:
Lord, please help me to be completely loyal to you. Let me always put you first. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/10/22/the-eyes-of-god-are-on-your-blessings Thu, 22 Oct 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/10/22/the-eyes-of-god-are-on-your-blessings

Observe therefore all the commands I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to go in and take over the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess . . .
The land you are entering to take over is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden. But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven. It is a land that the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end.
So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today -- to love the LORD your God and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul -- then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains . . .  I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied. Deuteronomy 11:8-15.

The LORD cares about the land He has given you. The eyes of the LORD are continually upon it from the beginning of the year to its end. The land God has given you does not require strenuous human irrigation efforts. The LORD Himself will irrigate it with rains from heaven!
God will ensure that the rains fall in the appropriate season. There will be pasture for your cattle and you would not have to worry about food because you will eat and be satisfied.

Application: The LORD cares about the blessing He has bestowed on you. He cares about the job and career He has given you. He cares about the children He has blessed your life with. He cares about your marriage. He cares about the apartment or house He has blessed you with. Even though you must work to obtain and take care of it, you will be divinely aided from heaven so that you will not require strenuous human efforts. From the beginning of the year until the end God will continually watch over all the blessings He has bestowed upon your life.

Folks, these are not empty words. They come from the heart of our kind, merciful, and gracious Father. They come from the lips of the one who blesses without adding sorrow. But these blessings, again, are conditioned upon obedience to the commands of God. They will only happen if we put God first in our lives and serve Him with all our heart and soul.

Would you heed the voice of God today and determine not to compromise on obeying His voice? That is the only way to ensure that the eyes of the LORD will continually be on your blessings from the beginning of the year until the very end. This is totally trustworthy.

PRAYER:
LORD, I thank you for caring so much about me. Thank you for watching over the blessings you have bestowed upon my life. Please help me to walk in obedience so that my land will flourish with divine irrigation from heaven. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/10/20/do-you-feel-overwhelmed Tue, 20 Oct 2026 23:32:38 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/10/20/do-you-feel-overwhelmed

Sing to the LORD! Give praise to the LORD! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked.
Cursed be the day I was born!  . . . For He (God) did not kill me in the womb, with my mother as my grave . . .  Why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame? Jeremiah 20:13-18

One minute the prophet Jeremiah was extolling the praises of God. The next minute he was lamenting his plight and feeling overwhelmed and sorrowful! He even cursed the day he was born -- not exactly a positive example from one of God's greatest prophets, who was handpicked from the womb to fulfill a divine assignment!

One of the most refreshing things about the Bible is the truth it portrays about the lives of God's most cherished servants. They are painted in Scripture, warts and all. The Bible makes no attempt to present them in glowing terms or hide their shortcomings. Their faults are not hidden. This underscores the trustworthiness and absolute veracity of the Bible. 

David, the man after God's own heart, was exposed when he committed adultery with Bathsheba. Moses' anger and failure to honor God were preserved in Scripture for all to see. Peter's betrayal of Jesus was recorded for posterity. All this gives us hope as we relate to God with the reality of our frail humanity. God understands our doubts, failures, and frustrations.

So, we see the struggles of Jeremiah -- depressed and almost in a crisis of faith:
"Cursed be the day I was born . . .  Why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame?"  Why all this pain and trouble?

That is how Jeremiah felt when the going got tough. He felt exhausted from the relentless efforts of his enemies to discredit him and the message from God. He felt he was on a mission impossible and that his days were going to end in shame and disgrace.

Question: Do you ever feel overwhelmed? Does your task ever seem hopeless? The truth is: you are not alone! The prophet Elijah felt overwhelmed and asked God to end his life. Moses questioned God about why he had to bear the burdens of ungrateful Israel. Even our Lord Jesus admitted in the garden of Gethsemane: "My soul is overwhelmed to the point of death."

The good news is that Jesus has promised sufficient grace to see you through your situation.
Listen to His words:  "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9).
So do you feel overwhelmed? Take a deep breath:  God's grace is sufficient for you.

PRAYER:
Father, there are many times when I feel overwhelmed, but I take hope in the sufficiency of your grace. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/10/20/do-you-have-fire-in-your-bones Tue, 20 Oct 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/10/20/do-you-have-fire-in-your-bones

You deceived me, LORD, and I was deceived; you overpowered me and prevailed.
I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me.
Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the LORD has brought me insult and reproach all day long.
But if I say, "I will not mention His word or speak anymore in His name," His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones.
I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. Jeremiah 20:7-9

It is refreshing to see the struggles of Jeremiah the prophet as He carried out his very difficult mission of pronouncing impending divine wrath and judgment upon God's children.
All the other prophets were falsely assuring the people that there would be peace and no judgment. All would continue to be well. There was nothing to worry about. But, they were all lying prophets. They had not heard from God.

Naturally, Jeremiah became the odd one out. He was mocked, insulted, and even beaten and imprisoned. He became the joke of the town. This ill-treatment did get to him. Jeremiah felt God had deceived Him. His harsh message fell on unrepentant ears. The truth he proclaimed brought him insult and reproach all day long.

But, deep down in his heart, Jeremiah knew that in spite of the prevailing challenges, God's word was true. He knew that God would protect him from his enemies. Jeremiah knew that in the end, God always wins. This deep conviction spurred him on. He could not help but proclaim the truth he knew. Jeremiah could not hold back the divine truth. The word of God was burning in his heart like fire. It was like fire shut up in his bones!

Question: Do you recoil from sharing and living out the truth of God's word because of opposition? Would you rather shut up to save your skin? God understands your struggles!
But the truth of God's word must be proclaimed nonetheless. Like Jeremiah, we must not allow the fire in our hearts to die out because of opposition. The word of God must be like fire in our bones. Let's proclaim it in word and deed like Jeremiah. Let out the fire in you!

PRAYER:
Father, I thank you for the truth of your word. Please help me not to recoil but to boldly proclaim Jesus in word and deed. Amen

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/10/19/our-god-is-mighty-and-awesome Mon, 19 Oct 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/10/19/our-god-is-mighty-and-awesome

To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.  
. . . For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner living among you, giving them food and clothing.  . . . He is the one you praise; He is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes. Your ancestors who went down into Egypt were seventy in all, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky.  Deuteronomy 10:14-22

For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and       awesome . . . !
To Him belong the heavens!
To Him belong the highest heavens!
To Him belong the earth and everything in it!

He is the God of gods!
He is the Lord of lords!
He is the great God!
He is mighty and awesome!

He shows no partiality.
He accepts no bribes.
He defends the cause of the fatherless.
He defends the cause of the widow.

He loves the foreigner; He clothes and feeds them.
He performs great and awesome wonders.
He causes the few to become as numerous as the stars.

This awesome God is our God! This awesome God is our Father! This awesome God is our Protector! This awesome God is our Defense! This awesome God is our Provider!

If this awesome God be for you, who can be against you?
Is there anything too hard for this awesome God?
Our God is all-powerful!
Our God is awesome! He deserves our highest praise!

PRAYER:
Lord, you are awesome. Lord, you are awesome! Lord, you are awesome! Amen.

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