https://renewalchristiancenter.org Sun, 14 Jun 2026 01:00:00 +0000 Sun, 14 Jun 2026 01:00:00 +0000 hourly 1 3600 SnapPages.com https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/07/13/god-s-image-you-are-very-precious-to-god Mon, 13 Jul 2026 04:04:15 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/07/13/god-s-image-you-are-very-precious-to-god

Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.  . . . Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything. "But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it. And for your lifeblood I will surely demand . . . an accounting from every animal. And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being.
"Whoever sheds human blood, by humans their blood will be shed; for in the image of God has God created mankind." Genesis 9:1-7.

Humans are very precious to God. We are so precious to Him that He brings judgment even on animals who tamper with our lives! The reason? Humans are made in the image of God! No human life is valueless! The drug addict; the prostitute, the thief, the rich, the poor, the educated, the illiterate, the smart, the "dumb," the tattered, the designer-clothed, the able-bodied, the disabled, are all equally precious to God because they are all made in God's image. God places an equal premium on every human life.

Reflecting over the image of God in humans should profoundly affect the way we look at ourselves as well as others. We should never discriminate between one person and the other; we should never disrespect other humans; we should never look down upon ourselves. We are made in the very image of God and we are very precious to Him. 

So, when you find yourself in a low valley because things are not going as well as they should, or when others are disrespecting you or writing you off because they think little of you, always remember that you are very precious to God because you were made in His own image.

Hold your head high no matter what you might be going through. God, your maker values you more than you can ever imagine! You are precious to Him because He made you to reflect His very image! Remind yourself of that and ask God for grace to reflect His image in you. He will answer because you are precious to Him! 

PRAYER:
Father, I thank you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made in your image. No matter what my circumstances may be, help me to always remember that I am very precious to you because you fashioned me in your own image. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/07/12/the-power-of-a-generous-offering Sun, 12 Jul 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/07/12/the-power-of-a-generous-offering

Then God said to Noah, "Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives.  . . . So Noah came out, together with his sons and his wife and his sons' wives.  
. . . Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in His heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done.
"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease." Genesis 8:15-22.

Consistently in Scripture, we see how powerfully God's attention is arrested by an act of righteousness. One particular act of righteousness that touches God's heart is a generous offering to God. We see that in the life of Abraham when he offered up his son Isaac in response to God's request.  God promised him, "because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son -- blessing I will bless you, and multiplying, I will multiply . . . your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies." We also see it in the story of the widow who put all the little money she had in the temple offering.  Jesus was so moved that He remarked that she had given more than those who put in lots and lots of money. We see it in the story of how Solomon offered up a thousand burnt offerings to God. God was so moved that He asked Solomon to ask for whatever he wanted from God. God's heart is always moved by generosity!

God was so touched by Noah's burnt offering that He smelled it as a pleasing aroma in His heart and made a promise never again to destroy all living creatures as He had done. He promised that the seasons and seedtime and harvest would never cease! Noah's generosity touched the heart of God and affected the human race for the rest of time.

Do you have an opportunity to give to God? Is God making a sacrificial demand from you regarding your life, time, talents or treasures? Are you struggling to be obedient? Don't delay any longer; obediently release whatever it is. It might lead to generational blessings well beyond your imagination.
In the spirit realm, a generous offering is one of the greatest sources of power, divine favor and blessing. Coupled with obedience, it touches God like nothing else can!

PRAYER:
Father, I thank you for your generosity in blessing us with the gift of your only son Jesus to die for us. Help me to emulate your spirit of generosity so that your kingdom agenda can be advanced through my life. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/07/11/when-god-shuts-you-in-god-will-remember-you Sat, 11 Jul 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/07/11/when-god-shuts-you-in-god-will-remember-you

The LORD then said to Noah, "Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.  . . . In the six hundredth year of Noah's life . . . all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened.  
. . . On that very day Noah and his sons . . . together with his wife and the wives of his three sons, entered the ark.  . . . Pairs of all creatures that have the breadth of life in them came to Noah and entered the ark.  . . . Then the LORD shut him in.  
Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out . . . Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark. The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days.
But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and He sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded. Genesis 7:1-8:1.

For a hundred and fifty days, the entire earth was flooded and every living creature was wiped out. "But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and He sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded."
God shut Noah into the ark before the flood and God remembered Noah at the height of the flood and caused the floodwaters to recede so that Noah could be safe.  

When God shuts you in, God will remember you and rescue you at the right time. The journey of life is full of uncertainties and many challenges and dangers over which we have no control. There are times when it seems as if we have been shut into an ark, with flood and danger all around us. We could be shut in with a severe illness or disease; we could be shut in with a terrible marital or family situation; we could be shut in with a severe job, business or unemployment situation; we could be shut in with financial difficulties. 

Regardless of what we face, we can be sure of one thing: when God allows you to be shut into a situation, God will remember you at the right time and rescue you. I have a friend who was shut into a situation of unemployment for several months. Every door seemed shut in his face. But suddenly, God started opening doors one after the other. He had to leave a new job for one that had offered him a substantially higher remuneration. 

Don't lose hope when you feel shut in and the floodwaters are rising around you. Ultimately, God will work all things out for your good. If God allows you to be shut in, He will remember you.

PRAYER:
Prayer: Father, I thank you for the example I see in Noah's life. You shut him in and you remembered him. Help me to hold onto the truth of your word that if you shut me in like you did with Noah, you will also remember me. Thank you, Father. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/07/10/one-person-can-make-all-the-difference Fri, 10 Jul 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/07/10/one-person-can-make-all-the-difference

Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.  . . . Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. So God said to Noah, "I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them.  . . . So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out.  
. . . I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breadth of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark -- you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you.  . . . Noah did everything just as God commanded him. 
 Genesis 6:9-22

God had made a firm decision to destroy the earth because of corruption and violence but God found one man who was righteous and blameless in his time. That one man, Noah, "walked faithfully with God."
Because of Noah's righteousness, God said to him, "I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark -- you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you." 

I am always struck by the difference one person can make in very dire situations. It is evident in Scripture and even plain in human history that one determined person can make a difference in the destiny of a whole nation or group of people. One man, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, had a dream and galvanized the entire United States to grant civil rights to the suppressed minority race. One man had a vision and left a legacy of $7 million dollars ($11 billion in today's money) to be used to establish Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Today, Hopkins is one of the most renowned medical institutions in the world serving people with medical needs all over the world.

The Bible tells us that if God finds one person who can stand in the gap on behalf of the people, He will not destroy the land. I sincerely believe God is always looking for that one righteous person whom He can use to make a difference in the plight of humanity.

Don't grow weary of living righteously even when you seem to be the odd one out and you face ridicule. You never know what God might choose to use you for. One person can make all the difference. That one person could be you!

PRAYER:
Lord you know the end from the beginning. You know everything that you have ordained my life to be. I ask that you help me stand steadfastly in righteousness so that I can be positioned to be used by you to make a difference as you choose. I ask this in Jesus' Name. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/07/09/finding-divine-favor-amidst-wickedness Thu, 09 Jul 2026 05:12:54 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/07/09/finding-divine-favor-amidst-wickedness

When human beings began to increase in number on the earth . . . the LORD said, "My Spirit will not contend with humans forever . . . The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The LORD regretted that He had made humans beings on the earth, and His heart was deeply troubled.
So the LORD said, "I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created . . . for I regret that I have made them." But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
Genesis 6:1-8.

What a moment! God made humans in His own image and likeness. He blessed them, equipped them to be fruitful and exercise dominion as His personal representatives on earth. But humans wickedly colluded with the Devil and turned their backs on God. The human heart was filled with continual wickedness and the heart of God was filled with grief!
God regretted that He created humans and determined to wipe them off from the earth.
But one man, Noah, found favor in the eyes of God.

I have seen situations where parents have been so troubled by the unacceptable behaviors of their children that they have actually regretted giving birth to them. So, as humans, we can identify with the pain, regret, and disappointment God was feeling. After all, God is our Father and Maker. We were fashioned after His likeness!

But the difference between us and God is that God is absolutely Holy and can never be wicked. God never gives up on us, no matter how wicked we become. Somehow God always reaches back to humanity and finds a way to rescue us. So, even though God was determined to wipe out the entire human race, He paused when he saw one person, Noah, who found favor before Him. As the story unfolds, we see God preserving  humanity through Noah!

The times in which we live are frighteningly wicked. There is unimaginable greed, injustice, selfishness, ingratitude and a plain lack of sympathy for the less privileged. The human heart seems to be gushing out nothing but wickedness. But all is not lost, God can still find "Noahs" through whom he can turn things around. When one person finds favor in the eyes of God, there is no telling what God will do. God could bring about a revival because of one person.

You and I could be God's Noah in our communities and in our country. It takes risking being ridiculed and maligned for living authentically for Jesus but that is the only path. 
May you and I position ourselves as "Noahs" who find favor before God and through whom God brings preservation. 

 

PRAYER:
Lord, may I be a Noah and find favor in your sight. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/07/07/never-believe-the-devil Tue, 07 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/07/07/never-believe-the-devil

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' "
"You will not certainly die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.  Genesis 3:1-7Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' " 
"You will not certainly die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.  Genesis 3:1-7

The Bible's recounting of the fall of man begins with a description of Satan, the instigator, as a crafty person.  A crafty person is someone who is "sly, subtly deceitful and cunning." The effectiveness of Satan's craftiness is evident in the way he undermined the integrity of God by causing Eve to doubt the good intentions of God. Satan successfully convinced Eve that God was not interested in their ultimate well-being but was selfishly keeping them away from becoming as knowledgeable and powerful as God Himself. Eve swallowed the lie and the results were catastrophic.

The strategies of Satan have not changed, neither has his agenda. His sole goal is to steal, kill and destroy. His greatest strategy is subtle deception and craftiness. He talks about how tasty the fruit is but not the resultant loss of glory and the covering of leaves. He talks about the highs but not the consequent lows. Satan will do everything to convince us that God is not interested in our well-being so we should not listen to God. But that is a lie from the pit of hell. God so loves us that He sent His only Son to die for us. God so loves us that He has given us His Word and His Spirit to guide and empower us. Believing Satan's lie puts us on the path to destruction. Satan deceives and destroys.

The road of life is littered with many of Satan's victims who bought into His lie. Never believe the Devil. He is your adversary, not your advocate! The Spirit who lives in you is your help. Depend on Him and you will not fall prey to the Devil's deception. May the everlasting arms of our loving God sustain and protect you. 

PRAYER:
Lord, may the power of your Spirit undergird and uphold me. May my heart be so full of your word that there will be no room for the Enemy's deception to take root in me. Amen. 

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/07/07/the-image-of-god-fruitfulness-and-dominion Tue, 07 Jul 2026 05:41:52 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/07/07/the-image-of-god-fruitfulness-and-dominion

Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." Genesis 1:26-28 NKJV.

Reading these words bring a freshness of hope and a greater sense of purpose to my Spirit.
First, the reminder that we are made in the image of God should arrest us in deep reflection and digestion. We are to reflect God in His attributes, character, and mindset. In essence, our thought patterns, behaviors and responses to situations should be stamped with the divine image. With God's image embedded in us, we should approach life asking: How would God handle this? How would I respond in a way that reflects God's image? Am I acting like God would expect? Am I reflecting the divine mindset?

The thought of the Divine Image becomes even weightier when we start reflecting over the fact that we live in Jesus, move in Him and have our being in Him. It is further enhanced by the fact that we are the temple of the living God. God's Holy Spirit dwells in us to empower us in all our undertakings. The Power of the Creator God resides in us.

Second: We are blessed and commanded by God to be fruitful, multiply and have dominion over the earth! So, with the image of God in us, divine authority upon our lives and the blessings and command to be fruitful, multiply and have dominion, we must see ourselves in a totally different light. We must never approach life with a defeatist attitude. We must always remember who we are and the authority we have in every situation we face on earth. Our realm of operation must be totally different because the authority of the Creator is fully behind us.  

Would you determine from this point on to put on a fresh mindset and attitude of one functioning in the very image of God? One blessed and commanded to be fruitful and multiply in all you do? One given the authority to have dominion over every situation you encounter on earth? I believe this will renew our fighting spirit and remove fear and mediocrity from our spirits!
Live out the image of God in you; be fruitful and multiply; have dominion and walk in your divinely ordained blessings! You have divine authority behind you! Don't succumb; take dominion!

PRAYER:
Father, I thank you for the reminder that I am made in your very image and that You have blessed me to be fruitful, multiply and exercise dominion. Please help me to internalize and act upon this life-changing truth so that I can bear much fruit for your glory. Amen.  

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/07/06/praise-god-you-are-delivered Mon, 06 Jul 2026 05:45:07 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/07/06/praise-god-you-are-delivered

Though You have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once more. I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel.
My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you -- I whom you have delivered.
My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long, for those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame and confusion.  Psalm 71:20-24

Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones and not one of them is broken. Even when God allows you to be afflicted with many bitter troubles, He will restore your life again. God will increase your honor and comfort you once again. When you go through the valley of the shadow of death, don't fear any evil because your God is with; His rod and His staff will comfort and protect you. Jesus, the lover of your soul, is seated at the right hand of the Father and He is interceding for you. Take courage, He will see you through.

So, let your lips shout for joy. Do not let your heart be troubled. Praise God; You are delivered!

PRAYER:
Father, I praise you because I am delivered. You have put my adversaries to shame and confusion. Thank you for increasing my honor once more. Amen

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/07/04/look-ahead-in-hope-and-praise-god Sat, 04 Jul 2026 03:45:11 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/07/04/look-ahead-in-hope-and-praise-god

As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.
My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long -- though I know not how to relate them all.
I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteous deeds, and yours alone. 
Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come. Psalm 71:14-18

One of the greatest facilitators of hope is to reflect over the goodness of God upon our lives over the years. The Psalmist underscores this by saying that he will always have hope because of God's righteous deeds. He is so grateful to God and confident of God's continued faithfulness that he is actually asking God to watch over him till he is old and gray so that he can declare the mighty acts of God to the next generation!

Many times, we simply come asking for things from God without pausing to reflect and thank Him for His past faithfulness to us. In fact, I am convinced that in the future, we wouldn't have as much anxiety if we pause to give thanks to God for all His wonderful deeds in our lives.

Can you imagine how God would feel about us if, like the Psalmist, we asked Him for long life just so that we can live to tell future generations of His goodness?
Look ahead with hope and praise God for He is good and His mercies endure forever.

PRAYER:
Lord, I pause today to express deep gratitude for your goodness to me. Truly, your mercies are new every morning and great is your faithfulness. May my heart continually rejoice and praise you. Amen

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/07/03/let-the-spirit-change-you-completely Fri, 03 Jul 2026 06:06:52 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/07/03/let-the-spirit-change-you-completely

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.  And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.     . . . And God said, "Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water."   . . . And it was so.   . . . And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so.
Genesis 1:1-9.

The account of creation is certainly very fascinating. God simply spoke everything into being.
The earth was formless and empty. There was no life whatsoever but life started coming into being when God started speaking.

There is a very arresting truth prior to God speaking: The Bible tells us that the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters prior to God uttering any word. It is evident that the Spirit of God was the agent of creation. God did not speak until the Spirit was present in power to turn God's word into the reality of life and creation. Literally, the Spirit of God was brooding over the surface of the waters just like a mother hen broods over her eggs until life is released into the eggs, in the form of young chicks. Life came as the Spirit hovered over the formlessness and emptiness. Jesus made a remarkable statement in John 6:63 that "the Spirit gives life."

I wonder if we really pause to think about the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Creation came into being as the Holy Spirit hovered over the darkness and emptiness, prior to God speaking. 
It was the Spirit who gave life to the darkness and emptiness and transformed the situation. The power of the Spirit transforms situations from lifelessness to life.

Just as it happened at Creation, the Holy Spirit can transform every darkness and emptiness we feel in life if we invite Him to move upon our hearts and hover over us. Would you invite Him to do that in your life today? He is the Spirit of life and He is ready to inject new life into you and your situation. Allow Him to brood afresh over you. He will completely change you.

PRAYER:
Father, I thank you for the transforming power of your Spirit. I lay myself afresh before Your throne of grace. Please breathe fresh life into me and completely transform me by the power of Your Spirit. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/07/01/the-hidden-dangers-of-success Wed, 01 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/07/01/the-hidden-dangers-of-success

As soon as David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with David still holding the Philistine’s head...From that day, Saul kept David with him and did not let him go back to his family...Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army…
When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet king Saul with singing and dancing , with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” Saul was very angry. “This refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands.” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” And from that time on, Saul kept a close eye on David.   1 Samuel 17:57- 1Samuel 18-9

David had been used by God to save Israel from the hands of their enemies. There was great jubilation but David was given more credit than the king and that spelt trouble for David. Saul was angry and he started to keep a close eye on David fearing that David would ascend to the throne over him. As the story unfolds, we see king Saul personally trying to kill David on different occasions. It was no fault of David that God gave him the grace and the anointing to defeat Goliath and prosper in all his military assignments. But he had to pay a price for that success. He aroused the anger and jealousy of king Saul.

One of the lessons worth learning early in life is that we cannot be naive about the price of success. Sometimes, God’s grace upon our lives will draw the anger and jealousy of others who might feel threatened by our success. They would often do all they can either to put impediments in our way or even destroy us in whatever way they can. The more recognition and praise we get, the greater the danger of those attacks.    

As God blesses and prospers you in your calling and undertakings, remember to pray proactively about those blessings. Ask God to give you grace and wisdom to handle yourself with absolute humility. The praises you receive will draw the anger and jealousy of others and they might keep a close eye on you, seeking to stop your progress. 

But Just as God protected David from king Saul, God will protect you as you call upon Him in daily prayer. Divine success comes with hidden dangers but God will see you through every attack you encounter if you depend on Him. 

PRAYER:
Lord, as you bless and prosper my life, help me to stay humble and prayerful. Cover and protect me from those whose anger I might arouse because of your grace upon my life. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/06/30/the-battle-is-the-lord-s Tue, 30 Jun 2026 22:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/06/30/the-battle-is-the-lord-s

This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head...and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s and He will give all of you into our hands...Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. THe stone sank into his forehead and he fell facedown on the ground.
So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from its sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. I Samuel 17:46-51.

The battle is the LORD’s! The battle is the LORD’s! The battle is the LORD’s!
“All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s. Goliath was fully armed for battle and confident that David was no match for him. All he saw was a young boy approaching him with a stick and he cursed David in anger. David was not afraid of Goliath because he had divine protection. He was confident that he would be victorious because the battle belonged to the LORD.

Our trust should never be in ourselves but in God alone. Unless the LORD watches over us, we will stand guard in vain (Psalm 127); If the LORD is not on our side when we are attacked by people, we will be swallowed up (Psalm 124); It is not by might nor by power but by my Spirit, says the LORD Almighty (Zechariah 4:6); 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); many are the afflictions of the righteous but the LORD delivers him out of them all (Psalm 34); in this world you will have trouble, but take heart. I have overcome the world John 16:33.

As you face different giants and battles in life, remember that those battles are not yours; the battle belongs to the Lord. Do everything to prepare for every battle you face but let your trust never rest in your preparations or abilities but in God alone. The Bible makes it clear that the horse is made ready for the day of battle but victory rests with the LORD (Proverbs 21:31). 
May the Lord grant you victory over every Goliath you face in life. May he upheld you with his mighty right hand. Do not recoil and give up in fear for the battle is the LORD’s!

PRAYER:
LORD, the battle is yours and yours alone. My frail attempts compare in no way to the might of your power; so help me to rest and depend on you alone. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/06/29/the-armor-of-a-giant-slayer Mon, 29 Jun 2026 23:14:21 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/06/29/the-armor-of-a-giant-slayer

Then Saul dressed David In his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine...He said to David, “Am I a dog that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods...he said… “I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!”
David said... “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”  I Samuel 17:38-45.

David did not step out in his own volition to fight the Giant. I believe David had divine urging behind his decision. His premise was, “the LORD  who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear, will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” David was counting on divine protection because he was on a divine mission.
Saul clothed David with his own armor but David declined it because he was not used to them. He said decisively, ``I cannot go in these.”  He then armed himself with his shepherd's staff and five smooth pebbles. From the natural perspective, this was a rather insane thing to do. We don’t face an armed giant with a stick and pebbles!

But, beyond the visible armor of a staff and pebbles was the invisible divine armor that neither Goliath nor anyone else could see. The true armor of David, the Giant-Slayer, was God Himself. David said, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty…”

Our primary armor should never be the visible armor that everyone sees. The Bible makes it clear that the weapons we fight with are not carnal but they are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. The weapon of a Giant-slayer is mostly divine, just like David’s. 
It is the weapon of prayer, faith, the word of God, righteousness and truth. These are the weapons of giant-slayers! These are the weapons that will defeat any giant we face in life!

PRAYER:
Father, I thank you that you have provided divine weapons to defeat any giant I face in life. Please help me not to depend on “Saul’s armor” but to be wholly dependent upon your divine armor at all times. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/06/27/the-mindset-of-a-giant-slayer Sat, 27 Jun 2026 06:50:32 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/06/27/the-mindset-of-a-giant-slayer

David said to Saul, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”
But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.
The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of the Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go and the LORD be with you.”
I Samuel 17:32-37.

One man,Goliath, had decisively shut down the entire army of Israel with fear. He had defied the armies of the Almighty God and he seemed to be getting away with it. The mindset of the fearful Israelite army is captured in the words of king Saul to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine and fight him.” That was the mindset of the king who was charged with the overall leadership of the fighting forces. No wonder the rest of the soldiers were terrified and deeply shaken.

But David had a different mindset. David had the mindset of a giant-slayer based upon his past divinely-orchestrated victories. First: David reminded Saul that the same God who empowered him to rescue the sheep and kill both the lion and the bear, will grant him victory over Goliath.
Second: David reminded Saul that Goliath would be defeated because he had done an abominable thing by disrespecting and belittling the armies of the Living God.  
There are two responses that can emanate from us when we face a giant-like situation: we can either have a mindset of fear and defeat; or we can have the mindset of a giant-slayer.

The mindset of a giant-slayer takes confidence and inspiration from past victories based upon the faithfulness of God. The giant-slayer walks confidently with the notion that the God who granted the victories of yesterday has the power to do the same thing today. The mindset of the giant-slayer also remains confident that God will arise and vindicate Himself against those who dare to defy Him. In other words, God is big enough to defend Himself and His people.

Life has all kinds of challenges that can cause us either to recoil in despair and defeat or challenge us to boldly take on and defeat the giant. Victory over the giant can only be attained with the mindset of a giant-slayer. You are not a destitute person. You are a giant-slayer.

PRAYER:
Lord, I thank you that as overwhelming as some situations might be, I do not have to recoil in fear. Please help me to develop the attitude of a giant-slayer because that is my portion as your child. Amen

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/06/25/facing-the-giant Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/06/25/facing-the-giant

Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet tall! He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds. He also wore bronze leg armor, and he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder. The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds.
His armor bearer walked ahead of him carrying a shield.
Goliath stood and shouted a taunt across to the Israelites. “Why are you all coming out to fight?” he called. “I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul. Choose one man to come down here and fight me! If he kills me, then we will be your slaves! I defy the armies of Israel today! Send me a man who will fight me!”
When Saul and the Israelites heard this, they were terrified and deeply shaken.
1 Samuel 17:4–10

The story of the armies of Israel facing Goliath, the giant, was a rather intimidating one. Imagine facing a giant who is over nine feet tall, wearing a coat that weighs almost as much as a person - 125 pounds! Imagine that person screaming at you, intimidating you and defying the God you serve. What would your reaction be? Would you be terrified and shaken like the Israelites were?
 Would you remember any of your Bible verses? Would you remember any of God’s promises?

In many ways we face all kinds of giants in life. There are times when we face giants that threaten our career. There are giants that threaten our marriage. There are giants that threaten our health. There are giants that threaten our children. There are giants that threaten our very lives in numerous ways. Those giants scream at us. They threaten us and can leave us terrified and shaken! That is the reality of life.

But our God has made many promises to us. The word of God tells us in Deuteronomy 20; “When you go to war against 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 out of Egypt, will be with you...Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified of them. For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”

This is a standing assurance from the Almighty God! God promises to fight our battles for us!
So, are you facing some terrifying giants in your life? Are they threatening and intimidating you?
 Don’t be shaken. God goes ahead of you today to fight and give you victory! Those giants will all fall like Goliath before David!   
 

PRAYER:
Father, I stand upon your word that I should not be afraid even when I am overwhelmed by seemingly superior enemies. I will not panic or be terrified because I know you have already gone ahead of me to fight and give me victory. Amen!

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/06/23/you-never-know-what-god-has-in-store-for-you Tue, 23 Jun 2026 22:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/06/23/you-never-know-what-god-has-in-store-for-you

Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The LORD has not chosen these.” So he asked Jesse, are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest...but he is tending the sheep.”...So he sent for him and had him brought in...Then the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”
So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David.
I Samuel 16: 10-13.

Samuel saw Jesse’s firstborn, Eliab, and said to himself, “surely, the LORD’s anointed stands before the LORD.” But God said, I have rejected him. Jesse had seven of his sons rejected by God as unsuitable for the special assignment God had in mind. God wanted a person who was after His own heart. A person who truly loved God and was genuinely hungry for Him. Someone who would honor God and lead His people to seek him. I can only imagine the shock on Jesse’s  face and that of his seven sons who were all rejected by God. I can only dare to imagine the surprise on their faces when David was announced and anointed as God’s future king!

David was faithfully serving the family by taking care of their flock. Needless to say, God used David’s training as a shepherd to prepare him for the future assignment of shepherding the people of God. It was through his shepherding experience that David learnt to depend on God as his own shepherd. It was through his shepherding experience that he learnt to depend on the power of the Holy Spirit to kill lions and bears! That experience is what gave him the confidence to go against Goliath and strike him dead.

Faithfulness in whatever “unglamourous” assignment God has called us to do is critical. You never know what God has in store for you.The Bible says if we are not faithful in little then God can’t trust us with much. Scripture admonishes us not to despise the day of humble beginnings.

I have a friend who ministered to us recently. He started his career as a security person in a hotel. But today, he is the General Manager of one of the most prestigious hotels in the world!
He reminded us in his talk of how I had gone to visit him in his hotel one day and his mentioning to me that he felt the Lord wanted him to be a preacher. I held his hand, pointed to the vast hotel and said, “This is your church. Shepherd them and preach to them.” That, he said, changed his whole perspective toward his job. Needless to say, he got promoted later as GM at another location. Faithfully do what God has given you now.
 You never know what He has in store for you!

PRAYER:
Lord, I thank you for my current assignment. There is no wasted experience in your economy. In all things, you work together for our good. Please help me to stay faithful and diligent in my current assignment. Amen

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/06/23/it-s-all-about-the-heart Tue, 23 Jun 2026 05:39:34 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/06/23/it-s-all-about-the-heart

The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way, I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king...Samuel did what the LORD said...Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD.” But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance but the LORD looks at the heart.” 
I Samuel 16:1-7

It’s all about the heart! It’s all about the heart! It’s all about the heart!

Two things: 
First: Be careful how you judge others because God sees what you and I do not see. We only see what is visible by way of outward appearance. But God sees beyond the visible; God sees the heart! It’s all about the heart! Sometimes we slander, discount people and write them off because of how we perceive them or their situations. In his time of trial, Job’s situation was so deplorable that friends wrote him off as a sinful person.  Even his wife asked him to curse God and die. But God knew his heart. God knew that he was a righteous man whose blessings were soon to be doubled. People wrote him off but God knew his heart and caused Job’s latter end to be more glorious than his beginning.

Second: Take a moment every day to search your heart and your motives. The condition of your heart is what matters most to God. Let the prayer of David be on your lips daily, “Search me  O God and know my heart;  try me and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” When our heart is upright, there is no telling what God will do with us.

It’s all about the heart! It’s all about the heart! It;s all about the heart!

PRAYER:
Father, it’s all about the heart. I ask that you point out every form of ungodliness and wickedness in me. Please give me the humility to accept them and repent from them. I ask this in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.  

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/06/21/obedience-is-the-greatest-music-to-god-s-ears Sun, 21 Jun 2026 22:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/06/21/obedience-is-the-greatest-music-to-god-s-ears

“But I did obey the LORD,” Saul insisted. “I carried out the mission He gave me...Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep...and plunder to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.”  But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to His voice?
Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the LORD, He has rejected you as king. Then Saul admitted...I have disobeyed your instructions and the LORD’s command, for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded…”
Samuel never went to meet with Saul again, but he mourned constantly for him. And the LORD was sorry He had ever made Saul king of Israel. 
I Samuel 15:20-35.

God gave specific instructions to King Saul to attack the Amalekites and completely destroy them.  He was bringing divine judgment on them for the horrible way they treated the Israelites when they were on their way to the Promised Land. King Saul was simply the instrument of divine judgment. Contrary to the instructions of God not to leave anyone or anything alive, He spared the life of the Amalekite king and refused to destroy the choice sheep and cattle because the soldiers pressured him not to! The pretext was that those animals could be used as sacrifices to God! He listened to man rather than God! Saul disobeyed God.

God’s response was swift and severe; He rejected Saul as king of Israel for Saul’s rejection of God’s command. Samuel was so dismayed that he never went to meet with Saul again.
 God regretted that He had made Saul king.

Obedience is the greatest music to the ears of God. God values obedience to His word more than anything else we could ever do for Him. We could give the largest offering or go on every available mission for God, but without obedience to His word, it means nothing to Him! In fact, God sees rebellion and willful disobedience in the same light as idolatry and witchcraft!
 
I remember a situation early in my ministry when I was trying to get out of a particular thing I felt the LORD wanted me to do. I simply resolved it by asking myself, “what will I say to God when I stand before Him at the end of my days?”

Are you struggling with obedience to God’s clear instructions to you in any area of your life? 
Do you realize that disobedience and rebellion are just like witchcraft and idolatry?
Listen: obedience is the greatest music to God’s ears. There is simply no substitute for that.

PRAYER:
Father, I ask for forgiveness for the many ways in which I have been disobedient to you. Please help me never to substitute anything for plain and simple obedience to your word. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/06/20/what-matters-most Sat, 20 Jun 2026 22:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/06/20/what-matters-most

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter; Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or bad. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.

These are the words of King Solomon who was the wisest and richest person to ever walk the face of the earth. God went out of His way to make him rich and uniquely wise. People came from all over the world to listen to his wisdom. His riches were unparalleled. He ate from golden plates and drank from goblets of gold. In his days, silver was as common as stones in the streets of Jerusalem. Solomon had seven hundred wives of royal descent and 300 concubines. He was a king who had it all.

There was absolutely nothing that Solomon could not have. In his own words “I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards...I amassed silver and gold for myself and the treasure of kings and provinces...I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure.”  

What advice would such a “successful” person leave for posterity by way of insight for living? Would he advise us on how to make money? Would he talk about the value of relationships? Would he advise us to hold fast to our families? 
 No, in the end, Solomon said the most important thing in life is to fear God and keep His commandments. 

The man who had it all and had seen it all also realized at the end of his days that wisdom and riches and fame amount to nothing if we live without fearing God and keeping His commandments. His seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines had led him astray from the one true God who had so blessed his life. His legacy was a torn and divided kingdom.  
He knew that there was judgment ahead; there was an accounting to give to his Maker.

The truth remains the same for you and I. The conclusion of the matter is: Our duty on this earth is to fear God and keep His commandments for there is an accounting at the end of our days on earth. That is the conclusion of the matter; that is what matters the most!

PRAYER:
Father, I ask that you keep my life in perspective of my greatest responsibility: fearing you and keeping your commandments; for that is my whole duty. Amen.  

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/06/18/when-prayer-becomes-a-divine-responsibility Thu, 18 Jun 2026 21:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/06/18/when-prayer-becomes-a-divine-responsibility

The people all said to Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die, for we have added to all our other sins, the evil of asking for a king.
Do not be afraid, Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD; but serve the LORD with all your heart...For the sake of His great name, the LORD will not reject His people, because the LORD was pleased to make you His own.
As for me, be far it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is  good and right.

The relationship between God and Israel was a rather checkered one with numerous acts of ingratitude and rebellion from Israel against God. The last straw that broke the camel’s back was when Israel asked to be given a “real” king just like all the other nations had. Both Samuel and God felt rejected but God assured Samuel that the rejection was more against Him than Samuel. As magnanimous as He always is, God selected Saul to be king. Nonetheless, Samuel reminded the Israelites that they had gravely sinned by rejecting God.  

The People asked Samuel to keep them in prayer so that they would be spared from any divine wrath. This is where we see one of the greatest assurances of divine love in the Bible: “for the sake of His great name, the LORD will not reject His people, because the LORD was pleased to make you His own.”  Forsaking His children is never an option with God. God has made it clear that even if our mother and father forsake us, He will never leave us. 

What I find most fascinating about the passage, is the very powerful lesson on prayer. The people asked Samuel to pray so that they would not die and Samuel responded that failing to pray for them would be tantamount to sinning against God. He assured them that he would teach them what is good and right. As “undeserving” as the people were and as provocative as they had been to Samuel by rejecting His leadership,  Samuel vowed to keep them in prayer. To Samuel, praying for them was a divine obligation for which God held him responsible. It had nothing to do with his personal feelings about the evil conduct of the people. Not praying for them would be a sin against God!

So, what if we approached prayer with that same sense of divine responsibility regardless of our feelings? This could apply to people we disagree with such as: political personalities with whom we are at variance; religious opponents; “Undeserving” wicked people; outright “enemies”; our detractors; people who have hurt our families; difficult and mean bosses, etc.
When prayer becomes a divine responsibility of love, it takes us to a new level of relationship with the God who has promised never to leave nor forsake us no matter what sins we commit!

PRAYER:
Father, I pray that you will give me the love and discipline I need to pray from a divine perspective of love no matter what the circumstances of the prayer might be. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/06/18/a-life-of-integrity-no-regrets Thu, 18 Jun 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/06/18/a-life-of-integrity-no-regrets

Samuel said to all Israel, I have listened to everything you said to me and have set a king over you. Now you have a king as your leader. As for me, I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have been your leader from my youth until this day. Here I stand, testify against me in the presence of the LORD and His anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe to make me shut my eyes? If I have done any of these things, I will make it right. 1 Samuel 12:1-3

Godly leadership is a gracious gift from God. Perhaps, nothing affects the destiny of any group of people more than its leadership. The character and conduct of a leader will make or break a family, Church, community or even a nation.

The life of a leader is filled with all kinds of opportunities either to humble or exult oneself in pride. There are many opportunities for leaders to be corrupted and thereby pervert justice and harm innocent lives. In fact, the biblical record indicates that in his old age, Samuel’s own sons whom he had put in charge of the nation were accepting bribes and perverting justice.

Rare is the leader who can stand up at the end of his or her tenure and boldly declare, “testify against me in the presence of the LORD... if I have stolen anything or taken a bribe from anyone after these many years of being your leader!”
Rarer still is the leader who, out of humility and godliness can declare that “If I have done any of these things I am prepared to make it right.”  Those statements can only be made by leaders who have led lives of integrity. Samuel’s leadership was an excellent example of personal integrity.

In various ways we each have leadership roles in our families, jobs, communities and churches. When our time is up, can we declare in good conscience that we have led with absolute integrity? And better still, can we boldly say that we are prepared to right any wrongs we have done? When you live a life of integrity; you have nothing to worry about when your time is over!
May God help us to be exemplary in our conduct as leaders.

PRAYER:
Father, as a disciple of your Son Jesus, I am called to follow Him in character and conduct. Please help me to lead a life of integrity so that I would not bring the name of my Lord into disrepute. I ask this in Jesus’ mighty Name. Amen

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/06/17/you-been-set-free-stay-free Wed, 17 Jun 2026 01:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/06/17/you-been-set-free-stay-free

Jesus replied, Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin…(but) if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:34-36.

The context of this scripture is a discussion Jesus had with the Jews in which Jesus pointed out that if they held to His teachings, they would know the truth and the truth would set them free. His opponents resisted His word and pointed out they had never been anyone’s slaves. Jesus then responded that the only people who were truly free were those who had been set free by the Son of God: “...if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Sometimes we try to gain freedom from our struggles through all kinds of means such as sheer will power and various detox and other forms of social and medical programs. All these have merits and various levels of success. But for a lot of people, there is a constant relapse. The battle to stay free goes on relentlessly. The reason is because sin ultimately has a hand in many forms of addiction. Our fallen human nature has caused our hearts to be corrupted by sin which evidently pushes us into different forms of less than ideal behaviors. Each of us has a natural bent to sin.

That is why the first thing God does when we give our lives to Jesus is to forgive our past, set us free from the power of sin and give us His Holy Spirit to keep us on the path of righteousness.
The Apostle Paul reminds us that we have died to sin and therefore we are no longer slaves to sin. We have been set free by the Son and therefore we are free indeed. This is a reality we  can enjoy everyday by the help of the Holy Spirit.

A few weeks ago, I had a first hand witness of God’s power to keep us free. There was someone I had ministered to in some very dark alleys of struggle. This individual had literally  lost everything: marriage, children, home, car, you name it...it was all gone and was facing serious legal charges as well. But this person came to church as a result of an outreach event and received love, support, prayers and the word of God. God brought about a miraculous restoration and set her free from the addiction. The test came when she underwent a surgical procedure and got prescribed the same pain killers she had previously been addicted to. She sent me a picture and said, “Pastor, I will fill the prescription But I will not take it. I will take Tylenol and trust Jesus to see me through because I have been set free.” She was victorious. The Son had set her free and she was free indeed. 
You and I have been set free by Jesus; let us stay free and bring Him praise and glory.

PRAYER:
Jesus, I thank you that you have set me free. By the power of the Holy Spirit I will remain free indeed. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/06/16/the-truth-will-set-you-free Tue, 16 Jun 2026 01:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/06/16/the-truth-will-set-you-free

To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
John 8:31-32

The truth will set you free.
The search for truth has plagued mankind from the beginning of time. Many have left the comfort of their homes, families and even treasures to live in communes with the hope that they will finally find the truth. In the process, they have been sorely disappointed and some have even lost their lives. Many religious leaders have misled their followers because they could not offer the truth they promised. 

In answer to a question during His trial, Jesus said to Pilate, “You say that I am a king. In fact the reason why I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone  on the side of truth listens to me.” To this, Pilate retorted, “What is truth?”

So, question: What is truth and how do we know the truth? Jesus gave the answer when He declared in John 14:6  “I am the way and the truth and the life.”  So to know Jesus is to know the truth. But a relevant question to ask is: What does this mean to us in practical everyday living? Are we to receive this as mere knowledge or does it have real life implications?
I believe the implications are life-changing. Jesus said, ``If you hold to my teaching...then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Knowing Jesus who is the truth and holding on to the truth by way of applying His teachings to our lives is the surest path to freedom from all that can potentially trap us.

 So when we are gripped with worry and anxiety, the truth Jesus teaches is: Come to me and I will give you rest. When we feel afraid and lonely, Jesus says I will never leave you nor forsake you; even when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, do not fear any evil for I am with you. When we are sick in our bodies and the doctors are uncertain, Jesus says by my stripes you are healed; I am the LORD who heals you. When we are shackled by strongholds of the enemy and bound by addictions and destructive thoughts and habits, the word of God tells us that we have mighty weapons that can pull down every stronghold against us.
When we feel depleted and about to give up, the word tells us that we are more than conquerors and that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

God’s word is the truth. Knowing and applying the truth will set you free from any conceivable hindrance, limitation, bondage or fears you may find yourself in.  
Apply the truth of God’s word to your life and it will set you free.

PRAYER:
Father, your word is quick and powerful. It has the ability to set me free and give me victory. Please help me to stand upon your word and secure my freedom. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/06/15/don-t-take-it-personal Mon, 15 Jun 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/06/15/don-t-take-it-personal

Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the man the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.” Then the people shouted, “Long live the king.”
Samuel explained to the people the rights and duties of kingship...Then Samuel dismissed the people to go to their own homes. 
Saul also went to his home in Gibeah accompanied by valiant men whose hearts God had touched. But some scoundrels said, “How can this fellow save us?” They despised him and brought him no gifts. But Saul kept silent…
The people then said to Samuel, “Who was it that said, “Shall Saul reign over us??” Turn these men over to us so that we may put them to death. But Saul said, “no one will be put to death today, for this day the LORD has rescued Israel.” I Samuel 10:24-27, 11:12-13

Saul had been appointed king under divine directives. The whole nation rejoiced and wished him success with shouts of “long live the king.” It was both a solemn divine moment and an occasion of great pride for Israel. God’s hand was obviously on king Saul, attested to by the fact that “Saul also went home accompanied by valiant men whose hearts God had touched.”  It doesn’t get any better than that: appointed by God, accepted by the entire nation and privately surrounded by a God-appointed select group of advisers.

But the wickedness of the human heart was not entirely missing on that glorious day. In spite of the obvious hand of God on the events of the day, there were some who showed contempt and total disrespect for the king. They called the king a “fellow” who had no ability to save the nation. They also despised or hated him. The Bible describes them as scoundrels. A scoundrel is a “mean, immoral or wicked person.” The interesting thing is that Saul had done absolutely nothing wrong against them. There was no justification for their hatred. Saul handled the situation with admirable godliness. He kept silent and later spared their lives when others urged that they be put to death. Saul chose to focus on the goodness of God to Israel.

Lesson: No matter how godly you live your life, you will always have people who will rise against you and despise you for absolutely no reason. That is part of our human existence due to our fallen nature. If you take those attacks personal, you will pollute your heart, lose focus, and get distracted from your divine assignment. King Saul set a wonderful example by keeping silent, sparing the lives of those who despised him and focusing on the good things God had done. Jesus, our sinless and righteous Lord, was hated and killed for no reason. He simply asked the Father to forgive His detractors. If you and I are to remain focused and accomplish our divine assignments, then we must learn not to take unjustified attacks personally! Try it for peace!

PRAYER:
Father, please help me to follow the example of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Help me to focus on the good things you are doing through my life and not to be distracted by any attacks against me. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/06/14/it-is-for-the-glory-of-god Sun, 14 Jun 2026 01:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/06/14/it-is-for-the-glory-of-god

Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha...So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
When He heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that the Son may be glorified through it. Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus...He said to His disciples, “Let us go back to Judea...Lazarus is dead, and for your sake, I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him…
On His arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days…
“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.” John 11:1-12

“This sickness will not end in death. No it is for God’s glory so that the Son may be glorified through it.” The ways of God are beyond human comprehension. I believe the most challenging thing for us as humans is to hang in until we see the full manifestation of what God had in mind all along. When Jesus was told that Lazarus was sick, He did not rush there to heal him; instead, he delayed until Lazarus had died and been buried for four days.

Jesus knew all along that Lazarus was going to end up in the grave but He was unperturbed because He also knew that Lazarus would rise again. Things were going to get worse but it would get better and a greater glory would come to God. The undaunting faith of Martha was significant: “If you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now, God will give you whatever you ask for.” Martha had no doubt that with God all things are possible. Even the dead could rise again!

There are times when it seems as if God is completely silent. Things actually go from bad to worse. It seems as if God has allowed death to take place when He could actually have intervened earlier! The truth is, when God allows things to go from bad to worse or “from sickness to death, He might have a resurrection surprise in store for us. Jesus assured Martha: “Your brother will rise again.” 

Can I encourage you not to give up because things have moved from “sickness to death?”
Even now, believe that God can “give you whatever you ask for.” It could well be that God has allowed you to encounter this difficult situation for His glory so that Jesus may be glorified through it. The greater the testimony, the greater the glory that comes to God.
 The question is: Are you and I willing to be a Lazarus for God’s glory?

PRAYER:
Lord, I know things have gotten from bad to worse; but I also know that even now, you can give me whatever I ask for. I am believing you for a turnaround that will bring glory to you and my heavenly Father. Amen.

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