https://renewalchristiancenter.org Fri, 17 Apr 2026 23:14:48 +0000 Fri, 17 Apr 2026 23:14:48 +0000 hourly 1 3600 SnapPages.com https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/05/14/listen-out-for-the-still-small-voice Thu, 14 May 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/05/14/listen-out-for-the-still-small-voice

So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he travelled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."
The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
I Kings 19:8-13.

Elijah had obviously heard the voice of God many times. Under divine instructions, he went and stood to observe the LORD passing by. Did he have any expectations of how the divine presence was going to be manifested? Probably not, but it is possible that he might have expected God to show up in the great and mighty wind which tore the mountains apart but God was not in it. Neither was God in the earthquake or the fire! But, alas, the voice of God came in a gentle whisper or a "still small voice." That was how God spoke to Elijah.

The appearance of God was preceded by the dramatic wind, earthquake and fire, but His actual voice came in the form of a gentle whisper. 

Many times, we tend to miss the voice of God because we expect it to come in a rather dramatic fashion. We expect it to be an earthshaking or fiery experience that will immediately arrest our attention, but it might not necessarily be so. 

Sometimes God might use some very unlikely and unexpected ways to speak to us. His voice can be heard in a myriad of unexpected ways. Sometimes we might hear God's voice as a simple thought that quietly takes over our mind but persistently remains. The thought might be so simple and so ordinary that we might reject it. But following that simple thought could bring great blessings. 

Sometimes the voice of God can come to us through another person by way of a suggestion. It is quite possible to reject those suggestions because we might not have much regard for the one through whom the suggestion comes, or we might be so familiar with the person that we don't really pay serious attention to what they say to us. I have seen situations where spouses have missed great opportunities because they did not heed to the advice of their husbands or wives!

Hearing the directive voice of God is crucial to our lives as Christians. The voice of God might not always come in a dramatic fashion. Sometimes it comes in a gentle whisper which is rather easy to miss. Listen out for the still small whisper. It could well be God speaking to you.

PRAYER:
Father, your word declares that your ways are not my ways and your thoughts are not my thoughts. Your ways are far above mine. In my human conjecturing, I might expect you to speak dramatically at all times when that might not necessarily be always your choice. So, please help me to be so in tune with you that I will discern your voice even if it comes in a "gentle whisper." Amen

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/05/13/lord-i-have-had-enough Wed, 13 May 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/05/13/lord-i-have-had-enough

Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like one of them."
Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his 
servant there, while he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.  
All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat." He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said,  "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you." So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night.     I Kings 19:1-9

"I have had enough, Lord . . . Take my life."

These are words you would not expect from a powerful and faithful servant of God! Elijah was a mighty Prayer Warrior. He boldly taunted the prophets of Baal in a public forum to their disgrace. He called down fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice. He put to death four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal.

He prayed and the rains came down to end the drought. Elijah was a bold man; he was full of the power of God. But when Jezebel threatened to take his life, he ran off in great despair. He feared for his life. Elijah lay under a tree depressed and asked God to take his life.

So, where was the power, boldness and anointing that enabled him to kill off the prophets of Baal? Couldn't he trust God to protect him from Queen Jezebel? These are fair questions, but alas, Elijah was a "human being just like us" as the Scripture says in James 5:17. Elijah had fears, regardless of the anointing and the incredible accomplishments. His humanity came through and his fears took over. He did what was natural: he ran for his life. God understood his humanity and sent an angel to feed and strengthen him for the rest of the journey.

There are times in life when it seems as if we have had too much -- the family situation is too overwhelming; the job situation is too heavy to carry; the financial shortfall is too frightening; the marriage is too messy; the ministry situation is too discouraging; the weight of life is simply too heavy to carry. In those moments, we tend to be afraid and we might even wish that God will take us to heaven right away. We might see death as a better option from God!

The truth is: God understands our humanity. He understands our fears. He understands when life is so overwhelming that we don't think we can make it one more day. Not only does He understand, but He also comes along to strengthen us for the rest of the journey.

May the God who strengthened Elijah, send His angel to feed and strengthen you for the rest of your journey. Things might be overwhelming now, but the eyes of God are upon you. You will not fall apart. God will see you through! You will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

PRAYER:
Lord, I thank you for your promise that you will never leave nor forsake me. Because your grace is sufficient for me, I will press on to the mark of my calling. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/05/12/it-might-be-small-but-it-signifies-abundance Tue, 12 May 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/05/12/it-might-be-small-but-it-signifies-abundance

And Elijah said to Ahab, "Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain." So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.
"Go and look toward the sea," he told his servant. And he went up and looked.
"There is nothing there," he said. Seven times, Elijah said, "Go back."
The seventh time the servant reported, "A cloud as small as a man's hand is rising from the sea."
So Elijah said, "Go and tell Ahab, 'Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.' " 
Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. The power of the LORD came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.      I Kings 18:41-46.

Elijah was confident that the rains would come because he had heard expressly from God to that effect. At the word of God, he had commanded the drought to come and at the word of God, he expected the rains to return and the drought to end. Confidently, Elijah asked the king to go home to eat and drink, "for there is a sound of a heavy rain."

Elijah "saw" the rain even before it came! But he still did something interesting: He went to the top of the mountain and prayed fervently. Seven times, he asked his servant to go and look if the clouds were signifying rain. The servant went back and forth until the seventh time when he reported to Elijah, "a cloud as small as a man's hand is rising from the sea." That was all Elijah needed to hear. That small insignificant cloud signified an abundance of rain to come.

Two things are worth pointing out:
First: Even when God clearly promises a blessing, we must never cease to pray it through. God promised Elijah the rains but Elijah still spent time in prayer. Praying our blessings through signifies our dependence and reverence for God. It tells God that we do not take Him for granted. We will bow before Him as He releases His promised rains. 

Second: When God promises us a blessing, it might start off in trinkles rather than a heavy outpouring. By faith, we should see the small trickles as a sign of greater blessings to come. We must express gratitude and have faith that God might start us off small but He has great abundance in store for us. Never despise small beginnings. It might be the down payment for great abundance to come. It might be small, but it might signify great abundance.

PRAYER:
Lord, I thank you for the blessings you have bestowed upon me. Please help me never to despise "small blessings" because it could well be a sign of greater blessings to come. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/05/11/it-s-all-about-turning-hearts-back-to-god Mon, 11 May 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/05/11/it-s-all-about-turning-hearts-back-to-god

At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command.
Answer me, LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again."
Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.
When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The LORD -- He is God! The LORD -- He is God!"
Then Elijah commanded them, "Seize the prophets of Baal. Don't let anyone get away!" They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there.        I Kings 18:36-40

"Answer me, LORD . . .  so that these people will know that you, LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again."

I see this as the most important statement in the entire narrative. Why was that amazing miracle of fire coming down from heaven granted to Elijah? Why was the incredible sight of the fire burning up stones and licking water granted? Was it just to show how powerful a prophet Elijah was? Absolutely not! The miracle was given for the express purpose of turning the hearts of the people back to God. They had turned their backs on God and had left His altar in disarray but when they saw the miracle of fire coming down from Heaven, they proclaimed, "The LORD -- He is God! The LORD -- He is God!"  That is the essence of miracles and signs and wonders. 

These are days when some desire to see miracles for the sole purpose of showing how "powerful" they are! But that entirely misses the mark. Miracles in the Bible always brought glory to God and not man, and invariably they resulted in lives being saved for God's Kingdom. It's all about turning hearts back to God. If we desire to see the true miraculous move of God, then our single-hearted focus should be on glorifying God and turning the hearts of people back to God.

PRAYER:
Father, I thank you for the promise Jesus made that signs and wonders shall follow our preaching of the Gospel. May we encounter signs and wonders as we preach the Gospel and may many lives be transformed and turned to you. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/05/10/first-order-of-business-repair-the-altar Sun, 10 May 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/05/10/first-order-of-business-repair-the-altar

Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come here to me." They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the LORD, which had been taken down. Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, "Your name shall be Israel." With the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed. He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, "Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood."
"Do it again," he said, and they did it again.  
"Do it a third time," he ordered, and they did it a third time. The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.      I Kings 18:30-35

Elijah was confident that God would answer his prayer and bring down fire from heaven. But he also knew that something spiritually significant had to happen first: The Altar of the LORD had to be repaired. In their apostasy, the king and the people of Israel had left the altar of God unattended to whilst they focused their allegiance on the altar and temples of Baal. The Almighty God who redeemed them out of slavery in Egypt had become unimportant.

But Elijah, the servant of the LORD was about to call down fire from Heaven and establish the supremacy of Yahweh over Baal. The first thing Elijah did was to repair the altar of the LORD which was in ruins and had been taken down.

You see: The altar of God represents the place of worship. The state of the altar is a reflection of the state of one's relationship with God. The Israelites had allowed God's altar to fall into disarray to the point where they had to take it down. Elijah knew that before they could call on God, the altar of God had to be repaired -- that was the first order of business. Their relationship with God had to be repaired and restored.

So, question: What is the state of your personal altar which also signifies the state of your personal relationship with God? Is it in disarray? Does it need to be repaired? If your personal altar needs to be repaired, would you stop every religious activity and take time to repair that altar?  Your first order of business is to ensure that your personal relationship with God is strong and unblemished. Repair your altar, if it is in disrepair.

PRAYER:
Father, I thank you for the reminder that the state of my personal relationship with you does really matter. Please help me to repair everything that is broken in my personal relationship with you. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/05/09/a-taunting-prophet-frantic-prayers-no-answer Sat, 09 May 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/05/09/a-taunting-prophet-frantic-prayers-no-answer

Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire."  So they took the bull given them and prepared it.
Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. "Baal, answer us!" they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made. At noon Elijah began to taunt them. "Shout louder!" he said, "Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened." 
So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom until their blood flowed. Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.     I Kings 18:25-29

The forces of darkness are real and powerful but they are no match for our Almighty God. The forces of darkness can work signs and wonders, but they are never the equal of the Creator God; the possessor of the heavenly hosts.

As children of the Almighty God, we must be cognizant of the power of our adversary. Satan and his demonic angels and forces can work all kinds of signs and wonders. We see the instance of how the magicians of Pharaoh also turned their staffs into snakes after Aaron's staff had been turned by God into a snake. The gods of Egypt performed the same miracle the Almighty God had performed through Aaron and Moses but that was not the end of the story. The staff of Aaron swallowed up all the other staffs of the Egyptian magicians. God's staff swallowed up all the many staffs of the forces of darkness. In the end, God always wins, no matter what resistance the Enemy puts up.

The prophet Elijah was confident that the forces of darkness, represented by the prophets of Baal, were no match for the Almighty God. Elijah had heard the word of God and he stood firmly upon the word. He knew he could command fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice. In order for the supremacy of God to be clearly established, the powers of darkness had to be completely shut down. God did not allow them to move at all. I believe the angels of God were on guard to ensure that no counterfeit fire would be released at all from hell to even remotely compete with the Holy Fire from Heaven!

The prophets of Baal prayed frantically to their god and slashed themselves but there was no answer; no fire. Elijah taunted and cracked jokes, calling Baal a sleeping god who needed to be awakened to answer. God shut down the powers of hell to establish His supremacy.

Our God is all powerful. He never slumbers nor sleeps. He is attentive to the cry of His children and protective of His Name and His word. Like Elijah, let's strive to get to the point where we can confidently taunt the prophets of darkness and their wicked activities because we are confident that their weapons against us will not prosper. Let's fervently pray and stand upon the word of the Living God and live in full assurance that our God is able to shut down the wicked "prophets of Baal" who would dare come against us. 

PRAYER:
Father, your word tells me that Elijah was a human being just like me and that he prayed and miracles happened. He prayed and the powers of darkness were shut down. My prayer is that you will help me to be strong in my faith and to stand against every activity of the powers of darkness against my life and against your Kingdom agenda. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/05/08/the-audacity-to-believe-that-god-will-answer Fri, 08 May 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/05/08/the-audacity-to-believe-that-god-will-answer

So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah. When he saw Elijah, he said to him, "Is that you, you troubler of Israel?"
"I have not made trouble for Israel," Elijah replied.  "But you and your father's family have. You have abandoned the LORD's command and have followed the Baals. Now summon the people from all Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat Jezebel's table."
So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow Him." But the people said nothing.
Then Elijah said to them, "I am the only one of the LORD's prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. Get two bulls for us. Let Baal's prophets choose one for themselves. and let them cut it to pieces and put it on wood but not set it fire. I will prepare the other bull and put it on wood but not set fire to it. Then call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire -- he is God."
Then all the people said, "What you say is good."    I Kings 18:16-24.

One of the most spectacular miracles in the Bible is about to take place. Elijah was about to call down fire from heaven to consume an earthly sacrifice.

Elijah boldly challenged the apostate king and people of Israel to call on their god to answer by bringing down fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice. It is interesting to note the Hebrew expression Elijah used to confront the people: "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him." The Hebrew word for waver is the same word for "dance" which described what the prophets of Baal did as they danced around their altar calling on Baal to answer by fire. 

Elijah was directly telling the people that you cannot "shuffle" or "dance" between Yahweh and any other god. Yahweh has no equal so He can not be treated with such contempt. You either follow Him loyally or you do not. Not surprisingly, the people said nothing to that direct confrontation. They had reneged on their covenant loyalty to God and were worshiping Baal and paying lip service to God. But God would not have that. The people paid a high price by being hit with a severe drought.

So, how could Elijah have such audacity to believe that God will hear his audacious prayers and answer with fire from Heaven to consume his sacrifice? We find the answer in his address to the people: "I am the only one of the LORD's prophets left." In other words, Elijah was the only prophet of God willing to publicly confront the apostate King Ahab who had abandoned the true God and was clinging to a detestable god represented by a wooden pole.
Elijah had the audacity to believe God to answer his audacious prayers because he was not wavering or dancing between two gods. His heart was fixed on the true God of Israel so he could make humble but bold demands at the Throne of God. Also, his confidence was based on the fact that God had instructed him to believe for the rains to come and the drought to end.

If we want God to answer our audacious prayers, then we must do two things:
First, our trust and obedience must be unwavering.
Second, we must believe and act on the word of God. The Bible says in James that Elijah was a man just like us. So we can believe God and expect Him to answer us just like He did for Elijah.

PRAYER:
Father, you are the God who answers by fire. May you answer my audacious prayers just like you answered Elijah. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/05/07/god-always-has-a-remnant Thu, 07 May 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/05/07/god-always-has-a-remnant

After a long time, in the third year, the word of the LORD came to Elijah: "Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land." So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.
Now the famine was severe in Samaria, and Ahab had summoned Obadiah, his palace administrator. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the LORD. While Jezebel was killing off the LORD's prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.)
Ahab had said to Obadiah, "Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive so we will not have to kill any of our animals."
. . . As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down to the ground, and said, "Is it really you, my LORD?"
. . . If I go and tell Ahab and he doesn't find you, he will kill me.  . . . Haven't you heard, my lord, what I did while Jezebel was killing the prophets of the LORD? I hid a hundred of the LORD's prophets in two caves . . . and supplied them with food and water. And now you tell me to go to my master and say, 'Elijah is here.' He will kill me!"
Elijah said, "As the LORD almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely present myself to Ahab today."     I Kings 18:1-15.

In times of apostasy; in times of godlessness; in times of assault on all that is divine, we wonder if there are any who still would hold tenaciously onto their faith and walk uncompromisingly with God. Obadiah was such a person. Even in the face of grave danger and certain death, his faith in God was so strong that he took a hundred of God's prophets and hid them in caves. Food and water were scarce but he found a way to feed those hundred prophets. The hand of the LORD was definitely with him. He kept a remnant of one hundred prophets for God.

These are times of great unbelief and all kinds of false prophets parading the globe with their own versions of the hallowed Gospel of Jesus. Paul cautioned Timothy that, "the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." 2 Timothy 4:3-4

This is very evident and rampant in our day and it makes the words of Jesus even more urgent, "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks." John 4:23 
In the midst of godlessness in every generation, God has a hidden remnant that He brings out to accomplish His purposes. May you and I be part of the remnant that God has hidden and reserved in a cave to serve His Kingdom purposes!

PRAYER:
Father, these are very godless times when the truth of your word is being subverted to serve selfish human ends. May I be part of your hidden remnant who will stand up to worship you in Spirit and truth, no matter the cost. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/05/06/chosen-to-be-blessed Wed, 06 May 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/05/06/chosen-to-be-blessed

Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing. She said to Elijah, "What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?" "Give me your son," Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. Then he cried out to the LORD, "LORD my God, have you brought tragedy even on this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?" Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried out to the LORD, "LORD my God, let this boy's life return to him!"
The LORD heard Elijah's cry, and the boy's life returned to him, and he lived. Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, "Look, your son is alive!"
Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth."     I Kings 17:17-24.

The story of this widow was referenced by Jesus in Luke 4:25.  Jesus said, "I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon."

There were many widows in Israel but God looked with favor on this particular widow in Zarephath to bless her with two miracles. So, did this woman do anything to deserve this special divine favor? Her own words seem to give us a bit of a glimpse into her life. When her child died, her words to Elijah were: "Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?"  Those words seem to be a reminder that she felt unworthy probably because of a particular sin or sins she had committed. She felt that the death of her son was divine judgment.

Even the prayer of Elijah is a bit telling: "Have you brought tragedy even on this widow I am staying with by causing her son to die?"  Was Elijah alluding to a possible divine justification for the death of the boy? Granted my surmising might be rather stretched, but I stand in awe of our merciful and gracious God. The widow felt unworthy and undeserving but God chose her household for miracles and honor -- an honor that was going to be used as an illustration even by Jesus!

Scripture gives us no indication as to why God chose this particular widow out of the possible thousands in Israel. We can only conclude that our gracious God has a way of choosing the most unlikely people to use for His glory. He saw a widow in need who was about to die with her son and He chose to bless her with two amazing miracles.

May God look beyond whatever shortcomings you may have and bless your household with a double miracle. May you be chosen to be blessed by God.

PRAYER:
Lord, I thank you that you choose purely by grace and not by merit. Undeserving as I am please shower your grace upon me and release favor upon my life. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/05/05/the-miracle-comes-when-we-trust-god Tue, 05 May 2026 01:49:45 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/05/05/the-miracle-comes-when-we-trust-god

Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says:
'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain on the land.' "
She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family.
For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.    I Kings 17:13-16

Imagine yourself in dire financial straits during a time of deep economic recession. People have lost their jobs, and homes and food are very expensive and even difficult to get. People have drained all their savings just to survive. Most people are barely getting by. Things are so bad for you that you have just used your last bit of money to buy just a couple of things from the grocery store, hoping to cook it and eat with your family as your last meal. There's simply no food or money left. Hunger and death are staring you in the face.

But just as you come out of the grocery store, you meet a total stranger who asks you for some food. After explaining your plight, the stranger tells you to make the food and give him something to eat first before feeding your own family. He gives you the assurance that if you obey his word (which he claims to be from God) you will have enough food to eat and resources to last you until the economic recession is over! What would your reaction be? Would you obey?

That is exactly the situation the widow faced, and that is exactly what we face in life at one point or the other. There are times when our resources are simply depleted and it is simply impossible to make ends meet. But then God might test us and ask us to give out of our meager resources to meet a need in His Kingdom or in someone else's life. Our response is usually one of fear and resistance. We simply cannot bring ourselves to even think straight about it, let alone have the faith to obey.

Two things are striking to me:
First, without even knowing it, God had set the woman apart to be the recipient of a miracle. If she had not been obedient, she would never have received her blessing. The very meager resources you have could be the means through which God would release a blessing to you, if you are not afraid to do what He directs you to do with it. Little is much when God is in it.

Second, it is significant that Elijah said to the widow, "Don't be afraid." It is normal for us to be fearful when we are down to the wire and have nothing to depend upon. Our confidence expires and fear multiplies when we have nothing and no one to depend upon. But all through Scripture, God tells us not to be afraid. He tells us not to be afraid because He is our very present help in trouble. Don't speak negative things that will rattle you with fear. Take a moment to express gratitude to God and believe that He is able to meet your needs just as He has done in the past. The miracle comes when we trust God and do not give in to our fears! Fear not!

PRAYER:
Father, I thank you that little is much when you are in it. I might not have much, but because you are the God of multiplication, I will not be afraid. I will trust you to supply all my needs according to your riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Amen

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/05/04/when-the-brook-dries-up Mon, 04 May 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/05/04/when-the-brook-dries-up

Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. Then the word of the LORD came to him, "Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food." So he went to Zarephath.
When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, "Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?" As she was going to get it, he called, "And bring me, please, a piece of bread."
"As surely as the LORD your God lives," she replied, "I don't have any bread -- only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it -- and die." I Kings 17:7-12

Elijah had been supernaturally fed by ravens and he had drank from the brook. He was sheltered, well-fed and secure. He had been spared from the ravages of the drought in Israel.
But, eventually, the brook dried up. God could have prevented the brook from drying up, but He did not! He allowed the brook to dry up!

Then God sent the prophet off to a widow in Zarephath whom He had already directed to feed Elijah. The interesting thing is that the widow had nothing to eat herself. Death was staring her family in the face. Nonetheless, she was God's chosen source of food supply for His servant. Out of nothing, God was about to release abundant provision both for the widow and His servant.


Several things are worth pondering:
First: we should never place God in a box as far as His methods of operations go. He might use a bird to feed you one day, but He is also perfectly capable of using a widow at another time to supply your needs. The point is: We must be completely open to whatever God might choose to do because He knows what is best for every situation. It is always an exciting and unpredictable journey with God. It might be ravens one day and a poor widow the next.

Second:  There are times when the brook from which we drink might dry up, but God's sources of supply never dry up. We should never panic because God can direct a totally unexpected source to supply our needs. The widow had been directed by God to feed Elijah even without her being conscious of the divine plan. When the brook dries up, trust God to set a new process in place to replace the brook.

Third: We should be open to divine instructions concerning how God might use us to meet the needs of other people. The widow was the most unlikely person to be used to feed Elijah. She had only one meal to serve for her family. But God had chosen her for a miracle if she obeyed.
It is very easy for us to look at our meager resources and deduce that we cannot afford to give anything to God. But God could well be testing our obedience and faithfulness by our willingness to give our best out of the little we have.

PRAYER:
Prayer: Father, I thank you that you are able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that I could ever ask or think. When the brook from which I drink dries up, please help me to be steadfast in my faith and to believe that you will always have a fresh source of supply for my needs. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/05/03/even-the-ravens-obey-god-s-voice Sun, 03 May 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/05/03/even-the-ravens-obey-god-s-voice

Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: "Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to supply you with food there."
So he did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.  I Kings 17:2-6 (NIV, NKJV)

Elijah faithfully delivered the judgment of God on Israel. The drought started in earnest. So, how was Elijah himself going to be sustained during the drought? What was he going to eat and drink? Where was he going to stay safely from the anger of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel?

God had it all figured out. God was supernaturally going to feed him through the ravens and he was safely going to be hidden from danger by the Kerith Ravine. The ravine was going to be his source of water. Divine provision had already been made for Elijah's divine assignment.

Certain things are rather fascinating in this account:
First, God had a plan in place to sustain Elijah. Elijah was sheltered from danger and he was miraculously going to be fed by birds. God commanded the ravens to feed His servant.

Whenever God gives us an assignment, our focus should never be on self-preservation because God always has a plan of sustenance in place for His servants. Our sole agenda should be to carry out whatever responsibility God has assigned to us. We can be sure of one thing: God's work done God's way will never lack divine provision even if He has to use birds to supply the need.

Second, ravens only feed on carcasses of birds and animals found in the fields, as well as the leftovers of wild kills. In addition, the Israelites were forbidden by God from eating ravens and the meat normally eaten by ravens was also forbidden from consumption by God. But our God of miracles, commanded a forbidden bird to be the instrument through which His divine purposes would be fulfilled! What kind of meat did the ravens bring to Elijah? Obviously, not the meat of a carcass!  

We serve a God whose ways are totally beyond human comprehension. He is able to supply our needs from the most unlikely sources and through the most unlikely means. We must always be still before this amazing God.

Third: At a time when the rest of the nation was starving under judgment, Elijah was well fed morning and evening with meat and bread. The truth is meat was not the regular food of the common person on a daily basis -- twice a day in this instance. Meat on a daily basis could only be found at the king's table. But God fed Elijah like a king in the midst of the drought!!

We can trust God to give us the very best if our focus is not on acquiring the best for ourselves but giving the best of ourselves by way of service to Him. Remember: Even the ravens obey God's voice. God can command the ravens to feed you if you walk obediently with Him. Even in the midst of a drought, God can feed you supernaturally through ravens! 

PRAYER:
Father, I thank you that when we do your work your way, we will never lack, even if it means using the ravens to feed us. Help me to focus on the responsibilities you have assigned me, knowing that you can supply my needs through the most unlikely means. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/05/02/when-god-s-word-becomes-man-s-word Sat, 02 May 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/05/02/when-god-s-word-becomes-man-s-word

Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word."   I Kings 17:1

Israel had been in the throes of sin and idolatry for years. God's chosen people had neglected their covenant with God and turned to the worship of worthless idols created by the hands of man. Some of their kings had elevated idolatry to national prominence and God's moral compass had been tossed into the gutter. "There were even male shrine prostitutes in the land; the people engaged in all the detestable practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites." (I Kings 14:24)

The pain God experienced from being rejected is summarized by what He said to King Jeroboam: "You have made for yourself other gods, idols made of metal; you have aroused my anger and turned your back on me." (1 Kings 14:9).  These are the heartbreaking words of a faithful lover whose love had been trampled upon and taken for granted. I am always amazed at the candor with which God shows us His deepest wounds when we neglect Him.

As if things were not bad enough, Ahab became king of Israel and elevated idolatry to an unprecedented level. He married Jezebel whose father was a king-priest and imported the worship of their god Baal into Israel. He even erected a temple for Baal. It was in the midst of that nauseating idolatry that the prophet Elijah pronounced judgment on Ahab and Israel by calling forth a drought on the land. Elijah said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain . . . except at my word."

But were these the words of man or the word of God? How could a mere mortal have the audacity to pronounce years of drought on an entire nation? And is that possible today? Can you and I exercise the same spiritual boldness and pronounce judgment on an entire nation in the name of God? When does the word of God become the word of man?

Well, the Bible says this in connection with that question: " . . . The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years." (James 5:16-17). In essence: if Elijah, hewn from the same human stock as we are, could pray earnestly for a drought to engulf the land, then you and I could do the same!

But then we must remember: 
First, Elijah spoke a word of judgment that had already been put in place by God in Deuteronomy 28. Drought was one of the consequences Israel would suffer if they neglected God. 
Second, Elijah's words were pronounced at the command of God in his capacity as a servant of God. He did not speak his own mind and words. He spoke the living word of the Living God.

So, when does the word of God become the word of man so that what we speak as humans can become a reality? When we are serving God righteously and are desirous of seeing God  honored in the land, we can stand upon what God has spoken and expect it to become a reality. 

When God's word becomes the word of man because God is honored and not man, God will watch over His word to perform it. Man's word can only become the word of God if God is the source of those words as given in Scripture! May God's word be our word at all times.

PRAYER:
Father, Elijah spoke and it came to pass. May your word be my word so that you will be glorified when I speak. May I never seek to speak my word, but Yours alone. May your word be my word. May Scripture be the basis of every pronouncement I make! Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/04/30/the-benefits-of-fearing-god Thu, 30 Apr 2026 01:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/04/30/the-benefits-of-fearing-god

Who are those who fear the LORD? He will show them the path they should choose.
They will live in prosperity, and their children will inherit the land. The LORD is a friend to those who fear Him. He teaches them His covenant.
My eyes are always on the LORD, for He rescues me from the traps of my enemies.
(Psalm 25:12-15 NLT)

Fearing God simply means living in awe of Him by obeying His Word. A person who fears God is one who loves God so much that consciously doing things that are contrary to God's word are wrenching and heartbreaking. It brings no pleasure whatsoever. It leaves one conscience-stricken.

Fearing God does not mean perfection or a legalistic adherence to rules and regulations but rather a cheerful disposition of one's heart toward pleasing God in word, thought and deed. 
It is the most liberating way to live. 

There are many benefits of fearing God. The Bible tells us that the "fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." Wisdom is the ability to make good judgment. This ties into many of the benefits listed in Psalm 25. The Psalmist tells us that when we fear God, He will show us the path we should choose. Fearing God will cause us to live in prosperity and ensure generational blessings for our children. The fear of God also makes us a friend of God and gives us divine insight into our covenant blessings. The benefits of fearing God are numerous.

I want to challenge you to really reflect on this issue of fearing God. The entire Christian Life boils down to it. It is the pathway to true peace and prosperity. Imagine knowing deep down in your heart that God regards you as a friend because you genuinely fear Him!
Make a decision to live in the fear of God from this point on.

PRAYER:
Prayer: LORD, your greatest desire is that I will live in awe of You. I want you to know that in spite of the many ways in which I falter, I truly want to love you too. Holy Spirit, please help me to love God with all my heart, soul and might. I ask this in Jesus' Mighty Name. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/04/29/have-mercy-on-me-o-lord Wed, 29 Apr 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/04/29/have-mercy-on-me-o-lord

Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, LORD, are good.
Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He instructs sinners in His ways.
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way. All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of His covenant.
For the sake of your name, LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. (Psalm 25:6-11)

We have a covenant relationship with God which gives us access to divine love, mercy, grace, favor, and forgiveness. In times of affliction, sin or attacks from enemies, we can appeal to our covenant-keeping God. The Bible makes it clear that it is because of His mercies that we are not consumed. His compassions never fail; they are new every morning and great is His faithfulness.

Our God is compassionate and merciful. He is ever willing to cleanse and forgive.
Scripture tells us that He knows our frame and remembers that we are dust (Psalm 103:14).
God knows that there are many ways in which we falter and sin. He knows that there are times when our flesh gets the better part of us. He truly understands our humanity. No matter how terrible the sin, God is willing to forgive us "for the sake of His name."

Are there things that you need to confess before God? God is loving and faithful because of His covenant with us through Jesus Christ. 
Ask Him for mercy today. Your plea will not fall on deaf ears.

PRAYER:
Prayer: Father, I thank you for my covenant relationship with you through my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I confess that I do fall short of your word in many ways. Please forgive and cleanse me. Have mercy on me for you are kind, loving and faithful. I ask this in Jesus' Name.
Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/04/28/satan-has-asked-for-you Tue, 28 Apr 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/04/28/satan-has-asked-for-you

"But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My Kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
And the LORD said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."
But he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death."
Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me."    Luke 22:28-34 (NKJV)

Jesus was seated at dinner, eating His last supper on earth with His twelve disciples. He was pouring His heart out for the last time and bestowing blessings on those who had stuck faithfully with Him through all the challenges of ministry. It definitely must have been a moment to behold!

In the process of assuring the disciples of all the wonderful things in store for them, there was a sudden shift in the conversation. Jesus focused on Peter and said in an urgent voice: "Simon, Simon! Satan has asked for you that he might sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith should not fail . . . ." 

I can almost imagine what was happening in the spirit realm to which Simon Peter and the other disciples were not privy! I can almost imagine Satan listening in on the conversation Jesus was having with His disciples and suddenly asking Jesus for permission to sift Peter.
To sift, in the sense being used, simply means Satan wanted to shake and agitate Peter to the point where Peter would give up his faith in God! So, question: Why would Satan ask to sift Peter as wheat? Why would he want to attack, shake and agitate Peter with the express aim of causing his faith to fail?

You see: Satan knew that God had a critical assignment for Peter in the Kingdom. He knew that Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost was going to bring 3000 souls to Christ in one day. He knew that Peter was destined to bring leadership to the Church, write some books of the Bible, and even cause people to be healed just by the casting of his shadow on the sick. Causing Peter to fail in his faith meant that Satan would preempt all those things from happening! But the good news is that Jesus had prayed proactively for Peter so his faith would not fail. Proactive prayers take the venom out of Satan's attacks. Peter denied Jesus and went back to fishing but Jesus restored him. Peter's faith did not fail.

If you have made a decision to follow Jesus wholeheartedly and you have made yourself available for God to use you in His Kingdom, you can be sure that Satan will ask to sift you at some point in time. But don't panic because Jesus has prayed for you! You will experience trials, challenges, and attacks but hold on, you will come through! Satan has asked for you; but Jesus has prayed for you! You will not not fail! You will accomplish your God-assigned destiny!


 

PRAYER:
Lord, I thank you that nothing will ever happen to me without your knowledge or sanction. I thank you that I can depend on your prayers to see me through every attack of the enemy. When Satan asks to sift me, I can remain confident that you will uphold me with your prayers. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/04/27/from-gold-to-bronze Mon, 27 Apr 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/04/27/from-gold-to-bronze

Rehoboam son of Solomon was king in Judah . . .
Judah did evil in the eyes of the LORD. By the sins they committed they stirred up His jealous anger more than those who were before them had done. They also set up for themselves high places, sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree. There were even male shrine prostitutes in the land; the people engaged in all the detestable practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.
In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. He carried off the treasures of the temple of the LORD and the treasures of the royal palace. He took everything, including all the gold shields Solomon had made. 
So King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and assigned these to the commanders of the guard on duty at the entrance to the royal palace. Whenever the king went to the LORD's temple, the guards bore the shields, and afterward they returned them to the guardroom.   I Kings 14:21-28

The alternative to true divine blessings are simply pathetic.
When Israel walked faithfully with God, God led them in battle and defeated their enemies time and again. The nation became prosperous and their King, Solomon, gained international renown. The nation was so wealthy that silver became of little value and as common as stones in the streets of Jerusalem. Solomon made large gold shields and placed them in the temple of God. God smiled on Israel and the nation prospered.

However, when Israel turned its back on God, their fortunes started waning. They became easy prey for their enemies and their wealth was plundered. The lofty standard of the nation fell from gold to bronze. The nation became nothing but a shadow of its former glory.

That is exactly what the enemy offers to us in the long run when we are enticed and eventually seduced by him to turn our backs on God. He replaces our lofty gold standard with a debased standard of bronze. Satan's goal is to replace our blessings of gold with bronze.
Let's remain sober and vigilant for this adversary of ours only comes to steal, kill and destroy. 
When given the chance, he will replace our gold with bronze! Don't give him the opportunity!

PRAYER:
Father, I know that the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy. Nothing he offers can ever compare with what you have for me. Please help me not to gravitate toward him in any shape, form or fashion. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/04/26/the-repercussions-of-ungodly-leadership Sun, 26 Apr 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/04/26/the-repercussions-of-ungodly-leadership

"The LORD will raise up for Himself a king over Israel who will cut off the family of Jeroboam. Even now this is beginning to happen. And the LORD will strike Israel, so that it will be like a reed swaying in the water. He will uproot Israel from this good land that He gave to their ancestors and scatter them beyond the Euphrates River, because they aroused the LORD's anger by making Asherah poles. And He will give Israel up because of the sins Jeroboam has committed and has caused Israel to commit."
. . . The other events of Jeroboam's reign, his wars and how he ruled, are written in the annals of the kings of Israel. He reigned for twenty-two years and then rested with his ancestors . . .   I Kings 14:14-20

Israel under David was focused on serving God loyally. David laid a godly foundation for the nation and the result was one of blessings and prosperity. God was so pleased with the loyalty of David that He promised to build him an enduring legacy. This promise continued when David's son, Solomon, took over the kingship after the death of David. God assured Solomon that if he showed the same loyalty to Him as his father David had done, the dynasty of kingship in their lineage would never be broken. God prospered Solomon and made him the richest and wisest king who ever lived.

Solomon, however, loved many foreign women and in his old age, his wives turned his heart after other gods. God spoke to him but he did not listen. The result was catastrophic. The kingdom was divided into two and the once strong and prosperous nation was set on a path of decline.

Jeroboam, who became the ruler of the larger portion of the divided kingdom, also turned his back on God. He actively promoted the worship of other gods purposely to keep Israel away from serving the only true God. Again, this ungodliness resulted in devastation for Israel. God's words of judgment were: ". . . You have aroused my anger and turned your back on me. Because of this, I am going to bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam . . . and the LORD will . . . uproot Israel from the good land that He gave to their ancestors . . . and He will give Israel up because of the sins Jeroboam has committed and caused Israel to commit."
The bad and ungodly leadership of Jeroboam resulted in generations of pain for citizens of Israel yet to be born.

Leadership carries with it enormous responsibility. When ungodly choices are made by leadership, it affects the destiny of entire nations and even the world at large. That is why the Bible enjoins us to pray for those in authority. This a spiritual responsibility that must not be taken lightly because the repercussions of ungodly leadership can be enormously destructive.

PRAYER:
Lord, I pray for those in leadership roles in our nation today. I pray that you will guide them to make decisions that will ensure the peace and prosperity of all. Amen

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/04/25/turn-to-god-before-it-is-too-late Sat, 25 Apr 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/04/25/turn-to-god-before-it-is-too-late

At that time Abijah son of Jeroboam became ill, and Jeroboam said to his wife, "Go, disguise yourself, so you won't be recognized as the wife of Jeroboam. Then go to Shiloh. Ahijah the prophet is there -- the one who told me I would be king over this people. Take ten loaves of bread with you, some cakes and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what will happen to the boy."
. . . Now Ahijah could not see; his sight was gone because of his age. But the LORD had told Ahijah, "Jeroboam's wife is coming to ask about her son, for he is ill, and you are to give her such and such an answer. When she arrives, she will pretend to be someone else." So when Ahijah heard the sound of her footsteps at the door, he said, "Come in, wife of Jeroboam.  Why this pretense? I have been sent to you with bad news. Go, tell Jeroboam that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I raised you up from among the people and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. I tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you, but you have not been like my servant David, who kept my commands and followed me with all his heart, doing only what was right in my eyes.
You have done more evil than all who lived before you. You have made for yourself other gods . . . you have aroused my anger and turned your back on me.  . . . I will burn up the house of Jeroboam as one burns dung, until it is all gone. Dogs will eat those belonging to Jeroboam who die in the city, and the birds will feed on those who die in the country. The LORD has spoken!  . . . When you set foot in your city, the boy will die."
I Kings 14:1-12

Jeroboam received a prophecy from Ahijah in a very dramatic fashion that he would become king of Israel. Ahijah was sent by God to meet Jeroboam on the road. The prophet was wearing a new piece of cloak. He dramatically tore up the robe into twelve pieces and gave ten to Jeroboam, assuring him that God was going to give him ten tribes of the nation of Israel to rule over. The startling nature of the announcement was definitely unforgettable. But God required of him unqualified allegiance: If Jeroboam remained faithful to God, his dynasty would be secure.

Unfortunately, Jeroboam turned his back on God and became worse of an idol worshipper than any king before him. He led the entire nation of Israel away from the God who redeemed them from slavery and gave them the Promised Land. He instituted his own religious rules and appointed his own priests all in a bid to secure his rulership and entrench himself in power.
Even when God spared him and healed him, he did not repent. He remained insolent in his idolatry. He did not care about the Almighty God. Interestingly, however, when his son got sick, he resorted to all kinds of disguise and treachery to hear an answer from God.

But God is not to be mocked. We can never disguise ourselves in His presence. We can never hide from God. The Bible declares that everything is an open book before God to whom we must give an account (Hebrews 4:13). 

It is simply amazing how we can refuse to acknowledge God when we feel prosperous and in control, but how sober we can become and appeal to Him when we are down and out and judgment is upon us.  We can't hide from God. We will always run into Him at the end of our journey. Let's seek Him with all our heart before it is too late. He is always willing to receive us.

PRAYER:
Lord, I am grateful for the privilege to be your child. Please help me to remain an open book before you. Help me not to reject you but to always depend on you and not seek you only when things have fallen apart. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/04/24/the-heart-of-man-is-desperately-wicked Fri, 24 Apr 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/04/24/the-heart-of-man-is-desperately-wicked

Even after this, Jeroboam did not change his evil ways, but once more appointed priests for the high places from all sorts of people. Anyone who wanted to become a priest he consecrated for the high places. This was the sin of the house of Jeroboam that led to his downfall and to its destruction from the face of the earth.   I Kings 13:33-34

God gives us second chances so that we can repent and mend our evil ways. God always warns before sending judgment. In the courts of God, mercy always triumphs over justice. The Bible tells us to, "Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment." (James 2:12-13). This is the heart of our loving and merciful God. He shows abundant grace and mercy before releasing judgment. But divine judgment is bound to come when grace is trampled upon. In fact, we are admonished by Paul not to sin in the hope that grace will abound (Romans 6:1-2).

Jeroboam deserved to die for his incendiary sins of idolatry. He flagrantly violated the word of the living God and continued to do so with impunity even after God had spared his life and restored his shriveled hand. So, the aftermath seemed rather predictable: "This was the sin of the house of Jeroboam that led to his downfall and to its destruction from the face of the earth."  God gave him the opportunity to repent and be restored but he trampled upon the grace of God and was eventually destroyed.

Jeroboam's situation is not unique to him. It seems rather endemic to all humanity. Our hearts are desperately wicked and beyond cure and unless we hold tenaciously to a genuine fear of God, we can be as recalcitrant in our ways as Jeroboam was.
The wickedness of our hearts demand that we fall prostrate before our merciful God and ask for His grace daily to help us stay within the boundaries of His righteousness. We should never be cavalier about the things God warns us about otherwise we can slide into a state of no return. It happened even to Solomon: the brightest, the richest and the wisest of the human species. 

Coming to terms with our human wickedness and frailty helps us understand the prayer of David: "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me."
Being cognizant of this would cause us to humble ourselves daily and ask God to search us and cleanse from every wicked way just like David did.

PRAYER:
Father, I thank you for your inexhaustible grace and mercy.  Please help me never to take your grace for granted. Help me to continually examine myself in the light of your word and to continually live in repentance and not be recalcitrant in any form of sin. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/04/22/never-violate-god-s-instructions-to-you Wed, 22 Apr 2026 05:33:11 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/04/22/never-violate-god-s-instructions-to-you

Now there was a certain old prophet living in Bethel, whose sons came and told him all that the man of God had done there that day. They also told their father what he had said to the king. Their father asked them, "Which way did he go?" And his sons showed him which road the man of God from Judah had taken. So he said to his sons, "Saddle the donkey for me."  . . . and rode after the man of God.
. . . "Are you the man of God who came from Judah?"
"I am," he replied. So the prophet said to him, "Come home with me and eat."
The man of God said, "I cannot turn back and go with you, nor can I eat bread or drink water with you in this place. I have been told by the word of the LORD: 'You must not eat bread or drink water there or return by the way you came.' "
The old prophet answered, "I too am a prophet, as you are. And an angel said to me by the word of the LORD: 'Bring him back with you to your house so that he may eat bread and drink water.' " (But he was lying to him). So the man of God returned with him and ate and drank in his house.
While they were sitting at the table, the word of the LORD came to the old prophet who had brought him back. He cried out to the man of God who had come from Judah. "This is what the LORD says: 'You have defied the word of the LORD and have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you. You came back and ate bread and drank water in the place where He told you not to eat or drink. Therefore your body will not be buried in the tomb of your ancestors.' "
. . . As he went on his way, a lion met him on the road and killed him . . . and they went and reported it in the city where the old prophet lived.  I Kings 13: 11-25

The man of God from Judah refused to go with King Jeroboam when he asked him to come home for a meal and receive a gift from him for healing his withered hand. His response was precise: "Even if you were to give me half of your possessions . . . For I was commanded by the word of the LORD: 'You must not eat bread or drink water or return by the way you came.' "  So, what in the world would make him change his mind when another prophet appears to him and asks him to violate the same word of God which he had refused to disobey earlier?

The lessons are very practical and critical to our spiritual wellbeing and walk with God:
First: If you are confident that you have received instructions from God, never violate those directives no matter the title, position or authority of anyone who entices you to do so. God will change His directives to you through another person only if He, God Himself, has intimated that to you. The Scripture is clear that in the mouth of two three witnesses a matter should be established. Many times, people might conjure up things to derail you from your God-given vision and directives. They are dream-busters who will destroy your very destiny when given the chance.
Second: All that glitters spiritually is not gold. Even when a person claims to be a prophet or man of God, test the spirit because the Bible makes it abundantly clear that there are many deceiving prophets and spirits in the world. Such deceiving individuals prey on the gullibility of people and destroy their very destinies.

Third: Spiritual deception under the guise of "God says" are very difficult to detect. Always ask yourself, "Is what I am hearing in accord with the word of God?" "Does my spirit bear witness with what I am hearing?" If it does not, run away before you put your life in grave danger and even death. We live in a deceptively dangerous world with many false prophets lying and preying on people. Never violate God's word or instructions to you no matter what the enticement may be.

PRAYER:
Lord, we live in a dangerously deceptive world. A world in which spiritual predators are mauling innocent lives. Please help me to be astute in judging what is of you and what is not. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/04/21/the-god-of-judgment-and-compassion Tue, 21 Apr 2026 03:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/04/21/the-god-of-judgment-and-compassion

By the word of the LORD a man of God came from Judah to Bethel, as Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make an offering. By the word of the LORD he cried out against the altar: "Altar, altar! This is what the LORD says, 'A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who make offerings here, and human bones will be burned on you.' "
That same day the man of God gave a sign:  "This is the sign the LORD has declared: The altar will be split apart and the ashes on it will be poured out."
When King Jeroboam heard what the man of God cried out against the altar at Bethel, he stretched out his hand from the altar and said, "Seize him!" But the hand he stretched out toward the man shriveled up, so that he could not put it back. Also, the altar was split apart and its ashes poured out according to the sign given by the man of God by the word of the LORD.
Then the king said to the man of God, "Intercede with the LORD your God and pray for me that my hand may be restored." So the man of God interceded with the LORD, and the king's hand was restored and became as it was before. 
The king said to the man of God, "Come home with me for a meal, and I will give you a gift." But the man of God answered the king, "Even if you were to give me half your possessions, I would not go with you . .  . For I was commanded by the word of the LORD:  'You must not eat bread or drink water or return by the way you came,' "  So he took another road and did not return by the way he had come to Bethel.
I Kings 13:1-10

The compassion of God is often juxtaposed against His judgment in ways that are rather humbling and incomprehensible. Truly, God desires that no one should perish. His greatest desire is to see repentance and contrition. He would rather forgive and restore than punish and destroy. That is evident in the situation with King Jeroboam.

Here is a man who was uniquely favored by God and given ten tribes of the nation of Israel to rule over. God made it clear that He had chosen him to be king because Solomon had been unfaithful and turned to other gods. God promised him that if he kept His commands and followed Him diligently, He would build a dynasty for him like the one He built for David.

But for political expediency, King Rehoboam established shrines of worship at places of his choosing and appointed his own priests all in a bid to prevent the people of Israel from going to Jerusalem to worship. His rationale was that preventing them from going to the temple of God would prevent any possibility of the Israelites switching allegiance from him to the King of Judah in Jerusalem. He depended on lesser gods to keep him in power.

God sent a prophet to pronounce judgment on him. He hated the judgment and stretched forth his hand authorizing the seizure and possible death of God's servant. The hand shriveled up and he begged the man of God to intercede to God for the restoration of his hand. The man of God prayed and the king's hand was restored. 

How in the world would a man who had shown such contempt for the Almighty God receive such compassion from Him? The answer is simple: Our God is both a God of judgment and compassion. He would rather restore than destroy.

As children of this compassionate God, let's learn from our Father. In the face of attacks, and even great harm from others, let's show the same compassion our heavenly Father shows us. 

PRAYER:
Father, it is because of your mercies that I am not consumed in spite of my numerous shortcomings. Please help me to live out the same compassion as I relate to others. Amen

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/04/20/a-tree-by-the-river Mon, 20 Apr 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/04/20/a-tree-by-the-river

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
Or stand around with sinners, Or join in with mockers.
But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night.
They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit in season.
Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. 
                                                                                   Psalm 1:1-3 (NLT)

God puts a priceless premium on His word. He told Joshua that meditating and living by the word would lead to success and prosperity. The Bible says God has magnified His word above His Name. He also promises in Deuteronomy 28 that all kinds of blessings will come upon us and overtake us if we obey His word. The heart of God is inexplicably moved by obedience to His word. God blesses the obedient.

The Holy Spirit is reminding us in this Psalm that shunning sin and wickedness and delighting in God's word would cause our lives to be fruitful. Our lives would be like trees planted by streams of water (the banks of a river). Our leaves would never dry out and there would always be fruit from us. Everything we do would prosper!
The idea is that the power and blessings inherent in God's word would be continually released to uphold, nourish, and flourish our lives.

As you begin today, would you take this challenge of meditating and delighting in God's word? God's word is like a river. If you plant your life by the word of God, you will be like a tree planted by the river. Take God at His word. He is a Promise Keeper.

PRAYER:
Holy Spirit, please give me the grace to live obediently to my Father's word.
Help me to delight and meditate in it day and night. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/04/19/believe-and-be-blessed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 02:00:00 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/04/19/believe-and-be-blessed

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."  A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
John 20:24-29

Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance of the tomb and The Lord was not there. She told two of the disciples who also went to see the empty tomb. Jesus appeared to Mary and later to the disciples but Thomas was not with them. When the disciples told Thomas that Jesus was risen and that they had seen him, he said to them "Unless I see the nails . . . I will not believe."
Thomas' statement is followed by a very important response from Jesus. "Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." 
There is a blessing for those who have not seen The Lord with their own eyes and yet believe. Those who have placed their faith in Him and believe in what The Lord says, although we may not have seen the whole picture yet. In fact, this response from Jesus places believers, those who put their faith in Him, in a special position and makes them "blessed."

God calls us to a life of faith, to believe and trust Him totally even when we haven't seen everything. " . . . But my righteous one will live by faith." Hebrews 10:38. 
A life of faith will place you in the path of blessedness and as Jesus said in Mark 9:23, "Everything is possible for one who believes."
Abraham believed the word spoken to him by God and was truly blessed.
 "And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend." James 2:23

If Jesus says you are blessed, you will be blessed. Have faith and believe Him. God will always fulfill His Word. 
You will never be disappointed if you place your trust, faith, and belief in God, even when you are not seeing what God's up to.

For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."  1 Peter 2:6

PRAYER:
Lord, I do believe; help me to overcome my disbelief, so that all the blessings you have for my life will be mine. Amen.

]]> https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/04/17/follow-the-example-of-jesus Fri, 17 Apr 2026 23:14:48 +0000 https://renewalchristiancenter.org/blog/2026/04/17/follow-the-example-of-jesus

"My food . . . is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work." John 4:34

One of the reasons why Jesus was such a successful leader was because He was the greatest of all visionaries. His goal was to win the world for God and He focused on that vision passionately.

To Jesus, accomplishing His purpose on earth was the very food which energized Him. Jesus took twelve uneducated people and trained them to carry out His vision, and 2000 years later the Church of Jesus Christ is still strong. That is the power of vision.

Read this quote about Jesus and ponder it:
"His life was ordered by His objective . . . everything He did and said was part of the whole pattern. It had significance because it contributed to the ultimate purpose of His life in redeeming the world for God. This was the motivating vision governing His behavior. His steps were ordered by it. Mark it well, not for one moment did Jesus lose sight of His goal . . . there was nothing haphazard about His life -- no wasted energy, no idle word . . . He lived, died and rose again according to schedule. Like a general plotting His course of battle, He calculated to win."

Jesus was very focused on His vision and purpose in life.
If God has given you a vision, you must focus on it; work hard and accomplish it. If you don't focus and work hard, that vision will never be accomplished. God will do His part but you must also play your role. God will not do for you what you have to do for yourself.
Let Jesus be your example.

PRAYER:
Prayer: Father, I thank you for the vision you have for me. Please help me to follow the example of Jesus so that I can work hard and accomplish it. Amen.

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