Message from Pastor Rohan
“As we step into a new year, I want to invite you into a sacred season of consecration, alignment, and spiritual renewal. From January 12th to January 31st, our church will enter a time we are calling Spiritual Detox, centered on the theme ‘The Kingdom Blueprint.’
This season is about intentionally clearing space: spiritually, emotionally, and communally; so that we can hear God clearly and align our lives with His Kingdom purposes as we prepare for the vision ahead.”
Book(s) of the Week
- Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible by E. Randolph Richards & Brandon J. O'Brien —
- Revelation for the Rest of Us: A Prophetic Call to Follow Jesus as a Dissident Disciple —
Spiritual Detox: Exposing the Lie of the Idol
The famine in the days of Elijah was not a random natural disaster; it was a spiritually targeted response to the reordering of worship in Israel. When King Ahab married Jezebel and bowed to Baal, he wasn't just making a political move—he was committing theological betrayal. By shifting the nation’s devotion, Ahab was claiming that a false god held the power over Israel’s survival. God’s response of a famine was a direct challenge to this new, corrupted theology, designed to meet the people at the very point of their misplaced trust.
To understand the famine, we must understand the idol. Baal was the Canaanite god of storms, rain, and fertility, believed by his followers to be the one who battled drought and brought life to the land. By shutting up the heavens, Yahweh was not acting out of insecurity; He was exposing the impotence of the rival. God met Baal on his own "turf" to prove a point: if the people believed Baal controlled the rain and the harvest, God would give that false god three years of full opportunity to prove it.
For three long years, the verdict of the famine was clear: idols can promise, but they cannot perform. While the mythology of the day portrayed Baal as the victor over death and drought, the reality of the dry ground and silent skies told a different story. God stepped back in sovereign confidence, allowing the false god to fail repeatedly. This silence proved that the rain, the seasons, and the very breath of the land did not respond to Baal, but were held solely by the Word of the Lord.
In our own lives, God often allows us to reach the limits of what we trust to provide us with clarity. These "famine seasons"—whether they be in our finances, our relationships, or our peace—are not intended to crush us, but to clarify us. God allows the pressure to rise so that we can see, without confusion, what cannot save us when life breaks down. He allows the drought to expose the "false gods" of comfort, control, and quick fixes that we have mistakenly given power over our lives.
Ultimately, the famine was a teaching tool for a nation that had lost its way. It demonstrated that nothing can replace the Word of God, which has the power both to shut the heavens and to reopen them. If you find yourself in a season where nothing seems to move, do not lose heart; God is simply showing you what cannot save you so that you can finally see the One who can. When the rain finally falls, you will know it wasn't your idols that delivered you—it was the power of His Word.
Detox Call To Action
We learned that Baal was the "god of convenience and agriculture"—the thing the people trusted for their daily survival. This week, identify one "false god" of comfort or control you’ve been leaning on to "send rain" in your life (this could be over-working for security, seeking validation on social media for worth, or using temporary distractions to numb stress).
For the next seven days, intentionally "fast" from that habit or reliance. When the discomfort of that "limit" hits, use that moment to acknowledge that while that idol can promise peace, only God can perform it.
Every morning this week, before checking your phone or your to-do list, spend five minutes in total silence. Tell God: "I recognize the limit, and I trust Your Word more than my timeline." Instead of asking God to change your circumstances, ask Him to clarify what He is exposing in your heart during the wait.