My Redemption Stories

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At The King's Table - Pastor Rhonda Davis

At the King’s Table
In this moving and deeply personal message, Pastor Rhonda explores the "portrayal of grace" through the biblical story of Mephibosheth. She delivers a powerful reminder that no matter how many times we have been "dropped" by life, there is a seat reserved for us at the King’s table—a place where sinners become saints and the broken find healing.
Key Highlights
The Tragedy of being "Dropped": Mephibosheth was born to royalty but became disabled at age five when his nurse dropped him while fleeing a takeover. Pastor Rhonda notes that many of us feel "dropped" by circumstances, failures, or the decisions of others.
The Reality of Lo Debar: Mephibosheth ended up in Lo Debar, which means "no pasture" or "place of nothing." This represents a mental state where hope dries up and we believe our best days are behind us.
Grace Seeks You First: David didn't wait for Mephibosheth to find him; he went looking for someone to show "Hesed" (loyal, unfailing love) to. Similarly, God doesn't wait for us to get it together; He comes looking for us in our broken places.
Hidden Limitations: When Mephibosheth sat at the King's table, the tablecloth covered his crippled feet. Pastor Rhonda explains that at God’s table, His grace covers our past, our limitations, and our shame.
Treated Like Family: Mephibosheth didn't eat like a servant or a charity case; he ate "like one of the king's sons." Grace provides full dignity, honor, and rights to the household of God.
The Journey from Lo Debar to the Palace
Stage
The Lo Debar Experience
The King's Table Experience
Identity
"A dead dog" (Shame-based)
A Son/Daughter (Dignity-based)
Location
Barrenness, no pasture
Restoration, abundance
Support
Lame in both feet (Stuck)
Carried by the King's chariot
Future
Hope has dried up
Continual access to the King
Living Testimonies of Grace
Pastor Rhonda shared four powerful stories of modern-day "Mephibosheths" who found their seat at the table:
Jenny Cross: Survived a childhood of abandonment, homelessness, and witnessing the drug trade to become a miracle of love for her own children.
Zachary Wages: Spent years in foster care due to abuse but was adopted by a teacher who saw a son where others saw a case file.
Priscilla Phillips: Overcame childhood trauma and a hard battle with addiction to celebrate three years of sobriety and a new life in Christ.
Jay Dennison: Facing total organ failure and the "devils" of despair, he received a miraculous physical healing and a divine reminder that God wasn't done with his journey.
Core Message: A Table for the "Whosoever"
The message concludes with a challenge to the church to have a "Yes face"—to be a place that welcomes the outcast, the addict, and the broken without judgment.
"When you sit at the king’s table, your past is under the table... because grace has the final word."
Scriptures Mentioned
2 Samuel 9: The core story of David restoring Mephibosheth.
Romans 5:8: "But God put his love on the line for us... while we were of no use whatever to him."
Psalm 139: God’s ability to find us even if we "make our bed in hell."
Proverbs 21:1: "The heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord."
2 Corinthians 12:9: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
Ephesians 2:19: "You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but... members of his household."
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My Redemption Story - Paul Steel

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My Redemption Story - Pastor Mike Lyon

Whose Move Is It?
In this practical and challenging message, guest speaker Michael Laiya addresses a common frustration among believers: the tension between knowing what the Bible says and experiencing those truths in daily life. He emphasizes that while knowledge is the starting point, transformation only occurs when we move from head knowledge to active, obedient faith.
Key Highlights
The Information-Transformation Gap: Many believers are "religiously obnoxious"—they know the scriptures by heart but their lives remain unchanged. The problem isn't a lack of information; it's a lack of revelation followed by application.
Old Bread vs. Fresh Bread: Michael stresses that revelation must be fresh. Holding onto an old encounter with God is like eating stale bread—it once nourished you, but it won't sustain you today.
Faith is a Verb: Faith is not a feeling or a passive belief; it is your specific response to what God has spoken to you. The water only turned "hard" for Peter when he actually stepped out of the boat.
The "Whose Move Is It?" Principle: We often wait on God to move in our lives, forgetting that He may be waiting on our response. If He has already spoken a direction (even if it’s "quit eating junk food" or "call your former boss"), the next move is yours.
The Healing Power of Obedience: Sharing his own testimony of a potential cancer diagnosis, Michael explains how he stopped relying on past experiences and "washed himself" in the Word until the healing promise dropped from his head into his heart.
The Path to Transformation
Stage
Process
Your Role
Information
Reading/Hearing the Word
Study and memorize scripture.
Revelation
The Word comes alive
Hunger, thirst, and fast to hear His voice.
Transformation
The change in your life
Respond in faith/obedience (The "Move").
Core Message: Your Response is the Key
Michael poses a central question: Are you waiting for God, or is God waiting for you? He suggests that many people are stuck because they are waiting for a "zap" from God, while God is waiting for them to take the step of obedience He already asked for.
"God is not waiting for something to change in your life... He’s waiting for you to respond to what He’s already told you. It’s really simple. If He’s spoken something to you, He’s waiting for you to say, 'Yes, Lord.'"
Scriptures Mentioned
Romans 12:1-2: The command to present our bodies as a living sacrifice and be transformed by the renewing of our minds.
Psalm 1:1-3: The promise of prosperity for those who delight in and meditate on the law of the Lord.
Matthew 5:6: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness."
Mark 5:25-34: The woman with the issue of blood, who acted on her faith by touching the hem of Jesus' garment.
Mark 3:1-5: The man with the withered hand, who had to "stretch it out" before he could be healed.
Matthew 14:28-29: Peter walking on water only after responding to Jesus' command to "come."
Practical Reflection
The message concludes with a call to identify where you are "stuck." Whether it is a need for salvation, a specific mountain you need moved, or simply a need to reignite a cold heart, the solution is the same: identify what God has already said and take your move.
"Thanks for listening! For more information, visit churchoftheharvest.com. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and YouTube @cothcleveland.

My Redemption Story - Danny Wages

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The You, That God Knew - Michael Cook

Podcast Summary: The You That God Knew
In this impactful message, guest speaker Michael Cook explores the profound difference between how we see ourselves and how God perceives us. Drawing from the lives of David and Gideon, Michael delivers a "right-on-time" word for anyone who has ever felt overlooked, disqualified, or paralyzed by fear.
Key Highlights
God Doesn't Speak to Your Condition; He Speaks to Your Calling: Using the example of Gideon hiding in a winepress, Michael explains that while we focus on our current struggle, God addresses our future potential.
The Power of Obscurity: David wasn't developed in a palace; he was developed in a field tending "dumb sheep." Michael reminds us that God does His best work in hidden places where no one is clapping or watching.
Dangerous to the Devil: A recurring theme throughout the message is that when you step into the identity God has for you, you become a direct threat to the enemy's kingdom.
Identity vs. Resume: God doesn't call us based on our past failures, our degrees, or our social status. He calls us based on the "you" He knew before the trauma and the rejection.
A Personal Journey of Redemption: Michael shares his vulnerable story of traveling to Danville, Virginia, five years ago to pursue his now-wife, Lisa. He recounts the intense fear and "puking" anxiety he felt, believing he was too "black sheep" and "reprobate" for God’s plan, only for Holy Spirit to override his insecurity with peace.
Key Scriptures
1. The Calling of Gideon
Judges 6:12-16
"When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, 'The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.' ... Gideon replied, 'But how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest... and I am the least in my family.' The Lord answered, 'I will be with you...'"
2. The Anointing of David
1 Samuel 16:6-12
"But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height... The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'"
Additional References:
1 Samuel 17: David defeating Goliath using his own tools (the sling and stones) rather than Saul's armor.
Psalm 139 (Referenced): Being fearfully and wonderfully made/known by God.
Zechariah 4:6 (Theme): "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit."
Comparing the Two "Unlikely" Heroes
Feature
David (The Overlooked)
Gideon (The Afraid)
Location
In a field tending sheep.
In a winepress hiding wheat.
Status
The youngest/afterthought of the family.
The least of the weakest clan.
God's Greeting
"This is the one" (based on heart).
"The Lord is with you, mighty warrior."
The Battle
Fought with a sling, not Saul’s armor.
Fought with 300 men, not 32,000.
Core Message: Stripping Away the False Identity
Michael emphasizes that God often strips away the things we try to hide behind—like Saul’s armor or reliance on numbers—so that the "real you" can emerge.
"God will remove anything that tries to replace who He knew you to be. Victory doesn't come from imitation; it comes from revelation."
Action Steps for the Week
Stop Rehearsing Failures: Cease listing your limitations like a CPA and start believing what God says about your strength.
Dream Big: Reject "small thinking" and embrace the "greater things" God is calling you to do.
Acknowledge Your Value: When the enemy reminds you of who you were, let Holy Spirit remind you of whose you are.
Closing Prayer
The service concluded with a call to the altar to let the Holy Spirit wash over the congregation and "re-identify" them. Michael prayed that every person would sense their worthiness, not because of what they’ve done, but because of who God is.
"Thanks for listening! For more information, visit churchoftheharvest.com. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and YouTube @cothcleveland.

Testimony Wednesday - Meesh Kidd

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A Miracle In The House - Pastor Rhonda Davis

In this preparatory message delivered just before the Billy Burke Miracle Healing Crusade, Pastor Rhonda Davis at Church of the Harvest speaks on the divine mechanics of breakthroughs. Drawing from the biblical account of the widow and the jars of oil, she explores how God uses our "empty places" as the very containers for His extraordinary provision.
Key Highlights
Making Room for the Extraordinary: Pastor Rhonda emphasizes that miracles require space. Whether it's the physical vessel of the church building or the spiritual vessel of our hearts, we must intentionally "make room" for God to move.
The Inconvenience of the Divine: Recounting stories of missionaries staying in her childhood home, Pastor Rhonda notes that anointing often comes with inconvenience. Making space for God may disrupt our schedules, but the visitation is always worth the cost.
The "Now" Moment: Addressing the crisis of the widow in 2 Kings 4, Pastor Rhonda explains that God isn't interested in just discussing the past. He meets us in the raw, authentic "now" of our desperation.
Childlike Expectation: Using the story of a young girl bringing an umbrella to a prayer meeting for rain, she challenges the congregation to increase their "expectation trigger." Logic is good, but faith must remain creative and expectant.
The Power of Shutting the Door: A critical step in the widow's miracle was shutting the door behind her. Pastor Rhonda explains that we must "shut the door" on critics, mourners, and the voices of doubt to allow the oil of the Spirit to flow.
The Widow's Miracle: A Spiritual Framework
Step
Action
Spiritual Principle
1
Cry Out
Authenticity is the beginning of the miracle. Don't dress up your mess.
2
Identify What You Have
God starts with what you have (the "little oil"), not what you lack.
3
Gather Empty Vessels
God doesn't just add to what is full; He fills what is emptied out.
4
Shut the Door
Protect your miracle from outside critics and "mourners."
5
Start Pouring
Obedience is the active container for the miracle. Pour before you see the multiplication.
Core Message: Extraordinary Grace for Empty Places
Pastor Rhonda thunders a word of encouragement to those feeling "void" or "without form." Just as the Spirit hovered over the darkness in Genesis, God has extraordinary grace for the empty places in our lives.
"Don't curse the empty places. Don't let them mock you. Every time that empty place tries to get your focus, start saying to the Lord: 'I know you are the God who fills this. You've done it before, and You will do it again.'"
Scriptures Mentioned
Habakkuk 1:5: "Watch and be utterly amazed... I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe even if you were told."
2 Kings 4:1-7: The story of the widow's oil and the empty jars.
Genesis 1:1-3: The Spirit hovering over the void before creation.
Ezekiel 16:6: "And when I passed by you and saw you struggling in your own blood, I said to you... 'Live!'"
Closing Challenge: Bring Your Umbrella
As the church prepares for a week of healing services, Pastor Rhonda leaves the congregation with a final image: the "Red Umbrella." She urges everyone to live with an active expectation of a "suddenly," believing that the oil of God's provision will never run dry as long as there is an empty vessel ready to receive it.
"Thanks for listening! For more information, visit churchoftheharvest.com. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and YouTube @cothcleveland.

Sonya Merkel Testimony

Sonya Merkel testified to the Lord's goodness in her life.
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Testimony Wednesday: Josh Castleberry

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