The Unlikely Meal | Pastor Kevin Lewis | 08.23.26

Aug 24, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: When God Sends Ravens Instead of Doves

God often uses what we’d never choose to sustain what He’s building in us. Elijah expected a dove but received ravens—unclean, unwelcome, yet ordained. In seasons of isolation or battle, God’s provision may come through unlikely sources: criticism, closed doors, or even betrayal. These “ravens” aren’t mistakes but tools to nourish resilience and dependence on Christ. What seems unclean becomes holy when God commands it. The challenge is to trust His methods over our preferences. [44:34]

“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 directed 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.”
(1 Kings 17:2–6, ESV)

Reflection: What “raven” has God sent into your life recently that you initially resisted? How might this unexpected provision be strengthening your faith or character?

Day 2: Feeding on the Negative Without Growing Bitter

Spiritual battles often involve harsh words, disappointment, or seasons that feel barren. Like Elijah’s raven-delivered meal, God transforms bitter experiences into nourishment. A critical email, a closed door, or a painful loss can become fuel for greater anointing if surrendered to Christ. The key is to let these moments deepen reliance on Him rather than breed resentment. What the enemy means to poison, God repurposes for growth. [59:18]

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
(Romans 8:28, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one “negative” circumstance you’re facing. How could surrendering it to Christ transform it into spiritual nourishment?

Day 3: When Ravens Threaten to Steal Your Vision

Ravens feed on the eyes of their prey—a picture of how opposition can blur God-given vision. Hardship, betrayal, or discouragement may cloud your purpose, making dreams feel distant or dead. Yet God promises to restore sight to those who fix their gaze on Him. Just as He revived Elijah’s mission in the wilderness, He reignites vision in those who trust His timing. Clarity returns when we lean into His voice over the enemy’s lies. [01:05:16]

“Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.”
(Proverbs 29:18, ESV)

Reflection: Where has your spiritual vision grown dim? What practical step can you take today to refocus on God’s promises?

Day 4: Ravens Leave, But God’s Faithfulness Remains

Ravens come and go—unreliable, temporary, often leaving wounds. Yet their departure creates space for God’s faithfulness to shine. Noah’s raven never returned, but the dove brought an olive leaf (Genesis 8:7–11). Similarly, people or seasons that walk away often clear the path for deeper intimacy with Christ. His presence outlasts every abandonment. Grieve the loss, but watch for the dove of His peace. [01:03:16]

“He sent out a raven, and it flew back and forth until the water had dried up from the earth. Then he sent out a dove to see if the water had receded from the surface of the ground. But the dove could find nowhere to perch because there was water over all the surface of the earth; so it returned to Noah in the ark.”
(Genesis 8:7–9, ESV)

Reflection: What “raven” has left your life that you now see God used to deepen your trust in Him? How has His faithfulness met you in that void?

Day 5: The Wolf Targets Faith, But Jesus Prays

Ravens often signal wolves nearby—spiritual predators seeking to devour faith. Jesus warned Peter that Satan would “sift” him, but He also prayed for his faith to endure. Attacks on your confidence in God—doubts, failures, or lies—are not random. They’re targeted, yet so is Christ’s intercession. Your faith is worth fighting for, and the One who overcame death walks with you in the battle. [01:11:46]

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
(Luke 22:31–32, ESV)

Reflection: Where is the “wolf” circling your faith right now? How can Jesus’ prayer for you in John 17 anchor your heart today?

Sermon Summary

First Kings 17 raises Elijah as a prophet in a dark hour, when Ahab and Jezebel have led the nation away from the one true living God and into the worship of Baal. God sends Elijah to confront the lie that Baal controls the rain, and Elijah declares that rain and dew will not come until the Lord speaks. The word of the Lord then leads Elijah into hiding, not as punishment, but as protection and preparation for the battles ahead.

Obedience to God is met by opposition, because taking ground for the kingdom of God always draws spiritual resistance. The battle is not against flesh and blood, and the weight of that battle can make faithful people wonder if going back would be easier. God strengthens his people in the very place where the battle feels intense, and his provision often does not look like provision.

God commands ravens to feed Elijah. The raven is the unlikely meal, because Elijah would have expected a dove, not an unclean bird. Deuteronomy named the raven among the unclean animals, yet God uses that very vessel to bring bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening. God can use what a person would not choose to sustain what he is building on the inside.

God’s people do not get to decide what God is allowed to use. The closed door, the criticism, the delay, the wilderness, the betrayal, and the disappointment can become nourishment when God commands it. The enemy wants the negative thing to poison a life, but God can use that same thing to strengthen a life. Suffering can produce endurance, character, and hope when it is received under the hand of God.

The ravens also reveal what the battle feels like. Ravens leave, and betrayal is real, but God remains faithful when people walk away. Ravens eat vision, and God restores dreams that have become blurry under pressure. Ravens have a distinct cry, a sound that says, “It’s over,” but God’s word speaks a better word.

The wolf behind the raven is after faith. Jesus tells Peter that Satan asked to sift him, but Jesus prayed that his faith would not fail. Christ does not promise a life without wolves, but he intercedes for faith that survives the sifting and strengthens others afterward. Jesus, the bread of life, fulfills what Elijah’s meal pointed toward. When the unclean touches the clean Son of God, the clean does not become unclean. The unclean becomes clean.

Key Takeaways

1. God can use unlikely vessels [56:41] God’s provision may come through a source that looks strange, uncomfortable, or even unclean. Elijah did not get to choose a dove when God commanded a raven. The vessel may offend expectations, but the command of God makes it nourishment. Discernment learns to ask whether God has sent it, not whether personal preference would have chosen it. [56:41]
2. Negative things can nourish faith [59:18] The negative thing does not have to become poison in the soul. God can turn criticism, disappointment, and betrayal into strength for a future assignment. The wound is not minimized, but neither is it allowed to become lord. What came against a person can become what equips that person to set others free. [59:18]
3. Ravens may leave by mercy [01:03:36] Betrayal hurts because love was real, trust was real, and the loss was real. Yet some departures become mercy when God removes what would have kept draining vision and strength. The faithfulness of God is often discovered most deeply when human faithfulness collapses. A raven leaving does not mean God has left. [63:36]
4. God’s word outranks raven cries [01:08:46] The raven’s cry says, “It’s over,” and that sound can become the soundtrack of a weary soul. God’s word speaks louder than the noise circling a life. The surrounding sound must not become the interpretation of reality. The better word of Christ defines the future, not the voice of death. [68:46]
5. The wolf wants weakened faith [01:11:20] The enemy is not merely after comfort, circumstances, or reputation. The wolf is after faith, because faith is what Christ himself intercedes to preserve. Jesus prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail, not that Peter would avoid every sifting. Faith that survives the sifting becomes strength for brothers and sisters who are still in the fight.

## [71:20]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[40:23] - Honoring God’s Presence
[43:54] - First Kings 17 and Elijah
[45:21] - The Unlikely Meal
[46:15] - Ahab, Jezebel, and Baal Worship
[48:18] - Obedience Meets Spiritual Battle
[54:48] - Provision That Does Not Look Like Provision
[56:41] - Don’t Despise the Raven
[59:18] - Learning to Feed on the Negative
[62:30] - Ravens Leave
[64:54] - Ravens Eat Vision
[66:56] - The Raven’s Distinct Cry
[69:54] - Ravens, Wolves, and Hidden Predators
[71:20] - The Wolf Is After Faith
[73:04] - Jesus, the Bread of Life
[76:09] - A Call to Surrender to Christ

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 Kings 17:2-6
“Then the word of the Lord came to him: 'Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.' So he went and did according to the word of the Lord. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.” [44:09]

Ephesians 6:12
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” [49:18]

Luke 22:31-32
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” [01:11:27]

Romans 5:3-4
“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,” [01:01:43]

Romans 8:28
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” [58:50]

Observation questions

In 1 Kings 17:2-6, what does God specifically tell Elijah to do, and what does God promise to provide for him in that hidden place?
What details stand out about the ravens’ provision for Elijah in the passage—when they came, what they brought, and where Elijah stayed? [44:49]
According to Ephesians 6:12, who is the real struggle against, and who is it not against? [49:18]
What are some of the “raven” pictures that come up in this passage and message—ravens feeding, ravens leaving, ravens affecting vision, and ravens having a distinct cry? [01:06:56]

Interpretation questions

Why might God have chosen ravens—an unclean and unexpected vessel—to feed Elijah instead of using something that seemed more spiritual or more comfortable? [56:41]
Romans 8:28 says God works all things together for good. How should that shape the way a believer understands criticism, delay, disappointment, or betrayal? [58:28]
Jesus tells Peter that Satan wanted to sift him, but Jesus prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail. What does that suggest about what the enemy is really trying to attack in a person’s life? [01:11:20]
The raven’s cry says, “It’s over,” but God’s word speaks a better word. What is the difference between interpreting life by the noise around a person and interpreting life by the word of God? [01:08:46]

Application questions

What has felt like an “unlikely meal” in this season of life—something unwanted, uncomfortable, or disappointing that God may still be using to sustain or shape faith? [54:45]
Is there a “raven” that has been hard to receive because it did not look like provision—a closed door, a delay, a hard conversation, a painful loss, or an unexpected person? What might it look like to receive from God without calling evil good? [58:36]
Where has betrayal or someone’s departure left real pain? How might God be inviting that pain to become a place where his faithfulness is experienced more deeply? [01:03:36]
Has vision for life, family, calling, or obedience become blurry under pressure? What used to feel clear from God that now needs to be restored? [01:05:32]
What has the raven’s cry been saying lately—“it’s over,” “nothing will change,” “God is finished,” or something similar? What specific word from God needs to answer that voice? [01:08:10]
If the wolf is after faith, where does faith feel most pressured right now? What would it look like this week to guard faith instead of just trying to fix circumstances? [01:11:36]
Jesus is the Bread of Life. When the soul feels worn down, what false sources of nourishment are most tempting to reach for, and what would it look like to feed on Christ in a practical way this week? [01:13:04]

Sermon Clips

42s

#UnexpectedProvision

“So so Elijah, as he's hearing God, telling him that he's gonna send the ravens to feed him, is under the the the law and the belief that ravens are unclean animals that we're not supposed to partake of. And it's that unclean animal that God says, in your isolation, I'm going to use to bring you bread and meat and nourishment. So so what do you do when God sends something that is unclean to provide nourishment for our beings? So let me say it this way. Don't despise the raven just because you were expecting a dove.”

60s

#TrustGodsProvision

“You don't get to decide what God is allowed to use to sustain you. Because, man, if I were to, like, if God gave me a menu and he said, what do you wanna eat? Come on. I'm going for the wagyu and the sushi, y'all. Send the dove, Lord, and God uses. This is why, like, I just encourage you. I think too often in our mindsets, a lot of times we think that we're better at being God than God is. So you don't get to decide what God has allowed to use to sustain you. So the difficult season, closed door, the disappointment, the criticism, the delay, the wilderness, the person you didn't expect, the betrayal. So here's the encouragement. If God commanded it, you can receive from it. God said, I commanded the ravens to come and feed you.”

66s

#GodUsesTheUnexpected

“God can use what you would not choose. This is how he works throughout scripture, by the way. God specializes in using unexpected vessels. God used a raven to feed Elijah. He used a wilderness to prepare Moses. He used a pit to position Joseph. He used a field to train David. He used a foreign woman to preserve Israel's future through Ruth. A palace to position Esther. A weak man to defeat an army through Gideon. A jawbone to give Samson victory. A little boy's lunch to feed thousands, a little oil to provide for a widow, a dirty river to heal Naaman. Do you hear what I'm saying? There's a theme in the bible where god uses unexpected vessels, unexpected things to accomplish his will for the glory of God. It's our gospel, by the way. How did he say this? He used the cross as a mechanism to save all of humanity. God uses unlikely things. So here's what I've had to learn.”

73s

#WordOverNoise

“But the ravens have that distinct call, that distinct sound. And the sound of the raven in your life, here's what that sound has been saying to you. It's over. It's over. It's over. It's over. It's over. It's over. And that is the sound that you have been replaying to yourself. That is the sound that you have come to believe because as the ravens are circling, that distinct call has been trying to scream death over your life. But I'm grateful that God is in the business of making dead things alive again in Jesus' mighty name. Have a distinct call. So let me encourage you, don't interpret your life by the sound around you. Interpret your life by the word that God has given you. He's giving you a word. So though the raven call may be loud, there's a better word deposited in my spirit. There's a better word that God speaks over my life. I'm gonna trust the true, unfailing, everlasting, never changing word of the living God. There's a better word over your life. So”

43s

#GuardYourFaith

“As I discovered this and was reading about this study, understanding that the ravens know where the wolves are, the enemy wants to do the same thing. He wants you to become so familiar with the raven that you don't recognize the wolf. The ravens are circling. The ravens are calling. The raven is looking for something to consume, and behind it is a predator. Fourth and final thought I wanna give you today is that the wolf is after your faith. The wolf, the enemy, the evil one that comes to steal, kill, and destroy, he is after your faith.”

55s

#WhoOverHow

“So what's your vision? What's your vision? And I I just shared what the Lord placed on my heart about rebuilding David's fallen tent and that it would be the glory of God in the middle and it would draw all types of people in and disciples would be made and a region would be changed by the person and power of Jesus Christ. Then they go, well well, how? How are you gonna do that? I'm like, wow. Kids ministry, great singing, good donuts on a Sunday morning. Maybe that's it. But I I didn't really have a how. I didn't have a what. But you know what I did have? I had a who. I had a who, and that who was Christ Jesus. And he gave me a word for a reason, and and I I just wanna encourage somebody. You may not have a how. You may not have a what. But if you have a who, then the who is Christ Jesus, he is worth every every ounce of your energy.”

51s

#TurnPainIntoPurpose

“can I tell you how many people new to church, new to following God, believe so many lies, will come up to me after services and let me know, pastor, thank you? I needed to hear that encouragement today. I thought God was so mad at me and disappointed in me. And but do you see when you learn to feed on the negative? God can use that thing Right. To transform the lives of other people around you. The enemy wants that negative thing to poison you, but God can use that same thing to strengthen you. Yes. That's why suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character and character produces hope.”

44s

#JesusSustains

“you might be here for the first time and you feel, to be honest, you've tried all the different stuff. You're you're searching for fulfillment in your soul. You're searching for nourishment and maybe you're really going through it and you're like, man, I've tried everything else. I might as well try this church thing. I wanna say it's bigger than just trying the church thing. There is an everlasting love. There is a bread of life that can nourish your being, and his name is Christ Jesus. I'm telling you, Buddha cannot save you. Allah cannot save you. Jesus alone can save you. He can nourish you. He is the gate. He is the door. He is the way. He is the truth. He is the light. There is no other name under heaven by which man may be saved than the name that is Christ Jesus.”

Ask a question about this sermon

Mission Church This sermon · AI assistant

How can God use unlikely vessels to nourish?

What does feeding on the negative mean spiritually?

How do ravens symbolically attack spiritual vision?