ARE YOU REALLY FIGHTING PORNOGRAPHY—OR NEGOTIATING WITH IT?
A Christian Call to Declare War on Sexual Sin
Pastor Joseph Clark

There comes a point in every Christian’s battle with pornography when we need to stop asking, “How can I manage this temptation?”

And start asking:

“How badly do I want to be free?”

Because pornography is not harmless entertainment.

It is not merely a private weakness.

It is not something Christians should simply learn to “live with.”

It is a temptation that can become an enslaving pattern of lust, fantasy, secrecy and sin. It can consume the imagination, corrupt the way we see other people, damage marriages and relationships, steal time, weaken prayer, and draw the heart away from the purity to which Christ has called His people.

And if you are a Christian who is fighting pornography, you need to understand something:

You are in a fight.

The question is whether you are actually fighting.

Or whether you are negotiating.

⸻

STOP NEGOTIATING WITH TEMPTATION

One of the greatest mistakes we make with temptation is giving it a conversation.

“I’ll just look for a minute.”

“I won’t go any further.”

“I’ve been good for two weeks.”

“This isn’t really pornography.”

“Nobody knows.”

“God will forgive me.”

That isn’t resistance.

That’s negotiation.

And Scripture doesn’t tell us to negotiate with sexual temptation.

It tells us to flee.

“Flee fornication.”

— 1 Corinthians 6:18

Paul told Timothy:

“Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

— 2 Timothy 2:22

Notice the word:

FLEE.

Not debate.

Not analyze.

Not negotiate.

Not see how close you can get without crossing the line.

Run.

Joseph understood this.

When Potiphar’s wife attempted to seduce him, Joseph didn’t stay around to see how strong his resistance would be.

When she grabbed him, Scripture says:

“And he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.”

— Genesis 39:12

Joseph ran.

Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is close the laptop.

Sometimes it’s putting the phone down.

Sometimes it’s getting out of bed.

Sometimes it’s leaving the room.

Sometimes it’s calling your accountability partner.

Sometimes it’s getting on your knees.

FLEE.

⸻

JESUS DIDN’T NEGOTIATE WITH SATAN

Look at Jesus in the wilderness.

Satan came when Jesus was physically weakened after fasting forty days and forty nights.

The devil tempted Him.

And what did Jesus do?

He didn’t engage Satan in a philosophical debate.

He didn’t entertain the temptation.

He didn’t say, “Let me think about that.”

He said:

“It is written.”

When Satan tempted Him to turn stones into bread, Jesus answered:

“It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

— Matthew 4:4

When Satan twisted Scripture to tempt Him again, Jesus answered:

“It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”

— Matthew 4:7

And when Satan offered Him the kingdoms of the world:

“Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”

— Matthew 4:10

Three temptations.

Three answers rooted in Scripture.

“It is written.”

That’s your model.

When pornography comes knocking, you need something stronger than emotion.

Something stronger than willpower.

Something stronger than the promise that “this will make you feel good.”

You need the Word of God.

David said:

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

— Psalm 119:11

Don’t wait until you’re already looking at pornography to start thinking about holiness.

Put the Word in your heart now.

⸻

DECLARE WAR

Let’s be blunt.

If pornography has become a recurring sin in your life, declare war on it.

Don’t declare war on it tomorrow.

Don’t declare war on it after one more failure.

Declare war today.

Jesus used deliberately shocking language when describing how seriously we must treat sin:

“And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee…”

— Matthew 5:29

And:

“And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee…”

— Matthew 5:30

Jesus is not commanding literal self-mutilation.

He is teaching us that we must deal with sin radically and decisively.

If your smartphone repeatedly becomes the doorway to pornography, change how you use your smartphone.

If being alone late at night repeatedly leads you into sin, change your nighttime routine.

If particular websites, social-media accounts, or applications trigger lust, eliminate them.

If unrestricted internet access is destroying your purity, install safeguards.

If secrecy is feeding the problem, bring it into the light.

Stop protecting your access to the sin you claim you want to defeat.

⸻

ARE YOU REALLY STRUGGLING?

This is where the question gets uncomfortable.

A Christian can struggle with sin.

Paul describes the conflict between flesh and Spirit:

“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other…”

— Galatians 5:17

There is a battle.

There is resistance.

There is conflict.

But ask yourself:

Are you actually resisting?

Are you praying?

Are you fasting?

Are you reading Scripture?

Do you have an accountability partner?

Have you told another mature Christian about the problem?

Have you installed accountability software?

Have you removed private access to pornography?

Have you changed your routines?

Have you identified your triggers?

Have you stopped following accounts that stimulate lust?

Have you changed the environment in which you repeatedly fall?

Are you seeking pastoral help?

Are you willing to seek professional Christian counseling when appropriate?

Are you willing to seek a biblically grounded deliverance ministry if you believe you are dealing with entrenched spiritual bondage?

Or are you simply saying:

“I really want to stop”

while keeping every door open?

That’s not war.

That’s a weak attempt to negotiate a ceasefire with your own sin.

Commit.

⸻

MAKE PORNOGRAPHY YOUR ENEMY

Paul says:

“Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God…”

— Romans 6:13

You have a choice about what you present yourself to.

What are you yielding?

Your eyes?

Your imagination?

Your phone?

Your computer?

Your time?

Your sexuality?

Your mind?

Your body?

Who gets them?

Pornography wants them.

Christ wants them.

Choose.

⸻

DON’T BE IDLE

Idleness can become an open door.

If you are constantly alone, bored, scrolling, lying in bed, wandering through the internet, and allowing your mind to drift wherever it wants, don’t be surprised when temptation finds you.

Get busy.

Work.

Exercise.

Study.

Read.

Serve.

Pray.

Go outside.

Spend time with people.

Serve the church.

Build something.

Learn something.

Pursue your calling.

Paul instructed believers:

“And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands…”

— 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Don’t give temptation an empty house to occupy.

⸻

BRING THE BATTLE INTO THE LIGHT

Pornography thrives in secrecy.

That is why accountability matters.

James says:

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.”

— James 5:16

Find someone trustworthy.

A mature Christian man.

A pastor.

A mentor.

An accountability partner.

Someone who will actually ask you the hard questions.

Not:

“Everything okay?”

But:

“Have you looked at pornography?”

“Have you intentionally searched for sexually explicit material?”

“Are there apps on your phone that you are hiding?”

“Have you been honest with me?”

You don’t need someone who merely makes you feel better.

You need someone who loves you enough to tell you the truth.

⸻

SAFEGUARD YOUR DEVICES

Let’s stop pretending that technology is neutral when we know how we are using it.

If your phone is the primary gateway to your sin, safeguard your phone.

If your laptop is the gateway, safeguard your laptop.

Use reputable filtering and accountability tools.

Remove applications that repeatedly lead you into temptation.

Don’t sleep with an unrestricted device beside your bed if nighttime is when you repeatedly fall.

Don’t keep secret browsers.

Don’t create hidden accounts.

Don’t maintain a private digital world that nobody else knows exists.

Jesus said:

“And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee…”

— Matthew 5:29

The principle is clear:

Remove the access point.

⸻

FAST AND PRAY

There are battles that should drive us to our knees.

Jesus Himself fasted when He entered the wilderness.

Matthew records:

“Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.”

— Matthew 4:1

And:

“And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.”

— Matthew 4:2

Fasting isn’t a magic formula.

It doesn’t purchase God’s favor.

But it can become a powerful expression of humility and dependence upon God.

Tell the Lord:

“Jesus, I cannot conquer this in my own strength. I need You.”

Pray when the temptation comes.

Pray before it comes.

Pray when you are strong.

Pray when you are weak.

And believe God.

Paul says:

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful…”

— 1 Corinthians 10:13

And then comes one of the greatest promises in Scripture:

“…but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

— 1 Corinthians 10:13

Look for the escape route.

And when God provides it—

TAKE IT.

⸻

PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD

You are not merely fighting a website.

You are fighting temptation.

You are fighting lust.

You are fighting deception.

And Scripture describes the Christian life as spiritual warfare.

Paul says:

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

— Ephesians 6:10–12

Then he tells us to take:

The belt of truth.

The breastplate of righteousness.

The Gospel of peace.

The shield of faith.

The helmet of salvation.

The sword of the Spirit—which is the Word of God.

And:

Prayer.

Pornography can become a powerful instrument of temptation and enslavement.

Don’t underestimate it.

Peter says:

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Whom resist stedfast in the faith…”

— 1 Peter 5:8–9

Be sober.

Be vigilant.

Resist.

⸻

SEEK DELIVERANCE IF YOU NEED IT

Some Christians experience pornography as an entrenched pattern of bondage that requires more intensive spiritual intervention.

If you believe that describes you, seek a mature, biblically grounded deliverance minister who understands Scripture, repentance, spiritual warfare, accountability, and the finished work of Christ.

One resource used in some Christian settings is Neil Anderson’s Bondage Breaking material.

But understand this carefully:

Your deliverer is not a minister.

Your deliverer is Jesus Christ.

No technique saves you.

No program saves you.

No deliverance minister saves you.

No accountability application saves you.

Jesus saves.

Jesus said:

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

— John 8:36

⸻

FILL YOURSELF WITH CHRIST

Here’s the part many people miss.

The Christian life isn’t merely about removing pornography.

It’s about filling your life with Christ.

Paul says:

“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.”

— Ephesians 5:18

Fill your mind with Scripture.

Fill your home with worship.

Fill your day with prayer.

Fill your time with service.

Fill your life with godly relationships.

Fill your heart with the things of God.

Paul tells us:

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report… think on these things.”

— Philippians 4:8

The goal isn’t simply:

“I must stop thinking about pornography.”

The goal is:

“I want to think more about Christ.”

⸻

TAKE IT ONE DAY AT A TIME

You don’t have to promise God that you’ll never be tempted again.

You don’t have to figure out how you’re going to remain pure for the next thirty years.

Win today.

When tomorrow comes, win tomorrow.

Jesus said:

“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.”

— Matthew 6:34

Take today seriously.

Today, don’t look.

Today, don’t search.

Today, don’t indulge.

Today, pray.

Today, read the Word.

Today, walk in the Spirit.

Today, keep your eyes on Jesus.

One day at a time.

⸻

AND IF YOU FALL—GET BACK UP

This is crucial.

If you fall, Satan will whisper:

“You failed again.”

Then:

“You’re a hypocrite.”

Then:

“You might as well keep going.”

Don’t listen.

Repent.

Confess it.

Get honest.

Tell your accountability partner.

Identify what led to the fall.

Close the door you left open.

And get back up.

“For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again…”

— Proverbs 24:16

One failure does not mean you should surrender.

A person who falls off a wagon doesn’t say:

“Well, I fell off, so I might as well lie in the road forever.”

Get back on.

Repentance means turning back toward God.

Don’t allow shame to become an excuse for continued sin.

⸻

DON’T USE GRACE AS AN EXCUSE

Never say:

“God forgives me, so it doesn’t matter.”

Paul asks:

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

God forbid.”

— Romans 6:1–2

Grace is not permission to remain enslaved.

Grace teaches us:

“…denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.”

— Titus 2:12

Christ did not die to make you comfortable in your chains.

He came to set you free.

⸻

SO—ARE YOU REALLY FIGHTING?

Here is the question I want you to answer honestly.

Are you really fighting pornography?

Or are you negotiating with it?

Are you praying?

Are you fasting?

Are you in the Word?

Are you accountable?

Are your devices protected?

Are you eliminating your triggers?

Are you fleeing immediately?

Are you seeking help?

Are you willing to confess?

Are you willing to change your habits?

Are you willing to sacrifice convenience for purity?

Are you treating pornography like the serious spiritual threat that it is?

Because you cannot declare war on pornography while secretly maintaining a supply line to it.

You must choose.

You cannot serve Christ and willingly cultivate the sin that is destroying your fellowship with Him.

Jesus said:

“No man can serve two masters…”

— Matthew 6:24

So declare war.

Not against yourself.

Not against your sexuality.

Not against God’s good design for sexual intimacy.

Declare war against lust.

Declare war against pornography.

Declare war against secrecy.

Declare war against compromise.

Declare war against the lies that tell you that you cannot change.

And then—

LOOK TO JESUS.

“…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…”

— Hebrews 12:1–2

Your hope isn’t your willpower.

Your hope isn’t your perfect record.

Your hope isn’t an accountability application.

Your hope isn’t a deliverance minister.

YOUR HOPE IS JESUS CHRIST.

Submit to God.

Resist the devil.

Flee temptation.

Take the escape route.

Get back up when you fall.

Stay in the Word.

Put on the armour.

And keep your eyes on Jesus.

James gives us the battle cry:

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.”

— James 4:7–8

SUBMIT.

RESIST.

DRAW NEAR.

And keep fighting.

⸻

A PRAYER FOR FREEDOM FROM PORNOGRAPHY AND SIN

Heavenly Father,

I come before You in the name of Jesus Christ.

I plead the blood of Jesus over all sin, sickness, temptation, evil, suffering, sexual sin, lust, and pornography.

I reject Satan and all his evil works.

I reject every lie, deception, temptation, bondage, and stronghold that would draw me away from Jesus Christ.

I renounce pornography and sexual impurity.

I repent of every time I have willingly entertained lust, fantasy, pornography, or sexual sin.

Lord Jesus, forgive me.

Cleanse me.

Purify my heart.

Renew my mind.

Strengthen my spirit.

Give me the power to flee temptation rather than negotiate with it.

Give me discernment to recognize temptation before it takes hold.

Give me the courage to close the door, put down the phone, turn away from the screen, and run from whatever would lead me into sin.

I receive Jesus Christ with all my heart and soul as my Lord and Savior.

I surrender my body, my mind, my eyes, my imagination, my sexuality, my desires, my relationships, my future, and my entire life to Jesus Christ.

Holy Spirit, fill me.

Teach me.

Guide me.

Strengthen me.

Convict me when I begin to wander.

Give me hatred for sin and a greater love for righteousness.

Help me to walk in purity.

Help me to walk in holiness.

Help me to walk in obedience.

Give me strength to fast.

Give me strength to pray.

Give me strength to stay in Your Word.

Give me wisdom to establish safeguards and accountability.

Give me humility to ask for help when I need it.

When temptation comes, remind me that You have provided a way of escape.

When I am weak, remind me that Your grace is sufficient.

When I fall, give me the humility to repent and the courage to rise again.

I declare that pornography will not be my master.

Lust will not be my master.

Sin will not be my master.

Jesus Christ is my Lord and my Master.

I submit myself to God.

I resist the devil.

I draw near to Jesus Christ.

And I place my complete faith and trust in Him.

In the mighty name of Jesus Christ,

Amen.

Good evening, brethren.
1. Evening devotion for today.

ED.i. *DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST*
(COCIN DEVOTIONAL)

*DATE:*
MONDAY 31ST AUGUST, 2026.

*SUB-THEME:*
YOUTHS: VESSELS OF GOD’S GRACE.

*TOPIC:*
FUTURE ASSURED.

*TEXT:*
JEREMIAH 29:11-13.
11. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
12. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
13. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.

*TOPIC:*
FUTURE ASSURED.

*THE MESSAGE:*
While our parents may plan for our future, God's plan for us is always perfect in timing and direction. His plans are always good, filled with hope and purpose. When we align with His will and seek Him wholeheartedly, we can be confident of a secure and fulfilling future. Even in times of hardship or uncertainty, like the current killings and land grabbing, God is not absent. He may be shaping a brighter future for us, just as He did for the people of Judah. The message of this text reflects God's unchanging character towards His people. His plans are always for peace and restoration, not harm. When we seek Him sincerely and pray, He listens and reveals Himself to us. The wicked may flourish, but for a short time (Ps. 92:27).

*REFLECTION:*
Believe that God has an assured future for you.

*PRAYER:*
Lord, help me to seek You wholeheartedly. Amen.

*MEMORY VERSE FOR THE MONTH:*
2 TIMOTHY 2:21.
"If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be instruments for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master, and prepared to do any good work."

*TODAY'S BIBLE READING PLAN:*
DANIEL 7-12.

ED.ii. USE WHATEVER YOU HAVE

"The One (Jesus) who is in you is greater than the one (the evil one) who is in the world." - 1 John 4:4

David was a shepherd boy and used handling a sling. He was familiar with it. When he was dressed in Saul's armor, he knew that he could not fight in that. He was not familiar with such armor. He could handle his simple sling. With this he killed Goliath, and this was a huge victory.

Shamgar was a simple farmer. He was familiar with working with an ox stick. He knew exactly how to handle it. So, he used what he was familiar with to defeat the enemy.

Work with what you have

You too must use what you are familiar with for the Lord's case. With this you will win the battle, because the Lord will be able to do miracles for you. Most work done in the Kingdom of God is done by simple people, who use what they have and start working with it.

God does not need big things

We do not need difficult things to enable God to perform great miracles. God does not need big things to do something big. You should not be afraid, but brave; you have to use what you have at hand and work with it.

Be obedient and go to war with what you have. Fight the enemy. The enemy is great, and he is always against us, but what does that matter when God is on our side? Although it seems that we are not in the majority, with Jesus we are more than conquerors, because He who lives in us is more powerful than he who controls the world. We do not need to be afraid of the enemy, because if we use what we have, we will overcome with Jesus.


https://www.theblessingdevotional.com

2. Evening Prayer for today.

EP.i. Evening Prayer

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light [are] both alike [to thee]. ⏤ Psalm 139:11-12

You can do more than pray after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed. ⏤ S.D. Gordon

Breathe upon us with Your breath of grace and love, our Father, and give us an evening blessing. Let our prayers rise before You as fragrant incense. Let Your peace be upon us. The shadows have deepened around us, but You are in the shadows, and we are safe. Darkness holds no danger when You are watching over us. Night is as day when . . .
Your eye keeps watch on us,
Your hand protects us,
And Your arm embraces us.

We go to our rest without fear or anxiety, for You are keeping us. Human arms, though their embrace is dear, are not strong. They cannot always hold us. Even the strongest of them must one day fall in the weakness of death. But Your arms are everlasting. Nothing can tear us from Your grasp. Nothing in the universe can separate us from Your love. No one can snatch us from the hand of our Savior. We bless You for Your love, for our security in it, and for the eternity of Your grace. Your promises are sure forever. We are as safe as if we were already in Heaven, for You are our God and Father, and we are Your redeemed children.

Whatever sins we have committed today, please forgive. If we have harmed one of Your little ones, show us how we have done it so that we may seek to make it right. If we have lost our temper and spoken unadvisedly, impatiently, unkindly, or uncharitably, either to or about someone else, we ask for forgiveness. Take not Your Holy Spirit from us. Restore to us the joy of Your salvation. Grant us grace and teach us the better way, the more excellent way, the way of love. We want to show forth Your praise in all our lives. Bless us and enable us to manifest Jesus wherever we go. We ask all this in the name of Jesus our Redeemer. Amen.

https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/57/evening

#taptapstudio
#youdevotion.

Morning, Charles Spurgeon devotional

"On mine arm shall they trust."
Isaiah 51:5

In seasons of severe trial, the Christian has nothing on earth that he can trust to, and is therefore compelled to cast himself on his God alone. When his vessel is on its beam-ends, and no human deliverance can avail, he must simply and entirely trust himself to the providence and care of God. Happy storm that wrecks a man on such a rock as this! O blessed hurricane that drives the soul to God and God alone! There is no getting at our God sometimes because of the multitude of our friends; but when a man is so poor, so friendless, so helpless that he has nowhere else to turn, he flies into his Father's arms, and is blessedly clasped therein! When he is burdened with troubles so pressing and so peculiar, that he cannot tell them to any but his God, he may be thankful for them; for he will learn more of his Lord then than at any other time. Oh, tempest-tossed believer, it is a happy trouble that drives thee to thy Father! Now that thou hast only thy God to trust to, see that thou puttest thy full confidence in him. Dishonor not thy Lord and Master by unworthy doubts and fears; but be strong in faith, giving glory to God. Show the world that thy God is worth ten thousand worlds to thee. Show rich men how rich thou art in thy poverty when the Lord God is thy helper. Show the strong man how strong thou art in thy weakness when underneath thee are the everlasting arms. Now is the time for feats of faith and valiant exploits. Be strong and very courageous, and the Lord thy God shall certainly, as surely as he built the heavens and the earth, glorify himself in thy weakness, and magnify his might in the midst of thy distress. The grandeur of the arch of heaven would be spoiled if the sky were supported by a single visible column, and your faith would lose its glory if it rested on anything discernible by the carnal eye. May the Holy Spirit give you to rest in Jesus this closing day of the month

TODAY'S KINGDOM INSIGHTS:

SERMON TOPIC:

6 SIGNS SOMEONE ISN’T REALLY CHRISTIAN.

“A Christian by Name, or a Christian by Nature?”

Text:

Matthew 7:21–23; 2 Corinthians 13:5; 1 John 2:3–6

NOT EVERYONE WHO SAYS “LORD” KNOWS THE LORD.
There is a dangerous assumption in Christianity today:
“If someone goes to church, carries a Bible, posts Bible verses, sings worship songs, or calls Jesus ‘Lord,’ then that person must be a Christian.”
But Jesus warned us that this is not always true.
> “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 7:2
That statement should make every one of us pause.
Jesus did not say, “Not everyone who attends church.”
He said, “Not everyone who says, ‘Lord, Lord.’”
This means it is possible to have Christian language without Christian life.
It is possible to have a Bible in your hand but not have Christ in your heart.
It is possible to be active in church but inactive in obedience.
It is possible to know Christian songs without knowing Christ.
And therefore, the question today is not:
“Do people think I am a Christian?”
The question is:
“Does my life give evidence that I truly belong to Christ?”
This message is not designed to judge other people. It is a mirror before it becomes a weapon.
Before you examine your neighbor, examine yourself.

LOOK AT THE 6 SIGNS:-

1. THEY HAVE NO GENUINE DESIRE TO OBEY CHRIST.
A genuine Christian is not perfect, but there is a genuine desire to please God.
Jesus said:
> “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” — John 14:15
Obedience does not save us; Christ saves us.
But genuine salvation produces a desire to obey the One who saved us.
Someone may say:
> “Jesus is my Lord.”
But if Jesus is truly Lord, He must have authority over your decisions.
You cannot continually say:
“Jesus is Lord,”
while your lifestyle says:
“I am my own lord.”
Important distinction
A true Christian can fall into sin.
But there is a difference between:
falling into sin and building your life around sin.
There is a difference between:
> “Lord, I have failed. Forgive me.”
and:
> “I know it is wrong, but I don't care.”
The first demonstrates repentance.
The second demonstrates rebellion.
2. THEY HAVE NO EVIDENCE OF SPIRITUAL FRUIT.
Jesus said:
> “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” — Matthew 7:16
Notice that Jesus did not say:
“You shall know them by their clothes.”
He did not say:
“You shall know them by their church attendance.”
He said:
“By their fruits.”
What is growing in your life?
Is there increasing love?
Is there increasing patience?
Is there forgiveness?
Is there humility?
Is there self-control?
Is there compassion?
Is there holiness?
Galatians 5:22–23 describes the fruit of the Spirit.

A genuine Christian should show evidence of spiritual transformation.
Not perfection.
Transformation.
If someone has been claiming Christ for years but there is absolutely no evidence of Christlike character, that should lead to serious self-examination.
3. THEY LOVE THE WORLD MORE THAN THEY LOVE GOD.
1 John 2:15 says:
> “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.”
The Bible is not saying Christians cannot enjoy God's creation, work hard, have possessions, or live normal lives.
The warning is about worldliness becoming the master of the heart.
When money becomes more important than righteousness...
When popularity becomes more important than holiness...
When sexual pleasure becomes more important than obedience...
When social media approval becomes more important than God's approval...
When material possessions become our identity...
Something is wrong.
Jesus asked:
> “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” — Mark 8:36
A Christian lives in the world, but the world must not live in the Christian's heart.
4. THEY HAVE NO LOVE FOR OTHER BELIEVERS.
This is one of the strongest biblical tests.
1 John 3:14 says:
> “He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”
Christianity is not merely about loving God with our lips.
It also affects how we treat people.
You cannot continually hate everyone, refuse forgiveness, enjoy destroying people's reputations, and then claim that your relationship with Christ is healthy.
Jesus said:
> “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” — John 13:35
Love does not mean allowing people to abuse you.
Love does not mean approving everything people do.
Love means treating people with the character of Christ.
Ask yourself:
How do I treat people who cannot benefit me?
How do I treat those who disagree with me?
How do I respond when someone succeeds?
Can I forgive?
Can I apologize?
Can I celebrate another person's progress?
Because sometimes the greatest evidence of Christianity is not what happens inside the church building, but how we behave outside it.
5. THEY ONLY FOLLOW JESUS WHEN IT IS CONVENIENT.
Some people want Jesus as Savior but refuse Him as Lord.
They want:
Blessing without obedience.
Breakthrough without discipline.
Promises without repentance.
Heaven without holiness.
The crown without the cross.
But Jesus said:
> “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” — Luke 9:23
Following Christ will sometimes cost you something.
It may cost you a relationship.
It may cost you an opportunity.
It may cost you popularity.
It may cost you comfort.
It may require you to say:
“No.”
when everybody else is saying:
“Yes.”
A genuine disciple does not follow Jesus only when following Him is profitable.
Real Christianity is tested when obedience becomes costly.
6. THEY HAVE CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE BUT NO PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST.
This may be the most frightening sign.
A person can know about Jesus without actually knowing Jesus.
You can memorize Scripture.
You can preach sermons.
You can sing worship songs.
You can teach Sunday school.
You can even perform religious activities.
And still have a heart far from God.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:23:
> “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Those are terrifying words.
Notice something:
Jesus did not say:
“You never knew about Me.”
He said:
“I never knew you.”
Christianity is not merely information about Christ.
It is relationship with Christ.
You can know the Bible and not obey the Author.
You can know Christian vocabulary and not know the Savior.
You can sit in church every Sunday and still be spiritually lost.

BIBLICAL CASE STUDY:

JUDAS ISCARIOT

One of the most sobering examples is Judas.
Judas walked with Jesus.
He heard Jesus teach.
He witnessed miracles.
He was among the disciples.
He participated in ministry.
Yet his heart was not surrendered to Christ.
Eventually, he betrayed Jesus.
This teaches us something uncomfortable:
Being close to Christian activity does not automatically mean being close to Christ.
You can be around the fire and still be cold inside.
You can be around worship and still have an unconverted heart.
You can be around pastors and still need salvation.
You can be a church worker and still need Jesus.
Therefore, don't ask:
“How long have I been in church?”
Ask:
“Has Christ truly transformed my life?”

A DEEP SPIRITUAL TRUTH.

Salvation is not proven by perfection; it is evidenced by transformation.
The Christian life is not:
> “I never make mistakes.”
It is:
> “I no longer want to remain the person I used to be.”
When Christ enters a person's life, something begins to change.
Their desires begin to change.
Their priorities begin to change.
Their relationships begin to change.
Their attitude toward sin begins to change.
Their hunger for God's Word begins to change.
Their response to correction begins to change.
Their heart begins to change.
That is the work of grace.

PRACTICAL ACTION STEPS.

1. Examine yourself
Paul says:
> “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith.” — 2 Corinthians 13:5
Don't only examine your neighbor.
Examine yourself.
2. Repent where necessary
Don't defend what God is asking you to surrender.
If the Holy Spirit reveals something, repent.
3. Return to God's Word
Don't build your Christianity around social media quotes.
Build it around Scripture.
Read it.
Study it.
Believe it.
Practice it.
4. Develop a genuine prayer life
Prayer is not merely asking God for things.
Prayer is relationship.
Talk to God.
Listen to God.
Seek His will.
5. Look for spiritual fruit
Ask:
“Am I becoming more like Christ?”
Not:
“Am I better than someone else?”
6. Make Jesus Lord, not merely Savior
Don't only ask Jesus to rescue you from hell.
Ask Him to rule your heart.

QUESTIONS FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION.

1. If someone watched my life for 30 days, would they see evidence of Christ?
2. Do I obey God only when obedience benefits me?
3. What fruit of the Spirit is growing in my life?
4. How do I treat people who cannot reward me?
5. Have I genuinely repented of my sins, or have I simply learned Christian language?
6. Do I know Jesus personally, or do I only know about Him?

POWERFUL PRAYER POINTS

1. Prayer of Examination
Father, search my heart and reveal anything in me that is not pleasing to You.
2. Prayer of Repentance
Lord Jesus, wherever I have lived in disobedience, forgive me and give me grace to turn completely back to You.
3. Prayer for Transformation
Holy Spirit, transform my character and produce Your fruit in my life.
4. Prayer for Genuine Faith
Father, remove every form of hypocrisy from my life. Let my Christianity be genuine, not merely outward.
5. Prayer for Love
Lord, give me grace to love people sincerely, forgive quickly, and represent Christ correctly.
6. Prayer for Perseverance
Jesus, when following You becomes difficult, give me strength not to turn back.
7. Prayer for Spiritual Hunger
Lord, give me a deeper hunger for Your Word, prayer, holiness, and Your presence.

STRONG CLOSING:

DON'T JUST WEAR THE NAME—CARRY THE NATURE.

Church, the greatest question is not:
“Am I called a Christian?”
The greatest question is:
“Does Christ truly live in me?”
Don't be satisfied because your name is on a church register.
Don't be satisfied because you have a Bible.
Don't be satisfied because you attend Christian programs.
Don't be satisfied because you can quote Scripture.
Don't be satisfied because people call you “Brother” or “Sister.”
Make sure you know Jesus.
If you have drifted, come back.
If you have been pretending, repent.
If your faith has become merely religious, return to Christ.

If you have never truly surrendered your life to Jesus, today is the day to surrender.
Because one day, every religious mask will fall.
Every title will disappear.
Every reputation will disappear.
Every earthly achievement will disappear.
And we will stand before Christ.
So let our prayer be:
> “Lord Jesus, make me a genuine Christian—not merely a Christian by name, but a Christian by nature, character, faith, obedience, and love.”
Don't just carry the Bible.
Live the Bible.
Don't just talk about Jesus.
Follow Jesus.
Don't just wear the name Christian.
Let Christ be seen in you.
May our lives preach the Gospel even when our mouths are silent. In Jesus' mighty name. Amen.

Accept Jesus Christ today by joining a Bible believing Church near you
You can get inspirational ebooks from my selar/Amazon shops below

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Shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life.

Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master.

Philippians 2:15–16 ɴᴋᴊᴠ; Luke 12:35–36 ɴᴋᴊᴠ

I have a connection with Christ in the light; I have not only to look away from things present and see that bright light up there, but I have to reflect it down here. I may be a very bad reflector; “never mind,” Christ says. “Go on, I give the power; I know you are nothing in yourself, and that you are in the place where it is night; but go on giving out light; soon you will be in God’s day.” That morning without clouds will usher us into the light where Christ now is. He is the Bright and Morning Star.

The night may be very dark, but the darkness does not reach up to the Bright and Morning Star. No cloud can cover Him: soon He will shine out. We are only on sufferance here, on our way to what lies farther on. He is our Bright and Morning Star; we shall see Him. He will take us up and guide us to the Father’s house, before the sun shines out. It is that hope which gives one courage to go on in the midst of failure. To be sure, I have failed. Have I been a good light reflector? No! but I am to go on as I can till He comes, till I see Him as the Bright and Morning Star. It is not that we look for bright light reflectors at His coming—though we ought to be such—nor the expecting to see lamps filled with oil; but the Holy Spirit in the Bride wanting Him to come.

Does He hear you cry, “Come, Lord Jesus”? Are your hearts so going forth as to be ever saying, “Come, Lord Jesus”? You need not look around and wait for another; you may say it to Him. Ah! Cultivate communion with Christ in connection with that word, “Come!”—looking at ourselves as part of the Bride still on earth, and the Spirit in her saying, “Come!”

G. V. Wigram


https://gbv-online.org/calendar/773/date/2026-08-31

Hello, I would like to share with you the message from 31 août 2026 from “The Good Seed” daily calendar.


Then as He entered a village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said: Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. (Luke 17:12-13)

Quarantine
The virus has struck: now we as a family are in quarantine for two weeks. Inevitably, I think of the men described in Luke 17. They are also in quarantine, suffering from leprosy, a highly contagious disease that was widespread at that time.
 We don’t know how they came together. They are obviously fellow sufferers – outcasts, destitute and desperate.
 But then they hear about Jesus, who is said to perform miracles. They adhere to the “social distancing” rules, but they cry out loudly for mercy – perhaps their last hope.
 When Jesus sees them, He says to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” The priests couldn’t perform miracles, but in the case of healing they were allowed to issue a “certificate of healing”.
 Obediently, the ten lepers set out. What do they have to lose? And then the miracle happens: they feel a change in their bodies. They are healed! Their joy is indescribable. But then the group breaks apart. One of them turns back. He no longer needs to maintain a distance as he is healed. He falls before Jesus and thanks Him for the miracle. From the mouth of the Saviour, he hears the words: “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.” However, Jesus rightfully asks: “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?”
 What about us? Are we healed and cured of our “sin sickness”? If so, are we truly grateful to Him?

Today’s reading: Judges 3:1-11 – 2 Corinthians 3:1-6

Good evening, brethren.
1. Evening devotion for today.

ED.i. *DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST*
(COCIN DEVOTIONAL)

*DATE:*
SUNDAY 30TH AUGUST, 2026

*SUB-THEME:*
YOUTHS: VESSELS OF GOD’S GRACE.

*TOPIC:*
BE BRAVE AND COURAGEOUS

*TEXT:*
1 SAMUEL 17:23-24, 34-37
23. As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it.
24. Whenever the Israelites saw the man, they all fled from him in great fear.

34. But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock,
35. I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.
36. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.
37. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”

*TOPIC:*
BE BRAVE AND COURAGEOUS

*THE MESSAGE:*
We often face one challenge or another in life. In this text, Israel was threatened by the giant Philistine Goliath in a battle. No one dared him until the young David showed up. Without fear, he stood before Goliath in confidence, trusting in the Lord who had delivered him from the lions and bears. He believed that the same God had given him victory over the Philistines. We are facing both spiritual and physical threats; ritualists, witches and wizards, and terrorists. We are killed daily with no one to speak in our defence. As young people, we must also be brave, courageous, and firm in our faith as we boldly pursue God's purpose for our lives. As we seek to defend ourselves, faith and prayer must be our watchword first.

*REFLECTION:*
God has not given us the spirit of fear.

*PRAYER:*
Lord, help me to be bold to face the challenges of life. Amen.

*MEMORY VERSE FOR THE MONTH:*
2 TIMOTHY 2:21.
"If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be instruments for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master, and prepared to do any good work."

*TODAY'S BIBLE READING PLAN:*
DANIEL 4-6.

ED.ii. PEACE IN THE STORM

"As they sailed, He fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke Him, saying: 'Master, Master, we're going to drown'! He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm." - Luke 8:23-24

I think this is a beautiful story. God wants to speak to you today. Many people, children of God also, try to get rid of their problems. This is a good thing. However, the point is that many children of God have the illusion that when their problems are solved, they will be happy and have peace in their hearts.

Happy in all circumstances

But dear readers, Christians, the living God our Father wants us to be happy even when the circumstances are not as we want them to be. If you allow for your peace and tranquility to depend on circumstances, you will never be happy because there is always a change. This will be the same until your last breath.

The apostle Paul gives a list of difficult situations he has experienced in life. Despite all, Paul was more than a conqueror in Jesus, who gave Him the strength to move on.

You can also be more than a conqueror in the middle of your storm. Dear readers, do not always try to use all your faith to solve problems. You must learn to use your faith to have peace and tranquility in the storms of life. While the disciples were very concerned and tried to solve their problem, Jesus was sleeping wonderfully.

Do not let the storm which is raging outside rage in you. With Jesus you can have peace in all circumstances.


https://www.theblessingdevotional.com

2. Evening Prayer for toady.

EP.i. Evening Prayer

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it. ⏤ Isaiah 55:11

It is possible to move men, through God, by prayer alone. ⏤ Hudson Taylor

We come back this evening, our Father, to continue our prayer for the coming of Your kingdom. The day is past, and the work of Your servants is done. Thousands of ministers have preached Your word, tens of thousands of teachers have taught the children, and in millions of Christian homes, supplications and prayers have been offered. Let not all this work be in vain. May Your Spirit gather up all that has been done for You today and give it Your divine blessing, without which nothing can come of it.

Revive Your work in this land and in the world through this Sunday's ministrations. May many of Your children carry new earnestness and zeal into their living and work tomorrow. May the seeds sown in the furrows today take root and grow. Let not the birds gather up and devour what has been sown. Let not the thorns spring up and choke it. Let not the heat of trials scorch the tender growths. May the good seed grow wherever it has been sown, and may abundant harvests wave on thousands of fields. Prosper Your work on the earth.

May Your peace rest upon our home tonight. May the gentle Dove descend and spread His white wings over us, sheltering us while we sleep. May holy influences rest upon us from this Sunday, and may its teachings and impressions stay with us throughout the week. Keep each of us from the world's ungodly power. Hold us all near Your heart, in the warmth of Your love, in the strong security of Your grace. May the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God our Father, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit be with us forever. Amen.

https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/56/evening

#taptapstudio
#youdevotion.

PROVERB OF THE DAY

(Proverbs 30)

1. The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, his utterance. This man declared to Ithiel—to Ithiel and Ucal:

2 . Surely I am more stupid than any man,
And do not have the understanding of a man.

3. I neither learned wisdom
Nor have knowledge of the Holy One.

4. Who has ascended into heaven, or descended?
Who has gathered the wind in His fists?
Who has bound the waters in a garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is His name, and what is His Son’s name,
If you know?

5. Every word of God is pure;
He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.

6. Do not add to His words,
Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

7. Two things I request of You
(Deprive me not before I die):

8. Remove falsehood and lies far from me;
Give me neither poverty nor riches—
Feed me with the food allotted to me;

9. Lest I be full and deny You,
And say, “Who is the LORD?”
Or lest I be poor and steal,
And profane the name of my God.

10. Do not malign a servant to his master,
Lest he curse you, and you be found guilty.

11. There is a generation that curses its father,
And does not bless its mother.

12. There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes,
Yet is not washed from its filthiness.

13. There is a generation—oh, how lofty are their eyes!
And their eyelids are lifted up.

14. There is a generation whose teeth are like swords,
And whose fangs are like knives,
To devour the poor from off the earth,
And the needy from among men.

15. The leech has two daughters—
Give and Give!

There are three things that are never satisfied,
Four never say, “Enough!”:

16. The grave,
The barren womb,
The earth that is not satisfied with water—
And the fire never says, “Enough!”

17. The eye that
mocks his father,
And scorns obedience to his mother,
The ravens of the valley will pick it out,
And the young eagles will eat it.

18. There are three things which. are too wonderful for me,
Yes, four which I do not understand:

19. The way of an eagle in the air,
The way of a serpent on a rock,
The way of a ship in the midst of the sea,
And the way of a man with a virgin.

20. This is the way of an adulterous woman:
She eats and wipes her mouth,
And says, “I have done no wickedness.”

21. For three things the earth is perturbed,
Yes, for four it cannot bear up:

22. For a servant when he reigns,
A fool when he is filled with food,

23. A hateful woman
when she is married,
And a maidservant who succeeds her mistress.

24. There are four things which are little on the earth,
But they are exceedingly wise:

25. The ants are a people not strong,
Yet they prepare their food in the summer;

26. The rock badgers are a feeble folk, Yet they
make their homes in the crags;

27. The locusts have no king,
Yet they all advance in ranks;

28. The spider
skillfully grasps with its hands,
And it is in kings’ palaces.

29. There are three things which are majestic in pace,
Yes, four which are stately in walk:

30. A lion, which is mighty among beasts
And does not turn away from any;

31 A greyhound,
A male goat also,
And a king whose troops
are with him.

32. If you have been foolish in exalting yourself,
Or if you have devised evil, put your hand on your mouth.

33. For as the churning of milk produces butter,
And wringing the nose produces blood,So the
forcing of wrath produces strife.

*2 Kings 9:6 So Jehu left the others and went into the house. Then the young prophet poured the oil over Jehu’s head and said, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I anoint you king over the LORD’s people, Israel. 7 You are to destroy the family of Ahab, your master. In this way, I will avenge the murder of my prophets and all the LORD’s servants who were killed by Jezebel. 8 The entire family of Ahab must be wiped out. I will destroy every one of his male descendants, slave and free alike, anywhere in Israel. 9 I will destroy the family of Ahab as I destroyed the families of Jeroboam son of Nebat and of Baasha son of Ahijah. 10 Dogs will eat Ahab’s wife Jezebel at the plot of land in Jezreel, and no one will bury her.” Then the young prophet opened the door and ran.* From the "God is an Artist " Project: Are you supporting God's judgement agenda to uproot the wicked idolatry and abominations of Ahab and Jehu through Jezebel (Trump)? Pray that this version Jehu stay obedient to God. Visit Channel

FIGHT YOUR PHONE!

Your phone is a tool. It was never meant to become your master.

One of the greatest disciplines you can develop is the ability to leave a message unread until the right time. Most people cannot do that anymore.

A notification comes in, and they immediately stop what they are doing to respond.

Before long, they are reacting to everything instead of giving their full attention to what matters.

Train the people around you. If something is truly urgent, let them call you. If it is not urgent, it can wait.

Learn to open your phone, see five, ten, or even fifty messages, and deliberately leave them until you have finished your work.

Self-control is choosing when your phone gets your attention, not allowing it to decide for you.

The danger is bigger than wasted time.

Constantly checking your phone splinters your mind. Your attention becomes fragmented.

You hear instructions but do not fully process them. Important responsibilities are interrupted by trivial conversations, and over time your ability to concentrate becomes weaker.

Stop saying you need to be available online every second because you are busy.

Some of the busiest people in the world deliberately protect their attention. They understand that productivity is not built by responding to every notification but by giving uninterrupted focus to what truly matters.

What begins as a habit of checking messages can eventually affect decisions that carry serious consequences.

This generation has grown up with smartphones in our hands, so this discipline will not come naturally. You will have to fight for it.

If you do not take control of your attention, someone else will.

No training in self-discipline is wasted.

Every time you resist unnecessary distraction, you increase your capacity for greater responsibility.

Guard your attention. Protect your focus.

God cannot trust major responsibilities to a mind that is constantly being pulled in every direction.

Happy last Sunday of the month!