**God does not hear the prayer of one who prays and stays in sin** Seeking God cannot be an empty gesture. It must come with purpose in the heart, with genuine intention — this is how the prophets sought the Lord's face: *"Then I proclaimed a fast there... that we might afflict ourselves before our God"* (Ezra 8:21). Fasting and prayer are a way of emptying the heart of everything that is sin, so that God has room to speak and act. And God knows the heart — He is not impressed by fasting of the mouth, mere outward appearance, while the heart remains distant (Isaiah 58:3-6). There's a striking episode where a Canaanite woman cries out for help, and Jesus responds in a way that shocks at first: *"It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs"* (Matthew 15:26). The bread — the blessings, the miracles, God's answers — belongs to those who are children. To those who have intimacy, who live inside the Father's house. It's not for those who ask from the outside, living in sin, with no commitment to change. The woman, however, insists with faith and humility, and Jesus recognizes her great faith. The lesson remains the same: the position of a child opens a door that the position of a stranger does not. And that's exactly why Scripture teaches: *"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you"* (Matthew 7:7). That promise is real, but it isn't unconditional — it's for those who live as children, sanctified, truly walking with God. Whoever sanctifies themselves, whoever surrenders their life without reservation, is filled with the Holy Spirit, and whatever they ask within God's will, they will receive, because it is written. But this must be said: *"we know that God heareth not sinners"* (John 9:31). It's no use fasting, weeping, crying out, asking for blessing, while deliberately living in sin with no intention of letting go. God cannot be manipulated by tears or by forced fasting. He waits for the heart — broken, sincere, willing to change. If you want to see God answer your prayers, the path begins before the request: it's sanctification. It's living as a child, not as someone who only wants the crumbs from the table while living far from home. *Remember that the Word of God is a statute.* [all]

SERMON: HOW TO KNOW, RESIST AND DESTROY EVIL ALTARS Text: Judges 6:25-26 — "Tear down the altar of Baal that your father has, and build an altar to the LORD." Text 2: Acts 20:28 — "The church of God, which He obtained with His own blood." Key: Revelation 14:1-5 — As one of 144,000 sealed with Name of Jesus the Lamb on foreheads, blameless, firstfruits, alive with Lamb on Mt. Zion. INTRODUCTION: Church, an altar is a gate of transaction. Genesis 8:20 Noah built altar, God responded. Genesis 12:7 Abraham built altar where he settled, that land became protected. Evil altar is a demonic gate where Satan transacts against people, community, ministry. 1 Corinthians 10:20 — what they sacrifice they sacrifice to demons. God protects His people UNTIL they are sealed Rev 7:3. When sealed, they receive MORE divine shield — death is sent to unsealed, but sealed are safe from death Rev 9:4. We are that sealed people — looked after much more by God's love, devil cannot kill us, alive with Lamb on Mt. Zion, where we settle sea, trees, earth not allowed to be harmed until we are sealed. But many last age believers don't understand evil altars. but the 144000 will understand them, RESIST them, DESTROY them. PART 1: 6 EXAMPLES OF EVIL ALTARS — SO YOU CAN SEE THEM 1. FAMILY / ANCESTRAL ALTAR Example: Judges 6:25 — "The altar of Baal that your father has." Gideon's own father had idol altar controlling family. Example: Numbers 23:1-3 — Balak told Balaam "Build me seven altars" to curse Israel. Signs: Hearing voices when no one present — "You will not marry, you will die like your father." Dreaming dead relatives calling you Deuteronomy 18:11 God forbids consulting dead. Near-success syndrome, backwardness Judges 6:3-4 Midianites destroyed harvest each time Israel planted. Constant misfortune in family. Intention: To keep you in cycle of fathers Exodus 20:5 — steal destiny. 2. LAND / TERRITORIAL ALTAR Example: 1 Kings 18:19 — 450 prophets of Baal on high place controlling rain and territory. Daniel 10:13 — Prince of Persia — territorial spirit over land. Signs: Where you settle, business fails, ministry fights, same spot accidents, same sea storm like Bukasa. Mark 5:2 — man dwelling among tombs — territorial altar. Dreaming being pursued, dogs chasing. Intention: To claim ownership of where you settle Rev 7:3 says where sealed settle, earth, sea, trees cannot be harmed — but territorial altar tries to harm. 3. MARINE / WATER ALTAR — SNAKES, PRESSING Example: 1 Samuel 5:2 — Dagon, god from sea, fell before Ark. Genesis 3:1 — serpent was marine. Signs: Dreaming snakes, water, swimming, mermaid, sex in dream, being pressed / choked in sleep, hearing voices near water or in night. Acts 8:7 — unclean spirits crying loud. Intention: To steal purity. Revelation 14:4 says 144,000 are undefiled virgins — not defiled — marine altar attacks purity. 4. WITCHCRAFT / OCCULT ALTAR Example: Jeremiah 7:31 — Altar of Topheth where they passed children through fire. 2 Kings 23:10. Signs: Sickness defying medicine, objects moving, money disappearing, constant failure despite prayer. 1 Samuel 16:14 — Evil spirit tormented Saul. Intention: To kill John 10:10 — premature death, barrenness. 5. DREAM POLLUTION ALTAR Example: Job 33:14-15 — God speaks in dream — Satan also pollutes dream. Signs: Eating in dream, sex in dream, seeing dead folks, snakes, dirty water, dogs. Matthew 13:25 — enemy sowed while men slept. Intention: To destroy through night transactions while you are unaware. 6. MINISTRY OWNERSHIP ALTAR — "THIS CHURCH IS MINE" IMPLANT — ATTACKING MAJORITY PASTORS This is the altar that has bound many pastors in Kampala. Example: Diotrephes in 3 John 1:9 — "Who loves to have preeminence among them." Example: Ezekiel 28:2 — Prince of Tyre said "I am a god, I sit in seat of gods." But Bible says: Acts 20:28 — The church of God which He obtained with His own blood. Matthew 16:18 — I will build MY church — Not your church. MY church — Jesus speaking. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 — You are not your own, bought with price. Revelation 5:9 — By Your blood You ransomed people for God. How this altar works: A pastor enters church building at night and hears implant voice: "Leave, this church is mine, you will not build here." That is territorial altar that was there before church Acts 19:13-16 — demon said "Jesus I know, Paul I know, but who are you?" Or a family that gave land says "This church is on my land, so it is mine" — family altar speaking. Or pastor himself starts saying "MY church, MY members, MY ministry" — pride opens door to ownership altar, then God resists him James 4:6. Signs in ministry: Hearing voice in church: "This is my church" Fights over who owns church, constitution, money Church cannot grow beyond number — altar set limit Every new pastor chased away — founder spirit Members say "We are tired of this pastor, this is our fathers church" Intention: To steal what blood bought, to make Christ's church become man's property or demon's shrine. To destroy calling and make pastor blamable. PART 2: HOW WE RESIST THEM — AS 144,000 BLAMELESS FIRSTFRUITS 1. KNOW YOU ARE SEALED BLAMELESS — NO LEGAL GROUND Revelation 14:4-5 — Not defiled, no lie in mouth, blameless. Psalm 24:3-4 — Clean hands, pure heart ascends. 2 Corinthians 6:17 — Come out from among them. Stop fornication 1 Cor 6:15, stop consulting shrines Deut 18:10. Evil altar has no power on blameless life John 14:30 — Satan has nothing in Me — Jesus said. 2. KNOW YOU HAVE HIGHER ALTAR — BLOOD OF JESUS THE LAMB Hebrews 12:24 — Blood of Jesus speaks better than blood of Abel and better than blood on evil altar. Colossians 2:14-15 — He cancelled record, disarmed rulers. Altar vs Altar — higher swallows lower Exodus 7:12. 3. KNOW CHURCH BELONGS TO JESUS, NOT TO YOU, NOT TO ALTAR When implant says "This church is mine" — Answer: Matthew 16:18 — It is written — I will build MY church — You are liar! Acts 20:28 — This church is bought by blood of Jesus! I am only bondservant Revelation 7:3, not owner! PART 3: HOW WE DESTROY THEM — 4 WEAPONS OF SEALED 144,000 All done at MIDNIGHT 12AM - 3AM Acts 16:25, with anointing oil on foreheads Rev 7:3, for 3 & 7 nights with fasting Matthew 17:21, and Holy Communion 1 Corinthians 10:18. WEAPON 1: BLOOD OF JESUS THE LAMB OF GOD Revelation 12:11 — Overcame by blood of Lamb and word of testimony. Exodus 12:13 — When I see blood I will pass over. Speak blood over church building, land, family, sleep. WEAPON 2: MIDNIGHT PRAYER WITH ANOINTING OIL ON FOREHEADS Acts 16:25-26 — At midnight Paul and Silas prayed and prison shook. Anoint foreheads — seal Revelation 7:3. Anoint doors of church, pulpit, land. Declare: This is sealed property of Jesus! WEAPON 3: FASTING 3 & 7 NIGHTS Matthew 17:21 — This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting. Esther 4:16 — 3 nights to break death decree. 7 nights for total destruction. Fasting makes you more blameless — lifestyle of 144,000. WEAPON 4: HOLY COMMUNION — RAISING ALTAR OF GOD 1 Corinthians 10:18 — Those who eat sacrifices participate in altar. When you eat communion, you raise Altar of God inside you — your body is temple 1 Cor 6:19. Evil altar must bow. 1 Cor 10:21 — You cannot drink cup of Lord and cup of demons.

*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

Luke 16:30-31 NLT “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’ “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’” https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.16.30-31.NLT Good morning and praise God. I hope you're having a great day. It's quite late at night and my good LORD has seen it best time for me to share with you an important message. The lesson is from the parable of Rich man and Lazarus. This is only recorded by Dr. Luke. He was the best person to record this message as it is message especially to elites and he was one of them being a physician by profession. The world mourns departure of Rebecca Dolly Parton. She has lived and plainly talked that living this life is not just about yourself. She wasn't born rich but she worked hard and if she really wanted to live rich, she'd, however she decided to share her wealth to the needy people God put in her life. She's lived having defeated a common demon called selfishness and the sister demon called riches and famous brother materialism. We can be confident she's made it through the narrow way. From our Bible extract today, the rich man's sin that ended him in Hell was that he never found need to revere God. He probably had worked hard to earn his riches and so he would look down to Lazarus who'd be a beggar at his gate as a failure. He would maybe see Lazarus as a man who did not work hard enough and so ended eating from what fell from his table and had no money to pay medications so remained ill with wounds that were lick by dogs. The rich man failed the test that God set before Him. Lazarus was just at his gate. Was he waiting for a voice message from heaven to know he needed to take care of Lazarus? We can assume this richman was loved in his church because he would give large sum of money to show off. People would listen careful to him when he spoke and even take his invalid ideas as valid. To the world, this rich man was blessed and Lazarus was cursed. In our last devotion we learned about a people that Jesus will reject and cast out though they'd claim they lived all their lives serving him. They'll join this team "Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood." Rev 22:15. Oops heaven has no place for wild scavengers! You're either heir with Son (Jesus Christ) or outside. Imagine eternity without God who created you? I refuse this in Jesus name! My fellow believer, God is calling us to be careful about riches of this world. It is not just about money but of anything that will blind us to an extent that we don't see the test presented to us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves . Shedding that gown of materialism is a big step to becoming rich in Christ. Do you remember the promise of Satan to Jesus Christ when he tempted him? Luke 4:7 "I will give it all to you if you will worship me.” Yes, the enemy is crafty and witty and knows how to entice with 'true lies'. Let's take guard and keep the greatest commandment."Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:30:31. Live it not just reciting it with your mouth. Bible warns against loving with mouth. It should be from your heart and with action. It is not by your strength but through grace He gives us as we seek Him through Word and prayer. Be the hand of God to as many brothers and sisters as God directs you. May He who is the way, truth and life revive you. May He who is the light of the world shine upon your life always. Amen. Have a blessed day. Shalom. Shalom.

🔥 THE FIRE OF ELIJAH IS RETURNING: ARE YOU READY TO BE CLEANSED OR CONSUMED? We often forget that the Church will not prepare herself alone for the encounter with the Lamb. Just as the eunuch in the desert needed Philip to guide him (Acts 8:31), we also need the prophetic guides that God has established for the end times! 📖✨ In our days, the Lord will raise up His Two Olive Trees — the ministry in the spirit of Elijah and Moses. They come with a clear mission: to straighten the paths, restore the truth, and present the Bride perfectly cleansed to Jesus Christ. But beware: the ministry of Elijah also brings the fire of confrontation and judgment against sin. Those who refuse to repent, those who practice witchcraft, idolatry, lies, and live in spiritual falsehood will be severely confronted, just as Elijah did in the past with the prophets of Baal! There will be no room for half-truths. The prophetic ministry will shut the heavens and bring the weight of God's justice upon rebellion. Look at what the Word of God reveals to us about this time of separation: 🕊️ Revelation 11:3-6 — "And I will give power to my two witnesses... These are the two olive trees... And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies..." 🔥 Malachi 4:5 — "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord." 🔮 Revelation 22:15 — "But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie." Do not fall asleep spiritually and do not play with sin. God is raising up His messengers to cleanse His house. It is time for deep repentance, to abandon the practices and witchcraft of this world, and to let ourselves be guided by the truth for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. In the face of the approaching fire, what will your choice be? To be cleansed by repentance or consumed by judgment? 🌟 Share this warning message with someone who needs to wake up today! 👇 #Revelation #TheTwoOliveTrees #ElijahAndMoses #JudgmentAndAwakening #Repentance #JesusIsComingBack

SERMON TO LIVING NATIONS IN THIS LAST AGE: NEPAL FLOODS — RED 7 , VISION = JUDGEMENT OF CORRECTION FIRST TO HOUSE, NOW TO NATIONS For the living ones in last age — Hear and Repent or Perish 1 Peter 4:17 — For time has come for judgment to begin at house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be end of those who do not obey gospel of God? 1. WHAT WE SEE: FLOODS HIT NEPAL — MANY CLAIMED On 26 August 2026, flash floods along Trishuli and Bhote Koshi rivers hit Rasuwa and Nuwakot, Nepal-Tibet border — glacier collapse — mud and rock — killed at least 160+ and 1,400+ missing — homes, bridges, hydropower, roads wiped 7e0148de Authorities say 157-165 confirmed dead in Nepal, 3 in Tibet, hundreds missing including pilgrims 7e0110dc382f Living ones — This is not just climate — This is God putting His punishing hand in last days — Amos 3:6 — Shall there be disaster in a city, and LORD has not done it? — Job 37:13 — He causes it to come, whether for correction, or for His land, or for mercy. 2. SPOTTING RED 7 VISION — ORDER OF JUDGEMENT Red 7 Vision given to me witness Reagan — born again — true Israel not practising sin — to reveal order of End Time judgement. RED = Sacrifice of Jesus — Blood of Jesus — Rev 12:11 — overcome by blood of Lamb. 7 = COMPLETE. Red 7 = COMPLETE JUDGEMENT OF CORRECTION FIRST TO HOUSE OF GOD. I received first — Body — motorcycle hitting dog — accident — testing of faith — 1 Pet 1:7 — hedge bleached not removed Job 2:6 — Gold came out pure Job 23:10, Zech 13:9. Why House first? Because God loves His house. Heb 12:6 — For whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. Heb 12:11 — Now no chastening seems joyful for present, but painful; nevertheless afterward it yields peaceable fruit of righteousness. Rev 3:19 — As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; therefore be zealous and repent. Prov 3:11-12 — My son, do not despise chastening of LORD. To God's house — disciplinary action, punishment, suffering is MADE WITH LOVE — to purify — to make not practising sin — 1 Tim 4:5 — sanctified by Word and prayer — 1 John 3:9 — Whoever born of God does not practice sin. My faith failed NOT — Luke 22:32 — Purification finished — Now Green 7 — Matt 6:33 — much more added — 144,000 sealed. 3. NOW COMES TO EVIL DOERS NEXT — HEAVIER STROKES After house — judgement of correction goes to evil doers — to nations turned away. Luke 12:47-48 — That servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare... shall be beaten with many stripes... For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required. Heb 10:29 — Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled Son of God underfoot, and counted blood of covenant a common thing. To House — love — to preserve life — To evil doers who refuse — Deut 32:35 — Vengeance is Mine, recompense — strokes heavier because of total disobedience in face of God. Rom 2:5 — Because of your hardness and impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in day of wrath and revelation of righteous judgment of God. Your voices, your altars, your traps, your dogs — God counted them — Ps 56:8 — Are they not in Your Book? — Now heavier. 4. NEPAL & OTHER NATIONS — TURNED FROM TRUE WORSHIP John 4:24 — God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. But Nepal & other nations have turned away from true worshipping of God: Worshipping idols — Ex 20:3-5 — You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself carved image. Worshipping dead, mountains, rivers — Isa 8:19 — Should they seek dead on behalf of living? Dreaming dead folks, snakes — covenant with darkness — Deut 18:10-12 — abomination to LORD. God is putting His punishing hand on you NOW — floods — to make you repent — obey gospel — live pure before God through faith in Christ. Acts 17:30 — Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands everyone to repent. Matt3:2. Blood cleanses us from all sin. 1john1:7, This is true --bcos in Red 7 vision, the son speaking through what I saw, in what you should obey-- His judgement of correction/ punishment by doing what's right. Or refusal will perish in sin. John8:24. Nepal floods is first stroke -- heavier is coming if refuse to repent -- & leave idolatry. & Word of God says Worship in spirit & truth. For he who has no son has no life. 1john5:12. And so to other nations in disobedience before God. Repent or face God's judgement. Rev14:7 -- "fear God and give glory to Him, for hour of His judgement has come., and worship Him who made heaven and earth." In Jesus name Amen!

🔥 THE FIRE OF ELIJAH IS RETURNING: ARE YOU READY TO BE CLEANSED OR CONSUMED? We often forget that the Church will not prepare herself alone for the encounter with the Lamb. Just as the eunuch in the desert needed Philip to guide him (Acts 8:31), we also need the prophetic guides that God has established for the end times! 📖✨ In our days, the Lord will raise up His Two Olive Trees — the ministry in the spirit of Elijah and Moses. They come with a clear mission: to straighten the paths, restore the truth, and present the Bride perfectly cleansed to Jesus Christ. But beware: the ministry of Elijah also brings the fire of confrontation and judgment against sin. Those who refuse to repent, those who practice witchcraft, idolatry, lies, and live in spiritual falsehood will be severely confronted, just as Elijah did in the past with the prophets of Baal! There will be no room for half-truths. The prophetic ministry will shut the heavens and bring the weight of God's justice upon rebellion. Look at what the Word of God reveals to us about this time of separation: 🕊️ Revelation 11:3-6 — "And I will give power to my two witnesses... These are the two olive trees... And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies..." 🔥 Malachi 4:5 — "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord." 🔮 Revelation 22:15 — "But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie." Do not fall asleep spiritually and do not play with sin. God is raising up His messengers to cleanse His house. It is time for deep repentance, to abandon the practices and witchcraft of this world, and to let ourselves be guided by the truth for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. In the face of the approaching fire, what will your choice be? To be cleansed by repentance or consumed by judgment? 🌟 Share this warning message with someone who needs to wake up today! 👇 #Revelation #TheTwoOliveTrees #ElijahAndMoses #JudgmentAndAwakening #Repentance #JesusIsComingBack

Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. 1. MD.i. 😀💝🌺🎁🌹🎀 MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY TUESDAY AUGUST 18, 2O26. "DR. JAMES DOBSON ON PARENTING (3)" ‘…Bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.’ Ephesians 6:4 NIV WHEN ASKED, ‘How do you suggest parents handle their children’s activities on web sites like Facebook and Twitter?’ Dr. Dobson gave this advice: ‘Parents have to know what technology their kids are using. Sexting is a terrible thing. (‘Sexting’ is the new term for children exposing themselves to one another online, thinking they are safe because they are in the sanctuary of their own home.) Pornography is pervasive, and parents need to keep up with changes in technology and protect their kids. That’s a tough assignment, because kids are ahead of them. Parents often have extremely demanding careers and when they come home they have nothing left to give, so the culture will often take your kids to hell.’ One night a father and his daughter were out on a lake when their small boat was caught in a storm. As he rowed, Dad kept saying to his daughter, ‘Can you see the shore? Can you see the shore?’ After a terrifying hour the little girl pointed over her dad’s shoulder and said, ‘Yes, I see the light. Mum said if we were out after dark she would hang a light in the window.’ When they finally got home a tearful mother hugged her husband and daughter, and thanked God for their safe return. Looking at her, the little girl said, ‘Mum, you never had to worry. We steered by your light!’ Parent, your children are being caught in life’s storms. They are rowing in the dark with no sense of direction. Live for God, and give them a light they can steer by! Bible In A Year: Gen 6:9 – 8:4, Matt 24:37-51. Courtesy : Grace So Amazing Foundation 💝🎀 *To partner with us, kindly refer to page 9 of the hard copy edition or simply send us a WhatsApp message/call on +2348128000068.*🎀💝🌹🌷. MD.ii. [17/08, 9:11 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA* TUESDAY, 18TH AUGUST, 2026. *THIRSTING AFTER GOD* *TEXT:* PSALM 42:1-5. 1As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? 4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. 5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. *Timeless Truth:*_"O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;"_ Psalm 63:1). *INTRODUCTION* When a man ceases to experience thirst, he is as good as dead. The same is true in the spiritual. In fact, one of the first experiences of a converted man is thirst for God and spiritual things. Spiritual thirst is a deep longing for God and His presence. Just as the body cannot survive without water, the soul cannot flourish without God. The psalmist expresses an intense desire for the living God despite the pain, tears, discouragement and difficult circumstances surrounding him. His experience teaches us that genuine faith does not mean the absence of trouble; rather, it means learning to seek God even in the midst of trouble. When everything else fails, God remains the only lasting satisfaction for the thirsty soul. *1. Thirsting After God Like a Hart* a. The psalmist declares, *“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.”* A thirsty hart desperately seeks water because its survival depends upon it. Many are thirsty for wealth, pleasure, popularity, power and pride of life among others. The thirst makes them pay a heavy price to get what they are looking for. At times they pay the ultimate price. True thirst will always be demonstrated by desperate seeking for how to satisfy and quench the thirst. In the same vein, many commonly seek God's blessings without seeking for the God of the blessings. The psalmist case was different. *"So panteth my soul after thee"*. Who and what you are passionately and desperately seeking for is a reflection of the state of your heart. In the same manner, the believer should have an earnest and persistent longing for God. The psalmist does not merely desire God's gifts; he desires God Himself. b. His greatest hunger is to *“appear before God.”* He was thirsty to become closer to God. Jesus also echoed this when He said, *"seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness"*. Our ultimate purpose for seeking God was to see His glory, be conformed to His image and be always ready for the kingdom of God. Jesus further assured that *"all other things shall be added unto you"*. The psalmist demonstrated his thirst for God when he decided, *"early will I seek thee...to see thy power and thy glory as I have seen thee in the sanctuary"* (Psalm 63:1,2). Our spiritual lives become weak when our desire for God is replaced by the pursuit of worldly pleasures, possessions, recognition or human approval. Genuine revival begins when the soul cries out for God's presence, His Word, His holiness and fellowship with Him. *Question* Is my desire for God as deep and urgent as the thirst of a hart for water? *2. Tearful Afflictions Giving Loss of Hope* a. Incidentally, the psalmist did not prioritize seeking for heavenly blessings above seeking for God just because everything was going well with him. In fact, the psalmist's circumstances have become so painful that his tears have been his food day and night. He was not finding it rosy in life at that time. One would have expected him, as many worshippers do today, to concentrate on seeking God for release from pains and troubles as priority. Worse still, people around him mockingly asked, directly and indirectly, *“Where is thy God?”.* His memories of former worship and joyful fellowship with God's people intensify his present sorrow. Yet that did not distract his affections towards God. b. At times, affliction can attack not only our circumstances, but also our emotions and confidence. Yet the psalmist's tears reveal that God's children may experience seasons of deep discouragement without being abandoned by God. His pain was real, but it did not have the final word. Even when circumstances seem to contradict God's promises, faith must continue to look toward Him. Seeking God and His righteousness, above all else, should not be diminished as a result of our pains, problems, persecutions and poverty among others. Whatever be our situations, the promises of God that *"all other blessings shall be added"* still stand as long as we keep seeking the face and the glory of God to be reflected in our lives above all else. We must have grace to be tougher than our tough challenges. It is our attitude and the content of our prayers in the time of distress and difficulties that reflect the genuineness of our love for God. Jesus Christ, while on the cross and under intense pains, was still consecrated to soulwinning and intercessory prayers for the sinners and the lost. The will of God and the glory of God was His priority. He has given us examples to follow. *Question* Am I consecrated to seek God and His glory as priority when affliction and tears surround me? *3. Trust in Abiding Grace with a Life of Holiness* When passing through tough times, we must maintain trust in God's abundant grace and continue to live the life that God approves. There is no challenge we pass through that God has not allowed and if God allowed it, then He will see us through as children. The act of faith is in mocking those challenges and still continues seeking the glory of God and heavenly readiness. We must learn how to feed our frustrations and fruitlessness with the word of hope and promises given by God. The psalmist speaks directly to his troubled soul: *“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God.”* He refuses to surrender permanently to despair. Instead, he deliberately redirects his heart toward God. Trusting God's abiding grace means choosing hope when feelings say there is no hope. It also means continuing to live faithfully, before God while waiting for His intervention. A thirsty soul must not only seek God's presence, but also remain committed to a holy life. God's grace sustains us, restores our joy and enables us to praise Him even before our circumstances change. For a child of God, no bad situation is permanent, but temporary and for a moment. *"weeping may endure for the night, but joy cometh in the morning"*. *Question* Am I deliberately trusting God's abiding grace and maintaining a holy life even when my circumstances are discouraging? *Prayer Points* 1.Father, create within me an unquenchable thirst for Your presence and Your Word 🙏. 2.Lord, strengthen me when tears, afflictions and discouragement threaten my faith 🙏. 3.Father, make me tougher than my challenges and keep me on being engaged in Your service 🙏. 4.Lord, visit and help those brethren who are carrying heavy loads and sustain them by Your grace 🙏. *HYMN:* More of Jesus would I know *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* JOB 35-38. [17/08, 9:11 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) TUESDAY 18TH AUGUST, 2026``` *DOUSING DESPONDENCY* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️😩😢😭🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🗣️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:PSALM 42:1-5```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance" (PSALM 42:5).*_ *As German bombs fell on England during _World War II,_ the situation became desperate. Hearts were filled with discouragement and thoughts of defeat. Then Winston Churchill's voice echoed over the radio. It inspired the nation and boosted morale among a people on the verge of giving up. On a spiritual level, believers find hope in God too, as they hear the voice that resonates through the pages of His Word. In moments of discouragement, Christians serve as a testimony to those who have never met God or heard His voice.* *David exemplifies this in our devotional text as he expresses acute hunger and "thirst for God, the living God". In his hopelessness, he recalled the exhilarating moments he had in God's house and presence. Reminiscences of the voice of joy and praise filled his soul. Awakened by the testimonies of God's faithfulness and the certainty of blessedness that flows from trust in God, he gladly addresses his soul and jerks back from the abyss of despondency.* *Are you troubled about any ugly situation or setback? Cheer up and look up! Here are gems and clues for you as a Christian pilgrim, who could, at times, be discouraged and cast down. Don't stay down. David didn't. He queried and counselled his soul. First is to know that neither discouragement nor despondency is a sign of weakness. Elijah is one biblical character who fits this description. After defeating the prophets of Baal, he received a death threat from Jezebel. His hope was shattered, and despondency set in. He wanted to die! The Lord did not rebuke him for his feelings but sent an angel to provide for his physical needs. In our times of discouragement, suicide is no option; it only leads to a more serious, endless and interminable suffering in hell. The present challenge or problem has not diminished God's love for us. He desires to lead us to a place of a renewed vision of His power!* *The time to exit the discouragement mode is now! Take the verifiable steps that effectively log you out, which include a deep, interminable longing for God. This is what Isaiah calls "waiting upon the Lord". Second, you will do well to consciously recall and delight in God's past acts of mercy, divine interventions, and faithfulness. Finally, you must deliberately seek the remedy of praise to uplift your downcast, crestfallen, and discouraged heart. Beloved, don't give in to despair! God will certainly lead you in paths of love, light and joy, where you will find new hope.* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*God always opens the window of hope for His own in the darkest of times.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *JOB 35-38*📜📜 Dousing Despondency https://dailymanna.app// *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 1: ALL YOUR ANXIETY; GHS 3: IMPATIENT HEART, BE STILL; GHS 4: LEAVE IT THERE; GHS 5: NEVER GIVE UP; AND GHS 7: TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS* *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#DailyManna18thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [17/08, 9:11 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```TUESDAY 18TH AUGUST, 2026``` *STAND IN CHRIST'S LIBERTY* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽🙌🏽 📜📜```TEXT:GALATIANS 5:1-13```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another" (GALATIANS 5:13).*_ *The Christian liberty is the freedom Christ has purchased for the children of God through His death on the Cross of Calvary. The devil fights this liberty in diverse ways. When young Christians fail to understand their liberty in Christ, the devil keeps reminding them about their past sins to create major stumbling blocks to their prayers.* *It is a common strategy of the devil to manipulate them and push them back into their shells. Once you are born again through genuine repentance, you have the liberty to serve God in truth and in Spirit because God does not give us the spirit of fear but He gives us the Spirit of power and of a sound mind.* *When God has forgiven you, you are justified by faith and no longer bound to the yoke of sin. However, this liberty is not a guarantee to continue in sins, believing the erroneous doctrine of eternal security. Apostle Paul warns: "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another" (Galatians 5:13).* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*You have the liberty.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Don't use the Christian liberty to sin.*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Lord, help me to understand and enjoy my liberty in Christ.*_ Stand In Christ's Liberty https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#HigherEveryday18thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [17/08, 9:11 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```TUESDAY 18TH AUGUST, 2026``` *THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS - 3* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️👿❌🫷🏽🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```MATTHEW 4:8-11```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"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).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Jesus has power and authority over Satan, and He always uses them at the appropriate time. In this situation, Jesus did not hesitate to command Satan to get behind Him. Satan knew that Jesus is over and above him, yet he tempted Christ to bow down in worship to him. Can the master bow to worship his servant? No! Jesus cannot, will not, and did not bow to Satan. As a friend of Jesus, you must know who you are in Christ. You are a joint-heir with Christ. What Jesus has is what you have because of the privilege of sonship. Do not throw your costly apparels (Christian experiences) to the dogs. The things of this world as stated in 1 John 2:15-17 will pass away. Let the love of God and the things of eternal value be uppermost in your heart. Do not yield to the enticement and allurement that your friends are using to deceive you. The fashions of the world may look attractive, but they will soon pass away. Do not follow them. Do not seek to please the world. Strive to please only God. *Jesus has set the example of refusing to bow to Satan in order to show us that we can be victorious. You can do likewise. Become His friend if you are not, follow Him faithfully and consistently, and He will give you the grace to overcome Satan.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*Lord, please help me to obey You only and not yield to pressure to obey, worship or serve Satan.*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *Luke 4:1-13* The Temptation Of Jesus - 3 https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#SincereMilk18thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]. 2. Morning Prayer for today. MP.i. Morning Prayer Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect peace, [whose] mind [is] stayed [on thee]: because he trusteth in thee. ⏤ Isaiah 26:3 Trust the past to God's mercy, the present to God's love, and the future to God's providence. ⏤ St. Augustine Father, days come and go, bringing change and decay, but You remain the same forever. A thousand years in Your sight are like a single day. With You, there is no past or future; all time is present to You. Yet in our small lives, we need daily blessings. The memories of our past sorrows cast shadows on our present, and our fears for the future often cast shadows on our path. We are grateful that You see and know everything—past, present, and future—and that we can safely leave it all in Your hands. Help us to live faithfully in this little day that is ours, leaving the past and future with You, without worrying. So, we ask for Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, enabling us to be true and faithful in all our duties. We ask You, O Lord, to give us the strength and wisdom we need for today’s responsibilities and experiences. Let nothing surprise or dishearten us. Hold our hand through every situation. Give us wisdom to answer every question and make every decision in a way that pleases You. Strengthen us to resist temptation, no matter how subtly it approaches. Increase Your love within us so that we may be patient with everyone we meet, compassionate toward those who are sorrowful, cheerful with those who are discouraged, and helpful to those who are weak. Send us out to do Your work so that everything we do today is for You. Breathe upon us as we wait here in Your presence and give us Your blessing as our Father. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/44/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

🌿 Mystical Gardens Tale 🌿 The Cooling Waters Jill had decided that summer had officially become personal. The heat had been unbearable for days. Not the pleasant kind of summer warmth that made people want to sit outside with a cold drink. This was the kind of heat that seemed to crawl beneath your skin and stay there. Jill woke up irritated. She stepped outside and immediately began sweating. “Wonderful,” she muttered. “It's going to be another one of those days.” Her car wouldn't start. “Of course it won't.” The air conditioner at work wasn't working properly. “Of course it isn't.” Someone had left a door open, letting hot air into the building. “Who does that?” Then someone accidentally bumped into her in the hallway. “Watch where you're going!” The woman stopped and stared at Jill. “I'm sorry.” Jill walked away without answering. She didn't notice the hurt look on the woman's face. By lunchtime, Jill was ready to scream. The restaurant was crowded. Someone's child was crying. A man at the next table was talking too loudly. The waitress brought Jill the wrong drink. “This isn't what I ordered.” “I apologize. I'll get you another one.” “And could you please get it right this time?” The waitress's smile disappeared. Jill didn't notice. Or perhaps she did, but she was too irritated to care. Everything seemed to bother her. A phone ringing. A dog barking. Someone chewing too loudly. A car driving too slowly. A person looking at her for what Jill was certain was too long. “What are you looking at?” she snapped. The man quickly looked away. By late afternoon, Jill was exhausted. And angry. Mostly angry. She couldn't even explain why anymore. All she knew was that everything was getting on her nerves. Then, on her way home, Jill saw something she hadn't seen before. A narrow path between two old trees. It hadn't been there yesterday. Jill stopped. She stared at it. Beyond the trees was a faint green glow. Normally, she would have walked away. But today she was hot, tired, frustrated, and completely out of patience and whatever was there had to be better than here, so she stepped onto the path. Within moments, the world changed. The heat disappeared. Jill stopped walking. A cool breeze brushed across her face. She closed her eyes. “Oh…” She hadn't realized how badly she needed that. The garden stretched out before her. Tall trees formed a canopy overhead. Little streams wound between moss-covered stones. Flowers opened beneath the shade, and somewhere nearby, water trickled over smooth rocks. There were no car horns. No ringing phones. No barking dogs. No crying children. No voices demanding anything from her. Just quiet. Beautiful, peaceful quiet. Jill sat beside the stream and dipped her hands into the cool water. For the first time all day, her shoulders relaxed. She took a deep breath. Then another. And suddenly, something uncomfortable happened... She began remembering. The woman in the hallway. “Watch where you're going!” The waitress. “Could you please get it right this time?” The man at the restaurant. “What are you looking at?” Her coworker. “Who does that?” One memory after another came rushing back. Jill lowered her head. “Oh no.” She hadn't simply been having a bad day. She had been handing that bad day to everyone around her. She had taken her frustration, her discomfort, and her exhaustion and thrown them at people who hadn't caused any of it. The garden remained silent. But Jill had the strange feeling that the giant tree at the center of the garden was watching her. “I was miserable,” she whispered. A leaf drifted down beside her. Jill picked it up. “I was hot. I was tired. Everything was going wrong.” She sighed. “But that doesn't mean I had to make everybody else miserable too.” The breeze moved gently through the branches. Jill smiled sadly. “You know what's worse?” She looked toward the path. “I don't even know if any of them deserved an apology from me.” She paused. “Of course they do.” For the first time that day, Jill laughed at herself. She had spent hours thinking everyone else was the problem. But the garden had given her something the heat never could. Perspective. Jill stood. “I can't undo what I said.” She looked toward the great tree. “But I can go back and do better.” The garden seemed to grow a little brighter. Jill stepped onto the path. The heat returned when she reached the other side. But something inside her had changed. The temperature hadn't changed. Her circumstances hadn't changed. Her car was still broken. The air conditioner still wasn't working. Tomorrow might be just as hot. But Jill wasn't going to let the heat decide who she was. The next morning, she found the woman from the hallway. “I'm sorry,” Jill said. The woman looked surprised. “For yesterday. You didn't deserve the way I spoke to you.” Then Jill found the waitress. She apologized there too. And when someone accidentally bumped into her later that afternoon, Jill felt irritation rising inside her. She opened her mouth. Then stopped. She took a breath. “It's okay,” she said. The person smiled. And Jill smiled back. That evening, Jill returned to the garden. She sat beneath the great tree with her feet beside the cool stream. “Thank you,” she whispered. She finally understood something the garden had been trying to teach her. Sometimes we are uncomfortable. Sometimes we are tired. Sometimes the world seems to be working against us. And sometimes we have every reason to be frustrated. But our circumstances may explain why we're hurting without giving us permission to hurt someone else. The garden could cool Jill's skin. But only she could choose to cool the anger in her heart. And that choice was worth far more than a cool breeze. Seed from the Garden “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” — Proverbs 15:1 You may not be able to control the heat, the noise, the traffic, the broken air conditioner, or the things other people do. But you can choose what you do with the frustration those things create inside you. Before you hand your bad day to someone else, stop. Breathe. Cool down. And remember: They may not be the reason you're hurting. Don't make them pay for it. #christianwriter #christianfiction #christianfantasy #stacyfrantz #MysticalGardens

❤️HOW TO KNOW GOD'S WILL FOR IMPORTANT DECISIONS IN YOUR LIFE. Part 5 of 6. How God Makes Known His Will for Specific Decisions and Needs. Continued. God is under no obligation to fulfill the promise in James 1:5 to give us wisdom unless we are willing to meet the conditions for obtaining it. Moreover, God declares that He only answers prayer when the motive is right, and that mere asking is not sufficient (Jam. 4:3). Frequently the Christian prays for guidance, or a revelation of God's will about some matter, but already has his mind made up as to what he wants to do, or how he would like for God to answer. Some people have been known to lie awake all night pleading with God to answer their prayer with no higher motive than the desire to persuade Him to come over to their side and give them their own way. Therefore, it is just as great a fallacy to emphasize the notion which is so popular today that prayer is the solution to all our problems, as it is to neglect prayer, using it only in an emergency. That is to say, we find the unscriptural idea being promoted on every hand that mere prayer is supposed to be the panacea for all our needs. In every time of crisis, when problems or troubles arise, when a difficult or seemingly impossible situation confronts us, the first thing most people advise is prayer. "Have you tried prayer?" they will ask. Or we are told, quite sincerely, "Did you know, prayer changes things?" They do not tell us, of course, just how prayer will change things, nor do they teach us how to pray about the problem confronting us. We are not advised, furthermore, as to whether or not God requires anything from us in the matter. "Just pray" we are told, "for prayer usually helps." However, as we have seen, God clearly states that He does not answer every prayer, in fact, He emphatically declares that He does not even hear our prayers unless they meet the conditions He has set forth in His Word. One of the most important conditions we must meet when asking for divine wisdom and guidance is that we must ask in faith, believing, without any reservations, that God will answer our request. This is clearly stated in James 1:5-7: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given him. But how? Let him ask in faith, nothing doubting; for he that doubts is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord." The prayer of faith is simply a prayer of expectation. What God tells us here in James 1:5-7 is that when we ask for divine wisdom and guidance we should pray expecting Him to grant our desire. Moreover, the prayer of faith is to be offered but once, for Jesus tells us in Mark 11:24, 'What things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them." Faith asks but once for God to fulfill a promise. To continue to pray, pleading with God to answer, is our confession that I do not really believe that He has answered when we pray as He tells us to do (Mark 11:24). In view of this fact, if we pray ten times for the same promise, we have prayed nine times in unbelief, for faith knows when to stop praying about the promise and start praising God for the answer. There is a time to stop praying or you will pray yourself out of faith. When is this? You should always stop praying for a promise when you believe you have received the answer. Since Jesus tells us to believe we have received when we pray, quite obviously we should do our believing and receiving when we pray. Then we should cease praying for the answer and begin praising God that the manifestation of the answer is on the way. Jesus does not say in Mark 11:24 that the symptoms will improve immediately when we pray, or that the circumstances will show immediate change, but that we are to believe that He has both heard and granted our petition when we pray and that we shall have it. Faith keeps a distinction between accepting the answer and receiving it to our sight. We are to accept the answer when we pray (believe that God has granted our petition), and we shall have it (manifested to our sight). Merely because we do not see it immediately does not mean that God has not heard our petition and granted the answer, but only that He has not manifested the answer as yet. The question often arises concerning the widow and the judge in Luke 18, as to whether or not Jesus here approves of repetition in prayer for the same thing. This is not, however, an instance of repetition prayer, for Jesus would not contradict Himself elsewhere, but here He is stressing the need of persistence and perseverance in prayer; that is, holding onto a promise by faith, reaffirming daily, by praise and thanksgiving, that we believe that He has heard and granted our petition. In Matthew 6:7-8, Jesus condemns repetition prayer as typical of the prayers of the heathen, saying, "But when you pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking," but "when you pray believe that you receive" (Mk. 11:24). Our first concern, therefore, when guidance from heaven is needed is not merely to resort to the shallow suggestion we so often hear today that one should "try prayer" as it may help, but it should be a time of searching the Word, and then our hearts, to see if we are fulfilling the conditions for God hearing our prayers and granting our petitions. As A. W. Tower once remarked, the popular notion that God always answers prayer (with "yes" or "no") is a device of Satan to deceive the carnal or indifferent Christian whose request was not answered because of his failure to meet God's conditions. To think that God always answers prayer, even if He says "no," is to take God's refusal to answer a disobedient Christian as the answer itself, contending, "Well, after all, God did answer me - He said 'no'." Such a view of prayer is contrary to Scripture, for God clearly states that He does not even hear those prayers which are not in harmony with His will (1 Jn 5:14-15; Ps. 66:18). Moreover, if an individual erroneously believes the popular notion that God always answers any prayer, and that "no" can also be an answer, then this person is never challenged to face the fact that his failure to receive an answer was due to his disobedience, lack of faith, or his failure to meet some other condition. I can personally testify to the fact that when we are careful to meet the scriptural requirements, then God delights in directing our steps, giving divine guidance and wisdom concerning those matters we place before Him. Thank God it is true, if any man lacks wisdom he may ask of God and it shall be given to him. Do you need wisdom or guidance in some important matter? Have you tried asking God, and in faith expecting Him to answer you? You are invited to do so in James 1:5. By Direct Revelation; As stated at the beginning of Chapter 2, there are eight scriptural methods by which God's will is revealed - three are active, in which we take the initiative, and five are passive, whereby we become the recipients of divine revelation concerning God's will for us. Passive revelation always comes to us unsought. Direct revelation may be either by vision, as in the case of Paul's vision in Acts 16 which was revelation of God's will for him to carry the Gospel into Europe; by direct voice, as seen in the case of God's call of Samuel (1 Sam. 3); by angelic visitation, as, for example, in the angel's visit to Mary and his revelation to her of the birth of Christ; or by dream, as we find, for instance in God's revelation to Daniel of the establishment of His Kingdom (Dan. 7). Jesus promised to continue revelation to the Church after His ascension, saying, Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will show you things to come (Jn. 16:13). When the Church lost the experience of the baptism in the Holy Spirit, she closed the channel and source of revelation. As a consequence, the Church changed her theology to conform with her experience, and there arose the erroneous concept that God purposed that all revelation was to cease with the apostles in the first century. It is interesting that there is not a word in the Scriptures to support this theory, but, on the contrary, God clearly states in 2 Corinthians 12-14 and Ephesians 4:11 that He has set in the church the gifts and ministries of revelation. In Romans 12:3-6 and 1 Corinthians 14 He admonishes us to ask for and use the gift of prophecy. In Joel 2 He clearly promises that in the last days "I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams" (2:17); While He promised in John 16:13, quoted above, to continue revelation to the Church through the Holy Spirit whom He would send. The various methods by which He would give His people direct revelation are stated to be by means of prophecy, vision and dream (Num. 12:6; Acts 2:17-18; 1Cor. 12; 14), by direct voice and vision (Jn. 16:13), "speak"' and "show" and on occasion, by angelic visitation (e.g. Luke 1; Acts 10:12; 27:23-24; cf. Heb. 13:2). It is important that we understand that although God occasionally uses each of the passive methods of revelation to unveil His will to us when He so chooses, we should not seek guidance by these means. Why does God choose the direct means of revelation, as, for example, through visions and dreams as a method of communication of His will and purpose? Why does He not merely illumine our minds as to His will as we pray or read His Word seeking guidance? Among other reasons, occasionally He must speak directly to us because of the urgency of the matter about which we are seeking guidance which must be dealt with immediately, or in a certain way, often contrary to what our wisdom and logic might tell us to do. At other times He speaks directly, imparting instruction or guidance, not concerning some matter about which we are praying, but about some important purpose which He wants to accomplish in or through us, which could only be made known to us by direct revelation. Again He speaks to us in visions for the obvious reason that one picture is worth a thousand words. God sometimes communicates His will to us through dreams, inasmuch as the state of sleep has certain definite advantages. At this time the conscious mind is at rest and is free from distractions. The spirit, of course, remains awake and can accept without analyzing and questioning what God desires to impart to us. Moreover, through the medium of vision and dream God can impress upon us revelation which transcends the sense realm and the ability of the intellect alone to comprehend. In some instances, God speaks directly in an audible voice in order to instruct us or reveal His will in some matter. By Indirect Revelation: God speaks to us occasionally by direct means, but generally He communicates His will to us indirectly. It may in the form of an inward knowing or witness in our spirit, or it may come as an inner witness to our spirit, or it may come as an inner witness from the Holy Spirit. At other times the Holy Spirit may give the guidance we need by the illumination of our minds to understand and interpret some portions of scripture which He will direct us to, or by giving the necessary wisdom and insight we require to make the correct decision concerning some matter about which we have prayed for direction. It is in the realm of indirect revelation that the importance of being completely yielded to the Holy Spirit is so evident, as was pointed out in the first chapter. To the extent one is yielded to the Spirit will he be sensitive to His voice when He speaks, and to the extent one is sensitive to His voice will he be able to respond. Moreover, there are many voices seeking to influence the believer, some of which are from God and some are not. Unless one is fully yielded he may be insensitive to the voice of the Spirit, or be deceived and ensnared by that which is false. A small puppy will respond to anyone who calls or offers it a crust of bread, but a well trained mature dog will not do so. It is sensitive only to the voice of its owner. It did not get this way by spending all its time running and playing with the other dogs, but it is the result of devoting long hours in discipline and training, learning to obey and respond to the voice of its master. We become sensitive to the influence and leading of the Spirit in the same manner. God is preparing His children for spiritual warfare ahead which will consist of men and women who will be so sensitive to the voice of the Spirit they will respond immediately and obey without question. Like a computer, they will be able to filter out that which is false and sense any error immediately. They will not have to call the pastor and ask if this or that doctrine is scriptural, or whether the prophecy which they heard is true or false, or whether or not some task they feel led to undertake is from God, the flesh, or the devil. However, the only way the believer will become sensitive will be through total consecration to Jesus and fully yielding to the Spirit. At present we find Christians so untrained in the Scriptures and so insensitive to the voice of the Spirit that many frequently will reject what God is saying and allow themselves to be deceived by that which is false and unscriptural, just as Jesus predicted would occur in these last days (Matt 24; 2 Tim 4:1-4). Again and again we are hearing of those who are falling victim to various errors, such as ultimate reconciliation where God will save everyone regardless if they repent or not including the devil and his demons, false hyper-grace gospel where a Christian does not need to confess sin after he is saved or does not need repentance to stay in fellowship with God, errors on the Godhead where they deny that the Father, Son, Holy Spirit are co-eternal and co-equal, once saved always saved that it does not matter how a person lives his life after salvation, we are all sinners even after salvation and no need to live a consecrated life, the give to get carnal prosperity gospel where you give me money and 100 fold comes back so you will be rich. Or the heresy taught by some that Jesus had to become a sinner on the cross to redeem us and suffered three days in hell tormented by demons. We find others, in a time where we are witnessing the revival of all forms of the occult, being deluded by believing everything supernatural is from heaven, and everyone who prophesies, has a vision, or predicts the future is from God. We find men and women calling themselves Apostles and Prophets commonly now who were never appointed or anointed from heaven but self-appointed deceiving many. As Jesus said, take heed lest YOU be deceived. (Matt 24:4) DISCERNING THE VOICE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND RECOGNIZING THE WITNESS WITHIN; In order to mature in faith and become effective instruments in God's hands so that we will be in the right place at the right time, doing the right thing, it is necessary for us to learn how to recognize the inner witness of the Spirit, as well as discern the voice of the Holy Spirit. These are the two basic ways by which God leads and directs His people, whether in answer to some prayer for guidance, or in order to fulfill His will and purpose in their lives. We find that God frequently endeavors to speak to His people by means of the voice of His Spirit in order to direct guide, teach, or influence them along some line, but since they have not been taught how to discern His voice He often goes unheeded. Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice and they follow me" Jn. 10:27). How can they follow Him if they do not know how to discern His voice? He certainly did not mean that He intended to shout down out of heaven in order to direct them, but He did promise that He would speak to them by His Spirit which would be within them: "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you in all truth" (John 16:13), and "he shall teach you in all things" (14:26). Some Christians are waiting for God to give them a revelation through a vision or prophecy concerning His will for them, or regarding some important matter about which they are praying, when, if they only realized it, God is already trying to communicate His will to them by His Spirit within them. If they would spend a little more time in His Word and in prayer, and be willing to get still before Him for a while, then they would begin to discern His voice and hear Him speaking inwardly to their spirits. The inner voice of the Holy Spirit is the voice of God speaking directly to your spirit in order to guide, admonish, teach, warn, or influence you concerning some matter (about which you may or may not be praying). God also enables us to know His will regarding some matter about which we are praying, or about some question which concerns us, by means of a witness within. This is an inward knowing in your spirit that a certain contemplated action on your part, or some doctrine, or revelation, for example, is right or wrong. Not only is the Christian the temple of the Holy Spirit, Who abides within to speak the direct revelation of God's will to him (Jn 16:13; 1 Cor. 2:10-13), but he also has, by virtue of the new birth, a new heart to discern spiritual things himself, and know the will of God intuitively by his own spirit (1 Cor. 2:14-16). He has received an anointing which abides in him and teaches him all things (1 Jn. 2:27). Thus, we find that it is also through his own enlightened spirit that the Christian is able by an inward knowing or witness to discern whether or not something is right or wrong. Let us say, for example, that you are praying about some matter about which you must make a decision, such as whether or not to buy a certain piece of property, marry a particular individual, or accept an invitation to speak to some religious group. If after thinking and praying about the question you find that inwardly there is a positive confirmation in your spirit to go ahead in the matter, or, you find that you experience a sense of uncertainty, reluctance, or heaviness of spirit, then this is an inner witness in your spirit informing you of God's will in the matter. In the former instance, your spirit was witnessing to you to go ahead, and in the latter, it was a warning not to take the proposed action. The witness within is an inward knowing intuitively, through the enlightened spirit of a Christian, that a certain contemplated action, a doctrine, some individual, or a ministry, for instance, is right or wrong, whereas the inner voice of the Holy Spirit is God speaking directly by His Spirit within you concerning some matter. It must be stressed, however, that the inward witness and the inner voice of the Spirit are not merely some "feeling" we may have about a matter. They have nothing to do with what one feels either with the physical senses or the emotions. It is either an inward knowing (inner witness) that something is right or wrong, or it is an inner awareness that the Spirit of God is speaking directly to our spirit about some matter (inner voice of the Spirit). Edited. Shared. To be Continued. ❤️ God willing, more will be posted soon. All glory to Jesus alone.