I degree and declared SEPTEMBER to work out every expectation of our long prayed desires and access through miracles for us in Christ Jesus. Amen

**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]

Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. MD.i. 😀🎀💝🎁🌺🌹 MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY FRIDAY JULY 24, 2O26. "DON'T LOOSE YOUR COMPASSIONATE EDGE (2)" '…Faith…if it does not have works, is dead.’  James 2:17 NKJV MOTHER TERESA said, ‘The biggest disease today isn’t leprosy or cancer. It’s the feeling of being uncared for, unwanted—of being deserted and alone.’ As a result, she spent her life rescuing sick babies and giving dignity to the dying. Asked why she did it, she replied, ‘Because Jesus did.’ What a great answer! When simultaneous disasters hit different countries around the world, humanitarian organisations say we suffer from ‘donor fatigue’. Let’s add one more: ‘compassion failure.’ Philosopher Miguel de Unamuno wrote, ‘Warmth, warmth, more warmth! For we are dying of cold and not of darkness. It is not the night that kills, but the frost.’ Think about this: of the 1,189 chapters in the Bible, 250 contain the words of the prophets. That’s roughly 25 percent. Half of what they say denounces sin and the other half condemns those who see human suffering and do nothing about it. Yet events that horrified those same prophets take place in our world every day, and we’re immune to them. Like wearing a watch, you get used to it and after a while you don’t even notice it. But the prophets noticed! They never became desensitised to sin—or human suffering. And you mustn’t either. You say, ‘But my main focus at the moment is on building up my faith.’ That’s a good thing; but never forget that ‘Faith by itself, if it does not have works [of compassion], is dead.’ Bible In A Year: Deut 3-4; Matt 12:1-14; Ps 46; Pro 16:20-22. 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. [23/07, 10:32 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) FRIDAY 24TH JULY, 2026``` *DON'T BE A COLLATERAL VICTIM* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️⚠️‼️🛑🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:JOSHUA 12:1-6```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"Now these are the kings of the land, which the children of Israel smote, and possessed their land on the other side Jordan toward the rising of the sun, from the river Arnon unto mount Hermon, and all the plain on the east" (JOSHUA 12:1).*_ *There are people who sleep walk into disaster, through either arrogance, pride or sheer hubris. It may be that they had recorded successes in previous battles, or have become famous for their accomplishments. They may deem themselves to be invincible, and either declare a war that's totally unnecessary, or inject themselves into other people's battles. In the end, they become the victims of their ego and exaggerated sense of power and importance.* *This is what happened to the kings of the nations on the east of River Jordan. The children of Israel were on a journey ordered by the Almighty God. They were heading to the land of Canaan, in fulfilment of the promise God made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Their land was not part of Canaan, and therefore, was not intended to be inherited by the Israelites. The inheritance of the Israelites was to be solely Canaan, the land flowing with milk and honey. But on their way, the Israelites encountered nations that had heard about the supernatural work of God in bringing them out of Egypt. Although the Israelites did not declare war against them, these nations, some out of unfounded fear of losing their territory, and others out of envy and hatred against this nation that had a God that can subdue, humble and defeat Egypt, the great world power of the time, took it on themselves to stop Israel from progressing towards their land of promise. One of such kings was Sihon, king of the Amorites, whose nation was mainly a lush vegetation sandwiched by rivers and plain land that was a haven for pastoralists and for other forms of agriculture. The other king was Og, king of Bashan, a land of the remnants of the giants, with similar topography as the land of the Amorites. When they rose against the Israelites, they were roundly defeated, their kingdoms destroyed and their land confiscated by Moses. He subsequently allocated the land to two and half tribes of Israel, which desired to settle there because it was suitable for their vocation as pastoralists. Had those nations stayed out of the way of the Israelites, they would have remained in their land.* *We must be wise and not take on battles that are not ours, whether out of sympathy with other people or to prove that we are powerful. As believers, we have more than enough battles against principalities and powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in high places, against sin and Satan. The armour Christ has given us is intended to defeat these adversaries. It is not to be wasted on self-imposed battles that do not benefit the kingdom of God. Those who engage in the wrong battles suffer great loss, and live to regret it for the rest of their lives. Let us focus on the assignment Christ has given us, namely, taking the gospel to the world of sinners, and endeavouring to bring as many as are willing, into the kingdom of God.* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*Those who fight battles without profit, reap rewards without benefits.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *EXODUS 26-29*📜📜 [23/07, 10:32 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```FRIDAY 24TH JULY, 2026``` *DIVINE FRESHNESS* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️✨🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽🙌🏽 📜📜```TEXT:PSALM 1:1-6```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper" (PSALM 1:3).*_ *Freshness implies newness of life, originality, and the absence of weakness or death. It is always God's will that His creatures be strong, hale, and hearty. The reverse, however, is the case with many who live in continual weakness, pain, and disability.* *God provides the means of drawing from His life for energy. Still, instead of utilizing the provision, they resort to the use of hard drugs and destructive substances for strength and vitality.* *Our passage for today unveils simple steps for young people to enjoy God's divine freshness. One, they must abstain from the way, walk, and counsel of the wayward and wicked. Two, they should delight in, read and meditate daily on God's word.* *Three, they should appropriate the avalanche of God's blessings and prosperity through prayer and faith. Four, they should not meddle with the ungodly. Friend, the ungodly experience dryness instead of divine freshness. They go through harrowing experiences since they are cut off from God, the source of life and all goodness.* *Would you like to be renewed and transformed? Call on the Lord God, today.* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*Freshness implies newness.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Stay rooted in Christ, and never run dry!*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Jesus, help me to maintain spiritual freshness.*_ [23/07, 10:32 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```FRIDAY 24TH JULY, 2026``` *THE FOOL IN FULL* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️😠😡🫸🏽📓⚠️‼️🛑🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```PSALM 53:1-6```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good" (Psalm 53:1).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 An extract from _Merriam Webster_ dictionary goes thus: *"Something is said to be 'in full' when it has come to the highest or the fullest state of degree, when it is at the uttermost extent or when it is complete, especially in details, number, or duration."* The fool in full is the greatest fool that will ever live on earth. He breathes in the air made by God, cultivates the soil created by God, and eats out of the produce thereof, lives in the world God created and enjoys the gift of life given by God, to mention a few; and yet, turns around to say "there is no God." The fool deliberately denies the existence of God despite the many proofs of God's existence. He sees the sun, the moon, the stars, the seas and the uncountable creatures in it, but never pauses to ask: *"Who made the world?"* The things he sees tell him there is God, but in his heart, he refuses to give Him the glory. There is, however, another fool who accepts there is God but refuses to accept His gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. This category of fools claim they can worship the Living God the way they like. They corrupt the way of worshipping Him; worshipping idols, the work of their hands. The fool can never do what is good before God. *You should not be a fool. Believe in the only true God and in Jesus Christ, whom He has sent. Turn away from all corrupt and abominable thoughts and actions. Then you will be saved from the foolishness of this world.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*Thank You Lord, for delivering me from the foolishness of unbelief.*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *John 17:2, 3* [23/07, 10:33 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA* FRIDAY, 24TH JULY, 2026. *REHEARSAL OF GOD'S FAITHFULNESS* *TEXT:* JOSHUA 12:1-6. 1.Now these are the kings of the land, which the children of Israel smote, and possessed their land on the other side Jordan toward the rising of the sun, from the river Arnon unto mount Hermon, and all the plain on the east: 2 Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and from the middle of the river, and from half Gilead, even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon; 3 And from the plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the east, and unto the sea of the plain, even the salt sea on the east, the way to Bethjeshimoth; and from the south, under Ashdothpisgah: 4 And the coast of Og king of Bashan, which was of the remnant of the giants, that dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei, 5 And reigned in mount Hermon, and in Salcah, and in all Bashan, unto the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon. 6 Them did Moses the servant of the LORD and the children of Israel smite: and Moses the servant of the LORD gave it for a possession unto the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh. *Timeless Truth:*_"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits"_ (Psalm 103:2). *INTRODUCTION* From creation, God has been engaged in doing great and new wonders. Some are penned down in the Bible while there are many more that have been experienced by individuals, families, communities and nations since creation of man. The fact that God is immutable guarantees that those miracles can be repeated and increased in greatness and number. One of the greatest ways to strengthen faith is to deliberately rehearse God's faithfulness and meditate on those past wonders of God. Throughout Scripture, God often instructed His people to remember His mighty acts so that they would trust Him for future victories. Israel's conquest of the Amorites under Sihon and the later record of those victories in Joshua remind us that God's past interventions are powerful testimonies of His unfailing covenant. Every believer should cultivate the habit of recalling God's goodness instead of dwelling on past fears or failures. As we recount His faithfulness, our confidence in His promises grows. *1.Arrogant Courting of Battles* Israel peacefully requested passage through the land of Sihon, king of the Amorites, but Sihon arrogantly rejected the request and chose war instead (Numbers 21:21–25). It is the norm in military warfare that you don't fight those who come and prefer peace to war. The worst is to lead them as captives. Sihon had taken pride in defeating Moab and taking her possessions (Numbers 21:26-2). Their victory over Moab was celebrated as it became a song in the land. He was optimistic and emboldened that he could repeat the same feat against Israel. However, he was thoughtless and proud. His pride blinded him to the fact that he was fighting against God's covenant people. It is dangerous and risky to fight against the covenant people of God. The battle ended in complete defeat of Sihon because no human strength can prevail against God's purpose. b. Believers have the domineering power of Jesus Christ to crush every power of the adversaries. However, this is not a license for believers to arrogantly court and tempt the people of darkness to unnecessary warfare. When Herod wanted Jesus to perform some miracles for a show of power, Jesus declined because it was unnecessary (Luke 23:8). When Satan tempted Jesus to jump down from the mountain, Jesus also declined because it was an unnecessary show of power. Believers should avoid unnecessary boasting and fight in the name of the Lord that is borne out of arrogance or pride. Believers should never fear opposition, for God remains the Defender of those who trust Him. At the same time, we must guard against pride, remembering that arrogance always invites destruction. *Question* Am I trusting God's strength in life's battles, or am I relying on human confidence and pride? *2. Appreciative Counting of Blessings* Joshua carefully recorded the kings and their land, whom God had delivered into Israel's hands (Joshua 12:1–5). These verses are more than historical records—they are memorials of divine faithfulness. God's people are encouraged to remember every victory and every answered prayer. Gratitude protects the heart from discouragement and unbelief. When we regularly count our blessings, we discover that God's mercies greatly outweigh our trials. Thanksgiving also prepares us to receive greater blessings from the Lord. As the psalmist puts it, *"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits."* This will take a diligent and deliberate effort like Joshua did when he wrote down and recalled the good wonders of God to himself and to the whole Israel. *Question* How often do I deliberately remember and thank God for His past faithfulness in my life? *3. Additions to Covenant for the Beloved* a. The conquered territories were not part of the promised Canaan inheritance. But Sihon and Og lost their land through their pride and arrogance and those blessings were taken from them and added to the children of Israel (Joshua 12:6). After getting victory, Moses assigned the conquered territory to the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh as their inheritance. God's faithfulness extends beyond victory in battle to the fulfillment of His covenant promises. b. There are several cases where God took away the assigned blessing of the arrogant and added them to the portion of the godly. Reuben and Esau were supposed to have the double blessings of their first born, but they both lost them through carelessness and profanity. Their blessings were added to Judah and Jacob respectively. Jesus warned the Ephesian Church of loss of ministry if they didn't repent from the loss of their first love and the immoral practices of the Nicolaitans(Revelation 2:5). He also warned the Pastor of Philadelphia that if he was not watchful, his crown would be taken from him and be given or added to another person. *"Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown"* (Revelation 3:11). Remember, King Saul lost his crown, which was supposed to be generational, to David. The same with Esau and none of them could get his back. Fight and be watchful to retain and enjoy all your blessings and inheritance assigned to you by God. *Question* Am I very watchful and prayerful in ensuring that my blessings and inheritance are not taken from me and transferred to another person? *Prayer Points* 1.Heavenly Father, help me always remember and celebrate Your faithfulness in every season of my life 🙏. 2.Lord, deliver me from every form of pride, boasting and unnecessary show of power and grant me victory over every battle confronting my faith 🙏. 3.Give me a grateful heart that continually counts Your blessings instead of focusing on life's difficulties. 4.Give Your children grace to be watchful and prayerful and don't allow anyone to take their assigned blessings and inheritance 🙏. *HYMN:* Count Your Blessings *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* EXODUS 26-29. 2. Morning Prayer for today. MP.i. Morning Prayer A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. ⏤ Proverbs 16:9 To pray is to let go and let God take over. ⏤ Philip Yancey O God, our Father, we, Your children, wait for Your blessing before we go out to the work and care of this new day. We thank You for the blessings You gave us in our sleep. You have renewed our strength and restored what yesterday’s toil took from us. We are strong this morning and ready for another day’s work because of the blessings You gave us in our sleep. We consecrate our lives to You for this new day. Take us and use us as You will. We don’t want to make our own plans, for we are too short-sighted and would only plan for present comfort or earthly success. We would rather have You reveal Your plan for our day. It may not be easy, but we know it is wiser and better than our way could ever be, for You see the end from the beginning, and You choose the best things for us. We lay our plans at Your feet and ask You to use them if they are the best, but if not, to set them aside so that Your plan for the day may work unhindered in us. We pray for our neighbors. Some of them are sick. Remember them and grant them healing and restoration. Send them Your comfort in their pain, and let them be richly blessed by the experiences they are going through. Some of our neighbors have gone through sorrows. Heal their broken hearts and give them comfort that will make them stronger to bear their grief, and help them find the blessings You have hidden in their sorrow. Receive us now into Your care for this day; bless us, keep us, and use us as You will. We ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/19/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

St. Giles He was a Greek saint and was born in an Athenian noble family, in the year 650 A.D. Legend says that he was the son of King Theodore and Queen Pelagia of Athens. He was spending a lot of his time in solitude in a forest near Nimes and there his only companion was a red deer. One day a hunter shot an arrow aimed at the red deer but the arrow wounded the saint. As per one story about him, the said red deer gave St. Giles her milk to sustain him. St. Giles ate only vegetarian diet and was very much reputed for his personal sanctity. He was credited with many miracles. A King named Wamba, a Visigoth King, constructed a monastery for St. Giles and placed it under the Benedictine Rule. St. Giles rejected all honors conferred on him. He died in the year 710. St. Giles is revered as a patron of physically handicapped. #Catholic #trust #saint #physicallyhandicapped #patron #universe #world #peace #vegetarian #personal #sanctity #personalsantity #pure #diet #deer

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.

As a cold case detective and former atheist, I never imagined I’d take the claim of the virgin conception seriously. Miracles, I thought, didn’t happen — ever. But when I applied the same investigative techniques I used to solve decades old homicides, the evidence led me somewhere I didn’t expect. https://coldcasechristianity.com/videos/the-case-that-made-me-rethink-the-virgin-conception-video/ #ChristianApologetics #ColdCaseChristianity #JWarnerWallace #ChristianWorldview

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 https://selar.com/m/umoh-edem1 https://selar.com/m/umoedem https://www.amazon.com/author/umohedembooks https://afrikdp.com/author/9128a016-dd79-4f17-9e60-bf11f65f1a34 CONTACT - WhatsApp +2349024173027, +2349055447540 Email pastor.umoedem@gmail.com

Sts. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus St. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were very prominent Jews and were members of the supreme Jewish Council called Sanhedrin. Mathew called Joseph as a rich man and Luke called him as a good and upright man. Even though Joseph was a very important Jewish leader, he believed in the coming kingdom of God and started believing that Jesus might be the Messiah. Luke calls him a good and upright man. After the death of Jesus on the cross at Golgotha, Joseph courageously met Pilate, the Procurator of Judea, in person and asked him the body of Jesus. Pilate also ordered to handover the body of Jesus to Joseph, after confirming from the guards that Jesus died on the cross. Joseph then wrapped the body of Jesus with 100 pounds of myrrh and aloes brought by Nicodemus, in fine linen and buried in a cave tomb hewn for him. Nicodemus helped Joseph in all these activities and he only brought the myrrh and aloes to anoint Jesus. Joseph and Nicodemus have given an honorable burial to Jesus following the Jewish burial procedure. Nicodemus was a secret disciple of Jesus and he came to Jesus one night to listen to His teachings and praised Jesus Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no man can do these miracles you have done (John 3: 2). When the Chief priest sent guards to arrest Jesus, they did not brought Jesus. When the Chief Priests and the Pharisees condemned the officers who have said no one talked like Him (Jesus), they cursed them. But Nicodemus told them whether our laws judge anyone before hearing what had happened (John\-7:45\-51). Nicodemus made this comment naturally in support of Jesus. St. Joseph of Arimathea is the patron saint of Funeral Directors and Pallbearers. #Catholic #trust #believers #followers #Jesus #support #help #courage #funeral #jesus #death #supreme #burial #secret #world #Christian

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

⚠️⚠️⚠️**Woe to you, pastors leading the Lord's sheep into the pit**⚠️⚠️⚠️ In Luke 12, Jesus tells the parable of a rich man whose land produced abundantly. And what did he do? He only thought about accumulating: *"I will bestow all my fruits and my goods... soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry"* (Luke 12:18-19). But God interrupted that plan with a sentence that chills the blood: *"Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?"* (v. 20). A man full of material blessings, and completely empty of soul. Rich before men, and destitute before God. Jesus made the right path clear: *"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you"* (Matthew 6:33). Blessings come as a consequence of seeking God — never as the goal itself. When that order gets reversed, when ministry becomes a means to easy living, something has already gone deeply wrong. And today, pastor, this word is for you — the one who traded the calling for convenience. You who built your wealth on the tithe of people who barely had enough to eat. You who promised healing, promised deliverance, promised miracles — and charged for it. You who saw the sheep suffering and, instead of caring for it, saw an opportunity for profit. Be careful. Because the same God who told the rich fool "this night thy soul shall be required of thee" will say the same to you, and on that day your imported car, your big house, your well-known name — none of it will defend you. Remember: you can accumulate wealth, you can steal from the Lord's sheep, you can deceive for years without anyone confronting you here on earth. But no pastor escapes the final sentence. Every sheep lost because of you, every one who gave up on faith because you exploited her instead of shepherding her — her blood cries out, and God has already warned: *"his blood will I require at the watchman's hand"* (Ezekiel 33:6). You won't answer only for your own soul — you'll answer for every life that trusted you and was betrayed. And the consequence doesn't stop with you. It follows your generation. Your family carries the weight of what you did with what was sacred, because there is no true blessing built on theft, lies, and the exploitation of God's people. What is sown is reaped — and sometimes the one who reaps it is the one you love most. If you recognized yourself in this message, there's still time. Drop the scheme, drop the offering disguised as faith, drop the pulpit that became a business. Go back to being what God called you to be: a watchman, not a salesman. A shepherd, not a wolf in a robe. ⚖️⚖️⚖️*Remember that the Word of God is a statute.*⚖️⚖️⚖️ [all]