• 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 EVERYDY: (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 2⃣0⃣2⃣)*_

    🏼🏼🏼🏼🏼‍

    ```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.
    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.
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  • TODAY'S KINGDOM INSIGHTS:

    SERMON TOPIC:

    SERMON: BE SPIRITUALLY ALERT — EMBER MONTHS ARE HERE.

    Theme:

    “Watch and Pray: Finishing the Year Strong in Christ”

    Key Text:

    1 Peter 5:8–9

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


    THE YEAR IS NOT OVER YET!

    Beloved, we have entered the final stretch of the year.
    The ember months—September, October, November and December—are often associated with celebrations, travelling, weddings, parties, business activities, family gatherings and end-of-year excitement.
    But as Christians, we must understand something:
    The end of the year is not a time to become spiritually careless. It is a time to become spiritually alert!
    Many people become relaxed because they think, “The year is almost over.”
    But the devil does not take a holiday.
    Your prayer life must not go on holiday.
    Your Bible study must not go on holiday.
    Your holiness must not go on holiday.
    Your spiritual discernment must not go on holiday.
    The fact that we are approaching the end of the year does not mean we should lower our spiritual guard.
    This is the season to watch, pray, discern and finish well!

    1. BE SOBER AND VIGILANT.
    1 Peter 5:8
    Peter says:
    > “Be sober, be vigilant…”
    To be sober means to remain spiritually clear-minded.
    To be vigilant means to remain watchful and alert.
    A Christian can be physically awake but spiritually asleep.
    You may attend church and still become spiritually careless.
    You may carry a Bible and still lose spiritual sensitivity.
    You may pray yesterday and still need to pray today.
    The ember months can bring many distractions:
    Excessive celebrations
    Ungodly relationships
    Financial pressure
    Peer pressure
    Sexual temptation
    Substance abuse
    Unnecessary travelling
    Reckless spending
    Internet and social-media distractions
    Pressure to “make it before the year ends”
    Do not allow the excitement of the season to silence the voice of the Holy Spirit.
    2. WATCH AND PRAY
    Matthew 26:41
    > “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation…”

    Notice that Jesus did not say pray without watching.
    He said:
    Watch AND pray.
    Prayer without spiritual alertness can make us careless.
    Spiritual alertness without prayer can make us powerless.
    We need both.
    During these months, increase your prayer life.
    Pray concerning:
    Your family
    Your children
    Your marriage
    Your career
    Your ministry
    Your finances
    Your travels
    Your relationships
    Your spiritual life
    The decisions you will make
    Do not wait until trouble comes before you begin to pray.
    Prayer is not only a crisis response; prayer is spiritual preparation.
    3. DO NOT LET THE SEASON STEAL YOUR SPIRITUAL FIRE
    Romans 12:11
    > “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.
    One danger of the ember months is spiritual fatigue.
    People become tired and say:
    > “I have prayed enough this year.”
    No!
    You don't retire from your relationship with God because the calendar is approaching December.
    Your spiritual fire must continue burning.
    Leviticus 6:13
    > “The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.”

    Your altar must remain alive.
    Don't let December find you spiritually empty.
    Keep reading the Word.
    Keep praying.
    Keep worshipping.
    Keep serving.
    Keep witnessing.
    Keep forgiving.
    Keep walking in holiness.
    4. BE CAREFUL WITH DECISIONS MADE UNDER PRESSURE.
    The final months of the year can create tremendous pressure.
    People begin asking:
    “What have you achieved this year?”
    “How much money have you made?”
    “When are you getting married?”
    “When will you build your house?”
    “When will you buy a car?”
    “What are you doing with your life?”
    Such questions can create comparison and desperation.
    And desperation can lead people into wrong decisions.
    Remember:
    You do not need to destroy your future because you are trying to impress people before December 31.
    Psalm 37:7 says:
    > “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him…”
    Do not enter a wrong relationship because you are afraid of being single.
    Do not enter fraudulent business because you want quick money.
    Do not compromise your faith because you want acceptance.
    Do not abandon God's principles because you feel behind.
    God's timing is better than human pressure.
    5. FINISH THE YEAR STRONG.
    Philippians 3:13–14
    Paul says:
    > “Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before…”

    There is still time.
    Perhaps January did not go as planned.
    Maybe February brought disappointment.
    Maybe March brought unexpected challenges.
    Maybe you made mistakes.
    Maybe opportunities passed.
    Maybe you experienced losses.
    But the year is not over yet.
    Don't spend the remaining months mourning what went wrong.
    Ask:
    > “Lord, what can I still do with the time You have given me?”
    You can still pray.
    You can still reconcile.
    You can still start.
    You can still learn.
    You can still serve.
    You can still evangelize.
    You can still correct your mistakes.
    You can still become spiritually stronger.
    There are still chapters of your story that have not been written.

    BIBLICAL CASE STUDY:

    NEHEMIAH.

    Consider Nehemiah.
    When Nehemiah and the people were rebuilding Jerusalem's wall, their enemies attempted to distract and intimidate them.
    Nehemiah 4:9
    > “Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night…”
    Look at the balance:
    They prayed AND they watched.
    They did not say:
    > “We are praying, so we don't need to be careful.”
    Neither did they say:
    > “We are watching, so we don't need God.”
    They did both.
    Prayer + Watchfulness = Spiritual Alertness
    This is a powerful principle for the ember months.
    Pray as though everything depends on God.
    Work and watch as though God expects you to be responsible.

    DEEP SPIRITUAL INSIGHTS.

    1. Not every opportunity is a God-given opportunity.
    Some opportunities are simply distractions dressed as blessings.
    Discern before you accept.
    2. Not every relationship deserves access to your destiny.
    Some relationships strengthen your faith.
    Others weaken it.
    Watch your associations.
    3. The enemy often uses distraction before destruction.
    He does not always begin with something obviously evil.
    Sometimes he begins with:
    > “Just this once.”
    Then another time.
    Then another.
    Eventually, compromise becomes normal.
    4. The final months require spiritual discipline, not spiritual panic.
    Do not wait until December to start asking God to fix everything.
    Walk with God daily.
    5. Your greatest victory may be finishing faithfully.
    Not everyone who starts well finishes well.
    Your goal should not simply be:
    > “I want to end the year wealthy.”
    Say:
    > “I want to end the year closer to God, stronger in faith, cleaner in character and faithful to my assignment.”

    PRACTICAL ACTION STEPS FOR THE EMBER MONTHS.

    1. Establish a daily prayer time.
    Even if it is 15–30 minutes, be consistent.
    2. Read the Bible daily.
    Don't allow social media to receive more attention than God's Word.
    3. Examine your relationships.
    Ask who is strengthening your faith and who is weakening it.
    4. Avoid unnecessary risks.
    Be wise with travelling, finances, relationships and celebrations.
    5. Control your spending.
    Don't spend January's resources trying to impress people in December.
    6. Stay connected to Christian fellowship.
    Don't isolate yourself spiritually.
    7. Practice gratitude.
    Count your blessings instead of comparing yourself with others.
    8. Set spiritual goals.
    Before the year ends, decide what you want to accomplish spiritually.
    9. Reconcile where necessary.
    Do not carry unnecessary bitterness into another year.
    10. Finish what God has entrusted to you.
    Don't abandon your assignment because the year has been difficult.

    QUESTIONS FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION

    1. How spiritually alert am I right now?
    2. Has my prayer life become weaker?
    3. What distractions are threatening my relationship with God?
    4. Are there relationships I need to reconsider?
    5. Am I making decisions because of God's leading or because of pressure?
    6. What temptation do I need to become more watchful against?
    7. What unfinished assignment should I complete before the year ends?
    8. If the year ended today, would I be satisfied with my walk with God?
    9. What must I stop doing?
    10. What must I start doing?

    POWERFUL PRAYER POINTS

    1. Prayer for spiritual alertness
    Father, awaken my spirit and make me sensitive to Your voice. Help me to recognize every distraction and every trap of the enemy.
    2. Prayer for protection
    Lord, preserve me, my family and everyone connected to me throughout these remaining months. Keep us from evil and unnecessary danger.
    3. Prayer against temptation
    Father, strengthen me to say NO to every temptation that can destroy my testimony, destiny and relationship with You.
    4. Prayer for divine direction.
    Lord, guide my decisions. Give me wisdom to know what to accept, what to reject and what to wait for.
    5. Prayer against desperation
    Father, deliver me from the pressure to compete, compare or compromise. Help me to trust Your timing.
    6. Prayer for restoration
    Lord, restore whatever I have lost that is according to Your will, and give me wisdom to recover what can still be recovered.
    7. Prayer for finishing well
    Father, I will not finish this year spiritually empty. Give me grace to finish stronger, wiser, purer and closer to You than I started.
    8. Prayer for the family
    Lord, preserve our families. Let no tragedy, division or destructive influence prevail over our homes.
    9. Prayer for purpose
    Father, help me to complete every assignment You have entrusted to me before the end of this year.
    10. Prayer of surrender
    Lord Jesus, I surrender the remaining months of this year to You. Take control of my life, my plans, my family, my decisions and my future. Let Your will be done in my life. Amen.

    STRONG CLOSING: DON'T SLEEP THROUGH YOUR SEASON!

    Church, the ember months are here, but God's grace is still available!
    Don't become careless.
    Don't become distracted.
    Don't become desperate.
    Don't compromise.
    Don't allow celebrations to replace consecration.
    Don't allow social pressure to replace God's direction.
    Don't allow the mistakes of yesterday to destroy the possibilities of tomorrow.
    WATCH!
    PRAY!
    DISCERN!
    STAND FIRM!
    FINISH STRONG!

    The year may be approaching its final months, but your assignment is not finished.
    Your testimony is not finished.
    Your purpose is not finished.
    Your story is not finished.
    And above all:
    God is not finished with you!
    > “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” — Mark 13:33

    MY CHARGE TO YOU:

    Enter the ember months with prayer.
    Walk through them with wisdom.
    Live through them with holiness.
    Move through them with discernment.
    And finish them with thanksgiving.

    Be spiritually alert.
    Your destiny is too valuable to sleep through your season!
    In Jesus' name, Amen.

    Surrender your life to Jesus by joining a Bible believing Church.
    You can get inspirational ebooks from my selar/amazon shops below

    https://selar.com/m/umoh-edem1

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    CONTACT - Whatsapp 2349024173027, +2349055447540

    Email pastor.umoedem@gmail.com
    TODAY'S KINGDOM INSIGHTS: SERMON TOPIC: 🔥SERMON: BE SPIRITUALLY ALERT — EMBER MONTHS ARE HERE. Theme: “Watch and Pray: Finishing the Year Strong in Christ” Key Text: 1 Peter 5:8–9 > “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 🔥 THE YEAR IS NOT OVER YET! Beloved, we have entered the final stretch of the year. The ember months—September, October, November and December—are often associated with celebrations, travelling, weddings, parties, business activities, family gatherings and end-of-year excitement. But as Christians, we must understand something: The end of the year is not a time to become spiritually careless. It is a time to become spiritually alert! Many people become relaxed because they think, “The year is almost over.” But the devil does not take a holiday. Your prayer life must not go on holiday. Your Bible study must not go on holiday. Your holiness must not go on holiday. Your spiritual discernment must not go on holiday. The fact that we are approaching the end of the year does not mean we should lower our spiritual guard. This is the season to watch, pray, discern and finish well! 1. 🛡️ BE SOBER AND VIGILANT. 1 Peter 5:8 Peter says: > “Be sober, be vigilant…” To be sober means to remain spiritually clear-minded. To be vigilant means to remain watchful and alert. A Christian can be physically awake but spiritually asleep. You may attend church and still become spiritually careless. You may carry a Bible and still lose spiritual sensitivity. You may pray yesterday and still need to pray today. The ember months can bring many distractions: Excessive celebrations Ungodly relationships Financial pressure Peer pressure Sexual temptation Substance abuse Unnecessary travelling Reckless spending Internet and social-media distractions Pressure to “make it before the year ends” Do not allow the excitement of the season to silence the voice of the Holy Spirit. 2. 🙏 WATCH AND PRAY Matthew 26:41 > “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation…” Notice that Jesus did not say pray without watching. He said: Watch AND pray. Prayer without spiritual alertness can make us careless. Spiritual alertness without prayer can make us powerless. We need both. During these months, increase your prayer life. Pray concerning: Your family Your children Your marriage Your career Your ministry Your finances Your travels Your relationships Your spiritual life The decisions you will make Do not wait until trouble comes before you begin to pray. Prayer is not only a crisis response; prayer is spiritual preparation. 3. 🕯️ DO NOT LET THE SEASON STEAL YOUR SPIRITUAL FIRE Romans 12:11 > “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord. One danger of the ember months is spiritual fatigue. People become tired and say: > “I have prayed enough this year.” No! You don't retire from your relationship with God because the calendar is approaching December. Your spiritual fire must continue burning. Leviticus 6:13 > “The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.” Your altar must remain alive. Don't let December find you spiritually empty. Keep reading the Word. Keep praying. Keep worshipping. Keep serving. Keep witnessing. Keep forgiving. Keep walking in holiness. 4. ⚠️ BE CAREFUL WITH DECISIONS MADE UNDER PRESSURE. The final months of the year can create tremendous pressure. People begin asking: “What have you achieved this year?” “How much money have you made?” “When are you getting married?” “When will you build your house?” “When will you buy a car?” “What are you doing with your life?” Such questions can create comparison and desperation. And desperation can lead people into wrong decisions. Remember: You do not need to destroy your future because you are trying to impress people before December 31. Psalm 37:7 says: > “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him…” Do not enter a wrong relationship because you are afraid of being single. Do not enter fraudulent business because you want quick money. Do not compromise your faith because you want acceptance. Do not abandon God's principles because you feel behind. God's timing is better than human pressure. 5. 🎯 FINISH THE YEAR STRONG. Philippians 3:13–14 Paul says: > “Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before…” There is still time. Perhaps January did not go as planned. Maybe February brought disappointment. Maybe March brought unexpected challenges. Maybe you made mistakes. Maybe opportunities passed. Maybe you experienced losses. But the year is not over yet. Don't spend the remaining months mourning what went wrong. Ask: > “Lord, what can I still do with the time You have given me?” You can still pray. You can still reconcile. You can still start. You can still learn. You can still serve. You can still evangelize. You can still correct your mistakes. You can still become spiritually stronger. There are still chapters of your story that have not been written. 📖 BIBLICAL CASE STUDY: NEHEMIAH. Consider Nehemiah. When Nehemiah and the people were rebuilding Jerusalem's wall, their enemies attempted to distract and intimidate them. Nehemiah 4:9 > “Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night…” Look at the balance: They prayed AND they watched. They did not say: > “We are praying, so we don't need to be careful.” Neither did they say: > “We are watching, so we don't need God.” They did both. Prayer + Watchfulness = Spiritual Alertness This is a powerful principle for the ember months. Pray as though everything depends on God. Work and watch as though God expects you to be responsible. 💡 DEEP SPIRITUAL INSIGHTS. 1. Not every opportunity is a God-given opportunity. Some opportunities are simply distractions dressed as blessings. Discern before you accept. 2. Not every relationship deserves access to your destiny. Some relationships strengthen your faith. Others weaken it. Watch your associations. 3. The enemy often uses distraction before destruction. He does not always begin with something obviously evil. Sometimes he begins with: > “Just this once.” Then another time. Then another. Eventually, compromise becomes normal. 4. The final months require spiritual discipline, not spiritual panic. Do not wait until December to start asking God to fix everything. Walk with God daily. 5. Your greatest victory may be finishing faithfully. Not everyone who starts well finishes well. Your goal should not simply be: > “I want to end the year wealthy.” Say: > “I want to end the year closer to God, stronger in faith, cleaner in character and faithful to my assignment.” ✅ PRACTICAL ACTION STEPS FOR THE EMBER MONTHS. 1. Establish a daily prayer time. Even if it is 15–30 minutes, be consistent. 2. Read the Bible daily. Don't allow social media to receive more attention than God's Word. 3. Examine your relationships. Ask who is strengthening your faith and who is weakening it. 4. Avoid unnecessary risks. Be wise with travelling, finances, relationships and celebrations. 5. Control your spending. Don't spend January's resources trying to impress people in December. 6. Stay connected to Christian fellowship. Don't isolate yourself spiritually. 7. Practice gratitude. Count your blessings instead of comparing yourself with others. 8. Set spiritual goals. Before the year ends, decide what you want to accomplish spiritually. 9. Reconcile where necessary. Do not carry unnecessary bitterness into another year. 10. Finish what God has entrusted to you. Don't abandon your assignment because the year has been difficult. 🤔 QUESTIONS FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION 1. How spiritually alert am I right now? 2. Has my prayer life become weaker? 3. What distractions are threatening my relationship with God? 4. Are there relationships I need to reconsider? 5. Am I making decisions because of God's leading or because of pressure? 6. What temptation do I need to become more watchful against? 7. What unfinished assignment should I complete before the year ends? 8. If the year ended today, would I be satisfied with my walk with God? 9. What must I stop doing? 10. What must I start doing? 🙏 POWERFUL PRAYER POINTS 1. Prayer for spiritual alertness Father, awaken my spirit and make me sensitive to Your voice. Help me to recognize every distraction and every trap of the enemy. 2. Prayer for protection Lord, preserve me, my family and everyone connected to me throughout these remaining months. Keep us from evil and unnecessary danger. 3. Prayer against temptation Father, strengthen me to say NO to every temptation that can destroy my testimony, destiny and relationship with You. 4. Prayer for divine direction. Lord, guide my decisions. Give me wisdom to know what to accept, what to reject and what to wait for. 5. Prayer against desperation Father, deliver me from the pressure to compete, compare or compromise. Help me to trust Your timing. 6. Prayer for restoration Lord, restore whatever I have lost that is according to Your will, and give me wisdom to recover what can still be recovered. 7. Prayer for finishing well Father, I will not finish this year spiritually empty. Give me grace to finish stronger, wiser, purer and closer to You than I started. 8. Prayer for the family Lord, preserve our families. Let no tragedy, division or destructive influence prevail over our homes. 9. Prayer for purpose Father, help me to complete every assignment You have entrusted to me before the end of this year. 10. Prayer of surrender Lord Jesus, I surrender the remaining months of this year to You. Take control of my life, my plans, my family, my decisions and my future. Let Your will be done in my life. Amen. 🔥 STRONG CLOSING: DON'T SLEEP THROUGH YOUR SEASON! Church, the ember months are here, but God's grace is still available! Don't become careless. Don't become distracted. Don't become desperate. Don't compromise. Don't allow celebrations to replace consecration. Don't allow social pressure to replace God's direction. Don't allow the mistakes of yesterday to destroy the possibilities of tomorrow. WATCH! PRAY! DISCERN! STAND FIRM! FINISH STRONG! The year may be approaching its final months, but your assignment is not finished. Your testimony is not finished. Your purpose is not finished. Your story is not finished. And above all: God is not finished with you! > “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” — Mark 13:33 🔥 MY CHARGE TO YOU: Enter the ember months with prayer. Walk through them with wisdom. Live through them with holiness. Move through them with discernment. And finish them with thanksgiving. Be spiritually alert. Your destiny is too valuable to sleep through your season! In Jesus' name, Amen. Surrender your life to Jesus by joining a Bible believing Church. 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 CONTACT - Whatsapp 2349024173027, +2349055447540 Email pastor.umoedem@gmail.com
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  • THE PILGRIMS GUIDE

    MONDAY AUGUST 31, 2026

    GUARD THE GATES OF THE HEART  

    A WORD FROM THE WORD:

    "LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
    Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart." Psalm 15:1-2 NIV.

    King David, by the Holy Spirit's inspiration in our anchor Scripture examines the root cause of disqualification of many from the presence of God. He then provided a list of attitudes, habits and practices that qualify one to be in the presence of God, such as uprightness, righteousness and truth in the heart, among others, are the top requirements for one to remain in God's presence.
    Solomon, the wise king, again, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit once counsels, '......Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.' (Proverbs 4:23 NIV). Our LORD Jesus admonishes further, '......Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.
    (Matthew 15:19 ESV).

    When a heart is leaky, backbiting, evil imaginations, judgmental reproach of brethren and pride will dominate the character. However, a submissive, sanctified and consecrated life always seeks to keep the gates of the heart closed to the rampaging habits and ways of life that dominate the present evil world system. If you desire to ascend God's holy hill, then strive to guard your heart with all diligence and keep your gates closed to all influences of sin. Shut out every manner of evil companions, evil communicnations, gain mastery over your appetite, be careful how you spend your time and your money, be watchful over any wiles of the devil that may want to take advantage of any little opening in your heart.

    Guard the gates of your heart safe and secure by prayer, righteous living and the Word of God. Don't forsake the assembly of God's people, fellowship with other believers regualrly and find something doing for God. This way the gates of your heart will be shut against the enemy of your soul and destiny.

    PRAYER BULLETS:

    Father LORD, thank You for the privilege of salvation. I ask that You purge my heart of every sinful pollutant. Give me the strength for righteous living, that my heart may not be lured into sin.

    FURTHER READING:

    Psalm 24:3-5; Proverbs 4:20-27; Philippians 4:8-9; 1 Corinthians 15:33.
    __________________________________________

    Amaobi Nwachukwu 2026.

    If you're blessed by this, please, do share with others.

    And if you'll like to partner with us, kindly check page 3 of our hard copy edition or better still send us a WhatsApp message or call on +234 8098421967.

    #ThePilgrimsGuide.
    THE PILGRIMS GUIDE MONDAY AUGUST 31, 2026 GUARD THE GATES OF THE HEART   A WORD FROM THE WORD: "LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart." Psalm 15:1-2 NIV. King David, by the Holy Spirit's inspiration in our anchor Scripture examines the root cause of disqualification of many from the presence of God. He then provided a list of attitudes, habits and practices that qualify one to be in the presence of God, such as uprightness, righteousness and truth in the heart, among others, are the top requirements for one to remain in God's presence. Solomon, the wise king, again, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit once counsels, '......Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.' (Proverbs 4:23 NIV). Our LORD Jesus admonishes further, '......Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. (Matthew 15:19 ESV). When a heart is leaky, backbiting, evil imaginations, judgmental reproach of brethren and pride will dominate the character. However, a submissive, sanctified and consecrated life always seeks to keep the gates of the heart closed to the rampaging habits and ways of life that dominate the present evil world system. If you desire to ascend God's holy hill, then strive to guard your heart with all diligence and keep your gates closed to all influences of sin. Shut out every manner of evil companions, evil communicnations, gain mastery over your appetite, be careful how you spend your time and your money, be watchful over any wiles of the devil that may want to take advantage of any little opening in your heart. Guard the gates of your heart safe and secure by prayer, righteous living and the Word of God. Don't forsake the assembly of God's people, fellowship with other believers regualrly and find something doing for God. This way the gates of your heart will be shut against the enemy of your soul and destiny. PRAYER BULLETS: Father LORD, thank You for the privilege of salvation. I ask that You purge my heart of every sinful pollutant. Give me the strength for righteous living, that my heart may not be lured into sin. FURTHER READING: Psalm 24:3-5; Proverbs 4:20-27; Philippians 4:8-9; 1 Corinthians 15:33. __________________________________________ ©️ Amaobi Nwachukwu 2026. If you're blessed by this, please, do share with others. And if you'll like to partner with us, kindly check page 3 of our hard copy edition or better still send us a WhatsApp message or call on +234 8098421967. #ThePilgrimsGuide.
    0 Kommentare 0 Anteile 16 Ansichten
  • LEP'S FAITH QUOTES: Precious in the Sight of God 8/31 Monday Meditation
    If the saints only knew how precious they are in the sight of God they would scarcely be able to sleep for thinking of His watchful, loving care. Oh, He is a precious Jesus! He is a lovely Savior! He is divine in all His attitude toward us, and makes our hearts to burn. There is nothing like it. "Oh," they said on the road to Emmaus, "did not our hearts burn within us, as He walked with us and talked with us?" (Luke 24:32). Oh beloved, it must be so today.
    --Smith Wigglesworth
    LEP'S FAITH QUOTES: Precious in the Sight of God 8/31 Monday Meditation If the saints only knew how precious they are in the sight of God they would scarcely be able to sleep for thinking of His watchful, loving care. Oh, He is a precious Jesus! He is a lovely Savior! He is divine in all His attitude toward us, and makes our hearts to burn. There is nothing like it. "Oh," they said on the road to Emmaus, "did not our hearts burn within us, as He walked with us and talked with us?" (Luke 24:32). Oh beloved, it must be so today. --Smith Wigglesworth
    0 Kommentare 0 Anteile 26 Ansichten
  • Be watchful and prepared! When terrifying world events happen, do not fear; Keep praying for strength to face the future and stand before Jesus.
    #SecondComingofChrist
    #JesusIsOurSavior
    #LordsBook
    Be watchful and prepared! When terrifying world events happen, do not fear; Keep praying for strength to face the future and stand before Jesus. #SecondComingofChrist #JesusIsOurSavior #LordsBook
    Like
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  • Good evening, brethren.
    1. Evening devotion for today.

    E.D.i. [27/08, 4:53 am] EBS ZY Nehemiah: *DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST*
    (COCIN DEVOTIONAL)

    *DATE:*
    THURSDAY 27TH AUGUST 2026.

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

    *TOPIC:*
    RIGHTLY CHOOSING A LIFE PARTNER.

    *PROVERBS 3:5–6.*
    5. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding
    6. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

    *PROVERBS 24:3–4.*
    3. By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established.
    4. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.

    *TOPIC:*
    RIGHTLY CHOOSING A LIFE PARTNER.

    *THE MESSAGE:*
    The decision we make today can make or mar us. Today's texts caution us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and to acknowledge Him in all our ways, rather than relying on our understanding. They remind us that a house is built by wisdom and established through understanding. This serves as a compass in decision-making, especially when choosing a life partner.
    Choosing a life partner is a significant decision that should be guided by God's wisdom rather than personal feelings, physical appearances, or family and cultural influences. Couples to-be must involved God by seeking His will and be willing to obey His directives. Seeking counsel from spiritual leaders is a sign of wisdom, not a sign of weakness. Do not rush into marriage and end up in a separation. Patiently and prayerfully wait on God's timing to author your love story.

    *REFLECTION:*
    Only God knows the future; follow His leading.

    *PRAYER:*
    Lord, help me to learn to trust in You. 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:*
    EZEKIEL 40–43.
    [27/08, 4:53 am] EBS ZY Nehemiah: *DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST*
    (COCIN DEVOTIONAL)

    *DATE:*
    THURSDAY 27TH AUGUST 2026.

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

    *TOPIC:*
    RIGHTLY CHOOSING A LIFE PARTNER.

    *PROVERBS 3:5–6.*
    5. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding
    6. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

    *PROVERBS 24:3–4.*
    3. By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established.
    4. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.

    *TOPIC:*
    RIGHTLY CHOOSING A LIFE PARTNER.

    *THE MESSAGE:*
    The decision we make today can make or mar us. Today's texts caution us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and to acknowledge Him in all our ways, rather than relying on our understanding. They remind us that a house is built by wisdom and established through understanding. This serves as a compass in decision-making, especially when choosing a life partner.
    Choosing a life partner is a significant decision that should be guided by God's wisdom rather than personal feelings, physical appearances, or family and cultural influences. Couples to-be must involved God by seeking His will and be willing to obey His directives. Seeking counsel from spiritual leaders is a sign of wisdom, not a sign of weakness. Do not rush into marriage and end up in a separation. Patiently and prayerfully wait on God's timing to author your love story.

    *REFLECTION:*
    Only God knows the future; follow His leading.

    *PRAYER:*
    Lord, help me to learn to trust in You. 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:*
    EZEKIEL 40–43.

    EP.ii. DEAL WITH SETBACKS

    "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him." - Romans 8:28

    My older brother John-Henry became seriously ill in 1958 just before the large campaign with Ps. T.L. Osborn was to take place on the Malieveld in The Hague, Holland. He was only two years old and had pleurisy. My parents believed in Divine healing and they also preached about that. They anointed their little boy with oil as the Bible teaches us in James 5 and prayed for healing. My parents prayed and believed that the Lord would heal their little one, but instead he died.

    It would have been easy for my parents to allow bitterness in their heart and get angry with God. But my parents did not allow this. They were not angry with God. God asked them: 'Do you still believe that I am the Lord, your Healer?' And they said: 'Yes Lord, we still believe that because Your Word says so.'

    Holland Wonder Campaign

    Three months later my father stood on stage next to Evangelist T.L. Osborn on the Malieveld, where hundreds of thousands of people came every day. Many, many came to Jesus and many people were healed. My father was appointed by God as the anointed translator for Evangelist Osborn, the servant of God.

    Stronger through setbacks

    Nowadays many people respond negatively to setbacks in their lives. They cannot believe that the Lord God can turn nasty situations into something good. Dear Christians, God will use those hard setbacks in your life to bring you to a higher spiritual level. Setbacks make you stronger if you process them properly. You have to be brave and hold on to God's Word through it all.


    https://www.theblessingdevotional.com

    2. Evening Prayer for today.

    EP.i. Evening Prayer

    This [is] the day [which] the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. ⏤ Psalm 118:24

    A day without prayer is a day without blessing, and a life without prayer is a life without power. ⏤ Edwin Harvey

    O blessed Jesus, whom we love even though we have not seen You, in whom, though we do not see You, we believe and rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory—we come to You at the close of another day. Abide with us, for it is evening, and the day is almost over. The night will be as bright as day if You are with us, for it is never dark where You are.

    We bring to You the joys of this day. All the happiness we have experienced came from You. Every fragment of beauty we enjoyed was from Your hand. You made the blue skies, the green fields, the lovely flowers, the birds with their sweet songs, and all the beautiful things in this world. You made the children whose voices bring music into our homes. The sunshine is Yours, and the stars are from Your hand. It’s amazing what a beautiful world You have made just to be our home. Our hearts are full of praise as we think of all these things that show Your loving thought for us.

    We lay our burdens down at Your feet. What we have done today, we bring to You for Your blessing, for no work is complete until it bears Your touch and blessing.

    Finish what we have begun.
    Cleanse what our soiled hands have stained.
    Correct what our clumsiness has marred.

    If we have neglected any duty, forgive us and show us what it is so that we may still try to do it. Teach us more and more to be thoughtful, watchful, and alert so that we may do what we ought to do, that we may hear the cries of human need from weary hearts around us, calling us to acts of love. May we live ever closer to Jesus, and then we will know what we ought to do. Bless us, Father, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

    https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/53/evening

    #taptapstudio
    #youdevotion.
    Good evening, brethren. 1. Evening devotion for today. E.D.i. [27/08, 4:53 am] EBS ZY Nehemiah: *DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST* (COCIN DEVOTIONAL) *DATE:* THURSDAY 27TH AUGUST 2026. *SUB-THEME:* YOUTHS: VESSELS OF GOD’S GRACE. *TOPIC:* RIGHTLY CHOOSING A LIFE PARTNER. *PROVERBS 3:5–6.* 5. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding 6. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. *PROVERBS 24:3–4.* 3. By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established. 4. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. *TOPIC:* RIGHTLY CHOOSING A LIFE PARTNER. *THE MESSAGE:* The decision we make today can make or mar us. Today's texts caution us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and to acknowledge Him in all our ways, rather than relying on our understanding. They remind us that a house is built by wisdom and established through understanding. This serves as a compass in decision-making, especially when choosing a life partner. Choosing a life partner is a significant decision that should be guided by God's wisdom rather than personal feelings, physical appearances, or family and cultural influences. Couples to-be must involved God by seeking His will and be willing to obey His directives. Seeking counsel from spiritual leaders is a sign of wisdom, not a sign of weakness. Do not rush into marriage and end up in a separation. Patiently and prayerfully wait on God's timing to author your love story. *REFLECTION:* Only God knows the future; follow His leading. *PRAYER:* Lord, help me to learn to trust in You. 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:* EZEKIEL 40–43. [27/08, 4:53 am] EBS ZY Nehemiah: *DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST* (COCIN DEVOTIONAL) *DATE:* THURSDAY 27TH AUGUST 2026. *SUB-THEME:* YOUTHS: VESSELS OF GOD’S GRACE. *TOPIC:* RIGHTLY CHOOSING A LIFE PARTNER. *PROVERBS 3:5–6.* 5. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding 6. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. *PROVERBS 24:3–4.* 3. By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established. 4. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. *TOPIC:* RIGHTLY CHOOSING A LIFE PARTNER. *THE MESSAGE:* The decision we make today can make or mar us. Today's texts caution us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and to acknowledge Him in all our ways, rather than relying on our understanding. They remind us that a house is built by wisdom and established through understanding. This serves as a compass in decision-making, especially when choosing a life partner. Choosing a life partner is a significant decision that should be guided by God's wisdom rather than personal feelings, physical appearances, or family and cultural influences. Couples to-be must involved God by seeking His will and be willing to obey His directives. Seeking counsel from spiritual leaders is a sign of wisdom, not a sign of weakness. Do not rush into marriage and end up in a separation. Patiently and prayerfully wait on God's timing to author your love story. *REFLECTION:* Only God knows the future; follow His leading. *PRAYER:* Lord, help me to learn to trust in You. 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:* EZEKIEL 40–43. EP.ii. DEAL WITH SETBACKS "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him." - Romans 8:28 My older brother John-Henry became seriously ill in 1958 just before the large campaign with Ps. T.L. Osborn was to take place on the Malieveld in The Hague, Holland. He was only two years old and had pleurisy. My parents believed in Divine healing and they also preached about that. They anointed their little boy with oil as the Bible teaches us in James 5 and prayed for healing. My parents prayed and believed that the Lord would heal their little one, but instead he died. It would have been easy for my parents to allow bitterness in their heart and get angry with God. But my parents did not allow this. They were not angry with God. God asked them: 'Do you still believe that I am the Lord, your Healer?' And they said: 'Yes Lord, we still believe that because Your Word says so.' Holland Wonder Campaign Three months later my father stood on stage next to Evangelist T.L. Osborn on the Malieveld, where hundreds of thousands of people came every day. Many, many came to Jesus and many people were healed. My father was appointed by God as the anointed translator for Evangelist Osborn, the servant of God. Stronger through setbacks Nowadays many people respond negatively to setbacks in their lives. They cannot believe that the Lord God can turn nasty situations into something good. Dear Christians, God will use those hard setbacks in your life to bring you to a higher spiritual level. Setbacks make you stronger if you process them properly. You have to be brave and hold on to God's Word through it all. https://www.theblessingdevotional.com 2. Evening Prayer for today. EP.i. Evening Prayer This [is] the day [which] the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. ⏤ Psalm 118:24 A day without prayer is a day without blessing, and a life without prayer is a life without power. ⏤ Edwin Harvey O blessed Jesus, whom we love even though we have not seen You, in whom, though we do not see You, we believe and rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory—we come to You at the close of another day. Abide with us, for it is evening, and the day is almost over. The night will be as bright as day if You are with us, for it is never dark where You are. We bring to You the joys of this day. All the happiness we have experienced came from You. Every fragment of beauty we enjoyed was from Your hand. You made the blue skies, the green fields, the lovely flowers, the birds with their sweet songs, and all the beautiful things in this world. You made the children whose voices bring music into our homes. The sunshine is Yours, and the stars are from Your hand. It’s amazing what a beautiful world You have made just to be our home. Our hearts are full of praise as we think of all these things that show Your loving thought for us. We lay our burdens down at Your feet. What we have done today, we bring to You for Your blessing, for no work is complete until it bears Your touch and blessing. Finish what we have begun. Cleanse what our soiled hands have stained. Correct what our clumsiness has marred. If we have neglected any duty, forgive us and show us what it is so that we may still try to do it. Teach us more and more to be thoughtful, watchful, and alert so that we may do what we ought to do, that we may hear the cries of human need from weary hearts around us, calling us to acts of love. May we live ever closer to Jesus, and then we will know what we ought to do. Bless us, Father, for Jesus’ sake. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/53/evening #taptapstudio #youdevotion.
    Home
    0 Kommentare 0 Anteile 15 Ansichten
  • Good evening, brethren.
    1. Evening devotion for today.

    E.D.i. [27/08, 4:53 am] EBS ZY Nehemiah: *DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST*
    (COCIN DEVOTIONAL)

    *DATE:*
    THURSDAY 27TH AUGUST 2026.

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

    *TOPIC:*
    RIGHTLY CHOOSING A LIFE PARTNER.

    *PROVERBS 3:5–6.*
    5. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding
    6. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

    *PROVERBS 24:3–4.*
    3. By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established.
    4. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.

    *TOPIC:*
    RIGHTLY CHOOSING A LIFE PARTNER.

    *THE MESSAGE:*
    The decision we make today can make or mar us. Today's texts caution us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and to acknowledge Him in all our ways, rather than relying on our understanding. They remind us that a house is built by wisdom and established through understanding. This serves as a compass in decision-making, especially when choosing a life partner.
    Choosing a life partner is a significant decision that should be guided by God's wisdom rather than personal feelings, physical appearances, or family and cultural influences. Couples to-be must involved God by seeking His will and be willing to obey His directives. Seeking counsel from spiritual leaders is a sign of wisdom, not a sign of weakness. Do not rush into marriage and end up in a separation. Patiently and prayerfully wait on God's timing to author your love story.

    *REFLECTION:*
    Only God knows the future; follow His leading.

    *PRAYER:*
    Lord, help me to learn to trust in You. 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:*
    EZEKIEL 40–43.
    [27/08, 4:53 am] EBS ZY Nehemiah: *DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST*
    (COCIN DEVOTIONAL)

    *DATE:*
    THURSDAY 27TH AUGUST 2026.

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

    *TOPIC:*
    RIGHTLY CHOOSING A LIFE PARTNER.

    *PROVERBS 3:5–6.*
    5. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding
    6. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

    *PROVERBS 24:3–4.*
    3. By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established.
    4. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.

    *TOPIC:*
    RIGHTLY CHOOSING A LIFE PARTNER.

    *THE MESSAGE:*
    The decision we make today can make or mar us. Today's texts caution us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and to acknowledge Him in all our ways, rather than relying on our understanding. They remind us that a house is built by wisdom and established through understanding. This serves as a compass in decision-making, especially when choosing a life partner.
    Choosing a life partner is a significant decision that should be guided by God's wisdom rather than personal feelings, physical appearances, or family and cultural influences. Couples to-be must involved God by seeking His will and be willing to obey His directives. Seeking counsel from spiritual leaders is a sign of wisdom, not a sign of weakness. Do not rush into marriage and end up in a separation. Patiently and prayerfully wait on God's timing to author your love story.

    *REFLECTION:*
    Only God knows the future; follow His leading.

    *PRAYER:*
    Lord, help me to learn to trust in You. 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:*
    EZEKIEL 40–43.

    EP.ii. DEAL WITH SETBACKS

    "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him." - Romans 8:28

    My older brother John-Henry became seriously ill in 1958 just before the large campaign with Ps. T.L. Osborn was to take place on the Malieveld in The Hague, Holland. He was only two years old and had pleurisy. My parents believed in Divine healing and they also preached about that. They anointed their little boy with oil as the Bible teaches us in James 5 and prayed for healing. My parents prayed and believed that the Lord would heal their little one, but instead he died.

    It would have been easy for my parents to allow bitterness in their heart and get angry with God. But my parents did not allow this. They were not angry with God. God asked them: 'Do you still believe that I am the Lord, your Healer?' And they said: 'Yes Lord, we still believe that because Your Word says so.'

    Holland Wonder Campaign

    Three months later my father stood on stage next to Evangelist T.L. Osborn on the Malieveld, where hundreds of thousands of people came every day. Many, many came to Jesus and many people were healed. My father was appointed by God as the anointed translator for Evangelist Osborn, the servant of God.

    Stronger through setbacks

    Nowadays many people respond negatively to setbacks in their lives. They cannot believe that the Lord God can turn nasty situations into something good. Dear Christians, God will use those hard setbacks in your life to bring you to a higher spiritual level. Setbacks make you stronger if you process them properly. You have to be brave and hold on to God's Word through it all.


    https://www.theblessingdevotional.com

    2. Evening Prayer for today.

    EP.i. Evening Prayer

    This [is] the day [which] the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. ⏤ Psalm 118:24

    A day without prayer is a day without blessing, and a life without prayer is a life without power. ⏤ Edwin Harvey

    O blessed Jesus, whom we love even though we have not seen You, in whom, though we do not see You, we believe and rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory—we come to You at the close of another day. Abide with us, for it is evening, and the day is almost over. The night will be as bright as day if You are with us, for it is never dark where You are.

    We bring to You the joys of this day. All the happiness we have experienced came from You. Every fragment of beauty we enjoyed was from Your hand. You made the blue skies, the green fields, the lovely flowers, the birds with their sweet songs, and all the beautiful things in this world. You made the children whose voices bring music into our homes. The sunshine is Yours, and the stars are from Your hand. It’s amazing what a beautiful world You have made just to be our home. Our hearts are full of praise as we think of all these things that show Your loving thought for us.

    We lay our burdens down at Your feet. What we have done today, we bring to You for Your blessing, for no work is complete until it bears Your touch and blessing.

    Finish what we have begun.
    Cleanse what our soiled hands have stained.
    Correct what our clumsiness has marred.

    If we have neglected any duty, forgive us and show us what it is so that we may still try to do it. Teach us more and more to be thoughtful, watchful, and alert so that we may do what we ought to do, that we may hear the cries of human need from weary hearts around us, calling us to acts of love. May we live ever closer to Jesus, and then we will know what we ought to do. Bless us, Father, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

    https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/53/evening

    #taptapstudio
    #youdevotion.
    Good evening, brethren. 1. Evening devotion for today. E.D.i. [27/08, 4:53 am] EBS ZY Nehemiah: *DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST* (COCIN DEVOTIONAL) *DATE:* THURSDAY 27TH AUGUST 2026. *SUB-THEME:* YOUTHS: VESSELS OF GOD’S GRACE. *TOPIC:* RIGHTLY CHOOSING A LIFE PARTNER. *PROVERBS 3:5–6.* 5. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding 6. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. *PROVERBS 24:3–4.* 3. By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established. 4. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. *TOPIC:* RIGHTLY CHOOSING A LIFE PARTNER. *THE MESSAGE:* The decision we make today can make or mar us. Today's texts caution us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and to acknowledge Him in all our ways, rather than relying on our understanding. They remind us that a house is built by wisdom and established through understanding. This serves as a compass in decision-making, especially when choosing a life partner. Choosing a life partner is a significant decision that should be guided by God's wisdom rather than personal feelings, physical appearances, or family and cultural influences. Couples to-be must involved God by seeking His will and be willing to obey His directives. Seeking counsel from spiritual leaders is a sign of wisdom, not a sign of weakness. Do not rush into marriage and end up in a separation. Patiently and prayerfully wait on God's timing to author your love story. *REFLECTION:* Only God knows the future; follow His leading. *PRAYER:* Lord, help me to learn to trust in You. 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:* EZEKIEL 40–43. [27/08, 4:53 am] EBS ZY Nehemiah: *DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST* (COCIN DEVOTIONAL) *DATE:* THURSDAY 27TH AUGUST 2026. *SUB-THEME:* YOUTHS: VESSELS OF GOD’S GRACE. *TOPIC:* RIGHTLY CHOOSING A LIFE PARTNER. *PROVERBS 3:5–6.* 5. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding 6. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. *PROVERBS 24:3–4.* 3. By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established. 4. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. *TOPIC:* RIGHTLY CHOOSING A LIFE PARTNER. *THE MESSAGE:* The decision we make today can make or mar us. Today's texts caution us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and to acknowledge Him in all our ways, rather than relying on our understanding. They remind us that a house is built by wisdom and established through understanding. This serves as a compass in decision-making, especially when choosing a life partner. Choosing a life partner is a significant decision that should be guided by God's wisdom rather than personal feelings, physical appearances, or family and cultural influences. Couples to-be must involved God by seeking His will and be willing to obey His directives. Seeking counsel from spiritual leaders is a sign of wisdom, not a sign of weakness. Do not rush into marriage and end up in a separation. Patiently and prayerfully wait on God's timing to author your love story. *REFLECTION:* Only God knows the future; follow His leading. *PRAYER:* Lord, help me to learn to trust in You. 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:* EZEKIEL 40–43. EP.ii. DEAL WITH SETBACKS "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him." - Romans 8:28 My older brother John-Henry became seriously ill in 1958 just before the large campaign with Ps. T.L. Osborn was to take place on the Malieveld in The Hague, Holland. He was only two years old and had pleurisy. My parents believed in Divine healing and they also preached about that. They anointed their little boy with oil as the Bible teaches us in James 5 and prayed for healing. My parents prayed and believed that the Lord would heal their little one, but instead he died. It would have been easy for my parents to allow bitterness in their heart and get angry with God. But my parents did not allow this. They were not angry with God. God asked them: 'Do you still believe that I am the Lord, your Healer?' And they said: 'Yes Lord, we still believe that because Your Word says so.' Holland Wonder Campaign Three months later my father stood on stage next to Evangelist T.L. Osborn on the Malieveld, where hundreds of thousands of people came every day. Many, many came to Jesus and many people were healed. My father was appointed by God as the anointed translator for Evangelist Osborn, the servant of God. Stronger through setbacks Nowadays many people respond negatively to setbacks in their lives. They cannot believe that the Lord God can turn nasty situations into something good. Dear Christians, God will use those hard setbacks in your life to bring you to a higher spiritual level. Setbacks make you stronger if you process them properly. You have to be brave and hold on to God's Word through it all. https://www.theblessingdevotional.com 2. Evening Prayer for today. EP.i. Evening Prayer This [is] the day [which] the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. ⏤ Psalm 118:24 A day without prayer is a day without blessing, and a life without prayer is a life without power. ⏤ Edwin Harvey O blessed Jesus, whom we love even though we have not seen You, in whom, though we do not see You, we believe and rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory—we come to You at the close of another day. Abide with us, for it is evening, and the day is almost over. The night will be as bright as day if You are with us, for it is never dark where You are. We bring to You the joys of this day. All the happiness we have experienced came from You. Every fragment of beauty we enjoyed was from Your hand. You made the blue skies, the green fields, the lovely flowers, the birds with their sweet songs, and all the beautiful things in this world. You made the children whose voices bring music into our homes. The sunshine is Yours, and the stars are from Your hand. It’s amazing what a beautiful world You have made just to be our home. Our hearts are full of praise as we think of all these things that show Your loving thought for us. We lay our burdens down at Your feet. What we have done today, we bring to You for Your blessing, for no work is complete until it bears Your touch and blessing. Finish what we have begun. Cleanse what our soiled hands have stained. Correct what our clumsiness has marred. If we have neglected any duty, forgive us and show us what it is so that we may still try to do it. Teach us more and more to be thoughtful, watchful, and alert so that we may do what we ought to do, that we may hear the cries of human need from weary hearts around us, calling us to acts of love. May we live ever closer to Jesus, and then we will know what we ought to do. Bless us, Father, for Jesus’ sake. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/53/evening #taptapstudio #youdevotion.
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  • Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:6-8 Reformation Bible ESV.
    Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:6-8 Reformation Bible ESV.
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  • TODAY'S BIBLE READING
    Wednesday, August 26
    OLD TESTAMENT
    1 SAMUEL 2 — Hannah's Prayer & Samuel's Ministry
    NEW TESTAMENT
    JUDE 1 — Contending for the Faith
    Congratulations on completing the book of 3 John! Today we begin the book of Jude.
    MAJOR PROPHETS
    ISAIAH 37 — Hezekiah Seeks the Lord
    TODAY'S REFLECTION
    1 Samuel 2
    Hannah praises God for His faithfulness, while Samuel grows in the presence of the Lord. The chapter contrasts faithful service to God with the corruption of Eli's sons and reminds us that God sees the heart.
    Jude 1
    Jude urges believers to contend for the faith and remain watchful against false teaching and ungodly living. We are called to build ourselves up in faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, remain in God's love, and show mercy to others.
    Isaiah 37
    When Jerusalem is threatened by Assyria, King Hezekiah takes the matter before God in prayer. God responds and delivers His people, showing that no earthly power is greater than the Lord.
    KEY VERSE
    “But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit.”
    — Jude 1:20
    PRAYER
    Heavenly Father, help us remain firmly rooted in Your truth. Give us discernment to recognize error, courage to stand for the faith, and humility to show mercy to those who are struggling. Like Hezekiah, teach us to bring every difficult situation before You and trust in Your power. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.
    TODAY'S CHALLENGE
    Stand firm in your faith today. Spend time in prayer, remain grounded in God's Word, and trust God with the situation that concerns you most.
    WE STUDY. WE PRAY. WE OBEY. WE GROW. UNTIL WE ARE TOTALLY TRANSFORMED.
    📖 TODAY'S BIBLE READING Wednesday, August 26 📜 OLD TESTAMENT 1 SAMUEL 2 — Hannah's Prayer & Samuel's Ministry ✝️ NEW TESTAMENT JUDE 1 — Contending for the Faith 🎉 Congratulations on completing the book of 3 John! Today we begin the book of Jude. 🌿 MAJOR PROPHETS ISAIAH 37 — Hezekiah Seeks the Lord 🌿 TODAY'S REFLECTION 📜 1 Samuel 2 Hannah praises God for His faithfulness, while Samuel grows in the presence of the Lord. The chapter contrasts faithful service to God with the corruption of Eli's sons and reminds us that God sees the heart. ✝️ Jude 1 Jude urges believers to contend for the faith and remain watchful against false teaching and ungodly living. We are called to build ourselves up in faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, remain in God's love, and show mercy to others. 🌿 Isaiah 37 When Jerusalem is threatened by Assyria, King Hezekiah takes the matter before God in prayer. God responds and delivers His people, showing that no earthly power is greater than the Lord. ✨ KEY VERSE “But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit.” — Jude 1:20 🙏 PRAYER Heavenly Father, help us remain firmly rooted in Your truth. Give us discernment to recognize error, courage to stand for the faith, and humility to show mercy to those who are struggling. Like Hezekiah, teach us to bring every difficult situation before You and trust in Your power. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen. 🌿 TODAY'S CHALLENGE Stand firm in your faith today. Spend time in prayer, remain grounded in God's Word, and trust God with the situation that concerns you most. WE STUDY. WE PRAY. WE OBEY. WE GROW. UNTIL WE ARE TOTALLY TRANSFORMED. 📖✨🙏
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  • TWO ETERNAL REALITIES!!!!
    CHOOSE JESUS CHRIST TODAY!!!

    “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” — Hebrews 3:15

    There are decisions in life that can be changed tomorrow.

    You can change your career.

    You can move to another city.

    You can repair a broken relationship.

    You can change your mind about many things.

    But there is one decision Scripture repeatedly tells us not to postpone:

    What will you do with Jesus Christ?

    The Bible presents us with two ultimate destinations:

    Eternal life with God through Jesus Christ

    or

    eternal separation from God because of the rejection of His salvation.

    This is not a game.

    This is not something to treat casually.

    And it is not a decision to postpone indefinitely.

    Jesus repeatedly warned people about eternity because He loves us.

    ---

    CHOICE ONE:

    RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST

    Jesus said:
    «“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
    — John 14:6»

    The Gospel begins with an uncomfortable truth:

    We have all sinned.

    Romans 3:23 says:

    «“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”»

    But God did not leave humanity without hope.

    He sent His Son.

    Jesus Christ came into this world, lived without sin, willingly went to the cross, died for our sins, and rose again.

    John 3:16 declares:

    «“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”»

    Think about the magnitude of that promise.

    God's response to our rebellion was not simply judgment.

    He offered mercy.

    God's response to our sin was not merely condemnation.

    He offered forgiveness.

    God's response to our hopelessness was Jesus Christ.

    ---

    JESUS IS CALLING YOU

    Jesus said:

    «“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
    — Matthew 11:28»

    Notice the invitation:

    Come to Me.

    Not:

    “Fix yourself first.”

    Not:

    “Become perfect first.”

    Not:

    “Make yourself worthy first.”

    Come to Me.

    Repent.

    Believe.

    Surrender.

    Trust Him.

    Follow Him.

    Receive His grace.

    And let Christ transform your life.

    ---

    THE RAPTURE AND THE RETURN OF CHRIST

    Scripture teaches believers to remain watchful for Christ's return.

    Jesus said:

    «“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”
    — Matthew 24:42»

    Paul describes the resurrection and gathering of believers to Christ in 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17.

    Whether Christ returns during our lifetime or we eventually leave this earthly life, the Christian's ultimate hope remains the same:

    To be with Christ.

    That is why believers are told:

    «“Encourage one another with these words.”
    — 1 Thessalonians 4:18»

    The message of Christ's return is not supposed to produce hopeless terror in those who belong to Him.

    It should produce:

    Hope.

    Readiness.

    Faithfulness.

    Holiness.

    Expectation.

    ---

    HEAVEN IS MORE THAN A PLACE

    Heaven's greatest blessing isn't simply beautiful scenery.

    It isn't merely freedom from pain.

    It isn't merely reunion.

    It isn't merely eternal life.

    The greatest blessing is God Himself.

    Revelation 21:3 says:

    «“God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.”»

    And Revelation 21:4 gives us one of Scripture's most beautiful promises:

    «“There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.”»

    Imagine a world where death is gone.

    Where suffering is gone.

    Where sin is gone.

    Where tears are gone.

    Where separation is gone.

    Where God's people dwell with Him forever.

    Revelation 22:4 says:

    «“They will see his face.”»

    That is the ultimate Christian hope:

    To see Jesus face to face.

    ---

    CHOICE TWO:

    REJECT CHRIST

    The Bible also gives a solemn warning.

    God does not force people to love Him.

    He does not force people to receive His salvation.

    He gives humanity a genuine choice.

    Jesus spoke seriously about judgment.

    Matthew 7:13–14 describes two roads:

    «“Enter through the narrow gate.”»

    Jesus also warned:

    «“Broad is the road that leads to destruction.”»

    This warning should never be used to frighten people into religious performance.

    It should instead awaken us to reality.

    Eternity matters.

    Our response to Christ matters.

    Our relationship with God matters.

    ---

    THE TERRIBLE TRAGEDY OF REJECTING GOD'S GRACE

    The tragedy of final judgment is not merely punishment.

    It is the ultimate loss of fellowship with God.

    God is the source of life.

    God is the source of goodness.

    God is the source of love.

    God is the source of hope.

    To reject God is to reject the very One who offers reconciliation.

    Jesus warned about hell because He did not want people to go there.

    The warnings of Scripture are therefore not evidence that God doesn't care.

    They are evidence that God takes eternity seriously.

    ---

    DON'T WAIT UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE

    James 4:14 reminds us that our earthly life is like a mist that appears briefly and then disappears.

    None of us knows exactly how long we have.

    We should therefore never say:

    “I'll get right with God someday.”

    Someday isn't guaranteed.

    Tomorrow isn't promised.

    The Bible says:

    «“Now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.”
    — 2 Corinthians 6:2»

    And Hebrews 3:15 says:

    «“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”»

    If the Holy Spirit is convicting your heart today:

    Don't run from Him.

    Turn toward Him.

    ---

    REPENTANCE IS NOT GOD'S ENEMY

    Repentance isn't God trying to ruin your life.

    Repentance means turning around.

    Turning away from sin.

    Turning toward God.

    Turning away from rebellion.

    Turning toward Jesus.

    Turning away from darkness.

    Turning toward the Light.

    Jesus began His ministry with this message:

    «“Repent and believe the good news!”
    — Mark 1:15»

    Repentance isn't about earning salvation.

    It is about responding to God's grace with a surrendered heart.

    ---

    YOU CANNOT SAVE YOURSELF

    Ephesians 2:8–9 says:

    «“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”»

    You cannot purchase salvation.

    You cannot earn salvation.

    You cannot manufacture salvation.

    You cannot become good enough to save yourself.

    Jesus saves.

    That is why the Gospel is called good news.

    Jesus did what we could never do.

    He paid the price for sin.

    He conquered death.

    He rose again.

    And He offers forgiveness and eternal life to those who come to Him in faith.

    ---

    DON'T LET SATAN LIE TO YOU

    The enemy may whisper:

    “You're too far gone.”

    “God won't forgive you.”

    “You've failed too many times.”

    “There's no point coming back.”

    But those accusations are not the Gospel.

    Jesus says:

    «“Whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”
    — John 6:37»

    What an incredible promise.

    Whoever comes.

    Not merely the perfect.

    Not merely the religious.

    Not merely the people who have never failed.

    Whoever comes.

    Come to Jesus.

    ---

    TWO ROADS

    There are ultimately two roads.

    One leads toward God.

    One leads away from God.

    One is surrender.

    One is rebellion.

    One receives grace.

    One rejects grace.

    One leads to life.

    One leads to destruction.

    And Jesus tells us to choose life.

    Deuteronomy 30:19 says:

    «“I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life.”»

    The invitation is before you.

    Choose Jesus.

    ---

    BUT DON'T LIVE IN TERROR

    Christianity isn't supposed to be:

    “I'm terrified that God will throw me away.”

    The Gospel says:

    God loved you enough to send Jesus to rescue you.

    Romans 8:1 says:

    «“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”»

    If you have genuinely placed your faith in Christ, don't spend your entire life staring backward at your failures.

    Look toward Jesus.

    Confess your sins.

    Receive His forgiveness.

    Walk with Him.

    Grow in Him.

    And trust His grace.

    ---

    THE FINAL QUESTION

    One day every human being will stand before eternity.

    The question will not ultimately be:

    “How successful were you?”

    “How much money did you accumulate?”

    “How famous did you become?”

    “How many possessions did you own?”

    The most important question is:

    What did you do with Jesus Christ?

    Did you receive Him?

    Did you trust Him?

    Did you repent?

    Did you surrender?

    Did you follow Him?

    Jesus asks:

    «“Who do you say I am?”
    — Matthew 16:15»

    And Peter answered:

    «“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
    — Matthew 16:16»

    That is the confession that changes everything.

    ---

    TODAY — CHOOSE JESUS

    If you have never surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, you can begin today.

    You don't need fancy words.

    You need an honest heart.

    You can say:

    “Jesus, I need You.”

    “Jesus, forgive me.”

    “Jesus, I repent.”

    “Jesus, I believe You died for my sins and rose again.”

    “Jesus, I surrender my life to You.”

    “Be my Lord, my Savior, and my King.”

    Then begin walking with Him.

    Read His Word.

    Pray.

    Seek fellowship with genuine believers.

    Turn away from deliberate sin.

    Learn to obey Him.

    And when you stumble, get back up and return to Him.

    ---

    FINAL APPEAL

    Don't gamble with eternity.

    Don't assume you have unlimited time.

    Don't harden your heart.

    Don't allow pride to keep you from grace.

    Don't let shame keep you away from Jesus.

    Don't let yesterday determine tomorrow.

    Jesus Christ is calling you today.

    There is forgiveness.

    There is mercy.

    There is grace.

    There is salvation.

    There is hope.

    There is eternal life.

    And it is found in Jesus Christ.

    Choose Jesus.

    Not because you are terrified of death—

    but because He is worthy of your life.

    Not merely because heaven is beautiful—

    but because Jesus is there.

    Not merely because hell is terrible—

    but because God has opened the door of salvation through His Son.

    The invitation is before you.

    Come to Jesus.

    Repent.

    Believe.

    Surrender.

    Follow Him.

    And never turn back.

    ---

    DEEP PRAYER OF REPENTANCE, SURRENDER, AND ETERNAL HOPE

    Heavenly Father,

    I come before You in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

    I recognize that You are holy, righteous, merciful, and loving.

    I recognize that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself through my own goodness.

    I need Jesus.

    Lord Jesus Christ, I believe that You are the Son of God.

    I believe that You came into this world.

    I believe that You lived without sin.

    I believe that You willingly went to the cross.

    I believe that You died for our sins.

    I believe that You rose from the dead.

    And I believe that You are alive forevermore.

    Jesus, I surrender myself to You.

    Be my Lord.

    Be my Savior.

    Be my King.

    Forgive my sins.

    Wash me clean.

    Change my heart.

    Change my desires.

    Change my thinking.

    Change my words.

    Change my actions.

    Change my priorities.

    Take everything in me that does not belong to You and transform it by Your grace.

    Holy Spirit, lead me.

    Convict me when I wander.

    Correct me when I become proud.

    Strengthen me when I am weak.

    Comfort me when I am hurting.

    Teach me to recognize Your voice through the truth of Scripture.

    Give me a hunger for God's Word.

    Give me a desire to pray.

    Give me a desire for holiness.

    Give me compassion for people who are lost.

    Give me courage to tell others about Jesus.

    Father, I don't want to live carelessly.

    I don't want to presume upon Your grace.

    I don't want to harden my heart.

    I don't want to spend my life chasing temporary things while neglecting eternal things.

    Help me keep eternity before my eyes.

    But Father, also help me remember that my life today matters.

    Give me strength to keep living faithfully.

    Give me strength to keep serving.

    Give me strength to keep loving.

    Give me strength to keep praying.

    Give me strength to keep believing.

    When fear about eternity comes against me, point me back to Jesus.

    When Satan accuses me, remind me of the finished work of Christ.

    When shame tells me I am too far gone, remind me of Your mercy.

    When I fall, teach me to repent and get back up.

    When I become discouraged, remind me that Your grace is greater than my failures.

    Father, keep my heart tender toward You.

    Don't allow me to become spiritually cold.

    Don't allow me to become complacent.

    Don't allow me to become distracted from Jesus.

    Help me finish my earthly race faithfully.

    And when my earthly journey eventually ends, let me be found trusting Christ.

    My hope is not in my own righteousness.

    My hope is Jesus.

    My confidence is not in my performance.

    My confidence is in Your grace.

    My salvation is not something I can boast about.

    It is Your gift.

    Thank You for the cross.

    Thank You for the empty tomb.

    Thank You for the blood of Jesus.

    Thank You for forgiveness.

    Thank You for mercy.

    Thank You for grace.

    Thank You for the promise of eternal life.

    Father, prepare me for eternity.

    Make me ready to meet Jesus.

    And until that day, help me live for Him with everything I have.

    I pray for those who are currently far away from You.

    Soften their hearts.

    Open their eyes.

    Break through their pride.

    Heal their wounds.

    Remove the lies that keep them from believing.

    Send faithful Christians into their lives who will lovingly share the Gospel.

    Let them encounter Jesus.

    Let them discover Your mercy.

    Let them turn from darkness toward light.

    Let them repent.

    Let them believe.

    Let them be saved.

    And Lord, help us never use the reality of judgment as an excuse to hate or condemn people.

    Instead, give us tears for the lost.

    Give us compassion.

    Give us patience.

    Give us courage.

    Give us love.

    Let us proclaim the truth while demonstrating the character of Christ.

    Father, I choose life.

    I choose Jesus.

    I choose surrender.

    I choose faith.

    I choose to follow Christ.

    And I ask You to help me remain faithful until the end.

    My future is in Your hands.

    My hope is in Jesus Christ.

    My eternity belongs to You.

    And my prayer is:

    “Come, Lord Jesus.”

    But until that glorious day,

    help me live for Jesus.

    Help me love like Jesus.

    Help me forgive like Jesus.

    Help me serve like Jesus.

    Help me pray like Jesus.

    Help me walk in holiness.

    Help me share the Gospel.

    Help me finish well.

    And when I finally see Jesus face to face, may my heart be filled with overwhelming gratitude that He never stopped calling me toward Himself.

    Jesus Christ is my Lord.

    Jesus Christ is my Savior.

    Jesus Christ is my King.

    Jesus Christ is my hope.

    Jesus Christ is my eternal life.

    In the mighty, holy, precious, and glorious name of Jesus Christ,

    Amen.

    ************************

    THE RAPTURE AND THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST

    A Standalone Sermon: Be Ready for the Return of the King

    “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” — Matthew 24:42

    There is one promise running throughout the New Testament that every Christian should take seriously:

    JESUS CHRIST IS COMING AGAIN.

    The early Church lived with this expectation.

    The apostles preached it.

    Jesus promised it.

    The book of Revelation ends with it.

    And Christians throughout history have looked forward to the day when faith becomes sight and we see our King face to face.

    But what exactly does the Bible mean when we talk about the Rapture and the Second Coming?

    And more importantly:

    How should we live if Jesus could return at any time?

    ---

    1. JESUS PROMISED TO RETURN

    Jesus didn't leave His disciples with the idea that His earthly ministry was the end.

    He told them:

    «“I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
    — John 14:3»

    What an incredible promise.

    Jesus is not abandoning His people.

    He is coming again.

    The Christian hope is not based upon wishful thinking.

    It is based upon the promise of the risen Christ.

    The One who came the first time in humility will ultimately return in glory.

    ---

    2. WHAT IS THE RAPTURE?

    The word “rapture” isn't found in most English translations of the Bible, but the concept comes from passages describing believers being “caught up” to meet Christ.

    Paul writes:

    «“The Lord himself will come down from heaven… and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive… will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.”
    — 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17»

    Think about those words:

    The dead in Christ will rise.

    Believers who are alive will be caught up.

    We will meet the Lord.

    And we will be with the Lord forever.

    Paul concludes:

    «“And so we will be with the Lord forever.”»

    Then he says:

    «“Encourage one another with these words.”
    — 1 Thessalonians 4:18»

    The Rapture, therefore, is fundamentally a message of hope for believers.

    ---

    3. THE RESURRECTION OF BELIEVERS

    Paul gives another remarkable description in 1 Corinthians 15.

    He says:

    «“We will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.”
    — 1 Corinthians 15:51–52»

    Our present bodies are temporary.

    But God promises resurrection.

    Corruption will give way to incorruption.

    Mortality will give way to immortality.

    And Paul declares:

    «“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
    — 1 Corinthians 15:54»

    That is the Christian hope.

    Death does not have the final word.

    Jesus does.

    ---

    4. WHAT IS THE SECOND COMING?

    The Second Coming refers to Christ's glorious return.

    Jesus said:

    «“They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.”
    — Matthew 24:30»

    This isn't presented as a secret or insignificant event.

    Christ returns as King.

    Revelation 19 portrays Him as the victorious King riding forth in righteousness.

    The One who was mocked will be revealed in glory.

    The One who was rejected will be acknowledged as King.

    The One who was crucified will return in triumph.

    ---

    5. RAPTURE AND SECOND COMING — ARE THEY THE SAME EVENT?

    Christians disagree about exactly how these prophetic passages fit together.

    Some believe the Rapture occurs before the tribulation and that Christ's visible Second Coming occurs later.

    Others believe the gathering of believers happens in connection with Christ's visible return.

    There are also other interpretations concerning the timing of these events.

    We should therefore be humble when discussing the exact prophetic timeline.

    But there are truths we can hold firmly:

    Jesus is coming again.

    The dead in Christ will be raised.

    Believers will be gathered to Christ.

    Jesus will return in glory.

    Christ will ultimately triumph over evil.

    God will judge with perfect righteousness.

    God will establish His eternal kingdom.

    God will make all things new.

    Those truths are far more important than winning arguments about timelines.

    ---

    6. THE RAPTURE SHOULD PRODUCE HOPE

    Some people hear about the Rapture and immediately become terrified.

    But Paul didn't present the resurrection and gathering of believers primarily as a message of terror.

    He said:

    «“Encourage one another with these words.”
    — 1 Thessalonians 4:18»

    Why?

    Because the Christian has a future.

    The grave isn't the end.

    Death isn't the end.

    Suffering isn't the end.

    Grief isn't the end.

    Jesus is coming.

    Resurrection is coming.

    Restoration is coming.

    Eternal life is coming.

    ---

    7. THE SECOND COMING SHOULD PRODUCE HOLINESS

    Peter asks an important question concerning Christ's return:

    «“What kind of people ought you to be?”
    — 2 Peter 3:11»

    In other words:

    If Jesus is coming again,

    How should we live today?

    The answer isn't:

    “Try to calculate the exact date.”

    Jesus specifically warned against that kind of certainty.

    Instead:

    Be ready.

    Be faithful.

    Be watchful.

    Repent when you sin.

    Forgive people.

    Love God.

    Love your neighbor.

    Share the Gospel.

    Walk in holiness.

    Keep your heart tender toward God.

    ---

    8. DON'T WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW

    Jesus repeatedly emphasized watchfulness.

    Matthew 24:44 says:

    «“So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”»

    We don't know exactly when Christ will return.

    We don't know how long our earthly lives will last.

    Therefore:

    Today matters.

    If you need to repent, repent today.

    If you need to forgive, forgive today.

    If you need to return to God, return today.

    If you've grown spiritually cold, come back today.

    If you've been putting off following Jesus, don't keep postponing it.

    ---

    9. THE WARNING OF MATTHEW 7

    Jesus gave one of the most sobering warnings in Scripture:

    «“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven.”
    — Matthew 7:21»

    Jesus wasn't teaching that salvation comes through human perfection.

    He was warning against empty profession.

    It is possible to say religious words while never truly surrendering our hearts to God.

    Therefore, don't merely say:

    “I believe in Jesus.”

    Ask:

    Am I actually following Jesus?

    Do I repent when He convicts me?

    Do I trust His grace?

    Do I desire His presence?

    Do I want His will?

    Do I love His Word?

    Do I seek to obey Him?

    Do I get back up when I fall?

    Christianity isn't merely a label.

    It is a relationship with Jesus Christ that transforms the direction of our lives.

    ---

    10. DON'T LET FEAR DRIVE YOU AWAY FROM JESUS

    If you are worried about your salvation, don't run away from Christ.

    Run toward Him.

    Jesus said:

    «“Whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”
    — John 6:37»

    That is a beautiful promise.

    When you fail:

    Come to Jesus.

    When you sin:

    Come to Jesus.

    When you are ashamed:

    Come to Jesus.

    When you are afraid:

    Come to Jesus.

    When your faith feels weak:

    Come to Jesus.

    When you don't know what to do:

    Come to Jesus.

    He is the Savior.

    ---

    11. THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE IN CHRIST

    Romans 8:1 declares:

    «“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”»

    That doesn't mean sin doesn't matter.

    It means Christ has provided the answer for sin.

    The believer's confidence isn't:

    “I am perfect.”

    It is:

    “Jesus is my Savior.”

    Our hope isn't based on our ability to perform perfectly.

    Our hope rests upon the finished work of Christ.

    ---

    12. HEAVEN IS THE DESTINATION OF OUR HOPE

    What awaits God's people?

    Revelation 21:4 says:

    «“There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.”»

    Revelation 22:4 says:

    «“They will see his face.”»

    That is the ultimate hope.

    Not merely beautiful surroundings.

    Not merely freedom from suffering.

    Not merely eternal existence.

    Jesus Himself.

    One day we will see our Savior.

    One day we will understand.

    One day the tears will end.

    One day death will be defeated forever.

    One day God will make everything new.

    ---

    13. SO BE READY

    Jesus said:

    «“Keep watch.”»

    Not:

    “Live in panic.”

    Not:

    “Spend your life trying to predict the date.”

    Not:

    “Argue endlessly with other Christians about prophetic timelines.”

    Keep watch.

    Live ready.

    Love ready.

    Pray ready.

    Serve ready.

    Repent ready.

    Forgive ready.

    Share the Gospel ready.

    And if Jesus returns tomorrow—

    be ready to meet Him.

    If He returns years from now—

    be faithful until then.

    If our earthly lives end before His return—

    our hope remains Christ.

    ---

    FINAL APPEAL

    There is coming a day when every earthly distraction will disappear.

    Money won't matter.

    Possessions won't matter.

    Status won't matter.

    Career won't matter.

    Popularity won't matter.

    The only thing that will matter is Jesus Christ.

    So don't spend your life preparing only for retirement.

    Prepare for eternity.

    Don't merely prepare your house.

    Prepare your heart.

    Don't merely build earthly wealth.

    Build treasure in heaven.

    Don't merely ask:

    “How long will I live?”

    Ask:

    “How will I live for Jesus while I am here?”

    Jesus Christ is coming again.

    The King is coming.

    The resurrection is coming.

    The kingdom is coming.

    The restoration is coming.

    And the Bible's final invitation remains:

    «“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’”
    — Revelation 22:17»

    And the final promise of Jesus is:

    «“Yes, I am coming soon.”
    — Revelation 22:20»

    So let the Church answer:

    “AMEN. COME, LORD JESUS!”

    Until that day:

    KEEP WATCHING.

    KEEP PRAYING.

    KEEP BELIEVING.

    KEEP REPENTING.

    KEEP FOLLOWING JESUS.

    KEEP YOUR LAMP BURNING.

    KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE KING.

    JESUS CHRIST IS COMING AGAIN.

    ---

    DEEP PRAYER — “LORD JESUS, MAKE ME READY”

    Heavenly Father,

    I come before You in the mighty and precious name of Jesus Christ.

    Thank You for the promise that Jesus Christ is coming again.

    Thank You that death does not have the final word.

    Thank You for the resurrection.

    Thank You for eternal life.

    Thank You for the cross.

    Thank You for the empty tomb.

    Thank You for grace.

    Thank You for mercy.

    Thank You for forgiveness.

    Father, prepare my heart for eternity.

    Search me and know me.

    Reveal anything in my life that needs to change.

    Where I have become spiritually cold, set my heart on fire again.

    Where I have become distracted, turn my eyes back toward Jesus.

    Where I have become proud, humble me.

    Where I have become careless, awaken me.

    Where I have become fearful, strengthen my faith.

    Where I have sinned, lead me to genuine repentance.

    Where I have wounded others, teach me to seek forgiveness.

    Where others have wounded me, give me grace to forgive.

    Lord Jesus, I surrender myself to You.

    You are my Lord.

    You are my Savior.

    You are my King.

    I do not want merely to know about You.

    I want to know You.

    I don't want merely to carry the name “Christian.”

    I want my life to belong to Christ.

    Holy Spirit, transform me from the inside out.

    Give me a hunger for God's Word.

    Give me a deeper prayer life.

    Give me discernment.

    Give me holiness.

    Give me obedience.

    Give me endurance.

    Give me compassion for the lost.

    Give me courage to share the Gospel.

    Help me become the person You have called me to be.

    Father, when I think about the return of Christ, don't allow fear to consume me.

    Give me holy expectation.

    Help me look forward to seeing Jesus.

    Help me remember that the promise of Christ's return is ultimately a promise of hope.

    When I hear about the Rapture, remind me of the promise:

    “We will be with the Lord forever.”

    When I think about Christ's Second Coming, remind me that our King will ultimately triumph.

    When I think about judgment, lead me to repentance rather than despair.

    When Satan accuses me, remind me that my hope is Jesus Christ.

    When I fall, help me get back up.

    When I fail, help me return to You.

    When I am weak, strengthen me.

    When I am exhausted, carry me.

    When I don't understand Your ways, help me trust Your character.

    Father, keep my heart ready.

    Let me never become complacent.

    Let me never assume that tomorrow is guaranteed.

    Teach me to live each day as though it matters eternally.

    Help me love people while I have the opportunity.

    Help me forgive while I have the opportunity.

    Help me serve while I have the opportunity.

    Help me tell people about Jesus while I have the opportunity.

    And Lord, please give me wisdom concerning the end times.

    Protect me from false teaching.

    Protect me from sensationalism.

    Protect me from fear.

    Protect me from deception.

    Help me remain anchored in Scripture.

    Where faithful Christians disagree about prophetic details, give us humility and love.

    Keep the main thing the main thing:

    Jesus Christ.

    Father, I pray for everyone who is far from You.

    Open their hearts.

    Open their eyes.

    Let them encounter the love and truth of Jesus Christ.

    Lead them to repentance.

    Lead them to faith.

    Lead them to salvation.

    And use Your people to proclaim the Gospel with courage and compassion.

    Lord Jesus, when You return, let me be found watching.

    Let me be found praying.

    Let me be found loving.

    Let me be found serving.

    Let me be found trusting You.

    Let me be found faithful.

    And when I finally see You face to face, may I fall before Your throne in worship and realize that every promise You made was true.

    No more death.

    No more sorrow.

    No more crying.

    No more pain.

    Only the presence of God.

    Only the glory of Christ.

    Only eternal life.

    Only the joy of being with You.

    Father, until that day, help me keep walking.

    Help me keep believing.

    Help me keep hoping.

    Help me keep serving.

    Help me keep my eyes upon Jesus.

    And let my heart continually cry:

    “COME, LORD JESUS!”

    Until You come, I will seek to live for You.

    Until You come, I will trust You.

    Until You come, I will worship You.

    Until You come, I will proclaim Your Gospel.

    Until You come, I will keep my eyes on the King.

    Jesus Christ is coming again.

    He is my hope.

    He is my Savior.

    He is my Lord.

    He is my King.

    In the mighty, holy, precious, and glorious name of Jesus Christ,

    AMEN.

    -----------------------------------------------------

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    ***************************************************

    DON'T LOOK AT YOURSELF — LOOK AT YOUR SHEPHERD

    Finding Confidence in Christ When Matthew 7:21–23 Frightens You

    Key Scriptures: Matthew 7:21–23; Romans 8:1; Romans 8:38–39; John 6:37; John 10:27–29; Ephesians 2:8–9; 1 John 5:11–13

    Introduction

    There are words in the Bible that comfort us deeply, and there are words that make us tremble.

    Matthew 7:21–23 is one of those passages that can cause a sincere Christian to stop and ask:

    “What if I think I belong to Jesus, but I really don't?”

    Jesus says that not everyone who calls Him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven. He speaks of people who point to their religious accomplishments—even things they claim to have done in His name—and yet hear the terrifying words, “I never knew you.”

    That warning should cause us to take our relationship with Christ seriously.

    But it should not drive a person who genuinely wants Christ into hopelessness.

    Because Matthew 7 must be read alongside the enormous promises of Romans 8.

    The answer is not to stare endlessly at ourselves and ask, “Am I good enough?”

    The answer is to look to Jesus Christ.

    1. Matthew 7 Is a Warning Against False Confidence

    Jesus was warning against people who had religious words and religious accomplishments but lacked a genuine relationship with Him.

    They said:

    “Lord, Lord…”

    They pointed to what they had done.

    But Jesus said:

    “I never knew you.”

    Notice something important.

    The issue wasn't that these people had committed some ordinary Christian failure and Jesus suddenly decided they weren't good enough.

    Their confidence was ultimately centered in what they had done, rather than in knowing and submitting to Christ.

    That is why this passage should lead us to examine our foundation—not to live in perpetual terror.

    Ask:

    Am I trusting Jesus Christ?

    Am I turning toward Him when I fail?

    Do I want Him to be Lord of my life?

    Do I desire to follow Him, even though I am imperfect?

    Those questions are very different from:

    “Have I been perfect enough to deserve heaven?”

    Because none of us can answer that question with “yes.”

    2. Your Salvation Is Not Built Upon Your Perfection

    Ephesians 2:8–9 says that we are saved by grace through faith, not by our works.

    That means salvation isn't a trophy we earn after successfully completing a lifetime of flawless Christianity.

    We are sinners who need a Savior.

    And our Savior is Jesus.

    When you fall, you don't need to run away from Christ.

    You need to run toward Him.

    When you fail, repent.

    When you sin, confess it.

    When you become discouraged, return to Him.

    When you doubt, seek Him.

    When you feel unworthy, remember that your worthiness was never the foundation of salvation in the first place.

    Jesus is the foundation.

    3. Romans 8 Does Not Contradict Matthew 7

    Now we come to the passage that can bring tremendous comfort.

    Romans 8:1 declares:

    “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

    Notice those words:

    “In Christ Jesus.”

    Paul doesn't say there is no condemnation because Christians never make mistakes.

    He says there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ.

    And later in Romans 8, Paul gives one of Scripture's greatest declarations of security.

    Nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

    That means your assurance isn't:

    “I am strong enough to hold onto Jesus.”

    Your hope is:

    “Jesus is strong enough to hold onto me.”

    4. Look at What Jesus Himself Promised

    Jesus said in John 6:37:

    “Whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”

    Think about that.

    Never.

    If you genuinely come to Christ, you don't need to imagine Jesus standing there waiting for an opportunity to throw you away.

    Jesus is the Good Shepherd.

    John 10:27–29 speaks of His sheep hearing His voice, following Him, and being held securely in His hand.

    The Christian life is not:

    “I must become perfect so Jesus will finally accept me.”

    It is:

    “Because Jesus has loved me and called me, I want to follow Him.”

    5. Don't Make Your Feelings Your Judge

    There will be nights when you feel close to God.

    There will also be nights when you feel absolutely nothing.

    There will be moments of tremendous faith.

    There will be moments of terrible doubt.

    There will be seasons when prayer seems easy.

    There will be seasons when your prayers feel like they hit the ceiling.

    Your feelings are real, but your feelings are not your Savior.

    Jesus is.

    Your emotions can change from hour to hour.

    Christ does not.

    Your confidence should ultimately rest not upon how strongly you feel saved, but upon the character and promises of Jesus Christ.

    6. What About the Sins and Mistakes of Your Past?

    Perhaps you've lived many years and look backward thinking:

    “I've made so many mistakes. What if God holds them all against me?”

    The Gospel gives us an answer.

    Christ died for sinners.

    Repentance means turning toward God rather than making peace with sin.

    A Christian may stumble.

    A Christian may fail.

    A Christian may have seasons of weakness.

    But don't confuse struggling with sin with loving and deliberately embracing rebellion against God.

    When you fall, get back up.

    When you wander, come home.

    When you become cold, ask God to revive your heart.

    When you become afraid, remember the cross.

    The blood of Jesus is not weaker than your past.

    7. Your Confidence Must Be in Christ

    Perhaps the most important sentence in this entire sermon is this:

    STOP MEASURING THE STRENGTH OF YOUR SALVATION BY THE STRENGTH OF YOURSELF.

    You are not the Savior.

    Jesus is.

    You did not die on the cross for your sins.

    Jesus did.

    You did not rise from the grave.

    Jesus did.

    You cannot forgive your own sins.

    Jesus can.

    You cannot guarantee your own future.

    But you can entrust your future to the One who holds eternity in His hands.

    So when Matthew 7 frightens you, don't ignore it.

    Let it drive you toward Christ.

    And when Romans 8 tells you there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, believe that promise too.

    The Bible contains both warning and comfort.

    The warning tells us:

    Don't pretend to know Christ while rejecting Him.

    The comfort tells the genuine believer:

    Don't live as though Christ is eager to abandon you.

    8. The Question Is Not “Am I Perfect?”

    The question is:

    “Am I trusting Jesus Christ?”

    Are you coming to Him?

    Are you confessing your sins?

    Are you asking Him to forgive and transform you?

    Are you seeking to follow Him?

    Do you want Him as your Lord and Savior?

    Then don't spend every waking moment putting yourself on trial.

    Bring your fears to Jesus.

    Bring your failures to Jesus.

    Bring your doubts to Jesus.

    Bring your entire life to Jesus.

    LOOK TO THE SHEPHERD.

    Not yourself.

    Not your emotions.

    Not your performance.

    Not your past.

    Jesus.

    Conclusion

    One day every one of us will stand before God.

    Our hope on that day cannot be:

    “Lord, look how good I was.”

    Our hope is:

    “Lord Jesus, I trusted You.”

    The Gospel is not the story of good people becoming good enough for God.

    It is the story of a holy God reaching down to save sinners through His Son.

    So don't run from Jesus because you're afraid you're not good enough.

    Run to Jesus because you know you aren't.

    And discover that His grace is greater than your failures.

    When fear whispers:

    “What if Jesus rejects you?”

    Answer with His promise:

    “Whoever comes to Me I will never cast out.” — John 6:37

    When condemnation whispers:

    “You're finished.”

    Answer with Scripture:

    “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” — Romans 8:1

    When fear says:

    “You will be separated from God's love.”

    Remember Romans 8:38–39:

    Nothing in all creation can separate those who are in Christ from the love of God.

    So tonight, tomorrow, and every day:

    Don't look at yourself.

    Look at your Shepherd.

    Look at Jesus.

    Trust Him.

    Follow Him.

    Repent when you fall.

    Receive His grace.

    And keep your eyes fixed upon Christ.

    ---

    CLOSING PRAYER

    Heavenly Father,

    I come before You in the name of Jesus Christ.

    Lord, I confess that I am not perfect. I have failed You many times. I have sinned, made mistakes, wandered, doubted, become discouraged, and sometimes wondered whether I truly belong to You.

    But today I choose not to put my confidence in myself.

    I put my confidence in Jesus Christ.

    Thank You for sending Your Son to die for sinners.

    Thank You that salvation is by grace through faith and not something I can earn through my own works.

    Lord Jesus, help me understand Matthew 7:21–23 correctly. Let its warning keep me humble, sincere, repentant, and genuinely devoted to You—but don't allow fear to make me forget Your promises of mercy and grace.

    When I fail, help me run toward You instead of hiding from You.

    When I sin, give me genuine repentance.

    When I doubt, strengthen my faith.

    When I feel condemned, remind me of Romans 8:1:

    “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

    When I fear that You will abandon me, remind me of Your promise:

    “Whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”

    Jesus, You are my Shepherd.

    I cannot save myself.

    I cannot make myself worthy.

    I cannot depend upon my own goodness.

    I need You.

    Help me follow You faithfully for the rest of my life.

    Give me a heart that loves You.

    Give me a heart that hates sin.

    Give me a heart that quickly repents.

    Give me a heart that desires Your presence.

    Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and make me more like Jesus.

    And when the enemy whispers condemnation into my mind, help me remember that my hope is not in how strong I am.

    My hope is in how faithful You are.

    Father, I place my past in Your mercy.

    I place my present in Your hands.

    And I place my future in Your hands.

    I choose to trust Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.

    Help me keep my eyes upon my Shepherd until the day I see Him face to face.

    In the mighty and precious name of Jesus Christ,

    Amen.

    REMEMBER:

    Don't look at yourself. Look at your Shepherd.

    Don't trust your perfection. Trust Christ.

    Don't run away when you fail. Run back to Jesus.

    Your hope is not in yourself. Your hope is in Jesus Christ.

    ------------------------------------------------------

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    Download the Bible App
    https://www.youversion.com/bible-app

    **************************************************

    THE REGENERATED LIFE: YOU CANNOT MAKE PEACE WITH SIN

    “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17

    There is a powerful truth in the Gospel that we must never forget:

    Jesus doesn't merely forgive us—He changes us.

    When the Holy Spirit regenerates a person, that person receives a new spiritual life. Their relationship with sin changes. Sin may still tempt them. They may still stumble. They may still fail. But they can no longer comfortably say, “Sin is my lifestyle, and I don't care what God says.”

    ---

    REGENERATION PRODUCES A NEW LIFE

    John writes:

    > “No one who abides in him keeps on sinning.”
    — 1 John 3:6

    And:

    > “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him.”
    — 1 John 3:9

    These are extremely serious words.

    Being born again isn't simply changing our religious label.

    It isn't merely saying a prayer.

    It isn't simply attending church.

    It isn't simply knowing Bible verses.

    Regeneration means God gives us new spiritual life.

    The Holy Spirit begins transforming our desires, our attitudes, our choices, and our relationship with God.

    ---

    GRACE DOES NOT GIVE US PERMISSION TO LIVE IN SIN

    Paul anticipated this very question:

    > “Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means!”
    — Romans 6:1–2

    Grace is not God's permission slip for rebellion.

    Jesus didn't die so that we could say:

    “Now I can sin without consequences.”

    He died to rescue us from the dominion of sin.

    Romans 6:14 says:

    > “For sin will have no dominion over you.”

    The Christian life isn't:

    “I am saved, therefore I can live however I want.”

    It is:

    “I have been saved by Christ, therefore I want to live for Christ.”

    ---

    BUT CHRISTIANS STILL FALL

    This distinction is extremely important.

    If regeneration meant that a Christian would never commit another sin, then John would never have written:

    > “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.”
    — 1 John 1:8

    Christians can stumble.

    Christians can become weak.

    Christians can make terrible decisions.

    Christians can fall into temptation.

    Peter denied Jesus.

    David committed terrible sins.

    But there is a difference between:

    FALLING INTO SIN

    and

    DELiberately MAKING SIN YOUR WAY OF LIFE.

    A regenerated believer may fall—but God's Spirit doesn't leave them comfortable in the pit.

    The Holy Spirit convicts.

    The conscience becomes troubled.

    The believer turns back.

    Repentance begins.

    And they cry:

    “Lord Jesus, forgive me and help me!”

    ---

    THE HOLY SPIRIT CHANGES OUR DIRECTION

    Ezekiel 36:26–27 gives a beautiful picture of God's transforming work:

    > “I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you.”

    And:

    > “I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes.”

    That's regeneration.

    God doesn't merely tell us:

    “Try harder.”

    He gives us His Spirit.

    He gives us a new heart.

    He begins changing us from the inside out.

    ---

    WHAT DOES A REGENERATED PERSON LOOK LIKE?

    A regenerated Christian isn't necessarily someone who never struggles.

    It is someone whose direction has changed.

    They begin to hate what they once loved.

    They begin to love what God loves.

    They become increasingly sensitive to sin.

    They desire God's Word.

    They desire prayer.

    They desire fellowship with God.

    They repent when they fall.

    They want Jesus—not merely the benefits of Jesus.

    And gradually, the fruit of the Spirit begins appearing:

    > “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
    — Galatians 5:22–23

    Transformation takes time.

    A newborn Christian is still growing.

    God doesn't demand that a spiritual infant immediately possess the maturity of a lifelong believer.

    But there should be life.

    There should be growth.

    There should be movement toward Christ.

    ---

    DON'T USE GRACE AS AN EXCUSE

    Romans 6:12 says:

    > “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.”

    Don't deliberately feed what God is trying to kill.

    Don't continually return to the same chains while saying:

    “Grace doesn't matter.”

    Instead:

    Run toward Jesus.

    When temptation comes—pray.

    When you fall—repent.

    When you are weak—ask for strength.

    When you are discouraged—remember God's promises.

    When you fail—don't hide from God.

    Come back to Him.

    ---

    YOUR CONFIDENCE IS JESUS

    Here's something every believer needs to understand:

    Your salvation doesn't rest upon your ability to perform perfectly.

    Your salvation rests upon Jesus Christ.

    Ephesians 2:8–9:

    > “For by grace you have been saved through faith… not a result of works.”

    And Philippians 1:6 gives us tremendous hope:

    > “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

    Therefore:

    Don't become proud when you succeed.

    Don't despair when you stumble.

    Stay close to Jesus.

    Keep repenting.

    Keep believing.

    Keep following.

    Keep surrendering.

    Keep growing.

    Keep your eyes on Christ.

    ---

    PRAYER — “LORD, MAKE ME A NEW CREATION”

    Heavenly Father,

    I come before You in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

    Thank You for Your incredible grace and mercy.

    Thank You that salvation isn't something I can earn through my own works.

    Thank You that Jesus Christ died for my sins and rose again.

    Lord Jesus, I surrender myself to You.

    Give me a new heart.

    Give me a new spirit.

    Fill me with Your Holy Spirit.

    Break the power of sin over my life.

    Help me stop making excuses for things that You want removed from my life.

    Give me genuine repentance.

    Give me genuine faith.

    Give me genuine obedience.

    Give me genuine love for You.

    Lord, I know I am still capable of stumbling.

    When I fall, don't let me run away from You.

    Teach me to run toward You.

    Convict me when I sin.

    Give me humility to confess it.

    Give me strength to turn away from it.

    Give me perseverance to keep following You.

    I don't want to merely call You Lord with my lips.

    I want You to truly be Lord of my life.

    Change my desires.

    Change my thoughts.

    Change my words.

    Change my actions.

    Make me increasingly like Jesus.

    Produce the fruit of Your Spirit in me.

    Let love replace hatred.

    Let purity replace impurity.

    Let forgiveness replace bitterness.

    Let humility replace pride.

    Let obedience replace rebellion.

    Let faith replace fear.

    And when Satan reminds me of my failures, remind me of the cross.

    When condemnation overwhelms me, remind me:

    “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

    I don't want to live in deliberate rebellion against You.

    I want to walk with You.

    I want to know You.

    I want to love You.

    I want to serve You.

    I want to finish my race faithfully.

    Lord Jesus, keep me close to You until the day I see You face-to-face.

    You are my Savior.

    You are my Lord.

    You are my King.

    You are my righteousness.

    You are my hope.

    I place my life and eternity into Your hands.

    In the mighty name of Jesus Christ,

    AMEN.

    FINAL REMINDER

    Regeneration doesn't mean you never stumble.

    Regeneration means you don't want to remain in the darkness.

    You may fall—but get back up.

    You may fail—but run back to Jesus.

    You may struggle—but don't surrender to sin.

    Because the One who saved you is also the One who is transforming you.

    “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”
    — 2 Corinthians 5:17

    TWO ETERNAL REALITIES!!!! CHOOSE JESUS CHRIST TODAY!!! “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” — Hebrews 3:15 There are decisions in life that can be changed tomorrow. You can change your career. You can move to another city. You can repair a broken relationship. You can change your mind about many things. But there is one decision Scripture repeatedly tells us not to postpone: What will you do with Jesus Christ? The Bible presents us with two ultimate destinations: Eternal life with God through Jesus Christ or eternal separation from God because of the rejection of His salvation. This is not a game. This is not something to treat casually. And it is not a decision to postpone indefinitely. Jesus repeatedly warned people about eternity because He loves us. --- CHOICE ONE: RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST Jesus said: «“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” — John 14:6» The Gospel begins with an uncomfortable truth: We have all sinned. Romans 3:23 says: «“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”» But God did not leave humanity without hope. He sent His Son. Jesus Christ came into this world, lived without sin, willingly went to the cross, died for our sins, and rose again. John 3:16 declares: «“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”» Think about the magnitude of that promise. God's response to our rebellion was not simply judgment. He offered mercy. God's response to our sin was not merely condemnation. He offered forgiveness. God's response to our hopelessness was Jesus Christ. --- JESUS IS CALLING YOU Jesus said: «“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28» Notice the invitation: Come to Me. Not: “Fix yourself first.” Not: “Become perfect first.” Not: “Make yourself worthy first.” Come to Me. Repent. Believe. Surrender. Trust Him. Follow Him. Receive His grace. And let Christ transform your life. --- THE RAPTURE AND THE RETURN OF CHRIST Scripture teaches believers to remain watchful for Christ's return. Jesus said: «“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” — Matthew 24:42» Paul describes the resurrection and gathering of believers to Christ in 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17. Whether Christ returns during our lifetime or we eventually leave this earthly life, the Christian's ultimate hope remains the same: To be with Christ. That is why believers are told: «“Encourage one another with these words.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:18» The message of Christ's return is not supposed to produce hopeless terror in those who belong to Him. It should produce: Hope. Readiness. Faithfulness. Holiness. Expectation. --- HEAVEN IS MORE THAN A PLACE Heaven's greatest blessing isn't simply beautiful scenery. It isn't merely freedom from pain. It isn't merely reunion. It isn't merely eternal life. The greatest blessing is God Himself. Revelation 21:3 says: «“God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.”» And Revelation 21:4 gives us one of Scripture's most beautiful promises: «“There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.”» Imagine a world where death is gone. Where suffering is gone. Where sin is gone. Where tears are gone. Where separation is gone. Where God's people dwell with Him forever. Revelation 22:4 says: «“They will see his face.”» That is the ultimate Christian hope: To see Jesus face to face. --- CHOICE TWO: REJECT CHRIST The Bible also gives a solemn warning. God does not force people to love Him. He does not force people to receive His salvation. He gives humanity a genuine choice. Jesus spoke seriously about judgment. Matthew 7:13–14 describes two roads: «“Enter through the narrow gate.”» Jesus also warned: «“Broad is the road that leads to destruction.”» This warning should never be used to frighten people into religious performance. It should instead awaken us to reality. Eternity matters. Our response to Christ matters. Our relationship with God matters. --- THE TERRIBLE TRAGEDY OF REJECTING GOD'S GRACE The tragedy of final judgment is not merely punishment. It is the ultimate loss of fellowship with God. God is the source of life. God is the source of goodness. God is the source of love. God is the source of hope. To reject God is to reject the very One who offers reconciliation. Jesus warned about hell because He did not want people to go there. The warnings of Scripture are therefore not evidence that God doesn't care. They are evidence that God takes eternity seriously. --- DON'T WAIT UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE James 4:14 reminds us that our earthly life is like a mist that appears briefly and then disappears. None of us knows exactly how long we have. We should therefore never say: “I'll get right with God someday.” Someday isn't guaranteed. Tomorrow isn't promised. The Bible says: «“Now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.” — 2 Corinthians 6:2» And Hebrews 3:15 says: «“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”» If the Holy Spirit is convicting your heart today: Don't run from Him. Turn toward Him. --- REPENTANCE IS NOT GOD'S ENEMY Repentance isn't God trying to ruin your life. Repentance means turning around. Turning away from sin. Turning toward God. Turning away from rebellion. Turning toward Jesus. Turning away from darkness. Turning toward the Light. Jesus began His ministry with this message: «“Repent and believe the good news!” — Mark 1:15» Repentance isn't about earning salvation. It is about responding to God's grace with a surrendered heart. --- YOU CANNOT SAVE YOURSELF Ephesians 2:8–9 says: «“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”» You cannot purchase salvation. You cannot earn salvation. You cannot manufacture salvation. You cannot become good enough to save yourself. Jesus saves. That is why the Gospel is called good news. Jesus did what we could never do. He paid the price for sin. He conquered death. He rose again. And He offers forgiveness and eternal life to those who come to Him in faith. --- DON'T LET SATAN LIE TO YOU The enemy may whisper: “You're too far gone.” “God won't forgive you.” “You've failed too many times.” “There's no point coming back.” But those accusations are not the Gospel. Jesus says: «“Whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” — John 6:37» What an incredible promise. Whoever comes. Not merely the perfect. Not merely the religious. Not merely the people who have never failed. Whoever comes. Come to Jesus. --- TWO ROADS There are ultimately two roads. One leads toward God. One leads away from God. One is surrender. One is rebellion. One receives grace. One rejects grace. One leads to life. One leads to destruction. And Jesus tells us to choose life. Deuteronomy 30:19 says: «“I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life.”» The invitation is before you. Choose Jesus. --- BUT DON'T LIVE IN TERROR Christianity isn't supposed to be: “I'm terrified that God will throw me away.” The Gospel says: God loved you enough to send Jesus to rescue you. Romans 8:1 says: «“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”» If you have genuinely placed your faith in Christ, don't spend your entire life staring backward at your failures. Look toward Jesus. Confess your sins. Receive His forgiveness. Walk with Him. Grow in Him. And trust His grace. --- THE FINAL QUESTION One day every human being will stand before eternity. The question will not ultimately be: “How successful were you?” “How much money did you accumulate?” “How famous did you become?” “How many possessions did you own?” The most important question is: What did you do with Jesus Christ? Did you receive Him? Did you trust Him? Did you repent? Did you surrender? Did you follow Him? Jesus asks: «“Who do you say I am?” — Matthew 16:15» And Peter answered: «“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” — Matthew 16:16» That is the confession that changes everything. --- TODAY — CHOOSE JESUS If you have never surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, you can begin today. You don't need fancy words. You need an honest heart. You can say: “Jesus, I need You.” “Jesus, forgive me.” “Jesus, I repent.” “Jesus, I believe You died for my sins and rose again.” “Jesus, I surrender my life to You.” “Be my Lord, my Savior, and my King.” Then begin walking with Him. Read His Word. Pray. Seek fellowship with genuine believers. Turn away from deliberate sin. Learn to obey Him. And when you stumble, get back up and return to Him. --- FINAL APPEAL Don't gamble with eternity. Don't assume you have unlimited time. Don't harden your heart. Don't allow pride to keep you from grace. Don't let shame keep you away from Jesus. Don't let yesterday determine tomorrow. Jesus Christ is calling you today. There is forgiveness. There is mercy. There is grace. There is salvation. There is hope. There is eternal life. And it is found in Jesus Christ. Choose Jesus. Not because you are terrified of death— but because He is worthy of your life. Not merely because heaven is beautiful— but because Jesus is there. Not merely because hell is terrible— but because God has opened the door of salvation through His Son. The invitation is before you. Come to Jesus. Repent. Believe. Surrender. Follow Him. And never turn back. --- DEEP PRAYER OF REPENTANCE, SURRENDER, AND ETERNAL HOPE Heavenly Father, I come before You in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. I recognize that You are holy, righteous, merciful, and loving. I recognize that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself through my own goodness. I need Jesus. Lord Jesus Christ, I believe that You are the Son of God. I believe that You came into this world. I believe that You lived without sin. I believe that You willingly went to the cross. I believe that You died for our sins. I believe that You rose from the dead. And I believe that You are alive forevermore. Jesus, I surrender myself to You. Be my Lord. Be my Savior. Be my King. Forgive my sins. Wash me clean. Change my heart. Change my desires. Change my thinking. Change my words. Change my actions. Change my priorities. Take everything in me that does not belong to You and transform it by Your grace. Holy Spirit, lead me. Convict me when I wander. Correct me when I become proud. Strengthen me when I am weak. Comfort me when I am hurting. Teach me to recognize Your voice through the truth of Scripture. Give me a hunger for God's Word. Give me a desire to pray. Give me a desire for holiness. Give me compassion for people who are lost. Give me courage to tell others about Jesus. Father, I don't want to live carelessly. I don't want to presume upon Your grace. I don't want to harden my heart. I don't want to spend my life chasing temporary things while neglecting eternal things. Help me keep eternity before my eyes. But Father, also help me remember that my life today matters. Give me strength to keep living faithfully. Give me strength to keep serving. Give me strength to keep loving. Give me strength to keep praying. Give me strength to keep believing. When fear about eternity comes against me, point me back to Jesus. When Satan accuses me, remind me of the finished work of Christ. When shame tells me I am too far gone, remind me of Your mercy. When I fall, teach me to repent and get back up. When I become discouraged, remind me that Your grace is greater than my failures. Father, keep my heart tender toward You. Don't allow me to become spiritually cold. Don't allow me to become complacent. Don't allow me to become distracted from Jesus. Help me finish my earthly race faithfully. And when my earthly journey eventually ends, let me be found trusting Christ. My hope is not in my own righteousness. My hope is Jesus. My confidence is not in my performance. My confidence is in Your grace. My salvation is not something I can boast about. It is Your gift. Thank You for the cross. Thank You for the empty tomb. Thank You for the blood of Jesus. Thank You for forgiveness. Thank You for mercy. Thank You for grace. Thank You for the promise of eternal life. Father, prepare me for eternity. Make me ready to meet Jesus. And until that day, help me live for Him with everything I have. I pray for those who are currently far away from You. Soften their hearts. Open their eyes. Break through their pride. Heal their wounds. Remove the lies that keep them from believing. Send faithful Christians into their lives who will lovingly share the Gospel. Let them encounter Jesus. Let them discover Your mercy. Let them turn from darkness toward light. Let them repent. Let them believe. Let them be saved. And Lord, help us never use the reality of judgment as an excuse to hate or condemn people. Instead, give us tears for the lost. Give us compassion. Give us patience. Give us courage. Give us love. Let us proclaim the truth while demonstrating the character of Christ. Father, I choose life. I choose Jesus. I choose surrender. I choose faith. I choose to follow Christ. And I ask You to help me remain faithful until the end. My future is in Your hands. My hope is in Jesus Christ. My eternity belongs to You. And my prayer is: “Come, Lord Jesus.” But until that glorious day, help me live for Jesus. Help me love like Jesus. Help me forgive like Jesus. Help me serve like Jesus. Help me pray like Jesus. Help me walk in holiness. Help me share the Gospel. Help me finish well. And when I finally see Jesus face to face, may my heart be filled with overwhelming gratitude that He never stopped calling me toward Himself. Jesus Christ is my Lord. Jesus Christ is my Savior. Jesus Christ is my King. Jesus Christ is my hope. Jesus Christ is my eternal life. In the mighty, holy, precious, and glorious name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 🙏✝️👑 ************************ THE RAPTURE AND THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST A Standalone Sermon: Be Ready for the Return of the King 👑 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” — Matthew 24:42 There is one promise running throughout the New Testament that every Christian should take seriously: JESUS CHRIST IS COMING AGAIN. The early Church lived with this expectation. The apostles preached it. Jesus promised it. The book of Revelation ends with it. And Christians throughout history have looked forward to the day when faith becomes sight and we see our King face to face. But what exactly does the Bible mean when we talk about the Rapture and the Second Coming? And more importantly: How should we live if Jesus could return at any time? --- 1. JESUS PROMISED TO RETURN Jesus didn't leave His disciples with the idea that His earthly ministry was the end. He told them: «“I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” — John 14:3» What an incredible promise. Jesus is not abandoning His people. He is coming again. The Christian hope is not based upon wishful thinking. It is based upon the promise of the risen Christ. The One who came the first time in humility will ultimately return in glory. --- 2. WHAT IS THE RAPTURE? The word “rapture” isn't found in most English translations of the Bible, but the concept comes from passages describing believers being “caught up” to meet Christ. Paul writes: «“The Lord himself will come down from heaven… and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive… will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17» Think about those words: The dead in Christ will rise. Believers who are alive will be caught up. We will meet the Lord. And we will be with the Lord forever. Paul concludes: «“And so we will be with the Lord forever.”» Then he says: «“Encourage one another with these words.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:18» The Rapture, therefore, is fundamentally a message of hope for believers. --- 3. THE RESURRECTION OF BELIEVERS Paul gives another remarkable description in 1 Corinthians 15. He says: «“We will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.” — 1 Corinthians 15:51–52» Our present bodies are temporary. But God promises resurrection. Corruption will give way to incorruption. Mortality will give way to immortality. And Paul declares: «“Death has been swallowed up in victory.” — 1 Corinthians 15:54» That is the Christian hope. Death does not have the final word. Jesus does. --- 4. WHAT IS THE SECOND COMING? The Second Coming refers to Christ's glorious return. Jesus said: «“They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.” — Matthew 24:30» This isn't presented as a secret or insignificant event. Christ returns as King. Revelation 19 portrays Him as the victorious King riding forth in righteousness. The One who was mocked will be revealed in glory. The One who was rejected will be acknowledged as King. The One who was crucified will return in triumph. --- 5. RAPTURE AND SECOND COMING — ARE THEY THE SAME EVENT? Christians disagree about exactly how these prophetic passages fit together. Some believe the Rapture occurs before the tribulation and that Christ's visible Second Coming occurs later. Others believe the gathering of believers happens in connection with Christ's visible return. There are also other interpretations concerning the timing of these events. We should therefore be humble when discussing the exact prophetic timeline. But there are truths we can hold firmly: Jesus is coming again. The dead in Christ will be raised. Believers will be gathered to Christ. Jesus will return in glory. Christ will ultimately triumph over evil. God will judge with perfect righteousness. God will establish His eternal kingdom. God will make all things new. Those truths are far more important than winning arguments about timelines. --- 6. THE RAPTURE SHOULD PRODUCE HOPE Some people hear about the Rapture and immediately become terrified. But Paul didn't present the resurrection and gathering of believers primarily as a message of terror. He said: «“Encourage one another with these words.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:18» Why? Because the Christian has a future. The grave isn't the end. Death isn't the end. Suffering isn't the end. Grief isn't the end. Jesus is coming. Resurrection is coming. Restoration is coming. Eternal life is coming. --- 7. THE SECOND COMING SHOULD PRODUCE HOLINESS Peter asks an important question concerning Christ's return: «“What kind of people ought you to be?” — 2 Peter 3:11» In other words: If Jesus is coming again, How should we live today? The answer isn't: “Try to calculate the exact date.” Jesus specifically warned against that kind of certainty. Instead: Be ready. Be faithful. Be watchful. Repent when you sin. Forgive people. Love God. Love your neighbor. Share the Gospel. Walk in holiness. Keep your heart tender toward God. --- 8. DON'T WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW Jesus repeatedly emphasized watchfulness. Matthew 24:44 says: «“So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”» We don't know exactly when Christ will return. We don't know how long our earthly lives will last. Therefore: Today matters. If you need to repent, repent today. If you need to forgive, forgive today. If you need to return to God, return today. If you've grown spiritually cold, come back today. If you've been putting off following Jesus, don't keep postponing it. --- 9. THE WARNING OF MATTHEW 7 Jesus gave one of the most sobering warnings in Scripture: «“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 7:21» Jesus wasn't teaching that salvation comes through human perfection. He was warning against empty profession. It is possible to say religious words while never truly surrendering our hearts to God. Therefore, don't merely say: “I believe in Jesus.” Ask: Am I actually following Jesus? Do I repent when He convicts me? Do I trust His grace? Do I desire His presence? Do I want His will? Do I love His Word? Do I seek to obey Him? Do I get back up when I fall? Christianity isn't merely a label. It is a relationship with Jesus Christ that transforms the direction of our lives. --- 10. DON'T LET FEAR DRIVE YOU AWAY FROM JESUS If you are worried about your salvation, don't run away from Christ. Run toward Him. Jesus said: «“Whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” — John 6:37» That is a beautiful promise. When you fail: Come to Jesus. When you sin: Come to Jesus. When you are ashamed: Come to Jesus. When you are afraid: Come to Jesus. When your faith feels weak: Come to Jesus. When you don't know what to do: Come to Jesus. He is the Savior. --- 11. THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE IN CHRIST Romans 8:1 declares: «“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”» That doesn't mean sin doesn't matter. It means Christ has provided the answer for sin. The believer's confidence isn't: “I am perfect.” It is: “Jesus is my Savior.” Our hope isn't based on our ability to perform perfectly. Our hope rests upon the finished work of Christ. --- 12. HEAVEN IS THE DESTINATION OF OUR HOPE What awaits God's people? Revelation 21:4 says: «“There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.”» Revelation 22:4 says: «“They will see his face.”» That is the ultimate hope. Not merely beautiful surroundings. Not merely freedom from suffering. Not merely eternal existence. Jesus Himself. One day we will see our Savior. One day we will understand. One day the tears will end. One day death will be defeated forever. One day God will make everything new. --- 13. SO BE READY Jesus said: «“Keep watch.”» Not: “Live in panic.” Not: “Spend your life trying to predict the date.” Not: “Argue endlessly with other Christians about prophetic timelines.” Keep watch. Live ready. Love ready. Pray ready. Serve ready. Repent ready. Forgive ready. Share the Gospel ready. And if Jesus returns tomorrow— be ready to meet Him. If He returns years from now— be faithful until then. If our earthly lives end before His return— our hope remains Christ. --- FINAL APPEAL There is coming a day when every earthly distraction will disappear. Money won't matter. Possessions won't matter. Status won't matter. Career won't matter. Popularity won't matter. The only thing that will matter is Jesus Christ. So don't spend your life preparing only for retirement. Prepare for eternity. Don't merely prepare your house. Prepare your heart. Don't merely build earthly wealth. Build treasure in heaven. Don't merely ask: “How long will I live?” Ask: “How will I live for Jesus while I am here?” Jesus Christ is coming again. The King is coming. The resurrection is coming. The kingdom is coming. The restoration is coming. And the Bible's final invitation remains: «“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’” — Revelation 22:17» And the final promise of Jesus is: «“Yes, I am coming soon.” — Revelation 22:20» So let the Church answer: “AMEN. COME, LORD JESUS!” Until that day: KEEP WATCHING. KEEP PRAYING. KEEP BELIEVING. KEEP REPENTING. KEEP FOLLOWING JESUS. KEEP YOUR LAMP BURNING. KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE KING. 👑 JESUS CHRIST IS COMING AGAIN. ✝️ --- DEEP PRAYER — “LORD JESUS, MAKE ME READY” Heavenly Father, I come before You in the mighty and precious name of Jesus Christ. Thank You for the promise that Jesus Christ is coming again. Thank You that death does not have the final word. Thank You for the resurrection. Thank You for eternal life. Thank You for the cross. Thank You for the empty tomb. Thank You for grace. Thank You for mercy. Thank You for forgiveness. Father, prepare my heart for eternity. Search me and know me. Reveal anything in my life that needs to change. Where I have become spiritually cold, set my heart on fire again. Where I have become distracted, turn my eyes back toward Jesus. Where I have become proud, humble me. Where I have become careless, awaken me. Where I have become fearful, strengthen my faith. Where I have sinned, lead me to genuine repentance. Where I have wounded others, teach me to seek forgiveness. Where others have wounded me, give me grace to forgive. Lord Jesus, I surrender myself to You. You are my Lord. You are my Savior. You are my King. I do not want merely to know about You. I want to know You. I don't want merely to carry the name “Christian.” I want my life to belong to Christ. Holy Spirit, transform me from the inside out. Give me a hunger for God's Word. Give me a deeper prayer life. Give me discernment. Give me holiness. Give me obedience. Give me endurance. Give me compassion for the lost. Give me courage to share the Gospel. Help me become the person You have called me to be. Father, when I think about the return of Christ, don't allow fear to consume me. Give me holy expectation. Help me look forward to seeing Jesus. Help me remember that the promise of Christ's return is ultimately a promise of hope. When I hear about the Rapture, remind me of the promise: “We will be with the Lord forever.” When I think about Christ's Second Coming, remind me that our King will ultimately triumph. When I think about judgment, lead me to repentance rather than despair. When Satan accuses me, remind me that my hope is Jesus Christ. When I fall, help me get back up. When I fail, help me return to You. When I am weak, strengthen me. When I am exhausted, carry me. When I don't understand Your ways, help me trust Your character. Father, keep my heart ready. Let me never become complacent. Let me never assume that tomorrow is guaranteed. Teach me to live each day as though it matters eternally. Help me love people while I have the opportunity. Help me forgive while I have the opportunity. Help me serve while I have the opportunity. Help me tell people about Jesus while I have the opportunity. And Lord, please give me wisdom concerning the end times. Protect me from false teaching. Protect me from sensationalism. Protect me from fear. Protect me from deception. Help me remain anchored in Scripture. Where faithful Christians disagree about prophetic details, give us humility and love. Keep the main thing the main thing: Jesus Christ. Father, I pray for everyone who is far from You. Open their hearts. Open their eyes. Let them encounter the love and truth of Jesus Christ. Lead them to repentance. Lead them to faith. Lead them to salvation. And use Your people to proclaim the Gospel with courage and compassion. Lord Jesus, when You return, let me be found watching. Let me be found praying. Let me be found loving. Let me be found serving. Let me be found trusting You. Let me be found faithful. And when I finally see You face to face, may I fall before Your throne in worship and realize that every promise You made was true. No more death. No more sorrow. No more crying. No more pain. Only the presence of God. Only the glory of Christ. Only eternal life. Only the joy of being with You. Father, until that day, help me keep walking. Help me keep believing. Help me keep hoping. Help me keep serving. Help me keep my eyes upon Jesus. And let my heart continually cry: “COME, LORD JESUS!” Until You come, I will seek to live for You. Until You come, I will trust You. Until You come, I will worship You. Until You come, I will proclaim Your Gospel. Until You come, I will keep my eyes on the King. Jesus Christ is coming again. He is my hope. He is my Savior. He is my Lord. He is my King. In the mighty, holy, precious, and glorious name of Jesus Christ, AMEN. 🙏✝️👑 ----------------------------------------------------- The Most Downloaded and Used Bible App in the World!!! Built to help people create daily spiritual rhythms, the Bible App brings Scripture to life on any device, in thousands of languages. All completely free. Whether it’s a verse before school, a devotional with friends, or a shared prayer in a church group, this is more than an app. It’s a community of people staying connected to God through His Word. Download the Bible App https://www.youversion.com/bible-app *************************************************** DON'T LOOK AT YOURSELF — LOOK AT YOUR SHEPHERD Finding Confidence in Christ When Matthew 7:21–23 Frightens You Key Scriptures: Matthew 7:21–23; Romans 8:1; Romans 8:38–39; John 6:37; John 10:27–29; Ephesians 2:8–9; 1 John 5:11–13 Introduction There are words in the Bible that comfort us deeply, and there are words that make us tremble. Matthew 7:21–23 is one of those passages that can cause a sincere Christian to stop and ask: “What if I think I belong to Jesus, but I really don't?” Jesus says that not everyone who calls Him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven. He speaks of people who point to their religious accomplishments—even things they claim to have done in His name—and yet hear the terrifying words, “I never knew you.” That warning should cause us to take our relationship with Christ seriously. But it should not drive a person who genuinely wants Christ into hopelessness. Because Matthew 7 must be read alongside the enormous promises of Romans 8. The answer is not to stare endlessly at ourselves and ask, “Am I good enough?” The answer is to look to Jesus Christ. 1. Matthew 7 Is a Warning Against False Confidence Jesus was warning against people who had religious words and religious accomplishments but lacked a genuine relationship with Him. They said: “Lord, Lord…” They pointed to what they had done. But Jesus said: “I never knew you.” Notice something important. The issue wasn't that these people had committed some ordinary Christian failure and Jesus suddenly decided they weren't good enough. Their confidence was ultimately centered in what they had done, rather than in knowing and submitting to Christ. That is why this passage should lead us to examine our foundation—not to live in perpetual terror. Ask: Am I trusting Jesus Christ? Am I turning toward Him when I fail? Do I want Him to be Lord of my life? Do I desire to follow Him, even though I am imperfect? Those questions are very different from: “Have I been perfect enough to deserve heaven?” Because none of us can answer that question with “yes.” 2. Your Salvation Is Not Built Upon Your Perfection Ephesians 2:8–9 says that we are saved by grace through faith, not by our works. That means salvation isn't a trophy we earn after successfully completing a lifetime of flawless Christianity. We are sinners who need a Savior. And our Savior is Jesus. When you fall, you don't need to run away from Christ. You need to run toward Him. When you fail, repent. When you sin, confess it. When you become discouraged, return to Him. When you doubt, seek Him. When you feel unworthy, remember that your worthiness was never the foundation of salvation in the first place. Jesus is the foundation. 3. Romans 8 Does Not Contradict Matthew 7 Now we come to the passage that can bring tremendous comfort. Romans 8:1 declares: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Notice those words: “In Christ Jesus.” Paul doesn't say there is no condemnation because Christians never make mistakes. He says there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. And later in Romans 8, Paul gives one of Scripture's greatest declarations of security. Nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. That means your assurance isn't: “I am strong enough to hold onto Jesus.” Your hope is: “Jesus is strong enough to hold onto me.” 4. Look at What Jesus Himself Promised Jesus said in John 6:37: “Whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” Think about that. Never. If you genuinely come to Christ, you don't need to imagine Jesus standing there waiting for an opportunity to throw you away. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. John 10:27–29 speaks of His sheep hearing His voice, following Him, and being held securely in His hand. The Christian life is not: “I must become perfect so Jesus will finally accept me.” It is: “Because Jesus has loved me and called me, I want to follow Him.” 5. Don't Make Your Feelings Your Judge There will be nights when you feel close to God. There will also be nights when you feel absolutely nothing. There will be moments of tremendous faith. There will be moments of terrible doubt. There will be seasons when prayer seems easy. There will be seasons when your prayers feel like they hit the ceiling. Your feelings are real, but your feelings are not your Savior. Jesus is. Your emotions can change from hour to hour. Christ does not. Your confidence should ultimately rest not upon how strongly you feel saved, but upon the character and promises of Jesus Christ. 6. What About the Sins and Mistakes of Your Past? Perhaps you've lived many years and look backward thinking: “I've made so many mistakes. What if God holds them all against me?” The Gospel gives us an answer. Christ died for sinners. Repentance means turning toward God rather than making peace with sin. A Christian may stumble. A Christian may fail. A Christian may have seasons of weakness. But don't confuse struggling with sin with loving and deliberately embracing rebellion against God. When you fall, get back up. When you wander, come home. When you become cold, ask God to revive your heart. When you become afraid, remember the cross. The blood of Jesus is not weaker than your past. 7. Your Confidence Must Be in Christ Perhaps the most important sentence in this entire sermon is this: STOP MEASURING THE STRENGTH OF YOUR SALVATION BY THE STRENGTH OF YOURSELF. You are not the Savior. Jesus is. You did not die on the cross for your sins. Jesus did. You did not rise from the grave. Jesus did. You cannot forgive your own sins. Jesus can. You cannot guarantee your own future. But you can entrust your future to the One who holds eternity in His hands. So when Matthew 7 frightens you, don't ignore it. Let it drive you toward Christ. And when Romans 8 tells you there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, believe that promise too. The Bible contains both warning and comfort. The warning tells us: Don't pretend to know Christ while rejecting Him. The comfort tells the genuine believer: Don't live as though Christ is eager to abandon you. 8. The Question Is Not “Am I Perfect?” The question is: “Am I trusting Jesus Christ?” Are you coming to Him? Are you confessing your sins? Are you asking Him to forgive and transform you? Are you seeking to follow Him? Do you want Him as your Lord and Savior? Then don't spend every waking moment putting yourself on trial. Bring your fears to Jesus. Bring your failures to Jesus. Bring your doubts to Jesus. Bring your entire life to Jesus. LOOK TO THE SHEPHERD. Not yourself. Not your emotions. Not your performance. Not your past. Jesus. Conclusion One day every one of us will stand before God. Our hope on that day cannot be: “Lord, look how good I was.” Our hope is: “Lord Jesus, I trusted You.” The Gospel is not the story of good people becoming good enough for God. It is the story of a holy God reaching down to save sinners through His Son. So don't run from Jesus because you're afraid you're not good enough. Run to Jesus because you know you aren't. And discover that His grace is greater than your failures. When fear whispers: “What if Jesus rejects you?” Answer with His promise: “Whoever comes to Me I will never cast out.” — John 6:37 When condemnation whispers: “You're finished.” Answer with Scripture: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” — Romans 8:1 When fear says: “You will be separated from God's love.” Remember Romans 8:38–39: Nothing in all creation can separate those who are in Christ from the love of God. So tonight, tomorrow, and every day: Don't look at yourself. Look at your Shepherd. Look at Jesus. Trust Him. Follow Him. Repent when you fall. Receive His grace. And keep your eyes fixed upon Christ. --- CLOSING PRAYER Heavenly Father, I come before You in the name of Jesus Christ. Lord, I confess that I am not perfect. I have failed You many times. I have sinned, made mistakes, wandered, doubted, become discouraged, and sometimes wondered whether I truly belong to You. But today I choose not to put my confidence in myself. I put my confidence in Jesus Christ. Thank You for sending Your Son to die for sinners. Thank You that salvation is by grace through faith and not something I can earn through my own works. Lord Jesus, help me understand Matthew 7:21–23 correctly. Let its warning keep me humble, sincere, repentant, and genuinely devoted to You—but don't allow fear to make me forget Your promises of mercy and grace. When I fail, help me run toward You instead of hiding from You. When I sin, give me genuine repentance. When I doubt, strengthen my faith. When I feel condemned, remind me of Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” When I fear that You will abandon me, remind me of Your promise: “Whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” Jesus, You are my Shepherd. I cannot save myself. I cannot make myself worthy. I cannot depend upon my own goodness. I need You. Help me follow You faithfully for the rest of my life. Give me a heart that loves You. Give me a heart that hates sin. Give me a heart that quickly repents. Give me a heart that desires Your presence. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and make me more like Jesus. And when the enemy whispers condemnation into my mind, help me remember that my hope is not in how strong I am. My hope is in how faithful You are. Father, I place my past in Your mercy. I place my present in Your hands. And I place my future in Your hands. I choose to trust Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Help me keep my eyes upon my Shepherd until the day I see Him face to face. In the mighty and precious name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 🙏✝️❤️ REMEMBER: Don't look at yourself. Look at your Shepherd. Don't trust your perfection. Trust Christ. Don't run away when you fail. Run back to Jesus. Your hope is not in yourself. Your hope is in Jesus Christ. ------------------------------------------------------ The Most Downloaded and Used Bible App in the World!!! Built to help people create daily spiritual rhythms, the Bible App brings Scripture to life on any device, in thousands of languages. All completely free. Whether it’s a verse before school, a devotional with friends, or a shared prayer in a church group, this is more than an app. It’s a community of people staying connected to God through His Word. Download the Bible App https://www.youversion.com/bible-app ************************************************** 🔥 THE REGENERATED LIFE: YOU CANNOT MAKE PEACE WITH SIN “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17 There is a powerful truth in the Gospel that we must never forget: Jesus doesn't merely forgive us—He changes us. When the Holy Spirit regenerates a person, that person receives a new spiritual life. Their relationship with sin changes. Sin may still tempt them. They may still stumble. They may still fail. But they can no longer comfortably say, “Sin is my lifestyle, and I don't care what God says.” --- ✝️ REGENERATION PRODUCES A NEW LIFE John writes: > “No one who abides in him keeps on sinning.” — 1 John 3:6 And: > “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him.” — 1 John 3:9 These are extremely serious words. Being born again isn't simply changing our religious label. It isn't merely saying a prayer. It isn't simply attending church. It isn't simply knowing Bible verses. Regeneration means God gives us new spiritual life. The Holy Spirit begins transforming our desires, our attitudes, our choices, and our relationship with God. --- 🔥 GRACE DOES NOT GIVE US PERMISSION TO LIVE IN SIN Paul anticipated this very question: > “Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means!” — Romans 6:1–2 Grace is not God's permission slip for rebellion. Jesus didn't die so that we could say: “Now I can sin without consequences.” He died to rescue us from the dominion of sin. Romans 6:14 says: > “For sin will have no dominion over you.” The Christian life isn't: “I am saved, therefore I can live however I want.” It is: “I have been saved by Christ, therefore I want to live for Christ.” --- ❤️ BUT CHRISTIANS STILL FALL This distinction is extremely important. If regeneration meant that a Christian would never commit another sin, then John would never have written: > “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.” — 1 John 1:8 Christians can stumble. Christians can become weak. Christians can make terrible decisions. Christians can fall into temptation. Peter denied Jesus. David committed terrible sins. But there is a difference between: FALLING INTO SIN and DELiberately MAKING SIN YOUR WAY OF LIFE. A regenerated believer may fall—but God's Spirit doesn't leave them comfortable in the pit. The Holy Spirit convicts. The conscience becomes troubled. The believer turns back. Repentance begins. And they cry: “Lord Jesus, forgive me and help me!” --- 🕊️ THE HOLY SPIRIT CHANGES OUR DIRECTION Ezekiel 36:26–27 gives a beautiful picture of God's transforming work: > “I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you.” And: > “I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes.” That's regeneration. God doesn't merely tell us: “Try harder.” He gives us His Spirit. He gives us a new heart. He begins changing us from the inside out. --- 🔥 WHAT DOES A REGENERATED PERSON LOOK LIKE? A regenerated Christian isn't necessarily someone who never struggles. It is someone whose direction has changed. They begin to hate what they once loved. They begin to love what God loves. They become increasingly sensitive to sin. They desire God's Word. They desire prayer. They desire fellowship with God. They repent when they fall. They want Jesus—not merely the benefits of Jesus. And gradually, the fruit of the Spirit begins appearing: > “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” — Galatians 5:22–23 🌱 Transformation takes time. A newborn Christian is still growing. God doesn't demand that a spiritual infant immediately possess the maturity of a lifelong believer. But there should be life. There should be growth. There should be movement toward Christ. --- ⚠️ DON'T USE GRACE AS AN EXCUSE Romans 6:12 says: > “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.” Don't deliberately feed what God is trying to kill. Don't continually return to the same chains while saying: “Grace doesn't matter.” Instead: Run toward Jesus. When temptation comes—pray. When you fall—repent. When you are weak—ask for strength. When you are discouraged—remember God's promises. When you fail—don't hide from God. Come back to Him. --- ✝️ YOUR CONFIDENCE IS JESUS Here's something every believer needs to understand: Your salvation doesn't rest upon your ability to perform perfectly. Your salvation rests upon Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8–9: > “For by grace you have been saved through faith… not a result of works.” And Philippians 1:6 gives us tremendous hope: > “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Therefore: Don't become proud when you succeed. Don't despair when you stumble. Stay close to Jesus. Keep repenting. Keep believing. Keep following. Keep surrendering. Keep growing. Keep your eyes on Christ. --- 🙏 PRAYER — “LORD, MAKE ME A NEW CREATION” Heavenly Father, I come before You in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Thank You for Your incredible grace and mercy. Thank You that salvation isn't something I can earn through my own works. Thank You that Jesus Christ died for my sins and rose again. Lord Jesus, I surrender myself to You. Give me a new heart. Give me a new spirit. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Break the power of sin over my life. Help me stop making excuses for things that You want removed from my life. Give me genuine repentance. Give me genuine faith. Give me genuine obedience. Give me genuine love for You. Lord, I know I am still capable of stumbling. When I fall, don't let me run away from You. Teach me to run toward You. Convict me when I sin. Give me humility to confess it. Give me strength to turn away from it. Give me perseverance to keep following You. I don't want to merely call You Lord with my lips. I want You to truly be Lord of my life. Change my desires. Change my thoughts. Change my words. Change my actions. Make me increasingly like Jesus. Produce the fruit of Your Spirit in me. Let love replace hatred. Let purity replace impurity. Let forgiveness replace bitterness. Let humility replace pride. Let obedience replace rebellion. Let faith replace fear. And when Satan reminds me of my failures, remind me of the cross. When condemnation overwhelms me, remind me: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” I don't want to live in deliberate rebellion against You. I want to walk with You. I want to know You. I want to love You. I want to serve You. I want to finish my race faithfully. Lord Jesus, keep me close to You until the day I see You face-to-face. You are my Savior. You are my Lord. You are my King. You are my righteousness. You are my hope. I place my life and eternity into Your hands. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, AMEN. 🙏✝️🔥 🌅 FINAL REMINDER Regeneration doesn't mean you never stumble. Regeneration means you don't want to remain in the darkness. You may fall—but get back up. You may fail—but run back to Jesus. You may struggle—but don't surrender to sin. Because the One who saved you is also the One who is transforming you. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17 ✝️❤️🔥
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