Need to know. The claim that Jesus never existed falls apart when the evidence outside the Bible is examined. The New Testament is not the only source that tells us about Jesus of Nazareth. Ancient writers from outside Christianity also wrote about Jesus, His followers, His execution, and the movement that spread in His name. Some were Roman historians. One was a Jewish historian. Others were pagan critics or hostile Jewish sources. They had no reason to help Christianity, yet their writings point back to the same historical person. Tacitus, the Roman historian, records that Christus suffered the death penalty under Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius and that His followers were called Christians. Suetonius records disturbances among the Jews connected with “Chrestus,” while Pliny the Younger describes Christians gathering and singing hymns to Christ “as to a god.” These were not Christian writers defending the Bible. They were outsiders describing the people who followed Jesus. Then there is Josephus, the first-century Jewish historian. Josephus was not a Christian trying to prove that Jesus was the Messiah. Yet when he writes about James, he identifies him as “the brother of Jesus who was called Christ.” That short statement is incredibly important. Josephus does not stop to explain who Jesus was or argue that Jesus really existed. He simply uses Jesus to identify James. Jesus was already a known historical figure, and Josephus refers to Him as “Jesus who was called Christ.” This is one of the clearest pieces of non-Christian evidence for Jesus anywhere in the ancient world. Josephus also refers to Jesus in the famous Testimonium Flavianum, which speaks about Jesus, His ministry, His crucifixion under Pilate, and His followers. Regardless of the later debate over the exact wording of that passage, Josephus’s separate reference to James remains. The evidence is sitting right there in the writings of a first-century Jewish historian: Jesus existed, James was His brother, and Jesus was known as the Christ. The evidence becomes even more powerful when we look at people who opposed Christianity. Celsus, a second-century pagan critic, attacked Christianity and mocked the claims Christians made about Jesus. Yet his attacks assume that Jesus was a real person. His writings preserve traditions about Jesus’ birth, His family, and the miraculous claims made about Him. The Babylonian Talmud also preserves hostile traditions about Jesus, including accusations of sorcery and a tradition that He was executed on the eve of Passover. Mara bar Serapion, a non-Christian Syrian writer, speaks of a wise king of the Jews whose teachings continued after his death—a description that points directly to Jesus. Think about what this means. These sources were not trying to help Christians. Some were trying to discredit them. Yet they still point back to Jesus as a real person. They did not describe Him as a fictional character invented centuries later. They attacked Him, mocked Him, or preserved hostile traditions about Him because there was a real historical figure at the center of the Christian movement. Two other names are often overlooked: Thallus and Phlegon. Their original writings have been lost, but later ancient writers preserved reports about what they wrote. Julius Africanus connects Thallus’s discussion of an unusual darkness with the darkness associated with the crucifixion of Jesus. Phlegon is also reported by later writers as describing an extraordinary darkness and an earthquake during the reign of Tiberius. We do not have the original books of Thallus and Phlegon today, but we do have ancient testimony reporting what they wrote. That matters. These accounts add another layer to the ancient evidence surrounding the death of Jesus. The point is not that these two writers prove every detail of the Gospel accounts by themselves. The point is that even ancient writers outside Christianity were remembered as recording extraordinary events connected with the very time when the New Testament places the crucifixion. Now put all nine witnesses together: Pliny the Younger, Tacitus, Suetonius, Josephus, Celsus, the Talmud, Mara bar Serapion, Thallus, and Phlegon. This is not one Christian writer making one claim. This is a collection of ancient voices coming from different backgrounds and different parts of the Roman world. They point to Jesus, His followers, His execution, His identity as Christ, and the movement that spread in His name. The evidence is overwhelming when viewed as a whole. Jesus was not a mythical character invented hundreds of years after the fact. He was a real first-century Jewish man who gathered followers, was called the Christ, was executed under Pontius Pilate, and left behind a movement that spread throughout the Roman world. The very people who rejected Christianity still left behind evidence that Jesus was a real person. And this destroys the claim that Jesus was simply invented. The question is not whether there is evidence that Jesus existed. There is. The question is why anyone would ignore this substantial body of ancient testimony simply because it is not found in the Bible. Tacitus connects Jesus to Pontius Pilate. Josephus identifies James as the brother of Jesus who was called Christ. Pliny records Christians worshiping Him. Suetonius records disturbances connected with the movement surrounding Him. Celsus attacks the claims made about Him. Jewish tradition preserves hostile accusations against Him. Mara bar Serapion remembers a wise Jewish king whose teachings survived His death. And ancient reports connected with Thallus and Phlegon preserve traditions about extraordinary events surrounding the time of His death. The evidence does not disappear because it comes from outside the Bible. In fact, that is precisely what makes these witnesses so important. They were not writing the New Testament. They were not preaching the Gospel. Some were not even friendly toward Christianity. Yet they still point back to the same historical person. Jesus Christ was not a myth invented by Christians. He was a real man who lived in first-century Judea, gathered followers, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and left behind a movement that changed the world. The historical record does not erase Jesus—it confirms that He was there.

Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. MD.i. 😀🎀💝🎁🌺🌹MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY. MONDAY AUGUST 31, 2026. "WHAT IS "SUCCESS " FOR YOU?" I have glorified You on the earth...’ John 17:4 NKJV AT THE end of His life, Jesus was able to pray, ‘I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.’ Jesus didn’t try to compete with John the Baptist or model Himself after some Old Testament prophet. He knew what ‘success’ was for Him. To know what it is for you, you must: 1) Discern what success really is. When others feel good about you, you’re popular; but when you feel good about yourself, you’re successful. Your life’s highest calling will always create the highest level of joy within you. 2) Before you set goals, pray. ‘In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths’ (Proverbs 3:6 NKJV). It’s not wrong to set goals, it’s just wrong to set them without first consulting God. 3) Stop expecting others to bring you success. Don’t wait for flowers to arrive. God gave you seed; start growing some of your own. ‘Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else’ (Galatians 6:4 NLT). And besides, when you’re less needy you’ll become more attractive to others. 4) Get over yourself—everyone else has. A minister said he was praying one day, ‘Father, why does the devil keep reminding me of my past?’ God replied, ‘Because he’s running low on material!’ Repent, and then move on. God says He will ‘…not remember your sins’ (Isaiah 43:25 NKJV). There’s only one good reason to bring up the past, and that’s to learn from it and grow wiser. Bible In A Year: Ezek 22-23, Matt 22:23-33, Ps 142, Pro 19:21-23. 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. [30/08, 9:40 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA* MONDAY, 31ST AUGUST, 2026. *DANCING AT THE GATES OF HELL* *TEXT:* MICAH 2:7-13. 7 O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the LORD straitened? are these his doings? do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly? 8 Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye pull off the robe with the garment from them that pass by securely as men averse from war. 9 The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their children have ye taken away my glory for ever. 10 Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction. 11 If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people. 12 I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men. 13 The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them. *Timeless Truth:*_"Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came"_ (Amos 6:1). *INTRODUCTION* It is dangerous to live carelessly at the edge of spiritual destruction, presuming that God's patience means that His judgment will never come. The people of Israel had become comfortable with sin, oppression and false teachings, yet they still wanted to hear pleasant messages. They were, in effect, dancing at the gates of hell—enjoying temporary pleasures while moving dangerously close to divine judgment. The audience of Micah foreshadows this modern age or last days when the *"people will no longer be able to endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears"* (2 Timothy 4:3). If Israel was severely punished for preferring fables to the sound Word of truth, the people of this age will have a more *"sorer punishments"* in eternal hell fire. Micah's message calls us to examine our hearts, remember the consequences of persistent rebellion and hasten to leave every path that leads to destruction. *1. Heart-Probing Questions* a. There were some probing questions in the text. *"O house of Jacob, is the Spirit of the LORD straitened [limited]?"* The people complained that God's power or patience was too short or that His Spirit should only give good messages instead of warning them about judgment. In the last days too, the same attitude and preference will increasingly continue. *"They shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables"* (2 Timothy 4:4). The sound doctrine of the Word of God will be a heavy burden and unbearable to the religious lovers of pleasure. Many preachers will unfaithfully dilute their messages to suit their audience and make them happy though they will eventually, lead them to destruction and hell. They also asked, *"Are these his doings?"*. The people questioned if God was really behind the hard times or the warnings of punishment they were hearing. To them, God is too good to inflict such a heavy judgment. It was not God that was behind their hard times, but their evils. When you do evil, evil will follow and when you do good, good will follow. b. God answered their questions. *"Do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?"* God answers that His messages are always good and helpful for people who actually, live right and obey Him. Even when the Word of God is a warning judgment, it is equally to do good to those who are rebellious and disobedient for it will turn them from the path of destruction. All the messages of God are good and are intended to do good in the lives of the obedient. Hearing His Word is never a liability if there is love for the truth. We must stop blaming God, the Church, our circumstances or other people for the consequences of our disobedience. The probing question is directed at our hearts: Are we walking uprightly before God? A person who rejects God's correction, but expects His blessings is dangerously deceiving himself. *Question* When God's Word confronts your lifestyle, do you humbly submit to it or resist its correction? *2. History of Protracted Quarrel* a. The basis of God's quarrel with Israel had always been because of their sins and violence against moral laws. God always gives reasons to justify His judgments so that it is clear to all that people's disobedience is not a matter of ignorance, but a deliberate choice and exercise of their will. Some of their evils were listed. The rebellion of God's people was not a momentary mistake; it had become a prolonged quarrel against God's righteous ways. They rose against others as enemies, robbed the peaceful, oppressed women and drove children away from their inheritance. *"The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant places"*. Furthermore, the children were messed up, demoralized and denied basic moral training and discipline that would make them radiate the glory of God. *"From their children have ye taken away my glory for ever"*. Robbery and insecurity of lives and property became a booming trade in the land. *"Ye pull off the robe with the garment from them that pass by securely"*. Worse still, they preferred false prophets who specialize in prophesying ephemeral blessings including wine and strong drink. b. Israel had a long history of persistent rebellion despite warnings from the prophets. Sin often begins as a private compromise, but can grow into a lifestyle that damages others. Persistent rebellion against God results in injustice, selfishness and spiritual blindness. Those dancing at the gates of hell may laugh at warnings and celebrate false assurances, but judgment does not disappear because people refuse to hear about it. *Question* Is there any sinful habit you have allowed to continue for so long that it is now affecting other people? *3. Hasten to Permanently Quit* God commanded His people to arise and depart because their sinful condition had made their present position spiritually unsafe. Lot was told by the angel to hasten *"while he lingers"* though the fire of hell was almost dropping like rain. He was warned *"escape for thy life"* (Genesis 19:16,17). If he had delayed further, the fire of God would have caught him with all his family members. When God pronounces His judgments on wickedness, the wisest thing to do is to speedily take steps and quit whatever is displeasing to God. *“This is not your rest.”* Though the judgment of God was catching up with them, they still believed their mind and the messages of compromising prophets who promised them *"peace, peace, when there is no peace"*. They were relaxed, unresponsive and continued their lives of pleasure as if the prophet was just wasting his time. Any promised rest or enjoyment in the midst of sin is fake and deceptive. *"Arise ye, and depart, for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction"*. God always remembers mercy in His wrath. He asked them to seek for exile in other countries because the judgment on the land as a result of their evil was irreversible. God's solution against His judgments is always departure from sin and objects of divine rebukes and displeasure. *"Depart ye, depart ye"*. b. As characterictic of God, the message ended with hope and restoration for the repentant remnants. God promised to gather His remnant and lead them like a shepherd. After they had suffered in the land of the captivity, "the Breaker" (The Messiah) went before them, opening the way for deliverance and led them back to their land. This will also be repeated in the last days when Messiah will come back to deliver Israel from the hand of their enemies, especially the Antichrist. God does not call us to abandon sin without providing the grace and power to escape it. Christ is our Deliverer, able to break the chains of bondage and lead us into true freedom. Do not dance near the gates of hell. Arise, repent and permanently quit every sinful path. Run toward Christ, who alone leads His people safely through the way of life. *Question* What must you urgently and permanently leave behind in order to walk freely with Christ? *Prayer Points* 1.Lord, search my heart and reveal every area where I have resisted Your Word and correction🙏. 2.Father, deliver me from every prolonged habit of sin that is destroying my fellowship with You and hurting others🙏. 3.Lord, give me more love for the truth and give me hatred for all forms of deceptions🙏 4.Lord Jesus, my Deliverer and Breaker, go before me, break every chain of bondage and lead me into a life of holiness and victory👆. *HYMN:* Have you counted the cost? *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* ESTHER 6-10. [30/08, 9:40 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) MONDAY 31ST AUGUST, 2026``` *CAGED IN COMFORT* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️⚠️‼️🛑🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:MICAH 2:7-13```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction" (MICAH 2:10).*_ *In 2019, a massive earthquake struck Indonesia, displacing thousands of people. Entire communities were forced to abandon their homes, not because they wanted to, but because the ground beneath them had become unstable. For many, staying behind meant certain destruction. The tragedy was not just in the collapse of buildings but also in the reluctance of some to leave despite clear warnings.* *Micah's message to Israel carried a similar urgency. In Micah 2:10, the prophet declares, "Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction." The people of Israel had settled into spiritual complacency, believing that their land and prosperity were secure. Yet, their corruption had made their very dwelling place dangerous. God's warning was clear: comfort without righteousness leads to ruin.* *The Israelites had defiled the land with injustice and idolatry. They exploited the poor, perverted justice, and silenced the voices of truth. Yet, they refused to believe that judgment was coming. Their sense of security was false. Micah's call was not just about physical exile but also about a spiritual awakening.* *This is a message for our generation. Many cling to lifestyles, habits, or environments that have become spiritually toxic. Some remain in relationships, careers, or ideologies that corrupt their faith. The call to "arise and depart" is not always about physical relocation but about spiritual repositioning. God often calls His people to leave behind what is no longer safe for their souls. When we refuse, destruction follows. Israel's refusal to heed this warning led a life devoid of His presence and peace.* *Are there habits, relationships, associations, or mind-sets that you need to leave behind? Spiritual stagnation is as dangerous as physical complacency. When a place, practice, or pursuit no longer aligns with God's will, staying becomes destructive. The believer's true rest is not in earthly security but in God Himself. When He calls us to move, it is always for our preservation. Do not let comfort keep you in a place that has become unfit for your soul.* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*No amount of wealth can buy enduring rest for it only abides in Christ.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *ESTHER 6-10*📜📜 Caged In Comfort https://dailymanna.app// *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 190: "CALLED UNTO HOLINESS"; GHS 179: HIGHER GROUND; GHS 189: TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY; AND GHS 253: MY PORTION FOR EVER* *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#DailyManna31stAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [30/08, 9:40 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```MONDAY 31ST AUGUST, 2026``` *POWER OF FAITH CONFESSION - 1* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🗣️🙏🏽🙌🏽 📜📜```TEXT:LUKE 7:1-10```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed" (LUKE 7:7).*_ *Faith confession is when your spoken word agrees with the written word of God - the Bible. It is saying what God says about your situation. God has said wonderful, life-changing things about His children. When we agree with His word and speak the same thing, the resultant effect is that it brings positive changes in our circumstances - academics, health, career, spiritual life, and standard of living.* *Saying what God says about your life brings you to heights you can never dream you could reach. Therefore, speak victory and not defeat. Meditate on the unfailing promises of God. "A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth" (Proverbs 12:14a). Be positive with your words. Negative words attract negative things to you.* *Your words will either bring pain or pleasure. Your confession will produce life or death. Your words shape your life. Therefore, choose your words carefully before you utter them. God spoke, "and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast" (Psalm 33:9). In like manner, you possess what you confess because you are created after the image of God.* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*Speak victory and not defeat.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Be positive in your confession.*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Lord, help my decision to always speak positive words.*_ Power Of Faith Confession - 1 https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#HigherEveryday31stAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [30/08, 9:40 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```MONDAY 31ST AUGUST, 2026``` *THE BLAME GAME* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️👥👉🏼👈🏼❌🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```GENESIS 3:9-15```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat" (Genesis 3:12).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 God put our first parents in the Garden of Eden to care for it and enjoy all the good things in it. But the devil came and deceived the woman to disobey God, and eventually Adam too disobeyed. When God came down calling for man and asking why they had disobeyed His instruction, the blame game started. Each of them started shifting blame. God who is patient and longsuffering asked the woman to explain what happened, she too pushed the blame to the serpent. If they had simply acknowledged their sinfulness and begged for forgiveness, the human race will not be in the mess we are in today. Their disobedience corrupted and made us dirty before God. We all inherited the nature of sin and wickedness. This is the reason many children often pass off their wrongdoings to others. Some children, even when caught red-handed, will still blame someone else for their disobedience. *God wants us to be humble enough to accept responsibility for our wrongdoings. Do not shift the blame, repent and ask God to have mercy on you.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*Lord, give me the courage to always own up to my disobedience and also repent.*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *1 Samuel 15:10-21* The Blame Game https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#SincereMilk31stAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]. 2. Morning Prayer for today. MP.i. Morning Prayer For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: ⏤ Philippians 3:20 The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees. ⏤ E.M. Bounds O God, most merciful—bless us this morning. Lay Your hand upon us with a Father’s blessing. May the grace of the Lord Jesus be upon us and in us all day long. Let Your word dwell in our hearts richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing us. May it be so deeply rooted in us that it keeps us from sin. May the power of Your Spirit rest upon us throughout this day, cleansing and purifying our thoughts, feelings, and all our inner life, and compelling us to walk in holiness in all we say and do. Please guide us today, O God, and keep us in all our experiences. Guard us from carelessness. Let us not drift away from the holy truths we have been taught, nor from Jesus Christ our Savior. Let us not become entangled in the affairs of this world in a way that causes us to lose any of the sanctity of our lives. Though we are in the world, let us not be of it. Help us to maintain a godly life amid all that is ungodly. May our citizenship always be visibly in Heaven, even though we dwell on this earth. May we be true pilgrims, looking for a city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Let us not love this world as if we were going to stay in it forever. Grant a personal blessing to each one in our family. Our needs are different. Tenderly care for those of us who are weak. Shelter any of us who will be exposed to temptation today, and let us not fall. If any unforeseen trouble or sorrow lies in our path, prepare us for it, that we may not be caught off guard and fall into sin. May we each carry out into the world a power of love and grace that will bless everyone we meet. We ask all this for Jesus’ sake. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/57/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. MD.i. 😀🎀💝🎁🌺🌹MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY. SUNDAY AUGUST 30, 2O26. "THERE'S NOBODY LIKE HIM! (5)" ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?...’ Psalms 27:1 NKJV WE ALL need an encounter with the transfigured Christ; the One who is greater than Moses the law giver and Elijah the prophet, and all the other prophets who have ever lived. The One who wears the true crown of the universe, God’s beloved Son. We need to fall on our face and see Him as the Holy One, the Highest One, the Only One. As you do, all your fears, save the fear of Christ Himself, will melt like an ice cube on a summer day. You will agree with David: ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?’ In the book Prince Caspian, there is a great illustration of this. Lucy sees Aslan the lion for the first time in many years. He has changed since their last encounter. His size surprises her, and she tells him as much. ‘Aslan,’ says Lucy, ‘you’re bigger.’ He replies, ‘That is because you are older, little one.’ Lucy says, ‘Not because you are?’ He replies, ‘I am not. But every year you grow, you find me bigger.’ And so it is in our walk with Christ. The longer we serve Him, the greater He becomes. It’s not that He changes, but that we do. We see dimensions, aspects, characteristics we never saw before; increasing and astonishing increments of His purity, power, and uniqueness. Only when we have fallen at His feet in humility and total dependence will He say to us what He said to His disciples on the Mount where He was transfigured: ‘…“Arise, and do not be afraid”’ (Matthew 17:7 NKJV). Bible In A Year: Ezek 20-21, Matt 22:15-22, Ps 111, Pro 19:18-20. 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. [29/08, 10:05 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA* SUNDAY, 30TH AUGUST, 2026 *SEEKING THE BREAD OF LIFE: BEYOND TEMPORARY BLESSINGS* *TEXT:* JOHN 6:24–34 24. When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. 25. And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? 26. Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. 27. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 28. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29. Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 30. They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? 31. Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 32. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. *Timeless Truth:* _But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you _*(Matthew 6:33)*. *INTRODUCTION* In 1997, the world watched as Mother Teresa continued her work among the poor and dying in Calcutta despite having very limited material resources. Her ministry was not built around accumulating possessions, but around serving people and pointing them toward Christ. Her life demonstrated that material needs, though important, cannot by themselves satisfy the deepest needs of the human heart. This truth is reflected in Jesus' encounter with the crowd in John 6. The people had witnessed the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand. They had received bread miraculously and when they could no longer find Jesus, they sought for Him. However, Jesus exposed the motive behind their search: *“You seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.”* (John 6:26) They were pursuing Jesus primarily because of what He could give them, rather than because of who He is. Jesus then redirected their attention from temporary bread to eternal nourishment: The passage challenges us to examine our motives: Are we seeking Christ because we love Him or primarily because of what we hope to receive from Him? The crowd came looking for Jesus, but Jesus knew why they were looking for Him. They had eaten the bread, enjoyed the miracle and wanted more. Their problem was not that they wanted bread. Their problem was that they wanted bread without fully recognizing the Bread of Life. This remains a danger for Christians today. We can seek God for: employment, healing, financial breakthrough, academic success, marriage, protection, promotion, material provision and all these things may legitimately be brought before God in prayer. However, if our relationship with Christ is reduced to what He can provide, we have misunderstood discipleship. Jesus is not merely the Provider of bread; He is the Bread of Life. The greatest blessing is not what God places in our hands, but who God places in our hearts. Physical bread sustains the body temporarily. Money can provide comfort temporarily. Success can bring recognition temporarily. Possessions can give pleasure temporarily, but none of these can satisfy the deepest hunger of the human soul. Only Christ can do that. Therefore, we must examine our priorities. Are we spending more time pursuing things than pursuing God? Are we more excited about God's gifts than about God's presence? Do we pray only when we need something or do we desire fellowship with Christ because we love Him? The answer of Jesus is clear: *Do not labour for the food which perisheth, but for the food which endureth to everlasting life.* Let us therefore, seek Christ above possessions, eternal life above temporary success and God's kingdom above worldly satisfaction. When Christ becomes our greatest treasure, we can enjoy God's blessings without allowing those blessings to become our god. The deepest hunger of the human heart can only be satisfied by Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life. *1. The Pursuit of Temporary Satisfaction* a. The crowd crossed the sea looking for Jesus, but their motivation was primarily physical. The people sought diligently for Jesus after discovering that He had left. Seeking Christ is good, but our motives matter. We should seek Jesus not merely for His blessings, but because He is worthy of our love and devotion. b. The crowd had witnessed a miracle and wanted more. They were attracted to what Jesus could do rather than surrendering themselves to who Jesus is. *(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)* (2 Corinthians 5:7) — Miracles can point us toward Christ, but miracles themselves must never become the foundation of our faith. Physical food satisfies temporarily; eventually, we become hungry again. *Questions* (i) What do I pursue most—God Himself or the blessings I hope to receive from Him? (ii) Have material possessions, comfort, success or recognition become more important to me than spiritual growth? *2. The Priority of Eternal Substance* a. Jesus redirected the crowd from physical food toward the nourishment that leads to eternal life. This does not mean Christians should neglect legitimate work or physical responsibilities. Rather, eternal things must have first priority. Our careers, businesses, education and possessions are important, but none should replace our pursuit of God. b. Jesus made it clear that eternal life ultimately comes from God. *For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:* (Ephesians 2:8). We cannot earn salvation through human achievement. When the crowd asked what they should do, Jesus answered: The central response God desires is genuine faith in Jesus Christ. *Questions* (i) Am I investing as much energy in my spiritual life as I invest in my career and material needs? (ii) Am I trusting Christ for salvation or am I depending on my good works and religious activities? *3. The Provision of Sufficient Bread* a. The crowd remembered the manna given to Israel in the wilderness and asked Jesus for a sign. They referred to Moses and the manna: They were focusing on an earlier miracle instead of recognizing the greater One standing before them. Past spiritual experiences are valuable testimonies, but we must continue walking with Christ today. b. Jesus corrected their understanding: *Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.*(John 6:32.) God's provision in the wilderness pointed beyond physical manna to Christ Himself. We can trust God to provide what we genuinely need while remembering that our greatest need is spiritual life in Christ. The crowd responded: *“Lord, give us this bread always.”* Although they still misunderstood, their request provided an opportunity for Jesus to reveal the truth that became explicit in the following verse: *And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst* (John 6:35).Jesus Himself is the ultimate provision for the deepest hunger of the human soul. *Questions* (i) Where do I turn when I experience emotional, spiritual or inner emptiness? (ii) Am I allowing Christ to satisfy my deepest spiritual hunger through His Word and fellowship? *Prayer Points* 1. Lord, help me to seek You above every temporary possession, achievement and earthly ambition.🙏 2. Father, create within me a deeper hunger and thirst for Your Word, Your presence and Your righteousness.🙏 3. Lord, teach me to trust Your provision and to remain content with what You graciously provide.🙏 4. Lord Jesus, draw those who are spiritually empty and searching, to Yourself and help them discover that You alone can give eternal life.🙏 *Hymns:* I’d Rather Have Jesus *THE BIBLE IN ONE* YEAR:ESTHER 1-5 [29/08, 10:05 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) SUNDAY 30TH AUGUST, 2026``` *SEEKING JESUS RIGHTLY* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️✝️✅🤔🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:JOHN 6:24-34```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed" (JOHN 6:27).*_ *Happiness is a lifetime pursuit, but sadly, it is rarely sought rightly. Youths seek it in alcohol, drugs or pornography and end up in self-destruction. Adults seek it in marriage, money, mansions but end up in unfathomable failure, frustration and great pain. As Solomon makes clear in Ecclesiastes, any earthly thing that you seek to satisfy the inner void is like chasing soap bubbles. You catch one only to have it burst in your hand.* *Our text opens with a narrative about seekers of Jesus. Seeking Jesus is a good thing, but it is not enough. What you seek Him for is more important. The sinner must seek Him for salvation, recognising he is spiritually bankrupt without His gift of salvation. Sadly, the crowd in our text sought Jesus for temporal gratification, not eternal salvation! Jesus saw their motive for seeking Him and punctured their search with a scathing, incisive, yet profoundly true remark: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled".* *The Bible is clear that our ultimate source of happiness and pleasure is God. David wrote, "In thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore". Jesus told the disciples: "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full". We will find fullness of joy and pleasures forever when we seek the Lord rightly.* *Beloved, never seek the Lord for superficial motives. They are a mirage; bubbles that never last. Beyond the bread (healing, deliverance, prosperity and miracles) that Christ gives, seek Him who is the Bread of Life, the Bread from heaven. Be discreet to shun dispensing your life energy on labouring for perishable material things that will never satisfy the imperishable soul. "Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not?" (Isaiah 55:2). He still saves as many as would come to Him for salvation and restores backsliders who truly repent. God does not despise genuine hunger and thirst for righteousness. "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*It is self-cheating to seek the Lord only for material or temporary blessings.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *ESTHER 1-5*📜📜 Seeking Jesus Rightly https://dailymanna.app// *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 253: MY PORTION FOR EVER; GHS 244: ALL THINGS IN JESUS; AND GHS 77: I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS;* *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#DailyManna30thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [29/08, 10:05 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```SUNDAY 30TH AUGUST, 2026``` *IN HIS SECRET PLACE - 2* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🗣️🙏🏽🙌🏽 📜📜```TEXT:PSALM 91:10-16```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways" (PSALM 91:10-11).*_ *In the early hours of February 6, 2023, thousands were confirmed dead in the aftermath of two huge earthquakes in Syria. Baby Aya (meaning miracle in Arabic) was still connected to her mother by her umbilical cord when she was rescued from the rubble during the earthquake disaster in Syria. Her mother, father and all four of her siblings died after the quake hit the town of Jindayris in Syria.* *Aya survived, although she was in such a bad state. She had bumps, bruises, and was cold and barely breathing when she arrived in the hospital. Fortunately, the hospital manager, Khalid Attiah, had a daughter just four months older than she. The wife offered to breastfeed Aya alongside her own daughter. What a divine protection!* *Who would have thought that such a child would still be alive under the debris? God kept her alive in His secret place. The Lord has promised to give His angels charge over you to keep you from calamity. His promises are sure. "The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul" (Psalm 121:7).* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*His promises are sure.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*He watches over His own.*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Lord, I hide under Your wings for refuge.*_ In His Secret Place - 2 https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#HigherEveryday30thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [29/08, 10:05 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```SUNDAY 30TH AUGUST, 2026``` *BEARING ONE ANOTHER'S BURDEN* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🤝🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```GALATIANS 6:1-4```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Sometime ago, at a special Olympics event, nine contestants (all physically disabled), assembled at the starting line for a 100-yard race. At the sound of the whistle, they started out all happy and eager to run the race and win. As they were running, one of them stumbled on the track, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry, they slowed down and looked back. Then all of them turned around and went back to the fallen athlete. Lifting him up, they walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood to cheer them for several minutes. *This was a practical act of bearing one another's burden. More than winning for ourselves, what matters in this life is helping others to win, even if it means slowing down. A candle loses nothing by lightning another candle.* *The lesson for us here is that we must show love, concern and care for others. God is much interested in how we show love to our neighbours than the number of laurels we gather. The boy or girl next to you is in pain - show love to him or her. When we care for one another, the burden becomes lighter.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*Lord, help me to learn to always give a helping hand to someone in need.*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *Romans 15:1-3* Bearing One Another's Burden https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#SincereMilk30thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]. 2. Morning Prayer for today. MP.i. Morning Prayer A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. ⏤ Psalm 122:1 True prayer is not asking God for what we want, but what He wants. ⏤ Wesley L. Duewel Father, as we pause to rest this day with You, the great feverish world keeps throbbing on. May something of Your blessed Sunday peace flow out into this restless world and quiet it. Let this day be a true blessing to all Your people, and may the influence of this day reach far and wide, making its power felt throughout the world. We ask that Your grace be given so that all who worship You today may receive a blessing. Let Your blessing be upon all assemblies that gather for worship and upon all Sunday schools. May there be divine power in the preaching of Your word. May lost sinners be convicted and led to repentance. May Christians be strengthened and encouraged. May those who are sorrowful be comforted. May this day bring new strength and heavenly impulses to children and young people. May our home be blessed and enriched by this day of rest and worship. May Your life from Heaven come down and make our land holier, purer, and sweeter. O God, Your cause on earth sometimes seems to falter. Your church does not always appear to be earnest. The world is earnest; every energy of evil is active. Wicked people are busy in their wickedness, while the followers of Jesus seem to be asleep! Your kingdom does not seem to be advancing among the nations. We pray again, "May Your kingdom come." Pour out Your Spirit upon all who bear the name of Jesus. Ignite revival fires in all parts of the church. We pray for ourselves, that we may be quickened in our spiritual life. Let a blessing be upon Your whole church, and may Your cause receive a divine impulse that will be felt around the world. Revive Your work among Your people. Hear our prayers and give us Your blessing through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/56/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

Heartbreaking scenes from Nepal. 🇳🇵💔 PRAY FOR NEPAL 🙏 Rescuers struggling to reach disaster zone after more than 160 killed in Nepal-Tibet flash floods More than 160 people have been killed in Nepal, and hundreds of tourists are missing, after a massive flash flood and mudslide The missing tourists include more than 100 from India, 54 from the US, 34 from Australia, and 33 from the UK, as well as more than 100 from Nepal itself, according to officials. The area is popular with pilgrims and trekkers The US, China, the EU and India are among the countries that have pledged assistance or dispatched relief supplies Dozens of Nepalese police officers and army personnel are also missing, as well as power workers. My family was swept away in front of me, one woman tells us - she and her son survived by climbing to a rooftop Authorities initially thought an earthquake may have preceded the flooding - but the US Geological Survey now says the "seismic energy was instead generated by a landslide" May those still in danger be protected and may everyone affected find strength. Pray for Nepal. 🤲

The Day Mount Saint Helen Challenged Uniformity. Mount Saint Helen’s is a monument to rapid catastrophic events. ~~~[Date: May 18, 1980.Event: A magnitude 5.1 earthquake triggered the largest debris avalanche and lateral blast in U.S. history. Impact: The blast killed 57 people, leveled 230 square miles of forest, and blew away the top 1,300 feet of the mountain, reducing its elevation from 9,677 feet to 8,363 feet]~~~.. (Google) Mount S.Helen changed everything. The mount Saint Helen’s event clearly demonstrated that “Uniformitarianism”(present geological movements having always been the same throughout earth’s alleged 4.6 BYA history “coined by Sir Charles Lyell), can’t fully explain earth’s present topography, and that major catastrophic events over short periods of time are able to do significant amounts of damage. Biblical Creationists point to the St. Helen’s event (and rightfully so) because if one volcanic event was able to do that amount of geological work in the matters of a few days or weeks, just imagine what a worldwide flood could do in one year ( volcanic activity and all) less than five millennia ago.

From 2027 to 2029, catastrophes will increase. Every liberation is preceded by great catastrophes. Earthquake, famine, economic collapse, war. Pandemic.

Queenship of Mary The Feast of the Queenship of Mary is a celebration in the Catholic Church that honors Mary, the mother of Jesus, as the Queen of Heaven and Earth. This feast was officially established by Pope Pius XII on October 11, 1954, through an important Church document called an encyclical titled Ad Caeli Reginam ("To the Queen of Heaven"). The idea of Mary being a queen goes back much further in Christian tradition, but this feast made it an official part of Catholic practice. Title "Theotokos" – Mother of God One of the key teachings about Mary is that she is called the "Theotokos," a Greek word meaning "God-bearer" or "the one who gives birth to God." This title was given to her at the Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D., a significant gathering of Church leaders in the early Christian Church. The council proclaimed this title to affirm that Jesus is both fully God and fully human, and that Mary, as His mother, gave birth to the Son of God in human form. By calling her "Theotokos," the Church recognized her important role in the mystery of the Incarnation—when God became human in the person of Jesus. Queenship of Mary The concept of Mary as queen comes from the belief that since Jesus is the King of all humanity, His mother would naturally share in His kingship. In many cultures, the mother of a king is given a special title of honor, and this applies to Mary as well. Just as Jesus is King of Heaven and Earth, Mary is seen as the Queen of Heaven and Earth. Her queenship is not a role of power or authority but of grace and intercession. Catholics believe that as a loving mother, Mary prays for and cares for all people, guiding them toward her Son, Jesus. In the Book of Revelation (12:1), Mary is described in a vision as "a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head." This image is seen as a symbolic representation of Mary as Queen of Heaven. The crown of twelve stars is often understood to represent the twelve tribes of Israel, showing her connection to the people of God. Mary's Role in Salvation Mary’s role in salvation is deeply tied to her being chosen to be the mother of Jesus. When God sent His only Son into the world, He chose Mary to be the vessel through which Jesus would be born. This makes her central to God’s plan for the salvation of humanity. She accepted God’s will with humility and faith, saying "yes" to becoming the mother of Jesus (known as the Annunciation), which Catholics believe played a crucial role in bringing about the salvation of the world. The Immaculate Conception Another important belief about Mary is the Immaculate Conception. This teaching says that Mary was conceived in her mother’s womb (Saint Anne) without original sin. Original sin is believed to be the state of sin that all humans are born into due to the fall of Adam and Eve. However, because Mary was chosen to be the mother of Jesus, God gave her a special grace to be free from original sin from the moment of her conception. This teaching became official Church dogma in 1854 under Pope Pius IX. Mary as the Gate to Heaven In Catholic belief, Mary is often called the "Gate of Heaven." This title reflects the idea that because of her unique role as the mother of Jesus, she has a special place in helping people come to God. Catholics believe that Mary’s prayers and intercession can help lead people to Jesus and, ultimately, to eternal life with God. This is why prayers like the "Hail Mary" ask for her to "pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death." Conclusion: A Queen Who Cares for Us Mary’s role as Queen of Heaven and Earth is not about ruling with power but about her role as a loving, caring mother who helps guide people to her Son, Jesus. Her queenship is a reflection of her unique position in the history of salvation, and the Catholic Church honors her for saying "yes" to God’s plan and for her continued intercession for humanity. When Catholics pray to Mary, they are asking for her help in bringing their needs to Jesus, much like a child asking their mother for guidance and protection. The feast of the Queenship of Mary serves as a reminder of her special place in the life of the Church and in the hearts of believers. It celebrates her dignity and the honor given to her as the mother of the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. #kingandqueen #king #queen #mothermary #queenofheavenandearth #earthquake #heavenqueen #queenofthechurch #motherofjesuschrist #jesusistheking #maryisthequeen #motheroftheking #Catholic #Christian #trust #truth #custom #tradition #fact #grace #intercession #gateofheaven

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12 ɴᴋᴊᴠ Salvation is offered to all, but not all are convinced they need to be saved. Saved from what, they might say? In Acts 16 we read of Paul and Silas chained in a prison, and they were being watched by a jailer who had been ordered to “keep them securely” (Acts 16:23). The jailer may not have had any visible chains, but he was the one in need of salvation, not Paul and Silas. The shackles of sin are very real, and apart from Christ we are all slaves of sin (Jn. 8:34). It took an earthquake for the jailer to come to his senses and ask the question, “what must I do to be saved?” Though they had not committed a crime, Paul and Silas had been beaten and thrown into prison while they waited for a verdict from the officials. In contrast, the jailer’s verdict had already been pronounced concerning his sin: the punishment was death. Yet he was allowed to continue his daily affairs until the execution of his sentence. What could be done to save him from this predicament? We are all guilty sinners wandering around at risk of reoffending, and the answer is the same for us as it was for the jailer: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). There is coming a day when condemnation will fall on all those who have sinned, but there is “no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). Christ was the only sinless Person, and He took pity on us and offered Himself as a substitute, so that we might be set free. There is nothing you can do, but the only answer to your guilt is something that has already been done. The Lord Jesus Christ died so that you can have everlasting life: “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (Jn. 3:17). Eric Clermont https://gbv-online.org/calendar/773/date/2026-08-21

MEANING OF SACKCLOTH AND ASHES. Sackcloth and ashes originates from biblical texts and is used to symbolize: MOURNING,(*Deep sorrow and grief) REPENTANCE, (*Desire to change) AND HUMILITY.(*Humbled to Father in shame) Wearing sackcloth, is uncomfortable and course fabric. Usually made from goats hair. Sitting in ashes were traditional practices during times of great spiritual and physical distress or showing their penance for sins. In the Bible, figures such as Job and the people of Israel used sackcloth and ashes to express their sorrow and seek forgiveness from Father. This showed a deep sense of remorse and the desire to turn away from their iniquity. These biblical stories of mourning, repentance, and humility show someone who is experiencing regret for transgressions by taking responsibility for their actions, and bowing down to the heavenly Father. Demonstrating the act of being nothing but dirty ashes. Burnt up and consumed with the trials and tribulation of this life. 👉REPENTANCE OF NINEVEH (Jonah 3:5-6) When Jonah prophesies the destruction of Nineveh, the king and the people respond by donning sackcloth and sitting in ashes as a sign of repentance. 📖THE PEOPLE OF NINEVEH BELIEVE Jonah 3:5-10 KJV 1 SO THE PEOPLE OF NINEVEH Believed God, And proclaimed a fast, And put on SACKCLOTH, From the greatest of them Even to the least of them. 6 FOR WORD CAME UNTO THE KING OF NINEVEH, And he arose from his throne, And he laid his robe from him, And covered him with SACKCLOTH, And sat in ASHES. 7 AND HE CAUSED IT TO BE PROCLAIMED And published through Nineveh By the decree of the king and his nobles, Saying, Let neither man nor beast, Herd nor flock, taste any thing: Let them not feed, nor drink water: 8 BUT LET MAN AND BEAST Be covered with SACKCLOTH, And cry mightily unto God: Yea, let them turn every one From his evil way, and from the violence That is in their hands. 9 WHO CAN TELL IF GOD WILL TURN AND REPENT, And turn away from his fierce anger, That we perish not? 10 AND GOD SAW THEIR WORKS, That they turned from their evil way; And God repented of the evil, That he had said That he would Do unto them; And he did it not. 👉KING DAVID MOURNS (2 Samuel 12:16-17) After the death of his child, with Besthsheba, David fasts and mourns, emphasizing humility and sorrow. The child was born through adultery and murder. God did not let it live. THE DEATH OF DAVID’S SON 2 Samuel 12:15-23 KJV 15 AND NATHAN DEPARTED Unto his house. And the Lord struck the child That Uriah's wife bare unto David, And it was very sick. 16 DAVID THEREFORE BESOUGHT GOD For the child; And David fasted, And went in, And lay all night upon the earth. 17 AND THE ELDERS OF HIS HOUSE AROSE, And went to him, To raise him up from the earth: But he would not, Neither did he eat bread with them. 18 AND IT CAME TO PASS On the seventh day, That the child died. And the servants of David Feared to tell him that the child was dead: For they said, Behold, While the child was yet alive, We spake unto him, And he would not hearken unto our voice: How will he then vex himself, If we tell him that the child is dead? 19 BUT WHEN DAVID SAW That his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: Therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. 20 THEN DAVID AROSE FROM THE EARTH, And washed, and anointed himself, And changed his apparel, And came into the house of the Lord, And worshipped: Then he came to his own house; And when he required, They set bread before him, And he did eat. 21 THEN SAID HIS SERVANTS UNTO HIM, What thing is this that thou hast done? Thou didst fast and weep for the child, While it was alive; But when the child was dead, Thou didst rise and eat bread. 22 AND HE SAID, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: For I said, Who can tell whether God Will be gracious to me, that the child may live? 23 BUT NOW HE IS DEAD, Wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, But he shall not return to me. 👉QUEEN ESTHER'S PLEA (Esther 4) Esther asks the Jews to fast and wear sackcloth as they seek deliverance from impending doom. ESTHER AGREES TO HELP THE JEWS Esther 4 KJV 1 WHEN MORDECAI PERCEIVED All that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, And put on sackcloth with ashes, And went out into the midst of the city, And cried with a loud and a bitter cry; 2 AND CAME EVEN BEFORE THE KING'S GATE: For none might enter into the king's gate Clothed with sackcloth. 3 AND IN EVERY PROVINCE, Whithersoever the king's commandment And his decree came, There was great mourning Among the Jews, And fasting, And weeping, And wailing; And many lay in sackcloth and ashes. 4 SO ESTHER'S MAIDS And her chamberlains Came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; And she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, And to take away his sackcloth from him: But he received it not. 5 THEN CALLED ESTHER FOR HATACH, One of the king's chamberlains, Whom he had appointed To attend upon her, And gave him a commandment To Mordecai, To know what it was, And why it was. 6 SO HATACH WENT FORTH TO MORDECAI Unto the street of the city, Which was before the king's gate. 7 AND MORDECAI TOLD HIM OF ALL That had happened unto him, And of the sum of the money That Haman had promised To pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, To destroy them. 8 ALSO HE GAVE HIM THE COPY Of the writing of the decree That was given at Shushan To destroy them, To shew it unto Esther, And to declare it unto her, And to charge her that she should go In unto the king, To make supplication unto him, And to make request before him For her people.🤥✡️ 9 AND HATACH CAME And told Esther the words of Mordecai. 10 AGAINST ESTHER SPAKE UNTO HATACH, And gave him commandment Unto Mordecai; 11 ALL THE KING'S SERVANTS, And the people of the king's provinces, Do know, that whosoever, Whether man or women, Shall come unto the king Into the inner court, Who is not called, There is one law of his to put him to death, Except such to whom the king Shall hold out the golden sceptre, That he may live: But I have not been called to come in Unto the king these thirty days. 12 AND THEY TOLD TO MORDECAI Esther's words. 13 THEN MORDECAI COMMANDED To answer Esther, Think not with thyself That thou shalt escape In the king's house, More than all the Jews. 14 FOR IF THOU ALTOGETHER Holdest thy peace at this time, Then shall there enlargement And deliverance Arise to the Jews from another place; But thou and thy father's house Shall be destroyed: And who knoweth whether thou art come To the kingdom for such a time as this? 15 THEN ESTHER BADE THEM Return Mordecai this answer, 16 GO, GATHER TOGETHER ALL THE JEWS That are present in Shushan, And fast ye for me, And neither eat nor drink three days, Night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; And so will I go in unto the king, Which is not according to the law: And if I perish, I perish. 17 SO MORDECAI WENT HIS WAY, And did according to all That Esther had commanded him. 👉PROPHET JEREMIAH (Jeremiah 6:26) Jeremiah calls for mourning in Israel, invoking sackcloth as a sign of sorrow for sin. IMPENDING DESTRUCTION FROM THE NORTH Jeremiah 6:16-30 KJV 16 THUS SAITH THE LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, And ask for the old paths, Where is the good way, and walk therein, And ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. 17 ALSO I SET WATCHMEN OVER YOU, Saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken. 18 THEREFORE HEAR, Ye nations, and know, O congregation, What is among them. 19 HEARKEN, O EARTH: BEHOLD, I will bring evil upon this people, Even the fruit of their thoughts, Because they have not hearkened Unto my words, nor to my law, But rejected it. 20 TO WHAT PURPOSE COMETH THERE To me incense from Sheba, And the sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, Nor your sacrifices sweet unto me. 21 THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD, BEHOLD, I will lay stumblingblocks Before this people, And the fathers and the sons together Shall fall upon them; The neighbour and his friend shall perish. 22 THUS SAITH THE LORD, BEHOLD, A people cometh from the north country, And a great nation shall be raised From the sides of the earth. 23 THEY SHALL LAY HOLD ON BOW AND SPEAR; They are cruel, and have no mercy; Their voice roareth like the sea; And they ride upon horses, Set in array as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion. 24 WE HAVE HEARD THE FAME THEREOF: Our hands wax feeble: Anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, As of a woman in travail. 25 GO NOT FORTH INTO THE FIELD, Nor walk by the way; For the sword of the enemy And fear is on every side. 26 O DAUGHTER OF MY PEOPLE, Gird thee with sackcloth, And wallow thyself in ashes: Make thee mourning, as for an only son, Most bitter lamentation: For the spoiler shall suddenly Come upon us. 27 I HAVE SET THEE FOR A TOWER And a fortress among my people, That thou mayest know and try their way. 28 THEY ARE ALL GRIEVOUS REVOLTERS, Walking with slanders: They are brass and iron; They are all corrupters. 29 THE BELLOWS ARE BURNED, The lead is consumed of the fire; The founder melteth in vain: For the wicked are not plucked away. 30 REPROBATE SILVER Shall men call them, Because the Lord hath rejected them. 👉THE ISRAELITES (Isaiah 15:3, Micah 1:10) Throughout the books of the prophets, sackcloth is often mentioned as part of national mourning or individual repentance. JUDGMENT ON ISRAEL AND JUDAH Micah 1 KJV 1 THE WORD OF THE LORD That came to Micah The Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, Which he saw concerning Samaria And Jerusalem. 2 HEAR, ALL YE PEOPLE; Hearken, O earth, And all that therein is: And let the Lord God Be witness against you, The Lord from his holy temple. 3 FOR, BEHOLD The Lord cometh forth Out of His place, And will come down, And tread upon The high places of the earth. 4 AND THE MOUNTAINS Shall be molten Under him, And the valleys shall be cleft, As wax before the fire, And as the waters that are poured down A steep place. 5 FOR THE TRANSGRESSION Of Jacob is all this, And for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? And what are the high places of Judah? Are they not Jerusalem? 6 THEREFORE I WILL MAKE SAMARIA As an heap of the field, And as plantings of a vineyard: And I will pour down The stones thereof into the valley, And I will discover the foundations thereof. 7 AND ALL THE GRAVEN IMAGES THEREOF Shall be beaten to pieces, And all the hires thereof Shall be burned with the fire, And all the idols thereof will I lay desolate: For she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, And they shall return to THE HIRE OF AN HARLOT. 8 THEREFORE I WILL WAIL AND HOWL, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, And mourning as the owls. 9 FOR HER WOUND IS INCURABLE; For it is come unto Judah; He is come unto the gate of my people, Even to Jerusalem. 10 DECLARE YE IT NOT AT GATH, Weep ye not at all: In the house of Aphrah Roll thyself in the dust. 11 PASS YE AWAY, Thou inhabitant of Saphir, Having thy shame naked: The inhabitant of Zaanan came not forth In the mourning of Bethezel; He shall receive of you his standing. 12 FOR THE INHABITANT OF MAROTH Waited carefully for good: But evil came down from the Lord Unto the gate of Jerusalem. 13 O THOU INHABITANT OF LACHISH, Vind the chariot to the swift beast: She is the beginning of the sin To the daughter of Zion: For the transgressions of Israel Were found in thee. 14 THEREFORE SHALT THOU GIVE Presents to Moreshethgath: The houses of Achzib Shall be a lie to the kings of Israel. 15 YET WILL I BRING AN HEIR UNTO THEE, O inhabitant of Mareshah: He shall come unto Adullam THE GLORY OF ISRAEL. 16 MAKE THEE BALD, And poll thee for thy delicate children; Enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; For they are gone into captivity from thee. 🔥The significance of sackcloth and ashes in the Bible, demonstrates moments of deep emotional strive and the desire to reconcile with The Father. 👉The 2 witnesses come teaching sackcloth and ashes.They are described as prophetic figures who proclaim God's message during the end times. The Two Witnesses (Revelation 11:3-6) As having the power to prophesy for 1,260 days while clothed in sackcloth.(*shortened by Christ in Matthew 24:22-24/ Revelation 9 to 150 days. The 7 years given to Satan was deduced to those 5 months/140 days. The 2 Witnesses time was given in days and when shortened to days they are given about a week longer to prepare and warn the house of Isreal.) THE TWO WITNESSES Revelation 11 KJV 1 AND THERE WAS GIVEN ME A REED Like unto a rod: and the angel stood, Saying, Rise, and measure The temple of God, And the altar, And them that worship therein. 2 BUT THE COURT Which is without the temple leave out, And measure it not; For it is given unto the Gentiles: And the holy city shall they tread Under foot forty and two months. (*Shortened by Christ, Matthew24, to 5 months of Revelation 9, for the elections sake, so they could stand.) 3 AND I WILL GIVE POWER Unto my TWO witnesses, And they shall prophesy A thousand two hundred And threescore days, Clothed in sackcloth.(*Repentance) 4 THESE ARE THE TWO OLIVE TREES, And the two candlesticks Standing before the God of the earth. 5 AND IF ANY MAN WILL HURT THEM, Fire proceedeth out of their mouth, And devoureth their enemies: And if any man will hurt them, He must in this manner be killed. 6 THESE HAVE POWER TO SHUT HEAVEN, That it rain not In the days of their prophecy: And have power over waters To turn them to blood, And to smite the earth with all plagues, As often as they will. THE WITNESSES KILLED 7 AND WHEN THEY SHALL HAVE FINISHED Their testimony, The beast that ascendeth out Of the bottomless pit(*Abbadon, Appolyon) Shall make war against them, And shall overcome them, And kill them. 8 AND THEIR DEAD BODIES Shall lie in the street of the great city, Which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, Where also our Lord was crucified. 9 AND THEY OF THE PEOPLE And kindreds And tongues And nations shall see their dead bodies Three days and an half, And shall not suffer their dead bodies To be put in graves. 10 AND THEY THAT DWELL UPON THE EARTH Shall rejoice over them, And make merry, And shall send gifts one to another; Because these TWO prophets Tormented them that dwelt on the earth. THE WITNESSES RESURRECTED 11 AND AFTER THREE DAYS AND AN HALF The spirit of life from God Entered into them, And they stood upon their feet; And great fear fell upon them Which saw them. 12 AND THEY HEARD A GREAT VOICE From heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; And their enemies beheld them. 13 AND THE SAME HOUR WAS THERE A great earthquake, And the tenth part of the city fell, And in the earthquake Were slain of men SEVEN THOUSAND: And the remnant Were affrighted, And gave glory to the God of heaven. (*The 7000 fallen angels that take over the government's of the world with their new world order will die forever.) 14 THE SECOND WOE IS PAST; And, behold, The third woe cometh quickly. 👉Sackcloth is a symbol of humility and sorrow, indicating their role as prophets of repentance in a time of great tribulation of the apostasy of God's people. The sackcloth worn by the Two Witnesses provokes their somber mission, calling for the repentance of the nations and pointing out their eminent demise. The 2 serve as messengers of God's judgment, calling people to repentance. They are granted the power to perform miraculous signs, such as shutting the sky to prevent rain and turning waters into blood, emphasizing their authority as God's representatives. After their testimony, they are killed, signifying the rejection of their message. Like that of Jesus message they will lay in the street 3 days and half. They are later resurrected and taken up to heaven, symbolizing the ultimate vindication of God's

TODAY'S KINGDOM INSIGHTS THE SECRET OF JOY. Discovering the Joy That Circumstances Cannot Steal. Key Text: Philippians 4:4 > “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” There is a difference between happiness and joy. Happiness depends on what happens around you. Joy depends on Who lives within you. You can have money and still have no peace. You can have people around you and still feel lonely. You can face difficulties and still have a song in your heart. The world says, “I will rejoice when everything becomes better.” But the believer says, “I will rejoice because God is still good, even when everything is not good.” Paul wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always” while experiencing hardship. He was not writing from a palace; he knew suffering, rejection, imprisonment, and uncertainty. So what was his secret? His joy was not connected to his circumstances. His joy was connected to Christ. 1. JOY BEGINS WITH A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD Psalm 16:11 > “In thy presence is fulness of joy.” The deepest source of joy is not possessions, success, marriage, promotion, or recognition. The deepest source of joy is God's presence. When you know that God is with you, you can face situations that would otherwise break you. David said: Psalm 23:4 > “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.” Notice that David did not say, “I will fear no evil because there is no valley.” He said, “Though I walk through the valley…” The valley may exist, but God's presence is greater than the valley. Spiritual Insight You lose joy when you make temporary things the foundation of your happiness. If your joy depends on money, money can take it. If it depends on people, people can disappoint you. If it depends on circumstances, circumstances can change. But when your joy is rooted in Christ, you can bend without breaking. 2. JOY COMES FROM KNOWING THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL Romans 8:28 > “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God…” This does not mean everything that happens is good. Some things are painful. Some things are unfair. Some things are disappointing. But God is powerful enough to take broken pieces and create something meaningful from them. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and imprisoned. Yet eventually he stood in a position of authority. His testimony was: Genesis 50:20 > “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good.” Joseph discovered a powerful secret: What people meant for evil, God could turn around for good. Therefore, don't allow today's chapter to make you reject the Author of your story. 3. JOY GROWS WHEN YOU LEARN CONTENTMENT Philippians 4:11–12 Paul said he had learned how to live with abundance and how to live with little. That word “learned” is important. Contentment is a spiritual discipline. You don't automatically become content because you are a Christian. You learn to trust God in every season. Paul could say: Philippians 4:13 > “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” The context is not merely about achieving everything you want. Paul was saying: “Through Christ, I can remain faithful whether I have much or little.” Practical Lesson Stop postponing joy. Some people say: “When I get married, I will be happy.” “When I get money, I will rejoice.” “When I build my house, I will have peace.” “When my ministry grows, I will be satisfied.” But if you cannot rejoice while climbing the mountain, you may not rejoice when you reach the top. Learn to thank God for today's bread while trusting Him for tomorrow's provision. 4. JOY IS PROTECTED BY GRATITUDE AND PRAISE 1 Thessalonians 5:18 > “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Gratitude changes your perspective. Complaining says: “Look at what I don't have.” Thanksgiving says: “Look at what God has already done.” When you begin to count your blessings, you may discover that you have been surrounded by God's goodness while focusing on one problem. Biblical Example: Paul and Silas Acts 16:25 Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned. Their backs were wounded. Their feet were fastened. Their future looked uncertain. But at midnight: > “Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God.” They did not wait for the prison door to open before they praised God. They praised God while the doors were still closed. And then something supernatural happened. Acts 16:26 > “And suddenly there was a great earthquake…” Their praise did not merely change their emotions. God used their worship in the middle of their crisis. 5. JOY IS A SPIRITUAL WEAPON Nehemiah 8:10 > “The joy of the LORD is your strength.” Joy is not weakness. There are moments when the enemy wants to make you spiritually exhausted through fear, disappointment, discouragement, and hopelessness. But when you maintain your joy in God, you are declaring: “My circumstances have not become my God.” The enemy wants you to stop praying. Stop worshipping. Stop believing. Stop expecting. But the child of God says: “I may be crying, but I will still trust Him. I may be waiting, but I will still praise Him. I may not understand, but I will not abandon my faith.” That is spiritual strength. BIBLICAL CASE STUDY: HABAKKUK'S JOY One of the most powerful examples of supernatural joy is found in Habakkuk 3:17–18. Habakkuk describes a situation where: The fig tree may not blossom. There may be no fruit. The fields may produce nothing. The flock may disappear. The cattle stalls may be empty. Everything appears to be going wrong. Yet Habakkuk declares: > “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” Notice the word: YET. That little word represents tremendous faith. The situation says “No.” Faith says “Yet.” The economy says “No.” Faith says “Yet.” The diagnosis says “No.” Faith says “Yet.” The disappointment says “No.” Faith says “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord.” His joy was not based on what was in the field. His joy was based on who was on the throne. PRACTICAL ACTION STEPS 1. Start every day with thanksgiving Before checking your phone, remember God's goodness. 2. Reduce unnecessary comparison Comparison is a thief of joy. Stop measuring your life against somebody else's chapter. 3. Spend time in God's presence Pray. Worship. Read Scripture. Meditate on God's promises. 4. Learn contentment Appreciate what God has given you while trusting Him for what you are still believing for. 5. Watch what you speak Constant negative speech can strengthen discouragement. Speak faith. 6. Help someone else Sometimes your joy returns when you become a blessing to someone who needs encouragement. 7. Choose praise during difficult seasons Don't wait until everything is perfect before you worship God. DEEP SPIRITUAL INSIGHTS Joy is not the absence of problems; it is the presence of confidence in God. Joy is not pretending that pain does not exist; it is knowing that pain does not have the final word. Joy does not mean you never cry. It means your tears do not cancel your trust in God. Joy is not produced by possessions. It is produced by relationship with Christ. And remember this: You can lose things without losing your joy. Job lost possessions, children, and his position. Yet he said: Job 19:25 > “For I know that my redeemer liveth…” Job's circumstances changed, but his confidence in God remained. QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION 1. What has been controlling my joy recently? 2. Is my joy dependent on circumstances or rooted in Christ? 3. Have I allowed disappointment to become greater than my faith? 4. What blessings have I stopped noticing because of one problem? 5. Am I practicing thanksgiving daily? 6. Can I worship God even while waiting for my breakthrough? 7. What would change if I truly believed that God is still in control? POWERFUL PRAYER POINTS 1. Prayer for restored joy Father, restore every joy that has been stolen from my heart. Let the joy of Your salvation fill me again, in Jesus' name. 2. Prayer against discouragement Every spirit of discouragement, hopelessness, and heaviness, lose your hold over my life, in Jesus' name. 3. Prayer for contentment Lord, teach me to appreciate what You have given me while trusting You for what is ahead. 4. Prayer for strength Father, let the joy of the Lord become my strength in every difficult season. 5. Prayer for supernatural confidence Even when I cannot see the way forward, help me to trust You completely. 6. Prayer of declaration I declare that my joy will not be controlled by circumstances. My joy is rooted in Christ. I will rejoice in the Lord, I will trust His Word, and I will remain faithful until my testimony comes, in Jesus' name. Amen. CALL TO ACTION Beloved, don't give your joy to circumstances. People can change. Money can disappear. Doors can close. Plans can fail. Friends can disappoint you. But Jesus remains faithful. So rejoice! Not because everything is perfect. Rejoice because God is still God. Rejoice because Christ is still Lord. Rejoice because His promises are still true. Rejoice because your story is not finished. And when the enemy asks, “Why are you still joyful?” Tell him: “Because my joy is not in what I have. My joy is in WHO I HAVE.” THE SECRET OF JOY IS JESUS. “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” — Philippians 4:4 If you have not given your life to Jesus kindly do so 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 https://www.facebook.com/Umoh64?mibextid=ZbWKwL #UMOHEDEM