“Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,” — Hebrews 12:1 (CSB)

The Christian life is pictured as a race that requires perseverance, discipline, and endurance. We are called to put aside not only sin, but anything that weighs us down and keeps us from faithfully following Christ. The believers who came before us remind us that a life of faith can be lived even through hardship and uncertainty. God has given each of us a race to run—so lay down the weight, keep moving forward, and don’t quit.

TODAY'S BIBLE READING
Sunday, August 23
OLD TESTAMENT
RUTH 3 — Ruth and Boaz
NEW TESTAMENT
1 JOHN 5 — Faith in the Son of God
Congratulations on completing the book of 1 John! Tomorrow we begin 2 John.
MAJOR PROPHETS
ISAIAH 34 — Judgment Against the Nations
TODAY'S REFLECTION
Ruth 3
Ruth follows Naomi's instructions and approaches Boaz with humility and trust. Boaz responds with integrity, showing the importance of honour, kindness, and doing what is right even when circumstances are difficult.
1 John 5
John emphasizes faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and assures believers of eternal life. Our confidence is not in ourselves but in Christ, and genuine faith produces obedience and love for God.
Isaiah 34
Isaiah describes God's judgment against the nations and reminds us that God's justice is certain. No power can ultimately stand against His righteous purposes.
KEY VERSE
“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”
— 1 John 5:11
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. Strengthen our faith and help us to walk in obedience, love, and integrity. Give us the wisdom to trust Your timing, just as Ruth trusted You, and help us remain confident in Your righteous purposes. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.
TODAY'S CHALLENGE
Put your faith into action today. Trust God's timing, walk with integrity, and let your love for Christ be seen through your obedience and the way you treat others.
WE STUDY. WE PRAY. WE OBEY. WE GROW. UNTIL WE ARE TOTALLY TRANSFORMED.

I am not created to be a victim but a victor. Through Christ, I rise above challenges, limitations, fear, and every obstacle before me. I have dominion over circumstances, and nothing shall stop the purpose of God for my life.
Today, I declare:

I dominate, I do not beg for relevance.
I overcome, I do not surrender to defeat.
I move forward, I do not go backward.
I am blessed, empowered, and გამარჯვorious.
Everywhere I go, the grace and favour of God speak for me.
I am born to win. I represent Christ. I am walking in dominion, and my life shall manifest the glory of God!
Say it loud: I HAVE DOMINION

DO YOU KNOW WHO JESUS IS?
Knowing His Name Is Not the Same as Knowing Him!

Key Scripture — Acts 19:14–16 (KJV)
“And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”

Thought Of The Day...
There is a tremendous difference between knowing about Jesus and actually knowing Jesus.
Acts 19 gives us a powerful and sobering picture of this truth. The seven sons of Sceva had heard about the miracles taking place through the Apostle Paul. They had witnessed or heard reports of demons being cast out and lives being transformed through the name of Jesus.
They saw the results, but they did not understand the relationship behind the results.
They wanted the authority Paul demonstrated without possessing the relationship Paul had.
They attempted to use the name of Jesus almost like a spiritual formula. Earlier in the passage they said:
“We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.”
— Acts 19:13 (KJV)
Notice their language.
They did not say, “Jesus whom we know.”
They said, “Jesus whom Paul preacheth.”
Jesus was Paul's testimony, but He had not become their personal testimony.
And that raises a serious question for every believer:
Do you know Jesus for yourself?
It is possible to grow up in church and still only know about Jesus.
It is possible to know Scripture and still not truly surrender to Jesus.
It is possible to sing about Jesus, preach about Jesus, teach about Jesus, shout about Jesus, and even use the name of Jesus—yet lack a genuine relationship with Him.
Christianity was never intended to be secondhand.
You cannot survive spiritually forever on your mother's relationship with God, your father's prayers, your pastor's anointing, your bishop's revelation, your spouse's faith, or your grandmother's testimony.
Eventually, you must know Him for yourself.
Paul could say:
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings…”
— Philippians 3:10 (KJV)
Paul wasn't satisfied merely knowing facts about Christ. His desire was, “That I may know Him.”
“JESUS I KNOW, AND PAUL I KNOW; BUT WHO ARE YE?”
These may be some of the most sobering words in Acts.
The evil spirit responded:
“Jesus I know.”
There was no confusion in the kingdom of darkness concerning Jesus.
The demons knew exactly who He was.
During Jesus' earthly ministry, an unclean spirit cried:
“I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.”
— Mark 1:24 (KJV)
James gives us another sobering reminder:
“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”
— James 2:19 (KJV)
Simply acknowledging that Jesus exists is not the same as belonging to Him.
But then the spirit said something else:
“Paul I know.”
Why was Paul recognized?
Because Paul's life demonstrated that he belonged to Jesus.
Paul wasn't borrowing somebody else's faith. He had encountered Christ for himself. His authority did not come from merely repeating Jesus' name; it flowed from his relationship with and commission from Jesus.
Then came the devastating question:
“BUT WHO ARE YE?”
In other words, You are using the name, but where is your relationship with the One whose name you are using?
The sons of Sceva discovered that the name of Jesus is not a magical phrase.
There is power in the name of Jesus because of who Jesus is.
Jesus declared:
“All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”
— Matthew 28:18 (KJV)
His name represents His person, His authority, His victory, His lordship and His kingdom.
We must never reduce the name of Jesus to something we merely shout when we are in trouble. His name belongs to the Savior to whom we surrender our lives.
DO YOU KNOW THE JESUS YOU CALL ON?
Jesus is more than a name mentioned at the end of a prayer.
He is the Son of God.
“Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
— Matthew 16:16 (KJV)
He is the Savior.
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
— Luke 19:10 (KJV)
He is the Way to the Father.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
— John 14:6 (KJV)
He is the Resurrection and the Life.
“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”
— John 11:25 (KJV)
He is Lord.
“And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
— Philippians 2:11 (KJV)
The question is not merely, “Have you heard about Him?”
The question is:
Have you trusted Him?
Have you surrendered to Him?
Are you following Him?
Are you walking with Him?
Does your life belong to Him?
YOU CANNOT BORROW SOMEBODY ELSE'S ANOINTING
The sons of Sceva tried to imitate what they saw Paul doing.
But spiritual authority cannot be copied like a technique.
You can imitate someone's preaching style.
You can imitate someone's prayer language.
You can imitate someone's worship.
You can repeat someone's favorite Scriptures.
But you cannot imitate their relationship with God.
Jesus said:
“Abide in me, and I in you… for without me ye can do nothing.”
— John 15:4–5 (KJV)
Our strength comes from abiding in Christ.
The greatest danger is not weakness that drives us toward Jesus. The greater danger is trying to operate spiritually while disconnected from Him.
The seven sons discovered this painfully.
The possessed man “overcame them, and prevailed against them.”
They entered believing they had authority they did not possess and left “naked and wounded.”
There is a warning here:
Never attempt to substitute religious activity for genuine relationship with Christ.
YOUR PRIVATE WALK MATTERS
Before Paul stood publicly in authority, he had privately surrendered his life to Jesus.
Our public Christianity must be supported by a private relationship with God.
Who are you when there is no microphone?
Who are you when there is no congregation?
Who are you when nobody sees you praying?
Who are you when temptation comes?
Who are you when life becomes difficult?
Do you still trust Jesus when there is nobody around to applaud your faith?
Jesus said:
“If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.”
— John 8:31 (KJV)
Real discipleship is demonstrated through continued fellowship, obedience, faith and dependence upon Christ.
KNOW HIM BEFORE THE BATTLE COMES
Don't wait until trouble arrives to try to discover who Jesus is.
Know Him now.
Know Him in prayer.
Know Him through His Word.
Know Him in worship.
Know Him through obedience.
Know Him when everything is going well so that when everything begins falling apart, you already know where your help comes from.
David could face Goliath because David already knew God before Goliath appeared.
Daniel could face the lions because Daniel knew God before he entered the den.
The three Hebrew boys could face the fiery furnace because they knew God before Nebuchadnezzar heated it.
Paul could endure persecution because he knew the Christ for whom he suffered.
And when your day of testing comes, you need more than something somebody told you about Jesus.
You need to be able to declare:
I KNOW HIM FOR MYSELF!
Job said:
“For I know that my redeemer liveth…”
— Job 19:25 (KJV)
There are some storms where somebody else's testimony will not be enough.
You need your own history with God.
You need memories of prayers He answered.
You need moments when His Word carried you.
You need times when you experienced His grace.
You need the confidence to declare:
I know who Jesus is because I have walked with Him for myself!
THE QUESTION STILL STANDS
Acts 19 leaves us with a question that should cause every believer to examine his or her heart:
DO YOU KNOW WHO JESUS IS?
Not just the Jesus your pastor preaches.
Not just the Jesus your parents taught you about.
Not just the Jesus you heard about in Sunday School.
But Jesus Christ for yourself.
And perhaps an even deeper question is:
DOES YOUR LIFE SHOW THAT YOU KNOW HIM?
Jesus said:
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
— John 10:27 (KJV)
Knowing Jesus should produce following Jesus.
Following Jesus should produce obedience.
Obedience should produce transformation.
And transformation should cause our lives to testify that we have been with Jesus.

PRAYER...
Father, in the name of Jesus,
Thank You for revealing Your Son to us. Lord, forgive us for every time we have been satisfied with simply knowing about Jesus instead of developing a deeper relationship with Him.
We don't want secondhand faith. We don't want borrowed convictions. We don't want to depend solely upon somebody else's prayers, testimony or relationship with You.
Lord Jesus, we want to know You for ourselves.
Draw us closer to You. Give us a hunger for Your Word, a desire for prayer, a heart of worship and a spirit willing to obey Your voice.
Search our hearts and remove everything that has created distance between us and You.
Teach us not merely to speak Your name but to honor Your name with the way we live.
When temptation comes, remind us who You are.
When storms arise, remind us who You are.
When fear attacks, remind us who You are.
When the enemy challenges our faith, help us stand firmly upon the authority of Your Word.
May our lives testify that we belong to Jesus Christ.
And Lord, let our greatest desire always be the cry of Paul:
“That I may know him.”
We want to know You more deeply, love You more completely, trust You more confidently, obey You more faithfully, and represent You more boldly.
In the mighty, matchless, powerful name of Jesus Christ, we pray.
Amen.

DECLARATION...
I DECLARE that I will not live on borrowed faith!
I know who Jesus is!
Jesus is my Savior.
Jesus is my Redeemer.
Jesus is my Lord.
Jesus is my Deliverer.
Jesus is my Rock.
Jesus is my Strength.
Jesus is my Hope.
Jesus is my King!
I will seek Him, follow Him, obey Him and grow deeper in my relationship with Him.
I refuse to merely know about Jesus.
I WILL KNOW HIM FOR MYSELF!
And when life asks me, “Do you know who Jesus is?”
My faith, my testimony, my obedience and my life will answer:
YES! I KNOW HIM FOR MYSELF!
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection…” — Philippians 3:10 (KJV)

Enjoy your Sunday Church Services and God Bless!

THEME: GETHSEMANE HOUR/ALONE WITH GOD

TOPIC: THIS WEEK AND BEYOND, I SHALL EAT THE FRUIT OF MY LABOUR

Bible Reading: Psalm 128:1-2, Isaiah 65:21-23, Galatians 6:9, Psalm 121:7-8

Recommended Time of Prayer: Between 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm and Between 12:00 midnight to 3:00 am. Pray twice daily.

1. Father, let Dragnet Gospel Int'l Ministries eat the fruit of every righteous labour invested in the advancement of Your kingdom. Let no effort in this commission become fruitless, in the name of Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

2. O Lord, preserve every member of Dragnet Gospel Int'l Ministries from traps, losses, disappointments, and schemes designed to make them labour without enjoying the fruits of their efforts, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Psalm 121:7-8)

3. Father, this week and beyond, I shall eat the fruit of my labour. Let the work of my hands produce profitable and lasting results, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Psalm 128:2)

4. Every trap of the enemy prepared to divert, consume, or destroy the harvest of my labour, be exposed and rendered powerless, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Psalm 124:7)

5. Every power assigned to make me labour without reward, be frustrated by the power of God, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 65:23)

6. O Lord, deliver me from every deceptive opportunity and financial trap designed to turn my legitimate efforts into loss, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Proverbs 22:3)

7. Every hidden snare prepared against my business, career, ministry, farm, investments, and legitimate income, be broken by the power of God, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Psalm 91:3)

8. Father, give me wisdom to recognize and avoid every trap of the enemy. Let me not walk into opportunities that will bring unnecessary sorrow or loss, in the name of Jesus Christ. (James 1:5)

9. Every devourer assigned against the harvest of my labour, be rebuked by the Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Malachi 3:11)

10. Father, preserve the fruits of my labour from theft, waste, manipulation, unnecessary expenses, and every form of financial leakage, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Deuteronomy 28:8)

11. Every satanic strategy designed to make me miss the reward of my labour at the point of harvest, fail completely, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Job 5:12)

12. O Lord, let every righteous seed I have planted produce a corresponding harvest. Let me not become weary before my season of reaping, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Galatians 6:9)

13. Every power diverting my opportunities, customers, contracts, helpers, and legitimate rewards away from me, lose your influence, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 49:24-25)

14. Father, bless the work of my hands and establish everything I do according to Your will, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Psalm 90:17)


15. I reject every form of fruitless labour. I shall not build for another to inhabit, neither shall I plant without enjoying the harvest, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 65:21-22)

16. Every evil expectation that I will labour and end in disappointment, be disappointed by the power of God, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Psalm 27:2)

17. Father, let this week bring profitable opportunities, divine connections, fruitful decisions, and tangible results into my life, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Psalm 5:12)

18. I declare that I shall enjoy the work of my hands. My labour shall produce testimony, my harvest shall be preserved, and my efforts shall not be wasted, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Psalm 128:2)

19. O Lord, preserve and prosper every current supporter and partner of Dragnet Gospel Int'l Ministries. Let them eat the fruit of their labour and enjoy the rewards of their generosity, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 6:10)

20. Father, let Dragnet Gospel Int'l Ministries continually receive the resources needed to preach the gospel, win souls, and advance Your kingdom. Let every labour in this work produce eternal fruit, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 4:19; 1 Corinthians 15:58)

21. Father, this week and beyond, I shall eat the fruit of my labour. I shall not fall into the trap of the enemy, I shall not labour in vain, and I shall not surrender my harvest to the devourer. Preserve my work, protect my opportunities, establish the work of my hands, and let my labour produce profitable results, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Psalm 128:2; Psalm 90:17)

TAKE NOTE OF YOUR DREAMS AND HIDE YOUR FEEDBACK

For more information/counselling: Email: dragnetgospelAnderson Mwila.com WhatsApp: +2348062343560

SHALOM

The Cross: Proof of the Greatest Love
Does not St. Paul on every occasion show us that the death [of Christ] is the greatest proof of his love for us? He thus says: “God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8).
Also, for this reason, does not he take pride and yearn all the more, nay, even leap for joy and flutter his wings, as it were, when he writes to the Galatians: “far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Gal 6:14)? Even Christ himself, who endured these sufferings calls them his Glory (John 17:1)!
And when he wished to show us his love, what did he mention?
His signs or miracles or wonders?
Never! He but laid his cross in the middle saying: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son” (John 3:16).
And so did St Paul say: “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also gave us all things with him?” (Rom 8:32).
And when he exhorts to love, he raises this same type in the middle saying: “Love one another, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (cf. Eph 5:2).
_St. John Chrysostom, Homily on Divine Providence 17:1-7.

#TheCross #DivineLove #Sacrifice #Salvation #GodsLove

HOW DO I KNOW IF SHE IS THE ONE?✝
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#love #jesus #christ #god #relationship #reel #trending

Who are Israelites, to whom pertain … the service of God.

Romans 9:4–5 ɴᴋᴊᴠ

Of the eight privileges of Israel listed by Paul in Romans 9:4–5, the fifth one, “the service of God,” is one not often considered. But it is very important, nevertheless, and really brings to light the nation of Israel’s distinct position found in the Scriptures. No other nation could boast that they possessed the “service” of the living God.

This term is found again in the Epistle to the Hebrews: “Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary” (Heb. 9:1). Here it is called “divine service” and is in relationship to the tabernacle in the wilderness, with all of its furnishings, and the priesthood (9:2–10). The “service of God” or “divine service” could also be used in reference to the temple. What other nation could approach God in such a way, or have the presence of God dwelling among them? Other nations had their temples and priests, but they worshiped idols and false gods.

However, as marvelous as this privilege was for Israel, it was but a “shadow” of the “good things to come” (8:5; 9:11). Christ came to institute a “more perfect tabernacle” on the blessed basis of “His own blood” shed “once for all” (9:12). The “earthly sanctuary,” as wonderful as it was, pales in contrast to the heavenly one “not made with hands” (9:11).

As Christians, what a privilege to be priests, and enter into the holy presence of God, not once a year, but at all times! As priests connected with the heavenly system we are exhorted to enter the “Holiest” through the “new and living way” and do so with “full assurance” (10:19–22).

Brian Reynolds


The holiest we enter
In perfect peace with God;Through whom we found our center
In Jesus and His blood.


M. Bowley


https://gbv-online.org/calendar/773/date/2026-08-23