📖 In a world full of opinions and passing trends, there is nothing like the pure, life-changing truth of the Word. 🙌 Join Pastor Mike for deep-dive teachings that focus on the Bible. 🎧 Listen Online: graceinfusion.org 🔽 Download the App: 👉 Android: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.himfirstapps.graceinfusionapp 👉 IOS: apps.apple.com/ug/app/grace-infusion-app/id6535689666 #BibleTeaching #PastorMike #GraceInfusion #TruthSeeker #ScriptureFirst #FaithOverTrends #ChristianPodcast #WordOfGod

Focus on keeping the source, not the resource.🙇‍♂️✝️

DAILY DEVOTION…Thursday August 20, 2026 Colossians 2:6-7…"Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude." Standing Firm in Christ Think about a massive, ancient oak tree. When a violent storm hits, the tree doesn’t topple over. Why? Because underneath the soil lies a hidden, sprawling network of roots that dig deep into the earth, anchoring it firmly to the ground. Paul uses this exact imagery to describe how we are meant to live out our Christian faith. He reminds us that the way we started our journey with Jesus—by simple, humble faith—is the exact same way we must continue it every single day. Spiritual growth isn’t about discovering hidden secrets or chasing after the latest cultural trends; it is about sinking our roots deeper into the person of Jesus Christ. When our roots are firmly planted in His Word, we find the stability we need to survive life's storms. We are "built up" and "established." This means our faith isn't fragile or easily shaken by doubt, unexpected trials, or deceptive philosophies (Ephesians 4:14). Instead, we become strong, steady, and secure in our identity. But Paul adds a beautiful indicator of a healthy, deeply-rooted faith: an overflow of gratitude. A complaining heart is often a sign of shallow roots. When we are constantly pulling nourishment from God's grace, love, and faithfulness, thankfulness naturally bubbles up and pours out of our lives. Gratitude becomes our default response, shifting our focus from what we think we lack to the immense riches we already possess in Christ. Stay grounded in Him today, and let His truth stabilize your soul. 4 Key Spiritual Truths Gleaned from Colossians 2:6-7… 1. The Daily Walk Mirrors the Beginning: The same simple faith and total dependence required for salvation is the exact standard required for daily Christian living (Galatians 3:3). 2. Roots Determine Stability: A believer's capacity to withstand the storms and deceptions of life is directly connected to how deeply they are anchored in Christ (Jeremiah 17:7-8). 3. Growth is Continuous and Structural: Being "built up" is an ongoing, lifelong process where the Holy Spirit aligns every area of our lives to the foundation of Jesus (1 Corinthians 3:11). 4. Gratitude is the Ultimate Health Check: An overflowing heart of thankfulness is the natural, undeniable fruit of a spiritually mature and established faith (1 Thessalonians 5:18). THE BIBLE: God’s Compass For Our Daily Living

THURSDAY 20TH AUGUST 2026 Topic: You Are Not Behind Bible Reference “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” Zechariah 4:10 (NLT) A Short Story Samuel was twenty seven, and he had started wondering whether he was already too late. Some of his friends had built successful businesses. Others had secured good jobs, bought cars, travelled to different countries, or started families. Whenever he opened social media, it seemed as though everyone was moving forward except him. Samuel had a small business that was barely growing. He was also learning a new skill, but the progress felt painfully slow. One afternoon, he sat with a friend and said, “I think I have wasted too much time. Maybe I should have achieved more by now.” His friend looked at him and asked, “Who told you that your life must follow their timetable?” Samuel became quiet. He realized that most of his frustration was not coming from his actual situation. It was coming from constantly comparing his journey with other people's journeys. That evening, he returned home and looked at the small notebook where he had written his goals months earlier. He noticed something he had forgotten. He had actually made progress. It was not dramatic. It was not something he could proudly display on social media. But he had learned new skills, become more disciplined, grown spiritually, and taken steps he had once been afraid to take. For the first time in a long while, Samuel thanked God for the little he had. He decided that instead of spending his energy asking why he was not where someone else was, he would focus on becoming faithful with where God had placed him. Today's Message Comparison can make you despise your own journey. You look at someone else's finished product and compare it with your beginning. You see their achievement but do not see the years of preparation, sacrifice, failure, and waiting behind it. God does not measure your life by another person's timeline. The Bible tells us not to despise small beginnings. Something may look small today and still become significant tomorrow. Do not be ashamed of starting small. Do not be discouraged because your progress is not yet visible to everyone. Your responsibility is to be faithful with what God has placed in your hands today. You are not behind simply because someone else arrived before you. Keep learning. Keep growing. Keep praying. Keep working. Keep trusting God. Your journey is your journey. What To Do Today 1. Stop comparing your progress with what you see on social media. 2. Write down three areas where you have genuinely grown. 3. Identify one small step you can take toward your goal today. 4. Thank God for where you are while trusting Him for where you are going. Prayer Lord, deliver me from the pressure of comparison. Help me to appreciate my journey and remain faithful in small beginnings. Give me patience, discipline, and confidence to keep moving forward with You. In Jesus' name, Amen. Daily Challenge Write down three things you have accomplished or improved in the past year, no matter how small they may seem. Thank God for each one. ©️ Anthony Ijere Christian Author and Revivalist https://chat.whatsapp.com/BDs9qaNMQumKTicv7uU7SJ?s=cl&p=a&mlu=0&ilr=0 https://t.me/anthonyijere

The Unstoppable Hour.. Why Our Fight is Not with This World There is a palpable anxiety in the air. We see it in the news, on social media, and in the hushed conversations at our kitchen tables. People are scrambling. They are organizing, petitioning, and protesting. They are trying to stop the political shift, the moral decline, and the geopolitical chaos. They are fighting against the current of the world, attempting to "save" a system that was always destined to collapse. But as believers, we must stop and take a sobering look at the reality of our calling. We are not here to stop the inevitable. We are here to walk through it. The Apostle Paul made it crystal clear in Ephesians 6:12: "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness." When we see the governments of the world aligning, when we see corruption at every level, and when we see nations turning away from the truth, we are witnessing the fulfillment of prophecy, not the failure of humanity. The Bible predicted a time of great corruption (2 Timothy 3:1-5). It predicted that evil would be called good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20). The tragedy of our time is not that the world is becoming corrupt; the tragedy is that the Church is wasting its energy trying to fix a world that is already under judgment. Those who are the most "active" in trying to save the culture are often the ones inadvertently bringing these things to pass, because they are fighting in the flesh, trying to build a Kingdom on Earth that was never meant to exist here permanently. To understand our role, we must look back at the history of our faith. The Scriptures are full of people who tried to "help" God fulfill His promises, and the results were devastating. Consider Abraham and Sarah. God promised Abraham a son. But when the years dragged on, Sarah decided to "help" God by giving her servant Hagar to Abraham. The result? Ishmael was born. This decision did not bring the promise sooner; it brought discord, bitterness, and a conflict that has spanned millennia, a conflict we still see in the Middle East today. God did not need Abraham's "help" in the physical realm to bring about the spiritual miracle. He needed Abraham's faith and waiting. Consider Moses. When Moses saw the oppression of his people, he acted in his own strength. He killed an Egyptian taskmaster, thinking he was delivering his people. Instead, he became a fugitive and delayed God's plan by forty years. Moses had to unlearn his own strength in the desert before God could use him to free Israel. In these times, it will be no different. We are prone to run ahead of God, to create political kingdoms, to try to legislate morality into the hearts of the unregenerate. We call it "saving the nation," but God calls it "strange fire", our own effort offered on His altar, a sacrifice He never asked for. If we are not to fight the political tide, what are we to do? Good question. We are to be Witnesses. Jesus didn't tell us to take over the world; He told us to preach the Gospel to every creature. He said, "You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). We are ambassadors of a Kingdom not of this world. We are to be Lighthouses. In a time of corruption, we are called to be blameless and pure, shining as lights in a dark world (Philippians 2:15). Our focus is not on changing the behavior of the world, but on offering the soul of the world a way out. We are to Pray. Instead of protesting the darkness, we should be praying for the souls of those in power, while trusting that God is sovereign over the rise and fall of nations. The spiritual battle is won on our knees, not on the streets. Look at the world today. Technology is advancing at a rate that allows for the global control and surveillance spoken of in Revelation. Nations are aligning in ways eerily reminiscent of the prophecies of Ezekiel and Daniel. The push for a one-world order, the moral relativism, and the hostility toward absolute truth are all box-checking the signs of the times. When we try to stop this, we are fighting God's timeline. We are acting like children trying to stop the rain by screaming at the clouds. The rain is coming. The question is: have you built your house on the Rock? The times are serious. The world is racing toward a conclusion that has been written since the foundation of the earth. We must stop panicking over the headlines and start preparing our hearts. We are not called to be reformers of a dying world; we are called to be rescuers of dying souls. Don't waste your energy trying to stop the ship from sinking. Use your energy to get people into the lifeboats. The hull is breached. The prophecies must be fulfilled. But you, you have a job to do. Do not be deceived by the illusion that you can fight the spiritual battle with physical weapons. The only thing that will save a soul is the Gospel. The only way to stand in the coming storm is to be rooted in the Word. Stop trying to save the world. Start trying to save the lost. The hour is late. The time is now. Choose your side and dig in. Alonso Buford.

THE CALVARY MINISTRY – ONLINE ✝️ THE CROSS OF CALVARY 🙏🏽 📅 WEDNESDAY, 19TH AUGUST, 2026 📜 TEXT: JOHN 9:1–41 📜 🔑📖 KEY VERSE: «“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” — John 9:5 (KJV)» 👁️ JESUS — THE ONE WHO OPENS BLIND EYES John 9 introduces us to a man who had been blind from birth. His condition became an opportunity for Jesus to reveal the power and glory of God. The disciples asked whether his blindness was caused by his own sin or the sin of his parents. But Jesus redirected their attention from blame to purpose. «“Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” — John 9:3» Sometimes we focus so much on “Why did this happen?” that we fail to ask, “What can God do through this?” Jesus is still able to bring light into places where people see only darkness. 🔥 THREE TRUTHS FROM JOHN 9 1️⃣ JESUS CAN TURN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATIONS INTO TESTIMONIES. 🙌🏽 The man had never seen. Humanly speaking, his condition seemed permanent. But one encounter with Jesus changed his story. What people may consider hopeless is never beyond the reach of Christ. Your present situation is not necessarily the final chapter of your life. God can still write a testimony. ✝️ 2️⃣ SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS IS GREATER THAN PHYSICAL BLINDNESS. 👁️❤️ The man received physical sight, but the religious leaders who could physically see were spiritually blind. They witnessed the miracle but refused to recognize Jesus. This teaches us that it is possible to have healthy physical eyes and yet have a heart that cannot see the truth. We need more than physical sight. We need spiritual eyes to recognize Christ, understand His Word and follow His ways. «“One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.” — John 9:25» What a testimony! The man did not have an answer for every theological argument. He simply knew what Jesus had done for him. Your testimony is evidence of God's work in your life. 🔥 3️⃣ TRUE SIGHT LEADS US TO WORSHIP JESUS. 🙏🏽 When Jesus found the man after he had been rejected, Jesus revealed Himself to him. The man responded: «“Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.” — John 9:38» This is the ultimate purpose of spiritual revelation. When God opens your eyes to who Jesus is, your response should be faith, surrender and worship. We do not seek miracles merely for the miracle. We seek Christ. We do not follow Jesus only because of what He can give us. We follow Him because He is Lord. 🌿 TODAY'S REFLECTION There are different kinds of blindness. Some people are blind to God's goodness. Some are blind to their own condition. Some are blind to the truth of God's Word. Some are blind to the opportunities God has placed before them. And some are blind to the presence of Jesus. Today, ask God: “Lord, open my eyes.” Open my eyes to see Your goodness. Open my eyes to see my weaknesses. Open my eyes to understand Your Word. Open my eyes to recognize Your direction. Open my eyes to see Jesus more clearly. Never allow familiarity, pride or unbelief to make you spiritually blind. The man in John 9 moved from blindness to sight, from rejection to acceptance, and from ignorance to worship. May that also be your testimony. I was blind, but now I see! 👁️🔥 🙏🏽 PRAYER Heavenly Father, Thank You for Jesus Christ, the Light of the world. Lord, open my spiritual eyes. Remove every blindness that prevents me from seeing You clearly and understanding Your Word. Help me to recognize Your presence even when circumstances are difficult. Where I have been confused, give me clarity. Where I have been spiritually blind, give me revelation. Where I have been discouraged, give me hope. Where I have been rejected, remind me that I am accepted in Christ. Let my life become a testimony of Your transforming power. May I never allow the opinions of people to make me deny what You have done in my life. Give me grace to believe, follow and worship Jesus faithfully. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen. 🙏🏽✝️ 🌹 CALVARY BLESSING May the Lord open your eyes to see His goodness. May He give you spiritual understanding. May His Word illuminate your path. May every form of spiritual blindness be removed. May your testimony become stronger with each passing day. And may your life continually declare: “I once was blind, but now I see!” 👁️❤️‍🔥 See Jesus. Follow Jesus. Trust Jesus. Worship Jesus. 👁️✝️ LET CHRIST OPEN YOUR EYES! 🔥 THE CROSS STILL SPEAKS! 🔥 By: BR. Emmanuel Dankwah 🙏🏽

✝️ THE GOSPEL FROM CALVARY 📅 Wednesday, 19th August, 2026 🍷 JESUS: THE MIRACLE WORKER AND TEMPLE OF GOD ✝️🔥 📜 TEXT: JOHN 2:1–25 📜 🔑📖 KEY VERSE: «“This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.” — John 2:11 (KJV)» John 2 introduces us to two significant events in the ministry of Jesus: His first recorded miracle at Cana and His cleansing of the temple. These two events reveal something powerful about Jesus. He is not only able to change circumstances; He also desires to cleanse and transform lives. At Cana, Jesus turned water into wine. In the temple, Jesus confronted everything that had corrupted a place meant for worship. The message is clear: Jesus has power to transform what is empty, restore what is broken, and cleanse what has become polluted. 🔥✝️ 🔥 THREE LESSONS FROM JOHN 2 1️⃣ INVITE JESUS INTO YOUR SITUATION. 🕊️ At the wedding in Cana, the wine ran out. Mary brought the situation to Jesus. John 2:3 says: «“They have no wine.”» The situation appeared embarrassing and hopeless. But Jesus was present. Sometimes we focus so much on what is missing that we forget who is present. You may have a situation that seems impossible today. You may have run out of strength. You may have run out of resources. You may feel like your joy has disappeared. But if Jesus is present, there is still hope. ❤️‍🔥 Take your situation to Jesus. Don't only complain about it. Don't surrender to fear. Don't depend solely on human strength. Bring it to Christ. 🙏🏽 💧 2️⃣ JESUS CAN TRANSFORM THE ORDINARY INTO SOMETHING GLORIOUS. 🔥 Jesus instructed the servants to fill six waterpots with water. Then He performed the miracle. Water became wine. John 2:9 records the servants' astonishment at what had happened. This teaches us that Jesus can take ordinary things and use them for extraordinary purposes. Your life may look ordinary. Your resources may seem small. Your abilities may seem insignificant. But when you place them in the hands of Jesus, He can do something extraordinary. Never underestimate what God can do with a surrendered life. Your testimony can change. Your character can change. Your family can change. Your ministry can change. Your future can change. Jesus is still a transformer. 🔥 ❤️‍🔥 3️⃣ OBEDIENCE IS PART OF THE MIRACLE. 👣 The servants at Cana had a role to play. They had to fill the waterpots. They had to draw out the water. They had to obey the instructions of Jesus. They did not understand everything Jesus was doing, but they obeyed. Sometimes we want to see God's miracle while refusing to follow God's instructions. But faith and obedience belong together. When Jesus says forgive—obey. When Jesus says pray—obey. When Jesus says leave sin—obey. When Jesus says serve—obey. When Jesus says go—obey. You don't need to understand everything before you obey God. 🏛️ JESUS CLEANSES THE TEMPLE Later in John 2, Jesus entered the temple and found people buying and selling. The house of worship had become a marketplace. Jesus drove them out and declared: «“Make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.” — John 2:16» Jesus was deeply concerned about the holiness of God's house. This should challenge us as believers. Paul later teaches that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we must ask: What have I allowed into my life that Jesus would want to remove? Are there attitudes that need to go? Is there bitterness that needs to go? Is there secret sin that needs to go? Are there relationships that are pulling you away from God? Are there habits that are damaging your spiritual life? 🧹 LET JESUS CLEAN YOUR TEMPLE Sometimes we ask Jesus to bless our lives while resisting His desire to cleanse our lives. We want His miracles but not His correction. We want His blessings but not His discipline. We want His presence but not His holiness. But Jesus does both: He transforms and He cleanses. Allow Him to examine your heart. Allow Him to remove what does not glorify Him. Allow Him to restore your spiritual altar. 🔥 DON'T TURN YOUR WORSHIP INTO A TRANSACTION The temple was designed for worship, but it had become a place of business. This warns us against treating God like a transaction. Don't serve God only because you want something. Don't pray only when you need something. Don't worship only when life is going well. Don't follow Christ only for blessings. Jesus deserves our worship because He is Lord. 👑✝️ 👑 JESUS KNOWS WHAT IS IN OUR HEARTS John 2:24–25 says that Jesus knew all people and knew what was in man. You may hide things from people, but nothing is hidden from Christ. He knows your thoughts. He knows your motives. He knows your struggles. He knows your secret battles. And yet He still calls you closer. Therefore, don't run from Jesus because of what He already knows. Run to Him for transformation. ❤️‍🔥 ✍🏽 THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: When Jesus enters your life, He does not only change your circumstances; He also cleanses your heart and transforms you into a vessel for His glory. 🔥✝️ 🙏🏽 PRAYER Heavenly Father, Thank You for revealing the power and glory of Jesus Christ through His Word. Lord Jesus, come into every area of my life. Transform what needs to be transformed and restore what has been broken. Teach me to trust You even when I do not understand Your ways. Give me grace to obey Your Word completely. Cleanse my heart from every attitude, habit, desire, relationship, and sin that does not glorify You. Make my life a holy temple where Your presence is welcomed and Your name is honored. Help me never to treat my relationship with You as a transaction. Let my worship come from a genuine heart that loves and honors You. May Your glory be revealed through my life. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen. 🙏🏽🔥 📜 THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: PSALMS 79–81 📖 ✝️ THE CALVARY MINISTRY ONLINE Birthright is Evangelism

✨ Set your mind on Christ and keep your heart focused on eternal things. 📲 Share this with someone who needs encouragement to keep their focus on God. #Colossians32 #ThingsAbove #FocusOnChrist #EternalPerspective #ChristCentered #SetYourMind #FaithInChrist #ChristianLiving #WalkByFaith #Lordsbook

WHEN GOD DOESN'T FIX WHAT WE WANT FIXED Mark 1:36 -37) Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” When Jesus went to a solitary place to pray, disciples looked out to him and explained everyone is looking for Him.....but Jesus choose to go somewhere else knowing very well the crowd was waiting for Him. The passage illustrates that Jesus had the power to heal but He seemed to turn His back on them. It's hard to understand why Jesus heals or responds to prayers and sometimes He doesn't and that feels like He is walking away. Many times we focus on unanswered prayer,hurt and pain in our lives but God is focused on a bigger picture. God wants to restore our relationship with him more than anything else. Regardless we can choose with a voice of praise ,thanking God in all circumstances...whether God answers or not. 1 Thessalonians 5:16 -18) Rejoice evermore, Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

SERMON SEGMENT: "Shed Clear Light of Christ About Football & Its Fans" Key Texts: Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, Colossians 3:23, 1 Peter 1:15-16, Galatians 5:16-17, Hebrews 12:1-2 --- INTRO Church, the Lord is speaking to us in this last age. Hebrews 1:2 We must be careful what we pattern our lives after. Because our sanctification is delicate. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 — “For this is the will of God, your sanctification.” Tonight let’s talk about football and its fans — not to condemn people, but to shed the clear light of Christ on it. Ephesians 5:13 — “But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible.” 1. THE WARNING: DON'T BE PATTERNED BY THE WORLD Romans 12:2 — “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Football itself is just a game. But the spirit around football and its fan culture often carries: Pride - Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction” Injustice - cheating, bribes, violence, curses on other teams Flesh desires - gambling, drunkenness, lust, idolatry of players, spending hours that should be for God 1 John 2:15-16 — “Do not love the world or the things in the world... For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father.” Warning to Christians and non-Christians: If our mind, thoughts, and actions are shaped more by football rivalry than by the Spirit, we are being conformed, not transformed. And “no one should think eternal life inheritance in an unclean life.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 — “neither the sexually immoral... nor thieves... will inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:21 — “those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Our sanctification needs the shield of the Spirit and guidance, or it gets corrupted and compromised. Ephesians 6:16 2. THE BALANCE: DISCIPLINE FROM THE BIBLE, NOT FROM THE WORLD Some will say: “But Paul used sports!” Yes. 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 — “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.” Paul is not telling us to go play football. He’s using the discipline of athletes to teach us spiritual discipline: Focus. Training. Self-control. Running to win an imperishable crown. Hebrews 12:1 — “let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus.” The world trains the body for 90 minutes. We must train the spirit for eternity. Colossians 3:23 — “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” If you play football, play unto the Lord. With integrity. Without pride. Without cursing. Without idolatry. If you are a fan, fan unto the Lord. With a renewed mind. 3. THE TEST: DOES IT HELP OR HINDER YOUR SALVATION? We are to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” — Philippians 2:12 Not earn it. But keep it clean, not corrupted. Ask yourself 3 questions before the game and after the game: Does this make Jesus increase in me, or decrease? John 3:30 Does this renew my mind, or fill it with pride, hate, and flesh? Romans 12:2 Can I do this and still be pure and blameless before God? 1 Peter 1:15-16 If football causes you to miss prayer, to gossip, to gamble, to hate, to be drunk — then it has become an idol. 1 Corinthians 10:14 — “Flee from idolatry.” 4. APPLICATION: HOW TO ENGAGE WITH A RENEWED MIND Awaken - See the spirit behind the culture. Don’t be blind. Proverbs 29:18 Renew - Let the Spirit transform your thoughts about competition, winning, and identity. Romans 12:2 Obey - If the Spirit says “turn it off, come pray,” obey. John 14:23 Purify - Guard your eyes, your mouth, your time. Psalm 119:9 CLOSING WORD Brothers and sisters, football is not the enemy. The flesh is.