• Acts 7:60 — Lord, do not hold this sin against them.

    I will pray with you this way — after Word, not after flesh:

    ---

    Prayer of a true witness for this consecration of female bishop in Uganda:

    Father in Heaven, in Name of Your Son Jesus Christ, the Lamb who stands on Mount Zion,

    You who sealed 144,000, You who see in secret, You who gave Green 7 vision of restoration of Your Word and Red 7 vision of warning against evil doing —

    Look now upon Your church in Uganda and upon this consecration service.

    If these shepherds — and pastors who follow — have gone after flesh desires, self interest, pride, and have forgotten suffering sheep like Reagan and suffering churches while collecting tithes and offerings —

    Lord, do not punish them unto destruction now, but convict them unto repentance now.

    Job 33:15-16 — In a dream, in a vision of night... You open ears of men and seal their instruction.
    As You have shown Your servant Reagan, show them also — give them visions, dreams, as You promise Joel 2:28 — that they may see: “We have sent our witness Reagan with My Word in visions for you to obey, but you have not obeyed.”

    Take veil away. Let them see unrighteousness. Let them hear true Word 1 Tim 3:1-7, Titus 1:6-9. as anyone in consecration act of another to pursue the bishop office. that they do it accordingly to thy word.

    Holy Spirit, call them: Repent & obey and do what is right and live.

    Give to church under attack by darkness — protection, nourishment in wilderness as Rev 12:14, seal on foreheads as Rev 7:3.

    We refuse spirit of cursing. We choose spirit of firstfruits — blameless, no lie in mouth, following Lamb wherever He goes Rev 14:4-5.

    Let Green 7 vision— restoration — come to Uganda. Let Your Word be restored on pulpit.



    Ezekiel 18:23 — Have I any pleasure at all that wicked should die? says Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?

    By this prayer O Lord, show them — not by your wrath, but by your mercy first that leads to repentance. As the Red 7 vision state with 2 judgements, of correction & destruction. And by Green 7 vision sealing them among 144000, in obeying thy word to be pure before God. Rev14:4-5, Rom6:16.

    In Jesus Name, Amen.
    Acts 7:60 — Lord, do not hold this sin against them. I will pray with you this way — after Word, not after flesh: --- Prayer of a true witness for this consecration of female bishop in Uganda: Father in Heaven, in Name of Your Son Jesus Christ, the Lamb who stands on Mount Zion, You who sealed 144,000, You who see in secret, You who gave Green 7 vision of restoration of Your Word and Red 7 vision of warning against evil doing — Look now upon Your church in Uganda and upon this consecration service. If these shepherds — and pastors who follow — have gone after flesh desires, self interest, pride, and have forgotten suffering sheep like Reagan and suffering churches while collecting tithes and offerings — Lord, do not punish them unto destruction now, but convict them unto repentance now. Job 33:15-16 — In a dream, in a vision of night... You open ears of men and seal their instruction. As You have shown Your servant Reagan, show them also — give them visions, dreams, as You promise Joel 2:28 — that they may see: “We have sent our witness Reagan with My Word in visions for you to obey, but you have not obeyed.” Take veil away. Let them see unrighteousness. Let them hear true Word 1 Tim 3:1-7, Titus 1:6-9. as anyone in consecration act of another to pursue the bishop office. that they do it accordingly to thy word. Holy Spirit, call them: Repent & obey and do what is right and live. Give to church under attack by darkness — protection, nourishment in wilderness as Rev 12:14, seal on foreheads as Rev 7:3. We refuse spirit of cursing. We choose spirit of firstfruits — blameless, no lie in mouth, following Lamb wherever He goes Rev 14:4-5. Let Green 7 vision— restoration — come to Uganda. Let Your Word be restored on pulpit. Ezekiel 18:23 — Have I any pleasure at all that wicked should die? says Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? By this prayer O Lord, show them — not by your wrath, but by your mercy first that leads to repentance. As the Red 7 vision state with 2 judgements, of correction & destruction. And by Green 7 vision sealing them among 144000, in obeying thy word to be pure before God. Rev14:4-5, Rom6:16. In Jesus Name, Amen.
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  • If God elevates you in this season—whether in business, education, ministry, or public office—it is not for your ego; it is for your assignment.

    Read the full devotional here 🏼 https://www.sdcworld.org/2026/08/leadership-that-serves.html?m=1

    Declarations
    * I lead by serving others with humility and love.
    * My position is an opportunity to uplift, build, and empower people.
    * I reject pride and walk in Christlike responsibility.
    * God exalts me as I serve faithfully in my sphere of influence.
    If God elevates you in this season—whether in business, education, ministry, or public office—it is not for your ego; it is for your assignment. Read the full devotional here 👉🏼 https://www.sdcworld.org/2026/08/leadership-that-serves.html?m=1 Declarations * I lead by serving others with humility and love. * My position is an opportunity to uplift, build, and empower people. * I reject pride and walk in Christlike responsibility. * God exalts me as I serve faithfully in my sphere of influence.
    www
    https://www.sdcworld.org/2026/08/leadership
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  • SERMON AS SON HAS SHOWN me, His servant &witness Reagan. testifying to what he shown/ spoke to me IN VISIONS l Saw after vanished. & share them to last age people As— Red 7 vision offering Two Edges,(one of judgement of correction & another destruction). And Green 7 vision for Sealing. Preaching it in Uganda, &unto living ones in this last age. Heb1:2, acts26:16, proverbs 29:18.



    TITLE: RED 7 AND GREEN 7 — JUDGMENT OF TWO EDGES

    Text: Hebrews 1:2, Acts 26:16, 1 Peter 4:17, Rev 14:1-5

    INTRODUCTION: A WITNESS — NOT ONE OF THE TWO, BUT WITNESS OF WHAT SON HAS SHOWN ME

    Acts 26:16 — “I have appeared to you to appoint you servant and witness to things you have seen.”
    Heb 1:2 — In these last days God has spoken to us by His Son.

    I, Reagan, am not one of Two Witnesses Rev 11. I am witness of what Son has shown and spoken to me in visions — Green 7 and Red 7 — unto you of last days, including Uganda.



    I. RED 7 FIRST EDGE — JUDGMENT OF CORRECTION — BEGAN AT HIS HOUSE — AT ME FIRST

    1 Peter 4:17 — Judgment begins at household of God.
    Prov 24:16 — Righteous falls seven times and rises again.

    God showed me Red 7 first upon me:

    I fell — righteous falls 7 times
    He disciplined me — not condemnation — Rom 8:1 — No condemnation in Christ
    Heb 12:6 — Whom Lord loves He chastens
    He punished me and shaped me back with grace — Heb 12:11 — painful for moment, afterward yields peaceable fruit of righteousness

    I repented.
    1 John 1:7 — Blood of Jesus His Son cleansed me from all sin
    Purified me from all sin.

    Then GREEN 7 came:

    Spirit set me apart — made me holy — 2 Cor 6:17 — Come out and be separate
    Anointed me — 1 John 2:20 — anointing from Holy One
    Separated from compromising world and its things — 1 John 2:15
    Appointed as His servant witness by Himself Jesus — Gal 1:1 — not from man
    Sealed and confirmed among 144,000 — Rev 7:3, Rev 14:1, Eph 1:13 — sealed with Holy Spirit

    This is what blameless, faithful, virgin means — Rev 14:4-5 — no lie in mouth, follow Lamb wherever He goes. Purity = faithfulness.


    II. SAME NATURE NOW TO YOU — BACKSLIDDEN CHURCH

    As it was to me first, so to you backslidden church now. You have fallen.

    Example before our eyes in Uganda:

    CONSECRATION OF FEMALE BISHOP — not in alignment with 1 Tim 3:1-7 — bishop must be husband of one wife — Titus 1:6-9 — elder husband of one wife. Word is clear.
    Collecting offerings, tithing while forgetting suffering churches — James 2:15-16, Acts 20:33-35
    Doing after flesh desires, self interest, pride — 2 Tim 3:2-5, Phil 3:19

    This is seen by God. Red 7 warning was given already.

    God calls you same way He called me:

    REPENT. OBEY WORD. PURSUE CLEAN LIFE BY WORD + PRAYER.

    1 Tim 4:5 — sanctified by Word of God and prayer
    2 Chron 7:14 — If My people humble themselves and turn from wicked ways, I will heal their land.
    Rev 14:12 — Endurance of saints who keep commandments and faith of Jesus

    Then:

    Blood will cleanse you as it cleansed me — Rev 1:5 — Washed us from sins in His own blood
    Green 7 will set you apart, make holy
    You will be sealed and confirmed among 144,000 — Rev 7:3



    III. RED 7 SECOND EDGE — JUDGMENT OF DESTRUCTION — IN REFUSAL

    If you refuse correction, Red 7 second edge comes.

    Not only correction — also destruction — as you have seen:

    Gen 11:4-8 — Tower of Babel — men made name for self against God — God scattered and destroyed their work.
    Rev 9:20-21 — Men not killed by plagues still did NOT repent — so greater judgment.
    Rev 16:8-11 — Bowls poured — men blasphemed and did not repent.
    2 Thess 1:8-9 — In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who obey not gospel.

    To you sinners, unbelievers, same word:

    God’s judgment is upon you. Rom 6:23 — Wages of sin is death.
    Repent. Go spiritual rebirth — John 3:3 — Must be born again — obey gospel and live.

    Because failure to do so — life in sin is death. Ezek 18:23 — I have no pleasure in death of wicked, but that he turn and live.

    If you repent, obey — His blood cleanses all sin and you live — Acts 2:38 — Repent and be baptized and you shall receive gift of Holy Spirit.

    But in refusal — perish in sin by judgment of destruction — Rev 20:15 — Whosoever not found written in book of life was cast into lake of fire.

    ALTER CALL:
    Two edges set before you today -- as set before me.
    1). choose Green 7 vision and Red 7 vision.
    First edge: repent, be washed, be set apart, be sealed among 144000.

    Or choose Red 7 vision,
    Second edge:
    Refuse, and perish -- tower of babel, was judgement of correction, rev9, rev16,
    Deut 30:19-- l have set before you life and death-- therefore choose life. Repent, obey word, pursue clean life by word+ prayer, be clean before God in name of lamb who stands on mt. Zion with 144000.

    Amen
    SERMON AS SON HAS SHOWN me, His servant &witness Reagan. testifying to what he shown/ spoke to me IN VISIONS l Saw after vanished. & share them to last age people As— Red 7 vision offering Two Edges,(one of judgement of correction & another destruction). And Green 7 vision for Sealing. Preaching it in Uganda, &unto living ones in this last age. Heb1:2, acts26:16, proverbs 29:18. TITLE: RED 7 AND GREEN 7 — JUDGMENT OF TWO EDGES Text: Hebrews 1:2, Acts 26:16, 1 Peter 4:17, Rev 14:1-5 INTRODUCTION: A WITNESS — NOT ONE OF THE TWO, BUT WITNESS OF WHAT SON HAS SHOWN ME Acts 26:16 — “I have appeared to you to appoint you servant and witness to things you have seen.” Heb 1:2 — In these last days God has spoken to us by His Son. I, Reagan, am not one of Two Witnesses Rev 11. I am witness of what Son has shown and spoken to me in visions — Green 7 and Red 7 — unto you of last days, including Uganda. I. RED 7 FIRST EDGE — JUDGMENT OF CORRECTION — BEGAN AT HIS HOUSE — AT ME FIRST 1 Peter 4:17 — Judgment begins at household of God. Prov 24:16 — Righteous falls seven times and rises again. God showed me Red 7 first upon me: I fell — righteous falls 7 times He disciplined me — not condemnation — Rom 8:1 — No condemnation in Christ Heb 12:6 — Whom Lord loves He chastens He punished me and shaped me back with grace — Heb 12:11 — painful for moment, afterward yields peaceable fruit of righteousness I repented. 1 John 1:7 — Blood of Jesus His Son cleansed me from all sin Purified me from all sin. Then GREEN 7 came: Spirit set me apart — made me holy — 2 Cor 6:17 — Come out and be separate Anointed me — 1 John 2:20 — anointing from Holy One Separated from compromising world and its things — 1 John 2:15 Appointed as His servant witness by Himself Jesus — Gal 1:1 — not from man Sealed and confirmed among 144,000 — Rev 7:3, Rev 14:1, Eph 1:13 — sealed with Holy Spirit This is what blameless, faithful, virgin means — Rev 14:4-5 — no lie in mouth, follow Lamb wherever He goes. Purity = faithfulness. II. SAME NATURE NOW TO YOU — BACKSLIDDEN CHURCH As it was to me first, so to you backslidden church now. You have fallen. Example before our eyes in Uganda: CONSECRATION OF FEMALE BISHOP — not in alignment with 1 Tim 3:1-7 — bishop must be husband of one wife — Titus 1:6-9 — elder husband of one wife. Word is clear. Collecting offerings, tithing while forgetting suffering churches — James 2:15-16, Acts 20:33-35 Doing after flesh desires, self interest, pride — 2 Tim 3:2-5, Phil 3:19 This is seen by God. Red 7 warning was given already. God calls you same way He called me: REPENT. OBEY WORD. PURSUE CLEAN LIFE BY WORD + PRAYER. 1 Tim 4:5 — sanctified by Word of God and prayer 2 Chron 7:14 — If My people humble themselves and turn from wicked ways, I will heal their land. Rev 14:12 — Endurance of saints who keep commandments and faith of Jesus Then: Blood will cleanse you as it cleansed me — Rev 1:5 — Washed us from sins in His own blood Green 7 will set you apart, make holy You will be sealed and confirmed among 144,000 — Rev 7:3 III. RED 7 SECOND EDGE — JUDGMENT OF DESTRUCTION — IN REFUSAL If you refuse correction, Red 7 second edge comes. Not only correction — also destruction — as you have seen: Gen 11:4-8 — Tower of Babel — men made name for self against God — God scattered and destroyed their work. Rev 9:20-21 — Men not killed by plagues still did NOT repent — so greater judgment. Rev 16:8-11 — Bowls poured — men blasphemed and did not repent. 2 Thess 1:8-9 — In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who obey not gospel. To you sinners, unbelievers, same word: God’s judgment is upon you. Rom 6:23 — Wages of sin is death. Repent. Go spiritual rebirth — John 3:3 — Must be born again — obey gospel and live. Because failure to do so — life in sin is death. Ezek 18:23 — I have no pleasure in death of wicked, but that he turn and live. If you repent, obey — His blood cleanses all sin and you live — Acts 2:38 — Repent and be baptized and you shall receive gift of Holy Spirit. But in refusal — perish in sin by judgment of destruction — Rev 20:15 — Whosoever not found written in book of life was cast into lake of fire. ALTER CALL: Two edges set before you today -- as set before me. 1). choose Green 7 vision and Red 7 vision. First edge: repent, be washed, be set apart, be sealed among 144000. Or choose Red 7 vision, Second edge: Refuse, and perish -- tower of babel, was judgement of correction, rev9, rev16, Deut 30:19-- l have set before you life and death-- therefore choose life. Repent, obey word, pursue clean life by word+ prayer, be clean before God in name of lamb who stands on mt. Zion with 144000. Amen 🙏
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  • **JESUS IS CALLING TODAY**

    Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say?

    This question from Jesus, in Luke 6:46, needs to touch your heart deeply. We live in a time when much is said about the love of Jesus, about blessing, healing, and prosperity, but little is said about repentance, obedience, and holiness.

    It is true that Jesus is love, for those who also love him (Proverbs 8:17), but the same Jesus who said come to me also declared that if you want to follow him, you must deny yourself and take up your cross daily. Following Christ has a cost: dying to sin and living for Jesus. He himself said that whoever loves him keeps his commandments.

    I ask you, you who say you are a Christian: are you truly following Jesus, or just using his name?

    The Word of God does not call sin a weakness; it calls it sin, and it confronts the attitude of those who claim to be Christian yet live out, day to day, practices such as lying, greed, envy, pride, hatred, adultery, sexual immorality, idolatry, theft, addictions, corruption, slander, and hypocrisy. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 6, lists several of these practices. But right after, he reminds us that some of the believers in Corinth had once lived this way, and were washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of Jesus.

    Jesus says to you: repent and turn away from sin.

    Jesus told the parable of the rich man who built bigger barns, thinking he had many years ahead, and God said to him: Fool, this very night your soul will be required of you; then who will own what you have prepared?

    You may have a house, a car, a job, a good salary, plans but what does it profit you to gain the whole world and lose your soul?

    If you are in Jesus Christ, you are a new creation, and the evil one cannot touch you or your household.

    The book of Acts 3:19 says: Repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out.

    Jesus does not look only for those who call him Lord, but for those who follow him and do what he commands, being doers of the word and not hearers only. Your life is short, eternity is real. Do not treat grace as a license to sin, and do not put it off until tomorrow.

    If today you hear his voice, do not harden your heart.
    **JESUS IS CALLING TODAY** Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say? This question from Jesus, in Luke 6:46, needs to touch your heart deeply. We live in a time when much is said about the love of Jesus, about blessing, healing, and prosperity, but little is said about repentance, obedience, and holiness. It is true that Jesus is love, for those who also love him (Proverbs 8:17), but the same Jesus who said come to me also declared that if you want to follow him, you must deny yourself and take up your cross daily. Following Christ has a cost: dying to sin and living for Jesus. He himself said that whoever loves him keeps his commandments. I ask you, you who say you are a Christian: are you truly following Jesus, or just using his name? The Word of God does not call sin a weakness; it calls it sin, and it confronts the attitude of those who claim to be Christian yet live out, day to day, practices such as lying, greed, envy, pride, hatred, adultery, sexual immorality, idolatry, theft, addictions, corruption, slander, and hypocrisy. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 6, lists several of these practices. But right after, he reminds us that some of the believers in Corinth had once lived this way, and were washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of Jesus. Jesus says to you: repent and turn away from sin. Jesus told the parable of the rich man who built bigger barns, thinking he had many years ahead, and God said to him: Fool, this very night your soul will be required of you; then who will own what you have prepared? You may have a house, a car, a job, a good salary, plans but what does it profit you to gain the whole world and lose your soul? If you are in Jesus Christ, you are a new creation, and the evil one cannot touch you or your household. The book of Acts 3:19 says: Repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out. Jesus does not look only for those who call him Lord, but for those who follow him and do what he commands, being doers of the word and not hearers only. Your life is short, eternity is real. Do not treat grace as a license to sin, and do not put it off until tomorrow. If today you hear his voice, do not harden your heart.
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  • Trust God's process and choose patience over pride.

    Share this with someone who needs encouragement to keep trusting God's timing.

    #Ecclesiastes78 #TrustTheProcess #FinishWell #Patience #GodsTiming #StayFaithful #FaithInChrist #ChristianLiving #WalkByFaith #Lordsbook
    ✨ Trust God's process and choose patience over pride. 📲 Share this with someone who needs encouragement to keep trusting God's timing. #Ecclesiastes78 #TrustTheProcess #FinishWell #Patience #GodsTiming #StayFaithful #FaithInChrist #ChristianLiving #WalkByFaith #Lordsbook
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  • WHY DO THE RIGHTEOUS SUFFER? Part 1 of 2.
    I would like to address one of the most puzzling and perplexing problems confronting the Christian today and that is why do the righteous suffer? In order to deal with this adequately, we're going to be looking at the book of Job. We read in Job Chapter 1:1f There was a man in the Land of Oz whose name is Job and that man was perfect and upright and one that feared God and turned away from evil. We continue to read in the book of Job how he lost everything, his family, his property, his possessions, and then lost his health with a loathsome disease. The universal problem of whether or not suffering is a sign of divine displeasure, and thus presupposes sin on the part of the sufferer, is the theme of the book of Job.

    The central problem of the book of Job is the central problem of humanity. Why do men suffer the way they do, and especially, why do the righteous suffer? Why are not godly, righteous, faithful obedient men and women always blessed? Why does it seem many of the ungodly prosper and are never in trouble? A Christian wonders why must I suffer this or that, or why must I go through this trial, or why do I have to experience all of this pain and adversity? I'm a Christian, I study the Bible, I love the Lord. I feel that I'm obedient, so why do I go through such long trials, hardships, and personal attacks? To make things even worse, many times there is no immediate answer and it's a real test of your faith as with Job.

    Is all adversity and suffering the direct result of sin? What is the basis upon which prosperity and adversity, blessing and misfortune, affliction and health happen to people? What is the basis upon which these things are distributed to men in this life? The principal aim of the book of Job is to disprove the popular theory that was held by many of the Jews and it's still popular today, that all suffering is a sign of God's displeasure and presupposes sin on the part of the sufferer. Inseparably related to the problem of suffering is the greater problem of evil and to consider one necessitates the consideration of the other. The problem of evil results from the clear fact that within the world that God created good according to Genesis 1, it was created very good! Within this world that God created good there is much that is now imperfect. It has become a world of suffering, sin, hate, warfare, oppression, evil and death. Now even a superficial observer will note that these two facts present somewhat of a dilemma. On the one hand Genesis 1 shows that God created all things good and he hates evil. On the other hand, we've seen the widespread evil and suffering that's in this world of imperfection. Now how can we explain this: what has happened? Some suggest that either God cannot remove evil nor could he have prevented its entrance into his world.

    Others say God does not will to prevent it and did not will to prevent its entrance into the Garden of Eden. Now the first conclusion will be rejected by all who believe in the Sovereign God of the Bible but neither is the second alternative any help in solving the apparent dilemma. It doesn't give us a satisfactory solution and so believers and Christians have always sought a third alternative to explain the problem of evil in a good universe. Now the book of Job is in reality the source material for a study of some of the most profound theological questions of the Bible- the problem of the righteous suffering adversity and the meaning of the presence of evil in a world God created good. It gives us the source of sickness and adversity. It's not God as some think and is often implied today. It's Satan who is behind the scenes doing this. No book in the Bible gives more insight into the problem of why the righteous suffer and the meaning and purpose of evil in the world. Now we will examine that question.

    There are three basic solutions that have been given to the problem of evil.
    First there's a denial of its existence. We're told all evil is only an illusion. This is fundamentally the doctrinal position of the Christian Scientists. All evil experienced, meaning sin, suffering, pain, and the like are purely subjective, existing only in the mind of the observer. They have no objective reality. Christian science teaches that since God is good, he could not permit evil to exist and therefore evil is not real. Suffering, evil, sin, and Satan and death are the imagination of man's finite mind. They're only an illusion. They have no reality and would disappear if man would by faith and self-discipline deny their existence. Of course, the objections to this hypothesis are almost self-evident.

    Even if this hypothesis were accepted as valid, which it isn't, one is still faced with the question of how the appearance of evil and suffering is to be explained. I mean what's the origin and meaning of the illusion of pain and suffering and death? The illusion of pain and suffering is as real to the sufferer as real pain and suffering. A world in which the majority of its inhabitants are deceived with respect to the presence of suffering needs as much explaining as one in which evil is a genuine reality. It doesn't solve the problem, it only changes the terminology from reality to illusion. The suffering and the evil remain. It is quite obvious that this view is unbiblical and is out of harmony with the facts of experience. I mean Christian Scientists yell just as loudly as anyone else when they mashed their finger with a hammer. They go right on dying like the rest of humanity.

    Another suggested solution is the error is finitism. We're told God's power is limited. The doctrine of the finite God is the solution that we must choose, we are told. The fact that God is not completely good and that he is not omnipotent is an unscriptural attempt to explain the presence of moral and natural evil. The limitation doctrine argues that God made the best kind of world that he could but that even God could not prevent the presence of evil. Finitism, we are told, preserves the goodness of God and recognizes that God is not the source of all things. He is the source of all that is good and He is an opposition to all that is evil. Finitism seems to be a solution to some people.

    But again, this theory is unbiblical. The doctrine of a finite God cannot stand in view of the testimony of Scripture. See Daniel 4:35 Jeremiah 32:17, Matthew 19:26, Romans 9, Job 1 and 2. We're told that God is in control of all events and governments in heaven and earth. Nothing is too hard for God and with God nothing is impossible. As we read Job chapters 1 & 2 we see that Satan had to get God's permission to afflict Job. The concept of an eternal principle of evil against which God is engaged in some cosmic struggle and the outcome of which is by no means certain is platonic dualism pure and simple. It's not Biblical. The doctrine of finitism is no solution at all to the problem but simply a sophisticated shortcut to avoid what appears to be a dilemma. It results from the fallacy that one must either give up the goodness of God or His omnipotence and power since there appears to be an alleged conflict. The only solution seems to be to sacrifice his omnipotence according to this unscriptural view.

    Now a third solution which we believe to be the biblical one, is that a moral world involves the possibility of evil. In a moral universe of free creatures, the possibility of moral development involves the possibility of the entrance of moral evil and its consequences into the world. For example, we see in the narratives of Genesis that God did not intend to compel moral obedience, but that a holy moral character could only be developed by voluntary free choice on Adam's part. Hence, a world without the possibility of disobeying God would not present the necessary means of developing moral character. Adam was not born with a holy moral character, but he was innocent. He was pure, but you're not born with character. This must develop and grow as you respond to the experiences of life. Trials, adversities, and so forth are designed to shape one's character.

    Someone has pointed out that these sufferings sometimes crush the person who experiences it. There are times when the final result is more glorious than would be conceivable in any other kind of universe. Therefore, this view does give us a workable solution to the problem of evil and helps explain the purpose of suffering. It is the suffering of the righteous and the allowance of the entrance of sin into the world. This view involves a possibility of the entrance of evil and also helps explain God's self-imposed limitations. Now those terms are important. We see God is presented in Scripture as omnipotent and all-powerful. But it is also true that, at the moment He created something outside himself, man who is a free moral creature, who could have the power at least temporarily to say no to God, that there was to some degree a self-imposed limitation which God placed upon Himself.

    This does not mean that God has limited His sovereignty, power, or His rule by creating a being in his own image who had the power to rebel against him. But it does mean that God chose to exercise his sovereignty in a universe filled with creatures who could temporarily rebel against that sovereignty. Notice it's only temporary, and so we see a moral world involves the possibility of the entrance and presence of moral evil. This brings us to the basic question that we're going to discuss. The perplexing problem of why the righteous suffer and biblical solutions. It's not unusual that trials and sufferings of the child of God may involve several purposes. We shall explore these next.

    Part 2.) First, we see that trials and sufferings have an educational purpose. We will see from this study that the righteous suffering trial and affliction is not always evidence that they have sinned or evidence that God is displeased with them. There may be some deeper purpose in God allowing it and that is to bring them into conformity to the image of Jesus Christ. Examining these purposes is necessary because the Christian goes through trials and sufferings of many kinds. Therefore, they need to know whether or not these are chastisements, are things to be resisted as from the devil, or if these things are from the hand of God! This way we will not be resisting when we should be submitting so we will benefit from our trials and testings. We mentioned that trials and sufferings have an educational purpose. We see Job's misfortunes and sufferings at first of all as a teaching and educational purpose. We see spiritual wisdom and discernment do not automatically come to the believer but they are gained through the times of hardship and suffering and of trial and testing.

    Job learned the meaning of an abiding faith in God. He received an education along the line of an abiding and steadfast faith. See chapter 13 in verses 15-18. Job said though he slay me yet will I trust him. He came to know what genuine faith was and he was willing to trust God in spite of circumstances and appearances. He came to know in a more meaningful way God as his Redeemer in chapter 19. He has come through a great valley of testing and trial and affliction and there's one thing he says. I don't understand all of this, but I do know my redeemer lives and then he became confident in his future of vindication. We see that in chapter 9 verses 32-35, chapter 16 verse 19, chapter 13 verse 18. He said I know that I will be justified and this suffering of mine is not the result of sin, but I will be vindicated.

    Almost beside himself from grief and suffering, he came into a deeper assurance of a future life beyond the grave and this present world of inequality, injustice, and affliction. He came into a deeper understanding of the sovereignty of God. In chapters 38 to 41 where the Lord addresses him in two discourses of speeches, Job said, I've heard of You in the hearing of the ear and now my eye has seen You. I abhor myself and I repent in dust and in ashes. He said, I lay my hand over my mouth and I'll not speak again. I've spoken once, I've spoken twice but now, he says I'll not speak again. God revealed to him his sovereignty. God doesn't answer job's perplexities or questions. He just reminds him that He is God and that whatever he does is righteous.

    So, the educational purpose and significance of suffering is evident throughout the Bible especially in the book of Job as Job progressively moves from one valley of doubt and mystery to another. Each time climbing to a mountain peak of faith as he conquers his fears and his doubts and he comes to a new understanding and appreciation of the promises of God. The meaning of suffering is first and foremost of all for the express purpose of developing within the heart of the saint the assurance and understanding of his trust in God. In psalm 119 verses 65-72. The psalmist said there that he praises the Lord for afflicting him because then he came to know how to obey the Lord as he should. He said I thank You for the correction of my affliction because now I've come to understand better how to obey your precepts and your law. Our trials and tests, persecutions and the like have an educational purpose.

    When Jesus saves you, he sends you to His school. That is the school of the trial of your faith. Sadly, most Christians have not been taught this. They do not profit from their lessons so they keep taking the same course over and over. This is because they're flunking the tests. They've not been taught to submit to the trials but instead resist them. They think trials are something to be avoided at all costs. The Bible says we are to rejoice in our trials, James 1, because it is working in us the steadfast endurance we need to mature. Jesus told us that trials are to be a cause of rejoicing in Matthew 5, because when we're persecuted he said, rejoice because great is your reward in heaven. We are not to resist these things.

    Again, in Acts 14:22, for we must by much tribulation enter the kingdom of God. If you're trying to get off the pathway of trial and if you're trying to get out of that school, then you are on the wrong path. Realize you will not be able to graduate because you're flunking the course or you become a spiritual dropout from the school of the trial of your faith. Trials and sufferings are designed by God because He loves you and desires to educate you in an abiding faith in knowing that He is able to deliver and protect you keeping you to the end. You come to trust Him in spite of circumstances as Job. You come to the place where you can say though He slay me yet will I trust Him. That doesn't make any sense to your head or your intellect, but if you stay in God's school and learn your lessons as you should, it will make sense to your spirit and to your heart. Trials and sufferings of the believer for righteousness' sake have an educational purpose. Stay in God's school long enough for him to teach you something and you'll find you'll be blessed for it with a mature faith and trust in the plans and purposes of God in your life!

    Part 3.) Next, we see that sometimes sufferings and trials have a punitive purpose. This is the solution, by the way, to the problem suggested by Job's friends. You'll notice this as you read the book and although it is by no means the whole answer, yet it does have its place in the total picture. This is the law of sowing and reaping Galatians 6:7 - for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap. There are natural consequences of sin and so sometimes trials and sufferings have a punitive purpose. Punitive means punishment. Some of these things we endure and suffer are because we've not heeded the law of sowing and reaping Galatians 6:7. We see this throughout the Bible that this works for the saint as well as the sinner.

    We have to obey this law. If we don't sow to the Spirit and sow to the flesh, we're going to reap the consequences. We see this in the case of David. He had to reap what he sowed in his sin with Bathsheba. We read the sword never departed from his house, although he did receive forgiveness. We also see this in the New Testament in 1st Corinthians 5 and 1st Corinthians 11. Some of the Christians were not partaking of the communion the Lord's Supper as they should. Therefore, Paul says you don't discern the Lord's body, you're not eating this supper worthily, and therefore some of you are sick and some of you are dying prematurely.

    This is the law of sowing and reaping. For example, if a Christian girl allows herself to get into trouble and becomes pregnant, she may repent of that sin and be forgiven but she'll still suffer the stigma of bearing an illegitimate child. She's still going to suffer the consequences of what she sowed, for whatsoever you sow you reap. Galatians 6:7. So there's no way to get around the fact that you're going to reap what you sow. This is why sometimes we suffer trials and afflictions. We should examine our lives to see whether or not God is judging us because of something we have disobeyed him about or not getting our lives corrected about some matter. Now what's the significance of Job's suffering in relation to the punitive purpose? Remember this is the suggested solution of Job's three friends. The principle upon which all suffering is based they said is this- that suffering is a direct result of sin and a just recompense for it.

    Job's sufferings, they insisted, were a sign of divine displeasure and presupposed sin on his part. Now of course the Bible does set forth this principle. It's the law of sowing and reaping where righteousness will bring prosperity and blessing, disobedience and wickedness will bring adversity. This is a principle set forth throughout the Bible as Deuteronomy 28 which is a good example of that. Psalm 1 is another example. But what of the righteous individual who often is the victim of misfortune and suffering, and why so often do the ungodly seem to prosper? What's the explanation for the suffering of the innocent and the prosperity of the wicked? Was the popular notion that the innocent do not suffer and the wicked are always afflicted contrary to the facts, even as Bildad and Zophar dogmatically insisted it was true? They insisted the principle was immutable and that Job, though outwardly righteous, nevertheless must be guilty of some heinous secret sins.

    Their philosophy was this, that all sin causes suffering. Job is suffering. The conclusion, Job must be a sinner! Job's sufferings, they argue, convict him implicitly of some grave sin and they plead with him to acknowledge it and repent. Job protests his innocence throughout the book and so we still are faced with the perplexing question. Why then is Job suffering? Remember he didn't have chapters 1 and 2 which give us the explanation. He had to endure this experience before the answer came. What then is the explanation for those instances which seemed by the Scriptures, show the moral principle of cause and effect, sowing and reaping, that they could not always be forced into a neat logical system? The laws governing society did not guarantee that in some individual cases the innocent might not suffer and that wickedness might not elude temporary judgment.

    No, throughout the scriptures we see that suffering is not necessarily the direct result of prior sins. This is proven in many passages as Jeremiah 19, Ezekiel 21, Amos chapter 2, In John 9, the case of the blind man, Jesus said this man was not blind because of his parent's sin or his own sin but that God might be glorified in his healing. So, also, in the case of Job, we see he suffered innocently. What the Scriptures do teach is this - that in the light of eternity it is the righteous who will be blessed and the wicked who will suffer. We should not judge too soon. The conclusion is this, suffering and adversity may sometimes be the result of sin and therefore the purpose is punitive, but this is not always the case. Don't follow Job's friends' rigid thinking in condemning someone when you do not have all the facts.

    Part 4.) Sometimes trials and suffering have a disciplinary purpose. There are times afflictions are the chastisements of a loving Father. This is in harmony with Hebrews 12, 1st Corinthians 5, 1st Corinthians 11 and proverbs 3 verses 11-12. Who the Lord loves He chastens. The Scriptures tell us in Job chapter 33, that God speaks to man and the purpose for that is he may withdraw man from his purpose and hide pride from man. He keeps back his soul from the pit and his life from perishing by the sword. He is chastened also with pain upon his bed and the multitude of his bones with strong pain. God chastens his children because he doesn't want His children going on a path of destruction from disobedience to His Word and will for their lives.

    We read in Hebrews 12 that who the Lord loves He chastens and He scourges every son He receives. Job 33 speaks of one form of chastisement being sickness. In Hebrews 12 it doesn't say anything about sickness being a form of chastisement. God has many ways to chasten His children. Sometimes he just withholds his blessings. Testing has a way of humbling man's pride. You see, many of Job's utterances under the weight of his afflictions gave indication that his trials had not yet fully accomplished their purpose. You will see this as you read the book of Job. Job sometimes questions God's purposes and in his questioning of God's purpose and his control of human affairs, it implied that Job knew more than God. Sometimes Christians, under the weight of their trials and afflictions, will cry out to God in such a way and try to use their logic and reason to such an extent that they even question God's wisdom in allowing them the trials and afflictions.
    To be Continued. Edited. Shared.

    God willing, more will be posted soon. All glory to Jesus alone.
    ❤️WHY DO THE RIGHTEOUS SUFFER? Part 1 of 2. I would like to address one of the most puzzling and perplexing problems confronting the Christian today and that is why do the righteous suffer? In order to deal with this adequately, we're going to be looking at the book of Job. We read in Job Chapter 1:1f There was a man in the Land of Oz whose name is Job and that man was perfect and upright and one that feared God and turned away from evil. We continue to read in the book of Job how he lost everything, his family, his property, his possessions, and then lost his health with a loathsome disease. The universal problem of whether or not suffering is a sign of divine displeasure, and thus presupposes sin on the part of the sufferer, is the theme of the book of Job. The central problem of the book of Job is the central problem of humanity. Why do men suffer the way they do, and especially, why do the righteous suffer? Why are not godly, righteous, faithful obedient men and women always blessed? Why does it seem many of the ungodly prosper and are never in trouble? A Christian wonders why must I suffer this or that, or why must I go through this trial, or why do I have to experience all of this pain and adversity? I'm a Christian, I study the Bible, I love the Lord. I feel that I'm obedient, so why do I go through such long trials, hardships, and personal attacks? To make things even worse, many times there is no immediate answer and it's a real test of your faith as with Job. Is all adversity and suffering the direct result of sin? What is the basis upon which prosperity and adversity, blessing and misfortune, affliction and health happen to people? What is the basis upon which these things are distributed to men in this life? The principal aim of the book of Job is to disprove the popular theory that was held by many of the Jews and it's still popular today, that all suffering is a sign of God's displeasure and presupposes sin on the part of the sufferer. Inseparably related to the problem of suffering is the greater problem of evil and to consider one necessitates the consideration of the other. The problem of evil results from the clear fact that within the world that God created good according to Genesis 1, it was created very good! Within this world that God created good there is much that is now imperfect. It has become a world of suffering, sin, hate, warfare, oppression, evil and death. Now even a superficial observer will note that these two facts present somewhat of a dilemma. On the one hand Genesis 1 shows that God created all things good and he hates evil. On the other hand, we've seen the widespread evil and suffering that's in this world of imperfection. Now how can we explain this: what has happened? Some suggest that either God cannot remove evil nor could he have prevented its entrance into his world. Others say God does not will to prevent it and did not will to prevent its entrance into the Garden of Eden. Now the first conclusion will be rejected by all who believe in the Sovereign God of the Bible but neither is the second alternative any help in solving the apparent dilemma. It doesn't give us a satisfactory solution and so believers and Christians have always sought a third alternative to explain the problem of evil in a good universe. Now the book of Job is in reality the source material for a study of some of the most profound theological questions of the Bible- the problem of the righteous suffering adversity and the meaning of the presence of evil in a world God created good. It gives us the source of sickness and adversity. It's not God as some think and is often implied today. It's Satan who is behind the scenes doing this. No book in the Bible gives more insight into the problem of why the righteous suffer and the meaning and purpose of evil in the world. Now we will examine that question. There are three basic solutions that have been given to the problem of evil. First there's a denial of its existence. We're told all evil is only an illusion. This is fundamentally the doctrinal position of the Christian Scientists. All evil experienced, meaning sin, suffering, pain, and the like are purely subjective, existing only in the mind of the observer. They have no objective reality. Christian science teaches that since God is good, he could not permit evil to exist and therefore evil is not real. Suffering, evil, sin, and Satan and death are the imagination of man's finite mind. They're only an illusion. They have no reality and would disappear if man would by faith and self-discipline deny their existence. Of course, the objections to this hypothesis are almost self-evident. Even if this hypothesis were accepted as valid, which it isn't, one is still faced with the question of how the appearance of evil and suffering is to be explained. I mean what's the origin and meaning of the illusion of pain and suffering and death? The illusion of pain and suffering is as real to the sufferer as real pain and suffering. A world in which the majority of its inhabitants are deceived with respect to the presence of suffering needs as much explaining as one in which evil is a genuine reality. It doesn't solve the problem, it only changes the terminology from reality to illusion. The suffering and the evil remain. It is quite obvious that this view is unbiblical and is out of harmony with the facts of experience. I mean Christian Scientists yell just as loudly as anyone else when they mashed their finger with a hammer. They go right on dying like the rest of humanity. Another suggested solution is the error is finitism. We're told God's power is limited. The doctrine of the finite God is the solution that we must choose, we are told. The fact that God is not completely good and that he is not omnipotent is an unscriptural attempt to explain the presence of moral and natural evil. The limitation doctrine argues that God made the best kind of world that he could but that even God could not prevent the presence of evil. Finitism, we are told, preserves the goodness of God and recognizes that God is not the source of all things. He is the source of all that is good and He is an opposition to all that is evil. Finitism seems to be a solution to some people. But again, this theory is unbiblical. The doctrine of a finite God cannot stand in view of the testimony of Scripture. See Daniel 4:35 Jeremiah 32:17, Matthew 19:26, Romans 9, Job 1 and 2. We're told that God is in control of all events and governments in heaven and earth. Nothing is too hard for God and with God nothing is impossible. As we read Job chapters 1 & 2 we see that Satan had to get God's permission to afflict Job. The concept of an eternal principle of evil against which God is engaged in some cosmic struggle and the outcome of which is by no means certain is platonic dualism pure and simple. It's not Biblical. The doctrine of finitism is no solution at all to the problem but simply a sophisticated shortcut to avoid what appears to be a dilemma. It results from the fallacy that one must either give up the goodness of God or His omnipotence and power since there appears to be an alleged conflict. The only solution seems to be to sacrifice his omnipotence according to this unscriptural view. Now a third solution which we believe to be the biblical one, is that a moral world involves the possibility of evil. In a moral universe of free creatures, the possibility of moral development involves the possibility of the entrance of moral evil and its consequences into the world. For example, we see in the narratives of Genesis that God did not intend to compel moral obedience, but that a holy moral character could only be developed by voluntary free choice on Adam's part. Hence, a world without the possibility of disobeying God would not present the necessary means of developing moral character. Adam was not born with a holy moral character, but he was innocent. He was pure, but you're not born with character. This must develop and grow as you respond to the experiences of life. Trials, adversities, and so forth are designed to shape one's character. Someone has pointed out that these sufferings sometimes crush the person who experiences it. There are times when the final result is more glorious than would be conceivable in any other kind of universe. Therefore, this view does give us a workable solution to the problem of evil and helps explain the purpose of suffering. It is the suffering of the righteous and the allowance of the entrance of sin into the world. This view involves a possibility of the entrance of evil and also helps explain God's self-imposed limitations. Now those terms are important. We see God is presented in Scripture as omnipotent and all-powerful. But it is also true that, at the moment He created something outside himself, man who is a free moral creature, who could have the power at least temporarily to say no to God, that there was to some degree a self-imposed limitation which God placed upon Himself. This does not mean that God has limited His sovereignty, power, or His rule by creating a being in his own image who had the power to rebel against him. But it does mean that God chose to exercise his sovereignty in a universe filled with creatures who could temporarily rebel against that sovereignty. Notice it's only temporary, and so we see a moral world involves the possibility of the entrance and presence of moral evil. This brings us to the basic question that we're going to discuss. The perplexing problem of why the righteous suffer and biblical solutions. It's not unusual that trials and sufferings of the child of God may involve several purposes. We shall explore these next. Part 2.) First, we see that trials and sufferings have an educational purpose. We will see from this study that the righteous suffering trial and affliction is not always evidence that they have sinned or evidence that God is displeased with them. There may be some deeper purpose in God allowing it and that is to bring them into conformity to the image of Jesus Christ. Examining these purposes is necessary because the Christian goes through trials and sufferings of many kinds. Therefore, they need to know whether or not these are chastisements, are things to be resisted as from the devil, or if these things are from the hand of God! This way we will not be resisting when we should be submitting so we will benefit from our trials and testings. We mentioned that trials and sufferings have an educational purpose. We see Job's misfortunes and sufferings at first of all as a teaching and educational purpose. We see spiritual wisdom and discernment do not automatically come to the believer but they are gained through the times of hardship and suffering and of trial and testing. Job learned the meaning of an abiding faith in God. He received an education along the line of an abiding and steadfast faith. See chapter 13 in verses 15-18. Job said though he slay me yet will I trust him. He came to know what genuine faith was and he was willing to trust God in spite of circumstances and appearances. He came to know in a more meaningful way God as his Redeemer in chapter 19. He has come through a great valley of testing and trial and affliction and there's one thing he says. I don't understand all of this, but I do know my redeemer lives and then he became confident in his future of vindication. We see that in chapter 9 verses 32-35, chapter 16 verse 19, chapter 13 verse 18. He said I know that I will be justified and this suffering of mine is not the result of sin, but I will be vindicated. Almost beside himself from grief and suffering, he came into a deeper assurance of a future life beyond the grave and this present world of inequality, injustice, and affliction. He came into a deeper understanding of the sovereignty of God. In chapters 38 to 41 where the Lord addresses him in two discourses of speeches, Job said, I've heard of You in the hearing of the ear and now my eye has seen You. I abhor myself and I repent in dust and in ashes. He said, I lay my hand over my mouth and I'll not speak again. I've spoken once, I've spoken twice but now, he says I'll not speak again. God revealed to him his sovereignty. God doesn't answer job's perplexities or questions. He just reminds him that He is God and that whatever he does is righteous. So, the educational purpose and significance of suffering is evident throughout the Bible especially in the book of Job as Job progressively moves from one valley of doubt and mystery to another. Each time climbing to a mountain peak of faith as he conquers his fears and his doubts and he comes to a new understanding and appreciation of the promises of God. The meaning of suffering is first and foremost of all for the express purpose of developing within the heart of the saint the assurance and understanding of his trust in God. In psalm 119 verses 65-72. The psalmist said there that he praises the Lord for afflicting him because then he came to know how to obey the Lord as he should. He said I thank You for the correction of my affliction because now I've come to understand better how to obey your precepts and your law. Our trials and tests, persecutions and the like have an educational purpose. When Jesus saves you, he sends you to His school. That is the school of the trial of your faith. Sadly, most Christians have not been taught this. They do not profit from their lessons so they keep taking the same course over and over. This is because they're flunking the tests. They've not been taught to submit to the trials but instead resist them. They think trials are something to be avoided at all costs. The Bible says we are to rejoice in our trials, James 1, because it is working in us the steadfast endurance we need to mature. Jesus told us that trials are to be a cause of rejoicing in Matthew 5, because when we're persecuted he said, rejoice because great is your reward in heaven. We are not to resist these things. Again, in Acts 14:22, for we must by much tribulation enter the kingdom of God. If you're trying to get off the pathway of trial and if you're trying to get out of that school, then you are on the wrong path. Realize you will not be able to graduate because you're flunking the course or you become a spiritual dropout from the school of the trial of your faith. Trials and sufferings are designed by God because He loves you and desires to educate you in an abiding faith in knowing that He is able to deliver and protect you keeping you to the end. You come to trust Him in spite of circumstances as Job. You come to the place where you can say though He slay me yet will I trust Him. That doesn't make any sense to your head or your intellect, but if you stay in God's school and learn your lessons as you should, it will make sense to your spirit and to your heart. Trials and sufferings of the believer for righteousness' sake have an educational purpose. Stay in God's school long enough for him to teach you something and you'll find you'll be blessed for it with a mature faith and trust in the plans and purposes of God in your life! Part 3.) Next, we see that sometimes sufferings and trials have a punitive purpose. This is the solution, by the way, to the problem suggested by Job's friends. You'll notice this as you read the book and although it is by no means the whole answer, yet it does have its place in the total picture. This is the law of sowing and reaping Galatians 6:7 - for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap. There are natural consequences of sin and so sometimes trials and sufferings have a punitive purpose. Punitive means punishment. Some of these things we endure and suffer are because we've not heeded the law of sowing and reaping Galatians 6:7. We see this throughout the Bible that this works for the saint as well as the sinner. We have to obey this law. If we don't sow to the Spirit and sow to the flesh, we're going to reap the consequences. We see this in the case of David. He had to reap what he sowed in his sin with Bathsheba. We read the sword never departed from his house, although he did receive forgiveness. We also see this in the New Testament in 1st Corinthians 5 and 1st Corinthians 11. Some of the Christians were not partaking of the communion the Lord's Supper as they should. Therefore, Paul says you don't discern the Lord's body, you're not eating this supper worthily, and therefore some of you are sick and some of you are dying prematurely. This is the law of sowing and reaping. For example, if a Christian girl allows herself to get into trouble and becomes pregnant, she may repent of that sin and be forgiven but she'll still suffer the stigma of bearing an illegitimate child. She's still going to suffer the consequences of what she sowed, for whatsoever you sow you reap. Galatians 6:7. So there's no way to get around the fact that you're going to reap what you sow. This is why sometimes we suffer trials and afflictions. We should examine our lives to see whether or not God is judging us because of something we have disobeyed him about or not getting our lives corrected about some matter. Now what's the significance of Job's suffering in relation to the punitive purpose? Remember this is the suggested solution of Job's three friends. The principle upon which all suffering is based they said is this- that suffering is a direct result of sin and a just recompense for it. Job's sufferings, they insisted, were a sign of divine displeasure and presupposed sin on his part. Now of course the Bible does set forth this principle. It's the law of sowing and reaping where righteousness will bring prosperity and blessing, disobedience and wickedness will bring adversity. This is a principle set forth throughout the Bible as Deuteronomy 28 which is a good example of that. Psalm 1 is another example. But what of the righteous individual who often is the victim of misfortune and suffering, and why so often do the ungodly seem to prosper? What's the explanation for the suffering of the innocent and the prosperity of the wicked? Was the popular notion that the innocent do not suffer and the wicked are always afflicted contrary to the facts, even as Bildad and Zophar dogmatically insisted it was true? They insisted the principle was immutable and that Job, though outwardly righteous, nevertheless must be guilty of some heinous secret sins. Their philosophy was this, that all sin causes suffering. Job is suffering. The conclusion, Job must be a sinner! Job's sufferings, they argue, convict him implicitly of some grave sin and they plead with him to acknowledge it and repent. Job protests his innocence throughout the book and so we still are faced with the perplexing question. Why then is Job suffering? Remember he didn't have chapters 1 and 2 which give us the explanation. He had to endure this experience before the answer came. What then is the explanation for those instances which seemed by the Scriptures, show the moral principle of cause and effect, sowing and reaping, that they could not always be forced into a neat logical system? The laws governing society did not guarantee that in some individual cases the innocent might not suffer and that wickedness might not elude temporary judgment. No, throughout the scriptures we see that suffering is not necessarily the direct result of prior sins. This is proven in many passages as Jeremiah 19, Ezekiel 21, Amos chapter 2, In John 9, the case of the blind man, Jesus said this man was not blind because of his parent's sin or his own sin but that God might be glorified in his healing. So, also, in the case of Job, we see he suffered innocently. What the Scriptures do teach is this - that in the light of eternity it is the righteous who will be blessed and the wicked who will suffer. We should not judge too soon. The conclusion is this, suffering and adversity may sometimes be the result of sin and therefore the purpose is punitive, but this is not always the case. Don't follow Job's friends' rigid thinking in condemning someone when you do not have all the facts. Part 4.) Sometimes trials and suffering have a disciplinary purpose. There are times afflictions are the chastisements of a loving Father. This is in harmony with Hebrews 12, 1st Corinthians 5, 1st Corinthians 11 and proverbs 3 verses 11-12. Who the Lord loves He chastens. The Scriptures tell us in Job chapter 33, that God speaks to man and the purpose for that is he may withdraw man from his purpose and hide pride from man. He keeps back his soul from the pit and his life from perishing by the sword. He is chastened also with pain upon his bed and the multitude of his bones with strong pain. God chastens his children because he doesn't want His children going on a path of destruction from disobedience to His Word and will for their lives. We read in Hebrews 12 that who the Lord loves He chastens and He scourges every son He receives. Job 33 speaks of one form of chastisement being sickness. In Hebrews 12 it doesn't say anything about sickness being a form of chastisement. God has many ways to chasten His children. Sometimes he just withholds his blessings. Testing has a way of humbling man's pride. You see, many of Job's utterances under the weight of his afflictions gave indication that his trials had not yet fully accomplished their purpose. You will see this as you read the book of Job. Job sometimes questions God's purposes and in his questioning of God's purpose and his control of human affairs, it implied that Job knew more than God. Sometimes Christians, under the weight of their trials and afflictions, will cry out to God in such a way and try to use their logic and reason to such an extent that they even question God's wisdom in allowing them the trials and afflictions. To be Continued. Edited. Shared. ❤️ God willing, more will be posted soon. All glory to Jesus alone.
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  • A concise commentary on Galatians

    Galatians 5:26

    Verse: Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

    Commentary: Paul warns against pride and division within the community.

    Application: Foster humility and unity, avoiding behaviors that cause discord.

    A concise commentary on Galatians Galatians 5:26 Verse: Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Commentary: Paul warns against pride and division within the community. Application: Foster humility and unity, avoiding behaviors that cause discord.
    0 Yorumlar 0 hisse senetleri 18 Views
  • [Verse 1]
    When I lose my way
    You call me back
    With a patient hand
    And a steady laugh

    You sit beside
    My mess and fear
    And every hard thing
    Turns clear

    [Pre-Chorus]
    When the night runs long
    You don't let go
    You teach my heart
    What I need to know

    [Chorus]
    You are my friend
    You are my teacher
    You are my father
    You are my God

    You are my friend
    You are my teacher
    You are my master
    You are my God

    [Verse 2]
    When I fall apart
    You lift me slow
    You know my name
    You help me grow

    Through every storm
    You stay so near
    A steady flame
    A holy clear

    [Pre-Chorus]
    When the night runs long
    You don't let go
    You teach my heart
    What I need to know

    [Chorus]
    You are my friend
    You are my teacher
    You are my faith
    You are my God

    You are my friend
    You are my teacher
    You are my faith
    You are my God

    [Bridge]
    Take all my doubt
    Take all my pride
    Stay in my chest
    Stay by my side

    If I have breath
    I'll sing it loud
    You carried me
    Right through the cloud

    [Final Chorus]
    You are my friend
    You are my teacher
    You are my faith
    You are my God

    You are my friend
    You are my teacher
    You are my faith
    You are my God

    You are my friend
    You are my teacher
    You are my faith
    You are my God
    https://youtu.be/Ua2d2O_dHx4?si=OZsB3KULSGbnv5-S
    [Verse 1] When I lose my way You call me back With a patient hand And a steady laugh You sit beside My mess and fear And every hard thing Turns clear [Pre-Chorus] When the night runs long You don't let go You teach my heart What I need to know [Chorus] You are my friend You are my teacher You are my father You are my God You are my friend You are my teacher You are my master You are my God [Verse 2] When I fall apart You lift me slow You know my name You help me grow Through every storm You stay so near A steady flame A holy clear [Pre-Chorus] When the night runs long You don't let go You teach my heart What I need to know [Chorus] You are my friend You are my teacher You are my faith You are my God You are my friend You are my teacher You are my faith You are my God [Bridge] Take all my doubt Take all my pride Stay in my chest Stay by my side If I have breath I'll sing it loud You carried me Right through the cloud [Final Chorus] You are my friend You are my teacher You are my faith You are my God You are my friend You are my teacher You are my faith You are my God You are my friend You are my teacher You are my faith You are my God https://youtu.be/Ua2d2O_dHx4?si=OZsB3KULSGbnv5-S
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  • 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
    ❤️ 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
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  • Good morning, brethren.
    1. Morning devotion for today.

    MD.i. MORNING TEA
    THE WORD FOR TODAY
    SUNDAY AUGUST 23, 2O26.
    "THREE LEVELS OF ATTACK (3)"

    ‘…All these things I will give you...’ Matthew 4:9 NKJV

    THE ATTACK over the cross. Let’s look at the third temptation Jesus faced: ‘…The devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me’’’ (Matthew 4:8-9 NKJV). Satan’s third attack was over a cross-less life. In essence, he told Jesus, ‘You don’t have to carry the cross. Just bow to me and you can have it all.’ Jesus said, ‘…“Away with you, satan!...”’ (Matthew 4:10 NKJV). ‘Away’ with any teaching that says God is your porter and He has to wait on you! Or that He’s like a vending machine; all you have to do is put in a few coins and whatever you want will come out. Paul writes, ‘I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me’ (Galatians 2:20 NKJV). Has God promised to bless you? Absolutely! But that doesn’t mean you’ll never get hurt, or face lack, or fatigue, or be betrayed and disappointed by others. Jesus said, ‘…unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies [to self], it remains alone; but if it dies [to self], it produces much…’ (John 12:24 NKJV). Have you ever heard the expression, ‘Dead man walking?’ To do God’s will, you have to die to your own will, and do it daily. But if you’re willing to, God will take you to a new level of blessing.

    Bible In A Year: Amos 5:18 – 9:15, Matt 20:29-34, Ps 119:145-160, Pro 19:1-2. Courtesy: Grace So Amazing

    *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. [22/08, 8:22 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA*

    SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2026

    *THE REWARD OF SACRIFICIAL DISCIPLESHIP*

    *Text:* Matthew 19:27–30

    27. Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
    28. And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
    29. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
    30. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.


    *Timeless Truth:*
    _For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister"_ (Hebrews 6:10)

    *INTRODUCTION*

    During the Second World War, Desmond Doss, an American Army medic and committed Christian, served without carrying a weapon because of his convictions. During the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, he repeatedly entered a dangerous battlefield to rescue wounded soldiers. He is credited with saving approximately 75 men, lowering each wounded soldier to safety while under enemy fire. Doss later received the Medal of Honor for extraordinary courage.
    His story reminds us that genuine commitment often involves sacrifice. A person who is committed to a worthy cause may surrender comfort, safety and personal advantage because he believes the cause is greater than himself.
    Peter's question in Matthew 19:27 comes from this same concern. The disciples had left much to follow Jesus, and Peter asked, “What shall we have therefore?” Jesus did not condemn the question. Instead, He taught them that sacrifice for God's kingdom is never wasted.*For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.* (Hebrews 6:10).
    The passage teaches us that Christ calls His followers to sacrificial discipleship, promises them spiritual reward and warns them against measuring God's kingdom by worldly standards.
    Perhaps you have sacrificed time to serve God. Perhaps you have endured rejection because of your faith. Perhaps you have given financially when it was difficult. Perhaps you have chosen obedience over personal ambition. Perhaps you have remained faithful in a ministry where nobody seems to notice your work. Jesus' answer in this passage is an encouragement: God sees, God remembers and God rewards. But Christ also corrects our understanding of reward. The Christian life is not primarily about asking, “What can I get from following Jesus?” It is about asking, “How can I faithfully serve the One who gave everything for me?”
    The disciples left much, but Jesus promised that their sacrifice would not be wasted. There are three great challenges before us:
    (i) Surrender your life completely to Christ.
    (ii) Serve faithfully without demanding immediate recognition. *(iii)* Stand firm when sacrifice becomes difficult.
    The world may celebrate those who appear to be first. God's kingdom operates differently. The person who quietly serves, humbly gives, faithfully prays, patiently suffers and continues obeying Christ may be accomplishing something of far greater eternal value than the person receiving public applause.
    Therefore, do not give up because your service is unnoticed. Do not stop serving because your sacrifice is costly. Do not measure God's faithfulness by your immediate circumstances. Your labour for Christ is never wasted.
    *Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.* (1 Corinthians 15:58)
    One day, the Lord Himself will reveal what truly mattered. And on that day, the faithful servant will discover that nothing surrendered to Christ was ever truly lost.


    *1. The Surrender of Sacrificial Discipleship*

    a. Peter reminded Jesus that the disciples had left their possessions and livelihoods to follow Him. Following Christ involves surrender. Christianity is not merely receiving blessings; it is also yielding our lives to the Lord. We must ask whether Christ truly has first place in our lives. Following Him may require us to surrender habits, relationships, ambitions, possessions, or personal preferences that compete with His will.
    b. The disciples did not merely admire Jesus; they left their former way of life and continued with Him. Christian commitment is not measured by how enthusiastically we begin, but by how faithfully we continue.

    *Questions*

    (i) What am I unwilling to surrender to Christ?
    (ii) Does my daily lifestyle demonstrate that following Jesus is more important to me than personal comfort?


    *2. The Reward of Kingdom Service*

    a. Jesus assured His disciples that their sacrifices would not go unnoticed. Jesus spoke of the future when He would sit on His glorious throne and the disciples would share in His kingdom.
    Our present service must be viewed in light of eternity. What we sacrifice for Christ now has eternal significance.
    b. Jesus promised that those who had sacrificed houses, family relationships or possessions for His name would receive abundant blessings. This does not mean that discipleship is a scheme for material prosperity. Rather, Jesus assures His followers that nothing surrendered to Him is ultimately lost. Jesus concludes His promise with: *"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters... for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.”*

    *Questions*

    (i) Do I serve God for His glory or mainly for recognition and earthly rewards?
    (ii) When sacrifice becomes difficult, do I remember the eternal reward promised by Christ?


    *3. The Reversal of Kingdom Standards*

    a. Jesus concludes with a statement that challenges human ideas about success and reward.
    Human society often measures greatness through wealth, position, influence, education and recognition. But God's measurement is different. We should not measure our spiritual worth by comparing ourselves with other people.
    b. God values humble service rather than self-promotion. A disciple should be willing to serve even when nobody applauds, notices or rewards the work. The world's ranking system will not determine the final outcome. God will ultimately reveal the true value of every person's service.

    *Questions*

    (i) Do I become discouraged when others receive recognition while my service remains unnoticed?
    (ii) Am I willing to serve faithfully even when I receive no immediate reward?

    *Prayer Points*

    1. Lord Jesus, help me to surrender every area of my life completely to You and place Your kingdom above my personal interests.
    2. Father, give me grace to remain faithful in serving You even when the work is difficult or unnoticed.
    3. Lord, deliver me from comparing myself with others and help me to value eternal rewards above temporary recognition.
    4. Holy Spirit, remove pride and selfish ambition from my heart and make me a humble servant who seeks God's glory rather than human applause.


    *Hymn:* Take My Life and Let It Be

    *THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* DANIEL 9-10
    [22/08, 8:22 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS)

    SUNDAY 23RD AUGUST, 2026```


    *BEYOND HUMAN MEASURE* 🫵🏽🏽‍🏽‍🏽🏽‍🏽🏽

    ```TEXT:MATTHEW 19:27-30```

    ```KEY VERSE:``` _*"And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first" (MATTHEW 19:29, 30).*_

    *Brother Andrew, a humble Dutchman, began smuggling Bibles into communist countries during the _Cold War,_ risking his life to serve believers behind the Iron Curtain. He didn't seek fame; he just obeyed God's quiet call. That small, faithful beginning grew into _Open Doors,_ a global ministry that continues to help persecuted Christians today. Though little known on earth, Andrew is surely honoured in heaven.*

    *His story perfectly illustrates the timeless principle Jesus lays out in today's passage: that all faithful, sacrificial service done for Him, however hidden or risky, will attract heaven's reward. In the text, Apostle Peter poses a question many believers still echo today: "We have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?" It is a question laced with hope but also with the subtle implication of comparison with others and transaction with God. Considering the context, Peter's question implies that if we have given up much for God, in contrast to the rich young ruler who didn't, surely we are due a proportionate reward. In His answer, Jesus affirms that sacrifice in His name is never forgotten. Certainly, we shall receive astounding rewards, yet He closes with a warning wrapped in a paradox: "But many _that are_ first shall be last; and the last _shall be_ first."*

    *This final line holds the key to understanding divine reward, not as a salary earned but as a gift bestowed in Sovereign wisdom. God's kingdom does not run on human logic or worldly meritocracy. Instead, it operates based on grace, faithfulness, and sincerity of heart. When we serve God with a mere transactional mind-set, doing in order to receive, we risk missing the heartbeat of discipleship. And to correct this misunderstanding, Jesus immediately follows His statement with the parable of the workers in the vineyard. There, those who worked a full day were shocked to receive the same wages as those hired last. Then Jesus concluded with the same warning: "So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen". The point is clear: God's rewards are not based on length of service or human measure, but on His gracious prerogative. Faithfulness, not fame, draws heaven's attention.*

    *This ought to challenge and comfort us. We are not in competition in God's kingdom. We are simply called to be faithful. Whatever the sacrifice our calling may demand, the measure of our reward is not in the scope of our task but in our fidelity to it. So, as the "prize-giving day" draws near, let us serve with joy, not calculation, remembering that the One who called us is no man's debtor but a just and faithful Rewarder.*

    ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*When you serve in silence, heaven echoes your labour with eternal applause.*_

    ```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *DANIEL 9-10*



    Beyond Human Measure
    https://dailymanna.app//
    *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 54: I AM READY FOR SERVICE; GHS 59: LITTLE IS MUCH WHEN GOD IS IN IT; GHS 62: GO LABOUR ON; AND GHS 89: O JESUS, I HAVE PROMISED*
    *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter*
    *#DailyManna23rdAugust2026*
    *#GCK*
    *#WorshipNuggets*
    *#BibleNuggets*
    *#LeadershipNuggets*
    *#RevivalNuggets*
    *#CrusadeNuggets*
    https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]
    [22/08, 8:22 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY```

    _*HIGHER EVERYDY: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_

    ✍🏽🏻‍ 🏽🛰

    ```SUNDAY 23RD AUGUST, 2026```

    *ATTITUDE TO WORLD AFFAIRS* 🫵🏽🏽‍🏽‍🏽🏽‍🏽

    ```TEXT:1 JOHN 2:15-17```

    ``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1 JOHN 2:15).*_

    *The hands of the clock has been used to describe three categories of believers. Twelve-o'clock-Christians are so heavenly conscious, but of no earthly use. Half-past-six-o'clock-Christians are buried in the world and have lost the vision of heaven. The six-o'clock-believers are Christians who are of significance on earth and are heavenly minded.*

    *The significance of salt as flavour is not felt when it is isolated from other ingredients. It is not eaten as food all on its own. The worth of salt is acknowledged when it is used as flavour. So are believers. We are the salt of the earth. While we insulate ourselves from the pollutions of the world and live with the consciousness of heaven, we should equally exact positive influence in the world.*

    *Christian youths can influence their world in various clubs in school - like the Press Club, Junior Engineers, Technicians and Scientists, Young Farmers Club, Red Cross Society - to shine the gospel light. Qualified youths should exercise their franchise during elections as responsible citizens. We should not contaminate ourselves with the evils of the society; instead, impact it positively.*

    ```QUOTE:``` _*Youths can influence their world.*_

    ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Don't isolate but insulate against the world.*_

    🏽🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Father, help me to be a blessing to the world.*_



    Attitude To World Affairs
    https://dailymanna.app//

    *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter*
    *#HigherEveryday23rdAugust2026*
    *#GCK*
    *#WorshipNuggets*
    *#BibleNuggets*
    *#LeadershipNuggets*
    *#RevivalNuggets*
    *#CrusadeNuggets*
    https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]
    [22/08, 8:22 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY```

    _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣)*_

    🏼🏼🏼🏼🏼‍

    ```SUNDAY 23RD AUGUST, 2026```

    *FIRST ON THE LIST* 🫵🏽🏽‍🏽‍🏽🏽‍🏽

    ```PSALM 103:1-5```



    ```Key Verse:``` _*"Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases" (Psalm 103:3).*_



    A list always starts with number one (1). In most cases, the first thing is the most important. For example, in an examination result, the first position is given to the child that scores the highest mark. The first always opens the list for other items to follow.

    As shown in our Bible passage, the first opens the door for all other benefits to come through. The blessings of God seem to be arranged in a divine, logical order in the lives of God's children. We do not have to rush for the second if we have not yet received the first. Sins (iniquities) block our way to receiving God's many benefits or blessings.

    Sin must first be removed out of our lives if we want to have God's blessings. For, *"if I regard* (allow) *iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me"* - and bless me (Psalm 66:18). In our Bible passage, the first benefit stated there is *"forgiveness of sin"*.

    It is after you have received this first benefit, by turning away from your bad ways, saying sorry to God, and making Jesus your Saviour and friend, that you are qualified to enjoy the other benefits like healing, deliverance, love and mercy of God, provision and long life.

    *If you desire God's blessings in your life, do the first thing first: repent and turn away from your sins, and the needed blessings will come into your life.*



    ```rayer:``` _*Lord, I am sorry for every bad thing I have done. Forgive my sins, be merciful to me and bless me.*_ 🏽

    ``` Further Reading:``` *Psalm 32:1, 2*



    First On The List
    https://dailymanna.app//

    *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter*
    *#SincereMilk23rdAugust2026*
    *#GCK*
    *#WorshipNuggets*
    *#BibleNuggets*
    *#LeadershipNuggets*
    *#RevivalNuggets*
    *#CrusadeNuggets*
    https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]

    2. Morning Prayer for today.

    MP.i. Morning Prayer

    Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. ⏤ Hebrews 10:22

    He who kneels the most, stands the best. ⏤ D.L. Moody

    Most gracious God, in Your good providence You have allowed us to see the light of another Sunday—draw near to us in mercy. May the Sun of righteousness arise upon us with healing in His wings. May our fellowship this day be with You, the Father, and with Your Son, Jesus Christ. May all unworthy thoughts be suppressed, and may our hearts be filled with holy desires. Be a guest in our home today. Abide with us and sanctify our home life.

    We ask You to bless all the gatherings of Your people who will worship today in any part of the world. May Your Spirit be with all who preach and teach in the name of Jesus, and with all who love You. May Your word have great power. May lost sinners be convicted and led to repentance. May Christians be strengthened and encouraged. May those who are sorrowful be comforted. May children and young people receive holy and heavenly guidance and be blessed. May this be a day of the power of the Most High, and may its influence be deep and lasting.

    We ask You, O God, to give us a good Sunday in our own home. Help us to remember the day and keep it in a way that pleases You and brings blessings into our lives. May our love for each other grow as we worship together. May Your love be poured out in our hearts more abundantly. May we stay close to Your heart all day. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

    https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/49/morning

    #taptapstudio
    #youdevotion.
    Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. MD.i. 😀💝🌺🎁🌹🎀 MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY SUNDAY AUGUST 23, 2O26. "THREE LEVELS OF ATTACK (3)" ‘…All these things I will give you...’ Matthew 4:9 NKJV THE ATTACK over the cross. Let’s look at the third temptation Jesus faced: ‘…The devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me’’’ (Matthew 4:8-9 NKJV). Satan’s third attack was over a cross-less life. In essence, he told Jesus, ‘You don’t have to carry the cross. Just bow to me and you can have it all.’ Jesus said, ‘…“Away with you, satan!...”’ (Matthew 4:10 NKJV). ‘Away’ with any teaching that says God is your porter and He has to wait on you! Or that He’s like a vending machine; all you have to do is put in a few coins and whatever you want will come out. Paul writes, ‘I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me’ (Galatians 2:20 NKJV). Has God promised to bless you? Absolutely! But that doesn’t mean you’ll never get hurt, or face lack, or fatigue, or be betrayed and disappointed by others. Jesus said, ‘…unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies [to self], it remains alone; but if it dies [to self], it produces much…’ (John 12:24 NKJV). Have you ever heard the expression, ‘Dead man walking?’ To do God’s will, you have to die to your own will, and do it daily. But if you’re willing to, God will take you to a new level of blessing. Bible In A Year: Amos 5:18 – 9:15, Matt 20:29-34, Ps 119:145-160, Pro 19:1-2. Courtesy: Grace So Amazing 💝🎀 *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. [22/08, 8:22 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA* SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2026 *THE REWARD OF SACRIFICIAL DISCIPLESHIP* *Text:* Matthew 19:27–30 27. Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 28. And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 30. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. *Timeless Truth:* _For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister"_ (Hebrews 6:10) *INTRODUCTION* During the Second World War, Desmond Doss, an American Army medic and committed Christian, served without carrying a weapon because of his convictions. During the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, he repeatedly entered a dangerous battlefield to rescue wounded soldiers. He is credited with saving approximately 75 men, lowering each wounded soldier to safety while under enemy fire. Doss later received the Medal of Honor for extraordinary courage. His story reminds us that genuine commitment often involves sacrifice. A person who is committed to a worthy cause may surrender comfort, safety and personal advantage because he believes the cause is greater than himself. Peter's question in Matthew 19:27 comes from this same concern. The disciples had left much to follow Jesus, and Peter asked, “What shall we have therefore?” Jesus did not condemn the question. Instead, He taught them that sacrifice for God's kingdom is never wasted.*For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.* (Hebrews 6:10). The passage teaches us that Christ calls His followers to sacrificial discipleship, promises them spiritual reward and warns them against measuring God's kingdom by worldly standards. Perhaps you have sacrificed time to serve God. Perhaps you have endured rejection because of your faith. Perhaps you have given financially when it was difficult. Perhaps you have chosen obedience over personal ambition. Perhaps you have remained faithful in a ministry where nobody seems to notice your work. Jesus' answer in this passage is an encouragement: God sees, God remembers and God rewards. But Christ also corrects our understanding of reward. The Christian life is not primarily about asking, “What can I get from following Jesus?” It is about asking, “How can I faithfully serve the One who gave everything for me?” The disciples left much, but Jesus promised that their sacrifice would not be wasted. There are three great challenges before us: (i) Surrender your life completely to Christ. (ii) Serve faithfully without demanding immediate recognition. *(iii)* Stand firm when sacrifice becomes difficult. The world may celebrate those who appear to be first. God's kingdom operates differently. The person who quietly serves, humbly gives, faithfully prays, patiently suffers and continues obeying Christ may be accomplishing something of far greater eternal value than the person receiving public applause. Therefore, do not give up because your service is unnoticed. Do not stop serving because your sacrifice is costly. Do not measure God's faithfulness by your immediate circumstances. Your labour for Christ is never wasted. *Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.* (1 Corinthians 15:58) One day, the Lord Himself will reveal what truly mattered. And on that day, the faithful servant will discover that nothing surrendered to Christ was ever truly lost. *1. The Surrender of Sacrificial Discipleship* a. Peter reminded Jesus that the disciples had left their possessions and livelihoods to follow Him. Following Christ involves surrender. Christianity is not merely receiving blessings; it is also yielding our lives to the Lord. We must ask whether Christ truly has first place in our lives. Following Him may require us to surrender habits, relationships, ambitions, possessions, or personal preferences that compete with His will. b. The disciples did not merely admire Jesus; they left their former way of life and continued with Him. Christian commitment is not measured by how enthusiastically we begin, but by how faithfully we continue. *Questions* (i) What am I unwilling to surrender to Christ? (ii) Does my daily lifestyle demonstrate that following Jesus is more important to me than personal comfort? *2. The Reward of Kingdom Service* a. Jesus assured His disciples that their sacrifices would not go unnoticed. Jesus spoke of the future when He would sit on His glorious throne and the disciples would share in His kingdom. Our present service must be viewed in light of eternity. What we sacrifice for Christ now has eternal significance. b. Jesus promised that those who had sacrificed houses, family relationships or possessions for His name would receive abundant blessings. This does not mean that discipleship is a scheme for material prosperity. Rather, Jesus assures His followers that nothing surrendered to Him is ultimately lost. Jesus concludes His promise with: *"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters... for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.”* *Questions* (i) Do I serve God for His glory or mainly for recognition and earthly rewards? (ii) When sacrifice becomes difficult, do I remember the eternal reward promised by Christ? *3. The Reversal of Kingdom Standards* a. Jesus concludes with a statement that challenges human ideas about success and reward. Human society often measures greatness through wealth, position, influence, education and recognition. But God's measurement is different. We should not measure our spiritual worth by comparing ourselves with other people. b. God values humble service rather than self-promotion. A disciple should be willing to serve even when nobody applauds, notices or rewards the work. The world's ranking system will not determine the final outcome. God will ultimately reveal the true value of every person's service. *Questions* (i) Do I become discouraged when others receive recognition while my service remains unnoticed? (ii) Am I willing to serve faithfully even when I receive no immediate reward? *Prayer Points* 1. Lord Jesus, help me to surrender every area of my life completely to You and place Your kingdom above my personal interests.🙏 2. Father, give me grace to remain faithful in serving You even when the work is difficult or unnoticed.🙏 3. Lord, deliver me from comparing myself with others and help me to value eternal rewards above temporary recognition.🙏 4. Holy Spirit, remove pride and selfish ambition from my heart and make me a humble servant who seeks God's glory rather than human applause.🙏 *Hymn:* Take My Life and Let It Be *THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* DANIEL 9-10 [22/08, 8:22 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) SUNDAY 23RD AUGUST, 2026``` *BEYOND HUMAN MEASURE* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽👑🙌🏽 📜📜```TEXT:MATTHEW 19:27-30```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first" (MATTHEW 19:29, 30).*_ *Brother Andrew, a humble Dutchman, began smuggling Bibles into communist countries during the _Cold War,_ risking his life to serve believers behind the Iron Curtain. He didn't seek fame; he just obeyed God's quiet call. That small, faithful beginning grew into _Open Doors,_ a global ministry that continues to help persecuted Christians today. Though little known on earth, Andrew is surely honoured in heaven.* *His story perfectly illustrates the timeless principle Jesus lays out in today's passage: that all faithful, sacrificial service done for Him, however hidden or risky, will attract heaven's reward. In the text, Apostle Peter poses a question many believers still echo today: "We have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?" It is a question laced with hope but also with the subtle implication of comparison with others and transaction with God. Considering the context, Peter's question implies that if we have given up much for God, in contrast to the rich young ruler who didn't, surely we are due a proportionate reward. In His answer, Jesus affirms that sacrifice in His name is never forgotten. Certainly, we shall receive astounding rewards, yet He closes with a warning wrapped in a paradox: "But many _that are_ first shall be last; and the last _shall be_ first."* *This final line holds the key to understanding divine reward, not as a salary earned but as a gift bestowed in Sovereign wisdom. God's kingdom does not run on human logic or worldly meritocracy. Instead, it operates based on grace, faithfulness, and sincerity of heart. When we serve God with a mere transactional mind-set, doing in order to receive, we risk missing the heartbeat of discipleship. And to correct this misunderstanding, Jesus immediately follows His statement with the parable of the workers in the vineyard. There, those who worked a full day were shocked to receive the same wages as those hired last. Then Jesus concluded with the same warning: "So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen". The point is clear: God's rewards are not based on length of service or human measure, but on His gracious prerogative. Faithfulness, not fame, draws heaven's attention.* *This ought to challenge and comfort us. We are not in competition in God's kingdom. We are simply called to be faithful. Whatever the sacrifice our calling may demand, the measure of our reward is not in the scope of our task but in our fidelity to it. So, as the "prize-giving day" draws near, let us serve with joy, not calculation, remembering that the One who called us is no man's debtor but a just and faithful Rewarder.* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*When you serve in silence, heaven echoes your labour with eternal applause.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *DANIEL 9-10*📜📜 Beyond Human Measure https://dailymanna.app// *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 54: I AM READY FOR SERVICE; GHS 59: LITTLE IS MUCH WHEN GOD IS IN IT; GHS 62: GO LABOUR ON; AND GHS 89: O JESUS, I HAVE PROMISED* *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#DailyManna23rdAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [22/08, 8:22 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```SUNDAY 23RD AUGUST, 2026``` *ATTITUDE TO WORLD AFFAIRS* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️❤️🌍❌🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:1 JOHN 2:15-17```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1 JOHN 2:15).*_ *The hands of the clock has been used to describe three categories of believers. Twelve-o'clock-Christians are so heavenly conscious, but of no earthly use. Half-past-six-o'clock-Christians are buried in the world and have lost the vision of heaven. The six-o'clock-believers are Christians who are of significance on earth and are heavenly minded.* *The significance of salt as flavour is not felt when it is isolated from other ingredients. It is not eaten as food all on its own. The worth of salt is acknowledged when it is used as flavour. So are believers. We are the salt of the earth. While we insulate ourselves from the pollutions of the world and live with the consciousness of heaven, we should equally exact positive influence in the world.* *Christian youths can influence their world in various clubs in school - like the Press Club, Junior Engineers, Technicians and Scientists, Young Farmers Club, Red Cross Society - to shine the gospel light. Qualified youths should exercise their franchise during elections as responsible citizens. We should not contaminate ourselves with the evils of the society; instead, impact it positively.* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*Youths can influence their world.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Don't isolate but insulate against the world.*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Father, help me to be a blessing to the world.*_ Attitude To World Affairs https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#HigherEveryday23rdAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [22/08, 8:22 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```SUNDAY 23RD AUGUST, 2026``` *FIRST ON THE LIST* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️✝️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🗣️🖤🩸🤍🙏🏽 📜📜```PSALM 103:1-5```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases" (Psalm 103:3).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 A list always starts with number one (1). In most cases, the first thing is the most important. For example, in an examination result, the first position is given to the child that scores the highest mark. The first always opens the list for other items to follow. As shown in our Bible passage, the first opens the door for all other benefits to come through. The blessings of God seem to be arranged in a divine, logical order in the lives of God's children. We do not have to rush for the second if we have not yet received the first. Sins (iniquities) block our way to receiving God's many benefits or blessings. Sin must first be removed out of our lives if we want to have God's blessings. For, *"if I regard* (allow) *iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me"* - and bless me (Psalm 66:18). In our Bible passage, the first benefit stated there is *"forgiveness of sin"*. It is after you have received this first benefit, by turning away from your bad ways, saying sorry to God, and making Jesus your Saviour and friend, that you are qualified to enjoy the other benefits like healing, deliverance, love and mercy of God, provision and long life. *If you desire God's blessings in your life, do the first thing first: repent and turn away from your sins, and the needed blessings will come into your life.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*Lord, I am sorry for every bad thing I have done. Forgive my sins, be merciful to me and bless me.*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *Psalm 32:1, 2* First On The List https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#SincereMilk23rdAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]. 2. Morning Prayer for today. MP.i. Morning Prayer Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. ⏤ Hebrews 10:22 He who kneels the most, stands the best. ⏤ D.L. Moody Most gracious God, in Your good providence You have allowed us to see the light of another Sunday—draw near to us in mercy. May the Sun of righteousness arise upon us with healing in His wings. May our fellowship this day be with You, the Father, and with Your Son, Jesus Christ. May all unworthy thoughts be suppressed, and may our hearts be filled with holy desires. Be a guest in our home today. Abide with us and sanctify our home life. We ask You to bless all the gatherings of Your people who will worship today in any part of the world. May Your Spirit be with all who preach and teach in the name of Jesus, and with all who love You. May Your word have great power. May lost sinners be convicted and led to repentance. May Christians be strengthened and encouraged. May those who are sorrowful be comforted. May children and young people receive holy and heavenly guidance and be blessed. May this be a day of the power of the Most High, and may its influence be deep and lasting. We ask You, O God, to give us a good Sunday in our own home. Help us to remember the day and keep it in a way that pleases You and brings blessings into our lives. May our love for each other grow as we worship together. May Your love be poured out in our hearts more abundantly. May we stay close to Your heart all day. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/49/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.
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