Daily Bible Lesson. IF THE DEAD ARE ALREADY IN HEAVEN OR HELL… WHY IS THE RESURRECTION SO IMPORTANT? 1 Corinthians 15 is one of the clearest chapters in the Bible about the resurrection of the dead. Paul repeatedly points to a future resurrection when Jesus Christ returns. This raises an important question: If the dead are already consciously enjoying heaven—or suffering in hell—immediately after death, why does the Bible place such enormous emphasis on a future resurrection? Let’s examine the biblical picture. 1. THE RESURRECTION IS CONNECTED TO CHRIST'S SECOND COMING “Afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.” — 1 Corinthians 15:23 Paul gives a clear sequence: Christ was raised first. Christ's people are raised at His coming. The resurrection is therefore connected with the Second Coming. “The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” — 1 Corinthians 15:52 This points to a great future resurrection event—not something that happens individually every time a believer dies. 2. THE RESURRECTION IS CENTRAL TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH Paul does not treat the resurrection as a minor detail. “If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.” — 1 Corinthians 15:14 “If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” — 1 Corinthians 15:17 Paul's message follows this powerful sequence: Christ died Christ was raised Believers will be raised Death will ultimately be destroyed “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” — 1 Corinthians 15:26 3. WHEN DO WE RECEIVE IMMORTALITY? Paul says: “This mortal must put on immortality.” — 1 Corinthians 15:53 Notice the context: immortality is associated with the resurrection. The Bible's emphasis is not simply that a person dies and immediately receives the final reward. Paul directs our attention toward the resurrection, when God's people are changed and receive immortality. The resurrection is not an afterthought—it is central to the Christian hope. 4. THE BIBLE DESCRIBES DEATH AS SLEEP The Bible repeatedly uses sleep as a description of death. Jesus and Lazarus “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth.” — John 11:11 Jesus then made it unmistakably clear: “Lazarus is dead.” — John 11:14 Daniel 12:2 “Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13–16 Paul speaks of those who are asleep and then describes their resurrection when Christ returns. Ecclesiastes 9:5 “The dead know not any thing.” Psalm 146:4 When a person dies, “his thoughts perish.” Together, these passages provide a biblical basis for understanding death as an unconscious state awaiting the resurrection. 5. THE BIBLICAL SEQUENCE BECOMES VERY CLEAR DEATH The person rests in the grave. CHRIST RETURNS The trumpet sounds. THE DEAD IN CHRIST RISE 1 Thessalonians 4:16 THEY ARE CHANGED 1 Corinthians 15:51–53 THEY RECEIVE IMMORTALITY 1 Corinthians 15:53–54 DEATH IS DEFEATED 1 Corinthians 15:54–55 This makes Paul's argument especially powerful: The Christian hope is not merely, “When I die, I go to heaven.” The great biblical hope is: JESUS IS COMING AGAIN! THE DEAD IN CHRIST WILL RISE! 6. WHAT ABOUT PASSAGES THAT SEEM TO TEACH IMMEDIATE LIFE AFTER DEATH? There are passages that Christians interpret differently, including: Luke 23:43 — “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Philippians 1:23 — Paul speaks of departing and being with Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:8 — “Absent from the body… present with the Lord.” These passages should not be ignored. However, Christians who believe in the sleep of death understand these verses alongside the many passages that explicitly describe death as sleep and emphasize the future resurrection. Questions involving punctuation, translation, context, and the meaning of being “with Christ” have contributed to different interpretations. The safest approach is to study the whole Bible rather than build a doctrine on one verse. 7. WHY DOES THE TEACHING OF DEATH AS SLEEP MATTER? It keeps the resurrection central. Paul makes the resurrection absolutely essential to Christian faith. It teaches that immortality is God's gift. “This mortal must put on immortality.” — 1 Corinthians 15:53 It gives greater meaning to the Second Coming. “The dead in Christ shall rise first.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:16 It warns against attempts to communicate with the dead. Deuteronomy 18:10–12; Isaiah 8:19 If the dead are unconscious, claims that deceased relatives are communicating with the living cannot automatically be accepted as genuine communication with the dead. It gives comfort through the resurrection hope. “Sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:13 Why? Because those who have died in Christ will rise again when Jesus returns! THE GREAT BIBLICAL HOPE The ultimate hope of Scripture is not death. It is not the grave. It is not merely an immortal soul escaping the body. The great hope is: JESUS CHRIST'S RETURN THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD THE GIFT OF IMMORTALITY THE DESTRUCTION OF DEATH ETERNAL LIFE WITH CHRIST “This mortal shall have put on immortality… then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” — 1 Corinthians 15:54 IN SHORT If the dead are already enjoying the complete reward of heaven immediately after death, the resurrection remains important—but it raises a significant question: Why does Paul place such extraordinary emphasis on the future resurrection as the moment when the dead are raised, changed, receive immortality, and experience final victory over death? Understanding the biblical teaching of death as sleep makes Paul's argument in 1 Corinthians 15 especially straightforward: The dead are resting. They are awaiting the voice of Christ. Jesus will return. The dead in Christ will awake. They will be changed. Death will be swallowed up in victory. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout… and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:16 THAT IS THE CHRISTIAN HOPE! Not merely that we die and go somewhere… But that JESUS IS COMING—AND THE DEAD WILL RISE!

Daily Devotional Be eyes to the blind; Feet to the lame. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. Job 29:15 Watch carefully, prayerfully, conscientiously, lest the mind become so engrossed with many important business transactions that true godliness is overlooked and love is quenched from the soul, notwithstanding the great and pitiful need of your being God’s helping hand to the blind and to all others who are unfortunate. The most friendless demand the most attention. Use your time and strength in learning to be “fervent in spirit,” to deal justly, and to love mercy, “serving the Lord.” Remember that Christ says, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.” God requires His people to be far more pitiful and considerate of the unfortunate than they are.... God requires that the same consideration which should be given to the widow and fatherless be given to the blind and to those suffering under the affliction of other physical infirmities. Disinterested benevolence is very rare in this age of the world.... It is strange that professed Christian men should disregard the plain, positive teachings of the Word of God and feel no compunction of conscience. God places upon them the responsibility of caring for the unfortunate, the blind, the lame, the widow, and the fatherless; but many make no effort to regard it. There is a great work to be done in our world, and as we approach the close of earth’s history, it does not lessen in the least degree; but when the perfect love of God is in the heart, wonderful things will be done. [244]

Amazing Facts Daily Devotionals What does Paul mean when he says “out of the body” and “caught up to the third heaven”? August 27, 2026 Read Time: 2 min This text has been used to support the doctrine of the immortal soul, but it has nothing to do with this at all. It is accepted by practically all commentators that the apostle Paul here was describing his own experience, because he spoke in the context of his own revelations (v. 1). He was concerned he would be taken as glorying or boasting about his visions. For likely this reason, he attributed the experience to a man he knew. Paul’s soul did not leave his body; If so, he would have been dead and nowhere does he make an allusion to his death or his resurrection. Paul is also speaking here of “visions” and “revelations.” He was not puzzled over whether he had died or not; he was merely uncertain as to how he was able to see paradise in that vision. Although it seemed that his body was taken to heaven, he felt it possible that he was taken there only in vision. He confesses ignorance as to what actually happened. The physical impressions seemed as though He were “out of the body,” in a manner of speaking. Likewise, he wrote to the Colossian church, “For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit” (Colossians 2:5). No one interprets this to mean that some immortal soul left Paul’s body to be with his friends. The fact is, only God knows the nature of that spiritual visit to paradise. So we would do well not to base any doctrine on this text. What Paul was interested in “boasting” about was not this unusual experience, but of suffering for Jesus Christ (v. 5). Key Bible Texts I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. (2 Corinthians 12:2 KJV)

SELF-PITY IS ALSO A STRONGHOLD There is a world people can build inside themselves. A world called self-pity. Self-pity says: "Nobody understands me." "Nobody sees what I have suffered." "Nobody appreciates me." "Look at everything that has happened to me." Now, there are real difficulties in life. People go through painful experiences. People have been hurt, but there is a difference between acknowledging pain and building your identity around pain. Self-pity keeps bringing you back to yourself. Everything becomes about your disappointment. Everything becomes about what people did to you. Everything becomes about what you did not receive. And slowly, you become trapped in a world where you are always the victim. Look at Elijah. After Jezebel threatened him, he ran away and sat under a tree. When God asked him what he was doing there, Elijah answered by focusing on himself. He said he had been very jealous for The Lord,.... but he was the only one left (1 Kings 19:10) But Elijah was not seeing the situation correctly. God still had people, and He was still working. The problem was not that Elijah had experienced difficulty. The problem was that his pain had become his entire perspective. Self-pity can make you forget God's bigger picture. It can make you abandon your assignment. You must burn down that world — not because your pain is fake, but because your pain cannot become your master. You are not only what happened to you. You are not only what people did to you. You are a child of God with a purpose. Do not allow self-pity to become a place you live. God has more for you than constantly looking at yourself and your wounds. Remember this Scripture and let The Word spoken there be your comfort: Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith The LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Shalom!

August 27, 2026 (day 239/365) THURSDAY GOD'S WORD FOR THE DAY “God Is Greater Than Our Understanding” Job 12:13 “With God are wisdom and might; He has counsel and understanding.” This is the Word of God. Job 12 reminds us that God possesses wisdom and understanding far beyond human knowledge. Job was suffering deeply, yet he recognized that God remained sovereign and wise even when he could not understand what was happening. There are times when life brings questions for which we have no answers. We may wonder why God allows certain things to happen or why our prayers seem unanswered. In such moments, we may not understand God's ways, but we can still trust His wisdom. Our limited understanding sees only a small part of the story, while God sees the beginning, the middle, and the end. Faith means trusting Him even when we cannot see the whole picture. May God give us humble hearts that trust His wisdom, especially when we do not understand His ways, and help us rest confidently in His sovereign care. Amen. Have a blessed day with the Lord. -- Pastor Emmanuel Serto

EVIL DOERS AROUND NATIONS — GOD'S JUDGEMENT OF CORRECTION NOW SUBJECTED ON YOU 1 Pet 4:17 — For time has come for judgment to begin at house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be end of those who do not obey gospel of God? Hear me, evil doers — workers of iniquity — around nations — altars of darkness — voices — persecutors — lovers of sin. God has judged His house first — and finished. You saw Red 7 vision l saw in sky after vanished was first a disciplinary action of suffering , which was subjected on me His house that l had fallen. and I repented as his house of my fall + shame before God & got cleansed by his blood. 1john1:7 & his word in eph5:26-27 which made me pure before God. 1Tim4:5. Thus this discplined me, corrected me & restored holiness back to me— born again — true Israel — Believer not practising sin. His word says in 1peter4:17-18 after this judgement of correction made on His house-- me & done . Now subjected to evil doers now.. thus repent, obey & live pure before God through faith in Christ or refuse will perish in sin. My hedge was bleached — not removed — to test — to purify. Job 2:6 — Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life. I was wounded — motorcycle, dog, flesh torn — but not given to death — Ps 118:18 — Lord chastened me severely, but has not given me over to death. My faith was tested by fire — 1 Pet 1:7 — but failed NOT — gold came out pure — Job 23:10 — I shall come forth as gold. Red No.7 means complete — John 19:30 — It is finished. My correction is done. NOW YOUR TURN — JUDGEMENT OF CORRECTION NOW ON YOU 1 Pet 4:17 — if it begins with us first, what will be end of you? Because God finished with His house, He now turns to you. Your judgement of correction is now set — now subjected on you — this is order of God — Ezek 18:30 — Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. This is not accident — this is ORDER on you. And hear warning: This punishment to you will be harsher than that subjected on His house. Luke 12:47-48 — that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare... shall be beaten with many stripes. For everyone to whom much is given, much will be required. To His house — bleach hedge — wound — but spare life — to preserve for calling. To you evil doers — many stripes — because you knew — you built altars — you sent voices — Eph 6:12 — you fought calling that fights Satan — 1 John 3:8 — you persecuted to make calling fail — Rev 12:17 — you knew. To me — chastening of son — Heb 12:6 — whom Lord loves He chastens. To you — wrath of judge — Heb 12:8 — if you are without chastening... then you are illegitimate and not sons. Matt 10:15 — it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in day of judgment than for that city. Heb 10:29 — Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled Son of God underfoot? Voices — of evil altars — the motorcycle accident — dog hit in accident— God counted them. Now unless you repent and live pure before God through faith in Christ, harsher correction falls — disease beyond wound — torment beyond voices — shame beyond nakedness — loss beyond flesh — Ps 11:6 — Upon wicked He will rain coals; fire and brimstone and burning wind shall be portion of their cup. WHAT GOD DEMANDS NOW: Repent — Acts 17:30 — God now commands all men everywhere to repent. Believe in faith — 1 John 1:7 — blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin — 1 Tim 4:5 — sanctified by Word and prayer. Live pure — Rev 14:4-5 — These are ones not defiled... without fault before throne of God — 1 John 3:9 — whoever born of God does not practice sin. Be true Israel — not practising sin — Matt 6:33 — seek first Kingdom and His righteousness, and much more shall be added. IF YOU REFUSE — JUDGEMENT OF DESTRUCTION FOLLOWS If you refuse to repent now in this correction — judgement of destruction is already appointed. Prov 11:21 — Though hand join in hand, wicked shall not go unpunished. 1 Pet 4:18 — If righteous one scarcely saved, where will ungodly and sinner appear? 2 Thess 1:8-9 — In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from presence of Lord. Rev 20:15 — Anyone not found written in Book of Life was cast into lake of fire. Gal 6:7 — Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; whatever man sows, that he will reap.

Look Up It’s normal, as well as understandable, to spend our time, energy, and attention focusing on the here and now. We’re busy, after all. Sometimes we're preoccupied. And when we stop to really think about it, it’s difficult to perceive something beyond our five senses. But in his letter to the Colossians, Paul encourages his fellow believers to look up: “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.” ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬ As you think about Paul’s words and the realities of heaven, here are four things to consider: - First, heaven isn’t some vague, dream-like state. It’s a real place, with real people, where God is the true King. - Second, there will come a day when we will all meet God face to face. We will no longer need faith or hope, because that which we’ve hoped for will finally be revealed. - Third, our troubles and our heartbreaks (and even death itself) are temporary! Scripture tells us that, eventually, God will do away with pain and death and sickness and suffering—forever. - Lastly (and most importantly), God is still on His throne, with Jesus beside Him in the place of honor. No matter how crazy, senseless, or heartbreaking the world can seem, we can have confidence knowing that nothing is outside of God’s sovereign plan. So when you’re tempted to look around at others or look inward at yourself, look up instead. Heaven is wherever God is, and that’s the truest reality of all.

Look Up It’s normal, as well as understandable, to spend our time, energy, and attention focusing on the here and now. We’re busy, after all. Sometimes we're preoccupied. And when we stop to really think about it, it’s difficult to perceive something beyond our five senses. But in his letter to the Colossians, Paul encourages his fellow believers to look up: “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.” ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬ As you think about Paul’s words and the realities of heaven, here are four things to consider: - First, heaven isn’t some vague, dream-like state. It’s a real place, with real people, where God is the true King. - Second, there will come a day when we will all meet God face to face. We will no longer need faith or hope, because that which we’ve hoped for will finally be revealed. - Third, our troubles and our heartbreaks (and even death itself) are temporary! Scripture tells us that, eventually, God will do away with pain and death and sickness and suffering—forever. - Lastly (and most importantly), God is still on His throne, with Jesus beside Him in the place of honor. No matter how crazy, senseless, or heartbreaking the world can seem, we can have confidence knowing that nothing is outside of God’s sovereign plan. So when you’re tempted to look around at others or look inward at yourself, look up instead. Heaven is wherever God is, and that’s the truest reality of all.

TODAY'S KINGDOM INSIGHTS: SERMON TOPIC: THE REAL REASON BARABBAS WAS SET FREE AND NOT JESUS. Main Text: Matthew 27:15–26; Mark 15:6–15; Luke 23:13–25; John 18:38–40 There are moments in Scripture that make us stop and ask, “How could this happen?” Jesus was innocent. Barabbas was guilty. Jesus healed the sick. Barabbas was a criminal. Jesus preached love, forgiveness, and the Kingdom of God. Barabbas was associated with rebellion and violence. Yet the crowd shouted: “Release Barabbas!” And concerning Jesus: “Crucify Him!” It looks like injustice won. But here is the deeper truth: Barabbas was not simply released because Jesus lost the argument. Barabbas was released because Jesus was going to take his place. The story of Barabbas is actually a picture of the Gospel. Barabbas represents the guilty sinner. Jesus represents the innocent Savior. Barabbas walked away free because Jesus walked toward the cross. And that is the mystery of grace: The guilty goes free because the innocent One takes his place. 1. BARABBAS WAS GUILTY, BUT JESUS WAS INNOCENT Pilate examined Jesus and repeatedly found no sufficient reason to condemn Him. Luke 23:22 says: «“I have found no reason for death in Him.”» Jesus was innocent. But Barabbas had committed serious crimes. Mark 15:7 tells us that Barabbas had been involved in rebellion and murder. So, humanly speaking, the choice should have been obvious. But the crowd chose Barabbas. Why? Because the cross was not an accident. Jesus had already declared that He came to give His life for others. Mark 10:45 says: «“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”» Jesus knew why He came. He came to become the substitute. Spiritual Insight Sometimes we ask, “Why did Jesus have to die?” The answer is partly found in Barabbas. Someone had to bear the consequence of sin. And Jesus willingly took that place. 2. BARABBAS RECEIVED WHAT JESUS DESERVED This is the shocking part of the story. Barabbas deserved punishment. Jesus deserved no punishment. Yet Barabbas walked out of prison. Jesus walked toward Golgotha. Barabbas went free. Jesus was condemned. Barabbas was released. Jesus was crucified. This is substitution. The guilty person goes free because the innocent person takes his place. Isaiah 53:5 declares: «“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities.”» Notice the language: Our transgressions. Our iniquities. Our punishment. The cross was personal. Jesus was not dying because He had sinned. He was dying because we had sinned. Think About This Barabbas probably did not understand everything that was happening. He may have walked out of that prison wondering how he escaped death. But we know something he may not have understood: Another Man died in his place. And spiritually, that is our story. We were guilty. Christ took our place. 3. THE RELEASE OF BARABBAS REVEALS THE DEPTH OF GOD'S GRACE Grace is not God pretending that sin does not matter. Grace is God dealing with sin through the sacrifice of Christ. Romans 5:8 says: «“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”» That means Jesus did not wait for us to become perfect before He loved us. He loved us while we were still sinners. Barabbas did not earn his freedom. He did not negotiate his release. He did not pay the governor. He simply received an unexpected release. That is grace. Grace is receiving what you could never earn because someone else paid the price. You cannot boast about salvation. You cannot say, “I saved myself.” No. Jesus saved you. 4. THE CROWD CHOSE BARABBAS, BUT GOD WAS WORKING THROUGH THE CROSS The crowd thought they were making the final decision. But heaven had already established a redemptive purpose. Acts 2:23 says that Jesus was delivered according to the “determined purpose and foreknowledge of God.” This does not mean the people were innocent. Their choices were still sinful. But God was able to accomplish His redemptive plan through what sinful people intended for evil. This is one of the mysteries of God's sovereignty. People thought: “We are getting rid of Jesus.” God was accomplishing: “I am providing salvation for humanity.” The cross looked like defeat. But it became victory. The grave looked like the end. But resurrection was coming. Never Judge God's Work Too Early There may be seasons in your life when everything looks like it is going in the wrong direction. But remember Calvary. Friday looked like defeat. Sunday revealed the victory. Do not conclude the story while God is still writing it. 5. BARABBAS IS A PICTURE OF EVERY SINNER WHO RECEIVES SALVATION We often read the story and say: “Why did they release Barabbas?” But there is another question: “What if I were Barabbas?” What if you were the one sitting in that prison? What if you knew punishment was coming? What if you knew you were guilty? Then suddenly, the story becomes personal. Barabbas walked out because Jesus took his place. And every person who comes to Christ in genuine faith can say: “I deserved judgment, but Christ took my place.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 says: «“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”» That is the Gospel. Jesus took our place so that we could receive His righteousness. BIBLICAL CASE STUDY: THE CROSS Look at the sequence. Barabbas: Guilty. Jesus: Innocent. Barabbas: Imprisoned. Jesus: Free. Barabbas: Released. Jesus: Condemned. Barabbas: Walked away. Jesus: Walked toward the cross. Barabbas: Lived because another died. Believers: Receive eternal life because Christ died and rose again. The cross is therefore more than a religious symbol. It is the place where justice and mercy met. Justice says sin must be dealt with. Mercy says sinners can be saved. At the cross, Jesus bore the judgment so that mercy could reach us. PRACTICAL LESSONS FOR CHRISTIANS. 1. Never take salvation for granted. You were not saved because you were better than someone else. You were saved by grace. Therefore, remain humble. 2. Stop trying to earn God's love You cannot work your way into salvation. Serve God because you love Him, not because you are trying to purchase His acceptance. 3. Forgive others If Christ has forgiven you, you must learn to extend forgiveness to others. 4. Live like someone who has been set free Barabbas walked out of prison. The believer has also been delivered from the dominion of sin. Do not keep living like a prisoner when Christ has made you free. 5. Tell someone about Jesus Your testimony may be simple: “I was guilty, but Jesus took my place.” That is powerful enough. QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION 1. Have I truly understood what Jesus accomplished for me on the cross? 2. Am I trying to earn God's acceptance instead of receiving His grace? 3. Do I live like someone who has been set free? 4. Have I truly repented of my sins? 5. Who can I tell about the saving grace of Jesus Christ? 6. Do I extend to others the same mercy I have received from Christ? POWERFUL PRAYER POINTS 1. Prayer of Thanksgiving Father, thank You for sending Jesus Christ to take my place. Thank You for Your mercy and grace. I will never take my salvation for granted. In Jesus' name, Amen. 2. Prayer of Repentance Lord Jesus, forgive me for every sin, disobedience, pride, and rebellion in my life. Cleanse me and help me walk faithfully with You. Amen. 3. Prayer for Freedom Every chain of sin, addiction, fear, and spiritual bondage in my life, break in the name of Jesus. I declare that whom the Son sets free is free indeed. Amen. 4. Prayer for Grace Father, help me to understand the depth of Your grace and to live every day with gratitude for what Christ has done for me. Amen. 5. Prayer for Others Lord, use my life to bring other Barabbases to Jesus—people who feel condemned, rejected, broken, and far from You. Let my testimony point them to the cross. Amen. DEEP SPIRITUAL TRUTH Here is the heart of the message: Barabbas was released, not because he was innocent, but because another took his place. And that is the Gospel. We are not saved because we are perfect. We are saved because Jesus is perfect. We are not accepted because we deserve it. We are accepted because Christ paid the price. We are not standing before God because of our righteousness. We stand because of His righteousness. The cross says: “Your sin is serious, but God's grace is greater.” CALL TO ACTION Today, do not simply admire the story of Barabbas. See yourself in it. You were guilty. Christ took your place. You were condemned. Christ bore the condemnation. You were far from God. Christ opened the way back to the Father. The question is not merely: “Why was Barabbas released?” The deeper question is: “What will I do with the Jesus who took my place?” Will you continue living for yourself? Or will you surrender your life completely to Him? Will you keep returning to the prison of sin? Or will you walk in the freedom Christ purchased for you? Jesus took your place. Now give Him your life. «“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” — John 8:36» You are not free because you were innocent. You are free because Jesus became your substitute. THE CROSS WAS HIS PLACE. THE FREEDOM WAS YOURS. THE SACRIFICE WAS HIS. THE GRACE IS YOURS. Come to Jesus. Remain in Jesus. Live for Jesus. And tell the world about Jesus. Amen. Give your life to Jesus by joining a Bible believing Church near you. You can get inspirational ebooks from my selar/amazon shops below https:/selar.com/m/umoh-edem1 https://selar.com/m/umoedem https://www.amazon.com/author/umohedembooks CONTACT - WhatsApp +2349024173027, +2349055447540 Email pastor.umoedem@gmail.com https://afrikdp.com/author/umohedem-9128 https://www.facebook.com/share/14futvERWUD/

Seek God's Direction Before the Battle Scripture Judges 20:18 (NKJV) So the children of Israel arose and went up to the house of God to inquire of God. They said, Which of us shall go up first to battle against the children of Benjamin? The LORD said, Judah first! Obedience Is More Than Asking God for Direction Judges 20 records Israel's response to the horrific events of Judges 19. The nation gathered together in unity to confront the tribe of Benjamin because of the wickedness committed in Gibeah. Their desire for justice was right, but the chapter reveals that even a righteous cause must be pursued with humble dependence upon God. Before going to battle, the people sought the Lord and asked which tribe should lead the attack. God answered their question, and Judah went first. Yet despite seeking God's direction, Israel suffered a devastating defeat. They returned to the Lord weeping and inquiring again, and once more God instructed them to fight. Again they experienced heavy losses. Only after they humbled themselves through fasting, worship, sacrifices, and sincere dependence upon the Lord did God give them complete victory over Benjamin. This chapter teaches an important spiritual lesson. It is possible to ask God for guidance while still relying upon our own strength. Israel initially wanted God's direction, but they had not yet reached the place of complete surrender. As the battle continued, their confidence shifted from their own military strength to total dependence upon God. Believers often make the same mistake. We ask God to bless our plans while still trusting in our own wisdom, abilities, or resources. God desires more than our questions; He desires our hearts. True faith is not simply asking God what to do but trusting Him completely as we obey Him. Judges 20 also reminds us that God's timing and methods are sometimes different from our expectations. Temporary setbacks do not always mean we are outside God's will. Sometimes God uses difficulty to deepen our dependence upon Him and to teach us humility before He grants victory. The Lord desires His people to seek Him with sincerity, worship Him with humility, and trust Him completely. Victory belongs to those who rely on His strength rather than their own. Reflection Questions 1. Am I seeking God's direction while still depending on my own strength? 2. How do I respond when God allows temporary setbacks in my life? 3. What area of my life needs greater surrender and trust in the Lord today? Prayer Heavenly Father, teach me to depend completely on You. Help me not only to seek Your guidance but also to trust Your timing, Your wisdom, and Your strength. When I face challenges or disappointments, keep me from becoming discouraged. Instead, draw me closer to You and deepen my faith. May my confidence always rest in Your power and not in my own abilities. In Jesus' name, Amen.