• THE TRUE BREAD OF HEAVEN
    TEACHING SERIES

    THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Part 12)

    ANCHOR SCRIPTURE: Jude 1:20 (NKJV)
    “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.”

    Additional Scripture Reading: Acts 2:1–4; 1 Corinthians 14:2–4, 14–15; Ephesians 6:18; Romans 8:26–27

    We were scheduled to conclude our series on the Ministry of the Holy Spirit today, but by the grace of God, we shall look at two more vital dimensions—this week and next Sunday.

    Another significant manifestation of the Holy Spirit's coming upon the disciples was the ability to speak in other tongues. On the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon them, they began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

    Speaking in tongues is not given to believers for showing off, competition, or spiritual superiority. It is a spiritual gift and a means through which the believer can commune with God and be spiritually strengthened.

    The Apostle Paul teaches that the one who speaks in a tongue speaks to God and that such prayer edifies the individual. Therefore, praying in the Spirit has an important place in the believer's personal spiritual life.

    Jude likewise exhorts believers to build themselves up on their most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit. This reveals that praying in the Spirit is one of the ways through which we strengthen and build our spiritual lives.

    There are times when we may not know what to pray for as we ought, but as we yield to the Holy Spirit, He helps us in our weakness and enables us to pray beyond the limitations of our natural understanding.

    Child of God, do not treat spiritual things as instruments of display. The purpose of every spiritual manifestation is to glorify God and edify His people. If God has given you the grace to pray in the Spirit, cultivate it with humility, reverence, and consistency.

    Let your prayer life not be governed by what people think about you, but by your desire to grow deeper in fellowship with God and to be strengthened in your walk with Him.

    We shall continue next Sunday by God's grace.

    To be continued…
    By Alfred Wabuko Manyasi
    © Holy Spirit
    THE TRUE BREAD OF HEAVEN TEACHING SERIES THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Part 12) ANCHOR SCRIPTURE: Jude 1:20 (NKJV) “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.” Additional Scripture Reading: Acts 2:1–4; 1 Corinthians 14:2–4, 14–15; Ephesians 6:18; Romans 8:26–27 We were scheduled to conclude our series on the Ministry of the Holy Spirit today, but by the grace of God, we shall look at two more vital dimensions—this week and next Sunday. Another significant manifestation of the Holy Spirit's coming upon the disciples was the ability to speak in other tongues. On the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon them, they began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Speaking in tongues is not given to believers for showing off, competition, or spiritual superiority. It is a spiritual gift and a means through which the believer can commune with God and be spiritually strengthened. The Apostle Paul teaches that the one who speaks in a tongue speaks to God and that such prayer edifies the individual. Therefore, praying in the Spirit has an important place in the believer's personal spiritual life. Jude likewise exhorts believers to build themselves up on their most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit. This reveals that praying in the Spirit is one of the ways through which we strengthen and build our spiritual lives. There are times when we may not know what to pray for as we ought, but as we yield to the Holy Spirit, He helps us in our weakness and enables us to pray beyond the limitations of our natural understanding. Child of God, do not treat spiritual things as instruments of display. The purpose of every spiritual manifestation is to glorify God and edify His people. If God has given you the grace to pray in the Spirit, cultivate it with humility, reverence, and consistency. Let your prayer life not be governed by what people think about you, but by your desire to grow deeper in fellowship with God and to be strengthened in your walk with Him. We shall continue next Sunday by God's grace. To be continued… By Alfred Wabuko Manyasi © Holy Spirit
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  • Strength Is Found in Faithfulness

    Scripture

    Judges 16:28 (NKJV)

    Then Samson called to the LORD, saying, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes.

    God Can Restore the Repentant

    Judges 16 records one of the most tragic chapters in Samson's life. God had uniquely called him from birth to be a Nazirite and a deliverer of Israel. The Lord had given him extraordinary strength through the power of the Holy Spirit, yet Samson repeatedly compromised with temptation instead of walking in obedience.

    His relationship with Delilah exposed the weakness that had been growing in his heart. Rather than guarding the calling God had entrusted to him, Samson toyed with sin until it eventually overcame him. After revealing the secret connected to his Nazirite vow, his hair was cut, the Lord's empowering presence departed from him, and the Philistines captured him. They blinded him, bound him, and forced him into humiliating labor.

    One of the saddest statements in Scripture is that Samson did not realize that the LORD had departed from him. Sin had gradually dulled his spiritual awareness until he no longer recognized what he had lost.

    Yet God's grace had not reached its end.

    While Samson was imprisoned, his hair began to grow again. More importantly, his heart turned back to God. At the end of his life, Samson finally humbled himself and prayed. He no longer trusted in his own strength but cried out for God's strength. His final victory came not because of his ability but because of God's mercy.

    God answered Samson's prayer. Though Samson suffered the consequences of his disobedience, God restored him for one final act that accomplished more than many of his earlier victories.

    This chapter reminds believers that compromise always carries consequences, but repentance opens the door to God's mercy. Our failures do not have to be the end of our story when we return to the Lord with sincere humility. God delights in restoring those who genuinely repent and place their trust in Him.

    Reflection Questions

    1. Is there any area of compromise that I need to confess before it grows into greater bondage?

    2. Am I relying on my own strength instead of God's power?

    3. Have I allowed failure to keep me from returning to the Lord, or am I trusting in His restoring grace?

    Prayer

    Heavenly Father, thank You for Your mercy and Your willingness to restore those who turn back to You. Guard my heart from compromise and help me to walk faithfully in the calling You have given me. When I fail, lead me quickly to repentance and remind me that Your grace is greater than my weakness. Strengthen me by Your Spirit so that I may live for Your glory each day. In Jesus' name, Amen..
    Strength Is Found in Faithfulness Scripture Judges 16:28 (NKJV) Then Samson called to the LORD, saying, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes. God Can Restore the Repentant Judges 16 records one of the most tragic chapters in Samson's life. God had uniquely called him from birth to be a Nazirite and a deliverer of Israel. The Lord had given him extraordinary strength through the power of the Holy Spirit, yet Samson repeatedly compromised with temptation instead of walking in obedience. His relationship with Delilah exposed the weakness that had been growing in his heart. Rather than guarding the calling God had entrusted to him, Samson toyed with sin until it eventually overcame him. After revealing the secret connected to his Nazirite vow, his hair was cut, the Lord's empowering presence departed from him, and the Philistines captured him. They blinded him, bound him, and forced him into humiliating labor. One of the saddest statements in Scripture is that Samson did not realize that the LORD had departed from him. Sin had gradually dulled his spiritual awareness until he no longer recognized what he had lost. Yet God's grace had not reached its end. While Samson was imprisoned, his hair began to grow again. More importantly, his heart turned back to God. At the end of his life, Samson finally humbled himself and prayed. He no longer trusted in his own strength but cried out for God's strength. His final victory came not because of his ability but because of God's mercy. God answered Samson's prayer. Though Samson suffered the consequences of his disobedience, God restored him for one final act that accomplished more than many of his earlier victories. This chapter reminds believers that compromise always carries consequences, but repentance opens the door to God's mercy. Our failures do not have to be the end of our story when we return to the Lord with sincere humility. God delights in restoring those who genuinely repent and place their trust in Him. Reflection Questions 1. Is there any area of compromise that I need to confess before it grows into greater bondage? 2. Am I relying on my own strength instead of God's power? 3. Have I allowed failure to keep me from returning to the Lord, or am I trusting in His restoring grace? Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for Your mercy and Your willingness to restore those who turn back to You. Guard my heart from compromise and help me to walk faithfully in the calling You have given me. When I fail, lead me quickly to repentance and remind me that Your grace is greater than my weakness. Strengthen me by Your Spirit so that I may live for Your glory each day. In Jesus' name, Amen..
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  • 𝔻𝔸𝕀𝕃𝕐 𝔹ℝ𝔼𝔸𝔻

    2111 │ The Father Who Restores

    Verse:
    “He restores my soul.”
    — Psalm 23:3

    Meditation:
    God does not only forgive your past; He restores what life has wounded.
    There are places in your heart that people cannot reach, but the Father can heal them.
    What feels broken, wasted, or beyond repair is not beyond His ability to restore.
    Restoration may not look like getting the old life back—it may mean receiving something deeper and stronger in Christ.
    The Father is not finished with you because you have been through broken seasons.
    What you thought was the end may become the place where God begins something new.

    Prayer:
    Heavenly Father, restore every broken place in my life and renew my heart. Help me trust Your restoring work. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

    Declaration:
    “My Father restores me. My broken places will become testimonies of His grace.”

    Pastor. Joshua, Andaman

    Connect with Our Ministry

    https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbCXY3M0wajurjzuGc2x

    https://www.youtube.com/[joshuaecho]

    https://www.facebook.com/share/1BVs1LgEHj/
    🌿✨ 𝔻𝔸𝕀𝕃𝕐 𝔹ℝ𝔼𝔸𝔻 ✨🌿 📖 2111 │ The Father Who Restores Verse: “He restores my soul.” — Psalm 23:3 Meditation: God does not only forgive your past; He restores what life has wounded. There are places in your heart that people cannot reach, but the Father can heal them. What feels broken, wasted, or beyond repair is not beyond His ability to restore. Restoration may not look like getting the old life back—it may mean receiving something deeper and stronger in Christ. The Father is not finished with you because you have been through broken seasons. What you thought was the end may become the place where God begins something new. Prayer: Heavenly Father, restore every broken place in my life and renew my heart. Help me trust Your restoring work. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Declaration: 🕊️ “My Father restores me. My broken places will become testimonies of His grace.” ✍️ Pastor. Joshua, Andaman 🌐 Connect with Our Ministry 🟢 https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbCXY3M0wajurjzuGc2x 🔴 https://www.youtube.com/[joshuaecho] 🔵 https://www.facebook.com/share/1BVs1LgEHj/
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  • THE FURNACE OF PRAISE

    Praise Tests Your Character

    ANCHOR SCRIPTURE

    Proverbs 27:21 (KJV) “As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.”

    1. PRAISE TESTS YOU

    Just as fire tests gold, praise tests your heart.

    Success and recognition reveal who you really are.

    Trouble tests your strength; praise tests your character.

    2. STAY HUMBLE

    When people celebrate you, don't become proud.

    Proverbs 16:18 (KJV) “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”

    Receive praise, but don't become a prisoner of applause.

    3. GIVE GOD THE GLORY

    1 Corinthians 4:7 (KJV) “...what hast thou that thou didst not receive?”

    Whatever you have achieved, remember that God gave you the ability and opportunity.

    4. DON'T LIVE FOR APPLAUSE

    People may praise you today and criticize you tomorrow.

    Don't let people's opinions control your identity.

    Live for purpose, not applause.

    5. LET YOUR WORK SPEAK

    Proverbs 27:2 (KJV) “Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth...”

    Keep working.
    Keep learning.
    Keep serving.

    KEY LESSON

    1. Praise tests character.
    2. Stay humble.
    3. Give God the glory.
    4. Don't depend on approval.
    5. Let your work speak.

    FINAL CHARGE

    When people praise you, don't let the applause change you.

    Be humble when celebrated.
    Be faithful when unnoticed.
    Give God the glory.

    SHORT PRAYER

    Father, give me a humble heart when I am praised. Keep me from pride and human approval. Help me to use every success to glorify You and serve others faithfully. In Jesus' name, Amen.

    Prepared by Rev. Frank Fabian Aidoo
    +233544295158
    THE FURNACE OF PRAISE Praise Tests Your Character ANCHOR SCRIPTURE Proverbs 27:21 (KJV) “As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.” 1. PRAISE TESTS YOU Just as fire tests gold, praise tests your heart. Success and recognition reveal who you really are. Trouble tests your strength; praise tests your character. 2. STAY HUMBLE When people celebrate you, don't become proud. Proverbs 16:18 (KJV) “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Receive praise, but don't become a prisoner of applause. 3. GIVE GOD THE GLORY 1 Corinthians 4:7 (KJV) “...what hast thou that thou didst not receive?” Whatever you have achieved, remember that God gave you the ability and opportunity. 4. DON'T LIVE FOR APPLAUSE People may praise you today and criticize you tomorrow. Don't let people's opinions control your identity. Live for purpose, not applause. 5. LET YOUR WORK SPEAK Proverbs 27:2 (KJV) “Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth...” Keep working. Keep learning. Keep serving. KEY LESSON 1. Praise tests character. 2. Stay humble. 3. Give God the glory. 4. Don't depend on approval. 5. Let your work speak. FINAL CHARGE When people praise you, don't let the applause change you. Be humble when celebrated. Be faithful when unnoticed. Give God the glory. SHORT PRAYER Father, give me a humble heart when I am praised. Keep me from pride and human approval. Help me to use every success to glorify You and serve others faithfully. In Jesus' name, Amen. Prepared by Rev. Frank Fabian Aidoo +233544295158
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  • Daily Bible Lesson.
    WE ASK GOD FOR MORE LIGHT—THEN MAKE EXCUSES WHEN HIS LIGHT REQUIRES CHANGE

    “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice.” — 1 Samuel 15:22

    We pray:

    “Lord, show me Your will.”

    Then His light touches something we love—

    our time, appetite, appearance, character, location, or tongue—

    and suddenly:

    “My situation is different.”
    “Everyone does it.”
    “I'm not convicted.”

    Perhaps our greatest problem is not always lack of light.

    IT IS THE HUMAN HEART'S AMAZING ABILITY TO EXPLAIN AWAY THE LIGHT IT DOES NOT WANT TO OBEY.

    Jesus asks:

    “Why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” — Luke 6:46

    So here is the question beneath every reform:

    ARE WE SEEKING GOD'S WILL—OR ASKING GOD TO APPROVE OURS?

    ---

    ① SABBATH REFORM—WHO OWNS YOUR TIME?

    THE EXCUSES:

    “I have to work.”
    “Most Christians worship Sunday.”
    “God knows my heart.”

    Yes—God knows the heart.

    And Jesus says:

    “If ye love Me, keep My commandments.” — John 14:15

    God's command still reads:

    “The seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God.” — Exodus 20:10

    Obedience may cost convenience, approval, opportunity—even income.

    But faith asks something deeper:

    WHAT IS JESUS WORTH?

    “We ought to obey God rather than men.” — Acts 5:29

    Do not merely argue for the Sabbath.

    KNOW THE LORD OF THE SABBATH—and ask Him for faith to walk in His footsteps.

    ---

    ② HEALTH REFORM—HAS APPETITE RENAMED ITSELF “NECESSITY”?

    THE EXCUSES:

    “My body needs it.”
    “I've always eaten this way.”
    “We're all going to die anyway.”

    But this body is not ours to abuse.

    “Ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” — 1 Corinthians 6:20

    “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink… do all to the glory of God.” — 1 Corinthians 10:31

    Health reform is not salvation by menu.

    It is stewardship of a body purchased by Christ.

    Inspiration warns of those who “frame excuses and make necessities which have no existence” while resisting health light. — Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 399

    What a warning:

    APPETITE IS A TERRIBLE COUNSELOR WHEN ASKED TO JUDGE ITS OWN HABITS.

    Stop asking only:

    “Do I enjoy it?”

    Ask:

    “WILL THIS KEEP MY BODY AND MIND FIT FOR CHRIST'S SERVICE?”

    ---

    ③ DRESS REFORM—WHO ARE WE TRYING TO PLEASE?

    THE EXCUSES:

    “It's only fashion.”
    “God only looks at the heart.”
    “I don't want to look different.”

    Yes:

    “The LORD looketh on the heart.” — 1 Samuel 16:7

    And Scripture also calls for:

    “Modest apparel.” — 1 Timothy 2:9

    The issue is not ugliness.

    Not neglect.

    Not a religious uniform.

    The question is:

    WHO IS SHAPING MY APPEARANCE—CHRIST OR THE WORLD?

    Christian dress should reflect modesty, simplicity, health, dignity, and good taste without making self the attraction.

    CLOTHING CANNOT SAVE THE HEART—BUT THE MASTER OF THE HEART WILL INFLUENCE THE CLOTHING.

    Let your appearance quietly testify:

    “I BELONG TO CHRIST.”

    ---

    ④ CHARACTER REFORM—“THAT'S JUST HOW I AM.”

    Perhaps no excuse protects cherished defects more effectively.

    Anger becomes “my personality.”
    Pride becomes “confidence.”
    Bitterness becomes “what they deserve.”

    Then comes the universal shield:

    “Nobody is perfect.”

    True.

    But Jesus never made imperfection an excuse for refusing transformation.

    “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17

    “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 2:5

    Christ does not merely forgive us in the old life.

    HE BEGINS MAKING US NEW.

    “When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own.” — Christ's Object Lessons, p. 69

    Stop defending your defect with:

    “THAT'S WHO I AM.”

    Bring it to Jesus:

    “LORD, MAKE ME LIKE YOU.”

    ---

    ⑤ LOCATION REFORM—WHY DID INSPIRATION CRY, “OUT OF THE CITIES”?

    Here excuses become painfully practical:

    “My job is here.”
    “My children's opportunities are here.”
    “I'll move when everything becomes convenient.”

    Yet Inspiration repeatedly urged:

    “Out of the cities, out of the cities! This is the message the Lord has been giving me.” — Country Living, p. 29

    Why?

    Not because soil saves souls.

    But country surroundings can favor health, simplicity, useful labor, children learning from nature, greater separation from corrupting influences, and preparation for difficult times.

    God's first home for humanity was not a congested metropolis.

    “The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden.” — Genesis 2:8

    Abraham lived as a pilgrim.

    Lot “pitched his tent toward Sodom.” — Genesis 13:12

    Their stories remind us:

    LOCATION CANNOT CONVERT THE HEART—BUT ENVIRONMENT CAN POWERFULLY INFLUENCE IT.

    Yet Inspiration also counseled:

    “Out of the cities; but not a moment before God would have us go.” — Country Living, p. 26

    So the message is not:

    PANIC AND RUN.

    It is:

    PRAY.
    PREPARE.
    SIMPLIFY.
    LEARN.
    WATCH PROVIDENCE.
    AND WHEN GOD OPENS THE WAY—OBEY.

    And remember:

    YOU CAN LEAVE BABYLON GEOGRAPHICALLY WHILE BABYLON STILL LIVES IN YOUR HEART.

    Christ's first relocation project is:

    SELF OFF THE THRONE—CHRIST ON IT.

    ---

    ⑥ SPEECH REFORM—CAN A CONVERTED HEART KEEP AN UNCONVERTED TONGUE?

    Here the excuses sound innocent:

    “I'm only joking.”
    “But it's true!”
    “I just needed to release my feelings.”

    Scripture answers:

    “Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting… but rather giving of thanks.” — Ephesians 5:4

    “Speak evil of no man.” — Titus 3:2

    And instead:

    “That which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” — Ephesians 4:29

    Imagine that standard:

    WORDS THAT MINISTER GRACE.

    No gossip.

    No slander.

    No degrading jesting.

    No cutting sarcasm.

    No dishonest flattery.

    No spreading bitterness from heart to heart.

    “Bless, and curse not.” — Romans 12:14

    This does not mean hiding wrongdoing.

    Jesus rebuked sin.

    Nathan confronted David.

    Paul corrected churches.

    Truth sometimes must hurt before it heals.

    But Scripture says:

    “Speaking the truth in love.” — Ephesians 4:15

    Before speaking, ask:

    IS IT TRUE?
    IS IT NECESSARY?
    IS IT LOVING?
    WILL IT BUILD RATHER THAN POISON?
    WOULD I SAY IT THIS WAY IN THE VISIBLE PRESENCE OF JESUS?

    “Let the law of kindness be upon your lips and the oil of grace in your heart.” — Christ's Object Lessons, p. 337

    What a standard:

    **TRUTH ON THE LIPS.

    GRACE IN THE HEART.**

    ---

    ⑦ PERHAPS THE MOST DANGEROUS EXCUSE—“I'M NOT CONVICTED.”

    Sometimes that is sincere.

    Conscience must never be forced.

    But sometimes:

    “I'M NOT CONVICTED”

    really means:

    “I DON'T WANT TO INVESTIGATE THIS DEEPLY ENOUGH TO BECOME CONVICTED.”

    Jesus reveals a searching principle:

    “If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine.” — John 7:17

    Notice the order:

    WILLINGNESS → UNDERSTANDING → OBEDIENCE.

    Before asking,

    “Is this really required?”

    ask:

    “LORD, IF YOUR WORD SHOWS ME THAT I AM WRONG—AM I WILLING TO CHANGE?”

    That question exposes whether we want truth—

    or merely reassurance.

    ---

    ⑧ BUT HERE IS THE DANGER ON THE OTHER SIDE—REFORM WITHOUT CHRIST

    Inspiration defines genuine reformation:

    “Reformation signifies a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices.” — Selected Messages, vol. 1, p. 128

    Truth must reach:

    the calendar,
    the kitchen,
    the wardrobe,
    the temper,
    the address,
    the tongue,
    and the choices nobody sees.

    “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only.” — James 1:22

    But never miss this:

    REFORMATION WITHOUT CHRIST CAN PRODUCE A PHARISEE.

    You can keep Sabbath—

    and hate your brother.

    Eat perfectly—

    and feed on pride.

    Dress modestly—

    and advertise self-righteousness.

    Move to the country—

    and take worldliness with you.

    Guard your tongue publicly—

    while bitterness rules privately.

    Jesus did not come merely to rearrange our habits.

    HE CAME TO RECREATE OUR HEARTS.

    “Without Me ye can do nothing.” — John 15:5

    ---

    THE QUESTION BENEATH EVERY REFORM

    When Christ touches your—

    TIME—will He be Lord?

    APPETITE—will He be Lord?

    APPEARANCE—will He be Lord?

    CHARACTER—will He be Lord?

    LOCATION—will He be Lord?

    TONGUE—will He be Lord?

    There it is.

    DOES JESUS HAVE PERMISSION TO CHANGE EVERYTHING?

    “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” — Luke 9:23

    Perhaps we do not need another argument.

    Perhaps we need another surrender.

    Instead of continually praying:

    “LORD, GIVE ME MORE LIGHT,”

    perhaps we need to pray:

    “LORD, FORGIVE ME FOR RESISTING THE LIGHT I ALREADY HAVE.”

    Take my appetite.

    Take my pride.

    Take my temper.

    Take my tongue.

    Take my plans.

    Take my home.

    TAKE MY WHOLE HEART.

    “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” — Acts 9:6

    NO MORE EXCUSES.
    NO MORE BARGAINING WITH LIGHT.
    NO MORE TRYING TO OUTREASON GOD.

    CHRIST BEFORE CONVENIENCE.
    FAITH BEFORE FEAR.
    TRUTH BEFORE TRADITION.
    SURRENDER BEFORE SELF.

    Because when Jesus truly becomes Lord—

    REFORMATION IS NO LONGER SOMETHING GOD MUST FORCE FROM US.

    IT BECOMES SOMETHING LOVE IS WILLING TO SURRENDER TO HIM.
    Daily Bible Lesson. WE ASK GOD FOR MORE LIGHT—THEN MAKE EXCUSES WHEN HIS LIGHT REQUIRES CHANGE “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice.” — 1 Samuel 15:22 We pray: “Lord, show me Your will.” Then His light touches something we love— our time, appetite, appearance, character, location, or tongue— and suddenly: “My situation is different.” “Everyone does it.” “I'm not convicted.” Perhaps our greatest problem is not always lack of light. IT IS THE HUMAN HEART'S AMAZING ABILITY TO EXPLAIN AWAY THE LIGHT IT DOES NOT WANT TO OBEY. Jesus asks: “Why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” — Luke 6:46 So here is the question beneath every reform: ARE WE SEEKING GOD'S WILL—OR ASKING GOD TO APPROVE OURS? --- ① SABBATH REFORM—WHO OWNS YOUR TIME? THE EXCUSES: “I have to work.” “Most Christians worship Sunday.” “God knows my heart.” Yes—God knows the heart. And Jesus says: “If ye love Me, keep My commandments.” — John 14:15 God's command still reads: “The seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God.” — Exodus 20:10 Obedience may cost convenience, approval, opportunity—even income. But faith asks something deeper: WHAT IS JESUS WORTH? “We ought to obey God rather than men.” — Acts 5:29 Do not merely argue for the Sabbath. KNOW THE LORD OF THE SABBATH—and ask Him for faith to walk in His footsteps. --- ② HEALTH REFORM—HAS APPETITE RENAMED ITSELF “NECESSITY”? THE EXCUSES: “My body needs it.” “I've always eaten this way.” “We're all going to die anyway.” But this body is not ours to abuse. “Ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” — 1 Corinthians 6:20 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink… do all to the glory of God.” — 1 Corinthians 10:31 Health reform is not salvation by menu. It is stewardship of a body purchased by Christ. Inspiration warns of those who “frame excuses and make necessities which have no existence” while resisting health light. — Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 399 What a warning: APPETITE IS A TERRIBLE COUNSELOR WHEN ASKED TO JUDGE ITS OWN HABITS. Stop asking only: “Do I enjoy it?” Ask: “WILL THIS KEEP MY BODY AND MIND FIT FOR CHRIST'S SERVICE?” --- ③ DRESS REFORM—WHO ARE WE TRYING TO PLEASE? THE EXCUSES: “It's only fashion.” “God only looks at the heart.” “I don't want to look different.” Yes: “The LORD looketh on the heart.” — 1 Samuel 16:7 And Scripture also calls for: “Modest apparel.” — 1 Timothy 2:9 The issue is not ugliness. Not neglect. Not a religious uniform. The question is: WHO IS SHAPING MY APPEARANCE—CHRIST OR THE WORLD? Christian dress should reflect modesty, simplicity, health, dignity, and good taste without making self the attraction. CLOTHING CANNOT SAVE THE HEART—BUT THE MASTER OF THE HEART WILL INFLUENCE THE CLOTHING. Let your appearance quietly testify: “I BELONG TO CHRIST.” --- ④ CHARACTER REFORM—“THAT'S JUST HOW I AM.” Perhaps no excuse protects cherished defects more effectively. Anger becomes “my personality.” Pride becomes “confidence.” Bitterness becomes “what they deserve.” Then comes the universal shield: “Nobody is perfect.” True. But Jesus never made imperfection an excuse for refusing transformation. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 2:5 Christ does not merely forgive us in the old life. HE BEGINS MAKING US NEW. “When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own.” — Christ's Object Lessons, p. 69 Stop defending your defect with: “THAT'S WHO I AM.” Bring it to Jesus: “LORD, MAKE ME LIKE YOU.” --- ⑤ LOCATION REFORM—WHY DID INSPIRATION CRY, “OUT OF THE CITIES”? Here excuses become painfully practical: “My job is here.” “My children's opportunities are here.” “I'll move when everything becomes convenient.” Yet Inspiration repeatedly urged: “Out of the cities, out of the cities! This is the message the Lord has been giving me.” — Country Living, p. 29 Why? Not because soil saves souls. But country surroundings can favor health, simplicity, useful labor, children learning from nature, greater separation from corrupting influences, and preparation for difficult times. God's first home for humanity was not a congested metropolis. “The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden.” — Genesis 2:8 Abraham lived as a pilgrim. Lot “pitched his tent toward Sodom.” — Genesis 13:12 Their stories remind us: LOCATION CANNOT CONVERT THE HEART—BUT ENVIRONMENT CAN POWERFULLY INFLUENCE IT. Yet Inspiration also counseled: “Out of the cities; but not a moment before God would have us go.” — Country Living, p. 26 So the message is not: PANIC AND RUN. It is: PRAY. PREPARE. SIMPLIFY. LEARN. WATCH PROVIDENCE. AND WHEN GOD OPENS THE WAY—OBEY. And remember: YOU CAN LEAVE BABYLON GEOGRAPHICALLY WHILE BABYLON STILL LIVES IN YOUR HEART. Christ's first relocation project is: SELF OFF THE THRONE—CHRIST ON IT. --- ⑥ SPEECH REFORM—CAN A CONVERTED HEART KEEP AN UNCONVERTED TONGUE? Here the excuses sound innocent: “I'm only joking.” “But it's true!” “I just needed to release my feelings.” Scripture answers: “Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting… but rather giving of thanks.” — Ephesians 5:4 “Speak evil of no man.” — Titus 3:2 And instead: “That which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” — Ephesians 4:29 Imagine that standard: WORDS THAT MINISTER GRACE. No gossip. No slander. No degrading jesting. No cutting sarcasm. No dishonest flattery. No spreading bitterness from heart to heart. “Bless, and curse not.” — Romans 12:14 This does not mean hiding wrongdoing. Jesus rebuked sin. Nathan confronted David. Paul corrected churches. Truth sometimes must hurt before it heals. But Scripture says: “Speaking the truth in love.” — Ephesians 4:15 Before speaking, ask: IS IT TRUE? IS IT NECESSARY? IS IT LOVING? WILL IT BUILD RATHER THAN POISON? WOULD I SAY IT THIS WAY IN THE VISIBLE PRESENCE OF JESUS? “Let the law of kindness be upon your lips and the oil of grace in your heart.” — Christ's Object Lessons, p. 337 What a standard: **TRUTH ON THE LIPS. GRACE IN THE HEART.** --- ⑦ PERHAPS THE MOST DANGEROUS EXCUSE—“I'M NOT CONVICTED.” Sometimes that is sincere. Conscience must never be forced. But sometimes: “I'M NOT CONVICTED” really means: “I DON'T WANT TO INVESTIGATE THIS DEEPLY ENOUGH TO BECOME CONVICTED.” Jesus reveals a searching principle: “If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine.” — John 7:17 Notice the order: WILLINGNESS → UNDERSTANDING → OBEDIENCE. Before asking, “Is this really required?” ask: “LORD, IF YOUR WORD SHOWS ME THAT I AM WRONG—AM I WILLING TO CHANGE?” That question exposes whether we want truth— or merely reassurance. --- ⑧ BUT HERE IS THE DANGER ON THE OTHER SIDE—REFORM WITHOUT CHRIST Inspiration defines genuine reformation: “Reformation signifies a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices.” — Selected Messages, vol. 1, p. 128 Truth must reach: the calendar, the kitchen, the wardrobe, the temper, the address, the tongue, and the choices nobody sees. “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only.” — James 1:22 But never miss this: REFORMATION WITHOUT CHRIST CAN PRODUCE A PHARISEE. You can keep Sabbath— and hate your brother. Eat perfectly— and feed on pride. Dress modestly— and advertise self-righteousness. Move to the country— and take worldliness with you. Guard your tongue publicly— while bitterness rules privately. Jesus did not come merely to rearrange our habits. HE CAME TO RECREATE OUR HEARTS. “Without Me ye can do nothing.” — John 15:5 --- THE QUESTION BENEATH EVERY REFORM When Christ touches your— TIME—will He be Lord? APPETITE—will He be Lord? APPEARANCE—will He be Lord? CHARACTER—will He be Lord? LOCATION—will He be Lord? TONGUE—will He be Lord? There it is. DOES JESUS HAVE PERMISSION TO CHANGE EVERYTHING? “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” — Luke 9:23 Perhaps we do not need another argument. Perhaps we need another surrender. Instead of continually praying: “LORD, GIVE ME MORE LIGHT,” perhaps we need to pray: “LORD, FORGIVE ME FOR RESISTING THE LIGHT I ALREADY HAVE.” Take my appetite. Take my pride. Take my temper. Take my tongue. Take my plans. Take my home. TAKE MY WHOLE HEART. “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” — Acts 9:6 NO MORE EXCUSES. NO MORE BARGAINING WITH LIGHT. NO MORE TRYING TO OUTREASON GOD. CHRIST BEFORE CONVENIENCE. FAITH BEFORE FEAR. TRUTH BEFORE TRADITION. SURRENDER BEFORE SELF. Because when Jesus truly becomes Lord— REFORMATION IS NO LONGER SOMETHING GOD MUST FORCE FROM US. IT BECOMES SOMETHING LOVE IS WILLING TO SURRENDER TO HIM.
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  • DAILY BREAD FELLOWSHIP

    DBF-001-029

    Today’s Scripture

    John 2:8 (ESV)

    “And he said to them, ‘Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.’ So they took it.”

    Opening the Scriptures

    The servants had obeyed Jesus and filled the six stone jars with water up to the brim.

    Then Jesus gave another command.

    “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.”

    Notice what John tells us next:

    “So they took it.”

    There is no recorded argument.

    There is no demand for an explanation.

    There is simply obedience.

    The servants had put water into those jars. They knew what had been placed there. Yet Jesus now told them to draw from the jars and take it to the man responsible for the wedding feast.

    They still did not know what Jesus was doing.

    But they obeyed what He said.

    Living God’s Word Today

    There are times when obeying Christ requires us to move forward without knowing what the result will be.

    We often want certainty before obedience.

    We want God to show us exactly how everything will work before we act.

    But Scripture does not teach us to trust our ability to understand every circumstance.

    It teaches us to trust God.

    This does not mean Christians should act carelessly or treat every personal feeling as though it were a command from God.

    That would be dangerous.

    Our obedience must be governed by what God has actually revealed in His Word.

    When Scripture speaks clearly, however, we should not delay obedience simply because we cannot see what God will accomplish through it.

    We forgive because Christ commands us to forgive.

    We speak truth because God commands truthfulness.

    We love because Christ commands us to love.

    We share the Gospel because Christ has commanded His people to make disciples.

    We serve faithfully because we belong to Him.

    The servants at Cana could not change water into wine.

    Their responsibility was much simpler.

    Jesus commanded.

    They obeyed.

    What happened next depended entirely upon the power of Christ.

    This protects us from two serious mistakes.

    We must not become passive and refuse to do what God commands.

    But neither should we imagine that the results depend entirely upon us.

    Obedience belongs to us. The power and the results belong to God.

    Whatever responsibility Christ has placed before you today, carry it out faithfully according to His Word.

    Then trust Him with what follows.

    Question for Today

    Are you willing to obey Christ even when you cannot yet see what He will do?

    Respond: “Lord Jesus, I will trust You and obey Your Word.”
    DAILY BREAD FELLOWSHIP DBF-001-029 Today’s Scripture John 2:8 (ESV) “And he said to them, ‘Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.’ So they took it.” Opening the Scriptures The servants had obeyed Jesus and filled the six stone jars with water up to the brim. Then Jesus gave another command. “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” Notice what John tells us next: “So they took it.” There is no recorded argument. There is no demand for an explanation. There is simply obedience. The servants had put water into those jars. They knew what had been placed there. Yet Jesus now told them to draw from the jars and take it to the man responsible for the wedding feast. They still did not know what Jesus was doing. But they obeyed what He said. Living God’s Word Today There are times when obeying Christ requires us to move forward without knowing what the result will be. We often want certainty before obedience. We want God to show us exactly how everything will work before we act. But Scripture does not teach us to trust our ability to understand every circumstance. It teaches us to trust God. This does not mean Christians should act carelessly or treat every personal feeling as though it were a command from God. That would be dangerous. Our obedience must be governed by what God has actually revealed in His Word. When Scripture speaks clearly, however, we should not delay obedience simply because we cannot see what God will accomplish through it. We forgive because Christ commands us to forgive. We speak truth because God commands truthfulness. We love because Christ commands us to love. We share the Gospel because Christ has commanded His people to make disciples. We serve faithfully because we belong to Him. The servants at Cana could not change water into wine. Their responsibility was much simpler. Jesus commanded. They obeyed. What happened next depended entirely upon the power of Christ. This protects us from two serious mistakes. We must not become passive and refuse to do what God commands. But neither should we imagine that the results depend entirely upon us. Obedience belongs to us. The power and the results belong to God. Whatever responsibility Christ has placed before you today, carry it out faithfully according to His Word. Then trust Him with what follows. Question for Today Are you willing to obey Christ even when you cannot yet see what He will do? Respond: “Lord Jesus, I will trust You and obey Your Word.”
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  • 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴?

    This is a question every Christian entrepreneur should prayerfully consider.
    We often separate our spiritual lives from our professional lives. We worship on Sunday, pray in church, read the Bible, and then step into our businesses as though the two worlds have nothing to do with each other.

    But what if God can use the work of our hands as part of His purpose?

    What if entrepreneurship can become an avenue to 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀, 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗚𝗼𝗱?

    This is one of the ideas explored through 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿.

    Being a Christian entrepreneur does not mean that business becomes easy. It means we don't have to build without God.

    We can pursue excellence without compromising our values.

    We can pursue success without making money our god.

    We can build boldly while remembering who gave us the ability to build.

    If you are an entrepreneur, aspiring entrepreneur or simply interested in understanding how faith and business can work together, I encourage you to explore this community.

    𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿: (https://faithdrivenentrepreneur.subspla.sh/mq6s8gv)

    𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘆.

    #GospelTruthLive #FaithDrivenEntrepreneur #ChristianEntrepreneur #KingdomBusiness #FaithAndBusiness #ChristianLeadership #PurposeDrivenLife
    𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴? This is a question every Christian entrepreneur should prayerfully consider. We often separate our spiritual lives from our professional lives. We worship on Sunday, pray in church, read the Bible, and then step into our businesses as though the two worlds have nothing to do with each other. But what if God can use the work of our hands as part of His purpose? What if entrepreneurship can become an avenue to 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀, 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗚𝗼𝗱? This is one of the ideas explored through 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿. Being a Christian entrepreneur does not mean that business becomes easy. It means we don't have to build without God. We can pursue excellence without compromising our values. We can pursue success without making money our god. We can build boldly while remembering who gave us the ability to build. If you are an entrepreneur, aspiring entrepreneur or simply interested in understanding how faith and business can work together, I encourage you to explore this community. 👉 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿: (https://faithdrivenentrepreneur.subspla.sh/mq6s8gv) 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘆. #GospelTruthLive #FaithDrivenEntrepreneur #ChristianEntrepreneur #KingdomBusiness #FaithAndBusiness #ChristianLeadership #PurposeDrivenLife
    0 Reacties 0 aandelen 18 Views
  • Good morning, brethren.
    1. Morning devotion for today.

    MD.i. MORNING TEA
    THE WORD FOR TODAY
    FRIDAY AUGUST 21, 2O26.
    "THREE LEVELS OF ATTACK (1)"

    ‘…command that these stones become bread.’ Matthew 4:3 NKJV

    THE BIBLE says, ‘…Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil’ (Matthew 4:1 NKJV). This seems to be God’s standard operating procedure. Why? Because He’s a good general; before He puts you into battle He puts you into boot camp. Imagine it: you’re up at dawn, running for miles with a heavy backpack, crawling under barbed wire barriers with bullets whizzing over your head, taking orders from authority figures you don’t know and probably don’t like. But if you pass the test; you get to wear the uniform. On the threshold of His ministry, God led His Son into a situation where He would face three levels of attack. You will face them also. Let’s look at the first one:
    The attack over the bread. Did Jesus need bread? Yes, He’d been without food for forty days. But He knew that His greatest need was not for natural food but spiritual food. So He told satan, ‘…“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’’ (Matthew 4:4 NKJV). Only when you’re convinced God will take care of all your material needs, will you start putting spiritual things first in your life. Until that happens, you’ll think you have to take care of yourself. As a result, you will walk in fear and not faith. That’s not how God wants you to live. ‘…seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you’ (Matthew 6:33 NKJV). When you worry, you don’t trust God. When you trust God, you don’t have to worry. The choice is yours.

    Bible In A Year: Lam 3:40-5:22; Matt 20:1-16; Ps 119:129-136; Pro 18:21. Courtesy: Grace So Amazing Foundation

    *To partner with us, kindly refer to page 9 of the hard copy edition or simply send us a WhatsApp message/call on +2348128000068.* .

    MD.iì. [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA*

    FRIDAY, 21ST AUGUST, 2026.

    *WISDOM IN HANDLING THE VAIN TALKERS*

    *TEXT:* MATTHEW 22:18-22.

    18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
    19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
    20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
    21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
    22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

    *Timeless Truth:*_"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's"_ (1 Corinthians 6:20).

    *INTRODUCTION*

    In human relationships, there are vain talkers who do not hide their intention to disgrace, humiliate, embarrass and insult us. However, most vain talkers are friendly foes with evil intentions, but with a friendly approach. If they are not handled with wisdom, they will mess up, disgrace and embarass the saints and the preachers, thus, making their messages of non effect or impact. Paul the apostle himself with Apostolic anointing encountered such people like Jesus encountered them in the text. *"For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision, Whose mouths must be stopped"* (Titus 1:10,11).
    Jesus was confronted by people who did not genuinely seek the truth, but wanted to trap Him with their questions. Their outward appearance suggested sincerity, but their hearts were deceptive. Jesus, however, perceived their wicked intentions and responded with divine wisdom. Believers will also encounter vain talkers—people whose words are deceptive, provocative, argumentative or designed to lead others away from truth. We must, therefore, learn from Christ how to respond with spiritual perception, scriptural wisdom and personal conviction.

    *1. Spiritual and Scriptural Perception*

    a. Topical Encyclopedia rightly defines spiritual perception as the ability to discern and understand spiritual truths and realities that are not accessible through natural senses or human reasoning alone. It involves a heightened awareness and insight into the spiritual realm, often granted by the Holy Spirit to believers. Spiritual perception by the Holy Spirit, can read into the mind and at times (not in all cases) decipher the motivations and intentions of the heart. It is a lower form of the gift of discernment. They brought the coin with the inscription of Caesar and questioned Jesus on whether it was right to pay taxes to the government. Jesus knew they wanted to rope Him into public controversy that will put Him into trouble with the government of the day. If Jesus said it was right to pay tributes to Caesar, they would use that to paint Jesus as anti-Jewish. If Jesus said it is not right, they would end up putting him at a collision course with the government of the day. Either controversy can be avoided without necessarily doing violence to the truth. He was not a pro-controversy minister on avoidable spiritual or vain conflicts. Many ministers always enjoy being entangled in controversy on things that are non-essentials in the things of the kingdom. Jesus knew their wickedness and said, *“Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?”* Their question was not an innocent request for guidance; it was a trap. Christ could see beyond their words into their motives. Spiritual perception enables believers to distinguish between genuine questions and deceptive arguments. We must not be carried away by eloquent speech, clever reasoning or religious appearance. The Word of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit give us discernment to recognize what is behind seemingly innocent conversations.
    b. Nehemiah, for example, was given a seemingly innocent and reconciliatory invitation by his adversaries. He knew that it was not of God. *"And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him"*. Believers, especially spiritual leaders, must have enough of scriptural understanding and insight of the truth that will generate spiritual perception by the Holy Spirit. However, there are unscriptural perceptions or incorrect insights in the form of a suspicious spirit that always read negative meanings into the actions of the innocent. This is satanic and ungodly.

    *Question*

    Do I have sufficient spiritual discernment to recognize deception and vain arguments when I encounter them?

    *2. Saints as the Saviour’s Possession*

    a. Jesus revealed deep spiritual truth to them while answering their question. It is one thing to receive an answer to a genuine question and another thing to be patient enough to get the message in the answer. Jesus asked them to show Him the tribute money and then asked whose image and inscription were upon it. When they answered, *"Caesar’s"* . Jesus declared unto them that though He is the Creator of all, He will not take what belongs to others or even what he has bequeathed to others except He was given voluntarily. The metal used for the coin belongs to God, but it has been given to the king and the use is delegated to powers that be. Jesus would not take the gift back except if the gifted decided to endow it back to the Owner or the Creator. He will not forcefully, stylishly or trickishly take back what He has given to others. This is a deep spiritual message that we can learn from God. Jesus declared, *“Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”*
    b. What is the implication of this answer? The coin carried Caesar’s image and therefore must be given to the owner. Also, human beings, including his body, soul and spirit bear the image of God (Genesis 1:26–27), therefore, man must surrender his soul, spirit and body to God to be used at His pleasure being the Owner. Reluctance to give oneself to God, the Owner, is daylight robbery which God the Creator will not even do to those He gave something to. We are owned by God as His possession by Creation and Redemption. Without redemption by Jesus Christ, we are all marked for eternal destruction. *"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's"*. So, our appearance, body, heart and soul must be consciously and deliberately given to the glory of God, joyfully. The language of the responsible creature to his Creator is like what a king said: *"And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have"*. Our spirit, soul, time, possessions and all that we have belong to God and none should be denied Him at any time He needs them. Like Thomas, our response to God whenever He demands sacrifice or anything from us, no matter how precious is *"My Lord and my God"*. It is a language of acknowledgement of His being the Creator. It is a language of appreciation of being the Redeemer.

    *Question*

    Since I belong to Christ, am I allowing His image and ownership to determine the way I live? Am I always readily giving Him what His Word demands without hesitation or reluctance?

    *3. Satisfied without Scripture Personalization*

    When Jesus answered their question, *“they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.”* They were amazed by His wisdom, but there is no indication that they surrendered their hearts to His truth. They did not bother to apply the truth to their lives and personalized it. It is possible to admire Scripture, appreciate a powerful message and even marvel at divine wisdom without personally applying it. The danger of vain talk is that we may become satisfied with intellectual discussion rather than spiritual transformation. God’s Word must move from our ears to our hearts and from our hearts to our daily conduct. The messages of Christ are so deep that they require constant and continuous reflection and self application in order to get the best from them. It is not how great a message is, but how transforming.

    *Question*

    Am I merely impressed by biblical truth or am I personally applying and obeying it?

    *Prayer Points*

    1.Lord, grant me spiritual discernment to recognize deception, hypocrisy and vain arguments .
    2.Father, help me to remember that I belong completely to Christ and to live according to His will .
    3 Lord, deliver me from empty religious knowledge and help me to personalize and practice Your Word .
    4.Father, give us the wisdom of Christ to answer difficult questions with truth, grace, humility and courage. Help us to be doers of your Word and not hearers only .

    *HYMN:* Lord speak to me

    *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* DANIEL 3-5.
    [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS)

    FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2026```


    *RESPONSIBILITIES OF DUAL CITIZENS* 🫵🏽🏽‍🏽‍🏽🏽‍🏽

    ```TEXT:MATTHEW 22:18-22```

    ```KEY VERSE:``` _*"And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's" (MATTHEW 22:20, 21).*_

    *Kofi Annan, the Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1997 - 2006, is a figure whose life was shaped by the responsibilities of dual citizenship. While Annan was a Ghanaian citizen by birth, his role in international diplomacy required him to balance his connection to his homeland with his responsibility to the global community. In his role in Ghana, he worked to advance the nation's standing on the world stage, often advocating for African issues and the continent's development in the international arena. On the other hand, in his global duty as UN Secretary-General, his role involved diplomacy with countries in conflict, addressing human rights abuses, and working toward humanitarian aid and general global peace.*

    *In the passage, the Pharisees, who were trying to trap Jesus, posed a question about paying taxes to Caesar. The dilemma they presented seemed unsolvable: if Jesus said it was lawful to pay tax, He could alienate the people, who hated Roman rule. But if He said it was unlawful, He could be accused of stirring insurrection. But Jesus, with His wisdom, cut through the manipulation and answered in a way that transcended their trap. He asked for a coin, a denarius, and asked whose image was on it. "Caesar's," they replied. Then, He gave a profound answer that has echoed through history: "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."*

    *Jesus' words highlight that we are citizens of two realms - an earthly kingdom, with earthly responsibilities, and God's kingdom, with eternal responsibilities. While on earth, we are to honour the systems of authority set before us, paying taxes, respecting laws, and fulfilling our civic duties, which are part of our witness to the world. On the other hand, we must always remember that we are made in the likeness of God and, as such, our lives, our hearts, our very being, are His. In all, while our lives may be marked by the needs of the world - job, family, relationships - our ultimate allegiance should lie with God.*

    ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*A coin has two sides, so do our duties to God and man.*_

    ```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *DANIEL 3-5*

    Responsibilities Of Dual Citizens
    https://dailymanna.app//
    *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 89: O JESUS, I HAVE PROMISED; GHS 223: I GAVE MY LIFE FOR THEE; AND GHS 233: STAND UP, STAND UP FOR JESUS*
    *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter*
    *#DailyManna21stAugust2026*
    *#GCK*
    *#WorshipNuggets*
    *#BibleNuggets*
    *#LeadershipNuggets*
    *#RevivalNuggets*
    *#CrusadeNuggets*
    https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]
    [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY```

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

    ✍🏽🏻‍ 🏽🛰

    ```FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2026```

    *A CHILD WITH A DIFFERENCE* 🫵🏽🏽‍🏽‍🏽🏽🏽🏽🏽‍🏽

    ```TEXT:1 SAMUEL 2:22-26```

    ``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men" (1 SAMUEL 2:26).*_

    *Neelakantha Bhanu Prakash, a 26-year-old Indian is referred to as the "world's fastest human calculator." According to the _Limca Book of Records,_ India's equivalent to _Guinness World Records,_ Bhanu's brain processes numbers about 10 times faster than regular brains. He is an exceptional individual with unusual gifts and talents.*

    *The Biblical young Samuel was one of such children with a difference. He was raised in the house of Prophet Eli with his wayward and corrupt children. Samuel grew up like a lily in the mire without any taint of environmental corruption.*

    *Samuel did not join the bandwagon of the ruffians, Hophni and Phinehas (Eli's children) among whom he grew up. God called them sons of Belial who knew not the Lord. Because Samuel kept himself from evils around him, he became a priest, prophet and leader for the whole nation of Israel.*

    *To fulfill God's purpose for your life and make impact in your world, you must be holy and righteous. You are exceptional. You can make a difference in your world.*

    ```QUOTE:``` _*You can make a difference.*_

    ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Make definite impact in your world.*_

    🏽🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Help me Lord, to fulfill Your purpose in life.*_



    A Child With A Difference
    https://dailymanna.app//

    *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter*
    *#HigherEveryday21stAugust2026*
    *#GCK*
    *#WorshipNuggets*
    *#BibleNuggets*
    *#LeadershipNuggets*
    *#RevivalNuggets*
    *#CrusadeNuggets*
    https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]
    [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY```

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

    🏼🏼🏼🏼🏼‍

    ```FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2026```

    *PROFITABLE SERVICE* 🫵🏽🏽‍🏽‍🏽🏽‍🏽🏽

    ```EXODUS 23:25-26```



    ```Key Verse:``` _*"And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee" (Exodus 23:25).*_



    Kingdom work involves the use of our God-given resources, like time, strength, talents and finances, in promoting the kingdom of God. It is a profitable service that attracts rewards on earth and in Heaven. Some of the benefits are outlined below:

    *(i) Divine Blessings - Provision of food and other needs (Exodus 23:25).*

    *(ii) Divine Health - Healing and sound health (Exodus 23:25).*

    *(iii) Long Life - Live long and healthy till old age (Exodus 23:26).*

    *(iv) Prosperity - God will prosper you in every area of life: academics, career, and material blessings (Job 36:11).*

    *(v) Honour - Undeserved favour and honour from God. At last, the faithful servant will make it to heaven and live with Jesus forever (John 12:26).*

    *(vi) Distinction - You will be the head and not the tail. Also, you will have excellent results, and become ten times better (Deuteronomy 28:13).*

    *(vii) Fulfillment in Life - You will never lack anything that is good. All that you desire shall come to pass (Matthew 6:33).*

    *It is time to wake up and get involved in kingdom service so that you can get the reward from God.*



    ```rayer:``` _*May my sacrifice be acceptable unto You oh Lord!*_ 🏽

    ``` Further Reading:``` *1 Corinthians 4:1-4*



    Profitable Service
    https://dailymanna.app//

    *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter*
    *#SincereMilk21stAugust2026*
    *#GCK*
    *#WorshipNuggets*
    *#BibleNuggets*
    *#LeadershipNuggets*
    *#RevivalNuggets*
    *#CrusadeNuggets*
    https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]

    2. Morning Prayer for today.

    MP.i. Morning Prayer

    Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. ⏤ John 8:12

    Prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan. ⏤ John Bunyan

    O God, the source of all truth and grace, You’ve called us out of darkness into Your marvelous light—grant us Your blessing as this new day begins. We ask for Your grace to walk worthy of our high calling, with humility, faith, and hope. May we let our light shine before others so they may see our good works and glorify You.

    We ask for grace to perform our tasks diligently, to manage our affairs wisely, to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, and to acknowledge You in all our ways.

    Order our steps in Your word and don’t let sin have any power over us.

    Give us our daily bread. Provide what we need for this day. Grant us health of body and soundness of mind so that we’re prepared for the duties ahead. Prosper our efforts as long as they align with Your will. If any of our plans don’t fit into Your plan for our lives, we ask that You set them aside, for we don’t want to go against You or do anything that You won’t approve or bless. Restrain us from all excesses, from unwise words, from foolish vanity, and from uncontrolled emotions. Make us thoughtful, serious, and prayerful.

    O God, You allowed Your only Son to be tempted by the Evil One so that He could support those who are tempted. We ask You to deliver us from the snares and temptations that constantly surround us, and to strengthen us by Your Spirit so that in all things, we may be more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Amen.

    https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/47/morning

    #taptapstudio
    #youdevotion.
    Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. MD.i. 😀🎀💝🎁🌺🌹MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY FRIDAY AUGUST 21, 2O26. "THREE LEVELS OF ATTACK (1)" ‘…command that these stones become bread.’ Matthew 4:3 NKJV THE BIBLE says, ‘…Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil’ (Matthew 4:1 NKJV). This seems to be God’s standard operating procedure. Why? Because He’s a good general; before He puts you into battle He puts you into boot camp. Imagine it: you’re up at dawn, running for miles with a heavy backpack, crawling under barbed wire barriers with bullets whizzing over your head, taking orders from authority figures you don’t know and probably don’t like. But if you pass the test; you get to wear the uniform. On the threshold of His ministry, God led His Son into a situation where He would face three levels of attack. You will face them also. Let’s look at the first one: The attack over the bread. Did Jesus need bread? Yes, He’d been without food for forty days. But He knew that His greatest need was not for natural food but spiritual food. So He told satan, ‘…“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’’ (Matthew 4:4 NKJV). Only when you’re convinced God will take care of all your material needs, will you start putting spiritual things first in your life. Until that happens, you’ll think you have to take care of yourself. As a result, you will walk in fear and not faith. That’s not how God wants you to live. ‘…seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you’ (Matthew 6:33 NKJV). When you worry, you don’t trust God. When you trust God, you don’t have to worry. The choice is yours. Bible In A Year: Lam 3:40-5:22; Matt 20:1-16; Ps 119:129-136; Pro 18:21. Courtesy: Grace So Amazing Foundation 🌹🎀 *To partner with us, kindly refer to page 9 of the hard copy edition or simply send us a WhatsApp message/call on +2348128000068.*🌷🎀💝 🌹. MD.iì. [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA* FRIDAY, 21ST AUGUST, 2026. *WISDOM IN HANDLING THE VAIN TALKERS* *TEXT:* MATTHEW 22:18-22. 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. 22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way. *Timeless Truth:*_"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's"_ (1 Corinthians 6:20). *INTRODUCTION* In human relationships, there are vain talkers who do not hide their intention to disgrace, humiliate, embarrass and insult us. However, most vain talkers are friendly foes with evil intentions, but with a friendly approach. If they are not handled with wisdom, they will mess up, disgrace and embarass the saints and the preachers, thus, making their messages of non effect or impact. Paul the apostle himself with Apostolic anointing encountered such people like Jesus encountered them in the text. *"For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision, Whose mouths must be stopped"* (Titus 1:10,11). Jesus was confronted by people who did not genuinely seek the truth, but wanted to trap Him with their questions. Their outward appearance suggested sincerity, but their hearts were deceptive. Jesus, however, perceived their wicked intentions and responded with divine wisdom. Believers will also encounter vain talkers—people whose words are deceptive, provocative, argumentative or designed to lead others away from truth. We must, therefore, learn from Christ how to respond with spiritual perception, scriptural wisdom and personal conviction. *1. Spiritual and Scriptural Perception* a. Topical Encyclopedia rightly defines spiritual perception as the ability to discern and understand spiritual truths and realities that are not accessible through natural senses or human reasoning alone. It involves a heightened awareness and insight into the spiritual realm, often granted by the Holy Spirit to believers. Spiritual perception by the Holy Spirit, can read into the mind and at times (not in all cases) decipher the motivations and intentions of the heart. It is a lower form of the gift of discernment. They brought the coin with the inscription of Caesar and questioned Jesus on whether it was right to pay taxes to the government. Jesus knew they wanted to rope Him into public controversy that will put Him into trouble with the government of the day. If Jesus said it was right to pay tributes to Caesar, they would use that to paint Jesus as anti-Jewish. If Jesus said it is not right, they would end up putting him at a collision course with the government of the day. Either controversy can be avoided without necessarily doing violence to the truth. He was not a pro-controversy minister on avoidable spiritual or vain conflicts. Many ministers always enjoy being entangled in controversy on things that are non-essentials in the things of the kingdom. Jesus knew their wickedness and said, *“Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?”* Their question was not an innocent request for guidance; it was a trap. Christ could see beyond their words into their motives. Spiritual perception enables believers to distinguish between genuine questions and deceptive arguments. We must not be carried away by eloquent speech, clever reasoning or religious appearance. The Word of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit give us discernment to recognize what is behind seemingly innocent conversations. b. Nehemiah, for example, was given a seemingly innocent and reconciliatory invitation by his adversaries. He knew that it was not of God. *"And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him"*. Believers, especially spiritual leaders, must have enough of scriptural understanding and insight of the truth that will generate spiritual perception by the Holy Spirit. However, there are unscriptural perceptions or incorrect insights in the form of a suspicious spirit that always read negative meanings into the actions of the innocent. This is satanic and ungodly. *Question* Do I have sufficient spiritual discernment to recognize deception and vain arguments when I encounter them? *2. Saints as the Saviour’s Possession* a. Jesus revealed deep spiritual truth to them while answering their question. It is one thing to receive an answer to a genuine question and another thing to be patient enough to get the message in the answer. Jesus asked them to show Him the tribute money and then asked whose image and inscription were upon it. When they answered, *"Caesar’s"* . Jesus declared unto them that though He is the Creator of all, He will not take what belongs to others or even what he has bequeathed to others except He was given voluntarily. The metal used for the coin belongs to God, but it has been given to the king and the use is delegated to powers that be. Jesus would not take the gift back except if the gifted decided to endow it back to the Owner or the Creator. He will not forcefully, stylishly or trickishly take back what He has given to others. This is a deep spiritual message that we can learn from God. Jesus declared, *“Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”* b. What is the implication of this answer? The coin carried Caesar’s image and therefore must be given to the owner. Also, human beings, including his body, soul and spirit bear the image of God (Genesis 1:26–27), therefore, man must surrender his soul, spirit and body to God to be used at His pleasure being the Owner. Reluctance to give oneself to God, the Owner, is daylight robbery which God the Creator will not even do to those He gave something to. We are owned by God as His possession by Creation and Redemption. Without redemption by Jesus Christ, we are all marked for eternal destruction. *"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's"*. So, our appearance, body, heart and soul must be consciously and deliberately given to the glory of God, joyfully. The language of the responsible creature to his Creator is like what a king said: *"And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have"*. Our spirit, soul, time, possessions and all that we have belong to God and none should be denied Him at any time He needs them. Like Thomas, our response to God whenever He demands sacrifice or anything from us, no matter how precious is *"My Lord and my God"*. It is a language of acknowledgement of His being the Creator. It is a language of appreciation of being the Redeemer. *Question* Since I belong to Christ, am I allowing His image and ownership to determine the way I live? Am I always readily giving Him what His Word demands without hesitation or reluctance? *3. Satisfied without Scripture Personalization* When Jesus answered their question, *“they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.”* They were amazed by His wisdom, but there is no indication that they surrendered their hearts to His truth. They did not bother to apply the truth to their lives and personalized it. It is possible to admire Scripture, appreciate a powerful message and even marvel at divine wisdom without personally applying it. The danger of vain talk is that we may become satisfied with intellectual discussion rather than spiritual transformation. God’s Word must move from our ears to our hearts and from our hearts to our daily conduct. The messages of Christ are so deep that they require constant and continuous reflection and self application in order to get the best from them. It is not how great a message is, but how transforming. *Question* Am I merely impressed by biblical truth or am I personally applying and obeying it? *Prayer Points* 1.Lord, grant me spiritual discernment to recognize deception, hypocrisy and vain arguments 🙏. 2.Father, help me to remember that I belong completely to Christ and to live according to His will 🙏. 3 Lord, deliver me from empty religious knowledge and help me to personalize and practice Your Word 🙏. 4.Father, give us the wisdom of Christ to answer difficult questions with truth, grace, humility and courage. Help us to be doers of your Word and not hearers only 🙏. *HYMN:* Lord speak to me *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* DANIEL 3-5. [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2026``` *RESPONSIBILITIES OF DUAL CITIZENS* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:MATTHEW 22:18-22```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's" (MATTHEW 22:20, 21).*_ *Kofi Annan, the Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1997 - 2006, is a figure whose life was shaped by the responsibilities of dual citizenship. While Annan was a Ghanaian citizen by birth, his role in international diplomacy required him to balance his connection to his homeland with his responsibility to the global community. In his role in Ghana, he worked to advance the nation's standing on the world stage, often advocating for African issues and the continent's development in the international arena. On the other hand, in his global duty as UN Secretary-General, his role involved diplomacy with countries in conflict, addressing human rights abuses, and working toward humanitarian aid and general global peace.* *In the passage, the Pharisees, who were trying to trap Jesus, posed a question about paying taxes to Caesar. The dilemma they presented seemed unsolvable: if Jesus said it was lawful to pay tax, He could alienate the people, who hated Roman rule. But if He said it was unlawful, He could be accused of stirring insurrection. But Jesus, with His wisdom, cut through the manipulation and answered in a way that transcended their trap. He asked for a coin, a denarius, and asked whose image was on it. "Caesar's," they replied. Then, He gave a profound answer that has echoed through history: "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."* *Jesus' words highlight that we are citizens of two realms - an earthly kingdom, with earthly responsibilities, and God's kingdom, with eternal responsibilities. While on earth, we are to honour the systems of authority set before us, paying taxes, respecting laws, and fulfilling our civic duties, which are part of our witness to the world. On the other hand, we must always remember that we are made in the likeness of God and, as such, our lives, our hearts, our very being, are His. In all, while our lives may be marked by the needs of the world - job, family, relationships - our ultimate allegiance should lie with God.* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*A coin has two sides, so do our duties to God and man.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *DANIEL 3-5*📜📜 Responsibilities Of Dual Citizens https://dailymanna.app// *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 89: O JESUS, I HAVE PROMISED; GHS 223: I GAVE MY LIFE FOR THEE; AND GHS 233: STAND UP, STAND UP FOR JESUS* *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#DailyManna21stAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2026``` *A CHILD WITH A DIFFERENCE* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️👶🏽👦🏽👨🏽🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:1 SAMUEL 2:22-26```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men" (1 SAMUEL 2:26).*_ *Neelakantha Bhanu Prakash, a 26-year-old Indian is referred to as the "world's fastest human calculator." According to the _Limca Book of Records,_ India's equivalent to _Guinness World Records,_ Bhanu's brain processes numbers about 10 times faster than regular brains. He is an exceptional individual with unusual gifts and talents.* *The Biblical young Samuel was one of such children with a difference. He was raised in the house of Prophet Eli with his wayward and corrupt children. Samuel grew up like a lily in the mire without any taint of environmental corruption.* *Samuel did not join the bandwagon of the ruffians, Hophni and Phinehas (Eli's children) among whom he grew up. God called them sons of Belial who knew not the Lord. Because Samuel kept himself from evils around him, he became a priest, prophet and leader for the whole nation of Israel.* *To fulfill God's purpose for your life and make impact in your world, you must be holy and righteous. You are exceptional. You can make a difference in your world.* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*You can make a difference.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Make definite impact in your world.*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Help me Lord, to fulfill Your purpose in life.*_ A Child With A Difference https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#HigherEveryday21stAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2026``` *PROFITABLE SERVICE* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽🙌🏽 📜📜```EXODUS 23:25-26```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee" (Exodus 23:25).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Kingdom work involves the use of our God-given resources, like time, strength, talents and finances, in promoting the kingdom of God. It is a profitable service that attracts rewards on earth and in Heaven. Some of the benefits are outlined below: *(i) Divine Blessings - Provision of food and other needs (Exodus 23:25).* *(ii) Divine Health - Healing and sound health (Exodus 23:25).* *(iii) Long Life - Live long and healthy till old age (Exodus 23:26).* *(iv) Prosperity - God will prosper you in every area of life: academics, career, and material blessings (Job 36:11).* *(v) Honour - Undeserved favour and honour from God. At last, the faithful servant will make it to heaven and live with Jesus forever (John 12:26).* *(vi) Distinction - You will be the head and not the tail. Also, you will have excellent results, and become ten times better (Deuteronomy 28:13).* *(vii) Fulfillment in Life - You will never lack anything that is good. All that you desire shall come to pass (Matthew 6:33).* *It is time to wake up and get involved in kingdom service so that you can get the reward from God.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*May my sacrifice be acceptable unto You oh Lord!*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *1 Corinthians 4:1-4* Profitable Service https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#SincereMilk21stAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]. 2. Morning Prayer for today. MP.i. Morning Prayer Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. ⏤ John 8:12 Prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan. ⏤ John Bunyan O God, the source of all truth and grace, You’ve called us out of darkness into Your marvelous light—grant us Your blessing as this new day begins. We ask for Your grace to walk worthy of our high calling, with humility, faith, and hope. May we let our light shine before others so they may see our good works and glorify You. We ask for grace to perform our tasks diligently, to manage our affairs wisely, to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, and to acknowledge You in all our ways. Order our steps in Your word and don’t let sin have any power over us. Give us our daily bread. Provide what we need for this day. Grant us health of body and soundness of mind so that we’re prepared for the duties ahead. Prosper our efforts as long as they align with Your will. If any of our plans don’t fit into Your plan for our lives, we ask that You set them aside, for we don’t want to go against You or do anything that You won’t approve or bless. Restrain us from all excesses, from unwise words, from foolish vanity, and from uncontrolled emotions. Make us thoughtful, serious, and prayerful. O God, You allowed Your only Son to be tempted by the Evil One so that He could support those who are tempted. We ask You to deliver us from the snares and temptations that constantly surround us, and to strengthen us by Your Spirit so that in all things, we may be more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/47/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.
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  • Good morning, brethren.
    1. Morning devotion for today.

    MD.i. MORNING TEA
    THE WORD FOR TODAY
    FRIDAY AUGUST 21, 2O26.
    "THREE LEVELS OF ATTACK (1)"

    ‘…command that these stones become bread.’ Matthew 4:3 NKJV

    THE BIBLE says, ‘…Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil’ (Matthew 4:1 NKJV). This seems to be God’s standard operating procedure. Why? Because He’s a good general; before He puts you into battle He puts you into boot camp. Imagine it: you’re up at dawn, running for miles with a heavy backpack, crawling under barbed wire barriers with bullets whizzing over your head, taking orders from authority figures you don’t know and probably don’t like. But if you pass the test; you get to wear the uniform. On the threshold of His ministry, God led His Son into a situation where He would face three levels of attack. You will face them also. Let’s look at the first one:
    The attack over the bread. Did Jesus need bread? Yes, He’d been without food for forty days. But He knew that His greatest need was not for natural food but spiritual food. So He told satan, ‘…“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’’ (Matthew 4:4 NKJV). Only when you’re convinced God will take care of all your material needs, will you start putting spiritual things first in your life. Until that happens, you’ll think you have to take care of yourself. As a result, you will walk in fear and not faith. That’s not how God wants you to live. ‘…seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you’ (Matthew 6:33 NKJV). When you worry, you don’t trust God. When you trust God, you don’t have to worry. The choice is yours.

    Bible In A Year: Lam 3:40-5:22; Matt 20:1-16; Ps 119:129-136; Pro 18:21. Courtesy: Grace So Amazing Foundation

    *To partner with us, kindly refer to page 9 of the hard copy edition or simply send us a WhatsApp message/call on +2348128000068.* .

    MD.iì. [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA*

    FRIDAY, 21ST AUGUST, 2026.

    *WISDOM IN HANDLING THE VAIN TALKERS*

    *TEXT:* MATTHEW 22:18-22.

    18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
    19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
    20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
    21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
    22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

    *Timeless Truth:*_"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's"_ (1 Corinthians 6:20).

    *INTRODUCTION*

    In human relationships, there are vain talkers who do not hide their intention to disgrace, humiliate, embarrass and insult us. However, most vain talkers are friendly foes with evil intentions, but with a friendly approach. If they are not handled with wisdom, they will mess up, disgrace and embarass the saints and the preachers, thus, making their messages of non effect or impact. Paul the apostle himself with Apostolic anointing encountered such people like Jesus encountered them in the text. *"For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision, Whose mouths must be stopped"* (Titus 1:10,11).
    Jesus was confronted by people who did not genuinely seek the truth, but wanted to trap Him with their questions. Their outward appearance suggested sincerity, but their hearts were deceptive. Jesus, however, perceived their wicked intentions and responded with divine wisdom. Believers will also encounter vain talkers—people whose words are deceptive, provocative, argumentative or designed to lead others away from truth. We must, therefore, learn from Christ how to respond with spiritual perception, scriptural wisdom and personal conviction.

    *1. Spiritual and Scriptural Perception*

    a. Topical Encyclopedia rightly defines spiritual perception as the ability to discern and understand spiritual truths and realities that are not accessible through natural senses or human reasoning alone. It involves a heightened awareness and insight into the spiritual realm, often granted by the Holy Spirit to believers. Spiritual perception by the Holy Spirit, can read into the mind and at times (not in all cases) decipher the motivations and intentions of the heart. It is a lower form of the gift of discernment. They brought the coin with the inscription of Caesar and questioned Jesus on whether it was right to pay taxes to the government. Jesus knew they wanted to rope Him into public controversy that will put Him into trouble with the government of the day. If Jesus said it was right to pay tributes to Caesar, they would use that to paint Jesus as anti-Jewish. If Jesus said it is not right, they would end up putting him at a collision course with the government of the day. Either controversy can be avoided without necessarily doing violence to the truth. He was not a pro-controversy minister on avoidable spiritual or vain conflicts. Many ministers always enjoy being entangled in controversy on things that are non-essentials in the things of the kingdom. Jesus knew their wickedness and said, *“Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?”* Their question was not an innocent request for guidance; it was a trap. Christ could see beyond their words into their motives. Spiritual perception enables believers to distinguish between genuine questions and deceptive arguments. We must not be carried away by eloquent speech, clever reasoning or religious appearance. The Word of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit give us discernment to recognize what is behind seemingly innocent conversations.
    b. Nehemiah, for example, was given a seemingly innocent and reconciliatory invitation by his adversaries. He knew that it was not of God. *"And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him"*. Believers, especially spiritual leaders, must have enough of scriptural understanding and insight of the truth that will generate spiritual perception by the Holy Spirit. However, there are unscriptural perceptions or incorrect insights in the form of a suspicious spirit that always read negative meanings into the actions of the innocent. This is satanic and ungodly.

    *Question*

    Do I have sufficient spiritual discernment to recognize deception and vain arguments when I encounter them?

    *2. Saints as the Saviour’s Possession*

    a. Jesus revealed deep spiritual truth to them while answering their question. It is one thing to receive an answer to a genuine question and another thing to be patient enough to get the message in the answer. Jesus asked them to show Him the tribute money and then asked whose image and inscription were upon it. When they answered, *"Caesar’s"* . Jesus declared unto them that though He is the Creator of all, He will not take what belongs to others or even what he has bequeathed to others except He was given voluntarily. The metal used for the coin belongs to God, but it has been given to the king and the use is delegated to powers that be. Jesus would not take the gift back except if the gifted decided to endow it back to the Owner or the Creator. He will not forcefully, stylishly or trickishly take back what He has given to others. This is a deep spiritual message that we can learn from God. Jesus declared, *“Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”*
    b. What is the implication of this answer? The coin carried Caesar’s image and therefore must be given to the owner. Also, human beings, including his body, soul and spirit bear the image of God (Genesis 1:26–27), therefore, man must surrender his soul, spirit and body to God to be used at His pleasure being the Owner. Reluctance to give oneself to God, the Owner, is daylight robbery which God the Creator will not even do to those He gave something to. We are owned by God as His possession by Creation and Redemption. Without redemption by Jesus Christ, we are all marked for eternal destruction. *"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's"*. So, our appearance, body, heart and soul must be consciously and deliberately given to the glory of God, joyfully. The language of the responsible creature to his Creator is like what a king said: *"And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have"*. Our spirit, soul, time, possessions and all that we have belong to God and none should be denied Him at any time He needs them. Like Thomas, our response to God whenever He demands sacrifice or anything from us, no matter how precious is *"My Lord and my God"*. It is a language of acknowledgement of His being the Creator. It is a language of appreciation of being the Redeemer.

    *Question*

    Since I belong to Christ, am I allowing His image and ownership to determine the way I live? Am I always readily giving Him what His Word demands without hesitation or reluctance?

    *3. Satisfied without Scripture Personalization*

    When Jesus answered their question, *“they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.”* They were amazed by His wisdom, but there is no indication that they surrendered their hearts to His truth. They did not bother to apply the truth to their lives and personalized it. It is possible to admire Scripture, appreciate a powerful message and even marvel at divine wisdom without personally applying it. The danger of vain talk is that we may become satisfied with intellectual discussion rather than spiritual transformation. God’s Word must move from our ears to our hearts and from our hearts to our daily conduct. The messages of Christ are so deep that they require constant and continuous reflection and self application in order to get the best from them. It is not how great a message is, but how transforming.

    *Question*

    Am I merely impressed by biblical truth or am I personally applying and obeying it?

    *Prayer Points*

    1.Lord, grant me spiritual discernment to recognize deception, hypocrisy and vain arguments .
    2.Father, help me to remember that I belong completely to Christ and to live according to His will .
    3 Lord, deliver me from empty religious knowledge and help me to personalize and practice Your Word .
    4.Father, give us the wisdom of Christ to answer difficult questions with truth, grace, humility and courage. Help us to be doers of your Word and not hearers only .

    *HYMN:* Lord speak to me

    *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* DANIEL 3-5.
    [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS)

    FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2026```


    *RESPONSIBILITIES OF DUAL CITIZENS* 🫵🏽🏽‍🏽‍🏽🏽‍🏽

    ```TEXT:MATTHEW 22:18-22```

    ```KEY VERSE:``` _*"And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's" (MATTHEW 22:20, 21).*_

    *Kofi Annan, the Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1997 - 2006, is a figure whose life was shaped by the responsibilities of dual citizenship. While Annan was a Ghanaian citizen by birth, his role in international diplomacy required him to balance his connection to his homeland with his responsibility to the global community. In his role in Ghana, he worked to advance the nation's standing on the world stage, often advocating for African issues and the continent's development in the international arena. On the other hand, in his global duty as UN Secretary-General, his role involved diplomacy with countries in conflict, addressing human rights abuses, and working toward humanitarian aid and general global peace.*

    *In the passage, the Pharisees, who were trying to trap Jesus, posed a question about paying taxes to Caesar. The dilemma they presented seemed unsolvable: if Jesus said it was lawful to pay tax, He could alienate the people, who hated Roman rule. But if He said it was unlawful, He could be accused of stirring insurrection. But Jesus, with His wisdom, cut through the manipulation and answered in a way that transcended their trap. He asked for a coin, a denarius, and asked whose image was on it. "Caesar's," they replied. Then, He gave a profound answer that has echoed through history: "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."*

    *Jesus' words highlight that we are citizens of two realms - an earthly kingdom, with earthly responsibilities, and God's kingdom, with eternal responsibilities. While on earth, we are to honour the systems of authority set before us, paying taxes, respecting laws, and fulfilling our civic duties, which are part of our witness to the world. On the other hand, we must always remember that we are made in the likeness of God and, as such, our lives, our hearts, our very being, are His. In all, while our lives may be marked by the needs of the world - job, family, relationships - our ultimate allegiance should lie with God.*

    ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*A coin has two sides, so do our duties to God and man.*_

    ```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *DANIEL 3-5*

    Responsibilities Of Dual Citizens
    https://dailymanna.app//
    *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 89: O JESUS, I HAVE PROMISED; GHS 223: I GAVE MY LIFE FOR THEE; AND GHS 233: STAND UP, STAND UP FOR JESUS*
    *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter*
    *#DailyManna21stAugust2026*
    *#GCK*
    *#WorshipNuggets*
    *#BibleNuggets*
    *#LeadershipNuggets*
    *#RevivalNuggets*
    *#CrusadeNuggets*
    https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]
    [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY```

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

    ✍🏽🏻‍ 🏽🛰

    ```FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2026```

    *A CHILD WITH A DIFFERENCE* 🫵🏽🏽‍🏽‍🏽🏽🏽🏽🏽‍🏽

    ```TEXT:1 SAMUEL 2:22-26```

    ``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men" (1 SAMUEL 2:26).*_

    *Neelakantha Bhanu Prakash, a 26-year-old Indian is referred to as the "world's fastest human calculator." According to the _Limca Book of Records,_ India's equivalent to _Guinness World Records,_ Bhanu's brain processes numbers about 10 times faster than regular brains. He is an exceptional individual with unusual gifts and talents.*

    *The Biblical young Samuel was one of such children with a difference. He was raised in the house of Prophet Eli with his wayward and corrupt children. Samuel grew up like a lily in the mire without any taint of environmental corruption.*

    *Samuel did not join the bandwagon of the ruffians, Hophni and Phinehas (Eli's children) among whom he grew up. God called them sons of Belial who knew not the Lord. Because Samuel kept himself from evils around him, he became a priest, prophet and leader for the whole nation of Israel.*

    *To fulfill God's purpose for your life and make impact in your world, you must be holy and righteous. You are exceptional. You can make a difference in your world.*

    ```QUOTE:``` _*You can make a difference.*_

    ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Make definite impact in your world.*_

    🏽🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Help me Lord, to fulfill Your purpose in life.*_



    A Child With A Difference
    https://dailymanna.app//

    *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter*
    *#HigherEveryday21stAugust2026*
    *#GCK*
    *#WorshipNuggets*
    *#BibleNuggets*
    *#LeadershipNuggets*
    *#RevivalNuggets*
    *#CrusadeNuggets*
    https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]
    [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY```

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

    🏼🏼🏼🏼🏼‍

    ```FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2026```

    *PROFITABLE SERVICE* 🫵🏽🏽‍🏽‍🏽🏽‍🏽🏽

    ```EXODUS 23:25-26```



    ```Key Verse:``` _*"And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee" (Exodus 23:25).*_



    Kingdom work involves the use of our God-given resources, like time, strength, talents and finances, in promoting the kingdom of God. It is a profitable service that attracts rewards on earth and in Heaven. Some of the benefits are outlined below:

    *(i) Divine Blessings - Provision of food and other needs (Exodus 23:25).*

    *(ii) Divine Health - Healing and sound health (Exodus 23:25).*

    *(iii) Long Life - Live long and healthy till old age (Exodus 23:26).*

    *(iv) Prosperity - God will prosper you in every area of life: academics, career, and material blessings (Job 36:11).*

    *(v) Honour - Undeserved favour and honour from God. At last, the faithful servant will make it to heaven and live with Jesus forever (John 12:26).*

    *(vi) Distinction - You will be the head and not the tail. Also, you will have excellent results, and become ten times better (Deuteronomy 28:13).*

    *(vii) Fulfillment in Life - You will never lack anything that is good. All that you desire shall come to pass (Matthew 6:33).*

    *It is time to wake up and get involved in kingdom service so that you can get the reward from God.*



    ```rayer:``` _*May my sacrifice be acceptable unto You oh Lord!*_ 🏽

    ``` Further Reading:``` *1 Corinthians 4:1-4*



    Profitable Service
    https://dailymanna.app//

    *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter*
    *#SincereMilk21stAugust2026*
    *#GCK*
    *#WorshipNuggets*
    *#BibleNuggets*
    *#LeadershipNuggets*
    *#RevivalNuggets*
    *#CrusadeNuggets*
    https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]

    2. Morning Prayer for today.

    MP.i. Morning Prayer

    Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. ⏤ John 8:12

    Prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan. ⏤ John Bunyan

    O God, the source of all truth and grace, You’ve called us out of darkness into Your marvelous light—grant us Your blessing as this new day begins. We ask for Your grace to walk worthy of our high calling, with humility, faith, and hope. May we let our light shine before others so they may see our good works and glorify You.

    We ask for grace to perform our tasks diligently, to manage our affairs wisely, to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, and to acknowledge You in all our ways.

    Order our steps in Your word and don’t let sin have any power over us.

    Give us our daily bread. Provide what we need for this day. Grant us health of body and soundness of mind so that we’re prepared for the duties ahead. Prosper our efforts as long as they align with Your will. If any of our plans don’t fit into Your plan for our lives, we ask that You set them aside, for we don’t want to go against You or do anything that You won’t approve or bless. Restrain us from all excesses, from unwise words, from foolish vanity, and from uncontrolled emotions. Make us thoughtful, serious, and prayerful.

    O God, You allowed Your only Son to be tempted by the Evil One so that He could support those who are tempted. We ask You to deliver us from the snares and temptations that constantly surround us, and to strengthen us by Your Spirit so that in all things, we may be more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Amen.

    https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/47/morning

    #taptapstudio
    #youdevotion.
    Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. MD.i. 😀🎀💝🎁🌺🌹MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY FRIDAY AUGUST 21, 2O26. "THREE LEVELS OF ATTACK (1)" ‘…command that these stones become bread.’ Matthew 4:3 NKJV THE BIBLE says, ‘…Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil’ (Matthew 4:1 NKJV). This seems to be God’s standard operating procedure. Why? Because He’s a good general; before He puts you into battle He puts you into boot camp. Imagine it: you’re up at dawn, running for miles with a heavy backpack, crawling under barbed wire barriers with bullets whizzing over your head, taking orders from authority figures you don’t know and probably don’t like. But if you pass the test; you get to wear the uniform. On the threshold of His ministry, God led His Son into a situation where He would face three levels of attack. You will face them also. Let’s look at the first one: The attack over the bread. Did Jesus need bread? Yes, He’d been without food for forty days. But He knew that His greatest need was not for natural food but spiritual food. So He told satan, ‘…“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’’ (Matthew 4:4 NKJV). Only when you’re convinced God will take care of all your material needs, will you start putting spiritual things first in your life. Until that happens, you’ll think you have to take care of yourself. As a result, you will walk in fear and not faith. That’s not how God wants you to live. ‘…seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you’ (Matthew 6:33 NKJV). When you worry, you don’t trust God. When you trust God, you don’t have to worry. The choice is yours. Bible In A Year: Lam 3:40-5:22; Matt 20:1-16; Ps 119:129-136; Pro 18:21. Courtesy: Grace So Amazing Foundation 🌹🎀 *To partner with us, kindly refer to page 9 of the hard copy edition or simply send us a WhatsApp message/call on +2348128000068.*🌷🎀💝 🌹. MD.iì. [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA* FRIDAY, 21ST AUGUST, 2026. *WISDOM IN HANDLING THE VAIN TALKERS* *TEXT:* MATTHEW 22:18-22. 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. 22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way. *Timeless Truth:*_"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's"_ (1 Corinthians 6:20). *INTRODUCTION* In human relationships, there are vain talkers who do not hide their intention to disgrace, humiliate, embarrass and insult us. However, most vain talkers are friendly foes with evil intentions, but with a friendly approach. If they are not handled with wisdom, they will mess up, disgrace and embarass the saints and the preachers, thus, making their messages of non effect or impact. Paul the apostle himself with Apostolic anointing encountered such people like Jesus encountered them in the text. *"For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision, Whose mouths must be stopped"* (Titus 1:10,11). Jesus was confronted by people who did not genuinely seek the truth, but wanted to trap Him with their questions. Their outward appearance suggested sincerity, but their hearts were deceptive. Jesus, however, perceived their wicked intentions and responded with divine wisdom. Believers will also encounter vain talkers—people whose words are deceptive, provocative, argumentative or designed to lead others away from truth. We must, therefore, learn from Christ how to respond with spiritual perception, scriptural wisdom and personal conviction. *1. Spiritual and Scriptural Perception* a. Topical Encyclopedia rightly defines spiritual perception as the ability to discern and understand spiritual truths and realities that are not accessible through natural senses or human reasoning alone. It involves a heightened awareness and insight into the spiritual realm, often granted by the Holy Spirit to believers. Spiritual perception by the Holy Spirit, can read into the mind and at times (not in all cases) decipher the motivations and intentions of the heart. It is a lower form of the gift of discernment. They brought the coin with the inscription of Caesar and questioned Jesus on whether it was right to pay taxes to the government. Jesus knew they wanted to rope Him into public controversy that will put Him into trouble with the government of the day. If Jesus said it was right to pay tributes to Caesar, they would use that to paint Jesus as anti-Jewish. If Jesus said it is not right, they would end up putting him at a collision course with the government of the day. Either controversy can be avoided without necessarily doing violence to the truth. He was not a pro-controversy minister on avoidable spiritual or vain conflicts. Many ministers always enjoy being entangled in controversy on things that are non-essentials in the things of the kingdom. Jesus knew their wickedness and said, *“Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?”* Their question was not an innocent request for guidance; it was a trap. Christ could see beyond their words into their motives. Spiritual perception enables believers to distinguish between genuine questions and deceptive arguments. We must not be carried away by eloquent speech, clever reasoning or religious appearance. The Word of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit give us discernment to recognize what is behind seemingly innocent conversations. b. Nehemiah, for example, was given a seemingly innocent and reconciliatory invitation by his adversaries. He knew that it was not of God. *"And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him"*. Believers, especially spiritual leaders, must have enough of scriptural understanding and insight of the truth that will generate spiritual perception by the Holy Spirit. However, there are unscriptural perceptions or incorrect insights in the form of a suspicious spirit that always read negative meanings into the actions of the innocent. This is satanic and ungodly. *Question* Do I have sufficient spiritual discernment to recognize deception and vain arguments when I encounter them? *2. Saints as the Saviour’s Possession* a. Jesus revealed deep spiritual truth to them while answering their question. It is one thing to receive an answer to a genuine question and another thing to be patient enough to get the message in the answer. Jesus asked them to show Him the tribute money and then asked whose image and inscription were upon it. When they answered, *"Caesar’s"* . Jesus declared unto them that though He is the Creator of all, He will not take what belongs to others or even what he has bequeathed to others except He was given voluntarily. The metal used for the coin belongs to God, but it has been given to the king and the use is delegated to powers that be. Jesus would not take the gift back except if the gifted decided to endow it back to the Owner or the Creator. He will not forcefully, stylishly or trickishly take back what He has given to others. This is a deep spiritual message that we can learn from God. Jesus declared, *“Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”* b. What is the implication of this answer? The coin carried Caesar’s image and therefore must be given to the owner. Also, human beings, including his body, soul and spirit bear the image of God (Genesis 1:26–27), therefore, man must surrender his soul, spirit and body to God to be used at His pleasure being the Owner. Reluctance to give oneself to God, the Owner, is daylight robbery which God the Creator will not even do to those He gave something to. We are owned by God as His possession by Creation and Redemption. Without redemption by Jesus Christ, we are all marked for eternal destruction. *"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's"*. So, our appearance, body, heart and soul must be consciously and deliberately given to the glory of God, joyfully. The language of the responsible creature to his Creator is like what a king said: *"And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have"*. Our spirit, soul, time, possessions and all that we have belong to God and none should be denied Him at any time He needs them. Like Thomas, our response to God whenever He demands sacrifice or anything from us, no matter how precious is *"My Lord and my God"*. It is a language of acknowledgement of His being the Creator. It is a language of appreciation of being the Redeemer. *Question* Since I belong to Christ, am I allowing His image and ownership to determine the way I live? Am I always readily giving Him what His Word demands without hesitation or reluctance? *3. Satisfied without Scripture Personalization* When Jesus answered their question, *“they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.”* They were amazed by His wisdom, but there is no indication that they surrendered their hearts to His truth. They did not bother to apply the truth to their lives and personalized it. It is possible to admire Scripture, appreciate a powerful message and even marvel at divine wisdom without personally applying it. The danger of vain talk is that we may become satisfied with intellectual discussion rather than spiritual transformation. God’s Word must move from our ears to our hearts and from our hearts to our daily conduct. The messages of Christ are so deep that they require constant and continuous reflection and self application in order to get the best from them. It is not how great a message is, but how transforming. *Question* Am I merely impressed by biblical truth or am I personally applying and obeying it? *Prayer Points* 1.Lord, grant me spiritual discernment to recognize deception, hypocrisy and vain arguments 🙏. 2.Father, help me to remember that I belong completely to Christ and to live according to His will 🙏. 3 Lord, deliver me from empty religious knowledge and help me to personalize and practice Your Word 🙏. 4.Father, give us the wisdom of Christ to answer difficult questions with truth, grace, humility and courage. Help us to be doers of your Word and not hearers only 🙏. *HYMN:* Lord speak to me *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* DANIEL 3-5. [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2026``` *RESPONSIBILITIES OF DUAL CITIZENS* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:MATTHEW 22:18-22```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's" (MATTHEW 22:20, 21).*_ *Kofi Annan, the Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1997 - 2006, is a figure whose life was shaped by the responsibilities of dual citizenship. While Annan was a Ghanaian citizen by birth, his role in international diplomacy required him to balance his connection to his homeland with his responsibility to the global community. In his role in Ghana, he worked to advance the nation's standing on the world stage, often advocating for African issues and the continent's development in the international arena. On the other hand, in his global duty as UN Secretary-General, his role involved diplomacy with countries in conflict, addressing human rights abuses, and working toward humanitarian aid and general global peace.* *In the passage, the Pharisees, who were trying to trap Jesus, posed a question about paying taxes to Caesar. The dilemma they presented seemed unsolvable: if Jesus said it was lawful to pay tax, He could alienate the people, who hated Roman rule. But if He said it was unlawful, He could be accused of stirring insurrection. But Jesus, with His wisdom, cut through the manipulation and answered in a way that transcended their trap. He asked for a coin, a denarius, and asked whose image was on it. "Caesar's," they replied. Then, He gave a profound answer that has echoed through history: "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."* *Jesus' words highlight that we are citizens of two realms - an earthly kingdom, with earthly responsibilities, and God's kingdom, with eternal responsibilities. While on earth, we are to honour the systems of authority set before us, paying taxes, respecting laws, and fulfilling our civic duties, which are part of our witness to the world. On the other hand, we must always remember that we are made in the likeness of God and, as such, our lives, our hearts, our very being, are His. In all, while our lives may be marked by the needs of the world - job, family, relationships - our ultimate allegiance should lie with God.* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*A coin has two sides, so do our duties to God and man.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *DANIEL 3-5*📜📜 Responsibilities Of Dual Citizens https://dailymanna.app// *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 89: O JESUS, I HAVE PROMISED; GHS 223: I GAVE MY LIFE FOR THEE; AND GHS 233: STAND UP, STAND UP FOR JESUS* *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#DailyManna21stAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2026``` *A CHILD WITH A DIFFERENCE* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️👶🏽👦🏽👨🏽🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:1 SAMUEL 2:22-26```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men" (1 SAMUEL 2:26).*_ *Neelakantha Bhanu Prakash, a 26-year-old Indian is referred to as the "world's fastest human calculator." According to the _Limca Book of Records,_ India's equivalent to _Guinness World Records,_ Bhanu's brain processes numbers about 10 times faster than regular brains. He is an exceptional individual with unusual gifts and talents.* *The Biblical young Samuel was one of such children with a difference. He was raised in the house of Prophet Eli with his wayward and corrupt children. Samuel grew up like a lily in the mire without any taint of environmental corruption.* *Samuel did not join the bandwagon of the ruffians, Hophni and Phinehas (Eli's children) among whom he grew up. God called them sons of Belial who knew not the Lord. Because Samuel kept himself from evils around him, he became a priest, prophet and leader for the whole nation of Israel.* *To fulfill God's purpose for your life and make impact in your world, you must be holy and righteous. You are exceptional. You can make a difference in your world.* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*You can make a difference.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Make definite impact in your world.*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Help me Lord, to fulfill Your purpose in life.*_ A Child With A Difference https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#HigherEveryday21stAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2026``` *PROFITABLE SERVICE* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽🙌🏽 📜📜```EXODUS 23:25-26```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee" (Exodus 23:25).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Kingdom work involves the use of our God-given resources, like time, strength, talents and finances, in promoting the kingdom of God. It is a profitable service that attracts rewards on earth and in Heaven. Some of the benefits are outlined below: *(i) Divine Blessings - Provision of food and other needs (Exodus 23:25).* *(ii) Divine Health - Healing and sound health (Exodus 23:25).* *(iii) Long Life - Live long and healthy till old age (Exodus 23:26).* *(iv) Prosperity - God will prosper you in every area of life: academics, career, and material blessings (Job 36:11).* *(v) Honour - Undeserved favour and honour from God. At last, the faithful servant will make it to heaven and live with Jesus forever (John 12:26).* *(vi) Distinction - You will be the head and not the tail. Also, you will have excellent results, and become ten times better (Deuteronomy 28:13).* *(vii) Fulfillment in Life - You will never lack anything that is good. All that you desire shall come to pass (Matthew 6:33).* *It is time to wake up and get involved in kingdom service so that you can get the reward from God.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*May my sacrifice be acceptable unto You oh Lord!*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *1 Corinthians 4:1-4* Profitable Service https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#SincereMilk21stAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]. 2. Morning Prayer for today. MP.i. Morning Prayer Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. ⏤ John 8:12 Prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan. ⏤ John Bunyan O God, the source of all truth and grace, You’ve called us out of darkness into Your marvelous light—grant us Your blessing as this new day begins. We ask for Your grace to walk worthy of our high calling, with humility, faith, and hope. May we let our light shine before others so they may see our good works and glorify You. We ask for grace to perform our tasks diligently, to manage our affairs wisely, to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, and to acknowledge You in all our ways. Order our steps in Your word and don’t let sin have any power over us. Give us our daily bread. Provide what we need for this day. Grant us health of body and soundness of mind so that we’re prepared for the duties ahead. Prosper our efforts as long as they align with Your will. If any of our plans don’t fit into Your plan for our lives, we ask that You set them aside, for we don’t want to go against You or do anything that You won’t approve or bless. Restrain us from all excesses, from unwise words, from foolish vanity, and from uncontrolled emotions. Make us thoughtful, serious, and prayerful. O God, You allowed Your only Son to be tempted by the Evil One so that He could support those who are tempted. We ask You to deliver us from the snares and temptations that constantly surround us, and to strengthen us by Your Spirit so that in all things, we may be more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/47/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.
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  • The Advent Truth.
    CONSCIOUSNESS DOES NOT DETERMINE HUMAN VALUE.

    One increasingly common argument says that ending the life of a developing child isn't really taking a human life because the child isn't yet conscious.

    But think carefully about that standard.

    Since when does consciousness determine whether a human being has the right to live?

    A person who is asleep isn't consciously aware of the world around them. A patient under general anesthesia isn't consciously experiencing their surroundings. Someone knocked unconscious in an accident may temporarily have no awareness whatsoever.
    Would that make intentionally ending their life acceptable?

    Of course not.

    That's because our value as human beings isn't created by our current level of consciousness.

    And there's another problem: newborn babies don't possess anything close to the developed self-awareness, reasoning ability, memory, or cognitive capacity of adults. If consciousness determines human worth, exactly HOW MUCH consciousness is enough?

    Where is the line?

    And who gets to draw it?
    The Bible gives us a radically different foundation for human value:

    "So God created man in his own image..." — Genesis 1:27

    Our value comes from WHO created us—not how much we can currently think, understand, communicate, remember, or accomplish.

    David said:

    "Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb... Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect." — Psalm 139:13,16

    Jeremiah was told:

    "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee." — Jeremiah 1:5

    And Luke describes John before birth using the Greek word brephos—"baby"—the SAME word used for Jesus after His birth (Luke 1:41,44; 2:12,16).

    Before birth and after birth: a developing human life.
    Human worth cannot safely be based on intelligence, independence, size, location, development, or consciousness. Once we make human dignity dependent upon possessing certain abilities, human rights stop being inherent and become something the powerful decide who qualifies for.

    Human life has value because human beings bear the image of God.
    The Advent Truth. CONSCIOUSNESS DOES NOT DETERMINE HUMAN VALUE. One increasingly common argument says that ending the life of a developing child isn't really taking a human life because the child isn't yet conscious. But think carefully about that standard. Since when does consciousness determine whether a human being has the right to live? A person who is asleep isn't consciously aware of the world around them. A patient under general anesthesia isn't consciously experiencing their surroundings. Someone knocked unconscious in an accident may temporarily have no awareness whatsoever. Would that make intentionally ending their life acceptable? Of course not. That's because our value as human beings isn't created by our current level of consciousness. And there's another problem: newborn babies don't possess anything close to the developed self-awareness, reasoning ability, memory, or cognitive capacity of adults. If consciousness determines human worth, exactly HOW MUCH consciousness is enough? Where is the line? And who gets to draw it? The Bible gives us a radically different foundation for human value: "So God created man in his own image..." — Genesis 1:27 Our value comes from WHO created us—not how much we can currently think, understand, communicate, remember, or accomplish. David said: "Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb... Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect." — Psalm 139:13,16 Jeremiah was told: "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee." — Jeremiah 1:5 And Luke describes John before birth using the Greek word brephos—"baby"—the SAME word used for Jesus after His birth (Luke 1:41,44; 2:12,16). Before birth and after birth: a developing human life. Human worth cannot safely be based on intelligence, independence, size, location, development, or consciousness. Once we make human dignity dependent upon possessing certain abilities, human rights stop being inherent and become something the powerful decide who qualifies for. Human life has value because human beings bear the image of God.
    0 Reacties 0 aandelen 8 Views
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