Mateo may be the hero of the story. But none of his journeys would happen without Verbum Aeternum.

It rests inside an abandoned church in the mountains of Nicaragua.

Father Tomás watches over it.
Doña Rosa knows about it.
And both seem to understand far more than they're willing to tell Mateo.

At first, Verbum appears to be an enormous, ancient Bible.

But is it?

In today's Behind the Story, we meet the mystery at the heart of Mateo and the Secrets of the Eternal Word.

Who Is Verbum Aeternum?

Read the new post on my blog:
https://www.steverhartwigauthor.com/blog

#ChristianMiddleGrade #BiblicalFiction #ChristianFiction #KidsAdventureBooks

*TESTAMENT OF GRACE GLOBAL ASSEMBLY (GRACE REVIVAL CENTRE)*

*LIFELINES DEVOTIONAL FOR THURSDAY,AUGUST 27, 2026*

*TOPIC: RESTORED DOMINION*

*BIBLE VERSE*
“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”-Genesis 1:28 (KJV)

*MEDITATION*
From the beginning, God created humanity with a mandate of dominion. Genesis 1:28 reveals that dominion was not man's invention but God's gift and responsibility. To have dominion means to exercise responsible authority and stewardship under God's ultimate rule, bringing order, productivity, righteousness, and godly influence into the sphere entrusted to us. Sin, however, damaged humanity's relationship with God and disrupted the proper exercise of this mandate. When Adam disobeyed God, he surrendered himself to sin's power and opened the door to consequences that affected the entire human race (Genesis 3:6–19; Romans 5:12). Believers today can also experience a diminished exercise of their God-given authority when they live in persistent disobedience, surrender to fear, allow destructive habits to control them, or forget their identity and authority in Christ. Dominion is therefore not a license for pride or domination over other people; it is the responsibility to live under God's authority while exercising the authority He has entrusted to us.

The good news is that Christ came to restore what sin had damaged. Jesus declared, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18), and He commissioned His followers to operate under that authority. When His disciples returned from ministry, Jesus told them, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy” (Luke 10:19). Through Christ, believers are no longer required to live as slaves to the dominion of sin, fear, or the devil. Romans 6:14 declares, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” The restoration of dominion therefore begins with understanding what Christ has accomplished. We do not reclaim authority by human strength or spiritual bravado; we receive and exercise our authority through submission to Jesus Christ, whose victory becomes the foundation of our victory.

One of the clearest biblical examples of restored dominion is found in the life of Samson, although his story also warns us about the consequences of careless living. God gave Samson extraordinary strength and a divine assignment, but his repeated compromise eventually weakened his effectiveness and resulted in his capture by the Philistines (Judges 16:19–21). In his final moments, however, Samson turned his heart toward God and cried, “O Lord GOD, remember me” (Judges 16:28). God answered his prayer, and Samson's strength was restored for one final act of deliverance. His story demonstrates that spiritual compromise can severely damage the exercise of what God has entrusted to us, but it also shows that failure does not have to be the end. Restoration begins when we return to God in humility and allow Him to rebuild what disobedience has weakened.

Restoring dominion therefore requires repentance, renewal, and a deliberate return to God's Word. James 4:7 gives a simple but powerful pattern: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Notice that submission to God comes before resistance to the devil. We cannot effectively exercise kingdom authority while deliberately resisting the authority of the King. The believer must therefore confess and forsake sin (1 John 1:9), renew the mind through God's Word (Romans 12:2), strengthen the spirit through prayer, and learn to distinguish God's will from personal ambition. Jesus demonstrated this principle when He resisted Satan in the wilderness by standing upon Scripture (Matthew 4:1–11). Dominion is restored when our lives come back into alignment with the One who gave us the mandate in the first place.

Restored dominion must also be expressed through responsible action and godly influence. Joseph exercised remarkable authority in Egypt, but he did not use his position for selfish domination; he used it to preserve lives during famine (Genesis 41:38–57). Daniel likewise exercised influence in Babylon without abandoning his loyalty to God (Daniel 6:3–5). These men demonstrate that kingdom dominion is not about controlling people but about bringing God's wisdom, righteousness, excellence, and order into the places where He has positioned us. A believer exercises restored dominion when he governs his own appetites, manages his resources wisely, leads his family responsibly, resists destructive influences, serves others, makes righteous decisions, and uses his opportunities to advance God's purposes. Proverbs 16:32 reminds us that ruling one's spirit is greater than conquering a city, showing that genuine dominion begins with self-government.

If you have allowed sin, fear, failure, addiction, discouragement, or spiritual negligence to weaken your sense and exercise of God-given authority, do not accept defeat as your permanent condition. Return to Christ, because He is the source of your authority and the foundation of your restoration. Remember that your dominion does not mean that you will never encounter opposition or hardship; rather, it means that circumstances, sin, fear, and the enemy do not have the final authority over a believer who remains submitted to Christ. Scripture says that God “hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6). Therefore, rise again in the authority Christ has provided, rebuild your spiritual life upon God's Word, walk in obedience, and exercise your influence with humility and wisdom. What has been weakened can be strengthened, what has been surrendered can be reclaimed, and what has been neglected can be rebuilt. Through Christ, the believer can recover the confidence and capacity to live under God's authority and fulfil the dominion mandate for which he was created.

*PRAYER*
Heavenly Father, thank You for the authority and responsibility You have given me through Christ. Restore every area of my life where sin, fear, failure, or disobedience has weakened my dominion. Help me to submit completely to You, stand firmly upon Your Word, resist every work of the enemy, and exercise godly authority with wisdom and humility. Let my life bring order, fruitfulness, righteousness, and glory to Your name. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.

Colossians 3:1 NLT
[1] Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

https://bible.com/bible/116/col.3.1.NLT

WHAT IS SIN?

1 JOHN 3:4 KJV 4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Sin is breaking the Law, missing the mark set by God.

The word "sin" is a translation of the Greek word "hamartia" which means to miss the mark.

ROMANS 3:23 NLT 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard.

Religious tradition labels many things as sin which the Bible does not. People make up all kinds of rules based on what they think is right. But God is the judge and only God can decree what sin is.

MARK 7:9 KJV 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

God has not left us to wonder what sin is. The Bible reveals it to us. We don't have to guess, or make it up as we go.

Just because you do something someone else thinks is wrong does not mean it is a sin. So don't let people condemn you over things the Bible does not clearly say are wrong. God is the judge.

COLOSSIANS 2:8 NKJ 8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

Another error is to think being tempted is a sin. Temptation itself is not sin. You cannot help being tempted. Even Jesus was tempted -- but He never yielded.

HEBREWS 4:15 NKJ 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

A common mistake is believing that having bad thoughts is a sin. It is not a sin to be tempted with bad thoughts. It only becomes a sin when we embrace those thoughts as our own and decide to act on them.

JAMES 1:15 NLT 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

God is against sin because it is deadly. Sin brings forth death, not life and blessing. God loves people, so He is against everything that harms people.

All sin harms people. (Just because you don't see how a sin would harm anyone, does not mean you know more than God.)

But no human can be right with God by never sinning. We have all fallen short and need a Savior. It is only by God's grace and His forgiveness that we can be right with God.

ROMANS 3:20 NLT 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

We can be glad because Jesus came to save sinners, and He paid the price for the forgiveness of all sins by shedding His blood.

EPHESIANS 1:7 NKJ 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

SAY THIS: Only God has the authority to decide what sin is.

God bless you!

THEME: GETHSEMANE HOUR / ALONE WITH GOD

TOPIC: O GOD, ARISE BY YOUR MERCY AND RESTORE ME TO THE RIGHT PATH

Bible Reading: Psalm 23:1-6, Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 30:21, Psalm 138:7-8

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

1. Father, let Dragnet Gospel Int'l Ministries remain firmly aligned with Your purpose and assignment. Let every distraction and opposition against this commission be removed, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 16:18)


2. O Lord, by Your mercy, guide every member of Dragnet Gospel Int'l Ministries into the right paths for their lives. Let no confusion or wrong direction hinder their divine purpose, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Psalm 23:3)


3. O God, arise by Your mercy and bring me back to the right direction for my destiny fulfilment. Let every wrong turn be corrected and every lost opportunity that is according to Your will be restored, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Proverbs 3:5-6)


4. Father, order my steps and keep me from decisions, relationships, and opportunities that would take me away from Your purpose, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Psalm 37:23)


5. Every influence drawing me away from God's will for my life, lose your hold over me, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 30:21)


6. O Lord, give me spiritual discernment to recognize the path You have prepared for me and the wisdom to walk in it faithfully, in the name of Jesus Christ. (James 1:5)


7. Every confusion concerning my destiny, purpose, career, ministry, relationships, and important decisions, be replaced with divine clarity, in the name of Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 14:33)


8. Father, restore my focus whenever I become distracted from the assignment You have given me. Let nothing make me abandon Your purpose for my life, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 12:1-2)


9. Every voice speaking contrary to God's purpose for my life, be silenced. Let the counsel of the Lord prevail concerning me, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Proverbs 19:21)


10. O Lord, let every wrong foundation affecting my journey be corrected. Establish my feet upon the path of righteousness and purpose, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Psalm 40:2)


11. Father, expose every relationship, opportunity, or association that appears beneficial but would ultimately derail my destiny. Give me grace to walk away from what You have not ordained, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Proverbs 4:14-15)


12. Every power and circumstance attempting to push me outside God's ordained path, be frustrated by the power of God, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 54:17)


13. O Lord, let Your light shine upon my path. Where I have been uncertain, give me direction; where I have been delayed, give me movement; and where I have been distracted, restore my focus, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Psalm 119:105)


14. Every person who hates the good purpose of God for my life, let their evil counsel fail and their opposition come to nothing, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Psalm 2:1-4)


15. Father, let those who oppose Your righteous purpose for my life be put to shame. Let every evil expectation concerning my destiny be disappointed, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Psalm 35:4)


16. O Lord, arise and fight every battle that is beyond my strength. Let Your mercy preserve me from enemies who seek to divert me from Your purpose, in the name of Jesus Christ. (2 Chronicles 20:12)


17. I declare that I will not miss God's purpose for my life. My steps shall be ordered by the Lord, and I shall fulfil the assignment He has committed into my hands, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Psalm 37:23)


18. Father, let Your mercy recover everything I have lost through wrong decisions, confusion, ignorance, or misplaced priorities, wherever recovery is according to Your perfect will, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Joel 2:25)


19. O Lord, preserve and prosper every current supporter and partner of Dragnet Gospel Int'l Ministries. Guide them into Your perfect will, establish their steps, and let them fulfil their God-given purposes, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Psalm 20:1-4)


20. Father, let Dragnet Gospel Int'l Ministries continually receive the wisdom, favour, and resources required to fulfil its kingdom assignment. Let nothing divert this commission from Your purpose, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 4:19)


21. O God, arise by Your mercy and bring me completely back to the right direction for my destiny fulfilment. Correct every wrong step, expose every deceptive path, restore my focus, and establish my feet in Your perfect will. Let everyone who hates Your righteous purpose for my life be disgraced in their evil counsel, while Your purpose concerning me stands firm. I shall fulfil my destiny and finish my course by Your grace, in the name of Jesus Christ. (Psalm 138:7-8; 2 Timothy 4:7)



TAKE NOTE OF YOUR DREAMS AND HIDE YOUR FEEDBACK

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

SHALOM

DOMINION DAILY DEVOTION ~ DAY 239
DATE: 27TH AUGUST 2026
TOPIC: TAKE HIS YOKE UPON YOU_2
ANCHOR SCRIPTURE:MATTHEW 11:29–30 (NKJV)
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Devotional message:

Yesterday, we saw that Jesus desires us to be yoked with Him so that He can order our steps and ensure that we walk on the path of light. Today, we continue by looking at another reason we must remain yoked with Christ: He desires to direct our lives.

The Bible warns us against leaning on our own understanding because our own wisdom and direction can lead us away from God's will. True and lasting fulfillment is found when we allow God to direct our paths.

When we are yoked with Christ, we surrender our will, plans, decisions, and ambitions to Him. We no longer insist on going where we want to go; instead, we learn to follow where He leads. His Word becomes our final authority, and the Holy Spirit becomes our guide.

It is through this relationship with Christ that we begin to discover and fulfil our God-given purpose. God created each of us intentionally, and He has assignments prepared for us. However, we cannot fulfil those assignments by depending solely on our own wisdom, strength, or abilities.

As we conform to the image of Christ, we become better equipped to represent Him and function according to His purposes. The closer we walk with Him, the clearer His direction becomes.

Therefore, ask yourself today: Am I fulfilling what God created me to do? Am I walking according to His Word and submitting to the leading of the Holy Spirit, or am I directing my own life?If you are already walking in God's purpose, continue faithfully. But if you have discovered that you have been walking according to your own plans, return to Christ and allow Him to order your steps.For the believer, the answer is to yoke yourself more deeply with Christ. For the unbeliever, the first step is to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and begin a life of surrender to Him.

Do not merely come to Jesus for rest; walk with Him under His yoke. Let Him direct your decisions, relationships, career, ministry, business, and every area of your life. Make His Word your final authority and submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit.When Christ directs your steps, you will not merely live—you will live with purpose, direction, and divine fulfillment.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me Jesus Christ, the One who directs my steps and leads me into Your purposes. Help me not to lean on my own understanding but to trust You completely.Reveal my God-given purpose and give me grace to fulfil it. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Daily Bible Reading
Prov 3:5–6,John 15:1–8,Rom 8:28–30,Eph 2:10,Gal 5:16–25

Author : Alfred Wabuko Manyasi
Contact :
Email : Dominionvoicesminisrty@gmail.com
Facebook : Alfred Wabuko Manyasi
Dominion Daily Devotion, 2026
© Dominion Voices Ministry

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: THURSDAY 27TH AUGUST 2026

TOPIC: REFUEL, RECHARGE, RELOAD, PART 1

MEMORIZE:
"And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel." Hebrews 12:24 (KJV)

BIBLE READING: LEVITICUS 17:11, MATTHEW 26:27-29

LEVITICUS 17:11
11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

MATTHEW 26:27-29
27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

MESSAGE:
God created man such that he would constantly need refuelling. That is why He made sure that every day would be followed by a night so that, if you have worked very hard during the day, you can sleep and refuel your energy at night. Also, after you have eaten breakfast and worked for some time, you are expected to take a break for lunch to refuel. The Almighty God created hunger to remind you that you are running low on energy, so you can go ahead and recharge by eating. In the same way batteries must be recharged from time to time so they can remain effective, you must constantly recharge yourself spiritually so that you will not become spiritually ineffective.

Whenever you begin to run low on spiritual energy, there will be a hunger in your spirit, and you will feel the need to refill. When that hunger comes, please don't ignore it. Start fasting and praying immediately to recharge your spiritual energy. If you allow the hunger to persist, you will become weak, and this may cause you to faint in the day of adversity (Proverbs 24:10).

God, in His infinite mercy, has also provided the Holy Communion as a very effective way for Christians to refuel spiritually. The wine of the Holy Communion represents the blood of Jesus, and since the life of the flesh is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11), then the life of Jesus is in His blood. You cannot drink the blood of Jesus worthily and remain weak. People who belong to occult groups understand the power of blood. When members of the occult want to receive more power, they are asked to make sacrifices that involve blood. The greater the power they seek, the greater the sacrifices required. In most cases, those who rise to the highest levels of such groups are asked to drink the blood of their victims for quicker and greater empowerment. As children of God, when we partake of the Holy Communion, we partake of the blood of our risen Lord. Today's memory verse tells us that the blood of Jesus speaks better things than that of Abel. When you are weak, the blood of Jesus will speak strength and might into you.

Beloved, never wait until you are completely drained of your spiritual strength. Whenever you find yourself getting weak spiritually, partake of the Holy Communion to recharge yourself, and you will receive fresh energy from the endless life of Christ.

KEY POINT:
Partaking of the Holy Communion will refuel your spiritual energy.

BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR:
EZEKIEL 13 - 15

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMNAL 8 - I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR
1. I need thee every hour most gracious Lord; no tender voice like thine can peace afford.

CHORUS:
I need thee, oh, I need thee; Every hour I need thee! Oh, bless me now my saviour; I come to thee!

2. I need thee every hour, stay thou near by; temptations lose their power when thou art nigh.

CHORUS:

3. I need thee every hour in joy or pain; come quickly and abide or life is vain.

CHORUS:

4. I need Thee every hour
Teach me Thy will; And Thy rich promises In me fulfill.

CHORUS:

5. I need Thee every hour,
Most Holy one; Oh, make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son!

CHORUS:



‎PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL
THURSDAY, 27TH AUGUST, 2026
REFUEL, RECHARGE, RELOAD I

Prayer Point
‎
1.Father, thank You for giving us the day, to work, and the night, for rest. Thank You for providing food and water to satisfy our hunger and thirst.

2.Father, thank You for giving us the Holy Spirit to strengthen us in our weakness, and to fill us when we feel empty.

3.Father, please help me to constantly recharge myself spiritually, so I won't become spiritually ineffective, in Jesus' name.

4.Father, please help me never to ignore the need to refill when I'm running low on spiritual energy, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, please help me constantly recharge my spiritual batteries through regular fasting and prayers, in Jesus' name.

6.Holy Spirit, refuel my spiritual tank, and satisfy my hunger and thirst so I won't become weak and faint in the day of adversity, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, thank You for the power in the Holy Communion to refuel us spiritually; thank You for the life transforming power in the blood of Jesus, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, please help me to constantly drink the blood of Jesus worthily, so I won't remain weak, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, by the reason of the blood of Jesus which is the greatest sacrifice, I receive power to rise to the very highest level of greater spiritual empowerment and exploit, in Jesus' name.

10.Father, as I partake of the Holy Communion, let the blood of Jesus speak strength and might into me, in Jesus'name.

11.Father, thank You for the life of Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye.
‎
Please grant him grace to remain spiritually refueled, recharged and reloaded for Your use, in Jesus' name. Bless his children (biological and spiritual). Help him to continue to produce sons and daughters to Your glory, in Jesus name
‎
‎12.Father, please bless Your son that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, with wisdom and favour. Answer all his prayers beyond measure, and all those who have been broadcasting them, in Jesus' name.
‎
‎13.Father, please let every challenge and temptations, hindrance and obstacles of getting these prayer points across to Your children, timely, and on daily basis be removed, in Jesus name.
‎
‎14.Your personal petitions.
‎(Philippians 4:6)
‎
‎15.In Jesus name I pray.
‎(John 14:13-14; 15:16)

#GodBlessOurNation

These prayers have no expiry dates! Please, pray them, irrespective of the time they get to you. Remain blessed, in Jesus name.

Well, I dont like wars and it seems like the world is in fire right now. Us believers have to stay strong and have faith in God Almighty. Islam is a religion from the devil. i am not going to claim i kmow alot about the religion however. I believe in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit and you guys no why. Jesus was sent to due for us Glory be to God. there are some very evil countries on this earth and matter of fact they all are sinners. but with that said some are more evil than others and think we are pretty much know the ones that are alot of these countries want to drive Israel into the sea and kill them this is talked about this in the Bible . we as Christians can't fix this world all we can do is pray God's will be done .