• Good evening, brethren.
    1. Evening devotion for today.

    ED.i. *DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST*
    (COCIN DEVOTIONAL)

    *DATE:*
    MONDAY 17TH AUGUST, 2026.

    *SUB-THEME:*
    YOUTHS: VESSELS OF GOD'S GRACE.

    *TOPIC:*
    OVERCOMING TEMPTATIONS.

    *TEXT:*
    GENESIS 39:11-14.
    11. One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside.
    12. She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.
    13. When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house,
    14. she called her household servants. “Look,” she said to them, “this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed.

    *TOPIC:*
    OVERCOMING TEMPTATIONS.

    *THE MESSAGE:*
    Temptation is a common test that comes in various forms and from different sources. Joseph faced a powerful and subtle temptation from Potiphar's wife, yet he refused to yield, relying on God's help. Though his resistance was reciprocated with harsh punishment, he remained faithful. Many young people, though called by God, have fallen into temptation and lost their voices and vitality. Today, many innocent young men and ladies have fallen victims of rape, sexual harassment in places of work or sex for good grades. Some church workers are not exempted from this awful sin. Have you harass or have been harassed sexually? Do not give the enemy a foothold. God's grace is available to all who desire victory. You can overcome temptation and live in freedom through His grace and word.

    *REFLECTION:*
    No temptation will pass your ability to resist.

    *PRAYER:*
    Lord, help me to resist and flee temptation. Amen.

    *MEMORY VERSE FOR THE MONTH:*
    2 TIMOTHY 2:21.
    "If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be instruments for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master, and prepared to do any good work."

    *TODAY'S BIBLE READING PLAN:*
    EZEKIEL 4-6.

    ED.ii. GOD'S COVENANT WITH MAN

    "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man: You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die." - Genesis 2:15-17

    God's covenant or agreement with man was:

    1) God said that man should cultivate the garden;

    2) God said he had to take care of the garden. Adam's position as the ruler of the garden had to be preserved;

    3) God said they could freely eat from all trees except from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If they ate from it, they would certainly die.

    The consequence of the fall

    But Adam and Eve broke this agreement. They believed the evil one and preferred to follow him, that creature who had disobeyed God, opposed God and was therefore thrown out of heaven. When this sin occurred, everything seemed lost. God made everything so beautiful and appointed Adam as ruler over this. However, when Adam and Eve sinned, Adam lost his position as ruler. They both became slaves to sin.

    God's rescue plan

    However, no one but God knew that He already had an escape route for man so man could regain his previous position. The Lamb of God, He was chosen before the creation of the world (see 1 Peter 1:20). This plan to save mankind was there before the world was created.

    The reason God allowed His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross was because He wanted to give back to man the position he once had. Now man was able to rule over sin, over the evil one and over this earth. He could walk with God again and come into His presence. The human being is allowed to reign together with God as a Royal child.


    https://www.theblessingdevotional.com

    2. Evening Prayer for today.

    EP.i. Evening Prayer

    He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth [shall be thy] shield and buckler. ⏤ Psalm 91:4

    God does not want us to worry about the future. He wants us to trust Him today. ⏤ Corrie ten Boom

    Father, we are like little children in this vast world and cannot take care of ourselves. But we are so grateful that we are Your children and that You are our Father. We trust in Your eternal care. We know that You will never let us fall out of Your love and protection. As night falls again, we come close to You. We hide ourselves in the secret place of Your love and protection.

    We ask You to forgive all the sins we’ve committed against You today. Renew our hearts more deeply, so that we may keep Your commandments and live in harmony with Your will in both our thoughts and actions.

    Tonight, Father, we also remember Your other children around us. Some of them are happy; may they not forget You in their joy. Bless all pure happiness and let it lead to a closer relationship with You. Some of Your children are facing challenges. Some are struggling to find their daily bread. Some have sickness in their homes. Others have loved ones who are not living as they should, who do not love You or walk in Your ways, and their hearts are heavy with concern. Some have lost dear ones and are grieving deeply. For all these neighbors, we pray tonight. Bless them all. Give them the grace they need. Send relief and comfort in the way You know is best. And give us the grace to do our part in helping them in Your name, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

    https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/43/evening

    #taptapstudio
    #youdevotion.
    Good evening, brethren. 1. Evening devotion for today. ED.i. *DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST* (COCIN DEVOTIONAL) *DATE:* MONDAY 17TH AUGUST, 2026. *SUB-THEME:* YOUTHS: VESSELS OF GOD'S GRACE. *TOPIC:* OVERCOMING TEMPTATIONS. *TEXT:* GENESIS 39:11-14. 11. One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. 12. She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. 13. When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house, 14. she called her household servants. “Look,” she said to them, “this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed. *TOPIC:* OVERCOMING TEMPTATIONS. *THE MESSAGE:* Temptation is a common test that comes in various forms and from different sources. Joseph faced a powerful and subtle temptation from Potiphar's wife, yet he refused to yield, relying on God's help. Though his resistance was reciprocated with harsh punishment, he remained faithful. Many young people, though called by God, have fallen into temptation and lost their voices and vitality. Today, many innocent young men and ladies have fallen victims of rape, sexual harassment in places of work or sex for good grades. Some church workers are not exempted from this awful sin. Have you harass or have been harassed sexually? Do not give the enemy a foothold. God's grace is available to all who desire victory. You can overcome temptation and live in freedom through His grace and word. *REFLECTION:* No temptation will pass your ability to resist. *PRAYER:* Lord, help me to resist and flee temptation. Amen. *MEMORY VERSE FOR THE MONTH:* 2 TIMOTHY 2:21. "If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be instruments for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master, and prepared to do any good work." *TODAY'S BIBLE READING PLAN:* EZEKIEL 4-6. ED.ii. GOD'S COVENANT WITH MAN "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man: You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die." - Genesis 2:15-17 God's covenant or agreement with man was: 1) God said that man should cultivate the garden; 2) God said he had to take care of the garden. Adam's position as the ruler of the garden had to be preserved; 3) God said they could freely eat from all trees except from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If they ate from it, they would certainly die. The consequence of the fall But Adam and Eve broke this agreement. They believed the evil one and preferred to follow him, that creature who had disobeyed God, opposed God and was therefore thrown out of heaven. When this sin occurred, everything seemed lost. God made everything so beautiful and appointed Adam as ruler over this. However, when Adam and Eve sinned, Adam lost his position as ruler. They both became slaves to sin. God's rescue plan However, no one but God knew that He already had an escape route for man so man could regain his previous position. The Lamb of God, He was chosen before the creation of the world (see 1 Peter 1:20). This plan to save mankind was there before the world was created. The reason God allowed His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross was because He wanted to give back to man the position he once had. Now man was able to rule over sin, over the evil one and over this earth. He could walk with God again and come into His presence. The human being is allowed to reign together with God as a Royal child. https://www.theblessingdevotional.com 2. Evening Prayer for today. EP.i. Evening Prayer He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth [shall be thy] shield and buckler. ⏤ Psalm 91:4 God does not want us to worry about the future. He wants us to trust Him today. ⏤ Corrie ten Boom Father, we are like little children in this vast world and cannot take care of ourselves. But we are so grateful that we are Your children and that You are our Father. We trust in Your eternal care. We know that You will never let us fall out of Your love and protection. As night falls again, we come close to You. We hide ourselves in the secret place of Your love and protection. We ask You to forgive all the sins we’ve committed against You today. Renew our hearts more deeply, so that we may keep Your commandments and live in harmony with Your will in both our thoughts and actions. Tonight, Father, we also remember Your other children around us. Some of them are happy; may they not forget You in their joy. Bless all pure happiness and let it lead to a closer relationship with You. Some of Your children are facing challenges. Some are struggling to find their daily bread. Some have sickness in their homes. Others have loved ones who are not living as they should, who do not love You or walk in Your ways, and their hearts are heavy with concern. Some have lost dear ones and are grieving deeply. For all these neighbors, we pray tonight. Bless them all. Give them the grace they need. Send relief and comfort in the way You know is best. And give us the grace to do our part in helping them in Your name, through Jesus Christ. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/43/evening #taptapstudio #youdevotion.
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  • OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
    DATE: FRIDAY, AUGUST 14TH, 2026
    THEME: THE WEIGHT OF COVENANT I

    AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE

    MEMORISE: "My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips." Psalm 89:34

    READ: Genesis 17:1-8
    1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
    2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
    3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
    4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
    5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
    6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
    7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
    8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

    MESSAGE:
    In today's Bible reading, God made a covenant with Abram and promised to make him a father of many nations, then changed his name to Abraham. God never lies, so all the promises that He made to Abraham were fulfilled. Numbers 23:19 says: "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" When God makes a covenant with a person, He always fulfils His part, and this gives the fellow access to everything he or she will ever need on earth. These things include long life, prosperity, favour, blessings, joy, peace, divine health, and everything good. The devil, on the other hand, is unable to keep any covenant he makes. He breaks his promises at will because he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44).

    People often enter into covenants with other parties to receive something from them, while also giving something in return. The real weight of a covenant, however, comes when one of the parties involved is unable to fulfil their obligations. In most cases, a heavy weight of death is the consequence for breaking a covenant.

    When people join secret societies, they enter into covenants. When they do not do the things they are asked to do in the group, the penalty is usually death. You might be asking yourself, "Why would anybody want to join a cult knowing that it could lead to their death?" Some people claim that they join secret societies because they need protection, while others say that it is for prosperity and other benefits. It is important to note that the devil lures them into such societies with the promise of those things, but in return, he takes their souls and destroys them. What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul (Matthew 16:26)? A soul is too heavy a weight for anyone to surrender to the devil.

    Beloved, do not allow the devil to tempt you into establishing an evil covenant with empty promises, and if you have entered into any covenant with hell and signed a pact with satan, Jesus can set you free if you run to Him. He will not cast away anyone who comes to Him (John 6:37). I pray that the Lord will establish His covenant of peace with you and your household, in Jesus' name.

    KEY POINT:
    Any covenant that is made with the devil is based on lies.

    BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
    Jeremiah 33-36

    HYMN 11: STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF CHRIST MY KING
    1 Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
    Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
    Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
    Standing on the promises of God.

    Chorus:
    Standing, standing,
    Standing on the promises of God my Saviour;
    Standing, standing,
    I’m standing on the promises of God.

    2 Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
    When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
    By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
    Standing on the promises of God.

    3 Standing on the promises I now can see
    Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
    Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
    Standing on the promises of God.

    4 Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
    Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,
    Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
    Standing on the promises of God.

    5 Standing on the promises I shall not fall,
    List’ning every moment to the Spirit’s call.
    Resting in my Saviour as my All in all,
    Standing on the promises of God.



    ‎PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL
    FRIDAY, 14TH AUGUST, 2026
    *THE WEIGHT OF COVENANTS I*

    1.Father, I worship You, The covenant keeping God. You are faithful to Your promises from generation to generation, for Your word is Yea and Amen.

    2.Father, thank You for giving me a new name, from a slave to sin to a heir of Your glorious Kingdom. Thank You for the grace of adoption into sonship.

    3.Father, thank You for the fulfillment of Your promises in times past; thank You because You are not a man that should lie nor repent, for You are able to do what You say.

    4.Father, thank You for granting me access to long life, prosperity, favour, blessings, joy, peace, divine health and all that I will need in life to fulfill Your purpose on earth through Christ Jesus.

    5.Father, please help me to fulfill my own obligations for the fulfillment of Your covenant with me. Help me not to break Your covenant with me through sin, in Jesus' name.

    6.Father, please help me to do all that I need to do in living Holy and in total obedience to Your commands, so I can remain under the covering of Your covenant for me, in Jesus' name.

    7.Father, please help me not to surrender my soul to the devil for protection, prosperity or for any other gains of this world, in Jesus' name.

    8.Father, as many of our Youths and young adults that might have established an evil covenant with hell or signed a pact with satan please, set them free today, in Jesus' name.

    9.Father, please empower all Your children to be able to resist any temptation from the devil to enter into unholy covenant at the expense of their souls, in Jesus' name.

    10.Father, please establish Your covenant of peace with me and my household, in Jesus' name.

    11.Father, thank You for the life of Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye.

    Help him to remain committed to Your covenant, 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 date! Please join us in prayer, irrespective of the time they get to you. Remain blessed, in Jesus’ name.
    OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: FRIDAY, AUGUST 14TH, 2026 THEME: THE WEIGHT OF COVENANT I AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE MEMORISE: "My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips." Psalm 89:34 READ: Genesis 17:1-8 1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. 2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. 3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. 6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. 8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. MESSAGE: In today's Bible reading, God made a covenant with Abram and promised to make him a father of many nations, then changed his name to Abraham. God never lies, so all the promises that He made to Abraham were fulfilled. Numbers 23:19 says: "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" When God makes a covenant with a person, He always fulfils His part, and this gives the fellow access to everything he or she will ever need on earth. These things include long life, prosperity, favour, blessings, joy, peace, divine health, and everything good. The devil, on the other hand, is unable to keep any covenant he makes. He breaks his promises at will because he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). People often enter into covenants with other parties to receive something from them, while also giving something in return. The real weight of a covenant, however, comes when one of the parties involved is unable to fulfil their obligations. In most cases, a heavy weight of death is the consequence for breaking a covenant. When people join secret societies, they enter into covenants. When they do not do the things they are asked to do in the group, the penalty is usually death. You might be asking yourself, "Why would anybody want to join a cult knowing that it could lead to their death?" Some people claim that they join secret societies because they need protection, while others say that it is for prosperity and other benefits. It is important to note that the devil lures them into such societies with the promise of those things, but in return, he takes their souls and destroys them. What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul (Matthew 16:26)? A soul is too heavy a weight for anyone to surrender to the devil. Beloved, do not allow the devil to tempt you into establishing an evil covenant with empty promises, and if you have entered into any covenant with hell and signed a pact with satan, Jesus can set you free if you run to Him. He will not cast away anyone who comes to Him (John 6:37). I pray that the Lord will establish His covenant of peace with you and your household, in Jesus' name. KEY POINT: Any covenant that is made with the devil is based on lies. BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 33-36 HYMN 11: STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF CHRIST MY KING 1 Standing on the promises of Christ my King, Through eternal ages let His praises ring, Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing, Standing on the promises of God. Chorus: Standing, standing, Standing on the promises of God my Saviour; Standing, standing, I’m standing on the promises of God. 2 Standing on the promises that cannot fail, When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, By the living Word of God I shall prevail, Standing on the promises of God. 3 Standing on the promises I now can see Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me; Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free, Standing on the promises of God. 4 Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord, Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord, Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword, Standing on the promises of God. 5 Standing on the promises I shall not fall, List’ning every moment to the Spirit’s call. Resting in my Saviour as my All in all, Standing on the promises of God. ‎PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FRIDAY, 14TH AUGUST, 2026 *THE WEIGHT OF COVENANTS I* ‎ 1.Father, I worship You, The covenant keeping God. You are faithful to Your promises from generation to generation, for Your word is Yea and Amen. 2.Father, thank You for giving me a new name, from a slave to sin to a heir of Your glorious Kingdom. Thank You for the grace of adoption into sonship. 3.Father, thank You for the fulfillment of Your promises in times past; thank You because You are not a man that should lie nor repent, for You are able to do what You say. 4.Father, thank You for granting me access to long life, prosperity, favour, blessings, joy, peace, divine health and all that I will need in life to fulfill Your purpose on earth through Christ Jesus. 5.Father, please help me to fulfill my own obligations for the fulfillment of Your covenant with me. Help me not to break Your covenant with me through sin, in Jesus' name. 6.Father, please help me to do all that I need to do in living Holy and in total obedience to Your commands, so I can remain under the covering of Your covenant for me, in Jesus' name. 7.Father, please help me not to surrender my soul to the devil for protection, prosperity or for any other gains of this world, in Jesus' name. 8.Father, as many of our Youths and young adults that might have established an evil covenant with hell or signed a pact with satan please, set them free today, in Jesus' name. 9.Father, please empower all Your children to be able to resist any temptation from the devil to enter into unholy covenant at the expense of their souls, in Jesus' name. 10.Father, please establish Your covenant of peace with me and my household, in Jesus' name. 11.Father, thank You for the life of Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye. ‎ Help him to remain committed to Your covenant, 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 date! Please join us in prayer, irrespective of the time they get to you. Remain blessed, in Jesus’ name.
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  • A Nugget of Truth.
    Great White Throne Judgment
    Revelation 20:11–15 KJV

    The Great White Throne Judgment is the final judgment of all who rejected God's salvation. This is not a courtroom where sinners plead for another chance. Their opportunity to repent ended when their earthly life ended. "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27 KJV).

    John wrote:

    “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it... And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God... and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works... And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”
    Revelation 20:11–15 KJV

    The Book of Life reveals who belongs to Christ. The books of works reveal every thought, word, and deed. No sin is forgotten. No secret is hidden. God is perfectly holy and perfectly just.

    Many believe that being a "good person" will save them, but Scripture says:

    “For by grace are ye saved through faith... not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV)

    Those whose names are not found written in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire. This is the eternal consequence of rejecting the only Saviour, Jesus Christ.

    Yet even now, God's mercy is extended. Jesus Christ died for sinners, was buried, and rose again so that all who repent and believe on Him may receive everlasting life.

    Today is the day of salvation. Do not wait until you stand before the Great White Throne. On that day there will be no more opportunity for repentance—only righteous judgment. Turn to Christ while His invitation of grace is still open.

    “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.”
    Isaiah 55:6 KJV

    May your name be found written in the Lamb's Book of Life, and may you stand before Christ clothed in His righteousness rather than your own works.
    A Nugget of Truth. Great White Throne Judgment Revelation 20:11–15 KJV The Great White Throne Judgment is the final judgment of all who rejected God's salvation. This is not a courtroom where sinners plead for another chance. Their opportunity to repent ended when their earthly life ended. "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27 KJV). John wrote: “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it... And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God... and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works... And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” Revelation 20:11–15 KJV The Book of Life reveals who belongs to Christ. The books of works reveal every thought, word, and deed. No sin is forgotten. No secret is hidden. God is perfectly holy and perfectly just. Many believe that being a "good person" will save them, but Scripture says: “For by grace are ye saved through faith... not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV) Those whose names are not found written in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire. This is the eternal consequence of rejecting the only Saviour, Jesus Christ. Yet even now, God's mercy is extended. Jesus Christ died for sinners, was buried, and rose again so that all who repent and believe on Him may receive everlasting life. Today is the day of salvation. Do not wait until you stand before the Great White Throne. On that day there will be no more opportunity for repentance—only righteous judgment. Turn to Christ while His invitation of grace is still open. “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.” Isaiah 55:6 KJV May your name be found written in the Lamb's Book of Life, and may you stand before Christ clothed in His righteousness rather than your own works.
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  • LIVE, DWELL, REMAIN, ABIDE
    “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” —Psalm 91:1
    Psalm 91 is one of the most uplifting passages in all of Scripture, filled with promises like the one found in its first verse. “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (NLT). 
    But it’s worth noting that the blessings promised in Psalm 91 aren’t for just anyone. They are specifically given to believers, and not just to believers in general. These benefits are targeted toward believers who specifically meet the requirements found within the psalm. Psalm 91 is full of what we call conditional promises. In other words, God promises to do certain things for us, hinging on our doing certain things that are required. 
    Let’s look at the words of verse 1 again: “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (NLT).
    The word live, which also may be translated as dwell, means “quiet and resting, enduring and remaining with consistency.” It is very similar to the words remain and abide, which we see often in the New Testament. Jesus said, “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 NLT). That word remain means “to stay in a given place, to maintain unbroken fellowship and communion with another.” 
    Here’s what God is saying: “If you want to experience the promises of Psalm 91—My protection, My provision, and My blessing—you must dwell in the shelter of the Most High. You must remain in constant fellowship with Me. You must not allow the things of this world to put distance between us.” 
    Believers have a relationship with God because we’ve put our faith in Jesus Christ and have turned from our sin. But are we living in constant fellowship with God? Many believers aren’t. And they’re missing out on countless blessings as a consequence. 
    Psalm 91 also includes these promises: “He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection” (verse 4 NLT). “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation” (verses 14–16 NLT).
    And that’s still only scratching the surface. God is interested in a relationship with you—not just on Sundays but throughout the week. He wants you to dwell in the shelter of the Most High.
    He wants you to experience the blessings that come from an intimate relationship with Him. 
    God bless you!
    LIVE, DWELL, REMAIN, ABIDE “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” —Psalm 91:1 Psalm 91 is one of the most uplifting passages in all of Scripture, filled with promises like the one found in its first verse. “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (NLT).  But it’s worth noting that the blessings promised in Psalm 91 aren’t for just anyone. They are specifically given to believers, and not just to believers in general. These benefits are targeted toward believers who specifically meet the requirements found within the psalm. Psalm 91 is full of what we call conditional promises. In other words, God promises to do certain things for us, hinging on our doing certain things that are required.  Let’s look at the words of verse 1 again: “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (NLT). The word live, which also may be translated as dwell, means “quiet and resting, enduring and remaining with consistency.” It is very similar to the words remain and abide, which we see often in the New Testament. Jesus said, “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 NLT). That word remain means “to stay in a given place, to maintain unbroken fellowship and communion with another.”  Here’s what God is saying: “If you want to experience the promises of Psalm 91—My protection, My provision, and My blessing—you must dwell in the shelter of the Most High. You must remain in constant fellowship with Me. You must not allow the things of this world to put distance between us.”  Believers have a relationship with God because we’ve put our faith in Jesus Christ and have turned from our sin. But are we living in constant fellowship with God? Many believers aren’t. And they’re missing out on countless blessings as a consequence.  Psalm 91 also includes these promises: “He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection” (verse 4 NLT). “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation” (verses 14–16 NLT). And that’s still only scratching the surface. God is interested in a relationship with you—not just on Sundays but throughout the week. He wants you to dwell in the shelter of the Most High. He wants you to experience the blessings that come from an intimate relationship with Him.  God bless you!
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  • HOW TO KNOW GOD'S WILL FOR IMPORTANT DECISIONS IN YOUR LIFE. Part 5 of 6.
    How God Makes Known His Will for Specific Decisions and Needs. Continued.
    God is under no obligation to fulfill the promise in James 1:5 to give us wisdom unless we are willing to meet the conditions for obtaining it. Moreover, God declares that He only answers prayer when the motive is right, and that mere asking is not sufficient (Jam. 4:3). Frequently the Christian prays for guidance, or a revelation of God's will about some matter, but already has his mind made up as to what he wants to do, or how he would like for God to answer. Some people have been known to lie awake all night pleading with God to answer their prayer with no higher motive than the desire to persuade Him to come over to their side and give them their own way.

    Therefore, it is just as great a fallacy to emphasize the notion which is so popular today that prayer is the solution to all our problems, as it is to neglect prayer, using it only in an emergency. That is to say, we find the unscriptural idea being promoted on every hand that mere prayer is supposed to be the panacea for all our needs. In every time of crisis, when problems or troubles arise, when a difficult or seemingly impossible situation confronts us, the first thing most people advise is prayer.

    "Have you tried prayer?" they will ask. Or we are told, quite sincerely, "Did you know, prayer changes things?" They do not tell us, of course, just how prayer will change things, nor do they
    teach us how to pray about the problem confronting us. We are not advised, furthermore, as to whether or not God requires anything from us in the matter. "Just pray" we are told, "for prayer usually helps."

    However, as we have seen, God clearly states that He does not answer every prayer, in fact, He emphatically declares that He does not even hear our prayers unless they meet the conditions
    He has set forth in His Word. One of the most important conditions we must meet when asking for divine wisdom and guidance is that we must ask in faith, believing, without any reservations, that God will answer our request. This is clearly stated in James 1:5-7: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given him. But how? Let him ask in faith, nothing doubting; for he that doubts is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord."

    The prayer of faith is simply a prayer of expectation. What God tells us here in James 1:5-7 is that when we ask for divine wisdom and guidance we should pray expecting Him to grant
    our desire.
    Moreover, the prayer of faith is to be offered but once, for Jesus tells us in Mark 11:24, 'What things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them." Faith asks but once for God to fulfill a promise. To continue to pray, pleading with God to answer, is our confession that I do not really believe that He has answered when we pray as He tells us to do (Mark 11:24).

    In view of this fact, if we pray ten times for the same promise, we have prayed nine times in unbelief, for faith knows when to stop praying about the promise and start praising God for the
    answer. There is a time to stop praying or you will pray yourself out of faith. When is this? You should always stop praying for a promise when you believe you have received the answer. Since
    Jesus tells us to believe we have received when we pray, quite obviously we should do our believing and receiving when we pray. Then we should cease praying for the answer and begin
    praising God that the manifestation of the answer is on the way.

    Jesus does not say in Mark 11:24 that the symptoms will improve immediately when we pray, or that the circumstances will show immediate change, but that we are to believe that He has both heard and granted our petition when we pray and that we shall have it. Faith keeps a distinction between accepting the answer and receiving it to our sight. We are to accept the answer when we pray (believe that God has granted our petition), and we shall have it (manifested to our sight). Merely because we do not see it immediately does not mean that God has not heard our petition and granted the answer, but only that He has not manifested the answer as yet.

    The question often arises concerning the widow and the judge in Luke 18, as to whether or not Jesus here approves of repetition in prayer for the same thing. This is not, however, an instance of repetition prayer, for Jesus would not contradict Himself elsewhere, but here He is stressing the need of persistence and perseverance in prayer; that is, holding onto a promise by faith, reaffirming daily, by praise and thanksgiving, that we believe that He has heard and granted our petition. In Matthew 6:7-8, Jesus condemns repetition prayer as typical of the prayers of
    the heathen, saying, "But when you pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking," but "when you pray believe that you receive" (Mk. 11:24).

    Our first concern, therefore, when guidance from heaven is needed is not merely to resort to the shallow suggestion we so often hear today that one should "try prayer" as it may help, but
    it should be a time of searching the Word, and then our hearts, to see if we are fulfilling the conditions for God hearing our prayers and granting our petitions.

    As A. W. Tower once remarked, the popular notion that God always answers prayer (with "yes" or "no") is a device of Satan to deceive the carnal or indifferent Christian whose request was not answered because of his failure to meet God's conditions. To think that God always answers prayer, even if He says "no," is to take God's refusal to answer a disobedient Christian as the answer itself, contending, "Well, after all, God did answer me - He said 'no'." Such a view of prayer is contrary to Scripture, for God clearly states that He does not even hear those prayers which are not in harmony with His will (1 Jn 5:14-15; Ps. 66:18). Moreover, if an individual erroneously believes the popular notion that God always answers any prayer, and that "no" can also be an answer, then this person is never challenged to face the fact that his failure to receive an answer was due to his disobedience, lack of faith, or his failure to meet some other condition.

    I can personally testify to the fact that when we are careful to meet the scriptural requirements, then God delights in directing our steps, giving divine guidance and wisdom concerning those
    matters we place before Him. Thank God it is true, if any man lacks wisdom he may ask of
    God and it shall be given to him. Do you need wisdom or guidance in some important matter?
    Have you tried asking God, and in faith expecting Him to answer you? You are invited to do so in James 1:5.

    By Direct Revelation;
    As stated at the beginning of Chapter 2, there are eight scriptural methods by which God's will is revealed - three are active, in which we take the initiative, and five are passive, whereby we become the recipients of divine revelation concerning God's will for us. Passive revelation always comes to us unsought.

    Direct revelation may be either by vision, as in the case of Paul's vision in Acts 16 which was revelation of God's will for him to carry the Gospel into Europe; by direct voice, as seen in the case of God's call of Samuel (1 Sam. 3); by angelic visitation, as, for example, in the angel's visit to Mary and his revelation to her of the birth of Christ; or by dream, as we find, for instance in God's revelation to Daniel of the establishment of His Kingdom (Dan. 7).

    Jesus promised to continue revelation to the Church after His ascension, saying, Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will show you things to come (Jn. 16:13).
    When the Church lost the experience of the baptism in the Holy Spirit, she closed the channel and source of revelation. As a consequence, the Church changed her theology to conform
    with her experience, and there arose the erroneous concept that God purposed that all revelation was to cease with the apostles in the first century. It is interesting that there is not a word in the Scriptures to support this theory, but, on the contrary, God clearly states in 2 Corinthians 12-14 and Ephesians 4:11 that He has set in the church the gifts and ministries of revelation. In Romans 12:3-6 and 1 Corinthians 14 He admonishes us to ask for and use the gift of prophecy. In Joel 2 He clearly promises that in the last days "I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams" (2:17); While He promised in John 16:13, quoted above, to continue revelation to the Church through the Holy Spirit whom He would send. The various methods by which He would give His people direct revelation are stated to be by means of prophecy, vision and dream (Num. 12:6; Acts 2:17-18; 1Cor. 12; 14), by direct voice and vision (Jn. 16:13), "speak"' and "show" and on occasion, by angelic visitation (e.g. Luke 1; Acts 10:12; 27:23-24; cf. Heb. 13:2).

    It is important that we understand that although God occasionally uses each of the passive methods of revelation to unveil His will to us when He so chooses, we should not seek guidance by these means.

    Why does God choose the direct means of revelation, as, for example, through visions and dreams as a method of communication of His will and purpose? Why does He not merely illumine our minds as to His will as we pray or read His Word seeking guidance?

    Among other reasons, occasionally He must speak directly to us because of the urgency of the matter about which we are seeking guidance which must be dealt with immediately, or in a certain way, often contrary to what our wisdom and logic might tell us to do. At other times He speaks directly, imparting instruction or guidance, not concerning some matter about which we are praying, but about some important purpose which He wants to accomplish in or through us, which could only be made known to us by direct revelation. Again He speaks to us in visions for the obvious reason that one picture is worth a thousand words.

    God sometimes communicates His will to us through dreams, inasmuch as the state of sleep has certain definite advantages. At this time the conscious mind is at rest and is free from distractions. The spirit, of course, remains awake and can accept without analyzing and questioning what God desires to impart to us. Moreover, through the medium of vision and dream God can impress upon us revelation which transcends the sense realm and the ability of the intellect alone to comprehend. In some instances, God speaks directly in an audible voice
    in order to instruct us or reveal His will in some matter.

    By Indirect Revelation:
    God speaks to us occasionally by direct means, but generally He communicates His will to us indirectly. It may in the form of an inward knowing or witness in our spirit, or it may come as an inner witness to our spirit, or it may come as an inner witness from the Holy Spirit. At other times the Holy Spirit may give the guidance we need by the illumination of our minds to understand and interpret some portions of scripture which He will direct us to, or by giving the necessary wisdom and insight we require to make the correct decision concerning some matter about which we have prayed for direction.

    It is in the realm of indirect revelation that the importance of being completely yielded to the Holy Spirit is so evident, as was pointed out in the first chapter. To the extent one is yielded to the Spirit will he be sensitive to His voice when He speaks, and to the extent one is sensitive to His voice will he be able to respond. Moreover, there are many voices seeking to influence the believer, some of which are from God and some are not. Unless one is fully yielded he may be insensitive to the voice of the Spirit, or be deceived and ensnared by that which is false. A small puppy will respond to anyone who calls or offers it a crust of bread, but a well trained mature dog will not do so. It is sensitive only to the voice of its owner. It did not get this way by spending all its time running and playing with the other dogs, but it is the result of devoting long hours in discipline and training, learning to obey and respond to the voice of its master. We become sensitive to the influence and leading of the Spirit in the same manner.

    God is preparing His children for spiritual warfare ahead which will consist of men and women who will be so sensitive to the voice of the Spirit they will respond immediately and obey without question. Like a computer, they will be able to filter out that which is false and sense any error immediately. They will not have to call the pastor and ask if this or that doctrine is scriptural, or whether the prophecy which they heard is true or false, or whether or not some task they feel led to undertake is from God, the flesh, or the devil. However, the only way the believer will become sensitive will be through total consecration to Jesus and fully yielding to the Spirit.

    At present we find Christians so untrained in the Scriptures and so insensitive to the voice of the Spirit that many frequently will reject what God is saying and allow themselves to be deceived by that which is false and unscriptural, just as Jesus predicted would occur in these last days (Matt 24; 2 Tim 4:1-4). Again and again we are hearing of those who are falling victim to various errors, such as ultimate reconciliation where God will save everyone regardless if they repent or not including the devil and his demons, false hyper-grace gospel where a Christian does not need to confess sin after he is saved or does not need repentance to stay in fellowship with God, errors on the Godhead where they deny that the Father, Son, Holy Spirit are co-eternal and co-equal, once saved always saved that it does not matter how a person lives his life after salvation, we are all sinners even after salvation and no need to live a consecrated life, the give to get carnal prosperity gospel where you give me money and 100 fold comes back so you will be rich. Or the heresy taught by some that Jesus had to become a sinner on the cross to redeem us and suffered three days in hell tormented by demons.

    We find others, in a time where we are witnessing the revival of all forms of the occult, being deluded by believing everything supernatural is from heaven, and everyone who prophesies, has a vision, or predicts the future is from God. We find men and women calling themselves Apostles and Prophets commonly now who were never appointed or anointed from heaven but self-appointed deceiving many. As Jesus said, take heed lest YOU be deceived. (Matt 24:4)

    DISCERNING THE VOICE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
    AND RECOGNIZING THE WITNESS WITHIN;

    In order to mature in faith and become effective instruments in God's hands so that we will be in the right place at the right time, doing the right thing, it is necessary for us to learn how to
    recognize the inner witness of the Spirit, as well as discern the voice of the Holy Spirit. These are the two basic ways by which God leads and directs His people, whether in answer to some prayer for guidance, or in order to fulfill His will and purpose in their lives. We find that God frequently endeavors to speak to His people by means of the voice of His Spirit in order to
    direct guide, teach, or influence them along some line, but since they have not been taught how to discern His voice He often goes unheeded. Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice and they follow me" Jn. 10:27). How can they follow Him if they do not know how to discern His voice? He certainly did not mean that He intended to shout down out of heaven in order to direct them, but He did promise that He would speak to them by His Spirit which would be within them: "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you in all truth" (John 16:13), and "he shall teach you in all things" (14:26).

    Some Christians are waiting for God to give them a revelation through a vision or prophecy concerning His will for them, or regarding some important matter about which they are praying,
    when, if they only realized it, God is already trying to communicate His will to them by His Spirit within them. If they would spend a little more time in His Word and in prayer, and be willing to get still before Him for a while, then they would begin to discern His voice and hear Him speaking inwardly to their spirits.

    The inner voice of the Holy Spirit is the voice of God speaking directly to your spirit in order to guide, admonish, teach, warn, or influence you concerning some matter (about which you may or may not be praying).

    God also enables us to know His will regarding some matter about which we are praying, or about some question which concerns us, by means of a witness within. This is an inward
    knowing in your spirit that a certain contemplated action on your part, or some doctrine, or revelation, for example, is right or wrong. Not only is the Christian the temple of the Holy Spirit,
    Who abides within to speak the direct revelation of God's will to him (Jn 16:13; 1 Cor. 2:10-13), but he also has, by virtue of the new birth, a new heart to discern spiritual things himself, and know the will of God intuitively by his own spirit (1 Cor. 2:14-16). He has received an anointing which abides in him and teaches him all things (1 Jn. 2:27).

    Thus, we find that it is also through his own enlightened spirit that the Christian is able by an inward knowing or witness to discern whether or not something is right or wrong. Let us say, for example, that you are praying about some matter about which you must make a decision, such as whether or not to buy a certain piece of property, marry a particular individual, or accept an invitation to speak to some religious group. If after thinking and praying about the question you find that inwardly there is a positive confirmation in your spirit to go ahead in the matter, or, you find that you experience a sense of uncertainty, reluctance, or heaviness of spirit, then this is an inner witness in your spirit informing you of God's will in the matter.

    In the former instance, your spirit was witnessing to you to go ahead, and in the latter, it was a warning not to take the proposed action. The witness within is an inward knowing intuitively, through the enlightened spirit of a Christian, that a certain contemplated action, a doctrine, some individual, or a ministry, for instance, is right or wrong, whereas the inner voice of the Holy Spirit is God speaking directly by His Spirit within you concerning some matter. It must be stressed, however, that the inward witness and the inner voice of the Spirit are not merely some "feeling" we may have about a matter. They have nothing to do with what one feels either with the physical senses or the emotions. It is either an inward knowing (inner witness) that something is right or wrong, or it is an inner awareness that the Spirit of God is speaking directly to our spirit about some matter (inner voice of the Spirit). Edited. Shared.
    To be Continued.

    God willing, more will be posted soon. All glory to Jesus alone.
    ❤️HOW TO KNOW GOD'S WILL FOR IMPORTANT DECISIONS IN YOUR LIFE. Part 5 of 6. How God Makes Known His Will for Specific Decisions and Needs. Continued. God is under no obligation to fulfill the promise in James 1:5 to give us wisdom unless we are willing to meet the conditions for obtaining it. Moreover, God declares that He only answers prayer when the motive is right, and that mere asking is not sufficient (Jam. 4:3). Frequently the Christian prays for guidance, or a revelation of God's will about some matter, but already has his mind made up as to what he wants to do, or how he would like for God to answer. Some people have been known to lie awake all night pleading with God to answer their prayer with no higher motive than the desire to persuade Him to come over to their side and give them their own way. Therefore, it is just as great a fallacy to emphasize the notion which is so popular today that prayer is the solution to all our problems, as it is to neglect prayer, using it only in an emergency. That is to say, we find the unscriptural idea being promoted on every hand that mere prayer is supposed to be the panacea for all our needs. In every time of crisis, when problems or troubles arise, when a difficult or seemingly impossible situation confronts us, the first thing most people advise is prayer. "Have you tried prayer?" they will ask. Or we are told, quite sincerely, "Did you know, prayer changes things?" They do not tell us, of course, just how prayer will change things, nor do they teach us how to pray about the problem confronting us. We are not advised, furthermore, as to whether or not God requires anything from us in the matter. "Just pray" we are told, "for prayer usually helps." However, as we have seen, God clearly states that He does not answer every prayer, in fact, He emphatically declares that He does not even hear our prayers unless they meet the conditions He has set forth in His Word. One of the most important conditions we must meet when asking for divine wisdom and guidance is that we must ask in faith, believing, without any reservations, that God will answer our request. This is clearly stated in James 1:5-7: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given him. But how? Let him ask in faith, nothing doubting; for he that doubts is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord." The prayer of faith is simply a prayer of expectation. What God tells us here in James 1:5-7 is that when we ask for divine wisdom and guidance we should pray expecting Him to grant our desire. Moreover, the prayer of faith is to be offered but once, for Jesus tells us in Mark 11:24, 'What things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them." Faith asks but once for God to fulfill a promise. To continue to pray, pleading with God to answer, is our confession that I do not really believe that He has answered when we pray as He tells us to do (Mark 11:24). In view of this fact, if we pray ten times for the same promise, we have prayed nine times in unbelief, for faith knows when to stop praying about the promise and start praising God for the answer. There is a time to stop praying or you will pray yourself out of faith. When is this? You should always stop praying for a promise when you believe you have received the answer. Since Jesus tells us to believe we have received when we pray, quite obviously we should do our believing and receiving when we pray. Then we should cease praying for the answer and begin praising God that the manifestation of the answer is on the way. Jesus does not say in Mark 11:24 that the symptoms will improve immediately when we pray, or that the circumstances will show immediate change, but that we are to believe that He has both heard and granted our petition when we pray and that we shall have it. Faith keeps a distinction between accepting the answer and receiving it to our sight. We are to accept the answer when we pray (believe that God has granted our petition), and we shall have it (manifested to our sight). Merely because we do not see it immediately does not mean that God has not heard our petition and granted the answer, but only that He has not manifested the answer as yet. The question often arises concerning the widow and the judge in Luke 18, as to whether or not Jesus here approves of repetition in prayer for the same thing. This is not, however, an instance of repetition prayer, for Jesus would not contradict Himself elsewhere, but here He is stressing the need of persistence and perseverance in prayer; that is, holding onto a promise by faith, reaffirming daily, by praise and thanksgiving, that we believe that He has heard and granted our petition. In Matthew 6:7-8, Jesus condemns repetition prayer as typical of the prayers of the heathen, saying, "But when you pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking," but "when you pray believe that you receive" (Mk. 11:24). Our first concern, therefore, when guidance from heaven is needed is not merely to resort to the shallow suggestion we so often hear today that one should "try prayer" as it may help, but it should be a time of searching the Word, and then our hearts, to see if we are fulfilling the conditions for God hearing our prayers and granting our petitions. As A. W. Tower once remarked, the popular notion that God always answers prayer (with "yes" or "no") is a device of Satan to deceive the carnal or indifferent Christian whose request was not answered because of his failure to meet God's conditions. To think that God always answers prayer, even if He says "no," is to take God's refusal to answer a disobedient Christian as the answer itself, contending, "Well, after all, God did answer me - He said 'no'." Such a view of prayer is contrary to Scripture, for God clearly states that He does not even hear those prayers which are not in harmony with His will (1 Jn 5:14-15; Ps. 66:18). Moreover, if an individual erroneously believes the popular notion that God always answers any prayer, and that "no" can also be an answer, then this person is never challenged to face the fact that his failure to receive an answer was due to his disobedience, lack of faith, or his failure to meet some other condition. I can personally testify to the fact that when we are careful to meet the scriptural requirements, then God delights in directing our steps, giving divine guidance and wisdom concerning those matters we place before Him. Thank God it is true, if any man lacks wisdom he may ask of God and it shall be given to him. Do you need wisdom or guidance in some important matter? Have you tried asking God, and in faith expecting Him to answer you? You are invited to do so in James 1:5. By Direct Revelation; As stated at the beginning of Chapter 2, there are eight scriptural methods by which God's will is revealed - three are active, in which we take the initiative, and five are passive, whereby we become the recipients of divine revelation concerning God's will for us. Passive revelation always comes to us unsought. Direct revelation may be either by vision, as in the case of Paul's vision in Acts 16 which was revelation of God's will for him to carry the Gospel into Europe; by direct voice, as seen in the case of God's call of Samuel (1 Sam. 3); by angelic visitation, as, for example, in the angel's visit to Mary and his revelation to her of the birth of Christ; or by dream, as we find, for instance in God's revelation to Daniel of the establishment of His Kingdom (Dan. 7). Jesus promised to continue revelation to the Church after His ascension, saying, Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will show you things to come (Jn. 16:13). When the Church lost the experience of the baptism in the Holy Spirit, she closed the channel and source of revelation. As a consequence, the Church changed her theology to conform with her experience, and there arose the erroneous concept that God purposed that all revelation was to cease with the apostles in the first century. It is interesting that there is not a word in the Scriptures to support this theory, but, on the contrary, God clearly states in 2 Corinthians 12-14 and Ephesians 4:11 that He has set in the church the gifts and ministries of revelation. In Romans 12:3-6 and 1 Corinthians 14 He admonishes us to ask for and use the gift of prophecy. In Joel 2 He clearly promises that in the last days "I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams" (2:17); While He promised in John 16:13, quoted above, to continue revelation to the Church through the Holy Spirit whom He would send. The various methods by which He would give His people direct revelation are stated to be by means of prophecy, vision and dream (Num. 12:6; Acts 2:17-18; 1Cor. 12; 14), by direct voice and vision (Jn. 16:13), "speak"' and "show" and on occasion, by angelic visitation (e.g. Luke 1; Acts 10:12; 27:23-24; cf. Heb. 13:2). It is important that we understand that although God occasionally uses each of the passive methods of revelation to unveil His will to us when He so chooses, we should not seek guidance by these means. Why does God choose the direct means of revelation, as, for example, through visions and dreams as a method of communication of His will and purpose? Why does He not merely illumine our minds as to His will as we pray or read His Word seeking guidance? Among other reasons, occasionally He must speak directly to us because of the urgency of the matter about which we are seeking guidance which must be dealt with immediately, or in a certain way, often contrary to what our wisdom and logic might tell us to do. At other times He speaks directly, imparting instruction or guidance, not concerning some matter about which we are praying, but about some important purpose which He wants to accomplish in or through us, which could only be made known to us by direct revelation. Again He speaks to us in visions for the obvious reason that one picture is worth a thousand words. God sometimes communicates His will to us through dreams, inasmuch as the state of sleep has certain definite advantages. At this time the conscious mind is at rest and is free from distractions. The spirit, of course, remains awake and can accept without analyzing and questioning what God desires to impart to us. Moreover, through the medium of vision and dream God can impress upon us revelation which transcends the sense realm and the ability of the intellect alone to comprehend. In some instances, God speaks directly in an audible voice in order to instruct us or reveal His will in some matter. By Indirect Revelation: God speaks to us occasionally by direct means, but generally He communicates His will to us indirectly. It may in the form of an inward knowing or witness in our spirit, or it may come as an inner witness to our spirit, or it may come as an inner witness from the Holy Spirit. At other times the Holy Spirit may give the guidance we need by the illumination of our minds to understand and interpret some portions of scripture which He will direct us to, or by giving the necessary wisdom and insight we require to make the correct decision concerning some matter about which we have prayed for direction. It is in the realm of indirect revelation that the importance of being completely yielded to the Holy Spirit is so evident, as was pointed out in the first chapter. To the extent one is yielded to the Spirit will he be sensitive to His voice when He speaks, and to the extent one is sensitive to His voice will he be able to respond. Moreover, there are many voices seeking to influence the believer, some of which are from God and some are not. Unless one is fully yielded he may be insensitive to the voice of the Spirit, or be deceived and ensnared by that which is false. A small puppy will respond to anyone who calls or offers it a crust of bread, but a well trained mature dog will not do so. It is sensitive only to the voice of its owner. It did not get this way by spending all its time running and playing with the other dogs, but it is the result of devoting long hours in discipline and training, learning to obey and respond to the voice of its master. We become sensitive to the influence and leading of the Spirit in the same manner. God is preparing His children for spiritual warfare ahead which will consist of men and women who will be so sensitive to the voice of the Spirit they will respond immediately and obey without question. Like a computer, they will be able to filter out that which is false and sense any error immediately. They will not have to call the pastor and ask if this or that doctrine is scriptural, or whether the prophecy which they heard is true or false, or whether or not some task they feel led to undertake is from God, the flesh, or the devil. However, the only way the believer will become sensitive will be through total consecration to Jesus and fully yielding to the Spirit. At present we find Christians so untrained in the Scriptures and so insensitive to the voice of the Spirit that many frequently will reject what God is saying and allow themselves to be deceived by that which is false and unscriptural, just as Jesus predicted would occur in these last days (Matt 24; 2 Tim 4:1-4). Again and again we are hearing of those who are falling victim to various errors, such as ultimate reconciliation where God will save everyone regardless if they repent or not including the devil and his demons, false hyper-grace gospel where a Christian does not need to confess sin after he is saved or does not need repentance to stay in fellowship with God, errors on the Godhead where they deny that the Father, Son, Holy Spirit are co-eternal and co-equal, once saved always saved that it does not matter how a person lives his life after salvation, we are all sinners even after salvation and no need to live a consecrated life, the give to get carnal prosperity gospel where you give me money and 100 fold comes back so you will be rich. Or the heresy taught by some that Jesus had to become a sinner on the cross to redeem us and suffered three days in hell tormented by demons. We find others, in a time where we are witnessing the revival of all forms of the occult, being deluded by believing everything supernatural is from heaven, and everyone who prophesies, has a vision, or predicts the future is from God. We find men and women calling themselves Apostles and Prophets commonly now who were never appointed or anointed from heaven but self-appointed deceiving many. As Jesus said, take heed lest YOU be deceived. (Matt 24:4) DISCERNING THE VOICE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND RECOGNIZING THE WITNESS WITHIN; In order to mature in faith and become effective instruments in God's hands so that we will be in the right place at the right time, doing the right thing, it is necessary for us to learn how to recognize the inner witness of the Spirit, as well as discern the voice of the Holy Spirit. These are the two basic ways by which God leads and directs His people, whether in answer to some prayer for guidance, or in order to fulfill His will and purpose in their lives. We find that God frequently endeavors to speak to His people by means of the voice of His Spirit in order to direct guide, teach, or influence them along some line, but since they have not been taught how to discern His voice He often goes unheeded. Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice and they follow me" Jn. 10:27). How can they follow Him if they do not know how to discern His voice? He certainly did not mean that He intended to shout down out of heaven in order to direct them, but He did promise that He would speak to them by His Spirit which would be within them: "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you in all truth" (John 16:13), and "he shall teach you in all things" (14:26). Some Christians are waiting for God to give them a revelation through a vision or prophecy concerning His will for them, or regarding some important matter about which they are praying, when, if they only realized it, God is already trying to communicate His will to them by His Spirit within them. If they would spend a little more time in His Word and in prayer, and be willing to get still before Him for a while, then they would begin to discern His voice and hear Him speaking inwardly to their spirits. The inner voice of the Holy Spirit is the voice of God speaking directly to your spirit in order to guide, admonish, teach, warn, or influence you concerning some matter (about which you may or may not be praying). God also enables us to know His will regarding some matter about which we are praying, or about some question which concerns us, by means of a witness within. This is an inward knowing in your spirit that a certain contemplated action on your part, or some doctrine, or revelation, for example, is right or wrong. Not only is the Christian the temple of the Holy Spirit, Who abides within to speak the direct revelation of God's will to him (Jn 16:13; 1 Cor. 2:10-13), but he also has, by virtue of the new birth, a new heart to discern spiritual things himself, and know the will of God intuitively by his own spirit (1 Cor. 2:14-16). He has received an anointing which abides in him and teaches him all things (1 Jn. 2:27). Thus, we find that it is also through his own enlightened spirit that the Christian is able by an inward knowing or witness to discern whether or not something is right or wrong. Let us say, for example, that you are praying about some matter about which you must make a decision, such as whether or not to buy a certain piece of property, marry a particular individual, or accept an invitation to speak to some religious group. If after thinking and praying about the question you find that inwardly there is a positive confirmation in your spirit to go ahead in the matter, or, you find that you experience a sense of uncertainty, reluctance, or heaviness of spirit, then this is an inner witness in your spirit informing you of God's will in the matter. In the former instance, your spirit was witnessing to you to go ahead, and in the latter, it was a warning not to take the proposed action. The witness within is an inward knowing intuitively, through the enlightened spirit of a Christian, that a certain contemplated action, a doctrine, some individual, or a ministry, for instance, is right or wrong, whereas the inner voice of the Holy Spirit is God speaking directly by His Spirit within you concerning some matter. It must be stressed, however, that the inward witness and the inner voice of the Spirit are not merely some "feeling" we may have about a matter. They have nothing to do with what one feels either with the physical senses or the emotions. It is either an inward knowing (inner witness) that something is right or wrong, or it is an inner awareness that the Spirit of God is speaking directly to our spirit about some matter (inner voice of the Spirit). Edited. Shared. To be Continued. ❤️ God willing, more will be posted soon. All glory to Jesus alone.
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  • When we look closely at the Bible, we come to understand a profound truth about Satan. God cannot forgive him—not because God is not merciful, but because Satan’s rebellious decision was deliberate, permanent, and without repentance. Humanity is given an opportunity for grace and salvation; but the fallen angels deliberately chose to reject God and never turned back from that decision.

    Satan was originally created as a perfect angel—full of beauty, wisdom, and light. But pride arose in his heart. Isaiah 14:12–15 describes his ambitious rebellion. He said in his heart, “I will ascend to heaven… I will make myself like the Most High.” But he was cast down into the depths of darkness and separated from God’s presence. Ezekiel 28 also illustrates this—that even being created perfect is not enough to protect someone from the corruption of pride.

    The Bible clearly tells us that his end is eternal. Matthew 25:41 says that God has prepared eternal fire for Satan and his angels. Revelation 20:10 says that they will be tormented forever and ever. This is not revenge—it is the righteous consequence of a choice they made willingly and irrevocably.

    According to God’s plan, salvation is offered to humanity. Hebrews 2:16 reminds us that Jesus came to save the descendants of Abraham, not angels. Jude 1:6 tells us about the fallen angels, saying that they have been kept in bondage for judgment on the great day.

    Even today, Satan continues to oppose God. He deceives people and tempts them, and there is no sign of repentance in him. 1 Peter 5:8 warns us to be watchful and alert because of him, while Revelation 12:9 reminds us of his continual deception.

    From all of this, we learn a serious yet comforting truth: God’s mercy is real, but He respects the choices we make. Satan’s rebellion shows us the seriousness of turning away from God; but at the same time, it reveals the depth of God’s grace toward humanity.

    God’s plan is unshakable, His judgment is perfect, and His love never ends—and for those who repent and put their trust in Him, His grace is always available.
    When we look closely at the Bible, we come to understand a profound truth about Satan. God cannot forgive him—not because God is not merciful, but because Satan’s rebellious decision was deliberate, permanent, and without repentance. Humanity is given an opportunity for grace and salvation; but the fallen angels deliberately chose to reject God and never turned back from that decision. Satan was originally created as a perfect angel—full of beauty, wisdom, and light. But pride arose in his heart. Isaiah 14:12–15 describes his ambitious rebellion. He said in his heart, “I will ascend to heaven… I will make myself like the Most High.” But he was cast down into the depths of darkness and separated from God’s presence. Ezekiel 28 also illustrates this—that even being created perfect is not enough to protect someone from the corruption of pride. The Bible clearly tells us that his end is eternal. Matthew 25:41 says that God has prepared eternal fire for Satan and his angels. Revelation 20:10 says that they will be tormented forever and ever. This is not revenge—it is the righteous consequence of a choice they made willingly and irrevocably. According to God’s plan, salvation is offered to humanity. Hebrews 2:16 reminds us that Jesus came to save the descendants of Abraham, not angels. Jude 1:6 tells us about the fallen angels, saying that they have been kept in bondage for judgment on the great day. Even today, Satan continues to oppose God. He deceives people and tempts them, and there is no sign of repentance in him. 1 Peter 5:8 warns us to be watchful and alert because of him, while Revelation 12:9 reminds us of his continual deception. From all of this, we learn a serious yet comforting truth: God’s mercy is real, but He respects the choices we make. Satan’s rebellion shows us the seriousness of turning away from God; but at the same time, it reveals the depth of God’s grace toward humanity. God’s plan is unshakable, His judgment is perfect, and His love never ends—and for those who repent and put their trust in Him, His grace is always available.
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  • Why Does God Permit Suffering and Evil?
    Pastor Joseph Clark — August 11, 2026
    “Is man merely a mistake of God's? Or God merely a mistake of man?
    — Friedrich Nietzsche
    “All thinking men are atheists.”
    — Ernest Hemingway
    “There is something infantile in the presumption that somebody else has a responsibility to give your life meaning and point…”
    — Richard Dawkins
    One of the most frequently asked questions of pastors is this: If God is all-powerful, merciful, and loving, why does He permit so much suffering and evil? If God is good, why doesn't He simply stop it?
    It is an important question, and Christians should not be afraid to confront it.
    My answer may not satisfy everyone, because Christianity does not teach that we are entitled to understand every purpose of God. Scripture says, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God” (Deuteronomy 29:29). We know what God has revealed; we do not know everything He has withheld.
    We must also distinguish between what God causes and what God permits. God is sovereign over His creation, but Scripture does not teach that God is the author of sin. James tells us:
    “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.”
    — James 1:13
    So why does God permit suffering?
    The answer begins with this: Suffering has a purpose within God's redemptive plan.
    That does not mean that suffering itself is good. Evil is evil. Death is an enemy. Sin is rebellion against God. Scripture never asks us to call evil good or pretend that tragedy does not hurt.
    Rather, Christianity teaches something far more profound:
    God is so sovereign that He can take even suffering, tragedy, injustice, and evil and use them to accomplish His purposes.
    The greatest example is the cross of Jesus Christ.
    Human beings intended the crucifixion for evil. Yet God used the cross to accomplish the redemption of sinners.
    Peter declared:
    “This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.”
    — Acts 2:23
    The cross therefore gives us the foundation for understanding suffering. God does not need evil to be good, but He can sovereignly use what is evil to accomplish what is good.
    1. God can use suffering for an eternal purpose.
    Paul writes:
    “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
    — 2 Corinthians 4:17
    Paul does not say that suffering is pleasant or insignificant. He calls his troubles “light and momentary” only when compared with the immeasurable weight of eternal glory.
    Cancer, grief, betrayal, violence, injustice, poverty, persecution, and death are very real. Christianity never asks us to pretend otherwise.
    But Scripture teaches that God can take even terrible circumstances and use them for purposes that reach beyond this temporary life.
    That is part of God's redemptive plan.
    God is concerned not merely with making our earthly lives comfortable. He is preparing us for eternity.
    Think of the thickness of a Bible. If that represented eternity, our earthly existence and worldly suffering is so short and fleeting, it would be like a single page.
    That does not make suffering pleasant.
    It puts suffering into an eternal perspective.
    2. Suffering exposes the reality and consequences of sin.
    The Bible does not present this world as the paradise God originally intended. Sin entered God's creation through human rebellion, and its consequences spread throughout humanity.
    Romans 5:12 says:
    “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.”
    We also contribute to suffering ourselves. Human greed, hatred, selfishness, violence, lust, pride, corruption, and injustice have consequences.
    Scripture describes Satan as the ruler of this present fallen order. “The whole world is under the control of the evil one” (1 John 5:19), while Paul calls Satan “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4).
    Yet Satan is not God's equal. Satan operates only within the limits God permits.
    The book of Job makes this remarkably clear.
    Job suffered terribly, yet God remained sovereign. Job did not understand the reason for his suffering, but he ultimately came to a deeper knowledge of God. In the middle of his suffering, he declared:
    “I know that my redeemer lives.”
    — Job 19:25
    We may never know whether a particular hardship is a test, a consequence of human sin, an attack of the enemy, or simply the result of living in a fallen world.
    But we do know this:
    God can redeem it.
    3. God can use suffering to bring people to repentance.
    Consider the words of Jesus in Luke 13. Some people had been killed by Pilate, and others had died when a tower collapsed. Jesus specifically rejected the idea that these people were necessarily worse sinners than everyone else.
    Then He said:
    “But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
    — Luke 13:3
    Jesus did not use tragedy to give a philosophical explanation. He used it to confront humanity with the reality of eternity.
    Suffering reminds us that this world is temporary. Death is real. Eternity is real. Judgment is real. Salvation is real.
    Sometimes suffering causes a person to ask questions that prosperity never would:
    Where is God? What is the meaning of life? What happens when I die? Am I ready to meet my Creator?
    And ultimately, those questions can lead us to Jesus Christ.
    God can use suffering as an instrument that turns a person's heart toward Him.
    4. Free will has consequences.
    God created human beings capable of genuine love, obedience, rebellion, and choice.
    Love without choice is meaningless.
    God could have created humanity like robots programmed to say, “I love You,” every hour. But programmed affection is not love.
    I can program my phone to tell me it loves me every hour. That does not compare with hearing my child freely say, “Dad, I love you.”
    God gave humanity meaningful freedom. But meaningful freedom necessarily carries consequences.
    If God prevented every sinful action before it happened, human freedom would cease to have meaningful consequences.
    We cannot simultaneously demand genuine human freedom and demand that God prevent every consequence of human choices.
    Much of the suffering in this world is the direct or indirect consequence of human sin.
    5. Suffering can become part of our sanctification.
    The Christian life was never promised to be painless.
    Peter writes:
    “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
    — 1 Peter 5:10
    Paul says:
    “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
    — 2 Timothy 3:12
    Jesus Himself said:
    “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
    — John 16:33
    Christianity does not promise escape from every hardship. It promises that Christ will be with us through it.
    We are called to carry our cross, follow Christ, persevere under trial, and allow God to shape us through circumstances we cannot control.
    James writes:
    “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
    — James 1:12
    Suffering can therefore become part of God's sanctifying work in us.
    It can teach perseverance.
    It can expose what is in our hearts.
    It can strip away pride.
    It can deepen our dependence upon God.
    It can produce compassion for others who suffer.
    And it can make us long more deeply for the day when Christ will finally make all things new.
    6. Without suffering, we would have little understanding of the seriousness of eternity.
    This is a difficult point, but it must be considered.
    If humanity lived forever in a world without death, pain, consequence, or hardship, we could easily become convinced that this temporary world was all that mattered.
    But Christianity teaches that this life is not the end.
    There is salvation and there is judgment. There is heaven and there is hell. There is eternal life and eternal separation from God.
    The suffering and brokenness of this world remind us that something is profoundly wrong with creation—and that we need redemption.
    The Gospel announces that God has not abandoned us to that brokenness.
    He entered it.
    7. God did not merely watch suffering from heaven—He entered our suffering through Jesus Christ.
    This may be the most important answer of all.
    God did not respond to human suffering by remaining distant from it.
    Jesus Christ suffered.
    He was betrayed, falsely accused, mocked, beaten, humiliated, crucified, and killed. He experienced rejection, physical agony, injustice, and death.
    And then He rose again.
    The cross demonstrates that God can bring the greatest good out of the greatest evil.
    The crucifixion was humanity's greatest act of evil against the Son of God, yet God used it as the means of redemption.
    That is the heart of the Gospel.
    God redeems.
    He redeems sinners.
    He redeems broken lives.
    He redeems suffering.
    He redeems tragedy.
    And ultimately, He will redeem creation itself.
    The Christian therefore does not worship a God who says, “I have no idea what suffering feels like.”
    We worship a Savior who can say, “I have been there.”
    I Understand That Suffering Hurts
    I do not write this as someone who has never suffered.
    I have experienced betrayal, divorce, sin, self-loathing, false accusations, slander, threats, persecution for my faith, serious family crises, illness among people I love, and the tragic deaths of friends. Others have suffered far more than I have. I have not experienced every form of grief, and I would never pretend otherwise.
    I do not claim to be an expert on suffering.
    But I know the One who is.
    And the answer I offer is not ultimately my own philosophy. It is the testimony of Scripture.
    For those who say, “I don't expect special treatment. I simply want to live a good life without hurting anyone or being hurt myself,” my answer is this:
    Stay faithful. Walk with Christ. Keep going.
    You may not understand everything God is doing. Job didn't. Joseph didn't. The disciples didn't understand the cross.
    But God's purposes were greater than what they could see.
    From Crisis to Opportunity
    Suffering can become a defining moment.
    The question is not always, “Why did this happen to me?”
    Sometimes the better question is:
    “Lord, what will You do with what has happened to me?”
    We cannot control everything that happens to us. But, by the grace of God, we can choose how we respond.
    We can become bitter—or we can become faithful.
    We can turn away from God—or we can run toward Him.
    We can allow suffering to destroy us—or we can allow God to use it to deepen our faith, strengthen our character, increase our compassion, and sanctify our lives.
    That is why suffering can become an opportunity.
    Not because suffering itself is good.
    But because God is good, and God can bring good out of what is not good.
    Romans 8:28 gives us this extraordinary promise:
    “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
    Notice that Scripture does not say that all things are good.
    It says God works in all things for good.
    That distinction matters.
    The Christian response to suffering is therefore not denial, despair, or rebellion. It is faith.
    We remain steadfast. We help those who are suffering. We practice mercy. We refuse to create unnecessary suffering for others. We forgive. We pray. We persevere.
    And above all, we look to Christ.
    He suffered.
    He died.
    He rose again.
    And because He lives, suffering and death do not have the final word.
    Why, Then, Does God Permit Suffering and Evil?
    1. God can use suffering for an eternal purpose.
    2. Suffering exposes the reality and consequences of sin.
    3. God can use suffering to bring people to repentance and salvation.
    4. Human freedom carries real consequences.
    5. Suffering can become part of our sanctification.
    6. Suffering reminds us that this life is temporary and eternity is real.
    7. God entered our suffering through Jesus Christ and ultimately defeated sin and death through His cross and resurrection.
    There is one truth that holds all seven points together:
    Suffering has a purpose in God's redemptive plan.
    We may not understand every reason God permits a particular tragedy. We should never presume to know God's specific purpose in another person's suffering.
    But we can know that suffering is not beyond His sovereignty.
    The cross proves it.
    The empty tomb proves it.
    And the promise of Scripture proves that one day God will finally and completely deal with everything that causes suffering.
    “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.”
    — Revelation 21:4
    Until that day, we remain faithful.
    We suffer with hope.
    We serve with compassion.
    We persevere with courage.
    And we keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus Christ—the One who suffered for us, died for us, rose again for us, and promises that one day “the former things have passed away.”
    Christ wins.
    And in Christ, suffering is not the end of the story.
    Why Does God Permit Suffering and Evil? Pastor Joseph Clark — August 11, 2026 “Is man merely a mistake of God's? Or God merely a mistake of man? — Friedrich Nietzsche “All thinking men are atheists.” — Ernest Hemingway “There is something infantile in the presumption that somebody else has a responsibility to give your life meaning and point…” — Richard Dawkins One of the most frequently asked questions of pastors is this: If God is all-powerful, merciful, and loving, why does He permit so much suffering and evil? If God is good, why doesn't He simply stop it? It is an important question, and Christians should not be afraid to confront it. My answer may not satisfy everyone, because Christianity does not teach that we are entitled to understand every purpose of God. Scripture says, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God” (Deuteronomy 29:29). We know what God has revealed; we do not know everything He has withheld. We must also distinguish between what God causes and what God permits. God is sovereign over His creation, but Scripture does not teach that God is the author of sin. James tells us: “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.” — James 1:13 So why does God permit suffering? The answer begins with this: Suffering has a purpose within God's redemptive plan. That does not mean that suffering itself is good. Evil is evil. Death is an enemy. Sin is rebellion against God. Scripture never asks us to call evil good or pretend that tragedy does not hurt. Rather, Christianity teaches something far more profound: God is so sovereign that He can take even suffering, tragedy, injustice, and evil and use them to accomplish His purposes. The greatest example is the cross of Jesus Christ. Human beings intended the crucifixion for evil. Yet God used the cross to accomplish the redemption of sinners. Peter declared: “This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.” — Acts 2:23 The cross therefore gives us the foundation for understanding suffering. God does not need evil to be good, but He can sovereignly use what is evil to accomplish what is good. 1. God can use suffering for an eternal purpose. Paul writes: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” — 2 Corinthians 4:17 Paul does not say that suffering is pleasant or insignificant. He calls his troubles “light and momentary” only when compared with the immeasurable weight of eternal glory. Cancer, grief, betrayal, violence, injustice, poverty, persecution, and death are very real. Christianity never asks us to pretend otherwise. But Scripture teaches that God can take even terrible circumstances and use them for purposes that reach beyond this temporary life. That is part of God's redemptive plan. God is concerned not merely with making our earthly lives comfortable. He is preparing us for eternity. Think of the thickness of a Bible. If that represented eternity, our earthly existence and worldly suffering is so short and fleeting, it would be like a single page. That does not make suffering pleasant. It puts suffering into an eternal perspective. 2. Suffering exposes the reality and consequences of sin. The Bible does not present this world as the paradise God originally intended. Sin entered God's creation through human rebellion, and its consequences spread throughout humanity. Romans 5:12 says: “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.” We also contribute to suffering ourselves. Human greed, hatred, selfishness, violence, lust, pride, corruption, and injustice have consequences. Scripture describes Satan as the ruler of this present fallen order. “The whole world is under the control of the evil one” (1 John 5:19), while Paul calls Satan “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Yet Satan is not God's equal. Satan operates only within the limits God permits. The book of Job makes this remarkably clear. Job suffered terribly, yet God remained sovereign. Job did not understand the reason for his suffering, but he ultimately came to a deeper knowledge of God. In the middle of his suffering, he declared: “I know that my redeemer lives.” — Job 19:25 We may never know whether a particular hardship is a test, a consequence of human sin, an attack of the enemy, or simply the result of living in a fallen world. But we do know this: God can redeem it. 3. God can use suffering to bring people to repentance. Consider the words of Jesus in Luke 13. Some people had been killed by Pilate, and others had died when a tower collapsed. Jesus specifically rejected the idea that these people were necessarily worse sinners than everyone else. Then He said: “But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” — Luke 13:3 Jesus did not use tragedy to give a philosophical explanation. He used it to confront humanity with the reality of eternity. Suffering reminds us that this world is temporary. Death is real. Eternity is real. Judgment is real. Salvation is real. Sometimes suffering causes a person to ask questions that prosperity never would: Where is God? What is the meaning of life? What happens when I die? Am I ready to meet my Creator? And ultimately, those questions can lead us to Jesus Christ. God can use suffering as an instrument that turns a person's heart toward Him. 4. Free will has consequences. God created human beings capable of genuine love, obedience, rebellion, and choice. Love without choice is meaningless. God could have created humanity like robots programmed to say, “I love You,” every hour. But programmed affection is not love. I can program my phone to tell me it loves me every hour. That does not compare with hearing my child freely say, “Dad, I love you.” God gave humanity meaningful freedom. But meaningful freedom necessarily carries consequences. If God prevented every sinful action before it happened, human freedom would cease to have meaningful consequences. We cannot simultaneously demand genuine human freedom and demand that God prevent every consequence of human choices. Much of the suffering in this world is the direct or indirect consequence of human sin. 5. Suffering can become part of our sanctification. The Christian life was never promised to be painless. Peter writes: “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” — 1 Peter 5:10 Paul says: “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” — 2 Timothy 3:12 Jesus Himself said: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33 Christianity does not promise escape from every hardship. It promises that Christ will be with us through it. We are called to carry our cross, follow Christ, persevere under trial, and allow God to shape us through circumstances we cannot control. James writes: “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” — James 1:12 Suffering can therefore become part of God's sanctifying work in us. It can teach perseverance. It can expose what is in our hearts. It can strip away pride. It can deepen our dependence upon God. It can produce compassion for others who suffer. And it can make us long more deeply for the day when Christ will finally make all things new. 6. Without suffering, we would have little understanding of the seriousness of eternity. This is a difficult point, but it must be considered. If humanity lived forever in a world without death, pain, consequence, or hardship, we could easily become convinced that this temporary world was all that mattered. But Christianity teaches that this life is not the end. There is salvation and there is judgment. There is heaven and there is hell. There is eternal life and eternal separation from God. The suffering and brokenness of this world remind us that something is profoundly wrong with creation—and that we need redemption. The Gospel announces that God has not abandoned us to that brokenness. He entered it. 7. God did not merely watch suffering from heaven—He entered our suffering through Jesus Christ. This may be the most important answer of all. God did not respond to human suffering by remaining distant from it. Jesus Christ suffered. He was betrayed, falsely accused, mocked, beaten, humiliated, crucified, and killed. He experienced rejection, physical agony, injustice, and death. And then He rose again. The cross demonstrates that God can bring the greatest good out of the greatest evil. The crucifixion was humanity's greatest act of evil against the Son of God, yet God used it as the means of redemption. That is the heart of the Gospel. God redeems. He redeems sinners. He redeems broken lives. He redeems suffering. He redeems tragedy. And ultimately, He will redeem creation itself. The Christian therefore does not worship a God who says, “I have no idea what suffering feels like.” We worship a Savior who can say, “I have been there.” I Understand That Suffering Hurts I do not write this as someone who has never suffered. I have experienced betrayal, divorce, sin, self-loathing, false accusations, slander, threats, persecution for my faith, serious family crises, illness among people I love, and the tragic deaths of friends. Others have suffered far more than I have. I have not experienced every form of grief, and I would never pretend otherwise. I do not claim to be an expert on suffering. But I know the One who is. And the answer I offer is not ultimately my own philosophy. It is the testimony of Scripture. For those who say, “I don't expect special treatment. I simply want to live a good life without hurting anyone or being hurt myself,” my answer is this: Stay faithful. Walk with Christ. Keep going. You may not understand everything God is doing. Job didn't. Joseph didn't. The disciples didn't understand the cross. But God's purposes were greater than what they could see. From Crisis to Opportunity Suffering can become a defining moment. The question is not always, “Why did this happen to me?” Sometimes the better question is: “Lord, what will You do with what has happened to me?” We cannot control everything that happens to us. But, by the grace of God, we can choose how we respond. We can become bitter—or we can become faithful. We can turn away from God—or we can run toward Him. We can allow suffering to destroy us—or we can allow God to use it to deepen our faith, strengthen our character, increase our compassion, and sanctify our lives. That is why suffering can become an opportunity. Not because suffering itself is good. But because God is good, and God can bring good out of what is not good. Romans 8:28 gives us this extraordinary promise: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Notice that Scripture does not say that all things are good. It says God works in all things for good. That distinction matters. The Christian response to suffering is therefore not denial, despair, or rebellion. It is faith. We remain steadfast. We help those who are suffering. We practice mercy. We refuse to create unnecessary suffering for others. We forgive. We pray. We persevere. And above all, we look to Christ. He suffered. He died. He rose again. And because He lives, suffering and death do not have the final word. Why, Then, Does God Permit Suffering and Evil? 1. God can use suffering for an eternal purpose. 2. Suffering exposes the reality and consequences of sin. 3. God can use suffering to bring people to repentance and salvation. 4. Human freedom carries real consequences. 5. Suffering can become part of our sanctification. 6. Suffering reminds us that this life is temporary and eternity is real. 7. God entered our suffering through Jesus Christ and ultimately defeated sin and death through His cross and resurrection. There is one truth that holds all seven points together: Suffering has a purpose in God's redemptive plan. We may not understand every reason God permits a particular tragedy. We should never presume to know God's specific purpose in another person's suffering. But we can know that suffering is not beyond His sovereignty. The cross proves it. The empty tomb proves it. And the promise of Scripture proves that one day God will finally and completely deal with everything that causes suffering. “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.” — Revelation 21:4 Until that day, we remain faithful. We suffer with hope. We serve with compassion. We persevere with courage. And we keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus Christ—the One who suffered for us, died for us, rose again for us, and promises that one day “the former things have passed away.” Christ wins. And in Christ, suffering is not the end of the story.
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  • There is something many of us do without even realizing it.

    We keep asking, “How close can I get to sin without actually sinning?”

    How close can I get to temptation and still say I am a Christian?

    How long can I stay in that private and immoral conversation before it becomes something else?

    How much physical closeness can I have with someone I am sexually attracted to before things go too far?

    How many times can I watch that pornography content before it starts affecting my mind?

    How much can I entertain that immoral friendship before my convictions become weak?

    How far can I go and still say, “But I didn't actually do anything wrong”?

    My dear friend you need to stop asking that question.

    Because the goal of a Christian should never be to discover how close we can get to sin. The goal should be to discover how far we can stay away from it.

    Imagine someone standing at the edge of a very deep pit. And someone tells him, “Please, move away from there. It is dangerous.”

    But he says, “No, I am careful.”

    Then he moves a little closer. “Don't worry. I won't fall.”

    He moves closer again. “I just want to see how close I can get without falling.”

    What kind of wisdom is that?

    If you know there is a pit, why are you measuring your distance from the pit instead of walking away from it?

    That is exactly what happens when we keep testing how close we can get to sin.

    Then suddenly, you find yourself in a situation you never planned for. And you begin to ask, “How did I get here?”

    You got there because you kept walking toward what God told you to walk away from.

    Sometimes, the problem is not that we don't know what is wrong. The problem is that we want to see how close we can get to what is wrong before we finally stop.

    And that is dangerous. Because temptation does not usually begin with the final act.

    It begins with permission. You permit the conversation. You permit the thought. You permit the private meeting. You permit the emotional attachment. You permit the secret. You permit the repeated exposure.

    You keep giving yourself reasons why you can handle it. And little by little, your sensitivity to sin becomes weaker.

    Something that once disturbed your conscience begins to feel normal. Something that once made you uncomfortable becomes something you now defend.

    And that is one of the most dangerous things that can happen to a believer.

    Because sometimes, the biggest victory of temptation is not making you commit the sin immediately. It is making you comfortable enough to keep standing near it.

    Think about fire. You don't have to put your whole body inside fire to get burned. You can get burned simply by getting too close.

    In the same way, you don't have to plan to destroy your life. You can simply keep getting closer and closer to the things that can destroy it.

    And one day, you discover that your “small compromise” has become a serious problem.

    If you are constantly asking, “Can I do this and still be okay?”

    Maybe your heart is not looking for holiness. Maybe your heart is looking for permission. And my dear friend, don't negotiate with temptation.

    Run from it. There are some doors you should not keep opening.

    There are some conversations you should not keep having. There are some places you should not keep visiting. There are some relationships you should create boundaries around.

    There are some things you should stop watching. There are some situations where the most spiritual thing you can do is simply walk away.

    Don't wait until you fall before you decide to leave. Don't wait until your heart becomes attached. Don't wait until the temptation becomes stronger.

    Walk away while you still have the strength to walk away.

    Joseph did not stand around Potiphar's wife trying to prove how strong he was.

    When the situation became dangerous, he ran.

    Sometimes, running is not weakness. Sometimes, running is wisdom.

    You don't prove your spiritual maturity by staying around temptation and saying, “I can handle it.”

    You prove your maturity by knowing when to say, “This is dangerous for my soul, so I am leaving.”

    You may think you are strong today. But you don't know what prolonged exposure to temptation can do to you tomorrow.

    Don't test yourself. Don't test temptation. Don't test how much your heart can take. Don't test how close you can get to sin.

    Protect your walk with God. Protect your peace. Protect your conscience. Protect your future. And protect the testimony God is building through your life.

    Because sometimes, what destroys people is not one big decision. It is a series of small decisions that looked harmless at the beginning.

    Please, don't wait until you are broken before you learn the wisdom of boundaries.

    You don't have to touch the fire to know that it burns. You don't have to fall into the pit to know that it is dangerous. And you don't have to experience every consequence personally before you learn to obey God's warning.

    Sometimes, God is not asking you to prove how strong you are. He is simply asking you to trust Him enough to walk away.

    So, stop testing how close you can get to sin. Stop playing with what can destroy your peace. Stop entertaining what you have been praying for God to help you overcome.

    Stop standing at the edge of the pit and calling it faith.

    Walk away. Because there is no prize for getting as close to sin as possible without falling.

    The real victory is being far enough away that when temptation comes, you don't have to negotiate with it.

    I am Anthony Chukwuebuka - THE BOO OF THE BOOLESS; You don't need to stand at the edge of the cliff to prove you won't fall. Sometimes, the greatest evidence that you value your life is simply choosing not to stand there in the first place.

    And spiritually, you don't prove your love for God by seeing how close you can get to sin without falling; you prove it by loving Him enough to walk away before you fall.
    There is something many of us do without even realizing it. We keep asking, “How close can I get to sin without actually sinning?” How close can I get to temptation and still say I am a Christian? How long can I stay in that private and immoral conversation before it becomes something else? How much physical closeness can I have with someone I am sexually attracted to before things go too far? How many times can I watch that pornography content before it starts affecting my mind? How much can I entertain that immoral friendship before my convictions become weak? How far can I go and still say, “But I didn't actually do anything wrong”? My dear friend you need to stop asking that question. Because the goal of a Christian should never be to discover how close we can get to sin. The goal should be to discover how far we can stay away from it. Imagine someone standing at the edge of a very deep pit. And someone tells him, “Please, move away from there. It is dangerous.” But he says, “No, I am careful.” Then he moves a little closer. “Don't worry. I won't fall.” He moves closer again. “I just want to see how close I can get without falling.” What kind of wisdom is that? If you know there is a pit, why are you measuring your distance from the pit instead of walking away from it? That is exactly what happens when we keep testing how close we can get to sin. Then suddenly, you find yourself in a situation you never planned for. And you begin to ask, “How did I get here?” You got there because you kept walking toward what God told you to walk away from. Sometimes, the problem is not that we don't know what is wrong. The problem is that we want to see how close we can get to what is wrong before we finally stop. And that is dangerous. Because temptation does not usually begin with the final act. It begins with permission. You permit the conversation. You permit the thought. You permit the private meeting. You permit the emotional attachment. You permit the secret. You permit the repeated exposure. You keep giving yourself reasons why you can handle it. And little by little, your sensitivity to sin becomes weaker. Something that once disturbed your conscience begins to feel normal. Something that once made you uncomfortable becomes something you now defend. And that is one of the most dangerous things that can happen to a believer. Because sometimes, the biggest victory of temptation is not making you commit the sin immediately. It is making you comfortable enough to keep standing near it. Think about fire. You don't have to put your whole body inside fire to get burned. You can get burned simply by getting too close. In the same way, you don't have to plan to destroy your life. You can simply keep getting closer and closer to the things that can destroy it. And one day, you discover that your “small compromise” has become a serious problem. If you are constantly asking, “Can I do this and still be okay?” Maybe your heart is not looking for holiness. Maybe your heart is looking for permission. And my dear friend, don't negotiate with temptation. Run from it. There are some doors you should not keep opening. There are some conversations you should not keep having. There are some places you should not keep visiting. There are some relationships you should create boundaries around. There are some things you should stop watching. There are some situations where the most spiritual thing you can do is simply walk away. Don't wait until you fall before you decide to leave. Don't wait until your heart becomes attached. Don't wait until the temptation becomes stronger. Walk away while you still have the strength to walk away. Joseph did not stand around Potiphar's wife trying to prove how strong he was. When the situation became dangerous, he ran. Sometimes, running is not weakness. Sometimes, running is wisdom. You don't prove your spiritual maturity by staying around temptation and saying, “I can handle it.” You prove your maturity by knowing when to say, “This is dangerous for my soul, so I am leaving.” You may think you are strong today. But you don't know what prolonged exposure to temptation can do to you tomorrow. Don't test yourself. Don't test temptation. Don't test how much your heart can take. Don't test how close you can get to sin. Protect your walk with God. Protect your peace. Protect your conscience. Protect your future. And protect the testimony God is building through your life. Because sometimes, what destroys people is not one big decision. It is a series of small decisions that looked harmless at the beginning. Please, don't wait until you are broken before you learn the wisdom of boundaries. You don't have to touch the fire to know that it burns. You don't have to fall into the pit to know that it is dangerous. And you don't have to experience every consequence personally before you learn to obey God's warning. Sometimes, God is not asking you to prove how strong you are. He is simply asking you to trust Him enough to walk away. So, stop testing how close you can get to sin. Stop playing with what can destroy your peace. Stop entertaining what you have been praying for God to help you overcome. Stop standing at the edge of the pit and calling it faith. Walk away. Because there is no prize for getting as close to sin as possible without falling. The real victory is being far enough away that when temptation comes, you don't have to negotiate with it. I am Anthony Chukwuebuka - THE BOO OF THE BOOLESS; You don't need to stand at the edge of the cliff to prove you won't fall. Sometimes, the greatest evidence that you value your life is simply choosing not to stand there in the first place. And spiritually, you don't prove your love for God by seeing how close you can get to sin without falling; you prove it by loving Him enough to walk away before you fall.
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  • OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
    DATE: MONDAY, AUGUST 10TH, 2026.
    TOPIC: YOUR LEGACY IS NOT FOR SALE

    AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE

    MEMORISE: A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. Proverbs 13:22

    BIBLE READING: 2 Kings 20:12-19 (KJV)
    12 At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.
    13 And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.
    14 Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon.
    15 And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.
    16 And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the Lord.
    17 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the Lord.
    18 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.
    19 Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?

    MESSAGE:
    You should always ask yourself this question, especially as you advance in age: "What will people say about me when I am gone?" The truth is that the way you are living your life now will determine what people will say about you when you are gone. This is why you must strive to create a good legacy and guard it jealously. You must never trade it for anything, no matter how enticing it may appear.

    Beloved, your legacy will include the name you will leave behind after you exit the earth. While King Hezekiah was a good king, he left a bad legacy for his descendants. In (2 Kings 20:1-11), the king of Babylon sent emissaries to check on him, and he foolishly showed them all the treasures in his house and kingdom. His actions exposed his kingdom and consequently his descendants to the enemy. When Isaiah told him that the consequence of his foolish actions would be the captivity of his children and that all the treasures of his land would be carted away by the king of Babylon, he replied, "Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?" Surprisingly, he was okay with the captivity not happening in his time, but in the days of his children. His actions were clearly unwise. Hezekiah sold his legacy just because he wanted to display his wealth. His descendants would always remember him as the one who exposed them to the enemy and made them lose the kingdom. Today's memory verse tells us that a good man will leave an inheritance for his children's children. He will not deprive them of their inheritance or give them a bad name that they will be ashamed of. I pray that you will not open the door for the enemy to torment, afflict, or capture your descendants, in Jesus' name.

    Every family that is battling one ancestral problem or another was exposed to it by someone in their lineage; do not be such a person. If you have done things that you are not proud of, and you know that those things can affect your children and their descendants, run to God for mercy today. Ask Him to cleanse you with His blood and rewrite your family's story. No matter how old you are, as long as you are alive, there is still hope of leaving a good legacy for your descendants.

    REFLECTION:
    What legacy are you leaving behind for your descendants?

    HYMN: GUIDE ME O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH
    1. Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah Pilgrim through this barren land; I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
    Hold me with Thy powerful
    hand: Bread of heaven! Bread of heaven! Feed me now and evermore.

    2. Open Thou the crystal fountain,
    Whence the healing stream
    doth flow: Let the fiery, cloudy pillar Lead me all my journey
    through: Song deliverer! Song deliverer! Be Thou still my strength and shield.

    3. If I tread the verge of Jordan,
    Bid my anxious fears subside: Bear me through the swelling torrent, Land me safe on Canaan's side: Songs of praises! Songs of praises! I will ever give to Thee.

    4. Saviour, come! We long to see thee, long to dwell with thee above and to know in full communion, all the sweetness of Thy love. Come, Lord Jesus! Come, Lord Jesus! Take thy waiting people home.



    PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL
    MONDAY, 10TH AUGUST, 2026
    *YOUR LEGACY IS NOT FOR SALE*

    1.Father, thank You for bringing me this far in the journey of life. Thank You for the years I have lived, and all the lessons life had taught me.

    2.Father, thank You for the mistakes I had made in time past, thank You for the opportunity to write my wrongs and to live right by Your help.

    3.Father, please help me to live a good life; help me to strive to create a good legacy and to guard it jealously. Help me never to trade it for anything, no matter how enticing it may appear, in Jesus' name.

    4.Father, You have given me a good name as Your son/daughter, and You have called me a king and a priest, please help me to guard the good name You have given me, and never to leave a bad legacy for my descendants, in Jesus' name.

    5.Father, please guide my actions and decisions in life so I won't expose my family and consequently my descendants to the enemies, in Jesus' name.

    6.Father, please help me never to sell my legacy as a child of God for anything else in this world, may I not take actions that may jeopardize my future and those of my generation to come, in Jesus' name.

    7.Father, please help me to be a good father/mother, and to leave a good inheritance for my children's children, in Jesus' name.

    8.Father, please help me not to deprive them of their inheritance or give them a bad name that they will be ashamed of. Help me never to open the door for the enemy to torment, afflict, or capture my descendants, in Jesus' name.

    9.Father, please do not let me be the one that will expose my family to ancestral battles. If there is anything I have done that can affect my children and their descendants, please show me Your mercy, in Jesus' name.

    10.Father, please cleanse me with the blood of Jesus, and rewrite the story of my family. Help me to leave a very good legacy for my descendants, in Jesus' name.

    11.Father, thank You for the life of Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye.

    Help him to leave a good heritance do his children's children children, 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 date! Please join us in prayer, irrespective of the time they get to you. Remain blessed, in Jesus’ name.
    OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: MONDAY, AUGUST 10TH, 2026. TOPIC: YOUR LEGACY IS NOT FOR SALE AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE MEMORISE: A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. Proverbs 13:22 BIBLE READING: 2 Kings 20:12-19 (KJV) 12 At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick. 13 And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not. 14 Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon. 15 And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them. 16 And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the Lord. 17 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the Lord. 18 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. 19 Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days? MESSAGE: You should always ask yourself this question, especially as you advance in age: "What will people say about me when I am gone?" The truth is that the way you are living your life now will determine what people will say about you when you are gone. This is why you must strive to create a good legacy and guard it jealously. You must never trade it for anything, no matter how enticing it may appear. Beloved, your legacy will include the name you will leave behind after you exit the earth. While King Hezekiah was a good king, he left a bad legacy for his descendants. In (2 Kings 20:1-11), the king of Babylon sent emissaries to check on him, and he foolishly showed them all the treasures in his house and kingdom. His actions exposed his kingdom and consequently his descendants to the enemy. When Isaiah told him that the consequence of his foolish actions would be the captivity of his children and that all the treasures of his land would be carted away by the king of Babylon, he replied, "Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?" Surprisingly, he was okay with the captivity not happening in his time, but in the days of his children. His actions were clearly unwise. Hezekiah sold his legacy just because he wanted to display his wealth. His descendants would always remember him as the one who exposed them to the enemy and made them lose the kingdom. Today's memory verse tells us that a good man will leave an inheritance for his children's children. He will not deprive them of their inheritance or give them a bad name that they will be ashamed of. I pray that you will not open the door for the enemy to torment, afflict, or capture your descendants, in Jesus' name. Every family that is battling one ancestral problem or another was exposed to it by someone in their lineage; do not be such a person. If you have done things that you are not proud of, and you know that those things can affect your children and their descendants, run to God for mercy today. Ask Him to cleanse you with His blood and rewrite your family's story. No matter how old you are, as long as you are alive, there is still hope of leaving a good legacy for your descendants. REFLECTION: What legacy are you leaving behind for your descendants? HYMN: GUIDE ME O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH 1. Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah Pilgrim through this barren land; I am weak, but Thou art mighty, Hold me with Thy powerful hand: Bread of heaven! Bread of heaven! Feed me now and evermore. 2. Open Thou the crystal fountain, Whence the healing stream doth flow: Let the fiery, cloudy pillar Lead me all my journey through: Song deliverer! Song deliverer! Be Thou still my strength and shield. 3. If I tread the verge of Jordan, Bid my anxious fears subside: Bear me through the swelling torrent, Land me safe on Canaan's side: Songs of praises! Songs of praises! I will ever give to Thee. 4. Saviour, come! We long to see thee, long to dwell with thee above and to know in full communion, all the sweetness of Thy love. Come, Lord Jesus! Come, Lord Jesus! Take thy waiting people home. PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL MONDAY, 10TH AUGUST, 2026 *YOUR LEGACY IS NOT FOR SALE* ‎ 1.Father, thank You for bringing me this far in the journey of life. Thank You for the years I have lived, and all the lessons life had taught me. 2.Father, thank You for the mistakes I had made in time past, thank You for the opportunity to write my wrongs and to live right by Your help. 3.Father, please help me to live a good life; help me to strive to create a good legacy and to guard it jealously. Help me never to trade it for anything, no matter how enticing it may appear, in Jesus' name. 4.Father, You have given me a good name as Your son/daughter, and You have called me a king and a priest, please help me to guard the good name You have given me, and never to leave a bad legacy for my descendants, in Jesus' name. 5.Father, please guide my actions and decisions in life so I won't expose my family and consequently my descendants to the enemies, in Jesus' name. 6.Father, please help me never to sell my legacy as a child of God for anything else in this world, may I not take actions that may jeopardize my future and those of my generation to come, in Jesus' name. 7.Father, please help me to be a good father/mother, and to leave a good inheritance for my children's children, in Jesus' name. 8.Father, please help me not to deprive them of their inheritance or give them a bad name that they will be ashamed of. Help me never to open the door for the enemy to torment, afflict, or capture my descendants, in Jesus' name. 9.Father, please do not let me be the one that will expose my family to ancestral battles. If there is anything I have done that can affect my children and their descendants, please show me Your mercy, in Jesus' name. 10.Father, please cleanse me with the blood of Jesus, and rewrite the story of my family. Help me to leave a very good legacy for my descendants, in Jesus' name. 11.Father, thank You for the life of Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye. ‎ Help him to leave a good heritance do his children's children children, 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 date! Please join us in prayer, irrespective of the time they get to you. Remain blessed, in Jesus’ name.
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  • RESULT AND ALIGNMENT.

    Life isn't just about getting result as a believer. It's more about alignment. A lot of us chase results and think that's the proof that we're walking with God, but result is not always the true evidence. Sometimes you can get result and still be off track.
    Look at Moses. God told him to speak to the rock, but he struck it instead. And guess what, water still came out. The result still showed. Anyone watching would have thought he did exactly what God said, because the outcome was there. People would have celebrated Moses' exploit but Moses knew, and God knew, that he had disobeyed. He exchanged his entrance into the promised land for that one act of disalignment. The result didn't save him from the consequence of being out of alignment.
    That's the danger. You can be getting results in your life, your ministry, your work, your finances, and still be walking outside of what God actually instructed. Result can deceive you into thinking you're right with God when you're not. So don't just measure your walk with God by what you're seeing happen or the results you're getting. Check the instruction. Check if you're still doing it God's way, not just your way that happens to be working. Sometimes the struggle is a proof of alignment.
    It's possible to have result and still discover, like Moses, that you've been off the track for a long time. Don't just crave for result, seek alignment.

    https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbC31bW5Ui2PKF0YvW0k
    RESULT AND ALIGNMENT. Life isn't just about getting result as a believer. It's more about alignment. A lot of us chase results and think that's the proof that we're walking with God, but result is not always the true evidence. Sometimes you can get result and still be off track. Look at Moses. God told him to speak to the rock, but he struck it instead. And guess what, water still came out. The result still showed. Anyone watching would have thought he did exactly what God said, because the outcome was there. People would have celebrated Moses' exploit but Moses knew, and God knew, that he had disobeyed. He exchanged his entrance into the promised land for that one act of disalignment. The result didn't save him from the consequence of being out of alignment. That's the danger. You can be getting results in your life, your ministry, your work, your finances, and still be walking outside of what God actually instructed. Result can deceive you into thinking you're right with God when you're not. So don't just measure your walk with God by what you're seeing happen or the results you're getting. Check the instruction. Check if you're still doing it God's way, not just your way that happens to be working. Sometimes the struggle is a proof of alignment. It's possible to have result and still discover, like Moses, that you've been off the track for a long time. Don't just crave for result, seek alignment. https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbC31bW5Ui2PKF0YvW0k
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    ETIMBUK EMMANUEL
    Channel • 110 followers • This is the official channel of Etimbuk Emmanuel. A lover of God, Father and a Husband.
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