(long post ahead📖) There is a profound lesson I learned when I read this passage of Scripture: “said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭23‬:‭14‬-‭15‬, ‭18‬ ‭KJV‬‬ This passage takes place during Jesus’ trial. He was falsely accused of many things, yet we know that He was completely innocent. He had no sin. Everything He taught was truth, and everything He did, reflected the will of the Father. Jesus could have defended Himself. After all, He possessed the very nature of God. He had every power and every right to prove His innocence. Yet He chose to remain silent and willingly submit Himself to the Father’s plan. Even Pilate declared before the crowd that he could find no fault in Jesus. Herod found no crime worthy of death either. Still, the people refused to listen. Instead, they shouted louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified. This reminds me of a sobering reality: 😔 Even if God Himself stands before people and speaks the truth, there will still be hearts that choose not to believe. Miracles, truth, and evidence alone cannot change a heart that refuses to surrender. Then came the moment of decision. The people were given a choice: ❓❓Jesus Christ or Barabbas. ❓❓ One was completely innocent. The other was a guilty criminal. Yet the crowd cried out for Barabbas to be released, while demanding that Jesus be condemned to die. 😢 As I reflected on this, something deeply touched my heart. I realized that Barabbas is a picture of us. We are the guilty ones. ✅ We are the sinners. ✅ Yet Jesus took our place. The punishment that should have fallen upon us was placed upon Him instead. The Son of God willingly exchanged His freedom for ours. He left the glory of heaven and humbled Himself to be born in a manger. Though He is the King of kings, He did not come to be served but to serve. He walked among the poor, healed the sick, showed mercy to sinners, comforted the brokenhearted, and lived a life of perfect holiness without sin. Finally, He gave His life on the cross. ✝️ The release of Barabbas beautifully illustrates the Gospel. Barabbas deserved the cross. Jesus did not. Yet Jesus took the cross that belonged to Barabbas. In the same way, we deserve the punishment for our sins…..eternal separation from God. But Jesus took our place. (Inangkin Niya ang ating mga kasalanan at pinasan Niya ang kaparusahang nararapat para sa atin upang tayo ay maligtas.) That is the greatest picture of God’s mercy. And above all, that is the greatest picture of love. It was never the nails that kept Jesus on the cross. 🙏🏻 It was His immeasurable, unconditional, and unfailing love for us. 💚💚💚 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) (HAVE A NICE DAY PIP’z) 😇

Did you know? Joseph runs Potiphar's entire household, trusted with everything except one thing, his master's wife. And she wants him. Not once, the text says she propositioned him day by day. This wasn't a moment of weakness. It was sustained pressure, day after day, that Joseph resisted every single time. When she confronts him directly, Joseph doesn't just refuse. He explains why. How could he do this great evil, and sin against God? Not fear of Potiphar. Not fear of punishment. A line he wouldn't cross, because of who he answered to. Then one day, alone in the house, she grabs his garment. Joseph doesn't argue. He runs, leaving the garment behind in her hands. That garment becomes the evidence used to falsely accuse him. Joseph loses his position, his reputation, and his freedom, for doing the right thing. Scripture doesn't rush to rescue him. He sits in prison, for the crime of running from sin. Sometimes integrity costs you everything, before it costs you nothing.

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12 ɴᴋᴊᴠ Salvation is offered to all, but not all are convinced they need to be saved. Saved from what, they might say? In Acts 16 we read of Paul and Silas chained in a prison, and they were being watched by a jailer who had been ordered to “keep them securely” (Acts 16:23). The jailer may not have had any visible chains, but he was the one in need of salvation, not Paul and Silas. The shackles of sin are very real, and apart from Christ we are all slaves of sin (Jn. 8:34). It took an earthquake for the jailer to come to his senses and ask the question, “what must I do to be saved?” Though they had not committed a crime, Paul and Silas had been beaten and thrown into prison while they waited for a verdict from the officials. In contrast, the jailer’s verdict had already been pronounced concerning his sin: the punishment was death. Yet he was allowed to continue his daily affairs until the execution of his sentence. What could be done to save him from this predicament? We are all guilty sinners wandering around at risk of reoffending, and the answer is the same for us as it was for the jailer: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). There is coming a day when condemnation will fall on all those who have sinned, but there is “no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). Christ was the only sinless Person, and He took pity on us and offered Himself as a substitute, so that we might be set free. There is nothing you can do, but the only answer to your guilt is something that has already been done. The Lord Jesus Christ died so that you can have everlasting life: “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (Jn. 3:17). Eric Clermont https://gbv-online.org/calendar/773/date/2026-08-21

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Acts 25: "1 Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem. 2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him, 3 And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him. 4 But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither. 5 Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him. 6 And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought. 7 And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove. 8 While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all. 9 But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me? 10 Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. 11 For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar. 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go. 13 And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus. 14 And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix: 15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him. 16 To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him. 17 Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth. 18 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed: 19 But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. 20 And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters. 21 But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar. 22 Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him. 23 And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth. 24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer. 25 But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him. 26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write. 27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him."

Conflict and Courage Behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. Isaiah 26:21. Our God is a God of mercy. With long-sufferance and tender compassion He deals with the transgressors of His law.... But there is a point beyond which divine patience is exhausted, and the judgments of God are sure to follow. The Lord bears long with men, and with cities, mercifully giving warnings to save them from divine wrath; but a time will come when pleadings for mercy will no longer be heard.... The time is at hand when there will be sorrow in the world that no human balm can heal. The Spirit of God is being withdrawn. Disasters by sea and by land follow one another in quick succession. How frequently we hear of earthquakes and tornadoes, of destruction by fire and flood, with great loss of life and property! Apparently these calamities are capricious outbreaks of disorganized, unregulated forces of nature, wholly beyond the control of man; but in them all, God's purpose may be read. They are among the agencies by which He seeks to arouse men and women to a sense of their danger. God's messengers in the great cities are not to become discouraged over the wickedness, the injustice, the depravity, which they are called upon to face while endeavoring to proclaim the glad tidings of salvation.... In every city, filled though it may be with violence and crime, there are many who with proper teaching may learn to become followers of Jesus.... God's message for the inhabitants of earth today is, “Be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 24:44).... We are standing on the threshold of the crisis of the ages.... The storm of God's wrath is gathering; and those only will stand who respond to the invitations of mercy, as did the inhabitants of Nineveh under the preaching of Jonah, and become sanctified through obedience to the laws of the divine Ruler. The righteous alone shall be hid with Christ in God till the desolation be overpast.18Ibid., 275-278.

Three Angels Broadcasting Network Devotional. Living on the Edge By Kevin Hart August 11th, 2026 “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1 The shouts ran through the camp like wildfire, “The spies are back! The spies are back!” The Israelites were camped in the wilderness of Paran, just outside the Promised Land which God had described to Moses as “a good and large land…flowing with milk and honey.” Exodus 3:8. Twelve men had been sent to spy out the land—the strength of the people, their dwellings and strongholds, their soil, and their timber. Anticipation ran high for 40 days, and now they were back with pomegranates, figs, and a giant cluster of grapes! Can you imagine the look on the children’s faces? The spies were excited. “We went to the land where you sent us,” they said. “It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit.” Numbers 13:27. Time seemed to stand still as everyone pondered the prospects of a new life. Then suddenly, like a gong, someone said the word “nevertheless,” and the bliss was broken as ten of the twelve spies drew their attention to the obstacles. “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants,” they added, “and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. There we saw the giants… and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” Number 13:32–33. Swiftly, by their report, those ten men managed to sway over 500,000 people to distrust their God who had brought them out of Egypt! One man, however, hadn’t lost sight of the promise. Caleb, the leader of the tribe of Judah “quieted the people before Moses, and said, ‘Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.’” Numbers 13:30. It was called the Land of Promise because it was exactly that—the land promised by God. Entrance to it depended on their trust in God’s promise. Here was the great issue that has always been at the core of our human experience: Trust in man, or trust in God. Would they depend on their own strength? Or would they depend on His strength and promise? Their response would decide their future. Today, we are also on the edge of the Promised Land. Global warming, the world economy, crime, disease, natural disasters—all these signs point to the fact that a huge crisis is coming. But so is our Lord! God’s Word has not left us ignorant concerning the challenges that lie ahead. The Bible says, “And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation….” Daniel 12:1. Our great challenge will simply be to trust and obey. Do we enter daily life clothed in works of righteousness we have done? Or is our strength in the Lord and in the power of His might? (Titus 3:5; Ephesians 6:10.) Only two of those 12 spies were allowed to enter into Canaan—Caleb and Joshua—for the Lord was grieved with that generation (Psalm 95:10). But I’m so glad to know there will be many more who will enter into glory, for the Apostle John says, “I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands.” Revelation 7:9. We are not called to view the future through the stained glass of human experience, but to keep our eyes on Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith.” Hebrews 12:2.

TODAY'S KINGDOM INSIGHTS SERMON TITLE: WARS AND CONFLICTS – PEACE AND PRAYER. We live in a generation filled with wars, conflicts, violence, terrorism, family disputes, political unrest, tribal hatred, and spiritual battles. Nations are fighting nations. Communities are divided. Homes that should be places of peace have become battlefields. Many people are asking, "Where is peace?" The answer is not found merely in stronger weapons or better negotiations. Lasting peace begins with God. While the world prepares for war, God's people must prepare for prayer. The Church is called to be a light in darkness, an ambassador of peace, and a house of prayer for all nations. > "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." — Matthew 5:9 Key Bible Verses 1. 2 Chronicles 7:14 > "If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray... then will I hear from heaven... and will heal their land. God's prescription for healing a troubled nation begins with humble prayer. National transformation starts with spiritual transformation. 2. Philippians 4:6–7 Paul teaches believers not to be consumed by fear and anxiety but to bring every concern before God in prayer. The result is God's peace, which guards both heart and mind. 3. James 4:1–2 James reveals that many conflicts begin with selfish desires, pride, envy, and uncontrolled passions. External wars often reflect internal battles. 4. Psalm 122:6 > "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem..." God commands His people to pray for cities, nations, leaders, and communities. Point 1: Every War Has a Spiritual Dimension Not every conflict begins on the battlefield. Many begin in the human heart. Satan delights in division because a divided people become weak. Whether in marriages, churches, communities, or nations, the enemy seeks to sow confusion. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:12 that our ultimate struggle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil. Lesson: Fight spiritual battles with spiritual weapons. Point 2: Prayer Is More Powerful Than Panic Fear never solves problems. Prayer invites God's intervention where human strength reaches its limit. When believers pray: Heaven responds. Hearts change. Wisdom is released. Peace replaces fear. God makes a way where there seems to be none. Instead of spreading fear, Christians should spread faith. Point 3: God Calls Believers to Be Peacemakers Peace is not weakness. Peacemakers bring reconciliation, forgiveness, and healing. Jesus did not merely preach peace; He became our Peace. Christians should avoid: Gossip Bitterness Revenge Tribal hatred Religious intolerance Unforgiveness Instead, we should promote love, truth, justice, and forgiveness. Point 4: Revival Begins When God's People Pray Throughout Scripture, national revival followed sincere prayer. When the Church returns to prayer: Families are restored. Communities change. Leaders receive wisdom. Crime decreases. Hope returns. Prayer may not immediately stop every war, but it changes people, and changed people change nations. Biblical Case Study: King Jehoshaphat Text: 2 Chronicles 20 Three powerful armies came against Judah. Humanly speaking, defeat was certain. Instead of relying solely on military strength, King Jehoshaphat proclaimed a national fast and called everyone to seek God. As the people worshipped and prayed, God fought for them. Their enemies turned against one another, and Judah won the battle without fighting in the usual way. Lesson: Some victories come not by human strength but through prayer, faith, and obedience. Practical Action Steps 1. Make daily prayer a priority. 2. Pray regularly for your family, community, and nation. 3. Refuse to spread hatred, rumours, or division. 4. Forgive those who offend you. 5. Become an ambassador of Christ's peace wherever you go. 6. Support efforts that promote justice, reconciliation, and unity. Deep Spiritual Insights Peace is first a condition of the heart before it becomes the condition of a nation. Prayer does not eliminate every battle, but it brings God's presence into every battle. God's greatest victories often begin on praying knees. A believer who prays consistently becomes a channel of God's peace in a troubled world. Questions for Reflection 1. Am I promoting peace or contributing to conflict? 2. How often do I pray for my nation and its leaders? 3. Is there anyone I need to forgive today? 4. When problems arise, do I panic first or pray first? 5. What practical step can I take this week to become a peacemaker? Powerful Prayer Points 1. Father, let Your peace rule in my heart through Christ Jesus. 2. Lord, heal every family, church, and community divided by conflict. 3. Father, frustrate every plan of violence, terrorism, and bloodshed in our nation. 4. Grant wisdom, integrity, and justice to our leaders. 5. Raise believers who will stand in the gap through faithful prayer. 6. Destroy every spirit of hatred, bitterness, and revenge. 7. Let revival begin in Your Church and spread across our land. 8. Lord Jesus, make me an instrument of Your peace everywhere I go. Call to Action The world does not need more hatred—it needs more people who know how to pray. It does not need more voices fueling division—it needs disciples who reflect the peace of Christ. Today, choose to become a peacemaker. Commit yourself to a life of prayer. Stand in the gap for your family, your church, and your nation. As you do, trust that God is able to calm every storm, heal broken hearts, and establish His peace where conflict once reigned. "Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all." — 2 Thessalonians 3:16 Amen. https://selar.com/m/umoh-edem1 https://selar.com/m/umoedem https://www.amazon.com/author/umohedembooks CONTACT - WhatsApp +2349024173027, +2349055457540 Email pastor.umoedem@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/share/1BeQrbghxD/ #UMOHEDEM

This literally hits close to home since I stayed at this place a couple of times. A fellow missionary who I’ve traveled with lost a house he was selling to an explosion last week caused by two thieves trying to steal the brand new furnace. I didn’t know about this until a mutual friend posted a news report about it. One of the thieves reportedly died. The other had 80% of his body burned. It’s a reminder that crime doesn’t pay. “But these people set an ambush for themselves; they are trying to get themselves killed. Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life.” (Proverbs 1:18-19 NLT) https://www.cleveland19.com/2026/07/30/emergency-crews-responding-house-explosion-canton/

In The Truth in True Crime Video Study, detective J. Warner Wallace explores the clues lying behind our human nature as he uncovers fifteen life truths gleaned from both contemporary murder investigations and ancient biblical wisdom. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgcrL1LwyAM