Conflict and Courage. 2 Chronicles 32:1-23 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah, king of Judah. 2 Chronicles 32:8. Hezekiah, in the earlier years of his reign, had continued to pay tribute to Assyria, in harmony with the agreement entered into by Ahaz. Meanwhile the king had taken “counsel with his princes and his mighty men,” and had done everything possible for the defense of his kingdom.... The long-expected crisis finally came. The forces of Assyria, advancing from triumph to triumph, appeared in Judea.... Judah's only hope was now in God. All possible help from Egypt had been cut off, and no other nations were near to lend a friendly hand.... Sennacherib wrote “letters to rail on the Lord God of Israel, and to speak against Him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver His people out of mine hand.” ... When the king of Judah received the taunting letter, he took it into the temple and “spread it before the Lord” and prayed with strong faith for help from heaven, that the nations of earth might know that the God of the Hebrews still lived and reigned. The honor of Jehovah was at stake; He alone could bring deliverance.... Hezekiah was not left without hope. Isaiah sent to him, saying, “Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard.” ... That very night deliverance came. “The angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand.” ... The God of the Hebrews had prevailed over the proud Assyrian. The honor of Jehovah was vindicated in the eyes of the surrounding nations. In Jerusalem the hearts of the people were filled with holy joy. Their earnest entreaties for deliverance had been mingled with confession of sin and with many tears. In their great need they had trusted wholly in the power of God to save, and He had not failed them.31Ibid., 350-362.

YOU ARE MORE THAN A CONQUEROR Key Scriptures: Romans 8:37; 1 John 5:4; Philippians 4:13 Life can throw some tough battles, challenges, and opposition your way, but as a believer in Christ, remember this: you’re not fighting for victory—you’re fighting from a place of victory. Your identity isn’t that of a victim; you’re a victor because Jesus Christ has already triumphed over sin, death, and the forces of darkness. The Bible confidently states, "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us" (Romans 8:37). No matter what you’re up against today, the power of God within you is far greater than any obstacle in your path. Throughout the Scriptures, we see how God granted ordinary people extraordinary victories simply because they placed their trust in Him. Take David, for instance—he took down Goliath with unwavering confidence in the name of the Lord (1 Samuel 17:45–50). Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land because God was right there with him (Joshua 1:5–9). And then there’s Paul, who faced persecution, imprisonment, and all sorts of hardships, yet he remained steadfast because Christ was his strength (2 Corinthians 11:23–28; Philippians 4:13). Their victories weren’t about their own skills; they were all about God’s faithfulness and power working through them. Whatever battle you’re facing today, don’t give in to fear or discouragement. "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world" (1 John 5:4). The same God who granted victories to His servants in the past is fighting for you right now. Stand firm in your faith, keep trusting in His promises, and move forward with confidence. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13). You are more than a conqueror—not because of your own strength, but because Christ lives in you. Your victory is assured, your future is bright, and your greatest triumph is still on the horizon. REV. ISHMAEL ASARE BAKAE

The Story Behind the Hymns THE STORY BEHIND "ETERNAL FATHER, STRONG TO SAVE " “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” is one of the world’s best-known hymns associated with the sea, sailors and those who face danger on the waters. Its powerful words are a prayer for God’s protection and a reminder of His authority over the forces of nature. The hymn was written in 1860 by English hymn writer William Whiting (1825–1878), who was then the headmaster of Winchester College Choristers’ School in England. Whiting was inspired to write the hymn after a student preparing to travel by sea came to him troubled by the dangers of the journey. Whiting drew inspiration particularly from Psalm 107, which speaks of sailors caught in storms and waves and of God calming the sea. The opening words, “Eternal Father, strong to save,” immediately establish the hymn’s central theme: God as the protector of those at sea. Whiting’s original poem included references to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, asking each person of the Trinity for protection. The hymn became even more widely known after English composer John Bacchus Dykes created the tune “Melita” for it in 1861. The name refers to Melita, the ancient name associated with Malta, where the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked according to Acts 28. With its memorable melody and prayerful words, “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” soon became closely connected with naval and maritime traditions. It has been sung by sailors, naval personnel and families seeking protection for loved ones travelling across the sea. Over the years, the hymn has also been used at naval ceremonies, military services, funerals and moments of remembrance. Its appeal, however, reaches far beyond the sea. The hymn speaks to anyone who needs courage and assurance in the face of uncertainty, placing human vulnerability against the enduring strength of God. More than 160 years after it was written, “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” remains a beloved hymn because its message is timeless: when the waters are troubled and human strength reaches its limits, faith looks to the One who commands the sea and offers refuge to those who call upon Him.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: THURSDAY 20TH AUGUST 2026 TOPIC: GOD'S COVENANT OF PROSPERITY MEMORIZE: "But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day." Deuteronomy 8:18 (KJV) BIBLE READING: JOB 36:11-12 11 If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. 12 But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. MESSAGE: When you enter into a covenant with the Owner of the earth and the fullness thereof (Psalm 24:1), the One who owns all the gold and the silver (Haggai 2:8), He will prosper you and add no sorrow to it (Proverbs 10:22). The devil often lures people into entering into a covenant with him by promising them great wealth. However, such prosperity always comes with many sorrows. I recall the story of a man who went to a herbalist and entered into a covenant with demonic forces so that he could become incredibly wealthy for seven years, after which he would die. He swallowed a charm the herbalist gave him, but he didn't get rich; instead, he had a seven-year countdown to his death. A few days before the seven years expired, the man ran into the church and told us his story. We told him to give his life to Jesus Christ, and He would protect him. He agreed, and we prayed a simple prayer with him. Right there, in the presence of everyone in the church, he vomited what he had swallowed. We rejoiced with him, and for a while after that, he attended church services regularly. After some time, however, he stopped coming, so we decided to conduct a follow-up. When we visited him, he said that the herbalist had told him he had swallowed the first charm incorrectly, so he gave him another one to swallow. Before long, he became wealthy. When the seven-year period stipulated by the covenant was close to expiring, he thought to himself, "The covenant is here in Nigeria. I will travel to London, and the demons won't be able to reach me there." Unfortunately, he died on a plane as he flew to London. Only God's covenant of prosperity will make a fellow rich and add no sorrow with it. Malachi 3:10 is a vital part of God's covenant of prosperity. When you pay your tithe, God will open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing upon you that will be so great that you will not have enough room to contain it. Furthermore, Proverbs 3:9-10 encourages us to honour God with our firstfruits. God doesn't need money; He can provide for anything He wants to do, but He asks to be honoured. Beloved, once you are in covenant with God, He will always provide for you and make sure that you never lack. May your life always reflect the blessings of the Lord, in Jesus' name PRAYER POINT: Father, please help me to honour You with the resources You bless me with. BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR: JEREMIAH 50 AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE HYMNAL 26 - THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING 1 There shall be showers of blessing: This is the promise of love; There shall be seasons refreshing, Sent from the Savior above. REFRAIN Showers of blessing, Showers of blessing we need: Mercy-drops round us are falling, But for the showers we plead. 2 There shall be showers of blessing, Precious reviving again; Over the hills and the valleys, Sound of abundance of rain. [Refrain] 3 There shall be showers of blessing: Send them upon us, O Lord; Grant to us now a refreshing, Come and now honor Thy Word. [Refrain] 4 There shall be showers of blessing: Oh, that today they might fall, Now as to God we're confessing, Now as on Jesus we call! [Refrain] ‎PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL, THURSDAY, 20TH AUGUST, 2026 *GOD'S COVENANT OF PROSPERITY* ‎ 1.Father, I bless Your name because all powers belong to You. Thank You for the grace to know You as my Lord and Saviour. 2.Father, please help me to obey and serve You, so i can spend my days in prosperity and my years in pleasantness and joy, in Jesus' name. 3.Father, please help me to be firmly rooted in covenant with You, so I can enjoy Your prosperity that comes with no sorrow, in Jesus' name. 4.Father, please help me never to be lured into entering into any kind of covenant with the devil, in Jesus' name. 5.Father, as many of our youths and young adults that had been lured into covenant with the devil in exchange for wealth, please set them free from such satanic covenant and destroy the yoke on them, in Jesus' name. 6.Father, please help me to fulfill my own part of Your covenant, in the payment of my tithes and in the giving of my firstfruits, in Jesus' name. 7.Father, please help me to be perfect in my walk with You, and to be diligent in the work committed to my hands, in Jesus' name. 8.Father, please give me power to get wealth, and grace to enjoy it with long life and good health, in Jesus' name. 9.Father, please help me never to backslide for the love of wealth nor to love the creature than the Creator, in Jesus' name. 10.Father, please help me to honour You with the resources You bless me with. 11.Father, thank You for the life of Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye. ‎ Help him to continue to serve You faithfully, and to honour You with every resources You bless him with, 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.

AYAC 2026 | Day 2: HOUR OF VISITATION| WORD SESSION 1 Message Title: *Next Levels Mentality is Critical* Ministering: *Pastor Steve Ogah* Every next levels experience begins with next levels mentality. Mentality connotes your mindset, your way, or pattern of thinking. - Pro. 4:18 Your mentality defines your reality. You cannot move in life beyond your mentality. *Dimensions of Mentality You Need as a Believer:* 1. You must understand that God's Word is the spiritual mirror that reveals who you are in God's perspective. - James 1:22, 25 - If you want to know what God says concerning you, the Word is the mirror. 2. By redemption you are ordained for continuous progress until Christ comes. - Pro. 4:18 - Stagnation is not God's plan for you, He has ordained that the path of His children shines bright. 3. You are ordained to enjoy a from glory to glory adventure in life. - 2 Cor. 3:18 *As a child of God, you are ordained:* 1. A pace-setter and a trailblazer. - Matt. 5:13-16 2. A greater potential than all Old Testament saints lies in you. - Matt. 12:42 3. To reign on the earth as kings and priests. - Rev. 5:9-10 *Forces Behind Next Levels Mentality:* - Vision. - Jer. 1:5 - Access to divine secrets. - Job 29:4 - The anointing. - Acts 2:1-6, 14-21

God's Creation,100 / evolution,0 THE UNMISTAKABLE ENGINEERING OF A DRAGONFLY WING At first glance, a dragonfly wing looks like fragile lace stretched across a frame. In reality, it is one of the most sophisticated passive flight control systems ever discovered. Embedded halfway along each wing is a microscopic structure called the nodus. This is not decoration. It is a precision engineered mechanical joint. In modern engineering terms, it functions as a passive aeroelastic control hinge. The nodus divides the wing into inner and outer sections with deliberately different stiffness profiles. At low speeds, the wing behaves as a single rigid surface, maximizing lift and efficiency. As speed increases or turbulence intensifies, aerodynamic forces automatically cause the outer wing section to rotate slightly out of phase with the inner section. This passive motion reduces torsional stress, suppresses destructive flutter, and stabilizes flight without sensors, nerves, or active feedback. The wing adapts instantly, driven purely by physics. What makes this even more extraordinary is the material engineering. The veins surrounding the nodus transition gradually from stiff to compliant in a highly specific pattern. Membrane tension changes across the joint in a way that prevents crack propagation and structural failure. Even after millions of wing beats, the wing does not fatigue catastrophically. Aerospace engineers struggle to achieve this kind of load management and vibration damping even with advanced composites and active control systems. This system cannot be built gradually. A wing that flexes too early loses lift. A wing that flexes too late fails structurally. The nodus only works when its geometry, placement, material gradients, and membrane tensions are all correct at the same time. Partial versions are liabilities, not advantages. This is not trial and error. This is foresight. Scripture says creation was established in wisdom and understanding. When you look closely at structures like the dragonfly nodus, that claim stops sounding poetic and starts sounding precise. This is not accidental elegance. This is engineering written into living tissue from the beginning

Life is cheap among the masses of reincarnationists. Reincarnation pushes people into psychic encounters with demonic forces. Reincarnation presents the false hope of a second chance. Reincarnation is just one of the old beliefs that the New Spirituality is rejuvenating. It is joined by other fellow travelers in the subversion. - DAVID JEREMIAH

Gibson Battle Align with Yehusha be with Team Yeshua and will fight your Battle : God Fights for the Remnant of Peace When you make peace with the true Joshua—Jesus Christ—you enter into a covenant that shifts your battles from your hands into God's hands. In Joshua 10, the Gibeonites were targets simply because they allied themselves with Israel. Similarly, when you align your life with the Lord, the forces of spiritual darkness may target you. However, the shadow of Jesus in this text reveals a powerful truth: God assumes your enemies as His own. He does not leave you to defend yourself. When you call upon Him in times of attack, the Lord responds with swift, supernatural deliverance. He will disrupt the enemy's plans, cause confusion in their camps, and even move the laws of nature to ensure your complete victory. Key Bible Verses from Joshua 10 The Call for Help: "The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: 'Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us.'" (Joshua 10:6) The Divine Assurance: "The Lord said to Joshua, 'Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.'" (Joshua 10:8). The Divine Intervention: "The Lord threw them into confusion before Israel, so Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely... As they fled before Israel... the Lord hurled large hailstones down on them, and more of them died from the hail than were killed by the swords of the Israelites." (Joshua 10:10-11) Warfare PrayerHeavenly Father, Almighty God, and Precious Holy Spirit,I come before You today under the covenant of peace established through my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (Yeshua). Because I have surrendered my life to You, I thank You that my battles are no longer mine alone, but they belong to the Lord. According to Your Word in Joshua 10, when the enemy gathers against me because of my alignment with You, I cry out for Your urgent help. Do not abandon your servant, Lord! Come quickly to my defense. I pray that You throw every demonic alliance, every spirit of fear, and every weapon formed against my health, my family, or my destiny into total confusion. Let Your supernatural power fight on my behalf. Hurl down Your divine judgment against the spiritual forces of wickedness that attempt to steal my peace. Give me the assurance that not one of my enemies will be able to withstand Your presence. Let the sun and moon stand still, and let time work in my favor as You fulfill Your promises in my life. Thank You for complete victory and for being my shield and deliverer.In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray.Amen.

Can we be active in church and still be ignoring what God is asking us to change? https://patrickryanlewis.com/2026/08/15/when-leadership-becomes-corrupt-the-warning-of-micah-39-12/ Micah 3:9–12 gives us a sobering picture of leaders who had the right religious language but the wrong priorities. Rulers were influenced by bribes. Priests allowed money to shape their ministry. Prophets pursued personal gain. Yet they still confidently believed that because the Lord was among them, judgment could never come. They confused God’s presence with God’s approval. That warning still matters today. Church attendance, ministry involvement, biblical knowledge, giving, leadership positions, and years of Christian service are all valuable—but none of them can replace genuine obedience to God. Micah forces us to ask some difficult questions: Where has money, comfort, approval, or influence begun affecting our decisions? Are we willing to obey God when obedience becomes costly? Are we using religious activity as evidence that everything in our spiritual lives must be okay? And perhaps most importantly: What has God entrusted to me, and am I handling it faithfully? Read the full study of Micah 3:9–12: “When Leadership Becomes Corrupt” on PatrickRyanLewis.com. #Micah #BookOfMicah #BibleStudy #BiblicalLeadership #ChristianLeadership #Integrity #Accountability #ChristianLiving #Obedience #Repentance #ChurchLeadership #SpiritualGrowth #AGuyAndHisBible

PROVERB OF THE DAY (Proverbs 16) 1. The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. 2. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the spirits. 3. Commit your works to the LORD, And your thoughts will be established. 4. The LORD has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom. 5. Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Though they join forces,fn none will go unpunished. 6. In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil. 7. When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. 8. Better is a little with righteousness, Than vast revenues without justice. 9. A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. 10. Divination is on the lips of the king; His mouth must not transgress in judgment. 11. Honest weights and scales are the LORD’s; All the weights in the bag are His work. 12. It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, For a throne is established by righteousness. 13. Righteous lips are the delight of kings, And they love him who speaks what is right. 14. As messengers of death is the king’s wrath, But a wise man will appease it. 15. In the light of the king’s face is life, And his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain. 16. How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. 17. The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who keeps his way preserves his soul. 18. Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. 19. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud. 20. He who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he. 21. The wise in heart will be called prudent, And sweetness of the lips increases learning. 22. Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it. But the correction of fools is folly. 23. The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, And adds learning to his lips. 24. Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. 25. There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. 26. The person who labors, labors for himself, For his hungry mouth drives him on. 27. An ungodly man digs up evil, And it is on his lips like a burning fire. 28. A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends. 29. A violent man entices his neighbor, And leads him in a way that is not good. 30. He winks his eye to devise perverse things; He purses his lips and brings about evil. 31. The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, If it is found in the way of righteousness. 32. He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. 33. The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.