**Psalm 23:5 (NIV)** > **"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows."** This verse reminds believers that God is not only our Shepherd but also our gracious Host. Even in difficult times, He provides, protects, honors, and blesses those who trust in Him. ### 1. "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies." A prepared table represents God's provision, peace, and care. David did not say God removed his enemies first. Instead, God gave him peace and blessing while they were still present. **Encouragement:** You may be surrounded by problems, criticism, or people who oppose you, but God is able to provide for you right in the middle of your circumstances. Your situation does not limit His faithfulness. **Supporting verses:** * **Romans 8:31 (NIV)** > "If God is for us, who can be against us?" * **Isaiah 54:17 (NIV)** > "No weapon forged against you will prevail..." * **John 16:33 (NIV)** > "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." These verses remind us that God's presence is greater than any opposition we face. --- ### 2. "You anoint my head with oil." In biblical times, oil symbolized blessing, honor, healing, refreshment, and God's favor. Shepherds also used oil to protect their sheep from insects and wounds, illustrating God's loving care. **Encouragement:** God knows your hurts, your fears, and your struggles. He refreshes weary hearts, heals broken spirits, and gives strength to continue. **Supporting verses:** * **Isaiah 61:3 (NIV)** > "...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning..." * **James 1:17 (NIV)** > "Every good and perfect gift is from above..." * **2 Corinthians 1:21–22 (NIV)** > "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us..." God's anointing points to His sustaining grace and His work in the lives of His people. --- ### 3. "My cup overflows." An overflowing cup symbolizes abundant blessing. God's care is not merely enough to survive—it is abundant. His grace, mercy, and love exceed our deepest needs. **Encouragement:** Even when life feels empty, God can fill your heart with hope, peace, and joy. His blessings are not always material; they include His presence, forgiveness, strength, and eternal promises. **Supporting verses:** * **Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)** > "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine..." * **Philippians 4:19 (NIV)** > "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." * **John 10:10 (NIV)** > "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." God delights in giving His children what they truly need according to His wisdom. --- ## A Message of Encouragement No matter what you're facing today, remember that God has not forgotten you. He can provide for you in the middle of your trials, strengthen you when you are weak, and fill your life with His peace and grace. Your enemies, difficulties, or fears do not have the final word—God does. Trust the Good Shepherd. Stay faithful, keep praying, and continue walking with Christ. His presence is your greatest blessing, and His promises never fail. > **"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing."** — **Psalm 23:1 (NIV)** May your heart rest in the assurance that the Shepherd who prepared David's table is the same God who faithfully cares for His people today. #WordOfGod #encouragement Christian Worship #christianworship

**Psalm 23:5 (NIV)** > **"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows."** This verse reminds believers that God is not only our Shepherd but also our gracious Host. Even in difficult times, He provides, protects, honors, and blesses those who trust in Him. ### 1. "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies." A prepared table represents God's provision, peace, and care. David did not say God removed his enemies first. Instead, God gave him peace and blessing while they were still present. **Encouragement:** You may be surrounded by problems, criticism, or people who oppose you, but God is able to provide for you right in the middle of your circumstances. Your situation does not limit His faithfulness. **Supporting verses:** * **Romans 8:31 (NIV)** > "If God is for us, who can be against us?" * **Isaiah 54:17 (NIV)** > "No weapon forged against you will prevail..." * **John 16:33 (NIV)** > "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." These verses remind us that God's presence is greater than any opposition we face. --- ### 2. "You anoint my head with oil." In biblical times, oil symbolized blessing, honor, healing, refreshment, and God's favor. Shepherds also used oil to protect their sheep from insects and wounds, illustrating God's loving care. **Encouragement:** God knows your hurts, your fears, and your struggles. He refreshes weary hearts, heals broken spirits, and gives strength to continue. **Supporting verses:** * **Isaiah 61:3 (NIV)** > "...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning..." * **James 1:17 (NIV)** > "Every good and perfect gift is from above..." * **2 Corinthians 1:21–22 (NIV)** > "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us..." God's anointing points to His sustaining grace and His work in the lives of His people. --- ### 3. "My cup overflows." An overflowing cup symbolizes abundant blessing. God's care is not merely enough to survive—it is abundant. His grace, mercy, and love exceed our deepest needs. **Encouragement:** Even when life feels empty, God can fill your heart with hope, peace, and joy. His blessings are not always material; they include His presence, forgiveness, strength, and eternal promises. **Supporting verses:** * **Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)** > "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine..." * **Philippians 4:19 (NIV)** > "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." * **John 10:10 (NIV)** > "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." God delights in giving His children what they truly need according to His wisdom. --- ## A Message of Encouragement No matter what you're facing today, remember that God has not forgotten you. He can provide for you in the middle of your trials, strengthen you when you are weak, and fill your life with His peace and grace. Your enemies, difficulties, or fears do not have the final word—God does. Trust the Good Shepherd. Stay faithful, keep praying, and continue walking with Christ. His presence is your greatest blessing, and His promises never fail. > **"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing."** — **Psalm 23:1 (NIV)** May your heart rest in the assurance that the Shepherd who prepared David's table is the same God who faithfully cares for His people today. #WordOfGod #encouragement Christian Worship #christianworship

LOST IN THE CHURCH [BEING LOST IN CHURCH] Part Eight The Name of Jesus There are many things that are closely associated with the Lord Jesus, and some have even been given His great name. However, people need to understand that these things are not Jesus Himself. Therefore, building one's faith upon such things or worshipping them can be a great deception. Being close to the Lord, or even being called by His great name, does not necessarily mean that something is worthy of our worship. This means that a person can become lost before the Lord—or even become lost in church. Satan spent all his time in the presence of the Lord, enjoying His glory, beauty, and blessings; nevertheless, he fell. Judas Iscariot was privileged to eat at the Lord's table. He heard the profound wisdom and extraordinary words that the prophets of old longed to hear; yet he also perished. This happened because they gave created things the place that belonged to the Lord. The name of Jesus is an extraordinary gift given to the true Church throughout the world for salvation. However, we must understand that Satan has also been permitted to use that very same name on earth for evil purposes and destruction. Therefore, the Church must be extremely careful. Not everyone who mentions the name of Jesus Christ, or identifies themselves by that name, is from God. Not everyone who calls themselves a Christian is truly a Christian in their heart. Not every institution that bears the name of the Lord has come from God. One of the greatest things I have observed in this world is that the Lord Himself can bless an institution, a church, a person, or a thing without actually dwelling in it. And that is one of the saddest dangers! Remember Ishmael, the son of Abraham. God blessed him even though he was not the one through whom God's covenant purpose would be fulfilled. > Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!” Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation.” Genesis 17:18–20 And concerning Ishmael, Scripture clearly says that the son of the slave woman will never share the inheritance with the son of the free woman. Read Galatians 4:30. The meaning here is that the Lord blessed a person who would nevertheless not inherit eternal life together with the children of God through the covenant represented by Isaac. My brothers and sisters, among the most frightening forms of deception taking place in the Church in these last days is the misuse of the name of Jesus. If a person cannot discern the spirit behind every minister who comes before them, then they are already in serious danger. > “For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.” Matthew 24:5 One of the difficult statements in the Bible that I thought I understood well—but which took me many years to understand properly—is this statement in Matthew 24:5. For a long time, I thought those false ministers would come in His name claiming that they themselves were Christ. But that is not necessarily what the Lord meant. The correct meaning is that these false ministers would come in His name while openly acknowledging that He—Jesus—is the Christ. They would not necessarily claim to be Christ themselves. In simple terms, these false ministers would come into the world confessing that Jesus is Lord and Savior, and they would use the name of Jesus in their ministries, yet they would actually be agents of Satan. Do you see how dangerous that is? What makes it even worse is that we have often interpreted this Scripture incorrectly. But the Lord said, “many will come.” He did not say a few would come. He said many. And notice that He did not say these people would belong to only one particular category—such as prophets, apostles, or miracle workers. Therefore, we should understand that He was warning about many different kinds of ministers: prophets, apostles, teachers, pastors, evangelists, miracle workers and those who do not perform miracles; those leading large churches and those leading small churches, and so on. I say this because there has been a deception among people who think they only need to fear miracle workers, false prophets, large-church leaders, or apostles. But beloved, let me tell you something: in my experience, one of the greatest forms of deception I have seen in the Church is being under a false pastor. And may God help me as I say this! Deception does not exist in only one place. Everyone can be prepared for a particular kind of deception—according to what they believe, what they understand, and what they are looking for. There is no weapon that is always used from a distance. Scripture says: > “A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.” Matthew 10:36 If you fear today's miracles, false prophets, apostles of anointing oil, and similar things, you are certainly right to be cautious. But understand this: those may be weapons that are too distant for someone like you. Satan, who is full of cunning and deception, a master of lies and the father of much deception, may never use such obvious weapons to trap someone like you. Instead, he may send you a false pastor who performs no miracles at all, someone whose ministry perfectly matches your beliefs, so that you can trust him completely. Then you may gradually be fed false teachings that have no life—teachings that have an outward appearance of godliness and reverence for God, yet are built upon false wisdom that contradicts the power and priorities of the Holy Spirit. That, my brother and sister, is where you can truly become lost. Also understand clearly that the false ministers I am speaking about can be of two kinds. There are those who have consciously made an agreement with Satan and therefore know exactly what they are doing. And there are those who do not even realize that they are false ministers. They themselves have been deceived by false teachings. They are also products of false teachers. Many of these are the religious leaders of our time—the Pharisees of the Pharisees of this generation. And these can be among the most dangerous people, because they were the very kind of religious leaders who even participated in the rejection and crucifixion of the Lord. Therefore, submitting yourself blindly to such ministers is a truly frightening thing. May Almighty God have mercy on us all. Amen! #ToBeContinued... Mwl. Ernest Nyalula +255752057664 #LostInTheChurch #Discernment #ChristianFaith #TruthOfTheGospel #JesusChrist #SpiritualDiscernment #BiblicalTruth #Christianity #FalseTeaching #KnowTheWord

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: TUESDAY 25TH AUGUST 2026 TOPIC: FEAR GOD, PART 1 MEMORIZE: "But the Lord your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies." 2 Kings 17:39 (KJV) BIBLE READING: PSALM 112:1-9 1 Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. 2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever. 4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. 5 A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion. 6 Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. 7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. 8 His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies. 9 He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour. MESSAGE: The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10); therefore, anyone who does not fear God is not wise. He is a Consuming Fire (Hebrews 12:29), and those who do not fear Him are truly foolish because even a mad dog fears fire. Psalm 111:10 also means that those who fear God become wise. Apart from wisdom, however, there are many other benefits to fearing God, and today's Bible reading outlines many of them. One of the benefits is that the seed of a person who fears God will be mighty upon the earth (Psalm 112:2). That same verse also tells us that the generation of the upright shall be blessed. Psalm 112:3 says that you will have access to wealth and riches when you fear God. Also, Psalm 112:7 says that you will not be afraid of evil tidings. People who fear God do not need to be afraid of anything because He will deliver them out of the hands of all their enemies and everything that can harm them. Those who do not fear God will find it easy to commit sins, and this can bring a curse upon them and their descendants. For example, Gehazi's lack of fear for the Lord caused him and his descendants to become carriers of the leprosy that was previously upon Naaman (2 Kings 5:20-27). Whenever a person acts in a way that shows that he or she does not fear God, such a person robs his or her children of the opportunity to be great and exposes them to curses rather than blessings. Joab was another person whose lack of fear for the Lord brought curses upon his lineage. In (2 Samuel 3:27-29), the Bible details how he tricked Abner and murdered him in cold blood. When David heard about it, he placed a curse on Joab's lineage that sicknesses, leprosy, poverty, weakness, and untimely death would befall Joab's family and his descendants. People who do not fear God purchase trouble for their children. Beloved, if you want your future and that of your children to be glorious, you need to have the fear of God in you. If you're going to have peace of mind in your old age, you must fear God. The reason I am sure that my tomorrow and those of my children will be alright is that I fear the Lord. I pray that your life and those of your descendants will be filled with blessings and not curses, in Jesus' name. KEY POINT: The fear of the Lord guarantees God's blessings for you and your lineage. AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR: EZEKIEL 5 - 8 HYMNAL 7 - I AM THINE O LORD 1 I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice, and it told Thy love to me; but I long to rise in the arms of faith, and be closer drawn to Thee. REFRAIN: Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to the cross where Thou hast died; draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to Thy precious, bleeding side. 2 Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord, by the pow'r of grace divine; let my soul look up with a steadfast hope, and my will be lost in Thine. [Refrain] 3 O, the pure delight of a single hour that before Thy throne I spend, when I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God, I commune as friend with friend! [Refrain] 4 There are depths of love that I cannot know till I cross the narrow sea; there are heights of joy that I may not reach till I rest in peace with Thee. [Refrain] PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL. Tuesday 25th August 2026 FEAR GOD, Part 1 ‎ ‎PRAYER POINTS 1.God of all wisdom and might, the One who made the heavens and earth with no pillars in between; You laid the foundations of the earth that it should not be removed 2.Father, the earth and the fullness thereof is in Your care, and by You we have the fullness of life through Christ Jesus. 3.Father, by Your wisdom You made the sun to rule the day, and the moon and stars to rule the night. The heavens declare Your glory, and the firmament shows Your handywork. 4.Father, please help me to fear You, and to walk in complete obedience to Your word, so I can become wiser, in Jesus' name. 5.Father, please help me to walk in Your fear, so I can be delivered out of the hands of all my enemies, in Jesus' name. 6.Father, please help me to walk in holiness and in Your righteousness so it will become practically impossible for me to commit sin, in Jesus' name. 7.Father, please help me to fear You so I won't miss the opportunity to be great and be exposed to blessings rather than curses, in Jesus' name. 8.Father, please help me not to purchase trouble for my children for lack of fear for You, in Jesus' name. 9.Father, please put Your fear in me so my children and I will have a glorious future, and peace of mind in my old age, and in Jesus' name. 10.Father, please let my life and those of my descendants be filled with blessings and not curses, in Jesus' name. 11.Father, thank You for the life of Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye. ‎ Help him to abide in Your fear for the rest of his life, till You come again in glory, 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 ‎

Verse for Tuesday, August 25 Isaiah 6:3 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”

𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐀𝐥𝐬𝐨 ✍️ “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺; 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘎𝘰𝘥’𝘴 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘥𝘢𝘺.” We live in a generation flooded with information but starving for truth. Thousands of voices are accessible in seconds, yet trust is hard to find. Even believers may settle for hearing sermons without helping others grow. Whether new or seasoned in faith, the question isn't just if we are learning—but if we are helping others learn to follow Christ. Jesus ends the Great Commission in 🕮 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝟐𝟖:𝟐𝟎: "𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘴𝘰𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶..." It doesn't end when someone believes. Christ called disciples to teach others to obey all He commanded. The work of the Gospel is not merely making converts—it is making disciples. We don't just bring lost people to Christ; we help them grow in Christ. Picture a relay race where the runner crosses the finish line still clutching the baton, refusing to pass it on. The race stops with him—no matter how fast he ran. Faith works the same way. Truth received but never taught dies with the one who held it. Christ calls us to pass the baton, generation after generation, until He returns. Scripture commands us to pass truth on: “𝘎𝘰 𝘺𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴” (𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝟐𝟖:𝟏𝟗). Paul told Timothy, “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘥...𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘮𝘦𝘯, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴” (𝟐 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝟐:𝟐). We are urged to “𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘯 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥” (𝟐 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑:𝟏𝟖), as Scripture is “𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘦, 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘧, 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯” (𝟐 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝟑:𝟏𝟔). God’s Word transforms lives. Teaching isn't just for pastors. Parents teach children, mature believers encourage younger ones, Sunday school teachers disciple classes, and one believer opens Scripture with another. Don't be a spiritual reservoir that only receives but never releases. What God teaches us through His Word must become truth we share. We aren't called to collect sermons alone—we are called to multiply disciples. Before Christ commanded us to teach others, He first taught us the truth that leads to salvation. He declared, "𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦" (𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟏𝟒:𝟔). He died for our sins, was buried, and rose again according to the Scriptures (𝟏 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟏𝟓:𝟑–𝟒). The risen Christ is not merely the subject of our teaching—He is the Saviour at the center of it. We teach His Word because we have first been transformed by His grace. Who is spiritually starving while you feast on the Word? You have been hoarding the Bread of life (𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝟔:𝟑𝟓) instead of breaking it for others. You don't need Christ merely to give you something to teach—you need Him because He is the Truth you are called to know, live, and proclaim. Learn His Word. Live His Word. Teach His Word. What God has faithfully taught us was never meant to end with us. 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫: Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us Your truth through Your Word. Forgive us for receiving biblical instruction without faithfully passing it on. Help us grow in wisdom and grace, and give us opportunities to teach others faithfully, patiently, and clearly. May every disciple we influence become more like Christ. In Jesus' Name. Amen. Remember, a dose of God’s Word a day will keep you going all day! 𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐆𝐨𝐝... _____________________________________________________ All scripture references were taken from the KJV Bible. Thank you for allowing this ministry to be a part of your day… If my posts speak to your heart, you may be blessed by the full devotional series created for deeper reflection and journaling: 👉 FREE FlipBook Previews: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/ae17998766.html 📚 Also available now on Amazon (Kindle & Paperback) ✨ Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited! https://www.amazon.com/author/dennislastimoso Also, just in case you need a reliable, dedicated online Bible Study Tool, I created one for you. 👉 Try it here for FREE, anytime at your hand: https://www.baptistry.app Your support helps us continue this ministry, edifying the believers around the world. May God bless you more abundantly…

COMMUNISTS EXECUTED THEM FOR THEIR FAITH. THEIR HIDDEN BABY SURVIVED IN A RICE BASKET. John and Betty Stam met at Moody Bible Institute, both individually feeling called to serve as missionaries in China, and married there in 1933 through the China Inland Mission. In September 1934, their daughter Helen Priscilla was born, and just two months later, the young family settled into a new post in Anhui Province, in the small town of Jingde. Two weeks after arriving, Communist soldiers unexpectedly overran the town and took the entire family prisoner. John wrote a letter to mission headquarters that night, informing them of the Communists' $20,000 ransom demand, knowing full well the mission's strict policy against ever paying ransoms. He closed the letter with the words, "The Lord bless and guide you, and as for us, may God be glorified whether by life or by death." The next morning, the couple was marched to a hill outside the nearby town of Miaoshou to be executed, a Chinese medicine seller who pleaded on his knees for their release, and who was later found to own a Bible and hymnbook, executed alongside them for his own faith. Before the couple was led away, Betty found a way to hide their three month old daughter, tucking her into a sleeping bag with a change of clothes and money pinned inside her diaper. Two days later, a Chinese evangelist named Dr. Lo found baby Helen alive, concealed her in a rice basket, and carried her to safety, eventually delivering her to Betty's parents, who were still serving as missionaries elsewhere in China. Helen grew up, became a teacher, and raised her own family in the eastern United States. News of the Stams' deaths spread around the world and, in the decades since, has continued to inspire generations of believers to serve overseas despite the risk. Do you think you could have found the peace John wrote about, in that same letter, facing what he faced?

A meek or gentle soul, should be meek in the eyes of GOD alone not for evil, when you appear meek and gentle to evil people they take advantage of you, if you pity the devil, either by attitude or by response you will suffer it temptation and wrath, we are in a time where we don't give chance for evil to rise above the things of GOD, if you have been a cold believer arise and be disciplined, if you are a true believer and you don't know how to pray radically then you have not started, even as humble and meek as Jesus he got angry with the people making his fathers house a place of business, Moses was known as the meek man of the earth, but yet he could not watch the Egyptian bully his people, Daveed is also a meek person, but can't take nonsense especially when it has has to do with the things of GOD, we live in a world full of deciet, you can be meek and gentle but don't keep quiet when you notice evil around you, arise and take authority!! when you sense confusion coming as a man of GOD you surely know!! been meek or quiet or gentle does not mean you should be soft spoken when you see shit going on in your father's house

Sunday 24 August 2026 Portland Metro Church Assembly of God Church Services Notes: God gave them over to their desires By Pastor Jon H. (Bible verses King James version) Romans 1:24-32- Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. Romans 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 1. The problem of the free will. 2. God abandoned them… 3. Three stages of God's abandonment to spiritual and moral impurity. 4. When people trade truth for a lie. Romans 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 5. God's plan for sexual relationships. Romans 1:26,27 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 6. The homosexual sins and desires Romans 1:28-32- And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. 7. How do we know that sin deserves punishment? Romans 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

THAT WAS THEN. THIS IS NOW. BUT WHAT HAPPENED THEN CAN HAPPEN AGAIN. When we read the book of Acts, we see a church marked by boldness, prayer, sacrifice, biblical conviction, community, mission, and an unwavering commitment to Jesus Christ. https://patrickryanlewis.com/2026/08/23/that-was-then-this-is-now-but-it-can-happen-again/ The early church wasn't perfect. Scripture openly records its struggles, disagreements, and failures. But there was something unmistakable about those believers: 🔥 Christ had the preeminence.
🔥 They feared God more than people.
🔥 They prayed believing God could move.
🔥 They were willing to sacrifice for the gospel.
🔥 They lived with eternity in view.
🔥 They confronted sin while extending grace.
🔥 They cared deeply about reaching people with Jesus. The question isn't whether we can somehow recreate the first century. The question is whether we are willing to recover those same spiritual priorities in the twenty-first century. Before pointing at everything wrong with the church today, we should ask: Lord, what needs to change in me? Am I more concerned with God's approval or people's approval? Am I willing to stand for truth when it costs me something? Is Jesus truly first in my life? Do I pray expecting God to work? Am I more passionate about the gospel than my preferences? Do I live like eternity is real? We don't simply need better programs, bigger churches, or newer strategies. We need Christ-centered churches filled with surrendered people who believe the gospel is true, Jesus is alive, eternity is real, and the mission is worth our lives. Maybe our prayer needs to become very simple: Lord, do it again. Read the full blog and consider what it would look like for the church—and for each of us individually—to recover the passion, courage, holiness, prayer, and mission we see in the book of Acts. #ChurchRevival #BookOfActs #JesusChrist #ChristianLiving #BiblicalTruth #Faith #Prayer #Repentance #GreatCommission #Gospel #FollowJesus #ChristianChurch #SpiritualRenewal