Admit it. You like reading the Psalms, the Gospels, Paul's epistles and maybe Esther and Ruth. But what about the least read Bible books -- I call them Orphan Books -- because they almost are never read. Here's a list I found. Hope you take the challenge to read an "orphan" or two this week. ------------------------------------ # Book Why read it? Difficulty 1 Obadiah A miniature study of pride, injustice, and God's judgment 🟢 Easy 2 Haggai A surprisingly relevant book about misplaced priorities 🟢 Easy 3 Philemon Paul, slavery, forgiveness, and Christian brotherhood in 25 verses 🟢 Easy 4 3 John A fascinating glimpse into early church politics and leadership 🟢 Easy 5 2 John Truth, love, hospitality—and boundaries 🟢 Easy 6 Nahum The dark counterpart to Jonah: what happens to Nineveh? 🟡 Medium 7 Zephaniah Judgment followed by one of the OT's beautiful pictures of God's joy 🟡 Medium 8 Jude Strange, intense, apocalyptic, and packed with unusual references 🟡 Medium 9 Habakkuk One of the Bible's best books for wrestling honestly with God 🟢 Easy 10 Lamentations Biblical poetry about grief, catastrophe, and hope 🟡 Medium 11 Joel Locusts, the Day of the LORD, and the famous promise about God's Spirit 🟡 Medium 12 Malachi A surprisingly sharp ending to the Old Testament 🟢 Easy 🏆 The ones I'd especially recommend If you only want to read five, I'd pick: Habakkuk — perhaps the most rewarding “orphan.” The entire book is essentially a conversation between a confused believer and God. Habakkuk starts by asking, “Why aren't you doing something about this?” and ends somewhere radically different. Haggai — extremely short but surprisingly practical. Its central question is basically: What happens when God's people become preoccupied with their own houses while neglecting God's house? Philemon — don't let its size fool you. It's an extraordinarily compressed little letter about power, status, forgiveness, reconciliation, and what the gospel does to human relationships. Nahum — read it immediately after Jonah if you can. Jonah tells you that Nineveh repented; Nahum, written later, tells you what eventually happened to Nineveh. Reading them together makes both books considerably more interesting. Lamentations — probably the most emotionally neglected book on the list. It gives you something the Bible is unusually good at: language for grief when everything has gone terribly wrong. 🕯️ And here's the really fun challenge Don't read these as if they're merely the Bible's “B-list.” Try reading one orphan book a week, with no commentary at first. Just read the entire thing in one sitting. You'll discover something interesting: some of the books that feel least important at first are actually the ones that illuminate the famous books around them. Jonah → Nahum Isaiah/Jeremiah → Lamentations Romans/Galatians → Habakkuk 1 John → 2 John → 3 John Ezra/Nehemiah → Haggai

The Bible’s Big Story The Bible is one unified book telling the story of God’s glory through creation, humanity’s rebellion, God’s covenant promises, and their complete fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Everything moves toward Christ’s preeminence. The Old Testament prepares the way; the New Testament reveals Him as the fulfillment. Together they form 66 inspired books—39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New. The Old Testament (39 Books): God’s Promises and Preparation The Old Testament shows God creating the world, choosing a people, giving them His law, and promising a coming King who would fix what sin broke. It repeatedly points forward to the Messiah. Law (Pentateuch – 5 books): Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. These lay the foundation. Genesis shows creation, the fall, and God’s first promises. Exodus–Deuteronomy record God’s rescue of Israel from Egypt, the giving of the Torah at Sinai, and the covenant instructions for a holy people. Historical Books (12 books): Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1–2 Samuel, 1–2 Kings, 1–2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther. They trace Israel’s life in the Promised Land, their cycles of obedience and rebellion, the rise and fall of the monarchy, exile in Babylon, and return. They demonstrate that human kings fail, but God remains faithful to His promises. Wisdom and Poetry (5 books): Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon. These teach how to live wisely under God’s rule. They explore suffering, worship, daily righteousness, the emptiness of life without God, and the beauty of covenant love. Prophets (17 books): Major Prophets (5): Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel. Minor Prophets (12): Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi. The prophets confront idolatry, call for repentance, warn of judgment, and repeatedly promise a coming Deliverer, a new covenant, and a kingdom that will never end. The entire Old Testament builds expectation: a seed of the woman, a descendant of Abraham, a prophet like Moses, a son of David, a suffering servant, and a King who will reign forever. The New Testament (27 Books): Christ’s Arrival and the New Creation The New Testament announces that Jesus is the promised King. He is the preeminent One in whom all God’s promises find their “Yes” (2 Corinthians 1:20). It shows His life, death, resurrection, the birth of the church, and the final renewal of all things. Gospels (4 books): Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. These present Jesus from four angles: as King (Matthew), servant (Mark), perfect man (Luke), and eternal God (John). They record His teaching, miracles, crucifixion for sins, and resurrection. History (1 book): Acts. Luke’s second volume shows the Holy Spirit empowering the early church to take the gospel from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. It records the rapid spread of the message that Jesus is Lord. Letters (21 books): Paul’s Letters (13): Romans, 1–2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1–2 Thessalonians, 1–2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon. These explain the gospel, the meaning of Christ’s work, how the church should live, and how believers stand secure in Him. General Letters (8): Hebrews, James, 1–2 Peter, 1–3 John, Jude. These encourage perseverance, warn against false teaching, and call for holy living. Prophecy (1 book): Revelation. This apocalyptic letter reveals Christ as the victorious Lamb and coming King. It comforts suffering believers and shows the final defeat of evil and the making of a new heaven and new earth. How the Two Testaments Fit Together The Old Testament is not obsolete. Jesus said He came to fulfill it, not abolish it (Matthew 5:17). The New Testament constantly quotes and explains the Old, showing that Christ is the true temple, the better Moses, the perfect high priest, the faithful Israel, and the eternal King. Everything in the Bible centers on the supremacy and preeminence of Christ that we have been studying in Colossians 1. He is the goal of the Old Testament promises and the living reality of the New Testament gospel. The whole book calls you to trust Him, repent of sin, and live under His rule until He returns. If you want to go deeper into any section—especially how Colossians fits into the larger biblical theology of Christ’s preeminence—let me know which part to unpack next.

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.

Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. MD.i. 😀💝🌺🎁🌹🎀 MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY THURSDAY AUG. 6, 2O26. "YOU CAN CARRY GOD'S PRESENCE WITH YOU (2)." 'The poles...are not to be removed.' Exodus 25:15 NIV. THE ARK of the Covenant represented three things to the people of Israel. And these are three things you need in your life. Let’s look carefully at each: 1) Victory. When Israel went into battle they must have looked strange to their enemies because the priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant went ahead of the army. Indeed, when their enemies saw it they may have laughed and said, ‘What’s that all about? What’s the big deal with the box?’ But after they had been humbled by defeat they realised they weren’t fighting man, but God. And when you are in right standing with God He will go before you and fight your battles. And the great thing is God has never lost a battle. 2) Guidance. When the Israelites needed direction, God spoke to them in the place where the Ark rested in the tabernacle. And they discovered what you will discover: when you seek God’s guidance and listen to Him, you won’t get it wrong. His guidance system is infallible: ‘…I am the Lord your God…who directs you in the way you should go.’(Isaiah 48:17) 3) Prosperity. Prosperity simply means, ‘Having enough to do the will of God.’ And that’s how much God wants you to have, no more and no less. When the Ark rested for a three-month span in the house of a man called Obed-Edom, all that he had was blessed and multiplied (2 Samuel 6:10-12). Could you use more victory, more guidance, and more prosperity? Spend time in God’s presence, and then carry it with you wherever/call on +2348128000068.*🎀💝🌹🌷. MD.ii. [05/08, 10:02 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) THURSDAY 6TH AUGUST, 2026``` *OBEYING GOD* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:HAGGAI 1:12-15```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the LORD" (HAGGAI 1:12).*_ *Bede Griffiths, a British Catholic priest, dramatically defined obedience in a way that best explains why the returning offspring of Abraham began to enjoy the witheld blessings of Jehovah after hearkening to His charge. Griffiths said pithily, "Obedience is detachment from the self. An elastic meaning of the priest's statement is that when you obey an order, you are deliberately freeing yourself from your own opinion, reason, will, intention, and deciding to go the way of the order."* *That was exactly what the homecoming exiles from captivity did as they set their feet on their beloved Jerusalem. The Lord had asked them through His servants to rehabilitate His temple. But they were interested in fixing their dilapidated houses first. They did not detach themselves from their will and way. That amounted to alienation from God. Therefore, they were denied His blessings. But they repented and distanced themselves from their self-will and way. Thus, God restored fellowship with His people. He said, "I am with you." The people were blessed with the needed resources to do the assignment the Lord gave them when they obeyed Him.* *Adam and Eve's disobedience in the Garden of Eden has brought disastrous and untold hardship upon man. Rejecting the way of God is still the bane of humanity. His laws on marriage are being disregarded. His word is misinterpreted by ministers to suit pecuniary pursuits. The Church is accommodating strange doctrines. However, those who take delight in disobeying God's word will incur His wrath except they repent.* *However, Christ, the last Adam, has shown us the everlasting benefits of heeding the Father's instructions. "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:8). Our Lord forsook His own will and comfort to die for our sins as desired by the Father. Now, He is highly exalted on the right hand side of God in heaven. To enjoy God's abiding presence and other promised blessings here and hereafter, obedience to God is necessary. Those who disobey Him risk losing His presence.* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*Our love for God is measured by the extent of our obedience to Him.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *JOHN 13-15*📜📜 Obeying God https://dailymanna.app// *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 47: JUST OBEY; GHS 43: TRUST AND OBEY; AND GHS 246: O BROTHER, LIFE'S JOURNEY BEGINNING* *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#DailyManna6thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [05/08, 10:02 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```THURSDAY 6TH AUGUST, 2026``` *LIGHT OF THE WORLD* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🕯️💡🌟💥🌍🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:MATTHEW 5:14-16```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (MATTHEW 5:16).*_ *Martin Luther King Jr. says: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." During the creation of things, God commanded the existence of light. Light came into existence to put out the total darkness the earth was submerged in. The absence of natural light is night, and even at night, we need light to see.* *Just like God created the natural light to give us light to see, the Christian is the light that He has placed in this dark corrupt world for people to see and be enlightened to embrace the saving gospel.* *Imagine a bulb shining bright in a dark environment. You will observe that it will attract different kinds of insects to its domain. Our lives and character as Christians should radiate so much goodness that others around us can see, glorify God and be moved to give their lives to Jesus. As a Christian youth, are you radiating the light for your friends to see and appreciate the love of God?* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*We need light to see.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Are you a light in the dark?*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Lord, help me to shine as light.*_ Light Of The World https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#HigherEveryday6thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [05/08, 10:02 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```THURSDAY 6TH AUGUST, 2026``` *JESUS HEALS THE SICK* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🤢🤮🤒🤕🛌🏽💊💉✝️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽🙌🏽 📜📜```MATTHEW 4:23-25```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people" (Matthew 4:23).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 God is our Healer and He can heal any sickness, because with Him, *"nothing shall be impossible".* Tina was a very sickly young girl. She could not go out and play like other children. She had problems with her breathing, and would fall down and roll on the floor until her breathing was restored. She had been taken to see many doctors, but she remained like that. One day, she listened, on YouTube, to a television evangelist, who was preaching on a message titled: *"Jesus Heals".* When it was time for prayers, she laid her hands on her chest, and she became healed immediately! She jumped up and ran all over the place and did what she could not do before! Jesus had healed her. *The Healer is with you there, He is still healing the sick. Come to Him in faith believing and He will heal you and you will become well. Remember to share your testimony with others.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*Heavenly Father, heal and deliver me from every sickness.*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *Isaiah 53:4, 5* Jesus Heals The Sick https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#SincereMilk6thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]. 2. Morning devotion for today. MP.i. Morning Prayer Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. ⏤ Psalm 119:105 The Scriptures were written, not to make us astronomers, but to make us saints. ⏤ Matthew Henry Our Father, bless Your word to us that we have read together this morning. We thank You that it brings us the very counsel of Your will. May it be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path as we go forth today. May its truth shine within us, showing us Your will, what Your thoughts concerning us are, and what You would have us do. We thank You for this heavenly light You have given us. Without it, we could never find our way through the tangled paths of life. Without it, we wouldn’t know that You love us, think about us, or that You are indeed our Father. Help us to receive Your word with meekness and humility. Help us to walk in the way You have made clear to us. We ask You to fill us with Your love as we begin this day, so that wherever we go, we may carry something of the light of Your presence. We have no light of our own. We ask You to give us Your grace, to fill our lamps so that they may burn brightly all day. We don’t want to be in darkness in this world—we want to shine as lights, and we will shine if we have Your grace in us. Fill us with Your blessed light. We yearn to be blessings to each other today, and to everyone we meet. Give us something to share with others—something of Your love and grace. Lay Your hand upon us and give us a Father’s blessing, first for ourselves, and then to share with our neighbors and friends. Keep us all from evil. Let us not willfully sin against You today. Help us to be faithful in all our ways. Bring us all together in the evening, when our work is done, if it be Your will. We ask these favors in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/32/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

Who are Israelites, to whom pertain … the glory. Romans 9:4 ɴᴋᴊᴠ Of the eight privileges which pertain to Israel listed in Romans 9:4–5, the appearance of God’s glory among them wonderfully distinguished them as unique among the nations. The “glory of the Lord” appeared many times in the course of Israel’s history. It appeared to Abraham, the father of the nation; Moses desired to see it when on Sinai, and saw it again with Elijah two thousand years later (Ex. 33:18; Mt. 17:1); it appeared to Isaiah when Uzziah died; Ezekiel saw it when it was departing from the disobedient nation; and Haggai predicted its return. In fact the glory of God had not only appeared to individuals on various occasions throughout their history, but for long periods of time it actually dwelt among them. The term sometimes used to describe this glory is, “the Shekinah.” This is a Hebrew word which means “dwelling”—or “settling,” “resting.” This is because the glory represented the fact that God’s presence was dwelling among them. When Moses finished constructing the tabernacle, the glory, appearing as a cloud, filled it and “rested above it.” The glory was so great at the time that Moses could not enter the tabernacle (Ex. 40:34–35). This was repeated when Solomon finished the temple with the same result (2 Chr. 5:13–14). In this aspect, these two Old Testament constructions are both types of the Church, which is also called a temple, the “dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Eph. 2:21–22). Paul wrote to the Christians in Colosse, revealing a wonderful mystery: “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). Thus the glory is our hope too, but in a much higher way than Israel! Brian Reynolds With Him we love, in spotless white, In glory we shall shine;His blissful presence our delight In love and joy divine. J. G. Deck https://gbv-online.org/calendar/773/date/2026-07-24

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: WEDNESDAY 15TH JULY 2026 TOPIC: DELIVERANCE FROM MATERIAL BURDENS MEMORIZE: "And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you." Joel 2:25 (KJV) BIBLE READING: HAGGAI 1:2-8 2 Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built. 3 Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste? 5 Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. 6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. 7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. 8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord. MESSAGE: Today, I will discuss material burdens as another category of burdens. The devil seeks to put material burdens on people because he knows that when someone is living in poverty, it will be easier for him or her to fall into temptations that involve material things. The widow of Zarephath and her son watched their food supplies deplete daily until they had only one meal left. To make matters worse, a severe famine had struck the land; everything was dry, and they had no hope of finding another meal. Therefore, they resolved to eat the only meal that was left and prepare for death. However, the Burden Bearer stepped into their situation and turned things around such that what wasn’t enough became sufficient to sustain them throughout the famine (1 Kings 17:7-16). I pray that the Almighty God will deliver you from any material burden that may be in your life, in Jesus’ name. There was once a very wealthy man who had a quarrel with his wife. As the quarrel got heated, she told him that by the time she was finished with him, he would travel everywhere within Lagos on foot. The man laughed because at the time, he had 14 cars. Unfortunately, however, things began to go downhill for him, and at one point, he had only one car left and 50 kobo in his pocket. Then he began to think to himself, “If I use the 50 kobo with me to fuel my car, I will have nothing to eat. However, if I buy food, I will have to walk everywhere I need to go, just as my wife had said.” That was when he came to Jesus Christ, and Jesus took over his situation. When he shared the testimony of his turnaround, he was dedicating two new houses at once. Devotional audio messages in today’s Bible reading, Haggai rebuked the Israelites for abandoning God’s house and living just for themselves. He told them that they were experiencing a lack of material resources as a result. The people sowed much but reaped little, and the little they earned wasted away. Beloved, if you want to experience material prosperity, seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness wholeheartedly. Mind His business, and He will ensure that you live in material abundance all the days of your life. If you have lost any material thing, turn to God today, and He will restore it to you, just as He promised in today’s memory verse. PRAYER POINT: Lord Jesus, I bring all my material burdens to You today. Please help me carry them. BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR: ISAIAH 1-3 HYMNAL 52: THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS 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 WEDNESDAY, 15TH JULY, 2026 *DELIVERANCE FROM MATERIAL BURDENS* ‎✓Father, thank You because Your wish for me is to be in good health even as You delight in the prosperity of my soul ✓Father, thank You for the power to make wealth is in Your hands; thank You for blessing me with all riches in heavenly places ✓Father, according to Your word please, restore to me all the years that the locust had eaten, the cankerworm, the caterpillar and the palmerworm; send Your great army for my restoration, in Jesus' name. ✓Father, please deliver me from poverty, and terminate every form of lack so I won't fall into the temptation of stealing, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Lord Jesus, You are the Greatest Burden Bearer, and the Hope of the hopeless, please step into my situation and let me begin to live in sufficiency, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, deliver me from any material burden that may be in my life, and turn things around for me, in Jesus' name. ✓Father, deliver me from any curse over my life and family. Replace every form of bitterness in my life with the fullness of Your joy, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, please help me not just to live for myself. Help me to seek Your kingdom and all Your righteousness, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, please help me to always mind Your business, to spend and be spent for You; please take care of providing for all my material resources, in Jesus' name. ✓Father, every material thing I had lost, please restore them just as You had promised in Your word today, in Jesus' name. ✓Lord Jesus, I bring all my material burdens to You today. Please help me carry them. ✓Father, thank You for the life of Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye. ‎ Carry all his material burdens today, and always, in Jesus' name. Bless his children (biological and spiritual). Help him to continue to produce sons and daughters to Your glory, in Jesus name ‎ ‎✓Father, please bless Your son that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, beyond measure, and all those who have been broadcasting them, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, please let every challenge, hindrance and obstacles of getting these prayer points across to Your children, timely, and on daily basis be removed, in Jesus name. ‎ ‎✓Your personal petitions. ‎(Philippians 4:6) ‎ ‎✓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.

Haggai 1:2-13 (NRSV): 2. “Thus says the LORD of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the LORD’s house.” 3. Then the word of the LORD came by the prophet Haggai, saying: 4. “Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? 5. Now therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider how you have fared. 6. You have sown much and harvested little; you eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and you that earn wages earn wages to put them into a bag with holes. 7. “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider how you have fared. 8. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored, says the LORD. 9. You have looked for much, but it came to little, and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? says the LORD of hosts. Because my house lies in ruins, while all of you hurry off to your own houses. 10. Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. 11. And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the soil produces, on humans and animals, and on all their labors.” 12. Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the words of the prophet Haggai, as the LORD their God had sent him, and the people feared the LORD. 13. Then Haggai, the messenger of the LORD, spoke to the people with the LORD’s message, saying, “I am with you, says the LORD.” https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.bibleworld.new_revised_standard_version_bible_nrsv

Daily Devotion: Joshua 1:9 “Remember that I have commanded you to be determined and confident! Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for I, the LORD your God, am with you wherever you go.” Have you ever felt that life is becoming so overwhelming that you lose courage? It is a struggle many of us have to deal with when things get complicated. However, in Christ, we find hope that all will turn out well in the end. God did not give us a spirit of fear and trepidation, through the sacrifice of His Son we received courage and a firm belief that our lives are in His capable hands. 1 Timothy 1:7: “For the Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid; instead, his Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-control.” We therefore have a responsibility to be His messengers on earth; to carry His word to the masses directly or simply by way of the example we set. We may feel that people judge us or that they make fun of our beliefs, we may even fear that we are in danger of death if we continue to proclaim God’s love to the world. We should never fear or despair, for God will, in His time give us the words and He will protect us from those who speak out against us. Psalms 27:14: “Trust in the LORD. Have faith, do not despair. Trust in the LORD.” Haggai 2:4: “But now don’t be discouraged, any of you. Do the work, for I am with you.” Are you ready to face the world as a believer, without fear, without trepidation, but with courage and faith? #Joshua1 #Godspresence #Faith #messengersofGod #Discipleship

# THE HOLY BIBLE: GOD'S WRITTEN REVELATION **One Book • One Author • One Story • One Purpose: God's Glory** > "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." — 2 Timothy 3:16–17 > ### 1. WHAT IS THE BIBLE? The Bible is God's inspired, infallible, inerrant, authoritative, and sufficient written revelation to humanity. **Key Scriptures:** * 2 Timothy 3:16–17 * 2 Peter 1:20–21 * Psalm 19:7–11 * Hebrews 4:12 * Isaiah 40:8 ### 2. ORIGIN OF SCRIPTURE * **Revelation:** God makes Himself known. (Heb. 1:1–2) * **Inspiration:** The Holy Spirit superintends the writers. (2 Pet. 1:21) * **Written By:** Prophets, apostles, and other God-chosen authors. (2 Tim. 3:16) * **Preservation:** God preserves His Word through the ages. (Ps. 12:6–7) * **Canonization:** The Church recognizes the divinely inspired books. ### 3. ATTRIBUTES OF SCRIPTURE | Attribute | Meaning | Scripture Reference | |---|---|---| | **Inspired** | God-breathed | 2 Tim. 3:16 | | **Inerrant** | Without error | Ps. 119:160 | | **Infallible** | Cannot fail | Isa. 55:11 | | **Authoritative** | Supreme final authority | Matt. 28:18 | | **Sufficient** | Enough for all of life | 2 Pet. 1:3 | | **Clear (Perspicuous)** | Understandable | Ps. 119:105 | | **Necessary** | Essential | Matt. 4:4 | | **Living & Active** | Powerful & life-changing | Heb. 4:12 | ### 4. PURPOSES OF THE BIBLE * To reveal God and His will * To reveal salvation through Christ * To teach and instruct * To correct and reprove (2 Tim. 3:16) * To train in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16) * To equip for every good work (2 Tim. 3:17) * To strengthen faith (Rom. 15:4) * To guide daily living (Ps. 119:105) * To bring hope and comfort (Rom. 15:4) * To glorify God (2 Pet. 3:18) ### 5. STRUCTURE OF THE BIBLE **Total: 66 Books | 1,189 Chapters | 31,102 Verses** **Old Testament (39 Books)** * **Pentateuch (5):** Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy * **Historical (12):** Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1–2 Samuel, 1–2 Kings, 1–2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther * **Wisdom (5):** Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs * **Major Prophets (5):** Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel * **Minor Prophets (12):** Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi **New Testament (27 Books)** * **Gospels (4):** Matthew, Mark, Luke, John * **History (1):** Acts * **Pauline Epistles (13):** Romans–Philemon * **General Epistles (8):** Hebrews–Jude * **Prophecy (1):** Revelation ### 6. THE BIBLE TIMELINE: GOD'S REDEMPTIVE PLAN 1. **Creation** (Gen. 1–2) 2. **Patriarchs** (Gen. 12–50) 3. **Exodus** (Ex. 1–15) 4. **Judges** (Josh.–Judg.) 5. **United Kingdom** (1 Sam.–1 Kings 11) 6. **Divided Kingdom** (1 Kings 12–2 Kings 17) 7. **Exile** (2 Kings 18–25) 8. **Return** (Ezra–Malachi) 9. **Christ The Messiah** (Matt.–John) 10. **Church Age** (Acts–Rev. 3) 11. **Second Coming** (Rev. 19) 12. **Millennial Kingdom** (Rev. 20) 13. **New Heaven & New Earth** (Rev. 21–22) **Key Verse:** *"These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name."* — John 20:31 ### 7. THE COVENANTS OF SCRIPTURE *(Jesus Christ fulfills every covenant: Luke 22:20; Matt. 5:17)* * **Edenic** (Gen. 1–2): Life & domination * **Noahic** (Gen. 6–9): Preservation of all life * **Abrahamic** (Gen. 12, 15, 17): Land, nation, blessing * **Mosaic** (Ex. 19–24): Law, nation, Sabbath * **Davidic** (2 Sam. 7): Everlasting throne * **New Covenant** (Jer. 31:31–34): Forgiveness, Holy Spirit, new heart ### 8. ORIGINAL LANGUAGES * **Hebrew:** Majority of the Old Testament * **Aramaic:** Portions of Daniel, Ezra, Jeremiah * **Greek (Koine):** Entire New Testament ### 9. CANON FORMATION TIMELINE * **Moses & The Law** (1400 BC) * **Prophets (Writing)** (1000–500 BC) * **Ezra & Scribes** (450 BC) * **Apostles** (40–100 AD) * **Early Church** (100–300 AD) * **Recognition of Canon** (382–397 AD) **Tests of Canonicity:** Apostolicity, Antiquity, Orthodoxy, Universal Acceptance, Divine Authority ### 10. THE CENTRAL THEME: JESUS CHRIST **The Scarlet Thread of Redemption** | In the Old Testament | In the New Testament | |---|---| | The Seed (Gen. 3:15) | The Incarnate Word (John 1:14) | | The Promised One (Deut. 18:15) | The Lamb of God (John 1:29) | | The Passover Lamb (Ex. 12) | The Messiah (Matt. 16:16) | | The Suffering Servant (Isa. 52–53) | The Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14) | | The Kinsman-Redeemer (Ruth 4) | The Bread of Life (John 6:35) | | The Great High Priest (Ps. 110:4) | The Good Shepherd (John 10:11) | | The Son of David (2 Sam. 7) | The Resurrection & Life (John 11:25) | | The Coming King (Zech. 9:9) | The Coming King (Rev. 19:11–16) | *Jesus Christ is the center, the goal, and the glory of all Scripture!* ### 11. MAJOR DOCTRINES FOUND IN SCRIPTURE * **Theology Proper (The doctrine of God):** Ps. 86:10; John 4:24 * **Bibliology (The doctrine of Scripture):** 2 Tim. 3:16–17; 2 Pet. 1:20–21 * **Christology (The doctrine of Christ):** John 1:1–18; Col. 1:15–20 * **Pneumatology (The doctrine of the Holy Spirit):** John 14:16–17; Acts 1:8 * **Anthropology (The doctrine of humanity):** Gen. 1:26–27; Ps. 8:3–5 * **Hamartiology (The doctrine of sin):** Rom. 3:23; Isa. 53:6 * **Soteriology (The doctrine of salvation):** Eph. 2:8–9; Rom. 10:9–10 * **Ecclesiology (The doctrine of the church):** Matt. 16:18; Eph. 1:22–23 * **Angelology (The doctrine of angels):** Ps. 103:20; Heb. 1:14 * **Eschatology (The doctrine of last things):** 1 Thess. 4:16–17; Rev. 21–22 ### 12. HISTORICAL RELIABILITY * **Dead Sea Scrolls (150 BC–100 AD):** Supports OT accuracy * **Archaeological Discoveries:** Corroborate people, places & events * **Ancient Manuscripts:** Thousands of evidences * **Textual Criticism:** Preserves God's Word ### 13. BIBLE STATISTICS * 66 Books (39 OT, 27 NT) * 1,189 Chapters * 31,102 Verses * ~783,000 Words (Eng.) * 40+ Human Authors * ~1,500 Years of Writing * Three Continents * Three Languages ### 14. WELL-KNOWN QUOTES * **Augustine:** "I believe the Gospels to be what they are: He who made us without us, will not save us without us." * **John Calvin:** "The Bible is the school of Christ, where we learn to know Him and to become like Him." * **Charles Spurgeon:** "I would rather be ruled by God's Word than by all the wisdom of men." * **John Stott:** "The Bible is not merely inspired; it is the very breath of God." * **J.I. Packer:** "The Bible is God speaking to us. It is His Word, and He is always true to His Word." * **R.C. Sproul:** "The Bible is the only book whose Author is always present when it is read." ### 15. MORE THAN 200 KEY SCRIPTURE REFERENCES BY DOCTRINE (A Sampling) * **The Nature of God:** Ex. 3:14; Ps. 90:2; Deut. 6:4; Isa. 45:5–6; John 4:24; 1 Tim. 1:17 * **The Word of God:** Ps. 19:7–11; 119:105; Matt. 4:4; John 1:1; 2 Tim. 3:16–17; Heb. 4:12 * **Man & Sin:** Gen. 1:26–27; 3:1–24; Ps. 51:5; Rom. 3:23; Rom. 5:12; Isa. 53:6 * **Salvation:** John 3:16; Acts 4:12; Eph. 2:8–9; Rom. 10:9–10; Titus 3:5; 1 John 5:11–13 * **Grace:** Eph. 2:8–9; Rom. 5:15; 2 Cor. 12:9; Titus 2:11; 1 Pet. 1:3; Rom. 11:6 * **Faith:** Heb. 11:1; John 6:29; Rom. 10:17; Gal. 2:16; Mark 11:22–24; Jas. 1:6 * **Jesus Christ:** Isa. 9:6; Micah 5:2; John 1:1–18; Col. 1:15–20; Heb. 1:1–4; Phil. 2:5–11 * **Atonement:** Lev. 17:11; Isa. 53:5; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 9:22; 1 Pet. 2:24; Rom. 3:25 * **Resurrection:** Ps. 16:10; John 11:25; 1 Cor. 15:3–4; Rom. 6:4; 1 Cor. 15:20–22 * **Holy Spirit:** John 14:16–17; 16:13; Acts 1:8; Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12–14; Gal. 5:22–23 * **Church:** Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:42; Eph. 1:22–23; 5:25–27; 1 Cor. 12:12–27; Col. 1:18 * **Christian Life:** Rom. 12:1–2; Phil. 2:12–16; Gal. 5:16–25; Col. 3:1–17; 1 Thess. 5:16–18 * **Prayer:** Matt. 6:5–13; Phil. 4:6–7; John 15:7; 1 Thess. 5:17; James 5:16; 1 John 5:14 * **End Times:** Matt. 24–25; 1 Thess. 4:16–17; 2 Pet. 3:10–13; Rev. 19–22; Dan. 2:44; 7:13–14 **THE BIBLE IS TRUE • THE BIBLE IS TRUSTWORTHY • THE BIBLE IS TRANSFORMING** *"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."* — Psalm 119:105

✨STOP PUTTING IT OFF! OBEDIENCE BRINGS HIS FAVOR. GOD SAYS GO UP AND BUILD. 📖 A DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR 18TH JUNE 2026. HAPPY READING AND SHARING. 💖💖💖 BLESSINGS..! https://www.istandinthegap.com/go-up-and-build-daily-devotional-haggai-1-8/