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 EVERYDY: (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 2⃣0⃣2⃣)*_

🏼🏼‍‍🏼‍🏼‍🏼‍

```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.

In 2 Samuel 13, we learn that Absalom’s sister Tamar is assaulted by their half-brother Amnon. Their father, King David, is furious about the news but does nothing (v. 21). Two years later, Absalom takes matters into his own hands and has Amnon killed (vv. 23, 28-29). Again, David does nothing—for years (see ch. 14). So Absalom’s anger and insurrection against his father was largely due to David’s inaction, poor choices, and lack of guidance. Absalom’s “monument to himself” (18:18) is just one sign of his alienation from David and from God. Today, as believers in Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit inside us to guide us. Empowered by Him, we’re called to trust in God’s sense of justice. He helps us to humbly serve Him and to value others above ourselves.

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


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

*WELCOME TO JULY, 2026.*

*SUB-THEME:*
THE CONSEQUENCES OF REJECTING GOD'S GRACE.

*INTRODUCTION:*
The focus of this month is "THE CONSEQUENCES OF REJECTING GOD'S GRACE." Grace is the free and undeserved favour of God, given to humans for their salvation and sanctification. One accesses this grace through faith in Jesus Christ, as revealed in the Gospel. Whoever does not believe in Jesus rejects this gift and is doomed for eternity. The person who rejects God's grace remains alienated from God, missing out on salvation, peace, and eternal life. His rejection of God's grace will make him struggle with guilt, anxiety, lack of direction, and outright resistance to God's truth. As you go through the daily topics, resolve to embrace God's grace and guide your family members as well in order to avoid the consequences of rejecting God's grace.

*MEMORY VERSE FOR THE MONTH:*
HEBREWS 10:29.
29 How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

*DATE:*
WEDNESDAY, 1ST JULY, 2026.

*TOPIC:*
SPIRITUAL DEATH.

*TEXT:*
ROMANS 6:20-23.
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were “free” as far as righteousness was concerned. Joh 8:34
21 What benefit did you get from doing those things you are now ashamed of? For those things resulted in death.
22 But now that you have been freed from sin and have become God’s slaves, the benefit you reap is sanctification, and the result is eternal life. [Rom 8:2]
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in union with the Messiah Jesus our Lord. Gen 2:17 Rom 5:12 1Co 15:21 Jas 1:15 1Pe 1:3.

*TOPIC:*
SPIRITUAL DEATH.

*THE MESSAGE:*
Spiritual death refers to eternal separation from God. It is the consequences of sin or disobedience against God, which leads to a state of alienation from Him.
In today's text, Paul contrasts the lives of those who are slaves to sin with those who are slaves to God. Those who live in sin will receive death as its wages, while those who accept Jesus and become slaves of righteousness will be rewarded with the gift of eternal life. Sadly, some who profess to be Christians are still under the bondage of sexual immorality, impurity, hatred, jealousy,. idolatry, drunkenness, and the like (Gal. 5:19-21).
Are you guilty of any of these sins?
If yes, know that you are spiritually dead. God's grace is always accessible through Christ. Believe in Him, be transformed, and live righteously.

*REFLECTION:*
The wages of sin is death!

*PRAYER:*
Father, grant me the grace to Overcome sin, in Jesus' name. Amen.

*TODAY'S BIBLE READING PLAN:*
PROVERBS 1-4.

2. Evening Prayer for today.

EP.i. Evening Prayer

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. ⏤ 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Praise is the language of faith, lifting our hearts to see God’s hand in all things. ⏤ Matthew Henry

Lord, we praise You for Your mercy, truth, and all the wonders of Your love. Teach us how to sing Your praises. Sometimes we forget to sing because we so rarely express our gratitude. We come to You often with our needs, asking for many things, but we don’t thank You as often as we should. We forget to thank You for the very things we prayed for, not realizing that they are answers to our prayers, gifts from Your hand.

Father, we confess this sin of ingratitude and ask for Your forgiveness. Help us to show our repentance by thanking You more faithfully for all the blessings of Your love and grace. We thank You now for answered prayers, for the good things You provide, for the blessings of Your Word and Spirit, for our home and friends, and for all the benefits of living in this country and being part of Your church.

We thank You for today’s blessings, for its joys, for all the good it has brought us, for Your presence with us, and for the hope of eternal life. We thank You for being our Father, for loving us, and for revealing Your grace and comfort to us.

Teach us to sing Your praises, not just with our lips, but with our lives. May our actions, our character, and our conduct be a song of praise to You. May everyone who sees us hear the music of love and praise in our lives. Fill us with the joy of Jesus, and then we will sing. Breathe Your life into our souls, and then our lives will be a song. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/87/evening

#taptapstudio
#youdevotion.

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

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

*DATE:*
WEDNESDAY 10TH JUNE, 2026.

*SUB-THEME:*
EXAMPLES OF GOD'S AMAZING GRACE.

*TOPIC:*
JOSEPH.

*TEXT:*
GENESIS 39:1-6
1 Meanwhile, Joseph had been taken down to Egypt, where an Egyptian named Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. Gen 37:28 Psa 105:17 [Gen 37:36]
2 And the LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master. Gen 39:21 Act 7:9
3 When his master saw that the LORD was with him and made him prosper in all he did,
4 Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household and entrusted him with everything he owned.
5 From the time that he put Joseph in charge of his household and all he owned, the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s household on account of him. The LORD’s blessing was on everything he owned, both in his house and in his field.
6 So Potiphar left all that he owned in Joseph’s care; he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,

*TOPIC:*
JOSEPH.

*THE MESSAGE:*
Joseph's brothers, out of jealousy, thought they could thwart God's plans for his life. So they sold him to the Ishmaelites, and he ended up in Potiphar's house as a slave. He prospered in all he did because God was with him. Potiphar took notice of this and favoured him by entrusting everything to him, except his wife. However, God's plans for Joseph remained unchanged even in the most challenging situations. Even while in prison, God showed him kindness and favour (v.21).
Are you in a fix and difficult situation because of betrayal?
Do not despair, weeping will last just a moment and joy will dawn on you (Ps. 30:5). God's purposes for your life will surely come to pass. Just maintain a righteous posture.

*REFLECTION:*
Be upright even in challenging times.

*PRAYER:*
Father, help me to please You always. Amen.

*MEMORY VERSE FOR THE MONTH:*
JOHN 1:16.
"From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another."

*TODAY'S BIBLE READING PLAN:*
PSALM 50-54.

ED.ii. Skip to content
Dalily Devotional by Elizabeth Haworth

Posted onJune 10, 2026 by Editor
Scarcity of the Hour
Christian Applications Store:: Christian devotional App Store; Explore Recommended Christian Books and Devotionals
Lack of Love

The Lord Jesus told us of a scarcity of one vital element as the day approaches. He told us that at the end of the age there would be a critical characteristic lacking. Jesus told us that there would be a lack of love in the body of Christ. He tells us in Matthew that.. “the love of many shall grow cold.” Matt.24:12

Evil Multiplies

We discover that as evil multiplies, an icy coolness will replace genuine love. The wickedness in the world will cause many to lose all sense of gracious propriety. Although this is a verse that is directed to Israel, in the time of Jacob’s trouble. Paul points out that a similar demise in loving-kindness that will pervade Christendom.. and its infiltration into the church will discourage, to a point of exhausted despair,

Agape Love

This is both a sad and a shocking fact and one that we need to examine carefully. This is not a love associated with the world. It is not what man considers to be love. This is godly love; pure love; unselfish love; agape love. This is the love given of God – the agape, godly love of Christ in many shall wax cold. Only believers are equipped with Christ’s love. We alone have His love working in us, for it is only as Christ’s love flows through us, that His love can stream out to others, We have been commanded to love as I have loved – in the power of the Spirit.

Traitors and Quislings

The sad fact is that some Christians will betray and persecute their fellow believer, and a spirit of ungodliness is infiltrating many church organisations and pastors. The error of lawlessness has become entangled in many ministries and ministers, and many Christians are shocked to discover traitors and quislings in the flock.. men and women who betray; gossip; deceive and beat their fellow workers – Christians eaten up with jealousy; factions; backbiting; alienation; bitterness.

Outward Appearances

Many with an outward appearance of godliness are wolves in sheep’s clothing.. for the love of many will grow cold towards their fellows – and where love does not reign faith morphs into unbelief. But Paul expressly warns us to shield ourselves from this end-times degeneration. Let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love.. and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 1Thess.5:8

Protective Garments

Every piece of armour signifies the Lord Jesus. We are to be dressed with Christ. Living faith, divine love and patient hope are the three essential garments of protection. This combination of faith, love and hope is our essential protection from this evil day. Paul outlines how it is possible to be protected from the spirit of evil in a loveless day.

Grace of God

Through the grace of God, we can be perfected in love and practical in our faith. Through the grace of God, we can love and trust and do exploits for the Lord. Through the grace of God, we can stand firm right up to the time of His return – for we must all guard against God’s agape love in our hearts wearing thin. Let us be like the Thessalonian believers, who Paul remembers with affection for… your work of Faith, your labour of Love, and your patience of Hope, in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,” 1Thess.1:3

Work of Faith

There can be no acceptable work of God in our lives that is not a work of faith. There can be no work of faith, which is not a labour of God’s agape love in us. There can be no end-time endurance without the patience of hope resting on Him.

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2. Evening Prayer for today.

EP.i. Evening Prayer

To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God [is] our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. ⏤ Psalm 46:1

Prayer is the mighty engine that is to move the missionary work. ⏤ A.B. Simpson

We thank You, our Father, for the privilege of trusting You and abiding in Your love. We thank You that in this great world of peril, You are accessible everywhere, that wherever we are, we can find You—and, finding You, be safe. You are a very present help in times of trouble. You are our refuge and our rock, our high tower, our deliverer, and our shield. We are glad that we are Your redeemed children and that You care for us with infinite tenderness. We rejoice in the privilege of having You as our hearts' home.

We are Yours, O God, for You have made and redeemed us. We confess ourselves Yours and would consecrate ourselves to You. We have tried to serve You today and to be faithful to You. Where we have failed, may You forgive us. We bring the broken things of our obedience and service now to Your feet—we have nothing but broken things to bring. Accept them in Jesus' precious name, and use them in Your service.

We have many interests that are dear to our hearts, on which we would ask Your blessing at the close of the day. Bless our common tasks. It is not easy. Much of it is wearisome—the same rounds day after day. May the very routine do us good, teaching us to be patient and diligent, prompt and energetic, earnest and faithful. May these tasks all be part of the Father's business, and may we do all of them in the name of Jesus, and thus find joy and delight in them.

We pray also for all our spiritual interests, the things that concern our souls. Let nothing harm us. May all things work together for good to us. Receive us now to rest in Your care, we ask in Jesus' precious name. Amen.

https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/66/evening

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#youdevotion.

God With Us

A Bible Study Reflecting on Matthew 1:22-23

Matthew 1:22–23 says, “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us).”

These two verses stand at the threshold of the New Testament like a doorway between promise and fulfillment. They connect ancient prophecy with a moment in history when God stepped into the human story in a new and decisive way. The Gospel writer Matthew pauses in the narrative of Jesus’ birth to explain that what is happening is not random or accidental. It is the unfolding of a promise God made centuries earlier through the prophet Isaiah. The birth of Jesus is not merely the arrival of a remarkable teacher or prophet; it is the arrival of God Himself among His people.

Matthew’s statement that “all this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet” reveals a central theme of Scripture: God is faithful to His word. The story of the Bible is a story of promises given and promises kept. From the earliest pages of Scripture, God speaks words that point toward redemption, restoration, and the renewal of creation. When Matthew connects Jesus’ birth to Isaiah’s prophecy, he is showing that the coming of Christ is the culmination of a long history of divine intention. God had spoken long before, and now that word had become reality.

The prophecy Matthew quotes comes from Isaiah 7:14. In its original setting, the prophet Isaiah spoke to King Ahaz during a time of political fear and uncertainty. Judah was threatened by surrounding kingdoms, and the king was tempted to trust political alliances rather than the promises of God. In that moment of anxiety, God offered a sign: a child would be born whose very existence would testify that God had not abandoned His people. The name given to this child was Immanuel, meaning “God with us.”

Matthew sees in Jesus the ultimate fulfillment of that promise. The sign Isaiah announced finds its fullest meaning in the birth of Christ. The Gospel writer understands that the arrival of Jesus is more than a symbolic reminder of God’s presence. It is the literal entrance of God into the world in human form.

The name Immanuel reveals something essential about the nature of God’s relationship with humanity. Throughout Scripture, God is described as holy, powerful, and transcendent. He is the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the One who exists beyond time and space. Yet the story of the Bible also reveals that this transcendent God desires to be near to His creation. The promise of Immanuel expresses the heart of God’s redemptive purpose: God does not remain distant from the world He made. Instead, He moves toward it.

The birth of Jesus demonstrates that God’s answer to the problem of human brokenness is not merely instruction or law but presence. Humanity’s deepest need is not simply better knowledge or stronger moral guidance. The deepest need is reconciliation with God and restoration of the relationship that sin has fractured. In Christ, God addresses this need by entering the human condition.

The concept of God dwelling among His people runs throughout the Bible. In the Old Testament, God’s presence was symbolized in the tabernacle and later the temple. The tabernacle was a tent where God’s glory dwelled among Israel during their journey through the wilderness. The temple in Jerusalem served as the focal point of worship and the visible reminder that God was present with His people. Yet both the tabernacle and the temple were partial and temporary expressions of that presence.

When Jesus is called Immanuel, the meaning of God’s presence expands in a profound way. God is no longer present only in a sacred space or building. Instead, He is present in a person. The presence of God becomes embodied in Jesus Christ.

This truth transforms the understanding of how God relates to humanity. God is not merely observing human life from a distance. In Jesus, God experiences human life from the inside. He enters the vulnerability of birth, the challenges of growth, the reality of suffering, and even the experience of death. The incarnation shows that God is not indifferent to human pain or struggle. He knows it firsthand.

The virgin birth mentioned in Matthew’s quotation from Isaiah emphasizes that Jesus’ arrival is the result of divine initiative rather than human effort. The birth of Christ is not the continuation of ordinary human history; it is the interruption of that history by the power of God. The miracle of the virgin conception signals that something new has begun. God is acting directly in the world to accomplish His purposes.

The virgin birth also points to the identity of Jesus as both fully human and fully divine. He is born of a woman, sharing the nature and experiences of humanity. At the same time, His conception by the Holy Spirit reveals that His origin lies in God Himself. The one who is born into the world is not merely another person within the human story; He is the eternal Son entering that story.

The name Immanuel captures this mystery. Jesus is both with us and more than us. He walks among people, speaks their language, and shares their daily lives. Yet at the same time, He embodies the presence and authority of God.

Throughout the Gospel accounts, the reality of God’s presence in Christ becomes increasingly clear. Jesus teaches with authority, forgives sins, heals the sick, and calms storms. These actions reveal that the power of God is at work in Him. Yet the deepest expression of Immanuel is found not only in miraculous acts but in the way Jesus enters into the suffering and brokenness of the world.

Human history is marked by alienation from God. Sin has created distance between the Creator and His creation. This separation manifests itself in many ways: guilt, fear, injustice, violence, and spiritual emptiness. The promise of Immanuel addresses this condition directly. God does not wait for humanity to overcome this distance on its own. Instead, He crosses the distance Himself.

The life of Jesus demonstrates that God’s presence is not reserved for the powerful or the righteous. Jesus consistently moves toward those who are marginalized, broken, or overlooked. He eats with tax collectors and sinners, touches those considered unclean, and offers forgiveness to those burdened by guilt. In these actions, the meaning of Immanuel becomes visible. God with us means God with the lost, the wounded, and the weary.

The climax of this reality appears in the cross. If the incarnation reveals that God has entered the human story, the cross reveals the depth of His commitment to redeem it. Jesus does not merely observe human suffering; He takes it upon Himself. The crucifixion demonstrates that God’s presence with humanity includes participation in its deepest pain.

Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, the promise of Immanuel becomes the foundation of salvation. The presence of God in Christ does not simply comfort humanity; it transforms humanity’s relationship with God. The barrier created by sin is removed, and reconciliation becomes possible.

The resurrection confirms that the presence of God with humanity is not temporary. Jesus does not remain in the grave. Instead, He rises, demonstrating that the power of God is stronger than death itself. The story that began with the promise of Immanuel continues with the assurance that God’s presence will never be withdrawn.

At the end of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus speaks words that echo the meaning of His name: “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” The Gospel begins with the declaration that Jesus is Immanuel, God with us, and it ends with the promise that His presence will remain with His followers forever.

This continuity reveals that the presence of God is not limited to a moment in history. The incarnation opened the way for an ongoing relationship between God and His people. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, the presence of Christ continues to dwell with and within those who believe.

The practical implications of this truth are profound. If God is truly with us, then faith is not merely adherence to a set of ideas or moral principles. Faith is participation in a living relationship with the God who has drawn near. The Christian life is lived in the awareness that God’s presence surrounds and sustains every moment.

The reality of Immanuel also challenges the tendency to view God as distant or uninterested in everyday life. The incarnation reveals that God values the ordinary experiences of human existence. Jesus was born into a family, grew up in a small town, worked with His hands, and shared meals with friends. These details show that God’s presence is not confined to dramatic spiritual experiences. It is present in the rhythms of daily life.

This truth encourages a posture of trust. When difficulties arise, the promise of Immanuel reminds believers that they do not face those challenges alone. God’s presence does not eliminate hardship, but it transforms the way hardship is experienced. The knowledge that God is near brings courage and hope even in uncertain circumstances.

The presence of God with humanity also shapes the way people are called to live in relation to others. If God has drawn near to humanity with compassion and grace, then those who follow Christ are called to embody that same posture toward the world. The church becomes a community that reflects the reality of Immanuel by extending love, mercy, and justice.

The promise of God with us invites a deeper awareness of God’s ongoing work in the world. The story of Scripture reveals a God who continually moves toward restoration and reconciliation. The birth of Jesus marks a decisive moment in that story, but it is not the end of it. The presence of God continues to transform lives and communities.

Matthew’s brief explanation in these verses therefore carries enormous significance. What appears at first to be a simple reference to prophecy is actually a declaration about the nature of God and the meaning of salvation. The child born in Bethlehem is the fulfillment of a promise that stretches across centuries. He is the embodiment of God’s desire to be present with His people.

The name Immanuel summarizes the message of the Gospel. God has not abandoned His creation. He has entered it. He has shared its struggles and redeemed its brokenness. Through Jesus Christ, the distance between heaven and earth has been bridged.

The story that begins with the announcement of Immanuel ultimately points forward to the final vision of Scripture. The book of Revelation describes a renewed creation where God dwells fully with His people and where sorrow, pain, and death are no more. The promise of God with us reaches its ultimate fulfillment when God’s presence fills all of creation.

In that future, the hope first announced in Matthew 1:22–23 will be realized completely. The presence that began in the humble birth of a child will culminate in a restored world where God and humanity dwell together in perfect fellowship.

The message of Immanuel therefore stands at the center of Christian faith. It proclaims that God’s response to human brokenness is not distance but nearness, not condemnation but redemption, not abandonment but presence. In Jesus Christ, the Creator of the universe has come near, bringing with Him the promise of restoration and life.

The Name That Saves

A Bible Study Reflecting on Matthew 1:18-21

Matthew 1:18–21 introduces one of the most profound moments in Scripture: the announcement of the birth of Jesus Christ. Though the passage is brief, it contains layers of theological meaning that reach into the very heart of the gospel. Within these few verses, Matthew presents the mystery of the incarnation, the faithfulness of God to His promises, the character of righteousness, and the purpose of Christ’s coming into the world. The story unfolds quietly, centered not on public spectacle but on the inner turmoil and obedience of Joseph, a man confronted with circumstances that could have shattered his life and reputation. In this moment, God’s plan of redemption begins to unfold in a deeply personal way.

The passage begins by explaining the circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus. Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. In Jewish culture of the first century, betrothal was far more binding than modern engagement. It was a formal covenant that legally bound a man and a woman together, though they did not yet live as husband and wife. Breaking such a union required divorce, and accusations of unfaithfulness could carry severe social consequences. The situation confronting Joseph was therefore not merely awkward or confusing; it was deeply serious. From Joseph’s perspective, Mary appeared to have violated their covenant.

Matthew’s description immediately introduces the central miracle: Mary’s child was conceived through the Holy Spirit. This statement is not meant merely as an explanation of events but as a declaration of divine action. The birth of Jesus is not the result of human planning or natural processes. It is an act of God. The initiative belongs entirely to Him. Salvation does not begin with humanity reaching toward heaven but with heaven reaching toward humanity. The Holy Spirit’s involvement signals that something entirely new is happening in the story of the world. God Himself is entering human history in a unique and unprecedented way.

Joseph’s reaction to Mary’s pregnancy reveals much about his character. Matthew describes him as a righteous man. In the biblical sense, righteousness refers not only to moral uprightness but also to faithfulness to God’s law and compassion toward others. Joseph finds himself caught between justice and mercy. According to the law, he had grounds to expose Mary publicly and pursue legal action against her. Yet his righteousness is not harsh or vindictive. Instead, he chooses a path that preserves both the law and mercy. He resolves to divorce her quietly.

This decision shows that true righteousness is never merely about enforcing rules; it is about reflecting the heart of God. Joseph does not seek revenge or public humiliation. His instinct is to minimize harm even when he believes himself to be the wronged party. In this way, Joseph’s character foreshadows the very nature of the kingdom that Jesus will proclaim. The righteousness of God is not cold legalism but a combination of truth, justice, and compassion.

While Joseph is wrestling with these decisions, God intervenes through a dream. In the ancient world, dreams were often understood as a way through which God communicated His will. The angel of the Lord appears to Joseph and calls him by name, addressing him as “son of David.” This title is significant. It reminds Joseph of his place within the lineage of Israel’s royal history. God’s promise to David that his throne would endure forever forms part of the background of this story. By addressing Joseph as a descendant of David, the angel connects the events unfolding in Joseph’s life to the larger story of God’s covenant with His people.

The angel instructs Joseph not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife. Fear is a natural response when God’s plans disrupt human expectations. Joseph’s life has been thrown into confusion, and the angel acknowledges the emotional turmoil he must be experiencing. Yet the message from God is clear: what appears scandalous from a human perspective is actually the work of the Holy Spirit. Mary has not been unfaithful. Instead, she has been chosen as the vessel through which God’s redemptive plan will enter the world.

The command not to fear carries deep theological meaning. Fear often arises when people attempt to understand God’s work solely through human logic. The incarnation defies ordinary categories. God’s ways frequently overturn assumptions about what is possible or reasonable. Joseph is invited to trust that God’s plan, though mysterious, is good and purposeful.

The angel then reveals the identity and mission of the child Mary is carrying. She will give birth to a son, and Joseph is instructed to give Him the name Jesus. In biblical culture, naming a child was an act of authority and recognition. By naming the child, Joseph publicly acknowledges him as his own son, legally placing Jesus within the line of David. This act ensures that Jesus inherits the royal lineage promised in the Scriptures.

The name itself carries extraordinary significance. Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Yeshua, which means “The Lord saves” or “The Lord is salvation.” Names in the Bible often reveal something about the character or destiny of the person who bears them. In this case, the name is not merely symbolic but explanatory. The angel explicitly states the reason: “because he will save his people from their sins.”

This statement reveals the core purpose of Jesus’ mission. Many in Israel expected the Messiah to deliver them from political oppression, particularly from Roman rule. The angel’s announcement points to a deeper and more fundamental form of salvation. The problem Jesus comes to address is not merely external injustice or national suffering. The deeper problem is sin.

Sin, in the biblical sense, is not simply a collection of moral failures. It represents the broken relationship between humanity and God. It is the condition of alienation that distorts human hearts, corrupts societies, and disrupts creation itself. Throughout the Old Testament, sacrifices and rituals attempted to address this problem, yet they ultimately pointed forward to a greater solution that had not yet arrived.

Jesus comes as that solution. His mission is not primarily to reform social systems or to offer moral instruction, though His teachings profoundly influence both. His primary mission is to deal with the root of human brokenness. Salvation from sin means reconciliation with God, restoration of the human heart, and the beginning of a new creation.

The wording “his people” also carries important implications. In the immediate context, it refers to the people of Israel, the community to whom the promises of God had been given. Yet the unfolding narrative of the Gospel will reveal that the scope of this salvation extends far beyond ethnic or national boundaries. The salvation Jesus brings ultimately reaches all who place their trust in Him. The phrase “his people” therefore points not only to Israel but to the new community formed through faith in Christ.

Joseph’s role in this story highlights the importance of obedience in God’s plan. Although the passage does not yet describe his response, the angel’s instructions require Joseph to take significant risks. By marrying Mary despite her pregnancy, Joseph exposes himself to potential misunderstanding and social judgment. Yet obedience to God often requires precisely this kind of courage. Faithfulness sometimes means embracing a path that others may not understand.

Joseph’s experience illustrates a broader truth about discipleship. God’s purposes frequently unfold through ordinary individuals who are willing to trust Him in difficult circumstances. Joseph is not portrayed as a powerful leader or a celebrated figure. He is a craftsman living in a small town. Yet his willingness to listen to God and act accordingly allows him to participate in one of the most important moments in history.

The passage also emphasizes the initiative of God in the work of salvation. None of the human characters in this story are orchestrating the events that unfold. Mary does not plan to become the mother of the Messiah. Joseph does not set out to become the earthly guardian of the Son of God. The entire situation begins with divine action. God chooses the moment, the people, and the method.

This truth carries profound implications for understanding salvation. Humanity does not rescue itself through moral improvement or spiritual effort. Redemption begins with God’s grace. The incarnation demonstrates that God moves toward humanity even when humanity cannot move toward Him. Jesus’ birth represents the beginning of a rescue mission initiated by divine love.

The involvement of the Holy Spirit also signals that salvation is a work of new creation. Just as the Spirit of God hovered over the waters at the beginning of Genesis, the Spirit now brings forth new life in the womb of Mary. The arrival of Jesus marks the beginning of a renewed creation in which God’s kingdom will gradually transform the world.

Matthew’s narrative invites readers to consider how God often works in hidden and unexpected ways. The birth of Jesus does not occur in the halls of political power or religious prestige. Instead, it begins quietly in the lives of ordinary people. God’s greatest act of redemption enters the world through a humble family facing confusion and uncertainty.

This pattern continues throughout the ministry of Jesus. The kingdom of God grows not through spectacle but through faithfulness, sacrifice, and obedience. The story of Joseph and Mary reminds believers that God’s purposes often unfold in the midst of ordinary life, through individuals who are willing to trust Him even when the path is unclear.

The announcement that Jesus will save His people from their sins ultimately points forward to the cross and resurrection. The child born in Bethlehem will grow to become the Savior who gives His life for the world. His mission will involve suffering, rejection, and sacrifice. Yet through these events, the power of sin will be broken and the possibility of new life will be opened.

Matthew’s account therefore invites readers not only to admire the story but to recognize its significance for their own lives. If Jesus truly saves people from their sins, then His coming demands a response. Salvation is not merely a theological concept but an invitation into a transformed relationship with God.

The passage also challenges common assumptions about righteousness. Joseph’s example shows that true righteousness involves humility, mercy, and openness to God’s guidance. It requires the willingness to surrender personal expectations and trust God’s purposes. This kind of righteousness reflects the character of the God who sends His Son into the world to redeem sinners.

In the end, Matthew 1:18–21 reveals that the story of Jesus begins with grace. Before Jesus teaches, heals, or performs miracles, His very arrival declares that God has come to rescue humanity. The name Jesus announces the central truth of the gospel: the Lord saves.

Through the quiet obedience of Joseph, the faithfulness of Mary, and the mysterious work of the Holy Spirit, God’s plan moves forward. The birth of Jesus marks the turning point of history, the moment when salvation enters the world in the form of a child. And within that child’s name lies the promise that continues to shape the faith of countless believers: God has not abandoned His people. He has come to save them from their sins.

DAILY BIBLE LESSON.
WARNING TO A PERSON WHO WILLFULLY CONTINUES IN DISOBEDIENCE.

Please, share this study with your family, friends co-workers, and all who you can, for the expansion of the Kingdom of GOD.

“If we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries” (Hebrews 10:26, 27).
“Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going” (John 12:35).

The Bible leaves no room for doubt. The answer is sobering, but true.When a person knowingly rejects light and continues in disobedience, the light eventually goes out, and he is left in total darkness. A person who rejects truth receives a“strong delusion”to believe that falsehood is truth (2 Thessalonians 2:11). When this happens, he is lost.

WHO IS REALLY BEHIND ALL DISOBEDIENCE, AND WHY???

“He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. ... In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest:Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God” (1 John 3:8, 10).
“Satan ... deceives the whole world” (Revelation 12:9).

ANSWER: The devil is responsible. He knows that all disobedience is sin and that sin brings unhappiness, tragedy, alienation from God, and eventual destruction. In his hatred, he tries to lead every person into disobedience.You are involved.You must face the facts and make a decision. Disobey and be lost, or accept Christ and obey and be saved. Your decision regarding obedience is a decision regarding Christ.You cannot separate Him from truth, because He says,“I am ... the truth”(John 14:6).
“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve”(Joshua 24:15).

DOES THIS MEAN THAT EVEN THE TEN COMMANDMENTS WILL NOT BE HARD TO OBEY???

“If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).
“Whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him” (1 John 2:5).

ANSWER: The Bible ties obedience to a genuine love for God. Christians will not find it wearying to keep the Ten Commandments. With all your sins covered by Jesus’ atoning death, your obedience is rooted in His victorious life within you. Because you love Him so deeply for changing your life, you will actually go beyond the requirements of the Ten Commandments. You will regularly search the Bible to know His will, trying to find more ways of expressing your love for Him.
“Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:22,).

HOW CAN YOU BE CERTAIN THAT KEEPING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IS NOT LEGALISM???

“Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12).
“[The saints] overcame [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death” (Revelation 12:11).

ANSWER: “Legalism” is trying to earn salvation by good works instead of accepting it as a gift. Saints in the Bible are identified as having four characteristics: (1) keeping the commandments, (2) trusting the blood of the Lamb, (3) sharing their faith with others, and (4) choosing to die rather than to sin. These are the true marks of a person who loves Christ and desires to follow Him.

To learn more about our Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God, and the Sabbath, please visit your local Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Or please visit us at Rossville Seventh-day Adventist Church, located at 1737 Mission Ridge Road, Rossville Georgia 30741

Pastor; Greg Hudson

Services start at 11am on Saturday (Sabbath) morning.

DAILY BIBLE LESSON.
WARNING TO A PERSON WHO WILLFULLY CONTINUES IN DISOBEDIENCE.

Please, share this study with your family, friends co-workers, and all who you can, for the expansion of the Kingdom of GOD.

“If we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries” (Hebrews 10:26, 27).
“Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going” (John 12:35).

The Bible leaves no room for doubt. The answer is sobering, but true.When a person knowingly rejects light and continues in disobedience, the light eventually goes out, and he is left in total darkness. A person who rejects truth receives a“strong delusion”to believe that falsehood is truth (2 Thessalonians 2:11). When this happens, he is lost.

WHO IS REALLY BEHIND ALL DISOBEDIENCE, AND WHY???

“He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. ... In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest:Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God” (1 John 3:8, 10).
“Satan ... deceives the whole world” (Revelation 12:9).

ANSWER: The devil is responsible. He knows that all disobedience is sin and that sin brings unhappiness, tragedy, alienation from God, and eventual destruction. In his hatred, he tries to lead every person into disobedience.You are involved.You must face the facts and make a decision. Disobey and be lost, or accept Christ and obey and be saved. Your decision regarding obedience is a decision regarding Christ.You cannot separate Him from truth, because He says,“I am ... the truth”(John 14:6).
“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve”(Joshua 24:15).

DOES THIS MEAN THAT EVEN THE TEN COMMANDMENTS WILL NOT BE HARD TO OBEY???

“If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).
“Whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him” (1 John 2:5).

ANSWER: The Bible ties obedience to a genuine love for God. Christians will not find it wearying to keep the Ten Commandments. With all your sins covered by Jesus’ atoning death, your obedience is rooted in His victorious life within you. Because you love Him so deeply for changing your life, you will actually go beyond the requirements of the Ten Commandments. You will regularly search the Bible to know His will, trying to find more ways of expressing your love for Him.
“Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:22,).

HOW CAN YOU BE CERTAIN THAT KEEPING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IS NOT LEGALISM???

“Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12).
“[The saints] overcame [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death” (Revelation 12:11).

ANSWER: “Legalism” is trying to earn salvation by good works instead of accepting it as a gift. Saints in the Bible are identified as having four characteristics: (1) keeping the commandments, (2) trusting the blood of the Lamb, (3) sharing their faith with others, and (4) choosing to die rather than to sin. These are the true marks of a person who loves Christ and desires to follow Him.

To learn more about our Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God, and the Sabbath, please visit your local Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Or please visit us at Rossville Seventh-day Adventist Church, located at 1737 Mission Ridge Road, Rossville Georgia 30741

Pastor; Greg Hudson

Services start at 11am on Saturday (Sabbath) morning.

MORNING AND EVENING.
Charles H. Spurgeon

Morning.

"I am a stranger with thee."
Psalm 39:12

Yes, O Lord, with thee, but not to thee. All my natural alienation from thee, thy grace has effectually removed; and now, in fellowship with thyself, I walk through this sinful world as a pilgrim in a foreign country. Thou art a stranger in thine own world. Man forgets thee, dishonours thee, sets up new laws and alien customs, and knows thee not. When thy dear Son came unto his own, his own received him not. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. Never was foreigner so speckled a bird among the denizens of any land as thy beloved Son among his mother's brethren. It is no marvel, then, if I who live the life of Jesus, should be unknown and a stranger here below. Lord, I would not be a citizen where Jesus was an alien. His pierced hand has loosened the cords which once bound my soul to earth, and now I find myself a stranger in the land. My speech seems to these Babylonians among whom I dwell an outlandish tongue, my manners are singular, and my actions are strange. A Tartar would be more at home in Cheapside than I could ever be in the haunts of sinners. But here is the sweetness of my lot: I am a stranger with thee. Thou art my fellow-sufferer, my fellow-pilgrim. Oh, what joy to wander in such blessed society! My heart burns within me by the way when thou dost speak to me, and though I be a sojourner, I am far more blest than those who sit on thrones, and far more at home than those who dwell in their ceiled houses.

"To me remains nor place, nor time:

My country is in every clime;

I can be calm and free from care

On any shore, since God is there.

While place we seek, or place we shun,

The soul finds happiness in none:

But with a God to guide our way,

'Tis equal joy to go or stay."

Evening.

"Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins."
Psalm 19:13

Such was the prayer of the "man after God's own heart." Did holy David need to pray thus? How needful, then, must such a prayer be for us babes in grace! It is as if he said, "Keep me back, or I shall rush headlong over the precipice of sin." Our evil nature, like an ill-tempered horse, is apt to run away. May the grace of God put the bridle upon it, and hold it in, that it rush not into mischief. What might not the best of us do if it were not for the checks which the Lord sets upon us both in providence and in grace! The psalmist's prayer is directed against the worst form of sin--that which is done with deliberation and wilfulness. Even the holiest need to be "kept back" from the vilest transgressions. It is a solemn thing to find the apostle Paul warning saints against the most loathsome sins. "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry." What! do saints want warning against such sins as these? Yes, they do. The whitest robes, unless their purity be preserved by divine grace, will be defiled by the blackest spots. Experienced Christian, boast not in your experience; you will trip yet if you look away from him who is able to keep you from falling. Ye whose love is fervent, whose faith is constant, whose hopes are bright, say not, "We shall never sin," but rather cry, "Lead us not into temptation." There is enough tinder in the heart of the best of men to light a fire that shall burn to the lowest hell, unless God shall quench the sparks as they fall. Who would have dreamed that righteous Lot could be found drunken, and committing uncleanness? Hazael said, "Is thy servant a dog, that he should do this thing?" and we are very apt to use the same self-righteous question. May infinite wisdom cure us of the madness of self-confidence.

AMAZING FACTS BIBLE STUDY

A/F # 14

Hello friends, family, and my brothers, and sisters in Christ.

This is Brother Johnny Gass.

Welcome to Bible study.

Study to show thyself to approved unto God, a Workman unashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

Please share these lessons with everyone you know for the expansion of the kingdom of God.

Amazing Facts # 14

Is Obedience Legalism?

People might feel like they can get away with violating a traffic law or cheating on their taxes, but God and His laws work much differently. God sees everything we do, hears everything we say, and He really does care about how we behave. While the Lord offers forgiveness for our sins, there still are deadly consequences for breaking God's law. Amazingly, some Christians say any attempt to obey God's law amounts to legalism. Yet Jesus said if you really love God, you'll do what He asks. So is obedience legalism? Take time to read this Study Guide carefully... eternal consequences are at stake! 1. Does God really see and take note of me personally? "Thou God seest me." Genesis 16:13. "O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou ... art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether." Psalms 139:1-4. "But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered." Luke 12:7. God knows and cares for YOU personally. Answer: Yes, God knows each one of us (every person on earth) better than we know ourselves. He takes a personal interest in every human being and carefully watches all that we do. Not one word, thought, or deed is hidden from Him. 2. Can I be saved in His kingdom without obeying His Word, as found in the Holy Bible? "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 7:21. "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. " Matthew 19:17. "He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." Hebrews 5:9. Search the Bible for God's will. It is your only safety. Answer: No! Scripture is very clear on this point. Salvation and the kingdom of heaven are for those who obey the Lord's commands. God does not promise eternal life to those who merely make a profession of faith or are church members or are baptized, but rather to those who do His will, which is revealed in Scripture. Of course, this obedience is possible only through Christ (Acts 4:12). 3. Why does God require obedience? Why is it necessary? "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matthew 7:14. " But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death." Proverbs 8:36. "And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive." Deuteronomy 6:24. Answer: Because there is only one narrow path that leads to godlikeness, and thus to His kingdom. All roads do not lead to the same place. The Bible is the map and guidebook with full instructions, warnings, and information on how to safely reach that kingdom. To disregard any part of it leads away from God and His kingdom. The universe of God is a universe of law and order. Natural, moral, and spiritual laws are involved. Breaking any of these laws always has certain fixed results. If the Bible had not been given, people would sooner or later have discovered (by trial and error) that the great principles of the Bible exist and are true. These Bible principles are written in our nervous systems, glands, and minds. When ignored, they result in shattered nerves, disease, and unhappiness of every kind. So the words of the Bible are not merely advice which we can accept or ignore without consequences. The Bible tells what these consequences are and explains how to avoid them. A person cannot live any way he wishes and still become godlike any more than a builder can ignore the blueprints for a house without running into trouble. This is why God asks all to follow the blueprint of the Holy Scripture. There is no other way to become like Him and thus be fitted for a place in His kingdom. And there is no other way to true happiness. Only one path leads to heaven. The Bible is the map that shows us the way. 4. Why does God permit disobedience to continue? Why not destroy sin and sinners now? "Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him." Jude 14, 15. "As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God." Romans 14:11. Answer: God permits disobedience and sin to continue until all people everywhere are at last fully convinced of God's justice, love, and mercy. All will finally realize that God, by requiring obedience, is not trying to force His will upon us, but rather is trying to keep us from hurting and destroying ourselves. The sin problem is not settled until even the most cynical and hardened sinners are convinced of God's love and confess that He is just. It will take perhaps a major catastrophe or worse to convince some, but the horrible results of sinful living will finally convince all that God is just and right. Then, and only then, can sin and disobedience be safely brought to an end by the Lord. Sin can be safely destroyed by God only after all people understand and admit that He is just, loving, and merciful. 5. Will God actually destroy the disobedient? "God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment." 2 Peter 2:4. "All the wicked will he destroy." Psalms 145:20. "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thessalonians 1:8. Answer: No question about it. The disobedient, including the devil and his angels who sinned, will be destroyed. This being true, surely it is high time to abandon all fuzziness regarding what is right or wrong. People had better stop letting their own foolish whims and egotistical notions guide them and pay attention to God's great book. And they had better do it now--there is not much time left! All who knowingly choose not to follow Christ will finally be destroyed with the sin they love. 6. I want to obey all of God's rules. How can I be certain I will not overlook one? "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find." Matthew 7:7. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, ... rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15. "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God." John 7:17. "Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you." John 12:35. "As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me." Psalms 18:44. God promises that if I seek His Word for truth and sincerely follow it, I will not end up in error. Answer: God leaves no room for doubt. He promises to keep me from error and lead me safely to all truth if I: (1) pray earnestly for guidance, (2) sincerely study God's Word, and (3) follow truth as soon as I am shown. 7. Does God count me guilty for disobeying Bible truth that has never been made clear to me? "If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth." John 9:41. "To him that knoweth to do good,and doeth it not, to him it is sin." James 4:17. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee." Hosea 4:6. "Seek, and ye shall find." Matthew 7:7. Playing ostrich in spiritual matters leads to tragedy and destruction. Answer: If I have had no opportunity to learn a certain Bible truth, God does not hold me accountable. But the Bible teaches that I am responsible to God for all the light (knowledge of right) I have and all I can have! Many people who refuse or neglect to study, seek, learn, and listen will be destroyed by God because they have "rejected knowledge." To play ostrich in these exceedingly crucial matters is fatal. It is my responsibility to hunt diligently for truth. 8. But God isn't particular about obedience on every point and in small details, is He? "Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt ... shall see the land ... because they have not wholly followed me: Save Caleb ... and Joshua ... for they have wholly followed the Lord." Numbers 32:11, 12. "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4. "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." John 15:14. Only two of the thousands of Israelites who left Egypt followed God fully and were able to enter the promised land of Canaan. Answer: Indeed, He is particular. God's people in Old Testament times learned this the hard way. Those who left Egypt for the promised land of Canaan were 603,550 in number. Of this group, only two (Caleb and Joshua) fully followed the Lord, and they alone entered Canaan. The other 603,548 died in the wilderness. Jesus says we are to live by "every word" of the Bible. There is not one word too many or one word too few. They are all important. 9. When I discover new truth, I wait until all obstacles are removed before embracing it. This is best, isn't it? "Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you." John 12:35. "I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments." Psalms 119:60. Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33. "As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me." Psalms 18:44. Unless I follow light as soon as it is revealed, it eventually turns to darkness. Answer: No, once you are clear on a Bible truth, it is never best to wait. In fact, procrastination is the devil's most dangerous trap. It seems so harmless to wait, but the Bible teaches that unless a person acts immediately upon light, it quickly turns to darkness. Obstacles to obedience are not removed while we stand and wait; instead, they usually increase in size. Man says to God, "Open up the way, and I'll go forward." But God's way is just the opposite. He says, "You go forward, and I will open up the way." 10. But isn't full obedience an impossibility for a human being? "With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13. "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ." 2 Corinthians 2:14. "He that abideth in me, and I in him, ... bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." John 15:5. "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land." Isaiah 1:19. Answer: None of us can obey in our own power, but through Christ we can and must. Satan, in order to make God's requests appear unreasonable, invented the falsehood that obedience is impossible. Satan invented the lie that obedience is impossible. 11. What will happen to a person who willfully and knowingly continues in disobedience? "If we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries." Hebrews 10:26, 27. "Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth." John 12:35. If I ignore God's loving warnings, I will perish. Answer: The Bible leaves no room for doubt. The answer is sobering and shocking, but true. When a person knowingly rejects light and continues in disobedience, the light eventually goes out, and he is left in total darkness. A person who rejects truth receives a "strong delusion" to believe that falsehood is truth (2 Thessalonians 2:11). When this happens, he is lost from that moment. 12. I thought love was more important than obedience. Isn't it? "Jesus answered ... If a man love me, he will keep my words. ... He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings." John 14:23, 24. "This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." 1 John 5:3. No child will fully obey his parents unless he loves them. Answer: No, not at all! In fact, the Bible teaches that true love to God cannot exist without obedience. Nor can a person be truly obedient without love. No child will fully obey his parents unless he loves them, nor will he love his parents if he does not obey. True love and obedience are like Siamese twins. When separated, they die. 13. But I always thought that true freedom in Christ released me from obedience. Doesn't it? "If ye continue in my word, ... ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." John 8:31, 32, 34. "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." Romans 6:17, 18. "So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever. And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts." Psalms 119:44, 45. Only the citizen who obeys the law has freedom. Likewise, true Christian freedom means freedom from disobedience. Answer: No. True freedom comes only from obedience. It means freedom "from sin" (Romans 6:18), or disobedience, which is breaking God's law (1 John 3:4). The citizens who obey the law have freedom. The disobedient are caught and lose their freedom. Freedom without obedience is like the false freedom of the drifting balloon or the driverless car. It leads to confusion and anarchy. True Christian freedom means freedom from disobedience. Disobedience always hurts a person and leads into the cruel slavery of the devil. 14. When I believe God requires a certain thing, should I obey even though I do not understand why He requires it? "Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the Lord ... so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live." Jeremiah 38:20. "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool." Proverbs 28:26. "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man." Psalms 118:8. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9. "How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord?" Romans 11:33, 34. "I will lead them in paths that they have not known." Isaiah 42:16. "Thou wilt shew me the path of life." Psalms 16:11. Loving children obey their parents even though they may not always understand their request. The same is true of children of God. Answer: Most assuredly! We must give God credit for being wise enough to require some things of us we may not understand. Good children obey their parents even when the reasons for their commands are not clear. Simple faith and trust in God will cause us to believe that He knows what is best for us and will never lead us in any wrong path. It is folly for us, in our ignorance, to question God's leadership, even when we may not fully understand all His reasons. 15. Who is really behind all disobedience, and why? "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning." "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God." 1 John 3:8, 10. Satan ... deceiveth the whole world." Revelation 12:9. The devil wants you to disobey God because he hates you and wants you to be lost. Answer: The devil is responsible. He knows that all disobedience is sin and that sin brings unhappiness, tragedy, alienation from God, and eventual destruction. With bitter hatred he tries desperately to lead every person into disobedience. You are involved. You must face the facts and make a decision. Disobey and be lost, or accept Christ and obey and be saved. Your decision regarding obedience is a decision regarding Christ. You cannot separate Him from truth, because He says, "I am ... the truth." John 14:6. "Choose you this day whom ye will serve." Joshua 24:15. 16. What glorious promise regarding a super-miracle does the Bible give God's children? "He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6. Answer: Praise God! He promises that just as He worked a miracle to bring us the new birth, He will also continue to work needed miracles in our lives (as we gladly follow Him) until we are safe in His kingdom. The miracle of the new birth; God continues working miracles to bring us Christian growth. Thought Questions 1. Will any be lost who truly think they are saved? Matthew 7:21 Yes! Matthew 7:21-23 makes it clear that many who prophesy, cast out devils, and do many wonderful works in Christ's name will be lost but will think they are saved. Christ said they are lost because they did not do "the will of my Father which is in heaven." Verse 21. Those who refuse to obey God will end up believing a lie (2 Thessalonians 2:11, 12) and thus think they are saved when instead they are lost. 2. Since there is only one right way, what will happen to sincere people who truly think they are right when they are wrong? John 10:27 Jesus says that He will call them to His true way, and His true sheep will hear and follow (John 10:16, 27). 3. Aren't sincerity and zeal enough? John 4:23 No! We must also be right. The apostle Paul was sincere and zealous when he persecuted the Christians before his conversion, but he was also wrong (Acts 22:3, 4; 26:9-11). 4. Isn't it a scientific impossibility that God can see everyone at the same time? Romans 1:22 So was Noah's Flood (it had never before rained--Genesis 2:5, 6), but it happened anyway. Conjuring up "scientific" reasons for disobedience is the favorite pastime of the class mentioned in Romans 1:22, who "professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." 5. What will happen to people who haven't received light? John 1:9 The Bible says that all have received some light. "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." John 1:9. Each person will be judged according to how he follows available light. Even the heathen have some light and follow the law, according to Romans 2:14, 15. 6. I have asked God to give me a sign if He wants me to obey. This is safe, isn't it? Matthew 12:39 No! It is not. Jesus said, "An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign." Matthew 12:39. All teachings should be checked by the Bible, and if in harmony with God's Word, should be accepted and followed (Isaiah 8:20; 2 Timothy 2:15). People who won't accept the plain teachings of the Bible would not be convinced by a sign either. As Jesus said, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." Luke 16:31. 7. Hebrews 10:26, 27 seems to indicate that if a person willfully commits just one sin after he knows better, he is lost. Is this correct? Hebrews 10:26 No! Anyone can confess such a sin and be forgiven. The Bible is speaking here not of one single act or sin but of a presumptuous continuation in sin and a refusal to surrender to Christ after one knows better. Such action grieves away the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30) and hardens a person's heart until one is "past feeling" (Ephesians 4:19) and lost. The Bible says, "Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression." Psalms 19:13. 8. Doesn't a person have to be educated to understand the Bible? Isaiah 29:12 No! Even the simple can understand it if surrendered to the Lord (Psalms 19:7; 119:130; Matthew 11:25).

To learn more about our lord Jesus christ, the Word of God, and the Sabbath, please visit your local Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Or please visit us at Rossville Seventh-day Adventist Church, located at 1737 Mission Ridge Road, Rossville Georgia 30741

Pastor; Greg Hudson

Services start at 11am on Saturday (Sabbath) morning.