Dear Father, Edmund Gettier, a philosopher, proposed an addition to the concept of epistemology-- the study of knowledge, when he argued that a person can believe something without knowing it, but no one can claim to know something without believing it. How true is this of humanity? There is also a branch of epistemology called empiricism, which supports the idea that the most reliable source of human knowledge is experience or sensory perceptions. My problem with this view is that it limits the truth of humanity’s existence to what is attainable in his lifetime. I was reminded of Thomas, who, when the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” responded, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” The issue, however, lies not in the limitations that exist in obtaining the experience needed for an unwavering belief in You, but in how willing we are to pay the price to know what we have always believed. It is true that many of us are like Thomas, with certain doubts and confusions, believing in Jesus but not all that He purports to represent. Perhaps this is what Edmund communicates: that there is a risk in believing when sufficient knowledge is lacking. Isn’t this one of the reasons we struggle with our faith? Isn’t this the reason we doubt-- asking questions without necessarily seeking answers? Today, I took it upon myself to reflect on how much I have put into knowing all that I believe about You. Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindi Slide 5: Urdu Slide 6: Portuguese #LettertoGod #believe #knowledge #doubt #Thomasstory

TODAY'S KINGDOM INSIGHTS: SERMON TOPIC: WHEN TRUTH MEETS GRACE. Main Text: John 1:14, 17 «“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us... full of grace and truth.” — John 1:14» «“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” — John 1:17» TWO SIDES OF THE CROSS. There are two dangerous extremes in Christianity. One says, “Tell people the truth, no matter how you hurt them.” The other says, “Just show them love; don't confront anything.” But Jesus did something greater. Jesus was full of grace AND truth. Truth without grace can become harshness. Grace without truth can become compromise. Truth tells us what is wrong. Grace shows us that we can be made right. Truth exposes the wound; grace brings healing to the wound. Truth says, “You have sinned.” Grace says, “There is forgiveness.” Truth says, “You must change.” Grace says, “God will help you change.” Truth reveals our condition. Grace reveals God's compassion. That is what happens when truth meets grace. 1. TRUTH REVEALS WHAT GRACE COMES TO HEAL John 8:32 — “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Truth is not always comfortable, but it is necessary. A doctor cannot treat a sickness that the patient refuses to acknowledge. In the same way, we cannot experience spiritual transformation while continually denying our spiritual condition. The Word of God tells us: - If we are living in sin, truth calls it sin. - If we are walking in bitterness, truth exposes it. - If pride is controlling us, truth confronts it. - If unforgiveness has taken root, truth reveals it. But God does not reveal our condition to destroy us. He reveals it so that His grace can transform us. Spiritual Insight Conviction is not rejection. When the Holy Spirit shows you something that needs to change, He is not saying, “I have abandoned you.” He is saying, “I love you too much to leave you like this.” 2. GRACE DOES NOT CANCEL TRUTH. One of the greatest misunderstandings about grace is that grace means God does not care about our behavior. That is not biblical. Romans 6:1–2 asks: «“Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.”» Grace does not give us permission to remain in sin. Grace gives us power to overcome sin. A person who truly encounters grace does not say: «“Because God forgives me, I can do whatever I want.”» Instead, he says: «“Because God has forgiven me, I want to live differently.”» Grace does not lower God's standard. Grace gives us the strength to pursue God's standard. 3. TRUTH WITHOUT LOVE CAN PUSH PEOPLE AWAY Ephesians 4:15 teaches us to speak the truth in love. Notice that Scripture does not say: “Speak truth anyhow.” It says: “Speak the truth in love.” There are people who are correct in what they say but wrong in how they say it. You can win an argument and lose a soul. You can prove someone wrong and still fail to show them Christ. Jesus never compromised truth, but He also never treated broken people as worthless. Biblical Example: The Woman Caught in Adultery Read John 8:1–11. The religious leaders brought a woman caught in adultery before Jesus. They wanted judgment. Jesus gave her something greater than condemnation—an opportunity for transformation. He did not say: «“What you did doesn't matter.”» Neither did He say: «“You are hopeless.”» Jesus told her: “Go, and sin no more.” That is truth and grace working together. Grace did not approve her sin. Grace gave her a future beyond her sin. 4. JESUS IS THE PERFECT MEETING POINT OF TRUTH AND GRACE John 1:14 says Jesus was: «“full of grace and truth.”» Not half grace and half truth. Full of grace. Full of truth. Jesus could look at Zacchaeus and say, “Come down.” Then He could enter his house and bring salvation. Jesus could confront Peter's failure and still restore Peter to ministry. Jesus could confront Thomas's doubt and still invite him closer. Jesus could confront Saul's persecution of the Church and transform him into Paul, a powerful apostle. This is the Gospel: God does not ignore our brokenness, but neither does He abandon us because of it. At the cross, truth and grace met. Truth declared: Sin must be judged. Grace declared: God Himself will provide the sacrifice. And Jesus became that sacrifice. 5. WE MUST LEARN TO LIVE WITH BOTH TRUTH AND GRACE As Christians, we must become people who carry both. In our homes Tell your children the truth, but correct them with love. In the church Teach holiness, but never make struggling people feel that restoration is impossible. In relationships Be honest, but do not use honesty as an excuse for cruelty. On social media Stand for biblical truth, but do not become known for insulting people. In evangelism Tell people about sin, judgment, repentance and holiness—but also tell them about the mercy, forgiveness and salvation found in Jesus Christ. The goal is not merely to expose people. The goal is to lead people to Christ. REAL-LIFE PICTURE: THE MIRROR AND THE SOAP Imagine someone standing before a mirror with a dirty face. The mirror shows the dirt. But the mirror cannot wash the face. That is what truth does. Truth shows us who we are and where we have fallen. But then grace comes like water and soap. Grace says: “You don't have to remain this way.” The mirror is necessary. The washing is necessary. Truth and grace belong together. DEEP SPIRITUAL INSIGHTS 1. Truth without grace produces condemnation. People may know they are wrong but believe they are beyond redemption. 2. Grace without truth produces deception. People may feel comfortable while continuing in destructive patterns. 3. Truth brings conviction; grace brings restoration. The Holy Spirit exposes sin so that Christ can restore the sinner. 4. Grace is not God's approval of our past. Grace is God's invitation into a transformed future. 5. Mature Christianity knows how to confront without destroying. Spiritual maturity is not merely knowing Scripture. It is knowing how to apply Scripture with the character of Christ. PRACTICAL ACTION STEPS This week: 1. Allow God's truth to examine you. Read Psalm 139:23–24 and ask God to reveal areas that need correction. 2. Stop using grace as an excuse. Identify one habit or attitude that God is calling you to surrender. 3. Correct someone with love. If confrontation is necessary, pray first. Speak truth without humiliation. 4. Forgive someone who has failed you. Remember the grace you have received from God. 5. Share the Gospel with someone. Tell them both the truth about sin and the good news of salvation through Christ. 6. Examine your social media behavior. Before posting or commenting, ask: “Am I representing Christ, or am I merely trying to win an argument?” QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION 1. Do I usually emphasize truth while neglecting grace? 2. Do I use grace as an excuse to tolerate sin? 3. Can people see the character of Christ in the way I correct them? 4. Is there an area of my life where God is asking me to change? 5. Have I received God's grace personally, or am I only talking about it? 6. Who needs truth from me today? 7. Who needs grace from me today? POWERFUL PRAYER POINTS 1. Father, give me the courage to accept Your truth, even when it confronts me. 2. Lord Jesus, deliver me from every attitude that uses grace as an excuse for sin. 3. Holy Spirit, teach me to speak the truth in love. 4. Father, heal every area of my life that Your truth has exposed. 5. Lord, give me grace to forgive those who have hurt me. 6. Father, remove pride, bitterness, hypocrisy and self-righteousness from my heart. 7. Lord Jesus, make my life a testimony of both holiness and compassion. 8. Let everyone who encounters me encounter something of the character of Christ. 9. Father, give me wisdom to know when to confront, when to correct, when to forgive and when to remain silent. 10. Lord, let Your truth set me free and let Your grace transform me completely. COME TO JESUS Perhaps truth has exposed something in your life today. Do not run from it. Run to Jesus. Maybe you have failed. Grace is still available. Maybe you have wandered away. Grace is calling you home. Maybe you have been hiding behind religious activity while your heart is far from God. Truth is calling you back. Maybe you have been using grace to justify what God has asked you to surrender. Truth is calling you to repentance. And perhaps you have been condemning yourself because of your past. Grace is telling you that your story is not over. At Calvary, truth and grace met. Your sin was serious enough to require the cross. But God's love was great enough to provide the cross. So today, do not choose between truth and grace. Receive both. Let truth correct you. Let grace restore you. Let truth make you honest. Let grace make you humble. Let truth lead you to repentance. Let grace lead you into restoration. And above everything else— LET JESUS CHRIST BE THE PLACE WHERE TRUTH AND GRACE MEET IN YOUR LIFE. FINAL DECLARATION “I will not run from God's truth, and I will not abuse God's grace. I will walk in truth, live by grace, speak the truth in love, and become more like Jesus every day. Amen!” If you have not given your life to Jesus kindly do so by joining a Bible believing Church. You can get inspirational ebooks from my selar/Amazon shops below https://selar.com/m/umoh-edem1 https://selar.com/m/umoedem https://www.amazon.com/author/umohedembooks https://afrikdp.com/author/umohedem-9128 CONTACT - WhatsApp +2349024173027, +2349055447540 Email pastor.umoedem@gmail.com Join our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/share/1HZA5cQsuy/

if we pray faithfully to Jesus Christ without doubt …. he will rise us like enything….

18-08-2026 Nothing Is Impossible With God Mark 10:27 (AMP): “With people [as far as it depends on them] it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” Mark 10:27 reminds us that our limitations are not God’s limitations. There will be moments when you look at a situation and think, “There is absolutely no way this can happen.” Maybe the door seems completely closed, the circumstances seem too complicated, or something you have been praying for feels impossible. But Jesus tells us something powerful: what is impossible with people is possible with God. Sometimes we measure God’s ability by our own ability. We think, “I can't fix this, I don't have enough, I don't know how this will work out.” And perhaps you don't know how—and that's okay. God doesn't need you to know how. He simply asks you to trust Him. Your responsibility is not to figure out every detail. Your responsibility is to keep believing, keep praying, keep walking in obedience, and keep your eyes on the One who can do what you cannot. God can make a way where there appears to be no way. He can restore what seems broken beyond repair. He can provide when the resources seem insufficient. He can open doors you could never open yourself. Your impossible situation is not an impossible situation for God. Today, surrender the things you cannot control. Stop carrying the pressure of having to figure everything out. Give God room to work in His way and in His timing. 🙏 Prayer Father, Thank You that nothing is impossible for You. When I look at my circumstances and see limitations, help me to look at You and see possibility. Forgive me for the times I've allowed fear, doubt, or my own understanding to become bigger than my faith. Teach me to trust You even when I cannot see the way forward. I surrender my impossible situations to You. Where I see no way, make a way. Where I feel weak, give me strength. Where I feel uncertain, give me peace. Help me remember that I don't have to understand everything to trust You. I believe that You are able to do what I cannot do. I believe that You are working even when I cannot see it. And I choose to trust You. In Jesus' name, Amen. ❤️ 💛 Today’s Reminder “What is impossible for me is not impossible for God.” Don't let the size of your problem determine the size of your faith. Look at the greatness of your God.

A Smith Wigglesworth sermon ... God's Word Is Sure Whoever says to this mountain, "Be removed and be cast into the sea," and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. -Mark11:23-24 These are days when we need to have our faith strengthened, when we need to know God. God has designed that the just will live by faith (Rom.1:17), no matter how they may be fettered. I know that God's Word is sufficient. One word from Him can change a nation. His Word is "from everlasting to everlasting". (Ps. 90:2). It is through the entrance of this everlasting Word, this incorruptible seed, that we are born again and come into this wonderful salvation. "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:4). This is the food of faith. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom.10:17). Everywhere people are trying to discredit the Bible and re[1]move its miracles. One preacher says, "Well, you know, Jesus arranged beforehand to have that colt tied where it was and for the men to say just what they did." (See Matthew 21:2-3.) I tell you, God can arrange everything. He can plan for you, and when He / plans for you, all is peace. All things are possible if you will believe. Another preacher says, "It was an easy thing for Jesus to feed the people with five loaves. The loaves were so big in those days that it was a simple matter to cut them into a thousand pieces 1 each." (See John 6:5-13.) But he forgets that one little boy brought \ those five loaves all the way in his lunch basket. There is nothing impossible with God. Read Smith Wigglesworth's other works at http://www.teleiosministries.com/Gifts-of-Healing.html Free Downloads at www.teleiosministries.com

wait on God Waiting on the Lord is not wasted time; it is preparation time. When you feel stuck in a season of waiting, it can be easy to lose heart. However, biblical waiting is an active, hopeful pause that builds your spiritual endurance.. Why Waiting on the Lord Matters :It shifts your focus: It moves your eyes from your problems to God's power. It renews your strength: Like an eagle resting before flight, waiting restores your energy. It aligns your timing: God sees the whole map; He moves when the time is exactly right.. It protects you: Sometimes a "wait" is actually God shielding you from an unseen danger .A Prayer for the Waiting Season Dear God,Some days, this waiting feels heavy and long. My heart feels anxious, and I want to rush ahead. Please help me to rest in Your perfect timing today.Give me the strength to stay patient. Fill my mind with peace when doubt creeps in. I choose to believe that Your plans for me are good, even when I cannot see the next step. Strengthen my heart right now. Remind me that You are working behind the scenes.In Jesus' name, Amen.

MONDAY MORNING PRAYER “BUT IF NOT!” A Faith That Trusts God Regardless of the Outcome! Scripture: Daniel 3:17–18 (KJV) “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace... But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods...” Heavenly Father, we come before You this Monday morning with hearts still overflowing from the awesome service we experienced yesterday. Thank You for Your presence, Your Word, Your power, and the reminder that You are still God—even when life doesn't turn out the way we expected. Lord, as we begin this new week, give us the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They stood before a fiery furnace knowing You were able to deliver them, but their faith wasn't dependent upon whether You did. Their declaration was simple but powerful: “Our God is able... BUT IF NOT, we still won't bow!” Father, give us that kind of faith! When the prayer hasn't been answered yet—we will still worship You. When the healing hasn't manifested yet—we will still trust You. When the financial breakthrough hasn't come yet—we will still praise You. When the family situation hasn't changed—we will still believe You. When the door doesn't open—we will still serve You. When we don't understand what You're doing—we will still declare that You are good! Lord, teach us that real faith doesn't say, “I'll trust You if You do what I want.” Real faith says, “God, I know You are able, but even if You choose another way, I will not bow, I will not quit, and I will not turn away from You!” Father, some of us may walk into a furnace this week—a difficult conversation, an unexpected problem, pressure on the job, financial concerns, family struggles, disappointment, or circumstances beyond our control. But remind us that the furnace does not mean You have abandoned us! Daniel 3:25 declares, “Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire... and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” God, meet us in the fire! If You don't keep us from it, walk through it with us. If You don't immediately remove it, give us strength to endure it. If You don't change the situation today, change us while we're standing in it. And when we come out, let us come out like those three Hebrew men—not destroyed, not defeated, and not smelling like what we've been through! Your Word says in Daniel 3:27 that “the smell of fire had not passed on them.” So Father, don't let yesterday's fire contaminate today's attitude. Don't let past disappointments determine this week's expectations. Don't allow bitterness, fear, frustration, or discouragement to follow us into this new day. We declare: THE FIRE WILL NOT HAVE THE FINAL WORD! We may be tested, but we will not bow. We may be pressured, but we will not compromise. We may be surrounded by flames, but we are not alone. We may not understand God's plan, but we trust God's heart. Father, cover our families today. Cover our homes, marriages, children, grandchildren, loved ones, churches, pastors, leaders, workplaces, businesses, finances, and every concern we're carrying. Go before us on the highways and byways. Protect us from dangers seen and unseen. Give us wisdom in every decision, grace in every conversation, patience in every challenge, and strength for every assignment. And Lord, when the enemy whispers, “What if God doesn't do it?” Give us enough faith to answer: “BUT IF NOT—I STILL TRUST HIM!” Because our faith isn't merely in what God can give us—our faith is in who God is! You are still Jehovah Jireh—our Provider. You are still Jehovah Rapha—our Healer. You are still Jehovah Shalom—our Peace. You are still our Deliverer, our Keeper, our Refuge, and our Strength! So we enter this Monday declaring: OUR GOD IS ABLE! But even if He doesn't do it the way we expected... WE WILL STILL WORSHIP! WE WILL STILL SERVE! WE WILL STILL PRAISE! WE WILL STILL BELIEVE! WE WILL STILL STAND! Because whether God delivers us from the fire or meets us in the fire, we know one thing for certain: WE WILL NEVER WALK THROUGH THE FIRE ALONE! Father, let the Word we received yesterday live in us throughout this entire week. “BUT IF NOT!” Our circumstances will not determine our worship. Our disappointments will not destroy our faith. Our trials will not make us bow. GOD IS ABLE—AND GOD IS STILL GOD! In the mighty, matchless, and victorious name of Jesus Christ, we pray. AMEN! MONDAY Morning Declaration... My God is able! But if He chooses another way, I will still trust Him. I will not bow to fear, pressure, doubt, or discouragement. If I have to walk through the fire, I know I will not walk alone. God is with me, God is for me, and my faith will remain standing. BUT IF NOT—I STILL TRUST GOD!

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: SUNDAY, AUGUST 16TH, 2026 TOPIC: THE GAINS OF GOD'S COVENANT I AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE MEMORISE: "Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do." Deuteronomy 29:9 BIBLE READING: DEUTERONOMY 28:1-14 1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. 3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. 4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. 5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. 6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. 7 The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways. 8 The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 9 The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways. 10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee. 11 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee. 12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. 13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: 14 And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them. MESSAGE: In Proverbs 31:1-9, one of the things King Lemuel's mother taught him was that there were certain things that kings should not do. She told him that kings should not give their strength to women, nor should they follow the ways that destroy kings, nor should they drink wine or strong drink. If a fellow does the things that kings shouldn't do, it is expected that such a person would either never become a king or would be dethroned if he or she is already a king. To fully enjoy the gains of any covenant with God, you must be ready to fulfil its terms and conditions by surrendering totally to Him and obeying all His instructions. Once you decide to serve God with all your life and do whatever He says, sooner or later, people will come to you and say, "Tell us your secret; how are you flourishing in every area of your life?!" Many people attribute the remarkable progress of RCCG to my academic background; however, they are unaware that we are reaping the benefits of the founder's covenant with God. God called the founder of the church, Pa Josiah Akindayomi, a man who never attended school, and told him that if he could meet certain conditions, He would establish a church through him that would spread around the world. God helped Pa Akindayomi, and before his death, he fulfilled all the conditions that God gave him. Today, the RCCG is present in over 195 nations worldwide. The church is where it is today because of God's covenant with my Father in the Lord. God cannot be mocked. Anyone who obeys the terms of His covenant will reap its gains. In today's memory verse, Moses told the Israelites that if they kept God's commandments, they would prosper in all that they did. Prosperity is a major gain that those who keep God's covenant will enjoy. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all enjoyed abundant prosperity as a result of God's covenant with Abraham. Father Abraham was described as a man who was blessed in all things (Genesis 24:1), Isaac was described as being very great (Genesis 26:13), and Jacob was described as a prosperous man (Genesis 30:43). Beloved, God has given His children all things to enjoy richly (1 Timothy 6:17). However, you must fulfil the terms and conditions of God's covenant with His children to truly enjoy prosperity in all areas of your life. May your life reflect the gains of God's covenant abundantly, in Jesus' name. KEY POINT: Anyone who obeys the terms of God's covenant wil reap its gains. BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JEREMIAH 40-43 HYMN 30: WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD 1 When we walk with the Lord in the light of His word, what a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will, He abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey. Refrain: Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. 2 Not a shadow can rise, Not a cloud in the skies, But His smiles quickly drives it away; Not a doubt nor a fear, Not a sigh nor a tear, Can abide while we trust and obey. 3 Not a burden we bear, Not a sorrow we share, But our toil He doth richly Repay; Not a grief or a loss, Not a frown or a cross, But is blest if we trust and Obey. 4 But we never can prove The delights of His love Until all on the altar we lay; For the favour He shows, For the joy He bestows, Are for them, Who will trust and obey. 5 Then in fellowship sweet We will sit at His feet, Or we'll walk by His side In the way; What He says we will do, Where He sends we will go; Never fear, only trust and obey..

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: SUNDAY, AUGUST 16TH, 2026 TOPIC: THE GAINS OF GOD'S COVENANT I AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE MEMORISE: "Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do." Deuteronomy 29:9 BIBLE READING: DEUTERONOMY 28:1-14 1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. 3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. 4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. 5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. 6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. 7 The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways. 8 The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 9 The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways. 10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee. 11 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee. 12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. 13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: 14 And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them. MESSAGE: In Proverbs 31:1-9, one of the things King Lemuel's mother taught him was that there were certain things that kings should not do. She told him that kings should not give their strength to women, nor should they follow the ways that destroy kings, nor should they drink wine or strong drink. If a fellow does the things that kings shouldn't do, it is expected that such a person would either never become a king or would be dethroned if he or she is already a king. To fully enjoy the gains of any covenant with God, you must be ready to fulfil its terms and conditions by surrendering totally to Him and obeying all His instructions. Once you decide to serve God with all your life and do whatever He says, sooner or later, people will come to you and say, "Tell us your secret; how are you flourishing in every area of your life?!" Many people attribute the remarkable progress of RCCG to my academic background; however, they are unaware that we are reaping the benefits of the founder's covenant with God. God called the founder of the church, Pa Josiah Akindayomi, a man who never attended school, and told him that if he could meet certain conditions, He would establish a church through him that would spread around the world. God helped Pa Akindayomi, and before his death, he fulfilled all the conditions that God gave him. Today, the RCCG is present in over 195 nations worldwide. The church is where it is today because of God's covenant with my Father in the Lord. God cannot be mocked. Anyone who obeys the terms of His covenant will reap its gains. In today's memory verse, Moses told the Israelites that if they kept God's commandments, they would prosper in all that they did. Prosperity is a major gain that those who keep God's covenant will enjoy. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all enjoyed abundant prosperity as a result of God's covenant with Abraham. Father Abraham was described as a man who was blessed in all things (Genesis 24:1), Isaac was described as being very great (Genesis 26:13), and Jacob was described as a prosperous man (Genesis 30:43). Beloved, God has given His children all things to enjoy richly (1 Timothy 6:17). However, you must fulfil the terms and conditions of God's covenant with His children to truly enjoy prosperity in all areas of your life. May your life reflect the gains of God's covenant abundantly, in Jesus' name. KEY POINT: Anyone who obeys the terms of God's covenant wil reap its gains. BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JEREMIAH 40-43 HYMN 30: WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD 1 When we walk with the Lord in the light of His word, what a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will, He abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey. Refrain: Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. 2 Not a shadow can rise, Not a cloud in the skies, But His smiles quickly drives it away; Not a doubt nor a fear, Not a sigh nor a tear, Can abide while we trust and obey. 3 Not a burden we bear, Not a sorrow we share, But our toil He doth richly Repay; Not a grief or a loss, Not a frown or a cross, But is blest if we trust and Obey. 4 But we never can prove The delights of His love Until all on the altar we lay; For the favour He shows, For the joy He bestows, Are for them, Who will trust and obey. 5 Then in fellowship sweet We will sit at His feet, Or we'll walk by His side In the way; What He says we will do, Where He sends we will go; Never fear, only trust and obey..

LOST IN THE CHURCH: [BEING LOST IN CHURCH] Part Five Measuring Holiness There has been a great deception among many people who assume that holiness is measured by comparing a person’s good deeds with their bad deeds. When the scale of good deeds appears to outweigh the bad, they conclude that the person is holy. In this way, many have continued to measure Christianity by looking at what they have done and what they have not done. This kind of holiness focuses heavily on measuring sin according to the “Don’ts” found in Scripture. And this has become the interpretation of religion throughout history. It has continued to damage the Church and has contributed to leading many people to hell. Holiness or sin is not merely an action—not simply what a person does or does not do—but a condition of the heart. God is deeply concerned with the condition of our hearts. Actions are only the results of what is already inside the heart. Many have measured holiness by good deeds, yet the Lord does not look at things in that way. He looks at the spirit or intention behind every action, examining the manner and motive with which it was done. Therefore, the Lord is not simply looking for people who perform good deeds on earth, but for people who do what is right! There is a great difference between doing a good thing and doing the right thing. Sometimes the right thing may appear to be evil in the eyes of people. When the Lord commanded Israel to destroy the nations of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, as stated in Deuteronomy 20:17, could the world have called Him good? Yet we know without doubt that the Lord was doing what was right, because He does not make mistakes, and His works are always without error. Understand that sin is a condition of the heart, and there is One who examines the deepest intentions of the heart. A person can perform good deeds with an evil motive, while another can perform something that appears bad with a good intention. Therefore, it is very easy for a person to be deceived if they place their confidence in goodness or in their works. Indeed, evil kills; however, goodness can be responsible for deceiving and destroying even more people in the world than evil itself. One of Satan’s most powerful weapons for bringing destruction into the world comes through what appears to be good. There is hardly a greater deception Satan can use than coming to us dressed as an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14 Because sin is a condition of the heart, a person can be a murderer even if they have never physically killed anyone. Likewise, someone can be an adulterer before God even if they have never slept with a woman. For example, even if a lemon tree refuses to produce fruit, perhaps in an attempt to hide its nature, it cannot change and become a mango tree. We cannot remove sin from within ourselves by keeping the Law or by trying to be good. We must be transformed in our hearts as we hold firmly to the Cross. Otherwise, even if a person never commits an outward act of sin, that does not necessarily mean they are without guilt. Remember: even if a lemon tree does not produce fruit, that does not mean it will be counted as an orange tree. Circumcision of the Heart Essentially, there is no action a person can perform that can change their inner nature. Things such as religion and the Law can change the outward appearance, but they cannot transform the inner person. Christianity does not begin from the outside and move inward; rather, it begins from within and moves outward. Therefore, through religion, the Law, happiness, habits, the desire for praise, and so forth, it is entirely possible for a person to do good outwardly while not actually being good in their heart. That is why the Lord used circumcision as an illustration of removing the outward covering of hypocrisy, so that what is inside would correspond with what is outside. This was the foundation of the circumcision commanded by the Lord in the house of Israel, when He instructed them to circumcise the foreskin of their bodies. And was this not a prophecy concerning the circumcision of the heart in our present age, when we look to Christ, as it is written in Philippians 3:3: > “For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh.” If you are in church and have not been born again, understand that your nature has not been transformed. Therefore, even if you pretend to do good, fast extensively, keep all the Laws, observe all the ancient festivals, new moons, or Sabbaths, understand that hell awaits you! And these are words of truth. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. Amen! #ToBeContinued... Mwl. Ernest Nyalula #LostInTheChurch #CircumcisionOfTheHeart #TrueHoliness #BornAgain #HeartTransformation #ChristAlone #GraceAndTruth #Christianity #FaithInChrist #TheGospel #JesusChrist #KingdomOfGod #LordBook #SpiritualGrowth #TruthOfTheGospel🙏