Ezekiel 33:11 Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’  For a lot of people, God is an uncaring, mean judge who takes no interest in the lives of people struggling to survive. But nothing is further from the truth. Today’s verse is a great example of just how much He cares for us. Our God does love us, even those people who are caught up in lives of sin and shame. And He wants what is best for us.  God doesn’t want anyone to die, good or bad. He wants them to cease doing the bad things in their lives and instead repent and turn to Him. He told us in this verse just how He feels about the death of those who are wicked. He takes no pleasure in their deaths at all because He doesn’t want any to perish, but instead, for all to come to know Him and be saved.  He made a vow to the Israelites, spoken through the prophet Ezekiel. He said “As surely as I live…” This was an undisputed fact for the Israelites. They knew God existed and for Him to make a vow, it was serious business. And God is always faithful, always following through with what He said He would do. In this case, He vowed that He took no pleasure in the punishing or death of the wicked and sin filled people. He wanted them to repent, to turn from their ways, and to live.  He even said, “Turn! Turn…” The emphasis on the word turn, spoken twice, showed the Israelites that He was giving them the opportunity to change their behavior and transform their lives. This clearly demonstrated that He is a merciful God, giving grace when it is not deserved. Even when we feel weighed down by our mistakes, He offers us another chance. He extends His hand and pulls us back up, setting our feet on the ground once more. He is truly a patient, waiting God who wants none to perish, but all to come to be redeemed and made righteous once again (2 Peter 3:8-9). Despite His grace and mercy and His long standing patience, we must also remember that He is a just God. He will judge people accordingly. If we are living in sin, He will bring judgement to us and it will not be pleasant.  Turn from your sin today. Accept His grace and mercy and let your life be transformed and let yourself be made righteous. Don’t wait. There is no telling when He will return, when He will judge, or how long it might be in the meantime. Repent of your sins and seek His forgiveness.  #TEENS4JESUS #devotion #dailydevotional #christianteens #DailyBibleVerse

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST 2026 TOPIC: BREAKING COVENANTS, PART 1 MEMORIZE: "But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered?" Ezekiel 17:15 (KJV) BIBLE READING: 1 SAMUEL 2:27-31 27 And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house? 28 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel? 29 Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people? 30 Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. 31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house. MESSAGE: God is faithful; He never breaks His promises, nor does He go back on His word. James 1:17 says that there is no variableness nor shadow of turning with Him. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8), and He never breaks His covenants. However, if a fellow breaks a covenant he or she has made with God, then God is under no obligation to keep His part of the covenant. In Numbers 25:6-13, God made a covenant of eternal priesthood with Phinehas, Eleazar's son, because, in his zeal for the Lord, he struck a man and his concubine dead. However, in today's Bible reading, God told Eli, "I entered into a covenant that you and your father's house will stand before Me forever, but since you have broken the covenant, I am saying, let it be far from Me." Eli's carelessness annulled the covenant God made with his ancestor, Phinehas. As a result of the broken covenant, God's hedge of protection departed from Eli's household, and his two sons died on the same day. When Eli heard the news of their death, he also died that same day, along with the wife of one of his sons. This illustrates the importance of a covenant and that the consequence of breaking one is usually death. The death of a person who is a party to a covenant typically releases such a person from fulfilling his or her part in the covenant; however, God remains faithful to His covenants, even after a person He is in covenant with dies. Deuteronomy 7:9 says that He keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him and keep His commandments to the thousandth generation. Exodus 34:7 tells us that He keeps mercy for thousands. When you keep your covenant with God, it will extend to your descendants. When God promised Abraham that through his seed, all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 22:18), that promise found its ultimate fulfilment in Jesus, who came 42 generations after Abraham, approximately 2,000 years later. When God promised David that he would always have a seed to sit on the throne (Psalm 89:3-4,29), He never broke His side of the covenant. That covenant was also fulfilled in Jesus. Beloved, remain faithful to your covenant with God, for in doing so, you will release immeasurable blessings upon yourself and your descendants for generations to come. KEY POINT: God is faithful; He never breaks His covenants. BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR: JEREMIAH 51 - 52 AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE HYMNAL 11 - STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF CHRIST OUR KING 1. Standing on the promises of Christ our King, Thro' eternal ages ‎PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FRIDAY, 21ST AUGUST, 2026 *BREAKING COVENANTS I* ‎ 1.Father, You are the faithful God; the same yesterday, and today, and for ever, the covenant keeping God. 2.Father, thank You for Your faithfulness from generation to generation; You never break Your covenant because You are not a man that will lie or repent of his words. 3.Father, please help me not to break Your covenant or fail to fulfill my own part of Your covenant with me. Help me not to be careless in my walk with You, in Jesus' name. 4.Father, please help me never to break Your covenant so that Your hedge of protection will not depart from my household, in Jesus' name. 5.Father, please help me not to ignore the correction and discipline on the children You have given me so they won't miss Your covenant for their lives, in Jesus' name. 6.Father, please help me to be faithful to Your covenant throughout my living, and never to compromise at any point in time, in Jesus' name. 7.Father, please let my love for You be on the increase daily and help me to keep Your commandments for an extension of the blessings of Your covenant to my descendants, in Jesus' name. 8.Father, please let the promises in Your covenant find fulfillment in my life and in the lives of my children's children, in Jesus' name. 9.Father, please help me to remain faithful in your covenant; please release Your immense blessings upon my life and on my descendants, in Jesus' name. 10.Father, please show me Your mercy, and help me to repent in any area I have broken Your covenant, in Jesus' name. 11.Father, thank You for the life of Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye. ‎ Help him never to break Your covenant, in Jesus' name. Bless his children (biological and spiritual). Help him to continue to produce sons and daughters to Your glory, in Jesus name ‎ ‎12.Father, please bless Your son that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, with wisdom and favour. Answer all his prayers beyond measure, and all those who have been broadcasting them, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎13.Father, please let every challenge and temptations, hindrance and obstacles of getting these prayer points across to Your children, timely, and on daily basis be removed, in Jesus name. ‎ ‎14.Your personal petitions. ‎(Philippians 4:6) ‎ ‎15.In Jesus name I pray. ‎(John 14:13-14; 15:16) ‎ #GodBlessOurNation *These prayers have no expiry date! Please join us in prayer, irrespective of the time they get to you. Remain blessed, in Jesus’ name.

Good evening, brethren. 1. Evening devotion for today. ED.i. *DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST* (COCIN DEVOTIONAL) *DATE:* THURSDAY 20TH AUGUST, 2026 *SUB-THEME:* YOUTHS: VESSELS OF GOD’S GRACE. *TOPIC:* YOUTHS AS BEARERS OF LIGHT *TEXT:* EPHESIANS 5:8-13 8. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9. for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth 10. and find out what pleases the Lord. 11. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. *TOPIC:* YOUTHS AS BEARERS OF LIGHT *THE MESSAGE:* Jesus made it clear that He is the light of the world, and whoever following Him will never walk in darkness but have the light of life (Jn. 8:12). Darkness is often synonymous with sin and wickedness. In this text, Paul makes it clear that believers were once in darkness but are now in the light of the Lord. He urges them to live as children of the light and have nothing to do with darkness. Instead, expose it through righteous and truthful deeds that pleases the Lord. Christians are living amidst ungodly people whose behaviours and priorities conflict with the word of God. Will you compromise to belong or stand out as light? As a youth, your life must radiate the light of Christ wherever you are - in school, at work, in business, and in search of a job or a life partner. Is your light shinning? If not, fan it into flame. *REFLECTION:* Let your light so shine. *PRAYER:* Father, help me not to hide my light in Jesus' name. Amen. *MEMORY VERSE FOR THE MONTH:* 2 TIMOTHY 2:21. "If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be instruments for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master, and prepared to do any good work." *TODAY'S BIBLE READING PLAN:* EZEKIEL 16-19. ED.i. TO SAFE HARBOR "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved. So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away." - Acts 27:31-32 Paul said this when they were in a big storm on a ship at sea. This shipwreck story is often preached; however, we do not often hear about the lifeboat which belonged to the ship. The workers on the ship wanted to use this boat to secretly get away. They knew that if the ship was tossed against the rocks, they would all perish. Moreover, there were 276 people on board. How do you get them all in one lifeboat? They were cowards and wanted to leave the ship to save their own skin. Paul warned the captain and said: 'If they do not stay on board, you will not be saved.' Jesus Christ, the only Lifeboat The lifeboat would not offer any chance to survive on the stormy sea where they had been floating for two weeks. Paul knew this. I do not know much about ships, but one thing is certain: when there is a chance for shipwreck, the first question is: 'where is the lifeboat?' I have an important question: do we all understand the meaning and importance of a lifeboat when it comes to the salvation of our souls? When your soul is in great need, do you have a lifeboat? Today I want to ask you to investigate the lifeboat before your soul venture on board. For many people their lifeboat is their 'good works.' However, you will not get to heaven with these. There are many leaky lifeboats and people think these will save their souls. I would like to convince people through the Holy Spirit to step into the only safe lifeboat which will bring you to heaven. That lifeboat cannot be smashed. The wood comes from the cross on Calvary. Throughout the ages, this Lifeboat brings shipwrecks into safe harbor day and night. This Lifeboat never fails and is big enough for everyone. The only lifeboat that can save your soul is Jesus Christ. https://www.theblessingdevotional.com 2. Good evening prayer for today. EP.i. Evening Prayer Come unto me, all [ye] that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ⏤ Matthew 11:28 Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work. ⏤ Oswald Chambers O God, You have taught us in Your holy word to cast our burdens upon You, promising that You will sustain us. We come to You this evening with our burdens. You’ve given them to us as gifts, so we know there must be a blessing hidden within each one. Help us to accept our burdens and receive the gifts they carry. Let us not complain or grumble under them, lest we miss the blessings You’ve prepared for us. You haven’t promised to take our burdens away, for that would rob us of the blessings You’ve lovingly prepared. But You have promised to sustain us and give us the strength to bear them. So our prayer is that You would give us the grace to accept whatever burdens You’ve placed upon us, to carry whatever crosses You’ve given us, and to bear them after our Savior, trusting in quiet faith. At the close of this day, we bring You our sincere gratitude and praise for Your goodness. Your love never tires, Your patience never runs out, Your grace never fails. We grieve You with our many sins, our unbelief, and our complaining. Have mercy on us and forgive us for Jesus’ sake. Grant us an evening blessing from Your hand. Give us Your peace, strengthen us with Your might, and prepare us for any duty or struggle that lies ahead. Crush Satan under our feet. Jesus, You have overcome the world, and in Your victory, You are our defense and refuge. So we hide in You, as in the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. Bless us for Your name’s sake. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/46/evening #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

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

Ellen G. White THE SABBATH IS THE LORD’S DAY — NOT SUNDAY There is a phrase in Scripture that deserves our careful attention: “MY DAY.” God does not speak of the Sabbath as merely a Jewish tradition or a human religious custom. He claims it as His own day. Isaiah 58:13 “If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day…” Notice the language: “MY holy day.” God says: “My sabbath” — Ezekiel 20:12 “My sabbaths” — Ezekiel 20:20 “The sabbath of the LORD thy God” — Exodus 20:10 “My holy day” — Isaiah 58:13 And who is the Lord of the Sabbath? Mark 2:28 “Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.” Jesus did not say He was Lord of Sunday. He identified Himself as Lord of the Sabbath. Go back even further—to Creation. Genesis 2:2–3 “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made… And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it.” The seventh day was blessed and sanctified before there was a Jew, before there was Moses, and before there was Mount Sinai. Then God placed it in the heart of His moral law: Exodus 20:8–11 “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy… But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God.” The question is therefore not simply, “What day do I prefer?” The deeper question is: “What day has God Himself claimed as His?” Scripture answers: the seventh-day Sabbath. Sunday may be widely observed by tradition, culture, or religious practice, but we must distinguish between what God commanded and what human tradition established. Jesus warned: Mark 7:7–9 “But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” The Sabbath is not presented in Scripture as something God casually gave and later abandoned. Isaiah points forward to the new earth: Isaiah 66:22–23 “And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.” From Creation, through the Ten Commandments, through the ministry of Christ, and into the new earth, Scripture consistently gives the seventh day a unique place. So let us not allow tradition to speak louder than Scripture. The Sabbath is not my day. It is not your day. It is God’s day. “The seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God.” — Exodus 20:10 If God calls it “MY holy day,” shouldn't we be willing to honor what He has claimed? AMAZING LOVE

SERMON TITLE: "HEAR THE SON IN THE LAST AGE" Text: Hebrews 1:1-2, Acts 2:17, Joel 2:28-31 INTRODUCTION: THE TIME WE ARE IN Brothers and Sisters, we are not guessing. We are in THE LAST DAYS. Hebrews 1:2 — “but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son” Acts 2:17 — “And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh... and your young men shall see visions” God promised visions in the last days. And He is doing it. I myself was shown 3 things: A RED 7 IN THE SKY, A GREEN 7 ON THE WALL, AND A SKELETON. But hear me: I’m not here to make you stare at visions. I’m here as REAGAN a servant& a witness of Jesus to do 2 things: Feed His sheep with truth. Testify to what I have seen Him do Acts 26:16 The goal of every vision is this: To bring you back to THE SON. John 3:30 POINT 1: SPIRITUAL AWAKENING - GOD IS SPEAKING NOW Joel 2:28-29 “I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh” We are in Pentecost season. The Spirit is being poured. God is waking people up through dreams, visions, and His Word. Why? Proverbs 29:18 — “Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint” When God stops speaking, people go wild. But God IS speaking. THE 3 VISIONS I SAW - GOD’S WARNING: RED 7 IN THE SKY - The Blood of Jesus. The work is finished. Time is short. Hebrews 9:12 GREEN 7 ON THE WALL - Life from the Spirit. God wants to restore His house. Ezekiel 37:9 SKELETON - What’s left when we ignore the Son. Death. Dry bones. Ezekiel 37:11 Application: Don’t chase the sign. HEAR THE SON. Hebrews 1:2 - POINT 2: SPIRITUAL RENEWAL + REVIVAL - COME BACK TO THE WORD Joel 2:29, Psalm 51:10 Revival is not hype. It’s not noise. Revival is when the Spirit brings us back to Jesus and to the Word. John 15:26 2 Chronicles 7:14 — “If my people... turn from their wicked ways, then I will heal their land.” The Spirit was poured at Pentecost to make us like Jesus, not to make us famous. Ask God today: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 --- POINT 3: REPENTANCE + OBEDIENCE = LIFE + PURITY BEFORE GOD Acts 3:19, John 14:23, 1 Peter 1:15-16 “The day is near. So what do we do?” A. REPENT Acts 3:19 — “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out” Turn away from darkness. Turn to the Light. B. OBEY HIS WORD/COMMANDMENTS John 14:23 — “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word” Love is not a feeling. Love is obedience. C. BE HOLY / BE PURE 1 Peter 1:15-16 — “as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct” Why? Because we serve a Holy God. And Jesus is coming for a pure bride. Ephesians 5:26-27 THE PROMISE: John 10:10 — “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” Obedience brings LIFE. Disobedience brings SKELETON. --- WARNING: DON'T MISS JESUS IN THE VISIONS Matthew 24:24, 1 John 4:1 The enemy also gives signs. Matthew 24:24 Test every vision: Does it lead you to Jesus? To the Cross? To Holiness? To the Word? My vision was not to glorify me. John 3:30 — “He must increase, but I must decrease.” If a vision doesn’t make you love Jesus and obey His Word more, throw it away. --- CONCLUSION + ALTAR CALL: CHOOSE LIFE TODAY Deuteronomy 30:19, Matthew 24:44 Church, the Red 7 says: THE BLOOD IS STILL SPEAKING. Hebrews 12:24 The Green 7 says: THE SPIRIT IS STILL POURING. Acts 2:17 The Skeleton says: WITHOUT THE SON, WE ARE DEAD. Ephesians 2:1 Today God is saying: WAKE UP - Spiritual Awakening Romans 13:11 CLEAN UP - Renewal + Repentance Psalm 51:10 LINE UP - Obedience to the Word John 14:23 SHOW UP - Holy and Pure for Jesus 1 Peter 1:16 “We wait for Jesus not by watching the sky, but by washing in the Word and walking in obedience.” Ephesians 5:26

The Unstoppable Hour.. Why Our Fight is Not with This World There is a palpable anxiety in the air. We see it in the news, on social media, and in the hushed conversations at our kitchen tables. People are scrambling. They are organizing, petitioning, and protesting. They are trying to stop the political shift, the moral decline, and the geopolitical chaos. They are fighting against the current of the world, attempting to "save" a system that was always destined to collapse. But as believers, we must stop and take a sobering look at the reality of our calling. We are not here to stop the inevitable. We are here to walk through it. The Apostle Paul made it crystal clear in Ephesians 6:12: "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness." When we see the governments of the world aligning, when we see corruption at every level, and when we see nations turning away from the truth, we are witnessing the fulfillment of prophecy, not the failure of humanity. The Bible predicted a time of great corruption (2 Timothy 3:1-5). It predicted that evil would be called good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20). The tragedy of our time is not that the world is becoming corrupt; the tragedy is that the Church is wasting its energy trying to fix a world that is already under judgment. Those who are the most "active" in trying to save the culture are often the ones inadvertently bringing these things to pass, because they are fighting in the flesh, trying to build a Kingdom on Earth that was never meant to exist here permanently. To understand our role, we must look back at the history of our faith. The Scriptures are full of people who tried to "help" God fulfill His promises, and the results were devastating. Consider Abraham and Sarah. God promised Abraham a son. But when the years dragged on, Sarah decided to "help" God by giving her servant Hagar to Abraham. The result? Ishmael was born. This decision did not bring the promise sooner; it brought discord, bitterness, and a conflict that has spanned millennia, a conflict we still see in the Middle East today. God did not need Abraham's "help" in the physical realm to bring about the spiritual miracle. He needed Abraham's faith and waiting. Consider Moses. When Moses saw the oppression of his people, he acted in his own strength. He killed an Egyptian taskmaster, thinking he was delivering his people. Instead, he became a fugitive and delayed God's plan by forty years. Moses had to unlearn his own strength in the desert before God could use him to free Israel. In these times, it will be no different. We are prone to run ahead of God, to create political kingdoms, to try to legislate morality into the hearts of the unregenerate. We call it "saving the nation," but God calls it "strange fire", our own effort offered on His altar, a sacrifice He never asked for. If we are not to fight the political tide, what are we to do? Good question. We are to be Witnesses. Jesus didn't tell us to take over the world; He told us to preach the Gospel to every creature. He said, "You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). We are ambassadors of a Kingdom not of this world. We are to be Lighthouses. In a time of corruption, we are called to be blameless and pure, shining as lights in a dark world (Philippians 2:15). Our focus is not on changing the behavior of the world, but on offering the soul of the world a way out. We are to Pray. Instead of protesting the darkness, we should be praying for the souls of those in power, while trusting that God is sovereign over the rise and fall of nations. The spiritual battle is won on our knees, not on the streets. Look at the world today. Technology is advancing at a rate that allows for the global control and surveillance spoken of in Revelation. Nations are aligning in ways eerily reminiscent of the prophecies of Ezekiel and Daniel. The push for a one-world order, the moral relativism, and the hostility toward absolute truth are all box-checking the signs of the times. When we try to stop this, we are fighting God's timeline. We are acting like children trying to stop the rain by screaming at the clouds. The rain is coming. The question is: have you built your house on the Rock? The times are serious. The world is racing toward a conclusion that has been written since the foundation of the earth. We must stop panicking over the headlines and start preparing our hearts. We are not called to be reformers of a dying world; we are called to be rescuers of dying souls. Don't waste your energy trying to stop the ship from sinking. Use your energy to get people into the lifeboats. The hull is breached. The prophecies must be fulfilled. But you, you have a job to do. Do not be deceived by the illusion that you can fight the spiritual battle with physical weapons. The only thing that will save a soul is the Gospel. The only way to stand in the coming storm is to be rooted in the Word. Stop trying to save the world. Start trying to save the lost. The hour is late. The time is now. Choose your side and dig in. Alonso Buford.

Good evening, brethren. 1. Evening devotion for today. ED.i. *DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST* (COCIN DEVOTIONAL) *DATE:* WEDNESDAY 19TH AUGUST, 2026. *SUB-THEME:* YOUTHS: VESSELS OF GOD’S GRACE. *TOPIC:* DOING SOMETHING USEFUL. *TEXT:* EPHESIANS 4:25-28. 25 Therefore, stripping off falsehood, “let each of us speak the truth to his neighbor,” for we belong to one another. Zec 8:16 [Col 3:9] 26 “Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set while you are still angry, Psa 4:4 [Mat 5:25] 27 and do not give the devil an opportunity to work. Jas 4:7 1Pe 5:9 28 The thief must no longer steal but must work hard and do what is good with his own hands, so that he might earn something to give to the needy. Act 20:35 1Th 4:11 2Th 3:8 2Th 3:12 *TOPIC:* DOING SOMETHING USEFUL. *THE MESSAGE:* No one is created for a life of waste, rebellion, or indulgence in destructive habits like drugs, immorality, theft, or idleness. This passage encourages believers to live productive, truthful, and purposeful lives as taught in the scriptures. God desires fruitfulness, not wastefulness or sinful living. To be useful, you must shun lies, embrace the truth, and engage in honest work. Hard work brings rewards, growth, and opens doors of opportunity, keeping you from the grip of poverty, unfruitfulness, and shame. It is disheartening to see young people spending their time on social media, pursuing fruitless ventures, and missing numerous opportunities. Usefulness involves taking initiative, being creative, and serving both God and others with diligence and integrity. Embrace a mindset of diligence and purpose today! *REFLECTION:* Be useful to your Creator and community. *PRAYER:* Lord, help me to be productive. Amen. *MEMORY VERSE FOR THE MONTH:* 2 TIMOTHY 2:21. "If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be instruments for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master, and prepared to do any good work." *TODAY'S BIBLE READING PLAN:* EZEKIEL 12-15. ED.ii. WHAT WAS I BORN FOR? "'You are a king, then!' said Pilate. Jesus answered: 'You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to Me.'" - John 18:37 Jesus knew what He was born for. There are many people who do not know why they are here on earth. I believe, however, that man was created quite uniquely. So how can you think we were put on earth without a purpose and just for fun? It is good to think about: What was I born for? Is this what God has for me? There is only One who can give you the right answer to that and it is God. He knows exactly why you were born. God's children save themselves from a lot of difficulties when they consult Him; God wants to speak as well as answer them. The purpose of our existence God did not create us to only build a life here on earth and then die. No, God created mankind to eventually go to heaven to be with Him forever. That is the main reason why He created us. However, that is not God's only purpose. On earth we are on our way to our ultimate goal and while we are here, we must consult the Lord: 'Lord, what do You want me to do? What is the earthly purpose for which You want to use me?' Go and consult God about the earthly job you should practice and what you can do for Him, so you will know: This is the reason why I was born! Find ways to bless others. Make yourself available to people who need comfort and support. 'Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me' (Matthew 25:40). Allow yourself to say at the end of your life: 'Lord, I have done what You wanted me to do.' https://www.theblessingdevotional.com 2. Evening prayer for today. EP.i. Morning Prayer Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do,] forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. ⏤ Philippians 3:13-14 Prayer is the acid test of devotion. ⏤ Samuel Chadwick O Lord, You’ve taught us through Your apostle to forget what lies behind and to reach forward to what lies ahead. Give us the grace to let go of the past and press on toward the goal of our high calling. Help us to cast aside every weight and the sins that so easily trip us up, and to run with endurance the race set before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. This world pulls us back, holding us from aspiring heavenward. May we have the strength to resist these earthly temptations and instead be drawn toward the blessings of a heavenly life. Help us to live more and more for the things that are unseen and eternal. Earthly things, though sweet and beautiful, are temporary—like flowers that are fragrant today but wilted tomorrow. May these fleeting blessings remind us of You and turn our thoughts to You. Let us not rest in these temporary joys or build our hopes on them. Instead, teach us to rest in You and build our hopes on the enduring rock of Your eternity. Then, no matter what earthly disaster or loss comes our way, we will be safe and secure in You, our unchanging God. As we step into the world today, fill our hearts with thoughts of Your love and grace. Go before us, lead us, and help us follow You wherever You guide. Give us wisdom to respond rightly in every situation. Grant us courage to face difficulties and overcome obstacles. And give us gentle hearts so we may be a blessing to others. We ask all this in the name of Jesus. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/45/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

The Fleshy Word (The Image of the Invisible God) The Kitchen by Omodolapo Ogunye How can we see the invisible God? In this episode of The Kitchen, the exploration of The Body of the Word moves into another profound dimension: the Body of the Word is the image, form and detailed revelation of the invisible God. Building on the revelation that Jesus Christ is the living Word of God, the episode explores what His body reveals about the Father. The head, eyes, face, hands, voice and other members of the Body are presented as revelations of the Person of God. The episode draws together Revelation, Colossians, Hebrews, John, Ezekiel and Daniel to develop a central proposition: if the Father is invisible, then the Body of the Word gives us the visible revelation of who He is. To study the Body of the Word, therefore, is to pursue a deeper understanding of the Father. One of the most striking ideas in the episode is that the various members of the Body are “working pictures” of God—different revelations of the same Person in different expressions, positions and functions. This makes The Fleshy Word (The Image of the Invisible God) an important episode in the unfolding journey of The Body of the Word. It moves the conversation from simply asking Who is the Word? to asking What does the Body of the Word reveal about the Father? I recommend this episode to anyone who wants to explore the knowledge of God through the revelation of Jesus Christ. Listen slowly and follow the progression: the Word, His Body, and the revelation of the invisible Father. 🎧 Listen to “The Fleshy Word (The Image of the Invisible God)” on The Kitchen Available on: • Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Amazon Music • Audible • Deezer Listen to The Kitchen on Acast The Kitchen by Omodolapo Ogunye Celebrating The Body of the Word.

Good evening, brethren. 1. Evening devotion for today. ED.i. *DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST* (COCIN DEVOTIONAL) *DATE:* TUESDAY 18TH AUGUST 2026. *SUB-THEME:* YOUTHS: VESSELS OF GOD’S GRACE. *TOPIC:* EMPOWERED FOR UPRIGHT LIVING. *TEXT:* TITUS 2:12–13 12 It trains us to renounce ungodly living and worldly passions so that we might live sensible, honest, and godly lives in the present age Eph 1:4 Col 1:22 2Ti 1:9 1Jn 2:16 13 as we wait for the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus the Messiah. 1Co 1:7 Phi 3:20 *TOPIC:* EMPOWERED FOR UPRIGHT LIVING. *THE MESSAGE:* Upright living refers to a lifestyle characterized by moral integrity, righteousness, and adherence to God’s commandments. God created us to live extraordinary lives without struggle - a life above the power of sin, a product of grace. Man failed by disobeying and could not live an upright life. The salvation Jesus wrought restored man to the life he was expected to live. As recipients of God’s grace, we are empowered to live in a new way. Have you received the power to live this new life, or are you still entangled by sexual immorality, lying, and deception? The grace of God is potent to train you to renounce impiety and worldly passions. You must lean on Jesus to live a self-controlled, upright, and godly life in this present age. *REFLECTION:* You are empowered to live an upright life. *PRAYER:* Lord, help me to display this enabling grace daily. *MEMORY VERSE FOR THE MONTH:* 2 TIMOTHY 2:21. "If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be instruments for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master, and prepared to do any good work." *TODAY'S BIBLE READING PLAN:* EZEKIEL 7-11. ED.ii. LOT'S FATAL DECISIONS "Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah — from the Lord out of the heavens. Thus He overthrew those cities and the entire plain, destroying all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land." - Genesis 19:24-25 Abraham was blessed by God and because his nephew Lot was with him, Lot was also blessed. Both had large flocks. At one point the shepherds of both flocks started to fight because there was not enough space. Abraham then let Lot choose to go either to the left or to the right. Lot saw that the Jordan area was good and made his first fatal choice. Lot chose the best for himself. It was his first step towards Sodom. It did not occur to him to consult the Lord first. So many Christians today do the same and make their own choices based on what they see, instead of asking for the Lord's guidance. Many follow the money. The evil one mainly whispers to young people: 'If you go for the money, you can achieve everything.' However, God's way is always the best way. Lot's second fatal decision is to pitch his tents nearby Sodom. 'Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord' (Genesis 13:13). Once you take one step in the wrong direction, it will not be long before you are completely on the wrong track. Lot's third fatal step is in Genesis 14:12, it says that 'he was living in Sodom.' So, it did not take long before Lot lived in the city of Sodom. God had to destroy Sodom because of the wickedness. It was because of Abraham's prayer for Lot and his family that God gave them an opportunity to flee the city. Dear reader, one day God will destroy this world as He did with Sodom and Gomorrah. Do not make fatal choices. Do not join the sinful practices of this world. Always choose to go the way of Jesus. https://www.theblessingdevotional.com 2. Evening Prayer for today. EP.i. Evening Prayer But the mercy of the LORD [is] from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; ⏤ Psalm 103:17 There is no pit so deep, that God's love is not deeper still. ⏤ Corrie ten Boom We come with grateful hearts to You, O God, our Father. We will praise You as long as we live. We call on our souls and all that is within us to bless Your holy name and never forget Your blessings. You forgive all our sins. You heal all our diseases. You redeem our lives from destruction. You crown us with love and compassion. You satisfy our needs with good things, so that our youth is renewed like the eagle’s. You, Lord, are merciful and gracious, slow to anger and full of mercy. You won’t stay angry forever, nor will You hold our sins against us forever. You have not treated us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is Your mercy toward those who fear You. As far as the east is from the west, so far have You removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so You have compassion on those who fear You. For You know how we are formed; You remember that we are dust. Our days are like grass; we flourish like a flower of the field. The wind blows over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But Your mercy, O Lord, is from everlasting to everlasting. We rejoice in Your eternity. We rest in it, knowing that our trust in You will never be shaken. The mountains may depart, and the hills may be removed, but Your kindness will never depart from us, nor will Your covenant of peace be removed. Grant us Your peace now, our Father, and keep us safe in the secret place of Your presence throughout the night. Bless us with Your tender love, we ask through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/44/evening #taptapstudio #youdevotion.