Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. MD.i. 😀🌺🌹🎁🎀💝 MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY WEDNESDAY AUGUST 19, 2026. "TRUST YOUR BIBLE, IT'S TRUE!" ‘…that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled...’ Matthew 26:56 NIV THE DEATH, burial and resurrection of Jesus fulfilled no less than twenty-nine different Old Testament prophecies. The odds of that happening are virtually impossible! Mathematician Peter Stoner explains it this way: ‘If you were to cover the state of Texas two feet deep in pound coins, then on one, place a mark. What is the probability that a blindfolded person could, on their first attempt, select that coin? That’s the likelihood of just eight prophecies being fulfilled in one lifetime. And Jesus fulfilled twenty-nine of them in one day!’ Let’s look at some of the prophecies He fulfilled: 1) ‘…They pierced My hands and… feet’ (Psalms 22:16 NKJV). 2) ‘They divide my garments…and…cast lots’ (Psalms 22:18 NKJV). 3) ‘…in that day…I will make the sun go down at noon, and…darken the earth in…daylight’ (Amos 8:9 NKJV). Jesus predicted both His death and His resurrection. He told His critics, ‘…“Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”…the temple he had spoken of was his body’ (John 2:19-21 NIV). Jesus orchestrated every event, including Judas’ betrayal, the high priest’s hypocrisy, and Peter’s denial. Why? ‘That the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.’ So you can trust your Bible because it’s true. And something else is true too. God is ‘…able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…’ (Ephesians 3:20 NIV). Note the words ‘immeasurably more.’ What seems impossible to you at the moment, is all in a day’s work for Him. So start trusting Him to work on your behalf. Bible In A Year: Gal 4-6, Matt 19:1-14, Ps 119:113-120, Pro 18:10-12. Courtesy: Grace So Amazing Foundation 🌹🎀 *To partner with us, kindly refer to page 9 of the hard copy edition or simply send us a WhatsApp message/call on +2348128000068.*💝🌹🌷🎀. MD.ii. [18/08, 9:45 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA* WEDNESDAY, 19TH AUGUST, 2026. *THE PRICE OF DWELLING TOGETHER IN LOVE AND UNITY* *TEXT:* GENESIS 33:5-15. 5 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant. 6 Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves. 7 And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves. 8 And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord. 9 And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself. 10 And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me. 11 Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it. 12 And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee. 13 And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die. 14 Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir. 15 And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord. *Timeless Truth:* _"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"_ (Psalm 133:1). *INTRODUCTION* Love and unity are the indispensable catalysts of human relationships that make life worthwhile. Without these two graces, life ceases to have meaning and will breed heartaches, emotional troubles, bitter enmity and rivalries, anguish of the soul and all sorts of relational problems. The fulfilment and joy of natural and spiritual families, communities, nations etc rest on love and unity. *"Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity"*. Satan's delight is to fuel relational problems and thereby make the earth another hell for relations. When the foundation of happy relationship and co-existence is destroyed, what shall the righteous do? The foundation of a happy and united family life of Isaac was broken and it had its toll on the children. Parental disunity and favoritism led to bitter rivalry between Esau and Jacob. The result was not a sweet experience for each member of the family. After 20 years of separation between the children, the need for peace and unity, so as to end the ugly experience became imperative. They must be commended that they did not die in that situation. They allowed God and let go of their differences. What can we learn from them about how to build the broken walls and foundation of life and unity among brethren? Read on. *1. Bridge the Communication Gap* a. The main reason Jesus came to pay the ultimate price of redemption is to break the communication barrier between man and God due to sin. Once that barrier is broken, it will be possible to break the communication barrier among fellow brethren. The fact that Jesus paid this price underscores the importance of love and unity among brethren. No man can claim to be godly without conscious and deliberate commitment to living in peace and love with fellow brethren and neighbours. A graceless person will be content with disunity and loveless relationships while true grace makes true reconciliation possible. Jacob initiated it and this shows he had grace. He first settled the problem in the spiritual realm by wrestling with God on a lonely night at Jabbok. His personal encounter with God first changed his life, blew his ego to the wind of heaven, brought a deep transformation into his life and melted his hardened heart of deception. The change must start with you. The godly who desires to live at peace and pleases God must be ready to pray through until his heart is melted with the grace to forgive, forget and fall into the love of God. Ego or self is often the main problem that must bow in order to live at peace and unity. b. For the first time after 20 years, Jacob opted to take the lead by asking for a face to face meeting with his estranged brother and bridge the communication gap. *"And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee?"*. Take the godly initiative and step: bridge the Communication Gap. Sink all your pride, anger, hatred, bitterness and desire for revenge at the cross and take the initiative. Unknown to him, Esau, though a violent man, secretly desired peace too. It only takes one to bell the cat. Surprisingly, the God of peace that had broken Jacob at the altar of prayer and grace had also dealt with Esau too. Broken communication became mended. *"And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant"*. In bringing peace to a troubled or broken relationship, there may be the need to bring a third party that is respected by both sides and has the wisdom and grace to mend relationships. *Question* Are you willing to please and bridge the communication gap with someone? How do you want to demonstrate your willingness? *2. Bind Your Character with Grace* a. Jacob had trained all his wives and children on how to show respect and give honour to the one who had been hurt and might be breathing out revenge and anger. It was not the time prove who was wrong or right. In reconciliation, self defence is minimized. *"Why do ye not rather accept wrong? Why not rather let yourselves suffer wrong and be deprived of what is your due? Why do you not rather take wrong?"* (1Corinthians 6:7). The crucified saint will be willing to accept blame even when he is not convinced that he is wrong for the sake of peace. This is where grace is also needed. *"Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves"*. All the people with Jacob went humbly and bowed to their Daddy's brother. Jacob had depoisoned the hearts of his people so that they could sincerely give the needed and expected honour to Esau. The peaceful person will not be a hypocritical person who will pretend to seek for peace and unity and privately he will be poisoning the hearts of others. b. Humility is an essential part of living in love and unity and building again love and unity in a broken relationship. Many apologies, though may be simple, have a way of healing hurt hearts and broken bones and barriers in relationships. It takes humility to bend when the other person is standing on his points which may even be wrong and unacceptable altogether. *"The fruit of peace is shown by them which make peace"*. *"Blessed are the peace makers for they shall be called the children of GOD"*. *Question* Are you willing to pay the price of love and unity so that your life receives the immeasurable blessings of obedience to God or you still want to stick to your gun and end up in perdition? *3. Bless Your Companion With Gifts* God paid the price of reconciliation with man by giving us the gift of Jesus Christ and all other spiritual and earthly gifts and blessings. True reconciliation must also be sealed up with exchange and acceptance of godly and helpful gifts. Jacob was smart to have prepared gifts for Esau ahead of their encounter. In fact, at first, Esau wanted to wisely reject the gifts. If he had refused, then know that the problem was only solved superficially. *"And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord"*. The Scripture says, *"A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men"* (Proverbs 18:16). It is not how much that is affordable, but the heart of love and reconciliation that is behind it. Jacob insisted that the gift should be taken though Esau himself was well to do. *"Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it"*. Look at the choice of words of wisdom and humility of Jacob. He was not using words that will fuel the ember of hatred, but words that will calm down nerves. *"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger"* (Proverbs 15:1). Apart from exchanging and acceptance of gifts and visits, true reconciliation will also be manifested by willingness to walk together and experience godly partnership. *"And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go"*. *Question* How genuine was your previous reconciliation with others? *Prayer Points* 1.Father, examine my heart, expose and remove all tendencies in me contrary to abiding in love and unity 🙏. 2.Lord, give me a definite life changing encounter like Jacob that will make me full of grace to initiate and advance peace and love in my family, church and community 🙏. 3.Make me a peacemaker and promoter of reconciliation among people 🙏. 4.Lord, visit all families with broken relationships and help all to open up to true communication and reconciliations 🙏. *HYMN:* Let love be among us *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* JOB 38-42. [18/08, 9:45 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) WEDNESDAY 19TH AUGUST, 2026``` *ENDURING RECONCILIATION* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️👥🫂🤝🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:GENESIS 33:5-15```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant" (GENESIS 33:5).*_ *After the horrific genocide in 1994, Rwanda focused heavily on national reconciliation. The Gacaca Courts, a system of community-based justice, allowed perpetrators of the genocide to confess their crimes and ask for forgiveness, while victims could voice their suffering. The emphasis on unity and a shared vision for rebuilding the country contributed to Rwanda's remarkable recovery and the avoidance of further ethnic conflict. Although there are ongoing challenges, the national narrative of "unity and reconciliation" has continued to play a central role in Rwanda's politics and society.* *Jacob had lived for years under the shadow of a broken relationship with his brother, Esau. Their past was filled with deceit, betrayal, and conflict. Having stolen Esau's birth right and blessing, the resultant rift was so deep that Esau had vowed to kill Jacob. After years of separation, Jacob now had to face Esau, but with trepidation and fear of retribution. However, what ensued was a stunning picture of grace and a lasting reconciliation, with no record of relapse into hostilities.* *Their reconciliation must have been mutual. That "... Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept" showed his willingness to forgive Jacob and let go of his anger and bitterness, and the pain of the past - a rare display of grace. On the other hand, Jacob exemplifies a posture of humility. His bowing before Esau, offering gifts of homage, and acknowledging his wrongs demonstrate the humility required for true reconciliation.* *We are called to the same grace and reconciliation that Jacob and Esau experienced. Perhaps there are areas where we need to humble ourselves and seek forgiveness. We are called to extend grace, even when the hurt is deep.* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*Reconciliation draws the curtain on a dark past and opens a door for a brighter future.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *JOB 39-42*📜📜 Enduring Reconciliation https://dailymanna.app// *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 232: BLEST BE THE TIE THAT BINDS; GHS 117: SHOW A LITTLE BIT OF LOVE AND KINDNESS; AND GHS 75: THE CHURCH'S IS ONE FOUNDATION* *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#DailyManna19thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [18/08, 9:45 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```WEDNESDAY 19TH AUGUST, 2026``` *SNUB SATAN* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️👿👺❌🫷🏽🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:JAMES 4:4-8```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (JAMES 4:7).*_ *The end of all things draws nearer and nearer every day. This should make us think deeply about the imminent coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and the impending punishment that would be unleashed on sinners who have chosen to remain adamant and unrepentant now.* *The signs of the last days are visible - increased wickedness all over the world, surging compromise of faith among believers, and so on. The devil is out there like a roaring lion looking for those he could devour. Would you snub him or fall into his snares?* *Beloved, the time we are in now calls for patience and perseverance. Some have given up already because they have fallen into the hands of the devil by believing it is impossible to maintain their faith considering the pressure associated with this perilous time.* *Friend, please hold on to the faith, snub the devil, and keep marching forward. Remember that Lot's wife missed a blissful eternity because she could not snub Satan and resist the temptation of looking back. On the other hand, the young Joseph snubbed Satan by resisting Potiphar's wife's invitation to sin.* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*Lot's wife missed a blissful eternity.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Stand firm and snub the devil.*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Lord, help me to hold on to the faith.*_ Snub Satan https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#HigherEveryday19thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [18/08, 9:45 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```WEDNESDAY 19TH AUGUST, 2026``` *JOHN'S TESTIMONY ABOUT JESUS* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️✝️🗣️📢📣🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```JOHN 1:29-34```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 The Bible refers to John the Baptist as the forerunner who came to prepare the way for the Lord. Though John was born before Jesus, he was not greater than Jesus. In fact, John himself declared that someone greater than him would come after, and he was not even qualified to untie his shoe latchet. This is to show the high esteem in which John rightly placed Jesus. John proclaimed the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the world. He told the people that Jesus was before him, meaning that Jesus had been before the time of creation. John was baptizing people in River Jordan, and it was he who also baptized Jesus Christ. John did not know Jesus, but the Holy Spirit descended and stayed on Christ at His baptism. He diverted attention away from himself, and made men to see Jesus Christ as *"...the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."* *Do you know Jesus? Can you point to Him that He is your Friend, Saviour and Lord? If your answer is No, then surrender your life to Him, repent and ask Him to forgive you all your sins. Tell Him to be your Friend and tell others about Him everywhere you go.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*Lord Jesus, please take away my sins and make me Your friend today.*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *Matthew 3:1-12* John's Testimony About Jesus https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#SincereMilk19thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]. 2. Morning Prayer for today. MP.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.

Two weeks before Littleman’s birthday, I said goodbye to him—one of the most difficult moments of my life. On his special day, Hurricane Helene struck, devastating my home and deepening my grief. It has been a challenging journey of healing and rebuilding. However, I am grateful to share that we have begun to turn that painful chapter behind us. The loss, the destruction, and the hardships are gradually giving way to blessings and new beginnings. In my heart, I knew it was time to open my home and my heart once again, and to welcome a new furry friend. I prayed for a tiny teacup Chihuahua—a little bundle of love to bring joy and comfort back into my life. I am truly thankful to say that the Lord blessed me with Charlie, a sweet and gentle little guy. Many of you have asked how you can help or what Charlie needs. I’ve put together a small registry, and if you feel led, you can bless Charlie by choosing something from this list. Your kindness will help him feel loved and cared for. Thank you all for your love, prayers, and support. It means the world to me—and to Charlie. ~charlotte Please click on the link

daily devotion for August 15th Hunger For The Word They told Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel. Nehemiah 8:1b It is not surprising that chapter 8 opens with a manifestation of a great hunger for the Word among these people in Jerusalem. Notice that this seems to be a spontaneous gathering. No invitations were sent out. No public notice was given. People were hungry for answers to their problems and for guidelines from the Word of God, and with one accord they gathered in this great square before the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the priest to bring the Law of the Lord and to read it to them. This would undoubtedly be the entire Pentateuch--the first five books of the Bible. This indicates the tremendous desire of these people for truth. They listened, while standing, from daybreak until noon! Certainly this long attention indicates how deeply they were aware of their ignorance about life and how much they needed answers from God. They were simply crying out for the Word. Ezra, the priest, the author of the book of Ezra, appears for the first time in the book of Nehemiah. Thirteen years earlier he had led a return from Persia to rebuild the temple and to teach the Law of God. Apparently he had been occupied in that task all through the time of the rebuilding of the wall. But when the people had finished their work, they were desperate to hear from the Word of God, so they sent for Ezra to lead them. It seems to me that we have come to such a time as this again. The prophet Amos predicted that there would come a famine in the world for the Word of God. People would actually be starving for answers to the problems of life. I find everywhere a deep hunger among non-churched people to hear the Word of God. Wherever it is taught with any degree of understanding, they are immediately attracted to it. When the Word is opened up, people begin to understand themselves. When you know God you begin to understand yourself, because you are made in the image of God. These people in Jerusalem were soon growing in self-knowledge as they began to hunger for the Word of God. The great tragedy of our day is how few churches seem to understand this power of Scripture. Lord, create in me a hunger for Your Word. Forgive me for so often taking it for granted.

Nehemiah 4:9, 15-16 NIV But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat. When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our own work. From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah Good morning and praise God. I am more than happy and Holy Spirit filled as I write this devotion. I am so happy to know my redeemer lives. Hallelujah. Thank you for taking your time to be encouraged by this word as it has encouraged me. Nehemiah choose to do God's work of rebuilding the walls. He prayed for it and wa greatly favored to be authorized in this world by the leaders who had to give him letter. The enemy was not happy about this. The enemy always want God's peiple remain in ruin and shame. To Nehemiah, they came as Tobias , Sanballat and Geshem. They began with pretext that they wanted to help him but Nehemiah had already prayed and so would see the enemy from a distance. When the mental didn't work, they decided to become physical and fight. Nehemiah and the men working with him also armed themselves but never stopped rebuilding until all the work was done. Oh great friend of Jesus, your enemy is watching to stope you from doing God's work. He is trying all ways to stop and maybe have won in some areas of your life and the rebuilding has stopped or is delayed in your life. From this Nehemiah story we are learning how to keep building. It is by taking the full armor of God. The helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, sword of Spirit, shield of faith, belt of Truth and shoes of the Gospel of peace. Dear friend, it is time to focus ahead to what God created you to build and rebuild. The enemy is not above the one who knew he was coming. Our Father knows all about him and is ready to shield and save us from his tricks that wastes our precious time. Sicknesses, stress, strain, fears, hopelessness, pain, dishonor and many more are not what God promised you! You only need that you're more than a conqueror in Jesus name! Youre child of Most High God. Take up your armor and defeat the enemy. Pray, and again I say pray. Talk to God who created you. With Him all things are possible. God loves you, have a blessed day. Shalom . Shalom.

TODAY'S KINGDOM INSIGHTS. SERMON TOPIC: BIBLICAL LEADERSHIP FOR A BROKEN WORLD Leading with Character, Courage, Compassion and Christ Key Texts: Matthew 5:13–16; Mark 10:42–45; Nehemiah 2:17–18; 1 Timothy 4:12; Micah 6:8 THE WORLD DOES NOT JUST NEED MORE LEADERS We are living in a broken world. Families are broken. Trust is broken. Institutions are struggling. Young people are searching for direction. Many people have influence but lack character. Some have position but no compassion. Others have power but no wisdom. And here is the question: Who will stand in the gap? The answer is not necessarily people with titles. God is looking for men and women whose lives can become examples, whose character can become a message, and whose leadership can bring light into dark places. Biblical leadership is not about sitting at the top and commanding everybody beneath you. Biblical leadership is about serving people under the authority of God. Jesus did not define greatness by how many people served you. He said: > “Whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister.” — Matthew 20:26 The world says, “Climb to the top.” Jesus says, “Go down and serve.” The world says, “Protect your position.” Jesus says, “Use your position to bless others.” 1. BIBLICAL LEADERSHIP BEGINS WITH CHARACTER 1 Timothy 4:12 > “Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” Before God gives a person a platform, He develops the person. Position can introduce you, but character sustains you. A leader may have: Intelligence without integrity. Influence without wisdom. Authority without humility. Education without godliness. Money without compassion. But leadership without character eventually becomes dangerous. Joseph is an example. Joseph was given authority in Egypt, but his greatest qualification was not merely administrative ability. He had character. When temptation came through Potiphar's wife, Joseph said: > “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” — Genesis 39:9 Joseph understood something important: A leader must know who he is when nobody is watching. Your public leadership should be an extension of your private walk with God. Spiritual insight: God is more interested in the person you are becoming than the position you are occupying. 2. BIBLICAL LEADERSHIP IS SERVANT LEADERSHIP Mark 10:43–45 Jesus said: > “Whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister.” Then He gave Himself as the ultimate example: > “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.” Jesus had all authority, yet He served. He washed feet. He touched the rejected. He fed the hungry. He welcomed children. He listened to people. He carried the burden of humanity to the cross. True leadership asks: “How can I help?” Not: “What can I gain?” A father leads by serving his family. A mother leads by serving her home. A pastor leads by serving the flock. A teacher leads by developing students. A young Christian can lead by being a godly example among friends. You do not need a title before you can become a leader. Influence begins wherever responsibility begins. 3. BIBLICAL LEADERSHIP REQUIRES COURAGE TO REBUILD WHAT IS BROKEN Nehemiah 2:17–18 Nehemiah saw the broken walls of Jerusalem and said: > “Come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem.” He did not merely complain about the problem. He became part of the solution. That is leadership. Anybody can identify what is wrong. A leader asks: “What can I do to make it better?” Nehemiah saw destruction, but he also saw possibility. He saw broken walls, but he believed they could be rebuilt. He saw discouragement, but he mobilized people. We need Nehemiahs today. People who will say: “I will help restore my family.” “I will mentor a young person.” “I will speak truth with love.” “I will serve my church faithfully.” “I will use my gifts to bless society.” “I will not contribute to the corruption I complain about.” “I will rebuild instead of destroy.” God does not call leaders merely to criticize brokenness. He calls them to participate in restoration. 4. BIBLICAL LEADERSHIP SPEAKS TRUTH BUT WALKS IN LOVE Micah 6:8 > “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good... to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.” A biblical leader must balance truth, justice, mercy and humility. Truth without love can become cruelty. Love without truth can become compromise. Justice without mercy can become oppression Mercy without justice can become irresponsibility. But biblical leadership brings these qualities together under God's authority. Jesus was full of grace and truth. In a broken world, leaders must refuse two extremes: Compromise: “I don't want to offend anybody, so I will say nothing.” Harshness: “I will tell the truth, but I don't care who gets hurt.” Biblical leadership says: “I will speak the truth, but I will speak it in love.” 5. BIBLICAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPS OTHER LEADERS One of the greatest failures of leadership is building a system where everything depends on one person. Moses learned this lesson. Exodus 18:17–23 Jethro told Moses: > “The thing that thou doest is not good.” Moses was trying to handle everything himself. Jethro instructed him to appoint capable people to share the responsibility. A great leader does not create followers who cannot function without him. A great leader develops people who can continue the mission after him. Jesus invested in twelve disciples. Paul invested in Timothy. Elijah invested in Elisha. Moses invested in Joshua. Ask yourself: Who am I preparing to succeed me? If your ministry, business, family responsibility or assignment will collapse the moment you leave, then you may have built dependence rather than leadership. 📖 BIBLICAL CASE STUDY: NEHEMIAH — A LEADER FOR A BROKEN GENERATION Nehemiah received terrible news. Jerusalem was broken. The walls were destroyed. The people were discouraged. But Nehemiah did four things. 1. HE CARED He did not become comfortable with the suffering of others. 2. HE PRAYED Before he acted, he sought God. 3. HE PLANNED He did not rush emotionally into the assignment. 4. HE ACTED Eventually he said: > “Let us rise up and build.” — Nehemiah 2:18 That is biblical leadership: Compassion + Prayer + Wisdom + Action. 🌍 REAL-LIFE APPLICATION: OUR BROKEN WORLD NEEDS WHOLE LEADERS Look around us. Young people need mentors. Families need godly fathers and mothers. Churches need faithful servants. Communities need honest leaders. Schools need teachers who care. Businesses need people of integrity. Governments need people who understand that leadership is stewardship. And the Church needs believers who understand that Christianity is not merely about attending services. We are called to become light. Jesus said: > “Ye are the light of the world.” — Matthew 5:14 Light does not argue with darkness. Light enters darkness and changes the environment. 🛠️ PRACTICAL ACTION STEPS 1. Lead yourself before trying to lead others. Control your words. Control your habits. Control your emotions. Strengthen your prayer life. Study God's Word. 2. Become trustworthy. Do what you said you would do. Keep your word. Be honest when nobody is watching. 3. Serve someone intentionally every week. Find someone you can encourage, teach, support or mentor. 4. Stop complaining about everything that is wrong. Identify one problem you can help solve. Don't just point at the broken wall. Pick up a brick. 5. Develop someone younger than you. Share knowledge. Give opportunities. Correct with love. Encourage growth. 6. Keep Christ at the center of your leadership. Never allow ambition to become your god. Your leadership belongs to God. 🔥 DEEP SPIRITUAL INSIGHTS 1. Leadership is stewardship, not ownership. Your influence belongs to God. Your position belongs to God. Your gifts belong to God. One day, you will give an account of how you used them. 2. Your character is your first ministry. Before you preach to people, your life is already preaching. People may forget your sermon. They may forget your title. But they will remember how you treated them. 3. Broken environments need whole people. You cannot heal everything around you, but you can refuse to become part of the brokenness. Don't allow a corrupt environment to corrupt your character. 4. Leadership is influence before it is position. You may not be the pastor. You may not be the chairman. You may not be the director. You may not have a political position. But if people are watching your life, you have influence. Use it for God. 🤔 QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION 1. What kind of leader am I becoming? 2. Can people trust my character? 3. Do I lead by serving or by controlling? 4. What broken thing around me am I called to help rebuild? 5. Who am I mentoring? 6. What would people say about my leadership when I am not present? 7. If Jesus examined my leadership today, would He find humility? 8. Am I building people or merely building my reputation? 🙏 POWERFUL PRAYER POINTS 1. Father, make me a leader of character. Let my private life agree with my public testimony, in Jesus' name. 2. Lord, deliver me from pride, selfish ambition and the desire for human applause. Give me the heart of a servant. 3. Father, give me wisdom to lead my family, ministry, workplace and community according to Your will. 4. Lord, make me an instrument of restoration wherever there is brokenness around me. 5. Father, give me courage to speak truth, defend what is right and stand for righteousness without hatred or compromise. 6. Lord, help me discover and develop the people You have placed around me. 7. Father, raise godly leaders among our young people who will carry truth, integrity and faith into the next generation. 8. Lord, let my life become a light in a dark world and a blessing to my generation. 🔥 CLOSING FACTS: WHO WILL STAND IN THE GAP? The world is broken. But God has not abandoned it. He has placed His people in it. You may look at your community and say, “Someone should do something.” Perhaps God is saying: “You are someone.” You may look at the Church and say, “We need better leaders.” Perhaps God is saying: “I am preparing you.” You may look at your family and see brokenness. Start rebuilding. You may see a young person without direction. Become a mentor. You may see injustice. Stand for truth. You may see discouragement. Speak hope. You may see darkness. Shine. Don't wait for a title. Don't wait for a microphone. Don't wait for an election. Don't wait for someone to recognize you. Start serving where God has placed you. Because biblical leadership is not about how many people are beneath you. It is about how many people become better because you followed Christ. And when history looks back at our generation, may it not say: “They saw a broken world and complained.” May it say: “They saw a broken world, trusted God, stood in the gap, served their generation, and helped rebuild.” Arise. Lead. Serve. Build. Shine. Be the leader your generation needs—and let Christ be the Lord of your leadership. “Let us rise up and build.” — Nehemiah 2:18 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 CONTACT - WhatsApp +2349024173027, +2349055447540 Email pastor.umoedem@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/share/1K8DhEEVZV/ #UMOHEDEM

Daily devotion for August 8th How To Handle An Attack He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, What are those feeble Jews doing? Nehemiah 4:1b-2a Most of us have had experience with what is called Murphy's Law, the idea that if anything can go wrong, it will. There are many applications of it. For instance, if you try to fix something, Murphy's Law says it will take longer than you anticipated; it will cost more than you expected; it will break down before it is paid for; and someone will not like it when it is done! We have come to such a circumstance in chapter 4 of the book of Nehemiah. Here Nehemiah faces severe and violent opposition to his work of rebuilding the walls and gates of Jerusalem. The opposition takes off its gloves, and the real battle begins. We, like Nehemiah, have an enemy who opposes us with craftiness and power. Against every effort on our part to get our lives together and recover from damage, hurt, and ruin, we will experience opposition from the enemy. Almost invariably his first attempt to halt such recovery is to discourage us through ridicule, derision, or rejection. Hear the scorn, derision, and sarcasm in those comments! Many of us, perhaps, have experienced this kind of attack. I know personally of people who are unwilling to do what is right because they fear their friends will laugh at them or mock them. I know a man who is unable to stop drinking because his drinking friends make fun of him. Yet drink is destroying his life. I know of others who are hooked on drugs, but they do not want to stop because they are afraid they will be laughed at. These are the powerful weapons the enemy employs here. Most of us have had some experience with this weapon of ridicule and mockery that the enemy employs here. Perhaps you have had someone say to you when you are trying to stop something that was wrong, Who do you think you are, anyhow? Do you think you are better than us? Or perhaps someone says, You've made a good start, but you won't hold out. You won't last. Nehemiah regards this attack as an insult against God Himself. Note that he does not argue back nor does he retaliate. He does not blister these men with angry rebuttal. He simply responds by praying. It reminds us of Peter's words about Jesus: When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats (1 Peter 2:23). This is a helpful picture of how to handle that kind of attack. Dear Father, strengthen me to do what is right regardless of the ridicule I receive, and help me to respond to that ridicule in prayer and faith.

Daily devotion for August 5th Standing Up To The Enemy The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it. Nehemiah 2:20 The men who opposed the rebuilding of the wall stood outside the covenant of promise. None of the three had any claim to the promise of God to inherit the land. That is why Nehemiah took this stand. The form their opposition took is also prophetic of our struggles. They first mocked and ridiculed. This is usually the first weapon the enemy employs. You may have felt it when you began to recover from your ruin. Your friends laughed at your desires to change. They may have ridiculed your religious convictions and resented with scorn your implied criticisms of their conduct. Also, Nehemiah's enemies began to threaten and slander him with charges of rebellion and disloyalty. If ridicule does not work, then the opposition stiffens and becomes openly unfriendly and threatening. It is the next level of resistance that those who seek to rebuild will encounter. These are but pictures for us. They picture the opposition and the resistance that we will experience from Satan himself. What was true of these opposing forces in Nehemiah's case is true also of Satan. He is a usurper who has tricked us and led us astray. Yet he has no right to do so. Jesus came to restore God's property to Him and to loose the hold of the devil upon the human race. That is what He does in our lives. So when we face resistance, we must see it as something God allows to strengthen us, but Satan has no real right to our lives. We do not need to be bound by habits from the past. No matter how innocently they may have begun, we do not need to be slaves to drugs, sex, alcohol, tobacco, or whatever may be controlling and limiting us. Remember Paul's great cry, I will not be mastered by anything (1 Corinthians 6:12). Why? Because he was under the power of God. This is what Nehemiah declares here. There is no necessity to be a slave to a hot temper or a critical attitude or a complaining spirit. These areas of ruin in our lives can be set aside because we are expecting God to grant us the grace to stand. That is why, with great determination, Nehemiah clenches his fist and says, Look, the God of heaven is with us. He will give us success. We, his servants, will start rebuilding. Do what you like. It is not going to stop us. You are usurpers and have no right to this land. What we are tracing here are the steps of recovery from ruin. There are three of them that we have covered so far: First, a deep concern that leads us to prayer and sorrow; then, an opportunity for change to which we must make response; and then, the facing of the facts of our situation honestly and squarely. When we begin these steps, we have well begun the process of change. Let us take them with confidence that God will enable us to rebuild our walls and restore our gates to His praise and glory and our grateful relief. Thank You, Father, that I can face the enemy with boldness and confidence, knowing that I am free, and he has no right or power over me.

The Body of Christ thrives because Jesus is alive and active among us! Jesus is not limited to any single church or denomination; rather, He encompasses us all. Christ is lovingly restoring His Body, inviting the Church to return to Him. He’s rebuilding foundations, mending what’s broken, and bridging generations. Every part is being awakened as He revives truth and love. Together, we are being strengthened and prepared as a mature, holy, and unified community, ready to reveal the beauty of Jesus to the world. Let’s embrace this incredible journey of transformation and hope!

They said fifty-two days was impossible. The wall said otherwise. Nehemiah 6:15 records one of the most remarkable construction achievements in biblical history — the complete rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem accomplished in fifty-two days. The walls had been broken down since Nebuchadnezzar's forces destroyed the city in 586 BC. When Nehemiah arrived from Persia with royal authorization to rebuild, he organized the population of Jerusalem and the surrounding communities into working teams, each responsible for a section of the wall. Critics of the biblical account found the timeline incredible. Fifty-two days, they argued, was physically insufficient for the scale of construction involved. Rebuilding the perimeter walls of an ancient city, with multiple gates and towers, in less than two months was dismissed as numerical exaggeration — a literary device to emphasize divine assistance rather than a historical record. Then in 2007, archaeologist Eilat Mazar, excavating in the City of David — the original core of ancient Jerusalem — uncovered a substantial section of ancient wall that had not been previously identified or excavated. The wall was large. Its construction style was consistent with the rapid, practical building that a community working under pressure would produce — less polished than royal construction, more functional than decorative. The pottery and ceramic evidence found in association with it dated the construction clearly to the Persian period of the fifth century BC. The fifth century BC is Nehemiah's period. The wall that critics said could not have been built in fifty-two days was in the ground beneath Jerusalem, in the right location, from the right period, with the characteristics of exactly the kind of rapid community-built construction the book of Nehemiah describes. Nehemiah's people built it in fifty-two days. The critics needed two and a half thousand years to find it. Share this with someone who has been told the Bible exaggerates its history. "So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul in fifty-two days." — Nehemiah 6:15 #NehemiahsWall #Archaeology #BibleFacts #VerifiedHistory

Need to know. THE THIRD TEMPLE DECEPTION Everyon Is Looking In The Wrong Place For The Antichrist. The belief that a third Jewish temple must be rebuilt in Jerusalem before the second coming of Christ has become one of the most popular teachings in modern prophecy circles. Many Christians now watch events in Israel expecting the rebuilding of the temple to signal the final countdown of earth's history. Organizations such as the Temple Institute have prepared priestly garments, vessels, and architectural plans, while some groups have even trained men who claim descent from the tribe of Levi for future temple service. The search for a red heifer has also received worldwide attention because of the ceremonial purification described in Numbers 19. To many, these developments appear to fulfill prophecy. Yet sincere belief does not make a teaching true. Jesus warned that many would be deceived concerning the last days, saying, "Take heed that no man deceive you" (Matthew 24:4). The apostle Paul likewise urged believers to "prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Every prophetic teaching must therefore be tested by the whole Bible rather than by popular opinion or current events. Those who insist on a future temple often point to passages in Daniel, Ezekiel, Matthew 24, or 2 Thessalonians 2, but these texts are separated from their historical and biblical context. Paul wrote that "the man of sin... sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God" (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). In the New Testament, however, God's temple is repeatedly identified as His church. Paul wrote, "Ye are the temple of God" (1 Corinthians 3:16-17), and again, "What agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God" (2 Corinthians 6:16). Peter described believers as "living stones... built up a spiritual house" (1 Peter 2:5), while Ephesians 2:19-22 says the church is "an holy temple in the Lord." Therefore, the prophecy points to a religious power exalting itself within the sphere of Christianity rather than to a rebuilt Jewish temple in the Middle East. History also shows that the modern expectation of a rebuilt third temple is not the historic understanding held by the majority of Christians through the centuries. During the Protestant Reformation, leaders such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, and John Knox identified the Antichrist with the papal system based on Daniel 7, Daniel 8, 2 Thessalonians 2, and Revelation 13. Historically, this was not the view of only a few individuals. It was the dominant Protestant interpretation for centuries. The Anglican Reformers, the Presbyterian Reformers, the Baptist pioneers, the Methodist founder John Wesley, and many others all identified the Antichrist as the papal system rather than a single future individual. This historical consensus is well documented in works such as Romanism and the Reformation by Henry Grattan Guinness. In response to the Reformation, Jesuit scholars developed alternative prophetic systems that shifted attention away from the papacy. Francisco Ribera published a commentary in 1590 placing most of the prophecies of Antichrist into a brief future period involving a single individual, a rebuilt temple, and restored Jewish sacrifices. These ideas have infiltrated many evangelical churches who has given up the protest against the papacy and has effectively lost their identity as Protestants. The teaching spread widely in the nineteenth century through John Nelson Darby, who popularized dispensationalism. His ideas separated God's plan for Israel from His plan for the church and placed many prophecies into a future seven-year tribulation centered on a rebuilt temple. These teachings became enormously influential through the Scofield Reference Bible, whose notes shaped generations of Bible readers. Later books such as The Late Great Planet Earth and the Left Behind series brought these interpretations into popular culture. Although widely accepted today, popularity is not proof of truth. Isaiah declared, "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isaiah 8:20). The importance of this issue extends far beyond the question of whether another temple will be built. The rebuilt-temple doctrine fundamentally changes where Christians expect the Antichrist to appear. If the Antichrist must sit in a literal temple in Jerusalem, then believers naturally conclude that he must be a future political ruler who has not yet arrived. Their attention is directed toward Israel, a future seven-year tribulation, and a coming world dictator who will one day enter a rebuilt sanctuary. Yet since the "temple of God" in 2 Thessalonians 2 refers to God's spiritual temple, the church, then the entire picture changes. Instead of looking for an unbelieving political leader to enter a Jewish temple, believers must look for a religious power arising within the sphere of professed Christianity that claims divine authority and exalts itself in God's place. The location of the temple determines the identity of the Antichrist. Change the temple from spiritual to literal, and the Antichrist is changed from a long-standing religious system into a future individual. This is why the interpretation of the temple is not a minor prophetic detail but the foundation upon which the entire identification of the Antichrist rests. The Bible consistently warns that the greatest deceptions come from within the realm of religion rather than from obvious enemies of God. Jesus warned of "false Christs, and false prophets" (Matthew 24:24). Paul warned the Ephesian elders that "grievous wolves" would arise from among God's own people (Acts 20:29-30). He also foretold a "falling away" before the revelation of the man of sin (2 Thessalonians 2:3). Peter likewise warned of false teachers who would secretly introduce destructive errors (2 Peter 2:1). These warnings describe an apostasy arising within the visible community of faith, harmonizing with Paul's description of the man of sin sitting in God's temple. This explains why Satan would benefit from directing prophetic attention elsewhere. If Christians are convinced that the Antichrist will only appear after a future temple is rebuilt, they are less likely to examine the religious system that has exercised enormous influence over Christianity for centuries and fulfills the prophetic characteristics described in Daniel and Revelation. Instead of recognizing a power already operating in history, they continue waiting for someone else. In this way the expectation of a future temple does more than change prophetic chronology, it redirects prophetic attention. Rather than watching for the fulfillment of biblical characteristics already given in Scripture, many are waiting for a future event that becomes the prerequisite for identifying the Antichrist. This mistaken teaching serves as a deceptive diversion from the real issues presented in Bible prophecy. Revelation does not direct the world's attention to a rebuilt temple but to a beast that receives worldwide admiration and worship. "All the world wondered after the beast" (Revelation 13:3), and "all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him" (Revelation 13:8). Daniel described the same power as speaking "great words against the most High" and thinking "to change times and laws" (Daniel 7:25). Paul warned that this power would exalt itself above God (2 Thessalonians 2:4). By persuading millions to look almost exclusively toward political events in Jerusalem and a future temple, attention is diverted from examining the continuing work of the power that Scripture identifies. Satan has always worked through deception, for Jesus called him "a liar, and the father of it" (John 8:44), and Revelation 12:9 says he "deceiveth the whole world." The greatest deceptions are those that contain enough truth to hide serious error. The Bible reveals that God's people are called to fix their eyes on Christ rather than on an earthly building. Jesus declared, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up," speaking "of the temple of his body" (John 2:19-21). Believers are now "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone" (Ephesians 2:20). Hebrews repeatedly directs the believer's attention to Christ as our High Priest in heaven (Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 8:1-2). The book of Revelation portrays God's end-time people as those "that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus" (Revelation 14:12), not as those waiting for renewed animal sacrifices or an earthly sanctuary. Their attention is fixed upon the Lamb "that was slain" (Revelation 5:12), whose perfect sacrifice can never be repeated. The New Testament consistently teaches that the earthly temple reached its fulfillment in Jesus Christ and that its sacrificial system ended forever at the cross. When Christ died, "the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom" (Matthew 27:51), showing that the earthly sanctuary services had come to their end. Hebrews declares that Christ entered "into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us" (Hebrews 9:24), ministering in "the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man" (Hebrews 8:2). His sacrifice was offered "once for all" (Hebrews 10:10). To rebuild a temple for renewed sacrifices would deny the completeness of Christ's atoning work. The true focus of Bible prophecy is not an earthly sanctuary in Jerusalem but Christ's ministry in the heavenly sanctuary. Conclusion The expectation of a third temple is not a harmless difference of prophetic opinion, but a teaching that shifts the focus away from Christ's finished sacrifice, His present ministry in heaven, and the identification of the power Scripture repeatedly warns against. The devil benefits whenever prophecy is misunderstood because error always hides truth. Paul warned that Satan transforms himself "into an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14), while Jesus warned that false prophets would arise and "deceive, if it were possible, even the elect" (Matthew 24:24). God's people are therefore called to search the Scriptures diligently, like the Bereans who "searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11). The safest guide is not popular prophecy, sensational headlines, or human tradition, but the clear testimony of God's Word, which points believers to Christ, His heavenly ministry, and the final conflict over worship and obedience described throughout Daniel and Revelation. Gospel Angels Broadcasting