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

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

    *DATE:*
    THURSDAY 13TH AUGUST, 2026

    *SUB-THEME:*
    YOUTHS: VESSELS OF GOD'S GRACE.

    *TOPIC:*
    BE AN EXAMPLE TO OTHERS

    *TEXT:*
    1 TIMOTHY 4:11-16
    11. Command and teach these things.
    12. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.
    13. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.
    14. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
    15. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.
    16. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

    *TOPIC:*
    BE AN EXAMPLE TO OTHERS

    *THE MESSAGE:*
    In a society where individualism and humanism are emphasised, godly models become scarce. In today's text, Paul encouraged Timothy to stand out by being an example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. He must accompany these qualities with sound doctrine and diligently live it out, for his salvation and that of others. These virtues should be lived out without compromise, regardless of one's age. Every believer, young or old, is called to live in a way that reflects Christ and inspires others to follow. Sadly, many young people today are influenced by vices, but Christians are urged to lead lives that model godly character. How is your testimony in your home, community, workplace, and church? Be a role model for Christ's kingdom.

    *REFLECTION:*
    Set a good example for your peers.

    *PRAYER:*
    Father, reform my character, 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:*
    JEREMIAH 46-49.

    ED.ii. THE SABBATH

    "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work." - Exodus 20:8-10

    The commandment to keep the Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments, so a commandment from the Lord God. The reason I am talking about this is because we live in an incredibly hectic time. Life is so much different compared to fifty years ago. Everything is to be done quickly and in a hurry. This is also because of the increase in science (see Daniel 12: 4). People no longer have peace in today's society. There is also a lack of rest time in the lives of many Christians.

    A gift from God

    However, God has given us a day to rest. Exodus 16:29 states: 'The Lord has given you the Sabbath.' The Sabbath is a gift from God and has a holy purpose. Sabbath means to rest, to stop. Every now and then people have to rest from what they are doing. Otherwise you will overwork yourself and get a burnout. When God created heaven and earth, He rested. As His creation was not safe yet, God had a plan to secure His creation. God was able to rest only after Jesus had completed His work on Calvary and rose from the death on the first day of the week. This is why we Christians celebrate the Sabbath day on Sunday.

    Spiritual rest

    There is something even more important though and that is our spiritual rest. In Hebrews 4:10 we read about a Sabbath rest for God's people: 'Anyone who enters God's rest also rests from their works, just as God did from His.'When you come to Jesus, you will get complete rest in spirit, soul and body. Every day is a Sabbath day for the Christian who is in Jesus Christ. If you are not at rest yet, go to Him who said: 'Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest' (Matthew 11:28).


    https://www.theblessingdevotional.com

    2. Evening Prayer for today.

    EP.i. Evening Prayer

    Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. ⏤ Isaiah 1:18

    The best remedy for a troubled heart is to focus on God’s unchanging character. ⏤ Charles Stanley

    O Lord, we bow before You in loving reverence. All our blessings come from You, and we praise You. We are sinful, and You are holy. We are not worthy to approach You, yet You have made a way for us to draw near to You with confidence, as children to a Father. Lord, cleanse our hearts as we come to You. Fill us with Your Spirit so that, renewed in the spirit of our minds, we may display all the virtues and graces of the Christian life in our daily walk.

    We need Your cleansing tonight after the day's journey in this sin-stained world. Our feet have been soiled in the dust as we walked through the day, our hands have been stained with the evil around us, our lips have spoken words we should not have spoken, and our hearts have been made unclean by wrong thoughts, feelings, and imaginations. Cleanse us tonight. Wash us, and we shall be whiter than snow!

    We have cares and worries that distract us at the end of the day. Help us to lay them all in Your hands and leave them there. Give us Your peace. Help us to cast our burdens on You and trust that You will take care of them. Make all things work together for our good.

    Have pity tonight, O God, on this sorrowful, sinful world. Remember the poor and open the hearts of those who have plenty to help those in need. Look with compassion on the sick and give them relief or the patience to endure their pain. Comfort those who are in sorrow. Hear us in these evening prayers, we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

    https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/39/evening

    #taptapstudio
    #youdevotion.
    Good evening, brethren. 1. Evening devotion for today. ED.i. *DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST* (COCIN DEVOTIONAL) *DATE:* THURSDAY 13TH AUGUST, 2026 *SUB-THEME:* YOUTHS: VESSELS OF GOD'S GRACE. *TOPIC:* BE AN EXAMPLE TO OTHERS *TEXT:* 1 TIMOTHY 4:11-16 11. Command and teach these things. 12. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 15. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. *TOPIC:* BE AN EXAMPLE TO OTHERS *THE MESSAGE:* In a society where individualism and humanism are emphasised, godly models become scarce. In today's text, Paul encouraged Timothy to stand out by being an example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. He must accompany these qualities with sound doctrine and diligently live it out, for his salvation and that of others. These virtues should be lived out without compromise, regardless of one's age. Every believer, young or old, is called to live in a way that reflects Christ and inspires others to follow. Sadly, many young people today are influenced by vices, but Christians are urged to lead lives that model godly character. How is your testimony in your home, community, workplace, and church? Be a role model for Christ's kingdom. *REFLECTION:* Set a good example for your peers. *PRAYER:* Father, reform my character, 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:* JEREMIAH 46-49. ED.ii. THE SABBATH "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work." - Exodus 20:8-10 The commandment to keep the Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments, so a commandment from the Lord God. The reason I am talking about this is because we live in an incredibly hectic time. Life is so much different compared to fifty years ago. Everything is to be done quickly and in a hurry. This is also because of the increase in science (see Daniel 12: 4). People no longer have peace in today's society. There is also a lack of rest time in the lives of many Christians. A gift from God However, God has given us a day to rest. Exodus 16:29 states: 'The Lord has given you the Sabbath.' The Sabbath is a gift from God and has a holy purpose. Sabbath means to rest, to stop. Every now and then people have to rest from what they are doing. Otherwise you will overwork yourself and get a burnout. When God created heaven and earth, He rested. As His creation was not safe yet, God had a plan to secure His creation. God was able to rest only after Jesus had completed His work on Calvary and rose from the death on the first day of the week. This is why we Christians celebrate the Sabbath day on Sunday. Spiritual rest There is something even more important though and that is our spiritual rest. In Hebrews 4:10 we read about a Sabbath rest for God's people: 'Anyone who enters God's rest also rests from their works, just as God did from His.'When you come to Jesus, you will get complete rest in spirit, soul and body. Every day is a Sabbath day for the Christian who is in Jesus Christ. If you are not at rest yet, go to Him who said: 'Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest' (Matthew 11:28). https://www.theblessingdevotional.com 2. Evening Prayer for today. EP.i. Evening Prayer Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. ⏤ Isaiah 1:18 The best remedy for a troubled heart is to focus on God’s unchanging character. ⏤ Charles Stanley O Lord, we bow before You in loving reverence. All our blessings come from You, and we praise You. We are sinful, and You are holy. We are not worthy to approach You, yet You have made a way for us to draw near to You with confidence, as children to a Father. Lord, cleanse our hearts as we come to You. Fill us with Your Spirit so that, renewed in the spirit of our minds, we may display all the virtues and graces of the Christian life in our daily walk. We need Your cleansing tonight after the day's journey in this sin-stained world. Our feet have been soiled in the dust as we walked through the day, our hands have been stained with the evil around us, our lips have spoken words we should not have spoken, and our hearts have been made unclean by wrong thoughts, feelings, and imaginations. Cleanse us tonight. Wash us, and we shall be whiter than snow! We have cares and worries that distract us at the end of the day. Help us to lay them all in Your hands and leave them there. Give us Your peace. Help us to cast our burdens on You and trust that You will take care of them. Make all things work together for our good. Have pity tonight, O God, on this sorrowful, sinful world. Remember the poor and open the hearts of those who have plenty to help those in need. Look with compassion on the sick and give them relief or the patience to endure their pain. Comfort those who are in sorrow. Hear us in these evening prayers, we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/39/evening #taptapstudio #youdevotion.
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  • WHAT YOU BELIEVE MAKES OR BREAK YOU
    Beliefs are powerful thing and they are very important to how we handle the affairs of life. Merria-Webster dictionary defines belief as something that is accepted or considered to be true. It also defines it as a state of mind in which confidence is placed in some person or a thing.

    I want you to notice that the dictionary never said beliefs are something that is true, but something CONSIDERED OR ACCEPTED TO BE TRUE. So it is possible to believe that something is true while it is not actually true.
    A wrong belief therefore can blind you, lead you astray, make you suffer unnecessarily and even destroy you for all eternity. On the other hand, a right belief can lead to your salvation and deliverance.

    There is power available for you as a child of God that is contingent upon your belief. What you believe about God, His Christ, the Bible, yourself, the Devil, the spiritual world and etc determines the extent to which divine power will be made available to you. What you believe is shaped by what you read and who you listen to.
    If what shapes your opinion in life is science, tradition, gossips from the pub,or the daily newspaper, you already know the authority governing your life. What you hear from these sources will make you if they are true and ruin you if they are false.
    The Bible being God’s proven and tested word is what you can build your life upon that will not fail you. If you will dare believe what it says about Christ, the victories it says you can have or already have in Him and act in accordance to them, you will experience victories you never thought was possible. You will walk out of every cage the devil has placed you, simply because you have seen the littleness of Satan in the light of the supremacy of Christ.

    The tragedy today is that we have too many people who claimed to be followers of Christ but do not hold His word as true. They believe everything else except the Bible. When you check the way they talk and how they respond to life challenges, you already know what they believe and who they believe. For those who truly believe the Lord Jesus, His word is still taking them higher still.
    WHAT YOU BELIEVE MAKES OR BREAK YOU Beliefs are powerful thing and they are very important to how we handle the affairs of life. Merria-Webster dictionary defines belief as something that is accepted or considered to be true. It also defines it as a state of mind in which confidence is placed in some person or a thing. I want you to notice that the dictionary never said beliefs are something that is true, but something CONSIDERED OR ACCEPTED TO BE TRUE. So it is possible to believe that something is true while it is not actually true. A wrong belief therefore can blind you, lead you astray, make you suffer unnecessarily and even destroy you for all eternity. On the other hand, a right belief can lead to your salvation and deliverance. There is power available for you as a child of God that is contingent upon your belief. What you believe about God, His Christ, the Bible, yourself, the Devil, the spiritual world and etc determines the extent to which divine power will be made available to you. What you believe is shaped by what you read and who you listen to. If what shapes your opinion in life is science, tradition, gossips from the pub,or the daily newspaper, you already know the authority governing your life. What you hear from these sources will make you if they are true and ruin you if they are false. The Bible being God’s proven and tested word is what you can build your life upon that will not fail you. If you will dare believe what it says about Christ, the victories it says you can have or already have in Him and act in accordance to them, you will experience victories you never thought was possible. You will walk out of every cage the devil has placed you, simply because you have seen the littleness of Satan in the light of the supremacy of Christ. The tragedy today is that we have too many people who claimed to be followers of Christ but do not hold His word as true. They believe everything else except the Bible. When you check the way they talk and how they respond to life challenges, you already know what they believe and who they believe. For those who truly believe the Lord Jesus, His word is still taking them higher still.
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  • The Mice in the Piano

    Pastor Joseph Clark
    August 12, 2026

    “He who denies the existence of God, has some reason for wishing that God did not exist.”

    —Saint Augustine

    “Whoever acknowledges Me before others, I will also acknowledge before My Father in heaven. But whoever disowns Me before others, I will disown before My Father in heaven.”

    —Matthew 10:32–33

    The Mice in the Piano

    Once upon a time, there were two little mice. They were brothers, and they had lived their entire lives inside a piano. It was the only world they had ever known.

    Their parents and siblings had died of old age, leaving the two brothers as the last members of their family. They spent their days exploring their strange little world and listening in wonder to the beautiful music that constantly filled the piano.

    They could not see where the music came from.

    Their parents had taught them that the music was produced by a great and mysterious being who lived beyond their understanding—the one who played the piano.

    The two mice loved to think about this great player. They talked about him, wondered about him, and delighted in the beautiful music he produced.

    Then, one day, one of the mice went exploring.

    When he returned, he was thoughtful and unusually serious.

    “There is no great player,” he told his brother. “It is all a myth. I have seen the inside of this piano. The music is produced by wires, hammers, strings, and mechanisms. I have seen them with my own eyes!”

    The brothers abandoned their belief in the great player.

    They were convinced that they had finally discovered the truth. They understood the mechanisms of the piano, and therefore they believed they had explained away the musician.

    They examined the wires, hammers, strings, and mechanical workings repeatedly. The more they learned about how the piano worked, the more confident they became that there was no need to believe in a player.

    But they had overlooked something very important.

    Knowing how the piano works does not explain who is playing it.

    And so, while the two mice congratulated themselves on their newfound wisdom, the great player continued to play.

    The mice simply could not see him.

    The Limits of Human Understanding

    There is an important lesson in this little story.

    Human beings are intelligent. We have learned extraordinary things about the universe. We have explored the depths of the oceans, walked on the moon, examined the microscopic world, mapped the human genome, and discovered astonishing laws governing the physical universe.

    But our ability to understand something does not mean that we understand everything.

    The Bible repeatedly reminds us that humility is essential when approaching God.

    Jesus said:

    “Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

    —Matthew 18:3

    He also said:

    “Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

    —Matthew 19:14

    And again:

    “Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

    —Luke 18:17

    Jesus is not telling us to abandon reason or become intellectually childish. Rather, He is calling us to humility, trust, and dependence upon God.

    Scripture says:

    “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

    —Matthew 18:4

    The Christian life begins with recognizing that God is God—and we are not.

    “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”

    —Ephesians 2:8

    And:

    “The righteous shall live by faith.”

    —Romans 1:17

    Faith is not a rejection of reason. Faith recognizes that human reason has limits.

    Living in a Skeptical Age

    In 1897, Francis Pharcellus Church wrote his famous response to eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon concerning her question about Santa Claus. Church observed that people can become skeptical of anything they cannot see or fully comprehend.

    Although Church was writing about Santa Claus—not God—the broader observation is worth considering.

    We live in an age that often treats what can be measured as though it were the only thing that can be real.

    But there are many things we accept as real without seeing them directly.

    We cannot see gravity.

    We cannot see thoughts.

    We cannot see love.

    We cannot see electricity itself.

    Yet we observe their effects.

    Likewise, Christians believe that although God cannot be placed under a microscope or reduced to a laboratory experiment, His existence can be considered through the evidence of creation, reason, morality, human consciousness, history, and ultimately the revelation of Jesus Christ.

    The fact that we cannot see God with our physical eyes does not prove that God does not exist.

    The mice could not see the piano player either.

    That did not mean he wasn't there.

    When People Mock Our Faith

    A close friend of mine, an Archbishop, once told me a humorous story from his childhood.

    He had been at a park with his mother when he ran over excitedly and told her that the sun was actually a star and that the stars in the sky were also suns.

    His mother, apparently overwhelmed by the complexity of the information, responded with a blunt declaration that, in essence, the sun was the sun and the stars were the stars—and that was the end of the discussion!

    Sometimes we can become uncomfortable when someone challenges what we believe.

    That is particularly true when people we respect dismiss Christianity as foolishness.

    Richard Dawkins, Woody Allen, Isaac Asimov, Mark Twain, Carl Sagan, and many others have expressed skepticism toward Christianity or belief in God.

    But Christians should not respond with anger or hatred.

    We should respond with grace.

    Forgive them. Pray for them. Love them. And share the Gospel with them.

    The Apostle Peter instructed Christians:

    “Always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you for the reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”

    —1 Peter 3:15

    That is an important distinction.

    We are called to defend the faith, but we are not called to be quarrelsome.

    Jesus said:

    “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.”

    —Matthew 10:14

    And He warned:

    “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls before swine.”

    —Matthew 7:6

    There comes a time when we must recognize that arguing louder will not make someone believe.

    Our responsibility is to faithfully proclaim Christ.

    The Holy Spirit is responsible for changing hearts.

    What About Suffering?

    One of the most common objections to belief in God is the existence of suffering.

    People ask:

    “How can I believe in a loving God when there is so much suffering in the world?”

    This is a serious question, and Christians should never dismiss it with a shallow answer.

    The Bible itself contains people crying out to God in the midst of suffering. Job asked difficult questions. David cried out in the Psalms. Even Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus.

    Christianity does not pretend that suffering is imaginary.

    Instead, Christianity tells us that suffering exists in a fallen world and that God entered that suffering Himself through Jesus Christ.

    The cross is Christianity's answer to the claim that God is indifferent to human suffering.

    God did not remain distant from our pain.

    He entered our world.

    He suffered.

    He died.

    And He rose again.

    The Apostle Paul writes:

    “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

    —Romans 8:18

    C.S. Lewis famously described pain as God's “megaphone” to a deaf world.

    Suffering does not prove that God does not exist. For many people, suffering instead becomes the very circumstance that drives them to ask the deepest questions about meaning, morality, mortality, and God.

    What About Hell?

    Another question frequently asked is:

    “How can a loving God send people to Hell?”

    The Christian answer begins with the extraordinary love of God.

    Jesus said:

    “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

    —John 3:16

    God offers salvation freely through Christ.

    The Gospel is not a message that God delights in condemning people. It is a message that God has provided a way of salvation.

    Jesus came to seek and save the lost.

    The seriousness of judgment is precisely what makes the offer of salvation so important.

    God does not force anyone to love Him.

    The Gospel calls us to repent, believe, and receive the grace of God.

    Faith and the Evidence of Creation

    The universe raises enormous questions.

    Why is there something rather than nothing?

    Why does the universe possess order?

    Why are the laws of nature intelligible?

    Why does human consciousness exist?

    Why do human beings possess an awareness of moral obligation?

    Science can investigate how many things work. But questions concerning ultimate meaning and purpose extend beyond the laboratory.

    The Christian does not believe that science is the enemy of faith.

    Quite the opposite.

    The universe is intelligible because Christians believe it was created by an intelligent God.

    The laws of nature can be investigated because Christians believe those laws reflect an ordered creation.

    The human capacity to reason can be used to explore the universe because Christians believe human beings were created by God.

    Science can tell us much about the mechanisms of the piano.

    But science alone cannot answer the question:

    Who is playing the music?

    Believers in the Scientific Community

    Christianity has never belonged exclusively to the uneducated or uninformed.

    Throughout history, many highly accomplished scientists have believed in God.

    Among them are figures such as:

    Isaac Newton, whose work transformed physics and mathematics.
    James Clerk Maxwell, one of the great figures in electromagnetic theory.
    Gregor Mendel, whose experiments established foundational principles of genetics and who was also an Augustinian friar.
    Georges Lemaître, a Catholic priest and physicist whose work on an expanding universe helped establish the foundation of what became known as Big Bang cosmology.
    Francis Collins, physician-geneticist and former director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, who has publicly identified as a Christian.
    Charles Townes, Nobel Prize-winning physicist and inventor of the maser and co-inventor of the laser, who was an openly religious Christian.

    These examples do not prove Christianity simply because these scientists believed.

    But they do demonstrate something important:

    Faith in God is not incompatible with intellectual achievement.

    A person does not have to abandon intelligence in order to believe in God.

    Nor does becoming a Christian require someone to stop asking questions.

    Christians should welcome honest questions.

    The Problem With the Piano Mice

    The two mice made a fundamental mistake.

    They confused an explanation of the mechanism with an explanation of the ultimate cause.

    They discovered the wires.

    They discovered the hammers.

    They discovered the strings.

    They discovered the machinery.

    And then they concluded:

    “Therefore, there is no piano player.”

    But that conclusion did not logically follow from their discovery.

    In fact, their discovery of the piano's complexity could have led them to ask an entirely different question:

    Who designed this?

    And that is the question we must ultimately ask about our universe.

    Where did everything come from?

    Why is there something rather than nothing?

    Why does the universe operate according to discoverable laws?

    Why does consciousness exist?

    Why do we have an innate sense that some things are genuinely right and others genuinely wrong?

    And perhaps the greatest question of all:

    Who are we, and why are we here?

    The Christian answer is that we are creatures made by our Creator.

    We are not accidents without purpose.

    We were created by God, for God, and ultimately for relationship with Him.

    We Are the Mice

    There is another lesson in the story that we must not miss.

    Perhaps the greatest danger is not being ignorant.

    Perhaps it is believing that we know everything.

    We are the mice in the piano.

    We live inside a universe vastly larger and more complicated than our minds can fully comprehend.

    We see only a fraction of reality.

    We understand only a fraction of what exists.

    And yet we sometimes look at the small portion we understand and confidently declare that nothing exists beyond it.

    The Bible reminds us:

    “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD.”

    —Isaiah 55:8

    And:

    “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!”

    —Romans 11:33

    The proper response to a God who is greater than our understanding is not arrogance.

    It is humility.

    It is worship.

    It is faith.

    The Music Continues

    The two mice eventually stopped believing in the piano player.

    They became convinced that they had explained everything.

    But outside their tiny world, the musician continued to play.

    The music never stopped.

    The fact that they could not see him did not mean he was absent.

    And perhaps that is where many people find themselves today.

    They have examined the mechanisms of the universe.

    They have learned about physics, biology, chemistry, mathematics, and astronomy.

    They have become fascinated by the machinery.

    But they have never stopped to ask whether there is a Creator behind it all.

    The Christian message is that there is.

    His name is Jesus Christ.

    He is not merely an idea, a philosophy, or a comforting story.

    He is the Son of God who entered human history, died for our sins, and rose from the grave.

    And He calls every one of us to respond.

    Jesus said:

    “Whoever acknowledges Me before others, I will also acknowledge before My Father in heaven.”

    —Matthew 10:32

    The question is not merely whether we believe that God exists.

    The deeper question is:

    What will we do with Jesus Christ?

    The piano is playing.

    The music is all around us.

    The question is whether we will remain convinced that there is nothing beyond the wires and hammers—or whether we will humble ourselves, listen carefully, and seek the One who is playing the music.

    Do not be so certain that you have explained the piano that you never look for the Player.

    —Pastor Joseph Clark
    The Mice in the Piano Pastor Joseph Clark August 12, 2026 “He who denies the existence of God, has some reason for wishing that God did not exist.” —Saint Augustine “Whoever acknowledges Me before others, I will also acknowledge before My Father in heaven. But whoever disowns Me before others, I will disown before My Father in heaven.” —Matthew 10:32–33 The Mice in the Piano Once upon a time, there were two little mice. They were brothers, and they had lived their entire lives inside a piano. It was the only world they had ever known. Their parents and siblings had died of old age, leaving the two brothers as the last members of their family. They spent their days exploring their strange little world and listening in wonder to the beautiful music that constantly filled the piano. They could not see where the music came from. Their parents had taught them that the music was produced by a great and mysterious being who lived beyond their understanding—the one who played the piano. The two mice loved to think about this great player. They talked about him, wondered about him, and delighted in the beautiful music he produced. Then, one day, one of the mice went exploring. When he returned, he was thoughtful and unusually serious. “There is no great player,” he told his brother. “It is all a myth. I have seen the inside of this piano. The music is produced by wires, hammers, strings, and mechanisms. I have seen them with my own eyes!” The brothers abandoned their belief in the great player. They were convinced that they had finally discovered the truth. They understood the mechanisms of the piano, and therefore they believed they had explained away the musician. They examined the wires, hammers, strings, and mechanical workings repeatedly. The more they learned about how the piano worked, the more confident they became that there was no need to believe in a player. But they had overlooked something very important. Knowing how the piano works does not explain who is playing it. And so, while the two mice congratulated themselves on their newfound wisdom, the great player continued to play. The mice simply could not see him. The Limits of Human Understanding There is an important lesson in this little story. Human beings are intelligent. We have learned extraordinary things about the universe. We have explored the depths of the oceans, walked on the moon, examined the microscopic world, mapped the human genome, and discovered astonishing laws governing the physical universe. But our ability to understand something does not mean that we understand everything. The Bible repeatedly reminds us that humility is essential when approaching God. Jesus said: “Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” —Matthew 18:3 He also said: “Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” —Matthew 19:14 And again: “Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” —Luke 18:17 Jesus is not telling us to abandon reason or become intellectually childish. Rather, He is calling us to humility, trust, and dependence upon God. Scripture says: “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” —Matthew 18:4 The Christian life begins with recognizing that God is God—and we are not. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” —Ephesians 2:8 And: “The righteous shall live by faith.” —Romans 1:17 Faith is not a rejection of reason. Faith recognizes that human reason has limits. Living in a Skeptical Age In 1897, Francis Pharcellus Church wrote his famous response to eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon concerning her question about Santa Claus. Church observed that people can become skeptical of anything they cannot see or fully comprehend. Although Church was writing about Santa Claus—not God—the broader observation is worth considering. We live in an age that often treats what can be measured as though it were the only thing that can be real. But there are many things we accept as real without seeing them directly. We cannot see gravity. We cannot see thoughts. We cannot see love. We cannot see electricity itself. Yet we observe their effects. Likewise, Christians believe that although God cannot be placed under a microscope or reduced to a laboratory experiment, His existence can be considered through the evidence of creation, reason, morality, human consciousness, history, and ultimately the revelation of Jesus Christ. The fact that we cannot see God with our physical eyes does not prove that God does not exist. The mice could not see the piano player either. That did not mean he wasn't there. When People Mock Our Faith A close friend of mine, an Archbishop, once told me a humorous story from his childhood. He had been at a park with his mother when he ran over excitedly and told her that the sun was actually a star and that the stars in the sky were also suns. His mother, apparently overwhelmed by the complexity of the information, responded with a blunt declaration that, in essence, the sun was the sun and the stars were the stars—and that was the end of the discussion! Sometimes we can become uncomfortable when someone challenges what we believe. That is particularly true when people we respect dismiss Christianity as foolishness. Richard Dawkins, Woody Allen, Isaac Asimov, Mark Twain, Carl Sagan, and many others have expressed skepticism toward Christianity or belief in God. But Christians should not respond with anger or hatred. We should respond with grace. Forgive them. Pray for them. Love them. And share the Gospel with them. The Apostle Peter instructed Christians: “Always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you for the reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” —1 Peter 3:15 That is an important distinction. We are called to defend the faith, but we are not called to be quarrelsome. Jesus said: “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.” —Matthew 10:14 And He warned: “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls before swine.” —Matthew 7:6 There comes a time when we must recognize that arguing louder will not make someone believe. Our responsibility is to faithfully proclaim Christ. The Holy Spirit is responsible for changing hearts. What About Suffering? One of the most common objections to belief in God is the existence of suffering. People ask: “How can I believe in a loving God when there is so much suffering in the world?” This is a serious question, and Christians should never dismiss it with a shallow answer. The Bible itself contains people crying out to God in the midst of suffering. Job asked difficult questions. David cried out in the Psalms. Even Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus. Christianity does not pretend that suffering is imaginary. Instead, Christianity tells us that suffering exists in a fallen world and that God entered that suffering Himself through Jesus Christ. The cross is Christianity's answer to the claim that God is indifferent to human suffering. God did not remain distant from our pain. He entered our world. He suffered. He died. And He rose again. The Apostle Paul writes: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” —Romans 8:18 C.S. Lewis famously described pain as God's “megaphone” to a deaf world. Suffering does not prove that God does not exist. For many people, suffering instead becomes the very circumstance that drives them to ask the deepest questions about meaning, morality, mortality, and God. What About Hell? Another question frequently asked is: “How can a loving God send people to Hell?” The Christian answer begins with the extraordinary love of God. Jesus said: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” —John 3:16 God offers salvation freely through Christ. The Gospel is not a message that God delights in condemning people. It is a message that God has provided a way of salvation. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. The seriousness of judgment is precisely what makes the offer of salvation so important. God does not force anyone to love Him. The Gospel calls us to repent, believe, and receive the grace of God. Faith and the Evidence of Creation The universe raises enormous questions. Why is there something rather than nothing? Why does the universe possess order? Why are the laws of nature intelligible? Why does human consciousness exist? Why do human beings possess an awareness of moral obligation? Science can investigate how many things work. But questions concerning ultimate meaning and purpose extend beyond the laboratory. The Christian does not believe that science is the enemy of faith. Quite the opposite. The universe is intelligible because Christians believe it was created by an intelligent God. The laws of nature can be investigated because Christians believe those laws reflect an ordered creation. The human capacity to reason can be used to explore the universe because Christians believe human beings were created by God. Science can tell us much about the mechanisms of the piano. But science alone cannot answer the question: Who is playing the music? Believers in the Scientific Community Christianity has never belonged exclusively to the uneducated or uninformed. Throughout history, many highly accomplished scientists have believed in God. Among them are figures such as: Isaac Newton, whose work transformed physics and mathematics. James Clerk Maxwell, one of the great figures in electromagnetic theory. Gregor Mendel, whose experiments established foundational principles of genetics and who was also an Augustinian friar. Georges Lemaître, a Catholic priest and physicist whose work on an expanding universe helped establish the foundation of what became known as Big Bang cosmology. Francis Collins, physician-geneticist and former director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, who has publicly identified as a Christian. Charles Townes, Nobel Prize-winning physicist and inventor of the maser and co-inventor of the laser, who was an openly religious Christian. These examples do not prove Christianity simply because these scientists believed. But they do demonstrate something important: Faith in God is not incompatible with intellectual achievement. A person does not have to abandon intelligence in order to believe in God. Nor does becoming a Christian require someone to stop asking questions. Christians should welcome honest questions. The Problem With the Piano Mice The two mice made a fundamental mistake. They confused an explanation of the mechanism with an explanation of the ultimate cause. They discovered the wires. They discovered the hammers. They discovered the strings. They discovered the machinery. And then they concluded: “Therefore, there is no piano player.” But that conclusion did not logically follow from their discovery. In fact, their discovery of the piano's complexity could have led them to ask an entirely different question: Who designed this? And that is the question we must ultimately ask about our universe. Where did everything come from? Why is there something rather than nothing? Why does the universe operate according to discoverable laws? Why does consciousness exist? Why do we have an innate sense that some things are genuinely right and others genuinely wrong? And perhaps the greatest question of all: Who are we, and why are we here? The Christian answer is that we are creatures made by our Creator. We are not accidents without purpose. We were created by God, for God, and ultimately for relationship with Him. We Are the Mice There is another lesson in the story that we must not miss. Perhaps the greatest danger is not being ignorant. Perhaps it is believing that we know everything. We are the mice in the piano. We live inside a universe vastly larger and more complicated than our minds can fully comprehend. We see only a fraction of reality. We understand only a fraction of what exists. And yet we sometimes look at the small portion we understand and confidently declare that nothing exists beyond it. The Bible reminds us: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD.” —Isaiah 55:8 And: “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!” —Romans 11:33 The proper response to a God who is greater than our understanding is not arrogance. It is humility. It is worship. It is faith. The Music Continues The two mice eventually stopped believing in the piano player. They became convinced that they had explained everything. But outside their tiny world, the musician continued to play. The music never stopped. The fact that they could not see him did not mean he was absent. And perhaps that is where many people find themselves today. They have examined the mechanisms of the universe. They have learned about physics, biology, chemistry, mathematics, and astronomy. They have become fascinated by the machinery. But they have never stopped to ask whether there is a Creator behind it all. The Christian message is that there is. His name is Jesus Christ. He is not merely an idea, a philosophy, or a comforting story. He is the Son of God who entered human history, died for our sins, and rose from the grave. And He calls every one of us to respond. Jesus said: “Whoever acknowledges Me before others, I will also acknowledge before My Father in heaven.” —Matthew 10:32 The question is not merely whether we believe that God exists. The deeper question is: What will we do with Jesus Christ? The piano is playing. The music is all around us. The question is whether we will remain convinced that there is nothing beyond the wires and hammers—or whether we will humble ourselves, listen carefully, and seek the One who is playing the music. Do not be so certain that you have explained the piano that you never look for the Player. —Pastor Joseph Clark
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  • Quotes of Truth.
    Science depends on a universe that is orderly, consistent, and governed by laws that can be discovered.

    God is not the enemy of science. He is the reason science works in the first place.
    Quotes of Truth. Science depends on a universe that is orderly, consistent, and governed by laws that can be discovered. God is not the enemy of science. He is the reason science works in the first place.
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  • Let's talk about it.
    The statement, “Education is useless without the Bible,” is not a direct quotation from Scripture. The Bible teaches that education and knowledge have value, but that wisdom begins with God. A biblical way to understand the quote is this: education without the knowledge of God cannot save the soul or give eternal truth.

    “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” — Proverbs 9:10 (KJV)

    A person may earn degrees, master science, history, medicine, or philosophy, yet still be spiritually lost. Jesus asked:

    “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
    — Matthew 16:26 (KJV)

    The Bible does not condemn learning. Moses was learned in Egypt (Acts 7:22), Daniel excelled in wisdom (Daniel 1:17), and Paul was highly educated (Acts 22:3). Yet all of them recognized that true wisdom comes from God.

    The Scriptures are unique because they reveal God's will, expose our sin, and point us to Christ.

    “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
    — 2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV)

    Without God's Word, education can increase knowledge while leaving the heart unchanged. The Bible says:

    “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
    — 2 Timothy 3:7 (KJV)

    Therefore, the greatest education is to know the Lord Jesus Christ through His Word. Earthly education prepares us for a career, but the Bible prepares us for eternity.

    “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
    — Proverbs 3:5–6 (KJV)

    So the biblical emphasis is not that education has no value, but that education without God cannot provide saving truth, righteousness, or eternal life. True wisdom begins with fearing the Lord, and the Holy Scriptures are able to make us “wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15, KJV).
    Let's talk about it. The statement, “Education is useless without the Bible,” is not a direct quotation from Scripture. The Bible teaches that education and knowledge have value, but that wisdom begins with God. A biblical way to understand the quote is this: education without the knowledge of God cannot save the soul or give eternal truth. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” — Proverbs 9:10 (KJV) A person may earn degrees, master science, history, medicine, or philosophy, yet still be spiritually lost. Jesus asked: “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” — Matthew 16:26 (KJV) The Bible does not condemn learning. Moses was learned in Egypt (Acts 7:22), Daniel excelled in wisdom (Daniel 1:17), and Paul was highly educated (Acts 22:3). Yet all of them recognized that true wisdom comes from God. The Scriptures are unique because they reveal God's will, expose our sin, and point us to Christ. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” — 2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV) Without God's Word, education can increase knowledge while leaving the heart unchanged. The Bible says: “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” — 2 Timothy 3:7 (KJV) Therefore, the greatest education is to know the Lord Jesus Christ through His Word. Earthly education prepares us for a career, but the Bible prepares us for eternity. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” — Proverbs 3:5–6 (KJV) So the biblical emphasis is not that education has no value, but that education without God cannot provide saving truth, righteousness, or eternal life. True wisdom begins with fearing the Lord, and the Holy Scriptures are able to make us “wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15, KJV).
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  • Discover why the so-called “first century” sits at the explosive turning point of history—and how Jesus became an unexpected catalyst for the rise of modern science. In this message from Liberty University’s Convocation, cold-case detective and Christian apologist J. Warner Wallace investigates the fuse leading up to the first century and the fallout that followed, focusing on one surprising impact: the birth and growth of science in a world shaped by Jesus and His followers.

    https://coldcasechristianity.com/videos/no-christianity-didnt-hold-back-science-it-created-it-video/

    #ChristianApologetics #ColdCaseChristianity #JWarnerWallace #ChristianWorldview
    Discover why the so-called “first century” sits at the explosive turning point of history—and how Jesus became an unexpected catalyst for the rise of modern science. In this message from Liberty University’s Convocation, cold-case detective and Christian apologist J. Warner Wallace investigates the fuse leading up to the first century and the fallout that followed, focusing on one surprising impact: the birth and growth of science in a world shaped by Jesus and His followers. https://coldcasechristianity.com/videos/no-christianity-didnt-hold-back-science-it-created-it-video/ #ChristianApologetics #ColdCaseChristianity #JWarnerWallace #ChristianWorldview
    COLDCASECHRISTIANITY.COM
    No, Christianity Didn’t Hold Back Science – It Created It! (Video)
    Discover why the so-called “first century” sits at the explosive turning point of history—and how Jesus became an unexpected catalyst for the rise of modern science. In this message from Liberty University’s Convocation, cold-case detective and Christian apologist J. Warner Wallace investigates the fuse leading up to the first century and the fallout that followed,
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  • One of the most sobering realities of our generation is this: We are watching the world move closer to the very things Jesus warned us about, yet many of us continue living as though we have unlimited time, myself included.

    > We talk about the end times.
    > We discuss Revelation.
    > We analyze world events.
    > We debate technology, global systems, wars, peace agreements, and the signs Jesus told us to watch for.

    But then we go back to our old habits playing with sin, entertaining what God has called us to surrender, and making excuses for areas of our lives where the Holy Spirit has already convicted us. And that should cause us to stop and examine ourselves. Because the purpose of prophecy was never simply to help us identify what is happening in the world. The purpose of prophecy is to prepare our hearts for the return of our King.

    Jesus warned that the last days would be marked by deception, wars and rumors of wars, nations rising against nations, famine, earthquakes, persecution, and lawlessness. Matthew 24

    He told us these things would be the beginning of birth pains. The question is not whether every headline is a direct fulfillment of prophecy but it is whether we recognize the patterns our Lord told us would come. Because the patterns are becoming increasingly visible every day.

    We live in a world where global systems are developing at a pace previous generations could never have imagined. Digital identity systems, cashless payments, biometric technology, artificial intelligence, and implantable technologies are no longer ideas limited to science fiction.

    In Sweden, thousands of people have voluntarily received small RFID/NFC implants designed for convenience, allowing access to buildings, storing information, and interacting with digital systems. These implants are not the mark of the beast, and Scripture doesn’t tell us that a specific technology is the mark. However, they do demonstrate that technology capable of connecting identity, access, and transactions is becoming a reality.

    And this is where wisdom and discernment are required. The concern is not that every new technology is evil because technology itself is not sinful. The question is how technology can eventually be used within a larger system.

    Throughout history, businesses have introduced products through convenience. A product solves a problem, saves time, and makes life easier. We will voluntarily adopt it because it benefits us. And, over time, society becomes accustomed to it. Then businesses, governments, and institutions begin building around it. Eventually, what was once optional can become difficult to function without.

    This is why many believers pay attention to the development of global digital systems. Not because they believe every invention is the mark of the beast, but because Revelation describes a future system where buying and selling are connected to allegiance and control. Revelation 13

    The technology may be part of the infrastructure, but the true issue is worship, loyalty, and rebellion against God. And while many people are focused on what is happening outside the Church, Scripture warns us that one of the greatest dangers of the last days will be deception within the Church.

    Another sign Jesus warned us about is the rise of false messiahs and false teachers. Throughout history, there have been individuals who have claimed to be the Messiah, the chosen one, or a divine figure sent to save humanity. Even in our current generation, people have stepped forward making extraordinary spiritual claims, drawing followers who look to them for answers, salvation, and direction. Jesus warned that this would happen, not as a possibility, but as a defining characteristic of the days leading up to His return. The danger is not only that people will openly reject Christ; the greater danger is that many will be drawn toward something that sounds spiritual but leads them away from the truth of God's Word.

    “For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.” Matthew 24:5

    Jesus also warned that false prophets would arise and perform signs and wonders in order to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

    “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” Matthew 24:23-24

    This should cause every believer to examine where our trust is placed. Are we looking for a person, a movement, a political solution, a technological solution, or a global system to bring the peace and security only Jesus Christ can provide? The world is searching for a savior, but there is only one Savior. There is only one Messiah. There is only one King who will return in glory.

    The rise of false messiahs is not merely an interesting prophecy topic. It is a warning to the Church. In a world filled with uncertainty, fear, and instability, people will naturally look for someone to follow. That is why knowing Scripture matters. If we are not grounded in the truth, we can be easily distracted by voices that promise hope but deliver deception. The greatest protection against deception is not knowing every false claim being made around the world. It is knowing the real Christ so deeply that anything counterfeit becomes obvious.

    “And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” Matthew 24:10-12

    Paul warned the elders in Ephesus that savage wolves would come in among the believers, seeking to distort truth.

    “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.” Acts 20:29-30

    This is why knowing Scripture matters. Because we can’t simply follow personalities, measure truth by popularity, and we can’t assume someone is sent by God because they use Christian language. The enemy doesn’t always present something as obviously evil.

    > Sometimes deception comes wrapped in comfort.
    > Sometimes it comes through convenience.
    > Sometimes it comes through promises of peace and security.

    Speaking of peace, the world continues to search for solutions, especially concerning Israel and the Middle East. Global leaders continue pursuing diplomatic efforts and peace initiatives because humanity longs for stability. But Scripture warns us that a time will come when people proclaim peace and security while destruction approaches. Daniel 9 1 Thessalonians 5:3

    The world will always seek peace apart from the Prince of Peace and the world will always seek solutions apart from the Savior. And this brings us back to the question that should challenge every follower of Christ: If we truly believe Jesus is returning, why are we still playing games with sin?

    > Why do we cling to bitterness?
    > Why do we entertain temptation?
    > Why do we compromise when no one is watching?
    > Why do we hold onto things the Spirit has already told us to release?

    We can look at the world and recognize the signs while ignoring the condition of our own hearts. We can talk about the mark of the beast while refusing to surrender our pride. We can talk about false teachers while refusing to examine our own disobedience. And we can study Revelation while neglecting repentance.

    That is a dangerous place to be. Jesus did not tell us to watch the world only. He told us to watch ourselves.

    “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36

    The signs should not produce fear, rather, they should produce urgency. They should cause us to draw closer to Christ and should cause us to remove anything from our lives that competes with Him.

    The greatest evidence that we understand the times is not how much prophecy we can explain. It is how faithfully we walk with Jesus. The question is not simply, "Are we living in the last days?" The question is: "If Jesus returned today, would He find us faithful?"
    The world is preparing for a kingdom that is not God's Kingdom. It’s building systems that promise security without surrender. And the world is looking for salvation through technology, government, and human wisdom. But the Church has been given a different mission.

    “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

    So, we must stand firm in truth, remain faithful, repent quickly, love deeply, preach boldly, and live holy. Because the signs are not given so we can become obsessed with the darkness. They are given so we can walk faithfully in the light.

    The King is coming. May He find us awake.
    One of the most sobering realities of our generation is this: We are watching the world move closer to the very things Jesus warned us about, yet many of us continue living as though we have unlimited time, myself included. > We talk about the end times. > We discuss Revelation. > We analyze world events. > We debate technology, global systems, wars, peace agreements, and the signs Jesus told us to watch for. But then we go back to our old habits playing with sin, entertaining what God has called us to surrender, and making excuses for areas of our lives where the Holy Spirit has already convicted us. And that should cause us to stop and examine ourselves. Because the purpose of prophecy was never simply to help us identify what is happening in the world. The purpose of prophecy is to prepare our hearts for the return of our King. Jesus warned that the last days would be marked by deception, wars and rumors of wars, nations rising against nations, famine, earthquakes, persecution, and lawlessness. Matthew 24 He told us these things would be the beginning of birth pains. The question is not whether every headline is a direct fulfillment of prophecy but it is whether we recognize the patterns our Lord told us would come. Because the patterns are becoming increasingly visible every day. We live in a world where global systems are developing at a pace previous generations could never have imagined. Digital identity systems, cashless payments, biometric technology, artificial intelligence, and implantable technologies are no longer ideas limited to science fiction. In Sweden, thousands of people have voluntarily received small RFID/NFC implants designed for convenience, allowing access to buildings, storing information, and interacting with digital systems. These implants are not the mark of the beast, and Scripture doesn’t tell us that a specific technology is the mark. However, they do demonstrate that technology capable of connecting identity, access, and transactions is becoming a reality. And this is where wisdom and discernment are required. The concern is not that every new technology is evil because technology itself is not sinful. The question is how technology can eventually be used within a larger system. Throughout history, businesses have introduced products through convenience. A product solves a problem, saves time, and makes life easier. We will voluntarily adopt it because it benefits us. And, over time, society becomes accustomed to it. Then businesses, governments, and institutions begin building around it. Eventually, what was once optional can become difficult to function without. This is why many believers pay attention to the development of global digital systems. Not because they believe every invention is the mark of the beast, but because Revelation describes a future system where buying and selling are connected to allegiance and control. Revelation 13 The technology may be part of the infrastructure, but the true issue is worship, loyalty, and rebellion against God. And while many people are focused on what is happening outside the Church, Scripture warns us that one of the greatest dangers of the last days will be deception within the Church. Another sign Jesus warned us about is the rise of false messiahs and false teachers. Throughout history, there have been individuals who have claimed to be the Messiah, the chosen one, or a divine figure sent to save humanity. Even in our current generation, people have stepped forward making extraordinary spiritual claims, drawing followers who look to them for answers, salvation, and direction. Jesus warned that this would happen, not as a possibility, but as a defining characteristic of the days leading up to His return. The danger is not only that people will openly reject Christ; the greater danger is that many will be drawn toward something that sounds spiritual but leads them away from the truth of God's Word. “For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.” Matthew 24:5 Jesus also warned that false prophets would arise and perform signs and wonders in order to deceive, if possible, even the elect. “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” Matthew 24:23-24 This should cause every believer to examine where our trust is placed. Are we looking for a person, a movement, a political solution, a technological solution, or a global system to bring the peace and security only Jesus Christ can provide? The world is searching for a savior, but there is only one Savior. There is only one Messiah. There is only one King who will return in glory. The rise of false messiahs is not merely an interesting prophecy topic. It is a warning to the Church. In a world filled with uncertainty, fear, and instability, people will naturally look for someone to follow. That is why knowing Scripture matters. If we are not grounded in the truth, we can be easily distracted by voices that promise hope but deliver deception. The greatest protection against deception is not knowing every false claim being made around the world. It is knowing the real Christ so deeply that anything counterfeit becomes obvious. “And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” Matthew 24:10-12 Paul warned the elders in Ephesus that savage wolves would come in among the believers, seeking to distort truth. “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.” Acts 20:29-30 This is why knowing Scripture matters. Because we can’t simply follow personalities, measure truth by popularity, and we can’t assume someone is sent by God because they use Christian language. The enemy doesn’t always present something as obviously evil. > Sometimes deception comes wrapped in comfort. > Sometimes it comes through convenience. > Sometimes it comes through promises of peace and security. Speaking of peace, the world continues to search for solutions, especially concerning Israel and the Middle East. Global leaders continue pursuing diplomatic efforts and peace initiatives because humanity longs for stability. But Scripture warns us that a time will come when people proclaim peace and security while destruction approaches. Daniel 9 1 Thessalonians 5:3 The world will always seek peace apart from the Prince of Peace and the world will always seek solutions apart from the Savior. And this brings us back to the question that should challenge every follower of Christ: If we truly believe Jesus is returning, why are we still playing games with sin? > Why do we cling to bitterness? > Why do we entertain temptation? > Why do we compromise when no one is watching? > Why do we hold onto things the Spirit has already told us to release? We can look at the world and recognize the signs while ignoring the condition of our own hearts. We can talk about the mark of the beast while refusing to surrender our pride. We can talk about false teachers while refusing to examine our own disobedience. And we can study Revelation while neglecting repentance. That is a dangerous place to be. Jesus did not tell us to watch the world only. He told us to watch ourselves. “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36 The signs should not produce fear, rather, they should produce urgency. They should cause us to draw closer to Christ and should cause us to remove anything from our lives that competes with Him. The greatest evidence that we understand the times is not how much prophecy we can explain. It is how faithfully we walk with Jesus. The question is not simply, "Are we living in the last days?" The question is: "If Jesus returned today, would He find us faithful?" The world is preparing for a kingdom that is not God's Kingdom. It’s building systems that promise security without surrender. And the world is looking for salvation through technology, government, and human wisdom. But the Church has been given a different mission. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33 So, we must stand firm in truth, remain faithful, repent quickly, love deeply, preach boldly, and live holy. Because the signs are not given so we can become obsessed with the darkness. They are given so we can walk faithfully in the light. The King is coming. May He find us awake.
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  • HOW TO KNOW GOD'S WILL FOR IMPORTANT DECISIONS IN YOUR LIFE. Part 3 of 6.
    God’s Basic Will for Every Christian. Continued.
    Who would you say such individuals are acknowledging when they make such negative statements as these concerning their sickness, defeat, frustrations, anxieties, and problems–God or Satan? This may explain to you why you are not experiencing more of God's leading in your life, or why it is that you do not know His will in this or that particular situation. Perhaps it is because you are acknowledging the wrong person as the controlling influence in your life and circumstances. Yes, this could very well be the major factor in much of your sickness, problems, frustration, and defeat, for God promises to direct the steps only of those who trust fully in Him, not themselves, and who acknowledge Him and His divine providence in all their ways.

    STUDY 2
    How God Makes Known His Will for Specific Decisions and Needs.

    As incredible as it may seem at first glance, nevertheless, it is true that "the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord" (Ps 37:23). The term "ordered" means literally "establish, or ordain" in the original Hebrew, and is used by David in Psalm 8:3 where he exclaims, "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained, what is man, that you are mindful of him?"

    The cycles of the moon, the movements of the planets, sun, and stars in their courses, as well as the revolving of the countless galaxies, composed of billions of stars, throughout the universe, are all ordained by God with such precision that scientists can set their watches by the sun or stars, astronomers can predict accurately where a certain heavenly body will be 100 years
    from now, and space scientists can, for example, send a spaceship toward Mars which will arrive many months later exactly on target. It is this same term which is used in Psalm 37:23, where we are told, "the steps of a good man are ordained by the Lord." This means that the same wisdom which ordained the courses of the sun, moon, planets, and stars with such magnificent precision has also ordained the steps of the Christian.

    Thus, we see that God has a plan for every life. When we know His will for our lives, then we can fulfill His plan. God has a plan for everything in the universe which He created: the sun, the moon, and stars; the angels and hosts of heaven; the southern flight of the birds in the winter and their return in the spring; the rise and fall of the tides; the periodic rainfall with the resultant growth of the earth's vegetation; the variation and change of the seasons, and so on. His wisdom, planning, and providential control are evident everywhere, from the delicate
    intricacy of design seen in the falling snowflake to the balance of the earth on its axis in its course around the sun.

    Since God has a preordained plan for everything, would it not, therefore, be strange if He neglected to have a plan for men, whom He created in His own image? And yet, most people, including Christians, live as if God created man, and then more or less left him alone, having only a passing interest in his welfare and condition.

    The Scriptures clearly state that God has a plan for every believers' lives, as seen for example, in such passages as Psalm 37; 91; Proverbs 37:23; Psalm 37:23; Romans 8:28; Ephesians 1; 4:11-15; 5:17. . Nevertheless, Many Christians know nothing of the concept of a God-planned life. These are people who apparently do not know that Jesus promised that a sparrow "shall not fall on the ground without your Father," and that "the very hairs of your head are all numbered" ( Mt. 10:29-30). From their joyless expression and speaking of wretchedness, adversity, and confusion, one would gather that God had saved them only to forsake them, leaving them to struggle along in the world as best they can.

    There are Christians everywhere who seem to have lost their direction, who have made the wrong choices, who are uncertain as to God's will for their lives, who are in the wrong occupation and are unhappy and dissatisfied, who are insecure and afraid, who cannot make a decision without doubt or apprehension concerning whether or not they have done the right thing, and who are frustrated, discouraged, and defeated by circumstances. It is not God's will that any Christian should suffer such bewilderment and defeat. Why? Simply because "the steps of a good man are ordained by the Lord."

    Far too many Christians are living below the level of what God has planned for their lives. He has a perfect plan for you in order for you to fulfill His will; but there is also a permissive will which He allows those to follow who, for one reason or another, reject or neglect to follow His perfect will. So many Christians are living on this lower plane of God's permissive will, which can never bring the joy, peace, accomplishment and fulfillment they are looking for. Often they are accepting a life of frustration, oppression, and poverty because of their ignorance of, or their unwillingness to submit to, God's perfect will for their lives.

    Our lives are only happy and complete when we are moving in God's will, since we lack both the wisdom and foresight to plan our own lives effectively. The Scriptures declare, "O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walks to direct his steps" (Jer.10:23) Isaiah graphically portrays the consequences of man's attempt to plan and direct his own life, saying, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way" (Isa. 53:6).

    "Does God want me to go back to my wife and attempt to salvage our marriage for the children's sake, or remain separated and try to make the best of it?" a bewildered husband asks.

    "I feel the call of God in my life," confides another. "It seems to be in the mission field. However, I have a family to provide for, and as yet I do not have the support of any missionary society. How can I know what God would have me to do?"

    "Now that I have received the baptism in the Holy Spirit," a young woman asks, "should I remain in my present church, which is not sympathetic toward this experience today, and try to witness my experience there, or should I seek fellowship with Spirit filled Christians in another church?"

    "I must know by the end of the next month whether or not I should renew my lease on my place of business. My wife and I feel that the Lord may be leading us out of this into something else. How can I know for certain just what God would have us do?" asks a man that is pressed for a decision soon.

    "Can I believe God for deliverance from the financial oppression I am suffering?" "Will God heal me of multiple sclerosis, which medical science states to be incurable?" "Is it possible for me to ask in faith for the salvation of my family?" "How can I determine if God would have me to remain in my present employment or ask for something better?" "Should I remain unmarried and thereby be able to serve the Lord more effectively?" "Have I failed God somewhere and missed His will for me, since I seem to be going through so many severe trials in the past few months?"
    "Should we pray for deliverance from our trials?" "How may I determine if I should seek to serve the Lord in some form of religious work, or remain in my present teaching position?" "I am confused about God's will for my life. How may I be sure just what He would have me to do?"

    Questions ... questions ... questions - all from bewildered, confused, sometimes frustrated Christians, earnestly seeking to learn God's will for their lives, or anxious to know His will concerning an important decision they must make in some pressing matter. How can the man who feels God would have him go to the mission field ascertain God's will? Certainly it is an important and crucial decision with which he is faced. It is useless, and even unsafe, for a man to be trying to serve the Lord in India, if God wants him in Indiana. That student will certainly fail who attempts to leave a school where God has placed him, merely because he must undergo certain trials in order to remain.

    Nor will that person ever succeed who, motivated by an enthusiasm to serve the Lord, disposes of his business in order to go preach the gospel, when God desires to use him as a Christian businessman right where he is. He will be as frustrated and out of place as that individual who failed to respond to God's call to preach His Word and accepted something less than God's perfect will for his life. Likewise, when one is not sure whether or not he has made the right decision about some matter in harmony with God's will, it will be terribly difficult to determine, if he finds himself going through trying circumstances, whether these experiences are "trials of his faith," or chastisement for his disobedience.

    How can we be sure just what God's will is in the decisions which confronts us? How can we avoid mistakes and costly blunders? You may be sure of one thing - you do not have to plead
    with God to guide and direct you. Over and over in Scripture He expresses His willingness and desire to give you an understanding of His perfect will for your life. He promises to direct your footsteps day to day. God has pledged Himself to direct each step of your life if you will determine to meet the three-fold condition which He sets forth in Proverbs 3:5-6 of total trust in
    the Lord; a lack of trust in yourself; and a constant statement of these two facts.

    EIGHT SCRIPTURAL METHODS BY WHICH GOD MAKES KNOWN HIS WILL

    It is not unreasonable to believe that if God could create a man in His image that He could also speak to him and communicate His will to him, Inasmuch as God has clearly stated in His
    Word that it is His desire to reveal His will to the believer, and is displeased when we are not walking in harmony with it. We should also expect that He would provide the means for ascertaining it. This He has done. There are, we find, eight scriptural methods for ascertaining God's will – three are notice in which we must take the initiative, and five are passive in which
    we become recipients of divine revelation of His will for us, as seen, for example, in the angel's appearance to Joseph in a dream warning him to flee into Egypt with the child, Jesus. Passive revelation of God's will comes unsought at the Spirit's sovereign discretion, inasmuch as God has promised to direct the steps of those who fulfill the conditions (Prov. 3:5-6).

    At the Altar:
    I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God (Rom. 12:1-2).

    I find that many Christians spend years seeking to learn God's will for their lives. They read books on the subject, hoping to find some clue, they pray for guidance, or they seek help through religious counseling, but they have overlooked God's basic requirement for learning His perfect will – the total commitment of one's life on the altar as a living sacrifice. To comprehend just what God requires for total consecration, it is suggested that the section entitled Go Back to Calvary in the first previous studies be reviewed again, for all that was set forth there is to be applied here as the manner in which Romans 12:1-2 is to be understood and obeyed.

    While it is true that the Christian can ascertain to some degree God's will through prayer, study at His Word, or by other means, nevertheless, total consecration is required to know His perfect
    will, as Romans 12:1-2 clearly indicates. We must learn that we cannot substitute praying for obeying; for without total commitment many precious hours can be wasted praying for a revelation of God's will, or for guidance for our lives in some matter, and heaven will often seem as brass. Why? God is waiting for us to present ourselves as living sacrifices, and climb upon the altar where He can speak with us. He only reveals His perfect will to us when we are upon the altar, for it is only here that we are in a position to hear Him when He speaks. When "self" has been crucified and the life surrendered without reservation, then you will find that the Spirit is frequently speaking inwardly to you, and that you can become quite sensitive to His voice, being able to discern it from your own will, or from the suggestions of the enemy.

    It is a great blessing to know when the Spirit is speaking, and to be able to respond to His leading and prompting, fulfilling God's will instead of wandering aimlessly about confused and, bewildered.

    You will find that you will be sensitive to His voice to the extent your life is consecrated on the altar and you are yielded to the Spirit. And to the extent you are sensitive to His voice you are able to respond when He speaks. God at times, for one reason or another, speaks directly to His children in an audible voice to reveal some matter to them, give them guidance, or make known His will. Generally, however, it is by means of that still, inner voice that He speaks to our spirit, prompting, leading, directing, and influencing, or at times checking us from taking some undesirable course of action.

    God will not reveal His perfect plan and will to a Christian who is not fully yielded unto Him without reservation, for such an individual would be ineffective and unable to fulfill God's purpose in his life. An effective instrument is one that has yielded itself completely to the hand of the one using it. Many Christians feel they have yielded themselves to the Spirit and have consecrated themselves to God, yet they have not always done so without reservation. One individual, for instance, feels that he is consecrated because he is praying for God to send him as a missionary to India, but who at the same time would have no desire for God to use him as a missionary to Indiana! He is consecrated, but not unconditionally; thus, God's perfect will cannot be revealed to him, since it would be impossible for it to be fulfilled in his life.

    Another, with a gift of prophecy prays earnestly to God to fulfill his desire and use him in a great way in a ministry of prophecy like that of Amos or Isaiah, but has little inclination to follow in the steps of a prophet like Lucius, for example. After all, who has ever heard of Lucius outside of the people in the local church at Antioch (Acts 13:1)? Another pleads with God for the gifts and power to slay giants as David, pulling down Satan's strongholds, but would decline to engage in this warfare alone in his closet, on his knees, wrestling with the forces of darkness by prayer and fastings.

    Christians too often come to God and think they are consecrating themselves to Him simply because they say, "Here I am Lord, use me in such and such a place, at such and such a time,
    in such and such a way." Then they wonder why God does not respond to this little genuflection before Him with a mighty out-pouring of His Spirit upon them, or why they seem to have so
    much difficulty in ascertaining His will for their lives. After all, they do wish to serve Him and to be used by Him. Why then are they so often bewildered and ineffective? It is simply because they have not placed themselves on the altar and yielded themselves unconditionally to Him. It is true that God wants to use you to speak His Word; but if you are not fully yielded to Him, then often you will find that you will be speaking the wrong word to the wrong people at the wrong time. An effective instrument is one fully yielded to the purpose of the one using it.

    Therefore, before God can unveil His perfect will for your life day to day, you must first obey that aspect of His will which He has already revealed – total consecration, "for this is the will of God, even your consecration" (1 Th. 4:3). It is only as we present ourselves as living sacrifices that we are shown progressively, day to day, more and more, "what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God" (Rom. 12:1-2). Just as we fellowship and speak with our children God promises to communicate with us and reveal His will, however, it may be that you have been living too far from Him to hear His voice when He speaks. Draw near to Him daily in prayer, love, and obedience, and you will find yourself becoming increasingly sensitive to His voice as He speaks to you.

    In the Word;
    All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

    Those who may be looking for a shortcut or some easy solution to learning the will of God probably will be disappointed to learn that God has already revealed His will for their lives in
    large measure in the Scriptures; and, as a consequence, this means they will have to pay the cost of sacrificing some of their time and interest in other things, and diligently search His Word,
    if they expect Him to speak to them through it.

    In these instances in which Christians with whom I have counseled are bewildered and confused, and are unable to ascertain God's will about some matter, I have found almost invariably that their predicament is the inevitable consequence of not knowing what the Word of God teaches concerning their problem or need. Again and again I have seen Christians pray for a revelation of God's will, or come to me for guidance about some matter, the solution to which is already revealed in God's Word. It is useless to ask God for guidance on matters where He has clearly unfolded His will, if through negligence, or for some other reason, an individual has not bothered to ascertain what He has had to say on the subject.

    If, for example, a Christian woman wishes to marry an unbeliever, hoping to convert him after marriage, she could pray for months for a revelation of God's will in the matter without receiving it, for God is never going to answer such a request as to whether or not this marriage should take place. Why? Simply because He has already revealed His will on this matter in His Word (2 Cor. 6:14). Neither is God going to give that individual the Holy Spirit who prays as some do whom I have heard, saying, "Lord, if the baptism in the Holy Spirit is for me, and if it is your will that I should have it, then somehow show me this fact and I will accept it." God has already revealed in His Word the promise of the Holy Spirit, and states clearly that the baptism will be given to those who, in faith, ask for it (Lk. 11:13).

    Again, many Christians are confused concerning God's will in the matter of sickness. Since they are not firmly grounded in what the Word of God teaches on the subject of healing, then they are unsettled in their minds, believing that it is not always God's will to heal the sick, and that there are some exceptions to His promise that "the prayer of faith shall heal the sick" (Jam. 5:15).
    Because they do not know God's Word as they should on this question, then they do not always know what God's will is in the event of sickness, especially in case of serious illness, and have, therefore, committed themselves to praying the faithless prayer in such instances, "O Lord, if it be thy will I ask that I might be healed somehow, nevertheless, not my will but thine be done." Such apparent resignation to God's will may sound pious, but it most certainly is not scriptural, inasmuch as God has already revealed His will about the matter of sickness in His Word in dozens of passages, such as Mark 16:18, saying, "They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Edited. Shared.
    To be Continued.

    God willing, more will be posted soon. All glory to Jesus alone.
    ❤️HOW TO KNOW GOD'S WILL FOR IMPORTANT DECISIONS IN YOUR LIFE. Part 3 of 6. God’s Basic Will for Every Christian. Continued. Who would you say such individuals are acknowledging when they make such negative statements as these concerning their sickness, defeat, frustrations, anxieties, and problems–God or Satan? This may explain to you why you are not experiencing more of God's leading in your life, or why it is that you do not know His will in this or that particular situation. Perhaps it is because you are acknowledging the wrong person as the controlling influence in your life and circumstances. Yes, this could very well be the major factor in much of your sickness, problems, frustration, and defeat, for God promises to direct the steps only of those who trust fully in Him, not themselves, and who acknowledge Him and His divine providence in all their ways. STUDY 2 How God Makes Known His Will for Specific Decisions and Needs. As incredible as it may seem at first glance, nevertheless, it is true that "the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord" (Ps 37:23). The term "ordered" means literally "establish, or ordain" in the original Hebrew, and is used by David in Psalm 8:3 where he exclaims, "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained, what is man, that you are mindful of him?" The cycles of the moon, the movements of the planets, sun, and stars in their courses, as well as the revolving of the countless galaxies, composed of billions of stars, throughout the universe, are all ordained by God with such precision that scientists can set their watches by the sun or stars, astronomers can predict accurately where a certain heavenly body will be 100 years from now, and space scientists can, for example, send a spaceship toward Mars which will arrive many months later exactly on target. It is this same term which is used in Psalm 37:23, where we are told, "the steps of a good man are ordained by the Lord." This means that the same wisdom which ordained the courses of the sun, moon, planets, and stars with such magnificent precision has also ordained the steps of the Christian. Thus, we see that God has a plan for every life. When we know His will for our lives, then we can fulfill His plan. God has a plan for everything in the universe which He created: the sun, the moon, and stars; the angels and hosts of heaven; the southern flight of the birds in the winter and their return in the spring; the rise and fall of the tides; the periodic rainfall with the resultant growth of the earth's vegetation; the variation and change of the seasons, and so on. His wisdom, planning, and providential control are evident everywhere, from the delicate intricacy of design seen in the falling snowflake to the balance of the earth on its axis in its course around the sun. Since God has a preordained plan for everything, would it not, therefore, be strange if He neglected to have a plan for men, whom He created in His own image? And yet, most people, including Christians, live as if God created man, and then more or less left him alone, having only a passing interest in his welfare and condition. The Scriptures clearly state that God has a plan for every believers' lives, as seen for example, in such passages as Psalm 37; 91; Proverbs 37:23; Psalm 37:23; Romans 8:28; Ephesians 1; 4:11-15; 5:17. . Nevertheless, Many Christians know nothing of the concept of a God-planned life. These are people who apparently do not know that Jesus promised that a sparrow "shall not fall on the ground without your Father," and that "the very hairs of your head are all numbered" ( Mt. 10:29-30). From their joyless expression and speaking of wretchedness, adversity, and confusion, one would gather that God had saved them only to forsake them, leaving them to struggle along in the world as best they can. There are Christians everywhere who seem to have lost their direction, who have made the wrong choices, who are uncertain as to God's will for their lives, who are in the wrong occupation and are unhappy and dissatisfied, who are insecure and afraid, who cannot make a decision without doubt or apprehension concerning whether or not they have done the right thing, and who are frustrated, discouraged, and defeated by circumstances. It is not God's will that any Christian should suffer such bewilderment and defeat. Why? Simply because "the steps of a good man are ordained by the Lord." Far too many Christians are living below the level of what God has planned for their lives. He has a perfect plan for you in order for you to fulfill His will; but there is also a permissive will which He allows those to follow who, for one reason or another, reject or neglect to follow His perfect will. So many Christians are living on this lower plane of God's permissive will, which can never bring the joy, peace, accomplishment and fulfillment they are looking for. Often they are accepting a life of frustration, oppression, and poverty because of their ignorance of, or their unwillingness to submit to, God's perfect will for their lives. Our lives are only happy and complete when we are moving in God's will, since we lack both the wisdom and foresight to plan our own lives effectively. The Scriptures declare, "O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walks to direct his steps" (Jer.10:23) Isaiah graphically portrays the consequences of man's attempt to plan and direct his own life, saying, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way" (Isa. 53:6). "Does God want me to go back to my wife and attempt to salvage our marriage for the children's sake, or remain separated and try to make the best of it?" a bewildered husband asks. "I feel the call of God in my life," confides another. "It seems to be in the mission field. However, I have a family to provide for, and as yet I do not have the support of any missionary society. How can I know what God would have me to do?" "Now that I have received the baptism in the Holy Spirit," a young woman asks, "should I remain in my present church, which is not sympathetic toward this experience today, and try to witness my experience there, or should I seek fellowship with Spirit filled Christians in another church?" "I must know by the end of the next month whether or not I should renew my lease on my place of business. My wife and I feel that the Lord may be leading us out of this into something else. How can I know for certain just what God would have us do?" asks a man that is pressed for a decision soon. "Can I believe God for deliverance from the financial oppression I am suffering?" "Will God heal me of multiple sclerosis, which medical science states to be incurable?" "Is it possible for me to ask in faith for the salvation of my family?" "How can I determine if God would have me to remain in my present employment or ask for something better?" "Should I remain unmarried and thereby be able to serve the Lord more effectively?" "Have I failed God somewhere and missed His will for me, since I seem to be going through so many severe trials in the past few months?" "Should we pray for deliverance from our trials?" "How may I determine if I should seek to serve the Lord in some form of religious work, or remain in my present teaching position?" "I am confused about God's will for my life. How may I be sure just what He would have me to do?" Questions ... questions ... questions - all from bewildered, confused, sometimes frustrated Christians, earnestly seeking to learn God's will for their lives, or anxious to know His will concerning an important decision they must make in some pressing matter. How can the man who feels God would have him go to the mission field ascertain God's will? Certainly it is an important and crucial decision with which he is faced. It is useless, and even unsafe, for a man to be trying to serve the Lord in India, if God wants him in Indiana. That student will certainly fail who attempts to leave a school where God has placed him, merely because he must undergo certain trials in order to remain. Nor will that person ever succeed who, motivated by an enthusiasm to serve the Lord, disposes of his business in order to go preach the gospel, when God desires to use him as a Christian businessman right where he is. He will be as frustrated and out of place as that individual who failed to respond to God's call to preach His Word and accepted something less than God's perfect will for his life. Likewise, when one is not sure whether or not he has made the right decision about some matter in harmony with God's will, it will be terribly difficult to determine, if he finds himself going through trying circumstances, whether these experiences are "trials of his faith," or chastisement for his disobedience. How can we be sure just what God's will is in the decisions which confronts us? How can we avoid mistakes and costly blunders? You may be sure of one thing - you do not have to plead with God to guide and direct you. Over and over in Scripture He expresses His willingness and desire to give you an understanding of His perfect will for your life. He promises to direct your footsteps day to day. God has pledged Himself to direct each step of your life if you will determine to meet the three-fold condition which He sets forth in Proverbs 3:5-6 of total trust in the Lord; a lack of trust in yourself; and a constant statement of these two facts. EIGHT SCRIPTURAL METHODS BY WHICH GOD MAKES KNOWN HIS WILL It is not unreasonable to believe that if God could create a man in His image that He could also speak to him and communicate His will to him, Inasmuch as God has clearly stated in His Word that it is His desire to reveal His will to the believer, and is displeased when we are not walking in harmony with it. We should also expect that He would provide the means for ascertaining it. This He has done. There are, we find, eight scriptural methods for ascertaining God's will – three are notice in which we must take the initiative, and five are passive in which we become recipients of divine revelation of His will for us, as seen, for example, in the angel's appearance to Joseph in a dream warning him to flee into Egypt with the child, Jesus. Passive revelation of God's will comes unsought at the Spirit's sovereign discretion, inasmuch as God has promised to direct the steps of those who fulfill the conditions (Prov. 3:5-6). At the Altar: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God (Rom. 12:1-2). I find that many Christians spend years seeking to learn God's will for their lives. They read books on the subject, hoping to find some clue, they pray for guidance, or they seek help through religious counseling, but they have overlooked God's basic requirement for learning His perfect will – the total commitment of one's life on the altar as a living sacrifice. To comprehend just what God requires for total consecration, it is suggested that the section entitled Go Back to Calvary in the first previous studies be reviewed again, for all that was set forth there is to be applied here as the manner in which Romans 12:1-2 is to be understood and obeyed. While it is true that the Christian can ascertain to some degree God's will through prayer, study at His Word, or by other means, nevertheless, total consecration is required to know His perfect will, as Romans 12:1-2 clearly indicates. We must learn that we cannot substitute praying for obeying; for without total commitment many precious hours can be wasted praying for a revelation of God's will, or for guidance for our lives in some matter, and heaven will often seem as brass. Why? God is waiting for us to present ourselves as living sacrifices, and climb upon the altar where He can speak with us. He only reveals His perfect will to us when we are upon the altar, for it is only here that we are in a position to hear Him when He speaks. When "self" has been crucified and the life surrendered without reservation, then you will find that the Spirit is frequently speaking inwardly to you, and that you can become quite sensitive to His voice, being able to discern it from your own will, or from the suggestions of the enemy. It is a great blessing to know when the Spirit is speaking, and to be able to respond to His leading and prompting, fulfilling God's will instead of wandering aimlessly about confused and, bewildered. You will find that you will be sensitive to His voice to the extent your life is consecrated on the altar and you are yielded to the Spirit. And to the extent you are sensitive to His voice you are able to respond when He speaks. God at times, for one reason or another, speaks directly to His children in an audible voice to reveal some matter to them, give them guidance, or make known His will. Generally, however, it is by means of that still, inner voice that He speaks to our spirit, prompting, leading, directing, and influencing, or at times checking us from taking some undesirable course of action. God will not reveal His perfect plan and will to a Christian who is not fully yielded unto Him without reservation, for such an individual would be ineffective and unable to fulfill God's purpose in his life. An effective instrument is one that has yielded itself completely to the hand of the one using it. Many Christians feel they have yielded themselves to the Spirit and have consecrated themselves to God, yet they have not always done so without reservation. One individual, for instance, feels that he is consecrated because he is praying for God to send him as a missionary to India, but who at the same time would have no desire for God to use him as a missionary to Indiana! He is consecrated, but not unconditionally; thus, God's perfect will cannot be revealed to him, since it would be impossible for it to be fulfilled in his life. Another, with a gift of prophecy prays earnestly to God to fulfill his desire and use him in a great way in a ministry of prophecy like that of Amos or Isaiah, but has little inclination to follow in the steps of a prophet like Lucius, for example. After all, who has ever heard of Lucius outside of the people in the local church at Antioch (Acts 13:1)? Another pleads with God for the gifts and power to slay giants as David, pulling down Satan's strongholds, but would decline to engage in this warfare alone in his closet, on his knees, wrestling with the forces of darkness by prayer and fastings. Christians too often come to God and think they are consecrating themselves to Him simply because they say, "Here I am Lord, use me in such and such a place, at such and such a time, in such and such a way." Then they wonder why God does not respond to this little genuflection before Him with a mighty out-pouring of His Spirit upon them, or why they seem to have so much difficulty in ascertaining His will for their lives. After all, they do wish to serve Him and to be used by Him. Why then are they so often bewildered and ineffective? It is simply because they have not placed themselves on the altar and yielded themselves unconditionally to Him. It is true that God wants to use you to speak His Word; but if you are not fully yielded to Him, then often you will find that you will be speaking the wrong word to the wrong people at the wrong time. An effective instrument is one fully yielded to the purpose of the one using it. Therefore, before God can unveil His perfect will for your life day to day, you must first obey that aspect of His will which He has already revealed – total consecration, "for this is the will of God, even your consecration" (1 Th. 4:3). It is only as we present ourselves as living sacrifices that we are shown progressively, day to day, more and more, "what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God" (Rom. 12:1-2). Just as we fellowship and speak with our children God promises to communicate with us and reveal His will, however, it may be that you have been living too far from Him to hear His voice when He speaks. Draw near to Him daily in prayer, love, and obedience, and you will find yourself becoming increasingly sensitive to His voice as He speaks to you. In the Word; All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Those who may be looking for a shortcut or some easy solution to learning the will of God probably will be disappointed to learn that God has already revealed His will for their lives in large measure in the Scriptures; and, as a consequence, this means they will have to pay the cost of sacrificing some of their time and interest in other things, and diligently search His Word, if they expect Him to speak to them through it. In these instances in which Christians with whom I have counseled are bewildered and confused, and are unable to ascertain God's will about some matter, I have found almost invariably that their predicament is the inevitable consequence of not knowing what the Word of God teaches concerning their problem or need. Again and again I have seen Christians pray for a revelation of God's will, or come to me for guidance about some matter, the solution to which is already revealed in God's Word. It is useless to ask God for guidance on matters where He has clearly unfolded His will, if through negligence, or for some other reason, an individual has not bothered to ascertain what He has had to say on the subject. If, for example, a Christian woman wishes to marry an unbeliever, hoping to convert him after marriage, she could pray for months for a revelation of God's will in the matter without receiving it, for God is never going to answer such a request as to whether or not this marriage should take place. Why? Simply because He has already revealed His will on this matter in His Word (2 Cor. 6:14). Neither is God going to give that individual the Holy Spirit who prays as some do whom I have heard, saying, "Lord, if the baptism in the Holy Spirit is for me, and if it is your will that I should have it, then somehow show me this fact and I will accept it." God has already revealed in His Word the promise of the Holy Spirit, and states clearly that the baptism will be given to those who, in faith, ask for it (Lk. 11:13). Again, many Christians are confused concerning God's will in the matter of sickness. Since they are not firmly grounded in what the Word of God teaches on the subject of healing, then they are unsettled in their minds, believing that it is not always God's will to heal the sick, and that there are some exceptions to His promise that "the prayer of faith shall heal the sick" (Jam. 5:15). Because they do not know God's Word as they should on this question, then they do not always know what God's will is in the event of sickness, especially in case of serious illness, and have, therefore, committed themselves to praying the faithless prayer in such instances, "O Lord, if it be thy will I ask that I might be healed somehow, nevertheless, not my will but thine be done." Such apparent resignation to God's will may sound pious, but it most certainly is not scriptural, inasmuch as God has already revealed His will about the matter of sickness in His Word in dozens of passages, such as Mark 16:18, saying, "They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Edited. Shared. To be Continued. ❤️ God willing, more will be posted soon. All glory to Jesus alone.
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  • Good morning to everyone. Grace and Peace be with you.

    I think the hardest witness that I have ever done is to someone that I love. Someone who is close to me. Someone that I admire. Someone who has overcome battles. Someone who I want to walk the streets of gold with. However, their views and my views are miles apart.

    The world has intertwined so many ‘logical’ explanations, ‘logical’ conclusions, and ‘logical’ dismissals for believing in God.

    1. If there is a God, why do kids get sick?
    2. If there is a God, why do those who believe in him suffer?
    3. I asked God to help and he didn’t.
    4. There is no way that the flood happened.
    5. Once you die, you die…you cannot wake up again.
    6. I believe there is a higher power, but I don’t know about Jesus.
    7. Why would anyone purposefully die for someone they don’t know?

    Seven very common, very real, very distinctive arguments that I have run into from those that I love. But the one that gets me the most is this: There are a lot of religions; what makes yours the right one?

    Anyone else run into these scenarios? Or is it just me?

    The first two kind of go hand in hand. Suffering. Illness. Without suffering, how would we know what was good? Without suffering, how could we learn empathy? Without suffering, how would we learn compassion?

    Number 3 … I asked, and he did not answer. Hmm. What did you ask for? Money? Revenge? To fix something that He told you not to do in the first place? God always answers, but sometimes the answer is No. When the answer is No to what you are asking, there is a follow-up plan; you just have to be patient. That is one thing that the enemy has exploited to a bare thin thread. We do not have any.

    Four has been proven by science. Five, if you can believe in a higher power, then why can you not believe in the Trinity? Then seven, Jesus came, he taught, he demonstrated and he died to demonstrate His love for us. He did not have to … He chose to. To demonstrate that we all have choices … some are more unpleasant than others.

    Then finally, the last common one, there are so many religions … blah blah blah … There are. Factions, splits, denominations … I am sure that they are innumerable by now … however, there is only one tomb that is empty. There is only one way to heaven.

    So, when you present facts and figures as it were, to family and they still disregard your pursuit, it cuts to the core. But know this: you may have only been the merchant who sold the seeds. Do not be disheartened. You may have only been the worker to plant the seed. Do not be discouraged. You may not be the one at the harvest, but prayerful watering that the right servant will be placed in their path; that is how I get over that hump of fear. Knowing that God has placed me where he wants me for those I am to sow into, and that he will place someone in my loved one’s path to do the same.

    Do not let the enemy steal your peace for their salvation; continue to pray and speak love.

    Be blessed.

    **So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. – 2 Corinthians 4:18
    Good morning to everyone. Grace and Peace be with you. I think the hardest witness that I have ever done is to someone that I love. Someone who is close to me. Someone that I admire. Someone who has overcome battles. Someone who I want to walk the streets of gold with. However, their views and my views are miles apart. The world has intertwined so many ‘logical’ explanations, ‘logical’ conclusions, and ‘logical’ dismissals for believing in God. 1. If there is a God, why do kids get sick? 2. If there is a God, why do those who believe in him suffer? 3. I asked God to help and he didn’t. 4. There is no way that the flood happened. 5. Once you die, you die…you cannot wake up again. 6. I believe there is a higher power, but I don’t know about Jesus. 7. Why would anyone purposefully die for someone they don’t know? Seven very common, very real, very distinctive arguments that I have run into from those that I love. But the one that gets me the most is this: There are a lot of religions; what makes yours the right one? Anyone else run into these scenarios? Or is it just me? The first two kind of go hand in hand. Suffering. Illness. Without suffering, how would we know what was good? Without suffering, how could we learn empathy? Without suffering, how would we learn compassion? Number 3 … I asked, and he did not answer. Hmm. What did you ask for? Money? Revenge? To fix something that He told you not to do in the first place? God always answers, but sometimes the answer is No. When the answer is No to what you are asking, there is a follow-up plan; you just have to be patient. That is one thing that the enemy has exploited to a bare thin thread. We do not have any. Four has been proven by science. Five, if you can believe in a higher power, then why can you not believe in the Trinity? Then seven, Jesus came, he taught, he demonstrated and he died to demonstrate His love for us. He did not have to … He chose to. To demonstrate that we all have choices … some are more unpleasant than others. Then finally, the last common one, there are so many religions … blah blah blah … There are. Factions, splits, denominations … I am sure that they are innumerable by now … however, there is only one tomb that is empty. There is only one way to heaven. So, when you present facts and figures as it were, to family and they still disregard your pursuit, it cuts to the core. But know this: you may have only been the merchant who sold the seeds. Do not be disheartened. You may have only been the worker to plant the seed. Do not be discouraged. You may not be the one at the harvest, but prayerful watering that the right servant will be placed in their path; that is how I get over that hump of fear. Knowing that God has placed me where he wants me for those I am to sow into, and that he will place someone in my loved one’s path to do the same. Do not let the enemy steal your peace for their salvation; continue to pray and speak love. Be blessed. **So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. – 2 Corinthians 4:18
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  • TODAY'S KINGDOM INSIGHTS

    RAISING GODLY CHILDREN IN MODERN TIMES

    SERMON TEXT:

    Deuteronomy 6:6–7

    «"These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children..."»

    THE GREATEST LEGACY IS NOT WEALTH, BUT GODLINESS

    We live in a generation where children are surrounded by influences that compete for their hearts. Social media, entertainment, peer pressure, and worldly ideologies speak to them every day. Many parents work hard to provide food, education, and comfort, yet neglect the spiritual formation of their children.
    A child may know mathematics, science, and technology, yet remain ignorant of God. Such success is incomplete.
    The future of the Church, the family, and society depends largely on how we raise today's children. God has never called schools, governments, or social media to disciple our children first. He has entrusted that responsibility to parents and guardians.
    The question is not merely, "Are our children growing?" but "Are they growing in Christ?"

    KEY BIBLE VERSES

    1. Deuteronomy 6:6–7
    God instructed Israel to teach His Word diligently to their children at home, while traveling, before sleeping, and after waking. Godly parenting is not a Sunday activity—it is a daily lifestyle.

    Lesson:
    Faith is best transferred through consistent living, not occasional teaching.
    2. Proverbs 22:6
    «"Train up a child in the way he should go..."»

    Training requires patience, correction, instruction, and repetition. Children rarely become godly accidentally.
    3. Ephesians 6:4
    «"Bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."»
    Parents are called not only to discipline but also to nurture with love, wisdom, and grace.
    4. Psalm 127:3
    «"Children are a heritage from the Lord."»
    Children are not burdens; they are God's precious gifts entrusted to our care.
    POINT ONE: BE THE EXAMPLE YOU WANT YOUR CHILDREN TO FOLLOW
    Children learn more from what they see than from what they hear.
    If they see prayer, they will value prayer.
    If they see honesty, they will learn integrity.
    If they see forgiveness, they will understand mercy.
    If they see hypocrisy, they may reject the faith altogether.
    Our lives are the first Bible many children will ever read.
    POINT TWO: BUILD A GOD-CENTERED HOME
    A godly home does not happen by accident.
    Create an atmosphere where:
    - Prayer is normal.
    - The Bible is read together.
    - Worship is practiced.
    - God is discussed openly.
    - Love and forgiveness are evident.
    When Christ is the center of the home, children grow with spiritual stability.
    POINT THREE: DISCIPLINE WITH LOVE, NOT ANGER
    Biblical discipline is meant to restore, not to destroy.
    Correction without love produces fear.
    Love without correction produces rebellion.
    God disciplines those He loves, and parents should reflect His heart through patient and wise correction.
    POINT FOUR: GUARD THEIR HEARTS FROM UNGODLY INFLUENCES
    Modern technology is useful, but it must never replace parental guidance.
    Children today face constant exposure to harmful content through phones, television, gaming, and the internet.
    Parents must:
    - Know what their children watch.
    - Pray with them.
    - Discuss biblical truth regularly.
    - Teach discernment.
    - Encourage friendships that strengthen faith.
    A protected heart is more valuable than unlimited freedom.
    POINT FIVE: PRAY FOR YOUR CHILDREN WITHOUT CEASING
    Some battles cannot be won by rules alone.
    They require prayer.
    Pray for:
    - Salvation
    - Wisdom
    - Purity
    - Protection
    - Divine purpose
    - Good relationships
    - Love for God
    Never underestimate the power of a praying parent.

    BIBLICAL CASE STUDY

    Hannah and Samuel (1 Samuel 1–3)

    Hannah prayed earnestly for a child and dedicated Samuel to the Lord before he was born.
    She fulfilled her promise and continually nurtured his spiritual life.
    Samuel grew to become one of Israel's greatest prophets because his foundation was laid in God's presence.

    Lesson:
    Children dedicated to God and raised in His ways can become instruments of national transformation.

    DEEP SPIRITUAL INSIGHTS

    - Every child carries a divine purpose that must be nurtured.
    - The enemy targets children because they represent the future.
    - Parenting is a sacred ministry, not merely a biological responsibility.
    - A godly generation is built through faithful discipleship at home.
    - Your greatest investment is not what you leave for your children, but what you leave in your children.

    PRACTICAL ACTION STEPS

    1. Establish daily family prayer.
    2. Read at least one Bible passage together each day.
    3. Worship together regularly.
    4. Limit harmful media influences.
    5. Bless your children with words of encouragement
    6. Lead by personal example.
    7. Pray consistently for their spiritual growth.
    8. Encourage them to serve God in the local church.

    QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

    - Am I modeling the Christian life before my children?
    - Does my home reflect the presence of Christ?
    - What values am I intentionally teaching my children?
    - Are my children growing spiritually or merely growing physically?
    - What changes must I make to help them follow Jesus faithfully?

    POWERFUL PRAYER POINTS

    1. Father, help me become a godly example to my children.
    2. Lord, let my home become a place of prayer, peace, and Your presence.
    3. Every evil influence assigned against my children, be destroyed in Jesus' name.
    4. Lord, plant a deep love for Your Word in the hearts of my children.
    5. Father, grant my children wisdom, holiness, and discernment.
    6. Let every destiny assigned to my children by You be fulfilled.
    7. Protect my children from ungodly friendships and destructive habits.
    8. Raise my children to become faithful servants and shining lights for Christ.
    9. Let the Holy Spirit guide them in every decision they make.
    10. May generations after us continue to serve the Lord faithfully.

    OUR CHILDREN ARE TOMORROW'S CHURCH

    The battle for the next generation is being fought today.
    If we fail to disciple our children, the world will gladly shape them according to its values. But when parents intentionally raise children in the fear of the Lord, they become men and women of integrity, compassion, courage, and unwavering faith.
    Let us choose today to build homes where Christ is honored, Scripture is loved, prayer is practiced, and children are nurtured to know, love, and serve God all the days of their lives.

    Call to Action:

    Parents, guardians, grandparents, teachers, and church leaders—commit yourselves afresh to raising children who will stand firm for Christ. Begin today. Pray with them, teach them God's Word, live as an example before them, and trust the Holy Spirit to shape their hearts. The seeds you plant now can produce a harvest of faithful disciples who will impact families, churches, communities, and nations for the glory of God.

    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

    https://wa.link/jwz4sa

    Email pastor.umoedem@gmail.com

    https://www.facebook.com/share/1DgLHSZ4pk/

    #UMOHEDEM
    TODAY'S KINGDOM INSIGHTS RAISING GODLY CHILDREN IN MODERN TIMES SERMON TEXT: Deuteronomy 6:6–7 «"These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children..."» THE GREATEST LEGACY IS NOT WEALTH, BUT GODLINESS We live in a generation where children are surrounded by influences that compete for their hearts. Social media, entertainment, peer pressure, and worldly ideologies speak to them every day. Many parents work hard to provide food, education, and comfort, yet neglect the spiritual formation of their children. A child may know mathematics, science, and technology, yet remain ignorant of God. Such success is incomplete. The future of the Church, the family, and society depends largely on how we raise today's children. God has never called schools, governments, or social media to disciple our children first. He has entrusted that responsibility to parents and guardians. The question is not merely, "Are our children growing?" but "Are they growing in Christ?" KEY BIBLE VERSES 1. Deuteronomy 6:6–7 God instructed Israel to teach His Word diligently to their children at home, while traveling, before sleeping, and after waking. Godly parenting is not a Sunday activity—it is a daily lifestyle. Lesson: Faith is best transferred through consistent living, not occasional teaching. 2. Proverbs 22:6 «"Train up a child in the way he should go..."» Training requires patience, correction, instruction, and repetition. Children rarely become godly accidentally. 3. Ephesians 6:4 «"Bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."» Parents are called not only to discipline but also to nurture with love, wisdom, and grace. 4. Psalm 127:3 «"Children are a heritage from the Lord."» Children are not burdens; they are God's precious gifts entrusted to our care. POINT ONE: BE THE EXAMPLE YOU WANT YOUR CHILDREN TO FOLLOW Children learn more from what they see than from what they hear. If they see prayer, they will value prayer. If they see honesty, they will learn integrity. If they see forgiveness, they will understand mercy. If they see hypocrisy, they may reject the faith altogether. Our lives are the first Bible many children will ever read. POINT TWO: BUILD A GOD-CENTERED HOME A godly home does not happen by accident. Create an atmosphere where: - Prayer is normal. - The Bible is read together. - Worship is practiced. - God is discussed openly. - Love and forgiveness are evident. When Christ is the center of the home, children grow with spiritual stability. POINT THREE: DISCIPLINE WITH LOVE, NOT ANGER Biblical discipline is meant to restore, not to destroy. Correction without love produces fear. Love without correction produces rebellion. God disciplines those He loves, and parents should reflect His heart through patient and wise correction. POINT FOUR: GUARD THEIR HEARTS FROM UNGODLY INFLUENCES Modern technology is useful, but it must never replace parental guidance. Children today face constant exposure to harmful content through phones, television, gaming, and the internet. Parents must: - Know what their children watch. - Pray with them. - Discuss biblical truth regularly. - Teach discernment. - Encourage friendships that strengthen faith. A protected heart is more valuable than unlimited freedom. POINT FIVE: PRAY FOR YOUR CHILDREN WITHOUT CEASING Some battles cannot be won by rules alone. They require prayer. Pray for: - Salvation - Wisdom - Purity - Protection - Divine purpose - Good relationships - Love for God Never underestimate the power of a praying parent. BIBLICAL CASE STUDY Hannah and Samuel (1 Samuel 1–3) Hannah prayed earnestly for a child and dedicated Samuel to the Lord before he was born. She fulfilled her promise and continually nurtured his spiritual life. Samuel grew to become one of Israel's greatest prophets because his foundation was laid in God's presence. Lesson: Children dedicated to God and raised in His ways can become instruments of national transformation. DEEP SPIRITUAL INSIGHTS - Every child carries a divine purpose that must be nurtured. - The enemy targets children because they represent the future. - Parenting is a sacred ministry, not merely a biological responsibility. - A godly generation is built through faithful discipleship at home. - Your greatest investment is not what you leave for your children, but what you leave in your children. PRACTICAL ACTION STEPS 1. Establish daily family prayer. 2. Read at least one Bible passage together each day. 3. Worship together regularly. 4. Limit harmful media influences. 5. Bless your children with words of encouragement 6. Lead by personal example. 7. Pray consistently for their spiritual growth. 8. Encourage them to serve God in the local church. QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION - Am I modeling the Christian life before my children? - Does my home reflect the presence of Christ? - What values am I intentionally teaching my children? - Are my children growing spiritually or merely growing physically? - What changes must I make to help them follow Jesus faithfully? POWERFUL PRAYER POINTS 1. Father, help me become a godly example to my children. 2. Lord, let my home become a place of prayer, peace, and Your presence. 3. Every evil influence assigned against my children, be destroyed in Jesus' name. 4. Lord, plant a deep love for Your Word in the hearts of my children. 5. Father, grant my children wisdom, holiness, and discernment. 6. Let every destiny assigned to my children by You be fulfilled. 7. Protect my children from ungodly friendships and destructive habits. 8. Raise my children to become faithful servants and shining lights for Christ. 9. Let the Holy Spirit guide them in every decision they make. 10. May generations after us continue to serve the Lord faithfully. OUR CHILDREN ARE TOMORROW'S CHURCH The battle for the next generation is being fought today. If we fail to disciple our children, the world will gladly shape them according to its values. But when parents intentionally raise children in the fear of the Lord, they become men and women of integrity, compassion, courage, and unwavering faith. Let us choose today to build homes where Christ is honored, Scripture is loved, prayer is practiced, and children are nurtured to know, love, and serve God all the days of their lives. Call to Action: Parents, guardians, grandparents, teachers, and church leaders—commit yourselves afresh to raising children who will stand firm for Christ. Begin today. Pray with them, teach them God's Word, live as an example before them, and trust the Holy Spirit to shape their hearts. The seeds you plant now can produce a harvest of faithful disciples who will impact families, churches, communities, and nations for the glory of God. 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 https://wa.link/jwz4sa Email pastor.umoedem@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/share/1DgLHSZ4pk/ #UMOHEDEM
    0 Commentarios 0 Acciones 22 Views
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