God can use dreams for many purposes. Here are four biblical ways He speaks through them. 1 –God Can Impart Through Dreams In 1 Kings 3:5–12, the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and invited him to ask for whatever he desired. Solomon asked for an understanding heart so that he could lead God’s people well and distinguish between right and wrong. The Lord was pleased with his request and gave him extraordinary wisdom. Solomon did not merely dream about God—he encountered God in his dream. What happened while he slept resulted in a genuine impartation that affected his waking life. There have been times when I sensed the Holy Spirit’s presence intensely in a dream and then awakened with that same sense of His presence in the room. A dream can become a genuine place of encounter. God can impart wisdom, courage, direction, or spiritual strength through it. 2 –God Can Reveal the Future Through Dreams Genesis 41 records Pharaoh’s troubling dreams and Joseph’s God-given interpretation. The dreams revealed that seven years of prosperity would be followed by seven years of famine. Because God revealed what was coming, Egypt was able to prepare. God can reveal future events through dreams. Sometimes, He may show you something before it happens; at other times, He may confirm what He has already been speaking to your heart. Years ago, at about age ten, I had a dream in which I saw an old man carrying a load in a "Ghana Must Go" bag. I took the load from the old man and walked with him for a distance. At a point , he asked me to put the load down, and when I did, he opened the bag; it was full of Bibles. He gave me one of them and told me to cherish it. He then said he could carry on from that point. He moved a distance away and vanished into thin air. In another dream at a different time, I was given Genesis 17:1–4. In a third dream, a well-built man in a white robe came to me and gave me a briefcase, telling me to guard it well, as everything in it was for me. I opened it and found a Bible and a white handkerchief with a dove drawn at the center, inscribed with the words "Holy Spirit." When I shared these dreams, I was told God would use me. Since then, God has used dreams to show me what lies ahead, what is present, and even what is in the past that needs to be unraveled. 3 –God Can Reveal Important Information After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him it was safe to return to Israel with Mary and Jesus (Matthew 2:19–20). The dream provided the information Joseph needed for a decision in that moment. Daniel also declared, “But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future” (Daniel 2:28, NLT). The Holy Spirit may reveal a missing piece of information, bring clarity to something you have been sensing, or expose a matter that needs prayer. But dreams must never make you paranoid or suspicious of everyone around you. Do not make accusations or major decisions based on a dream alone. Remain discerning, levelheaded, prayerful, and submitted to Scripture. 4 –God Can Warn Through Dreams God may use a dream to warn you about physical danger, spiritual attack, a damaging decision, or a difficult season ahead. Sometimes a warning calls you to act; other times, it simply calls you to pray and prepare. In Genesis 15:12–14, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a terrifying darkness came over him. God warned him that his descendants would be oppressed for 400 years, but He also promised to judge the nation that enslaved them and bring His people out with great wealth. This passage corrects a common misconception: a dream from God will not always feel pleasant. A warning may produce a serious or even troubling emotional response. The presence of a negative emotion does not automatically prove that a dream is not from God. The more important questions are whether the message agrees with Scripture and whether it ultimately leads you toward faith, obedience, prayer, and redemption. God bless you!

MONDAY 17TH AUGUST 2026 IGNITE YOUTH DEVOTIONAL Topic: When God Says Wait Bible Reference “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NKJV) A Short Story Michael had been praying about a particular opportunity for almost a year. He had applied for several jobs, attended interviews, and sent out countless applications. Each time he thought something good was about to happen, another disappointment followed. One evening, he sat on his bed and looked at his phone. Another friend had just announced a new job. Someone else had shared pictures from a new apartment. Another person had posted about an engagement. Michael smiled as he congratulated them, but when he put his phone down, his heart became heavy. “God, when will something happen for me?” he asked. He had prayed. He had worked hard. He had done everything he knew to do. Yet nothing seemed to be changing. For a moment, he considered accepting an opportunity that he knew was not right for him simply because he was tired of waiting. But as he thought about it, he remembered how often he had asked God to lead him. He closed his eyes and prayed again. “Lord, if this is not Your time, help me not to force it.” The situation did not change that night. But Michael's heart changed. He realized that waiting did not mean God had forgotten him. Sometimes, God allows us to wait because He is preparing us for what we are not yet ready to receive. Today's Message Waiting can be one of the hardest parts of walking with God. You may pray faithfully and still wonder why nothing is happening. But God's silence does not mean His absence. His delay does not mean He has forgotten you. The Bible says that God makes everything beautiful in its time. This means there is a timing connected to what He is doing in your life. Do not allow someone else's progress to make you question God's plan for you. Their season is not your season. Sometimes, the greatest mistake you can make is to force what God has asked you to wait for. When you trust God's timing, you protect yourself from decisions that can create unnecessary pain. Waiting is not wasted time when God is involved. He can use the waiting season to prepare your character, strengthen your faith, develop your skills, and position you for what is ahead. What To Do Today 1. Stop comparing your progress with the progress of others. 2. Ask God to help you understand what He wants you to learn in your present season. 3. Continue working and preparing instead of becoming discouraged. 4. Refuse to make a wrong decision simply because you are tired of waiting. Prayer Lord, help me to trust Your timing. When I feel forgotten or delayed, remind me that You are still working. Give me patience to wait and wisdom to prepare for what You have planned for me. In Jesus' name, Amen. Daily Challenge Today, identify one thing you have been worried about because it has not happened yet. Give it to God in prayer and take one practical step toward preparing for your future. ©️ Anthony Ijere Christian Author and Revivalist https://chat.whatsapp.com/BDs9qaNMQumKTicv7uU7SJ?s=cl&p=a&mlu=0&ilr=0 https://t.me/anthonyijere

Wake Up. The Bible warns us that this will happen in the last days #lastdays #bible

📘 Daily Devotion — August 17 | Acts 18:28 (NKJV) 💯 Pointing Others to Jesus Through Scripture Acts 18 introduces Apollos, a gifted speaker who loved God's Word. After receiving further instruction from Priscilla and Aquila, he boldly proclaimed the gospel with greater understanding. Using the Scriptures, Apollos demonstrated that Jesus is the promised Messiah, helping many people place their faith in Christ. Apollos did not depend merely on eloquence or personal opinions. His confidence rested in the truth of God's Word. By faithfully explaining the Scriptures, he showed that God's promises were fulfilled in Jesus Christ. His ministry reminds us that the Bible is our greatest tool for sharing the gospel and defending the truth. For believers today, this passage encourages us to know God's Word well so we can lovingly and confidently point others to Jesus. As we grow in biblical understanding, God equips us to answer questions, strengthen fellow believers, and share the hope of the gospel with those who are searching. Reflection Questions 1. Am I growing in my knowledge of God's Word? 2. How can I use Scripture to encourage someone this week? 3. Is Jesus the center of my conversations about faith? Prayer Lord God, thank You for giving me Your Word to guide my life and reveal Jesus Christ. Help me to study the Scriptures faithfully and give me wisdom and courage to share the truth with love. May my life always point others to my Savior. In Jesus name Amen. Practical Application ● Spend time studying Scripture with the goal of knowing Christ better. ● Share a Bible verse that has encouraged you with someone this week. ● Be prepared to explain the hope you have in Jesus with gentleness and respect. Takeaway Thought God's Word faithfully points every seeking heart to Jesus Christ. #LordsbookDailys #DailyDevotion #August17 #Acts1828 #JesusIsTheChrist #PowerOfScripture #BoldFaith #BibleInspiration #GrowInFaith

Can the Bible still be trusted in a skeptical, secular age? In this powerful conversation with homicide detective and Christian apologist J. Warner Wallace, we explore the evidence for the trustworthiness of Scripture, the reliability of the Gospel eyewitness accounts, the prophetic case for Jesus as the Jewish Messiah, and the extra-biblical and archaeological support for the life of Christ. https://coldcasechristianity.com/videos/stop-saying-the-bibles-broken-the-evidence-shreds-modern-skepticism-video/ #ChristianApologetics #ColdCaseChristianity #JWarnerWallace #ChristianWorldview

I'm conducting my first Bible studies today in fellowship.

✝️ THE GOSPEL FROM CALVARY 📅 Monday, 17th August, 2026 🚨 CONTEND FOR THE FAITH! ✝️🔥 📜 TEXT: JUDE 1:1–25 📜 🔑📖 KEY VERSE: «“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” — Jude 1:3 (KJV)» The Christian faith is precious, powerful, and worth defending. In his short but powerful letter, Jude warned believers about false teachers and ungodly influences that had entered among God's people. Jude's message is simple but urgent: DO NOT GIVE UP THE FAITH! 🔥 We live in a world where truth is often questioned, biblical values are increasingly challenged, and many voices compete for our attention. But the believer is called to remain rooted in God's Word and to earnestly contend for the faith. 🔥 THREE LESSONS FROM JUDE 1️⃣ CONTEND FOR THE FAITH. 🛡️📖 Jude 1:3 says: «“...earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”» To contend for the faith does not mean fighting people. It means standing firmly for the truth of God's Word. Don't abandon biblical truth because it is unpopular. Don't compromise your convictions because of pressure. Don't change God's standards simply because society has changed. Stand for Christ. Stand for truth. Stand for the Gospel. ✝️🔥 2️⃣ BEWARE OF UNGODLY INFLUENCES. ⚠️ Jude warned that certain ungodly people had secretly entered among the believers. Their presence was dangerous because they could influence others away from the truth. This teaches us that not every teaching, philosophy, lifestyle, or spiritual message should be accepted without examination. 📖 Test what you hear against Scripture. 🙏🏽 Ask God for discernment. 👀 Watch the influences around you. ❤️‍🔥 Protect your relationship with Christ. Be careful what you allow to shape your thinking. 3️⃣ BUILD YOURSELF UP SPIRITUALLY. 🏗️🔥 Jude 1:20–21 gives believers a powerful instruction: «“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God...”» Notice the progression: 📖 Build yourself on the faith. 🙏🏽 Pray in the Holy Ghost. ❤️ Keep yourself in God's love. 👑 Look for the mercy of Jesus Christ unto eternal life. A strong Christian life does not happen accidentally. You must intentionally develop your relationship with God. Pray. Study the Word. Worship. Obey God. Stay connected to Christ. 🛡️ DON'T COMPROMISE YOUR FAITH The pressure to compromise can come from many directions. Friends may pressure you. Society may pressure you. Relationships may pressure you. Entertainment may pressure you. Even people who claim to know God may pressure you. But remember: Your faith is more valuable than acceptance from people. Never exchange eternal truth for temporary popularity. Never exchange holiness for pleasure. Never exchange your relationship with Christ for worldly approval. ❤️‍🔥 HAVE MERCY ON THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING Jude does not only tell believers to defend the faith; he also teaches us how to respond to people who are struggling. Jude 1:22 says: «“And of some have compassion, making a difference.”» There are people who need correction, but they also need compassion. There are people who have wandered, but they can still be restored. There are people who are confused, but God can use you to lead them back to truth. Therefore, stand firmly for truth while showing the love of Christ. ❤️‍🩹✝️ 🔥 KEEP YOURSELF IN THE LOVE OF GOD Jude 1:21 says: «“Keep yourselves in the love of God...”» This does not mean that God's love is weak or that we must earn His love. It is a call to remain in fellowship and obedience to Him. Don't allow sin to become your lifestyle. Don't allow bitterness to occupy your heart. Don't allow worldly desires to take the place of Christ. Stay close to Jesus. 👑 GOD IS ABLE TO KEEP YOU The letter of Jude ends with one of the most beautiful declarations of God's power: «“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy...” — Jude 1:24» What a powerful assurance! We are called to contend. We are called to watch. We are called to pray. We are called to remain faithful. But ultimately, God is the One who keeps us. 🙏🏽🔥 When you feel weak, He can strengthen you. When you are tempted, He can help you. When you are discouraged, He can restore you. When you are struggling, He can keep you from falling. ✍🏽 THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: A believer who knows the value of the Gospel will stand firmly for the truth, walk faithfully with Christ, and never trade eternal truth for temporary approval. 🔥✝️ 🙏🏽 PRAYER Heavenly Father, Thank You for the precious gift of salvation and for the faith You have entrusted to us. Give me grace to earnestly contend for the faith. Help me to recognize false teachings and ungodly influences. Give me spiritual discernment to know what is true and courage to stand for Your Word. Build me up in my most holy faith. Teach me to pray consistently and keep me in Your love. Help me to show compassion to those who are struggling and to point them back to Jesus. Lord, keep me from falling. Preserve my faith, strengthen my walk, and help me remain faithful until the end. To You be glory, majesty, dominion, and power, both now and forever. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen. 🙏🏽🔥 📜 THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: PSALMS 73–75 📖 ✝️ THE CALVARY MINISTRY ONLINE Birthright is Evangelism

Finish the Bible verse in the comments. "The Lord is my Shepherd ...... "

Three Angels Broadcasting Network Devotional. The Lord is Near By Vera Malova August 17th, 2026 I was raised in northern Kazakhstan, but when we moved to the town of Bor in 1993, I remember the TV ads for Pastor John Carter’s evangelistic meetings across the Volga River in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. Things weren’t going smoothly at home. My husband often took to the bottle, and my eldest son Sasha had started drinking, too. So I was happy when Sasha began attending those meetings every day. They gave him a Bible, and when Sasha brought it home, I began to read it. By the time I reached the New Testament, I’d realized we weren’t living the way God wanted us to, so I read it again. In the meantime, Sasha was baptized and began inviting me to church. I wanted to support him, but I worked on Saturdays. However, my hands began to ache so badly that I had to go to the hospital and take a break from work. The following Saturday, my son stared at me intently, wondering if I would go to church with him, so I went. I have a habit of looking people in the eye, and I was amazed to see such kind and affectionate eyes. Everyone was glad to see me, and they all smiled, so I continued going to church and soon decided to be baptized. On the day before my baptism, my husband came home from work drunk, hit his head, and stopped breathing. My son gave him CPR, but his breathing stopped as soon as he let up. “Lord, I give my whole family into Your hands!” I cried—and instantly, my husband began breathing again. God literally raised him from the dead! Although two of my children were baptized, my husband would not surrender to the Lord, threatening and calling me ugly names. Once, in a fit of anger, he began choking me. Another time, my children attended a youth group while I stayed home, reading my Bible. My husband came in drunk and said, “Aren’t you going to church, too?” “Yes, I think I will,” I answered. “Then perhaps you’ll also decide to be baptized!” he snorted. When I replied that I’d already been baptized, he grabbed a large Kitchen knife and shouted, “Then your life is over!” His eyes burned with a terrible fire! He lunged at me but suddenly froze in place. He stood there a while, holding the knife and shouting over and over, “You will not live!” Shaking with fear, I closed my eyes tightly and prayed silently for deliverance. Suddenly, I saw a beautiful rainbow in my mind with fiery letters that read, He will not hurt you! Throwing the knife down, my husband fell on the sofa, sobbing. My guardian angel had stood between us and protected me! “For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:11. As a family, we began praying earnestly for him. My children tried talking to him about God, but he answered, “That’s just how it’s written in your American Bible.” Lena bought him a Russian Orthodox Bible with a cross on it, blessed by Patriarch Alexy II, and as she read texts from her Bible, he read the same text in his; and whether from the Old or New Testament, every text matched word for word! Despite being convinced, my husband continued to drink as our family implored for God’s help. Finally, Sasha asked, “Father, why are you resisting?” He replied, “Okay, I will ask God to help me stop drinking.” He began carrying the Ten Commandments in his pocket and telling his co-workers and friends that they should follow them. He also promised to go to church but never did. Instead, he drank until he lost the feeling in his legs from his knees on down. One morning I woke up joyful. My eyes were shining when I said to him, “You cannot imagine how good you’d feel if you’d quit drinking,” to which he replied, “Then I’ll quit today.” Sadly, that was the day he died from his illness. It’s impossible to live in this world without God because there are problems such as alcoholism that no one else can solve. My son, who led me to God, eventually stopped going to church and began drinking again. But although he got so bad that he started hearing voices, our whole church family prayed for him, and after many years, he came back to the Lord and sobered again. Don’t think that the Lord is somewhere far away. He is right here with you! We all live in debt to the Lord, and a price has been paid for our life. Jesus paid the price for each of our days, each piece of bread we eat, and each breath we take. He paid it with His precious blood! Jeremiah 29:11 and 13 say, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.… And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Seek the Lord, for He is near.

Guidelines for living. August 17th, 2026 Will You Choose a Simpler Life? You have always protected him and his home and his property from all harm. You have prospered everything he does—look how rich he is! No wonder he “worships” you! But just take away his wealth, and you’ll see him curse you to your face!” (Job 1:10-11, Living Bible How much do you really need? If everything you own was suddenly wiped out by a fire or a devastating storm, would you thank God that your life was spared, or curse because of your loss? I asked myself that question one day when a friend and I noticed that smoke was coming out of the window of a house. For a moment we sat there, not believing what we saw. Then we realized the house was on fire. I ran to a phone and called the fire department, but it was too late. An oil stove had exploded and showered the fuel throughout the house. By the time we got the fire department there and ran to the house, the entire home was one blazing inferno. There was no loss of life, but outside the flaming house stood a father and mother and a little girl about six years of age. The parents were almost beside themselves with grief. How do you console someone in an hour like that? The young father cried out, “My God—all is lost!” The little girl put her hand on her daddy’s as her mother held her tightly in her arms, and she said, “Daddy, you got mommy and me … .” If that should happen to you, would you feel like giving up? Or would you realize that with no loss of life or limb, that what really counts is not what you have but rather what you are? A Christian friend who did lose everything he owned in a fire, and could speak from personal experience, talks freely about the lessons God taught him through that. The biggest one was the tragedy of building your life around what you have. No one enjoys living in poverty. I’ve traveled too much in the world ever to buy that people who live in poverty are not bothered by what they don’t have, since they’ve never known some of the things that you have in your home. They hurt when their baby is sick, and there is no agency to provide medicine and there is no money. They hurt when the cold of winter presses through the cardboard of a squatter’s shack. In recent years the affluence of some, yes, many, has become a sharper and more noticeable contrast to the poverty of others. How much do you really need? This, of course, is a question that has no pat answer, but it has readily become apparent that no one is so affluent that he can afford to disregard the needs of others today. Evangelist Leighton Ford believes that the simple life which pleases God today is one that gets its priorities straight. “We are going to have to lead simpler lives in the future,” said Ford. No question about that. The question is, “Will it be because we are forced to, or because we choose to?” Every sincere individual must come to grips with the responsibility that we have to God in areas of our stewardship. And “what is stewardship?” you might ask. It’s an old English word that originally meant the supervision of another’s wealth or possessions. Literally, a steward was a “house warden.” He was the person to whom the master had entrusted his possessions; the steward was directly responsible to the owner. If you can begin to think of your possessions as a stewardship, given to you by God, who will someday demand an accounting, you will begin to think of material goods and possessions in a different light. With the changing world scene today, it’s become apparent that everyone will have to change some of the ways we have done things; the big question is, “Will it be because we are forced to, or because we choose to, as God’s direction for our lives?” Resource Reading: Job 1:1-22