"Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" —Matthew 6:26

Sunday 16 August 2026 Portland Metro Church Assembly of God Church Services Notes: The is no excuse By Pastor Jon H. ( king James version) Romans 1:18-23 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 1. There is no excuse for not believing in God. Romans 1:18-20- See about for verses; Job 12:7-9 -But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? Psalm 19:1- The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 2. The kind of God that creation reveals. Romans 8:19-22 See about for verses; Revelation 22:3- And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 3. The downward spiral of rejecting God. 4. The sin of idol worship. Romans 1:21 – 23 See about for verses; Exodus 20:3-6- Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. 5. The spiritual Warfare of idol worship. 6. The strange Culture we are called to serve. 7. Stay grounded

Mark 4:31-32 ERV God's kingdom is like a mustard seed, which is smaller than any other seed on earth that you can plant. [32] But when you plant it, it grows and becomes the largest of all the plants in your garden. It has branches that are very big. The wild birds can come and make nests there and be protected from the sun."

ou are Important, you are loved, you are valued! If God takes care of the birds of the air, He will surely take care of you. You don't have to carry tomorrow's worries today, for God knows what you need. He provides, and you are more valuable to Him than the birds He faithfully feeds. Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. MD.i. 😀🎀💝🎁🌺🌹 MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY THURSDAY AUGUST 13, 2O26. "RESPONDING TO FAILURE" ‘A righteous person may fall…but he gets up again...’ Proverbs 24:16 GWT YOU CAN tell a lot about somebody by how they respond to life. Everybody gets knocked down, but how fast you get up again is what counts. Verla Gillmor says: ‘Failure teaches us things we can’t learn any other way…Treat it as a visitor allowed to deliver unpleasant news, but don’t let it take up residence. Remember, all failures aren’t equal. For example, when a beautiful, talented young woman is the first-runner-up in a beauty contest, some say she failed. Yet some people would give their right arm to be named the second most attractive female in a competition. It’s a matter of perspective… [examine] your failures and weigh them according to their importance in the overall scheme of things…I once received a ‘D’ at college…it’s ridiculous, but that sticks in my mind like a pebble in my shoe. Why do I fixate on that and not the fact that it happened during the term I carried nineteen credit hours, worked part-time, got engaged, and spent six weeks in the college health centre with mononucleosis? When I put the experience in context, it loses its power to undermine my confidence. Failure teaches us what’s important. I have a friend who was made redundant…It caught her by surprise because she was good at her work. “I tended to be full of pride,” she says. “I got away with it because I was so successful. Losing my job…humbled me. With pride you have no permission to fail. It’s a heavy yoke…and I don’t wear it any more. I feel lighter in my spirit without the burden of having to be perfect.’’’ Bible In A Year: Judg 9:34 – 11:40, Matt 17:1-13, Ps 119:73-80, Pro 20:25, Ecc 5:4-6. Courtesy: Grace So Amazing Foundation 🌹🎀 *To partner with us, kindly refer to page 9 of the hard copy edition or simply send us a WhatsApp message/call on +2348128000068.*🌷🎀💝🌹. MD.ii. [12/08, 8:10 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA* THURSDAY, 13TH AUGUST, 2026. *A MORE DESCRIPTION OF HEAVEN* *TEXT:* REVELATION 21:1-8. 1And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. *Timeless Truth:*_"For he (Abraham) looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God"_ (Hebrews 11:10). *INTRODUCTION* When Garden Eden was created, it was the most beautiful place Adam could ever conceive of, with all the beautiful birds, animals, plants and cool weather. However, nobody needed to tell Adam that there must be a better place because the God that used to commune with him in *"the cool of the day"* was not living in Eden. He must be dwelling in a better place. This faith was carried on from generations to generations until the time of Abraham, who in spite of all the wealth promised him, his affection was focused on the better city. *"For he (Abraham) looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God"*. Nobody was given a better revelation of heaven than Apostle John. Enoch and Elijah were said to be translated to heaven. How heaven looked like was left to human imaginations. Jesus Christ also mentioned heaven as the abode of the Triune God. He only told us it has many mansions. At the mount of transfiguration was revealed the glory of heaven and how the inhabitants will look like. Nothing more was revealed. Stephen saw heaven at the point of death but just faintly (Acts 7:55-56). Paul the apostle was taken to heaven which he called the third heaven, but he said he was not permitted to reveal what he saw to any except that he exposed that it has many foundations (Acts 11:10, 2 Corinthians 12:2-4). The text shows us the climax of God's revelation about heaven. Yet the Bible writers were short of words to describe heaven except that it is the place where God dwells from eternity, with all His created angels and saints. *"How beautiful heaven must be"*. *1. Prepared Heaven* a. Those who doubt the testimony of Apostle John must be ready to doubt his gospel and epistles that have transformed lives and brought supernatural comforts and revelation of Jesus Christ to mankind for centuries. *"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth"*. He was not told or heard from a third party. He saw it himself. It was not a remodelled new heaven and earth, but a totally new heaven and a new earth. *"And there was no more sea"*. There are three types of heaven mentioned in the Bible. There is the atmospheric heaven where the rain comes from (Deuteronomy 11:11). There is the second heaven called heavenlies where we have the galaxies including the primary domain of demonic forces and angelic conflicts (Ephesians 6:12). Then we have the third heaven or paradise where God dwells (2 Corinthians 12:2). *"For the first heaven and the first earth were passed away"*. The first two heavens were passed away except the third heaven. 2 Peter 3:12, 13 reveals how this will happen. *"….. wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. "*. The earth and the heavens will be destroyed through fervent heat. Jesus Himself confirmed that heaven and earth with all their structures, beauties, learnings and philosophies shall all pass away except the Word of God (Matthew 5:18, 24:35). In fact, all the human bodies will give way to eternal and indestructible bodies. Thus, what Apostle John saw was the giving away of all things that are visible and temporary for things that are eternal. b. *"And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven"*. The earthly Jerusalem was referred to as the city of the Great King (Psalm 48:2, Matthew 5:35). This is referring to the Millennium holy Jerusalem from where Jesus will rule the whole world physically. John the apostle said that Jerusalem ceased to exist, but gave way to a completely New Jerusalem. This New Jerusalem was seen coming *"out of heaven"*. Obviously, it is seen coming from the third heaven which is the eternal throne of God. He used the imagery of the beauty of a bride coming to meet the husband to describe the beauty of heaven. This is the best description human language can give. *Prepared as a bride adorned for her husband"*. He then heard the voice of God announcing the plan of God right from eternity. What was that plan? That God will physically, live among men as King over loving subjects; as Father over His children in a happy family set up and as God over His redeemed and people. *"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God"*. This is the beginning of heaven, happy and holy eternity. *Question* Are you getting prepared for heaven in the practical sense of it? If Not, then you don't actually, believe in heaven. *2. Pacification with Happiness* a. The Apostle further gave a glimpse of how we will feel in heaven. *"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes"*. Tears of sorrow, anguish, lost loved ones, physical and psychological pains, etc.will all be forgotten. This is difficult to imagine for man. It is like imagining how God promised that *"your sins and iniquities will I remember no more"*. We don't have a problem with God forgiving our sins, but God forgetting our sins will be difficult to imagine. We will all forget the painful past as we will be overwhelmed with the glory of God for eternity. *"There shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away"*. The pains and the tears, called *"light afflictions"* will be for a moment. They will not survive the joy of eternity. b. For those who have difficulty with believing, *"he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful"*. Heaven is prepared already. When Jesus Christ was about going to heaven, He assured the disciples of going to build mansions for them. About 60 years later, when John saw the revelation, he was told by the Lord that it was done. It means it is a settled and concluded matter. *"And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end"*. In heaven there will not be any heat or tension, but total refreshments and happiness. *"I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely"*. Everything God has will be totally ours. All the gifts of God, physical or spiritual, will belong to us as possessions. Nothing needed or useful will be denied. We suffer different lacks while on earth. Heaven will be the opposite. *"He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son"*. Are you an overcomer over sin, Satan and all his temptations? *Question* What are the things you are suffering on earth? Do you see them as temporary? *3. Punishment of Hell* What are the things that will disqualify any from entering heaven? What would be the abode of those who will miss heaven? The answer is fearful. *"But the fearful, and unbelieving"*. Every evil action stems from fear and unbelief. Unbelief of what God has spoken and the consequences of disobedience, fear of man and what man can do are terrible paralysing feelings that draw men to perdition. *"And the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars"*. Notice that all those sins are now also found inside the Church among professing saints. So there will be eternal surprises when those who profess that heaven is their home find themselves in a totally different place called hell. They *"shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone*. *Question* Are you transparently free from all sins? *Prayer Points* 1.Give praises to God that you are in that number saved by grace 🙏. 2.Ask God to search your life, expose, purge and cleanse you from all disqualifying habits 🙏. 3.Pray that the vision of heaven will get brighter and brighter to you and your mind and affections will be focused on heavenly things 🙏. 4.Pray that all believers will be delivered from all forms of self deception and will take entering heaven more seriously 🙏. *HYMN:* How Beautiful Heaven Must Be. *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* JOB 16-18. [12/08, 8:10 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) THURSDAY 13TH AUGUST, 2026``` *SHORT SHELF-LIFE OF PAIN* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️😢😭🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽🙌🏽 📜📜```TEXT:REVELATION 21:1-8```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" (REVELATION 21:4).*_ *John Harper, a Scottish Baptist pastor and evangelist, died on the _RMS Titanic_ in 1912. His last words, as testified by survivors, were "I have seen heaven, and it is beautiful" and "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved." Despite his death, Harper used his final moments to preach the gospel, expressing his deep assurance that beyond death lay a place of eternal peace. A rescued survivor testified that Harper, clinging to the wreckage, asked if he was saved and urged him to believe in Jesus Christ. The survivor later accepted Christ and called himself "the last convert of John Harper."* *Today's passage paints a breath-taking vision of the new heaven and new earth. John sees the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, descending from God, adorned like a bride. A powerful voice declares that God will dwell among His people, wiping away every tear. Death, mourning, crying, and pain will be gone forever. The former things will pass away, and everything will be made new. God, the Alpha and Omega, promises the water of life to those who thirst. But He also warns that those who reject Him (those living in sin, fear, unbelief) will face eternal separation in the lake of fire.* *In this world, we experience suffering in many forms such as loss, illness, disappointment, pain and injustice. But for those who belong to Christ, these trials are temporary. Christ assures us that a glorious future awaits us, one where God Himself will comfort us, and all suffering will cease. This hope should encourage believers to endure hardships with faith, knowing that one day, we will step into a place where joy is endless and pain is no more. It also calls us to live righteously, rejecting sin and embracing the promise of eternity with God.* *No matter what trials you face today, hold unto the hope of heaven. Let this promise strengthen your faith, drive you to share the gospel, and encourage you to live in readiness for Christ's return. A day is coming when all suffering will cease and there will be no more tears, pain or death. Get ready to be part of this eternally glorious moment.* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*Nobody gets to heaven by accident.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *JOB 16-18*📜📜 Short Shelf-Life Of Pain https://dailymanna.app// *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 5: NEVER GIVE UP; GHS 58: THE LAST MILE OF THE WAY; GHS 147: SWEET BY AND BY; AND GHS 175: HE IS COMING AGAIN* *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#DailyManna13thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [12/08, 8:10 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```THURSDAY 13TH AUGUST, 2026``` *JESUS SETS FREE* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️⛓️✝️🩸🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽⛓️‍💥🙌🏽 📜📜```TEXT:JOHN 8:28-36```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" (JOHN 8:36).*_ *A song writer wrote:* _*"There's power, power, wonder-working power*_ _*In the blood of the Lamb;*_ _*There's power, power, wonder-working power*_ _*In the precious blood of the Lamb."*_ *The words of this song reminds us of the power that is resident in the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the anointed One, the Messiah. Those who accept His lordship can experience His free gift of salvation.* *Note that though Christ has the power to save. He does not force His salvation on anyone because human beings are free moral agents and are made to be accountable for their choices.* *A lot of youths need freedom from bondage to sin and the devil. They need to acknowledge their sins and accept Christ as the only Saviour that can set free. Some are under slavery to fornication, masturbation, cultism, internet fraud, and so on.* *Friend, are you one of those lost in sin and in bondage to the devil? Get rid of your dirty deeds and believe that Jesus can set free, and He will set you free.* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*Jesus is the anointed One.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Jesus can set you free indeed.*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Lord, have mercy on me and set me free.*_ Jesus Sets Free https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#HigherEveryday13thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [12/08, 8:10 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```THURSDAY 13TH AUGUST, 2026``` *GOD IS IN CHARGE* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🗣️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽🙌🏽 📜📜```PSALM 35:1-9```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation" (Psalm 35:9).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Nancy was sent to a supermarket to get some food items for the family. Unknown to her, the shop was under attack by armed robbers. She went in, and she was kidnapped! While being abducted, she remembered the Bible verses that her grandma had taught her. She rehearsed it aloud to the confusion of her abductors, and attracted helpers nearby. God heard her confession of faith and saved her. She was rescued. In times like these, when the society seems insecure; neither rich nor poor are free from the troubles in the world - kidnapping, cyber bullying, famine, climate change, diseases, natural disasters, and instability. *Children of God need not fear. God is in charge of all situations. The word of God is not just a shield for all those who believe, it is a formidable weapon that no force can withstand. Read, believe, confess and have faith in God's Word as you move through the days and months of the year.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*Lord, let your word dwell in me richly, and teach me to know that you are in charge of my life.*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *Ephesians 6:11-18* God Is In Charge https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#SincereMilk13thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]. 2. Morning Prayer for today. MP.i. Morning Prayer For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. ⏤ Galatians 5:13 Let your religion be less of a theory and more of a love affair. ⏤ G.K. Chesterton O God, who has redeemed us by the precious blood of the Lamb, help us to live for Your praise and glory in all that we do. Since Jesus Christ has died for us and we are not our own, we want to live lives worthy of Your holiness. We confess and renounce all our sins. Teach us to hate sin and give us the grace to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, to the glory of Your holy name. We ask You to reveal Yourself to us this morning as we go forth and to give us the assurance of Your presence. You have promised that as our days are, so shall our strength be, and that Your grace will always be sufficient for us. We cling to these promises as we enter a new day whose experiences we cannot predict. We do not know what dangers we will encounter, what burdens will be placed on us, what temptations will whisper in our ears, what pitfalls will lie in our path, or what insidious influences will threaten the purity of our souls. So we hide ourselves in You and trust You to keep us safe all day. We desire to be useful and helpful to others. Save us from selfishness and self-centeredness. Teach us the great lesson of service. May we have the mind of Christ, who came not to be served but to serve. May we serve one another in love. May we live to help others and do good. Help us to see the needs we can meet, to perceive the ways we can serve, and then give us the true spirit of ministry so that we may do the things that will bless others. Fill us with Your Spirit so that we may be like You. We ask all this in the name of our Savior. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/39/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

God's Creation, 100 / evolution,0 INSTINCTS ARE PROGRAMMED, NOT LEARNED Have you ever thought about the fact that certain animal behaviors appear fully formed at birth, with no training, imitation, or trial and error? This alone creates a problem for the idea that behavior slowly evolved through experimentation trial and error over millions of years. Learning requires time, failure, and correction. Instincts do not. They activate on schedule, execute correctly the first time, and often determine survival within minutes or hours of birth. Sea turtle hatchlings, moments after emerging from the sand, orient themselves toward the ocean using light reflection and magnetic cues they have never encountered before. No parent teaches them. No rehearsal occurs. The neural circuitry is already in place. Likewise, newly hatched cuckoo birds instinctively push rival eggs out of the nest within hours of hatching, despite being blind and featherless. This behavior is precise, timed, and goal directed without learning. Salmon raised in hatcheries and released into rivers still return years later to the exact stream of their birth to spawn, guided by an internal navigation system that includes olfactory memory and geomagnetic sensing. Orb weaving spiders spin mathematically precise webs the very first time they attempt it. Honeybees perform waggle dances that encode distance and direction before they have ever observed another bee do it. And these are just a few examples among many! These behaviors require integrated sensory systems, motor control, timing, and interpretation from the start. Programmed behavior points to preloaded information. Information does not arise from chance. Instincts are evidence of foresight, not improvisation. Scripture aligns with what we observe. Job 38 asks who gives the ibis wisdom and who gives the rooster understanding. Proverbs 30 speaks of creatures that act wisely though they are small. These animals do not learn their roles. They are equipped for them. Instinct is not evolution practicing. It is design executing.

Let's talk about it. Peter’s Vision & God’s Dietary Laws: How Could the Churches Get This So Wrong? There's a teaching in Christianity that totally contradicts what scripture itself says. It is more than just taking it out of context. They teach that when a sheet full of all kinds of animals came down from heaven and a voice told Peter to kill and eat, the ancient dietary laws were thrown out right then and there. According to the Church, the line between clean and unclean animals was erased, making all meat ok to eat. This is taught so much that people don't even question it. But Peter himself tells exactly what the vision meant, and his answer has nothing to do with food. Long before Peter ever goes up on that roof to pray, it starts back in Caesarea with a man named Cornelius. Acts 10:1-2 introduces him as a Roman centurion, a devout man who feared God with his whole house, gave generously to the needy, and prayed to God all the time. The entire chapter is deliberately set up around this Gentile from the very first verse. This tells us the vision Peter has a little later wasn't random. Heaven is already moving to reconnect two worlds, and the focus is already on a non-Jewish believer. While Cornelius's men were on the way, Peter went up on the housetop to pray around the sixth hour, and while they were preparing the meal, he became hungry and wanted to eat. Falling into a trance, he sees a great sheet come down filled with all kinds of four-footed animals, crawling things, and birds. In Acts 10:14, when the voice tells him to rise, kill, and eat, Peter refuses, saying, "Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean." Even with hunger pressing on him and a voice from heaven speaking directly to him three times, the man who is supposedly getting permission to eat whatever he wants still refuses to touch what God called unclean. If the dietary laws were being thrown out, this was the perfect moment for him to give in, but he treats the levitical dietary instructions as binding and never gives in. After the vision Peter was confused about what it meant. He couldn't figure it out. But when the men sent by Cornelius show up at the gate, the Spirit speaks to Peter, telling him to go down and go with them without hesitating, because God sent them. The arrival of these Gentile visitors matches the timing of the vision on purpose. The Spirit intentionally links the unclean animals in the sheet with the "unclean" Gentiles standing at the gate. When Peter gets to Cornelius's house, he finally explains the true meaning of the vision in his own words. Talking to the crowd gathered there in Acts 10:28, Peter said to them, "You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean." This ties the whole account together. Peter doesn't say God showed him it's okay to eat pork and shellfish; he says straight out that God showed him not to call any human being unclean. Peter doesn't stop there. He keeps going in 34-35, saying, "Truly I perceive that God doesn't show favoritism; but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him." This is Peter telling us in his own words what the vision was about. It wasn't about animals being acceptable to eat. It was about people from every nation being acceptable to God. It is worth noting what kind of law Peter is talking about. When he calls it unlawful for a Jew to associate with a foreigner, he is not referring to anything written in the Torah. Nowhere in the Law of God did He ever forbid His people from entering the home of a Gentile or sharing a meal with one. This was a man-made tradition built up over centuries, an extra-biblical command. So the wall the vision tears down was never a wall God put up in the first place. This explanation is reiterated in the very next chapter. When Peter goes back to Jerusalem in 11:1-3, the circumcision party confronts him, wanting to know why he went to uncircumcised men and ate with them. Peter responds by telling the whole story of the vision from start to finish, landing on the same conclusion. When the believers in Jerusalem hear this in 11:18, they glorify God, realizing that God has also granted the Gentiles repentance. Two times the vision is explained in the text, and both times the conclusion is strictly about including the Gentiles. On top of that, the Jerusalem believers don't raise a single question or objection about food, proving they understood the matter was about fellowship with people as well. Looking closely at the story makes it clear what the vision did and didn't change. It changed who Peter could walk into a house with, sit next to, and share a meal with, breaking down centuries of unbiblical man-made tradition. It did not change what YHVH defined as food in Leviticus 11. Years after this happened, the book of Acts still shows the believers keeping the Torah. The foundation of clean and unclean animals goes back before the covenant at Sinai. We see this in Genesis 7:2 when God tells Noah, "You shall take seven pairs of every clean animal with you, the male and his female. Of the animals that are not clean, take two, the male and his female." Notice that no explanation is given to Noah at all. God speaks of clean and unclean animals as something Noah already understood, generations before Sinai and long before Israel existed as a nation. People often try to claim this difference was only for sacrificial purposes, but the text never states that. Jesus says in Matthew 5:18, "For faithfully I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the Law, until all things are accomplished." As far as I can tell, heaven and earth are still here. This is one of those things that honestly blows me away, how and why can Christians continue to defiantly and blindly say that the text means something other than what it plainly says? Ultimately, the vision given to Peter was not a cancellation of God's instructions, but a powerful confirmation of His inclusive truth for all people

God's Creation, 100 / evolution, 0 God designed the eagle to build its nest high in towering trees and on the sheer sides of mountains, keeping both parents and young safe from predators. He equipped these birds with astonishing eyesight, roughly four times sharper than ours. From a thousand feet in the air, an eagle can pick out a rabbit roaming anywhere within a three-square-mile area. That kind of precision is no accident. It is design. Here are a few more remarkable facts about eagles: Bald eagles are not bald. Their snowy white head feathers contrast with their dark brown bodies, creating the appearance of a bare head. The longest recorded lifespan for an eagle is 38 years. Eagles build some of the largest nests in the bird world. Most are 2 to 4 feet deep and 4 to 5 feet wide, but the biggest ever found measured 20 feet deep and 9.5 feet wide and weighed more than two tons. Female eagles are larger than males. Bald eagles live only in North America. Scripture captures their majesty perfectly: “Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his nest on high? On the rock he dwells and makes his home, on the rocky crag and stronghold. From there he spies out the prey; his eyes behold it from far away.” Job 39:27 through 29 KJV

Daily Bible Lesson. IN THE BEGINNING — GOD'S PERFECT DESIGN FOR MAN & WOMAN "In the beginning God created them male and female." God's design was established at Creation and reveals His wisdom, love, and perfect order. THE ORDER OF CREATION From the very beginning, God created everything with purpose and in perfect sequence. The order of Creation: Earth, water, and air Vegetation and light Birds and fish Land animals Man Woman—the crowning act of Creation As the final act of Creation, woman beautifully reflects God's wisdom, creativity, and care. CREATED IN A UNIQUE WAY Genesis 2:21–23 God created the first man and woman differently. Man Formed from the dust of the ground. Woman Created from the man's side. Bone of his bones. Flesh of his flesh. Designed for loving companionship and unity. Adam joyfully declared: "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." GOD ESTABLISHED DISTINCT ROLES Although equal in worth before God, men and women were given different responsibilities. God designed harmony within: The Home The Church Society Genesis 3:16 "...thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." The word "rule" means to lead, govern, or exercise responsibility. THIS WAS GOD'S WORD This instruction did not originate from: Moses David Peter John Paul It was spoken directly by God Himself. UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE Some claim these teachings merely reflect ancient culture. However, Scripture distinguishes between God's original design and practices He temporarily permitted because of human sinfulness. Jesus explained: "...because of the hardness of your heart..." (Mark 10:5) Practices like slavery and polygamy were tolerated in certain circumstances—but they were never God's original ideal. GOD'S DESIGN EXISTED BEFORE SIN Before sin ever entered the world: Genesis 2:18 God created Eve to be Adam's "help meet"—a suitable companion and partner. 1 Corinthians 11:7–9 also points back to this Creation order. A PARTNERSHIP THAT REFLECTS CHRIST God's design is not about superiority or inferiority. It is about: Love Unity Mutual respect Order Service Faithfulness Husbands are called to: Love sacrificially Lead spiritually Serve faithfully Protect and nurture their families Wives are called to: Support their husbands Build the home l Encourage their families Glorify God through faithful partnership Together they reveal God's beautiful plan for marriage. "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." — Genesis 2:24 CONCLUSION. When men and women embrace God's design with humility, love, and obedience, the home becomes stronger, the church is blessed, and God is glorified.

✝Living the Kingdom Way: Four Days Through Matthew 6✝ DAY 4 — Freedom From Worry Read: Matthew 6:25–34 Reflection Jesus closes the chapter by addressing the weight of worry. Worry steals peace, joy, and clarity, but Jesus invites the believer into trust. He points to birds and flowers, cared for without striving, and reminds us that we are worth far more. The cure for worry is not trying harder but seeking first the kingdom. When God becomes the priority, everything else finds its proper place. Tomorrow is in His hands. Today is where His grace meets you. Application Write down your top three worries and surrender them to God one by one. Ask: What am I carrying that God never asked me to carry? Practice “seek first” by choosing one kingdom action each morning. Prayer Lord, I release my worries to You. Teach me to trust Your care and seek Your kingdom first. Give me peace for today and faith for tomorrow. Amen.