Amos 5:4-5 NASB
4."For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel, “Seek Me that you may live.
5. “But do not resort to Bethel And do not come to Gilgal, Nor cross over to Beersheba; For Gilgal will certainly go into captivity And Bethel will come to trouble."

False Dependence on False Hopes leads us to Emptiness. It's Trouble when we want God-Free Lives in a Universe Created by Almighty God!

Prayer:
Deuteronomy 30:19 NASB
“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,"

We choose You! We choose Life! Jesus Christ the Way, Truth and Life! Amen. Amen.
#awords of God's Book

The casting out of demons testifies to the future casting out of Satan and his armies into the lake of fire. The Church, by this power, asserts Jesus to be the world’s true King, and Satan to be a deposed prince.
The speaking with tongues testifies to the universality of Christ’s redemption, not being confined to one nation, and to the future restitution of a divided humanity. The taking up of serpents testifies that in Christ’s kingdom even animals will lose their ferocity (Isa. 11: 6–8).
Drinking poison without taking harm. This testifies to the power by which Christ will completely eliminate the curse out of this earth. He will liberate Nature from her thraldom. All hurtful properties will be taken away.
The healing of the sick. The first fruits of that power by which death itself shall be destroyed by the Prince of Life. - MAX I. REICH

Galatians 3:10-14 NASB
"For all who are of works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all the things written in the book of the Law, to do them.” [11] Now, that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “the righteous one will live by faith.” [12] However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “The person who performs them will live by them.” [13] Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”— [14] in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."

Being under the law comes with a curse. Living under legalistic religious demands is a doomed endeavor. You have to do it perfectly. You can't. You don't. That's why we are told that, "no one is justified by the Law before God." Living by faith, trusting in Jesus and his finished work as all that is needed for righteousness, comes with the blessing of Abraham.

Live by faith. Don't trust in your own obedience and ability to do the impossible.

#grace #gospel #faith #jesuschrist #cross

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

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

Acts 23:

"1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?
5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.
10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.
11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
12 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.
14 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.
15 Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would inquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.
16 And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.
17 Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.
18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.
19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me?
20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly.
21 But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.
22 So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.
23 And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;
24 And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.
25 And he wrote a letter after this manner:
26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.
27 This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.
28 And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:
29 Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.
30 And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.
31 Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.
32 On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:
33 Who, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.
34 And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;
35 I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall."

I think some Christians just shouldn't read the Bible as an other religious book but as God's eternal Word with the desire to grow as it enters us. While it's good to read through Genesis to Revelation, it is even more essential to search through the scriptures concerning certain matters in our lives. What does the Bible say about prayer? You can't definitely tell but yet we vague pray and assume we're doing the right thing the right way. This also applies to other matters like finance, faith, social relationships and others.

For prayer specifically, I think every young Believer has to sit down and search through scriptures to see the mind of God on the subject. Prayer is beautiful labour but we know the labour of a fool warries him. 'Fool' is not a curse in scriptures but the description of the state of a person without the knowledge of God's Word. This is why prayer is very unpleasant or burdensome to so many young persons especially around my age. Start learning prayer today (also read Christian books on the subject of prayer) before your next planned prayer time. Please pray always but don't do so in ignorance.

Your friend,
Western Favour.

LORD GOD TODAY I PRAY FOR RESTORATION AND HEALING.I PLEAD YOUR BLOOD AS CONCERNS EVERY AREA OF MY LIFE.YOU ARE THE ALPHA AND OMEGA THE BEGINNING AND THE END.YOU CREATED ME IN YOUR IMAGE AND LIKENESS.EVERY AREA OF MY LIFE THAT HAS BEEN LOST AND STOLEN I CLAIM BACK WHATS RIGHTFULLY MINE WITH AUTHORITY THAT COMES WITH YOUR NAME JESUS CHRIST.EVERY HIDDEN SECRET TODAY CONCERNING MY LIFE AFFECTING THE FULFILLMENT OF UOUR PURPOSE IN MY LIFE MUST BE EXPOSED TODAY.BY THE POWER OF THE BLOOD THAT WAS SHED ON THE CROSS I CONSIDER MYSELF HEALED FROM EVERY AFFIRMITY THAT MAY BE AFFECTING MY SPIRIT.EVERY HIDDEN AGENDA MUST NOT COME TO PASS TODAY AND EVERY PIT THAT WAS DUG FOR ME MUST CATCH UP ON THOSE THAT DUG IT.YOU ARE THE ALPHA AND OMEGA THE POWER ABOVE ALL POWERS.THE IS NOTHING YOU CANT DO.TODAY LORD GOD SHUT THE LYING TONGUES OF ALL THOSE THAT DONT WANT THE PROCLAMATION OF YOUR WORD AND PUT THE ENEMY TO SHAME.RESTORE WHAT HAD BEEN LOST AND HEAL WHATEVER THAT I KNOW NOT OF.I ALSO PRAY FOR WELL WISHERS AND FRIENDS THAT THEY MIGHT BE FREE FROM FROM BONDAGE AND ENTRAPMENT SET BEFORE THEM BY EVIL.I PRAY FOR MY FRIENDS IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT WE PRAY FOR EACH OTHER MAKING A BETTER COMMUNITY UPLIFTING ONE ANOTHER AND RELYING ON THE WORD OF GOD FOR TOTAL VINDICATION.LET MY SPIRIT BE ALIGNED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT SO THAT LORD GOD YOU HAVE TOTAL CONTROL OVER MY ENTIRE BEING RESTORING MY HEALTH AND HEALING ME FROM WHATEVER CURSE THAT MIGHT BE PLACED OVER MY LIFE.WITH THE AUTHORITY THAT COMES WITH THE BLOOD AND NAME JESUS CHRIST.
AMEN

Need to know.
WHY DID GOD COMMAND MOSES TO MAKE A BRONZE SERPENT?

At first glance, God's command may seem confusing. Why would He tell Moses to make a bronze serpent—the very image of what was harming the people?

The answer reveals one of the most powerful pictures of salvation in the entire Bible.

When the Israelites rebelled against God, fiery serpents entered the camp, and many people were bitten because of their sin (Numbers 21:4–9). When they repented, God provided a way for them to be saved. He instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent (not gold) and place it on a pole.

Numbers 21:8 (NKJV) says:

"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.'"

The bronze serpent had no healing power of its own. It was not an idol to be worshiped or a magical object. Healing came because the people trusted God's promise. Looking at the bronze serpent was an act of faith and obedience. Those who believed God and looked were healed. Those who refused remained under the consequences of the serpent's bite.

Most importantly, the bronze serpent was a prophetic symbol pointing to Jesus Christ.

Jesus Himself explained its meaning:

John 3:14–15 says:

"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."

Just as the Israelites looked to the bronze serpent and lived, we look to Jesus Christ, who was lifted up on the cross, and receive forgiveness and eternal life through faith in Him.

The serpent represented the curse and the judgment brought by sin. Christ, though completely sinless, took our judgment upon Himself so that we could be saved.

As 2 Corinthians 5:21 declares:

"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

God did not ask Israel to trust a piece of bronze. He asked them to trust His word. The bronze serpent was simply the sign He appointed to point people toward His saving power—a sign that ultimately pointed to Jesus, the true Savior of the world.

Good day.

Thought of the day

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Matthew 5:44 KJV


We face a lot of challenges in life, and one of them is resentment. We are either hated or envied. Jesus set us a example, he loved those who hated him. Let us do the same. Pray for them that hate us, even those that say they won't forgive us and leave it all to God. .

To God be the Glory