• Gambling places trust in chance, not in the faithful provision of God but True peace comes from His care, not risky bets.

    Contact Us: (559) 307-5271

    Website: www.hopehealingcc.org

    #HopeAndHealingChristianCounseling #CounselingServices #TrustInGod #FaithOverChance #GodsProvision #LiveWithPurpose #HealthyChoices #DivineProvision #StayGrounded #PeaceOfMind
    🎲 Gambling places trust in chance, not in the faithful provision of God but True peace comes from His care, not risky bets. 📲 Contact Us: (559) 307-5271 🌐 Website: www.hopehealingcc.org #HopeAndHealingChristianCounseling #CounselingServices #TrustInGod #FaithOverChance #GodsProvision #LiveWithPurpose #HealthyChoices #DivineProvision #StayGrounded #PeaceOfMind
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  • SERMON SEGMENT: "Shed Clear Light of Christ About Football & Its Fans"
    Key Texts: Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, Colossians 3:23, 1 Peter 1:15-16, Galatians 5:16-17, Hebrews 12:1-2

    ---

    INTRO
    Church, the Lord is speaking to us in this last age. Hebrews 1:2
    We must be careful what we pattern our lives after. Because our sanctification is delicate. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 — “For this is the will of God, your sanctification.”

    Tonight let’s talk about football and its fans — not to condemn people, but to shed the clear light of Christ on it.
    Ephesians 5:13 — “But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible.”

    1. THE WARNING: DON'T BE PATTERNED BY THE WORLD
    Romans 12:2 — “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

    Football itself is just a game. But the spirit around football and its fan culture often carries:
    Pride - Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction”
    Injustice - cheating, bribes, violence, curses on other teams
    Flesh desires - gambling, drunkenness, lust, idolatry of players, spending hours that should be for God

    1 John 2:15-16 — “Do not love the world or the things in the world... For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father.”

    Warning to Christians and non-Christians:
    If our mind, thoughts, and actions are shaped more by football rivalry than by the Spirit, we are being conformed, not transformed.
    And “no one should think eternal life inheritance in an unclean life.”
    1 Corinthians 6:9-10 — “neither the sexually immoral... nor thieves... will inherit the kingdom of God.”
    Galatians 5:21 — “those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

    Our sanctification needs the shield of the Spirit and guidance, or it gets corrupted and compromised. Ephesians 6:16

    2. THE BALANCE: DISCIPLINE FROM THE BIBLE, NOT FROM THE WORLD
    Some will say: “But Paul used sports!” Yes.

    1 Corinthians 9:24-25 — “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.”

    Paul is not telling us to go play football. He’s using the discipline of athletes to teach us spiritual discipline:
    Focus. Training. Self-control. Running to win an imperishable crown.
    Hebrews 12:1 — “let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus.”

    The world trains the body for 90 minutes. We must train the spirit for eternity.

    Colossians 3:23 — “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”
    If you play football, play unto the Lord. With integrity. Without pride. Without cursing. Without idolatry.
    If you are a fan, fan unto the Lord. With a renewed mind.

    3. THE TEST: DOES IT HELP OR HINDER YOUR SALVATION?
    We are to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” — Philippians 2:12
    Not earn it. But keep it clean, not corrupted.

    Ask yourself 3 questions before the game and after the game:
    Does this make Jesus increase in me, or decrease? John 3:30
    Does this renew my mind, or fill it with pride, hate, and flesh? Romans 12:2
    Can I do this and still be pure and blameless before God? 1 Peter 1:15-16

    If football causes you to miss prayer, to gossip, to gamble, to hate, to be drunk — then it has become an idol. 1 Corinthians 10:14 — “Flee from idolatry.”

    4. APPLICATION: HOW TO ENGAGE WITH A RENEWED MIND
    Awaken - See the spirit behind the culture. Don’t be blind. Proverbs 29:18
    Renew - Let the Spirit transform your thoughts about competition, winning, and identity. Romans 12:2
    Obey - If the Spirit says “turn it off, come pray,” obey. John 14:23
    Purify - Guard your eyes, your mouth, your time. Psalm 119:9

    CLOSING WORD
    Brothers and sisters, football is not the enemy. The flesh is.
    SERMON SEGMENT: "Shed Clear Light of Christ About Football & Its Fans" Key Texts: Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, Colossians 3:23, 1 Peter 1:15-16, Galatians 5:16-17, Hebrews 12:1-2 --- INTRO Church, the Lord is speaking to us in this last age. Hebrews 1:2 We must be careful what we pattern our lives after. Because our sanctification is delicate. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 — “For this is the will of God, your sanctification.” Tonight let’s talk about football and its fans — not to condemn people, but to shed the clear light of Christ on it. Ephesians 5:13 — “But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible.” 1. THE WARNING: DON'T BE PATTERNED BY THE WORLD Romans 12:2 — “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Football itself is just a game. But the spirit around football and its fan culture often carries: Pride - Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction” Injustice - cheating, bribes, violence, curses on other teams Flesh desires - gambling, drunkenness, lust, idolatry of players, spending hours that should be for God 1 John 2:15-16 — “Do not love the world or the things in the world... For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father.” Warning to Christians and non-Christians: If our mind, thoughts, and actions are shaped more by football rivalry than by the Spirit, we are being conformed, not transformed. And “no one should think eternal life inheritance in an unclean life.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 — “neither the sexually immoral... nor thieves... will inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:21 — “those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Our sanctification needs the shield of the Spirit and guidance, or it gets corrupted and compromised. Ephesians 6:16 2. THE BALANCE: DISCIPLINE FROM THE BIBLE, NOT FROM THE WORLD Some will say: “But Paul used sports!” Yes. 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 — “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.” Paul is not telling us to go play football. He’s using the discipline of athletes to teach us spiritual discipline: Focus. Training. Self-control. Running to win an imperishable crown. Hebrews 12:1 — “let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus.” The world trains the body for 90 minutes. We must train the spirit for eternity. Colossians 3:23 — “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” If you play football, play unto the Lord. With integrity. Without pride. Without cursing. Without idolatry. If you are a fan, fan unto the Lord. With a renewed mind. 3. THE TEST: DOES IT HELP OR HINDER YOUR SALVATION? We are to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” — Philippians 2:12 Not earn it. But keep it clean, not corrupted. Ask yourself 3 questions before the game and after the game: Does this make Jesus increase in me, or decrease? John 3:30 Does this renew my mind, or fill it with pride, hate, and flesh? Romans 12:2 Can I do this and still be pure and blameless before God? 1 Peter 1:15-16 If football causes you to miss prayer, to gossip, to gamble, to hate, to be drunk — then it has become an idol. 1 Corinthians 10:14 — “Flee from idolatry.” 4. APPLICATION: HOW TO ENGAGE WITH A RENEWED MIND Awaken - See the spirit behind the culture. Don’t be blind. Proverbs 29:18 Renew - Let the Spirit transform your thoughts about competition, winning, and identity. Romans 12:2 Obey - If the Spirit says “turn it off, come pray,” obey. John 14:23 Purify - Guard your eyes, your mouth, your time. Psalm 119:9 CLOSING WORD Brothers and sisters, football is not the enemy. The flesh is.
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  • SERMON SEGMENT: "Shed Clear Light of Christ About Football & Its Fans"
    Key Texts: Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, Colossians 3:23, 1 Peter 1:15-16, Galatians 5:16-17, Hebrews 12:1-2

    ---

    INTRO
    Church, the Lord is speaking to us in this last age. Hebrews 1:2
    We must be careful what we pattern our lives after. Because our sanctification is delicate. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 — “For this is the will of God, your sanctification.”

    Tonight let’s talk about football and its fans — not to condemn people, but to shed the clear light of Christ on it.
    Ephesians 5:13 — “But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible.”

    1. THE WARNING: DON'T BE PATTERNED BY THE WORLD
    Romans 12:2 — “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

    Football itself is just a game. But the spirit around football and its fan culture often carries:
    Pride - Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction”
    Injustice - cheating, bribes, violence, curses on other teams
    Flesh desires - gambling, drunkenness, lust, idolatry of players, spending hours that should be for God

    1 John 2:15-16 — “Do not love the world or the things in the world... For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father.”

    Warning to Christians and non-Christians:
    If our mind, thoughts, and actions are shaped more by football rivalry than by the Spirit, we are being conformed, not transformed.
    And “no one should think eternal life inheritance in an unclean life.”
    1 Corinthians 6:9-10 — “neither the sexually immoral... nor thieves... will inherit the kingdom of God.”
    Galatians 5:21 — “those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

    Our sanctification needs the shield of the Spirit and guidance, or it gets corrupted and compromised. Ephesians 6:16

    2. THE BALANCE: DISCIPLINE FROM THE BIBLE, NOT FROM THE WORLD
    Some will say: “But Paul used sports!” Yes.

    1 Corinthians 9:24-25 — “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.”

    Paul is not telling us to go play football. He’s using the discipline of athletes to teach us spiritual discipline:
    Focus. Training. Self-control. Running to win an imperishable crown.
    Hebrews 12:1 — “let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus.”

    The world trains the body for 90 minutes. We must train the spirit for eternity.

    Colossians 3:23 — “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”
    If you play football, play unto the Lord. With integrity. Without pride. Without cursing. Without idolatry.
    If you are a fan, fan unto the Lord. With a renewed mind.

    3. THE TEST: DOES IT HELP OR HINDER YOUR SALVATION?
    We are to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” — Philippians 2:12
    Not earn it. But keep it clean, not corrupted.

    Ask yourself 3 questions before the game and after the game:
    Does this make Jesus increase in me, or decrease? John 3:30
    Does this renew my mind, or fill it with pride, hate, and flesh? Romans 12:2
    Can I do this and still be pure and blameless before God? 1 Peter 1:15-16

    If football causes you to miss prayer, to gossip, to gamble, to hate, to be drunk — then it has become an idol. 1 Corinthians 10:14 — “Flee from idolatry.”

    4. APPLICATION: HOW TO ENGAGE WITH A RENEWED MIND
    Awaken - See the spirit behind the culture. Don’t be blind. Proverbs 29:18
    Renew - Let the Spirit transform your thoughts about competition, winning, and identity. Romans 12:2
    Obey - If the Spirit says “turn it off, come pray,” obey. John 14:23
    Purify - Guard your eyes, your mouth, your time. Psalm 119:9

    CLOSING WORD
    Brothers and sisters, football is not the enemy. The flesh is.
    SERMON SEGMENT: "Shed Clear Light of Christ About Football & Its Fans" Key Texts: Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, Colossians 3:23, 1 Peter 1:15-16, Galatians 5:16-17, Hebrews 12:1-2 --- INTRO Church, the Lord is speaking to us in this last age. Hebrews 1:2 We must be careful what we pattern our lives after. Because our sanctification is delicate. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 — “For this is the will of God, your sanctification.” Tonight let’s talk about football and its fans — not to condemn people, but to shed the clear light of Christ on it. Ephesians 5:13 — “But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible.” 1. THE WARNING: DON'T BE PATTERNED BY THE WORLD Romans 12:2 — “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Football itself is just a game. But the spirit around football and its fan culture often carries: Pride - Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction” Injustice - cheating, bribes, violence, curses on other teams Flesh desires - gambling, drunkenness, lust, idolatry of players, spending hours that should be for God 1 John 2:15-16 — “Do not love the world or the things in the world... For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father.” Warning to Christians and non-Christians: If our mind, thoughts, and actions are shaped more by football rivalry than by the Spirit, we are being conformed, not transformed. And “no one should think eternal life inheritance in an unclean life.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 — “neither the sexually immoral... nor thieves... will inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:21 — “those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Our sanctification needs the shield of the Spirit and guidance, or it gets corrupted and compromised. Ephesians 6:16 2. THE BALANCE: DISCIPLINE FROM THE BIBLE, NOT FROM THE WORLD Some will say: “But Paul used sports!” Yes. 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 — “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.” Paul is not telling us to go play football. He’s using the discipline of athletes to teach us spiritual discipline: Focus. Training. Self-control. Running to win an imperishable crown. Hebrews 12:1 — “let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus.” The world trains the body for 90 minutes. We must train the spirit for eternity. Colossians 3:23 — “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” If you play football, play unto the Lord. With integrity. Without pride. Without cursing. Without idolatry. If you are a fan, fan unto the Lord. With a renewed mind. 3. THE TEST: DOES IT HELP OR HINDER YOUR SALVATION? We are to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” — Philippians 2:12 Not earn it. But keep it clean, not corrupted. Ask yourself 3 questions before the game and after the game: Does this make Jesus increase in me, or decrease? John 3:30 Does this renew my mind, or fill it with pride, hate, and flesh? Romans 12:2 Can I do this and still be pure and blameless before God? 1 Peter 1:15-16 If football causes you to miss prayer, to gossip, to gamble, to hate, to be drunk — then it has become an idol. 1 Corinthians 10:14 — “Flee from idolatry.” 4. APPLICATION: HOW TO ENGAGE WITH A RENEWED MIND Awaken - See the spirit behind the culture. Don’t be blind. Proverbs 29:18 Renew - Let the Spirit transform your thoughts about competition, winning, and identity. Romans 12:2 Obey - If the Spirit says “turn it off, come pray,” obey. John 14:23 Purify - Guard your eyes, your mouth, your time. Psalm 119:9 CLOSING WORD Brothers and sisters, football is not the enemy. The flesh is.
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  • Good evening, brethren.
    1. Evening devotion for today.

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

    *DATE:*
    MONDAY 10TH AUGUST, 2026.

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

    *TOPIC:*
    GOD'S BATTLE AXE.

    *TEXT:*
    JEREMIAH 51:20-24.
    20. “You are My war club, My weapon for battle— with you I shatter nations, with you I destroy kingdoms,
    21. with you I shatter horse and rider, with you I shatter chariot and driver,
    22. with you I shatter man and woman, with you I shatter old man and youth, with you I shatter young man and young woman,
    23. with you I shatter shepherd and flock, with you I shatter farmer and oxen, with you I shatter governors and officials.
    24. “Before your eyes I will repay Babylon and all who live in Babylonia for all the wrong they have done in Zion,” declares the Lord.

    *TOPIC:*
    GOD'S BATTLE AXE.

    *THE MESSAGE:*
    Today's text explains that a battle axe symbolises a powerful weapon in the hands of a warrior capable of destroying strongholds. In this context, God is portrayed as the ultimate warrior, and His people are His battle axes, instruments through which He wages spiritual warfare. Just as God used David to defeat Goliath, believers, though often broken by sin or addiction, can be restored and used by God if they turn to Him. The message calls for spiritual renewal and readiness to be God's effective weapon in the battle against evil. The enemy is mainly attacking the youths through social ills: cultism, addiction, ritual acts, yahoo-yahoo plus, exam malpractice, gambling, and so on.
    How profitable are you?
    Are you entrapped? Submit to Jesus and be transformed into a useful axe for the kingdom.

    *REFLECTION:*
    You are God's battle axe.

    *PRAYER:*
    Lord, sharpen my life and make me useful. 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.

    *TODAY'S BIBLE READING PLAN:*
    JEREMIAH 33-35.

    ED.ii. WHEN THE LIGHT APPEARS

    "Who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light." - 1 Peter 2:9

    You start to see things as they really are when Jesus comes into your life and when the Light appears in the darkness. You suddenly see the wickedness of the evil one. You recognize the temptations you must say 'no' to because you know they are not from God. When you are a slave to sin, you will not succeed in this. Unfortunately, most people follow sin and the evil one. He holds society and the world under his control... until people are taken out of the darkness into the Light. Then they realize that they were wrong, because their spiritual eyes are opening. The Holy Spirit speaks to them, they give their life to Jesus and start walking with Jesus.

    Set free to free others

    The evil one hates you and will try hard to regain control over you. So be careful! Once you have enjoyed the freedom, the happiness and the joy the Lord God gives, then it is the stupidest thing to follow again the evil one, just like so many people do. Stay free from that! Keep away from the hassle of the evil one and grow until you are strong enough to stand firm in authority over the evil one and his filthy powers and be able to say: Let go in Jesus' name.

    You will then commit yourself to free others from the power of the evil one. That is the call, over and over again: go, help to reach them. Come to the prayer meetings to pray for this. To free others by prayer, to cast out the powers of the evil one and to rebuke them in Jesus' name. You will see results and see people coming to Jesus. Do not forget: we are set free to free others.


    https://www.theblessingdevotional.com

    2. Evening Prayer for today.

    EP.i. Evening Prayer

    So teach [us] to number our days, that we may apply [our] hearts unto wisdom. ⏤ Psalm 90:12

    As we grow in grace, we more earnestly desire to live for the glory of our Lord. ⏤ Charles Spurgeon

    We thank You, Father, for another day. Each day You give us is a gift, meant to be used for You. They are not ours to waste in idleness, nor to fill with selfishness, or stain with sin. They are ours to spend in holy obedience and loving service.

    Each day comes to us like a blank page on which to write words of beauty that others may read, and that will be read at last when the books are opened in the final judgment. They come like ships for us to fill with good things, to be sent away to bless others.

    Now we bring another day to You. If we have written anything on the page that is not uplifting and beautiful, may You blot it out. If there are stains, may You remove them. If this day contains any messages for the judgment day that would bring us shame, may You erase them.

    If we have filled this day with selfishness instead of deeds of love, we ask for Your forgiveness. We cannot have the day back to correct it, so we ask You to turn its evil into good, just as You turned the sin of Joseph’s brothers into something good in the end. As we turn from this day, never to see it again until the judgment, we entrust it to You.

    You are merciful and gracious. Bless our home tonight. You who do not slumber, keep us in Your holy care and let no harm come near us. Bless us as a family and grant us Your peace. Prepare us for tomorrow, and when the new day comes, grant us Your presence and grace for all it holds. We ask this in the name of our Savior and Redeemer. Amen.

    https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/36/evening

    #taptapstudio
    #youdevotion.
    Good evening, brethren. 1. Evening devotion for today. ED.i. *DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST* (COCIN DEVOTIONAL) *DATE:* MONDAY 10TH AUGUST, 2026. *SUB-THEME:* YOUTHS: VESSELS OF GOD'S GRACE. *TOPIC:* GOD'S BATTLE AXE. *TEXT:* JEREMIAH 51:20-24. 20. “You are My war club, My weapon for battle— with you I shatter nations, with you I destroy kingdoms, 21. with you I shatter horse and rider, with you I shatter chariot and driver, 22. with you I shatter man and woman, with you I shatter old man and youth, with you I shatter young man and young woman, 23. with you I shatter shepherd and flock, with you I shatter farmer and oxen, with you I shatter governors and officials. 24. “Before your eyes I will repay Babylon and all who live in Babylonia for all the wrong they have done in Zion,” declares the Lord. *TOPIC:* GOD'S BATTLE AXE. *THE MESSAGE:* Today's text explains that a battle axe symbolises a powerful weapon in the hands of a warrior capable of destroying strongholds. In this context, God is portrayed as the ultimate warrior, and His people are His battle axes, instruments through which He wages spiritual warfare. Just as God used David to defeat Goliath, believers, though often broken by sin or addiction, can be restored and used by God if they turn to Him. The message calls for spiritual renewal and readiness to be God's effective weapon in the battle against evil. The enemy is mainly attacking the youths through social ills: cultism, addiction, ritual acts, yahoo-yahoo plus, exam malpractice, gambling, and so on. How profitable are you? Are you entrapped? Submit to Jesus and be transformed into a useful axe for the kingdom. *REFLECTION:* You are God's battle axe. *PRAYER:* Lord, sharpen my life and make me useful. 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. *TODAY'S BIBLE READING PLAN:* JEREMIAH 33-35. ED.ii. WHEN THE LIGHT APPEARS "Who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light." - 1 Peter 2:9 You start to see things as they really are when Jesus comes into your life and when the Light appears in the darkness. You suddenly see the wickedness of the evil one. You recognize the temptations you must say 'no' to because you know they are not from God. When you are a slave to sin, you will not succeed in this. Unfortunately, most people follow sin and the evil one. He holds society and the world under his control... until people are taken out of the darkness into the Light. Then they realize that they were wrong, because their spiritual eyes are opening. The Holy Spirit speaks to them, they give their life to Jesus and start walking with Jesus. Set free to free others The evil one hates you and will try hard to regain control over you. So be careful! Once you have enjoyed the freedom, the happiness and the joy the Lord God gives, then it is the stupidest thing to follow again the evil one, just like so many people do. Stay free from that! Keep away from the hassle of the evil one and grow until you are strong enough to stand firm in authority over the evil one and his filthy powers and be able to say: Let go in Jesus' name. You will then commit yourself to free others from the power of the evil one. That is the call, over and over again: go, help to reach them. Come to the prayer meetings to pray for this. To free others by prayer, to cast out the powers of the evil one and to rebuke them in Jesus' name. You will see results and see people coming to Jesus. Do not forget: we are set free to free others. https://www.theblessingdevotional.com 2. Evening Prayer for today. EP.i. Evening Prayer So teach [us] to number our days, that we may apply [our] hearts unto wisdom. ⏤ Psalm 90:12 As we grow in grace, we more earnestly desire to live for the glory of our Lord. ⏤ Charles Spurgeon We thank You, Father, for another day. Each day You give us is a gift, meant to be used for You. They are not ours to waste in idleness, nor to fill with selfishness, or stain with sin. They are ours to spend in holy obedience and loving service. Each day comes to us like a blank page on which to write words of beauty that others may read, and that will be read at last when the books are opened in the final judgment. They come like ships for us to fill with good things, to be sent away to bless others. Now we bring another day to You. If we have written anything on the page that is not uplifting and beautiful, may You blot it out. If there are stains, may You remove them. If this day contains any messages for the judgment day that would bring us shame, may You erase them. If we have filled this day with selfishness instead of deeds of love, we ask for Your forgiveness. We cannot have the day back to correct it, so we ask You to turn its evil into good, just as You turned the sin of Joseph’s brothers into something good in the end. As we turn from this day, never to see it again until the judgment, we entrust it to You. You are merciful and gracious. Bless our home tonight. You who do not slumber, keep us in Your holy care and let no harm come near us. Bless us as a family and grant us Your peace. Prepare us for tomorrow, and when the new day comes, grant us Your presence and grace for all it holds. We ask this in the name of our Savior and Redeemer. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/36/evening #taptapstudio #youdevotion.
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  • KENNETH COPELAND PAID FOR 800,000 TENT - Reinhard Bonnke
    On Saturday, February 18, 1984, we prepared for the dedication service for the world’s largest tent. As I waited with Anni and my father in a nearby trailer a knock came at my door. My friend Ray McCauley stood there with Kenneth and Gloria Copeland from Ft. Worth, Texas. I asked them to come in. They had been drawn to the reports of our work and had come to see it for themselves. “I want to support CfaN,” Kenneth said. “I preach to the saved, you preach to the unsaved. We should be partners. ”I thanked him for that. But honestly, I had no idea how incredibly powerful his words would prove to be over the decades to come.
    Later the news arrived from Cape Town. On Saturday, May 5, the tent erection was complete. That afternoon a storm of wind and rain descended. A few rips appeared in the fabric. They had been quickly repaired. As evening fell the wind increased. Gerhard Ganske, who was in charge of the tent’s anchor system, circled the tent checking the security of the cement reinforced anchors.
    Everything held securely.
    Milton Kasselman, the chief electrician, went inside the tent. It held the wind at bay. Overhead the twelve masts swayed slightly, as they should. He checked the mounted flood lamps and the speaker towers. All was well.
    Tent master, Kobus de Lange, and his assistant, Horst Kosanke, checked the miles of cables that counterbalanced all the forces of wind and gravity. They were doing their job. He ordered the crew back to their quarters to sleep and wait out the storm.
    Suddenly, at 4 a.m., they were awakened by the sound of ripping fabric. As they rushed outside, winds were ripping the tent to shreds. It was not a hurricane. It was not even a wind strong enough to cause normal alarm. The damage they were seeing seemed supernatural, as if evil demonic forces in the wind were violently attacking the structure.
    They watched helplessly as pieces came loose and flew across the surrounding city of Cape Town. By 9:30 a.m. only a few strands of fabric remained. All of the steel and cable structure remained unhurt. It looked like a huge skeleton with no skin or meat remaining on the bones. Some of the crew were reduced to uncontrolled weeping.
    Five years of focused labor was destroyed in five hours.
    The atmosphere became like being at a funeral. That Sunday morning churches across Cape Town mourned the loss. Their hopes had been raised so high only to be dashed to pieces by the demonic wind. Shreds of the world’s largest tent became collectors items for the residents of Cape Town. They were found scattered for miles downwind of the tent site.
    Curiosity seekers came to the sports field to see the destruction. Some laughed at the calamity. They stood in the high-rise balconies and on bridges and other vantage points from which to view it. Christians gathered on the grounds, weeping, falling to their knees beneath the steel structure, praying. News media made the story front page all that day and the next.
    I told my crew chief that God had given me a great peace about this event. He was to encourage the crew and to clean up the site and wait for my return.
    I returned to my office I found telephone calls, telegrams, cards, and letters from around the world waiting for me. The news of the disaster had gone as far as the news of the big tent. Most of the response was overwhelmingly encouraging. But a large minority of naysayers had their day.
    From the beginning I had dealt with the normal array of critics. Many people criticized the size of the tent. They said it wasn’t practical. It was too risky. The project ate money like a gambling machine. It was not good stewardship. The entire endeavor was ego driven.
    With this disaster, those people had much more to say.
    “This is God’s judgment on you.” “You’re out of the will of God.” “You’ve moved out from under the umbrella of divine protection.” “There is sin in your camp.” The one that hit the lowest came from a dear Pentecostal sister back in Germany. This lady had supported our work faithfully and substantially over the years. She wrote to tell me that she had seen pictures of the tent dedication in Soweto. The pictures showed that Anni had cut her hair. This sin, she said, had led to this disaster. She pledged that she would no longer send money to CfaN. She would only pray for our repentance. I must confess, that fiery dart of the Enemy got through my armor for a few days.
    Even some of my co-workers lost heart. They felt that we’d been overcome by the Enemy. This was one of our darkest days. A rumor circulated that Muslims from Valhalla had marched around our tent site and had called down a curse on it. No one could offer me proof, and I gave no credence to this report. I find that when people believe an urban legend like this, it is because they desperately want to believe it. They have lost sight of their God and Savior and His unlimited power and have looked at the wind and the waves. Like Peter, who started out so well in his walk on water, he began to sink. Some of our people sank right here.
    But here is the greater story of the Cape Town disaster. It was not a disaster at all! It was our greatest triumph!
    First, God held the weather at bay for a full three weeks.
    Local weathercasters described it as an “Indian summer.”
    Furthermore, the destruction of our canopy had made us a household word in Cape Town. The media had trumpeted our story to everyone. Incredible stories of believers taking pieces of our canopy and laying it on sick people and seeing them healed were told. Believers and sinners came by the droves to our meetings.
    I caught a flight to America. On the long trip I had a new surge of excitement in my soul. I reflected again on Kenneth Copeland’s prophecy that I would see a million souls won in a day. A million? It still seemed unthinkable. But if we were to see a million decisions in one crowd, the entire crowd would have to exceed that number considerably. Not everyone responded in a meeting. To accomplish it, many things about the way we ran a campaign would have to change. I began to feel sure that one of those changes involved moving CfaN from South Africa. The vision of the blood-washed Africa was coming closer to reality.
    Unfortunately, with so many powerful thoughts running through my head, I was too excited to sleep on the intercontinental flight.
    I had no sooner landed at the Dallas-Ft. Worth Airport than I was whisked away to a pastors’ conference hosted by Kenneth Copeland, already in progress. They seated me on the front row, and Kenneth greeted me. The TV cameras turned my way, and I was on the spot. This was not good. As he preached I was so hammered by jet lag that I pinched myself black and blue to keep my eyes open. It was sheer torment.
    After the meeting Kenneth and Gloria invited me to join them at a nice restaurant for dinner. I was too far gone to say no. Somehow I managed to keep moving and not fall prostrate. At dinner Kenneth told me he had heard about the tent. He asked me to tell him what happened. I told him how the fabric had failed in the wind. We had discovered that it had a design flaw. An insurance settlement was tied up in court. It would be years before we saw the verdict. In the meantime, Peter van den Berg had found a new fabric through a company in England that would hold in a hurricane.
    “How much will it cost?”
    “$800,000.”
    “The Lord has told me to give you what you need. I am giving you $800,000. Go buy a new top for the tent.”
    I was too stunned and too jet lagged to reply at first.
    “When God tells me to give, I get excited. He’s telling me to plant a seed in good soil with CfaN. My faith puts the seed in the ground where God directs. The harvest belongs to the Lord. And let me tell you, His harvest will sweep my little financial troubles away like so much chaff on the wind.
    Hallelujah! Praise God.”
    It did my heart good to hear this man of faith. “I believe that too,” I said.
    When I finally closed my eyes that night my happiness and exhaustion were complete and total. I felt like a body surfer picked up by a tsunami. As I drifted into fitful sleep, I heard my own voice speaking to Anni when we were in Singapore, “I am not worried about the tent. That’s what worries me. I should be worried about it, but I’m not. I feel nothing but peace.”
    The schedule for completing our new tent was set, thanks to the generous check from Kenneth Copeland. It allowed us to plan beyond 1985. The new canopy would be delivered and tested in time to erect both tents side by side in Harare. The big tent for the main meetings; the smaller yellow tent for counseling and follow-up.
    The Harare Sheraton and Conference Center would house our Fire Conference for evangelists with an auditorium seating 4,500.
    - Reinhard Bonnke (Living A Life Of Fire)
    KENNETH COPELAND PAID FOR 800,000 TENT ⛺🎪😲 - Reinhard Bonnke On Saturday, February 18, 1984, we prepared for the dedication service for the world’s largest tent. As I waited with Anni and my father in a nearby trailer a knock came at my door. My friend Ray McCauley stood there with Kenneth and Gloria Copeland from Ft. Worth, Texas. I asked them to come in. They had been drawn to the reports of our work and had come to see it for themselves. “I want to support CfaN,” Kenneth said. “I preach to the saved, you preach to the unsaved. We should be partners. ”I thanked him for that. But honestly, I had no idea how incredibly powerful his words would prove to be over the decades to come. Later the news arrived from Cape Town. On Saturday, May 5, the tent erection was complete. That afternoon a storm of wind and rain descended. A few rips appeared in the fabric. They had been quickly repaired. As evening fell the wind increased. Gerhard Ganske, who was in charge of the tent’s anchor system, circled the tent checking the security of the cement reinforced anchors. Everything held securely. Milton Kasselman, the chief electrician, went inside the tent. It held the wind at bay. Overhead the twelve masts swayed slightly, as they should. He checked the mounted flood lamps and the speaker towers. All was well. Tent master, Kobus de Lange, and his assistant, Horst Kosanke, checked the miles of cables that counterbalanced all the forces of wind and gravity. They were doing their job. He ordered the crew back to their quarters to sleep and wait out the storm. Suddenly, at 4 a.m., they were awakened by the sound of ripping fabric. As they rushed outside, winds were ripping the tent to shreds. It was not a hurricane. It was not even a wind strong enough to cause normal alarm. The damage they were seeing seemed supernatural, as if evil demonic forces in the wind were violently attacking the structure. They watched helplessly as pieces came loose and flew across the surrounding city of Cape Town. By 9:30 a.m. only a few strands of fabric remained. All of the steel and cable structure remained unhurt. It looked like a huge skeleton with no skin or meat remaining on the bones. Some of the crew were reduced to uncontrolled weeping. Five years of focused labor was destroyed in five hours. The atmosphere became like being at a funeral. That Sunday morning churches across Cape Town mourned the loss. Their hopes had been raised so high only to be dashed to pieces by the demonic wind. Shreds of the world’s largest tent became collectors items for the residents of Cape Town. They were found scattered for miles downwind of the tent site. Curiosity seekers came to the sports field to see the destruction. Some laughed at the calamity. They stood in the high-rise balconies and on bridges and other vantage points from which to view it. Christians gathered on the grounds, weeping, falling to their knees beneath the steel structure, praying. News media made the story front page all that day and the next. I told my crew chief that God had given me a great peace about this event. He was to encourage the crew and to clean up the site and wait for my return. I returned to my office I found telephone calls, telegrams, cards, and letters from around the world waiting for me. The news of the disaster had gone as far as the news of the big tent. Most of the response was overwhelmingly encouraging. But a large minority of naysayers had their day. From the beginning I had dealt with the normal array of critics. Many people criticized the size of the tent. They said it wasn’t practical. It was too risky. The project ate money like a gambling machine. It was not good stewardship. The entire endeavor was ego driven. With this disaster, those people had much more to say. “This is God’s judgment on you.” “You’re out of the will of God.” “You’ve moved out from under the umbrella of divine protection.” “There is sin in your camp.” The one that hit the lowest came from a dear Pentecostal sister back in Germany. This lady had supported our work faithfully and substantially over the years. She wrote to tell me that she had seen pictures of the tent dedication in Soweto. The pictures showed that Anni had cut her hair. This sin, she said, had led to this disaster. She pledged that she would no longer send money to CfaN. She would only pray for our repentance. I must confess, that fiery dart of the Enemy got through my armor for a few days. Even some of my co-workers lost heart. They felt that we’d been overcome by the Enemy. This was one of our darkest days. A rumor circulated that Muslims from Valhalla had marched around our tent site and had called down a curse on it. No one could offer me proof, and I gave no credence to this report. I find that when people believe an urban legend like this, it is because they desperately want to believe it. They have lost sight of their God and Savior and His unlimited power and have looked at the wind and the waves. Like Peter, who started out so well in his walk on water, he began to sink. Some of our people sank right here. But here is the greater story of the Cape Town disaster. It was not a disaster at all! It was our greatest triumph! First, God held the weather at bay for a full three weeks. Local weathercasters described it as an “Indian summer.” Furthermore, the destruction of our canopy had made us a household word in Cape Town. The media had trumpeted our story to everyone. Incredible stories of believers taking pieces of our canopy and laying it on sick people and seeing them healed were told. Believers and sinners came by the droves to our meetings. I caught a flight to America. On the long trip I had a new surge of excitement in my soul. I reflected again on Kenneth Copeland’s prophecy that I would see a million souls won in a day. A million? It still seemed unthinkable. But if we were to see a million decisions in one crowd, the entire crowd would have to exceed that number considerably. Not everyone responded in a meeting. To accomplish it, many things about the way we ran a campaign would have to change. I began to feel sure that one of those changes involved moving CfaN from South Africa. The vision of the blood-washed Africa was coming closer to reality. Unfortunately, with so many powerful thoughts running through my head, I was too excited to sleep on the intercontinental flight. I had no sooner landed at the Dallas-Ft. Worth Airport than I was whisked away to a pastors’ conference hosted by Kenneth Copeland, already in progress. They seated me on the front row, and Kenneth greeted me. The TV cameras turned my way, and I was on the spot. This was not good. As he preached I was so hammered by jet lag that I pinched myself black and blue to keep my eyes open. It was sheer torment. After the meeting Kenneth and Gloria invited me to join them at a nice restaurant for dinner. I was too far gone to say no. Somehow I managed to keep moving and not fall prostrate. At dinner Kenneth told me he had heard about the tent. He asked me to tell him what happened. I told him how the fabric had failed in the wind. We had discovered that it had a design flaw. An insurance settlement was tied up in court. It would be years before we saw the verdict. In the meantime, Peter van den Berg had found a new fabric through a company in England that would hold in a hurricane. “How much will it cost?” “$800,000.” “The Lord has told me to give you what you need. I am giving you $800,000. Go buy a new top for the tent.” I was too stunned and too jet lagged to reply at first. “When God tells me to give, I get excited. He’s telling me to plant a seed in good soil with CfaN. My faith puts the seed in the ground where God directs. The harvest belongs to the Lord. And let me tell you, His harvest will sweep my little financial troubles away like so much chaff on the wind. Hallelujah! Praise God.” It did my heart good to hear this man of faith. “I believe that too,” I said. When I finally closed my eyes that night my happiness and exhaustion were complete and total. I felt like a body surfer picked up by a tsunami. As I drifted into fitful sleep, I heard my own voice speaking to Anni when we were in Singapore, “I am not worried about the tent. That’s what worries me. I should be worried about it, but I’m not. I feel nothing but peace.” The schedule for completing our new tent was set, thanks to the generous check from Kenneth Copeland. It allowed us to plan beyond 1985. The new canopy would be delivered and tested in time to erect both tents side by side in Harare. The big tent for the main meetings; the smaller yellow tent for counseling and follow-up. The Harare Sheraton and Conference Center would house our Fire Conference for evangelists with an auditorium seating 4,500. - Reinhard Bonnke (Living A Life Of Fire)
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  • Good evening, brethren.
    1. Evening devotion for today.

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

    *DATE:*
    SATURDAY 11TH JULY, 2026.

    *SUB-THEME:*
    THE CONSEQUENCES OF REJECTING GOD'S GRACE.

    *TOPIC:*
    SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS.

    *TEXT:*
    2 CORINTHIANS 4:4-5.
    4. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
    5. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

    *TOPIC:*
    SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS.

    *THE MESSAGE:*
    Spiritual blindness is the inability to see and understand spiritual matters. According to today's text, Satan is responsible for blinding the hearts of unbelievers against the truth of the Gospel of Christ. They do not only oppose the gospel message but reject and deny the servants of Christ any opportunity to preach. Spiritual understanding comes when we encounter Christ. It is only then that one can see and appreciate the things of God. In our time, there are many people, even in our churches, who are spiritually blind, like Saul, who was killing Christians thinking he was serving God until the scales of blindness fell off his eyes (Acts 9:18). Today, Christians are being beheaded by Jihadists, Fulani herdsmen, Bandits, and Boko Haram in the name of religion. What spiritual blindness! So, do not be like them.

    *REFLECTION:*
    Rejecting God's grace leads to Spiritual blindness.

    *PRAYER:*
    Merciful God, open my spiritual eyes to see you in Jesus' name. Amen.

    *MEMORY VERSE FOR THE MONTH:*
    HEBREWS 10:29.
    How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

    *TODAY'S BIBLE READING PLAN:*
    ECCLESIASTES 7-12.

    ED.ii. *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY*
    *ⓂANNA*

    SATURDAY, 11TH JULY, 2026.

    *HANDLING INCOMPATIBLE LIFE PARTNER THROUGH GOD SENT MINISTRY PARTNER*

    *TEXT:* EXODUS 4:24-31.

    24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him.
    25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me.
    26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.
    27 And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him.
    28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him.
    29 And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel:
    30 And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.
    31 And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.

    *Timeless Truth:*_"Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"_ (Amos 3:3).

    *INTRODUCTION*

    What a pain, what a clog in the wheel of progress, what a frustration, what a limitation and what a life of unfulfilled dreams when someone gets entangled with an incompatible life partner in marriage? What a joy, what a pleasure, what a fulfilment in life and what an accelerated progress when a saint is fortunate to get a compatible life partner and a God sent ministry life partner. Moses had a shave of what it means to marry someone who was not compatible with his life and ministry. However, he was comforted and divinely assisted by getting a compatible ministry partner who happened to be the elder brother , Aaron. We might be tempted to excuse Moses that he had no choice than to marry a Gentile contrary to the command of God to Israelites. He should take full responsibility. His case was the case of one miss step or mistake leading to another. He had never met God personally and by experience as of then. Yet he decided to force himself into the service of God without any personal encounter with God. He eventually had to run away and hide himself for 40 years due to self management. He eventually, got involved in a marriage that might appear he had no choice. Fortunately, what he lacked in marriage, he was able to correct and make up in ministry. He encountered God and heard his voice and was guided as to who his ministry partner should be. If he had missed that too, he would have well forgotten about his ministry in life. His getting it right in the ministry partnership helped him to stand above the storms of wrong and incompatible marriage. John Wesley and Apostle Joseph Babalola are among the witnesses that joined Moses telling us that an incompatible partner in marriage is extremely painful, but no one should allow that to be an excuse for not being what God wanted him to be in life and ministry.

    *1. Divine Intolerance for Profanity*

    a. The command of God on circumcision is the issue here. Circumcision of every male born child in Israel was a confirmation and seal of the covenant of God with Abraham and his seed.
    *"Every man child among you shall be circumcised... And the uncircumcised man child... that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant"* (Genesis 17:10-14). Refusal to circumcise the male child or be circumcised was profanity and there was always divine anger on such lack of irreverence for the command and things of God. Breaking any law of God that is connected to God's irrevocable covenant of blessings always attract divine hot displeasure because it is both disrespectful to God and a foolish self rejection of God's blessings attached to the covenant. *"And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him"*.
    b. Esau was accused of being profane because he despised divine blessings and rejected his double blessings of being the first born. God was angry at him for his carelessness with his birthright. *"Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward... he was rejected... though he sought it carefully with tears"* (Hebrews 12:16,17). God refused to overlook his profanity. The blessings of the firstborn in the Old Testament are akin to the blessing of salvation in the New Testament. Any saint who refuses to appreciate and jealously keeps his blessing and experience of salvation is a profane person and will definitely incur the wrath of God in this world and in the world to come. Gambling with any of the given gifts of God and gifts of grace will definitely invite the wrath of God and getting the divine blessings back will not be easy.

    *Question*

    Do you take the Word of God very seriously or are you a profane person who takes some of His Word for granted?

    *2. Danger of Incompatible Partners*

    a. Moses put himself in a very difficult situation that made it difficult for him to marry an Israelite. He ended up marrying a woman that was a stranger to the covenant of Abraham. There are those who have married incompatible wives before they knew the Lord or His will. Such simply married according to sight since they had no relationship with God then. Zipporah could not understand how Moses would want to inflict a painful circumcision on her loved son. The woman had to yield by force when she saw the Angel of God appeared to kill Moses. Reluctantly, *Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me"*. The attitude of the woman showed that Moses might not have told her or succeeded in convincing her of the sacredness and importance of circumcision. Or does it mean Moses told her, but the woman rejected outright?
    b. There is danger for those who just pick up somebody to marry other than praying to know the will of God and marrying a covenant person that also have a personal experience with God. First the sacred laws of God would be despised by those people like Zipporah despised the law of circumcision. Consecration to God and fulfillment of God's purpose for the believing spouse would be judged by the unbelieving as too high and even as foolishness. As a result, rather than supporting the man or woman of destiny, the partner would be a hindrance and a ready tool in the hand of Satan. The wife of Moses ended up calling Moses a bloody man as incompatible partners would also use names and words that are not encouraging.

    *Question*

    What are the other dangers of marrying an incompatible partner? Are you also suffering it too?

    *3. Distinguished Through Inspired Partnership*

    a. Moses knew that Zipporah would be a great distraction to him and the wife also opted to stay back from that calling. Actually, there is no way an incompatible partner will be a blessing to the ministry except the person is helped to repent and get converted. Moses preferred to go it alone and the woman agreed to that too. *"he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision"*. Obviously, the woman was not forced along, but rather made to return home to avoid further distractions. There is danger in forcing a partner who has no relationship with God to be part of the ministry of the spouse especially, if the unconverted spouse also wants to have her share in the ministry. That will be an unequal yoke in ministry. Moses put a dividing line between the home and the ministry. When the unconverted is allowed to share in the ministry of the spouse, the influence of the unconverted will not be helpful. However, the New Testament does not permit divorce because it is for better for life according to the Bible. The consecrated spouse needs wisdom to ensure the home front is peaceful, cared for and at the same time the ministry is not compromised or put as secondary.
    b. Moses at this time had learnt his lesson the hard way. He allowed God to guide and lead him in getting the right ministry partner and this was able to help him absorb the problems associated with incompatibility in marriage. *"And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him"*. A lot of joy, fulfilment and happiness also follow doing the will of God and being yoked together with a person of like precious faith in ministry and conviction. The influence of Aaron helped Moses to achieve great things in the absence of his wife. *"And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel... and did the signs in the sight of the people...And the people believed"*. God also raised Miriam to be a prophetess to assist Moses in the absence of the wife. Later Jethro brought the wife to join Moses in the wilderness, spousal incompatibility should not be used as an excuse for not serving God effectively. God's grace is still sufficient to fulfil the purpose of God even when the partner is not performing his/her role as partners in service.

    *Question*

    Do you use marriage as an excuse for compromising the Word of God or reducing your consecration?

    *Prayer Points*

    1.Pray to God to help you to get it right in marriage (if not yet married)and ministry and remove every form of profanity from all the members of your family .
    2.Ask God for wisdom to manage the challenges in your marriage and ministry so that you will be at your best in God's service .
    3.Pray for your spouse that God will move in him/her to be an asset to you in the service of God.
    4.Pray for divine visitation of peace to families of church leaders that the partners are not cooperating .

    *HYMN:* O brother life's Journey beginning

    *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* GENESIS 32-34.

    2. Evening Prayer fir toady.

    EP.i.
    Evening Prayer

    Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. ⏤ Psalm 139:23-24

    God delights to answer the prayer of faith. ⏤ Samuel Chadwick

    Dear heavenly Father, our hearts are filled with gratitude tonight as we think about how wisely You’ve led us this week. It’s been a week full of loving-kindness and tender mercy. You’ve walked with us every day and guarded us every night. You’ve brought us many blessings that will make this week bright in our memory. We’ve met new friends, read new books, had prayers answered, and found new joys. For all these things, we are very grateful.

    Look over the record of this week, which is now laid out before You. You see the spots and stains—things we did that we shouldn’t have, and things we left undone that we should have done. Speak forgiveness to our hearts. We also ask for the grace to make the coming week better than this one. We can’t change the past, but we want to make the most of what’s left. Prepare us for the Lord’s Day, and may Sunday prepare us for the new week. Let Your Word search our hearts and reveal anything that’s not right—then make us clean.

    Tonight, we pray for Your ministers who are preparing for tomorrow’s work. Fill them with Your Spirit, and lead them to the truth they need to share with Your people. Give them messages that bring life, peace, and comfort. Teach them what You want them to say. Hold them close to Your heart tonight so they’ll be ready for their sacred work. Give them empathy, so they can connect with those they’ll serve. Baptize them with a sense of human need, so they can truly help those who are hungry for the bread of life. We ask all this in Jesus' precious name. Amen.

    https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/06/evening

    #taptapstudio
    #youdevotion.
    Good evening, brethren. 1. Evening devotion for today. ED.i. *DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST* (COCIN DEVOTIONAL) *DATE:* SATURDAY 11TH JULY, 2026. *SUB-THEME:* THE CONSEQUENCES OF REJECTING GOD'S GRACE. *TOPIC:* SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS. *TEXT:* 2 CORINTHIANS 4:4-5. 4. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. *TOPIC:* SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS. *THE MESSAGE:* Spiritual blindness is the inability to see and understand spiritual matters. According to today's text, Satan is responsible for blinding the hearts of unbelievers against the truth of the Gospel of Christ. They do not only oppose the gospel message but reject and deny the servants of Christ any opportunity to preach. Spiritual understanding comes when we encounter Christ. It is only then that one can see and appreciate the things of God. In our time, there are many people, even in our churches, who are spiritually blind, like Saul, who was killing Christians thinking he was serving God until the scales of blindness fell off his eyes (Acts 9:18). Today, Christians are being beheaded by Jihadists, Fulani herdsmen, Bandits, and Boko Haram in the name of religion. What spiritual blindness! So, do not be like them. *REFLECTION:* Rejecting God's grace leads to Spiritual blindness. *PRAYER:* Merciful God, open my spiritual eyes to see you in Jesus' name. Amen. *MEMORY VERSE FOR THE MONTH:* HEBREWS 10:29. How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace? *TODAY'S BIBLE READING PLAN:* ECCLESIASTES 7-12. ED.ii. *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY* *ⓂANNA* SATURDAY, 11TH JULY, 2026. *HANDLING INCOMPATIBLE LIFE PARTNER THROUGH GOD SENT MINISTRY PARTNER* *TEXT:* EXODUS 4:24-31. 24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. 25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me. 26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. 27 And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him. 28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him. 29 And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel: 30 And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. 31 And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped. *Timeless Truth:*_"Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"_ (Amos 3:3). *INTRODUCTION* What a pain, what a clog in the wheel of progress, what a frustration, what a limitation and what a life of unfulfilled dreams when someone gets entangled with an incompatible life partner in marriage? What a joy, what a pleasure, what a fulfilment in life and what an accelerated progress when a saint is fortunate to get a compatible life partner and a God sent ministry life partner. Moses had a shave of what it means to marry someone who was not compatible with his life and ministry. However, he was comforted and divinely assisted by getting a compatible ministry partner who happened to be the elder brother , Aaron. We might be tempted to excuse Moses that he had no choice than to marry a Gentile contrary to the command of God to Israelites. He should take full responsibility. His case was the case of one miss step or mistake leading to another. He had never met God personally and by experience as of then. Yet he decided to force himself into the service of God without any personal encounter with God. He eventually had to run away and hide himself for 40 years due to self management. He eventually, got involved in a marriage that might appear he had no choice. Fortunately, what he lacked in marriage, he was able to correct and make up in ministry. He encountered God and heard his voice and was guided as to who his ministry partner should be. If he had missed that too, he would have well forgotten about his ministry in life. His getting it right in the ministry partnership helped him to stand above the storms of wrong and incompatible marriage. John Wesley and Apostle Joseph Babalola are among the witnesses that joined Moses telling us that an incompatible partner in marriage is extremely painful, but no one should allow that to be an excuse for not being what God wanted him to be in life and ministry. *1. Divine Intolerance for Profanity* a. The command of God on circumcision is the issue here. Circumcision of every male born child in Israel was a confirmation and seal of the covenant of God with Abraham and his seed. *"Every man child among you shall be circumcised... And the uncircumcised man child... that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant"* (Genesis 17:10-14). Refusal to circumcise the male child or be circumcised was profanity and there was always divine anger on such lack of irreverence for the command and things of God. Breaking any law of God that is connected to God's irrevocable covenant of blessings always attract divine hot displeasure because it is both disrespectful to God and a foolish self rejection of God's blessings attached to the covenant. *"And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him"*. b. Esau was accused of being profane because he despised divine blessings and rejected his double blessings of being the first born. God was angry at him for his carelessness with his birthright. *"Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward... he was rejected... though he sought it carefully with tears"* (Hebrews 12:16,17). God refused to overlook his profanity. The blessings of the firstborn in the Old Testament are akin to the blessing of salvation in the New Testament. Any saint who refuses to appreciate and jealously keeps his blessing and experience of salvation is a profane person and will definitely incur the wrath of God in this world and in the world to come. Gambling with any of the given gifts of God and gifts of grace will definitely invite the wrath of God and getting the divine blessings back will not be easy. *Question* Do you take the Word of God very seriously or are you a profane person who takes some of His Word for granted? *2. Danger of Incompatible Partners* a. Moses put himself in a very difficult situation that made it difficult for him to marry an Israelite. He ended up marrying a woman that was a stranger to the covenant of Abraham. There are those who have married incompatible wives before they knew the Lord or His will. Such simply married according to sight since they had no relationship with God then. Zipporah could not understand how Moses would want to inflict a painful circumcision on her loved son. The woman had to yield by force when she saw the Angel of God appeared to kill Moses. Reluctantly, *Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me"*. The attitude of the woman showed that Moses might not have told her or succeeded in convincing her of the sacredness and importance of circumcision. Or does it mean Moses told her, but the woman rejected outright? b. There is danger for those who just pick up somebody to marry other than praying to know the will of God and marrying a covenant person that also have a personal experience with God. First the sacred laws of God would be despised by those people like Zipporah despised the law of circumcision. Consecration to God and fulfillment of God's purpose for the believing spouse would be judged by the unbelieving as too high and even as foolishness. As a result, rather than supporting the man or woman of destiny, the partner would be a hindrance and a ready tool in the hand of Satan. The wife of Moses ended up calling Moses a bloody man as incompatible partners would also use names and words that are not encouraging. *Question* What are the other dangers of marrying an incompatible partner? Are you also suffering it too? *3. Distinguished Through Inspired Partnership* a. Moses knew that Zipporah would be a great distraction to him and the wife also opted to stay back from that calling. Actually, there is no way an incompatible partner will be a blessing to the ministry except the person is helped to repent and get converted. Moses preferred to go it alone and the woman agreed to that too. *"he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision"*. Obviously, the woman was not forced along, but rather made to return home to avoid further distractions. There is danger in forcing a partner who has no relationship with God to be part of the ministry of the spouse especially, if the unconverted spouse also wants to have her share in the ministry. That will be an unequal yoke in ministry. Moses put a dividing line between the home and the ministry. When the unconverted is allowed to share in the ministry of the spouse, the influence of the unconverted will not be helpful. However, the New Testament does not permit divorce because it is for better for life according to the Bible. The consecrated spouse needs wisdom to ensure the home front is peaceful, cared for and at the same time the ministry is not compromised or put as secondary. b. Moses at this time had learnt his lesson the hard way. He allowed God to guide and lead him in getting the right ministry partner and this was able to help him absorb the problems associated with incompatibility in marriage. *"And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him"*. A lot of joy, fulfilment and happiness also follow doing the will of God and being yoked together with a person of like precious faith in ministry and conviction. The influence of Aaron helped Moses to achieve great things in the absence of his wife. *"And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel... and did the signs in the sight of the people...And the people believed"*. God also raised Miriam to be a prophetess to assist Moses in the absence of the wife. Later Jethro brought the wife to join Moses in the wilderness, spousal incompatibility should not be used as an excuse for not serving God effectively. God's grace is still sufficient to fulfil the purpose of God even when the partner is not performing his/her role as partners in service. *Question* Do you use marriage as an excuse for compromising the Word of God or reducing your consecration? *Prayer Points* 1.Pray to God to help you to get it right in marriage (if not yet married)and ministry and remove every form of profanity from all the members of your family 🙏. 2.Ask God for wisdom to manage the challenges in your marriage and ministry so that you will be at your best in God's service 🙏. 3.Pray for your spouse that God will move in him/her to be an asset to you in the service of God🙏. 4.Pray for divine visitation of peace to families of church leaders that the partners are not cooperating 🙏. *HYMN:* O brother life's Journey beginning *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* GENESIS 32-34. 2. Evening Prayer fir toady. EP.i. Evening Prayer Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. ⏤ Psalm 139:23-24 God delights to answer the prayer of faith. ⏤ Samuel Chadwick Dear heavenly Father, our hearts are filled with gratitude tonight as we think about how wisely You’ve led us this week. It’s been a week full of loving-kindness and tender mercy. You’ve walked with us every day and guarded us every night. You’ve brought us many blessings that will make this week bright in our memory. We’ve met new friends, read new books, had prayers answered, and found new joys. For all these things, we are very grateful. Look over the record of this week, which is now laid out before You. You see the spots and stains—things we did that we shouldn’t have, and things we left undone that we should have done. Speak forgiveness to our hearts. We also ask for the grace to make the coming week better than this one. We can’t change the past, but we want to make the most of what’s left. Prepare us for the Lord’s Day, and may Sunday prepare us for the new week. Let Your Word search our hearts and reveal anything that’s not right—then make us clean. Tonight, we pray for Your ministers who are preparing for tomorrow’s work. Fill them with Your Spirit, and lead them to the truth they need to share with Your people. Give them messages that bring life, peace, and comfort. Teach them what You want them to say. Hold them close to Your heart tonight so they’ll be ready for their sacred work. Give them empathy, so they can connect with those they’ll serve. Baptize them with a sense of human need, so they can truly help those who are hungry for the bread of life. We ask all this in Jesus' precious name. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/06/evening #taptapstudio #youdevotion.
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  • EVIDENCE OF OCCULT OPPRESSION AND SUBJECTION. Part 1 of 3
    We must distinguish between general oppression and occult oppression and subjection. The symptoms may be similar in many respects, but in several important aspects they are not. The marks of occult involvement are easily distinguished to one experienced in this particular area of deliverance.

    As a result of failing to distinguish between occult oppression and general demonic oppression issuing from other causes, many who have had prayer for deliverance have not been permanently set free. As we will show, those who have been involved in occultism have opened a "door" of access to oppressing spirits which they themselves must close by positive action and faith on their part. Moreover, liberation from occult oppression or subjection requires proper understanding of its peculiar nature and cause, the specific method of deliverance required, and the spiritual responsibilities of the one who has received deliverance from occult oppression.

    General oppression, whether mental, physical, or spiritual, may result from any one of several causes. For example, it may result from some traumatic experience, sin, weakness, emotional crisis, resentment, hate, pride, fear, or illness. Occult oppression and subjection, however, always result from an individual's involvement in some form of fortunetelling, magic practice, spiritism, or false religious cult, either as practitioner, or, as is most often the case, as subject, follower, or participant.

    Moreover, experience has shown that it is possible for a person to be "passively" subjected or oppressed, even though he has never actively participated in the occult. The Biblical basis for this fact is Exodus 20:3-6: God's "curse" falls upon "the children unto the third and fourth generation" of those who violate His commandment by calling upon other gods (demonic spirits and powers), which they do through involvement in the occult, for the purpose of breaking through the bounds which God has set for man.

    The magnitude of the sin of occult involvement, which is an abomination to God (Deuteronomy 18:12), is confirmed by its deep power of enslavement, not only upon the participants themselves, but even upon their descendants. The reality of such passive oppression and subjection has been shown in the preceding study.

    Both from Scripture and from experience it is evident that evil spirits who oppress human victims are of various kinds, and work in a variety of ways. There are blind spirits, deaf spirits, epileptic spirits, deceiving spirits, and lying spirits; spirits of pride, intellectualism, lust, infirmity, insanity, homosexuality, suicide, fear, apathy, anger, discord, strife, hate, resentment, depression, stubbornness, misunderstanding, gossip, obscenity, and many others. Oppression may be subjective, such as insanity, lust, or loss of health through disease and affliction; or objective, in which case the victim may be plagued by demonic apparitions and voices, or troubled by discord and strife through vexation by evil spirits.

    These malevolent spirits are definite personalities, not mere habits, diseases, psychological conditions, or states of mind. Just as human beings vary in personality, power, ability, appetites, intelligence, and purpose, so do the demonic spirits. Their primary intention, as disembodied spirits, is to oppress or possess a person appealing to their particular nature or appetites, in order to hide, as it were, behind these traits, habits, weaknesses, and mental or physical conditions, and thereby escape detection.

    An individual given to sexual looseness and excess, for instance, opens the door to demonic control in this particular area of his life by a spirit of lust with this characteristic appetite. The same would be true concerning a person who has a violent temper which he does not bring under control, or those who are given to pride, jealousy, hate, depression, gluttony, drug addiction, or any other weakness of character, mind or body. Demonic spirits seek to oppress those whose make-up, character, temperament, appetites, and moral, mental, or physical weaknesses are most harmonious to themselves. They bury themselves in the very structure of the person and actually identify with the personality of the victim insofar as possible.

    This is why it is difficult for the novice to discern, or the medical doctor, psychologist, and psychiatrist to admit, the reality and activity of demonic spirits in such victims. The latter reduce such diseases as epilepsy, cancer, blindness and deafness, as well as abnormal personality and behavior problems, to functional or organic disorders. Hence, the presence and activity of demonic spirits in their victims are often described by other terms such as: complexes, habits, drives, hallucinations, delusions, delirium tremens, insanity, epilepsy, melancholia, masochism, homosexuality, schizophrenia, mania, depression, psychoneurosis, psychosis, compulsions, drug addiction, disease, and so on. Not that the terms are entirely inaccurate, but in many cases they are inadequate. They do not go deep enough in identifying the conditions and phenomena connected with the work of the powers of darkness in the lives of the oppressed.

    Likewise, the parapsychologist describes the various manifestations of demonic powers by such terms as clairvoyance, telepathy, extrasensory perception, eidetic imagery, hypnotic suggestion, precognition, telesthesia, psychic phenomena, and so forth. He holds that such paranormal abilities and powers are merely manifestations and projections of the human subconscious or psyche, or that they can be explained in some other natural and rational manner as a rule.

    Thus, the presence and activity of such personal entities as demonic spirits are not easily perceptible to the analytical investigators of the paranormal, for the precise reason that Satan does not publicly announce his presence and work in an individual by handing out "calling cards"!

    However, growing numbers of psychologists, psychiatrists, and physicians are beginning to see and admit that they can no longer dismiss demonic oppression as mere religious delusion or pagan superstition. They are finding it to be a dreadful reality, and that there are definite limits beyond which medicine and psychiatry cannot penetrate to bring the necessary liberation to the suffering individual.

    In one instance, the church which a certain person pastored was contacted by a Christian psychologist asking for prayer for the deliverance of one of his patients. He recognized that the woman was bound and oppressed by Satan and that he was unable to help her with mere technical knowledge and skills. After the church prayed in faith for her liberation in the Name of Jesus, the psychologist reported that she had been set free. He was then able to counsel effectively with her, which he had been unable to do previously.

    Dr. William S. Reed, a well-known American surgeon, was reported to have said that he, as a surgeon, was convinced that many psychological and physical illnesses are the result of demonic attacks upon the individual; that on the basis of Mark 16:17, he himself used exorcism (casting out of evil spirits) when guided to do so; and that modern medicine and psychiatry should seriously consider the ministry of exorcism.

    Often the connections between occult involvement and the oppression which results are so subtle that people are completely unaware of the insidious relationship until it is pointed out. For instance, who would have connected the chronic physical illness of Mrs. L. with her visit to a fortune teller? Mr. R. did not believe that his playing with the ouija board had any adverse spiritual effects upon him until it was manifested in his inability to exercise faith to receive the Holy Spirit. For many years Mrs. T. was unaware that her persistent marital problems and apathy toward life began the day after her participation in a seance. And who would have seen the cause of the chronic phobias and doubts of another person who had been healed as an infant by an occult or magic healer?

    Mr. B. regularly visited fortune tellers, but did not realize until it was shown him that this accounted for an uncontrollable spirit of lust, from which he could not escape, and also explained his pride, indifference, immaturity, and hate. A brutal, demon possessed child, subject to periods of violent rage, was the result of the parents' participation in the occult, but this was unknown until counseling revealed the cause. Mrs. C. suffered from severe depression and thoughts of self destruction, little realizing that her participation in seances was the cause.

    Miss W. had been committed to a mental institution at one time, spent much money visiting doctors, psychologists, and psychiatrists, and had sought help and counseling from many sources concerning her psychotic condition, all to no avail. Little did she realize that it resulted from her past fortunetelling practices and other occult connections. Likewise, Mrs. G. was unaware that her visits to the fortune tellers were responsible for the "voices" she heard and demonic apparitions she saw, until this was shown her in counseling. Who would have seen a connection between the morbid depression and extreme negativism of Mr. V. and his visits to meetings of Spiritualists and other religious cults such as Theosophy and Rosicrucians, even though he only went out of curiosity?

    Homosexuality and fear of crowds were the result of another individual's involvement in the practice of table-tipping and consulting the ouija board as a child. The rapid mental and physical deterioration of another victim of occult oppression was traced to submission to hypnotism and treatment by "Concept Therapy." Mrs. D. found through counseling that her depression and lack of desire for spiritual things followed her visit to a fortune teller. Although he had prepared for the ministry, Mr. T. later fell back into the world, was divorced, and lost interest in Christianity. He was then surprised to learn that his troubles stemmed from his practice of self-hypnosis, astrology, and other occult interests.

    The removal of warts by magic charming and involvement in other magic practices has resulted in alcoholism, oppression by sex spirits, and other forms of demonic oppression in some cases. The parents' participation in occult practices resulted in a young man and a young woman being oppressed by demonic apparitions and vexed with other problems. Palm reading was the cause of one woman's serious domestic problems, and another's oppression in which she heard voices and saw a ghostly apparition.

    Water dowsing explained the resistance of one man to the Scriptural teaching concerning the Holy Spirit. It was also the cause of another's vexation with a serious problem over which he could not achieve victory, and resulted in insanity to still another who practiced this ancient heathen method of divining. Playing with the ouija board and visits to fortunetellers led Mrs. F. to attempt suicide. The consequence of having a burn "blown" away by magic charming was severe depression for Mrs. R. The relation between the mental illness of Mrs. A. and her practice of table-tipping as a child seemed remote until she experienced immediate liberation upon confessing this occult sin and receiving prayer for deliverance.

    Another, who could have no assurance of salvation, due to oppression by a deceiving spirit, was delivered when she was shown the connection between her mental suffering and a healing she had received from a psychometric healer who diagnosed her illness by touch. Chronic asthma was the consequence of involvement in magical practices, from which a sufferer was set free upon learning of the cause. Liberation from severe mental, physical, and spiritual oppression came to another who fell victim to the insidious powers of darkness after visits to Spiritualists' meetings, while another was set free from psychic subjection which resulted from occult practices, when shown the source and nature of her extrasensory powers.

    The examples from this certain pastor’s files could be multiplied, for there are few families in which at least one member has not had contact with occult spirits in one form or another, with its resultant oppression or subjection. Although few people are aware of the various forms in which occult oppression and subjection express themselves, there is no doubt that occult involvement always results in bondage. This conclusion is based on a pastor’s experiences in deliverance. First he had established the connection between the occult involvement and the bondage, then the oppressed individual confessed his occult sins and commanded Satan to depart. The result is always the same: the person is delivered. In instances where the individual was also psychically subjected (having extrasensory powers, seeing apparitions, hearing spirit voices, and so on), these experiences have immediately ceased, thereby proving their occult source.

    A distinction should be made between "subjection" and "oppression" resulting from occult involvement. Subjection means that malevolent spirits have brought the victim under the domination and control of the powers of darkness. The victim has been made subject to, or enslaved by, such things as sexual lust, violent temper, drugs, uncontrollable thoughts, resistance to divine things, compulsive behavior, lying, hate, religious delusions, self-pity, or forms of occultism. A person thus subjected often becomes psychic himself, and is so enslaved by occultism that he lacks the will, and sometimes even the desire, to be set free.

    Oppression resulting from occult involvement means that the victim has been afflicted with some form of mental, physical, emotional, or psychic ailment or distress such as depression, fear, mental illness, disease, pain, apathy, marital discord, compulsive thoughts of suicide, apparitions, and so forth.

    The characteristics listed in the rest of this study are evidences of occult subjection and oppression. Some of these symptoms may result from other causes, but the existence of any of these manifestations usually indicates the presence and activity of demonic spirits, as well as the need for deliverance.

    Occult subjection and oppression may be classified for clarification into five categories: Mental and Emotional; Psychic; Spiritual; Physical; Material, Domestic, and Social.

    A. Mental and Emotional Disturbances and Abnormalities.
    Contrary to common wisdom, many psychoneuroses, psychoses, and other mental and emotional abnormalities result, not from functional or organic causes, but from occult involvement. Some of the following symptoms could be classified as "psychic" disturbances or abnormalities in character; however, we will purposely be limiting our later discussion of "psychic" subjection and oppression to the strict parapsychological sense of the term, namely, to extrasensory functioning, such as clairvoyance, telepathy, and precognition, and to such psychic phenomena as apparitions or poltergeist activity. Note further that "mental and emotional" does not necessarily imply "inward," but many of the following mental and emotional disturbances and abnormalities will also affect the outward behavior of the oppressed individual.

    1. Psychoses indicative of occult oppression or subjection.
    Symptoms in this category include serious, prolonged depression or melancholia; resignation to failure or misfortune; habitual gloominess, morbidity and negativism, boredom and indifference (ennui), as well as apathy in general.

    Persons thus afflicted are often more interested in their own inward thoughts than in what goes on around them, and may respond in an abnormal, dull manner to others and to reality. They manifest extreme introversion; that is, they live within themselves and take no interest in their surroundings. At times they shun others, withdrawing and spending long periods of time alone, sometimes in a darkened room with the shades drawn, in a morose state of mind. Excessive weeping may also accompany this condition, as well as self-accusation of sins, frequently with thoughts of self-destruction. Such individuals often lack normal emotional response and contact with reality. They live in a private world where little affects them except their own fantasies and dreams.

    In some oppressed persons, this state of depression alternates with a directly opposite mood of extreme joy, happiness, exhilaration, and optimistic outlook. This mental disorder, known as manic-depressive psychosis, is characterized by extreme, sudden changes in mood, fluctuating up and down, often without warning.

    Delusions, so-called hallucinations, and psychic oppression are frequently present in victims of occult involvement who have become psychotic. There may be compulsive thoughts of violence and aggression, and destructive emotions of hate, rage, resentment, jealousy, suspicion, envy, malice, and other antisocial abnormalities. Great excitement and perturbation over trivial matters, and other indications of mania are often seen, as well as unpredictable impulses, moods, actions, and other psychopathic indications of insanity.

    There is often found in such persons a continual "flight of ideas." The individual goes off on one tangent or another, often without completing a thought, and there is a general incoherence of thoughts and ideas. Generally, they are irresponsible, unpredictable, and undependable. Unreasonable attitudes or demands are characteristic of demonic activity in such persons.

    As a result of occult involvement, some individuals are in subjection to extreme and uncontrollable passions and appetites. Vile language, sexual allusions or displays are common, together with inexplicable character or personality changes toward moral degeneracy. There may be found such sexual aberrations as homosexuality, masochism, self-abuse, promiscuity, sadism, abnormal sexuality, uncontrollable lustful thoughts and images, and suggestive behavior and dress.

    The presence and activity of demonic powers is also indicated by enslavement to evil habits such as drug addiction, gluttony (compulsive eating), addiction to alcohol or tobacco, compulsive gambling, and many other forms of excess and intemperance.

    2. Psychoneuroses indicative of occult oppression and subjection.
    A neurotic person exhibits symptoms such as persistent, chronic fear or dread. Generally, there is a morbid anxiety that something dreadful is about to happen, or that one has not done something he ought to have done, or has done something that he should not have done, and so on. There are often feelings of apprehension, consternation, panic and hysteria, or evidence of strong nervous tension. The individual often works and lives at a frenzied pace, frequently suffering insomnia and extreme restlessness. Other abnormalities seen in neurotics include difficulty in making decisions, inability to adjust normally to certain situations, and the need of constant guidance and reassurance by others because of personal feelings of inadequacy and immaturity, or the fear of failure. Extreme hypersensitivity, irritability, and impatience are common. The individual is often ill-humored, argumentative, defiant, negative, always "on the defensive," and highly critical of others in an effort to justify his own deep feelings of inadequacy.

    The most pathetic and difficult forms of neurotic oppression to deal with are the deep-rooted feelings of self-pity and the abnormal desire for attention found in some individuals. They dread being alone for any length of time and have need of constant companionship and conversation. They often feel mistreated, misunderstood, misrepresented, and disliked by others. Frequently, they develop some psychosomatic ailment or disease as a result of the subconscious desire for attention, in order to find escape through sickness from the problems and perplexities of life. Such persons, called "hypochondriacs," seek to control and manipulate others by the shrewd use of their illness. Their households and families are forced to adjust to their abnormal life and whims, sacrificing everything for their personal comfort. Edited. Shared.
    To be Continued.

    God willing, more will be posted soon. All glory to Jesus alone.
    ❤️EVIDENCE OF OCCULT OPPRESSION AND SUBJECTION. Part 1 of 3 We must distinguish between general oppression and occult oppression and subjection. The symptoms may be similar in many respects, but in several important aspects they are not. The marks of occult involvement are easily distinguished to one experienced in this particular area of deliverance. As a result of failing to distinguish between occult oppression and general demonic oppression issuing from other causes, many who have had prayer for deliverance have not been permanently set free. As we will show, those who have been involved in occultism have opened a "door" of access to oppressing spirits which they themselves must close by positive action and faith on their part. Moreover, liberation from occult oppression or subjection requires proper understanding of its peculiar nature and cause, the specific method of deliverance required, and the spiritual responsibilities of the one who has received deliverance from occult oppression. General oppression, whether mental, physical, or spiritual, may result from any one of several causes. For example, it may result from some traumatic experience, sin, weakness, emotional crisis, resentment, hate, pride, fear, or illness. Occult oppression and subjection, however, always result from an individual's involvement in some form of fortunetelling, magic practice, spiritism, or false religious cult, either as practitioner, or, as is most often the case, as subject, follower, or participant. Moreover, experience has shown that it is possible for a person to be "passively" subjected or oppressed, even though he has never actively participated in the occult. The Biblical basis for this fact is Exodus 20:3-6: God's "curse" falls upon "the children unto the third and fourth generation" of those who violate His commandment by calling upon other gods (demonic spirits and powers), which they do through involvement in the occult, for the purpose of breaking through the bounds which God has set for man. The magnitude of the sin of occult involvement, which is an abomination to God (Deuteronomy 18:12), is confirmed by its deep power of enslavement, not only upon the participants themselves, but even upon their descendants. The reality of such passive oppression and subjection has been shown in the preceding study. Both from Scripture and from experience it is evident that evil spirits who oppress human victims are of various kinds, and work in a variety of ways. There are blind spirits, deaf spirits, epileptic spirits, deceiving spirits, and lying spirits; spirits of pride, intellectualism, lust, infirmity, insanity, homosexuality, suicide, fear, apathy, anger, discord, strife, hate, resentment, depression, stubbornness, misunderstanding, gossip, obscenity, and many others. Oppression may be subjective, such as insanity, lust, or loss of health through disease and affliction; or objective, in which case the victim may be plagued by demonic apparitions and voices, or troubled by discord and strife through vexation by evil spirits. These malevolent spirits are definite personalities, not mere habits, diseases, psychological conditions, or states of mind. Just as human beings vary in personality, power, ability, appetites, intelligence, and purpose, so do the demonic spirits. Their primary intention, as disembodied spirits, is to oppress or possess a person appealing to their particular nature or appetites, in order to hide, as it were, behind these traits, habits, weaknesses, and mental or physical conditions, and thereby escape detection. An individual given to sexual looseness and excess, for instance, opens the door to demonic control in this particular area of his life by a spirit of lust with this characteristic appetite. The same would be true concerning a person who has a violent temper which he does not bring under control, or those who are given to pride, jealousy, hate, depression, gluttony, drug addiction, or any other weakness of character, mind or body. Demonic spirits seek to oppress those whose make-up, character, temperament, appetites, and moral, mental, or physical weaknesses are most harmonious to themselves. They bury themselves in the very structure of the person and actually identify with the personality of the victim insofar as possible. This is why it is difficult for the novice to discern, or the medical doctor, psychologist, and psychiatrist to admit, the reality and activity of demonic spirits in such victims. The latter reduce such diseases as epilepsy, cancer, blindness and deafness, as well as abnormal personality and behavior problems, to functional or organic disorders. Hence, the presence and activity of demonic spirits in their victims are often described by other terms such as: complexes, habits, drives, hallucinations, delusions, delirium tremens, insanity, epilepsy, melancholia, masochism, homosexuality, schizophrenia, mania, depression, psychoneurosis, psychosis, compulsions, drug addiction, disease, and so on. Not that the terms are entirely inaccurate, but in many cases they are inadequate. They do not go deep enough in identifying the conditions and phenomena connected with the work of the powers of darkness in the lives of the oppressed. Likewise, the parapsychologist describes the various manifestations of demonic powers by such terms as clairvoyance, telepathy, extrasensory perception, eidetic imagery, hypnotic suggestion, precognition, telesthesia, psychic phenomena, and so forth. He holds that such paranormal abilities and powers are merely manifestations and projections of the human subconscious or psyche, or that they can be explained in some other natural and rational manner as a rule. Thus, the presence and activity of such personal entities as demonic spirits are not easily perceptible to the analytical investigators of the paranormal, for the precise reason that Satan does not publicly announce his presence and work in an individual by handing out "calling cards"! However, growing numbers of psychologists, psychiatrists, and physicians are beginning to see and admit that they can no longer dismiss demonic oppression as mere religious delusion or pagan superstition. They are finding it to be a dreadful reality, and that there are definite limits beyond which medicine and psychiatry cannot penetrate to bring the necessary liberation to the suffering individual. In one instance, the church which a certain person pastored was contacted by a Christian psychologist asking for prayer for the deliverance of one of his patients. He recognized that the woman was bound and oppressed by Satan and that he was unable to help her with mere technical knowledge and skills. After the church prayed in faith for her liberation in the Name of Jesus, the psychologist reported that she had been set free. He was then able to counsel effectively with her, which he had been unable to do previously. Dr. William S. Reed, a well-known American surgeon, was reported to have said that he, as a surgeon, was convinced that many psychological and physical illnesses are the result of demonic attacks upon the individual; that on the basis of Mark 16:17, he himself used exorcism (casting out of evil spirits) when guided to do so; and that modern medicine and psychiatry should seriously consider the ministry of exorcism. Often the connections between occult involvement and the oppression which results are so subtle that people are completely unaware of the insidious relationship until it is pointed out. For instance, who would have connected the chronic physical illness of Mrs. L. with her visit to a fortune teller? Mr. R. did not believe that his playing with the ouija board had any adverse spiritual effects upon him until it was manifested in his inability to exercise faith to receive the Holy Spirit. For many years Mrs. T. was unaware that her persistent marital problems and apathy toward life began the day after her participation in a seance. And who would have seen the cause of the chronic phobias and doubts of another person who had been healed as an infant by an occult or magic healer? Mr. B. regularly visited fortune tellers, but did not realize until it was shown him that this accounted for an uncontrollable spirit of lust, from which he could not escape, and also explained his pride, indifference, immaturity, and hate. A brutal, demon possessed child, subject to periods of violent rage, was the result of the parents' participation in the occult, but this was unknown until counseling revealed the cause. Mrs. C. suffered from severe depression and thoughts of self destruction, little realizing that her participation in seances was the cause. Miss W. had been committed to a mental institution at one time, spent much money visiting doctors, psychologists, and psychiatrists, and had sought help and counseling from many sources concerning her psychotic condition, all to no avail. Little did she realize that it resulted from her past fortunetelling practices and other occult connections. Likewise, Mrs. G. was unaware that her visits to the fortune tellers were responsible for the "voices" she heard and demonic apparitions she saw, until this was shown her in counseling. Who would have seen a connection between the morbid depression and extreme negativism of Mr. V. and his visits to meetings of Spiritualists and other religious cults such as Theosophy and Rosicrucians, even though he only went out of curiosity? Homosexuality and fear of crowds were the result of another individual's involvement in the practice of table-tipping and consulting the ouija board as a child. The rapid mental and physical deterioration of another victim of occult oppression was traced to submission to hypnotism and treatment by "Concept Therapy." Mrs. D. found through counseling that her depression and lack of desire for spiritual things followed her visit to a fortune teller. Although he had prepared for the ministry, Mr. T. later fell back into the world, was divorced, and lost interest in Christianity. He was then surprised to learn that his troubles stemmed from his practice of self-hypnosis, astrology, and other occult interests. The removal of warts by magic charming and involvement in other magic practices has resulted in alcoholism, oppression by sex spirits, and other forms of demonic oppression in some cases. The parents' participation in occult practices resulted in a young man and a young woman being oppressed by demonic apparitions and vexed with other problems. Palm reading was the cause of one woman's serious domestic problems, and another's oppression in which she heard voices and saw a ghostly apparition. Water dowsing explained the resistance of one man to the Scriptural teaching concerning the Holy Spirit. It was also the cause of another's vexation with a serious problem over which he could not achieve victory, and resulted in insanity to still another who practiced this ancient heathen method of divining. Playing with the ouija board and visits to fortunetellers led Mrs. F. to attempt suicide. The consequence of having a burn "blown" away by magic charming was severe depression for Mrs. R. The relation between the mental illness of Mrs. A. and her practice of table-tipping as a child seemed remote until she experienced immediate liberation upon confessing this occult sin and receiving prayer for deliverance. Another, who could have no assurance of salvation, due to oppression by a deceiving spirit, was delivered when she was shown the connection between her mental suffering and a healing she had received from a psychometric healer who diagnosed her illness by touch. Chronic asthma was the consequence of involvement in magical practices, from which a sufferer was set free upon learning of the cause. Liberation from severe mental, physical, and spiritual oppression came to another who fell victim to the insidious powers of darkness after visits to Spiritualists' meetings, while another was set free from psychic subjection which resulted from occult practices, when shown the source and nature of her extrasensory powers. The examples from this certain pastor’s files could be multiplied, for there are few families in which at least one member has not had contact with occult spirits in one form or another, with its resultant oppression or subjection. Although few people are aware of the various forms in which occult oppression and subjection express themselves, there is no doubt that occult involvement always results in bondage. This conclusion is based on a pastor’s experiences in deliverance. First he had established the connection between the occult involvement and the bondage, then the oppressed individual confessed his occult sins and commanded Satan to depart. The result is always the same: the person is delivered. In instances where the individual was also psychically subjected (having extrasensory powers, seeing apparitions, hearing spirit voices, and so on), these experiences have immediately ceased, thereby proving their occult source. A distinction should be made between "subjection" and "oppression" resulting from occult involvement. Subjection means that malevolent spirits have brought the victim under the domination and control of the powers of darkness. The victim has been made subject to, or enslaved by, such things as sexual lust, violent temper, drugs, uncontrollable thoughts, resistance to divine things, compulsive behavior, lying, hate, religious delusions, self-pity, or forms of occultism. A person thus subjected often becomes psychic himself, and is so enslaved by occultism that he lacks the will, and sometimes even the desire, to be set free. Oppression resulting from occult involvement means that the victim has been afflicted with some form of mental, physical, emotional, or psychic ailment or distress such as depression, fear, mental illness, disease, pain, apathy, marital discord, compulsive thoughts of suicide, apparitions, and so forth. The characteristics listed in the rest of this study are evidences of occult subjection and oppression. Some of these symptoms may result from other causes, but the existence of any of these manifestations usually indicates the presence and activity of demonic spirits, as well as the need for deliverance. Occult subjection and oppression may be classified for clarification into five categories: Mental and Emotional; Psychic; Spiritual; Physical; Material, Domestic, and Social. A. Mental and Emotional Disturbances and Abnormalities. Contrary to common wisdom, many psychoneuroses, psychoses, and other mental and emotional abnormalities result, not from functional or organic causes, but from occult involvement. Some of the following symptoms could be classified as "psychic" disturbances or abnormalities in character; however, we will purposely be limiting our later discussion of "psychic" subjection and oppression to the strict parapsychological sense of the term, namely, to extrasensory functioning, such as clairvoyance, telepathy, and precognition, and to such psychic phenomena as apparitions or poltergeist activity. Note further that "mental and emotional" does not necessarily imply "inward," but many of the following mental and emotional disturbances and abnormalities will also affect the outward behavior of the oppressed individual. 1. Psychoses indicative of occult oppression or subjection. Symptoms in this category include serious, prolonged depression or melancholia; resignation to failure or misfortune; habitual gloominess, morbidity and negativism, boredom and indifference (ennui), as well as apathy in general. Persons thus afflicted are often more interested in their own inward thoughts than in what goes on around them, and may respond in an abnormal, dull manner to others and to reality. They manifest extreme introversion; that is, they live within themselves and take no interest in their surroundings. At times they shun others, withdrawing and spending long periods of time alone, sometimes in a darkened room with the shades drawn, in a morose state of mind. Excessive weeping may also accompany this condition, as well as self-accusation of sins, frequently with thoughts of self-destruction. Such individuals often lack normal emotional response and contact with reality. They live in a private world where little affects them except their own fantasies and dreams. In some oppressed persons, this state of depression alternates with a directly opposite mood of extreme joy, happiness, exhilaration, and optimistic outlook. This mental disorder, known as manic-depressive psychosis, is characterized by extreme, sudden changes in mood, fluctuating up and down, often without warning. Delusions, so-called hallucinations, and psychic oppression are frequently present in victims of occult involvement who have become psychotic. There may be compulsive thoughts of violence and aggression, and destructive emotions of hate, rage, resentment, jealousy, suspicion, envy, malice, and other antisocial abnormalities. Great excitement and perturbation over trivial matters, and other indications of mania are often seen, as well as unpredictable impulses, moods, actions, and other psychopathic indications of insanity. There is often found in such persons a continual "flight of ideas." The individual goes off on one tangent or another, often without completing a thought, and there is a general incoherence of thoughts and ideas. Generally, they are irresponsible, unpredictable, and undependable. Unreasonable attitudes or demands are characteristic of demonic activity in such persons. As a result of occult involvement, some individuals are in subjection to extreme and uncontrollable passions and appetites. Vile language, sexual allusions or displays are common, together with inexplicable character or personality changes toward moral degeneracy. There may be found such sexual aberrations as homosexuality, masochism, self-abuse, promiscuity, sadism, abnormal sexuality, uncontrollable lustful thoughts and images, and suggestive behavior and dress. The presence and activity of demonic powers is also indicated by enslavement to evil habits such as drug addiction, gluttony (compulsive eating), addiction to alcohol or tobacco, compulsive gambling, and many other forms of excess and intemperance. 2. Psychoneuroses indicative of occult oppression and subjection. A neurotic person exhibits symptoms such as persistent, chronic fear or dread. Generally, there is a morbid anxiety that something dreadful is about to happen, or that one has not done something he ought to have done, or has done something that he should not have done, and so on. There are often feelings of apprehension, consternation, panic and hysteria, or evidence of strong nervous tension. The individual often works and lives at a frenzied pace, frequently suffering insomnia and extreme restlessness. Other abnormalities seen in neurotics include difficulty in making decisions, inability to adjust normally to certain situations, and the need of constant guidance and reassurance by others because of personal feelings of inadequacy and immaturity, or the fear of failure. Extreme hypersensitivity, irritability, and impatience are common. The individual is often ill-humored, argumentative, defiant, negative, always "on the defensive," and highly critical of others in an effort to justify his own deep feelings of inadequacy. The most pathetic and difficult forms of neurotic oppression to deal with are the deep-rooted feelings of self-pity and the abnormal desire for attention found in some individuals. They dread being alone for any length of time and have need of constant companionship and conversation. They often feel mistreated, misunderstood, misrepresented, and disliked by others. Frequently, they develop some psychosomatic ailment or disease as a result of the subconscious desire for attention, in order to find escape through sickness from the problems and perplexities of life. Such persons, called "hypochondriacs," seek to control and manipulate others by the shrewd use of their illness. Their households and families are forced to adjust to their abnormal life and whims, sacrificing everything for their personal comfort. Edited. Shared. To be Continued. ❤️ God willing, more will be posted soon. All glory to Jesus alone.
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  • HC Cowboy Ministries · Cowboys & the Cross Podcast · Riding for the Brand of Jesus Christ
    Cowboy Morning Devotion

    PROOF
    of the Brand
    On a ranch, nobody cares what you say you can do. They watch what you do. Heaven watches the same way.

    2 Corinthians 9:13
    |
    2 Corinthians 9:6–8
    |
    James 2:17
    |
    Matthew 5:16
    Rev. Joseph Holmes · HC Cowboy Ministries

    ✦ Saddle Up
    Talk Is Cheap on a Ranch
    Every outfit has met him — the new hand who shows up talking big. Claims he can rope anything with four legs, ride anything with hair, and outwork any man in the bunkhouse. And every seasoned cowboy responds the same way: nobody argues with him. Nobody debates him. They just hand him a rope, point him at the herd, and watch.

    Because on a ranch, the proof isn't in the talking. The proof is in the doing. Within one gather, everybody knows exactly what that man is made of — not because of what he claimed, but because of what they witnessed.

    The Apostle Paul understood this principle down to his boots. In 2 Corinthians 9, he's writing about a collection being gathered for the suffering believers in Jerusalem — and in verse 13, he says something remarkable about what generous giving actually does. It proves things. It testifies. It shows the watching world that a man's confession of Christ isn't just talk — and it makes people glorify God. This morning, let's ride through it.

    ✦ The Word ✦
    ✦ Holy Scripture
    The Proof of This Ministry
    ...while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men.

    2 Corinthians 9:13 · NKJV

    But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

    2 Corinthians 9:6–8 · NKJV

    Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

    James 2:17 · NKJV

    Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

    Matthew 5:16 · NKJV

    ✦ Part One ✦
    ✦ The Obedience of Your Confession
    Your Life Is the Proof of Your Words
    Look at Paul's phrase: the obedience of your confession. The Corinthians had confessed the gospel of Christ with their mouths. But Paul says their giving was the proof — the demonstration that the confession was real. Their open hands backed up their open mouths.

    That's brand-inspector language. When cattle come through the sale barn, the inspector doesn't take the seller's word for whose stock it is. He reads the brand. The mark on the hide is the proof of ownership — visible, verifiable, burned in. Paul is saying your life carries a brand the world can read, and generosity is one of its clearest marks.

    "Your confession tells folks whose you claim to be. Your conduct shows them whose you really are."

    James says it even harder: faith by itself, without works, is dead. He's not saying works save you — salvation is by grace through faith alone. He's saying living faith always leaves tracks. A horse that never leaves hoofprints isn't standing still — it isn't there at all. And a faith that never produces obedience, generosity, or love isn't dormant. It was never alive.

    Cowboy, this morning's question is simple: if a brand inspector examined your life — not your words, your life — whose mark would he find on it?

    ✦ Part Two ✦
    ✦ Liberal Sharing
    The Law of the Chuckwagon
    Paul praises the Corinthians for their liberal sharing with them and all men. Not careful sharing. Not calculated sharing. Liberal — generous, open-handed, more than required.

    The old West had its own version of that. It was the unwritten law of the chuckwagon: nobody who rode up hungry got turned away. Stranger or friend, hired hand or drifter, you got a plate and a place by the fire. Homesteaders left the cabin unlocked with firewood stacked and coffee on the shelf for whoever might pass through in a storm. Neighbors showed up at branding time without being asked and never sent a bill. That generosity wasn't weakness — it was the backbone of survival in hard country, and it was a matter of honor.

    "Nobody ever rode away from a chuckwagon hungry — and nobody should ever walk away from a Christian empty."

    Notice too the reach of it: sharing with them and all men. The Corinthians were Gentiles giving to Jewish believers they'd never met — across every line their culture drew. Chuckwagon generosity didn't check your background before it filled your plate, and neither does gospel generosity. It flows to the brother in the church pew and to the stranger on the road, because it isn't responding to the worthiness of the receiver. It's reflecting the character of the Giver.

    What liberal sharing looks like from the saddle

    Your Provision

    The paycheck, the harvest, the extra — held with an open hand, ready to feed whoever God sends up your trail.


    Your Time

    Showing up at your neighbor's branding — the hospital visit, the fence that needs two men, the widow's truck that won't start.


    Your Fire

    A place at your table and a seat by your fire for the lonely, the drifting, and the ones nobody else invites.

    And here's the promise that funds it all — verse 8: God is able to make all grace abound toward you... that you may have an abundance for every good work. The rancher who shares his hay isn't gambling; he's trusting the God who grows the grass. You cannot out-give the One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills.

    ✦ Part Three ✦
    ✦ They Glorify God
    The Glory Rides Past You to Him
    Now catch the destination of it all. When the Jerusalem believers received the Corinthians' gift, Paul says they didn't throw a parade for Corinth. They glorified God. The generosity was so clearly the fruit of the gospel that the praise sailed right past the givers and landed on the Giver of all things.

    That's the exact target Jesus set in Matthew 5:16 — let your light shine so that men see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Not glorify you. Him.

    "A good hand doesn't work to get his name talked about. He works so the brand he rides for is respected in every county it's known."

    A cowboy who rides for a great outfit understands this instinctively. When he does his job with excellence, folks don't just say "that's a good man" — they say "that outfit hires good men." His work raises the reputation of the brand. And when you live open-handed, keep your word, show up for your neighbor, and give like God's supply has no bottom — the watching world doesn't just conclude you're generous. They conclude your God is real.

    That's the proof of the ministry. That's the obedience of your confession. That's a cowboy's life preaching a sermon his mouth never has to finish. So ride out this morning with open hands — and let every gift, every favor, every plate filled at your fire send the glory right on up the trail to the One who deserves it.

    ✦ Reflection ✦
    ✦ Sit with This
    Questions to Carry Into the Day
    If someone examined the proof of your life this past month — your giving, your time, your open hands — what would it testify about your confession of Christ?

    The chuckwagon law fed stranger and friend alike. Is your generosity reaching "all men," or only the folks who are easy to give to?

    Paul says God supplies "an abundance for every good work." Is there a generosity God has been nudging you toward that you've been holding back on out of fear of not having enough?

    When people experience your kindness, does the glory land on you — or does it travel past you to your Father in heaven? How can you aim it higher this week?

    ✦ Morning Prayer
    Let Us Pray
    Heavenly Father,

    You are the great Giver — You gave Your own Son before I ever gave You a thing. Every acre, every animal, every dollar and every breath I have came off Your supply wagon first.

    So this morning I'm asking You to make my life the proof of my confession. I don't want to be the hand who talks big at the bunkhouse and comes up empty at the gather. Let my giving, my time, my table, and my fire testify that the gospel I claim has actually taken hold of me.

    Teach me the law of the chuckwagon, Lord — nobody turned away, nobody sent off empty. Stretch my generosity past the easy people to all men, the way Yours stretched all the way to me. And when I'm tempted to grip tight out of fear, remind me that You are able to make all grace abound, and that I cannot out-give the God who owns it all.

    Most of all — let the glory ride past me and land on You. Let folks see the work and praise the Father. That's the brand I want my life to carry.

    In Jesus' Name, Amen.

    ✦ Cowboy Motivational Quote ✦
    "Any man can claim a brand with his mouth. The proof is in how he rides, how he gives, and who gets fed at his fire. Live so open-handed that when folks see your tracks, they don't praise the cowboy — they praise the God he rides for."
    — Rev. Joseph Holmes · HC Cowboy Ministries

    HC Cowboy Ministries

    Cowboys & the Cross Podcast

    Rev. Joseph Holmes · Riding for the Brand of Jesus Christ
    HC Cowboy Ministries · Cowboys & the Cross Podcast · Riding for the Brand of Jesus Christ Cowboy Morning Devotion PROOF of the Brand On a ranch, nobody cares what you say you can do. They watch what you do. Heaven watches the same way. 2 Corinthians 9:13 | 2 Corinthians 9:6–8 | James 2:17 | Matthew 5:16 Rev. Joseph Holmes · HC Cowboy Ministries ✦ Saddle Up Talk Is Cheap on a Ranch Every outfit has met him — the new hand who shows up talking big. Claims he can rope anything with four legs, ride anything with hair, and outwork any man in the bunkhouse. And every seasoned cowboy responds the same way: nobody argues with him. Nobody debates him. They just hand him a rope, point him at the herd, and watch. Because on a ranch, the proof isn't in the talking. The proof is in the doing. Within one gather, everybody knows exactly what that man is made of — not because of what he claimed, but because of what they witnessed. The Apostle Paul understood this principle down to his boots. In 2 Corinthians 9, he's writing about a collection being gathered for the suffering believers in Jerusalem — and in verse 13, he says something remarkable about what generous giving actually does. It proves things. It testifies. It shows the watching world that a man's confession of Christ isn't just talk — and it makes people glorify God. This morning, let's ride through it. ✦ The Word ✦ ✦ Holy Scripture The Proof of This Ministry ...while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men. 2 Corinthians 9:13 · NKJV But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:6–8 · NKJV Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:17 · NKJV Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 · NKJV ✦ Part One ✦ ✦ The Obedience of Your Confession Your Life Is the Proof of Your Words Look at Paul's phrase: the obedience of your confession. The Corinthians had confessed the gospel of Christ with their mouths. But Paul says their giving was the proof — the demonstration that the confession was real. Their open hands backed up their open mouths. That's brand-inspector language. When cattle come through the sale barn, the inspector doesn't take the seller's word for whose stock it is. He reads the brand. The mark on the hide is the proof of ownership — visible, verifiable, burned in. Paul is saying your life carries a brand the world can read, and generosity is one of its clearest marks. "Your confession tells folks whose you claim to be. Your conduct shows them whose you really are." James says it even harder: faith by itself, without works, is dead. He's not saying works save you — salvation is by grace through faith alone. He's saying living faith always leaves tracks. A horse that never leaves hoofprints isn't standing still — it isn't there at all. And a faith that never produces obedience, generosity, or love isn't dormant. It was never alive. Cowboy, this morning's question is simple: if a brand inspector examined your life — not your words, your life — whose mark would he find on it? ✦ Part Two ✦ ✦ Liberal Sharing The Law of the Chuckwagon Paul praises the Corinthians for their liberal sharing with them and all men. Not careful sharing. Not calculated sharing. Liberal — generous, open-handed, more than required. The old West had its own version of that. It was the unwritten law of the chuckwagon: nobody who rode up hungry got turned away. Stranger or friend, hired hand or drifter, you got a plate and a place by the fire. Homesteaders left the cabin unlocked with firewood stacked and coffee on the shelf for whoever might pass through in a storm. Neighbors showed up at branding time without being asked and never sent a bill. That generosity wasn't weakness — it was the backbone of survival in hard country, and it was a matter of honor. "Nobody ever rode away from a chuckwagon hungry — and nobody should ever walk away from a Christian empty." Notice too the reach of it: sharing with them and all men. The Corinthians were Gentiles giving to Jewish believers they'd never met — across every line their culture drew. Chuckwagon generosity didn't check your background before it filled your plate, and neither does gospel generosity. It flows to the brother in the church pew and to the stranger on the road, because it isn't responding to the worthiness of the receiver. It's reflecting the character of the Giver. What liberal sharing looks like from the saddle 🍞 Your Provision The paycheck, the harvest, the extra — held with an open hand, ready to feed whoever God sends up your trail. ⏳ Your Time Showing up at your neighbor's branding — the hospital visit, the fence that needs two men, the widow's truck that won't start. 🔥 Your Fire A place at your table and a seat by your fire for the lonely, the drifting, and the ones nobody else invites. And here's the promise that funds it all — verse 8: God is able to make all grace abound toward you... that you may have an abundance for every good work. The rancher who shares his hay isn't gambling; he's trusting the God who grows the grass. You cannot out-give the One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills. ✦ Part Three ✦ ✦ They Glorify God The Glory Rides Past You to Him Now catch the destination of it all. When the Jerusalem believers received the Corinthians' gift, Paul says they didn't throw a parade for Corinth. They glorified God. The generosity was so clearly the fruit of the gospel that the praise sailed right past the givers and landed on the Giver of all things. That's the exact target Jesus set in Matthew 5:16 — let your light shine so that men see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Not glorify you. Him. "A good hand doesn't work to get his name talked about. He works so the brand he rides for is respected in every county it's known." A cowboy who rides for a great outfit understands this instinctively. When he does his job with excellence, folks don't just say "that's a good man" — they say "that outfit hires good men." His work raises the reputation of the brand. And when you live open-handed, keep your word, show up for your neighbor, and give like God's supply has no bottom — the watching world doesn't just conclude you're generous. They conclude your God is real. That's the proof of the ministry. That's the obedience of your confession. That's a cowboy's life preaching a sermon his mouth never has to finish. So ride out this morning with open hands — and let every gift, every favor, every plate filled at your fire send the glory right on up the trail to the One who deserves it. ✦ Reflection ✦ ✦ Sit with This Questions to Carry Into the Day If someone examined the proof of your life this past month — your giving, your time, your open hands — what would it testify about your confession of Christ? The chuckwagon law fed stranger and friend alike. Is your generosity reaching "all men," or only the folks who are easy to give to? Paul says God supplies "an abundance for every good work." Is there a generosity God has been nudging you toward that you've been holding back on out of fear of not having enough? When people experience your kindness, does the glory land on you — or does it travel past you to your Father in heaven? How can you aim it higher this week? ✦ Morning Prayer Let Us Pray Heavenly Father, You are the great Giver — You gave Your own Son before I ever gave You a thing. Every acre, every animal, every dollar and every breath I have came off Your supply wagon first. So this morning I'm asking You to make my life the proof of my confession. I don't want to be the hand who talks big at the bunkhouse and comes up empty at the gather. Let my giving, my time, my table, and my fire testify that the gospel I claim has actually taken hold of me. Teach me the law of the chuckwagon, Lord — nobody turned away, nobody sent off empty. Stretch my generosity past the easy people to all men, the way Yours stretched all the way to me. And when I'm tempted to grip tight out of fear, remind me that You are able to make all grace abound, and that I cannot out-give the God who owns it all. Most of all — let the glory ride past me and land on You. Let folks see the work and praise the Father. That's the brand I want my life to carry. In Jesus' Name, Amen. ✦ Cowboy Motivational Quote ✦ "Any man can claim a brand with his mouth. The proof is in how he rides, how he gives, and who gets fed at his fire. Live so open-handed that when folks see your tracks, they don't praise the cowboy — they praise the God he rides for." — Rev. Joseph Holmes · HC Cowboy Ministries HC Cowboy Ministries Cowboys & the Cross Podcast Rev. Joseph Holmes · Riding for the Brand of Jesus Christ
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  • SEED OF LIFE
    The end of all things is at hand. Therefore, be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.
    • 1 Peter 4:7

    The time of crisis is stealing gradually upon us. The sun shines in the heavens, passing through its usual course, and the heavens still declare the glory of God. Men are still eating and drinking, planting and building, marrying and giving in marriage. Merchants are still buying and selling. Men are jostling one another, contending for the highest position. Pleasure lovers are still crowding to theaters, horse races, and gambling hells. The highest excitement prevails, yet probation's hour is fast closing, and every case is about to be eternally decided.• The Desire of Ages, p. 636

    • A Point to Ponder •
    The greatest preparation for Christ's coming is not excitement about events, but a deep, living connection with Him, maintained through daily surrender and sincere prayer.
    (FrontierOfHopeMinistry)
    SEED OF LIFE The end of all things is at hand. Therefore, be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. • 1 Peter 4:7 The time of crisis is stealing gradually upon us. The sun shines in the heavens, passing through its usual course, and the heavens still declare the glory of God. Men are still eating and drinking, planting and building, marrying and giving in marriage. Merchants are still buying and selling. Men are jostling one another, contending for the highest position. Pleasure lovers are still crowding to theaters, horse races, and gambling hells. The highest excitement prevails, yet probation's hour is fast closing, and every case is about to be eternally decided.• The Desire of Ages, p. 636 • A Point to Ponder • The greatest preparation for Christ's coming is not excitement about events, but a deep, living connection with Him, maintained through daily surrender and sincere prayer. (FrontierOfHopeMinistry)
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