In Matthew 11:11–12, Jesus praises John the Baptist as the greatest of the old prophets, yet states that the least person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Jesus adds that since John’s ministry, the kingdom has faced intense opposition or advanced with unstoppable, forceful spiritual energy.Matthew 11:11 BreakdownJohn’s greatness: Jesus declares that no one born of women is greater than John the Baptist. John stands at the peak of the Old Testament era as the ultimate herald who directly prepared the way for the Messiah.The lesser in the kingdom: The "least in the kingdom of heaven" is greater than John because New Covenant believers possess a privileged, completed perspective. They witness the finished death, resurrection, and indwelling presence of Christ, privileges the prophets only looked forward to from a distance.

"I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the ramparts. I will watch to see what He will say to me, and how I should answer when corrected. Then the LORD answered me: 'Write down this vision and clearly inscribe it on tablets, so that a herald may run with it. For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end and does not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and will not delay.'" --(Habakkuk 2:1-3 MSB)

‎Chapter Three: The Great Self-Deception Bake-Off: How to Frost a Lie and Call It Prophecy ‎ ‎“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” — Jeremiah 17:9 ‎ ‎Now, that is not a verse you’d want embroidered on a throw pillow. The prophet Jeremiah, who was never invited to many parties, drops this bombshell with the casualness of someone announcing the weather. Your heart—that warm, fuzzy center of emotion you've been taught to "follow" like a GPS—is, in fact, a pathological liar with a doctorate in spin. It is not just occasionally mistaken; it is deceitful above all things. Above a used chariot salesman. Above a politician promising lower taxes. Above a toddler with chocolate on his face insisting he did not eat the cake. Your heart is the most brilliant con artist you will ever meet, and it lives inside your chest, rent-free, forging your signature on checks you didn't even know you had. ‎ ‎And yet, we treat this internal fraudster as if it were the Holy Spirit's personal secretary. "The heart wants what it wants," we sigh, as if that's a profundity and not the battle cry of every disastrous decision since Eve looked at a piece of fruit and thought, "That looks like a good idea, and I feel strongly that it's fine." ‎ ‎Let's talk about what's actually happening when you feel something so intensely that it must be true. You are not receiving a divine download. You are attending the Great Self-Deception Bake-Off, a competition where your own mind whips up a three-tiered cake of false reality, frosts it with emotion, and then serves it to you on a silver platter while a tiny voice in your head screams, "Bon appétit! This is definitely from God!" ‎ ‎The recipe is deceptively simple. You take one genuine fact—a real hurt, a legitimate desire, a valid frustration—and you place it on the counter. So far, so good. This is the flour. But then, instead of following a sane recipe, you hand the kitchen over to a crew of sous-chefs named Assumption, Projection, and Catastrophic Thinking. Assumption dumps in an entire bag of "I know what they were thinking." Projection adds a heaping cup of "This is just like that time in 2007." And Catastrophic Thinking, wearing a chef's hat made of old newspapers, throws in a gallon of "This will never get better and I will die alone and my funeral will be sparsely attended." Mix thoroughly. Bake in the oven of rumination at 400 degrees of anxiety. Frost with a thick layer of righteous indignation or self-pity, depending on your preferred flavor profile. And there you have it: a magnificent, towering cake of Illusion à la Mode, garnished with a sprig of "I'm pretty sure God told me." ‎ ‎You sit down, take a bite, and the flavors explode. The anger tastes like power. The self-pity tastes like a warm hug from yourself. The lust tastes like a preview of heaven that is, in fact, a timeshare presentation for hell. And because the flavor is so intense, so vivid, so consuming, you conclude that the cake must be true. "I feel this strongly, therefore it is valid. God gave me taste buds, didn't He? This is confirmation." And you go back for a second slice, and a third, until you're lying on the floor in a sugar coma of self-deception, wondering why your life has turned into a cautionary tale. ‎ ‎The Apostle James, who had clearly witnessed a few bake-offs in his day, described the process with surgical precision: "Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." (James 1:14-15). Did you catch that? Desire conceives. It has a baby. And the baby is sin, and when that baby grows up, it becomes death. The whole thing starts with a tiny little desire—a spark, a wisp, a passing thought—and if you midwife it with enough emotional intensity, it eventually births a full-grown monster that eats your life. James is essentially saying, "Your feelings are not a prophet; they are a maternity ward for disaster." And you, my friend, are the one pushing. ‎ ‎But here's where the comedy curdles into something so absurd you have to laugh or you'll cry: we then take that monster baby, dress it in a little suit of Bible verses, and present it to the world as a word from the Lord. "God is leading me to leave this church," we declare, when in fact the pastor's sermon stepped on our toes and we felt convicted, but conviction feels uncomfortable, so we rebranded the discomfort as "discernment." "The Lord is telling me to speak truth into this situation," we announce, right before we unleash a torrent of unsolicited criticism that burns down a friendship, and we walk away feeling like Jeremiah at the gate, when in fact we were just a jerk with a vocabulary. ‎ ‎Imagine a man who eats an entire extra-large pizza with extra garlic and anchovies, followed by a milkshake, right before bed. He falls into a fitful sleep, and in the depths of the night, his stomach begins to churn and boil like a cauldron in a witch's kitchen. A dream arises—a wild, vivid, Technicolor dream full of dragons, floods, and talking donkeys. He wakes up in a cold sweat, clutching his abdomen, and gasps, "A vision! A prophetic vision! God is warning me of impending doom and possibly a dietary restriction!" He immediately texts his prayer group: "Urgent: I believe the Lord is calling us to a season of fasting and apocalyptic readiness. I saw a donkey and a flood. Repent!" The prayer group, equally susceptible to the Bake-Off, responds with fire emojis and "Amen, brother, I felt a shift." Meanwhile, the real prophecy was the anchovies, and the only shift needed was in his late-night eating habits. The man has mistaken his gastric distress for divine revelation. And before you laugh too hard, ask yourself: how many of your "leadings" were just spiritual indigestion? How many of your "words from God" were just the echo of your own anxieties bouncing around an empty room, dressed in a robe and sandals? ‎ ‎The internal bake-off is fueled by a simple, terrible engine: the illusion that intensity equals authenticity. If I feel it hotly, it must be holy. This is the spiritual equivalent of mistaking a car alarm for an angelic choir. The car alarm is loud, it demands attention, it rattles the windows—but it's not a herald of the Second Coming. It's just a malfunctioning sensor on a Toyota Camry. Your emotions are the Camry. The alarm is going off. And you're on your knees in the parking lot, weeping, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening," while a security guard taps you on the shoulder and says, "Sir, that's just your own panic. Also, your lights are on." ‎

Marinata. The Message of His Coming. Greatest Work in the World. Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15. “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature,” is Christ's command to His followers. Not that all are called to be ministers or missionaries in the ordinary sense of the term; but all may be workers with Him in giving the “glad tidings” to their fellow men. To all, great or small, learned or ignorant, old or young, the command is given.1Education, 264. Upon every one who knows the truth for this time rests the responsibility of making it known to others. The servants of Christ are in a large measure responsible for the well-being and the salvation of the world. They are to be co-laborers with God in the work of winning souls to Christ.2The Review and Herald, March 10, 1904. The theme that attracts the heart of the sinner is Christ, and Him crucified. On the cross of Calvary, Jesus stands revealed to the world in unparalleled love. Present Him thus to the hungering multitudes, and the light of His love will win men from darkness to light, from transgression to obedience and true holiness. Beholding Jesus upon the cross of Calvary arouses the conscience to the heinous character of sin as nothing else can do.3The Review and Herald, November 22, 1892. Will not our church members keep their eyes fixed on a crucified and risen Saviour, in whom their hopes of eternal life are centered? This is our message, our argument, our doctrine, our warning to the impenitent, our encouragement for the sorrowing, the hope for every believer. If we can awaken an interest in men's minds that will cause them to fix their eyes on Christ, we may step aside, and ask them only to continue to fix their eyes upon the Lamb of God.... He whose eyes are fixed on Jesus will leave all. He will die to selfishness. He will believe in all the Word of God, which is so gloriously and wonderfully exalted in Christ.4SDA Bible Commentary 6:1113. It is the privilege of every Christian, not only to look for, but to hasten the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Were all who profess His name bearing fruit to His glory, how quickly the whole world would be sown with the seed of the gospel. Quickly the last harvest would be ripened, and Christ would come to gather the precious grain.5Testimonies for the Church 8:22, 23.

"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the herald, who proclaims peace, who brings news of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'" — Isaiah 52:7 (CSB) Isaiah celebrates those who faithfully carry God's message of peace, hope, and salvation to others. The beauty is not in their feet, but in the life-changing good news they bring. This verse reminds us that sharing the gospel is one of the greatest privileges and callings God gives His people.

Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. MD.i. 😀💝🌺🎁🌹🎀 MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY SATURDAY JULY 25, 2O26. "DON'T LOOSE YOUR COMPASSIONATE EDGE (3)" '…We have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities…’   Hebrews 4:15 KJV DR JOSEPH Parker told his theology students, ‘Preach to the suffering and you will never lack a congregation. There is a broken heart in every pew.’ Don’t lose your compassionate edge because you can’t heal a broken heart unless you can first empathise with it. The Bible says, ‘We have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities.’ When you lose touch with people, you lose your touch when it comes to ministering to them. Jesus went looking for the leper, the loser, the lonely, the lost, and the lowest in society. And He was comfortable around them. Are you? Serving others is actually good for your health. A survey conducted at 44 major universities reveals that giving protects your overall health twice as much as an aspirin protects your heart against disease. Dr Stephen Post, who conducted the survey, says, ‘Giving is the most potent force on the planet and will protect your whole life.’ The benefits of compassion to your physical health are so strong that if compassion wasn’t free, pharmaceutical companies would herald the discovery of a stupendous new drug called ‘give back’ instead of ‘Prozac’.’ We give for different reasons: to get an income tax deduction; to make a good impression and have people think well of us; or because we’re put under pressure. You can give without loving, but you can’t love without giving. Your time, talent, and treasure are to be shared with others. When you refuse, you’re neither happy, holy, nor healthy. Bible In A Year: Deut 5-7; Matt 12:13-21; Ps 78:1-8; Pro 16:23-24. Courtesy: Grace So Amazing Foundation 💝🎀 *To partner with us, kindly refer to page 9 of the hard copy edition or simply send us a WhatsApp message/call on +2348128000068.*🎀💝🌹🌷. MD.ii. [24/07, 8:18 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) SATURDAY 25TH JULY, 2026``` *GOD'S UNCHANGEABLE STANDARD* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:MATTHEW 19:1-12```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery" (MATTHEW 19:9).*_ *More and more people seem to forget Henry Ford's wise advice when asked on his 50th wedding anniversary for his rule for marital bliss and longevity. He replied: "Just the same as in the automobile business, stick to one model."* *From our text, Christ's teaching about divorce and remarriage is explicit. Moses gave permission for divorce, not because it was so from the beginning but due to the people's hardness of heart. Jesus insisted that in the sight of God, marriage is a lifetime relationship that should never be severed by human action. God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16). His perfect will is the preservation of future generations and society through lasting marriages. God will give anyone great help in sustaining a marriage relationship or reconcilling estranged marriage partners. Christ's exception for 'fornication' in our text covers unfaithfulness before the actual marriage is contracted.* *The experiences of couples who went through divorce are not encouraging. A study of divorced couples with preschool children shows that after a year of divorce, 60% of men and 73% of women feel they made a mistake and should have tried harder to make their marriage work. People have no idea how much anguish and stress is caused by divorce. This is a lesson to our godly fathers and mothers. They must ensure their children marry in the Lord. Friendship with ungodly families is like sowing the seeds of corruption in your own family. This unholy union of our sons and daughters with unbelieving spouses has introduced corruption in our families and churches.* *Our role models are not the pop singers, film stars and fashion models who seem to change marriage partners like they change their robes. People may hold whatever views they want on divorce, but God, who is the Judge of the whole world has already spoken His mind in Scriptures. God's standard on marriage remains unchangeable even in this changeable world. Allow love and forgiveness to reign in your home.* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*In the divine charter, there is no provision for divorce.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *EXODUS 30-32*📜📜 God's Unchangeable Standard https://dailymanna.app// *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 46: A CHRISTIAN HOME; GHS 83: THY WORD HAVE I HID IN MY HEART; AND GHS 185: THE THING MY GOD DOTH HATE* *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#DailyManna25thJuly2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [24/07, 8:18 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```SATURDAY 25TH JULY, 2026``` *DIVINE PRESENCE* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️✨🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽🙌🏽 📜📜```TEXT:PSALM 91:1-9```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence" (PSALM 91:3).*_ *Using the acronym P.R.E.S.E.N.C.E., somebody said God's presence depicts His Power over all creation, His Reign as King of kings, His Essence as the Truine God, His Sovereignty having all authority, His Eminence as the only potentate, His Nature as the thrice holy God, the Creator of creation and His Eternal being - the everlasting God.* *In our text, the Psalmist rightly posited that those who dwell in the secret place of the Most High, in His presence, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. God remains the shield and defender of His faithful sons and daughters.* *Living in God's presence guarantees security and victory over all enemies, visible and invisible. He promises angelic guidance and protection from terrible sicknesses, diseases and demonic manipulation. While sinners and backsliders may fall into calamities and evils orchestrated by the devil, the child of God enjoys uninterrupted peace, joy and protection.* *To enjoy the divine presence, you must be born again and live a consistent and holy life. Because God is holy, only the holy in thought, conduct, and lifestyle will dwell with Him here and in eternity.* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*God's presence guarantees security.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Key into God's presence.*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Lord, help me to dwell in Your presence evermore.*_ Divine Presence https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#HigherEveryday25thJuly2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [24/07, 8:18 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```SATURDAY 25TH JULY, 2026``` *"LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME"* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️✝️🩸🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```GALATIANS 2:18-21```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20c).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 There was a very touching story in the media sometime ago, of very rich parents who had a child that suffered from a kidney sickness. One of the two kidneys could not work well again. The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs that filter harmful materials from the human blood in the form of urine. The child needed a kidney transplant. That is, a medical procedure of replacing a defective kidney through surgery. The two parents had four kidneys, but none of them was willing to give one to their beloved child. Can you see how limited human love is? Yet, Jesus gave His life, not just a kidney for us; He did it joyfully. We were sentenced to eternal death in hell because of our sins. God needed a substitute - one who is willing to die in our place. Paul the Apostle, was overwhelmed by the depth of Christ's love. It was love that caused him to decide to live his remaining days on earth in thankfulness to his Saviour. Jesus offered Himself in our place. This is love indeed! *He bore your pains and shame. He gave Himself for you. What can you give Him in return? You must be thankful for the love of Jesus. Make a vow, a promise to live the whole of your life to please Him. Choose to serve Him in truth and in righteousness till you die.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*Lord, for Your love and mercy to me, I will serve You all the days of my life.*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *Acts 21:12-14* "Loved Me And Gave Himself For Me" https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#SincereMilk25thJuly2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [24/07, 8:18 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA* SATURDAY, 25TH JULY, 2026. *DO NOT PLAY WITH FIRE* *TEXT:* MATTHEW 19:1-12. 1 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan; 2 And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there. 3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. 10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. 11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. 12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it. *Timeless Truth:*_"Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent"_ (Proverbs 6:27-29). *INTRODUCTION* Fire can be one of humanity's greatest blessings or one of its greatest dangers. When it is kept in its proper place, it provides warmth, light and strength. But when handled carelessly, it destroys lives, homes and destinies. In the same way, there are spiritual "fires" that God has warned His people not to toy with. Sin may appear attractive, temptation may seem harmless and compromise may look insignificant, but the consequences are often devastating. Scripture repeatedly warns that no one can handle fire carelessly and remains unharmed: *"Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?"* (Proverbs 6:27). *1. Admiration: The Sanctity of Marriage*  a. Marriage is an admirable thing in the life of a man or woman. Nobody, all things being equal, goes into a wedding with sadness, but with joy and celebration. However, whenever man attempts to handle marriage in his own way, the destructive effect cannot be estimated. Marriage is not a matter of "hire and fire" in which you can handle it carelessly and scatter it at the least provocation. Your attitude towards Marriage will determine your eternal destiny. This is the fearful truth. *"Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge"* (Hebrews 13:4). Marriage institution should be preserved in honour and purity. Anyone who gambles with these two virtues in a marriage relationship will end up being destroyed, eternally. b. *"Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?"*. The Pharisees were said to be tempting Jesus because they knew the answer in the Pentateuch. The main valid exception was when a woman that was betrothed to a man was found to have committed sexual immorality before the actual marriage like the case of Mary and Joseph. This, in the Law, was technically called "fornication". c The answer of Jesus had several implications. *"Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female"*. Godly marriage is between male and female. Same sex marriage is against the will of God. Second, marriage is between two people. Except if you want to add to the Bible to suit your evil action, you cannot see polygamy in this passage just like Jesus, the Bridegroom is not having more than one bride, the Church and just like Adam was not created with another woman apart from Eve. The divine will is clear on this. *"For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh. Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder"*. Every Word of Jesus points to the original design of one man, one wife. Any other thing is an addition to the Word of God (Matthew 5:18,19). It is only those that have another god that will be satisfied and comfortable at rejecting the Word of God. Inability or unwillingness to obey Jesus Christ does not invalidate His words; it only shows that you need to run to Christ for grace and power to do His will. *Question* Do you align with all the Words of Jesus on marriage? *2. Adultery: The Sins of the Married* a. Polygamy and divorce were permitted in the Old Covenant, but never in the New Covenant. Jesus gave the reason. *"He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so"*. The teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ is a reset to the perfect will of God at creation. *"And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery"*. The fact that *"Except for fornication"* is known and peculiar to the Jewish Old Testament culture is clear as that clause is not in all the other parallel synoptic gospel like Mark 10:1-12, Luke 16:18. A man does not commit adultery by putting away his wife, but if he marries another person, then adultery has taken place. What if he does not marry after putting away? There is still danger for the divorcing man. Can he claim to be a practicing Christian, that has the grace of Christ to forgive without sincerely, having any bitterness that will lead to eternal damnation? Matthew 5:32 says that the man cannot escape if the "putting away" causes the woman to go and marry someone else or commit immorality. In that case *"he causes her to commit adultery"* though he might have committed adultery. It is also true for the other side too. What is the lot of someone who makes others sin? See Matthew 18:6. No heaven for such a person except there is repentance and restitution.The divorced woman is not free for marriage except if she was not a real wife originally. The real wife is the living first wife of the living man. *"Whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery"*. It is all about moral chastity. No married man is allowed by God to see the nakedness of more than one woman or wife as long as the first wife is alive. This puts polygamy out of the equation of divine will. b. Romans 7:2,3 reinforces this commandment. Romans 7:10-11 speaks on separation, without necessarily divorce, which was not fully addressed by Christ. What if they decide to separate without being divorced? It says that must not be among children of God. However, it is possible one of them is an unbeliever who does not take the Word of God binding and serious. Remarriage is ruled out, but reconciliation is the perfect will of God. If one of them is an unbeliever and is not ready to reconcile according to the will of God, but insist on separation? The believing partner is no more answerable to God as to whatever happens to the rebellious partner even if he or she falls into adultery. *"If the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace"* (1 Corinthians 7:15). This is not a license to remarry as this will contradict the Words of Christ. Rather it is a license to live separately without being held responsible for the fall or adultery of the unbeliever. So remarriage after separation is still forbidden, but the believer is not counted responsible to God for the irreconcilable attitude of the other partner. *Question* Can a believer obey this Word of Christ without grace? *3. Acceptability: The Separation from Mess* a. It should not be surprising that *"His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry"*. This raises two issues. First, there must be prayer and due diligence in choosing the right partner. The right scriptural foundation is germane to any godly heaven bound marriage. Second, the grace of Christ is needed and always available to do the will of God. The grace needed for marital bliss and resolve issues in marriage will also be needed in making heaven. It is a relational grace needed to endure all things, suffer all things, follow peace with all men, forgive our offenders and love others unconditionally. *Question* Do you have this grace? It can be received by asking. *Prayer Points* 1.Father, we thank You for the institution of marriage and the available grace to do Your will 🙏. 2.Pray against getting into unscriptural marriage. 🙏. 3.Ask for the abundance of grace and fruit of the Spirit to live happily with your partner 🙏. 4.Pray for couples in the church that God will visit their marriages and make it happy and fulfilling. Pray for the unmarried that they will not fall into the snare of wrong partnyers🙏. *HYMN:* Gracious Spirit dwell with me *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* EXODUS 30-32. 2. Morning Prayer for today. MP.i. Morning Prayer He hath showed thee, O man, what [is] good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? ⏤ Micah 6:8 The closer you live to God, the smaller everything else appears. ⏤ Corrie Ten Boom O God, just as Enoch walked with You, we desire to walk with You today. The world is full of dangers, and we can't navigate it safely without Your protection. The paths are tangled, and we could never find our way alone. We need Your companionship to make this day a blessing. So we ask that we may walk with You. We will try to be faithful—not running ahead of You or falling behind—but staying with You all day. May You walk with us and help us to walk with You. We thank You for the rest of the past night. You have kept us safe. We lay down and slept, and You sustained us. You are our protector. All our blessings come from You. Give us grateful hearts as we begin this new day. We want to please You in all things, not straying from Your commandments. Help us, for while our spirit is willing, our flesh is weak, and we can't be faithful without Your strength. Bless everyone in our home this morning, and give each of us a personal blessing. As we go out to our different duties, it may be that we shall never all meet together again; may we, therefore, part in love so that if we never come together again in this world, there will be no regrets in our hearts because of unkindness at parting. Bless our morning meal and give us wisdom for all the duties, tasks, responsibilities, and challenges of the day. May our influence be for good, leaving a blessing on everyone we encounter. Make us strong for our work. Protect us from the dangers of the day, and keep us near Your heart, giving us the grace, mercy, and peace we need. For Jesus' sake. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/20/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

Maranatha. A Fuller Knowledge of God. This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. John 17:3. Only by knowing God here can we prepare to meet Him at His coming.... But many of those who profess to believe in Christ do not know God. They have only a surface religion. They do not love God; they do not study His character; therefore they do not know how to trust, how to look and live. They do not know what restful love is, or what it means to walk by faith.... They fail of understanding that it is their duty to receive, in order that they may enrich others. The world by wisdom knows not God. Many have talked eloquently about Him, but their reasoning brings men no nearer to Him, because they themselves are not in vital connection with Him. Professing themselves to be wise, they become fools. Their knowledge of God is imperfect.14The Review and Herald, February 3, 1903. We cannot by searching find out God, but He has revealed Himself in His Son, who is the brightness of the Father's glory and the express image of His person. If we desire a knowledge of God we must be Christlike.... Living a pure life through faith in Christ as a personal Saviour will bring to the believer a clearer, higher conception of God.15That I May Know Him, 9. Christ is a perfect revelation of God. “No man hath seen God at any time,” He says; “the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” Only by knowing Christ can we know God. And as we behold Him, we shall be changed into His image, prepared to meet Him at His coming.... Now is the time to prepare for the coming of our Lord. Readiness to meet Him cannot be attained in a moment's time. Preparatory to that solemn scene there must be vigilant waiting and watching, combined with earnest work. So God's children glorify Him. Amid the busy scenes of life their voices will be heard speaking words of encouragement, hope, and faith. All they have and are is consecrated to the Master's service. Thus they prepare to meet their Lord; and when He comes, they will say, with joy, “This is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us.... We will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” 16The Review and Herald, February 3, 1903. Manage subscriptions | Unsubscribe | ellenwhite.org EGW logo The Ellen G. White Estate 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904, USA Phone: +1 301 680 6540 Help: subscribe[ellenwhite].org Copyright 2026 The Ellen G. White Estate unsubscribe

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: THURSDAY 9TH JULY 2026 TOPIC: THE CITY OF THE DEAD MEMORIZE: "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;" Colossians 2:13 (KJV) BIBLE READING: EPHESIANS 2:1-6 1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: MESSAGE: Years ago, I visited a country which had one of the largest cemeteries in the world. On top of every grave in that cemetery, there is a concrete slab, and some homeless residents of that city lived in tents that were built over these slabs. For that reason, the cemetery was called 'the city of the dead'. Beloved, do you know that people who have not given their lives to Christ or who claim to have done so but are still indulging in sin are living in a spiritual city of the dead? Today's Bible reading tells us that we were once dead in our sins and trespasses before Jesus made us alive through His death and resurrection. He went to the city of the dead and took the keys of hell and death from satan (Revelation 1:18). Jesus died so that nobody would have to experience the torture of eternal death. If you are currently living in the city of the dead, I implore you to escape from there right now by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour before it is too late. Turn to Him today, and He will change your address from the city of the dead to the Kingdom of Life. If you are God's child, it is your responsibility to preach the gospel to those who haven't given their lives to Jesus Christ. Don't be so busy minding your business that you neglect the Lord's business of witnessing to lost souls. Sometimes, the blessing you desire is hidden in your obedience to the Lord's command to preach the gospel and make disciples of all nations. Years ago, a lady was praying to God for a husband, and God told her, "Go out and win souls. Your husband is not part of My family yet." She obeyed and focused on preaching to the lost. About six months later, she came to me and said, "Daddy, I have a problem." I asked her what the problem was, and she said, "One of the converts that I have just won to Christ says that he wants to marry me." I asked her to pray about it and accept his proposal if she's convinced about him. Today, they are one of the best couples that I know. Beloved, if God has saved you from the city of the dead, don't be selfish; reach out to those who are still living there so they can also join you in His Kingdom of Life. KEY POINT: It is every Christian's responsibility to witness to those who are still living in the city of the dead. BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR: PROVERBS 30 - 31 AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE HYMNAL 4 - TO THE WORK! TO THE WORK! WE ARE SERVANTS OF GOD 1. To the work! To the work! We are servants of God, Let us follow the path that our Master has trod; With the balm of His counsel our strength to renew, Let us do with our might what our hands find to do. CHORUS: Toiling on, toiling on, Toiling on, toiling on, Let us hope, let us watch, and labour till the Master comes. 2. To the work! To the work! Let the hungry be fed, To the fountain of life let the weary be led! In the cross and its banner our glory shall be, While we herald the tidings, "Salvation is free!" CHORUS: 3. To the work! To the work! There is labour for all, For the kingdom of darkness and error shall fall; And the name of Jehovah exalted shall be, In the loud-swelling chorus, "Salvation is free!" CHORUS: 4. To the work! To the work! In the strength of the Lord, And a robe and a crown shall our labour reward, When the home of the faithful our dwelling shall be, And we shout with the ransomed, "Salvation is free! CHORUS: ‎PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL. Thursday 9th July 2026 THE CITY OF THE DEAD ‎ ‎PRAYER POINTS ‎✓Father, thank you for saving me and granting me the grace to receive life eternal from among the dead in sin. ✓Father, thank You for the great love wherewith You loved me even while I was dead in my sins, You quickened me together with Christ and saved me by Your grace. ‎✓Lord Jesus, thank You for dying for mankind so that no one will have to experience the torture of eternal death in hell; thank You for going into the city of the dead, to take the keys of hell and death from satan. ✓Father, thank You for making salvation available for everyone that believes and forsake their sins having confessed Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. ‎ ‎✓Father, as many that are still living in the city of the dead, please help them to accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour so they can escape into the kingdom of life, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, please help me to arise for the salvation of others around me, help me to obey Your command to be a witness of the gospel and never to neglect Your kingdom business, in Jesus' name ‎✓Father, please help me to preach the gospel and to make disciples of all nations so I won't miss the blessings of obedience to Your commands, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, on a daily basis, make my life a true witness of Your power, let my life and character bring sinners to salvation in You, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, please help all Christians to take up the responsibility of witnessing to those who are still living in the city of the dead, in Jesus' name ‎ ‎✓Father, please as many that have been saved from the city of the dead, may they never return there again; keep them in the light till You come in glory again, in Jesus' name. ✓Father, as many that had once seen the light of salvation in Christ Jesus, and are now backslidden into the city of the dead, please restore them again in the kingdom of life, in Jesus' name. ✓Father, thank You for the life of Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye. ‎ May he continue to be a vessel through whom many will be turned from the city of the dead into the kingdom of life, in Jesus' name. Bless his children (biological and spiritual). Help him to continue to produce sons and daughters to Your glory, in Jesus name ‎ ‎✓Father, please bless Your son that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, beyond measure, and all those who have been broadcasting them, in Jesus' name. ‎ ‎✓Father, please let every challenge, hindrance and obstacles of getting these prayer points across to Your children, timely, and on daily basis be removed, in Jesus name. ‎ ‎✓Your personal petitions. ‎(Philippians 4:6) ‎ ‎✓In Jesus name I pray. ‎(John 14:13-14; 15:16)

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: SATURDAY 4TH JULY 2026 TOPIC: WHILE IT IS DAY MEMORIZE: "Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world." John 11:9 (KJV) BIBLE READING: JOSHUA 13:1-5 1 Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the Lord said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed. 2 This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri, 3 From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites: 4 From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites: 5 And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baalgad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath. MESSAGE: The account of some of Joshua’s great exploits can be found in Joshua 12. The chapter highlights all the kings he conquered and the lands he possessed. It was indeed a long list of victories, and any fellow who achieved the things Joshua did would be proud of such exploits. However, in the next chapter, which is today’s Bible reading, God told him that even though he was now old, there remained much land to be possessed. God then went ahead to list all the lands that remained unconquered, making him know that there was still so much to do. Beloved, there is a set time when you must do the works of Him who sent you. In John 9:4. Jesus said, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” For every human, there is a daytime and a nighttime. The daytime is the portion of a fellow’s life when he or she is young and agile. In the daytime, a fellow has the strength to go around preaching the gospel of Christ and can fast and pray as long as he or she wants to. However, by nighttime, the fellow’s strength would have abated. Also, when some people’s nighttime comes, they become sick and are unable to continue working. Therefore, if you have the opportunity to do God’s work now, do it with all your strength and focus. Even if you are well advanced in years, the fact that you are alive means that there is still so much you can do for God, just as He showed Joshua in today’s Bible reading. There are 24 hours in a day. Approximately half of those hours are characterised by the presence of sunlight, and during those hours, most people work on their goals. After those hours of light, darkness descends. Jesus said in John 11:10 that if a man walks in the night, he stumbles. This means that NOW is the time to serve God and carry out any assignments He might have committed into your hands. You must get to work now because when the night comes, no one, including you, will be able to work. Therefore, work while it is still day. Don’t procrastinate God’s work. Heal the sick, preach the gospel, cast out demons, mentor the next generation, and let your light so shine before men that they may glorify your Father in heaven. KEY POINT: Work while it is day. BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR: PROVERBS 15-17 AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE HYMNAL 32: TO THE WORK! TO THE WORK! WE ARE SERVANTS OF GOD 1. To the work! To the work! We are servants of God, Let us follow the path that our Master has trod; With the balm of His counsel our strength to renew, Let us do with our might what our hands find to do. CHORUS: Toiling on, toiling on, Toiling on, toiling on, Let us hope, let us watch, and labour till the Master comes. 2. To the work! To the work! Let the hungry be fed, To the fountain of life let the weary be led! In the cross and its banner our glory shall be, While we herald the tidings, "Salvation is free!" CHORUS: 3. To the work! To the work! There is labour for all, For the kingdom of darkness and error shall fall; And the name of Jehovah exalted shall be, In the loud-swelling chorus, "Salvation is free!" CHORUS: 4. To the work! To the work! In the strength of the Lord, And a robe and a crown shall our labour reward, When the home of the faithful our dwelling shall be, And we shout with the ransomed, "Salvation is free! CHORUS:

The Three Angels Messages of Revelation 14. The three angels of Revelation 14 represent the people who accept the light of God’s messages and go forth as His agents to sound the warning throughout the length and breadth of the earth.—Testimonies for the Church 5:455, 456 (1885) Angels direct but God’s people proclaim—The work of preaching the gospel has not been committed to angels, but has been entrusted to men. Holy angels have been employed in directing this work, they have in charge the great movements for the salvation of men; but the actual proclamation of the gospel is performed by the servants of Christ upon the earth.—The Great Controversy, 312 (1888, 1911) All to carry the message—The third angel’s message is to be given with a loud voice. With intensified zeal and energy human beings are to carry forward the work of the Lord. In the home, in the school, and in the church, men, women, and youth are to be prepared to give the message to the world.—Letter 144, 1901 (October 11) Extending the gracious invitation—The third angel of Revelation 14 is represented as flying swiftly through the midst of heaven crying: “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Here is shown the nature of the work of the people of God. They have a message of so great importance that they are represented as flying in the presentation of it to the world. They are holding in their hands the bread of life for a famishing world. The love of Christ constraineth them. This is the last message. There are no more to follow, no more invitations of mercy to be given after this message shall have done its work. What a trust! What a responsibility is resting upon all to carry the words of gracious invitation: “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” [Revelation 22:17.]—Testimonies for the Church 5:206, 207 (1882) Literal voices of angels not heard—The first, second, and third angels’ messages are the messages to be given to the world. We hear not literally the voice of the three angels, but these angels in Revelation represent a people who will be upon the earth and give these messages.—Manuscript 40, 1890 The angels are represented as flying in the midst of heaven, proclaiming to the world a message of warning, and having a direct bearing upon the people living in the last days of this earth’s history. No one hears the voice of these angels, for they are a symbol to represent the people of God who are working in harmony with the universe of heaven. Men and women, enlightened by the Spirit of God, and sanctified through the truth, proclaim the three messages in their order.—Manuscript 28, 1890 (December 4) (Selected Messages 2:387) Their voices are not heard by the inhabitants of earth, save through the people who carry forward the work as the messengers of God. Those who search the Scriptures understand the messages given by the angels, and take up the cry, proclaiming the warning to the world.—The Review and Herald, July 7, 1891 Human agents called to cooperate with God—The everlasting gospel is to be proclaimed by human agents. We are to sound the messages of the angels which are represented as flying in [the] midst of heaven, with the last warning to a fallen world. If we are not called upon to prophesy, we are called to believe the prophecies, and to cooperate with God in giving light to other minds.—Manuscript 32, 1896 (December 6) (Selected Messages 2:115) . 3AM 36-3AM 38.3