Don't share BIG dreams ✨ with small minded people!!! His father was a horse 🐎 trainer so they moved from place to place training horses 🐎🐎. This meant they slept at the back of their truck 🚒 in a trailer park 🏞️ a lot of times.At school 🏫🎒 one day they were asked to write ✍️ a paper 🗞️📜 about their dreams ✨.He wrote about how he would take horse 🐎 training to another level.He wrote about how he would buy land and add stables and turn it into a big business.The teacher gave him an F and asked him to see her.She told him it was impossible for a boy like him to have such a dream ✨ and that he should write ✍️ something else.He discussed with his father and told the teacher to keep her F and he will keep his dream ✨.Monty Roberts today keeps that same F paper 🗞️📜 framed 🖼️ and hanging in his mansion, his dream ✨ having become a reality.Small minds have a way of sucking faith out of you 🧐.Jon Gordon calls them "energy vampires" ;draining instead of pushing you.They don't have dreams ✨ of their own so nobody should also dream ✨. Their negativity is coded like advice in order for you to think 🤔 they mean well.They usually have stories of people who tried before you and couldn't make it.They have all the entire future figured out 🔍 and it is impossible.But for the fact that God 👑 was with Joseph, his brothers would have destroyed him for life 🧬 just because he shared his dream ✨ with small 🦐 minded people(Gen.37:1-44). Stick to people who believe in your dream ✨ and you will thrive.Have a lovely day 💞❤️💜.

Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. MD.i. 😀🌹🎀🎁💝🌺MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY WEDNESDAY AUGUST 12, 2O26. "WORKING IN THE KINGDOM (3)" ‘The father [or mother] of a righteous man has great joy...’ Proverbs 23:24 NIV. THE HARDEST work is sometimes the most overlooked work. A husband came home from work one day and the house was an absolute mess. Clothes were strewn all over the floor, washing up filled the sink, the kids were crying, the beds were unmade, the bathroom smelled badly and the TV set was blaring. When he asked his wife what was going on, she replied, ‘You know how you ask me every night what I did all day? Well, today I didn’t do it.’ If you’re a stay-at-home mum or dad, God considers your work to be important. It’s more important to the future than just about any other profession—because you’re determining the quality of the next generation. Martin Luther said, ‘What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord.’ One day God will say, ‘Well done,’ to parents who cared for children—bathing them, feeding them, cleaning up after them—when they were tired and thought nobody was looking. Somebody is looking. Somebody is keeping track. It is worth it! You are the one who makes your work significant—not the other way round. When you discover the gifts God has given you and the passions He has placed within you, and put them to work in the service of values you deeply believe in—you are ‘working for God’ in the truest sense. So each day ask God to make your work go well. And try to identify the larger picture in your work that makes it a ‘calling.’ Bible In A Year: Judg 7:1 – 9:33, Matt 16:13-28, Ps 119:65-72, Pro 17:23-26. 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. [11/08, 9:24 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA* WEDNESDAY, 12TH AUGUST, 2026. *HEAVEN: THE PERMANENT RESIDENCE OF THE BELIEVERS* *TEXT:* JOHN 14:1-6. 1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me *Timeless Truth:*_"But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city"_ (Hebrews 11:16). *INTRODUCTION* Jim Reeves, in one of his classics, composed an all time beautiful and inspired song about heaven. "I have heard of a land; On a faraway strand 'Tis a beautiful home of the soul; Built by Jesus on high There we never shall die 'Tis the land where we never grow old. When our work here is done; And the life crown is won; And our troubles and trials are o'er; All our sorrow will end And our voices will blend With the loved ones who've gone on before". The children of Israel ate manna in the wilderness and not one of them fell sick for 40 years and neither did their cloth fade according to the Scriptures. The food of heaven and the environment of heaven will be such that the inhabitants will never grow old, but remain young, healthy and fresh throughout eternity. Every attempt by any mortal to describe heaven is like a blind man describing the colour of a beautiful house. It is easier to think and plan for what you see than what you don't see no matter how real. Hence, there is need for constant reminder, refocusing and reconsecration to make heaven, less our vision of the invisible and eternal things give way to the vision of visible temporary things. *"For truly, if they (the heroes of faith) had been mindful of that country (the world) from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned"* (Hebrews 11:15). *1. The Admonition on Faith* a. Man is consciously or unconsciously a slave to what he believes whether true or false. The person who does good or evil believes that it will pay him. The person who serves God or does otherwise believes that is the best thing to do, all things being equal. The only person who could experientially and authoritatively speak about heaven is the person who lived there for an innumerable number of years and had visited the earth. Jesus Christ challenged the faith of His disciples to fully and truly believe, not only in the reality of heaven, but what heaven offers. The thought of Jesus Christ leaving them for heaven was disturbing and troublesome. However, the thought of heaven is comforting above all troubles on earth. *"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me"*. b. Jesus Christ said He came from heaven. Moses claimed He saw God come from heaven on the mount of Sinai. At the mount of transfiguration, three apostles said they saw the glory of heaven on Jesus, Elijah and Moses. John the Apostle emphatically said *"I John saw heaven open"*. Revelation also said that as God alone created the universe without any assistance from the angels, God Himself created heaven. *"Whose Builder and the Maker is God"*. When there is faith in God and consequently in heaven, all earthly glory and sorrows fade into insignificance. *Question* Is heaven and its glory real to you? Are you focused on making it by all means? *2. The Assurance for the Faithful* There is a Revelation about heaven that no other prophet could give except an eye witness. There is an abundance of accommodation for all the saints of God. *"In my Father's house are many mansions"*. Jesus invoked His undeniable truthfulness and integrity to give us a solid assurance. *"If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you"*. Jesus is saying that there is no need to deceive His disciples. Part of the present preoccupation of Christ is building a beautiful and eternally durable unimproveable mansion for each of God's people. The cosmos is roughly 7 x10 to power 23 times larger than our planet, rendering Earth an invisible speck in the vast cosmic ocean. This is different from the part of the cosmos that humans' lenses cannot observe so far. John said *"there was no more seas"*. So the space for building mansions is inexhaustible by all the saints that ever lived. b. Every saint should therefore, be assured that there is an unfading and most beautiful accommodation ever, designed and built by God awaiting him for eternal dwelling. Which one is more real to you? Dream or what you see in the physical. As what you see on earth is more real than what is dreamt, much more, the life of heaven is incomparably more real than what is experienced on the planet earth. Everything in heaven is perfect that no man on earth and creature in heaven would be able to improve on it. *Question* Are you excited about heaven? *3. The Advent of the Forerunner* a. Jesus came from heaven and He is the firstborn from among the dead. He is the first to die, buried, resurrected and gone to heaven with a resurrected body. He also promised to come back to the earth with His resurrected glorified body. *"And if I go and prepare a place for you"*. Did He truly go as promised? Since He fulfilled the promise to go to heaven He will no doubt fulfill other promises attached. *"I will come again"*. He did not say He "may come again". He was very definite and certain. When He comes again for the Church, represented by the disciples He was speaking to, what will He do? *"And receive you unto myself"*. He did not say he would come and take them, but rather come and receive them. This is Rapture being referred to in which Jesus in the sky will receive the saints to heaven as a host comes out of his chamber to receive His special guest or visitors to his house. (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17). *"That where I am, there ye may be also"*. *Question* Are you always watchful to make sure you are ever ready? *4. The Answer to the Forgetful* You will be surprised at the kind of question the once doubting Thomas was asking. *"Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?"*. He was there when Nicodemus was lectured by Christ on how to get to heaven. He was there when Jesus preached the longest sermon on the Mount as to the qualification for heaven. He was there when Jesus said *"No man has seen God at all times"*. Preachers should not assume that their followers fully understand the spiritual things they are teaching. Spiritual truth must be repeatedly read and taught over and over until it turns to conviction. Jesus is the only true way to heaven. *Question* What makes someone qualified for heaven? *Prayer Points* 1.Lord, I praise You for the best alternative to this earth You have provided for me. Help me never to miss it 🙏. 2.Refocus my desire and affection on heaven and heavenly things afresh and help me that it will be my primary pursuit and vision 🙏. 3.Keep me from being deceived and distracted from heavenly things by the glamour of this world 🙏. 4.Search out Your people and remove all things in our lives that will make entering heaven impossible 🙏. *HYMN:* Where We Never Get Old. *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* JOB 13-15. [11/08, 9:24 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) WEDNESDAY 12TH AUGUST, 2026``` *HEAVEN: PREPARED FOR THE PREPARED* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽🙌🏽 📜📜```TEXT:JOHN 14:1-6```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you" (JOHN 14:2).*_ *D. L. Moody, the famous evangelist, once said before his death, "Someday you will read in the papers that D. L. Moody of East Northfield is dead. Don't you believe a word of it! At that moment, I shall be more alive than I am now. I shall have gone up higher, that is all, out of this old clay tenement into a house that is immortal, a body that death cannot touch, that sin cannot taint; a body fashioned like unto His glorious body." Moody understood the truth that heaven is not a vague idea but a real, prepared place for those who belong to Christ. He had no fear of death because he knew that Jesus had already secured for him an eternal home.* *In today's text, Jesus gives the same assurance to His disciples: He has gone ahead to prepare a place for them, and He will return to take them there. He speaks words of comfort to His troubled disciples. He tells them not to be afraid because His Father's house is big enough to accommodate all those who are qualified, and that He is going to prepare the place for them. More than that, He promises to return and bring them to be with Him forever. When Thomas questions the way to this place, Jesus makes a life-changing declaration: "...I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).* *Heaven is not an accidental destination. It is a prepared place for prepared people. Jesus makes it clear that He is the only Way to this eternal home. Today, many believe that all roads lead to heaven, but Christ's words leave no room for confusion. Only those who accept Him and live for Him will enter the place He has prepared.* *This truth should give us confidence and peace as believers in Christ's return. Just as a traveller finds joy knowing a home awaits at the end of his journey, we too should endure life's trials knowing that heaven is real and waiting for us. However, this is also a call for readiness, as only those who are prepared in Christ will enter there. Heaven is not for the undecided or the uncommitted; it is for those who know and follow Christ. It is for those who have let go of the world, let in Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour and live for Him consistently.* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*If your aim is heaven, look beyond this world.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *JOB 13-15*📜📜 Heaven: Prepared For The Prepared https://dailymanna.app// *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 137: HOW BEAUTIFUL HEAVEN MUST BE; GHS 138: WHEN WE ALL GET TO HEAVEN; GHS 139: BEAUTIFUL HOME!; AND GHS 20: THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE* *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#DailyManna12thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [11/08, 9:24 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```WEDNESDAY 12TH AUGUST, 2026``` *THE PRAYER OF FAITH* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🗣️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽🙌🏽 📜📜```TEXT:JAMES 5:13-18```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him" (JAMES 5:15).*_ *Faith is the conduit between man and God. It is important in the life of a praying believer as the scripture confirms that without it, it is impossible to please God.* *"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase," submitted Martin Luther King Jr. A prayer of faith means a prayer you offer believing in His promises firmly, even when you have not seen the physical manifestation of the promise yet.* *The centurion, a soldier, had a sick servant and met Jesus for the healing of the man. This man had faith in the prayer of our Lord to a point that he told Him not to bother following him to his house to pray for the sick.* *He believed when Jesus prays anywhere at any time, the sick will be healed, and distance is never a barrier to His miracles. His servant was healed according to his great faith.* *You may be going through some challenges now, but your prayer of faith can turn the situation around for you and move your mountain away.* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*Distance is never a barrier.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Your prayer of faith can move mountains.*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Lord, increase my faith.*_ The Prayer Of Faith https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#HigherEveryday12thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [11/08, 9:24 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```WEDNESDAY 12TH AUGUST, 2026``` *AVOID THE DANGER AHEAD!* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️⚠️‼️🛑❌🫷🏽🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```1 KINGS 11:9-14```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice" (1 Kings 11:9).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 It is not all things that glitters that is gold. God is loving, He has great plans for His children. However, no parent toils on a child who decides to disobey instructions. Solomon was a beloved child of God. He found favour with God because David his father obeyed God. Your Christian parents, pastors, teachers and elders are sent to correct you. Don't despise their correction. Though God is merciful, yet the salvation of your parents doesn't guarantee your protection from the wiles of the devil. Solomon allowed his great wisdom to control him. He forgot God and embraced popularity and riches. God was angry with him and punished him severely. God is not a respecter of persons. He punishes every sinner or backslider. *Avoid the danger ahead! Sin leads to heavy consequences. Such consequences could come in the form of sickness, failure in examination, oppression or death (physical and eternal). Return to God your Maker, He loves you. Don't allow your worldly wisdom, pride or riches of your parents to take you to hell. Let the blood of Jesus wash you now.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*Dear God, give me the grace to humble myself under Your mighty hand.*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *Proverbs 1:7-14* Avoid The Danger Ahead! https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#SincereMilk12thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]. 2. Morning Prayer for today. MP.i. Morning Prayer [It is of] the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. [They are] new every morning: great [is] thy faithfulness. ⏤ Lamentations 3:22-23 The Christian life is one of gratitude. A heart that is constantly overflowing with thankfulness is a heart close to God. ⏤ A.W. Tozer O God, giver of all good and fountain of all mercy, we thank You for Your grace and the many ways You show Your care for us. Your faithfulness never fails. Your mercies are new every morning, fresh every moment, more than we can count. What can we give You in return for all Your goodness to us? We have nothing to offer but the poor love of our hearts, and we give that to You. Grant us more and more the spirit of praise and thanksgiving. Teach us to sing even when tears choke our songs. Give us songs in the night. Teach us how to rejoice, even in care and sorrow. We thank You for our home and all it means to us. You have filled our lives with countless blessings through the love that unites us as a family. Our home is a little bit of Your love poured into our hearts. We thank You for the shelter our home provides and for the gentle affections that bind us together. May our home grow sweeter as the days pass. Make our home life more loving, patient, and kind. May our love be less selfish and more like the love of Jesus. We ask for special blessings for this day. We will face dangers we are unaware of; protect us from them. We are vulnerable to accidents wherever we go; defend us from them. Grant us the grace to walk through the moral challenges around us without being harmed by them. Give Your angels charge over us to keep us in all Your ways. Lead us wherever we go so that we may not stumble. Make us strong for holy service. Let Your protection be over us all day, and give us strength for every duty. We ask all this in Jesus' precious name. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/38/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

*The Three Figs: Prayer, Belief, and Forgiveness* Have you ever heard of an object lesson? If you’ve ever taught children — in school or in ministry — the chances are high that you have, or that you’ve at least done one without knowing. If you haven’t, an object lesson is a teaching method that uses physical items or some other visual aid as the centerpiece of a lesson. Think of using a seed to teach about faith that grows or a piece of armor to explain the armor of God. Or a fig tree to teach about prayer, belief, and forgiveness. That’s exactly what Jesus does in *Mark 11.* But the disciples don’t get it at first. It takes a question from Peter (always the talker) for Jesus to explain the meaning of the withered fig tree. Here are three takeaways from what he says. First: Nothing is too big for God. In *Mark 11:23,* Jesus says, *“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.”* How often do we settle for praying small prayers? Prayers that hide behind insecurity at best, or doubt at worst. Here, Jesus is raising the bar. He tells us to pray mountain (difficult situation to man) -moving prayers. We have a big God that can do big things. Second: We should pray with total belief in God. *“... believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”* Our belief in God’s power should be so strong, so absolute, that we should consider our prayer answered as we pray for it. Wow! How can Jesus say that? Because our confidence rests not in the strength of our belief, but in the God that we believe in. And our prayers should align with God’s will. A good key for interpreting this verse is *1 John 5:14: “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”* Asking for a mansion and a million dollars? Perhaps we need to reconsider what Jesus was actually teaching through the fig tree and the temple cleansing that follows. Asking for forgiveness or reconciliation? Even as we ask, Jesus says it’s already ours. And last: Forgiveness is pivotal to prayer. In *Mark 11:25* , Jesus ends His object lesson by commanding forgiveness. *“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”* Isn’t it interesting how two of Jesus’ most extensive teachings on prayer — here and in the Lord’s Prayer — blend forgiveness in as such an important piece? Here, He even ties it to the Father’s forgiveness of our sins. If prayer is a recipe, forgiveness is one of the most integral ingredients. And if we’re going to bear the kind of fruit that is pleasing in the Lord's eyes, forgiveness can’t be missing from our branch. *Prayer For Confidence* Father in heaven, thank You for inviting us into Your power. For the simplicity of prayer. And for Your mercy. Lord, when we pray, help our unbelief. When we pray, push us further. When we pray, help us to forgive the way You forgive — completely, totally, selflessly. In Jesus' Mighty Name, Amen. *Blessed Shabbat!*

*The Three Figs: Prayer, Belief, and Forgiveness* Have you ever heard of an object lesson? If you’ve ever taught children — in school or in ministry — the chances are high that you have, or that you’ve at least done one without knowing. If you haven’t, an object lesson is a teaching method that uses physical items or some other visual aid as the centerpiece of a lesson. Think of using a seed to teach about faith that grows or a piece of armor to explain the armor of God. Or a fig tree to teach about prayer, belief, and forgiveness. That’s exactly what Jesus does in *Mark 11.* But the disciples don’t get it at first. It takes a question from Peter (always the talker) for Jesus to explain the meaning of the withered fig tree. Here are three takeaways from what he says. First: Nothing is too big for God. In *Mark 11:23,* Jesus says, *“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.”* How often do we settle for praying small prayers? Prayers that hide behind insecurity at best, or doubt at worst. Here, Jesus is raising the bar. He tells us to pray mountain (difficult situation to man) -moving prayers. We have a big God that can do big things. Second: We should pray with total belief in God. *“... believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”* Our belief in God’s power should be so strong, so absolute, that we should consider our prayer answered as we pray for it. Wow! How can Jesus say that? Because our confidence rests not in the strength of our belief, but in the God that we believe in. And our prayers should align with God’s will. A good key for interpreting this verse is *1 John 5:14: “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”* Asking for a mansion and a million dollars? Perhaps we need to reconsider what Jesus was actually teaching through the fig tree and the temple cleansing that follows. Asking for forgiveness or reconciliation? Even as we ask, Jesus says it’s already ours. And last: Forgiveness is pivotal to prayer. In *Mark 11:25* , Jesus ends His object lesson by commanding forgiveness. *“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”* Isn’t it interesting how two of Jesus’ most extensive teachings on prayer — here and in the Lord’s Prayer — blend forgiveness in as such an important piece? Here, He even ties it to the Father’s forgiveness of our sins. If prayer is a recipe, forgiveness is one of the most integral ingredients. And if we’re going to bear the kind of fruit that is pleasing in the Lord's eyes, forgiveness can’t be missing from our branch. *Prayer For Confidence* Father in heaven, thank You for inviting us into Your power. For the simplicity of prayer. And for Your mercy. Lord, when we pray, help our unbelief. When we pray, push us further. When we pray, help us to forgive the way You forgive — completely, totally, selflessly. In Jesus' Mighty Name, Amen. *Blessed Shabbat!*

LEP'S FAITH QUOTES: This World Is Not My Home 8/4 Tuesday Truth People wonder at me traveling from one place to another, suffering all kinds of hardships, deprived of many comforts of life, exposed to wet and cold, heat and storms. I make this sacrifice for the Lord. Christ is all in all to me. This world is not my home. It has no attraction for me. I am laying up treasures in heaven. I have a mansion there that is built of pure gold, and it can never be destroyed or taken from me. Praise God for the privilege of leaving all to follow Jesus. -- Maria Woodworth-Etter

Matthew 16:24-28 Denying Self This is one of the most beautiful passages of scripture that invokes a serious response within every believer. But what is it NOT saying? I once knew a minister who believed that the true Christian service in “come after Him” was meant to include suffering. That one could never be a true disciple unless suffering of some kind was involved. This is not a new teaching, it's actually very old. The idea that our own suffering in life gives us extra consideration before God is called gnosticism. This was one of the earliest forms of false teaching that existed. It led to two main problems reflecting a different aspect of that teaching. First, the idea was that since Jesus was Spirit, that everything done by Him in the flesh required suffering as anything ‘physical’ was considered sin. This form of teaching led to monasteries teaching believers to whip themselves bloody for having sinful thoughts, again, that their suffering was adding to their salvation. Second, on the other end of this scale of false teaching that taught that since the ‘physical’ is evil and the spirit is good, that nothing done by a believer that is ‘physical’ counts toward salvation so all sinful acts were permissible which is so far from true biblical doctrine it isn't even questionable. So what does it mean? He's not talking to the casual believer, Jesus is speaking to a believer who wants to make a difference for His kingdom. Not the hangers-on who don't want to make waves, these words are for those who take their discipleship seriously. What does it mean to deny self? No Jesus is not saying He's looking for a marauding band of miserable followers to sourpuss their way across the world in Jesus name. Denying of self and taking up one's cross only has one connotation that makes sense. The person who desires to follow Jesus must be wholly willing to die for Him. We must as Christians be willing to offer ourselves fully including giving our own lives before we ever choose to follow Jesus. The willingness to lay it all down, our lives, our finances and desires to surrender all that in His name is foundational to our walk with Jesus. The next verse tells us that if we seek to save our own lives rather than to live for Him calls to mind a situation many of us don't consider as being a part of our first world life. The idea of facing execution for becoming Christian doesn't even enter our thoughts and yet it is a very real possibility in many third world nations. Many new believers face the very real possibility of being hunted and executed in majority Muslim or Hindu countries. And that may be a decision none of us will ever face. Perhaps though, our decision to follow Jesus costs us our job, our friend group, or our entire career. It costs the OnlyFans model her entire network of support and her income. It costs the bar owner who decides to give up a trade in alcohol and drunkenness, the former cultist who learns the truth may lose their family when they leave catholicism, mormonism or other religion when they were highly ranked within their organization. And Jesus permanently links our eternal salvation with our own willingness to give up everything we hold dear for His sake. He asks, What good is it to own everything only to have it stripped from you at death? Michael Jackson had millions, a mansion or two, a theme park and he gave it all up for a ‘high’. What does Michael have now? There is absolutely nothing anyone can own that would equate to an eternal relationship with Jesus. Why is this important? Because as Jesus says in the next verse, He's coming back to repay every person according to his deeds. So that judgment is not ours to face but is reserved for all who rejected the Gospel. At the final judgment, the lost will receive the penalty for their own sin. The last verse in this passage gives us something to think about. Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” Some have taken this to mean that there is a chance that there is a living Apostle now, some claim this for John as another passage seems to suggest its possible. Personally, I do not believe this explanation. Verse 28 here is not discussing the Second Coming. If it were, then every other prediction of Christ's first coming would be counter intuitive. So when did anyone standing there see Jesus coming in His kingdom? There is a very public event on its way and some standing there will witness it. That means this isn't an event in our future, but in theirs. The problem occurs when modern interpreters equate Jesus teachings about the Kingdom with His teaching on the Second Coming and it is not the same thing. Remember that Daniel predicted that the Kingdom of God would survive the total destruction of the Roman empire, and would continue to grow over the face of the earth. That means the Kingdom of God must have appeared before the fall of Rome. So this Kingdom that would come would be with power that the gates of Hell will not survive. Jesus is talking about the Church being the Kingdom of God. It came in Acts 2 and was witnessed by all. Tongues of fire rested on their heads, and what they spoke was understood by all as the miraculous Tongues allowed foreign believers to understand the words spoken because they heard the words in their own language while the apostles were speaking Hebrew. So the question to ask ourselves is this, are we willing to lay down our lives, our future or our families to follow Him? What are we holding on to that negatively affects our walk with Jesus? A relationship? A career? A habit? Lay it down, take up your cross and follow Him. [24] Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. [25] For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. [26] For what good will it do a person if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul? Or what will a person give in exchange for his soul? [27] For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every person according to his deeds. [28] “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Chapter One: The Art of Hitting Yourself with a Spiritual Stick ‎ ‎Let us talk about a most exquisite, silent comedy: the secret, simmering grudge so many of us hold against the very thing we claim to be chasing—righteousness, holiness, all that jazz. It’s like a man who announces to the world that he adores swimming, but every time he approaches the water, you can see his face contort into the expression of someone who has just swallowed a wasp. He splashes about furiously, grumbling, “I love this! So refreshing! Why does nobody else understand how delightful this is?” while visibly drowning in his own resentment. The man is not swimming; he is aggressively sinking in a devotional manner. As Scripture puts it, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (Matthew 15:8). Jesus said that about folks who had turned worship into a grim performance, and frankly, if Jesus were at the pool today, He’d probably hand the man a life preserver and say, “Sir, your lips are praising, but your flailing arms are telling a very different gospel.” ‎ ‎Countless souls genuinely seek the truth. They roll out of bed each morning and lace up their spiritual combat boots for another day of holy trench warfare. But if you corner them with a sympathetic smile and a cup of tea, they will confess: righteousness feels like an exhausting, forced march through treacle. It feels like they have a second job—night shift—working for a Celestial Supervisor, an Ancient of Days with a celestial clipboard, ticking boxes, muttering, “Hmm, Wednesday's prayer lacked enthusiasm, minus three points. But that spontaneous act of charity had a nice flair, plus two. We’ll deduct it from your balance of existential dread.” To them, the spiritual life isn't a dance; it's a grim rebellion against a satanic kingdom, a tiresome war where the only point of the whole ridiculous fight is to secure a payout in blessings and a future mansion just beyond the clouds—a sort of deferred heavenly pension plan. No benefit now, just overtime. And out of this sweaty, joyless striving, a deep loathing grows—a hatred of the very holiness they think they are chasing. It’s like being a baker who despises the smell of bread. You’d think the baker would just quit and become an accountant, but no, he stays in the bakery, kneading dough with the face of a man attending his own tax audit, and calls it “faithfulness.” ‎ ‎And here's the beautifully absurd critical point: every attempt to fight that loathing, to whip yourself into a better, holier emotion, will fail in the long run. You cannot, by sheer muscular will, permanently maintain a feeling against a deeply held belief. That’s like trying to hold a beach ball underwater. It’s going to pop up and smack you in the face, and you will be terribly offended. You’ll blame the beach ball, you’ll rebuke the beach ball, you’ll bind the spirit of buoyancy, but the ball obeys a law higher than your panic. The cause of the emotion is a wrong view, a piece of false knowledge lodged in the mind like a piece of psychic popcorn in the gum. That, not the feeling, is what must be surgically, or perhaps humorously, removed. As the prophet Hosea lamented, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). Not for lack of effort. Not for lack of all-night prayer vigils where they’ve sweated through their prayer shawls. Knowledge. But we’d rather arm-wrestle our own amygdala at 3 a.m. than admit we might have been holding the map upside down. The feeling is just the check-engine light; you can smash the dashboard with a hammer, and the engine will still be on fire. ‎ ‎The core confusion is this: man treats the symptom as the disease, and then exhausts himself fighting the symptom while the disease quietly continues its work untouched, humming a little tune. It’s like the old proverb: “As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly” (Proverbs 26:11). But the modern version would be: “As a fool attacks his own nausea while continuing to eat the same rotten wisdom, so a man rebukes his feelings while refusing to question his beliefs.” The dog gets called a fool for eating the vomit; the man gets called a theologian for fighting the resulting stomachache with fasting and decreeing. It’s a very poor reward for a digestive system that was only trying to send a memo. ‎ ‎See how the trick is played. A person holds a piece of false knowledge deep in their understanding—for example, the belief that “God is a cosmic headmaster who requires a flawless performance of spiritual gymnastics before He will even glance in my direction.” That belief, whether it’s your daily conscious monologue or a silent assumption hovering like background muzak, will produce a specific emotional harvest: dread, resentment, a heavy heart, and a sincere desire to run away from anything labeled “holiness.” The emotion is not the original problem; it is the fruit of the root. The emotion is simply the inner, felt experience of what the mind already holds to be true. It’s the echo; the shout happened long before. You don’t call the echo a liar; you check who’s doing the shouting. And unfortunately, that inner shout often sounds like a twisted version of a memory verse: “The Lord disciplines those He loves” (Hebrews 12:6) becomes “The Lord is disappointed in you before breakfast, and you should feel bad about it permanently.” That’s not Scripture; that’s a bad translation done by a committee of your insecurities. ‎ ‎Now, what does man do when he feels that dreadful inner resistance, that “Oh God, here comes another commandment” feeling? He does not trace the feeling back to the belief that caused it. Oh no. He declares a holy war on the feeling itself. He tells himself, “I should not feel this way. This resentment is a sin. I must launch a crusade against my own insides. I will try harder to conjure up authentic, Grade-A love for God and a sparkling delight in holiness.” He sets out to strangle the emotion directly—through willpower, through suppression, through whipping up a forced enthusiasm that sounds like a game show host who’s lost his cue cards, through generous helpings of self-condemnation. He approaches God’s commandments by trying to copy and paste them into his own behavioral operating system, without ever understanding why God hates sin in the first place, or why he himself, in his own right mind, might find it detestable. But the underlying belief hasn’t moved a single inch. It’s like a hidden projector in the basement, still faithfully casting its dreary movie on the screen of his consciousness. And because the belief remains unchanged, it keeps silently manufacturing the same emotion day after day. The man, in turn, keeps battling the emotion, mistaking it for the enemy, never realizing he is doing the equivalent of snipping off the leaves of a weed while giving the root a nice, warm glass of water and singing “How Great Thou Art” to the gardening shed.

Good evening, brethren. 1. Evening devotion for today. ED.i. *DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST* (COCIN DEVOTIONAL) *DATE:* THURSDAY 16TH JULY, 2026. *SUB-THEME:* THE CONSEQUENCES OF REJECTING GOD'S GRACE *TOPIC:* REBELLION (II). *TEXT:* 2 SAMUEL 15:7-15. 7. At the end of four years, Absalom said to the king, “Let me go to Hebron and fulfill a vow I made to the Lord. 8. While your servant was living at Geshur in Aram, I made this vow: ‘If the Lord takes me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the Lord in Hebron. 9. The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he went to Hebron. 10. Then Absalom sent secret messengers throughout the tribes of Israel to say, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets, then say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron.’ ” 11. Two hundred men from Jerusalem had accompanied Absalom. They had been invited as guests and went quite innocently, knowing nothing about the matter. 12. While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he also sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from Giloh, his hometown. And so the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept on increasing. 13. A messenger came and told David, “The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom.” 14. Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, “Come! We must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin on us and put the city to the sword.” 15. The king’s officials answered him, “Your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king chooses.” *TOPIC:* REBELLION (II). *THE MESSAGE:* Today's text shows how Absalom rebelled and plotted to overthrow his father, King David. He cunningly presented himself as a just leader and stole the hearts of Israel (v. 4-6). In conspiracy, he gathered a significant number of supporters to himself. He invited them to Hebron on the pretex of fulfilling a vow, but actually to be crowned king in place of his father. What a rebellion! It is despicable for one to plan a coup against their father. Indeed, the heart of man is desperately wicked. Self-centeredness has dominated the thoughts of many; such people rarely seek the welfare of others. Thus, our society is characterised by power tussles, rebellion, and killings. Alas, some children kill their parents to inherit their wealth or for money rituals. What a pity! Do not engage in any act of rebellion. *REFLECTION:* Rebellion is synonymous with witchcraft. *PRAYER:* Lord, deliver me from the sin of rebellion, 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 the5 covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace? *TODAY'S BIBLE READING PLAN:* ISAIAH 9-12. ED.ii. The Devotionals are for Youth, Children & Adults: [15/07, 7:46 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) THURSDAY 16TH JULY, 2026``` *HAVE FAITH IN GOD* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🛣️🚶🏽🚶🏽‍♀️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽🙌🏽 📜📜```TEXT:JOHN 14:1-4```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me" (JOHN 14:1).*_ *The song, _"Have Faith in God",_ was written by Baylus Benjamin McKinney, (1886 - 1952). It was composed in 1934 during a revival meeting at the First Baptist Church in Muskogee, Oklahoma at a time that the United States was going through the _Great Depression._ McKinney was deeply moved by the people's struggles and sufferings and felt a strong desire to offer them a message of hope and encouragement through the song. He wrote:* _*"Have faith in God when your pathway is lonely,*_ _*He sees and knows all the way you have trod;*_ _*Never alone are the least of His children;*_ _*Have faith in God, have faith in God."*_ _*"Have faith in God, He's on His throne;*_ _*Have faith in God, He watches o'er His own;*_ _*He cannot fail, He must prevail;*_ _*Have faith in God, have faith in God."*_ *The ministry of Jesus was nearing its end and in the preceding chapter, the Lord had indicated He was going to leave the disciples. The news of His departure must have jolted them and they must have felt unhappy. Jesus was reassuring them of His continuous presence even when they might not see Him any more physically. He wanted them to believe in God and trust Him at all times. He assured them of His return after going away to prepare a heavenly and eternal home for them.* *Believers must heed the words of Jesus and be intentional in developing their faith in God and in His word. Economic hardship and political pressures are changing the situation, forcing the children of God to go through tougher times than ever before. Public ridicule of religion is taking its toll on many believers, causing their love to grow cold. Believers must never lose hope in the word of God and His plans for the end times. We must have confidence in the promises of the Lord Jesus to go and prepare a place of abode for faithful saints.* *It takes faith in God to enjoy the blessings He has prepared for His children. We have nothing to lose by putting our confidence in the Lord and we have much more still to gain when we look with hope to His coming again to take us home. In these difficult times, it is more compelling to have faith in God.* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*Every believer in Christ holds a double assurance policy - for this life and hereafter.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *GENESIS 48-50*📜📜 Have Faith In God https://dailymanna.app// *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 175: HE IS COMING AGAIN; GHS 176: CHRIST RETURNETH; AND GHS 138: WHEN WE ALL GET TO HEAVEN* *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#DailyManna16thJuly2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [15/07, 7:46 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```THURSDAY 16TH JULY, 2026``` *REJOICE IN YOUR YOUTH* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🥳🎉🎊⚠️‼️🛑⚖️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:ECCLESIASTES 11:7-10```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment" ECCLESIASTES 11:9).*_ *An American poet, Carl Sandburg, wrote, "Time is the coin of your life... Only you can determine how it will be spent." The period of youthful life is a pleasant time, comparable to the delight you feel when you see the day begin with a bright sun, or when light comes up.* *How you spend your youthful life matters a lot because just as the sun will not always be there, this beautiful moment will also pass. As daylight gives way to darkness, so will youthful time give way to old age. You must always remember this and not give yourself to just any desire of your heart, what appeals to your sight or immoral actions, and activities that are based on lack of self-restraint.* *All those who spend their youthful days irresponsibly, thinking that they are enjoying themselves, will suffer the consequence in their old age. Besides, "know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment." The only way to escape these fearful outcomes is to repent and "put away evil" from all you do.* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*Your youthful life matters.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Spend your youthful life profitably.*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Lord, grant me the wisdom to make good use of my youth.*_ Rejoice In Your Youth https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#HigherEveryday16thJuly2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [15/07, 7:46 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```THURSDAY 16TH JULY, 2026``` *THE TREASURE HOUSE* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️💓🛡️🏢🎁📦🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```PROVERBS 4:20-24```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 A gate is an opening used to allow or disallow entry into or out of an enclosed place. Through the gate, good things get in and bad things are prevented from coming in. Dave dashed out of the house to join other members of the family in the car going for a vacation. He forgot to close the gate and the door to the house. Thieves entered their house and stole valuable items before they returned. Our eyes, ears, mouth, hands are like gates to our heart, which is a treasure house that controls the issues of life. The things we do with them have effect on our heart. We receive grace to overcome when we listen to, read and think on God's word. But such grace gets lost when dirty things get into the heart. Watching bad contents on phones or TV corrupts. Reading bad books and magazines pollutes the heart. Listening to dirty songs corrupt your mind. *For you to live a life that pleases God, and prepare for the rapture, guard your heart. Keep the "gates" closed so that the treasure in it will remain pure and holy.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*Dear Lord, please help me to always say 'No' to all forms of evil coming into my heart.*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *Psalm 119:9-11* The Treasure House https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#SincereMilk16thJuly2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [15/07, 7:46 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY* *ⓂANNA* THURSDAY, 16TH JULY, 2026. *THE EVER REASSURING TRUTH* *TEXT:* JOHN 14:1-4. 1.Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know *Timeless Truth:*_"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee"_ (Hebrews 13:5). *INTRODUCTION* The direct recorded words of Jesus Christ in the Bible are very few. Most of them are recorded in the Book of Matthew with repetitions in the synoptic gospels and John. The repetitions are for emphasis and to fill the gaps where other authors might have missed out. The words of great men and women with few words should be taken seriously as they, all things being equal, are void of trivialities. The words of Jesus Christ, though few, will never fall to the ground because they came right from His heart and they all have eternal value and implications. They are unchangeable, unbreakable, perfect and powerful that no wisdom, power or anybody can make them void since the time they were spoken and throughout eternity. Jesus Himself said, *"the scripture cannot be broken"*. In fact, it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than the Word of God be made void. *"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."* (Matthew 24:35). Jesus also said in Matthew 5:18 that *"For verily, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all be fulfilled"*. Believers therefore, should learn to have full trust in the words of Jesus, and by extension, the whole word of God, in any situation we find ourselves. *1. Antidote for Fear* a. The disciples were faced with the grim reality that Jesus would soon leave them and go to heaven. It was a reality that was difficult to accept because Jesus was everything to them when He was with them. He was their Teacher, Guide, Mentor, Provider of all their needs and He was also their Companion, Comfort and their purpose for living. In fact, He was their hope as they were anxiously waiting for the time He would rise up and take over the government of Israel, deliver the Jews from the oppression of Rome and reign as the Messiah. All that hope was tumbling right in their presence. More unfortunately, Jesus was their only Friend at all times. So, it should not surprise anybody that their hearts were really troubled. Jesus knew this and gave some few, but firm and faithful words of hope and reassurance. *"Let not your heart be troubled"*. He did not only exhort them, He told them the secret of peace in the midst of turbulence, joy in the midst or threats of sorrow and hope in the midst of hopelessness. What is the secret? So simple for everybody to obey *"Ye believe in God, believe also in me"*. It is this simple belief in Jesus that brought the greatest miracle that anyone can ever receive which is salvation. If simple faith in Christ can bring the greatest miracle, other needed miracles will be easier through simple and enduring faith in Christ. b. Many are living with high blood pressure, hypertension, fears, anxiety and various threats as a result of what their senses are telling them. Many think the solution is far away and some think there is no solution to their worries and anxieties. Jesus has the ever unfailing solution. *"Ye believe in God, believe also in me"*. Faith in Christ is greater than what the senses may be dictating. How do you believe in God you don't know? The disciples of Jesus had given their lives to Christ and as a result they had a revelation knowledge of Christ which made it possible for them to believe the words of Jesus. To believe in God is to believe His words. To believe in Christ is to surrender to Him and experience a life changing power. ? *"Ye believe in God, believe also in me"*. Perfect trust in the Word of God will never fail and go unfulfilled. When there is faith in Christ, there would be salvation, peace of God, release of the manifestation of the power of God to tackle all problems and challenges. Jesus confidently said, *"Ye believe in God, believe also in me"*. *Assignment* Search out the promises of God that suit your challenges and start to read, regurgitate, repeat and reinforce them with your mouth. *2. Assurance of the Future* a. The thought, concern and fear of the future is one of the problems of this age. The person who steals and does many evils directly or indirectly thinks of a secured future as one of his motivations. Anxiety about tomorrow, which nobody is sure of, is one of the most silent killers and promoters of some evils and some deaths in all ages. Jesus knew this when He commanded that believers should not be anxious about tomorrow as to what to eat, drink etc. because Jesus will take care of them all if we believe in Christ's power to provide and lead us to do what will take care of our needs, both present and future. *"Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself."* We are to live a day at a time. *"Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof"* (Matthew 6:34). b. Jesus directed their mind to another great secret of peace and joy on earth. That is the thought about the future and eternal abode of every believer. If anyone does not have the hope of heaven, he is the most miserable on earth. It is better he is never born. Jesus gave an eternal assurance to his disciples and by extension to all believers in Christ. *"In my Father's house are many mansions"*. They are many enough to give a mansion to each. *"If it were not so, I would have told you"*. Jesus put His integrity on the line for this promise. *"I go to prepare a place for you"*. The mansion is not left for angels or any other group of people to prepare. The hand that created the Universe, with all its incomparable beauty and mysteries, is the same hand that is building the believers' mansions in heaven. How beautiful heaven must be! *Question* Do you have the hope of heaven? If not, why Not? *3. Ascension of the Faithful* How would believers be able to access heaven? Through death or how? Jesus Christ has a very certain and sure answer. Heaven is not a matter of probability, but that of certainty. The same with how believers will access heaven. *"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again"*. This is a clear promise of His Second Coming or Second Advent. The word *"again"* shows that the way He came and went back to Heaven at the first Advent in a physical and visible way the same way He would come for the believers in the Second Advent, in this case the Rapture. In this case, only believers in Christ will see Him and be raptured. *"And receive you unto myself"*. This Advent He is talking about here is the version of Second Coming where He comes out of heaven as the host to welcome His special guest, and in this case, His bride to the home which is heaven. This is no doubt speaking strictly about the Rapture of the saints as later revealed in 1 Thessalonian 4:13-17. Believers in Christ will not enter heaven secretly, but will enter heaven triumphantly through the Rapture of the saints. *"That where I am, there ye may be also"*. The whole believers in Christ, who is the Bride of Christ, will be exactly where the bridegroom is. It is a divine marriage where the Bride and the Bridegroom live together and forever without divorce or separation. *Question* Are you excited about going to heaven? If Not, why Not? *Prayer Points* 1.Lord, I praise and worship You because it is enough to put my trust and faith in You who will never fail 🙏. 2.Father, help and strengthen my faith to be focused on Christ and His Word with full trust and confidence 🙏. 3.Give me more hope of heaven 🙏. 4.Direct the heart and the faith of all Your children to faith in Your Word and the hope of heaven 🙏. *HYMN:* When the trump of the Lord shall sound *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* GENESIS 48-50. 2. Evening Prayer for today. EP.i. Evening Prayer A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh [but] in vain. ⏤ Psalm 127:1 As is the business of tailors to make clothes and of cobblers to mend shoes, so it is the business of Christians to pray. ⏤ Martin Luther Our Father, before we lay down to sleep, we thank You for protecting and providing for us, and for all the blessings of this day. We committed ourselves to Your care this morning, and You haven’t forgotten us for even a moment. We thank You for the happiness we’ve shared at home today. Father, bless our family life and make it more tender and supportive. May our home become a holier place to live and grow. May all its influences be pure, uplifting, and enriching. Fill it with Your Holy Spirit, and then it will be like Heaven. O Son of God, who lived in an earthly home in Nazareth for many years and often visited the home in Bethany, come and dwell in our home, and bless it with Your tender grace. May we sit at Your feet like Mary did, listening to Your word and learning from You. Then, in times of sorrow, You will come to comfort us. We also want to pour out our love to You like the woman who anointed Your feet with perfume. Come, dear Master, and be our constant guest. Stay with us all the time. Help us to make our home a place where You’ll want to dwell—a home of truth, pure feelings, gentle words, and thoughtful affection. Now, as this day ends and we prepare for rest, we entrust our whole home to Your care. Forgive us all our sins. Accept the work we bring to You—only small pieces of what we intended to do, and stained by sin. Take it as it is and let Your blessing rest on it. Keep us through the night, and prepare us for tomorrow, whether we spend it on earth or in Heaven. We ask all this in Your name, O Lamb of God. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/11/evening #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

THE MANSIONS OF HEAVEN AWAITING THE OVERCOMERS by Sabino Barrientos Zamudio 5 Glory to God. Brothers and sisters in Christ, the Word of the Lord teaches us in the Gospel of John the Apostle what Christ has promised to His beloved in chapter 14 of the Gospel of John. Jesus Christ declares to us an imminent reality and He tells us, “Let your heart not be troubled. You believe in God, also believe in Me. In the house of My Father, there are many dwellings. (John 14:1-2) Beloved brothers in Christ, now I want to share with you guys an experience in relation to the abodes that are mentioned in chapter 14 of the Gospel from John, where we find a wonderful promise from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ to brethren that would remain faithful to Him in this life. The Lord has promised dwellings that He has prepared for all of us who will make it to the final goal that He has set for us. We know that this race is not in vain and that this calling that we have undertaken is done with direction and purpose. In the kingdom of Heaven, our fight is not in vain. Our race is not in vain. There is a great reward prepared for all those who have believed in our Lord Jesus Christ. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. (Colossians 3:23-24) Beloved brothers and friends who listened to me, the Lord said, “There are many dwellings in the Father's house for all those who stay faithful to the end." Beloved brothers and sisters, I want to highlight one revelation and experience that God granted me in 2009. Blessed be the name of the Lord. I remember back then in the year 2009, it had pleased the Lord to give me this revelation of the hidden knowledge of wonderful things and glories prepared for everyone who loved Him and awaits His coming. Beloved brothers, I was taken to a place so glorious, so beautiful and so extraordinary, never before seen beyond human reasoning. Blessed be the name of the Lord. As a Christian, I remember there were always many questions in regard to what the Bible teaches about heavenly mansions. The Lord was willing to show me such a place glorious and so precious. I remember that I was taken to a place ravishingly beautiful. It is a wonderful memory. I was taken to a mansion of high-end luxury, a precious, very beautiful palace. I was led to the door at the entrance of that mansion. Quickly, I heard a voice that called me and told me to get inside. When I looked, I saw a very beautiful room. I was surprised in a great way for the One that called me seems familiar and gave me the impression that we have known one another for a long time. I remember that I looked inside in order to identify the One that was addressing me and I saw Him sitting on a sofa. I saw that He had the appearance of an elder. He called me by my name and told me, “Savi, My son, I'm waiting for you. Please come in.” My brother and friend, I was stunned and very surprised for this Person without looking at me, knew my name and my life, and He was waiting for me with certainty. When I entered this celestial mansion, I did not lose view of this Person. When I looked at Him, I saw that He was the Lord Jesus Christ, for I had seen Him years ago, precisely in 2006 when God allowed me to have that experience. When I came face to face with the Lord, I was dazzled. Basically, in my first encounter with Him in the center of the Earth, when I saw Him, I ran fast, and He hugged me for I was crying. This time around, the Lord told me, “My son, I was waiting for you. Fear not. I'm with you.” The Lord said, “Take a seat, My son.” There was another sofa in front of Him where I could sit face to face with Him in the room of this celestial mansion. Immediately the Lord started talking to me and He told me, “My son, I know that life has not been easy for you on the land. I know that you have been in very difficult moments. I know that there have been problems that have been hard for you to bear. But you must know one thing. I'm with you to help you.” He told me, “I know how much in your heart you longed to have many things, like having a family like everyone else. And you have longed to have a place to live. I have known your thoughts and all about you.” The Lord told me, “I know My son, you have been through many hard times. I want you to know that I am your Father and your Mother, though your father and mother left you with all this sadness.” When I heard those words, brothers and friends, my heart was filled with abundant joy and I was emotional. I was moved to hear that someone was interested and cared about me. The Lord says, “Son, I know that on Earth, you have nothing. And that many times you said, ‘I don't have a house, I have nobody and I have nothing in this life.’ And you had frustration because of that situation. My son, I want you to know that you are one of the many millionaire men who has trodden the Earth.” When He said these words I did not understand and I smiled. I thought He was making fun of me because of my condition. Brothers, in my little understanding, I remembered the Lord telling me, “You know one thing My son, you may not have a home to live, you may not have a house of your own. You may not have money in the bank as you wish, but you got to know one thing, My son, you are rich because you have eternal life.” The Lord repeated to me, “You are rich. There on Earth, there are people who have everything. They have a lot of money. They have many lands and money in their bank accounts and everything they have wished, but they are miserable and poor because they have no part in this kingdom. Blessed are those whose names are registered in the Book of Life. They have part with Me.” The Lord told me, “Today you may not have anything in the land but you are rich and you have everything because I am with you.” Dear brothers, these words without a doubt marked my life forever. They have marked my life like never before. I understood that whatever happens in our situation, whatever we are going through, we should never give up. As Christians, we should never back off and we should never stop for there is a special reward. There is a glorious prize that Christ has prepared for us in the age to come. The first reward is the salvation of our souls, which is eternal life. And the second reward is the shining mansion of Heaven and glorious abode prepared for all of you who are faithful to the end. Then the Lord old, “Son, I want to show you something. You got to see with your eyes what I have prepared for all those who are faithful in the land.” The Lord made me get up from the sofa and He also got up and we walked out the door of this mansion of light. We stopped at the gate and I started to observe more mansions of Heaven, like the one before us. There was not a small mansion here. I saw before us a large city of light that was extremely luxurious, never seen in my life. It was something I never imagined and seen on television. I was stunned and amazed at the sight of precious stone and eternal material that composed this Golden City. The walls were lit up. They were literally different colors beaming light. I remember that the city was decorated with a wall of multicultural light all around it and the wall was filled with precious stones. And I said, “What a beautiful place. What a wonderful city.” The Lord told me, “Your mansion is ready. And unfortunately, many of these houses are going to run out of residents.” I was thinking in my human mind that many Christians were going to dwell in these mansions. To my surprise, the Lord told me, “My son, this is not a city. This is your mansion, and it has your name on it.” I was in wonder and admiration when the Lord said, “This part of the Celestial city that has many houses belong to you.” I said, “Lord, I'm going to be in a city just for myself alone.” And I thought in my human mind, I'm going to get more lonely there. What am I going to do alone here? This was my thought. At that moment, the Lord told me, “You don't understand mysteries of the heavenly world.” And the Lord told me, “In the celestial world wonders happened and everything is made new and rejuvenated all the time. Things don't stay the same for new things come to existence all the time.” The Lord said, “Your dwelling place has your name.” Then the Lord took out an unusual key chain like the ones we have here. It had two kinds of rare keys that I had not seen before. And this key chain had a very precious stone, very beautiful that was oval. This oval stone of Heaven in the key had the shape of a clam. And I remember, Dear brothers, that there was an inscription in mysterious language marked on that heavenly stone, which was a mystery. It wasn't in Spanish nor any earthly language. The Lord told me. “This inscription on the key chain is your new name.” The Lord said, “My son in the heavenly world, you have a new name.” When the Lord spoke this way, I wanted to know what my new name was in the eternal kingdom. And the Lord tells me, “The one who is victorious, I will give the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone inscribed with a new name, known only to the one who receives it. Upon him, I will write the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem that comes down out of Heaven from My God and My new name.” (Rev 2:17, 3:12) I wanted to grab that key chain from the Lord. Quickly the Lord denied me and told me, “You cannot have it because your time has not come yet.” And I remember I was just staring at the Lord. Then He told me, “Don't worry. In the land, you have to strive hard and be brave to the end of the battle. Be strong every day more and more until death. And one day I will give you these keys.” The Lord told me, “Given that this dwelling has your name and belongs to you, you have to fight to the end and overcome.” I was in wonder and stunned about the celestial mansion and I stayed dazzled. Brother, this was a big city never seen before, something so extraordinary. But the most wonderful thing is that if we can remain faithful to Christ, we will be dwelling in these mansions of light prepared for us. Brothers, the Lord showed me many mansions. I started to see many other dwelling places, not just the one that He said was mine. The Lord talked to me with much deep sadness about many of His children that are going to be without a mansion. He told me, “It is not because I don't want but because many of My people with their action and style of life are telling Me they are not interested in this place.” The Lord says, “My son, strive, be brave. fight the battle, endure adversity for the cause of My name and My word.” The Lord told me, “Go ahead and don't stop because great rewards are prepared for those who love Me. One day you will be able to say it was worth the battle. One day you will be able to say nothing was in vain. You must fight the good fight of faith because Eternity is worth the grief and suffering and there is an award, a glorious accolade.” There is a wonderful, extraordinary prize the Lord will give us. He said, “Be faithful to death. I will give you the crown of life.” Brothers, we want to live in those Celestial dwellings, so do not allow the world to dominate us. Give up the pleasures of this deceptive world and run to the presence of Christ Jesus. Run to the path of our Lord Jesus Christ. I invite you, brother and friend to keep moving forward. Continue to fight and to be faithful and true to the promise that God has made because He is not a man to lie or a son of man to repent. (Numbers 23:19) I know our end will be glorious and the tears and pain are worth it. All the sufferings and endurance have been worth in this Earth because He does not fail. He does not lie. He is not wrong. He is not like us. Beloved brothers, He is faithful and true. I hope this message is a great blessing for each of you wherever you are. Don't look where you are today. Don't look how much you have. But look at how much God has for you in His kingdom. Look how much God has prepared for you in His glorious kingdom. What He has prepared is what matters. What He has for us is valuable and important. God bless your life in this hour. May God save you mightily that the peace of God be with each and every one of you wherever you are.

DAY 121 ​WELCOME TO OUR DAILY DEVOTIONAL BIBLE STUDY SERIES: WHEN SOVEREIGN AUTHORITY SPEAKS, AND GOD SAID!!! ​TODAY TOPIC: THE GATEKEEPER’S ANOINTING: PROTECTING YOUR TERRITORY FOR SUSTAINABLE VICTORY. ​MAIN TEXT: Isaiah 62:6 (KJV) – "I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence," ​CROSS REFERENCE: ​Proverbs 4:23; Ephesians 4:27; 1 Peter 5:8; Nehemiah 7:3. INTRODUCTION TO TODAY'S MESSAGE. ​Let us speak with absolute, unvarnished truth today. It is utter foolishness to build a magnificent mansion, fill it with priceless treasure, and then leave the front door wide open in the middle of a wicked city. Yet, this is exactly what millions of believers are doing with their spiritual lives... In the days of the 1978s holiness fire, the saints understood that spiritual warfare was not just about attacking the enemy; it was about viciously defending the territory God had already given them. The enemy cannot simply barge into a blood-washed and sustained life; he must be granted access. Today, we are putting a violent end to careless, unguarded living. You are about to step into the Gatekeeper’s Anointing. It is time to stop negotiating with the devil and start locking the gates of your life, family peace, prosperity and destiny etc! MAIN MESSAGE. ​The "Untouchable Reality" is not an accident; it is the result of a heavily defended life. When you totally surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, He does not just make you a king; He makes you a gatekeeper. You are the legal watchman over your mind, your physical body, your family, and your divine calling. ​THE DECEPTION OF THE OPEN GATE. Let me state emphatically that the devil does not usually break down your walls; he waits for you to leave the gate unlatched. An open gate is any fleshly compromise you tolerate. When you entertain filthy television programmes and thought that defile, listen to toxic gossip, or harbour silent bitterness, grudges, unforgiveness, unrepented lies for your carnal advantage in your heart, you are literally holding the door open for demons to march into the living room of your life and destiny. You cannot bind the devil in your prayers while you are entertaining him in your private habits and secrets carnal lifestyle! That is a religious joke! True holiness is ruthless. It looks at anything that does not carry the signature of the Holy Ghost and firmly shouts, "Access denied!" ​THE ANOINTING OF THE WATCHMAN. The Gatekeeper’s Anointing is an uncompromising, iron-willed alertness. A watchman does not sleep on duty. He does not hold his peace day or night. When you operate in this anointing, you become fiercely protective of your spiritual atmosphere. You do not allow just anyone to speak into your life. You do not allow just any thought to settle in your mind. If a thought of fear, lust, envy, egos, pride, anger, grudges or failure approaches your mind, you stop it at the gate and demand that it bow to the purity of God's living word. ​TAKING BACK THE KEYS: If the enemy has made a mess of your health, your finances, or your peace at home, office, or business, it is time to wake up and take back the keys. Stand up in the raw fire of faith! Stop blaming your spouse and other people for the state of your territory. You are the gatekeeper! When you completely yield to the Sovereign Authority of Christ Jesus in prayer to be purged from self-willed inner impurities and farvent commitment to the study of God's words for directions, you are backed by the armies of Heaven. Shut the door to compromise. Lock the gate to fear. Secure the borders of your home with the blood of Jesus, and declare that your life is a restricted area to the kingdom of darkness! ​REFERENCES STUDY TOPICS. GUARDING THE COMMAND CENTRE: (Cross Reference: Proverbs 4:23) "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Your heart is the control room; if the enemy captures it, he controls your destiny. Guard it fiercely. NO ROOM FOR THE ENEMY: (Cross Reference: Ephesians 4:27) "Neither give place to the devil." The devil has no legal square inch of property in your life unless you hand him the deed through disobedience and complacency. THE VIGILANT DEFENDER: (Cross Reference: 1 Peter 5:8) "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." He is looking for an open gate. Make sure yours is bolted shut. ​REFLECTION QUESTIONS. ​Look plainly at your daily habits: what specific "gates" have you left wide open for the enemy to drain your spiritual power? ​Are you fiercely defending the spiritual atmosphere of your home, or are you allowing the world's rubbish to freely enter? ​When a thought of fear or defeat knocks on your mind, do you invite it in for a cup of tea, or do you violently cast it out? ​LIFE APPLICATION. ​Today, you are going on a spiritual lockdown. Walk through your house, check your phone, and inspect your relationships. Whatever is feeding your flesh, causing you to doubt God, or polluting your spirit, shut the gate on it immediately. Delete the rubbish. Cut off the toxic conversations. Speak out loud: "I take up my post as the gatekeeper of this territory. I forbid any demonic traffic in my mind, my body, and my family, in the Name of Jesus!" Be ruthless against compromise today. ​FURTHER STUDY REFERENCES.: ​Nehemiah 4:17-18; 2 Corinthians 10:4-5; ​Matthew 12:29; ​Psalm 141:3. CONCLUSION. ​Beloved, an unguarded life is a defeated life. But you were not born again to be a playground for the devil; you were recreated in Christ Jesus to be a heavily fortified stronghold of the Holy Ghost!​By the mercy of the Living God, your life will stand as an impenetrable fortress.  Because you have totally surrendered to His Lordship, the enemy will look at your territory and realise he cannot find a single crack in the wall of your life. You are untouchable because you are guarded by the fire of the Holy Spirit. Take your position on the wall of self discipline in prayer and the words today. Do not keep silent. Guard your inheritance, and let the devil know that the gate is permanently closed! ​PRAYER POINTS: ​Lord God, I repent for every gate of compromise I have carelessly left open; I plead the Blood of Jesus over the borders of my life today! ​I receive the unbending, iron-willed Gatekeeper’s Anointing; I command every hidden demonic intruder to pack up and get out of my territory right now! ​Father, make me fiercely vigilant! Let my heart, my home, and my calling be completely sealed and protected by the consuming fire of the Holy Ghost! ​PASTORAL CLOSING PRAYER FOR READERS.. ​Lord, I pray for every reader who has been suffering because their spiritual gates were broken down. Send a holy fire to their foundations! Wake up the gatekeepers consciousness in them! Give them a Lions tenacity to fiercely defend their minds, their marriages, and their ministries.  By the end of the day, let them possess such an untouchable, secure reality that the forces of hell will tremble just looking at their walls of personal lifestyle. Secure them in your total Lordship. In the gate-locking, territory-defending, all-prevailing Name of Jesus Christ I pray! Amen and Amen! ​BENEDICTION. ​Now may the LORD, who watches over His city and slumbers not nor sleeps, impart unto you the vigilant spirit of the watchman. May your walls be called Salvation and your gates Praise. Stand your ground, protect your territory, and reign supreme in the authority of the King in Jesus Christ Mighty name! Amen and Amen! GET IN TOUCH: Ago King Paul Evang. WhatsApp: +234 90 63 84 57 48, 090 80700390; 070 540 111 99. Life Changers Ministry aka Living Ready Gospel Church, Grace Assembly, Ilorin, Kwara state Nigeria. Email: Godisnotanoptionjhn15v5[gmail].com.