August 18, 2026 (day 230/365)
TUESDAY

GOD'S WORD FOR THE DAY

“Remembering God's Faithfulness”

Joshua 12:24

“The king of Tirzah, one, all the kings thirty-one.”

This is the Word of God. Joshua 12 records the kings and territories that Israel conquered under God’s direction. At first, this chapter may seem like a simple list of names, but it serves an important purpose: it reminds Israel of what God had already done for them.

We also need to remember God’s faithfulness. When we face new battles, it is easy to become afraid and forget the victories God has already given us. Remembering His past faithfulness gives us courage to trust Him for what lies ahead.

May we never forget the victories, blessings, and deliverance God has given us, and may His faithfulness strengthen our faith for tomorrow. Amen.

Have a blessed day with the Lord.

-- Pastor Emmanuel Serto

Three Angels Broadcasting Network Devotional.
The Lord is Near

By Vera Malova

August 17th, 2026

I was raised in northern Kazakhstan, but when we moved to the town of Bor in 1993, I remember the TV ads for Pastor John Carter’s evangelistic meetings across the Volga River in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.

Things weren’t going smoothly at home. My husband often took to the bottle, and my eldest son Sasha had started drinking, too. So I was happy when Sasha began attending those meetings every day. They gave him a Bible, and when Sasha brought it home, I began to read it. By the time I reached the New Testament, I’d realized we weren’t living the way God wanted us to, so I read it again.

In the meantime, Sasha was baptized and began inviting me to church. I wanted to support him, but I worked on Saturdays. However, my hands began to ache so badly that I had to go to the hospital and take a break from work. The following Saturday, my son stared at me intently, wondering if I would go to church with him, so I went.

I have a habit of looking people in the eye, and I was amazed to see such kind and affectionate eyes. Everyone was glad to see me, and they all smiled, so I continued going to church and soon decided to be baptized.

On the day before my baptism, my husband came home from work drunk, hit his head, and stopped breathing. My son gave him CPR, but his breathing stopped as soon as he let up.

“Lord, I give my whole family into Your hands!” I cried—and instantly, my husband began breathing again. God literally raised him from the dead!

Although two of my children were baptized, my husband would not surrender to the Lord, threatening and calling me ugly names. Once, in a fit of anger, he began choking me.

Another time, my children attended a youth group while I stayed home, reading my Bible. My husband came in drunk and said, “Aren’t you going to church, too?”

“Yes, I think I will,” I answered.

“Then perhaps you’ll also decide to be baptized!” he snorted.

When I replied that I’d already been baptized, he grabbed a large Kitchen knife and shouted, “Then your life is over!”

His eyes burned with a terrible fire! He lunged at me but suddenly froze in place. He stood there a while, holding the knife and shouting over and over, “You will not live!”

Shaking with fear, I closed my eyes tightly and prayed silently for deliverance. Suddenly, I saw a beautiful rainbow in my mind with fiery letters that read, He will not hurt you!

Throwing the knife down, my husband fell on the sofa, sobbing. My guardian angel had stood between us and protected me! “For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:11.

As a family, we began praying earnestly for him. My children tried talking to him about God, but he answered, “That’s just how it’s written in your American Bible.”

Lena bought him a Russian Orthodox Bible with a cross on it, blessed by Patriarch Alexy II, and as she read texts from her Bible, he read the same text in his; and whether from the Old or New Testament, every text matched word for word!

Despite being convinced, my husband continued to drink as our family implored for God’s help. Finally, Sasha asked, “Father, why are you resisting?” He replied, “Okay, I will ask God to help me stop drinking.”

He began carrying the Ten Commandments in his pocket and telling his co-workers and friends that they should follow them. He also promised to go to church but never did. Instead, he drank until he lost the feeling in his legs from his knees on down.

One morning I woke up joyful. My eyes were shining when I said to him, “You cannot imagine how good you’d feel if you’d quit drinking,” to which he replied, “Then I’ll quit today.”

Sadly, that was the day he died from his illness.

It’s impossible to live in this world without God because there are problems such as alcoholism that no one else can solve. My son, who led me to God, eventually stopped going to church and began drinking again. But although he got so bad that he started hearing voices, our whole church family prayed for him, and after many years, he came back to the Lord and sobered again.

Don’t think that the Lord is somewhere far away. He is right here with you! We all live in debt to the Lord, and a price has been paid for our life. Jesus paid the price for each of our days, each piece of bread we eat, and each breath we take. He paid it with His precious blood!

Jeremiah 29:11 and 13 say, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.… And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

Seek the Lord, for He is near.

Kingdom Carriers | Beyond the Uniform

Around midday on Wednesday, I was making my way to the hospital chapel for our weekly time of fellowship and prayer.

As I approached, I noticed a gentleman from our security team sitting quietly inside.

From a distance, the uniform caught my attention first.

But then I noticed something else.

He was reading his Bible.

I had seen him around the hospital before. We had exchanged greetings in passing, but we had never really stopped to talk.

This time I did.

I introduced myself, and he told me his name was Tama.

I explained that a few of us gather in the chapel every Wednesday around midday for fellowship and prayer, and that he would always be welcome to join us.

As others began arriving and our fellowship was about to start, I sensed Tama would soon need to return to his duties.

So before he left, I excused myself for a moment and brought him a copy of Kingdom Carriers.

He received it gratefully.

I watched briefly as he looked at the front cover, turned it over, and began reading the back.

Then he returned to his duties.

That was it.

No long conversation.

No dramatic ending.

And I don't know what God will do with that brief encounter.

But afterwards, one thought stayed with me:

At first I saw a uniform. When I stopped, I met a brother.

How easily we identify people by what we first see.

The uniform. The occupation.
The position. The label.

But Jesus consistently looked beyond what people did and saw the person standing before Him.

Perhaps there are people we pass regularly whose faces we recognise, but whose names we have never learnt.

Sometimes a Kingdom encounter doesn't begin with preaching.

It begins by stopping long enough to see the person.

Wednesday reminded me:

There is always more to someone than the uniform they wear.

I sowed a small seed.

What happens next belongs entirely to God.

All glory and honour belong to Him.

Grace and peace,

Jacob

Kingdom Carriers (Free Download)

https://books2read.com/u/mlJqo7

Website

https://www.jacobisaac.co.nz

Sermon: When You Are Poor, But God Sees You

Beloved, I want to talk to you who are counting coins tonight, who lie awake wondering about school fees, rent, and the next meal. The world may pass you by because your pockets are light. But heaven has not passed you by.

1. The Lord is the Helper of the Poor
Isaiah 41:17 says, “When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them.”

God names Himself in this verse. He does not say “maybe I will help.” He says “I will answer.” He sees the lack. He hears the cry. You are not forgotten. The same God who fed Elijah by the brook and multiplied oil for the widow in Zarephath still provides.

Psalm 34:6, “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.”

2. Be Poor in Spirit, Not Just Poor in Pocket
Jesus begins His teaching in Matthew 5:3 with, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Being “poor in spirit” means this: I have nothing to bring to God but my need, and I bring it anyway. It is the place of humility where pride breaks and faith begins. The world measures you by bank balance. God measures you by a heart that depends on Him.

Do not let lack of finance make you bitter. Let it make you bow. Because the moment you bow, God lifts.

3. Seek First, and God Will Add
Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Jesus knew we worry about food, clothes, and money. So He gives us order. First the Kingdom. First righteousness. First trust. Then He promises, “all these things will be added.”

That means God intends to satisfy you in both places:
Physical needs: Philippians 4:19, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Spiritual needs: John 6:35, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger.”

He does not want you starved in body or in soul.

4. The World May Ignore You, But God Will Not
The world often respects titles, influence, and finance. But God has a history of choosing the overlooked. He chose David from the sheepfold. He chose the disciples from the nets. He chose you.

James 2:5, “Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom?”

Your instability is not your identity. You are an heir. You are seen. You are loved.

How Do We Live This Out?
Cry out: Like the psalmist, bring your need to God daily. He listens.
Seek first: Put prayer, Word, and obedience before panic. Righteousness is your anchor.
Trust His provision: Give thanks for today’s bread. Manna came one day at a time.
Walk in generosity: Even with little, share. A generous heart is a rich heart before God.

Prayer for the Poor and Needy
Father,
You are the Helper of the poor. You see every need in this room and in every home listening.
Forgive us for worrying more than trusting. Teach us to be poor in spirit, fully dependent on You.
Meet every physical need, food, rent, school, health, and meet every spiritual need, peace, joy, strength.
Satisfy us with Yourself so we lack nothing that truly matters.
We believe Your Word: You will supply all our needs in Christ Jesus.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Final Word to Strengthen You
Your 40 years in the wilderness may feel long. But God used that season to train Israel in dependence. He will use this season to train you in righteousness too. Do not despise the small beginning. The Lord who fed 5,000 with 5 loaves can do exceedingly abundantly for you.

Hold on. Keep seeking. Keep trusting. The Helper of the poor has not forgotten you.

Daily devotion for August 14th
The Need To Belong
So my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the common people for registration by families.

Nehemiah 7:5a
It was necessary to ensure that only true Israelites lived within Jerusalem. There follows a list of names of all the families of those who came back from Persia to Jerusalem under the leadership of Ezra, some thirty years before the time of Nehemiah. These were among the ones who helped him build the wall. He is not only giving credit to them but is also recognizing that they will be responsible to carry on what he has begun. So having appointed leaders who would succeed him--men of integrity, courage, and faithfulness--he now sees to it that their followers are also true Israelites.

The spiritual application is that we need to know that we really belong to God. You will never be a successful servant of Christ nor ever faithfully work for Him and serve Him until you are assured that you know Him and belong to Him. This is not only necessary for leaders but for the common people as well. We all need to know our spiritual pedigree; otherwise, our service will be weak and largely ineffective.

Verse 61 lists some who could not prove their ancestry and were therefore not permitted to live in the city of Jerusalem. Certain ones among the priests were denied the right to minister because they could not prove their ancestry. Many try to minister in the church of God today who are uncertain that they belong to God. Sometimes pastors, seminary professors, and leaders in the Christian community do not themselves know that they are true Christians. These always wreak havoc in the churches they seek to serve.

The reference to the Urim and Thummim is interesting (Nehemiah 7:65). These were two stones (their names mean lights and perfections) that the high priest wore on his garment by which he could discern the mind of God. No one really knows how they worked. Nehemiah says these suspect priests were not allowed to minister until a high priest arrives who has the Urim and Thummim. I think this is a hidden reference to our Lord Jesus. In the book of Hebrews, Jesus is said to be a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 6:20), meaning one who lives forever and who fully knows the mind of God. He can restore suspect priests to a place of assurance in their ministry and give them back their office. He can bring them the assurance that they belong.

Father, thank You that I can rely on the promise of Your Word that I do belong. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12).

The one whom Jesus loved appears only in the Gospel of John… yet Scripture never explicitly names him as John

Could it be an invitation to explore, reflect, and uncover deeper truths yourself?

Read Bible Study: www.thedisciplewhomjesusloved.com

#BelovedDisciple #GospelMystery #BibleStudy #FaithJourney #KnowJesus #ScriptureTruth #ChristianReflection #WalkWithGod #DeepFaith #SpiritualDiscovery

The Name of YHWH — Truth Hidden in Plain Sight

Introduction

Throughout Scripture, the Creator reveals His personal Name. Many people read over it without realizing it because most English Bibles replace it with titles like “LORD” in all capital letters. Yet the Name appears nearly 7,000 times in the Hebrew Scriptures.

This study explores:

What the Name is
Why it was hidden in translations
Why the Name matters
How believers honored the Name in Scripture

1. The Creator Revealed His Name

Exodus 3:13–15

When Moses asked what Name he should give to Israel, Elohim answered:

“Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, YHWH Elohim of your fathers... this is my name forever.”

The Hebrew letters are: יהוה

Often represented in English as: YHWH

This is called the Tetragrammaton (“four letters”).

2. The Name Was Not Originally “LORD”

In many English Bibles:

“LORD” (all caps) replaces YHWH
“God” sometimes replaces Elohim

But in the original Hebrew text, the Name was written plainly thousands of times.

Example:

Psalm 83:18 “That men may know that thou, whose name alone is YHWH, art the most high over all the earth.”

Many translations replace the Name with “LORD,” hiding what the verse actually says.

3. The Third Commandment Is About the Name

Exodus 20:7 “Thou shalt not take the name of YHWH thy Elohim in vain…”

The commandment does not say:

“Do not know My Name”
“Do not say My Name”

Instead, it warns against misusing or emptying the Name of meaning.

4. YHWH Wants His Name Remembered

Exodus 3:15 “This is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.”

The word “memorial” means something remembered and proclaimed.

Psalm 68:4 “Sing unto Elohim… extol him by his name YAH…”

“Yah” is the shortened poetic form found throughout Scripture.

5. The Prophets Declared the Name

Isaiah 42:8 “I am YHWH: that is my name…”

Jeremiah 16:21 “They shall know that my name is YHWH.”

The prophets repeatedly emphasized the Name instead of hiding it.

6. The Messiah Came in His Father’s Name

John 5:43 “I am come in my Father’s name…”

John 17:6 “I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me…”

The Messiah did not hide the Father’s Name; He revealed it.

7. Why Was the Name Hidden?

Historically, some Jewish traditions avoided pronouncing the Name out of fear of misuse. Later translators followed this tradition and substituted:

LORD
GOD

This tradition became so common that many readers never realized a personal Name was there.

8. Evidence Hidden in Plain Sight

Even modern words preserve parts of the Name:

HalleluYah

Means: “Praise Yah”

Names in Scripture also contain the Name:

Isaiah (YashaYahu)
Jeremiah (YirmeYahu)
Elijah (EliYah)

The Name was woven throughout biblical language and culture.

9. Calling Upon the Name

Joel 2:32 “Whosoever shall call on the name of YHWH shall be delivered.”

Romans 10:13 Paul quotes Joel, showing the importance of the Name continued into the New Testament.

10. Conclusion

The Name of YHWH was never removed from Scripture originally. It was hidden in many translations through substitution traditions.

The Bible teaches:

His Name is eternal
His Name is to be remembered
His people proclaimed His Name
The Messiah revealed His Father’s Name

Truth about the Name has been in plain sight all along.

Key Scriptures for Further Study

Exodus 3:13–15
Exodus 20:7
Deuteronomy 6:4
Psalm 68:4
Psalm 83:18
Isaiah 42:8
Jeremiah 16:21
Joel 2:32
John 5:43
John 17:6
Romans 10:13

A Nugget of Truth.
Great White Throne Judgment
Revelation 20:11–15 KJV

The Great White Throne Judgment is the final judgment of all who rejected God's salvation. This is not a courtroom where sinners plead for another chance. Their opportunity to repent ended when their earthly life ended. "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27 KJV).

John wrote:

“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it... And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God... and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works... And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”
Revelation 20:11–15 KJV

The Book of Life reveals who belongs to Christ. The books of works reveal every thought, word, and deed. No sin is forgotten. No secret is hidden. God is perfectly holy and perfectly just.

Many believe that being a "good person" will save them, but Scripture says:

“For by grace are ye saved through faith... not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV)

Those whose names are not found written in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire. This is the eternal consequence of rejecting the only Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Yet even now, God's mercy is extended. Jesus Christ died for sinners, was buried, and rose again so that all who repent and believe on Him may receive everlasting life.

Today is the day of salvation. Do not wait until you stand before the Great White Throne. On that day there will be no more opportunity for repentance—only righteous judgment. Turn to Christ while His invitation of grace is still open.

“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.”
Isaiah 55:6 KJV

May your name be found written in the Lamb's Book of Life, and may you stand before Christ clothed in His righteousness rather than your own works.

Grace, Faith, Justification, Salvation and Gifts from The Holy Spirit are Free.

You must be Born Again or you will “not” see The Kingdom of God. John 3:3

The Born Again Gospel

You are a created being, made in the image of a Holy God but, no one on Earth can be Holy so, God sent His Only Begotten Son Jesus, to take the punishment for our sins by dying on a cross. He was placed in a tomb and on the third day His God and Father raised Him from the dead and exalted Him to the Throne in Heaven. God has made this Jesus whom they crucified both Lord and Messiah: The Anointed One; Christ. And, He will return to take us to be with Him forever and ever. Amen.

​Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me. To the one who is victorious, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My Throne, just as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His Throne. Revelation 3:19-21

...if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead "And" confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord you will be saved. For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved. Romans 10:9,10

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1st John 1:9

Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord are to abstain from wickedness." 2nd Timothy 2:19

Simple prayer:
Almighty God and Father, I believe you raised Jesus from the dead. Please forgive me for all of my sins and come into my heart in the name of Jesus my Lord and Christ. Amen. (Matthew 6:8-15)

Jesus said, You must be Born Again. John 3:3

If you did not have a physical experience when you prayed, you should study the Holy Spirit. The Book of John is a good place to start.

1st Corinthians 14:1
Pursue Love (Galatians 5:22,23) and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts (1st Corinthians 12-14 & Romans 8:26) especially that you may prophesy. English Standard Version

So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who 'Ask' Him." Luke 11:13 New Living Translation

Ask our God and Father to fill you with The Holy Spirit so you can bear good fruit and do His will in the name of Jesus our Lord and Christ. Amen.

My name is Arnold Joseph Bur and I am Not a Pentecostal, Yehovah Witness, Baptist or Methodist. I am an Elohimist.
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