TODAY'S KINGDOM INSIGHTS: SERMON TOPIC: THE MOST DANGEROUS BELIEVERS ARE NOT THOSE WHO LEAVE THE CHURCH. Theme: Examining the danger of remaining around the things of God while the heart is far from God Scripture: Matthew 7:21–23; Revelation 3:1–3; Luke 18:9–14 Church, let me begin with a statement that may shock you: The most dangerous believer is not always the one who leaves the church. Sometimes, it is the one who remains in the church but leaves Christ in the heart. Some people leave the church physically, and everybody notices. But there are others who remain in the congregation, sing the songs, carry the Bible, attend services, shout “Amen,” give offerings, quote Scriptures—and yet their hearts have slowly moved away from God. They have not left the building, but they have left the Presence. Jesus warned us that there would be people who would say, “Lord, Lord,” and yet He would say, “I never knew you.” — Matthew 7:23. This means church attendance is not the same thing as spiritual transformation. You can sit in church and still be far from God. You can know Christian language and not know Christ. You can serve in a department and secretly serve your flesh. You can have a title without having a testimony. The question is not merely: “Am I in church?” The deeper question is: “Is Christ truly ruling my life?” KEY BIBLE VERSES. 1. Matthew 7:21–23 — “Lord, Lord” Jesus said: «“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven…”» Notice something frightening: these people called Jesus “Lord.” They knew the language of faith. They even claimed to have done mighty works. Yet Jesus said, “I never knew you.” Spiritual lesson: It is possible to be familiar with the things of God without having a genuine relationship with God. Church activity cannot replace spiritual intimacy. 2. Revelation 3:1 — “You have a name that you are alive” Jesus told the church at Sardis: «“Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.”» What a frightening diagnosis! The church had a reputation for being alive, but Jesus saw something different. People saw activity. Jesus saw the heart. People saw the appearance. Jesus saw the condition. Spiritual lesson: God is more interested in who you are privately than who you appear to be publicly. 3. Isaiah 29:13 «“This people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me; but have removed their heart far from me.”» Their lips were close. Their hearts were far away. This is the danger of religious appearance without genuine surrender. 5 TYPES OF DANGEROUS BELIEVERS 1. THE BELIEVER WHO KNOWS SCRIPTURE BUT REFUSES TO OBEY IT There is a difference between knowing God's Word and living God's Word. James 1:22 says: «“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only…”» Some believers can explain forgiveness but refuse to forgive. They can preach holiness but live carelessly. They can quote Scripture but manipulate people. They know what God says, but they have decided to obey themselves. Deep insight: Information without transformation can produce religious pride. The devil does not necessarily fear a Christian who knows many Bible verses. He fears the Christian who believes, obeys, and lives the Word. 2. THE BELIEVER WHO HAS A FORM OF GODLINESS BUT NO POWER 2 Timothy 3:5 speaks about people: «“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”» A form is an outward appearance. It looks right. It sounds right. But something is missing inside. You can dress like a Christian. Talk like a Christian. Post Christian messages. Attend Christian programs. And still refuse to surrender your character to Christ. Ask yourself: What happens to my Christianity when nobody is watching? That is where genuine Christianity is tested. Your secret life is a better measurement of your spiritual condition than your public reputation. 3. THE BELIEVER WHO HAS BECOME COMFORTABLE WITH SIN One of the most dangerous conditions is not falling into sin accidentally. It is becoming comfortable with sin deliberately. The believer begins by saying: «“It is only once.”» Then: «“Everybody is doing it.”» Then: «“God understands.”» Eventually, the conscience becomes quiet. Romans 6:1–2 warns against continuing in sin because grace abounds. Deep spiritual truth: Grace is not permission to remain in sin. Grace is God's power to bring us out of sin. If something is destroying your relationship with God, don't defend it. Repent from it. 4. THE BELIEVER WHO LOVES THE CHURCH BUT DOES NOT LOVE CHRIST This may sound strange, but it happens. Someone can love: - The choir - The pastor - The church building - Christian conferences - Christian music - Christian social media - Christian friendships …but fail to love Jesus with all their heart. Jesus told the church at Ephesus: «“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” — Revelation 2:4» They were working. They were enduring. They were doctrinally discerning. But they had lost their first love. Important lesson: You can be busy doing things for Jesus while becoming distant from Jesus. Don't allow ministry to replace relationship. Don't allow your assignment to replace intimacy. Don't allow the work of God to become more important than the God of the work. 5. THE BELIEVER WHO REFUSES CORRECTION A dangerous believer is one who cannot be corrected. When the pastor preaches against something they are doing, they become angry. When a mature Christian warns them, they say: «“Don't judge me.”» When Scripture confronts their lifestyle, they look for another interpretation. Proverbs 12:1 says: «“Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.”» Spiritual maturity means: I am willing to be corrected because I want to become more like Christ. A person who cannot receive correction will eventually become a prisoner of their own deception. BIBLICAL CASE STUDY: JUDAS ISCARIOT Judas is one of the most sobering examples in Scripture. Judas walked with Jesus. He heard Jesus teach. He witnessed miracles. He traveled with the disciples. He was part of the ministry. He was close enough to Jesus to call Him Master. Yet Judas eventually betrayed Him. This teaches us something frightening: Being close to spiritual things does not automatically mean your heart belongs to God. You can be around anointed people and remain unchanged. You can witness miracles and still struggle with unbelief. You can carry a Bible and still carry bitterness. You can occupy a position and lose your spiritual condition. But there is hope. Peter also failed Jesus. The difference was that Peter returned in repentance. Judas allowed his failure to lead him into destruction. Failure does not have to be the end of your story. Repentance can become the beginning of restoration. PRACTICAL ACTION STEPS 1. EXAMINE YOUR HEART Psalm 139:23–24: «“Search me, O God, and know my heart…”» Don't only ask, “What is wrong with others?” Ask: “Lord, what needs to change in me?” 2. RETURN TO YOUR FIRST LOVE If prayer has become a duty, return. If Bible reading has become routine, return. If worship has become performance, return. If your passion for Christ has disappeared, return. 3. STOP JUSTIFYING WHAT GOD IS ASKING YOU TO REPENT OF Don't rename sin. Don't call disobedience “weakness.” Don't call compromise “wisdom.” Don't call rebellion “freedom.” When God reveals something, respond with repentance. 4. PRACTICE PRIVATE CHRISTIANITY Pray when nobody is watching. Read the Word when nobody is applauding. Give when nobody knows. Forgive when nobody forces you. Serve when nobody celebrates you. What you do privately reveals what you truly value. 5. STAY TEACHABLE Allow God's Word to correct you. Allow mature believers to challenge you. Allow the Holy Spirit to convict you. A heart that can still be corrected is a heart that can still be transformed. DEEP SPIRITUAL INSIGHTS 1. PROXIMITY TO HOLY THINGS DOES NOT GUARANTEE HOLINESS. Judas was close to Jesus physically, but his heart was not surrendered. 2. RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY CAN HIDE SPIRITUAL DECLINE. A person can become busier in church while becoming colder toward God. 3. GOD LOOKS BEYOND THE PLATFORM. People may see your preaching. God sees your private life. People hear your words. God knows your motives. 4. THE GREATEST DANGER IS SELF-DECEPTION. A sinner who knows he is lost may seek help. But someone who is lost and believes he is spiritually healthy may never seek rescue. 5. JESUS DOES NOT ONLY WANT YOUR CHURCH ATTENDANCE. He wants your heart. He wants your character. He wants your obedience. He wants your entire life. QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION 1. Am I following Jesus or merely following Christian activities? 2. Does my private life agree with my public confession? 3. Is there any sin I have become comfortable with? 4. Can I receive correction without becoming offended? 5. Have I lost my first love for Christ? 6. Am I more concerned about what people think about me than what God thinks about me? 7. If Jesus examined my heart today, what would He find? POWERFUL PRAYER POINTS 1. Father, search my heart and expose everything in me that is not pleasing to You, in Jesus' name. 2. Lord Jesus, deliver me from religious appearance without spiritual reality. 3. Father, restore my first love for You. Let my passion for Christ become stronger again. 4. Lord, give me grace to obey Your Word, not merely hear it. 5. Every spirit of hypocrisy and self-deception, be broken over my life, in Jesus' name. 6. Father, give me a heart that receives correction and grows in wisdom. 7. Lord, let my private life and public testimony agree. 8. Holy Spirit, create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. 9. Father, keep me faithful to Christ until the end of my journey. CALL TO ACTION Beloved, don't leave this message thinking about another believer. Think about yourself. Don't ask: «“Who in my church needs to hear this?”» Ask: «“Lord, what are You saying to me?”» The goal of Christianity is not simply to remain in church. The goal is to remain in Christ. Jesus said in John 15:4: «“Abide in me, and I in you.”» Don't just carry the name Christian. Carry Christ in your heart. Don't just attend church. Become the church wherever you go. Don't just quote the Word. Live the Word. Don't just raise your hands in worship. Surrender your heart in obedience. And don't wait until you stand before Jesus to discover that you were close to church but far from Christ. TODAY, RETURN TO JESUS. Return to your first love. Return to prayer. Return to the Word. Return to holiness. Return to obedience. Return to genuine fellowship with Christ. The greatest question is not, “Did I attend church?” It is: “DOES JESUS TRULY KNOW ME?” May we never be believers who merely look alive. May we be believers who are truly alive in Christ. In Jesus' mighty name. Amen. FINAL DECLARATION I will not merely look like a Christian; I will live for Christ. I will not only hear God's Word; I will obey it. I will not hide behind religious activity; I will pursue genuine relationship with Jesus. My heart belongs to Christ, my life belongs to Christ, and my future belongs to Christ. In Jesus' name. Amen. Give your life to Jesus by joining a Bible believing Church. You can get inspirational ebooks from my sela/Amazon shops below https://selar.com/m/umoh-edem1 https://selar.com/m/umoedem https://www.amazon.com/author/umohedembooks https://afrikdp.com/author/umohedem-9128 CONTACT - WhatsApp +2349024173027, +2349055447540 Email pastor.umoedem@gmail.com

🕊️ DOMINION DAILY DEVOTION ~ DAY 237 DATE: 25TH AUGUST 2026 TOPIC: COME TO JESUS, AND FIND REST ANCHOR SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 11:28 (NKJV) “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Devotional message: Are you struggling with sin?Are you struggling with fornication, pornography, or masturbation?Are you battling guilt and self-condemnation?Are you carrying bitterness, unforgiveness, rejection, or disappointment?Are you struggling under sickness, oppression, or the weight of circumstances that seem too heavy to bear? Perhaps you have reached a place where you feel overwhelmed and wonder whether there is still hope.There is hope—and His name is Jesus. Jesus does not merely offer temporary relief; He offers Himself. He calls the weary, the broken, the burdened, and those who have wandered away to come to Him. He says:Matthew 11:28–30 (NKJV) “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest... For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Notice that Jesus does not say, “Fix yourself first, then come.”He says, “Come to Me.”You do not have to clean yourself up before approaching Him. Come with your brokenness. Come with your failures. Come with your questions. Come with your burdens. Come with the struggles you have been unable to overcome by yourself. Jesus is able to forgive, restore, transform, and give you a new beginning. The Apostle John gives us this assurance:1 John 1:9 (NKJV)“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”Your sin is not greater than His grace.Your past is not greater than His mercy.Your failure does not have to become your identity.There is forgiveness in Christ. Jesus also invites us into fellowship with Him. Revelation 3:20 presents the picture of Christ standing at the door and knocking:“If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”The invitation is personal.He is calling you to open your heart and allow Him to reign over your life. But receiving Jesus is more than merely repeating words. It is surrendering your life to His lordship—turning away from sin, trusting Him, following His Word, and allowing His Spirit to transform you. And if you have already received Christ but find yourself struggling, do not run away from Him in shame. Run toward Him. The enemy may tell you that you have failed too many times, that God will never accept you again, or that your situation can never change.Do not believe that lie. Perhaps today you are carrying a burden that nobody else knows about.Jesus knows.Perhaps you have been smiling publicly while secretly fighting a battle.Jesus sees. Perhaps you have reached the point where you have exhausted every human option. Jesus is still calling:“Come to Me.”Bring Him your guilt,brokenness,sin,fears,disappointments and burdens.He is able to give you the rest your soul desperately needs. PRAYER Lord Jesus,I come to You just as I am. I acknowledge that I need You and cannot save or transform myself by my own strength.Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me to follow You all the days of my life.I receive Your rest, Your grace, and Your new beginning.In Jesus' name, Amen. 🙏 DAILY BIBLE READING Psalm 103:1–5,Isaiah 1:18,1 John 1:5–9,Luke 15:11–24,Jhn 8:31–36 Author : Alfred Wabuko Manyasi Contact : Email : Dominionvoicesminisrty[gmail].com Facebook : Alfred Wabuko Manyasi 🌐 Dominion Daily Devotion, 2026 © Dominion Voices Ministry

*Creating a Heart of Gratitude* One of the most powerful emotions is gratitude. If we can find ways to be thankful and grateful throughout our life, we will find the power and emotional strength to walk through some of life’s hardest seasons. It's not always easy to find ways to be thankful and grateful. But, one of the things Scripture teaches us throughout the Psalms is that there is always something to be grateful for. The Psalms teach us various songs and poems for every season of our life. But more than that, they also teach us how to cultivate a heart of gratitude and worship towards God. We belong to a God who loves us and cares deeply for us. God’s love and goodness will never end. *Psalm 100:5* praises God for these things: *"For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations."* Through Psalms like this, we can begin to build a habit of gratitude towards God and all that He has done. We can thank God for what He has done in our lives, what He is currently doing, and what He will do in the future as we follow after Him. Because God is always good, loving, and faithful, there is always something we can be grateful for—even in the midst of difficult seasons of life. Let's take a few moments daily to strengthen the habit of gratitude in our life. - First, we begin by thanking God for who He is: that He is good, faithful, and loving towards us. - Next, we thank God for all that He has done. Thanking Him for the good things in our life, and that He has walked with us through the hard times. - Lastly, thankful to God for all He will continue to do in the days and years to come. He is trustworthy! *Thank God For His GoodNess* Father God, nothing is impossible for You. You love us even when we are unloveable. You are good to us even when we don’t deserve it. You are kind and compassionate toward us even when we mess up. You show us what faithful love looks like. Thank You for never leaving or forsaking us! Today, remind us of all the ways You have shown up in our life. You are worthy of our worship. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.

This psalm reminds us of a profound truth: God, He hears our whispers, our cries. His attentiveness changes everything we are truly blessed with an incomparable God who always listens to our prayers. So, do not stop praying, because God knows our needs; we simply need to learn to wait for the appointed time and season according to God's will. #GodBlessUsAll #StandFirm #LordsBook

Psalm 46:1 ✝️ God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Who are you when nobody is watching? https://youtu.be/-zpsvzZL8mg It is easy to do the right thing when people are paying attention. We become more careful when the boss is nearby, when we are at church, when someone important is listening, or when we know our actions will be noticed. But integrity is revealed in the moments when there is no audience, no applause, and nobody checking up on us. In this message, **“Integrity When No One Is Watching,”** we look at **Proverbs 10:9, Psalm 101:2–3, and Luke 16:10 MEV** and examine what it means to live with genuine biblical integrity. If this message encouraged or challenged you, please **like the video, share it with someone who needs it, and subscribe** for more Bible teaching centered on following Jesus faithfully in everyday life. 🌐 Stay Connected with Patrick Website: https://patrickryanlewis.com Podcast: https://singlewithpurposepodcast.podbean.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PatrickRLewis LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aguyandhisbible X (Twitter): https://x.com/aguyandhisbible allthingsforHim.pl@gmail.com Text: (681) 534-3585 Venmo / CashApp @PatrickRyanLewis Paypal: paypal.me/PatrickRyanLewis Amazon Storefront https://www.amazon.com/shop/aguyandhisbible Amazon Wishlist https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/AAQACSNG7QKZ?ref_=wl_share Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/033Sgah7u8OghfxGkOmyWT?si=648b0986cc8941d9 Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/single-with-purpose/id6792490590 iHeartRadio https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-single-with-purpose-339176167 #Integrity #ChristianLiving #BibleTeaching #JesusChrist #Faith #Character #BiblicalManhood #ChristianMen #Discipleship #Repentance #Accountability #Proverbs #Psalm101 #Luke16 #faithfulnessofgod https://youtu.be/-zpsvzZL8mg

THE POWER OF UNITY Together We Are Stronger ANCHOR SCRIPTURE Psalm 133:1 (KJV) “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” 1. UNITY BRINGS STRENGTH Unity produces peace, strength and progress. Where there is unity, there is strength. 2. UNITY DOESN'T MEAN UNIFORMITY We may have different opinions and gifts, but we can still have one heart and one purpose. You don't have to agree on everything to walk together. 3. AVOID DIVISION Pride, gossip, jealousy and unforgiveness destroy relationships. Proverbs 16:28 (KJV) “A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.” Don't be the source of division. 4. UNITY ATTRACTS BLESSING Psalm 133:3 (KJV) “...for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.” Where God's people walk in unity, God commands blessing. 5. BE A BUILDER OF UNITY 1. Forgive. 2. Love. 3. Communicate honestly. 4. Pray for others. 5. Promote peace. KEY LESSON 1. Unity brings strength. 2. Division brings weakness. 3. Forgiveness protects relationships. 4. Love overcomes differences. 5. Unity creates room for blessing. FINAL CHARGE Be a bridge, not a wall. Be a peacemaker, not a troublemaker. Build unity. Protect relationships. Walk together in love. SHORT PRAYER Father, give me a heart that values unity and peace. Remove pride, jealousy, bitterness and unforgiveness from me. Help me to love, forgive and respect others. Make me a builder of unity wherever I go. In Jesus' name, Amen. Prepared by Rev Frank Fabian Aidoo +233544295158

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. —Psalm 34:18 (NIV)

Matthew 21:1-17 Now Jesus has determined to enter the final phase of his earthly ministry, elsewhere in Luke in the King James vernacular He “set His face toward Jerusalem”. It is here that in Matthew's own style to point to Jesus as the prophecied Messiah using the verse from Zechariah while describing Jesus's actions. Zechariah 9:9 [9] Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is righteous and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah is writing a list of things to come while addressing the situation with the rebuilding of the walls and temple to replace the first destroyed Solomons temple. Don't forget that the first hearers and readers of Zechariah had no king. Both the northern and southern kingdoms have been destroyed and there is no king in either. So when Zechariah says a King is coming, there is no doubt Zechariah anticipated this King to be the Messiah. The Jews understood this, so when Jesus rode that donkey into Jerusalem they clearly understood this to be the receiving of the Messiah. Now here's the part where my ADHD brain begins asking, was there some supernatural knowledge that this colts owner was privy to regarding this or did he just faithfully accept, “The Lord has need of this” as a valid reason? We will never know for sure but it is fun to think about. The actions of the crowd are those of a city welcoming a king after a great victory or anointing. The laying out of cloaks, palm leaves and more were to not allow this arriving king to soil the feet of even the animal he's riding in on. The children are calling out, “Hosanna” which means “God save us”. Let's make this clear, there was NO confusion about Jesus's claim here. The Jewish Leaders were well aware of the Messianic claim here. So when He dismounts in Jerusalem and begins what is considered the second cleansing of the temple there is no debate, Jesus is claiming to be the Messiah in no uncertain terms. So when the leaders approach Him with the question, “Do you hear what they are saying?” Jesus quotes Psalm 8:2 in response. Psalm 8:2 [2] From the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have established strength Because of Your enemies, To do away with the enemy and the revengeful. In the Hebrew, the word used means strength from the root word for stronghold. Here, Jesus is quoting the Septuagint or Greek version where the word ‘praise’ is used. It's this praise that acts as a source of strength against God's enemies. Yes, Jesus is calling the Jewish leaders the enemies of God. And without even attempting a debate with them, Jesus turns his attention to healings amidst the destruction. Some Jews believed He was there to act as King and they were ready and willing to go to war against Rome to have a king back. They were willing to die for this new king. But He didn't take a throne they could see, didn't receive a crown of a king and simply continued preaching. And this event took place roughly a week prior to the cross. So the calls took a week to devolve from Hosanna to “Crucify Him” because the Kingdom Jesus ushered in was the Kingdom of Heaven, not Israel. How many times in our lives do we go from thanking and praising Him to neglecting Him, because the answer to our praise and prayers isn't the answer we expected? It doesn't take much to turn someone from God. A week? God, please give us the strength to continue in faith. [1] When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus then sent two disciples, [2] saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with it. Untie them and bring them to Me. [3] And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them on immediately.” [4] Now this took place so that what was spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled: [5] “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold your King is coming to you, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ” [6] The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, [7] and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their cloaks on them; and He sat on the cloaks. [8] Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road. [9] Now the crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!” [10] When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” [11] And the crowds were saying, “This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee.” [12] And Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all those who were selling and buying on the temple grounds, and He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. [13] And He *said to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a den of robbers.” [14] And those who were blind and those who limped came to Him in the temple area, and He healed them. [15] But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant, [16] and they said to Him, “Do You hear what these children are saying?” And Jesus *said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘From the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have prepared praise for Yourself’?” [17] And He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.