Good evening, brethren. 1. Evening devotion for today. ED.i. *DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST* (COCIN DEVOTIONAL) *DATE:* SUNDAY 23RD AUGUST, 2026. *SUB-THEME:* YOUTHS: VESSELS OF GOD’S GRACE. *TOPIC:* PURSUIT OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH. *TEXT:* EPHESIANS 4:13-14. 13. until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. *TOPIC:* PURSUIT OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH. *THE MESSAGE:* The Holy Spirit bestows special gifts on believers to equip and edify them for spiritual maturity. The goal is for believers to attain the "unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God", growing into the fullness of Christ (v. 13). Paul contrasts this maturity with spiritual immaturity (v. 14). Warning against being misled by false teachings and deceptive doctrines. Instead, believers are to speak the truth in love, growing up in every way into Christ, who is the Head of the body. Many, especially the young, are misled by human philosophies. For example, relativism - which teaches that there is no absolute truth, what is true for you may not be true for me. Are you growing in the faith? Maintain a consistent life of Prayer, Bible Study, and Christian Fellowship to grow in maturity. *REFLECTION:* Desire spiritual nourishment. *PRAYER:* Lord, help me to crave spiritual growth. Amen. *MEMORY VERSE FOR THE MONTH:* 2 TIMOTHY 2:21. "If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be instruments for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master, and prepared to do any good work." *TODAY'S BIBLE READING PLAN:* EZEKIEL 29-30. ED.ii. WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT? "Be filled with the Spirit." - Ephesians 5:18 According to the Bible, the Holy Spirit is a Person. Let this message penetrate your mind. When Jesus speaks about the Holy Spirit, Jesus always refers to 'He'. HE is not a thing but a person. We see in the Bible that the Holy Spirit has a mind, emotions and a will. The Holy Spirit speaks. Revelation 2:7 says: 'Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.' The Holy Spirit intercedes. Romans 8:26 says: 'The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.' The Holy Spirit testifies. John 15:26 says: 'The Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father — He will testify about Me.' The Holy Spirit shows the way. John 16:13 says: 'But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth.' The Holy Spirit leads. Romans 8:14 says: 'For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.' The Holy Spirit gives instructions. Acts 16:6 says: '…having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.' The Holy Spirit appoints. Acts 20:28 says: 'Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.' The Holy Spirit is also a Person to whom you can lie. Read the history of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11. You can insult (see Hebrews 10:29), blaspheme (see Matthew 12:31) and grieve the Spirit (see Ephesians 4:30). The Holy Spirit is a Divine Person and is everywhere. Today God still wants to fill His children with His Holy Spirit! https://www.theblessingdevotional.com Evening Prayer for today. EP.i. Evening Prayer A Psalm of David. The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. ⏤ Psalm 23:1-3 God loves importunate prayer so much that He will not give us much blessing without it. ⏤ Adoniram Judson O Lord, You are our Shepherd; we will lack nothing. You make us lie down in green pastures and lead us beside still waters. You have been our Shepherd today. We have been in Your pastures as we have read Your word and worshiped with Your people. We bow at Your throne with grateful hearts at the close of this day. We gather up the precious fragments of this day to carry with us, to feed upon in the days ahead. You have kept our feet from stumbling, our eyes from tears, and our souls from death. We have walked with Jesus, and our hearts have burned within us as He talked with us along the way. We ask You to fix deep in our hearts all the good impressions, lessons learned, and influences that have touched our lives today. Too often, we make sincere resolves and promises while our hearts are warmed with love, only to forget them tomorrow. Fix this Sunday's teachings so deeply in our minds that we never lose them. May we be stronger in faith, more earnest in purpose, and more holy in thought and feeling because of our communion with You this day. Ever-living God, who neither slumbers nor sleeps—take charge of our bodies and souls during the dark hours of the night. Give us refreshing rest and sleep. Let tomorrow be sweet and holy, made so by the blessings of Sunday flowing into it. May we carry the fragrance of this day into the world’s life. And to Him who is able to keep us from falling and to present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God, our Savior, be glory forever and ever. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/49/evening #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

The Remnant Bible Academy Are you ready to move beyond a Sunday sermon and build a rock-solid biblical foundation? Join Remnant Bible Academy and transform your study of God's Word. 100% Free Access: Enjoy full access to all courses at zero cost. Learn on Your Schedule: Self-paced learning means no deadlines or pressure—fit deep study right into your busy life. Strong Biblical Foundation: Gain a clear, structured understanding of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. Comprehensive & Prayerfully Curated: Dive into engaging courses specifically designed to strengthen your faith and biblical knowledge. A Fellowship of Believers: Connect, share insights, and grow alongside fellow disciples in our student-only community. Deepen Your Faith: Develop a solid Christian worldview to navigate culture, morality, and life with confidence and spiritual clarity. https://remnantbibleacademy.com/

The Remnant Bible Academy Are you ready to move beyond a Sunday sermon and build a rock-solid biblical foundation? Join Remnant Bible Academy and transform your study of God's Word. 100% Free Access: Enjoy full access to all courses at zero cost. Learn on Your Schedule: Self-paced learning means no deadlines or pressure—fit deep study right into your busy life. Strong Biblical Foundation: Gain a clear, structured understanding of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. Comprehensive & Prayerfully Curated: Dive into engaging courses specifically designed to strengthen your faith and biblical knowledge. A Fellowship of Believers: Connect, share insights, and grow alongside fellow disciples in our student-only community. Deepen Your Faith: Develop a solid Christian worldview to navigate culture, morality, and life with confidence and spiritual clarity. https://remnantbibleacademy.com/

📖 TODAY'S BIBLE READING Sunday, August 23 📜 OLD TESTAMENT RUTH 3 — Ruth and Boaz ✝️ NEW TESTAMENT 1 JOHN 5 — Faith in the Son of God 🎉 Congratulations on completing the book of 1 John! Tomorrow we begin 2 John. 🌿 MAJOR PROPHETS ISAIAH 34 — Judgment Against the Nations 🌿 TODAY'S REFLECTION 📜 Ruth 3 Ruth follows Naomi's instructions and approaches Boaz with humility and trust. Boaz responds with integrity, showing the importance of honour, kindness, and doing what is right even when circumstances are difficult. ✝️ 1 John 5 John emphasizes faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and assures believers of eternal life. Our confidence is not in ourselves but in Christ, and genuine faith produces obedience and love for God. 🌿 Isaiah 34 Isaiah describes God's judgment against the nations and reminds us that God's justice is certain. No power can ultimately stand against His righteous purposes. ✨ KEY VERSE “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” — 1 John 5:11 🙏 PRAYER Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. Strengthen our faith and help us to walk in obedience, love, and integrity. Give us the wisdom to trust Your timing, just as Ruth trusted You, and help us remain confident in Your righteous purposes. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen. 🌿 TODAY'S CHALLENGE Put your faith into action today. Trust God's timing, walk with integrity, and let your love for Christ be seen through your obedience and the way you treat others. WE STUDY. WE PRAY. WE OBEY. WE GROW. UNTIL WE ARE TOTALLY TRANSFORMED. 📖✨🙏

TODAY'S KINGDOM INSIGHTS: SERMON TOPIC:- WHEN GOD CLOSES A DOOR. Understanding Divine Closure, Redirection, and the Next Move of God. Key Scripture: Revelation 3:7 — “What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.” There are times in life when you pray for a door to open, you believe God has answered, you prepare yourself to walk through it—and suddenly, the door closes. The job opportunity disappears. The relationship ends. The business deal fails. The application is rejected. The opportunity goes to someone else. The plan you prayed about does not work. And you ask, “God, why?” But here is a truth every believer must understand: A closed door is not always a sign of God's absence. Sometimes it is evidence of God's protection. We often celebrate God when He opens doors, but mature Christians must also learn to trust Him when He closes them. Sometimes God closes a door because what is behind it would destroy what He is building inside you. Sometimes God closes a door because the next chapter of your life requires you to leave the previous chapter behind. And sometimes God closes a door because He is preparing to open another one that you could never have opened for yourself. 1. GOD CAN CLOSE A DOOR FOR YOUR PROTECTION Scripture: Proverbs 16:9 «“A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.”» There are things we desperately want because we can only see what is in front of us. But God sees what is beyond the door. You may see an opportunity. God may see a trap. You may see a relationship. God may see the pain it will produce. You may see a promotion. God may see the pride it could create. You may see a business opportunity. God may see the consequences you cannot yet see. Biblical Example: Balaam In Numbers 22, Balaam was travelling in a direction he thought was acceptable, but God placed an angel in his path. Balaam could not see the danger. His donkey could. What Balaam considered an obstacle was actually divine protection. Sometimes you are frustrated because something is blocking your way, while heaven is saying: “I am blocking this because I know what you don't know.” Don't curse every closed door. Some closed doors are mercy. 2. GOD MAY CLOSE ONE DOOR TO REDIRECT YOU TO ANOTHER Scripture: Acts 16:6–10 Paul and his companions wanted to preach in certain regions, but Scripture says: «“They were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia.”» Then Paul received a vision of a man from Macedonia saying, “Come over into Macedonia, and help us.” Notice something powerful: Paul was doing God's work, yet God still closed a door. This teaches us that: A good idea is not necessarily a God idea for this particular season. You can be sincere and still be moving in the wrong direction. You can have a legitimate opportunity and still not have divine permission. You can pray, plan, prepare—and God can still say: “Not this way.” The closed door redirected Paul toward Macedonia, where God had prepared a greater assignment. Spiritual Insight Never allow disappointment to make you disobey divine direction. When God closes a door, ask: “Lord, where are You directing me?” Not merely: “Lord, why did You stop me?” 3. A CLOSED DOOR DOES NOT MEAN A CLOSED FUTURE Scripture: Revelation 3:7 «“What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.”» One closed door does not mean your entire future has been cancelled. David was rejected by his family. Joseph was rejected by his brothers. Moses experienced rejection before returning to Egypt. Paul experienced opposition throughout his ministry. Yet God's purpose for them continued. Remember this: A closed chapter is not a closed destiny. You may lose an opportunity without losing your purpose. You may lose a relationship without losing your future. You may lose a position without losing your calling. You may experience rejection without becoming rejected by God. The enemy wants you to interpret one disappointment as the conclusion of your entire story. But God says: “I am still writing.” 4. SOMETIMES GOD CLOSES A DOOR BECAUSE YOU HAVE OUTGROWN THE ROOM Scripture: Isaiah 43:18–19 «“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing.”» There are seasons you cannot enter while continuously holding onto the previous one. The children of Israel could not remain in Egypt forever. Ruth had to leave Moab. Abraham had to leave his father's house. The disciples had to leave their nets and follow Jesus. Growth requires movement. Sometimes the door closes because God is calling you forward. You keep asking God to reopen what He has already closed. But God may be saying: “Stop trying to return to where I am trying to take you from.” Some people are praying for restoration when God is offering transformation. Some are asking God to rebuild yesterday when God is preparing tomorrow. 5. LEARN TO TRUST GOD WHEN YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND HIM Scripture: Romans 8:28 «“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.”» Notice that Scripture does not say everything that happens is good. It says God can work all things together for good. The rejection can become redirection. The disappointment can become development. The delay can become preparation. The closed door can become protection. The ending can become the beginning of something greater. Faith says: “God, I don't understand this, but I trust You.” That is mature faith. Anyone can praise God when everything is working. But there is a deeper level of worship when you can say: “Even when I don't understand Your decision, I still trust Your character.” BIBLICAL CASE STUDY: JOSEPH Joseph received a dream from God, but his journey did not immediately look like the dream. He was hated by his brothers. He was thrown into a pit. He was sold into slavery. He was falsely accused. He was imprisoned. Door after door seemed to close. But God was not abandoning Joseph. God was positioning Joseph. The pit was not the palace. The prison was not the promotion. The rejection was not the conclusion. Eventually, Joseph stood before Pharaoh. Genesis 50:20 captures the revelation: «“Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good.”» What looked like destruction became divine positioning. Somebody needs to hear this: Your current closed door may be part of a larger story that you cannot see yet. Don't abandon God because you don't understand the chapter. Keep walking. Keep praying. Keep serving. Keep believing. The God who gave you the promise is still working on the process. DEEP SPIRITUAL INSIGHTS 1. Not every closed door is an attack. Some are divine interventions. 2. God's “NO” can be as loving as His “YES.” A parent who loves a child does not give the child everything they request. God is your Father. 3. Timing matters. Something can be good but wrong for your present season. 4. Never force what God has closed. When God closes a door, human manipulation cannot make it God's will. 5. Look for God's presence beyond the door. Sometimes we become so focused on what we lost that we fail to notice where God is leading us. PRACTICAL ACTION STEPS When God closes a door: 1. Don't panic. Take time to pray before making emotional decisions. 2. Don't force it open. What God has closed does not need manipulation. 3. Examine your heart. Ask whether the closure is correction, protection, preparation, or redirection. 4. Seek God's Word. Don't interpret your circumstances without Scripture. 5. Ask for direction. Pray: “Lord, show me what You want me to do next.” 6. Keep moving. A closed door should not become an excuse to stop your entire life. 7. Trust God's timing. What you cannot understand today may become clear tomorrow. QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION 1. What closed door am I currently struggling to accept? 2. Am I trying to force open something God may have closed? 3. Could this disappointment actually be divine protection? 4. What might God be redirecting me toward? 5. Am I more committed to God's will or to my own plans? 6. What lesson is God teaching me in this season? 7. Can I still trust God even when I don't understand Him? POWERFUL PRAYER POINTS 1. Father, give me the grace to recognize when You are closing a door for my protection. 2. Lord, deliver me from forcing doors that You have closed. 3. Father, when one door closes, give me spiritual eyes to see the door You are opening. 4. Lord, heal every disappointment caused by rejection, delay, and closed opportunities. 5. Father, redirect my steps into Your perfect will. 6. Every door that must remain closed for my protection, give me the grace to leave it closed. 7. Lord, open the doors that align with Your purpose for my life. 8. Father, strengthen my faith when I cannot understand what You are doing. 9. Every good thing You have ordained for my life, let no power of darkness permanently hinder it. 10. Lord Jesus, let my life become a testimony that even through closed doors, You were working for my good. CALL TO ACTION Beloved, don't spend the rest of your life standing in front of a door God has already closed. There is a time to knock. There is a time to wait. There is also a time to walk away. If God closed it, trust Him. If God blocked it, thank Him. If God redirected you, follow Him. If God is preparing another door, wait for Him. You may not understand the closure today. But one day you may look back and say: “Thank God that door did not open.” The door you are crying over today may be the very door God closed because He saw something you could not see. So dry your tears. Strengthen your faith. Lift your eyes. Your story is not over. There is still purpose. There is still grace. There is still a future. And there are doors that only God can open. DECLARE BY FAITH: “I will not die at a closed door. I will not force what God has closed. I will not allow rejection to destroy my faith. I will trust God's direction. I will follow His purpose. And when my appointed door opens, no man will be able to shut it!” In Jesus' mighty name. Amen! If you have not given your life to Jesus kindly do so by joining a Bible believing Church. You can get inspirational ebooks from my selar/Amazon shops below https://selar.com/m/umoh-edem1 https://selar.com/m/umoedem https://www.amazon.com/author/umohedembooks CONTACT - WhatsApp +2349024173027, +2349055447640 Email pastor.umoedem@gmail.com

THE SUNDAY BLOG….. Sunday August 23, 2026 Confused Priorities Can Seriously Hinder Our Walk With Christ Walking with Christ is a journey of intentional devotion, yet many believers find their spiritual progress stalled. The culprit is rarely overt rebellion; rather, it is the subtle, creeping danger of confused priorities. When worldly ambitions, anxieties, and fleeting pleasures crowd out the Lord, our spiritual vitality withers. Jesus addressed this peril directly in the Parable of the Sower. In Luke 8:14, He describes the seed that falls among thorns: "The seeds that fell among thorns stand for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature." Notice that these individuals heard the Word, but their spiritual growth was choked out. Misplaced priorities—chasing wealth, stressing over daily survival, or living for entertainment—act like spiritual weeds. They consume our emotional and mental energy, leaving no room for a vibrant relationship with Christ. When our focus is divided, our spiritual sight becomes completely blurred. Jesus warns in Matthew 6:24: "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." Financial security or worldly success easily masquerades as a master, dictating our time, decisions, and passions. When we attempt to split our allegiance between God and the world, spiritual paralysis sets in. We become lukewarm, drifting away from the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. Moreover, accommodating sin or holding onto competing loyalties fractures our intimacy with God. As James 4:4 sharply reminds us, "You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." Friendship with the world here denotes adopting its value system. When we prioritize worldly acceptance over divine obedience, we actively hinder our communion with Christ. Ultimately, confused priorities rob us of our spiritual fruitfulness and joy. To experience the abundant life Jesus promised, we must ruthlessly evaluate our schedules and hearts, cutting away the clutter. Realigning our lives with Christ restores our purpose, clearing the thorns so we can walk closely and powerfully with our Savior. Personal Closing Prayer… Lord, forgive me for the times I have allowed worldly worries, ambitions, and distractions to choke out my devotion to You. Open my eyes to see where my priorities have drifted away from Your kingdom. Cleanse my heart from a divided allegiance, and grant me the grace to reject the pull of this world. Realign my steps, Lord, so that I may walk closely, single-mindedly, and faithfully with Christ every single day. Amen. Next Sunday’s Blog: THE IMPORTANCE OF REGULAR FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER BELIEVERS. THE BIBLE: Let’s READ IT! Let’s STUDY IT! Let’s BELIEVE IT! Let’s LIVE IT! ___________________________________

📖 The best way to understand God's Word is through God's Word. Study the Scriptures. Strengthen your faith. Discover what the Bible reveals. 🌐 Read Bible Study: www.thedisciplewhomjesusloved.com #BibleStudy #StudyTheScriptures #BiblicalTruth #ChristianBooks #FaithJourney #Scripture #GrowInFaith #Discipleship #TrustInTheLord #BibleResources

Thanks to those of you who are using our small group curriculum!!! Have you ever wondered why we need four different gospel accounts? Join us for a Bible study based on Cold-Case Christianity by J. Warner Wallace, a former homicide detective. This entry-level apologetics class will examine the New Testament through the lens of eyewitness testimony, explore evidence from archaeology and extrabiblical historians, and consider classic theological arguments. https://www.swiftcreekbaptist.org/event/cold-case-christianity/2026-09-23/

The Advent Truth If the end times make you anxious, remember the illustration Jesus Himself gave us. In Matthew 24:8, after describing wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, and turmoil, Jesus said, “All these are the beginning of sorrows.” The word translated “sorrows” carries the idea of birth pains. Birth pains can be frightening. They intensify. They become more frequent. But they aren't meaningless pain—they are announcing that something is about to be born. Jesus didn't give Matthew 24 to terrify His people. He gave it so that when these things happen, we would recognize where we are and know that He already saw it coming. Think about what birth pains mean: the closer the pains come, the closer the arrival. Yes, this world is groaning. Yes, prophecy is moving toward its fulfillment. But God is also preparing a people to meet Jesus. And while prophecy moves forward, heaven is not looking for an excuse to shut people out. God is doing everything consistent with His character, His Word, and human freedom to bring people IN. “The Lord is... not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” — 2 Peter 3:9 Every additional moment is mercy. Every conviction is mercy. Every sermon, Bible study, providential encounter, warning, and invitation to repentance is evidence that heaven is still reaching for souls. So don't spend the final moments trembling over what Satan is doing. Look at what Jesus is doing. The same Christ who told us the birth pains would come also said, “Let not your heart be troubled.” (John 14:1) Prophecy isn't telling God's children, “Be terrified.” It's telling us: Jesus is coming. Jesus is preparing His people. Jesus is still saving souls. And Jesus will not abandon you now. The birth pains aren't merely telling us that this world is ending. They're telling us that something infinitely better is almost here.

www.100Words.ca This Daily Bible Study / Blog by the late Rev. David Mainse , a renowned Christian leader in Canada. It is edited by Rev. Ron Mainse and is also available by EMAIL Visit the website at http://www.100words.ca/ to request it. ~ Read & Study the complete Bible in TWO years. START ANY DAY~ ( Robin Stephen Aldrich: I am much Blessed and Instructed as I follow this Ministry from a great man of God who founded Christian tv and much, much more in Canada and worldwide. I highly recommend that you sign up to receive the daily emails. Click on the link and you will find the email sign on the RIGHT of the page )