Dear God, thank You for this new day and for the truth that eternal life isn’t something I have to wait for, it’s already mine. Your word in John 5:24 says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” God, I’ve heard Your word and I believe in You, and that’s enough to pass me from death into life right now. Help me really understand the weight of that today and not just read past it like it’s ordinary. I don’t want to live like eternity is something far off. I want to live like it’s already mine, because it is. I give You all the praise for a salvation I could never deserve. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. -Psalm 23:6

Grace overcomes all limitations


John 5

A certain man had been
sick for 38mins?

... 38 days?
... 38 weeks?

No! 🫱 38 years!

°

He had over a dozen
limitations, challenges
and hinderances
to his healing and wholeness!

°
But ... GRACE
came to the House of Grace!




The Tree of Life
23 / 8 / 26

Evening Sermon
Rick Gold Ministries

°

1hr 16mins

https://t.me/LunchHourPreaching/12325


Be Blessed

TNT & HG🕊

°

DBF-001-031 continues with John 2:10. The master of the feast recognizes that something unusual has happened: the best wine has been kept until now. We should keep the focus on Christ’s provision and avoid turning the verse into a promise of material abundance.

DAILY BREAD FELLOWSHIP

DBF-001-031

Today’s Scripture

John 2:10 (ESV)

“And said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.’”

Opening the Scriptures

The master of the feast had tasted the wine, but he did not know where it had come from.

He called the bridegroom and expressed his surprise.

Normally, the better wine was served first. Yet at this wedding, the master believed that the best had been kept until later.

What he did not know was that the bridegroom had not provided this wine.

Jesus had.

The master could recognize the quality of the gift, but he did not recognize its source.

The servants knew.

Behind what appeared to be an unexpected provision stood the power and authority of Jesus Christ.

John is steadily directing our attention away from the wedding itself and toward Jesus.

Living God’s Word Today

There is a danger in receiving God’s gifts while forgetting the Giver.

Every day we receive things we can easily take for granted.

Food.

Shelter.

Family.

Friendship.

Strength for another day.

Opportunities to serve.

Most importantly, for those who belong to Christ, forgiveness of sin and eternal life.

Scripture reminds us:

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.” — James 1:17

Yet we must also be careful about what this miracle does not teach.

Jesus turning water into wine does not promise Christians wealth, comfort, success, or an easy life. The apostles themselves would later suffer greatly for following Christ.

The greatest gift at Cana was not the wine.

The greatest gift was Christ Himself.

That remains true today.

God may give us much or little in this world. Our circumstances may change. Health can fail. Possessions can disappear. Human relationships can disappoint us.

But the Christian’s greatest treasure cannot be measured by earthly prosperity.

We have Christ.

In Him we have something infinitely greater than temporary comfort: reconciliation with God, forgiveness of sin, and the certain hope of eternal life.

The master of the feast enjoyed the gift without knowing its source.

Let us not make the same mistake.

Recognize God’s goodness.

Give thanks for His daily provision.

But never become so occupied with God’s gifts that you forget the God who gives them.

Treasure Christ above everything He gives.

Question for Today

Do you value God’s gifts more than you value God Himself?

Respond: “Christ is my greatest treasure.”

"And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:32 NLT

____

Though storms may rage around us, Jesus is still present—He is our calm within the storm.

____

All of us would be wiser if we would resolve never to put people down, except on our prayer lists.

D. A. Carson

____

Dear Jesus, I trust You as You fight for me.

____

Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.

1 Timothy 6:12 NLT

The Story Behind the Hymns
THE STORY BEHIND "GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH"

Few hymns capture the journey of faith with the vividness of “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah.” Written out of the rich Welsh Christian tradition, the hymn turns the biblical story of Israel’s journey through the wilderness into a deeply personal prayer for God’s guidance, strength and provision.

The original hymn was written in Welsh by William Williams Pantycelyn (1717–1791), one of the most influential hymn writers of the Welsh revival. The Welsh title, “Arglwydd, arwain trwy'r anialwch” meaning “Lord, lead me through the wilderness” first appeared in 1745.

Williams drew heavily on the story of the Israelites travelling through the wilderness under God’s direction. The hymn speaks of a believer who recognises that the journey ahead cannot be completed by human strength alone. God is asked to lead, sustain and provide until the traveller reaches the promised destination.

The English version familiar to congregations today came through the work of Peter Williams, who translated the hymn in 1771. It was subsequently adapted and revised in English hymnals, helping the hymn move beyond Wales and into the wider Christian world.

Its imagery remains striking: the believer is a “pilgrim through this barren land,” dependent upon the “Bread of Heaven” for spiritual nourishment and upon God’s presence for every step of the journey.

The hymn became especially associated with Welsh Christianity and eventually found a powerful musical setting in the tune “Cwm Rhondda,” composed by Welsh musician John Hughes in 1907. The combination of Williams’ words and Hughes’ stirring melody transformed it into one of the best-known hymns to emerge from Wales.

“Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” has since been sung in churches, at major Christian gatherings, at national occasions and in moments of remembrance and celebration. Its enduring appeal lies in its simple but profound message: life may lead us through wilderness seasons, but the believer does not have to walk through them alone.

The final destination is not the wilderness. The prayer of the hymn is that the Great Jehovah will continue to guide His people until they reach the promised land.

Did you know?
Nothing in this world is more valuable than knowing Jesus Christ personally. Success, possessions, and achievements may satisfy for a season, but they cannot save the soul or give the hope of eternal life. Jesus declared, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me"(John 14:6). God has already shown the depth of His love by giving His only Son, "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life"(John 3:16).

To know Christ is more than agreeing with facts about Him—it is trusting Him, following Him, and allowing Him to transform every part of our lives. As Paul wrote, "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord" (Philippians 3:8). When Jesus becomes the center of our lives, we receive forgiveness, peace with God, and the sure hope of eternal life, a treasure far greater than anything this world could ever offer.

Let's talk about it.
ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED — A DANGEROUS DOCTRINE

The statement “Once saved, always saved” sounds comforting, but if it is understood to mean that a person can never fall away from Christ regardless of how they later live, it contradicts the serious warnings of Scripture.

Jesus said, “He that endureth to the end shall be saved.” — Matthew 24:13

Why would Christ emphasize endurance if salvation made perseverance irrelevant?

The Bible repeatedly warns believers about falling away:

Hebrews 10:26–27 — deliberately continuing in sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth brings fearful judgment.

1 Corinthians 10:12 — “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”

John 15:6 — Jesus warned that branches that do not remain in Him are cast forth and burned.

Revelation 2:10 — “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”

Matthew 24:13 — “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

Biblical salvation is not a license to live in rebellion. Grace forgives sin, but grace also teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts (Titus 2:11–12).

We are saved by grace through faith—not by works—but genuine faith produces obedience and a transformed life (Ephesians 2:8–10; James 2:17).

So the issue is not whether God is faithful. He is. The issue is whether we will continue abiding in Christ.

Don't let a false sense of security replace watchfulness, repentance, faith, obedience, and perseverance.

“Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” — Revelation 2:10

Eternal life is promised to those who continue in faith and faithfulness to Christ.

Amazing Love

The Advent Truth
What are the first and second greatest commandments? Jesus answered that question plainly:

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” And, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matthew 22:37–39)

But here’s the part law-haters conveniently leave out: Jesus wasn’t abolishing the Ten Commandments. He was summarizing them.

Jesus was quoting Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. And what surrounds those verses?

Deuteronomy 5 gives the Ten Commandments, then Deuteronomy 6 explains that obedience flows from wholehearted love for God. Leviticus 19 likewise commands honoring parents, keeping God’s Sabbaths, rejecting idols, refusing to steal, lie, defraud, murder, hate, or covet—and then says, “thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

So what does loving God look like? The first four commandments show us. What does loving our neighbor look like? The last six commandments show us.

That is precisely why Jesus concluded:

“On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” — Matthew 22:40

Notice He didn't say, “These two commandments replace the law.” He said the law hangs upon them.

Imagine someone saying, “The whole door hangs on these two hinges,” and responding, “Great! Then throw away the door!”

The two great commandments are the principles upon which God's law hangs. Love doesn't abolish God's commandments; love fulfills them.

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” — 1 John 5:3

You cannot use LOVE to abolish the very commandments Scripture says love causes us to keep.

Jesus settled this one.

Daily Bible Lesson.
GOD DOES NOT BRING HIMSELF DOWN TO HUMAN STANDARD, HE CALLED US TO RISE TO HIS STANDARD

God does not bring Himself down to our human standard. He calls us to rise to His standard.

We live in a generation where people are increasingly comfortable redefining God’s Word to fit their preferences. Some say, “I will keep this commandment, but that one is no longer necessary.” But the question is not, “Which commandments do I prefer?” The question is, “What has God commanded?”

The Ten Commandments are not ten suggestions. They reveal the character, righteousness, and moral will of God. Scripture says, “The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” — Romans 7:12.

Look carefully at the commandments:

1. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
Are we putting God first, or have we allowed something else to occupy His place?

2. “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.”
Are we worshiping God according to His Word, or according to human tradition?

3. “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain.”
Do our words and lives honor the name we claim to represent?

4. “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”
Why do people readily accept nine commandments while arguing against the fourth? If God wrote all ten, who gave us permission to erase one?

5. “Honour thy father and thy mother.”
Do we respect the authority God has established in the family?

6. “Thou shalt not kill.”
God values human life.

7. “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”
God calls us to purity and faithfulness.

8. “Thou shalt not steal.”
God requires honesty and respect for what belongs to others.

9. “Thou shalt not bear false witness.”
God calls His people to truthfulness.

10. “Thou shalt not covet.”
God is not merely concerned with outward behavior; He searches the heart.

Notice something important: the commandments are connected. We cannot claim to honor the God who gave the law while deliberately rejecting the commandment we find inconvenient.

James 2:10–11 teaches that the One who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not kill.” The same God stands behind the whole law.

But let us be clear: we are not saved by keeping the law. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Yet grace does not give us permission to live in rebellion. Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” — John 14:15.

The law does not replace Christ. Christ leads us to obedience.

So before we select which commandments we want to keep, let us humble ourselves and ask:

“Lord, what does Your Word say?”

God does not need to lower His standard to accommodate our disobedience. He calls us higher.

Let us stop choosing between commandments and start choosing obedience to God.

“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” — Revelation 14:12

God’s standard remains God’s standard—even when society changes.

Amazing Love

My Daily Witness.
Jesus loves you so much that HE died for you, and Rose from the dead for you, and now desperately longs to have a personal relationship with you, will you accept Him into your heart and life today, as your Savior, and King? Repent of sin in your life, and live for HIM, and let Him live through you.

For God so loved the world, that HE gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16.

After accepting Jesus as your Savior, show your love for HIM by keeping His Commandments.

"If you love me keep my commandments". John 14:15.

ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR, REPENT OF SIN IN YOUR LIFE, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, INCLUDING THE 4TH COMMANDMENT (THE SEVENTH DAY SABBATH).

FOR JESUS CHRIST IS SOON RETURNING, AND HIS REWARD IS WITH HIM, SOME TO EVERLASTING LIFE, SOME TO EVERLASTING DEATH!!!!!
Revelation 12:14
Revelation 22:12
Daniel 12:2