Amazing Facts. Daily Devotionals How do you help people who have had negative experiences with the church? August 17th, 2026 In Luke chapter 15, Jesus tells a parable about a missing sheep. In the story, the shepherd searches relentlessly until he finds it. Then he lays it on his shoulders and lovingly carries it back home. The Lord wants us to follow His example and send out search parties to look for the lost sheep among us. These missing sheep are our neighbors, friends, and family who have wandered away from the flock. Here are some specific ways you can help someone who has left the church: First, pray for them. God promises, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). Prayer is powerful. Invite them back! The biggest issue facing former members is how to reconnect with the church. They could be waiting for the invitation, so you can be the one to help them find a path back. In some cases, a friendly phone call or visit might be all that is needed. Remember to treat missing members the way you would want to be treated. Offer a warm, no-pressure invitation. Be loving and nonjudgmental, and leave room for the Holy Spirit to work in their hearts. We should also “receive one another, just as Christ received us” (Romans 15:7). Be prepared to receive with open arms those who return, as the father received the prodigal son (Luke 15:20). The shepherd in Jesus’ story called his friends and neighbors in for a celebration. He told them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!” At the end of the parable, Jesus says, “There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7). Shouldn’t we feel the same way? Imagine how a person would feel if the entire church turned out to celebrate their return! Key Bible Texts And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. (Isaiah 58:12 KJV)

🕊️ DOMINION DAILY DEVOTION ~ DAY 229 DATE: 17TH AUGUST 2026 TOPIC: EMBRACE YOUR UNIQUENESS ANCHOR SCRIPTURE: ROMANS 12:6 NKJV Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; Devotional message: We are living in a generation where many people are driven by competition. They are constantly comparing themselves with others and attempting to become who God never created them to be. In the process, they overlook the unique grace, gifts, talents, abilities, and skills that God has deposited within them. God does not create duplicates. Every person carries a unique expression of His grace and a particular contribution to His purposes on the earth. Your assignment may not look like another person's assignment, and your grace may not operate in the same way as theirs. This does not make you inferior; it makes your contribution unique. The Apostle Paul teaches that we have “gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us.” He further explains that if our gift is serving, let us serve; if it is teaching, let us teach; if it is exhortation, let us exhort; and if it is giving, let us give generously (Romans 12:6–8). The tragedy is that some people have buried their God-given gifts because they spent too much time looking at what others were doing. Instead of developing their own grace, they became occupied with comparison and competition. Child of God, you were not created to compete with another person; you were created to fulfil your God-given assignment. Consider the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. Each servant received according to his ability, yet each was expected to give an account of what had been entrusted to him. The issue was not whether one received five talents while another received two. The issue was what each person did with what God had entrusted to him. You too will give an account before God—not for becoming someone else, but for faithfully stewarding what He placed in you. Perhaps God has given you the ability to encourage people, but you have buried it because you are comparing yourself with preachers. Perhaps He has given you creativity, leadership, wisdom, business ability, generosity, teaching, administration, music, craftsmanship, compassion, or the ability to solve problems, yet you have never fully developed it because you are trying to imitate someone else. Remember: the Body of Christ needs your contribution.The hand should not attempt to become the eye, neither should the eye despise the hand. Every part has a function, and when every part operates according to its design, the whole body becomes stronger. Your generation may be carrying a problem that your God-given gift was designed to solve. Do not bury what God has entrusted to you.You may not have everything another person has, but you have something that God deliberately placed within you. Stop despising small beginnings. Start with what is in your hands, develop it, submit it to God, and use it for His glory. Today, ask yourself:What has God placed within me that I have buried, neglected, or left dormant because I have been comparing myself with others?Bring it before the Lord again.Your uniqueness is not a weakness. It is part of God's strategy for fulfilling His purpose through you. Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for the unique grace, gifts, talents, abilities, and assignment You have placed within me.Help me to fulfil my assignment and become a blessing to my generation. In Jesus' name, Amen. Daily Bible Reading Rom 12:3–8,Matt 25:14–30,1 Cori 12:12–27,Eph 2:10,1 Peter 4:10–11 Author : Alfred Wabuko Manyasi Contact : Email : Dominionvoicesminisrty[gmail].com Facebook : Alfred Wabuko Manyasi 🌐 Dominion Daily Devotion, 2026 © Dominion Voices Ministry

Are You an Intentional Christian? By Pastor Joseph Clark Life does not simply happen to us. At least, it should not. There are circumstances we cannot control. There are things that happen to us that we never anticipated, and there are seasons when we have little choice over what comes our way. But within all of that, God has given us something extraordinarily important: The freedom to choose how we will live before Him. We should never be content merely to hope that our faith is genuine. We are called to deliberately follow Christ, deliberately obey His Word, deliberately love others, deliberately serve, deliberately grow—and deliberately bear fruit. The Christian life is not a spectator sport. Let me be absolutely clear: we are not saved by our good works. The Bible teaches that salvation is by grace through faith, not something we earn through religious accomplishments or our own efforts. We cannot purchase forgiveness by doing enough good deeds. We cannot impress God into saving us. Paul writes: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works.” Ephesians 2:8–9 Amen. But sometimes Christians stop reading there. The very next verse says: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 Notice the order. We are not saved by good works. We are saved for good works. Works are not the root of our salvation; they are supposed to be the fruit of our salvation. That distinction is absolutely essential. A person does not become a Christian because he produces fruit. Rather, because he has been brought into Christ, his life should increasingly begin to produce fruit. I have observed that some Christians use the “by faith, not works” argument as a cop-out to justify a lazy, fruitless walk. Jesus Himself said: “By their fruit you will recognize them.” Matthew 7:16 He did not say, “Don’t worry about fruit because you believe.” He said: “Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.” Matthew 7:17 There is a dangerous misunderstanding that can sometimes enter Christian thinking. A person says, “I am saved by faith and not works.” That statement is true. But then he concludes, “Therefore, it doesn’t matter whether my life produces anything.” That conclusion is not biblical. James puts the matter bluntly: “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:17 James isn’t teaching that we purchase salvation by our deeds. He is teaching that genuine faith is living faith. If I tell you that I have a fire burning in my house, but you enter the house and find no heat, no light, no flame, and no evidence whatsoever of fire, you would have good reason to question my claim. In the same way, if someone claims to belong to Christ but deliberately refuses to grow, refuses to obey, refuses to serve, refuses to love, refuses to forgive, and refuses to bear any spiritual fruit, we should not simply congratulate that person by saying, “Well, you’re saved by faith, so none of that matters.” Jesus never taught such complacency. Consider one of the most sobering statements Jesus ever made. In Matthew 7:21–23, Jesus describes people who will stand before Him on the day of judgment. They will say that they did things in His name. And Jesus will say: “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” Matthew 7:23 That should cause every professing Christian to pause. Jesus did not say, “You weren’t sincere enough.” He did not say, “You didn’t perform enough religious deeds.” He said, “I never knew you.” The issue is ultimately relationship with Christ. Likewise, Jesus gives a similar warning in the Parable of the Ten Virgins. Some of the virgins were complacent and unprepared for the bridegroom. When he arrived, they were shut out of the wedding feast. The warning is unmistakable: we must not live carelessly or presume upon the grace of God. A person can say the right things, use Christian vocabulary, attend church, perform religious activities, and even speak about Jesus—and yet not actually belong to Him. This is why we should never merely sit back and say, “I hope my faith is genuine.” We should examine our lives. We should pursue Christ. We should repent when we sin. We should seek holiness. We should love our neighbor. We should forgive. We should serve. We should pray. We should study God’s Word. We should proclaim the Gospel. We should bear fruit. Not because these things purchase our salvation—but because Christ has saved us and called us to live differently. Our fruitfulness should also be expressed through obedience to Christ’s Great Commission. Jesus said: “I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.” John 15:16 That is not passive language. Go. Bear fruit. Christ did not save us so that we could sit comfortably on the sidelines of Christianity. He called us into a life of purpose. Jesus also said: “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:8 There is that word again: fruit. Fruit is evidence of life. Wake Up and Bear Fruit Do you see what is happening in this fallen world today? Paganism. False religions. They are boldly, deliberately, and intentionally seeking to influence and claim the hearts and minds of people throughout the world. Our answer should be bold, fruitful evangelism! Wake up! Use your God-given gifts in any way you can to share His Gospel. An apple tree doesn’t produce apples in order to become an apple tree. It produces apples because it is an apple tree. Likewise, Christians don’t perform good works in order to become God’s children. We bear fruit because, through faith in Christ, God has made us His children. This brings us back to our central question: What are you going to do with the life God has given you? You cannot choose every circumstance. But you can choose whether you will trust God in those circumstances. You can choose whether you will forgive. You can choose whether you will serve. You can choose whether you will encourage someone who is discouraged. You can choose whether you will open your Bible. You can choose whether you will pray. You can choose whether you will share your faith. You can choose whether you will repent. You can choose whether you will obey Christ when obedience is difficult. You can choose whether your Christianity will be merely something you claim—or something you deliberately live. Paul told the Philippians: “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12 Paul did not mean, “Work for your salvation.” He was writing to people who were already Christians. The meaning is that the salvation God has worked into your life should be worked out in the way you live. Your faith should become visible. Your character should change. Your priorities should change. Your relationships should change. Your choices should change. Your life should increasingly resemble the Christ you profess to follow. There is a difference between saying, “I hope I’m a faithful Christian,” and saying, “By the grace of God, I will deliberately seek to become a faithful Christian.” The first can become passive. The second is intentional. What Will You Do With What God Has Given You? Do you remember the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14–30? Are you the servant who was given one talent and buried it in the ground rather than using it? To that servant, the master said: “You wicked, lazy servant!” Matthew 25:26 The judgment concludes: “And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 25:30 Or are you the servant to whom the Lord will say: “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” Matthew 25:21 Let me pause and ask you right now: Is this message off-putting to you? Does this message offend you? If so, ask yourself: Why? Why does God’s Word—and a message consistent with His Word—bother you? And don’t misunderstand me: you cannot manufacture spiritual fruit through human strength. Jesus said: “Apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 Fruit comes from abiding in Christ. But abiding in Christ is not passive indifference. We choose to remain close to Him. We choose obedience. We choose repentance. We choose prayer. We choose service. We choose faithfulness. We choose to say yes when Christ calls. In the Parable of the Talents, one servant received one talent and buried it. He did not steal it. He did not destroy it. He simply did nothing with it. When the master returned, the servant had an excuse. But the master condemned him. Why? Because what had been entrusted to him was intended to be used. There is a warning here for Christians who have been given time, abilities, opportunities, spiritual gifts, knowledge, and resources but deliberately refuse to use them for God’s purposes. God did not give you your life merely to consume it. He gave you a life that can be offered back to Him. Jesus also told of a fig tree that was not producing fruit. The owner came looking for fruit and found none. The tree was occupying valuable ground, but it was not fulfilling the purpose for which it existed. That should make us think. What is your Christian life producing? Are people encouraged because you know Christ? Are people helped because you serve? Are people forgiven because you have learned to forgive? Are people hearing the Gospel because you are willing to speak? Are people seeing Christ in your conduct? Are you becoming more patient? More loving? More humble? More truthful? More generous? More courageous? More obedient? Has God given you talents or resources such as public influence, good oratory, conversational skills, a good computer, social media, or other online tools? Use them for Christ. Do you enjoy Christian podcasts, Christian articles, or Christian music? Share them online with others. Do you know someone who is in need or grieving? Be present to them. Let them know you are praying for them. Pray for them! Make a prayer list and pray daily. Pray for this fallen world. Reassure others of the coming of Christ. Use whatever God has entrusted to you to advance His Kingdom and proclaim His Gospel. What fruit is your life producing? You Don’t Have to Be Famous to Be Fruitful You don’t have to be famous to be fruitful. You don’t have to preach to thousands. You don’t have to write books. You don’t have to stand behind a pulpit. A mother raising her children in the faith can be fruitful. A man encouraging a discouraged neighbor can be fruitful. A Christian visiting the lonely can be fruitful. Someone praying faithfully for another person can be fruitful. A believer forgiving an enemy can be fruitful. A Christian refusing to participate in gossip can be fruitful. Someone quietly giving to help another person can be fruitful. Fruitfulness isn’t necessarily spectacular. Sometimes the greatest Christian fruit is produced quietly, where only God sees it. Jesus said: “Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:4 Your life will not be perfect. You will fail. You will sin. You will sometimes become discouraged. You will occasionally make terrible decisions. But don’t confuse failure with fruitlessness. A fruitful Christian is not a perfect Christian. A fruitful Christian is an obedient Christian who keeps turning toward Christ. When he falls, he gets back up. When he sins, he repents. When he fails, he seeks God’s grace. When he becomes discouraged, he keeps walking. When God opens a door, he walks through it. When Christ calls, he responds. That is deliberate Christianity. So don’t merely sit back and hope that your faith is genuine. Pursue Christ. Don’t use salvation by faith as an excuse for spiritual laziness. Bear fruit. Don’t try to earn God’s love through good works. Serve because you have already received His grace. Don’t live as though your life is something that merely happens to you. By the grace of God, choose to make it count. Jesus said: “By their fruit you will recognize them.” And He also said: “I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.” The Christian life is not about earning salvation. It is about living out the salvation you have received. So get up. Pray. Believe. Repent. Obey. Serve. Love. Forgive. Speak. Give. Go. Create content. Share content. Practice charity. Use your talents in any way you can to share the Kingdom of Christ and reach pagans, non-believers, and those who do not yet know Jesus Christ. Bear fruit. You have been given one life. Don’t merely wait to see what happens to it. With Christ, deliberately choose what you will do with it. And may your life bear fruit—not for your own glory, but for the glory of the One who saved you. In Jesus’ name, I pray. AMEN. AMEN. AMEN!

Matthew 18:21-35 Remember the rules of understanding when the Apostle Peter speaks. 1. It's usually emphatic. 2. It's often the entirely the wrong thing to say in the moment. Or, 3. It is usually entirely wrong. And those rules are not broken here. When he asks Jesus how many times we are to forgive our brother he adds a detail. You see, the more liberal of Jewish scholars then believed that forgiveness could be extended to an individual in three separate incidents. In Peter's emphatic nature he says, Lord if i double the three and add one, is that sufficient? And of course this is Peter, so naturally he is wrong on this issue. Jesus said, I'm not giving the number because this isn't about the number this is about being able to forgive from your heart. And don't do a Peter and assume that Jesus is teaching that upon the 50th incident an individual wrongs you, that's it, you don't have to forgive them. So Jesus tells a parable about forgiveness that should chill you to the bone. A king is settling accounts and collecting what is owed him. One servant owed him 10000 talents of silver and this is more than 160,000 years of wages. So when the servant begged for mercy the king forgave him. Now this debt-free man goes out and about he finds another servant who owes him roughly 100 days of wages. And this servant after begging for the same mercy he knew this servant had received earlier was put in jail. Now, servants talk. And some of them got together and informed the king. The king was angry and called the forgiven servant to stand before Him. The king then reinstated the debt that would imprison him, his wife and his children on a permanent basis. Why? Because this individual could not extend the same forgiveness he himself received. And then Jesus emphasizes this, My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.” God has forgiven us. But the warning comes, if you aren't willing to forgive a wrong done against you, if you're unwilling to extend that love and forgiveness you were offered you can't be a true believer in Christ. That's right, our salvation can be affected by our failure to proffer forgiveness from the heart. It's a heavy cost to forgive, it's an even heavier cost to refuse to forgive those who sinned against you. Every time I think about horrible things that others have done to me I have to remember that no one has wronged me more than I have wronged God. Keep that in mind the next time you attempt to question praying for your enemies. It does not matter what they did, it only matters that you forgive them for it. [21] Then Peter came up and said to Him, “Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me and I still forgive him? Up to seven times?” [22] Jesus *said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times. [23] “For this reason the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. [24] And when he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. [25] But since he did not have the means to repay, his master commanded that he be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment be made. [26] So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ [27] And the master of that slave felt compassion, and he released him and forgave him the debt. [28] But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe!’ [29] So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ [30] But he was unwilling, and went and threw him in prison until he would pay back what was owed. [31] So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their master all that had happened. [32] Then summoning him, his master *said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. [33] Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ [34] And his master, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he would repay all that was owed him. [35] My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”

Hello, I would like to share with you the message from 12 August 2026 from “The Good Seed” daily calendar. Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son. … And they began to be merry. (Luke 15:21, 24) Repentance – Conversion – Confession (3) Two days ago, we discussed repentance; yesterday, we talked about conversion. Now comes confession. The young man comes to his father and is accepted by him. It is glorious to see how the father accepts the downcast son. God doesn’t make it difficult for the sinner who comes to Him!  But nevertheless the son confesses, and that is necessary. How does he confess? Firstly, he asks for forgiveness for what he has done wrong (“I have sinned”), and secondly, he acknowledges that he is “no longer worthy”.  He admits, in effect, “I have sinned, and I am a sinner”. Such a confession is necessary to accept the Lord Jesus in faith.  The Apostle John writes about this: “If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Upon our confession, God forgives us completely.  We also see this complete forgiveness of God in the parable: The father doesn’t make the young man his hired servant but wants him back as a son. This is confirmed, among other things, by the fact that the best robe is brought for the son and he is to wear a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. Then the father orders that a fattened calf should be slaughtered to joyfully celebrate the son’s return.  When we believe in Jesus Christ by repenting, turning to God, and confessing our guilt, indescribable joy enters us. Then we are happy people because we live in fellowship with God, our Father. Today’s reading: Joshua 13:1-14 – 1 Corinthians 11:1-19

The Attraction Of Distraction • Adam and Eve were distracted by satan in the garden of Eden. o Genesis 2:15-17  And YHWH Elohim took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And YHWH Elohim commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. o Genesis 3:1-5 Eve is deceived by satan. o Genesis 3:6-7 Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit.  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. • Satan puts distractions in front of us whenever he can. • You see, satan is a master of distraction o Example: My wife and I went out to eat at a restaurant recently a TV was on behind both of us and could easily distract us. • We’ve been in restaurants have TV’s all over the place. • You can’t go anywhere without seeing a TV. (Dr.’s office, auto shop, bank, etc.) • This isn’t the only way that satan has to distract us. • This is BIG distraction (Pull out cell phone). o You might say “Isn’t having a cell phone a good thing?”  “We can keep in touch with our children and spouse when we’re not together.”  “We can get ahold of our family in an emergency!”  “We can keep in contact with friends.” o I’m not saying that all these are not a good reason to have a cell phone. o I’m saying satan can use your cell phone as a distraction.  You get a notification and you become distracted • During prayer. You look to see what it is. • During service. • In the middle of family time. • Satan uses distractions to get our minds off our main goal (This happened while I was typing this line for my teaching! My phone buzzed as I was typing this line and I was about to stop and check my phone). • Distracts us from what? o A total dedication of ourselves to Yahwah  Praying  Reading the word  Witnessing to the lost  Spending time with family and friends  Taking care of the sick and needy in our neighborhoods • Matthew 13:18-23 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. • Psalms 88:15 I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted (H6323 A primitive root meaning to turn, that is, be perplexed.) • 1 Corinthians 7:35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

Jesus has just said that the fate of a person who drags a child into sin is going to be so terrible that it would be better for that man to be drowned in the depths of the sea. He has also said that if one's individual appendages causes one to sin that the fate of being in sin is so horrific that it is a better fate to cut that appendage from your body and cast it away. Jesus was not advocating for bodily mutilation, He was bringing to mind that the penalty for sin is so severe that the horrendous alternatives to the punishment were to be considered minor in comparison. He uses the parable of the shepherd who lost one sheep and the man's response to finding the lost sheep being one of joy. He celebrates the find which necessitated him leaving 99 sheep who had not gone astray. Jesus specifically linked this teaching to the children. And He makes it clear that God is not willing for any of these to be lost. Are we training our children right? Or by following our example are we ‘teaching’ our children to sin in the same ways we do? But Jesus expands on our responsibility for our brethren. He tells us to warn our brothers if they are committing sin. “Show him his fault” If we have a brother or sister in Christ and they are sinning, we have an obligation to pursue them and bring them back to God. It's sad that some will suffer just because we were busy “minding our own business” when we saw a brother in sin. We may not even be successful in the endeavor because his response still has the freewill to reject the opportunity you present. If he chooses to reject your instruction, it is imperative to return with 2 to 3 witnesses. If he refuses to repent, it is time to address it within the church. If he again rejects the opportunity to repent, he is to be treated as an outsider to the church. This is the concept of what some organizations call, ‘shunning’ or ‘excommunication’. So for the churches who proudly admit that their church won't mention ‘sin’ as a selling point for attending their congregation, they are admitting that they are NOT the church of true Christianity. Sin is what sent Jesus to the cross. It was His very foundational reason for even coming the first time. So for organizations to ‘cover’ sin for purposes of advancing progressive doctrines is in itself a sin. What is being discussed here is our commitment to the Gospel. Are we faithful enough to warn a brother or sister that is diving into sinful habits or situations? Are we concerned for the eternal consequences of our temporal lives? We are all being tempted by the same enemy. His goal is to make sure that as many humans as possible end up in Hell with him. His hatred for the creation God intended to be higher than the angels, mankind, is palpable. Satan HATES humans. He knows it's too late for him, so all he can do is cause destruction and pain for us, and that he does on a daily basis. Jesus then discusses the ‘gathering together’ only requiring 2 people. What is this ‘gathering together’? It comes from the word translated ‘church’ which literally means, “the called out ones”. That’s all of us. We were called out of the world to be a part of His people. And when two or three are gathered in the name of Jesus, not only is that a “church” but Jesus is there with the gathered ones. This was in truth the reason we started Porch Ministries. And two years ago, it was myself and a few others who would meet on my front porch for worship, prayer and to be challenged in the things of the Lord. And in that 2 year period I was earnestly desiring to be a part of God's kingdom as one of His witnesses. I was distraught at my physical limitations. I am incapable of going pretty much anywhere. I saw my handicap as a failure on my part. But when Porch Ministries started all I could do was these lessons and pray when asked. Here's the thing, many Christians treat the “I'll pray for you” as an excuse they can't (or won't) do anything else. That is dead wrong. Our ability to gather in His name with Jesus in our midst is one of the most worthwhile, beneficial and powerful works a Christian can do, period. God has taken the prayers I've offered as a believer and within this two year period, we've seen answers to prayer as we reach out, we are preparing to aid a mission in the Philippines where impacts are already being felt and people are being saved. And now we are praying for that mission, two schools in the same city, and we are reaching folks in Pakistan, Uganda, and Michigan. I've seen miraculous answers to prayer, confirmation of God moving in this work and I truly hope you will join us on Lordsbook in the Porch Ministries page. If you are looking for an avenue of service to God, join us! If you've been wanting to see God work and be an integral part of God's kingdom there's no better place than a ministry dedicated to reaching those who churches do not pursue. Addicts, bikers, church-hurt individuals who have for cultural or political reasons been ostracized from a church, not due to sin, but strictly for reasons they couldn't control. Does it matter if i take sin seriously? Yes. Does it matter how i treat prayer? Absolutely. [12] “What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains, and go and search for the one that is lost? [13] And if it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that have not gone astray. [14] So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven for one of these little ones to perish. [15] “Now if your brother sins , go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have gained your brother. [16] But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that on the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter may be confirmed. [17] And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, he is to be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. [18] Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. [19] “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. [20] For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”

Good morning, brethren. Morning devotion for today. MD.i. 😀🌺🌹🎁🎀💝 MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY TUESDAY AUGUST 11, 2O26. "WORKING IN THE KINGDOM (2)" ‘To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given...’ Matthew 25:29 NLT YOUR VALUE in a job is determined by the value you add to the job. When a Christian goes to work each day, God holds them accountable for adding, enhancing and improving things in their workplace. Jesus told the story of three men who were each given money. One was given five bags of it, another two, and another one. The first two ‘…went and traded with them, and gained…’ (Matthew 25:16 NAS). They showed skill, initiative, and made 100 percent profit. So they were commended by their master. But the third man just punched the clock, called in sick, didn’t train, try, dare, or do. So his job review didn’t go too well. And Jesus said something that ought to make us all sit up and take notice: ‘To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.’ That means if your attitude and work ethic are poor, you’re in trouble with God. So, let’s stop and think about your job. If Jesus were your supervisor, would you do your work any differently? How would you answer the phone, type documents, treat your employees, or teach your pupils if Jesus were checking your work? As a citizen of God’s kingdom you need to periodically review your attitude on the job, solicit feedback on how you can grow, demonstrate love and grace to those you work with, make your company profitable, and enjoy the work you do. Bible In A Year: Josh 2:1-24, Acts 9:20-30. 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. [10/08, 9:23 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) TUESDAY 11TH AUGUST, 2026``` *HEALING THROUGH REPENTANCE* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🤢😩😭✝️🩸🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽🙌🏽 📜📜```TEXT:HOSEA 6:1-3```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up" (HOSEA 6:1).*_ *In 1949, a remarkable spiritual revival swept through the Scottish Hebrides Islands, known today as the Hebrides Revival. At that time, churches were nearly empty, and the younger generation had grown indifferent to the faith. Two elderly women, Peggy and Christine Smith, deeply burdened by the spiritual decline, began fervent prayer for God to awaken their community to righteousness. Their prayers were anchored in repentance and a return to the Lord. Soon, other believers joined them in prayer. One night, a young man leading the prayer meeting read from Psalm 24:3, 4: "Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart..." He cried out, "Is my heart clean? Are my hands pure?" That honest moment of repentance sparked a spiritual breakthrough, and soon people across the island began confessing their sins, turning back to God, and experiencing profound spiritual healing.* *In our text, the prophet calls God's people to repentance. The passage begins with a heartfelt plea for repentance and return to the Lord. It reflects Israel's realisation that they had strayed from God and were suffering the consequences of their rebellion. Yet, despite their waywardness, God desired to restore and revive them if they genuinely repented. The promises of being "revived after two days" and "restored on the third day" symbolised God's readiness to bring spiritual renewal to those who returned to Him.* *Christians today have important lessons to learn. True healing, whether it is healing from guilt, broken relationships, spiritual dryness or backsliding, begins with repentance. It is not just about feeling remorse but about acknowledging your sins, seeking God's forgiveness, and making a decisive turn toward Him.* *In our modern world, temptations and sin often pull people away from God. But just as the Hebrides Revival demonstrated, God responds powerfully to repentance. When believers humble themselves and call upon God for themselves or others, He is faithful to heal, restore, and pour out His blessings. For those who need healing today, they should return to the Lord, so He can bind up their wounds and revive their spirit.* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*Repentance opens the door to restoration.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *JOB 9-12*📜📜 [10/08, 9:23 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```TUESDAY 11TH AUGUST, 2026``` *HUMILIATION OF THE HAUGHTY* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🤨⚠️‼️🛑❌👎🏽⚖️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:ISAIAH 3:14-26```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"Therefore the LORD will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts" (ISAIAH 3:17).*_ *A haughty person is one who is proud of himself or herself. Many youths are guilty of pride because they fail to recognise God as the Giver of all things and to Him alone all glories must return. Pride is dangerous to your spiritual wellbeing, as God hates pride.* *Saint Augustine was correct when he affirmed that "It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels." Pride cost the devil the opportunity of living eternally with God after he revolted against the authority of God in heaven.* *Young people of nowadays demonstrate pride because of their beauty or handsomeness, wears, education, family wealth and position in the society. Pride cost the devil and the fallen angels the kingdom of God, and would cost those who still indulge it.* *God frowns on pride among His children because all are equal before God and no one should look down on others. His judgment awaits every single soul, whether rich or poor, educated or uneducated, and so on. If you fail to kill pride now, it will kill you later.* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*Kill pride now!*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Pride is dangerous.*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Father, take haughty attitude away from me.*_ [10/08, 9:23 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```TUESDAY 11TH AUGUST, 2026``` *JESUS WEPT* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️😢😭🙏🏽 📜📜```JOHN 11:33-36```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"Jesus wept" (John 11:35).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 *Jesus Christ is God in human flesh. He came into the world to identify with our sufferings and troubles. He came to bear our burdens and carry our sorrows.* Hundreds of years before Jesus was born, Prophet Isaiah spoke about what He would do. He said He would be a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. This was exactly what Jesus did when He was on earth. He is loving and compassionate. Our Bible passage shows one aspect of the nature of Christ. Getting to the house of His friends whose brother had died, Jesus, moved with compassion wept openly. It was the highest show of love from God to His creature. Jesus is teaching us here that weeping is not a sign of weakness. It is a way to identify with those who are hurting. At the end, Jesus raised Lazarus from death. *Are you sad or lonely? Are you suffering in any way? Remember, Jesus cares for you. He does not want you to suffer. Call upon Him in time of trouble, and you will experience His comforting arms of love.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*Compassionate Jesus, give me the grace to lean on You in times of trouble.*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *Matthew 11:28* [10/08, 9:23 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA* TUESDAY, 11TH AUGUST, 2026. *PATHWAY TO RESTORATION AND REVIVAL* *TEXT:* HOSEA 6:1-3. 1Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. 2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. 3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. *Timeless Truth:*_"Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth"_ (Hosea 6:3). *INTRODUCTION* "Return, "Revival", "Refresh" and "Restoration" are some of the words used in Biblical and Christian circles that show that something good and precious have been lost or missing and appropriate efforts should be made to get those things back. All these show man's deliberate responsibilities in order to keep the blessings of God for a long time . In 1948, a released christian newsletter during the time of revivalist Abraham Branham reads. “All the great outpourings of the past have had their outstanding truths. Luther’s truth was Justification by Faith. Wesley’s was Sanctification. The Baptists taught the premillennial coming of Christ. The Missionary Alliance taught Divine Healing. The Pentecostal outpouring has restored the Baptism of the Holy Ghost to its rightful place. But, the next great outpouring is going to be marked by all these other truths plus such a demonstration of the nine gifts of the Spirit as the world, not even the Apostolic world, has ever witnessed before. This revival will be short and will be the last before the Rapture of the Church.” The consolation and joy is that whatever great and wonderful experiences we have enjoyed in the past can still be restored by God if man does the needful. This is the message of Hosea to Israel and the godly. *1. Call to Return to God* a. Adam, representing the man of all ages, started with God, but departed from God and many woes followed. In order to vacate the woes, the message of God is simple, return to God. All the woes, challenges, calamities, anguish, backslidings and challenges of man have only one divine prescription: Return to God. Returning to God requires turning or change. Man is generally, reluctant to change. This is one of Newton's Laws of Motion. Willingness to turn is generally, where the problem of man lies. The turning to God requires acceptance of wrongs towards God, decisions with appropriate steps and asking God for forgiveness without self justification. It involves deliberate action of repentance. Repentance from what cause the loss of good old blessings, including repentance from sin, unforgiving spirit, bitterness against neighbours and perhaps God, love of the world, selective obedience to the command of God in any area etc., are just what God is looking for before He pours down His blessings afresh. God did not see that turning or repentance in Adam and Eve. Both of them were busy giving excuses and blaming each other. Neither fully admitted his/her obvious wrong and neither fully repented and returned to God. The repercussion was that they never got the blessing they lost back. They were driven from the beautiful, blessed and blissful garden. If they had returned to God with words of soberness and repentance, the story would have been different for them and the whole humanity. All lost blessings from God are only returned after turning and repentance from the root cause. b. The message of God is the same. *"Come, and let us return unto the LORD"*. Stop the blame game. Stop the murmuring and complain. The promise of God for the repentant is valid at all times and in all generations. *"For he hath torn, and he will heal us"*. When your garment of glory is torn, when your shining regalia of blessings is torn, when the source of your joy is torn, the immediate and uncompromisable demand of God and solution is to turn to God. *"He hath smitten, and he will bind us up"*. This is a word of assurance for those who take the courage to turn from their evil ways, carelessness and compromise. *Question* Assess your life where you have departed from God and your old consecration to God and His word. Are you willing to turn? Start today. *2. Comforting Revival Through Grace* a. Has Israel not gone too far to an irredeemable damnable and bitter experience? God, through Hosea says NO. When there is possibility and willingness to turn, the promise to restore and revive is always unbreakable. Jesus said, *"the scripture cannot be broken."* Hosea used the picture of Calvary and the resurrection of Jesus on the third day to show the reality and restoration of revival for dead bones. *"After two days will he revive us"*. After two days is the third day including all other days after the third day. It shows the beginning of revival on the third day and the continuity of revival after the third day. *"In the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight"*. The resurrection of Jesus Christ has assurably made possible the restoration of any dead soul and experiences even when it appears they are already stinking spiritually in the grave. b. The parable of dead bones in Ezekiel 37 shows that revival and restoration is possible when the Word of God is given a prominent and final say in the life of an individual, family, church or nation. All the revivals the Church has experienced in different ages at a time of total darkness were as a result of giving the Word of God the first and unquestionably place. The same applies to any individual that needs revival. Taking the Word of God at face values drives to repentance including burdened and persistent prayers. Once this is done, the rain will definitely fall and there will be repentance and restoration. *Question* Are you desirous of revival and restoration of past glories in your life? From the explanation above, what is your decision? *3. Continuous Refreshment unto Glory* a. Why blessings are lost and revival is gone is because of lack of continuity in the Old faith and consecration that brought the revival in the first place. Jesus said, *"If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples in deed"*. Disciples in deeds are different from disciples in the mouth to profession. Continuity is the key. *"Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD"*. Continuous following leads to deeper knowledge and deeper knowledge is manifested by continuous following. *"His going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth"*. The former rain is to prepare the ground for planting while the latter rain is to prepare the crop for harvesting. It is the harvesting that is generally seen, but not the planting time of rigour and sacrifice. He that sows, though not seen by many should sow in hope because harvesting is certain. Rain of the Holy Spirit is needed to sow the seed of repentance, intercession and consecration while rain of the Holy Spirit is also needed to enjoy the harvest of refreshment, restoration and revival. Continuity in sowing the seed of the Word of God and wetting it with tears of prayers and acts of consecration will bring the abundant rain and there will be overflowing joy, revival and restoration again. *Question* Are you determined to continue getting deeper into the Word, prayer and consecration without giving up until the rain falls and there are blessings and visitations from heaven again? *Prayer Points* 1.Lord, open my eyes to areas that I need to turn to you afresh and make me willing to pay the price of turning 🙏. 2.Give me the rain of the Spirit that will help me to sow with tears and deeper consecration until the abundant rain falls on my soul, nation and church 🙏. 3.I ask for power and determination to continue seeking your face without giving up and backing out 🙏. 4.Father, send the rain and awaken your Church to true restoration and revival 🙏. *HYMN:* Come Holy Spirit. *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* JOB 9-12. 2. Morning Prayer fir today. MP.i. Morning Prayer For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin. ⏤ Hebrews 4:15 He is never nearer than when we are tempted. ⏤ E.M. Bounds O Jesus, we thank You for living this human life with us, knowing all about our experiences. You became a man. You were tempted in every way, just as we are, and understand what temptation is like. It comforts us to know that You understand our struggles and that we can rely on Your sympathy. Help us today, O Jesus, to overcome every temptation. Stand by us and do not let us fall into darkness in any moment of trial. We are also grateful that You know all about sorrow. You have experienced every depth of human pain. There is no sorrow unknown to You, no grief that You cannot understand. Life brings us sorrows, sometimes very deep ones. No human friend can fully understand them. Our loved ones want to help us but cannot take away our pain or give us true comfort. Earth has no sufficient consolation for us. So we turn to You, O Jesus, and ask for Your help in our sorrows. We want to bear them sweetly, without complaining. We want to receive the blessing that comes with every pain or suffering, a blessing that is often missed. Teach us how to suffer according to Your will. Give us true comfort that enables us to endure whatever pain or trial we must face. Help us to grow stronger and kinder in every affliction. May Your sympathy bless us, lifting us into deeper fellowship with You. We ask all this in Your precious name, Jesus our Savior. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/37/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

And he arose and came to his father. For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God. Luke 15:20; 1 Thessalonians 1:9 Yesterday, we saw that repentance is part of faith in Jesus Christ. It‘s an inner change of mind, a rethinking about God and about myself. After his change of mind, the young man in the parable of the prodigal son resolves, “I will arise and go to my father”. And he doesn’t stop at this resolution but puts it into action: he indeed rises and goes to his father. When the Bible speaks of conversion, it means this literal turning to God. Repentance has to do with our hearts: we think differently in our hearts when we repent. Conversion, on the other hand, has to do with our feet. In conversion, we – figuratively speaking – change the direction in which we are heading, and this becomes evident in our lives. Regarding the Christians in Thessalonica, it is said that they turned from idols “to serve the living and true God”. This example shows us what conversion is: on one side, the idols; on the other side, the living and true God. Idols are goals, desires, hobbies, friendships or things to which my heart clings and which hinder me from living entirely for God. And now I turn away from the idols and turn to the living and true God. Previously, I was on a path of life that led me away from God. Now I turn to God. I go a completely different way. I make a U-turn of 180 degrees. That is conversion. (to be concluded tomorrow) Today’s reading: Joshua 12:1-24 · 1 Corinthians 10:23-33 https://gbv-online.org/calendar/262/date/2026-08-11

THE CALVARY MINISTRY ONLINE The Gospel From Calvary MONDAY 10TH AUGUST, 2026 THE REJECTED STONE BECAME THE CORNERSTONE ✝️🪨👑 📜 TEXT: MARK 12:1-44 📜 🔑📖 KEY VERSE: "And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?" (MARK 12:10-11). In Mark 12, the chief priests and elders tried to trap Jesus, but He exposed their hearts with truth. In three powerful scenes, He shows us who He truly is. First, He told the parable of the vineyard. The owner sent servants and finally his beloved son, and the husbandmen killed the son to seize the inheritance. Jesus was that beloved Son. Men rejected Him, killed Him at Calvary, but God raised Him up to become the Cornerstone of our salvation. Second, they asked about tribute to Caesar. He said, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." We have duties to men, but our soul, our worship, and our all belong to God. Third, He was asked for the greatest commandment. He answered, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God... and thy neighbour as thyself." All the law hangs on love — love for God and love for men. Without love, religion is empty. The chapter ends with a poor widow who cast in all she had — two mites. Jesus said she gave more than all the rich. God does not measure your giving by amount, but by heart. Three truths from Mark 12: One, Jesus is the Rejected Stone who became the Cornerstone. Men may reject Him still, but there is no salvation outside Him. Two, true faith loves God wholly and loves man sincerely. Three, God sees the heart of the giver, not the size of the gift. ✍🏽 THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: The builders rejected Him on earth, but God made Him the Cornerstone of eternity — what will you do with Jesus? 📜 THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: PSALMS 76-78