THAT WAS THEN. THIS IS NOW. BUT WHAT HAPPENED THEN CAN HAPPEN AGAIN.

When we read the book of Acts, we see a church marked by boldness, prayer, sacrifice, biblical conviction, community, mission, and an unwavering commitment to Jesus Christ.

https://patrickryanlewis.com/2026/08/23/that-was-then-this-is-now-but-it-can-happen-again/

The early church wasn't perfect. Scripture openly records its struggles, disagreements, and failures. But there was something unmistakable about those believers:

Christ had the preeminence.
 They feared God more than people.
 They prayed believing God could move.
 They were willing to sacrifice for the gospel.
 They lived with eternity in view.
 They confronted sin while extending grace.
 They cared deeply about reaching people with Jesus.

The question isn't whether we can somehow recreate the first century.
The question is whether we are willing to recover those same spiritual priorities in the twenty-first century.
Before pointing at everything wrong with the church today, we should ask:

Lord, what needs to change in me?

Am I more concerned with God's approval or people's approval?
Am I willing to stand for truth when it costs me something?
Is Jesus truly first in my life?
Do I pray expecting God to work?
Am I more passionate about the gospel than my preferences?
Do I live like eternity is real?

We don't simply need better programs, bigger churches, or newer strategies.

We need Christ-centered churches filled with surrendered people who believe the gospel is true, Jesus is alive, eternity is real, and the mission is worth our lives.

Maybe our prayer needs to become very simple:

Lord, do it again.

Read the full blog and consider what it would look like for the church—and for each of us individually—to recover the passion, courage, holiness, prayer, and mission we see in the book of Acts.

#ChurchRevival #BookOfActs #JesusChrist #ChristianLiving #BiblicalTruth #Faith #Prayer #Repentance #GreatCommission #Gospel #FollowJesus #ChristianChurch #SpiritualRenewal

SPEAKING HIS MIND......

A Wake-Up Call to Every Believer

By Apostle Jeremiah Nyamvura

Scripture Reading: Revelation 3:14-22

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." — Revelation 3:22

DEVOTION: WHEN GOD SPEAKS, THE CHURCH MUST LISTEN

There are moments in history when God does not only want to comfort His people; He wants to correct, awaken, and redirect them. We are living in days where many voices are competing for the attention of believers — the voice of culture, the voice of human wisdom, the voice of materialism, and the voice of personal desires. Yet above all these voices, there is still a voice that must be heard: the voice of God.

God is speaking His mind in these days.

He is calling His people back to prayer.
He is calling His people back to holiness.
He is calling His people back to truth.
He is calling His people back to a genuine relationship with Him.

The greatest danger facing believers today is not only persecution from outside the church, but spiritual blindness within the church. A person can be surrounded by spiritual activities and still lose sensitivity to the voice of God.

Jesus warned the church of Laodicea that they had become lukewarm. They thought they were rich, successful, and in need of nothing, but spiritually they were poor, blind, and naked. This is a powerful warning for our generation: we must never measure spiritual health by outward appearance, popularity, wealth, or human approval.

God is looking for hearts that are surrendered.

A CALL TO WAKE UP

Romans 13:11 says:

"It is time to wake up from your sleep, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed."

This is a divine alarm ringing over the body of Christ. Many believers have become comfortable when they should be watchful. Many have become distracted when they should be focused. Many have become silent when they should be declaring the truth of God.

The enemy does not always destroy faith through open attacks; sometimes he destroys faith through gradual compromise. Little by little, prayer becomes less important. The Word of God becomes less valued. Sin becomes acceptable. The fear of God becomes forgotten.

But today, God is calling His people to arise.

GOD IS RESTORING TRUE WORSHIP

The days we are living in require believers who do not only speak about God but walk with God.

God is not impressed by religious performance without obedience. He is not looking for crowds without commitment. He is not looking for people who only seek His blessings but refuse His correction.

True worship begins when our hearts are completely surrendered to Him.

Jesus said in John 4:23:

"The true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth."

The world needs believers who carry the presence of God. Families need believers who demonstrate Christ-like character. Communities need believers who are examples of righteousness and love.

DO NOT LOSE YOUR SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT

In Matthew 24:24, Jesus warned that deception would increase in the last days. This means every believer must grow in spiritual maturity and discernment.

Not everything that looks spiritual is from God.
Not every voice that mentions God represents God.
Not every opportunity is a divine opportunity.

We must return to the Word of God, because the Word gives us direction, correction, and protection.

A MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH TODAY

Beloved believer, this is the hour to examine your heart.

Ask yourself:

- Am I still passionate about the things of God?
- Has my love for Christ grown stronger or weaker?
- Am I seeking God or only seeking what God can give me?
- Am I living as a light in a dark world?

God is not calling us to fear the days ahead; He is calling us to prepare for them.

A prepared believer will not be shaken by confusion.
A praying believer will not be overcome by fear.
A believer rooted in Christ will stand when everything else is changing.

PRAYER

Father, open our spiritual ears so that we may hear Your voice clearly. Remove every distraction that has taken our attention away from You. Restore our hunger for Your Word, our passion for prayer, and our desire for holiness.

Help us to be faithful witnesses in these last days. Let our lives reflect Christ wherever we go. Wake up Your church and prepare us for the coming of Your Kingdom.

In Jesus Christ's name, Amen.

"The greatest need of this generation is not more noise; it is a people who can hear the voice of God."

— Apostle Jeremiah Nyamvura- Voice in the Wilderness @ Pointing you to Jesus Christ.
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August 24, 2026 (day 236/365)
MONDAY

GOD'S WORD FOR THE DAY

“Serving God With a Willing Heart”

1 Chronicles 12:38

“All these men of war, who could keep ranks, came to Hebron with a loyal heart, to make David king over all Israel.”

This is the Word of God. 1 Chronicles 12 describes how men from different tribes came together to support David and unite Israel. Though they came from different backgrounds, they shared one purpose and gave themselves willingly to something greater than themselves.

God also calls us to serve with a loyal and willing heart. Our gifts, abilities, and backgrounds may be different, but when our hearts are united in God's purpose, He can use us powerfully.

The question is not simply whether we have something to offer, but whether we are willing to offer it wholeheartedly. God can accomplish great things through people who are united, faithful, and willing to serve.

May God give us loyal hearts, willing spirits, and a shared passion to serve His purposes faithfully wherever He has placed us. Amen.

Have a blessed day with the Lord.

-- Pastor Emmanuel Serto

From the viewpoint of God’s eternal purpose, the church exists to be
• the incarnation and manifestation of the ultimate passion of God
• the organic expression and physical extension of the Trinitarian Community
• the corporate image-bearer of the Lord Jesus Christ on the earth
• the family of God
• the divine building whereby every living stone is being transformed, reshaped, and fitted together to form the Lord’s temple
• the colonial outpost of the coming kingdom
• the masterpiece of God
• the spiritual “Bethany” where Jesus of Nazareth is received, obeyed, and adored in the midst of a rejecting world
• the vessel in which the power of Christ’s resurrection life is visibly displayed
• the object of God’s supreme affection and delight
• the willing vehicle for Christ’s manifested presence
• the torchbearer of the testimony of Jesus
• the “one new man”—the new species—the “third race”
• the fiancée of Jesus Christ—His very body, His very bride
• the new humanity marked out in the Son of God before time and brought into existence by His cross
• the Christian’s native habitat
• the spiritual environment where face-to-face encounters between the bride and Bridegroom take place
• the living witness to the fullness and headship of God’s Son
• the colony from heaven that bears the image of its Ruler

Lifeline Today
Saturday August 22
Loving the Word of God
Oh, how I love Your law! it is my meditation all the day. Psalm 119:97 (NKJV)

Four steps to loving the Word start with trusting the God of the Word. If you don’t really regard God as fully and entirely trustworthy, you will not love hearing Him speak to you. The second step is studying the Word. If God’s Word really is true, then you ought to commit yourself to be a diligent student of the Word through reading, memorizing, meditating, and embracing it with your mind as well as your hearts.

The third step is using or applying the Word. It is one thing to believe and know the Word, it is another thing to rely on it for direction, counsel, strength, light in the darkness, victory, and comfort in affliction. The Bible is a living book. It is the ‘place’ where the God of the universe meets with us and manifests Himself to us. The fourth step is obeying the Word. The Word is commandment to obey, promise to claim and truth to believe. Anyone who claims he loves God but despises His Word is living a life of contradiction. This is your day.

Wisdom Fountain: “The Word of God shapes our steps and feeds our hearts like sweet honey.”
Prayer: Heavenly Father, create in me a deep and lasting hunger for Your Holy Word. Soften my heart, remove distractions, and give me a true passion to read, cherish, and live out Your truth every single day in Jesus’ name.

In its original context, God promised His people who were exiled in Babylon that He would watch over them, restore, rebuild, bring about a spiritual renewal, and grant them a heart that truly longs for Him.

The grace and favor of God were revealed to us at their fullest through Jesus. When we surrender our lives to Jesus, He begins to transform our hearts, rebuild our brokenness, establish us in the faith, and enable us to have a personal and intimate relationship with Him.

When God's favor rests on us, we are assured of His presence, peace, protection, provision, and favor with people, along with a divine passion and purpose that spurs us on to be a blessing to others.

Have a happy day, and let's never forfeit the favor of God for favors from men.
Esther Collins
Based on Jeremiah 24:6-7

MEL GIBSON’S RESURRECTION EPIC PROMISES TO GO FAR BEYOND THE EMPTY TOMB
Mel Gibson has revealed new details about his long-awaited follow-up to the 2004 blockbuster The Passion of the Christ.
Titled The Resurrection of the Christ, the biblical epic has been filmed as two full-length movies. Production has now wrapped after 134 days of filming across several locations in Italy.
Gibson says the story will be much broader than a simple retelling of Easter morning. The films will reportedly travel beyond Jerusalem into Damascus, Rome, Egypt and the desert, with massive sets constructed to bring the ancient world to life.
The project is expected to explore the Resurrection, the spiritual realm and the events surrounding the birth and growth of the early Church. Gibson has described it as a deeply personal mission that he has carried for more than 20 years.
A new cast will lead the story, with Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen portraying Jesus. The first film is scheduled for release on 6th May 2027, with the second planned for 25th May 2028 - both dates coinciding with Ascension Day.
For Christians, however, the greatest excitement is not merely another biblical film. It is the opportunity for millions of people to once again hear the message at the heart of the Gospel:
JESUS CHRIST WAS CRUCIFIED - BUT THE GRAVE COULD NOT HOLD HIM!
As with every film inspired by Scripture, viewers should compare what appears on screen with the truth of God’s Word. The power is not found in Hollywood’s interpretation—the power is found in the historical reality that Jesus Christ is risen!
“He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.”
—Matthew 28:6
“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day.”
—1 Corinthians 15:3–4
THE CROSS WAS NOT THE END
THE RESURRECTION CHANGED EVERYTHING !
( Courtesy: Kevin Evans of facebook )

The Prophet Jeremiah faced untold suffering, mockings, beatings, and rejection for being the voice of God. At breaking point Jeremiah decided to stay silent, but the message of God burned within him so that he could not contain it.

Every believer in Jesus is called to be His witness. The passion to serve God and proclaim the gospel must so consume us, that we will never miss an opportunity to boldly testify about the Lord Jesus, and share the Good News that can transform lives.

When people of this world are drowning with the noises of constant screens, busy schedules, and loud opinions, we must speak up for God's truth, righteousness, and justice.

Have a beautiful day, and let's not silence the voice of God within us, but speak up when we should.
Esther Collins
Based on Jeremiah 20:9

August 20th, 2026
Read; Romans 15:5-6

As we follow Jesus, the Spirit of God will bring us together. But being united is about a lot more than just getting along. Jesus prayed that we would all be one so that the world would know that God sent Jesus into the world as His Son (John 17). We want to be one so that when we praise God, it will bring Him honor. Unity isn't just a goal; unity is a way for the world to learn about Jesus. We also praise the Father, who sent Jesus to save us. Living for Jesus is all about bringing other people to Jesus and giving God the glory. Let's make unity our passion!

Prayer
I'm sorry for everything I've done and said that has hurt members of Your family or damaged the unity of Your Church. Great and Almighty God, Eternal Strength for all who call on Your name, I beg Your pardon. Bless me as I strive to do less of my own will, live for Your glory, and inspire others. In Jesus' precious name, I pray. Amen.

DOMINION DAILY DEVOTION ~ DAY 232
DATE: 20TH AUGUST 2026
TOPIC: UNITY GIVES US VICTORY
ANCHOR SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 11:6 (NKJV)
“Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.”
Devotional message:

Yesterday, we saw that when God's people dwell together in unity, the Lord commands His blessing upon them. Today, we discover another dimension of unity: unity strengthens the Church for spiritual warfare.

An army cannot effectively defeat an enemy when its soldiers are fighting among themselves. A divided camp becomes vulnerable because its strength is scattered. In the same way, the Church cannot effectively confront the darkness around her while believers are constantly fighting one another.

Throughout Scripture, we see occasions where God brought victory to Israel by causing confusion among their enemies, so that they turned against one another. The enemy's unity was broken, and their strength collapsed.

This teaches us something important: division weakens a people, while unity strengthens them.

We are soldiers in the army of Christ. Our ultimate enemy is not another believer, denomination, congregation, or minister. We are engaged in a spiritual battle against the kingdom of darkness.

Paul reminds us:Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age...”

Therefore, we must be careful not to spend the strength that God gave us to advance His Kingdom fighting one another.

There is room for different denominations, congregations, ministries, expressions, and gifts within the body of Christ. Our differences should not become weapons against one another.

Paul described the Church as one body with many members. The hand has a different function from the eye, yet both belong to the same body. Likewise, we may have different assignments, but we have one Lord, one faith, and one mission.

Jesus prayed for His followers:John 17:21 (NKJV)
“That they all may be one... that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

Our unity is therefore not merely about making the Church comfortable; it is part of our witness to the world.

The enemy understands the power of united believers. That is why he continually seeks to introduce jealousy, competition, offence, denominational superiority, suspicion, gossip, and unnecessary disputes among God's people.

But when the Church speaks with one voice, serves with one heart, and advances under the government of Christ, her collective strength becomes far greater.

Think about the early Church. They were devoted to fellowship, prayer, the Word, and one another. Their unity created an environment in which the Gospel spread with extraordinary power, and many were added to the Church.

Child of God, do not fight your fellow soldier when there is a kingdom of darkness to confront.

Do not allow denominational differences to make you forget that we belong to one body. Do not allow personal differences to destroy the larger assignment. Where correction is necessary, let it be done biblically and in love. Where differences arise, pursue peace without compromising truth.

There is still darkness in our communities, families, nations, and institutions that needs the light of Christ. The Church has a responsibility to arise together and shine.

A united Church carries a united strength. A divided Church dissipates its strength.

Therefore, let us stand together, pray together, serve together, preach Christ together, and advance the Kingdom together.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father,Teach us to recognize that our true battle is not against one another but against the kingdom of darkness. Give Your Church one heart, one language, one purpose, and one passion for Christ.May the Church arise in unity and demonstrate the power of the Gospel to our generation.In Jesus' name, Amen.

DAILY BIBLE READING
Gen 11:1–9,Judg 7:19–25,Ephes 6:10–18,John 17:20–23,1 Cor 12:12–27

Author : Alfred Wabuko Manyasi
Contact :
Email : DominionvoicesminisrtyAnderson Mwila.com
Facebook : Alfred Wabuko Manyasi
Dominion Daily Devotion, 2026
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