TODAY'S KINGDOM INSIGHTS: SERMON TOPIC: THE REAL REASON BARABBAS WAS SET FREE AND NOT JESUS. Main Text: Matthew 27:15–26; Mark 15:6–15; Luke 23:13–25; John 18:38–40 There are moments in Scripture that make us stop and ask, “How could this happen?” Jesus was innocent. Barabbas was guilty. Jesus healed the sick. Barabbas was a criminal. Jesus preached love, forgiveness, and the Kingdom of God. Barabbas was associated with rebellion and violence. Yet the crowd shouted: “Release Barabbas!” And concerning Jesus: “Crucify Him!” It looks like injustice won. But here is the deeper truth: Barabbas was not simply released because Jesus lost the argument. Barabbas was released because Jesus was going to take his place. The story of Barabbas is actually a picture of the Gospel. Barabbas represents the guilty sinner. Jesus represents the innocent Savior. Barabbas walked away free because Jesus walked toward the cross. And that is the mystery of grace: The guilty goes free because the innocent One takes his place. 1. BARABBAS WAS GUILTY, BUT JESUS WAS INNOCENT Pilate examined Jesus and repeatedly found no sufficient reason to condemn Him. Luke 23:22 says: «“I have found no reason for death in Him.”» Jesus was innocent. But Barabbas had committed serious crimes. Mark 15:7 tells us that Barabbas had been involved in rebellion and murder. So, humanly speaking, the choice should have been obvious. But the crowd chose Barabbas. Why? Because the cross was not an accident. Jesus had already declared that He came to give His life for others. Mark 10:45 says: «“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”» Jesus knew why He came. He came to become the substitute. Spiritual Insight Sometimes we ask, “Why did Jesus have to die?” The answer is partly found in Barabbas. Someone had to bear the consequence of sin. And Jesus willingly took that place. 2. BARABBAS RECEIVED WHAT JESUS DESERVED This is the shocking part of the story. Barabbas deserved punishment. Jesus deserved no punishment. Yet Barabbas walked out of prison. Jesus walked toward Golgotha. Barabbas went free. Jesus was condemned. Barabbas was released. Jesus was crucified. This is substitution. The guilty person goes free because the innocent person takes his place. Isaiah 53:5 declares: «“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities.”» Notice the language: Our transgressions. Our iniquities. Our punishment. The cross was personal. Jesus was not dying because He had sinned. He was dying because we had sinned. Think About This Barabbas probably did not understand everything that was happening. He may have walked out of that prison wondering how he escaped death. But we know something he may not have understood: Another Man died in his place. And spiritually, that is our story. We were guilty. Christ took our place. 3. THE RELEASE OF BARABBAS REVEALS THE DEPTH OF GOD'S GRACE Grace is not God pretending that sin does not matter. Grace is God dealing with sin through the sacrifice of Christ. Romans 5:8 says: «“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”» That means Jesus did not wait for us to become perfect before He loved us. He loved us while we were still sinners. Barabbas did not earn his freedom. He did not negotiate his release. He did not pay the governor. He simply received an unexpected release. That is grace. Grace is receiving what you could never earn because someone else paid the price. You cannot boast about salvation. You cannot say, “I saved myself.” No. Jesus saved you. 4. THE CROWD CHOSE BARABBAS, BUT GOD WAS WORKING THROUGH THE CROSS The crowd thought they were making the final decision. But heaven had already established a redemptive purpose. Acts 2:23 says that Jesus was delivered according to the “determined purpose and foreknowledge of God.” This does not mean the people were innocent. Their choices were still sinful. But God was able to accomplish His redemptive plan through what sinful people intended for evil. This is one of the mysteries of God's sovereignty. People thought: “We are getting rid of Jesus.” God was accomplishing: “I am providing salvation for humanity.” The cross looked like defeat. But it became victory. The grave looked like the end. But resurrection was coming. Never Judge God's Work Too Early There may be seasons in your life when everything looks like it is going in the wrong direction. But remember Calvary. Friday looked like defeat. Sunday revealed the victory. Do not conclude the story while God is still writing it. 5. BARABBAS IS A PICTURE OF EVERY SINNER WHO RECEIVES SALVATION We often read the story and say: “Why did they release Barabbas?” But there is another question: “What if I were Barabbas?” What if you were the one sitting in that prison? What if you knew punishment was coming? What if you knew you were guilty? Then suddenly, the story becomes personal. Barabbas walked out because Jesus took his place. And every person who comes to Christ in genuine faith can say: “I deserved judgment, but Christ took my place.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 says: «“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”» That is the Gospel. Jesus took our place so that we could receive His righteousness. BIBLICAL CASE STUDY: THE CROSS Look at the sequence. Barabbas: Guilty. Jesus: Innocent. Barabbas: Imprisoned. Jesus: Free. Barabbas: Released. Jesus: Condemned. Barabbas: Walked away. Jesus: Walked toward the cross. Barabbas: Lived because another died. Believers: Receive eternal life because Christ died and rose again. The cross is therefore more than a religious symbol. It is the place where justice and mercy met. Justice says sin must be dealt with. Mercy says sinners can be saved. At the cross, Jesus bore the judgment so that mercy could reach us. PRACTICAL LESSONS FOR CHRISTIANS. 1. Never take salvation for granted. You were not saved because you were better than someone else. You were saved by grace. Therefore, remain humble. 2. Stop trying to earn God's love You cannot work your way into salvation. Serve God because you love Him, not because you are trying to purchase His acceptance. 3. Forgive others If Christ has forgiven you, you must learn to extend forgiveness to others. 4. Live like someone who has been set free Barabbas walked out of prison. The believer has also been delivered from the dominion of sin. Do not keep living like a prisoner when Christ has made you free. 5. Tell someone about Jesus Your testimony may be simple: “I was guilty, but Jesus took my place.” That is powerful enough. QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION 1. Have I truly understood what Jesus accomplished for me on the cross? 2. Am I trying to earn God's acceptance instead of receiving His grace? 3. Do I live like someone who has been set free? 4. Have I truly repented of my sins? 5. Who can I tell about the saving grace of Jesus Christ? 6. Do I extend to others the same mercy I have received from Christ? POWERFUL PRAYER POINTS 1. Prayer of Thanksgiving Father, thank You for sending Jesus Christ to take my place. Thank You for Your mercy and grace. I will never take my salvation for granted. In Jesus' name, Amen. 2. Prayer of Repentance Lord Jesus, forgive me for every sin, disobedience, pride, and rebellion in my life. Cleanse me and help me walk faithfully with You. Amen. 3. Prayer for Freedom Every chain of sin, addiction, fear, and spiritual bondage in my life, break in the name of Jesus. I declare that whom the Son sets free is free indeed. Amen. 4. Prayer for Grace Father, help me to understand the depth of Your grace and to live every day with gratitude for what Christ has done for me. Amen. 5. Prayer for Others Lord, use my life to bring other Barabbases to Jesus—people who feel condemned, rejected, broken, and far from You. Let my testimony point them to the cross. Amen. DEEP SPIRITUAL TRUTH Here is the heart of the message: Barabbas was released, not because he was innocent, but because another took his place. And that is the Gospel. We are not saved because we are perfect. We are saved because Jesus is perfect. We are not accepted because we deserve it. We are accepted because Christ paid the price. We are not standing before God because of our righteousness. We stand because of His righteousness. The cross says: “Your sin is serious, but God's grace is greater.” CALL TO ACTION Today, do not simply admire the story of Barabbas. See yourself in it. You were guilty. Christ took your place. You were condemned. Christ bore the condemnation. You were far from God. Christ opened the way back to the Father. The question is not merely: “Why was Barabbas released?” The deeper question is: “What will I do with the Jesus who took my place?” Will you continue living for yourself? Or will you surrender your life completely to Him? Will you keep returning to the prison of sin? Or will you walk in the freedom Christ purchased for you? Jesus took your place. Now give Him your life. «“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” — John 8:36» You are not free because you were innocent. You are free because Jesus became your substitute. THE CROSS WAS HIS PLACE. THE FREEDOM WAS YOURS. THE SACRIFICE WAS HIS. THE GRACE IS YOURS. Come to Jesus. Remain in Jesus. Live for Jesus. And tell the world about Jesus. Amen. Give your life to Jesus by joining a Bible believing Church near you. 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, +2349055447540 Email pastor.umoedem@gmail.com https://afrikdp.com/author/umohedem-9128 https://www.facebook.com/share/14futvERWUD/

Need to know. Truth or consequences Sabbath, Sabbath, Sabbath, why all the attention on this seemingly irrelevant topic? Because The Sabbath question is to be THE ISSUE in the great final conflict in which all the world will act a part! The substitution of the false for the true is the last act in the drama. When this substitution becomes universal, God will reveal Himself. When the laws of men are exalted above the laws of God, when the powers of this Earth try to force men to keep the first day of the week know that the time has come for God to work. The RCC claims that changing God's Sabbath to Sunday, is a mark of the church's authority.. The papacy is the first Beast AKA political, religious entity of Revelation 13. Thus you have it. The mark of the beast, which the Bible says is about worship. Many floods and fires and disasters happening... Evangelicals hold much political power and will scream to the government to enact Sunday law legislation. They believe that all these things are happening because we're not keeping Sunday Holy. That is a satanic lie my friends because nowhere in scripture is Sunday the Sabbath.. Satan deceives the whole world. Revelation 12:9 Saturday is the true Lord's Day. Sunday will become the mark of the beast when the laws are enacted.. it is not the mark of the beast at this point.

The Name of YHWH — Truth Hidden in Plain Sight Introduction Throughout Scripture, the Creator reveals His personal Name. Many people read over it without realizing it because most English Bibles replace it with titles like “LORD” in all capital letters. Yet the Name appears nearly 7,000 times in the Hebrew Scriptures. This study explores: What the Name is Why it was hidden in translations Why the Name matters How believers honored the Name in Scripture 1. The Creator Revealed His Name Exodus 3:13–15 When Moses asked what Name he should give to Israel, Elohim answered: “Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, YHWH Elohim of your fathers... this is my name forever.” The Hebrew letters are: יהוה Often represented in English as: YHWH This is called the Tetragrammaton (“four letters”). 2. The Name Was Not Originally “LORD” In many English Bibles: “LORD” (all caps) replaces YHWH “God” sometimes replaces Elohim But in the original Hebrew text, the Name was written plainly thousands of times. Example: Psalm 83:18 “That men may know that thou, whose name alone is YHWH, art the most high over all the earth.” Many translations replace the Name with “LORD,” hiding what the verse actually says. 3. The Third Commandment Is About the Name Exodus 20:7 “Thou shalt not take the name of YHWH thy Elohim in vain…” The commandment does not say: “Do not know My Name” “Do not say My Name” Instead, it warns against misusing or emptying the Name of meaning. 4. YHWH Wants His Name Remembered Exodus 3:15 “This is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.” The word “memorial” means something remembered and proclaimed. Psalm 68:4 “Sing unto Elohim… extol him by his name YAH…” “Yah” is the shortened poetic form found throughout Scripture. 5. The Prophets Declared the Name Isaiah 42:8 “I am YHWH: that is my name…” Jeremiah 16:21 “They shall know that my name is YHWH.” The prophets repeatedly emphasized the Name instead of hiding it. 6. The Messiah Came in His Father’s Name John 5:43 “I am come in my Father’s name…” John 17:6 “I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me…” The Messiah did not hide the Father’s Name; He revealed it. 7. Why Was the Name Hidden? Historically, some Jewish traditions avoided pronouncing the Name out of fear of misuse. Later translators followed this tradition and substituted: LORD GOD This tradition became so common that many readers never realized a personal Name was there. 8. Evidence Hidden in Plain Sight Even modern words preserve parts of the Name: HalleluYah Means: “Praise Yah” Names in Scripture also contain the Name: Isaiah (YashaYahu) Jeremiah (YirmeYahu) Elijah (EliYah) The Name was woven throughout biblical language and culture. 9. Calling Upon the Name Joel 2:32 “Whosoever shall call on the name of YHWH shall be delivered.” Romans 10:13 Paul quotes Joel, showing the importance of the Name continued into the New Testament. 10. Conclusion The Name of YHWH was never removed from Scripture originally. It was hidden in many translations through substitution traditions. The Bible teaches: His Name is eternal His Name is to be remembered His people proclaimed His Name The Messiah revealed His Father’s Name Truth about the Name has been in plain sight all along. Key Scriptures for Further Study Exodus 3:13–15 Exodus 20:7 Deuteronomy 6:4 Psalm 68:4 Psalm 83:18 Isaiah 42:8 Jeremiah 16:21 Joel 2:32 John 5:43 John 17:6 Romans 10:13

❤️HOW TO KNOW GOD'S WILL FOR IMPORTANT DECISIONS IN YOUR LIFE. Part 2 of 6. God’s Basic Will for Every Christian. Continued. The Holy Spirit is for the purpose of enabling us to become “fruitful in every good work” (Col. 1:10), and this Jesus said, comes not by "doing," but by "dying." Until we learn this lesson, we may work our heads off in religious efforts and still never really be fruitful. God does not call us merely to do "good works" – every Christian is capable of this– but His will for us is that we should become fruitful in every good work. We can do good works and still not be moving in His will. Good works are acceptable in the sight of God only to the extent they are in harmony with His will and under His direction. The case of Saul is a perfect example of this fact. God had sent King Saul against the Amalekites commanding him to destroy utterly both man and beast because the Amalekites had ruthlessly attacked Israel when she had first come out of Egypt. In disobedience Saul spared King Agag alive and kept the best of the sheep and oxen for the purpose of offering sacrifices unto the Lord. Now, God had commanded the Israelites through Moses to worship Him with sacrifices and burnt offerings as King Saul well knew. Certainly Saul's intentions were good in his desire to offer sacrifices unto the Lord, but God rejected him from the kingship of Israel nevertheless, saying, through Samuel, "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams ... Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king" (1 Sam. 15:22-23). In Matthew 7:21 Jesus declared, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven." He then makes clear His meaning in verses 22-23 stating that many who are engaged in performing "good works," will, nevertheless, be rejected at the return of Christ because they were not doing the "will of God." A good deed does not necessarily make one acceptable to God merely because it results in good being done to someone else; our works are acceptable to God only to the extent they are in harmony with the will of God and a fulfillment of His purpose. God has not called us merely to do good works, but to do His will and move under the direction of His Spirit. We must be willing to resign from the delusion of religious commotion and be still, patiently waiting upon Him as He teaches us how to become sensitive to His voice, in order that He might make us to be "fruitful in every good work." The Spirit is calling us to be crucified with Christ, for it is on the cross that He teaches us how to grow quiet in order to hear His voice; and it is here that He rids our hearts of all the wrong notions about God's will for our lives and how He intends to fulfill His greater purpose through the Body of Christ in this end of the age. It is upon the disciple's return to Calvary, when he has been crucified with Christ, that the Spirit will then begin to teach him how to- 3. Speak to the Mountain. And on the morrow, when they were center from Bethany, he was hungry: And seeing a tree afar off having leaves, he came, if happily He might find something therein: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it; No man eat fruit of you hereafter forever. And his disciples heard it. And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which you cursed is withered away. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For truly I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be removed, and be cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he says shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he says. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them (Mark 11:12-14, 20-24). The importance of faith in the life of the Christian is emphasized again and again in God's Word, for we are told that "without faith it is impossible to please him" (Heb. 11:6), and "whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Rom. 14:23). The Christian has been called to walk by faith and to live a life of total trust in God. Sadly, however, the faith of the average Christian rises little above that of the world generally. Doubt and unbelief in the life of a Christian constitutes disobedience to the revealed will of God Who commands us to have faith and to trust Him implicitly in all things without reservation. Christians have an abundant inheritance provided for them by Christ's redemption. They are rich spiritually, materially, and physically, but too few are aware of this fact, believing instead that they are not to receive any of their 'inheritance now, or benefit from it in the present life, but only in the world to come. The Scriptures, on the contrary, declare that our inheritance belongs to us now, for God has promised that "all things are yours... whether the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours" (1 Corinthians 3:21-22). Healing, for example, has been provided for the believer and promised to him in God's Word (Isa. 53:4-5; Mt. 8:16-17; Mk. 16:18, James 5:14-15). It should be obvious that such a promise has no meaning unless it is valid here and now, for the believer will not need healing in the hereafter, inasmuch as he will not be subject to sickness. And so it is with almost all God’s promises-they are for the present, for it is now, in this life, that we have need of food, clothing, shelter, healing, health, protection, deliverance from fear, oppression, and so on. The Scriptures are filled with divine assurances, rights, privileges, blessings, and promises given to the believer whereby God has made provision for our every spiritual, physical, and material need, as well as for the accomplishment of the work He has commissioned His Church to do in the fulfillment of His will. All these provisions and blessings are available to the extent that we are willing to press through by faith and appropriate them. Moreover, if we are willing to meet the conditions, then we do not have to beg or persuade Him to fulfill His promises to us, for God assures us that He has already said "yes" to every promise He has made (2 Cor. 1:20), and that He does not go back on His word (Num. 23:19). It is sad to see some Christians who have accepted this deeper message who, nevertheless, have no real faith to sustain them in it, teaching the same errors as the institutional churches that an important part of our crucifixion is the absence of material blessings and the acceptance of sickness and pain. Such a view is completely out of harmony with the Word of God, for healing and the promise of the supply of all our needs have been provided in the atonement, and promised again and again in the scriptures. They are to be appropriated by faith as a part of our inheritance. Failure to ask for healing when one is sick, and to believe for God's daily provision for our temporal needs, is to ignore His promises, frustrate His will and purpose for our lives, and make Christ's sufferings and death at Calvary to provide us these blessings all in vain. The crucifixion the Christian is called upon to experience is not that of physical sickness, pain, and poverty, but the crucifixion of self. One may give up all his possessions and still not lose his affection for these things. In giving up the self-life one loses his affection for material things as ends in themselves, and as a result God can, with confidence, bless him abundantly just as He has promised in Philippians 4:19, where the Apostle Paul declares that "My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Note carefully that God promises here to bless us richly by Christ Jesus which clearly means that all our needs (temporal as well as spiritual) were provided for in Christ's atonement, for all that we receive from God comes to us only as a result of Christ's work at Calvary (cf. 2 Cor. 1:20). Likewise, to contend that God sometimes uses sickness to make the believer more spiritual, or allows us to suffer occasionally in order to draw some lost or backslidden member of our family to Him, is in effect saying that we must add our suffering to that of Christ at Calvary. But the Scriptures plainly declare that "Surely he (Christ) has carried away our diseases, and borne our pains and with His stripes we are healed" (Isa. 53:4-5 Matt 8:17) Moreover, God draws your unsaved and backslidden loved ones to Him by the sufferings of Christ, not yours! Jesus' words in John 12:32-33 forever settle this fact: "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto me". This he said, signifying what death he should die." Only the Christian that refuses to accept sickness and poverty, knowing that they come from the hand of Satan (Jn. 10:10, Acts 10:38), and who walks in total faith in God in these matters, can fulfill God's perfect will in his life. Otherwise, he will find that he spends a good part of his time disabled with sickness and unable to serve the Lord as he should. Furthermore, much time is wasted in concern for supplying his temporal needs, instead of seeking first the Kingdom of God and allowing Him to provide these things as He promises in His Word (Matt. 6:19-34; Phil. 4:19). Thus, he must waste a good deal of his prayer time, which could be utilized for others, praying for, and concerned with, himself, instead of the work of the Kingdom. Very obviously "self" is not crucified when one spends so much time ministering to itself. It is only by walking in total faith, appropriating God's provisions which He has promised, do we have the health, strength, time, and provisions to fulfill His will in our lives. Are you concerned with fulfilling God's will in your life? God's will can be accomplished in the life of the Christian onIy to the extent he is willing to trust Him. Did you know that God has pledged Himself to direct each step of your life? The condition, however, is faith - total trust in God in all things without reservation. The promise is found in Proverbs 3:5-8: Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths. There are three conditions of faith in this promise which the Christian must meet if he expects such divine direction of his life: (1) total trust in the Lord ("Trust in the Lord with all thine heart"); (2) lack of trust in oneself ("and lean not unto thine own understanding"); and (3) a constant confession of these two facts ("in all thy ways acknowledge him"). (1) Total trust in the Lord. Many Christians today reveal their great lack of faith in that they have no real confidence in God to keep the promises He has made them. This is reflected in their unwillingness to ask in faith what He has provided for them and promised to them; or when they do ask Him to fulfill a promise to meet some need, they condition their prayers by saying, "Grant this request Lord if it be Your will." Prayer conditioned with "if" for something God has promised is not a prayer of faith, and is one's confession that he is not sure God will be faithful and fulfill what He has promised to do. It is a terrifying thought to most Christians to suggest that God expects them to trust Him alone for their health, healing, finances, employment, protection, and so on. As a result they carefully arrange their lives so that they will never have to suffer the embarrassment of having to depend solely on Him in case of accident, sickness, financial distress, or some other emergency. Unlike the saints of old, who had only God to rely on for their provision, deliverance, and protection, the pampered saints of our generation have surrounded themselves with many fleshly substitutes for faith, while the financial institutions, together with the medical and accident insurance companies, are growing rich as a result of their doubt, fear, and unbelief. The life of faith means simply to "trust in the Lord with all your heart." Faith knows nothing of alternatives, substitutes, helps, or exceptions. Total trust in the Lord is to confess with the Psalmist: "I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust" (Ps. 91:2.). Total trust in the Lord is based upon the confidence that God is faithful to do all He has pledged Himself to do; thus, the Scriptures encourage us to "hold fast to the confession of our faith without doubting; for he is faithful that promised" (Heb. 10:23). The lack of true faith among professing believers today stems largely from the fact that people have been taught so many wrong ideas about the Biblical promises concerning such things as divine healing, the baptism in the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues, the presence and activity of demons, provision for our temporal needs, the miraculous and supernatural. So many half-truths have been taught about God's promises that Christians today do not know what to believe. The trouble with a half-truth is that people usually believe the wrong half. I have found in my ministry of teaching what faith is that before I can get Christians to the place that they can once more begin to appropriate the promises of God and start living on the level of their inheritance, I must first of all get them to see that there are certain things concerning the Christian faith which are just not debatable, and that the Word of God is clear on these things. Moreover, when human opinion contradicts the plain teaching of the Word, then we must flatly reject man's interpretation of God's promises and take a stand with the Word. His promises are generally clear enough and need no special interpretation or explanation, which often robs them of their validity and effectiveness for this day. When we are promised that "the prayer of faith shall heal the sick,” and that "My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory," that "there shall no evil befall you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling," that "if any two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven," that "what things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them," and that God "forgives all your iniquities; (and) heals all your diseases," then the Word is clear enough and needs no interpretation, but is simply to be acted upon in faith. There are literally thousands of such promises in the Scriptures which may be appropriated by faith. We find that Christians today, who are willing to lay aside men's opinion concerning God's Word and trust in the Lord with all their hearts, discover that Jesus is indeed the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8), and that God will not fail to fulfill any promise which He has made (Num.23:19) (2) Lack of trust in oneself. The second condition to meet, if we are to expect divine direction for our lives, is stated thus: "lean not upon your own understanding." How many times have you prayed for guidance concerning God's will in some matter about which there was no specific revelation of His will in the Scriptures, but already had your mind made up as to what you desired to do and how you wanted God to answer your prayer? Do you at times, as you pray, wish to reserve the right to refuse the path God shows you in the event the cost seems too great, or in case His will is not in line with what you really wanted to do? In such instances are you not actually saying that you believe your wisdom and understanding concerning your need is greater than God's and is not such prayer in reality little more than an attempt to obtain God's approval on the course of action you have already decided to take? Again, we often see the substitution of human understanding for faith in God when a specific promise in His Word has been asked for, such as a promise of healing, provision of some special need, or the salvation or deliverance of a loved one. When the Christian is required to suffer a trial in connection with obtaining the answer, or when the circumstances seem to get worse for a time, then we find that many times he will begin to rely on his own wisdom in an attempt to "help" God provide the answer or solve the problem. So many are willing to trust God only up to a certain point, but then begin to panic if the symptoms become worse, or when the money they prayed for has not arrived by the deadline, or if the alcoholic husband or backslidden daughter they had prayed to the Lord for seems to be getting more hopeless daily. It is then that they will often seek to force open some door before it is God's time, or seek to change the adverse circumstance in some way. Leaning on one's own understanding results from a lack of trust in God, and invariably hinders Him in answering the prayer, often making it impossible for Him to help such individuals. We cannot expect divine direction of our lives unless we are willing to humble ourselves and admit that our fallible wisdom and intellect are incapable of solving the complexities of life or in fulfilling God's perfect will in our lives. (3) Constant Confession. The third condition for receiving divine direction for our lives is stated as follows: "In all your ways acknowledge him." This is the constantly saying that we are not leaning unto our own understanding, but are trusting the Lord in every detail of our lives. To acknowledge Himin all our ways means that we will speak God's blessing, protection, and guidance at all times, and not boast, as so many do, of our own achievements, nor say of how "fortunate" we were in receiving the unexpected raise in salary, or how "lucky" we were when no one was injured in the recent accident. Acknowledging God in all our ways is in reality a statement of faith in Him. If we genuinely believe that He is directing our every step, it will be reflected in our daily conversation. Sadly, Satan has somehow brought about the sad situation where we find that very often Christians seem to be acknowledging the enemy in all their ways, instead of the Lord. If you do not believe this, then just listen to the conversation and talking of the average Christian day to day. In reply to the simple, friendly greeting, "How are you today?" you may be surprised how often Christians immediately begin to confess that Satan has the victory over them. We hear such replies as, "Oh, I'm not feeling too well today," or "I believe I am trying to take the flu. "When asked to help in some aspect of the Lord's work, not infrequently Christians will decline, saying, "I would be afraid to attempt that," or "Perhaps you should ask someone else, as I am sure I would fail." Another laments, "If the cost of living keeps going up, I just don't know what I'm going to do. I suppose my wife will just have to go to work to help make ends meet." "I committed the problem in my marriage to the Lord several months ago," one discouraged wife tells another, "but the situation shows no marked improvement, and I must say that I am just about ready to give the whole thing up." Edited. Shared. To be Continued. ❤️ God willing, more will be posted soon. All glory to Jesus alone.

THE CALVARY MINISTRY - ONLINE THE CROSS OF CALVARY 🙏🏼 TUESDAY 21ST JULY, 2026 📜```TEXT: ISAIAH 53:3-7```📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed" (ISAIAH 53:5). Seven hundred years before Jesus was born, Isaiah saw Calvary. He saw a Man despised and rejected, a Man of sorrows acquainted with grief. Yet this Man was not suffering for His own sin — He was suffering for ours. Every wound had a name. Every bruise had a purpose. The Cross was not an accident; it was substitution. He was wounded in our place. Three truths from His wounds: One, His wounds forgive our transgressions. “He was wounded for our transgressions.” Transgressions — our willful rebellion. The spear, the nails, the thorns — they pierced Him because we transgressed. Two, His bruises break our iniquities. “He was bruised for our iniquities.” Iniquities — our twisted, bent nature. He was crushed under the weight of it, so we could be made straight. Three, His stripes purchase our peace and healing. “The chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” The punishment that brought us peace — peace with God, peace in conscience — fell on Him. And healing flows still — for body, soul, and spirit. Do you carry today the guilt of transgression, the weight of iniquity, the unrest of a troubled heart? Look to Calvary. The prophet said it 700 years early so you would believe it today: He was wounded for you. He was bruised for you. His wounds are your healing. Come to the Cross and be whole. Prayer Man of Sorrows, thank You for being wounded for my transgressions and bruised for my iniquities. Thank You for taking my chastisement so I could have Your peace. Today I receive Your forgiveness, Your cleansing, and Your healing. Let the wounds You bore speak over my guilt, my sickness, and my sorrow, in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. May the Lord reveal His wounds to you today. May His forgiveness cover your past, His peace guard your heart, and may His stripes bring healing to every wounded part of your life, through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏼

I Can't Feel God The greatest (and most honest) saints have always confessed that they had to walk through many valleys with no sense of God’s presence. Sometimes they nearly went deaf from the heavenly silence. Often, they stumbled helplessly in what felt like total darkness. C.S. Lewis wrote that during one of the most painful times of his life, he cried out to God and got “a door slammed in my face, and a sound of bolting and double bolting on the inside. After that, silence.” Have you ever felt that way? Just because you feel that God is absent doesn’t mean He actually is. Just because you can’t track His footprints doesn’t mean He’s not walking beside you. If you’re a believer, that feeling of being alone is always an illusion. Yes, always. Here’s how I know. At the cross, Jesus experienced the horror of rejection by His heavenly Father. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” He cried (Matthew 27:46). It wasn’t the pain of the nails that hurt Him most; it was the utter aloneness, the true abandonment. And He did it so that you and I would never have to experience it. The essence of the cross was substitution. Jesus faced our aloneness—the utter abandonment we had brought upon ourselves through sin—so that we would never have to. The Father turned His face away from His Son so that He would never have to turn His face away from us. So when we feel abandoned, that’s all it is—a feeling. A lying, deceptive feeling. It has to be. Jesus faced the full measure of our aloneness in our place and put it away forever. By His death, He reconciled us to God, so that we can know He will never leave us or forsake us. In some strange way we can never hope to comprehend, He was abandoned . . . for us. What do we do, then, when we feel alone? Simply: walk by faith, not by sight. You must re-believe the gospel, that God has removed the full extent of the curse—all that could ever separate you from Him—and has given you Christ’s complete righteousness in its place. You must re-believe that in His finished work you couldn’t be closer to Him than you are right now, regardless of how you feel. And you must re-claim the promises of God, most of which are made to us for times in which God appears distant. The gospel declares to us that God has made Himself close to us in Christ, holding us even tighter than a mother holds a newborn child (Isaiah 49:15). When our feelings tell us that is not true, we must defy those feelings with faith in God’s promise. So when you can’t “feel” God, be assured, He’s there. The cross assures you that He is. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Nothing can ever separate you from His love. He has united Himself, through His Spirit, inextricably to you. And just as He has done in the great saints of old, the Spirit is likely doing His best work in you in those dark times. ✍🏻 Pastor J.D. Greear, Tabletalk Magazine, Ligonier Ministries

THE CALVARY MINISTRY - ONLINE THE CROSS OF CALVARY 🙏🏼 SATURDAY 18TH JULY, 2026 📜 🔑📖 KEY VERSE:``` "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (2 CORINTHIANS 5:21). This is the great exchange of Calvary. Paul calls it reconciliation. God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself. How? By doing the unthinkable. He took the sinless Son and made Him to be sin for us. Not a sinner, but sin itself. All our guilt, all our filth, all our condemnation was laid on Jesus. Why? So that we, the unrighteous, could be made the righteousness of God in Him. At the Cross, He wore our sin. Now we wear His righteousness. Three truths from this exchange: One, the Innocent became guilty for us. “He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin.” Jesus knew no sin — not in thought, word, or deed. Yet God laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Calvary is substitution. He stood in our place. Two, we become righteous in Him. “That we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” We don’t just receive forgiveness; we receive His standing. God sees us not as pardoned criminals, but as beloved sons clothed in Christ’s perfection. Three, this compels a new life. “The love of Christ constraineth us… that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them” (verses 14-15). You were bought. You no longer live for you. You live for the One who died and rose. Are you still living under condemnation today? Still trying to earn a righteousness you already have? Still living for yourself after Calvary bought you? Look to the Cross again. See your sin on Him. See His righteousness on you. Let His love constrain you, compel you, and carry you this weekend. Prayer Father of reconciliation, thank You for the great exchange of Calvary. Thank You that Jesus who knew no sin was made sin for me. Today I receive by faith Your righteousness in Him. I lay down my guilt and my self-righteousness. Let the love of Christ constrain my heart and let my life be lived for Him who died for me, in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. May the Lord reveal the wonder of this exchange to you today. May you see your sin gone, His righteousness yours, and may the love of Calvary compel you to live wholly for Him, through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏼

Need to know. WHEN WORSHIP OFFENDS GOD. The scariest worship is not the worship of atheists— but the worship God Himself calls VAIN. Jesus said: “In vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” — Matthew 15:9 They prayed. They preached. They gathered. They looked religious. But Heaven rejected it. Why? Because they honored God with their lips— while replacing His Word with human tradition. “Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?”— Matthew 15:3 RELIGION BECOMES DANGEROUS WHEN IT USES GOD’S NAME BUT DISOBEYS GOD’S WORD. A tradition may be ancient. A church may be crowded. A preacher may be famous. A doctrine may be loved by millions. But if it contradicts Scripture, it is not truth— it is deception wearing religious clothes. “To the law and to the testimony…” — Isaiah 8:20 True worship does not ask: “What is popular?” It asks: “What is written?” It does not ask: “What did men teach me?” It asks: “What did God command?” “God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”— John 4:24 Not spirit without truth. Not emotion without obedience. Not tradition above the Bible. Cain worshiped—but was rejected. Saul worshiped—but was rebuked. The Pharisees worshiped—but Jesus called it vain. The final world will worship—but Revelation warns against false worship. THE FINAL ISSUE IS NOT WHETHER PEOPLE WORSHIP—BUT WHOSE AUTHORITY THEY OBEY. God’s commandments, that says to keep the Seventh Day (The Sabbath/ Saturday) Holy ( Exodus 20: 11) —or man’s commandments? (the first day of the week / Sunday). Bible truth—or religious tradition? Christ’s authority—or human systems? “If ye love Me, keep My commandments.” — John 14:15 “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” @— Revelation 14:12 “The substitution of the laws of men for the law of God… is the last act in the drama.” — Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 7, p. 141 WAKE-UP LESSONS 1. Sincerity cannot save false worship. A wrong road does not become right because many walk on it. 2. Tradition must bow to Scripture. Anything that cancels God’s commandment is not light—it is darkness. 3. Love for Jesus is proven by obedience. Grace does not free us to ignore God’s law; grace brings us back to loving surrender. 4. The last conflict is over worship. Revelation’s final people are not marked by popularity, but by loyalty to God. FINAL APPEAL Beloved, do not only ask, “Do I worship?” Ask: Does God accept my worship? Is my faith built on the Bible, God's Holy Word, or mans inherited tradition? Am I following Christ—or just following the crowd? Because the worship God accepts is not the loudest, oldest, richest, or most popular. IT IS WORSHIP BUILT ON TRUTH, OBEDIENCE, AND THE FAITH OF JESUS. “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”— Revelation 14:12

SHOULD NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVERS PAY TITHE? There are 10, 10 percents in your earning. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. It is not every 10 percent that is your tithe. It is the first 10 percent that is your tithe. There's a movement that has begun to recover Christianity from chalice. Hello, welcome. How are you doing today? I'm Alathia, your host. Here we tackle some of the Church's most controversial topics with honesty, clarity, and compassion. My goal is to offer clear guidance and meaningful insight for believers seeking understanding, thoughtful perspectives for critics, and a welcoming space for those curious about faith. Let's seek truth, deepen our faith, and explore these questions together. The fundamentals of the Christian faith is subtly being eroded by diverging doctrine from what the first generation of believers once held dear. Join Apostle Arame Osayi as he brings clarity and meaning to the doctrine of tithe and consecration. There are some things that are due God. First thing that is due God is your tithe. It is needful for me to say at this point that even though your tithe is 10 percent, there are 10, 10 percent in your earning. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. It is not every 10 percent that is your tithe. It is the first 10 percent that is your tithe. So if you're earning $100, your tithe is what? $10. How many $10 are there in $100? There are 10, $10. I'm saying that your tithe is the first $10. That means if you spend money out of that arrangement, maybe you spend the first $10 at Walmart, and then you now came to church and gave the second $10. That's not tithe. That's not tithe. You have violated the principle of that which is due to God. There is no way you can stay in America, and you have a job, and you are not paying taxes. IRS will come to your house in the night. You have obligations to the territory. It is only in church that the average believer believes, thinks he doesn't have any obligation. And indeed, the pastor will not chase you to your house for you to fulfill your obligation, because your obligation is to God, so he will not chase you. But by refusing to give God his due, I will show you the consequence. The second 10 percent is not tithe. It doesn't have that hallowed place, that sacred place. It doesn't have it. It means that there's something in your life that is of more value than God. So you don't know what it means to worship God with your finances, because God doesn't have the place of preeminence in that arrangement that you have. You know my duty is to tell you the truth. You may not like it, but at least I have fulfilled my part of the bargain. I don't need to take you to the book of Malachi to show you God's complaint. No need to go there. And to show you how God felt dishonored. The reason why he felt dishonored was because of the way tithes and offerings were handled. So when we come to the issue of the things that are due God, we are touching on the principle of honor. And God insists that he be honored. So you cannot dishonor God and expect that God will facilitate your enlargement. What is the spiritual significance of tithing? One, tithing is a proof, it's an act of faith, which reveals the fact that God is my source. A lot of people in this congregation tonight believe that their job is their source. And so when someone, maybe someone that is in a position to determine whether you keep your job or not, now comes into your space demanding you to do something that is contrary to your conviction, the way we'll know if your job doubles as your source is whether your conviction will triumph in that circumstance or not. And it happens to be that in most cases, the believers seem not to have the capacity, the ability to stand their ground, even if it will translate to disfavor. God is my source. That's the first meaning of tithing. When you pay your tithe, you are demonstrating it, that God is your source. Then number two, you're also demonstrating that God has first place in your finances. Has first place in your finances. And the reason for which we need to give God first place in our finances is because there are two things according to the Bible that have the capacity of commanding human worship. One is God, and the second one is mammon. Mammon is a good fighter. Mammon wants to be enthroned in your life. And mammon will fight to secure that position in the life of every human being upon the face of the earth. Your tithing is a statement that mammon has not yet been able to succeed with your soul, because you have given God first place. Number three, your tithing is a demonstration of the fact that you have been delivered from greed, which is one of the very strong symptoms of the manifestation of the fall of man. Number four, your tithing is a demonstration that you seek to be in alignment with God, because you have given him his due. So the first thing that is due God is tithe. Don't expect to break spiritual principles and prosper. Prosperity is a sign of alignment. It's a sign of alignment. It's a sign of alignment. According to the principle of tithing, we all owe God a minimum of 2 hours 40 minutes every day of devotion, where the subject of those 2 hours 40 minutes is God, not your husband, not what is in the kitchen, not the yogurt, not the children. For 2 hours 40 minutes every day is God. It is easy for you to limit tithe to your earnings and not understand that even your time is a resource in your hands. You start becoming serious with God when you can spare 2 hours 40 minutes every day for a devotion in his presence. I'm not talking about a congregational effort. I'm talking about a personal effort. Oh, I want to show you how the covenant of God works for people. You think you run around every day, you are on the streets, you are on everywhere, the freeway for 24 hours. And then you come on Sunday morning panting and you pay tithe and you think you are okay. No. What we are doing is not tax collection. God will accept your person, accept your heart before he accepts something from your hand. And that's why there were efforts those days, people that had issues with other people wanting to bring offerings to God, he said, no, you go, hold on, put the offering by the altar, then go and reconcile because your heart is displaced. This offering will not be accepted. Number 2 thing that is due God. You will notice that in the land of Egypt, God killed the firstborn of Egypt, of man and beast. Are you there? The angel of death came to survey the land, Moses by the instrumentality of the gift of the word of wisdom, knew that if he puts blood on the lintels and the doorposts of the house, when the angel of death comes into Egypt and sees that blood, the angel of death will conclude that the firstborn of Israel has already been killed. And that's the reason why he will go over Israel and go and implement that judgment all over Egypt. That means that substitution took place. The animal that died was a substitute for the firstborn that was supposed to die. Are you there? Now, when the man left Egypt and came into the wilderness, God now demanded the firstborn that enjoyed that wisdom, that all of them need to be dedicated to him. They don't have a life of their own anymore. They must be dedicated to him, to serve his will, to serve his purpose. Are you there? Unfortunately for all of us, according to the economy of God, we are all firstborn. Because the Bible calls us the church of the firstborn. So we all have firstborn status in the eyes of God. And the implication of that is that the only reasonable thing that we can do under such circumstances is to be consecrated to serve the will of God. The next thing that is due God is your consecration. One of the laws of the spirit says that to whom you yield yourself as a servant to obey, the servant of him you shall become. So if I decide to yield myself as a servant of the Holy Ghost, I will eventually become a servant of the Holy Ghost. And even though you now market sin around me, it will become unnatural for me to respond to sin because I am a servant of the Holy Ghost. The more I serve the Holy Spirit, the more anything outside of the Holy Spirit becomes more foreign to my ecosystem. It will be unnatural for me to respond to that thing because it's not where I live. Do you understand what I'm talking about? So it happens to be that Adam received a suggestion that came from the devil, and he obeyed that suggestion. The implication now became that Adam became a servant of Satan. The authority of Adam now passed on to Satan. Satan became the one that began to wield Adamic power. Like I said in the book of Malachi chapter 1, chapter 2, one principle is being explained is the principle of honor. So God now reveals to us in Scripture how we can honor Him. In honoring God, we must give God that which is due His name. Are you still with me? One of the things that is due to God is tithe. Many might argue that the tithe is no longer applicable to the New Testament believer. That is because of lack of knowledge. We have two priesthoods in the Bible. One is the Levitical priesthood, and the other is the Melchizedek priesthood. In the days of Abraham, Abraham paid tithe. You know, he paid tithe, and he paid it to Melchizedek. That was the first priesthood that actually manifested. So Melchizedek accepts tithe. Do you still remember that Jacob made a promise to God that if God should support him, protect him, and bring him back again, he would give God a tenth of all he has. And Jacob and Abraham existed before the law came into existence. It was the Melchizedek priesthood that they operated, and they gave tithe. In the Levitical priesthood, the system through which tithe can be received is established in that priesthood. But the concept of tithing existed way before that priesthood was established. And by the time you go to the book of Hebrews, you will see that we are operating under the auspices of the Melchizedek priesthood. And the Melchizedek priesthood took tithe in the days of Abraham. He would take tithe now, and he would still take tithe in the world that is to come because that's the shape and the nature of his priesthood. So one of the things that we do in honor to honor God is to give him his due. I did a teaching on this, and I mentioned all the dues of God. Just like you pay Nepal bill, you pay tax, that's your due as a Nigerian. So in the kingdom of God, there are also things that are due God that will come from your life. The least among them is your tithe. And by the time you come into the New Testament, you give God more than tithe. The Old Testament, the requirements was tithing. The New Testament, the requirement is consecration. So what you have and what you are is his. But you see, God will not take what is his. And the way for you to practice consecration is to begin from tithing first. And after tithing, you will now have a sense of responsibility that there are actually things that belong to God. Then God can now come and say, resign. I want to use you as a minister behind the pulpit. Stop the work you are doing. You cannot obey that voice if you have not been obeying in tithing. Tithing is like the ordinary level requirement. So the Bible says in Malachi chapter 3 verse 10, it says, Bring ye all the tithes. And you know, I said it's the principle of honor that is revealed here. Into my storehouse that there might be meat in my house. And put me now herewith, saith the Lord, if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sins. I will rebuke the devourer for your sins. There are some deals that God will ask you. Give me this. One of the things you will enjoy by complying is that God now takes the responsibility to rebuke the devourer. Thank you for watching. If today's discussion stirred questions, take a moment to reflect on your own beliefs and study the scriptures that address tithe and consecration. Meditate on what the Bible says about giving and stewardship and journal any insights or questions you'd like to explore further. https://youtu.be/FC2iAMtBz1w?si=cNb4-dCroevFA1v7 By: Apostle Arome Osayi

*RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL* Monday, June 15th, 2026 Pastor Chris Oyakhilome DSc DSc DD *THE FLESH HAS BEEN CRUCIFIED* 📖 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts" (Galatians 5:24) There exists a common misconception among many that the flesh must continually be "crushed" or subdued through repeated struggle and effort. But the Scripture presents a different reality: the Christian has already crucified the flesh. The Complete Jewish Bible renders our opening scripture beautifully; it says, Moreover, those who belong to the Messiah Yeshua have put their old nature to death on the stake, along with its passions and desires." This is not a process but an accomplished reality: your old nature is dead: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). The reason many still struggle with the flesh is simple: they attempt to achieve what has already been accomplished, applying effort where understanding is required. The more they strive, the more they become subject to the very thing they're trying to overcome. That's not how it works. Live in the Word. Accept what the Word says about you. Even the works of the flesh listed in Galatians 5:19-21 are not attributed to demons but to the flesh itself, indicating that the issue is not external but internal. Understand that this doesn't place the Christian in a position of disadvantage, because the solution is not found in suppression but in substitution: "...walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16). The emphasis is not on eliminating the works of the flesh but on living in the Spirit and by the Spirit, walking in the light and reality of God's Word. As you walk in the Spirit, the life of the Spirit is manifested in you and through you, and the influence of the flesh is displaced. It helps to understand why the Bible says "...Sin shall not have dominion over you..." (Romans 6:14). *PRAYER* Dear Father, thank you for the substitutionary work of Christ that has translated me from death to life, sin to righteousness, and from darkness to light. I walk in the Spirit and live in the reality of my new nature, manifesting the life of righteousness and dominion, today and always, in Jesus' Name. Amen. *FURTHER STUDY:* Galatians 5:16, 24 NIV "[16] So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. [24] Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."_ Romans 8:12-13 _"[12] Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. [13] For if you live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." *DAILY SCRIPTURE READING:* *1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:* Acts 5:12-42 & 2 Chronicles 23-25 *2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:* 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 & Isaiah 1