• Good morning, brethren.
    1. Morning devotion for today.

    MD.i. MORNING TEA
    THE WORD FOR TODAY. THURSDAY AUGUST 27, 2O26.
    "THERE'S NOBODY LIKE HIM! (2)"
    ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom...’ Proverbs 9:10 NKJV

    IN A world out of control, we like a god we can control: a comforting presence who blesses, provides, and advises. Kind of like ‘God in a box.’ But when it comes to Christ, no box works. His contemporaries designed an assortment of boxes for Him, but He didn’t fit in any of their boxes. They called Him a revolutionary, but He paid taxes. They labelled Him a country carpenter, but He confounded scholars. They came to see His miracles, but He refused to entertain them. He was a Jew who attracted Gentiles, a rabbi who gave up on synagogues, a holy man who hung around with prostitutes. In a male-dominated society, He recruited females. In an anti-Roman culture, He opted not to denounce Rome. He talked like a king yet lived like a pilgrim. People tried to put Him in a ‘box,’ but they couldn’t. And we can’t either; indeed we must not! ‘…Skilled living gets its start in the Fear-of-God, insight into life from knowing a Holy God…’ (Proverbs 9:7-12TM). Most of our fears are unhealthy. They rob us of peace and joy. But the fear of the Lord does the opposite. One author writes: ‘There is nothing neurotic about fearing God. The neurotic thing is not to be afraid, or to be afraid of the wrong thing. That is why God chooses to be known to us, so that we may stop being afraid of the wrong thing. When God is fully revealed to us and we ‘get it,’ then we experience the conversion of our fear…‘fear of the Lord’ is the deeply sane recognition that we are not God.’

    Bible In A Year: Ezek 10-13, Matt 21:18-32, Ps 84, Pro 19:11. 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. [26/08, 9:20 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA*

    THURSDAY, 27TH AUGUST, 2026.

    *THE DANGER OF RELAPSING INTO RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS WITHOUT THE TRANSFORMING GOSPEL*

    *TEXT:* GALATIANS 4:8-13.

    8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
    9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
    10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
    11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
    12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.
    13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.

    *Timeless Truth:*_"But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?"_ (Galatians 4:9).

    *INTRODUCTION*

    Religious traditions, as described by D.E. Sherkat,  "are constellations of beliefs, practices and institutions used to describe a common type of religiosity. Religious traditions are broad understandings of the supernatural produced in societies and practiced by groups and individuals". For the sake of continuity, religious traditions are codified in texts considered sacred by individuals and institutions that adhere to and produce that form of religion. Once a conviction is formed on religious traditions, it is very difficult for adherents to give them up for another revelation even when common sense says it is wrong. It has a blinding effect especially, when it is wrong. For example, in the Christian faith, you can see some traditions that worship idols, but never see anything wrong with it, but only explain away such idol worship as traditions handed over by the "elders". Some of the Jews had that problem in the Early Church. The legalistic traditions of the law of Moses was so much built into their conviction that giving it up totally for the gospel was a problem to them. All explanations by enlightened and anointed Christ appointed Apostles fell into deaf ears. At best they were willing to believe the gospel subject to the legalistic tradition. They saw their legalistic traditions as more superior to the gospel and they were willing to continue in it in addition to the gospel. The Galatians believers were almost relapsing into the law of Moses and Paul the apostle had to set out the danger of exalting or mixing any religious traditions with or above the pure gospel.

    *1. The Past Graceless Life*

    a. There is always a clear inward and outward distinction between life before Christ and life after Christ. A reminder of this transformative experience in Christ is always needful so as not to lose faith. Paul the apostle reminded them that when they knew not God, they *"did service unto them which by nature are no gods"*. If you cannot see this transformational and supernatural distinction in your life, it is likely you are just practicing religion and have not experienced the new life in Christ. Before knowing Christ, the Galatians were enslaved to false gods and powerless spiritual systems. Apostle Paul reminded them that ignorance of the true God results in bondage. A life without Christ is a graceless life because no amount of religion can save the soul apart from the redeeming grace of Jesus. We too must never forget the pit from which God's mercy brought us out from, lest we become proud or drift into lifeless religion.
    b. The transforming gospel of Jesus Christ delivers sinners not only from the bondage of sin, but also from the bondage of empty religious traditions. The Galatian believers had received salvation by grace through faith, yet they were being tempted to return to legalistic practices as though human observances could perfect what Christ had accomplished. Paul the apostle lovingly warned them that abandoning the simplicity of the gospel for religious rituals is a dangerous spiritual relapse. Every believer must continually stand in the liberty of Christ and resist every tradition that replaces grace with legalism. There are also religious and denominational traditions that make the gospel of Christ of no effect in the life of a person. Inasmuch as you glue to those traditions that contradict the gospel message, the new life in Christ will continue to elude you. When the pure gospel is made to cohabit with denominational or religious traditions that do not put Christ in its rightful place, the gospel will lose its transforming power.

    *Question*

    What are some of the religious or denominational traditions that make salvation experience impossible in the life of a religious person? Have you remembered that it was God's grace, not religious performance, that brought you into salvation?

    *2. The Pure Gospel Lost*

    a. Apostle Paul expresses deep concern that those who had known God were turning again to weak and beggarly religious observances. Why call those traditions as religious and beggarly elements? They are weak because those Mosaic rules and rituals have zero power to save, justify or change a human heart. They are beggarly
    because they are "poverty-stricken" or bankrupt and offer no spiritual riches compared to Christ. They are called elements because they are merely elementary things given in the law of Moses to reveal the necessity of Christ without really maturing in Christ.
    b. They began emphasizing special days, months, seasons and years as though these could secure righteousness before God. The danger was not in observing days itself, but in trusting such practices as a means of acceptance with God. Whenever Christ is replaced by rituals, the purity of the gospel is compromised and spiritual growth is hindered.

    *Question*

    Is your confidence resting in Christ alone or in religious activities that cannot transform the heart?

    *3. The Persuasion to Part with Legalism*

    a. With tenderness, Paul the apostle pleads, *“Be as I am,”* calling the Galatians back to the freedom of grace. Apostle Paul was entrenched in *"the traditions of the elders"* which he even claimed to be more fanatical than all his equals. When he received Christ, he received Him solely and totally without adding the rudiments of the law of Moses or legalistic traditions. He parted ways with those things totally. He admonished them to do the same because it is in doing that, that they can enjoy the life of Christ to the fullest. Rather than condemning them harshly, he appeals through love and reminds them of the sacrificial relationship they once shared during his ministry among them. *"I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain"*. When you got saved by faith in Christ alone and you begin to attach some things as additions that will make salvation complete, your faith has shifted from Christ and you lose your salvation and the presence of Christ within. True spiritual leadership persuades people away from legalism and continually points them back to Christ. The transforming gospel produces loving obedience not compulsory religion.

    *Question*

    Are you willing to abandon every legalistic attitude and embrace the freedom and transforming power of the gospel?

    *Prayer Points*

    1.Father, thank You for saving me by grace through the transforming gospel of Jesus Christ.
    2.Lord, deliver me from every form of empty religion and traditions with all its legalistic bondage.
    3.Father, help me to remain steadfast in the liberty and truth of the pure gospel and be not drifted away from Christ.
    4.Lord, deliver those who are deceived by religious traditions that are contrary to the pure gospel .

    *HYMN:* I have no other plea

    *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* ZEPHANIAH 1-3.
    [26/08, 9:20 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS)

    THURSDAY 27TH AUGUST, 2026```


    *BETWEEN JUDAIZERS AND THE JUSTIFIER* 🫵🏽🏽‍🏽‍🏽🏽‍🏽

    ```TEXT:GALATIANS 4:8-13```

    ```KEY VERSE:``` _*"I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain" (GALATIANS 4:11).*_

    *John Newton's conversion as his foundering, wreck-bound ship sailed into the eye of the storm on a turbulent, raging sea on the 10th of March 1748, and his unflinching adherence to the faith till death remains a classical model in the evangelical circle. Newton never forgot how God mercifully spared his life, saved his soul and delivered him from wasteful living and a blasphemous lifestyle. He lived the rest of his life juxtaposing what he had previously been with the transformation God had wrought in him. To keep this memory alive, he wrote out the fifteenth verse of the fifteenth chapter of Deuteronomy in bold letters and fastened it to the wall of his study.*

    *Had the Galatians exercised Newton's wisdom and spiritual intelligence, a thrilling testimony would have trailed their Christian walk. They had spent their lives, plumbing the depths of human sin and degradation of idolatry, before Paul reached them with the gospel. They responded positively to the gospel, became truly converted and free from an idolatrous lifestyle. Of them, Paul said they "received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus". But their experiences became short-lived. Glib-tongued Judaizers invaded the Galatian Church and swayed the nascent assembly off the pure New Testament faith Paul had laboured to teach and impart.*

    *Would Paul be cowed down, cave in or contend with the detractors of faith? It hurt him to see these Gentile Christians drawn into the spider-web of Judaizing Christians once again. Paul, after the manner of a passionate pastor, pleads with the Galatians in this letter not to return to their former spiritual slavery but rather break away from every Pharisaic bondage and enjoy the liberty Christ gave them freely. He wants them to understand their new identity - saints saved by grace, void of any allegiance to a race, culture or tradition.*

    *These are instructive scriptures for both shepherds and the flock in the fold. While shepherds and leaders of God's people diligently labour and watch over the flock, fencing out all modern Judaizers, every believer has the responsibility to resist the subtle penetration of the enemies of the cross and make an intelligent choice between Judaizers and the Justifier. We must, in the words of Christ, "Watch and pray" at all times to avoid being beguiled.*

    ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*You can never be deceived without your consent.*_

    ```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *ZEPHANIAH 1-3*


    Between Judaizers And The Justifier
    https://dailymanna.app//
    *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 246: O BROTHER, LIFE'S JOURNEY BEGINNING; GHS 6: YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION; AND GHS 77: I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS*
    *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter*
    *#DailyManna27thAugust2026*
    *#GCK*
    *#WorshipNuggets*
    *#BibleNuggets*
    *#LeadershipNuggets*
    *#RevivalNuggets*
    *#CrusadeNuggets*
    https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]
    [26/08, 9:20 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY```

    _*HIGHER EVERYDY: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_

    ✍🏽🏻‍ 🏽🛰

    ```THURSDAY 27TH AUGUST, 2026```

    *FORNICATION FORBIDDEN* 🫵🏽🏽‍🏽‍🏽🏽‍🏽

    ```TEXT:1 THESSALONIANS 4:1-5```

    ``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication" (1 THESSALONIANS 4:3).*_

    *Despite the attendant shame, sorrow, and disgrace that fornication brings to those who indulge in it, some youths still engage in this heinous sin. Celebrities of note, kings, paupers, princes and professors have become objects of ridicule as a result of fornication. Fornication has brought many people from all societal strata to degradation and disrepute; from fame to folly, and from honour to dishonour.*

    *Believers must abstain from all appearances of evil. Fornication is evil. It is a deadly poison. Do not meddle with immorality. Abandon anything that has the tendency to inflame the sinful passion in you as a holy Christian. Amorous discussion, romantic literature, comics, posters, and videos must be avoided like leprosy.*

    *As you flee from fornication, you must be daring and resolute to resist it, no matter the person who is making the attempt to defile you, to avoid being consumed. Sinful body contact with the opposite gender is anathema. Never permit defiling behaviours like patting, caressing, hugging and kissing because they are booby traps. They are the crucible where fornication is bred. Avoid them like plagues.*

    ```QUOTE:``` _*Never permit defiling behaviours.*_

    ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Dare to be another Joseph - flee fornication!*_

    🏽🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Father, help me to keep myself pure.*_



    Fornication Forbidden
    https://dailymanna.app//

    *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter*
    *#HigherEveryday27thAugust2026*
    *#GCK*
    *#WorshipNuggets*
    *#BibleNuggets*
    *#LeadershipNuggets*
    *#RevivalNuggets*
    *#CrusadeNuggets*
    https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]
    [26/08, 9:20 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY```

    _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣)*_

    🏼🏼🏼🏼🏼‍

    ```THURSDAY 27TH AUGUST, 2026```

    *JOCHEBED - A COURAGEOUS MOTHER* 🫵🏽🏻‍🏻‍🏻‍🏽🏻‍🏽🏽‍🏽

    ```EXODUS 2:1-10;NUMBERS 26:59```



    ```Key Verse:``` _*"And the name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, whom her mother bare to Levi in Egypt: and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister" (Numbers 26:59).*_



    Jochebed was the mother of the great and courageous leader - Moses, in the Bible. She was the mother of three prominent children - Miriam, Aaron and Moses. She gave birth to Moses at a time when Pharaoh made a decree to kill every Hebrew male baby to stop their growth and expansion.

    In spite of the challenge, Jochebed was willing to risk everything for her child's safety. She hid him for the first three months and trusted God in the face of danger and uncertainty. She took another bold step of faith by placing him in a basket by the bank of River Nile.

    By divine arrangement, Moses was found and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter. He still ended up with his mother who taught him the values of faith, courage, selflessness, humility and resilience, thereby preparing him for his role as a future leader.

    *Jochebed knew her God, and because she did not give up too soon, God rewarded her courage with a son who did exploits for God. You too must be courageous to stand for the word of God, no matter the challenge. God will bless you in return.*



    ```rayer:``` _*God, please give me the courage to see situations through the eye of faith and not walk by sight.*_ 🏽

    ``` Further Reading:``` *Exodus 6:20*


    Jochebed - A Courageous Mother
    https://dailymanna.app//

    *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter*
    *#SincereMilk27thAugust2026*
    *#GCK*
    *#WorshipNuggets*
    *#BibleNuggets*
    *#LeadershipNuggets*
    *#RevivalNuggets*
    *#CrusadeNuggets*
    https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]

    2. Morning Prayer for today.

    MP.i. [26/08, 9:20 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA*

    THURSDAY, 27TH AUGUST, 2026.

    *THE DANGER OF RELAPSING INTO RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS WITHOUT THE TRANSFORMING GOSPEL*

    *TEXT:* GALATIANS 4:8-13.

    8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
    9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
    10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
    11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
    12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.
    13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.

    *Timeless Truth:*_"But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?"_ (Galatians 4:9).

    *INTRODUCTION*

    Religious traditions, as described by D.E. Sherkat,  "are constellations of beliefs, practices and institutions used to describe a common type of religiosity. Religious traditions are broad understandings of the supernatural produced in societies and practiced by groups and individuals". For the sake of continuity, religious traditions are codified in texts considered sacred by individuals and institutions that adhere to and produce that form of religion. Once a conviction is formed on religious traditions, it is very difficult for adherents to give them up for another revelation even when common sense says it is wrong. It has a blinding effect especially, when it is wrong. For example, in the Christian faith, you can see some traditions that worship idols, but never see anything wrong with it, but only explain away such idol worship as traditions handed over by the "elders". Some of the Jews had that problem in the Early Church. The legalistic traditions of the law of Moses was so much built into their conviction that giving it up totally for the gospel was a problem to them. All explanations by enlightened and anointed Christ appointed Apostles fell into deaf ears. At best they were willing to believe the gospel subject to the legalistic tradition. They saw their legalistic traditions as more superior to the gospel and they were willing to continue in it in addition to the gospel. The Galatians believers were almost relapsing into the law of Moses and Paul the apostle had to set out the danger of exalting or mixing any religious traditions with or above the pure gospel.

    *1. The Past Graceless Life*

    a. There is always a clear inward and outward distinction between life before Christ and life after Christ. A reminder of this transformative experience in Christ is always needful so as not to lose faith. Paul the apostle reminded them that when they knew not God, they *"did service unto them which by nature are no gods"*. If you cannot see this transformational and supernatural distinction in your life, it is likely you are just practicing religion and have not experienced the new life in Christ. Before knowing Christ, the Galatians were enslaved to false gods and powerless spiritual systems. Apostle Paul reminded them that ignorance of the true God results in bondage. A life without Christ is a graceless life because no amount of religion can save the soul apart from the redeeming grace of Jesus. We too must never forget the pit from which God's mercy brought us out from, lest we become proud or drift into lifeless religion.
    b. The transforming gospel of Jesus Christ delivers sinners not only from the bondage of sin, but also from the bondage of empty religious traditions. The Galatian believers had received salvation by grace through faith, yet they were being tempted to return to legalistic practices as though human observances could perfect what Christ had accomplished. Paul the apostle lovingly warned them that abandoning the simplicity of the gospel for religious rituals is a dangerous spiritual relapse. Every believer must continually stand in the liberty of Christ and resist every tradition that replaces grace with legalism. There are also religious and denominational traditions that make the gospel of Christ of no effect in the life of a person. Inasmuch as you glue to those traditions that contradict the gospel message, the new life in Christ will continue to elude you. When the pure gospel is made to cohabit with denominational or religious traditions that do not put Christ in its rightful place, the gospel will lose its transforming power.

    *Question*

    What are some of the religious or denominational traditions that make salvation experience impossible in the life of a religious person? Have you remembered that it was God's grace, not religious performance, that brought you into salvation?

    *2. The Pure Gospel Lost*

    a. Apostle Paul expresses deep concern that those who had known God were turning again to weak and beggarly religious observances. Why call those traditions as religious and beggarly elements? They are weak because those Mosaic rules and rituals have zero power to save, justify or change a human heart. They are beggarly
    because they are "poverty-stricken" or bankrupt and offer no spiritual riches compared to Christ. They are called elements because they are merely elementary things given in the law of Moses to reveal the necessity of Christ without really maturing in Christ.
    b. They began emphasizing special days, months, seasons and years as though these could secure righteousness before God. The danger was not in observing days itself, but in trusting such practices as a means of acceptance with God. Whenever Christ is replaced by rituals, the purity of the gospel is compromised and spiritual growth is hindered.

    *Question*

    Is your confidence resting in Christ alone or in religious activities that cannot transform the heart?

    *3. The Persuasion to Part with Legalism*

    a. With tenderness, Paul the apostle pleads, *“Be as I am,”* calling the Galatians back to the freedom of grace. Apostle Paul was entrenched in *"the traditions of the elders"* which he even claimed to be more fanatical than all his equals. When he received Christ, he received Him solely and totally without adding the rudiments of the law of Moses or legalistic traditions. He parted ways with those things totally. He admonished them to do the same because it is in doing that, that they can enjoy the life of Christ to the fullest. Rather than condemning them harshly, he appeals through love and reminds them of the sacrificial relationship they once shared during his ministry among them. *"I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain"*. When you got saved by faith in Christ alone and you begin to attach some things as additions that will make salvation complete, your faith has shifted from Christ and you lose your salvation and the presence of Christ within. True spiritual leadership persuades people away from legalism and continually points them back to Christ. The transforming gospel produces loving obedience not compulsory religion.

    *Question*

    Are you willing to abandon every legalistic attitude and embrace the freedom and transforming power of the gospel?

    *Prayer Points*

    1.Father, thank You for saving me by grace through the transforming gospel of Jesus Christ.
    2.Lord, deliver me from every form of empty religion and traditions with all its legalistic bondage.
    3.Father, help me to remain steadfast in the liberty and truth of the pure gospel and be not drifted away from Christ.
    4.Lord, deliver those who are deceived by religious traditions that are contrary to the pure gospel .

    *HYMN:* I have no other plea

    *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* ZEPHANIAH 1-3.
    [26/08, 9:20 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS)

    THURSDAY 27TH AUGUST, 2026```


    *BETWEEN JUDAIZERS AND THE JUSTIFIER* 🫵🏽🏽‍🏽‍🏽🏽‍🏽

    ```TEXT:GALATIANS 4:8-13```

    ```KEY VERSE:``` _*"I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain" (GALATIANS 4:11).*_

    *John Newton's conversion as his foundering, wreck-bound ship sailed into the eye of the storm on a turbulent, raging sea on the 10th of March 1748, and his unflinching adherence to the faith till death remains a classical model in the evangelical circle. Newton never forgot how God mercifully spared his life, saved his soul and delivered him from wasteful living and a blasphemous lifestyle. He lived the rest of his life juxtaposing what he had previously been with the transformation God had wrought in him. To keep this memory alive, he wrote out the fifteenth verse of the fifteenth chapter of Deuteronomy in bold letters and fastened it to the wall of his study.*

    *Had the Galatians exercised Newton's wisdom and spiritual intelligence, a thrilling testimony would have trailed their Christian walk. They had spent their lives, plumbing the depths of human sin and degradation of idolatry, before Paul reached them with the gospel. They responded positively to the gospel, became truly converted and free from an idolatrous lifestyle. Of them, Paul said they "received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus". But their experiences became short-lived. Glib-tongued Judaizers invaded the Galatian Church and swayed the nascent assembly off the pure New Testament faith Paul had laboured to teach and impart.*

    *Would Paul be cowed down, cave in or contend with the detractors of faith? It hurt him to see these Gentile Christians drawn into the spider-web of Judaizing Christians once again. Paul, after the manner of a passionate pastor, pleads with the Galatians in this letter not to return to their former spiritual slavery but rather break away from every Pharisaic bondage and enjoy the liberty Christ gave them freely. He wants them to understand their new identity - saints saved by grace, void of any allegiance to a race, culture or tradition.*

    *These are instructive scriptures for both shepherds and the flock in the fold. While shepherds and leaders of God's people diligently labour and watch over the flock, fencing out all modern Judaizers, every believer has the responsibility to resist the subtle penetration of the enemies of the cross and make an intelligent choice between Judaizers and the Justifier. We must, in the words of Christ, "Watch and pray" at all times to avoid being beguiled.*

    ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*You can never be deceived without your consent.*_

    ```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *ZEPHANIAH 1-3*


    Between Judaizers And The Justifier
    https://dailymanna.app//
    *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 246: O BROTHER, LIFE'S JOURNEY BEGINNING; GHS 6: YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION; AND GHS 77: I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS*
    *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter*
    *#DailyManna27thAugust2026*
    *#GCK*
    *#WorshipNuggets*
    *#BibleNuggets*
    *#LeadershipNuggets*
    *#RevivalNuggets*
    *#CrusadeNuggets*
    https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]
    [26/08, 9:20 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY```

    _*HIGHER EVERYDY: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_

    ✍🏽🏻‍ 🏽🛰

    ```THURSDAY 27TH AUGUST, 2026```

    *FORNICATION FORBIDDEN* 🫵🏽🏽‍🏽‍🏽🏽‍🏽

    ```TEXT:1 THESSALONIANS 4:1-5```

    ``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication" (1 THESSALONIANS 4:3).*_

    *Despite the attendant shame, sorrow, and disgrace that fornication brings to those who indulge in it, some youths still engage in this heinous sin. Celebrities of note, kings, paupers, princes and professors have become objects of ridicule as a result of fornication. Fornication has brought many people from all societal strata to degradation and disrepute; from fame to folly, and from honour to dishonour.*

    *Believers must abstain from all appearances of evil. Fornication is evil. It is a deadly poison. Do not meddle with immorality. Abandon anything that has the tendency to inflame the sinful passion in you as a holy Christian. Amorous discussion, romantic literature, comics, posters, and videos must be avoided like leprosy.*

    *As you flee from fornication, you must be daring and resolute to resist it, no matter the person who is making the attempt to defile you, to avoid being consumed. Sinful body contact with the opposite gender is anathema. Never permit defiling behaviours like patting, caressing, hugging and kissing because they are booby traps. They are the crucible where fornication is bred. Avoid them like plagues.*

    ```QUOTE:``` _*Never permit defiling behaviours.*_

    ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Dare to be another Joseph - flee fornication!*_

    🏽🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Father, help me to keep myself pure.*_



    Fornication Forbidden
    https://dailymanna.app//

    *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter*
    *#HigherEveryday27thAugust2026*
    *#GCK*
    *#WorshipNuggets*
    *#BibleNuggets*
    *#LeadershipNuggets*
    *#RevivalNuggets*
    *#CrusadeNuggets*
    https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]
    [26/08, 9:20 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY```

    _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣)*_

    🏼🏼🏼🏼🏼‍

    ```THURSDAY 27TH AUGUST, 2026```

    *JOCHEBED - A COURAGEOUS MOTHER* 🫵🏽🏻‍🏻‍🏻‍🏽🏻‍🏽🏽‍🏽

    ```EXODUS 2:1-10;NUMBERS 26:59```



    ```Key Verse:``` _*"And the name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, whom her mother bare to Levi in Egypt: and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister" (Numbers 26:59).*_



    Jochebed was the mother of the great and courageous leader - Moses, in the Bible. She was the mother of three prominent children - Miriam, Aaron and Moses. She gave birth to Moses at a time when Pharaoh made a decree to kill every Hebrew male baby to stop their growth and expansion.

    In spite of the challenge, Jochebed was willing to risk everything for her child's safety. She hid him for the first three months and trusted God in the face of danger and uncertainty. She took another bold step of faith by placing him in a basket by the bank of River Nile.

    By divine arrangement, Moses was found and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter. He still ended up with his mother who taught him the values of faith, courage, selflessness, humility and resilience, thereby preparing him for his role as a future leader.

    *Jochebed knew her God, and because she did not give up too soon, God rewarded her courage with a son who did exploits for God. You too must be courageous to stand for the word of God, no matter the challenge. God will bless you in return.*



    ```rayer:``` _*God, please give me the courage to see situations through the eye of faith and not walk by sight.*_ 🏽

    ``` Further Reading:``` *Exodus 6:20*


    Jochebed - A Courageous Mother
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    Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. MD.i.😀💝🌺🎁🌹🎀 MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY. THURSDAY AUGUST 27, 2O26. "THERE'S NOBODY LIKE HIM! (2)" ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom...’ Proverbs 9:10 NKJV IN A world out of control, we like a god we can control: a comforting presence who blesses, provides, and advises. Kind of like ‘God in a box.’ But when it comes to Christ, no box works. His contemporaries designed an assortment of boxes for Him, but He didn’t fit in any of their boxes. They called Him a revolutionary, but He paid taxes. They labelled Him a country carpenter, but He confounded scholars. They came to see His miracles, but He refused to entertain them. He was a Jew who attracted Gentiles, a rabbi who gave up on synagogues, a holy man who hung around with prostitutes. In a male-dominated society, He recruited females. In an anti-Roman culture, He opted not to denounce Rome. He talked like a king yet lived like a pilgrim. People tried to put Him in a ‘box,’ but they couldn’t. And we can’t either; indeed we must not! ‘…Skilled living gets its start in the Fear-of-God, insight into life from knowing a Holy God…’ (Proverbs 9:7-12TM). Most of our fears are unhealthy. They rob us of peace and joy. But the fear of the Lord does the opposite. One author writes: ‘There is nothing neurotic about fearing God. The neurotic thing is not to be afraid, or to be afraid of the wrong thing. That is why God chooses to be known to us, so that we may stop being afraid of the wrong thing. When God is fully revealed to us and we ‘get it,’ then we experience the conversion of our fear…‘fear of the Lord’ is the deeply sane recognition that we are not God.’ Bible In A Year: Ezek 10-13, Matt 21:18-32, Ps 84, Pro 19:11. 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. [26/08, 9:20 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA* THURSDAY, 27TH AUGUST, 2026. *THE DANGER OF RELAPSING INTO RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS WITHOUT THE TRANSFORMING GOSPEL* *TEXT:* GALATIANS 4:8-13. 8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. 9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? 10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. 12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all. 13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. *Timeless Truth:*_"But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?"_ (Galatians 4:9). *INTRODUCTION* Religious traditions, as described by D.E. Sherkat,  "are constellations of beliefs, practices and institutions used to describe a common type of religiosity. Religious traditions are broad understandings of the supernatural produced in societies and practiced by groups and individuals". For the sake of continuity, religious traditions are codified in texts considered sacred by individuals and institutions that adhere to and produce that form of religion. Once a conviction is formed on religious traditions, it is very difficult for adherents to give them up for another revelation even when common sense says it is wrong. It has a blinding effect especially, when it is wrong. For example, in the Christian faith, you can see some traditions that worship idols, but never see anything wrong with it, but only explain away such idol worship as traditions handed over by the "elders". Some of the Jews had that problem in the Early Church. The legalistic traditions of the law of Moses was so much built into their conviction that giving it up totally for the gospel was a problem to them. All explanations by enlightened and anointed Christ appointed Apostles fell into deaf ears. At best they were willing to believe the gospel subject to the legalistic tradition. They saw their legalistic traditions as more superior to the gospel and they were willing to continue in it in addition to the gospel. The Galatians believers were almost relapsing into the law of Moses and Paul the apostle had to set out the danger of exalting or mixing any religious traditions with or above the pure gospel. *1. The Past Graceless Life* a. There is always a clear inward and outward distinction between life before Christ and life after Christ. A reminder of this transformative experience in Christ is always needful so as not to lose faith. Paul the apostle reminded them that when they knew not God, they *"did service unto them which by nature are no gods"*. If you cannot see this transformational and supernatural distinction in your life, it is likely you are just practicing religion and have not experienced the new life in Christ. Before knowing Christ, the Galatians were enslaved to false gods and powerless spiritual systems. Apostle Paul reminded them that ignorance of the true God results in bondage. A life without Christ is a graceless life because no amount of religion can save the soul apart from the redeeming grace of Jesus. We too must never forget the pit from which God's mercy brought us out from, lest we become proud or drift into lifeless religion. b. The transforming gospel of Jesus Christ delivers sinners not only from the bondage of sin, but also from the bondage of empty religious traditions. The Galatian believers had received salvation by grace through faith, yet they were being tempted to return to legalistic practices as though human observances could perfect what Christ had accomplished. Paul the apostle lovingly warned them that abandoning the simplicity of the gospel for religious rituals is a dangerous spiritual relapse. Every believer must continually stand in the liberty of Christ and resist every tradition that replaces grace with legalism. There are also religious and denominational traditions that make the gospel of Christ of no effect in the life of a person. Inasmuch as you glue to those traditions that contradict the gospel message, the new life in Christ will continue to elude you. When the pure gospel is made to cohabit with denominational or religious traditions that do not put Christ in its rightful place, the gospel will lose its transforming power. *Question* What are some of the religious or denominational traditions that make salvation experience impossible in the life of a religious person? Have you remembered that it was God's grace, not religious performance, that brought you into salvation? *2. The Pure Gospel Lost* a. Apostle Paul expresses deep concern that those who had known God were turning again to weak and beggarly religious observances. Why call those traditions as religious and beggarly elements? They are weak because those Mosaic rules and rituals have zero power to save, justify or change a human heart. They are beggarly because they are "poverty-stricken" or bankrupt and offer no spiritual riches compared to Christ. They are called elements because they are merely elementary things given in the law of Moses to reveal the necessity of Christ without really maturing in Christ. b. They began emphasizing special days, months, seasons and years as though these could secure righteousness before God. The danger was not in observing days itself, but in trusting such practices as a means of acceptance with God. Whenever Christ is replaced by rituals, the purity of the gospel is compromised and spiritual growth is hindered. *Question* Is your confidence resting in Christ alone or in religious activities that cannot transform the heart? *3. The Persuasion to Part with Legalism* a. With tenderness, Paul the apostle pleads, *“Be as I am,”* calling the Galatians back to the freedom of grace. Apostle Paul was entrenched in *"the traditions of the elders"* which he even claimed to be more fanatical than all his equals. When he received Christ, he received Him solely and totally without adding the rudiments of the law of Moses or legalistic traditions. He parted ways with those things totally. He admonished them to do the same because it is in doing that, that they can enjoy the life of Christ to the fullest. Rather than condemning them harshly, he appeals through love and reminds them of the sacrificial relationship they once shared during his ministry among them. *"I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain"*. When you got saved by faith in Christ alone and you begin to attach some things as additions that will make salvation complete, your faith has shifted from Christ and you lose your salvation and the presence of Christ within. True spiritual leadership persuades people away from legalism and continually points them back to Christ. The transforming gospel produces loving obedience not compulsory religion. *Question* Are you willing to abandon every legalistic attitude and embrace the freedom and transforming power of the gospel? *Prayer Points* 1.Father, thank You for saving me by grace through the transforming gospel of Jesus Christ🙏. 2.Lord, deliver me from every form of empty religion and traditions with all its legalistic bondage🙏. 3.Father, help me to remain steadfast in the liberty and truth of the pure gospel and be not drifted away from Christ🙏. 4.Lord, deliver those who are deceived by religious traditions that are contrary to the pure gospel 🙏. *HYMN:* I have no other plea *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* ZEPHANIAH 1-3. [26/08, 9:20 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) THURSDAY 27TH AUGUST, 2026``` *BETWEEN JUDAIZERS AND THE JUSTIFIER* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🗣️🆚✝️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:GALATIANS 4:8-13```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain" (GALATIANS 4:11).*_ *John Newton's conversion as his foundering, wreck-bound ship sailed into the eye of the storm on a turbulent, raging sea on the 10th of March 1748, and his unflinching adherence to the faith till death remains a classical model in the evangelical circle. Newton never forgot how God mercifully spared his life, saved his soul and delivered him from wasteful living and a blasphemous lifestyle. He lived the rest of his life juxtaposing what he had previously been with the transformation God had wrought in him. To keep this memory alive, he wrote out the fifteenth verse of the fifteenth chapter of Deuteronomy in bold letters and fastened it to the wall of his study.* *Had the Galatians exercised Newton's wisdom and spiritual intelligence, a thrilling testimony would have trailed their Christian walk. They had spent their lives, plumbing the depths of human sin and degradation of idolatry, before Paul reached them with the gospel. They responded positively to the gospel, became truly converted and free from an idolatrous lifestyle. Of them, Paul said they "received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus". But their experiences became short-lived. Glib-tongued Judaizers invaded the Galatian Church and swayed the nascent assembly off the pure New Testament faith Paul had laboured to teach and impart.* *Would Paul be cowed down, cave in or contend with the detractors of faith? It hurt him to see these Gentile Christians drawn into the spider-web of Judaizing Christians once again. Paul, after the manner of a passionate pastor, pleads with the Galatians in this letter not to return to their former spiritual slavery but rather break away from every Pharisaic bondage and enjoy the liberty Christ gave them freely. He wants them to understand their new identity - saints saved by grace, void of any allegiance to a race, culture or tradition.* *These are instructive scriptures for both shepherds and the flock in the fold. While shepherds and leaders of God's people diligently labour and watch over the flock, fencing out all modern Judaizers, every believer has the responsibility to resist the subtle penetration of the enemies of the cross and make an intelligent choice between Judaizers and the Justifier. We must, in the words of Christ, "Watch and pray" at all times to avoid being beguiled.* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*You can never be deceived without your consent.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *ZEPHANIAH 1-3*📜📜 Between Judaizers And The Justifier https://dailymanna.app// *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 246: O BROTHER, LIFE'S JOURNEY BEGINNING; GHS 6: YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION; AND GHS 77: I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS* *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#DailyManna27thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [26/08, 9:20 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```THURSDAY 27TH AUGUST, 2026``` *FORNICATION FORBIDDEN* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️💋❌🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:1 THESSALONIANS 4:1-5```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication" (1 THESSALONIANS 4:3).*_ *Despite the attendant shame, sorrow, and disgrace that fornication brings to those who indulge in it, some youths still engage in this heinous sin. Celebrities of note, kings, paupers, princes and professors have become objects of ridicule as a result of fornication. Fornication has brought many people from all societal strata to degradation and disrepute; from fame to folly, and from honour to dishonour.* *Believers must abstain from all appearances of evil. Fornication is evil. It is a deadly poison. Do not meddle with immorality. Abandon anything that has the tendency to inflame the sinful passion in you as a holy Christian. Amorous discussion, romantic literature, comics, posters, and videos must be avoided like leprosy.* *As you flee from fornication, you must be daring and resolute to resist it, no matter the person who is making the attempt to defile you, to avoid being consumed. Sinful body contact with the opposite gender is anathema. Never permit defiling behaviours like patting, caressing, hugging and kissing because they are booby traps. They are the crucible where fornication is bred. Avoid them like plagues.* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*Never permit defiling behaviours.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Dare to be another Joseph - flee fornication!*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Father, help me to keep myself pure.*_ Fornication Forbidden https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#HigherEveryday27thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [26/08, 9:20 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```THURSDAY 27TH AUGUST, 2026``` *JOCHEBED - A COURAGEOUS MOTHER* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽👩🏻‍🦳🧔🏻‍♂️👩🏻‍🦰👨🏽👱🏻‍♂️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```EXODUS 2:1-10;NUMBERS 26:59```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"And the name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, whom her mother bare to Levi in Egypt: and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister" (Numbers 26:59).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Jochebed was the mother of the great and courageous leader - Moses, in the Bible. She was the mother of three prominent children - Miriam, Aaron and Moses. She gave birth to Moses at a time when Pharaoh made a decree to kill every Hebrew male baby to stop their growth and expansion. In spite of the challenge, Jochebed was willing to risk everything for her child's safety. She hid him for the first three months and trusted God in the face of danger and uncertainty. She took another bold step of faith by placing him in a basket by the bank of River Nile. By divine arrangement, Moses was found and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter. He still ended up with his mother who taught him the values of faith, courage, selflessness, humility and resilience, thereby preparing him for his role as a future leader. *Jochebed knew her God, and because she did not give up too soon, God rewarded her courage with a son who did exploits for God. You too must be courageous to stand for the word of God, no matter the challenge. God will bless you in return.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*God, please give me the courage to see situations through the eye of faith and not walk by sight.*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *Exodus 6:20* Jochebed - A Courageous Mother https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#SincereMilk27thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]. 2. Morning Prayer for today. MP.i. [26/08, 9:20 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA* THURSDAY, 27TH AUGUST, 2026. *THE DANGER OF RELAPSING INTO RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS WITHOUT THE TRANSFORMING GOSPEL* *TEXT:* GALATIANS 4:8-13. 8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. 9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? 10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. 12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all. 13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. *Timeless Truth:*_"But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?"_ (Galatians 4:9). *INTRODUCTION* Religious traditions, as described by D.E. Sherkat,  "are constellations of beliefs, practices and institutions used to describe a common type of religiosity. Religious traditions are broad understandings of the supernatural produced in societies and practiced by groups and individuals". For the sake of continuity, religious traditions are codified in texts considered sacred by individuals and institutions that adhere to and produce that form of religion. Once a conviction is formed on religious traditions, it is very difficult for adherents to give them up for another revelation even when common sense says it is wrong. It has a blinding effect especially, when it is wrong. For example, in the Christian faith, you can see some traditions that worship idols, but never see anything wrong with it, but only explain away such idol worship as traditions handed over by the "elders". Some of the Jews had that problem in the Early Church. The legalistic traditions of the law of Moses was so much built into their conviction that giving it up totally for the gospel was a problem to them. All explanations by enlightened and anointed Christ appointed Apostles fell into deaf ears. At best they were willing to believe the gospel subject to the legalistic tradition. They saw their legalistic traditions as more superior to the gospel and they were willing to continue in it in addition to the gospel. The Galatians believers were almost relapsing into the law of Moses and Paul the apostle had to set out the danger of exalting or mixing any religious traditions with or above the pure gospel. *1. The Past Graceless Life* a. There is always a clear inward and outward distinction between life before Christ and life after Christ. A reminder of this transformative experience in Christ is always needful so as not to lose faith. Paul the apostle reminded them that when they knew not God, they *"did service unto them which by nature are no gods"*. If you cannot see this transformational and supernatural distinction in your life, it is likely you are just practicing religion and have not experienced the new life in Christ. Before knowing Christ, the Galatians were enslaved to false gods and powerless spiritual systems. Apostle Paul reminded them that ignorance of the true God results in bondage. A life without Christ is a graceless life because no amount of religion can save the soul apart from the redeeming grace of Jesus. We too must never forget the pit from which God's mercy brought us out from, lest we become proud or drift into lifeless religion. b. The transforming gospel of Jesus Christ delivers sinners not only from the bondage of sin, but also from the bondage of empty religious traditions. The Galatian believers had received salvation by grace through faith, yet they were being tempted to return to legalistic practices as though human observances could perfect what Christ had accomplished. Paul the apostle lovingly warned them that abandoning the simplicity of the gospel for religious rituals is a dangerous spiritual relapse. Every believer must continually stand in the liberty of Christ and resist every tradition that replaces grace with legalism. There are also religious and denominational traditions that make the gospel of Christ of no effect in the life of a person. Inasmuch as you glue to those traditions that contradict the gospel message, the new life in Christ will continue to elude you. When the pure gospel is made to cohabit with denominational or religious traditions that do not put Christ in its rightful place, the gospel will lose its transforming power. *Question* What are some of the religious or denominational traditions that make salvation experience impossible in the life of a religious person? Have you remembered that it was God's grace, not religious performance, that brought you into salvation? *2. The Pure Gospel Lost* a. Apostle Paul expresses deep concern that those who had known God were turning again to weak and beggarly religious observances. Why call those traditions as religious and beggarly elements? They are weak because those Mosaic rules and rituals have zero power to save, justify or change a human heart. They are beggarly because they are "poverty-stricken" or bankrupt and offer no spiritual riches compared to Christ. They are called elements because they are merely elementary things given in the law of Moses to reveal the necessity of Christ without really maturing in Christ. b. They began emphasizing special days, months, seasons and years as though these could secure righteousness before God. The danger was not in observing days itself, but in trusting such practices as a means of acceptance with God. Whenever Christ is replaced by rituals, the purity of the gospel is compromised and spiritual growth is hindered. *Question* Is your confidence resting in Christ alone or in religious activities that cannot transform the heart? *3. The Persuasion to Part with Legalism* a. With tenderness, Paul the apostle pleads, *“Be as I am,”* calling the Galatians back to the freedom of grace. Apostle Paul was entrenched in *"the traditions of the elders"* which he even claimed to be more fanatical than all his equals. When he received Christ, he received Him solely and totally without adding the rudiments of the law of Moses or legalistic traditions. He parted ways with those things totally. He admonished them to do the same because it is in doing that, that they can enjoy the life of Christ to the fullest. Rather than condemning them harshly, he appeals through love and reminds them of the sacrificial relationship they once shared during his ministry among them. *"I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain"*. When you got saved by faith in Christ alone and you begin to attach some things as additions that will make salvation complete, your faith has shifted from Christ and you lose your salvation and the presence of Christ within. True spiritual leadership persuades people away from legalism and continually points them back to Christ. The transforming gospel produces loving obedience not compulsory religion. *Question* Are you willing to abandon every legalistic attitude and embrace the freedom and transforming power of the gospel? *Prayer Points* 1.Father, thank You for saving me by grace through the transforming gospel of Jesus Christ🙏. 2.Lord, deliver me from every form of empty religion and traditions with all its legalistic bondage🙏. 3.Father, help me to remain steadfast in the liberty and truth of the pure gospel and be not drifted away from Christ🙏. 4.Lord, deliver those who are deceived by religious traditions that are contrary to the pure gospel 🙏. *HYMN:* I have no other plea *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* ZEPHANIAH 1-3. [26/08, 9:20 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) THURSDAY 27TH AUGUST, 2026``` *BETWEEN JUDAIZERS AND THE JUSTIFIER* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🗣️🆚✝️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:GALATIANS 4:8-13```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain" (GALATIANS 4:11).*_ *John Newton's conversion as his foundering, wreck-bound ship sailed into the eye of the storm on a turbulent, raging sea on the 10th of March 1748, and his unflinching adherence to the faith till death remains a classical model in the evangelical circle. Newton never forgot how God mercifully spared his life, saved his soul and delivered him from wasteful living and a blasphemous lifestyle. He lived the rest of his life juxtaposing what he had previously been with the transformation God had wrought in him. To keep this memory alive, he wrote out the fifteenth verse of the fifteenth chapter of Deuteronomy in bold letters and fastened it to the wall of his study.* *Had the Galatians exercised Newton's wisdom and spiritual intelligence, a thrilling testimony would have trailed their Christian walk. They had spent their lives, plumbing the depths of human sin and degradation of idolatry, before Paul reached them with the gospel. They responded positively to the gospel, became truly converted and free from an idolatrous lifestyle. Of them, Paul said they "received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus". But their experiences became short-lived. Glib-tongued Judaizers invaded the Galatian Church and swayed the nascent assembly off the pure New Testament faith Paul had laboured to teach and impart.* *Would Paul be cowed down, cave in or contend with the detractors of faith? It hurt him to see these Gentile Christians drawn into the spider-web of Judaizing Christians once again. Paul, after the manner of a passionate pastor, pleads with the Galatians in this letter not to return to their former spiritual slavery but rather break away from every Pharisaic bondage and enjoy the liberty Christ gave them freely. He wants them to understand their new identity - saints saved by grace, void of any allegiance to a race, culture or tradition.* *These are instructive scriptures for both shepherds and the flock in the fold. While shepherds and leaders of God's people diligently labour and watch over the flock, fencing out all modern Judaizers, every believer has the responsibility to resist the subtle penetration of the enemies of the cross and make an intelligent choice between Judaizers and the Justifier. We must, in the words of Christ, "Watch and pray" at all times to avoid being beguiled.* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*You can never be deceived without your consent.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *ZEPHANIAH 1-3*📜📜 Between Judaizers And The Justifier https://dailymanna.app// *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 246: O BROTHER, LIFE'S JOURNEY BEGINNING; GHS 6: YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION; AND GHS 77: I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS* *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#DailyManna27thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [26/08, 9:20 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```THURSDAY 27TH AUGUST, 2026``` *FORNICATION FORBIDDEN* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️💋❌🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:1 THESSALONIANS 4:1-5```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication" (1 THESSALONIANS 4:3).*_ *Despite the attendant shame, sorrow, and disgrace that fornication brings to those who indulge in it, some youths still engage in this heinous sin. Celebrities of note, kings, paupers, princes and professors have become objects of ridicule as a result of fornication. Fornication has brought many people from all societal strata to degradation and disrepute; from fame to folly, and from honour to dishonour.* *Believers must abstain from all appearances of evil. Fornication is evil. It is a deadly poison. Do not meddle with immorality. Abandon anything that has the tendency to inflame the sinful passion in you as a holy Christian. Amorous discussion, romantic literature, comics, posters, and videos must be avoided like leprosy.* *As you flee from fornication, you must be daring and resolute to resist it, no matter the person who is making the attempt to defile you, to avoid being consumed. Sinful body contact with the opposite gender is anathema. Never permit defiling behaviours like patting, caressing, hugging and kissing because they are booby traps. They are the crucible where fornication is bred. Avoid them like plagues.* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*Never permit defiling behaviours.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Dare to be another Joseph - flee fornication!*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Father, help me to keep myself pure.*_ Fornication Forbidden https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#HigherEveryday27thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [26/08, 9:20 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```THURSDAY 27TH AUGUST, 2026``` *JOCHEBED - A COURAGEOUS MOTHER* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽👩🏻‍🦳🧔🏻‍♂️👩🏻‍🦰👨🏽👱🏻‍♂️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```EXODUS 2:1-10;NUMBERS 26:59```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"And the name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, whom her mother bare to Levi in Egypt: and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister" (Numbers 26:59).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Jochebed was the mother of the great and courageous leader - Moses, in the Bible. She was the mother of three prominent children - Miriam, Aaron and Moses. She gave birth to Moses at a time when Pharaoh made a decree to kill every Hebrew male baby to stop their growth and expansion. In spite of the challenge, Jochebed was willing to risk everything for her child's safety. She hid him for the first three months and trusted God in the face of danger and uncertainty. She took another bold step of faith by placing him in a basket by the bank of River Nile. By divine arrangement, Moses was found and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter. He still ended up with his mother who taught him the values of faith, courage, selflessness, humility and resilience, thereby preparing him for his role as a future leader. *Jochebed knew her God, and because she did not give up too soon, God rewarded her courage with a son who did exploits for God. You too must be courageous to stand for the word of God, no matter the challenge. God will bless you in return.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*God, please give me the courage to see situations through the eye of faith and not walk by sight.*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *Exodus 6:20* Jochebed - A Courageous Mother https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#SincereMilk27thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS].
    0 Yorumlar 0 hisse senetleri 23 Views
  • Wednesday evening Bible study.
    Bless us Lord. Continue The Book of Romans

    “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
    ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬
    *God wants our hearts in this relationship. To daily grow and learn how to Live, pleasing To God.

    “Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”
    ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬
    *it’s here we learn and grow how to Live. Trusting God.
    God gives us what we need to serve Him.

    “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.”
    ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬-‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬
    *enthusiastically Rejoice. Keep on Praying.
    Honorable
    Peace.
    Kindness
    Do Good.

    “Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.”
    ‭‭Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬
    *do what is right. Bless those in authority.
    Honor God do what is right.

    “Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law. This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.”
    ‭‭Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬-‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬
    *don’t even allow it, give up sinning. Be Full of Christ.
    *All Jesus, no more of the flesh.
    *back to verse 2 Daily forever Transforming
    *Life being pleasing and perfect

    “Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval.”
    ‭‭Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬
    *people having issue with meat offered to idols. Still hung up on religious customs.

    *its all about the Heart.

    “Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval. In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead. So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’” Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.”
    ‭‭Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭4‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬
    *Jesus Standing in our Place. We’ve got to be assured of Living for Him.
    It’s about our Heart.

    “So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.”
    ‭‭Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭13‬-‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬
    *be living and honorable.
    Goodness and Peace.
    Pleasing to God.

    “Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble. You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.”
    ‭‭Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭20‬-‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    *do what is Right.
    *Trust God… it’s about the Heart. Relationship with God, relationship with one another…
    Wednesday evening Bible study. Bless us Lord. Continue The Book of Romans “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬ *God wants our hearts in this relationship. To daily grow and learn how to Live, pleasing To God. “Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬ *it’s here we learn and grow how to Live. Trusting God. God gives us what we need to serve Him. “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬-‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬ *enthusiastically Rejoice. Keep on Praying. Honorable Peace. Kindness Do Good. “Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬ *do what is right. Bless those in authority. Honor God do what is right. “Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law. This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬-‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬ *don’t even allow it, give up sinning. Be Full of Christ. *All Jesus, no more of the flesh. *back to verse 2 Daily forever Transforming *Life being pleasing and perfect “Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬ *people having issue with meat offered to idols. Still hung up on religious customs. *its all about the Heart. “Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval. In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead. So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’” Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭4‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬ *Jesus Standing in our Place. We’ve got to be assured of Living for Him. It’s about our Heart. “So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭13‬-‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬ *be living and honorable. Goodness and Peace. Pleasing to God. “Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble. You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭20‬-‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬ *do what is Right. *Trust God… it’s about the Heart. Relationship with God, relationship with one another…
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  • Good morning, brethren.
    1. Morning devotion for today.

    MD.i. MORNING TEA
    THE WORD FOR TODAY
    FRIDAY AUGUST 21, 2O26.
    "THREE LEVELS OF ATTACK (1)"

    ‘…command that these stones become bread.’ Matthew 4:3 NKJV

    THE BIBLE says, ‘…Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil’ (Matthew 4:1 NKJV). This seems to be God’s standard operating procedure. Why? Because He’s a good general; before He puts you into battle He puts you into boot camp. Imagine it: you’re up at dawn, running for miles with a heavy backpack, crawling under barbed wire barriers with bullets whizzing over your head, taking orders from authority figures you don’t know and probably don’t like. But if you pass the test; you get to wear the uniform. On the threshold of His ministry, God led His Son into a situation where He would face three levels of attack. You will face them also. Let’s look at the first one:
    The attack over the bread. Did Jesus need bread? Yes, He’d been without food for forty days. But He knew that His greatest need was not for natural food but spiritual food. So He told satan, ‘…“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’’ (Matthew 4:4 NKJV). Only when you’re convinced God will take care of all your material needs, will you start putting spiritual things first in your life. Until that happens, you’ll think you have to take care of yourself. As a result, you will walk in fear and not faith. That’s not how God wants you to live. ‘…seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you’ (Matthew 6:33 NKJV). When you worry, you don’t trust God. When you trust God, you don’t have to worry. The choice is yours.

    Bible In A Year: Lam 3:40-5:22; Matt 20:1-16; Ps 119:129-136; Pro 18:21. 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.iì. [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA*

    FRIDAY, 21ST AUGUST, 2026.

    *WISDOM IN HANDLING THE VAIN TALKERS*

    *TEXT:* MATTHEW 22:18-22.

    18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
    19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
    20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
    21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
    22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

    *Timeless Truth:*_"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's"_ (1 Corinthians 6:20).

    *INTRODUCTION*

    In human relationships, there are vain talkers who do not hide their intention to disgrace, humiliate, embarrass and insult us. However, most vain talkers are friendly foes with evil intentions, but with a friendly approach. If they are not handled with wisdom, they will mess up, disgrace and embarass the saints and the preachers, thus, making their messages of non effect or impact. Paul the apostle himself with Apostolic anointing encountered such people like Jesus encountered them in the text. *"For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision, Whose mouths must be stopped"* (Titus 1:10,11).
    Jesus was confronted by people who did not genuinely seek the truth, but wanted to trap Him with their questions. Their outward appearance suggested sincerity, but their hearts were deceptive. Jesus, however, perceived their wicked intentions and responded with divine wisdom. Believers will also encounter vain talkers—people whose words are deceptive, provocative, argumentative or designed to lead others away from truth. We must, therefore, learn from Christ how to respond with spiritual perception, scriptural wisdom and personal conviction.

    *1. Spiritual and Scriptural Perception*

    a. Topical Encyclopedia rightly defines spiritual perception as the ability to discern and understand spiritual truths and realities that are not accessible through natural senses or human reasoning alone. It involves a heightened awareness and insight into the spiritual realm, often granted by the Holy Spirit to believers. Spiritual perception by the Holy Spirit, can read into the mind and at times (not in all cases) decipher the motivations and intentions of the heart. It is a lower form of the gift of discernment. They brought the coin with the inscription of Caesar and questioned Jesus on whether it was right to pay taxes to the government. Jesus knew they wanted to rope Him into public controversy that will put Him into trouble with the government of the day. If Jesus said it was right to pay tributes to Caesar, they would use that to paint Jesus as anti-Jewish. If Jesus said it is not right, they would end up putting him at a collision course with the government of the day. Either controversy can be avoided without necessarily doing violence to the truth. He was not a pro-controversy minister on avoidable spiritual or vain conflicts. Many ministers always enjoy being entangled in controversy on things that are non-essentials in the things of the kingdom. Jesus knew their wickedness and said, *“Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?”* Their question was not an innocent request for guidance; it was a trap. Christ could see beyond their words into their motives. Spiritual perception enables believers to distinguish between genuine questions and deceptive arguments. We must not be carried away by eloquent speech, clever reasoning or religious appearance. The Word of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit give us discernment to recognize what is behind seemingly innocent conversations.
    b. Nehemiah, for example, was given a seemingly innocent and reconciliatory invitation by his adversaries. He knew that it was not of God. *"And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him"*. Believers, especially spiritual leaders, must have enough of scriptural understanding and insight of the truth that will generate spiritual perception by the Holy Spirit. However, there are unscriptural perceptions or incorrect insights in the form of a suspicious spirit that always read negative meanings into the actions of the innocent. This is satanic and ungodly.

    *Question*

    Do I have sufficient spiritual discernment to recognize deception and vain arguments when I encounter them?

    *2. Saints as the Saviour’s Possession*

    a. Jesus revealed deep spiritual truth to them while answering their question. It is one thing to receive an answer to a genuine question and another thing to be patient enough to get the message in the answer. Jesus asked them to show Him the tribute money and then asked whose image and inscription were upon it. When they answered, *"Caesar’s"* . Jesus declared unto them that though He is the Creator of all, He will not take what belongs to others or even what he has bequeathed to others except He was given voluntarily. The metal used for the coin belongs to God, but it has been given to the king and the use is delegated to powers that be. Jesus would not take the gift back except if the gifted decided to endow it back to the Owner or the Creator. He will not forcefully, stylishly or trickishly take back what He has given to others. This is a deep spiritual message that we can learn from God. Jesus declared, *“Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”*
    b. What is the implication of this answer? The coin carried Caesar’s image and therefore must be given to the owner. Also, human beings, including his body, soul and spirit bear the image of God (Genesis 1:26–27), therefore, man must surrender his soul, spirit and body to God to be used at His pleasure being the Owner. Reluctance to give oneself to God, the Owner, is daylight robbery which God the Creator will not even do to those He gave something to. We are owned by God as His possession by Creation and Redemption. Without redemption by Jesus Christ, we are all marked for eternal destruction. *"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's"*. So, our appearance, body, heart and soul must be consciously and deliberately given to the glory of God, joyfully. The language of the responsible creature to his Creator is like what a king said: *"And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have"*. Our spirit, soul, time, possessions and all that we have belong to God and none should be denied Him at any time He needs them. Like Thomas, our response to God whenever He demands sacrifice or anything from us, no matter how precious is *"My Lord and my God"*. It is a language of acknowledgement of His being the Creator. It is a language of appreciation of being the Redeemer.

    *Question*

    Since I belong to Christ, am I allowing His image and ownership to determine the way I live? Am I always readily giving Him what His Word demands without hesitation or reluctance?

    *3. Satisfied without Scripture Personalization*

    When Jesus answered their question, *“they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.”* They were amazed by His wisdom, but there is no indication that they surrendered their hearts to His truth. They did not bother to apply the truth to their lives and personalized it. It is possible to admire Scripture, appreciate a powerful message and even marvel at divine wisdom without personally applying it. The danger of vain talk is that we may become satisfied with intellectual discussion rather than spiritual transformation. God’s Word must move from our ears to our hearts and from our hearts to our daily conduct. The messages of Christ are so deep that they require constant and continuous reflection and self application in order to get the best from them. It is not how great a message is, but how transforming.

    *Question*

    Am I merely impressed by biblical truth or am I personally applying and obeying it?

    *Prayer Points*

    1.Lord, grant me spiritual discernment to recognize deception, hypocrisy and vain arguments .
    2.Father, help me to remember that I belong completely to Christ and to live according to His will .
    3 Lord, deliver me from empty religious knowledge and help me to personalize and practice Your Word .
    4.Father, give us the wisdom of Christ to answer difficult questions with truth, grace, humility and courage. Help us to be doers of your Word and not hearers only .

    *HYMN:* Lord speak to me

    *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* DANIEL 3-5.
    [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS)

    FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2026```


    *RESPONSIBILITIES OF DUAL CITIZENS* 🫵🏽🏽‍🏽‍🏽🏽‍🏽

    ```TEXT:MATTHEW 22:18-22```

    ```KEY VERSE:``` _*"And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's" (MATTHEW 22:20, 21).*_

    *Kofi Annan, the Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1997 - 2006, is a figure whose life was shaped by the responsibilities of dual citizenship. While Annan was a Ghanaian citizen by birth, his role in international diplomacy required him to balance his connection to his homeland with his responsibility to the global community. In his role in Ghana, he worked to advance the nation's standing on the world stage, often advocating for African issues and the continent's development in the international arena. On the other hand, in his global duty as UN Secretary-General, his role involved diplomacy with countries in conflict, addressing human rights abuses, and working toward humanitarian aid and general global peace.*

    *In the passage, the Pharisees, who were trying to trap Jesus, posed a question about paying taxes to Caesar. The dilemma they presented seemed unsolvable: if Jesus said it was lawful to pay tax, He could alienate the people, who hated Roman rule. But if He said it was unlawful, He could be accused of stirring insurrection. But Jesus, with His wisdom, cut through the manipulation and answered in a way that transcended their trap. He asked for a coin, a denarius, and asked whose image was on it. "Caesar's," they replied. Then, He gave a profound answer that has echoed through history: "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."*

    *Jesus' words highlight that we are citizens of two realms - an earthly kingdom, with earthly responsibilities, and God's kingdom, with eternal responsibilities. While on earth, we are to honour the systems of authority set before us, paying taxes, respecting laws, and fulfilling our civic duties, which are part of our witness to the world. On the other hand, we must always remember that we are made in the likeness of God and, as such, our lives, our hearts, our very being, are His. In all, while our lives may be marked by the needs of the world - job, family, relationships - our ultimate allegiance should lie with God.*

    ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*A coin has two sides, so do our duties to God and man.*_

    ```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *DANIEL 3-5*

    Responsibilities Of Dual Citizens
    https://dailymanna.app//
    *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 89: O JESUS, I HAVE PROMISED; GHS 223: I GAVE MY LIFE FOR THEE; AND GHS 233: STAND UP, STAND UP FOR JESUS*
    *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter*
    *#DailyManna21stAugust2026*
    *#GCK*
    *#WorshipNuggets*
    *#BibleNuggets*
    *#LeadershipNuggets*
    *#RevivalNuggets*
    *#CrusadeNuggets*
    https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]
    [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY```

    _*HIGHER EVERYDY: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_

    ✍🏽🏻‍ 🏽🛰

    ```FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2026```

    *A CHILD WITH A DIFFERENCE* 🫵🏽🏽‍🏽‍🏽🏽🏽🏽🏽‍🏽

    ```TEXT:1 SAMUEL 2:22-26```

    ``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men" (1 SAMUEL 2:26).*_

    *Neelakantha Bhanu Prakash, a 26-year-old Indian is referred to as the "world's fastest human calculator." According to the _Limca Book of Records,_ India's equivalent to _Guinness World Records,_ Bhanu's brain processes numbers about 10 times faster than regular brains. He is an exceptional individual with unusual gifts and talents.*

    *The Biblical young Samuel was one of such children with a difference. He was raised in the house of Prophet Eli with his wayward and corrupt children. Samuel grew up like a lily in the mire without any taint of environmental corruption.*

    *Samuel did not join the bandwagon of the ruffians, Hophni and Phinehas (Eli's children) among whom he grew up. God called them sons of Belial who knew not the Lord. Because Samuel kept himself from evils around him, he became a priest, prophet and leader for the whole nation of Israel.*

    *To fulfill God's purpose for your life and make impact in your world, you must be holy and righteous. You are exceptional. You can make a difference in your world.*

    ```QUOTE:``` _*You can make a difference.*_

    ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Make definite impact in your world.*_

    🏽🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Help me Lord, to fulfill Your purpose in life.*_



    A Child With A Difference
    https://dailymanna.app//

    *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter*
    *#HigherEveryday21stAugust2026*
    *#GCK*
    *#WorshipNuggets*
    *#BibleNuggets*
    *#LeadershipNuggets*
    *#RevivalNuggets*
    *#CrusadeNuggets*
    https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]
    [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY```

    _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣)*_

    🏼🏼🏼🏼🏼‍

    ```FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2026```

    *PROFITABLE SERVICE* 🫵🏽🏽‍🏽‍🏽🏽‍🏽🏽

    ```EXODUS 23:25-26```



    ```Key Verse:``` _*"And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee" (Exodus 23:25).*_



    Kingdom work involves the use of our God-given resources, like time, strength, talents and finances, in promoting the kingdom of God. It is a profitable service that attracts rewards on earth and in Heaven. Some of the benefits are outlined below:

    *(i) Divine Blessings - Provision of food and other needs (Exodus 23:25).*

    *(ii) Divine Health - Healing and sound health (Exodus 23:25).*

    *(iii) Long Life - Live long and healthy till old age (Exodus 23:26).*

    *(iv) Prosperity - God will prosper you in every area of life: academics, career, and material blessings (Job 36:11).*

    *(v) Honour - Undeserved favour and honour from God. At last, the faithful servant will make it to heaven and live with Jesus forever (John 12:26).*

    *(vi) Distinction - You will be the head and not the tail. Also, you will have excellent results, and become ten times better (Deuteronomy 28:13).*

    *(vii) Fulfillment in Life - You will never lack anything that is good. All that you desire shall come to pass (Matthew 6:33).*

    *It is time to wake up and get involved in kingdom service so that you can get the reward from God.*



    ```rayer:``` _*May my sacrifice be acceptable unto You oh Lord!*_ 🏽

    ``` Further Reading:``` *1 Corinthians 4:1-4*



    Profitable Service
    https://dailymanna.app//

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    *#SincereMilk21stAugust2026*
    *#GCK*
    *#WorshipNuggets*
    *#BibleNuggets*
    *#LeadershipNuggets*
    *#RevivalNuggets*
    *#CrusadeNuggets*
    https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]

    2. Morning Prayer for today.

    MP.i. Morning Prayer

    Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. ⏤ John 8:12

    Prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan. ⏤ John Bunyan

    O God, the source of all truth and grace, You’ve called us out of darkness into Your marvelous light—grant us Your blessing as this new day begins. We ask for Your grace to walk worthy of our high calling, with humility, faith, and hope. May we let our light shine before others so they may see our good works and glorify You.

    We ask for grace to perform our tasks diligently, to manage our affairs wisely, to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, and to acknowledge You in all our ways.

    Order our steps in Your word and don’t let sin have any power over us.

    Give us our daily bread. Provide what we need for this day. Grant us health of body and soundness of mind so that we’re prepared for the duties ahead. Prosper our efforts as long as they align with Your will. If any of our plans don’t fit into Your plan for our lives, we ask that You set them aside, for we don’t want to go against You or do anything that You won’t approve or bless. Restrain us from all excesses, from unwise words, from foolish vanity, and from uncontrolled emotions. Make us thoughtful, serious, and prayerful.

    O God, You allowed Your only Son to be tempted by the Evil One so that He could support those who are tempted. We ask You to deliver us from the snares and temptations that constantly surround us, and to strengthen us by Your Spirit so that in all things, we may be more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Amen.

    https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/47/morning

    #taptapstudio
    #youdevotion.
    Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. MD.i. 😀🎀💝🎁🌺🌹MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY FRIDAY AUGUST 21, 2O26. "THREE LEVELS OF ATTACK (1)" ‘…command that these stones become bread.’ Matthew 4:3 NKJV THE BIBLE says, ‘…Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil’ (Matthew 4:1 NKJV). This seems to be God’s standard operating procedure. Why? Because He’s a good general; before He puts you into battle He puts you into boot camp. Imagine it: you’re up at dawn, running for miles with a heavy backpack, crawling under barbed wire barriers with bullets whizzing over your head, taking orders from authority figures you don’t know and probably don’t like. But if you pass the test; you get to wear the uniform. On the threshold of His ministry, God led His Son into a situation where He would face three levels of attack. You will face them also. Let’s look at the first one: The attack over the bread. Did Jesus need bread? Yes, He’d been without food for forty days. But He knew that His greatest need was not for natural food but spiritual food. So He told satan, ‘…“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’’ (Matthew 4:4 NKJV). Only when you’re convinced God will take care of all your material needs, will you start putting spiritual things first in your life. Until that happens, you’ll think you have to take care of yourself. As a result, you will walk in fear and not faith. That’s not how God wants you to live. ‘…seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you’ (Matthew 6:33 NKJV). When you worry, you don’t trust God. When you trust God, you don’t have to worry. The choice is yours. Bible In A Year: Lam 3:40-5:22; Matt 20:1-16; Ps 119:129-136; Pro 18:21. 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.iì. [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA* FRIDAY, 21ST AUGUST, 2026. *WISDOM IN HANDLING THE VAIN TALKERS* *TEXT:* MATTHEW 22:18-22. 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. 22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way. *Timeless Truth:*_"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's"_ (1 Corinthians 6:20). *INTRODUCTION* In human relationships, there are vain talkers who do not hide their intention to disgrace, humiliate, embarrass and insult us. However, most vain talkers are friendly foes with evil intentions, but with a friendly approach. If they are not handled with wisdom, they will mess up, disgrace and embarass the saints and the preachers, thus, making their messages of non effect or impact. Paul the apostle himself with Apostolic anointing encountered such people like Jesus encountered them in the text. *"For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision, Whose mouths must be stopped"* (Titus 1:10,11). Jesus was confronted by people who did not genuinely seek the truth, but wanted to trap Him with their questions. Their outward appearance suggested sincerity, but their hearts were deceptive. Jesus, however, perceived their wicked intentions and responded with divine wisdom. Believers will also encounter vain talkers—people whose words are deceptive, provocative, argumentative or designed to lead others away from truth. We must, therefore, learn from Christ how to respond with spiritual perception, scriptural wisdom and personal conviction. *1. Spiritual and Scriptural Perception* a. Topical Encyclopedia rightly defines spiritual perception as the ability to discern and understand spiritual truths and realities that are not accessible through natural senses or human reasoning alone. It involves a heightened awareness and insight into the spiritual realm, often granted by the Holy Spirit to believers. Spiritual perception by the Holy Spirit, can read into the mind and at times (not in all cases) decipher the motivations and intentions of the heart. It is a lower form of the gift of discernment. They brought the coin with the inscription of Caesar and questioned Jesus on whether it was right to pay taxes to the government. Jesus knew they wanted to rope Him into public controversy that will put Him into trouble with the government of the day. If Jesus said it was right to pay tributes to Caesar, they would use that to paint Jesus as anti-Jewish. If Jesus said it is not right, they would end up putting him at a collision course with the government of the day. Either controversy can be avoided without necessarily doing violence to the truth. He was not a pro-controversy minister on avoidable spiritual or vain conflicts. Many ministers always enjoy being entangled in controversy on things that are non-essentials in the things of the kingdom. Jesus knew their wickedness and said, *“Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?”* Their question was not an innocent request for guidance; it was a trap. Christ could see beyond their words into their motives. Spiritual perception enables believers to distinguish between genuine questions and deceptive arguments. We must not be carried away by eloquent speech, clever reasoning or religious appearance. The Word of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit give us discernment to recognize what is behind seemingly innocent conversations. b. Nehemiah, for example, was given a seemingly innocent and reconciliatory invitation by his adversaries. He knew that it was not of God. *"And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him"*. Believers, especially spiritual leaders, must have enough of scriptural understanding and insight of the truth that will generate spiritual perception by the Holy Spirit. However, there are unscriptural perceptions or incorrect insights in the form of a suspicious spirit that always read negative meanings into the actions of the innocent. This is satanic and ungodly. *Question* Do I have sufficient spiritual discernment to recognize deception and vain arguments when I encounter them? *2. Saints as the Saviour’s Possession* a. Jesus revealed deep spiritual truth to them while answering their question. It is one thing to receive an answer to a genuine question and another thing to be patient enough to get the message in the answer. Jesus asked them to show Him the tribute money and then asked whose image and inscription were upon it. When they answered, *"Caesar’s"* . Jesus declared unto them that though He is the Creator of all, He will not take what belongs to others or even what he has bequeathed to others except He was given voluntarily. The metal used for the coin belongs to God, but it has been given to the king and the use is delegated to powers that be. Jesus would not take the gift back except if the gifted decided to endow it back to the Owner or the Creator. He will not forcefully, stylishly or trickishly take back what He has given to others. This is a deep spiritual message that we can learn from God. Jesus declared, *“Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”* b. What is the implication of this answer? The coin carried Caesar’s image and therefore must be given to the owner. Also, human beings, including his body, soul and spirit bear the image of God (Genesis 1:26–27), therefore, man must surrender his soul, spirit and body to God to be used at His pleasure being the Owner. Reluctance to give oneself to God, the Owner, is daylight robbery which God the Creator will not even do to those He gave something to. We are owned by God as His possession by Creation and Redemption. Without redemption by Jesus Christ, we are all marked for eternal destruction. *"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's"*. So, our appearance, body, heart and soul must be consciously and deliberately given to the glory of God, joyfully. The language of the responsible creature to his Creator is like what a king said: *"And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have"*. Our spirit, soul, time, possessions and all that we have belong to God and none should be denied Him at any time He needs them. Like Thomas, our response to God whenever He demands sacrifice or anything from us, no matter how precious is *"My Lord and my God"*. It is a language of acknowledgement of His being the Creator. It is a language of appreciation of being the Redeemer. *Question* Since I belong to Christ, am I allowing His image and ownership to determine the way I live? Am I always readily giving Him what His Word demands without hesitation or reluctance? *3. Satisfied without Scripture Personalization* When Jesus answered their question, *“they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.”* They were amazed by His wisdom, but there is no indication that they surrendered their hearts to His truth. They did not bother to apply the truth to their lives and personalized it. It is possible to admire Scripture, appreciate a powerful message and even marvel at divine wisdom without personally applying it. The danger of vain talk is that we may become satisfied with intellectual discussion rather than spiritual transformation. God’s Word must move from our ears to our hearts and from our hearts to our daily conduct. The messages of Christ are so deep that they require constant and continuous reflection and self application in order to get the best from them. It is not how great a message is, but how transforming. *Question* Am I merely impressed by biblical truth or am I personally applying and obeying it? *Prayer Points* 1.Lord, grant me spiritual discernment to recognize deception, hypocrisy and vain arguments 🙏. 2.Father, help me to remember that I belong completely to Christ and to live according to His will 🙏. 3 Lord, deliver me from empty religious knowledge and help me to personalize and practice Your Word 🙏. 4.Father, give us the wisdom of Christ to answer difficult questions with truth, grace, humility and courage. Help us to be doers of your Word and not hearers only 🙏. *HYMN:* Lord speak to me *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* DANIEL 3-5. [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2026``` *RESPONSIBILITIES OF DUAL CITIZENS* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:MATTHEW 22:18-22```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's" (MATTHEW 22:20, 21).*_ *Kofi Annan, the Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1997 - 2006, is a figure whose life was shaped by the responsibilities of dual citizenship. While Annan was a Ghanaian citizen by birth, his role in international diplomacy required him to balance his connection to his homeland with his responsibility to the global community. In his role in Ghana, he worked to advance the nation's standing on the world stage, often advocating for African issues and the continent's development in the international arena. On the other hand, in his global duty as UN Secretary-General, his role involved diplomacy with countries in conflict, addressing human rights abuses, and working toward humanitarian aid and general global peace.* *In the passage, the Pharisees, who were trying to trap Jesus, posed a question about paying taxes to Caesar. The dilemma they presented seemed unsolvable: if Jesus said it was lawful to pay tax, He could alienate the people, who hated Roman rule. But if He said it was unlawful, He could be accused of stirring insurrection. But Jesus, with His wisdom, cut through the manipulation and answered in a way that transcended their trap. He asked for a coin, a denarius, and asked whose image was on it. "Caesar's," they replied. Then, He gave a profound answer that has echoed through history: "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."* *Jesus' words highlight that we are citizens of two realms - an earthly kingdom, with earthly responsibilities, and God's kingdom, with eternal responsibilities. While on earth, we are to honour the systems of authority set before us, paying taxes, respecting laws, and fulfilling our civic duties, which are part of our witness to the world. On the other hand, we must always remember that we are made in the likeness of God and, as such, our lives, our hearts, our very being, are His. In all, while our lives may be marked by the needs of the world - job, family, relationships - our ultimate allegiance should lie with God.* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*A coin has two sides, so do our duties to God and man.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *DANIEL 3-5*📜📜 Responsibilities Of Dual Citizens https://dailymanna.app// *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 89: O JESUS, I HAVE PROMISED; GHS 223: I GAVE MY LIFE FOR THEE; AND GHS 233: STAND UP, STAND UP FOR JESUS* *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#DailyManna21stAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2026``` *A CHILD WITH A DIFFERENCE* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️👶🏽👦🏽👨🏽🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:1 SAMUEL 2:22-26```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men" (1 SAMUEL 2:26).*_ *Neelakantha Bhanu Prakash, a 26-year-old Indian is referred to as the "world's fastest human calculator." According to the _Limca Book of Records,_ India's equivalent to _Guinness World Records,_ Bhanu's brain processes numbers about 10 times faster than regular brains. He is an exceptional individual with unusual gifts and talents.* *The Biblical young Samuel was one of such children with a difference. He was raised in the house of Prophet Eli with his wayward and corrupt children. Samuel grew up like a lily in the mire without any taint of environmental corruption.* *Samuel did not join the bandwagon of the ruffians, Hophni and Phinehas (Eli's children) among whom he grew up. God called them sons of Belial who knew not the Lord. Because Samuel kept himself from evils around him, he became a priest, prophet and leader for the whole nation of Israel.* *To fulfill God's purpose for your life and make impact in your world, you must be holy and righteous. You are exceptional. You can make a difference in your world.* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*You can make a difference.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Make definite impact in your world.*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Help me Lord, to fulfill Your purpose in life.*_ A Child With A Difference https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#HigherEveryday21stAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2026``` *PROFITABLE SERVICE* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽🙌🏽 📜📜```EXODUS 23:25-26```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee" (Exodus 23:25).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Kingdom work involves the use of our God-given resources, like time, strength, talents and finances, in promoting the kingdom of God. It is a profitable service that attracts rewards on earth and in Heaven. Some of the benefits are outlined below: *(i) Divine Blessings - Provision of food and other needs (Exodus 23:25).* *(ii) Divine Health - Healing and sound health (Exodus 23:25).* *(iii) Long Life - Live long and healthy till old age (Exodus 23:26).* *(iv) Prosperity - God will prosper you in every area of life: academics, career, and material blessings (Job 36:11).* *(v) Honour - Undeserved favour and honour from God. At last, the faithful servant will make it to heaven and live with Jesus forever (John 12:26).* *(vi) Distinction - You will be the head and not the tail. Also, you will have excellent results, and become ten times better (Deuteronomy 28:13).* *(vii) Fulfillment in Life - You will never lack anything that is good. All that you desire shall come to pass (Matthew 6:33).* *It is time to wake up and get involved in kingdom service so that you can get the reward from God.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*May my sacrifice be acceptable unto You oh Lord!*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *1 Corinthians 4:1-4* Profitable Service https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#SincereMilk21stAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]. 2. Morning Prayer for today. MP.i. Morning Prayer Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. ⏤ John 8:12 Prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan. ⏤ John Bunyan O God, the source of all truth and grace, You’ve called us out of darkness into Your marvelous light—grant us Your blessing as this new day begins. We ask for Your grace to walk worthy of our high calling, with humility, faith, and hope. May we let our light shine before others so they may see our good works and glorify You. We ask for grace to perform our tasks diligently, to manage our affairs wisely, to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, and to acknowledge You in all our ways. Order our steps in Your word and don’t let sin have any power over us. Give us our daily bread. Provide what we need for this day. Grant us health of body and soundness of mind so that we’re prepared for the duties ahead. Prosper our efforts as long as they align with Your will. If any of our plans don’t fit into Your plan for our lives, we ask that You set them aside, for we don’t want to go against You or do anything that You won’t approve or bless. Restrain us from all excesses, from unwise words, from foolish vanity, and from uncontrolled emotions. Make us thoughtful, serious, and prayerful. O God, You allowed Your only Son to be tempted by the Evil One so that He could support those who are tempted. We ask You to deliver us from the snares and temptations that constantly surround us, and to strengthen us by Your Spirit so that in all things, we may be more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/47/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.
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  • Good morning, brethren.
    1. Morning devotion for today.

    MD.i. MORNING TEA
    THE WORD FOR TODAY
    FRIDAY AUGUST 21, 2O26.
    "THREE LEVELS OF ATTACK (1)"

    ‘…command that these stones become bread.’ Matthew 4:3 NKJV

    THE BIBLE says, ‘…Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil’ (Matthew 4:1 NKJV). This seems to be God’s standard operating procedure. Why? Because He’s a good general; before He puts you into battle He puts you into boot camp. Imagine it: you’re up at dawn, running for miles with a heavy backpack, crawling under barbed wire barriers with bullets whizzing over your head, taking orders from authority figures you don’t know and probably don’t like. But if you pass the test; you get to wear the uniform. On the threshold of His ministry, God led His Son into a situation where He would face three levels of attack. You will face them also. Let’s look at the first one:
    The attack over the bread. Did Jesus need bread? Yes, He’d been without food for forty days. But He knew that His greatest need was not for natural food but spiritual food. So He told satan, ‘…“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’’ (Matthew 4:4 NKJV). Only when you’re convinced God will take care of all your material needs, will you start putting spiritual things first in your life. Until that happens, you’ll think you have to take care of yourself. As a result, you will walk in fear and not faith. That’s not how God wants you to live. ‘…seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you’ (Matthew 6:33 NKJV). When you worry, you don’t trust God. When you trust God, you don’t have to worry. The choice is yours.

    Bible In A Year: Lam 3:40-5:22; Matt 20:1-16; Ps 119:129-136; Pro 18:21. 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.iì. [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA*

    FRIDAY, 21ST AUGUST, 2026.

    *WISDOM IN HANDLING THE VAIN TALKERS*

    *TEXT:* MATTHEW 22:18-22.

    18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
    19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
    20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
    21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
    22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

    *Timeless Truth:*_"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's"_ (1 Corinthians 6:20).

    *INTRODUCTION*

    In human relationships, there are vain talkers who do not hide their intention to disgrace, humiliate, embarrass and insult us. However, most vain talkers are friendly foes with evil intentions, but with a friendly approach. If they are not handled with wisdom, they will mess up, disgrace and embarass the saints and the preachers, thus, making their messages of non effect or impact. Paul the apostle himself with Apostolic anointing encountered such people like Jesus encountered them in the text. *"For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision, Whose mouths must be stopped"* (Titus 1:10,11).
    Jesus was confronted by people who did not genuinely seek the truth, but wanted to trap Him with their questions. Their outward appearance suggested sincerity, but their hearts were deceptive. Jesus, however, perceived their wicked intentions and responded with divine wisdom. Believers will also encounter vain talkers—people whose words are deceptive, provocative, argumentative or designed to lead others away from truth. We must, therefore, learn from Christ how to respond with spiritual perception, scriptural wisdom and personal conviction.

    *1. Spiritual and Scriptural Perception*

    a. Topical Encyclopedia rightly defines spiritual perception as the ability to discern and understand spiritual truths and realities that are not accessible through natural senses or human reasoning alone. It involves a heightened awareness and insight into the spiritual realm, often granted by the Holy Spirit to believers. Spiritual perception by the Holy Spirit, can read into the mind and at times (not in all cases) decipher the motivations and intentions of the heart. It is a lower form of the gift of discernment. They brought the coin with the inscription of Caesar and questioned Jesus on whether it was right to pay taxes to the government. Jesus knew they wanted to rope Him into public controversy that will put Him into trouble with the government of the day. If Jesus said it was right to pay tributes to Caesar, they would use that to paint Jesus as anti-Jewish. If Jesus said it is not right, they would end up putting him at a collision course with the government of the day. Either controversy can be avoided without necessarily doing violence to the truth. He was not a pro-controversy minister on avoidable spiritual or vain conflicts. Many ministers always enjoy being entangled in controversy on things that are non-essentials in the things of the kingdom. Jesus knew their wickedness and said, *“Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?”* Their question was not an innocent request for guidance; it was a trap. Christ could see beyond their words into their motives. Spiritual perception enables believers to distinguish between genuine questions and deceptive arguments. We must not be carried away by eloquent speech, clever reasoning or religious appearance. The Word of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit give us discernment to recognize what is behind seemingly innocent conversations.
    b. Nehemiah, for example, was given a seemingly innocent and reconciliatory invitation by his adversaries. He knew that it was not of God. *"And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him"*. Believers, especially spiritual leaders, must have enough of scriptural understanding and insight of the truth that will generate spiritual perception by the Holy Spirit. However, there are unscriptural perceptions or incorrect insights in the form of a suspicious spirit that always read negative meanings into the actions of the innocent. This is satanic and ungodly.

    *Question*

    Do I have sufficient spiritual discernment to recognize deception and vain arguments when I encounter them?

    *2. Saints as the Saviour’s Possession*

    a. Jesus revealed deep spiritual truth to them while answering their question. It is one thing to receive an answer to a genuine question and another thing to be patient enough to get the message in the answer. Jesus asked them to show Him the tribute money and then asked whose image and inscription were upon it. When they answered, *"Caesar’s"* . Jesus declared unto them that though He is the Creator of all, He will not take what belongs to others or even what he has bequeathed to others except He was given voluntarily. The metal used for the coin belongs to God, but it has been given to the king and the use is delegated to powers that be. Jesus would not take the gift back except if the gifted decided to endow it back to the Owner or the Creator. He will not forcefully, stylishly or trickishly take back what He has given to others. This is a deep spiritual message that we can learn from God. Jesus declared, *“Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”*
    b. What is the implication of this answer? The coin carried Caesar’s image and therefore must be given to the owner. Also, human beings, including his body, soul and spirit bear the image of God (Genesis 1:26–27), therefore, man must surrender his soul, spirit and body to God to be used at His pleasure being the Owner. Reluctance to give oneself to God, the Owner, is daylight robbery which God the Creator will not even do to those He gave something to. We are owned by God as His possession by Creation and Redemption. Without redemption by Jesus Christ, we are all marked for eternal destruction. *"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's"*. So, our appearance, body, heart and soul must be consciously and deliberately given to the glory of God, joyfully. The language of the responsible creature to his Creator is like what a king said: *"And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have"*. Our spirit, soul, time, possessions and all that we have belong to God and none should be denied Him at any time He needs them. Like Thomas, our response to God whenever He demands sacrifice or anything from us, no matter how precious is *"My Lord and my God"*. It is a language of acknowledgement of His being the Creator. It is a language of appreciation of being the Redeemer.

    *Question*

    Since I belong to Christ, am I allowing His image and ownership to determine the way I live? Am I always readily giving Him what His Word demands without hesitation or reluctance?

    *3. Satisfied without Scripture Personalization*

    When Jesus answered their question, *“they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.”* They were amazed by His wisdom, but there is no indication that they surrendered their hearts to His truth. They did not bother to apply the truth to their lives and personalized it. It is possible to admire Scripture, appreciate a powerful message and even marvel at divine wisdom without personally applying it. The danger of vain talk is that we may become satisfied with intellectual discussion rather than spiritual transformation. God’s Word must move from our ears to our hearts and from our hearts to our daily conduct. The messages of Christ are so deep that they require constant and continuous reflection and self application in order to get the best from them. It is not how great a message is, but how transforming.

    *Question*

    Am I merely impressed by biblical truth or am I personally applying and obeying it?

    *Prayer Points*

    1.Lord, grant me spiritual discernment to recognize deception, hypocrisy and vain arguments .
    2.Father, help me to remember that I belong completely to Christ and to live according to His will .
    3 Lord, deliver me from empty religious knowledge and help me to personalize and practice Your Word .
    4.Father, give us the wisdom of Christ to answer difficult questions with truth, grace, humility and courage. Help us to be doers of your Word and not hearers only .

    *HYMN:* Lord speak to me

    *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* DANIEL 3-5.
    [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS)

    FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2026```


    *RESPONSIBILITIES OF DUAL CITIZENS* 🫵🏽🏽‍🏽‍🏽🏽‍🏽

    ```TEXT:MATTHEW 22:18-22```

    ```KEY VERSE:``` _*"And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's" (MATTHEW 22:20, 21).*_

    *Kofi Annan, the Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1997 - 2006, is a figure whose life was shaped by the responsibilities of dual citizenship. While Annan was a Ghanaian citizen by birth, his role in international diplomacy required him to balance his connection to his homeland with his responsibility to the global community. In his role in Ghana, he worked to advance the nation's standing on the world stage, often advocating for African issues and the continent's development in the international arena. On the other hand, in his global duty as UN Secretary-General, his role involved diplomacy with countries in conflict, addressing human rights abuses, and working toward humanitarian aid and general global peace.*

    *In the passage, the Pharisees, who were trying to trap Jesus, posed a question about paying taxes to Caesar. The dilemma they presented seemed unsolvable: if Jesus said it was lawful to pay tax, He could alienate the people, who hated Roman rule. But if He said it was unlawful, He could be accused of stirring insurrection. But Jesus, with His wisdom, cut through the manipulation and answered in a way that transcended their trap. He asked for a coin, a denarius, and asked whose image was on it. "Caesar's," they replied. Then, He gave a profound answer that has echoed through history: "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."*

    *Jesus' words highlight that we are citizens of two realms - an earthly kingdom, with earthly responsibilities, and God's kingdom, with eternal responsibilities. While on earth, we are to honour the systems of authority set before us, paying taxes, respecting laws, and fulfilling our civic duties, which are part of our witness to the world. On the other hand, we must always remember that we are made in the likeness of God and, as such, our lives, our hearts, our very being, are His. In all, while our lives may be marked by the needs of the world - job, family, relationships - our ultimate allegiance should lie with God.*

    ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*A coin has two sides, so do our duties to God and man.*_

    ```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *DANIEL 3-5*

    Responsibilities Of Dual Citizens
    https://dailymanna.app//
    *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 89: O JESUS, I HAVE PROMISED; GHS 223: I GAVE MY LIFE FOR THEE; AND GHS 233: STAND UP, STAND UP FOR JESUS*
    *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter*
    *#DailyManna21stAugust2026*
    *#GCK*
    *#WorshipNuggets*
    *#BibleNuggets*
    *#LeadershipNuggets*
    *#RevivalNuggets*
    *#CrusadeNuggets*
    https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]
    [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY```

    _*HIGHER EVERYDY: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_

    ✍🏽🏻‍ 🏽🛰

    ```FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2026```

    *A CHILD WITH A DIFFERENCE* 🫵🏽🏽‍🏽‍🏽🏽🏽🏽🏽‍🏽

    ```TEXT:1 SAMUEL 2:22-26```

    ``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men" (1 SAMUEL 2:26).*_

    *Neelakantha Bhanu Prakash, a 26-year-old Indian is referred to as the "world's fastest human calculator." According to the _Limca Book of Records,_ India's equivalent to _Guinness World Records,_ Bhanu's brain processes numbers about 10 times faster than regular brains. He is an exceptional individual with unusual gifts and talents.*

    *The Biblical young Samuel was one of such children with a difference. He was raised in the house of Prophet Eli with his wayward and corrupt children. Samuel grew up like a lily in the mire without any taint of environmental corruption.*

    *Samuel did not join the bandwagon of the ruffians, Hophni and Phinehas (Eli's children) among whom he grew up. God called them sons of Belial who knew not the Lord. Because Samuel kept himself from evils around him, he became a priest, prophet and leader for the whole nation of Israel.*

    *To fulfill God's purpose for your life and make impact in your world, you must be holy and righteous. You are exceptional. You can make a difference in your world.*

    ```QUOTE:``` _*You can make a difference.*_

    ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Make definite impact in your world.*_

    🏽🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Help me Lord, to fulfill Your purpose in life.*_



    A Child With A Difference
    https://dailymanna.app//

    *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter*
    *#HigherEveryday21stAugust2026*
    *#GCK*
    *#WorshipNuggets*
    *#BibleNuggets*
    *#LeadershipNuggets*
    *#RevivalNuggets*
    *#CrusadeNuggets*
    https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]
    [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY```

    _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣)*_

    🏼🏼🏼🏼🏼‍

    ```FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2026```

    *PROFITABLE SERVICE* 🫵🏽🏽‍🏽‍🏽🏽‍🏽🏽

    ```EXODUS 23:25-26```



    ```Key Verse:``` _*"And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee" (Exodus 23:25).*_



    Kingdom work involves the use of our God-given resources, like time, strength, talents and finances, in promoting the kingdom of God. It is a profitable service that attracts rewards on earth and in Heaven. Some of the benefits are outlined below:

    *(i) Divine Blessings - Provision of food and other needs (Exodus 23:25).*

    *(ii) Divine Health - Healing and sound health (Exodus 23:25).*

    *(iii) Long Life - Live long and healthy till old age (Exodus 23:26).*

    *(iv) Prosperity - God will prosper you in every area of life: academics, career, and material blessings (Job 36:11).*

    *(v) Honour - Undeserved favour and honour from God. At last, the faithful servant will make it to heaven and live with Jesus forever (John 12:26).*

    *(vi) Distinction - You will be the head and not the tail. Also, you will have excellent results, and become ten times better (Deuteronomy 28:13).*

    *(vii) Fulfillment in Life - You will never lack anything that is good. All that you desire shall come to pass (Matthew 6:33).*

    *It is time to wake up and get involved in kingdom service so that you can get the reward from God.*



    ```rayer:``` _*May my sacrifice be acceptable unto You oh Lord!*_ 🏽

    ``` Further Reading:``` *1 Corinthians 4:1-4*



    Profitable Service
    https://dailymanna.app//

    *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter*
    *#SincereMilk21stAugust2026*
    *#GCK*
    *#WorshipNuggets*
    *#BibleNuggets*
    *#LeadershipNuggets*
    *#RevivalNuggets*
    *#CrusadeNuggets*
    https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]

    2. Morning Prayer for today.

    MP.i. Morning Prayer

    Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. ⏤ John 8:12

    Prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan. ⏤ John Bunyan

    O God, the source of all truth and grace, You’ve called us out of darkness into Your marvelous light—grant us Your blessing as this new day begins. We ask for Your grace to walk worthy of our high calling, with humility, faith, and hope. May we let our light shine before others so they may see our good works and glorify You.

    We ask for grace to perform our tasks diligently, to manage our affairs wisely, to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, and to acknowledge You in all our ways.

    Order our steps in Your word and don’t let sin have any power over us.

    Give us our daily bread. Provide what we need for this day. Grant us health of body and soundness of mind so that we’re prepared for the duties ahead. Prosper our efforts as long as they align with Your will. If any of our plans don’t fit into Your plan for our lives, we ask that You set them aside, for we don’t want to go against You or do anything that You won’t approve or bless. Restrain us from all excesses, from unwise words, from foolish vanity, and from uncontrolled emotions. Make us thoughtful, serious, and prayerful.

    O God, You allowed Your only Son to be tempted by the Evil One so that He could support those who are tempted. We ask You to deliver us from the snares and temptations that constantly surround us, and to strengthen us by Your Spirit so that in all things, we may be more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Amen.

    https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/47/morning

    #taptapstudio
    #youdevotion.
    Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. MD.i. 😀🎀💝🎁🌺🌹MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY FRIDAY AUGUST 21, 2O26. "THREE LEVELS OF ATTACK (1)" ‘…command that these stones become bread.’ Matthew 4:3 NKJV THE BIBLE says, ‘…Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil’ (Matthew 4:1 NKJV). This seems to be God’s standard operating procedure. Why? Because He’s a good general; before He puts you into battle He puts you into boot camp. Imagine it: you’re up at dawn, running for miles with a heavy backpack, crawling under barbed wire barriers with bullets whizzing over your head, taking orders from authority figures you don’t know and probably don’t like. But if you pass the test; you get to wear the uniform. On the threshold of His ministry, God led His Son into a situation where He would face three levels of attack. You will face them also. Let’s look at the first one: The attack over the bread. Did Jesus need bread? Yes, He’d been without food for forty days. But He knew that His greatest need was not for natural food but spiritual food. So He told satan, ‘…“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’’ (Matthew 4:4 NKJV). Only when you’re convinced God will take care of all your material needs, will you start putting spiritual things first in your life. Until that happens, you’ll think you have to take care of yourself. As a result, you will walk in fear and not faith. That’s not how God wants you to live. ‘…seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you’ (Matthew 6:33 NKJV). When you worry, you don’t trust God. When you trust God, you don’t have to worry. The choice is yours. Bible In A Year: Lam 3:40-5:22; Matt 20:1-16; Ps 119:129-136; Pro 18:21. 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.iì. [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA* FRIDAY, 21ST AUGUST, 2026. *WISDOM IN HANDLING THE VAIN TALKERS* *TEXT:* MATTHEW 22:18-22. 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. 22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way. *Timeless Truth:*_"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's"_ (1 Corinthians 6:20). *INTRODUCTION* In human relationships, there are vain talkers who do not hide their intention to disgrace, humiliate, embarrass and insult us. However, most vain talkers are friendly foes with evil intentions, but with a friendly approach. If they are not handled with wisdom, they will mess up, disgrace and embarass the saints and the preachers, thus, making their messages of non effect or impact. Paul the apostle himself with Apostolic anointing encountered such people like Jesus encountered them in the text. *"For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision, Whose mouths must be stopped"* (Titus 1:10,11). Jesus was confronted by people who did not genuinely seek the truth, but wanted to trap Him with their questions. Their outward appearance suggested sincerity, but their hearts were deceptive. Jesus, however, perceived their wicked intentions and responded with divine wisdom. Believers will also encounter vain talkers—people whose words are deceptive, provocative, argumentative or designed to lead others away from truth. We must, therefore, learn from Christ how to respond with spiritual perception, scriptural wisdom and personal conviction. *1. Spiritual and Scriptural Perception* a. Topical Encyclopedia rightly defines spiritual perception as the ability to discern and understand spiritual truths and realities that are not accessible through natural senses or human reasoning alone. It involves a heightened awareness and insight into the spiritual realm, often granted by the Holy Spirit to believers. Spiritual perception by the Holy Spirit, can read into the mind and at times (not in all cases) decipher the motivations and intentions of the heart. It is a lower form of the gift of discernment. They brought the coin with the inscription of Caesar and questioned Jesus on whether it was right to pay taxes to the government. Jesus knew they wanted to rope Him into public controversy that will put Him into trouble with the government of the day. If Jesus said it was right to pay tributes to Caesar, they would use that to paint Jesus as anti-Jewish. If Jesus said it is not right, they would end up putting him at a collision course with the government of the day. Either controversy can be avoided without necessarily doing violence to the truth. He was not a pro-controversy minister on avoidable spiritual or vain conflicts. Many ministers always enjoy being entangled in controversy on things that are non-essentials in the things of the kingdom. Jesus knew their wickedness and said, *“Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?”* Their question was not an innocent request for guidance; it was a trap. Christ could see beyond their words into their motives. Spiritual perception enables believers to distinguish between genuine questions and deceptive arguments. We must not be carried away by eloquent speech, clever reasoning or religious appearance. The Word of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit give us discernment to recognize what is behind seemingly innocent conversations. b. Nehemiah, for example, was given a seemingly innocent and reconciliatory invitation by his adversaries. He knew that it was not of God. *"And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him"*. Believers, especially spiritual leaders, must have enough of scriptural understanding and insight of the truth that will generate spiritual perception by the Holy Spirit. However, there are unscriptural perceptions or incorrect insights in the form of a suspicious spirit that always read negative meanings into the actions of the innocent. This is satanic and ungodly. *Question* Do I have sufficient spiritual discernment to recognize deception and vain arguments when I encounter them? *2. Saints as the Saviour’s Possession* a. Jesus revealed deep spiritual truth to them while answering their question. It is one thing to receive an answer to a genuine question and another thing to be patient enough to get the message in the answer. Jesus asked them to show Him the tribute money and then asked whose image and inscription were upon it. When they answered, *"Caesar’s"* . Jesus declared unto them that though He is the Creator of all, He will not take what belongs to others or even what he has bequeathed to others except He was given voluntarily. The metal used for the coin belongs to God, but it has been given to the king and the use is delegated to powers that be. Jesus would not take the gift back except if the gifted decided to endow it back to the Owner or the Creator. He will not forcefully, stylishly or trickishly take back what He has given to others. This is a deep spiritual message that we can learn from God. Jesus declared, *“Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”* b. What is the implication of this answer? The coin carried Caesar’s image and therefore must be given to the owner. Also, human beings, including his body, soul and spirit bear the image of God (Genesis 1:26–27), therefore, man must surrender his soul, spirit and body to God to be used at His pleasure being the Owner. Reluctance to give oneself to God, the Owner, is daylight robbery which God the Creator will not even do to those He gave something to. We are owned by God as His possession by Creation and Redemption. Without redemption by Jesus Christ, we are all marked for eternal destruction. *"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's"*. So, our appearance, body, heart and soul must be consciously and deliberately given to the glory of God, joyfully. The language of the responsible creature to his Creator is like what a king said: *"And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have"*. Our spirit, soul, time, possessions and all that we have belong to God and none should be denied Him at any time He needs them. Like Thomas, our response to God whenever He demands sacrifice or anything from us, no matter how precious is *"My Lord and my God"*. It is a language of acknowledgement of His being the Creator. It is a language of appreciation of being the Redeemer. *Question* Since I belong to Christ, am I allowing His image and ownership to determine the way I live? Am I always readily giving Him what His Word demands without hesitation or reluctance? *3. Satisfied without Scripture Personalization* When Jesus answered their question, *“they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.”* They were amazed by His wisdom, but there is no indication that they surrendered their hearts to His truth. They did not bother to apply the truth to their lives and personalized it. It is possible to admire Scripture, appreciate a powerful message and even marvel at divine wisdom without personally applying it. The danger of vain talk is that we may become satisfied with intellectual discussion rather than spiritual transformation. God’s Word must move from our ears to our hearts and from our hearts to our daily conduct. The messages of Christ are so deep that they require constant and continuous reflection and self application in order to get the best from them. It is not how great a message is, but how transforming. *Question* Am I merely impressed by biblical truth or am I personally applying and obeying it? *Prayer Points* 1.Lord, grant me spiritual discernment to recognize deception, hypocrisy and vain arguments 🙏. 2.Father, help me to remember that I belong completely to Christ and to live according to His will 🙏. 3 Lord, deliver me from empty religious knowledge and help me to personalize and practice Your Word 🙏. 4.Father, give us the wisdom of Christ to answer difficult questions with truth, grace, humility and courage. Help us to be doers of your Word and not hearers only 🙏. *HYMN:* Lord speak to me *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* DANIEL 3-5. [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2026``` *RESPONSIBILITIES OF DUAL CITIZENS* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:MATTHEW 22:18-22```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's" (MATTHEW 22:20, 21).*_ *Kofi Annan, the Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1997 - 2006, is a figure whose life was shaped by the responsibilities of dual citizenship. While Annan was a Ghanaian citizen by birth, his role in international diplomacy required him to balance his connection to his homeland with his responsibility to the global community. In his role in Ghana, he worked to advance the nation's standing on the world stage, often advocating for African issues and the continent's development in the international arena. On the other hand, in his global duty as UN Secretary-General, his role involved diplomacy with countries in conflict, addressing human rights abuses, and working toward humanitarian aid and general global peace.* *In the passage, the Pharisees, who were trying to trap Jesus, posed a question about paying taxes to Caesar. The dilemma they presented seemed unsolvable: if Jesus said it was lawful to pay tax, He could alienate the people, who hated Roman rule. But if He said it was unlawful, He could be accused of stirring insurrection. But Jesus, with His wisdom, cut through the manipulation and answered in a way that transcended their trap. He asked for a coin, a denarius, and asked whose image was on it. "Caesar's," they replied. Then, He gave a profound answer that has echoed through history: "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."* *Jesus' words highlight that we are citizens of two realms - an earthly kingdom, with earthly responsibilities, and God's kingdom, with eternal responsibilities. While on earth, we are to honour the systems of authority set before us, paying taxes, respecting laws, and fulfilling our civic duties, which are part of our witness to the world. On the other hand, we must always remember that we are made in the likeness of God and, as such, our lives, our hearts, our very being, are His. In all, while our lives may be marked by the needs of the world - job, family, relationships - our ultimate allegiance should lie with God.* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*A coin has two sides, so do our duties to God and man.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *DANIEL 3-5*📜📜 Responsibilities Of Dual Citizens https://dailymanna.app// *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 89: O JESUS, I HAVE PROMISED; GHS 223: I GAVE MY LIFE FOR THEE; AND GHS 233: STAND UP, STAND UP FOR JESUS* *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#DailyManna21stAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2026``` *A CHILD WITH A DIFFERENCE* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️👶🏽👦🏽👨🏽🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:1 SAMUEL 2:22-26```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men" (1 SAMUEL 2:26).*_ *Neelakantha Bhanu Prakash, a 26-year-old Indian is referred to as the "world's fastest human calculator." According to the _Limca Book of Records,_ India's equivalent to _Guinness World Records,_ Bhanu's brain processes numbers about 10 times faster than regular brains. He is an exceptional individual with unusual gifts and talents.* *The Biblical young Samuel was one of such children with a difference. He was raised in the house of Prophet Eli with his wayward and corrupt children. Samuel grew up like a lily in the mire without any taint of environmental corruption.* *Samuel did not join the bandwagon of the ruffians, Hophni and Phinehas (Eli's children) among whom he grew up. God called them sons of Belial who knew not the Lord. Because Samuel kept himself from evils around him, he became a priest, prophet and leader for the whole nation of Israel.* *To fulfill God's purpose for your life and make impact in your world, you must be holy and righteous. You are exceptional. You can make a difference in your world.* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*You can make a difference.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Make definite impact in your world.*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Help me Lord, to fulfill Your purpose in life.*_ A Child With A Difference https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#HigherEveryday21stAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2026``` *PROFITABLE SERVICE* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽🙌🏽 📜📜```EXODUS 23:25-26```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee" (Exodus 23:25).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Kingdom work involves the use of our God-given resources, like time, strength, talents and finances, in promoting the kingdom of God. It is a profitable service that attracts rewards on earth and in Heaven. Some of the benefits are outlined below: *(i) Divine Blessings - Provision of food and other needs (Exodus 23:25).* *(ii) Divine Health - Healing and sound health (Exodus 23:25).* *(iii) Long Life - Live long and healthy till old age (Exodus 23:26).* *(iv) Prosperity - God will prosper you in every area of life: academics, career, and material blessings (Job 36:11).* *(v) Honour - Undeserved favour and honour from God. At last, the faithful servant will make it to heaven and live with Jesus forever (John 12:26).* *(vi) Distinction - You will be the head and not the tail. Also, you will have excellent results, and become ten times better (Deuteronomy 28:13).* *(vii) Fulfillment in Life - You will never lack anything that is good. All that you desire shall come to pass (Matthew 6:33).* *It is time to wake up and get involved in kingdom service so that you can get the reward from God.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*May my sacrifice be acceptable unto You oh Lord!*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *1 Corinthians 4:1-4* Profitable Service https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#SincereMilk21stAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]. 2. Morning Prayer for today. MP.i. Morning Prayer Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. ⏤ John 8:12 Prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan. ⏤ John Bunyan O God, the source of all truth and grace, You’ve called us out of darkness into Your marvelous light—grant us Your blessing as this new day begins. We ask for Your grace to walk worthy of our high calling, with humility, faith, and hope. May we let our light shine before others so they may see our good works and glorify You. We ask for grace to perform our tasks diligently, to manage our affairs wisely, to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, and to acknowledge You in all our ways. Order our steps in Your word and don’t let sin have any power over us. Give us our daily bread. Provide what we need for this day. Grant us health of body and soundness of mind so that we’re prepared for the duties ahead. Prosper our efforts as long as they align with Your will. If any of our plans don’t fit into Your plan for our lives, we ask that You set them aside, for we don’t want to go against You or do anything that You won’t approve or bless. Restrain us from all excesses, from unwise words, from foolish vanity, and from uncontrolled emotions. Make us thoughtful, serious, and prayerful. O God, You allowed Your only Son to be tempted by the Evil One so that He could support those who are tempted. We ask You to deliver us from the snares and temptations that constantly surround us, and to strengthen us by Your Spirit so that in all things, we may be more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/47/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.
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  • Good morning, brethren.
    1. Morning devotion for today.

    MD.i. MORNING TEA
    THE WORD FOR TODAY
    FRIDAY AUGUST 21, 2O26.
    "THREE LEVELS OF ATTACK (1)"

    ‘…command that these stones become bread.’ Matthew 4:3 NKJV

    THE BIBLE says, ‘…Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil’ (Matthew 4:1 NKJV). This seems to be God’s standard operating procedure. Why? Because He’s a good general; before He puts you into battle He puts you into boot camp. Imagine it: you’re up at dawn, running for miles with a heavy backpack, crawling under barbed wire barriers with bullets whizzing over your head, taking orders from authority figures you don’t know and probably don’t like. But if you pass the test; you get to wear the uniform. On the threshold of His ministry, God led His Son into a situation where He would face three levels of attack. You will face them also. Let’s look at the first one:
    The attack over the bread. Did Jesus need bread? Yes, He’d been without food for forty days. But He knew that His greatest need was not for natural food but spiritual food. So He told satan, ‘…“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’’ (Matthew 4:4 NKJV). Only when you’re convinced God will take care of all your material needs, will you start putting spiritual things first in your life. Until that happens, you’ll think you have to take care of yourself. As a result, you will walk in fear and not faith. That’s not how God wants you to live. ‘…seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you’ (Matthew 6:33 NKJV). When you worry, you don’t trust God. When you trust God, you don’t have to worry. The choice is yours.

    Bible In A Year: Lam 3:40-5:22; Matt 20:1-16; Ps 119:129-136; Pro 18:21. 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.iì. [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA*

    FRIDAY, 21ST AUGUST, 2026.

    *WISDOM IN HANDLING THE VAIN TALKERS*

    *TEXT:* MATTHEW 22:18-22.

    18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
    19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
    20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
    21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
    22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

    *Timeless Truth:*_"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's"_ (1 Corinthians 6:20).

    *INTRODUCTION*

    In human relationships, there are vain talkers who do not hide their intention to disgrace, humiliate, embarrass and insult us. However, most vain talkers are friendly foes with evil intentions, but with a friendly approach. If they are not handled with wisdom, they will mess up, disgrace and embarass the saints and the preachers, thus, making their messages of non effect or impact. Paul the apostle himself with Apostolic anointing encountered such people like Jesus encountered them in the text. *"For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision, Whose mouths must be stopped"* (Titus 1:10,11).
    Jesus was confronted by people who did not genuinely seek the truth, but wanted to trap Him with their questions. Their outward appearance suggested sincerity, but their hearts were deceptive. Jesus, however, perceived their wicked intentions and responded with divine wisdom. Believers will also encounter vain talkers—people whose words are deceptive, provocative, argumentative or designed to lead others away from truth. We must, therefore, learn from Christ how to respond with spiritual perception, scriptural wisdom and personal conviction.

    *1. Spiritual and Scriptural Perception*

    a. Topical Encyclopedia rightly defines spiritual perception as the ability to discern and understand spiritual truths and realities that are not accessible through natural senses or human reasoning alone. It involves a heightened awareness and insight into the spiritual realm, often granted by the Holy Spirit to believers. Spiritual perception by the Holy Spirit, can read into the mind and at times (not in all cases) decipher the motivations and intentions of the heart. It is a lower form of the gift of discernment. They brought the coin with the inscription of Caesar and questioned Jesus on whether it was right to pay taxes to the government. Jesus knew they wanted to rope Him into public controversy that will put Him into trouble with the government of the day. If Jesus said it was right to pay tributes to Caesar, they would use that to paint Jesus as anti-Jewish. If Jesus said it is not right, they would end up putting him at a collision course with the government of the day. Either controversy can be avoided without necessarily doing violence to the truth. He was not a pro-controversy minister on avoidable spiritual or vain conflicts. Many ministers always enjoy being entangled in controversy on things that are non-essentials in the things of the kingdom. Jesus knew their wickedness and said, *“Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?”* Their question was not an innocent request for guidance; it was a trap. Christ could see beyond their words into their motives. Spiritual perception enables believers to distinguish between genuine questions and deceptive arguments. We must not be carried away by eloquent speech, clever reasoning or religious appearance. The Word of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit give us discernment to recognize what is behind seemingly innocent conversations.
    b. Nehemiah, for example, was given a seemingly innocent and reconciliatory invitation by his adversaries. He knew that it was not of God. *"And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him"*. Believers, especially spiritual leaders, must have enough of scriptural understanding and insight of the truth that will generate spiritual perception by the Holy Spirit. However, there are unscriptural perceptions or incorrect insights in the form of a suspicious spirit that always read negative meanings into the actions of the innocent. This is satanic and ungodly.

    *Question*

    Do I have sufficient spiritual discernment to recognize deception and vain arguments when I encounter them?

    *2. Saints as the Saviour’s Possession*

    a. Jesus revealed deep spiritual truth to them while answering their question. It is one thing to receive an answer to a genuine question and another thing to be patient enough to get the message in the answer. Jesus asked them to show Him the tribute money and then asked whose image and inscription were upon it. When they answered, *"Caesar’s"* . Jesus declared unto them that though He is the Creator of all, He will not take what belongs to others or even what he has bequeathed to others except He was given voluntarily. The metal used for the coin belongs to God, but it has been given to the king and the use is delegated to powers that be. Jesus would not take the gift back except if the gifted decided to endow it back to the Owner or the Creator. He will not forcefully, stylishly or trickishly take back what He has given to others. This is a deep spiritual message that we can learn from God. Jesus declared, *“Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”*
    b. What is the implication of this answer? The coin carried Caesar’s image and therefore must be given to the owner. Also, human beings, including his body, soul and spirit bear the image of God (Genesis 1:26–27), therefore, man must surrender his soul, spirit and body to God to be used at His pleasure being the Owner. Reluctance to give oneself to God, the Owner, is daylight robbery which God the Creator will not even do to those He gave something to. We are owned by God as His possession by Creation and Redemption. Without redemption by Jesus Christ, we are all marked for eternal destruction. *"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's"*. So, our appearance, body, heart and soul must be consciously and deliberately given to the glory of God, joyfully. The language of the responsible creature to his Creator is like what a king said: *"And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have"*. Our spirit, soul, time, possessions and all that we have belong to God and none should be denied Him at any time He needs them. Like Thomas, our response to God whenever He demands sacrifice or anything from us, no matter how precious is *"My Lord and my God"*. It is a language of acknowledgement of His being the Creator. It is a language of appreciation of being the Redeemer.

    *Question*

    Since I belong to Christ, am I allowing His image and ownership to determine the way I live? Am I always readily giving Him what His Word demands without hesitation or reluctance?

    *3. Satisfied without Scripture Personalization*

    When Jesus answered their question, *“they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.”* They were amazed by His wisdom, but there is no indication that they surrendered their hearts to His truth. They did not bother to apply the truth to their lives and personalized it. It is possible to admire Scripture, appreciate a powerful message and even marvel at divine wisdom without personally applying it. The danger of vain talk is that we may become satisfied with intellectual discussion rather than spiritual transformation. God’s Word must move from our ears to our hearts and from our hearts to our daily conduct. The messages of Christ are so deep that they require constant and continuous reflection and self application in order to get the best from them. It is not how great a message is, but how transforming.

    *Question*

    Am I merely impressed by biblical truth or am I personally applying and obeying it?

    *Prayer Points*

    1.Lord, grant me spiritual discernment to recognize deception, hypocrisy and vain arguments .
    2.Father, help me to remember that I belong completely to Christ and to live according to His will .
    3 Lord, deliver me from empty religious knowledge and help me to personalize and practice Your Word .
    4.Father, give us the wisdom of Christ to answer difficult questions with truth, grace, humility and courage. Help us to be doers of your Word and not hearers only .

    *HYMN:* Lord speak to me

    *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* DANIEL 3-5.
    [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS)

    FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2026```


    *RESPONSIBILITIES OF DUAL CITIZENS* 🫵🏽🏽‍🏽‍🏽🏽‍🏽

    ```TEXT:MATTHEW 22:18-22```

    ```KEY VERSE:``` _*"And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's" (MATTHEW 22:20, 21).*_

    *Kofi Annan, the Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1997 - 2006, is a figure whose life was shaped by the responsibilities of dual citizenship. While Annan was a Ghanaian citizen by birth, his role in international diplomacy required him to balance his connection to his homeland with his responsibility to the global community. In his role in Ghana, he worked to advance the nation's standing on the world stage, often advocating for African issues and the continent's development in the international arena. On the other hand, in his global duty as UN Secretary-General, his role involved diplomacy with countries in conflict, addressing human rights abuses, and working toward humanitarian aid and general global peace.*

    *In the passage, the Pharisees, who were trying to trap Jesus, posed a question about paying taxes to Caesar. The dilemma they presented seemed unsolvable: if Jesus said it was lawful to pay tax, He could alienate the people, who hated Roman rule. But if He said it was unlawful, He could be accused of stirring insurrection. But Jesus, with His wisdom, cut through the manipulation and answered in a way that transcended their trap. He asked for a coin, a denarius, and asked whose image was on it. "Caesar's," they replied. Then, He gave a profound answer that has echoed through history: "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."*

    *Jesus' words highlight that we are citizens of two realms - an earthly kingdom, with earthly responsibilities, and God's kingdom, with eternal responsibilities. While on earth, we are to honour the systems of authority set before us, paying taxes, respecting laws, and fulfilling our civic duties, which are part of our witness to the world. On the other hand, we must always remember that we are made in the likeness of God and, as such, our lives, our hearts, our very being, are His. In all, while our lives may be marked by the needs of the world - job, family, relationships - our ultimate allegiance should lie with God.*

    ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*A coin has two sides, so do our duties to God and man.*_

    ```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *DANIEL 3-5*

    Responsibilities Of Dual Citizens
    https://dailymanna.app//
    *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 89: O JESUS, I HAVE PROMISED; GHS 223: I GAVE MY LIFE FOR THEE; AND GHS 233: STAND UP, STAND UP FOR JESUS*
    *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter*
    *#DailyManna21stAugust2026*
    *#GCK*
    *#WorshipNuggets*
    *#BibleNuggets*
    *#LeadershipNuggets*
    *#RevivalNuggets*
    *#CrusadeNuggets*
    https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]
    [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY```

    _*HIGHER EVERYDY: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_

    ✍🏽🏻‍ 🏽🛰

    ```FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2026```

    *A CHILD WITH A DIFFERENCE* 🫵🏽🏽‍🏽‍🏽🏽🏽🏽🏽‍🏽

    ```TEXT:1 SAMUEL 2:22-26```

    ``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men" (1 SAMUEL 2:26).*_

    *Neelakantha Bhanu Prakash, a 26-year-old Indian is referred to as the "world's fastest human calculator." According to the _Limca Book of Records,_ India's equivalent to _Guinness World Records,_ Bhanu's brain processes numbers about 10 times faster than regular brains. He is an exceptional individual with unusual gifts and talents.*

    *The Biblical young Samuel was one of such children with a difference. He was raised in the house of Prophet Eli with his wayward and corrupt children. Samuel grew up like a lily in the mire without any taint of environmental corruption.*

    *Samuel did not join the bandwagon of the ruffians, Hophni and Phinehas (Eli's children) among whom he grew up. God called them sons of Belial who knew not the Lord. Because Samuel kept himself from evils around him, he became a priest, prophet and leader for the whole nation of Israel.*

    *To fulfill God's purpose for your life and make impact in your world, you must be holy and righteous. You are exceptional. You can make a difference in your world.*

    ```QUOTE:``` _*You can make a difference.*_

    ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Make definite impact in your world.*_

    🏽🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Help me Lord, to fulfill Your purpose in life.*_



    A Child With A Difference
    https://dailymanna.app//

    *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter*
    *#HigherEveryday21stAugust2026*
    *#GCK*
    *#WorshipNuggets*
    *#BibleNuggets*
    *#LeadershipNuggets*
    *#RevivalNuggets*
    *#CrusadeNuggets*
    https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]
    [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY```

    _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣)*_

    🏼🏼🏼🏼🏼‍

    ```FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2026```

    *PROFITABLE SERVICE* 🫵🏽🏽‍🏽‍🏽🏽‍🏽🏽

    ```EXODUS 23:25-26```



    ```Key Verse:``` _*"And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee" (Exodus 23:25).*_



    Kingdom work involves the use of our God-given resources, like time, strength, talents and finances, in promoting the kingdom of God. It is a profitable service that attracts rewards on earth and in Heaven. Some of the benefits are outlined below:

    *(i) Divine Blessings - Provision of food and other needs (Exodus 23:25).*

    *(ii) Divine Health - Healing and sound health (Exodus 23:25).*

    *(iii) Long Life - Live long and healthy till old age (Exodus 23:26).*

    *(iv) Prosperity - God will prosper you in every area of life: academics, career, and material blessings (Job 36:11).*

    *(v) Honour - Undeserved favour and honour from God. At last, the faithful servant will make it to heaven and live with Jesus forever (John 12:26).*

    *(vi) Distinction - You will be the head and not the tail. Also, you will have excellent results, and become ten times better (Deuteronomy 28:13).*

    *(vii) Fulfillment in Life - You will never lack anything that is good. All that you desire shall come to pass (Matthew 6:33).*

    *It is time to wake up and get involved in kingdom service so that you can get the reward from God.*



    ```rayer:``` _*May my sacrifice be acceptable unto You oh Lord!*_ 🏽

    ``` Further Reading:``` *1 Corinthians 4:1-4*



    Profitable Service
    https://dailymanna.app//

    *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter*
    *#SincereMilk21stAugust2026*
    *#GCK*
    *#WorshipNuggets*
    *#BibleNuggets*
    *#LeadershipNuggets*
    *#RevivalNuggets*
    *#CrusadeNuggets*
    https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]

    2. Morning Prayer for today.

    MP.i. Morning Prayer

    Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. ⏤ John 8:12

    Prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan. ⏤ John Bunyan

    O God, the source of all truth and grace, You’ve called us out of darkness into Your marvelous light—grant us Your blessing as this new day begins. We ask for Your grace to walk worthy of our high calling, with humility, faith, and hope. May we let our light shine before others so they may see our good works and glorify You.

    We ask for grace to perform our tasks diligently, to manage our affairs wisely, to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, and to acknowledge You in all our ways.

    Order our steps in Your word and don’t let sin have any power over us.

    Give us our daily bread. Provide what we need for this day. Grant us health of body and soundness of mind so that we’re prepared for the duties ahead. Prosper our efforts as long as they align with Your will. If any of our plans don’t fit into Your plan for our lives, we ask that You set them aside, for we don’t want to go against You or do anything that You won’t approve or bless. Restrain us from all excesses, from unwise words, from foolish vanity, and from uncontrolled emotions. Make us thoughtful, serious, and prayerful.

    O God, You allowed Your only Son to be tempted by the Evil One so that He could support those who are tempted. We ask You to deliver us from the snares and temptations that constantly surround us, and to strengthen us by Your Spirit so that in all things, we may be more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Amen.

    https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/47/morning

    #taptapstudio
    #youdevotion.
    Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. MD.i. 😀🎀💝🎁🌺🌹MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY FRIDAY AUGUST 21, 2O26. "THREE LEVELS OF ATTACK (1)" ‘…command that these stones become bread.’ Matthew 4:3 NKJV THE BIBLE says, ‘…Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil’ (Matthew 4:1 NKJV). This seems to be God’s standard operating procedure. Why? Because He’s a good general; before He puts you into battle He puts you into boot camp. Imagine it: you’re up at dawn, running for miles with a heavy backpack, crawling under barbed wire barriers with bullets whizzing over your head, taking orders from authority figures you don’t know and probably don’t like. But if you pass the test; you get to wear the uniform. On the threshold of His ministry, God led His Son into a situation where He would face three levels of attack. You will face them also. Let’s look at the first one: The attack over the bread. Did Jesus need bread? Yes, He’d been without food for forty days. But He knew that His greatest need was not for natural food but spiritual food. So He told satan, ‘…“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’’ (Matthew 4:4 NKJV). Only when you’re convinced God will take care of all your material needs, will you start putting spiritual things first in your life. Until that happens, you’ll think you have to take care of yourself. As a result, you will walk in fear and not faith. That’s not how God wants you to live. ‘…seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you’ (Matthew 6:33 NKJV). When you worry, you don’t trust God. When you trust God, you don’t have to worry. The choice is yours. Bible In A Year: Lam 3:40-5:22; Matt 20:1-16; Ps 119:129-136; Pro 18:21. 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.iì. [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA* FRIDAY, 21ST AUGUST, 2026. *WISDOM IN HANDLING THE VAIN TALKERS* *TEXT:* MATTHEW 22:18-22. 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. 22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way. *Timeless Truth:*_"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's"_ (1 Corinthians 6:20). *INTRODUCTION* In human relationships, there are vain talkers who do not hide their intention to disgrace, humiliate, embarrass and insult us. However, most vain talkers are friendly foes with evil intentions, but with a friendly approach. If they are not handled with wisdom, they will mess up, disgrace and embarass the saints and the preachers, thus, making their messages of non effect or impact. Paul the apostle himself with Apostolic anointing encountered such people like Jesus encountered them in the text. *"For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision, Whose mouths must be stopped"* (Titus 1:10,11). Jesus was confronted by people who did not genuinely seek the truth, but wanted to trap Him with their questions. Their outward appearance suggested sincerity, but their hearts were deceptive. Jesus, however, perceived their wicked intentions and responded with divine wisdom. Believers will also encounter vain talkers—people whose words are deceptive, provocative, argumentative or designed to lead others away from truth. We must, therefore, learn from Christ how to respond with spiritual perception, scriptural wisdom and personal conviction. *1. Spiritual and Scriptural Perception* a. Topical Encyclopedia rightly defines spiritual perception as the ability to discern and understand spiritual truths and realities that are not accessible through natural senses or human reasoning alone. It involves a heightened awareness and insight into the spiritual realm, often granted by the Holy Spirit to believers. Spiritual perception by the Holy Spirit, can read into the mind and at times (not in all cases) decipher the motivations and intentions of the heart. It is a lower form of the gift of discernment. They brought the coin with the inscription of Caesar and questioned Jesus on whether it was right to pay taxes to the government. Jesus knew they wanted to rope Him into public controversy that will put Him into trouble with the government of the day. If Jesus said it was right to pay tributes to Caesar, they would use that to paint Jesus as anti-Jewish. If Jesus said it is not right, they would end up putting him at a collision course with the government of the day. Either controversy can be avoided without necessarily doing violence to the truth. He was not a pro-controversy minister on avoidable spiritual or vain conflicts. Many ministers always enjoy being entangled in controversy on things that are non-essentials in the things of the kingdom. Jesus knew their wickedness and said, *“Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?”* Their question was not an innocent request for guidance; it was a trap. Christ could see beyond their words into their motives. Spiritual perception enables believers to distinguish between genuine questions and deceptive arguments. We must not be carried away by eloquent speech, clever reasoning or religious appearance. The Word of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit give us discernment to recognize what is behind seemingly innocent conversations. b. Nehemiah, for example, was given a seemingly innocent and reconciliatory invitation by his adversaries. He knew that it was not of God. *"And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him"*. Believers, especially spiritual leaders, must have enough of scriptural understanding and insight of the truth that will generate spiritual perception by the Holy Spirit. However, there are unscriptural perceptions or incorrect insights in the form of a suspicious spirit that always read negative meanings into the actions of the innocent. This is satanic and ungodly. *Question* Do I have sufficient spiritual discernment to recognize deception and vain arguments when I encounter them? *2. Saints as the Saviour’s Possession* a. Jesus revealed deep spiritual truth to them while answering their question. It is one thing to receive an answer to a genuine question and another thing to be patient enough to get the message in the answer. Jesus asked them to show Him the tribute money and then asked whose image and inscription were upon it. When they answered, *"Caesar’s"* . Jesus declared unto them that though He is the Creator of all, He will not take what belongs to others or even what he has bequeathed to others except He was given voluntarily. The metal used for the coin belongs to God, but it has been given to the king and the use is delegated to powers that be. Jesus would not take the gift back except if the gifted decided to endow it back to the Owner or the Creator. He will not forcefully, stylishly or trickishly take back what He has given to others. This is a deep spiritual message that we can learn from God. Jesus declared, *“Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”* b. What is the implication of this answer? The coin carried Caesar’s image and therefore must be given to the owner. Also, human beings, including his body, soul and spirit bear the image of God (Genesis 1:26–27), therefore, man must surrender his soul, spirit and body to God to be used at His pleasure being the Owner. Reluctance to give oneself to God, the Owner, is daylight robbery which God the Creator will not even do to those He gave something to. We are owned by God as His possession by Creation and Redemption. Without redemption by Jesus Christ, we are all marked for eternal destruction. *"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's"*. So, our appearance, body, heart and soul must be consciously and deliberately given to the glory of God, joyfully. The language of the responsible creature to his Creator is like what a king said: *"And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have"*. Our spirit, soul, time, possessions and all that we have belong to God and none should be denied Him at any time He needs them. Like Thomas, our response to God whenever He demands sacrifice or anything from us, no matter how precious is *"My Lord and my God"*. It is a language of acknowledgement of His being the Creator. It is a language of appreciation of being the Redeemer. *Question* Since I belong to Christ, am I allowing His image and ownership to determine the way I live? Am I always readily giving Him what His Word demands without hesitation or reluctance? *3. Satisfied without Scripture Personalization* When Jesus answered their question, *“they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.”* They were amazed by His wisdom, but there is no indication that they surrendered their hearts to His truth. They did not bother to apply the truth to their lives and personalized it. It is possible to admire Scripture, appreciate a powerful message and even marvel at divine wisdom without personally applying it. The danger of vain talk is that we may become satisfied with intellectual discussion rather than spiritual transformation. God’s Word must move from our ears to our hearts and from our hearts to our daily conduct. The messages of Christ are so deep that they require constant and continuous reflection and self application in order to get the best from them. It is not how great a message is, but how transforming. *Question* Am I merely impressed by biblical truth or am I personally applying and obeying it? *Prayer Points* 1.Lord, grant me spiritual discernment to recognize deception, hypocrisy and vain arguments 🙏. 2.Father, help me to remember that I belong completely to Christ and to live according to His will 🙏. 3 Lord, deliver me from empty religious knowledge and help me to personalize and practice Your Word 🙏. 4.Father, give us the wisdom of Christ to answer difficult questions with truth, grace, humility and courage. Help us to be doers of your Word and not hearers only 🙏. *HYMN:* Lord speak to me *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* DANIEL 3-5. [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2026``` *RESPONSIBILITIES OF DUAL CITIZENS* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:MATTHEW 22:18-22```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's" (MATTHEW 22:20, 21).*_ *Kofi Annan, the Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1997 - 2006, is a figure whose life was shaped by the responsibilities of dual citizenship. While Annan was a Ghanaian citizen by birth, his role in international diplomacy required him to balance his connection to his homeland with his responsibility to the global community. In his role in Ghana, he worked to advance the nation's standing on the world stage, often advocating for African issues and the continent's development in the international arena. On the other hand, in his global duty as UN Secretary-General, his role involved diplomacy with countries in conflict, addressing human rights abuses, and working toward humanitarian aid and general global peace.* *In the passage, the Pharisees, who were trying to trap Jesus, posed a question about paying taxes to Caesar. The dilemma they presented seemed unsolvable: if Jesus said it was lawful to pay tax, He could alienate the people, who hated Roman rule. But if He said it was unlawful, He could be accused of stirring insurrection. But Jesus, with His wisdom, cut through the manipulation and answered in a way that transcended their trap. He asked for a coin, a denarius, and asked whose image was on it. "Caesar's," they replied. Then, He gave a profound answer that has echoed through history: "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."* *Jesus' words highlight that we are citizens of two realms - an earthly kingdom, with earthly responsibilities, and God's kingdom, with eternal responsibilities. While on earth, we are to honour the systems of authority set before us, paying taxes, respecting laws, and fulfilling our civic duties, which are part of our witness to the world. On the other hand, we must always remember that we are made in the likeness of God and, as such, our lives, our hearts, our very being, are His. In all, while our lives may be marked by the needs of the world - job, family, relationships - our ultimate allegiance should lie with God.* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*A coin has two sides, so do our duties to God and man.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *DANIEL 3-5*📜📜 Responsibilities Of Dual Citizens https://dailymanna.app// *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 89: O JESUS, I HAVE PROMISED; GHS 223: I GAVE MY LIFE FOR THEE; AND GHS 233: STAND UP, STAND UP FOR JESUS* *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#DailyManna21stAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2026``` *A CHILD WITH A DIFFERENCE* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️👶🏽👦🏽👨🏽🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:1 SAMUEL 2:22-26```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men" (1 SAMUEL 2:26).*_ *Neelakantha Bhanu Prakash, a 26-year-old Indian is referred to as the "world's fastest human calculator." According to the _Limca Book of Records,_ India's equivalent to _Guinness World Records,_ Bhanu's brain processes numbers about 10 times faster than regular brains. He is an exceptional individual with unusual gifts and talents.* *The Biblical young Samuel was one of such children with a difference. He was raised in the house of Prophet Eli with his wayward and corrupt children. Samuel grew up like a lily in the mire without any taint of environmental corruption.* *Samuel did not join the bandwagon of the ruffians, Hophni and Phinehas (Eli's children) among whom he grew up. God called them sons of Belial who knew not the Lord. Because Samuel kept himself from evils around him, he became a priest, prophet and leader for the whole nation of Israel.* *To fulfill God's purpose for your life and make impact in your world, you must be holy and righteous. You are exceptional. You can make a difference in your world.* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*You can make a difference.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Make definite impact in your world.*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Help me Lord, to fulfill Your purpose in life.*_ A Child With A Difference https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#HigherEveryday21stAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [20/08, 9:54 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2026``` *PROFITABLE SERVICE* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽🙌🏽 📜📜```EXODUS 23:25-26```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee" (Exodus 23:25).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Kingdom work involves the use of our God-given resources, like time, strength, talents and finances, in promoting the kingdom of God. It is a profitable service that attracts rewards on earth and in Heaven. Some of the benefits are outlined below: *(i) Divine Blessings - Provision of food and other needs (Exodus 23:25).* *(ii) Divine Health - Healing and sound health (Exodus 23:25).* *(iii) Long Life - Live long and healthy till old age (Exodus 23:26).* *(iv) Prosperity - God will prosper you in every area of life: academics, career, and material blessings (Job 36:11).* *(v) Honour - Undeserved favour and honour from God. At last, the faithful servant will make it to heaven and live with Jesus forever (John 12:26).* *(vi) Distinction - You will be the head and not the tail. Also, you will have excellent results, and become ten times better (Deuteronomy 28:13).* *(vii) Fulfillment in Life - You will never lack anything that is good. All that you desire shall come to pass (Matthew 6:33).* *It is time to wake up and get involved in kingdom service so that you can get the reward from God.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*May my sacrifice be acceptable unto You oh Lord!*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *1 Corinthians 4:1-4* Profitable Service https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#SincereMilk21stAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]. 2. Morning Prayer for today. MP.i. Morning Prayer Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. ⏤ John 8:12 Prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan. ⏤ John Bunyan O God, the source of all truth and grace, You’ve called us out of darkness into Your marvelous light—grant us Your blessing as this new day begins. We ask for Your grace to walk worthy of our high calling, with humility, faith, and hope. May we let our light shine before others so they may see our good works and glorify You. We ask for grace to perform our tasks diligently, to manage our affairs wisely, to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, and to acknowledge You in all our ways. Order our steps in Your word and don’t let sin have any power over us. Give us our daily bread. Provide what we need for this day. Grant us health of body and soundness of mind so that we’re prepared for the duties ahead. Prosper our efforts as long as they align with Your will. If any of our plans don’t fit into Your plan for our lives, we ask that You set them aside, for we don’t want to go against You or do anything that You won’t approve or bless. Restrain us from all excesses, from unwise words, from foolish vanity, and from uncontrolled emotions. Make us thoughtful, serious, and prayerful. O God, You allowed Your only Son to be tempted by the Evil One so that He could support those who are tempted. We ask You to deliver us from the snares and temptations that constantly surround us, and to strengthen us by Your Spirit so that in all things, we may be more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/47/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.
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  • The Wisdom of God Beyond King Ahasuerus' Kingship

    Esther chapter 10 closes with what seems like an ordinary political report, yet it quietly reveals the wisdom and providence of God after the great deliverance of His people.

    King Ahasuerus was not consumed by the chaos that had unfolded throughout his kingdom. He did not allow the presence of death, political tension, or even the victory of Queen Esther's people to keep him from fulfilling his responsibility as king. Instead, Scripture records that he continued ordering the affairs of his kingdom.

    He laid a tribute upon the land and the islands of the sea (Esther 10:1). While many lives had been lost during the conflict, the kingdom still needed stability. Taxes supported the administration, defense, and welfare of the empire so that the nation would not collapse into disorder. Wise leadership does not ignore tragedy but restores order after it.

    God also positioned Mordecai in a place of authority. His promotion was not merely a reward for faithfulness but a provision for the people. Mordecai was described as great among the Jews, accepted by his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his descendants (Esther 10:3). He possessed a heart that cared for people, attentive ears that understood what was happening around him, and wisdom to act on matters that truly affected his community.

    Interestingly, Queen Esther quietly fades into the background in this final chapter. Her silence does not diminish her importance. Rather, it suggests that she had fulfilled the specific assignment God had entrusted to her. After risking her life, revealing her identity, and interceding for her people, she now enjoys the peace that follows faithful obedience. God often calls His servants to step forward for a season and then quietly step back once His purpose has been accomplished.

    This points us to the Lord Jesus Christ. Unlike earthly rulers who merely restore temporary order, Christ establishes an everlasting Kingdom. He not only rescued His people from death but secured eternal salvation through His cross and resurrection. Today, He reigns at the Father's right hand, continually interceding for His people until He returns. His Kingdom is marked by righteousness, peace, and justice that will never end.

    As believers awaiting Christ's return:

    - Remain faithful in the responsibilities God has given you, even after seasons of difficulty.

    - Seek the welfare of others rather than personal recognition, following Mordecai's example.

    - Accept that some assignments are seasonal. Like Esther, be willing to step forward when God calls and step back when your task is complete.

    - Trust that God continues ordering history even when His work appears quiet. His providence never stops.

    "For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations." (Psalm 22:28)

    May we faithfully serve our King until the day the Lord Jesus Christ returns to establish His perfect and eternal Kingdom.
    The Wisdom of God Beyond King Ahasuerus' Kingship Esther chapter 10 closes with what seems like an ordinary political report, yet it quietly reveals the wisdom and providence of God after the great deliverance of His people. King Ahasuerus was not consumed by the chaos that had unfolded throughout his kingdom. He did not allow the presence of death, political tension, or even the victory of Queen Esther's people to keep him from fulfilling his responsibility as king. Instead, Scripture records that he continued ordering the affairs of his kingdom. He laid a tribute upon the land and the islands of the sea (Esther 10:1). While many lives had been lost during the conflict, the kingdom still needed stability. Taxes supported the administration, defense, and welfare of the empire so that the nation would not collapse into disorder. Wise leadership does not ignore tragedy but restores order after it. God also positioned Mordecai in a place of authority. His promotion was not merely a reward for faithfulness but a provision for the people. Mordecai was described as great among the Jews, accepted by his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his descendants (Esther 10:3). He possessed a heart that cared for people, attentive ears that understood what was happening around him, and wisdom to act on matters that truly affected his community. Interestingly, Queen Esther quietly fades into the background in this final chapter. Her silence does not diminish her importance. Rather, it suggests that she had fulfilled the specific assignment God had entrusted to her. After risking her life, revealing her identity, and interceding for her people, she now enjoys the peace that follows faithful obedience. God often calls His servants to step forward for a season and then quietly step back once His purpose has been accomplished. This points us to the Lord Jesus Christ. Unlike earthly rulers who merely restore temporary order, Christ establishes an everlasting Kingdom. He not only rescued His people from death but secured eternal salvation through His cross and resurrection. Today, He reigns at the Father's right hand, continually interceding for His people until He returns. His Kingdom is marked by righteousness, peace, and justice that will never end. As believers awaiting Christ's return: - Remain faithful in the responsibilities God has given you, even after seasons of difficulty. - Seek the welfare of others rather than personal recognition, following Mordecai's example. - Accept that some assignments are seasonal. Like Esther, be willing to step forward when God calls and step back when your task is complete. - Trust that God continues ordering history even when His work appears quiet. His providence never stops. "For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations." (Psalm 22:28) May we faithfully serve our King until the day the Lord Jesus Christ returns to establish His perfect and eternal Kingdom.
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  • ‎Chapter Three: The Great Self-Deception Bake-Off: How to Frost a Lie and Call It Prophecy

    ‎“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” — Jeremiah 17:9

    ‎Now, that is not a verse you’d want embroidered on a throw pillow. The prophet Jeremiah, who was never invited to many parties, drops this bombshell with the casualness of someone announcing the weather. Your heart—that warm, fuzzy center of emotion you've been taught to "follow" like a GPS—is, in fact, a pathological liar with a doctorate in spin. It is not just occasionally mistaken; it is deceitful above all things. Above a used chariot salesman. Above a politician promising lower taxes. Above a toddler with chocolate on his face insisting he did not eat the cake. Your heart is the most brilliant con artist you will ever meet, and it lives inside your chest, rent-free, forging your signature on checks you didn't even know you had.

    ‎And yet, we treat this internal fraudster as if it were the Holy Spirit's personal secretary. "The heart wants what it wants," we sigh, as if that's a profundity and not the battle cry of every disastrous decision since Eve looked at a piece of fruit and thought, "That looks like a good idea, and I feel strongly that it's fine."

    ‎Let's talk about what's actually happening when you feel something so intensely that it must be true. You are not receiving a divine download. You are attending the Great Self-Deception Bake-Off, a competition where your own mind whips up a three-tiered cake of false reality, frosts it with emotion, and then serves it to you on a silver platter while a tiny voice in your head screams, "Bon appétit! This is definitely from God!"

    ‎The recipe is deceptively simple. You take one genuine fact—a real hurt, a legitimate desire, a valid frustration—and you place it on the counter. So far, so good. This is the flour. But then, instead of following a sane recipe, you hand the kitchen over to a crew of sous-chefs named Assumption, Projection, and Catastrophic Thinking. Assumption dumps in an entire bag of "I know what they were thinking." Projection adds a heaping cup of "This is just like that time in 2007." And Catastrophic Thinking, wearing a chef's hat made of old newspapers, throws in a gallon of "This will never get better and I will die alone and my funeral will be sparsely attended." Mix thoroughly. Bake in the oven of rumination at 400 degrees of anxiety. Frost with a thick layer of righteous indignation or self-pity, depending on your preferred flavor profile. And there you have it: a magnificent, towering cake of Illusion à la Mode, garnished with a sprig of "I'm pretty sure God told me."

    ‎You sit down, take a bite, and the flavors explode. The anger tastes like power. The self-pity tastes like a warm hug from yourself. The lust tastes like a preview of heaven that is, in fact, a timeshare presentation for hell. And because the flavor is so intense, so vivid, so consuming, you conclude that the cake must be true. "I feel this strongly, therefore it is valid. God gave me taste buds, didn't He? This is confirmation." And you go back for a second slice, and a third, until you're lying on the floor in a sugar coma of self-deception, wondering why your life has turned into a cautionary tale.

    ‎The Apostle James, who had clearly witnessed a few bake-offs in his day, described the process with surgical precision: "Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." (James 1:14-15). Did you catch that? Desire conceives. It has a baby. And the baby is sin, and when that baby grows up, it becomes death. The whole thing starts with a tiny little desire—a spark, a wisp, a passing thought—and if you midwife it with enough emotional intensity, it eventually births a full-grown monster that eats your life. James is essentially saying, "Your feelings are not a prophet; they are a maternity ward for disaster." And you, my friend, are the one pushing.

    ‎But here's where the comedy curdles into something so absurd you have to laugh or you'll cry: we then take that monster baby, dress it in a little suit of Bible verses, and present it to the world as a word from the Lord. "God is leading me to leave this church," we declare, when in fact the pastor's sermon stepped on our toes and we felt convicted, but conviction feels uncomfortable, so we rebranded the discomfort as "discernment." "The Lord is telling me to speak truth into this situation," we announce, right before we unleash a torrent of unsolicited criticism that burns down a friendship, and we walk away feeling like Jeremiah at the gate, when in fact we were just a jerk with a vocabulary.

    ‎Imagine a man who eats an entire extra-large pizza with extra garlic and anchovies, followed by a milkshake, right before bed. He falls into a fitful sleep, and in the depths of the night, his stomach begins to churn and boil like a cauldron in a witch's kitchen. A dream arises—a wild, vivid, Technicolor dream full of dragons, floods, and talking donkeys. He wakes up in a cold sweat, clutching his abdomen, and gasps, "A vision! A prophetic vision! God is warning me of impending doom and possibly a dietary restriction!" He immediately texts his prayer group: "Urgent: I believe the Lord is calling us to a season of fasting and apocalyptic readiness. I saw a donkey and a flood. Repent!" The prayer group, equally susceptible to the Bake-Off, responds with fire emojis and "Amen, brother, I felt a shift." Meanwhile, the real prophecy was the anchovies, and the only shift needed was in his late-night eating habits. The man has mistaken his gastric distress for divine revelation. And before you laugh too hard, ask yourself: how many of your "leadings" were just spiritual indigestion? How many of your "words from God" were just the echo of your own anxieties bouncing around an empty room, dressed in a robe and sandals?

    ‎The internal bake-off is fueled by a simple, terrible engine: the illusion that intensity equals authenticity. If I feel it hotly, it must be holy. This is the spiritual equivalent of mistaking a car alarm for an angelic choir. The car alarm is loud, it demands attention, it rattles the windows—but it's not a herald of the Second Coming. It's just a malfunctioning sensor on a Toyota Camry. Your emotions are the Camry. The alarm is going off. And you're on your knees in the parking lot, weeping, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening," while a security guard taps you on the shoulder and says, "Sir, that's just your own panic. Also, your lights are on."
    ‎Chapter Three: The Great Self-Deception Bake-Off: How to Frost a Lie and Call It Prophecy ‎ ‎“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” — Jeremiah 17:9 ‎ ‎Now, that is not a verse you’d want embroidered on a throw pillow. The prophet Jeremiah, who was never invited to many parties, drops this bombshell with the casualness of someone announcing the weather. Your heart—that warm, fuzzy center of emotion you've been taught to "follow" like a GPS—is, in fact, a pathological liar with a doctorate in spin. It is not just occasionally mistaken; it is deceitful above all things. Above a used chariot salesman. Above a politician promising lower taxes. Above a toddler with chocolate on his face insisting he did not eat the cake. Your heart is the most brilliant con artist you will ever meet, and it lives inside your chest, rent-free, forging your signature on checks you didn't even know you had. ‎ ‎And yet, we treat this internal fraudster as if it were the Holy Spirit's personal secretary. "The heart wants what it wants," we sigh, as if that's a profundity and not the battle cry of every disastrous decision since Eve looked at a piece of fruit and thought, "That looks like a good idea, and I feel strongly that it's fine." ‎ ‎Let's talk about what's actually happening when you feel something so intensely that it must be true. You are not receiving a divine download. You are attending the Great Self-Deception Bake-Off, a competition where your own mind whips up a three-tiered cake of false reality, frosts it with emotion, and then serves it to you on a silver platter while a tiny voice in your head screams, "Bon appétit! This is definitely from God!" ‎ ‎The recipe is deceptively simple. You take one genuine fact—a real hurt, a legitimate desire, a valid frustration—and you place it on the counter. So far, so good. This is the flour. But then, instead of following a sane recipe, you hand the kitchen over to a crew of sous-chefs named Assumption, Projection, and Catastrophic Thinking. Assumption dumps in an entire bag of "I know what they were thinking." Projection adds a heaping cup of "This is just like that time in 2007." And Catastrophic Thinking, wearing a chef's hat made of old newspapers, throws in a gallon of "This will never get better and I will die alone and my funeral will be sparsely attended." Mix thoroughly. Bake in the oven of rumination at 400 degrees of anxiety. Frost with a thick layer of righteous indignation or self-pity, depending on your preferred flavor profile. And there you have it: a magnificent, towering cake of Illusion à la Mode, garnished with a sprig of "I'm pretty sure God told me." ‎ ‎You sit down, take a bite, and the flavors explode. The anger tastes like power. The self-pity tastes like a warm hug from yourself. The lust tastes like a preview of heaven that is, in fact, a timeshare presentation for hell. And because the flavor is so intense, so vivid, so consuming, you conclude that the cake must be true. "I feel this strongly, therefore it is valid. God gave me taste buds, didn't He? This is confirmation." And you go back for a second slice, and a third, until you're lying on the floor in a sugar coma of self-deception, wondering why your life has turned into a cautionary tale. ‎ ‎The Apostle James, who had clearly witnessed a few bake-offs in his day, described the process with surgical precision: "Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." (James 1:14-15). Did you catch that? Desire conceives. It has a baby. And the baby is sin, and when that baby grows up, it becomes death. The whole thing starts with a tiny little desire—a spark, a wisp, a passing thought—and if you midwife it with enough emotional intensity, it eventually births a full-grown monster that eats your life. James is essentially saying, "Your feelings are not a prophet; they are a maternity ward for disaster." And you, my friend, are the one pushing. ‎ ‎But here's where the comedy curdles into something so absurd you have to laugh or you'll cry: we then take that monster baby, dress it in a little suit of Bible verses, and present it to the world as a word from the Lord. "God is leading me to leave this church," we declare, when in fact the pastor's sermon stepped on our toes and we felt convicted, but conviction feels uncomfortable, so we rebranded the discomfort as "discernment." "The Lord is telling me to speak truth into this situation," we announce, right before we unleash a torrent of unsolicited criticism that burns down a friendship, and we walk away feeling like Jeremiah at the gate, when in fact we were just a jerk with a vocabulary. ‎ ‎Imagine a man who eats an entire extra-large pizza with extra garlic and anchovies, followed by a milkshake, right before bed. He falls into a fitful sleep, and in the depths of the night, his stomach begins to churn and boil like a cauldron in a witch's kitchen. A dream arises—a wild, vivid, Technicolor dream full of dragons, floods, and talking donkeys. He wakes up in a cold sweat, clutching his abdomen, and gasps, "A vision! A prophetic vision! God is warning me of impending doom and possibly a dietary restriction!" He immediately texts his prayer group: "Urgent: I believe the Lord is calling us to a season of fasting and apocalyptic readiness. I saw a donkey and a flood. Repent!" The prayer group, equally susceptible to the Bake-Off, responds with fire emojis and "Amen, brother, I felt a shift." Meanwhile, the real prophecy was the anchovies, and the only shift needed was in his late-night eating habits. The man has mistaken his gastric distress for divine revelation. And before you laugh too hard, ask yourself: how many of your "leadings" were just spiritual indigestion? How many of your "words from God" were just the echo of your own anxieties bouncing around an empty room, dressed in a robe and sandals? ‎ ‎The internal bake-off is fueled by a simple, terrible engine: the illusion that intensity equals authenticity. If I feel it hotly, it must be holy. This is the spiritual equivalent of mistaking a car alarm for an angelic choir. The car alarm is loud, it demands attention, it rattles the windows—but it's not a herald of the Second Coming. It's just a malfunctioning sensor on a Toyota Camry. Your emotions are the Camry. The alarm is going off. And you're on your knees in the parking lot, weeping, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening," while a security guard taps you on the shoulder and says, "Sir, that's just your own panic. Also, your lights are on." ‎
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  • A Nugget of Truth.
    THE FOUNDING FATHERS DID NOT WANT CHURCH AND STATE UNITED.

    Why Religious Liberty Is Both An American Constitutional Principle And A Biblical Principle.

    Few ideas have become more politically charged in modern America than the relationship between church and state. Increasingly, influential voices insist that the "separation of church and state" is a myth because those exact words do not appear in the United States Constitution. Some now argue that the church should direct the government and that America's founders intended civil authorities to promote and enforce religious objectives. Such claims are often presented as a recovery of America's original heritage.

    Yet history tells a very different story.

    When the writings of the Founding Fathers are honestly examined, and when the principles of Scripture are allowed to interpret the issue, the evidence overwhelmingly points in the opposite direction. America was deliberately designed to prevent the union of ecclesiastical authority and civil power. This was not because the founders opposed religion. Many believed religion to be essential to morality and the health of society. Rather, they understood from both history and experience that whenever the church gains the power of the state or whenever the state controls the church, religious liberty eventually dies.

    This principle is not merely constitutional. From a biblical perspective, it is one of the great principles of God's government and forms a central theme in Bible prophecy.

    The debate frequently centres upon Thomas Jefferson's famous expression, "a wall of separation between church and state." Critics often dismiss the phrase by pointing out that it appears in a private letter to the Danbury Baptist Association rather than in the Constitution itself. Because the exact wording is absent from the Constitution, they conclude that the concept itself is absent as well.

    This argument overlooks the obvious.

    The Constitution does not need to contain a particular phrase for the principle to be plainly expressed.

    The First Amendment declares:
    "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

    Those few words establish two complementary protections. Government may neither establish religion nor interfere with its free exercise. The state is forbidden from controlling religion, and religion is forbidden from controlling the state through civil legislation. Jefferson's famous "wall" was not an invention; it was his explanation of what the First Amendment already meant.

    His 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptists simply clarified that religion "lies solely between man and his God," and that civil government possesses authority over actions that affect society, not over the conscience of individuals. His metaphor beautifully summarized the constitutional principle already adopted by the American people.

    Nor was Jefferson alone.
    James Madison, often called the Father of the Constitution and principal architect of the First Amendment, repeatedly defended the complete separation of ecclesiastical and civil authority. Having witnessed the religious persecutions that plagued both Europe and the American colonies, Madison believed that uniting church and state inevitably corrupted both institutions.

    He observed that the purpose of separating religion from government was to prevent America from repeating "the ceaseless strife" that had drenched Europe in blood for centuries. History fully vindicates his warning.

    From the medieval papacy to the religious wars of Europe, whenever governments enforced religious doctrine, persecution followed. Millions suffered imprisonment, torture, exile, and death because civil authorities assumed authority over matters that belong only to God.

    The Protestant Reformers themselves fled nations where church and state worked together to punish dissenters. Many of the early settlers who arrived in America came precisely because they sought freedom from state-controlled religion.

    Ironically, some colonies repeated the very mistakes from which they had escaped, establishing state churches that persecuted religious minorities. These painful experiences profoundly shaped the thinking of Jefferson, Madison, and many other founders.

    They concluded that the surest protection for genuine religion was not government enforcement but religious liberty. Religion flourishes best when it depends upon persuasion rather than coercion.

    Madison himself warned that even sincere religious institutions become corrupted once they acquire political power. Civil authority tempts religious leaders to rely upon legislation instead of spiritual conviction. The result is often moral decline within the church itself.

    History confirms his observation repeatedly. The closer religion aligns itself with political power, the more both institutions become corrupted.

    From a biblical perspective, these conclusions harmonize perfectly with Scripture. God Himself never forces worship. From the beginning of creation, He established moral freedom as one of the governing principles of His universe. Lucifer was not compelled to remain loyal. The angels were free to choose. Adam and Eve possessed genuine freedom. Throughout Scripture God invites, pleads, warns, and reasons with humanity, but He never compels conscience.

    Joshua declared: "Choose you this day whom ye will serve" (Joshua 24:15).

    Isaiah records God's appeal: "Come now, and let us reason together" (Isaiah 1:18).

    Jesus stood at the door and knocked; He did not force entrance (Revelation 3:20).
    Even Christ refused political methods to establish His kingdom. When crowds attempted to make Him king by force, He withdrew from them (John 6:15).
    When questioned by Pilate, Jesus plainly declared: "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36).

    Christ never instructed His followers to seize civil authority in order to spread the gospel. Instead, He commissioned them to preach, teach, persuade, love, and serve. Truth advances through the Holy Spirit, never through legislative force. This distinction appears clearly in Christ's famous statement:"Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's" (Matthew 22:21).

    Jesus acknowledged legitimate civil authority while carefully distinguishing it from God's authority over conscience.

    Caesar could collect taxes.
    Caesar could administer civil justice.
    But Caesar possessed no authority over worship. The conscience belongs exclusively to God.

    The apostles reinforced this same principle. When forbidden to preach Christ, they respectfully replied:
    "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29).

    Their loyalty to civil government ended where civil government attempted to control religious duty.

    This biblical distinction becomes especially significant when studying prophecy. The books of Daniel and Revelation consistently identify the union of religious authority with civil power as one of the defining characteristics of end-time apostasy.

    Daniel 3 portrays King Nebuchadnezzar establishing a religious image and commanding universal worship under penalty of death.

    The issue was not civil law.
    It was enforced worship.
    Daniel 6 presents civil legislation compelling religious practice by forbidding prayer to anyone except the king. Again, government invaded the realm of conscience. In both cases God's faithful people respectfully refused compliance.

    The principle reaches its fullest development in Revelation 13. There John describes a religious power joining forces with civil authority to compel worship and punish dissent. The second beast causes the earth to worship the first beast and enforces compliance through economic sanctions and eventually a universal death decree.

    This is precisely the union of church and state. It represents the final revival of the medieval system in which religious authority employs governmental power to enforce religious observance.

    From a sound biblical understanding of prophecy, this alliance constitutes one of the final events preceding Christ's return. The prophetic issue is not merely false doctrine but coerced worship. God calls every person to worship Him voluntarily, while the powers described in Revelation compel worship through civil authority.

    This is why religious liberty occupies such an important place in Adventist theology. The issue extends far beyond constitutional law. It concerns the character of God Himself. God desires willing obedience born of love, not forced conformity produced by legislation.

    This perspective is reflected powerfully in the writings of Ellen G. White, who repeatedly warned that Protestant churches seeking the assistance of civil government would eventually repeat the mistakes of medieval Rome. She understood that whenever religious bodies abandon persuasion for political coercion, prophecy is being fulfilled.

    History demonstrates that genuine religious liberty protects believers of every faith. Faith chosen freely possesses infinitely greater value than faith compelled by law. The Founding Fathers understood this truth because they had studied history. The Bible teaches this truth because it reveals the character of God. Prophecy confirms this truth because it predicts the consequences when that principle is abandoned.

    The real issue, therefore, is not whether the exact words "separation of church and state" appear in the Constitution.
    The issue is whether the principle appears there. The First Amendment answers that question unmistakably.
    Jefferson explained it.
    Madison defended it.
    American history confirms it.
    The Bible upholds it.
    Prophecy talked about it.

    America's greatest constitutional achievement was not the establishment of religion but the protection of religious liberty.

    As the final conflict of Revelation approaches, that distinction will become increasingly important. The central issue will not simply be whom people worship, but whether worship is freely given or legally compelled. In that coming crisis, the constitutional wisdom of the American founders and the prophetic warnings of Scripture converge upon the same timeless truth: genuine faith can never be produced by the power of the state. Only the Holy Spirit can write God's law upon the human heart.

    Gospel Angels Broadcasting
    A Nugget of Truth. THE FOUNDING FATHERS DID NOT WANT CHURCH AND STATE UNITED. Why Religious Liberty Is Both An American Constitutional Principle And A Biblical Principle. Few ideas have become more politically charged in modern America than the relationship between church and state. Increasingly, influential voices insist that the "separation of church and state" is a myth because those exact words do not appear in the United States Constitution. Some now argue that the church should direct the government and that America's founders intended civil authorities to promote and enforce religious objectives. Such claims are often presented as a recovery of America's original heritage. Yet history tells a very different story. When the writings of the Founding Fathers are honestly examined, and when the principles of Scripture are allowed to interpret the issue, the evidence overwhelmingly points in the opposite direction. America was deliberately designed to prevent the union of ecclesiastical authority and civil power. This was not because the founders opposed religion. Many believed religion to be essential to morality and the health of society. Rather, they understood from both history and experience that whenever the church gains the power of the state or whenever the state controls the church, religious liberty eventually dies. This principle is not merely constitutional. From a biblical perspective, it is one of the great principles of God's government and forms a central theme in Bible prophecy. The debate frequently centres upon Thomas Jefferson's famous expression, "a wall of separation between church and state." Critics often dismiss the phrase by pointing out that it appears in a private letter to the Danbury Baptist Association rather than in the Constitution itself. Because the exact wording is absent from the Constitution, they conclude that the concept itself is absent as well. This argument overlooks the obvious. The Constitution does not need to contain a particular phrase for the principle to be plainly expressed. The First Amendment declares: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Those few words establish two complementary protections. Government may neither establish religion nor interfere with its free exercise. The state is forbidden from controlling religion, and religion is forbidden from controlling the state through civil legislation. Jefferson's famous "wall" was not an invention; it was his explanation of what the First Amendment already meant. His 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptists simply clarified that religion "lies solely between man and his God," and that civil government possesses authority over actions that affect society, not over the conscience of individuals. His metaphor beautifully summarized the constitutional principle already adopted by the American people. Nor was Jefferson alone. James Madison, often called the Father of the Constitution and principal architect of the First Amendment, repeatedly defended the complete separation of ecclesiastical and civil authority. Having witnessed the religious persecutions that plagued both Europe and the American colonies, Madison believed that uniting church and state inevitably corrupted both institutions. He observed that the purpose of separating religion from government was to prevent America from repeating "the ceaseless strife" that had drenched Europe in blood for centuries. History fully vindicates his warning. From the medieval papacy to the religious wars of Europe, whenever governments enforced religious doctrine, persecution followed. Millions suffered imprisonment, torture, exile, and death because civil authorities assumed authority over matters that belong only to God. The Protestant Reformers themselves fled nations where church and state worked together to punish dissenters. Many of the early settlers who arrived in America came precisely because they sought freedom from state-controlled religion. Ironically, some colonies repeated the very mistakes from which they had escaped, establishing state churches that persecuted religious minorities. These painful experiences profoundly shaped the thinking of Jefferson, Madison, and many other founders. They concluded that the surest protection for genuine religion was not government enforcement but religious liberty. Religion flourishes best when it depends upon persuasion rather than coercion. Madison himself warned that even sincere religious institutions become corrupted once they acquire political power. Civil authority tempts religious leaders to rely upon legislation instead of spiritual conviction. The result is often moral decline within the church itself. History confirms his observation repeatedly. The closer religion aligns itself with political power, the more both institutions become corrupted. From a biblical perspective, these conclusions harmonize perfectly with Scripture. God Himself never forces worship. From the beginning of creation, He established moral freedom as one of the governing principles of His universe. Lucifer was not compelled to remain loyal. The angels were free to choose. Adam and Eve possessed genuine freedom. Throughout Scripture God invites, pleads, warns, and reasons with humanity, but He never compels conscience. Joshua declared: "Choose you this day whom ye will serve" (Joshua 24:15). Isaiah records God's appeal: "Come now, and let us reason together" (Isaiah 1:18). Jesus stood at the door and knocked; He did not force entrance (Revelation 3:20). Even Christ refused political methods to establish His kingdom. When crowds attempted to make Him king by force, He withdrew from them (John 6:15). When questioned by Pilate, Jesus plainly declared: "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36). Christ never instructed His followers to seize civil authority in order to spread the gospel. Instead, He commissioned them to preach, teach, persuade, love, and serve. Truth advances through the Holy Spirit, never through legislative force. This distinction appears clearly in Christ's famous statement:"Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's" (Matthew 22:21). Jesus acknowledged legitimate civil authority while carefully distinguishing it from God's authority over conscience. Caesar could collect taxes. Caesar could administer civil justice. But Caesar possessed no authority over worship. The conscience belongs exclusively to God. The apostles reinforced this same principle. When forbidden to preach Christ, they respectfully replied: "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). Their loyalty to civil government ended where civil government attempted to control religious duty. This biblical distinction becomes especially significant when studying prophecy. The books of Daniel and Revelation consistently identify the union of religious authority with civil power as one of the defining characteristics of end-time apostasy. Daniel 3 portrays King Nebuchadnezzar establishing a religious image and commanding universal worship under penalty of death. The issue was not civil law. It was enforced worship. Daniel 6 presents civil legislation compelling religious practice by forbidding prayer to anyone except the king. Again, government invaded the realm of conscience. In both cases God's faithful people respectfully refused compliance. The principle reaches its fullest development in Revelation 13. There John describes a religious power joining forces with civil authority to compel worship and punish dissent. The second beast causes the earth to worship the first beast and enforces compliance through economic sanctions and eventually a universal death decree. This is precisely the union of church and state. It represents the final revival of the medieval system in which religious authority employs governmental power to enforce religious observance. From a sound biblical understanding of prophecy, this alliance constitutes one of the final events preceding Christ's return. The prophetic issue is not merely false doctrine but coerced worship. God calls every person to worship Him voluntarily, while the powers described in Revelation compel worship through civil authority. This is why religious liberty occupies such an important place in Adventist theology. The issue extends far beyond constitutional law. It concerns the character of God Himself. God desires willing obedience born of love, not forced conformity produced by legislation. This perspective is reflected powerfully in the writings of Ellen G. White, who repeatedly warned that Protestant churches seeking the assistance of civil government would eventually repeat the mistakes of medieval Rome. She understood that whenever religious bodies abandon persuasion for political coercion, prophecy is being fulfilled. History demonstrates that genuine religious liberty protects believers of every faith. Faith chosen freely possesses infinitely greater value than faith compelled by law. The Founding Fathers understood this truth because they had studied history. The Bible teaches this truth because it reveals the character of God. Prophecy confirms this truth because it predicts the consequences when that principle is abandoned. The real issue, therefore, is not whether the exact words "separation of church and state" appear in the Constitution. The issue is whether the principle appears there. The First Amendment answers that question unmistakably. Jefferson explained it. Madison defended it. American history confirms it. The Bible upholds it. Prophecy talked about it. America's greatest constitutional achievement was not the establishment of religion but the protection of religious liberty. As the final conflict of Revelation approaches, that distinction will become increasingly important. The central issue will not simply be whom people worship, but whether worship is freely given or legally compelled. In that coming crisis, the constitutional wisdom of the American founders and the prophetic warnings of Scripture converge upon the same timeless truth: genuine faith can never be produced by the power of the state. Only the Holy Spirit can write God's law upon the human heart. Gospel Angels Broadcasting
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  • Brenda Walsh Ministries
    Lure of Temptation.

    Everyone faces temptation from the devil - even Jesus. The story is told in Matthew 4:1-11, when Jesus was in the desert, hungry, weak, and tired, Satan tried to get him to prove He was the Son of God. Three times Satan tried to tempt him, but Jesus didn’t fall for it for one moment and responded each time by pointing Satan to the power of God. As long as you are a follower of Christ, the devil will not stop his attempts to make you sin. It is a spiritual battle for your heart. Temptations like anger, jealousy, impatience, doubt, and hatred are all the devil’s tools. He will try and convince you that it won’t matter if you cheat on your taxes, have casual sex, watch porn, beat your kids, or steal from your neighbor. But don’t listen to the devil’s lies. You can win the victory over temptation the same way Jesus did - with God’s power and strength. Claim Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Arm yourself with God’s shield of truth, and your faith will be increased so that you can overcome the lure of temptation. Remember, God is stronger than the devil and his temptations to sin. Cling to Jesus, and you will gain the victory! Text: 1 Corinthians 15:57, 1 John 5:4, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Galatians 5:16
    Brenda Walsh Ministries Lure of Temptation. Everyone faces temptation from the devil - even Jesus. The story is told in Matthew 4:1-11, when Jesus was in the desert, hungry, weak, and tired, Satan tried to get him to prove He was the Son of God. Three times Satan tried to tempt him, but Jesus didn’t fall for it for one moment and responded each time by pointing Satan to the power of God. As long as you are a follower of Christ, the devil will not stop his attempts to make you sin. It is a spiritual battle for your heart. Temptations like anger, jealousy, impatience, doubt, and hatred are all the devil’s tools. He will try and convince you that it won’t matter if you cheat on your taxes, have casual sex, watch porn, beat your kids, or steal from your neighbor. But don’t listen to the devil’s lies. You can win the victory over temptation the same way Jesus did - with God’s power and strength. Claim Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Arm yourself with God’s shield of truth, and your faith will be increased so that you can overcome the lure of temptation. Remember, God is stronger than the devil and his temptations to sin. Cling to Jesus, and you will gain the victory! Text: 1 Corinthians 15:57, 1 John 5:4, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Galatians 5:16
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  • Love shows up in various ways.


    Love languages are a common discussion and an equally common struggle, not only for couples but in all kinds of relationships.

    One would like to spend time together, and another might give a lot to express. Some may serve with actions, and others may express themselves through words. Then there may be some still who are in a kind of quiet love.

    We all are unique and wonderful, and so are our needs and actions. But the important thing here is that we all want to be loved, and we all want our love to be recognized.

    Here are some interesting perspectives:

    *Never-giving-up Love*
    Peter denied the Lord Jesus three times because of the fear of being persecuted as a disciple of Jesus. After the resurrection, Jesus came to him and reinstated Peter back to Him. (John 21: 15-17)

    *Transforming Love*
    A woman was caught in adultery and was brought to be stoned to death.
    Jesus showed up not only for her rescue from physical death but from spiritual death due to sin as well. (John 8: 2-11)

    *Understanding Love*
    Thomas had his doubts about Jesus after the resurrection. Jesus asked him to confirm and believe by putting his fingers in the holes of His hands. (John 20: 24-28)

    *Cleansing Love*
    A leper, who was considered too unclean to be a part of the community, even, was of worth for Jesus to heal him. (Mark 1: 40-42)

    *Redeeming Love*
    The Samaritan woman at the well was living a troubled life. Jesus, despite being Jewish, asked her for water, breaking the cast barriers and revealing Himself to her as the Messiah. (John 4: 4-26)

    *Reaching-out Love*
    A disabled man was sitting near the pool of Bethesda for thirty-eight years. Jesus went to him and healed him. (John 5: 5-11)

    *Deliverance Love*
    Mary, the Magdalene, was possessed with seven evil spirits. Jesus redeemed her.
    (Luke 8: 2)

    *Providing Love*
    A hungry crowd of five thousand men and families was listening to His sermon for days. He provided by multiplying a small lunch box of five loaves and two fish for them. (Matthew 14: 13-21)

    *Miraculous Love*
    The disciples had tried to catch some fish all night, only to find none. Jesus tells them to cast their net on the right side, and they end up with a miraculous catch of 153 fish. (John 21: 1-14)

    *Resurrecting Love*
    Lazarus was sick, eventually died, and was buried in the tomb for 4 days. Jesus shows up, and Lazarus comes out of the tomb, alive, on His call. (John 11: 38-44)

    *Healing Love*
    A woman was bent over and crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. Jesus called her forth and healed her. (Luke 13: 10-17)

    *Eye-opening Love*
    Jesus healed the blind man. A blind man was sitting on the roadside near Jericho. He called out to Jesus for mercy and restoring the sight. Jesus reached out and restored sight to his eyes. (Luke 18: 35-42)

    *Receiving Love*
    A certain woman, who was living a sinful life, came to Jesus and publicly washed His feet with tears and cleansed them with her hair. Jesus received her gratitude and love. (Luke 7: 36-50)

    *Honouring Love*
    Mary brought a jar of expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus, and people were indignant. Jesus defended her honour and act of worship. (John 12: 1-11)

    *Forgiving Love*
    Mathew, a tax collector, was living a sinful life by cheating his own community for taxes. Jesus called him to follow him without judging his actions. (Matthew 9:9-13)

    *Belonging Love*
    The disciples walked with Jesus, and he called them friends. ( John 15: 15) Furthermore, Jesus told them, “I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” What a belonging. (John 14: 20)

    *Sacrificial Love*
    The world was lost and sinful, but this is how God showed His love for us: that Jesus died for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5: 8)

    His love doesn’t fade away with time.
    His love is independent of our actions.
    His love is unconditional.
    *God’s love shows up in various ways,*
    *But never in various measures.*
    *His love is the same, enough, and in full measure.* _*Always.*_

    That’s How He loves. _*These are His Love LANGUAGES.*_
    Love shows up in various ways. Love languages are a common discussion and an equally common struggle, not only for couples but in all kinds of relationships. One would like to spend time together, and another might give a lot to express. Some may serve with actions, and others may express themselves through words. Then there may be some still who are in a kind of quiet love. We all are unique and wonderful, and so are our needs and actions. But the important thing here is that we all want to be loved, and we all want our love to be recognized. Here are some interesting perspectives: *Never-giving-up Love* Peter denied the Lord Jesus three times because of the fear of being persecuted as a disciple of Jesus. After the resurrection, Jesus came to him and reinstated Peter back to Him. (John 21: 15-17) *Transforming Love* A woman was caught in adultery and was brought to be stoned to death. Jesus showed up not only for her rescue from physical death but from spiritual death due to sin as well. (John 8: 2-11) *Understanding Love* Thomas had his doubts about Jesus after the resurrection. Jesus asked him to confirm and believe by putting his fingers in the holes of His hands. (John 20: 24-28) *Cleansing Love* A leper, who was considered too unclean to be a part of the community, even, was of worth for Jesus to heal him. (Mark 1: 40-42) *Redeeming Love* The Samaritan woman at the well was living a troubled life. Jesus, despite being Jewish, asked her for water, breaking the cast barriers and revealing Himself to her as the Messiah. (John 4: 4-26) *Reaching-out Love* A disabled man was sitting near the pool of Bethesda for thirty-eight years. Jesus went to him and healed him. (John 5: 5-11) *Deliverance Love* Mary, the Magdalene, was possessed with seven evil spirits. Jesus redeemed her. (Luke 8: 2) *Providing Love* A hungry crowd of five thousand men and families was listening to His sermon for days. He provided by multiplying a small lunch box of five loaves and two fish for them. (Matthew 14: 13-21) *Miraculous Love* The disciples had tried to catch some fish all night, only to find none. Jesus tells them to cast their net on the right side, and they end up with a miraculous catch of 153 fish. (John 21: 1-14) *Resurrecting Love* Lazarus was sick, eventually died, and was buried in the tomb for 4 days. Jesus shows up, and Lazarus comes out of the tomb, alive, on His call. (John 11: 38-44) *Healing Love* A woman was bent over and crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. Jesus called her forth and healed her. (Luke 13: 10-17) *Eye-opening Love* Jesus healed the blind man. A blind man was sitting on the roadside near Jericho. He called out to Jesus for mercy and restoring the sight. Jesus reached out and restored sight to his eyes. (Luke 18: 35-42) *Receiving Love* A certain woman, who was living a sinful life, came to Jesus and publicly washed His feet with tears and cleansed them with her hair. Jesus received her gratitude and love. (Luke 7: 36-50) *Honouring Love* Mary brought a jar of expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus, and people were indignant. Jesus defended her honour and act of worship. (John 12: 1-11) *Forgiving Love* Mathew, a tax collector, was living a sinful life by cheating his own community for taxes. Jesus called him to follow him without judging his actions. (Matthew 9:9-13) *Belonging Love* The disciples walked with Jesus, and he called them friends. ( John 15: 15) Furthermore, Jesus told them, “I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” What a belonging. (John 14: 20) *Sacrificial Love* The world was lost and sinful, but this is how God showed His love for us: that Jesus died for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5: 8) His love doesn’t fade away with time. His love is independent of our actions. His love is unconditional. *God’s love shows up in various ways,* *But never in various measures.* *His love is the same, enough, and in full measure.* _*Always.*_ That’s How He loves. _*These are His Love LANGUAGES.*_
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