Praising and thanking God on our 37th wedding anniversary!

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: WEDNESDAY 19TH AUGUST 2026

TOPIC: GOD'S COVENANT OF PROTECTION

MEMORIZE:
"For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her." Zechariah 2:5 (KJV)

BIBLE READING: PSALM 91:1-16
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

MESSAGE:
The devil lures many people into evil covenants with the promise of protection; however, complete protection only exists in God. Romans 8:31 says, "... If God be for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:37 further says that we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us. This means that, if you are in a covenant with God, you will not have to fight any battle, because He will always fight for you. Many times, you would have won the battle before you even realise that someone was trying to attack you.

I ran away from my village after some people threatened that they were going to 'eat me for breakfast,' and for 13 years, I could not return. However, after I met the Lord Jesus Christ, I was able to visit my village, and I even attended a wedding where I saw many of the people who had threatened to kill me through diabolical means. I was much younger in the faith at the time, so I had a lot of zeal but not much wisdom. I was asked to preach at the wedding, and I delivered a powerful sermon that hit them hard with the word of God. Some months later, those people went to the mother of the lady who got married and told her that it was her daughter's wedding that provided a platform for me to insult them. They further said that they had been waiting for an opportunity for revenge, and the opportunity had presented itself now that her daughter was pregnant. They told her, "We will see if your daughter will give birth, unless we are not the ones in charge here on earth." The lady's mother became frightened and came to me. I told her not to worry and assured her that on the day her daughter would give birth, all those who had threatened her would fall asleep. To the glory of God, things turned out exactly as I said; her daughter gave birth while those who threatened her were sleeping. The baby they swore would not be born is now a medical doctor.

Beloved, God said that He will be a wall of fire around you in today's memory verse, and anyone who chooses to confront the Consuming Fire will not live to tell the story. Never be afraid of any force, person, or situation that threatens to harm you. Cry out to God in such cases, and He will show up to defend you and give you victory.

KEY POINT:
God is a wall of fire around those who are in a covenant with Him.

BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR:
JEREMIAH 49

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMNAL 5 - BLESSED ASSURANCE
1. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His spirit, washed in His blood.

CHORUS:
This is my story; this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day. Long; this is my story, this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long.

2. Perfect submission, perfect delight, Visions of rapture now burst on my sight, Angels descending, bring from above Echoes of mercy, whispers of
love.

CHORUS:

3. Perfect submission, perfect all is rest, I in my saviour am happy and blest watching waiting looking above filled with his goodness lost in his love.

CHORUS:


PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL
WEDNESDAY, 19TH AUGUST, 2026
*GOD'S COVENANT OF PROTECTION*

1.Father, thank You for being my protection in all situations, for in You is my protection complete.

2.Father, thank You for making me more than a conqueror; through the love of Jesus, I have victory without a fight because You are always fighting for me

3.Father, please keep me forever in Your covenant of protection, so I won't have to fight in battle with anyone trying to attack me, in Jesus' name.

4.Father, please help me to dwell in the secret place of Your word, and under the shadow of Your presence, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, please deliver me from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence; cover me with Your feathers, and hide me under Your wings, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, please save me from the pestilence that walketh in darkness; and from the destruction that wasteth at noonday; let no evil come near me and my household, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, please give Your angels charge over me and my loved ones, let them keep us in all our ways, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, as many that are into covenant with the devil against my well-being, send them on errands they will never recover from; let their waiting be in vain over my life, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, thank You for Your promise to be a wall of fire round about me, please help me never to go out of Your covenant of protection, in Jesus' name.

10.Father, please show up to defend me from those that are after my soul, and give me victory, in Jesus' name.

11.Father, thank You for the life of Your son, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye.
‎
Help him to continue to enjoy Your covenant of protection, in Jesus' name. Bless his children (biological and spiritual). Help him to continue to produce sons and daughters to Your glory, in Jesus name
‎
‎11.Father, please bless Your son that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, with wisdom and favour. Answer all his prayers beyond measure, and all those who have been broadcasting them, in Jesus' name.
‎
‎12.Father, please let every challenge and temptations, hindrance and obstacles of getting these prayer points across to Your children, timely, and on daily basis be removed, in Jesus name.
‎
‎13.Your personal petitions.
‎(Philippians 4:6)
‎
‎14.In Jesus name I pray.
‎(John 14:1315:16)
‎
#GodBlessOurNation

*These prayers have no expiry date!

Need to know.
THE GRANDEST INVITATION

"Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready." — Revelation 19:7

In our world, wedding invitations carry weight. We check our calendars, coordinate attire, and prepare gifts to honor the couple. Yet the most magnificent celebration in human history—the Marriage Supper of the Lamb—requires a far different kind of preparation.

Revelation 19 shifts the cosmic scene from the fall of earthly empires to an outburst of unhindered praise. The long-awaited climax of history arrives not as a political conquest, but as a wedding feast. Jesus, the Lamb who was slain to purchase humanity with His blood, is revealed as the Bridegroom. The Church—every believer across time—is His bride.

This short verse carries three deep spiritual movements for your day:

Rejoice and Be Glad: True Christian joy is grounded in an unshakable future. Whatever hardship or disappointment you face today, it is not the final chapter of your story. The end of history is a feast, not a famine.

Give Him Glory: Salvation is entirely God’s initiative. We do not earn our place at this table; we are invited by grace.

Make Yourself Ready: The bride's readiness is both a gift and a pursuit. In the very next verse, Revelation notes that her fine linen is given to her, representing the righteous acts of God's holy people.

To be ready for the Bridegroom means living today in light of eternity. It means letting love, purity, and devotion shape how you treat others, manage your time, and guard your heart. You are not waiting aimlessly; you are preparing for a wedding.

Take time today to consider what temporary worry or distraction is currently competing for the joy that belongs to your eternal future, and how you can actively make yourself ready in your daily decisions and relationships.

Heavenly Father, thank You for inviting me to Your eternal feast through Jesus Christ, the Lamb. When the cares of this world feel heavy, lift my eyes to the joy that awaits me. Purify my heart today, align my desires with Your kingdom, and help me live with expectant hope. Let my life reflect the grace and righteousness You have so generously given me. Amen.

Are You an Intentional Christian?

By Pastor Joseph Clark

Life does not simply happen to us. At least, it should not. There are circumstances we cannot control. There are things that happen to us that we never anticipated, and there are seasons when we have little choice over what comes our way. But within all of that, God has given us something extraordinarily important:

The freedom to choose how we will live before Him.

We should never be content merely to hope that our faith is genuine. We are called to deliberately follow Christ, deliberately obey His Word, deliberately love others, deliberately serve, deliberately grow—and deliberately bear fruit. The Christian life is not a spectator sport.

Let me be absolutely clear: we are not saved by our good works. The Bible teaches that salvation is by grace through faith, not something we earn through religious accomplishments or our own efforts. We cannot purchase forgiveness by doing enough good deeds. We cannot impress God into saving us.

Paul writes:

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works.”

Ephesians 2:8–9

Amen.

But sometimes Christians stop reading there. The very next verse says:

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:10

Notice the order. We are not saved by good works. We are saved for good works. Works are not the root of our salvation; they are supposed to be the fruit of our salvation.

That distinction is absolutely essential. A person does not become a Christian because he produces fruit. Rather, because he has been brought into Christ, his life should increasingly begin to produce fruit.

I have observed that some Christians use the “by faith, not works” argument as a cop-out to justify a lazy, fruitless walk.

Jesus Himself said:

“By their fruit you will recognize them.”

Matthew 7:16

He did not say, “Don’t worry about fruit because you believe.” He said:

“Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.”

Matthew 7:17

There is a dangerous misunderstanding that can sometimes enter Christian thinking. A person says, “I am saved by faith and not works.” That statement is true. But then he concludes, “Therefore, it doesn’t matter whether my life produces anything.”

That conclusion is not biblical.

James puts the matter bluntly:

“Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

James 2:17

James isn’t teaching that we purchase salvation by our deeds. He is teaching that genuine faith is living faith.

If I tell you that I have a fire burning in my house, but you enter the house and find no heat, no light, no flame, and no evidence whatsoever of fire, you would have good reason to question my claim.

In the same way, if someone claims to belong to Christ but deliberately refuses to grow, refuses to obey, refuses to serve, refuses to love, refuses to forgive, and refuses to bear any spiritual fruit, we should not simply congratulate that person by saying, “Well, you’re saved by faith, so none of that matters.”

Jesus never taught such complacency.

Consider one of the most sobering statements Jesus ever made. In Matthew 7:21–23, Jesus describes people who will stand before Him on the day of judgment. They will say that they did things in His name. And Jesus will say:

“I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”

Matthew 7:23

That should cause every professing Christian to pause.

Jesus did not say, “You weren’t sincere enough.” He did not say, “You didn’t perform enough religious deeds.” He said, “I never knew you.”

The issue is ultimately relationship with Christ.

Likewise, Jesus gives a similar warning in the Parable of the Ten Virgins. Some of the virgins were complacent and unprepared for the bridegroom. When he arrived, they were shut out of the wedding feast. The warning is unmistakable: we must not live carelessly or presume upon the grace of God.

A person can say the right things, use Christian vocabulary, attend church, perform religious activities, and even speak about Jesus—and yet not actually belong to Him.

This is why we should never merely sit back and say, “I hope my faith is genuine.” We should examine our lives. We should pursue Christ. We should repent when we sin. We should seek holiness. We should love our neighbor. We should forgive. We should serve. We should pray. We should study God’s Word. We should proclaim the Gospel. We should bear fruit.

Not because these things purchase our salvation—but because Christ has saved us and called us to live differently.

Our fruitfulness should also be expressed through obedience to Christ’s Great Commission.

Jesus said:

“I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.”

John 15:16

That is not passive language.

Go. Bear fruit.

Christ did not save us so that we could sit comfortably on the sidelines of Christianity. He called us into a life of purpose.

Jesus also said:

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

John 15:8

There is that word again: fruit.

Fruit is evidence of life.

Wake Up and Bear Fruit

Do you see what is happening in this fallen world today?

Paganism. False religions.

They are boldly, deliberately, and intentionally seeking to influence and claim the hearts and minds of people throughout the world.

Our answer should be bold, fruitful evangelism!

Wake up!

Use your God-given gifts in any way you can to share His Gospel.

An apple tree doesn’t produce apples in order to become an apple tree. It produces apples because it is an apple tree.

Likewise, Christians don’t perform good works in order to become God’s children. We bear fruit because, through faith in Christ, God has made us His children.

This brings us back to our central question:

What are you going to do with the life God has given you?

You cannot choose every circumstance. But you can choose whether you will trust God in those circumstances.

You can choose whether you will forgive.

You can choose whether you will serve.

You can choose whether you will encourage someone who is discouraged.

You can choose whether you will open your Bible.

You can choose whether you will pray.

You can choose whether you will share your faith.

You can choose whether you will repent.

You can choose whether you will obey Christ when obedience is difficult.

You can choose whether your Christianity will be merely something you claim—or something you deliberately live.

Paul told the Philippians:

“Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”

Philippians 2:12

Paul did not mean, “Work for your salvation.” He was writing to people who were already Christians. The meaning is that the salvation God has worked into your life should be worked out in the way you live.

Your faith should become visible.

Your character should change.

Your priorities should change.

Your relationships should change.

Your choices should change.

Your life should increasingly resemble the Christ you profess to follow.

There is a difference between saying, “I hope I’m a faithful Christian,” and saying, “By the grace of God, I will deliberately seek to become a faithful Christian.”

The first can become passive.

The second is intentional.

What Will You Do With What God Has Given You?

Do you remember the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14–30?

Are you the servant who was given one talent and buried it in the ground rather than using it?

To that servant, the master said:

“You wicked, lazy servant!”

Matthew 25:26

The judgment concludes:

“And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Matthew 25:30

Or are you the servant to whom the Lord will say:

“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”

Matthew 25:21

Let me pause and ask you right now:

Is this message off-putting to you? Does this message offend you?

If so, ask yourself: Why?

Why does God’s Word—and a message consistent with His Word—bother you?

And don’t misunderstand me: you cannot manufacture spiritual fruit through human strength.

Jesus said:

“Apart from me you can do nothing.”

John 15:5

Fruit comes from abiding in Christ.

But abiding in Christ is not passive indifference.

We choose to remain close to Him.

We choose obedience.

We choose repentance.

We choose prayer.

We choose service.

We choose faithfulness.

We choose to say yes when Christ calls.

In the Parable of the Talents, one servant received one talent and buried it. He did not steal it. He did not destroy it. He simply did nothing with it.

When the master returned, the servant had an excuse. But the master condemned him.

Why?

Because what had been entrusted to him was intended to be used.

There is a warning here for Christians who have been given time, abilities, opportunities, spiritual gifts, knowledge, and resources but deliberately refuse to use them for God’s purposes.

God did not give you your life merely to consume it.

He gave you a life that can be offered back to Him.

Jesus also told of a fig tree that was not producing fruit. The owner came looking for fruit and found none. The tree was occupying valuable ground, but it was not fulfilling the purpose for which it existed.

That should make us think.

What is your Christian life producing?

Are people encouraged because you know Christ?

Are people helped because you serve?

Are people forgiven because you have learned to forgive?

Are people hearing the Gospel because you are willing to speak?

Are people seeing Christ in your conduct?

Are you becoming more patient?

More loving?

More humble?

More truthful?

More generous?

More courageous?

More obedient?

Has God given you talents or resources such as public influence, good oratory, conversational skills, a good computer, social media, or other online tools?

Use them for Christ.

Do you enjoy Christian podcasts, Christian articles, or Christian music?

Share them online with others.

Do you know someone who is in need or grieving?

Be present to them.

Let them know you are praying for them.

Pray for them!

Make a prayer list and pray daily.

Pray for this fallen world.

Reassure others of the coming of Christ.

Use whatever God has entrusted to you to advance His Kingdom and proclaim His Gospel.

What fruit is your life producing?

You Don’t Have to Be Famous to Be Fruitful

You don’t have to be famous to be fruitful.

You don’t have to preach to thousands.

You don’t have to write books.

You don’t have to stand behind a pulpit.

A mother raising her children in the faith can be fruitful.

A man encouraging a discouraged neighbor can be fruitful.

A Christian visiting the lonely can be fruitful.

Someone praying faithfully for another person can be fruitful.

A believer forgiving an enemy can be fruitful.

A Christian refusing to participate in gossip can be fruitful.

Someone quietly giving to help another person can be fruitful.

Fruitfulness isn’t necessarily spectacular.

Sometimes the greatest Christian fruit is produced quietly, where only God sees it.

Jesus said:

“Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Matthew 6:4

Your life will not be perfect.

You will fail.

You will sin.

You will sometimes become discouraged.

You will occasionally make terrible decisions.

But don’t confuse failure with fruitlessness.

A fruitful Christian is not a perfect Christian. A fruitful Christian is an obedient Christian who keeps turning toward Christ.

When he falls, he gets back up.

When he sins, he repents.

When he fails, he seeks God’s grace.

When he becomes discouraged, he keeps walking.

When God opens a door, he walks through it.

When Christ calls, he responds.

That is deliberate Christianity.

So don’t merely sit back and hope that your faith is genuine.

Pursue Christ.

Don’t use salvation by faith as an excuse for spiritual laziness.

Bear fruit.

Don’t try to earn God’s love through good works.

Serve because you have already received His grace.

Don’t live as though your life is something that merely happens to you.

By the grace of God, choose to make it count.

Jesus said:

“By their fruit you will recognize them.”

And He also said:

“I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.”

The Christian life is not about earning salvation.

It is about living out the salvation you have received.

So get up.

Pray. Believe. Repent. Obey. Serve. Love. Forgive. Speak. Give. Go.

Create content.

Share content.

Practice charity.

Use your talents in any way you can to share the Kingdom of Christ and reach pagans, non-believers, and those who do not yet know Jesus Christ.

Bear fruit.

You have been given one life.

Don’t merely wait to see what happens to it.

With Christ, deliberately choose what you will do with it.

And may your life bear fruit—not for your own glory, but for the glory of the One who saved you.

In Jesus’ name, I pray.

AMEN. AMEN. AMEN!

“With Jesus, every unexpected moment can become a beautiful surprise.”

When unexpected moments come into our lives, they can completely change our plans. When things do not happen the way we expected, we often become afraid and wonder, “What will happen now?” But we must never forget one thing: what is unexpected to us is never unexpected to God.

When the wine ran out at the wedding in Cana, it was a situation that could have brought great embarrassment to the family. But when that shortage came to Jesus’ attention, it became an opportunity for a miracle. Water was turned into wine; shortage became abundance; worry turned into joy. What was an unexpected problem to the people became an opportunity for Jesus to reveal His glory.

In the same way, when you face an unexpected situation in your life today, don’t ask only, “Why did this happen?” Perhaps God is inviting you to wait with faith and ask, “What is He going to do through this?”

Where you see an ending, Jesus may see a new beginning.
Where you see shortage, Jesus may see a miracle.
Where you see tears, Jesus may see the seed of a testimony.

“To Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think…” — Ephesians 3:20

So, do not be afraid of the unexpected. Instead of focusing on the unexpected situation, focus on Jesus who is with you in that situation. Because when Jesus is present, even an unexpected moment can become a beautiful testimony that you will never forget.

Your story is not over yet. Perhaps the next page of your life will be the beautiful surprise that Jesus has prepared for you.

Hepsi Sam

DAILY BREAD FELLOWSHIP

DBF-001-023

Today’s Scripture

John 2:2 (ESV)

“Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples.”

Opening the Scriptures

Yesterday we entered a wedding celebration in Cana. Today John gives us another simple detail: Jesus and His disciples had been invited.

Nothing miraculous has happened yet.

Jesus is simply present among ordinary people during an ordinary event in their lives.

Yet the disciples who came with Him were beginning an extraordinary journey. They had left their former lives to follow Jesus, but they still had much to learn about the One they were following.

Soon they would witness something at this wedding that would deepen their understanding of who Jesus truly is.

For now, they simply went where Jesus went.

That is a simple but important picture of discipleship.

Living God’s Word Today

Following Jesus does not mean inviting Him into selected areas of our lives while keeping control of everything else.

Christ is not a guest whom we welcome when convenient and ignore when His presence interferes with our plans.

He is Lord.

The disciples were learning that following Jesus meant going where He led them. That same principle remains true for us.

We follow Christ when His Word agrees with what we want, and we follow Him when His Word confronts what we want.

We follow Him in church, but also in our homes.

We follow Him when people are watching and when nobody sees us.

We follow Him when obedience is comfortable and when obedience costs us something.

There is another important warning here. Inviting Jesus into our lives does not mean that He has come to fulfill all our personal desires. At Cana, Jesus was not present to become a servant of human wishes. What would soon happen would reveal His glory and His divine authority.

That distinction matters.

Christianity is not about adding Jesus to the life we have already chosen.

It is about surrendering ourselves to the Christ who calls us to follow Him.

The disciples did not yet understand everything about Jesus.

Neither do we.

But discipleship begins with trusting Him enough to follow.

Today, do not merely ask Christ to accompany your plans.

Open His Word and ask whether your plans are following His will.

Question for Today:
Are you asking Jesus to follow your plans, or are you willing to follow His?

Respond: “Lord Jesus, I will follow You.”

AUGUST 15
DAY 15 - Morning
Theme: LOVE THAT CHOOSES
Making Daily Decisions That Strengthen the Marriage

Morning Reflection
Choose Your Spouse Again

Good Morning!
There was a time when you chose each other with excitement.
You dressed up.
You made plans.
You dreamed about the future.
Then life happened.
Bills arrived. Children came. Responsibilities increased. Work became demanding. Some dreams changed.
But one of the beautiful things about marriage is that you don't only choose each other on the wedding day.
You keep choosing each other every day.
You choose patience when irritation would be easier.
You choose forgiveness when resentment feels justified.
You choose conversation instead of silence.
You choose faithfulness when temptation appears.
You choose love when feelings are tired.
Your wedding vow may have been spoken once, but its meaning is lived every day.

God's Word
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." — Colossians 3:12

Today's Love Action
Tell your spouse today:
"I still choose you."
Then mention one reason why.

Let's Talk
What made you choose your spouse in the beginning, and what makes you continue choosing them today?

Prayer
Lord, renew our commitment to one another. Help us choose love, faithfulness and grace even on difficult days. Amen.

From The Counselor's Chair:
Feelings change with circumstances, but mature love learns to make faithful choices even when emotions fluctuate.

Marriage Nugget
"Marriage becomes stronger when choosing each other becomes a daily decision, not merely a past decision."

Remember
In marriage, it is not about winning the argument; it is about winning each other's hearts

LOST IN THE CHURCH

"[PART TWO]"

THE CHURCH

The Church is a very important instrument in the hands of the Lord. However, that does not mean that by simply looking to or depending on the Church, a person can be saved. The Church cannot heal a person, lead them into all truth, or even baptize them with the Holy Spirit. THE LORD alone is able to do all these things!

Going to church every day of worship does not make someone a Christian. It is like taking a wheelbarrow to a garage every day and expecting it to be called a car. Reading the Word of God, preaching, or knowing some of the mysteries of salvation does not make someone a Christian either. If it were that easy, Lucifer would have been the number-one Christian!

Therefore, Christianity is having a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus. And this relationship cannot exist unless a person is born again by the Holy Spirit.

Being born again is not a secret matter. First, you yourself will know it, and everyone around you will see its fruits. Nevertheless, the Lord did not leave us in darkness. He gave us certain signs that would accompany His children wherever they go. There are many of these signs, and some of them can be read in Mark 16:17–18.

Therefore, it is entirely possible for someone to have no visible faults in the eyes of people, to fit perfectly into a church, and to be highly respected and trusted by the pastor and the entire church, yet not be the same person before the living God.

Being known by the church or by a pastor is very different from being known by God!

And what will it profit us to be famous on earth if we are unknown in heaven?

The truth is that there are many believers of this kind in churches, and I assure you, they are potential inhabitants of the eternal Hell that is so terrifying.

As I say this, I remember once seeing the testimony of a certain servant of God who claimed to have been shown Hell. He wrote a shocking message saying:

«"HELL IS FULL OF GOOD PEOPLE."»

In other words: “Hell is filled with many people who were good on earth!”

Christianity is not a religion. Nevertheless, one of the highest results of religion is that it can make a person civilized in the eyes of people and morally good. Yet goodness does not make a person enter heaven!

The Scriptures clearly say that no one is good except God alone. Matthew 19:17.

My brothers and sisters, the Church was intended to be a place with altars that help a person encounter the Lord Jesus.

But if attending church is considered salvation itself, and nothing beyond that is happening, then let me tell you plainly: you are wasting your time.

And undoubtedly, you may be on the list of people who are worshipping idols!

Every altar must be alive and must connect Heaven with Earth. Otherwise, you are simply gathering as a society of people comforting one another, placing your hope in false expectations.

For how can you have no relationship with God now and expect to have a relationship with Him in Heaven later?

Heaven, just like Hell, is the continuation of the life a person has known on Earth.

I think we should admit that we are entertaining ourselves with religion. Because if we truly encountered the Lord Jesus in our lives, how could we tolerate remaining in a place where the One we encountered is not present?

If we have been able to tolerate such things until now, then the simplest explanation is this: we do not know the Lord, nor have we ever encountered Him.

That is why we have been able to tolerate fake things, believing that those fake things are real!

Water and wine are two different things. What happens when you take water to people who are accustomed to wine?

Today, let us say soda and beer. What do you think would happen if you took soda to a wedding of beer drinkers?

Surely, they would all leave, and you would remain only with those who had never tasted beer!

And for those who have tasted Him, they will agree with me that there is no one as good and addictive as the Lord!

Once you taste Him, you will spend the rest of your life here on Earth longing for Him, saying:

«“Oh Lord, I need some more of You!”»

And is this not the reason the Scriptures say:

«“Taste and see that the LORD is good.”
Psalm 34:8»

And is that not also the reason the Lord said:

«“Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
John 6:54»

These days, it has become completely normal to enter a certain church and find that not even one person there has ever encountered the Lord—including the pastor himself!

You find a pastor preaching about Jesus who appeared to, or was encountered by, other people—but not by him personally.

Do you think there can be any spiritual morning in such a place?

There are more churches of this kind today than the sand of the sea!

My brothers and sisters, by saying these things, I do not mean to despise worship or any particular church. I simply want people to understand that the primary purpose of the Church is to lead people to the Lord.

However, if a Church abandons this essential foundation and ends up controlling people, leading them into legalism, directing them toward ministers, programs, or certain religious institutional systems, then that Church can become an extremely dangerous place—perhaps even more dangerous than a drinking club.

BABYLON, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS

Prophetically, a woman represents a church.

If you read about the prostitute woman described in Revelation 17, you will discover that this represents the FALSE CHURCH in the world.

Essentially, this church is the greatest enemy of the Church of God. That is why you will see this woman drunk with the blood of the saints.

«“I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.”
Revelation 17:6»

Many people, when they read this prophecy, end up identifying the Roman Church as the one being referred to.

However, this is a spirit of deception that exists everywhere. And this spirit may even be more deeply rooted in spiritual churches than in others.

It is very remarkable that the revelation of this “woman” is connected to the revelation of the Tower of Babel when you read Genesis 11.

Ultimately, the message here is a revelation of the Church—or any person—who attempts to approach God through human effort or religious zeal while rejecting the grace of the Cross of Jesus.

This includes all people who approach a God who has not called them, worshipping God without knowing Him, without encountering Him, while placing their confidence in their works of the law and their own efforts.

«“He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”»

#ToBeContinued...

Sir Ernest Nyalula
+255616609885 #LostInTheChurch #Church #Christianity #BiblicalTruth #JesusChrist #KnowGod #BornAgain #HolySpirit #KingdomOfGod #SpiritualAwakening #ChristianTruth #Bible #Faith #JesusIsLord

VICTORY CELEBRATION MINISTRY INT’L

Raising Champions, Taking Territories

DAILY INTIMACY DEVOTIONAL

AUGUST 13, 2026

JESUS THE CHANGE MAKER

JOHN 2:7–9 (KJV)

“Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom.”

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THE MESSAGE

There are situations in life that seem embarrassing, impossible, and beyond human intervention. But when Jesus is involved, nothing remains the same.

At the wedding in Cana, the wine ran out. What should have been a joyful celebration was about to become an embarrassing situation. But Jesus was present, and His presence made the difference.

Jesus is the Change Maker. He is the difference between an empty situation and an overflowing one. He can take what looks ordinary and produce something extraordinary. He can take water and turn it into wine. He can take a hopeless situation and give it a new beginning.

INVOLVE JESUS IN YOUR SITUATIONS

Jesus had been invited to the wedding, and when the crisis came, He was there.

This teaches us an important lesson: never leave Jesus out of your everyday life.

The presence of Jesus does not mean that challenges will never come. It means that when challenges come, you have the One who can change the situation.

There is no embarrassing situation that can overpower a person when Jesus is genuinely involved.

Jesus is the ocean that can never run dry. What looks like the end to you is not the end when Christ is involved.

SIMPLE OBEDIENCE CAN PRODUCE IMPOSSIBLE RESULTS

Mary gave the servants a simple instruction:

“Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.” — John 2:5

Imagine if the servants had questioned the instruction.

“Why should we fill waterpots with water?”

“How can water solve a wine problem?”

“Does this really make sense?”

But they obeyed.

Jesus said:

“Fill the waterpots with water.”

And the Bible says:

“And they filled them up to the brim.” — John 2:7

Their simple obedience positioned them to witness an extraordinary miracle.

Sometimes, the instruction God gives you may appear too simple for the magnitude of the breakthrough you are expecting. But obedience is not measured by how impressive the instruction looks; it is measured by whether you obey God.

One simple act of obedience can save you years of frustration and embarrassment.

OBEDIENCE PUTS YOU IN THE PLACE OF MIRACLES

The servants were the first people who knew what had happened.

The governor of the feast did not know where the wine came from, but the servants knew.

Why?

Because they participated in the instruction.

They carried the water. They obeyed the command. They drew it out. And they became eyewitnesses of the miracle.

There are things you will never experience until you obey what Jesus tells you to do.

The miracle was not in the water itself. The miracle was in the power of Jesus working through their obedience.

INSIDE THE PROBLEM CAN BE THE SEED OF YOUR MIRACLE

The servants were instructed to fill waterpots with water, yet the problem was a shortage of wine.

It did not appear to make sense.

But Jesus was showing them something powerful: the solution can be hidden inside what looks ordinary.

The water was ordinary, but when Jesus acted upon it, it became extraordinary.

Perhaps the breakthrough you are seeking is closer than you think. Perhaps God is waiting for your obedience to open the door.

Do not despise simple instructions.

Do not underestimate small acts of obedience.

Your miracle may be connected to the next thing Jesus tells you to do.

YOUR OBEDIENCE CAN BLESS GENERATIONS

Obedience does not always affect only the person who obeys.

Abraham obeyed God, and generations after him continue to share in the blessings connected to God's covenant with him.

Your obedience today can become a blessing to people you may never meet.

When you obey God's Word, your obedience can create a spiritual legacy for your family and generations yet unborn.

Therefore, do not think your obedience is insignificant.

What you obey today may become somebody else's testimony tomorrow.

DAILY PRAYER

Jesus, I come before You today. Help me to always involve You in every area of my life. You are the ocean that can never run dry. Help me to remain in Your presence and continually bask in Your glory. Give me the grace to obey Your Word, even when I do not understand the instruction. Let every impossible situation in my life encounter Your transforming power. Turn my water into wine, my sorrow into joy, my lack into abundance, and my challenges into testimonies. May my obedience become a blessing to generations after me. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.

DAILY CONFESSION

Jesus is involved in my life; therefore, my story is changing. I receive grace to obey God's Word completely. I will not question divine instructions. I will trust Jesus and follow His leading. Every impossible situation in my life is becoming a testimony. I will experience the transforming power of Christ. My obedience will produce results, and my life will be a blessing to generations. In Jesus' name, Amen.

DAILY BIBLE READING

GENESIS 20 & JOHN 1

VICTORY CELEBRATION MINISTRY INT’L

Raising Champions, Taking Territories

Twenty years after a little boy’s final gift saved her life, she’s marrying his brother.
What began as an unimaginable tragedy has become an extraordinary story of hope, love, and the lasting impact of organ donation.
When Brooklyn Dotson was just a baby, doctors diagnosed her with a rare liver disease and gave her only days to live. Her family was even told to begin preparing for the worst, but her mother refused to give up.
Then, in 2003, with time running out, Brooklyn received a lifesaving liver transplant at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
Her donor was 10-year-old Michael Waters of Dayton, Ohio, who had tragically been struck and killed by a car.
According to his family, Michael had spoken about wanting to become an organ donor long before his death. In honoring his wish, his parents made the heartbreaking decision to donate his organs, giving several people a second chance at life—including Brooklyn.
The two families remained connected over the years. Michael’s younger brother, Noah Waters, grew up to become one of Brooklyn’s closest friends. They spent hours talking on the phone, and over time, their friendship blossomed into something neither of them expected.
They fell deeply in love.
Noah later said he never imagined that his brother would one day save the life of the woman who would become his wife.
Now, 20 years after Michael’s final gift gave Brooklyn a second chance, Brooklyn and Noah are engaged and planning to marry this September in Kentucky.
And the connection comes full circle: when Brooklyn marries Noah, she will take the Waters family name—the same family whose son gave her the gift of life as an infant.
Even more incredibly, the man who received Michael’s heart will also be there to witness their wedding.
A tragedy that began with unimaginable loss has become a story of life, love, and a bond that time could never break.