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Rev. Enoch Thompson | July 28 2025 | Acts 13:26-37 KEY VERSE: “We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers ³³ he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. . . ” Acts 13:32-33 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   The fact that Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the human soul does not lie only in His sacrificial and representative death on the cross, but also in His glorious, victorious resurrection.  For if only He had died without resurrecting from the dead, then He would not have been any different from many other political martyrs and revered sages of various religions. He had to rise again from the dead to be in a class all His own, God in human form, the Holy One of Israel. The early disciples of the Lord Jesus stressed the fact of the resurrection as a necessary part of the Good News. We must keep the fact of the resurrection before our eyes. The resurrection of Jesus Christ depicts the victory of our Saviour over our most vicious and most feared enemy, death. It also depicts our resurrected new life through Him. The resurrection of Jesus Christ shows our own victory over the enemy, Satan, and points to our future bodily resurrection after death. Glory to God forevermore! FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Factor the resurrection into your personal life and let it make you live above the forces of death that seek to strangulate your soul. When you share the Gospel, emphasise the fact that Jesus died, but also that He arose from the dead. And let resurrection power be at work in you! PRAYER: Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you did not remain in the grave but arose from the dead on the third day. Please grant me the power of resurrection in my day-to-day existence. May I be victorious by the victory of the cross and the resurrection. For your dear Name’s sake , Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 209 : Song of Songs 7-8 — Lasting Love and Devotion DAILY word study: RAISING The word “raising” comes from the Greek anistēmi, meaning “to cause to rise” or “to make stand.” It’s used both for physical rising and for resurrection from the dead. In this verse, it affirms a divine act—God raised Jesus. It wasn’t by chance or through human power. It was God's own hand proving that Jesus is alive and that every promise has been fulfilled through Him. To say God raised Jesus means this: Jesus is not dead. He is Lord. And He’s alive forever—for you. Reflect on this: If God raised Jesus, He has the power to raise your life from anything.

Rev. Enoch Thompson | July 27 2025 | Acts 13:16-31 KEY VERSE: “From this man's descendants, God has brought to Israel the Saviour Jesus, as he promised. '” Acts 13:23 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   Paul’s retelling of the history of the nation of Israel ended where it should, the declaration that Jesus of Nazareth was the long-awaited Messiah, the promised Saviour of the world. The essence of the Old Testament narrative is to reveal Christ Jesus as the Lamb of God, the ultimate acceptable sacrifice for the cleansing of our sin, and for restoring our relationship with God. In Acts 8, Philip used the Old Testament to show to the Ethiopian Eunuch that Jesus of Nazareth was the Lamb of God prophesied by Isaiah. Similarly, in Luke 24, the resurrected Jesus showed the disciples on the road to Emmaus that the Christ had to be crucified, a fact they had overlooked in the Old Testament, and why they were confused in their faith. The Old Testament predicts Christ, and the New Testament presents Christ. Israelite history without a reference to Jesus Christ misses its intention, purpose and usefulness. A proper reading of the Old Testament Scriptures must always point to Jesus Christ as God incarnate, dying for human salvation.   FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Begin to look for and see Jesus Christ in the Old Testament. Let your faith be strengthened as you see the wonderful correlation of what was prophesied about the Messiah and how it is fulfilled in Jesus Christ of Nazareth, our Lord. PRAYER: Dear heavenly Father, thank you for the beauty of Your Word, the intriguing weaving of prophecy and fulfilment that points to the Lord Jesus Christ. Please open the eyes of my understanding that I will see the import of your plan in all Scripture as inspired by your Spirit. For Christ’s dear Name’s sake,   Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 208 :  Song of Songs 5-6 - Seeking and Finding Love DAILY word study: PROMISED The Greek word used here is epangelia (ἐπαγγελία), meaning “announcement,” “pledge,” or “divine assurance.” It carries the idea of a vow that is guaranteed by the one who made it. In this passage, Paul says that Jesus is the fulfilment of what God promised. This wasn’t a last-minute plan. God gave His word—and Jesus came just as He said He would. When God makes a promise, it’s not a guess. It’s a guarantee. Reflect on this: Jesus didn’t appear by surprise—He came by promise. God keeps every word He gives.

Rev. Enoch Thompson | July 26 2025 | Acts 13:16-22 KEY VERSE: “ After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do. '” Acts 13:22 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   The misconduct of the people of Israel and their demand for a king when God was their King did not mean that the whole bunch was rotten. There were individuals in Israel that God was satisfied with. Such a man was David, whom God found and made king. Concerning David, God could say, ‘I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do. ’ Acts 13:22 (NIV). The ascended glorified Christ who issued the messages to the seven churches of Asia Minor, in Revelations chapters 2 and 3 was seen by the Apostle John to be walking among the seven golden lampstands, a depiction of the continual inspection of the Church by the Lord of the Church, to weigh His people and to assess the rightness or otherwise of our hearts and ways . God is still looking among humans and making His assessment of our acceptability or otherwise to Him. “A man after my own heart,” what a thing to be said by God about a man!   What does God say about you? FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Please bring your heart before God in quiet reflection and ask for His light to be thrown upon the state of your soul. In sincere, honest openness to God who sees and knows all things, yield to His verdict and ask for grace to be the person after God’s own heart. PRAYER: Dear righteous Heavenly Father, just judge of the hearts of humans, I come to you with an open heart and seek your verdict on who I truly am and where I actually stand. I seek your cleansing and your power. Help me by your Holy Spirit that I might become acceptable and presentable to you through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. May your Church become such that you can say you are pleased with it. For Christ’s dear Name’s sake, Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 207 :  Song of Songs 3-4 - Beauty and Intimacy DAILY word study: HEART The word “heart” in Acts 13:22 is from the Greek kardia (καρδία), meaning the inner life, thoughts, desires, and will of a person. When God says David is a man after His own heart, it means David’s desires and will aligned with God’s. This wasn’t about perfection. It was about intention, surrender, and obedience. God still weighs the heart. Not our church attendance, titles, or achievements—but our true motives, our quiet decisions, our inner yes to His will. Reflect on this: God looks at your heart—your quiet yes, your real motives. Is your heart truly aligned with His will?

Rev. Enoch Thompson | July 25 2025 | Acts 13:13-20 KEY VERSE: “ ¹⁷The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt, with mighty power he led them out of that country, ¹⁸“ he endured their conduct for about forty years in the desert,” Acts 13:17-18 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   The history of God with the chosen people of Israel is a foundation for any narrative of God’s intervention in human history to bring us to salvation. He chose the Jews in Abraham and nurtured the nation through the Law He gave to Moses. When Stephen stood before the Sanhedrin in Acts 8, he recounted that ancient story. In this chapter, we see the Apostle Paul retell the same story to point his audience to Jesus Christ as the Messiah.   The focus of our reflection today is that, as part of God’s Walk with Israel, He had to endure their conduct (verse 18).   To endure the unacceptable conduct of His redeemed people for forty years must have been tiring and sickening to God. In His greatness and power, God is still sadly affected by the misbehaviour of those He sets His love upon. We are admonished in Eph 4:30-32 (NIV), “ ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. ” Yet, because He is gracious, merciful, and long-suffering, God often endures our misconduct. But do we have to treat the gentleness of God with such insensitivity? Do we have to let His heart bleed because we take undue advantage of His mercy? FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: God is watching and responding to our thoughts and actions. Is God happy that we are called by His Name and live up to His expectations, or is He pained because He is enduring our wrong ways? Is God enjoying or enduring you? PRAYER: Lord, I am sorry for the ways in which I have subjected you to pain by my thoughts, words, actions and inactions. Please give me a heart that truly loves you and seeks to make you glad by my daily godly ways. For your dear Name’s sake,   Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 206 :  Song of Songs 1-2 — Love’s Desire DAILY word study: ENDURED The word used in Acts 13:18 for "endured" comes from etropophorēsen (ἐτροποφόρησεν), which in some manuscripts also implies “cared for” or “bore patiently.” This unique word captures how God carried Israel through their rebellion—not by ignoring their actions, but by holding back judgment out of mercy. It wasn’t indifference. It was long-suffering love. God’s endurance isn't passive. It’s purposeful. And it's meant to lead us to change. Reflect on this: Is God quietly carrying your disobedience, or joyfully walking beside your obedience?

Rev. Enoch Thompson | July 24 2025 | Acts 13:6-12 KEY VERSE: “But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.” Acts 13:8 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   The forward march of the Church is mapped out through the territory of satanic opposition. When we are committed to following King Jesus’ orders to represent Him in the world, we must be aware that we shall face satanic opposition. A close examination of Scripture reveals that the purposes and plans of God in establishing His Church and the mission of the Church as outlined in the Great Commission will continuously operate within the context of the enemy's opposition. When the Lord Jesus announced His agenda to build His Church, He immediately placed it within the sphere of Satanic opposition: “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Matt. 16:18 (NIV). Elymas the sorcerer tried to dissuade the Proconsul Sergius Paulus from attending to and possibly committing to the Gospel, but thank God for the superior power of the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.   The contest for the sanity and sanctity of your life will continue because you are part of the Church. When you encounter Elymas (Bar-Jesus), remember the true Saviour, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and activate the power in His Name to subdue the opposition. FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: What do you do when you face what is plainly satanic opposition to your life of divine assignments? Don’t coil back and give room to evil. Stand in Jesus; Name and silence the enemy. PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for the power in your Name against and over all the schemes of the evil one. Please help me remember and use the power of your Name to confront and defeat the enemy. For your dear Name’s sake,   Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 205 :  Ecclesiastes 11-12 - Remember Your Creator DAILY word study: OPPOSED The word “opposed” in Acts 13:8 comes from the Greek anthistēmi (ἀνθίστημι). Instead of simply meaning “disagree,” it carries the sense of standing in the way, resisting, or blocking someone’s path. This same word appears in Ephesians 6:13, where believers are called to “stand your ground.” It’s used when something is actively trying to stop or resist progress. Elymas didn’t just argue—he was intentionally trying to stop the governor from hearing the gospel. Reflect on this: What does it take to recognise real spiritual resistance? And when truth is being blocked, what does it mean for you to “stand your ground”?

Rev. Enoch Thompson | July 23 2025 | Acts 13:1-5 KEY VERSE: “When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.” Acts 13:5 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   Our text for today shows how clearly God spoke by the Holy Spirit for the setting apart of Barnabas and Saul for the missionary task. In the second part of verse 5, we read that “ John was with them as their helper .” (NIV)   This John was not mentioned in the divine directive to the Church, but Barnabas and Saul chose to take him along. John has been mentioned a few verses earlier: “When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark . Acts 12:25 (NIV). For all intents and purposes, it is clear that John Mark was a useful companion to the apostolic team, and the text for today emphasises his supportive ministry to Barnabas and Saul.   It is interesting that Scripture makes room to acknowledge that John Mark played this useful role to those upon whom hands were laid by divine direction. For many people, John Mark comes to mind only as a source of serious division between Barnabas and Saul; “ ³⁷ Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, ³⁸ but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. ³⁹ They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, ⁴⁰ but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. ” Acts 15:37-40 (NIV).   Granted that John Mark became a source of trouble to the Apostles, but his usefulness to the ministry was acknowledged. Whatever the motivation for his leaving the missionary team, as we read above, John Mark was so helpful that the Apostle Paul would later say to Timothy, “ Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.”  2 Tim 4:11 (NIV). FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Sometimes we struggle with the rough sides of people, and in the process, we are tempted to deliberately forget the good things in them that God has used to bless us. We must overcome the wholesale blacklisting of individuals, especially within the Church, and acknowledge their positive contributions where they are due. PRAYER: Lord Jesus, please help me to be generous when I measure others by my experience of them. Help me, Lord, to avoid confusing people by behaviour that makes them want to write me off. For your dear Name’s sake , Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 204 :  Ecclesiastes 9-10 - Life and Its Uncertainties DAILY word study: HELPER The Greek word for “helper” in Acts 13:5 is hypēretēs, which means an assistant or subordinate officer. It originally referred to an under-rower on a ship—someone who worked under the direction of a captain. John Mark wasn’t the main preacher, but he was essential. Scripture uses hypēretēs to highlight humble support roles, including those who served alongside Paul (see Acts 26:16). This word reminds us that support roles are not second-class in God's mission. Reflect on this: You don’t need to be the one holding the microphone to be impactful. God sees every hand that helps carry the mission forward.

Rev. Enoch Thompson | July 22 2025 | Acts 13:1-4  KEY VERSE: “So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.” Acts 13:3 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   God calls us to personal faith in Him individually and in different situations. Ye, we are born again individually, but one thing is clear: we are saved individually to become part of a faith community, the Church. Our new birth experience is accompanied by a spiritual baptism into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13). This spiritual act by God at the beginning of our faith walk with Him makes us an integral part of and inseparable from His body, the Church. In an individualistic, Do-It-Yourself environment where people compete against each other and seek to assert their independence, we often stress our individuality to the neglect of our community.  However, the Lord would have us return to His intention of individuals welded into a community, and He does it in many different ways. One of these is how He ushers us into ministry.   The calling of Paul and Barnabas could have been a very private affair, as many people are called into ministry over the years and in our day. But the endorsement of the community of believers, the Church, was necessary to give their move into the mission field a worthwhile backing. When God deals with us as individuals, He provides for the gathered community of faith, the Church, to endorse His dealings in public ways. FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Do you have a church family that stands with you and supports your sense of calling into ministry? Remember, we are called alone but not meant to walk alone. PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for the grace of divine calling into faith and into ministry. Thank you for the Church and the roles it has played in my life and ministry. I pray that I will be conscious of the place of others in my life and that I will play my part in the life of the Church and, where necessary, validate others. For your dear Name’s sake,   Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 203 :  Ecclesiastes 7-8 - Wisdom and Mystery DAILY word study: SENT The word “sent” in Acts 13:3 is translated from the Greek apolýō, which means “to release, let go, or send away.” It implies being released with intention or purpose. In this passage, Paul and Barnabas weren’t just dispatched. They were released into their assignment by the spiritual authority of the Church. This act wasn’t casual—it followed prayer and fasting. The word apolýō underscores that divine mission involves not just being called, but also being commissioned. Reflect on this: Are you holding on to someone God is releasing—or refusing to step into what He’s released you for?

Rev. Enoch Thompson | July 21 2025 | Acts 13:1-3  KEY VERSE: “While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’” Acts 13:2 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   The journey of life is made up of individual decisions that we make along the way as we think fit, as circumstances demand and dictate or as resources permit.  The personal choices we make as disciples of Christ and citizens of His Kingdom should not be dictated solely by circumstances or mundane factors; we must be led, as individuals and as the church, by the Holy Spirit of God.    The Church in Antioch heard from God to set aside Paul and Barnabas for the special assignment that God intended for them to accomplish. The context of this hearing from God was a time of worship and fasting.  When we live a life where every thought, word and action is intended to glorify God, the life of worship, it is easy to hear the voice of the Spirit.  When we live the fasted life (deliberately choosing not to sin), a persistent self-denial of the attraction of sin and its false satisfaction, we become sensitive to the voice of the Spirit and can readily respond when He speaks.   FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Are we hearing from the Spirit, for ourselves and his church? Can we commit to the fasted life so that we will be more sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit ? PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for the Holy Spirit and his intended ministry to me and the Church.  Please help me to be sensitive to the Spirit. Please help your church to hear the voice of the Spirit afresh. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 202 :  Ecclesiastes 4-6 - Vanity and Oppression DAILY word study: SET APART The phrase “set apart” comes from the Greek word aphorizō, meaning “to mark off by boundaries” or “to separate for a special purpose.” In Acts 13:2, the Spirit doesn't just suggest—they command a separation. Barnabas and Saul were already active in ministry, but this moment marked a distinct call. To be set apart means to be removed from general use and marked specifically for divine assignment. It speaks of God’s ownership and direction over your life. Reflect on this: Have you allowed the Spirit to set you apart, not just for activity, but for His specific purpose?

Rev. Enoch Thompson | July 20 2025 | Acts 13:1  KEY VERSE: “In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.” Acts 13:1 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   The Church of God is the most interesting human organisation I have experienced. It comprises people from diverse backgrounds, varied experiences, multiple ethnicities, and differing perspectives. The disciples of Jesus Christ were a diverse group of people. The Early Church, as we see in our text today, was also a diverse group; yet, they were all woven together into one living family and empowered by the same Holy Spirit.   What makes the beauty of the Church's unity in diversity possible is that all its distinct individual components are endowed with the same Spirit, and this comes with the endowment of power and spiritual gifts for the life and ministry of the Church, both for believers and for unbelievers around them. What is it that defines your relationship with others in the Church? Does your church membership motivation rise above the physical and societal, and reach into the powerful binding and bonding work of the Spirit? Are we giving room for the projection of the gifts of the Spirit, and are we providing room for the manifestations of God in our midst and through us? FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Resolve to know fellow believers not from a purely human perspective, but from the perspective of the spiritual family. Activate the gifts of God's Holy Spirit in you and put them to work for the common good. PRAYER: Dear Lord, what a privilege to be part of your family, and to be lifted by your Spirit by indwelling me and gifting me. Please help me to be a blessing to those that you have connected me to. And may your Church be the united Spirit-led Church. For your dear Name’s sake , Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 201 :  Ecclesiastes 1-3 - Life’s Meaning and Seasons DAILY word study: CHURCH The Greek word for "church" is ekklesia, meaning "called-out ones." It refers to those summoned out for a specific purpose. In Acts 13:1, the church at Antioch wasn’t just a group of people. It was a Spirit-formed community marked by calling, gifting, and unity. Each person had a place, not because of social background, but because they were called out by God and equipped by the Spirit. Reflect on this: Don’t see the Church as a place you go. See it as the people God brings together for His purpose. You’re part of a spiritual body, gifted and sent.

Rev. Tse Amable | July 19 2025 | Acts 12:24-25  KEY VERSE: “WHEN BARNABAS AND SAUL HAD FINISHED THEIR MISSION, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark” Acts 12:24 (NASB)   MESSAGE:   Yesterday, we saw that despite opposition and persecution, the early church suffered, the Lord sovereignly prospered the work of His church. With the progress report in these 2 verses, Dr. Luke brought another section of his work to a conclusion. His brief report says, “ BARNABAS AND SAUL HAD FINISHED THEIR MISSION”. We will see more of their mission in the next chapter.   Every one of us was born into this world with a specific divine assignment. That is your God-ordained mission, which varies for each person. It is your duty to understand your mission and dedicate yourself to fulfilling it. The Lord Jesus Christ, in his prayer to the Father before going to die on the Cross of Calvary, said: “... I HAVE FINISHED THE WORK WHICH THOU GAVEST ME TO DO” John 17:4 (KJV). Speaking to the elders of the Church of Ephesus, Apostle Paul said: “But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I MAY FINISH MY COURSE AND THE MINISTRY WHICH I RECEIVED FROM THE LORD JESUS, TO TESTIFY SOLEMNLY OF THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD.” Acts 20:24 (NASB). In his letter to his son Timothy from prison, Apostle Paul penned these famous words: “I HAVE FINISHED THE RACE” 2 Timothy 4:7 (AMP).   You too have a race to finish, a work or a mission to accomplish. Until you have completed your divine assignment here on earth, you cannot look forward to exiting this world. THEREFORE, RUN WELL, FINISH HARD AND FULFILL YOUR DESTINY! FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Are you aware of your mission – your divine assignment? If you are, what efforts are you making to complete your mission? Understand that your mission may require you to identify and engage individuals to join your team. TEAMWORK DELIVERS THE DREAM RESULT! PRAYER: Father , I thank you for the divine assignment you have for me. I pray that you empower me through the Holy Spirit to run the race you have set before me so that I finish well and receive the crown of righteousness waiting for winners.  I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen! THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 200 :  1 Kings 11 - Solomon’s Downfall DAILY word study : MISSION The Greek word translated as “mission” is diakonia, which means “service” or “ministry,” referring to a task or responsibility carried out on behalf of another. The word diakonia means more than just a job - it points to a sacred task, a responsibility entrusted to us by God. It involves intentional service to others, often accompanied by personal sacrifice. Saul and Barnabas didn’t just travel—they completed their divine task. Jesus too spoke of finishing the work He was given. Completing your mission is about being faithful to what God has given you, not what others expect. Reflect on this: Are you doing what you were sent to do, or just staying busy? A divine mission ends when the Sender says it’s done.

Rev. Tse Amable | July 18 2025 | Acts 12:24-25 KEY VERSE: “But the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied.” Acts 12:24 (NASB)   MESSAGE:   The 12 th  chapter of the Acts of the Apostles opened with a bleak message – the killing of James and the imprisonment of Peter, awaiting execution by the sword. But it ended on a victorious and positive note. What separates the good message from the bad message is the 3-letter word “BUT”. The church was born and initiated in killings and persecutions. Envious Jews killed Jesus Christ, the church's one foundation. His followers were given the proverbial “forty minus one” lashes. This was soon to be followed by stoning Stephen to death, more killings, tortures and harassments. Despite all these wicked schemes deployed to kill the church, she continues to grow and multiply from one degree of glory to another.   The work of the Lord through the Church and para-church organisations such as Scripture Union will continue to grow and multiply. From its humble beginnings with 120 faithful disciples in the Upper Room in Jerusalem (as recorded in Acts 2), the Church of Jesus Christ has grown globally to become the largest religion, with billions of members who have pledged allegiance to the Lamb. The Church is unstoppable because Jesus Christ had decreed, “ I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH; AND THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT ” Matthew 16:18 (KJV).   Yes, the church is marching forward from victory unto victory until every soul is won to the Lord. No power on earth or in hell can stop the growth and multiplication of the Word of the Lord and the work of the Church. FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Though millions of souls have come to saving faith in Jesus Christ, there is still more to reach out to. What are you doing personally, and what is your congregation doing to ensure that the word of the Lord continues to grow and multiply? It takes money to send the word of God, the gospel, to people who are yet to be reached. Are you supporting evangelism and missions with your financial resources and other contributions? PRAYER: Father , I thank you that the word of the Lord and the mission of the church continue to grow and multiply despite all the attacks and persecutions by the enemy. Strengthen and empower us to be faithful in preaching the gospel and making disciples for Jesus Christ in every nation on the earth. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen! THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 199 : 1 Kings 10 - The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon DAILY word study : MULTIPLY The word multiply in Acts 12:24 comes from the Greek word plēthýnō, which means “to increase or abound greatly.” In Scripture, multiplication isn't just about numbers—it’s about spiritual influence and impact. The Word didn’t just spread—it kept abounding, even when persecution tried to silence it. This growth shows that God’s Word carries life and momentum no opposition can halt. Reflect on this: When you share God’s Word, you’re part of something that cannot be stopped. It’s not about how loud you are, but how faithful you remain.

Rev. Tse Amable | July 17 2025 | Acts 12:19-24  KEY VERSE: “They shouted, 'THIS IS THE VOICE OF A GOD, NOT OF A MAN.' Immediately, BECAUSE HEROD DID NOT GIVE PRAISE TO GOD, AN ANGEL OF THE LORD STRUCK HIM DOWN, AND HE WAS EATEN BY WORMS AND DIED" Acts 12:22-23 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   If there is any one thing Jehovah has vowed not to share with another person, IT IS HIS GLORY AND HONOUR. He spoke prophetically to the nation of Israel, “I am the LORD; that is my name! I WILL NOT GIVE MY GLORY TO ANOTHER OR MY PRAISE TO IDOLS ” Isaiah 42:8 (NIV). Anybody, therefore, who attempts to take God’s glory or to share it with him is only inviting the swift wrath of the Lord for himself. King Nebuchadnezzar tried to do it and was punished (see Daniel 4:28-33). This is what happened to Herod also. The Bible says he died because “ HE GAVE NOT GOD THE GLORY ” (KJV). He attempted to rob the Lord of his glory.   The only person who is truly deserving of our worship and glory is Jesus Christ. To him alone must every glory be ascribed. When Satan tempted Jesus Christ to bow down and worship him (Satan), the Lord refused to yield to that temptation, saying, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘ WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY'  Matthew 4:10 (NIV). That does not mean we should not give “ RESPECT TO WHOM RESPECT IS DUE, AND HONOUR TO WHOM HONOUR IS DUE”  (Romans 13:7).   Whatever your status in society (Pastor, Bishop, President, king, queen, member of parliament, CEO, etc.), never accept the worship of people. Do not covet the Lord’s glory. He will not hesitate to punish you. Instead, give to the Lord all the glory due to his name and worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness (see Psalms 29:2). FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Do a check of your heart: do you see any desire in your heart for glory that is the preserve of God? Do you have an unusual love for the praise of people? Work hard to kill that desire before it leads to your destruction. Do not feed the lust for the pride of life, and do not seek vain glory. PRAYER: Search me, O God, and know my heart today. Please get rid of the pride that will lead to my downfall. Please help me choose to walk in humility before you and others at all times, especially in moments of success, promotion, elevation, and prosperity. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen! THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 198 :  1 Kings 9 - God’s Promise and Solomon’s Achievements DAILY word study: VOICE The word voice in Acts 12:22 comes from the Greek “phōnē”, which means sound, tone, or utterance. It can refer to a spoken voice, a noise, or even a supernatural sound. In Acts 12, the people shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man!” Their loud acclaim wasn’t just noise - it was false worship. Their phōnē carried idolatry, and Herod received it without protest. The Bible often speaks of God’s voice (phōnē theou) as majestic, powerful, and true (Psalm 29). When the wrong voice is exalted, it distorts truth and misleads hearts. Always test the voices you hear—and never accept a voice that replaces God’s. Let your own voice give Him praise. Reflect on this: What voices do you allow to shape your values and decisions? Let every word you receive or speak draw you closer to God, not away from Him.