Amazing Grace Baptist Bulletin April 12th, 2026
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Devotion on Spiritual Warfare
“The Battle You Cannot See — The Victory You Cannot Lose”
Spiritual warfare is not a dramatic idea reserved for the pages of Scripture; it is the quiet, daily reality of every believer. The enemy works in shadows, discouragements, temptations, and whispered lies. Yet God works in light, truth, and unfailing strength. The devil aims to weary the saints, but the Lord strengthens them with His presence.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood…”
Ephesians 6:12 (KJV 1611)
The battle is unseen, but the effects are real. The enemy attacks the mind with fear, the heart with doubt, and the spirit with heaviness. He wants you to believe you are losing. But spiritual warfare is not about your strength — it is about God’s.
When Peter was sifted, Jesus did not say, “I will stop the storm.” He said,
“But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.”
Luke 22:32
Christ Himself intercedes for you. The devil may roar, but he cannot overrule the prayers of the Savior. He may strike, but he cannot sever you from the hand that holds you.
The armor of God is not ornamental; it is essential. Truth steadies the mind. Righteousness guards the heart. The gospel prepares the feet. Faith quenches the fiery darts. Salvation anchors the soul. The Word of God cuts through every lie. Prayer keeps the soldier standing.
“Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.”
Ephesians 6:10
The devil wants you to see the battle. God wants you to see the victory.
The enemy wants you to fear the darkness. God wants you to remember the Light.
The adversary wants you to quit. God wants you to stand.
And when you have done all —
Stand.
Not in your strength, but in His.
For the war is real, but so is the victory.
The enemy is fierce, but so is your Savior.
The darkness presses, but the Light prevails.
And the child of God, armed with truth, cannot be defeated.
“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.”
Romans 8:37
Amazing Grace Baptist Church Hinkley 2026©
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⚔️ God Will Judge His Enemies Who Fight for the Causes He Hates
A Devotion on the Certainty of Divine Justice
There are causes in this world that stand openly against the heart of God — causes built on violence, deception, pride, cruelty, and rebellion. Those who fight for such things may appear bold, powerful, or victorious for a season. But Scripture is clear: God Himself will rise to judge His enemies, and no earthly strength will shield them from His hand.
“For the LORD is a God of judgment.”
Isaiah 30:18 (KJV 1611)
God is patient, but He is not passive.
He is merciful, but He is not blind.
He is longsuffering, but He is not indifferent.
When men champion what God condemns, when they defend what He calls evil, when they lift their voices for darkness and call it light — they set themselves against the Almighty. And Scripture leaves no doubt about the outcome.
“God is angry with the wicked every day.”
Psalm 7:11 (KJV 1611)
The enemies of God do not win; they only delay their defeat.
Their victories are illusions.
Their power is temporary.
Their end is certain.
But for the righteous — for those who stand with God, even when the world mocks — there is comfort. The Judge of all the earth sees. He remembers. He repays.
“Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
Romans 12:19 (KJV 1611)
This is not a call to hatred; it is a call to trust.
Not a call to take matters into our own hands, but a call to rest in His justice.
Not a call to fear the wicked, but a call to fear God alone.
For the Lord will judge His enemies.
He will defend His truth.
He will vindicate His people.
And He will overthrow every cause that exalts itself against His holiness.
“The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”
Exodus 14:14 (KJV 1611)
Stand firm.
Stand clean.
Stand on the Lord’s side.
For judgment will come — and God will not lose.
Amazing grace Baptist Church 2026©
🌟 WHEN IT SEEMS THE DEVIL WINS — QUOTES OF TRUTH & HOPE
Heart‑Deep Quotes for Dark Days
“The devil may roar, but he cannot rewrite what God has already spoken.”
“When the enemy whispers defeat, God is already preparing a victory you cannot yet see.”
“The devil wins nothing when a believer kneels — he only awakens the power of Heaven.”
“Satan strikes hardest when Heaven is closest, but God shields strongest when His child cries out.”
“The enemy’s greatest weapon is discouragement; God’s greatest answer is His presence.”
“When the devil says ‘It’s over,’ God says, ‘I have only begun.’”
“The devil trembles not at our strength, but at our Savior.”
“Every time you choose faith over fear, the devil loses ground.”
“The enemy may attack your joy, but he cannot touch your salvation.”
“Satan celebrates too early — God always has the final word.”
Amazing Grace Baptist Church Hinkley 2026©
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A Devotion of Triumph Born Thro🌅
They Wept at His Death — It Seemed the Devil Won,
But They Rejoiced at His Resurrection
ugh Tears
When Jesus bowed His head and gave up the ghost, the world seemed to fall silent. The sky darkened, the earth trembled, and the hearts of His followers broke. They wept at His death — every tear a reflection of shattered hope. To them, it looked as though the devil had won.
But Heaven was not defeated.
The cross was not the end — it was the turning point.
The grave was not a prison — it was a doorway.
“He is not here: for He is risen, as He said.”
Matthew 28:6 (KJV 1611)
The devil rejoiced too soon.
The soldiers sealed the tomb, but they could not seal the promise.
The stone was rolled in place, but it could not roll away the power of God.
And on the third day, the silence broke — the Savior rose.
What looked like loss became victory.
What seemed like darkness became dawn.
What felt like defeat became redemption.
“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”
1 Corinthians 15:55 (KJV 1611)
The resurrection is proof that evil cannot win, that sorrow cannot last, and that faith cannot die.
The same power that raised Christ from the dead now lives in every believer.
The same light that broke through the tomb still shines through our trials.
So when it seems the devil wins — remember the empty tomb.
When it feels like hope is gone — remember the risen Lord.
When tears fall — remember that joy comes in the morning.
“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
Psalm 30:5 (KJV 1611)
The cross was pain, but the resurrection was promise.
The grave was silence, but the morning was song.
And the victory belongs to Christ — forever.
Amazing Grace Baptist Church 2026©
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🐴 A LIGHTHEARTED MOMENT — MELVIN & MELVINA’S RAINY-DAY ADVENTURE
Melvin and Melvina, the two lone donkeys of Maple Hollow, were not fans of April rain. One drizzly morning, Melvin stood under the barn roof, glaring at the sky as if the clouds had personally offended him.
Melvina, however, strutted out into the rain with all the confidence of a queen wearing a soggy crown.
Melvin brayed,
“Melvina! You’ll melt!”
She flicked her tail and replied,
“Melvin, I’m not made of sugar. I’m made of determination.”
A moment later, a loud splash echoed across the yard. Melvin peeked out to see Melvina sitting in the middle of a giant puddle—completely content.
She called out,
“Come on, Melvin! It’s a spa day!”
Melvin sighed the sigh of a donkey who had lost all dignity, stepped into the puddle, and immediately slipped—landing beside her with a splash that could baptize a small choir.
Melvina grinned,
“See? I told you April rain brings blessings!”
Melvin muttered,
“If this is a blessing, I’d like a towel.”
And somewhere in the distance, even the clouds seemed to chuckle.
Susan Barker Nikitenko 2026©
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APRIL BLESSINGS FOR OUR CHURCH
A Month of Rain, Renewal, and God’s Unfailing Promises
🌿 A TRUE APRIL STORY — “THE RAIN THAT CHANGED HER DAY”
In early April of 1978, a woman named Evelyn, a quiet widow from a small Ohio town, stepped outside to gather her mail. The sky was gray, heavy, and weeping with a steady spring rain. It had been a hard year for her—her husband had passed the previous autumn, and winter had felt unbearably long.
She later said, “I didn’t know how to pray anymore. I only knew how to ache.”
As she stood on her porch, the rain suddenly softened into a gentle patter. She heard something she hadn’t noticed before—birds singing through the drizzle. A whole chorus of them. She looked up and whispered, “Lord, I miss him so much.”
At that moment, a single beam of sunlight broke through the clouds and fell across her yard. The rain continued, but the light remained—soft, warm, steady.
Evelyn said she felt the Lord speak to her heart:
“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
Psalm 30:5 (KJV 1611)
She cried—but this time, not from sorrow alone. She said it felt like the Lord Himself washed her grief with the rain and warmed her heart with the light.
That day didn’t remove her sadness, but it renewed her hope. She said:
“God didn’t stop the rain. He just let the light shine through it.”
And that is April—
Rain and sunlight together.
Tears and hope together.
Sorrow and promise together.
God’s goodness is not the absence of storms—
It is His presence in them.
🌧️ GOD’S PROMISE IN RAINY DAYS
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV 1611)
“As the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven… so shall My word be.”
Isaiah 55:10–11 (KJV 1611)
“The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble.”
Nahum 1:7 (KJV 1611)
💬 QUOTES FROM THE HEART
“April rain reminds us that God waters seeds we forgot we planted.”
“When life feels cold and gray, God sends a promise wrapped in a raindrop.”
“Faith is not the absence of storms—it is trusting the One who walks with us through them.”
“God’s goodness is not seasonal; it is eternal.”
“Every drop of rain is a reminder: God still brings life out of dry places.”
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🙏 APRIL PRAYER FOR GOD’S BLESSING UPON OUR CHURCH
Heavenly Father,
We come before Thee in this month of April, grateful for the rain that nourishes the earth and the grace that nourishes our souls. Let every drop remind us of Thy promises, Thy mercy, and Thy unfailing love.
Bless our Pastor, giving him strength, wisdom, and joy in the work of the ministry.
Bless our Church Family, knitting our hearts together in unity and love.
Bless our Homes and Families, filling them with peace and protection.
Bless our Country, our President, and all those in authority with righteousness and truth.
Bless our Armed Forces, Police, Health and Safety Workers, and all who stand in harm’s way for the good of others.
Bless our Sick Friends, bringing healing, comfort, and renewed hope.
Strengthen us in the midst of spiritual warfare, and let the light of Christ overcome every shadow of darkness in this world.
Lord, send the refreshing rain of Thy Spirit upon us.
Renew the weary.
Comfort the grieving.
Restore the broken.
Revive our church.
And let Thy goodness shine through every storm.
In Jesus’ precious name,
Amen.
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🌈 FINAL APRIL ENCOURAGEMENT
April teaches us this truth:
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Psalm 46:1 (KJV 1611)
Rain may fall, but God is faithful.
Clouds may gather, but His light still breaks through.
Tears may come, but joy is on the way.
Rain is also blessing. It brings flowers. It brings food. It gives us health.
“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” — Psalm 30:5
🌧️ Melvin & Melvina: The Great Rainy‑Day Lesson
Rain drummed on the church roof like a marching band that forgot its rhythm.
Melvina the Lone Donkey peered out from the barn door, sighing. “Another puddle parade,” she muttered. “My mane will look like wet spaghetti.”
Melvin trotted in wearing his famous yellow raincoat — the one two sizes too big. “Hee‑haw means: I’m ready for adventure!” he declared, splashing dramatically into the nearest puddle.
Melvina blinked. “Adventure? It’s raining sideways.”
Melvin grinned. “Exactly! That’s when blessings fall from every direction!”
He tried to twirl his umbrella, but it flipped inside out and flew off like a runaway kite. Melvina shook her head. “Hee‑haw means: You’re chasing the wind again.”
Melvin galloped after it, slipping, sliding, and laughing all the way. When he finally caught it, he looked up — the clouds were parting, and sunlight streamed through like golden ribbons.
Melvina stepped outside, surprised. “Well… would you look at that.”
Melvin smiled, dripping and triumphant. “Hee‑haw means: The storm doesn’t last forever.”
Melvina nodded. “And faith keeps you walking till the sunshine comes.”
Together they stood in the puddles, tails swishing, hearts light — two donkeys proving that even a rainy day can end with a little laughter and a lot of grace.
Susan Barker Nikitenko 2026©
Have a Blessed Sunday
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