Monthly Archives: January 2018

Memorise: How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
Read: Genesis 19:12-26
12 And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:
13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it.
14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.
16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:
19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:
20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.
21 And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.
22 Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
23 The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.
24 Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven;
25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.
26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
Bible in one year: Genesis 46:47, Revelation 20:7-21:8

1. The power of choice is a great gift that God has given to every man.
2. This gift is however a double-edged sword which can either make or mar a man’s destiny. You therefore have an obligation to be cautions while exercising its power.
3. Wrong choices can lead to agony and end in external prediction, while right choices can bring joy and peace, and end in external bliss.
4. Remarkably, even God’s directives are more than that  not subject to human choices.
5. When God gives a directive never have a good story to tell when the consequences of their choices begin to manifest.
6. In our Bible reading the Lord issued a command that Lot and his family should escape for their lives. The Bible says that when the angels of the Lord observed that Lot and his family were lingering, reluctant to leave Sodom because all their life investments were there, they took hold of their hands, dragged them outside the city and commanded them to escape for their lives by fleeing to the mountains. Yet, contrary to the directives of the angels that they should not look back, Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26). She chose to neglect the warning that provided a way of escape from judgement of God.
7. Just like Lot’s wife, many people in the world today have chosen to neglect the call to free salvation that Jesus Christ procured for us with His life. To such people, the Lord Jesus Christ in Luke 17:32 says: “Remember Lot’s wife.”
8. God will never force His salvation on any man.
9. Salvation is a free choice for those who want to escape the judgement of God that will surely come on the whole world (John 3:16-18).
10. Apart from God’s judgement, there are many other unpleasant things we ought to make a choice to escape from. Poverty is one of such things. The Bible shows us the way out of poverty in Malachi 3:10. Sickness is another. The Lord told the children of Israel that if they would hearken diligently to His voice, He would keep sickness away from them (Exodus 15:26).
11. Beloved, the Lord has made provision for all things that pertain to life and godliness, and He has made them accessible to you; you however need to choose to escape from the corruption that exists in this world, before you can have access to His provision (2nd Peter 1:3-4). Choose to escape today.

There are several areas of your life that must not be taken for granted, otherwise generations to come will suffer from your ignorance. Once you know your inheritance in Christ, enjoy it. God is interested in the pleasure and prosperity of His children. “If they obey and serve Him, They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures.”‭‭Job‬ ‭36:11‬ Your life is special and precious to God and He expects your to see your live the same way He sees it. God bless and equip Pastor E.A Adeboye for greater impact in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Think over the entire things God has been telling you in His word. Choose to live by them because they are your escape route from destruction, and your access route to fulfilment.
HYMN
1. What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Chorus:
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
2. For my cleansing this I see
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
For my pardon this my plea
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
3. Nothing can my sin erase
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Naught of works, ’tis all of grace
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
4. This is all my hope and peace
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
This is all my righteousness
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

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20

Memorise: But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
1 Peter 3:15
Read: Jude 1:1-5
1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
Bible in One Year: Genesis 44-45, Revelation 19:11-20:6

1. If you possess anything of great value, you must be ready to protect and defend it against the onslaught of thieves who would want to take it away from you at all cost.
2. Our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is a precious commodity which the devil and his agents desire to steal away from us (2 Peter 1:1).
3. In 1 Peter 1:7, the Holy Spirit describes our faith as being more precious than gold: “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”
4. It is therefore not surprising that the kingdom of darkness will continue to attack our faith until we finish our course in this world. For this reason, you must be ready to continually fight to preserve, nurture and grow your faith. You must be ready to prevent all manner of assailants from stealing, killing and destroying it (John 10:10). This is what the good fight of faith is all about.
5. Those who had gone ahead of us also had to contend for their faith in order to get a good report (Hebrews 11:2). You also must be ready to do all that is necessary to hold on to your faith and ensure that it is not shipwrecked (1 Timothy 1:19).
6. Your ultimate goal should be that when it’s all been said and done, you will be able to declare like Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7 that “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”
7. Contending for the faith means defending the interest of God’s kingdom when the enemies of the Cross are on the loose. It means speaking up for the Lord Jesus Christ and speaking out against those that would oppose His Person or principles. A classical example of contending for the faith is found in the encounter of Paul with Elymas the sorcerer in Acts 13:6-12. The sorcerer was trying to dissuade a potential convert from accepting the faith. Paul therefore rebuked him and placed him under God’s judgement. The result of this fight of faith is glaring in Acts 13:12: “Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.”
8. Beloved, the precious faith which you have obtained is worth defending, if you are determined that the devil will not wrest it away from you. Therefore, watch and pray, and be ready always to give an answer to every man who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear (1 Peter 3:15).

Ou steadfastness in the race set before us as well as our work of faith is very important. “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” Hebrews 12:1‭-‬3 May God continually uphold and strengthen Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Action Point
Make effort to witness Jesus to someone today. This is a profitable way of contending for the faith.
HYMN
1. Onward Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
Christ, the royal Master,
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
See, His banners go!
Chorus:
Onward, Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus,
Going on before.
2. At the name of Jesus
Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers,
On to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver
At the shout of praise:
Brothers, lift your voices,
Loud your anthems raise!
3. Like a mighty army
Moves the Church of God:
Brothers, we are treading
Where the saints have trod;
We are not divided,
All one Body we—
One in faith and Spirit,
One charity.
4. Onward, then, ye people!
Join our happy throng;
Blend with ours your voices
In the triumph song.
Glory, laud and honour
Unto Christ, the King;
This through countless ages
Men and angels sing.

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20

Memorise: Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. Ephesians 3:13
Read: Luke 5:8-11
8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
Bible in One Year: Genesis 42-43, Revelation 18:19-19:10

1. When Peter left the object of his breakthrough in life – the big catch of fishes – to follow after a nomadic teacher, it was a sacrificial decision. However, that singular decision brought purpose and meaning to his life.
2. I often credit Peter as one of the most popular men who ever lived, because in every continent of the world you will find at least one edifice or another named after him. How did he achieve this? He chose to live a life that was profitable to his Maker, even though it required a lot of sacrifice in the beginning.
3. In like manner, it took a lot of sacrifice for Apostle Paul to abandon his doctorial title in law for the sake of evangelising the Way which he once opposed so vehemently. 
4. A life that is profitable to God begins with the second birth. A fellow who gives his or her life to Christ is saying, “The marvellous grace of God which Jesus Christ paid such a high price for, will not go to waste over me”.
5. If you haven’t given your life to Christ, you have to start a profitable life today by surrendering your life to Him. Peter did this at the Lake of Gennesaret, in Luke 5:8: “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
6. Paul also did the same thing on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-6). Beloved, God is also calling out to you. These are His words to you today: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;” Acts 3:19
7. However, if you are born again, you need to know that a life of sacrifice is what is expected of a disciple of Jesus Christ.
8. The Lord expects you to be ready to give your all, and if required, lay down your life for the sake of the gospel.
9. Here is His promise to those who do this: “…Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.” Mark 10:29-30.
10. May the Lord help your decision in Jesus’ Name.

Mark 10:29-30 says: “…Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.” This is an affirmation which shows that whatever we sacrifice for God or His work is not a waste of time, energy or resources. Giving Him our best and all is worth it. May God help us to be sold out completely for His work in Jesus name. God be praised for Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, please help me to live a sacrificial and profitable life for You through the help of Your Holy Spirit in Jesus’ Name.
HYMN
1.Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise,
Let them flow in endless praise.
2.Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
3.Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
4. Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose,
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.
5. Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.

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20

Memorise: Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 2:3
Read: 1 Samuel 17:32-37
32 And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.
Bible in One Year: Genesis 40-41, Revelation 18:1-18

1. Since Satan was cast out of heaven, he has been waging war against everything that represents God and godliness on the earth (Matthew 16:23, 2 Timothy 3:12).
2. Satan was cast out because he decided to rebel against the Almighty (Isaiah 14:12-15).
3. His current game plan is to deceive as many people as possible into rebelling against God, so that they will also join him in the Lake of Fire, which is the eternal place of punishment prepared for him and his cohorts (Matthew 25:41, Revelation 20:10).
4. To destroy the work of the devil on earth and to manifest the plan of God for mankind, God has chosen to raise an army to Himself among men.
5. If you have surrendered your life to Christ, you are part of this army. As a soldier of God’s army, in Jeremiah 51:20, God declares these words to you: “Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms;”
6. The nations and kingdoms in this declaration are not just physical, they are spiritual. The Holy Spirit made this clear to us in Ephesians 6:12, and He also teaches us that the weapon with which we wage war in God’s army are not physical weapons (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
7. As a soldier in God’s army, you need to take a clue from David in today’s Bible text. He presented himself as God’s battle-axe and he was mightily used of God to bring into captivity every thought and arrogance presented by Goliath. It is interesting to note that even Goliath, as huge as he was and as sophisticated as his weapons were, did not rely on his physical ability or weapons alone. 1 Samuel 17:43b says, “And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.”
8. As God’s foot-soldier, you need to know your God through and through, because only those who know their God can perform valiantly at the battlefront (Daniel 11:32).
9. Because David knew his God, even without a sword in his hand, he boldly replied Goliath with these words of faith in 1 Samuel 17:45-46: “…I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee…”
10. Are you presently fighting a battle in your life? This should serve as a template for you. Turn to God for victory and you shall be victorious through the Name and Blood of Jesus Christ (Luke 10:17, Philippians 2:10, Revelation 12:11).

Psalms 144:1‭-‬2 “Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.” David was able to sing this song to the Lord because he recognised his victories has been by the Lord’s help and hand. Anyone who decides to give his or her battle to the Lord will never be defeated regardless of hoe feeble his or her hand is. And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. Daniel 11:32 May God bless and continually increase Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Action Point
Using the Name of Jesus, speak against every spiritual force contending with God’s plan for your life and family.
HYMN
1. Onward Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
Christ, the royal Master,
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
See, His banners go!
Chorus:
Onward, Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus,
Going on before.
2. At the name of Jesus
Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers,
On to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver
At the shout of praise:
Brothers, lift your voices,
Loud your anthems raise!
3. Like a mighty army
Moves the Church of God:
Brothers, we are treading
Where the saints have trod;
We are not divided,
All one Body we—
One in faith and Spirit,
One charity.
4. Onward, then, ye people!
Join our happy throng;
Blend with ours your voices
In the triumph song.
Glory, laud and honour
Unto Christ, the King;
This through countless ages
Men and angels sing.

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20

Memorise: This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 Timothy 3:1
Read: Romans 1:18-27
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Bible in One Year: Genesis 38-39, Revelation 17

1. It is a statement of fact that the world is changing and people are being changed by its evil whims and caprices. Irrespective of this fact, one truth that people, particularly children of God, must not allow to slip out of their mind is that although the world is changing, God does not change along with it (Malachi 3:6).
2. His nature and standards are forever the same.
3. Beware that He will not judge by what is acceptable in your world but by the standard He has set in His word (2 Timothy 2:19).
4. The Lord knew that the world would come to its present evil state and so He forewarned us of the signs that will herald His coming judgement on this world.
5. One of the signs that He gave to us is that in the last days, men and women will lack natural affection (2 Timothy 3:2-3). In other words, natural feelings, relationships and expression of love would no longer appeal to them. The lack of natural affection is a state of mind caused by the expunging of God from their so-called knowledge (Romans 1:28).
6. Anyone who knows God as a consuming fire will dare not challenge Him to ideological arguments on morals.
7. God dictates what He regards as moral or not. However, what do we see today?
8. The philosophy of relativism argues that it is how you feel about yourself that matters; if as a man you feel you are a woman or if as a woman you feel you are a man, so be it! This is the reason why a man and a man would want to do what naturally a man should only do in a relationship with a woman. Some women also prefer to engage in sexual perversions with other women. Such people choose to ignore the divine order set by God in the beginning. Genesis 1:27 tells us what this divine order is: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
9. This Bible verse is in variance with the idea of homosexuality or being transgender.
10. There is a distinction between male and female in the divine order. It is therefore rebellious when a person, due to lust, is dragged out of his or her natural affection into abnormal instincts that pervert the original plan of God for his or her life.
11. This was exactly what doomed Sodom and Gomorrah, and it must be avoided today.
12. Beloved, do you have a feeling that there is a mix-up in your being, such that you want to change your natural or original makeup into another form? You need Jesus Christ urgently for restoration. You need the prayer of deliverance to restore you to God-given personality.
13. Do not be deceived: the world and everything in it are not the result of an arbitrary “big bang”.
14. Everything was perfectly and methodically put in place by God. You are not a mistake; to think otherwise is the age-old deceit of the devil. Come to Jesus Christ today and be free.

The devil desires to draw as many as possible to himself. He has fallen and has been sent away from heaven so he is out to have a lot of people join him in hell. He therefore flood the mind of men with unrighteousness thought that pushes the to sin against God. I pray we shall never be a prey to the devil in Jesus name. God will help as many that have fallen victim of his deceit to be free from his shackle in Jesus name. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye and equip him with greater wisdom for greater works in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, destroy any unnatural instincts in me and silence every satanic voice in my mind in Jesus’ Name.
HYMN
1. On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
Chorus:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.
2. Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.
3. In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
4. To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me someday to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.

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20

Memorise: But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
Read: Luke 5:1-7
1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
Bible in One Year: Genesis 36-37, Revelation 16
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AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

1. The Lord revealed Himself to us as the God of abundance by declaring these profound words about Himself in Psalm 50:9-10: “I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.”
2. Having experienced the reality of this truth, Apostle Paul, in Philippians 4:19, penned these words to bear witness to the Lord’s capability as the God of abundance: “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
3. Through this scripture, the Holy Spirit also reveals to us that Jesus Christ is the channel through whom the abundance of God is made accessible. Why is this so? For you to understand the reason why, you need to know that Jesus Christ is the Living Word through whom all things were created. Hebrews 1:2 says this concerning Him: “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;”
4. This means that the earth and the fullness of it are His handwork – the handwork of the Word who became flesh (John 1:1-14). We can therefore get nothing in this world except through the Owner of it all.
5. The story in our Bible text demonstrates that this material world is indeed at the disposal of the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter had toiled all night long, but he caught nothing in his fishing net. However, when the God of abundance released His word, there was a great catch.
6. Beloved, what are those needs that have been bothering your mind? Tell it to Jesus today. He is the God of abundance, and He is capable of meeting you at the points of your need.
7. When He came to this world, He decided to become poor in your place so that His riches may come to you. The Bible, in 2 Corinthians 8:9, says, “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”
8. The only situation that can prevent you from benefitting from the self-imposed poverty of the Lord Jesus Christ is your refusal to accept Him your Lord and Saviour, and your refusal to walk by His principles.
9. I pray for you today that the abundant riches of God in Christ Jesus will be your portion in Jesus’ Name.

What is required of us to enjoy our God of abundance is holiness and obedience. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord : though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: Isaiah 1:18‭-‬19 Now is the time for us to start enjoying what God has made available for us through Christ Jesus by surrendering to Him totally. We shall enjoy plenty on every side in Jesus name. We are daily refreshed as we study the Open Heavens devotional and may God strengthen Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, please meet me at the points of my need today according to Your riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
HYMN
1. Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great Name we praise.
2. Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might.
Thy justice like mountains high soaring above,
Thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.
3. To all life thou givest, to both great and small
In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish, but nought changeth Thee.
4. Great Father of Glory, pure Father of Light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight,
All laud we would render, O help us to see,
‘Tis only the splendour of light hideth Thee.
5. Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great Name we praise.

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Memorise: Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20
Read: John 15:13-16
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
Bible in One Year: Genesis 34-35, Revelation 14:14-15:8

1. An ambassador is a worthy representative of a kingdom and its people in general. In particular, he or she represents the head of the realm.
2. Our memory verse today describes us as Christ’s ambassadors. It also spells out our responsibilities as the mouthpiece of God as He persuades all people to come over to His side.
3. We are to speak for our Lord Jesus Christ concerning the work of redemption which He has finished for all mankind.
4. As Christ’s ambassadors, we are not just His servants or errand boys; our relationship with Him goes deeper than that.
5. The Lord Jesus Christ made us to understand from today’s Bible text that following His decision to choose us, He has promoted us to the level of a friend, and He is ready to reveal things He and His father discuss in secret to us. What a privilege! Psalm 25:14 says, “The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. ”Why has the Lord made us His ambassadors?
6. Some of the reasons are revealed in Mark 3:14-15: “And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:”
7. Ambassadors for Christ are ordained, first, to fellowship with the Master. In addition, they are to go out and preach the gospel of the kingdom they represent.
8. They are to exert the dominion of their King over all obstructions to the expansion of His kingdom, by ministering healing and deliverance to all those who are oppressed of the devil.
9. The ambassadors of Christ are expected to do what He did, and even greater works than He did (John 14:12).
10. There are lots of benefits attached to being Christ’s ambassadors. One of these benefits is speedy answers to prayers.
11. Elijah is a classical example of an ambassador for Yahweh. He prayed down fire that could quench water and God answered him immediately (1 Kings 18:36-38).
12. Another benefit of being an ambassador for Christ is that after your tenure here on earth, you will live eternally with Him in heaven.
13. The Lord gave us His word on this in John 14:2-3: “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
14. To be an ambassador for Christ, you must live a life that represents the Holy God.
15. Choose to represent Christ everywhere you go, and you will not regret doing so.

Romans 8:30 “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” We are have been commissioned by God to reconcile men back to Him. Therefore He has chosen us and He has enabled us also for greater impact. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” John 14:12 God be praised for Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, please grant me grace to be a worthy ambassador of Your Person and Your Kingdom everywhere I go.
HYMN
1.Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise,
Let them flow in endless praise.
2.Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
3.Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
4. Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose,
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.
5. Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.

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Memorise: Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies: Psalm 78:56
Read: Daniel 3:14-30
14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
22 Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.
Bible in One Year: Genesis 32-33, Revelation 14:1-13

1. “Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?”  Isaiah 45:9
2. Whenever I read the words of this scripture above, I tremble. It is quite astonishing to see mere mortals “flexing muscles” with the One who made them.
3. You can be a ‘dare-devil’, but you better not dare the Almighty God; the end result will always be catastrophic for you.
4. Today’s Bible text narrates a classical example of someone who dared to challenge his Maker: King Nebuchadnezzar. When Nebuchadnezzar commanded all to bow before the golden image he had set up, the Hebrew boys refused to bow, daring the devil in King Nebuchadnezzar. In response, Nebuchadnezzar dared the God of heaven and threw His children into the fiery furnace in defiance of God’s supremacy. However, the God of those Hebrew boys, who is also the God of all flesh, showed up in the furnace and rescued His children. It is unfortunate that those who, by the order of the king, threw them into the fiery furnace were all burnt to ashes. I decree that as it happened to those who threw Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into the fiery furnace, so shall it be to all the enemies of God in your life in Jesus’ Name. Although Nebuchadnezzar temporarily repented of his folly after witnessing the awesome power of God, he still got a taste of God’s punishment down the line: he was turned into a beast for a season (Daniel 4:28-37)! May those who are challenging the Almighty God in your life be like Nebuchadnezzar, Pharaoh, Herod and all those who dared the King of glory throughout history.
5. How can a mere mortal possibly challenge the Almighty God? It seems ridiculous, but amazingly, this happens on a daily basis in the world that we live in today. We see nations making law against the natural order set by God, judges redefining marriage contrary to what the Almighty God Himself instituted, and people calling to question the very existence of God. Such attitudes are not new. This defiant trend has persisted throughout all of history, but the sponsors of such assault on the Divine have always paid dearly for their actions.
6. Are you daring God in any way? I hope your answer is no.
7. Please, never you dare the Almighty God, not even through subtle disobedience.
8. May the Lord cause you to be wise enough never to dare Him.

I will like us to meditate on Isaiah 45:9-13 MSG version. There are some questions that needs our sincere answers there. But above all we should continually pray never to find ourselves daring God. But doom to you who fight your Maker_ you’re a pot at odds with the potter! Does clay talk back to the potter: ‘What are you doing? What clumsy fingers!’ Would a sperm say to a father, ‘Who gave you permission to use me to make a baby?’ Or a fetus to a mother, ‘Why have you cooped me up in this belly?’” Thus God, The Holy of Israel, Israel’s Maker, says: “Do you question who or what I’m making? Are you telling me what I can or cannot do? I made earth, and I created man and woman to live on it. I handcrafted the skies and direct all the constellations in their turnings. And now I’ve got Cyrus on the move. I’ve rolled out the red carpet before him. He will build my city. He will bring home my exiles. I didn’t hire him to do this. I told him. I, God-of-the-Angel-Armies.” God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, please remove folly far away from me so that I may not challenge You to a fight through disobedience.
HYMN
1. On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
Chorus:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.
2. Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.
3. In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
4. To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me someday to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.

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Memorise: To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Revelation 3:21
Read: 1st Thessalonians 5:1-10
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
Bible in one year: Genesis 31, Revelation 13

1. Starting a journey to a great destination is such a nice experience, but it is of no use if the journey does not end at the expected destination.
2. It is of utmost importance not just to finish a journey but to finish it well.
3. It is not a trivial thing that of the about six hundred thousand adults who left the land of Egypt among the Israelites, only two of them got to the Promised Land (Exodus 12:37, Numbers 32:11-12) This should serve as an example and a warning to every child of God running the Christian race in these end-times (1st Corinthians 10:11).
4. Ezekiel 33:18 should be food for thought for every child of God who plans to meet the Lord at the last trump (1st Corinthians 15:52).
5. The ultimate goal of the Christian journey for every true child of God is to be transformed and meet the Lord in the air when the trumpet sounds (1st Thessalonians 4:17). I pray that you will not miss this great congregation of the saints in Jesus’ Name.
6. There is however another destination, a place of eternal perdition, awaiting the devil, his demonic cohorts and all those who follow him to do evil among men. Matthew 25:41 says, “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” Beloved, I pray that your portion will not be with the devil in Jesus’ Name.
7. What should be done to finish well in times as these? The Lord provides the answer in Mark 13:35-37: “Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all. Watch.”
8. What must we watch? We must watch what goes into our heart and what comes out of it. We must watch what we feed our eyes and ears on. We must watch our speech, our mode of dressing, what we eat and drink, and the kind of company we keep. 
9. A Nigerian proverb says “The sheep that keeps company with dogs will soon develop an appetite for bones.” If you will end your journey well, you must be steadfast in goodliness.
10. I pray that you will finish well and not fall by the wayside in Jesus’ Name.

The word watch used in today’s devotional means to be careful and cautious in all we do. If we are able to watch till the end then we will finish strong and well. May God help us to finish our journey here on earth well. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Matthew 24:13 God bless and strengthen Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, Please help me and give me the grace to finish well in Jesus’ Name.
HYMN
1. I have decide to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
2. The world behind me, the cross
Before me;
The world behind me, the cross
before me;
The world behind me, the cross
Before me;
No turning back, no turning back.
3. Through none go with me, still I
Will follow;
Through none go with me, still I
Will follow;
Through none go with me, still I
Will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.
4. My cross 1’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross 1’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross 1’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
5. Will you decide now to follow
Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow
Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow
Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.

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Memorise: If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O King. Daniel 3:17
Read: Psalm 24:7-10
7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
Bible in one year: Genesis 29-30, Revelation 12

1. To live a fulfilled life worthy of their election, children of God must know their God as the Lord who is mighty in battle.
2. The story of the three Hebrews boys is a classical example of what God is capable of doing for his children who know who He is (Daniel 3). They confronted the world emperor of their time, Nebuchadnezzar, with faith in the supremacy of the power of their God over the affairs of men. There is a lesson we must learn from the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, which the Lord spelt out for us in clear terms in Luke 17:33, saying: “Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosever shall lose his shall preserve it.”
3. Note that it was after King Nebuchadnezzar had threatened to burn the three Hebrew boys that they declared that they were not afraid for their lives, even if they had to die defending what they believed in, What an amazing statement of faith this is: “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.” Daniel 3:17
4. It takes truly knowing God to make such a bold statement. No wonder Daniel 11:32 says, “And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.”
5. Do you know your God as a weakling or as a mighty warrior?
6. To the three Hebrew boys, the God of Israel was more than able to deliver them because they knew Him to be the Lord of hosts.
7. He Specialises in fighting all manner of battles in all realms. On the ground, He fought for the children of Israel against the Amalekites (Exodus 17:8-16). In the midst of the sea, He fought for the Israelites against the Egyptians (Exodus 14:13-30). In the air, He fought for Joshua and the children of Israel against the forces of the five kings who gathered against them (Joshua 10:1-20) 
8. The awesomeness of this God made the Psalmist to describe Him as the Lord mighty in battle (Psalm 24:8).
9. Beloved, what is that battle confronting you? You would be wise to run to God Almighty to fight for you. He is mighty in battle and has never lost any war. He will be your sure Ally and you will be victorious in Jesus’ Name.
10. Surrender your life to Him and hand over those battles of life to Him, and you will begin to enjoy victories without sweat through His involvement.

Daniel 11:32 says, “And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” Knowledge is power! Therefore having full knowledge of God and the consciousness of His powerful ability as regards battle is a sure ticket of victory for every believer. If you are unaware of His strength then you may be short-changed or miss the privilege of enjoying victory over your adversaries through His help. Drop every doubt as regards the potency of His power and express your faith at all time for an everyday victory encounter. We are grateful to God for blessing our generation with Pastor E.A Adeboye. May God continually increase him on every side in Jesus name.
Prayer Point
Father, please fight the battles of life confronting me today, and in every situation I will encounter this year, don’t let me be a victim but a victor, in Jesus’ Name.
HYMN
1. O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
2. Under the shadow of Thy throne,
Still may we dwell secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defence is sure
3. Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same
4. A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone,
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.
5. Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away:
They fly forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.
6. O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while life shall last,
And our eternal home.

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