Monthly Archives: February 2018

Memorise: “In your patience possess ye your souls.” Luke 21:19
Read: 1 Samuel 13:8-13
8 And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.
9 And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.
10 And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.
11 And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;
12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.
13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.
Bible in One Year: Exodus 35-36, Romans 12:9-13:7

1. In continuation of our reflection on the materials with which we build on the foundation of our Christian faith, today we will be looking at patience and godliness as parts of the building blocks of the Christian life (2 Peter 1:5-8).
2. Why patience? Just as knowledge is needed to checkmate the manifestation of misguided virtue, patience is needed to prevent putting the cart before the horse in our Christian walk.
3. Lack of patience is one of the factors that destroyed King Saul. His journey on a downward slope started after he impatiently offered a sacrifice to God by himself, thus acting in the office of a priest, instead of waiting for Samuel.
4. When patience is lacking in a child of God, he or she will repeatedly fail the test of faith. The Bible in James 1:3-4 says: “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
5. Beloved, patience is needed if you will successfully journey through the wilderness of this world to your heavenly home just like the heroes of faith. Take heed to these words of the Holy Spirit in Hebrew 6:12: “That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
6. It takes patience for prayers to be answered because you cannot stampede God into answering your prayers (Psalm 40:1). I pray that the Holy Spirit will endow you with the patience that is needed to obtain God’s eternal promises in Jesus’ Name.
7. In addition, godliness is part of the DNA of every child of God, because whoever is born of God has the seed of God in him or her. This is a very important truth you must engrave on the table of your heart if you will not be rising and falling into sin.
8. Under the auction of the Holy Spirit, John the Beloved assures us of victory over sin through the seed of God that is implanted in us. 1 John 3:9 says, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”
9. If you will finish well and strong, please don’t trivialize these fundamental values of the Christian faith which you profess.
10. My prayer for you is that the Lord will cause you to grow into the full stature of Christ in Jesus’ Name.

Patience is a great virtue which is capable of helping a believer to receive the promise of God and also live in its fullness. It is difficult for patience to destroy something, so there is nothing like being over patient. The virtues treated in these past 3 days requires our attention if we are lacking any of it. We need to pray fervently for God to release it to us or revive it in us so we can have a great walk with the Lord in service. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye and renew his strength in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, please help me to run this Christian race with the required patience and godliness.
HYMN
1. Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee;
E’ en though it be a cross
That raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.
2. Though, like a wanderer
The sun gone down,
Darkness comes over me,
My rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer to Thee.
3. There let me see the sight,
An open heaven;
All that thou sendest me,
In mercy given;
Angles to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer to Thee
4. Then, with my walking thoughts
Bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs
Bethel I’ll raise,
So by my woes to be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee

Please follow and like us:

20

Memorise: And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Colossians 3:10
Read: Colossians 1:7-10
7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellow servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Bible in one year: Exodus 33-34, Romans 11:25-12:8

1. Yesterday we started reflecting on what we need to do after we are saved (2nd Peter 1:5-8). We looked at adding virtue to our faith because faith without virtue is incomplete. We saw virtue as the practical demonstration of our faith.
2. Today we want to look at knowledge as an accomplishment of virtue.
3. Do you know that knowledge is the companion of virtue, and that without knowledge virtue can become misguided? This is the reason why Romans 14:16 says. “Let not then your good be evil spoken of:”
4. How can your virtuous act become evil in the sight of God and men? When you fail to add knowledge to your virtue, you will not be guiltless in the presence of your observers.
5. For example, although it is virtuous to be of help to your neighbour, particularly those of the household of faith, stealing to help a brother or sister who is in need is “assistance” without knowledge. In like manner, “helping” a woman become pregnant because her husband has a low sperm count is misplaced “help” that will lead to hell fire.
6. In addition, we must make temperance a necessary companion of our faith and knowledge.
7. Temperance is simply defined as restraint or self-control.
8. Why should temperance be added to knowledge before it can be profitable? The number one reason is that the exercise of knowledge without restraint may lead to an abuse of the faith and be a cause for others to stumble, speaking about this in 1st Corinthians 8:10-12, the Holy Spirit says, “For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.”
9. When we exercise knowledge in such a way that the weak in spirit are discouraged and backslide, such knowledge is destructive.
10. It was the application of temperance that prevented the Lord Jesus Christ from calling down fire upon those who resisted His entering their village, after two of His disciples suggested it and even though He knew could do so (Luke 9:51-56).
11. May the Lord add to your faith, the necessary virtue, knowledge and temperance in Jesus’ Name.

Many atimes, some steps and actions taken by believers got so many new convert confused, discouraged and unfortunately led to their backsliding. We must apply wisdom in all we do. “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” Proverbs 4:7 Being a stumbling block is a status to be rejected by every believer as we embrace being a light in and to our world. God be praised for Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, please cause me to grow in grace, knowledge and self-restraint for profitable Christian living in Jesus’ Name.
HYMN
1. Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee;
E’ en though it be a cross
That raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.
2. Though, like a wanderer
The sun gone down,
Darkness comes over me,
My rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer to Thee.
3. There let me see the sight,
An open heaven;
All that thou sendest me,
In mercy given;
Angles to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer to Thee
4. Then, with my walking thoughts
Bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs
Bethel I’ll raise,
So by my woes to be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee

Please follow and like us:

20

Memorise: “And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:” Hebrews 6:11
Read: 2 Peter 1:5-8
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Bible in One Year: Exodus 31-32, Romans 11:1-24

1. After you have been saved by the grace that is in Jesus Christ our Lord, you need to understand the nature of the new life that is in you, so that you can begin to exhibit its character.
2. If you do not understand the fundamentals of the Christian faith and get to know what God expects of you now that you are saved, you will end up becoming a caricature of what you should be in the sight of God. May that never be your portion in Jesus’ Name.
3. The text of our Bible reading lays out in plain terms what God expects of you when you become saved. In this passage of scripture, after reminding us of our new life in Christ, Apostle Peter admonishes us to be diligent in going beyond the rudimentary salvation experience.
4. According to him, we must add to our faith virtue. Now, what is virtue? Virtue, simply explained, is a kind of behavior that exhibits high moral standards. This is food for thought for all children of God, because there is a tendency to assume that once we profess to be born again, good behavior is no longer important.
5. On the contrary, it is after we have experienced regeneration of the heart that a high moral standard is most expected of us.
6. The new life that Christ gives is a life of virtue. It is a life that produces good character in those that possess it. If you claim to have received this new life, the resultant virtue it produces must be glaring for the whole world to see.
7. The early Church did not lose sight of this spiritual obligation, and for this reason the leading apostle admonishes us to add virtue to our professed faith. 2 Peter 1:5 says, “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;”
8. In like manner, another apostle of the Lord, writing in James 2:18 says, “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”
9. Although good works do not bring about redemption, redemption produces good works in us.
10. As children of God, the Bible encourages us to be of good behavior so that our Father in heaven may be glorified (1Timothy 3:2, Titus 2:3).
11. Unbelievers should not catch us with any vices; rather we should be virtuous enough to convince the world that only in Christ can a good and acceptable life be lived.
12. We are born again to be law-abiding, even though we are not law-abiding to be born again.
13. Yes, being born again is the work of grace, but the evidence of its genuineness should be substantial for all to see.

Our lives should show Christ as believers. Everything about us should speak of His love and attract others to Him. We are His ambassadors on earth and should represent Him well in all we do. May God continually increase Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, please help me to be a true representative of the faith I profess to practice.
HYMN
1. Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee;
E’ en though it be a cross
That raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.
2. Though, like a wanderer
The sun gone down,
Darkness comes over me,
My rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer to Thee.
3. There let me see the sight,
An open heaven;
All that thou sendest me,
In mercy given;
Angles to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee
Nearer to Thee
4. Then, with my walking thoughts
Bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs
Bethel I’ll raise,
So by my woes to be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee

Please follow and like us:

20

Memorise: “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
Read: Luke 9:28-35
28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.
33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.
34 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.
35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
Bible in One Year: Exodus 29-30, Romans 10:5-21

1. The moment you become a child of God, the glory of God comes upon your life. From that moment, God’s expectation is that you will continually move from one level of glory to another (Proverb 4:18).
2. A person who experiences shame will understand and appreciate the importance of glory. I pray that anything that is causing shame will disappear today in Jesus’ Name.
3. There are different types of glory, one of which is physical in nature.
4. From a physical perspective, sicknesses and diseases are some of the agents of shame. After experiencing the shame of sickness, it is indeed a glorious thing to be healed. The woman with the issue of blood entered into the realm of glory the day she touched the hem of Jesus garment and she was healed from her infirmity (Mark 5:31-34).
5. While it is great to experience healing, you can move from the realm of being healed to the realm of living in good health permanently. If you are not yet living in that realm, I pray that God will take you there in Jesus’ Name.
6. Beyond this realm lies an even greater realm of glory where a person becomes an agent of healing, just like the apostles of old (Acts 5:12-16, Acts 19:11-12).
7. Your target should be to operate in this realm of glory.
8. Glory can also be viewed from the perspective of material processions. It is a glorious thing to be rich, because poverty brings shame. While Abraham was rich, Isaac was so rich that kings were envious of him (Genesis 24:24-35, Genesis 26).
9. Although there is glory in being rich, it is more glorious to be wealthy. However, beyond these two realms of material glory lies the realm of flourishing. Solomon flourished so much that silver was like common stones in his days (1 Kings 10:27). Today, may the Lord move you from glory to glory in wealth in Jesus’ Name.
10. Nevertheless, the spiritual aspect of glory is the ultimate. It is glorious when you become so intimate with God that before you finish praying, the answer would have already come. When you pray like Elijah did and fire falls, this is glorious (1 Kings 18:31-39).
11. However, it is more glorious when you live by decrees. Elijah moved from the realm of accelerated answers to prayer to the realm of living by decrees. He decreed that the first two set of fifty soldiers that came to arrest him be consumed by fire, and it was so (2 Kings 1:9-12).
12. Beyond this realm, there is yet a higher level of spiritual glory where you arrest the arrester and the arrester lives at your mercy. Elisha experienced this level of glory (2 Kings 6:8-23).
13. Above all, the fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom is the climax of spiritual maturity that brings an individual into irreversible glory.
14. I decree that from today, you will begin to go from one level of glory to another in every area of your life in Jesus’ Name.

There are levels of glory in Christianity and how much you know God and fellowship with will determine the level to operate from. Knowing Him is a great key to knowing His glory. Rekindle your love for Him today. We are grateful to God for blessing us with Pastor E.A Adeboye and we pray his strength is renewed in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, from today, please take me from glory to glory 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.
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.
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.
4. Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every power 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.
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.

Please follow and like us:

20

Memorise: “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” Psalm 50:15
Read: Luke 8:26-39
26 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.
27 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.
29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.
31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.
32 And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.
33 Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.
34 When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.
35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.
37 Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.
38 Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,
39 Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.
Bible in One Year: Exodus 28, Romans 9:19-10:4

1. In our Bible text, we read about the great deliverance the Lord Jesus Christ wrought in the life of the madman of Gadara.
2. For this, mad man, although that day started like any other day of his affliction, his story changed before he went to bed that night. He went to bed in his house and not in the tombs where he used to be.
3. I prophesy to a user of this devotional: your story will change for the better before you go to bed tonight in the Mighty name of Jesus Christ. What is that challenge confronting you or even driving you crazy? I have good news for you today: the Great Deliverer, Jesus Christ, will deliver you today.
4. If you ask me what makes me so sure he will do it, I will tell you what he said in his word, which I know is forever settled in heaven. In Jeremiah 32:27 He said, “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?”
4. Since He did it for the madman of Gadara, and your own case is not as serious as his, be of good cheer because today you shall see the glory of the Lord. However, you need to give your life to Christ, and if you have done so, only believe His word.
5. Also in John 9:1, the Bible talks about a man who was born blind. Even though this man had been blind for more than 40 years, when his day of great deliverance came, Jesus saw him. This was not just an ordinary glance from some nobody; it was God directing his attention to the Maker of the whole universe to him. Jesus thereafter created two brand new eyeballs in his empty eye sockets.
6. Have you been groping in the dark for a long time, and it seems you have no sense of direction? Are you being led by people to wherever they want you to go, regardless of your own will? Today is your day of great deliverance. The Lord will touch you before you finish reading this devotional.
7. Peter, who witnessed the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, testified to his great power of deliverance. Here is his testimony in Acts 10:38: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”
8. I can also testify to his great power of deliverance. There was a man who I think had two PhDs and for one more than 6 years could not get a job. When he was brought to the church for prayers, he looked like a madman, and you could not even believe he ever went to school. He had suffered a lot! We introduced him to Jesus and he gave his life to Christ. Before he got home, people were looking for him to offer him a job.
9. This is the power of our Great Deliverer. Praise the Lord!

Whoever suffers affliction and encounters Jesus receives total freedom from such bondage. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36 Sin is one of devils vices in capturing his captives before afflicting them. May we never fall into his trap in Jesus name. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8 Whatever affliction sin has exposed us to, may we be delivered completely in Jesus name. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, deliver me today from every affliction of the devil in Jesus Name.
HYMN
1. My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
Take all my guilt away,
Oh, let me from this day
Be wholly Thine!
2. May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire!
As Thou hast died for me,
Oh, may my love to Thee
Pure, warm, and changeless be,
A living fire!
3. While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread,
Be Thou my guide;
Bid darkness turn to day,
Wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray
From Thee aside.
4. When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold, sullen stream
Shall o’er me roll;
Blest Savior, then in love,
Fear and distrust remove;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul!

Please follow and like us:

20

Memorise: The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame. Pro.14:35
Read: Genesis 39:1-6
1 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmaelites, which had brought him down thither.
2 And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
4 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.
6 And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.
Bible in one year: Exodus 26-27, Romans 9:1-18

1. Do you know that you can attract divine favour through your attitude to work?
2. When we diligently carry out our duties, whether secular or spiritual, as unto the Almighty God, we are bound to be divinely favoured.
3. It is the will of God that every employee does the right thing to justify the wages he or she earns.
4. This was the reason why the Holy Spirit moved Paul to instruct us to be diligent our service to our employers, be they private or government institutions (Ephesians 6:5-6).
5. We all need divine favour, not only to succeed but to succeed without stress.
6. What can we do to attract divine favour in our chosen carriers? The answer is diligence and faithfulness to the terms of our engagement with our employers.
7. There was nothing extraordinary in what Joseph did in Potiphar’s house; the only difference between him and other slave was the divine favour operating in his life through diligence. No wonder the wisdom of God in Proverbs 22:29 says, “seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.”
8. The first time I travelled overseas, it was to Canada for a conference of applied mathematicians. I knew no none there, and neither did I know what kind of food I would be eating over there. All my wife could do at home was to pray that God would take care of me. Meanwhile, someone in Canada went to see the list of mathematicians coming to their University for the conference. As he was looking through the names, he saw my name Enoch Adeboye, and he mused to himself that he never could tell if the owner of that name was French or not. He therefore decided to locate the room where I was staying, and resolved within himself that when he got there, he would speak Yoruba and that if I responded, he would know that I am Nigerian. On getting to my door, he knocked and I asked “Who is that?” His response was “Emi ni”, meaning “it’s me”. I therefore responded in Yoruba language that he should come in.
Long story short, before the end of that day, I was eating pounded yam in Canada! My wife, who had been worried about the type of meals I would be eating, knew it was nothing but divine favour that granted me access to pounded yam in Canada.
9. You need to understand that divine favour can come in any way or form.
10. The danger is that more often than not, most people take some forms of divine intervention for granted especially when such intervention does not affect them the way they expect.
11. One more lesson we should learn here is that, there is nothing too small or too big to pray about, especially when it requires divine favour.
12. May the Lord show you divine favour today in Jesus’ Name.

God is not limited by location, language or anything. His faithfulness is new every morning. Daily blessing and divine favour is suppose to be our daily encounter as believers. Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. Psalms 68:19. We should see God as He is so as to enjoy the readily available blessing and favour in Christ Jesus. May God continually uphold and strengthen Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, I need Your divine favour in my vocation, business and home 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
            Thy saints have dwelt secure;
            Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
            And our defence is sure
3.         Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth receive 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 external home.

Please follow and like us:

20

Memorise: “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.” Proverbs 18:22
Read: Genesis 2:18-25
18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.
21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Bible in One Year: Exodus 24-25, Romans 8:18-39

1. Yesterday, we reflected on divine favor and discovered that divine favor is for those who seek it from God. Today we will be considering the blessedness of having a good spouse as a form of God’s favor.
2. A blissful marriage is a divine gift and a mark of favor from the Almighty God. Some men and women maltreat their spouses because they fail to realize that having a wife (not just a woman) or a husband (not just a man) is God’s favor, as our memory verse clearly shows.
3. The truth of the matter is: a blessing you do not appreciate depreciate in your hands as a result of abuse or misuse.
4. It is evil to abuse the gift of God that is your spouse.
5. In today’s bible text, we see how God graciously provided Adam with a helper comparable to him, since none of the other existing creatures could meet this needs. The Lord knew that this helper must share the same image that Adam shared with God, and hence He created the woman. From this deed, one can understand why God frowns at sexual perversion, particularly homosexuality and bestiality. The Bible in Deuteronomy 27:21 says, “Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen.”
6. Beloved, the Lord is calling on you today to cherish the gift He has given to you in the form of your spouse.
7. It is an act of ingratitude for you to maltreat your spouse who is an embodiment of the Lord’s favor in your life. Speaking to both parties, the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 5:21 says, “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”
8. Let there be mutual submission between the two of you. Learn to say “sorry” to one another whenever you wrong each other.
9. To the Christian husband, please love your wife (Ephesians 5:25). You have our Lord Jesus Christ as a role model to copy, being the Husband of the Church. The same unconditional and unending love with which Christ loves you must be extended to your wife. Rebuke the ego that has been preventing you from apologizing to your wife whenever you wronged her in the past. May the Lord help you in this regard in Jesus’ Name.
10. To the Christian wife, I appeal to you not to allow that strange woman to take advantage of your pride and steal your husband from you. Please submit to your husband as the head; he did not make himself your head, God did (Ephesians 5:22).
11. May the Lord preserve your home for you in Jesus’ Name.

There is a particular paragraph I will like for us to meditate upon in today’s devotional and amend our ways for the favour we found having a spouse to remain. “The truth of the matter is: a blessing you do not appreciate depreciate in your hands as a result of abuse or misuse.” May God continually increase and empower Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Action Point
Confess your faults to each other today and jointly pray this prayer: “Father, please forgive us our sins and help us to learn how to forgive one another. Father, please make our home as the days of heaven on earth in Jesus’ Name. Amen”
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 sign of triumph 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 hope and doctrine, one in charity.
4. Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
But the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never ’gainst that church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail.
5. Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King,
This through countless ages men and angels sing.

Please follow and like us:

20

Memorise: Many seek the ruler’s favour; but every man’s judgement cometh from the LORD. Pro.29:26
Read: Esther 5:1-3
Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, over against the king’s house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.
2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.
3 Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.
Bible in one year: Exodus 22-23, Romans 8:1-

1. Today’s Bible text tells a bit of the story of Queen Esther, who was divinely favoured. From her experience, we can learn quite a few things on divine favour.
2. For example, you will observe that she put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house before she was granted favour. Why did she put on her royal apparel? Apart from the rule that she could not come before the king uninvited, it would also have been rude, uncomplimentary and indecent for the queen to have attempted to approach the king in her night dress or kitchen overall.
3. Today, what used to be our mother’s underwear is what some women wear to parties, and even to their workplaces. No wonder divine favour is alien to many of them.
4. It’s been said that you will be addressed the way you are dressed.
5. To obtain divine favour in the sight of God, you need to be clothed in your royal apparel of righteousness which Christ gave to you when you received salvation (Revelation 1:5-6, 19:8).
6. You will also observe that when the king saw Queen Esther, the sight of her produced divine favour, as he then held out to her the golden scepter that was in his hand. When your time of favour comes, the first thing is that you will be identified for attention. My prayer is that the Almighty King of kings will look in your direction and identify you for His favour in Jesus’ Name.
7. In Genesis 18:1-5, Abraham was sitting in front if his tent, just relaxing at home, the carriers of favour wiped away his tears of so many years as they declared these words to him in Genesis 18:10: “… I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son…”
8. The Lord will cause His favour to produce declarations that will wipe away your tears in Jesus’ Name.
9. Our memory verse indicates that the favour Queen Esther enjoyed was actually divine in nature. Indeed, before appearing before the king, she had first sought the Lord’s favour, and this was what later manifested itself as favour with the king. Esther 4:16 says:
“Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.”
10. I therefore encourage you to seek the Lord’s favour and stop cutting corners.
11. Live a life that is pleasing to the One who has the heart of those who must favour you under His control, and you will not be denied your rights in Jesus’ Name.

Divine favour put believers in place of opportunity where what they desire is handed over to them or acquired with ease. In most case where divine favour is at work, little effort produce exceeding great result and the unqualified becomes the most cherish and most prefered. May we enjoy divine favour in all our endeavours in Jesus name. God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, please send help to those who must favour me today, and compel them to release all my blessings that you have kept within their custody 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.
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.
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.
4. Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every power 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.
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.

Please follow and like us:

20