Monthly Archives: November 2018

Memorise: The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down. Psalm 146:9
Read: Psalm 68:4-10
4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name Jah, and rejoice before him.
5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
6 God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
7 O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:
8 The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
10 Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.
Bible in one year: Lamentations 1-2, Luke 20:1-26

AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

1. The God that we serve is a Father who is always present and is ever ready to help. He is full of love, compassion and mercy for all of His children, and He gives each one of them uninterrupted attention. As the Almighty Father, He is capable of giving us everything that we can ever need. He knows His children even more than they even know themselves – He knows their tomorrow and every single detail about them even before they were born.
No matter how great and good an earthly father is, he will still fall short and fail in some aspects of his children’s wellbeing.
2. An earthly father cannot boast of being his children always. An earthly father cannot boast of knowing his children so well that he knows how to conform them at all times. Even when he says he is capable of giving his children everything they ask for, he cannot give them good health, retentive memory, safe journey, and other things that money can’t buy. Our heavenly Father is the perfect Father to the fatherless, and He is a Father that other fathers run to in times of trouble. His love for His children immeasurably surpasses the love that an earthly father has for his children. Some people frown when they hear me call God my Daddy. Well, I don’t know about you, but this God is my Daddy. He has shown so much care to me ever since I met Him that I cannot but see Him as my Daddy.
3. He understands me, comforts me, protects me, heals me, corrects me, helps me and carries me. If God has been all these to you, I want you to take a moment, look up to heaven and just say, “Daddy I love you.”
Have you been fatherless? Have you been lonely? Has your earthly father been distant and cold? Then you need to experience the tender loving kindness of Abba Father. To belong to Him, you need to be reborn by Him. His love is enough to wrap you in warmth for evermore.
4. To enter into this special relationship with Him, confess these words:
Dear God, I come to you in the Name of Jesus. I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived. Lord, I want to start afresh; come into my heart and be the Lord of my life. Make me a new creature in You. Thank you Abba Father for saving me.
5. After making these confessions in faith, you now need to find a bible-believing church to attend so that you can build the relationship that has just begun between you and this Great Father.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

’

As stated by the Pastor above “An earthly father cannot boast of knowing his children so well that he knows how to conform them at all times” do not be deceived, God is the only father you can totally rely on for unlimited supply of needs. He is caring and compassionate than any other father or parent you can imagine. Why not choose Him as you father today. More Grace to Pastor E.A Adeboye for this devotional.

Key Point:
God says to you today, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness” (Jeremiah 31:3).
HYMN
1. The Great Physician now is near,
The sympathizing Jesus;
He speaks the drooping heart to cheer,
Oh, hear the voice of Jesus!
Chorus:
Sweetest note in seraph song;
Sweetest name on mortal tongue;
Sweetest carol ever sung:
Jesus, blessed Jesus!
2. Your many sins are all forgv’n
Oh, hear the voice of Jesus;
The veil ‘twixt you and God is riven,
Redemption wrought by Jesus.
3. All glory to the dying Lamb!
I now believe in Jesus;
I love the blessed Saviour’s name,
I love the name of Jesus.
4. His name dispels my guilt and fear,
No other name but Jesus;
Oh, how my soul delight to hear
The precious name of Jesus!

Please follow and like us:

20

Memorise: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and theat they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10
Read: 1 Peter 3:10-18
10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
15 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:
16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
Bible in one year: Jeremiah 52, Luke 19:28-48

AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

1. Having access to the good life is not as difficult as some people make it seem. As a matter of fact, living a good life was factored into the creation of man. God first created everything that man would need for a good life before He made man in His own image and set him over all of His other creations (Genesis 1:26-28). The calamity of a life of struggle only came after Eve was deceived into believing the devil’s lies and Adam out rightly disobeyed God. God consequently withdrew aspects of His good life from them (Genesis 3:16-19). However, the good life from God was reinstated through the second Adam, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:12-15).
2. In 1 Peter 3:10-12, the Holy Spirit introduces us to how we can access the good life that Jesus Christ came to restore us to, saying:
“For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”
3. It would be wise of you to pay attention to the three major things mentioned in this scripture as vital to experiencing the good life. First is your speech. No wonder the Bible says death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). The content and manner of your speech have a great impact on your relationship with God and man. Use the power that tongue possesses to speak life to yourself and everything that concerns you every day. Don’t try to move ahead in life by speaking evil or lying about others.
4. Learn to ask God and man for what you desire for yourself. I pray that God will illuminate your heart to understand the power for good that lies in tongue. The second thing you must watch are your deeds. More often than not, what you work towards in life is what will come to you. The types of problems you solve in this world through your deeds go a long way to determine the type of reward you will receive from God and men. May God give you wisdom to apply this truth towards increasing your reward in life. Third and last of these things is the type of influence you bring to your community.
5. If you work towards peace in your family, community and country, you will also enjoy a good life of peace. What better way is there to influence your world than to preach the good news of the abundant life that Jesus Christ came to give (John 10:10)? When you influence workers of evil to begin to do good, you will definitely experience a good life around you. Are your speech, deeds and influence working together to establish the good life you have received from Jesus Christ?

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

’

The Prayer all believers should always pray is not to engage in any circumstance that will trigger the anger of God because He is the owner of good life and have the ability to affect it. Let us be observant of our speech and deeds ensuring that we make good impact in our communities. May we never experience the anger of God in Jesus’ name. Thank you Pastor E.A Adeboye for this wonderful devotional.

Action Point:
Put to work the power inherent in your speech, deeds and influence to access God’s good life.
1. Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in ceaseless 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 power as Thou shalt choose,
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,
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.

Please follow and like us:

20

Memorise: But thou, O LORD, art shield for me; my glory, and the up lifter of mine head. Psalm 3:3
Read: Psalm 3:1-8
1 Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.
2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.
3 But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
4 I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.
5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.
6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.
7 Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.
8 Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah. 
Bible in one year: Jeremiah 51, Luke 19:1-27

AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

1. The sure defender of the oppressed is his Maker.
2. David’s personal experience of this truth caused him to pen the words of today’s Bible reading. Is the Lord your defender? Your answer may be “yes”, but your actions may say “no”, in the sense that the fellow you run to determines who your defender truly is. Here is David’s testimony in Psalm 3:4: “I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill.”
3. Is this also your testimony? Who do you cry to when faced with challenges in life – your biological father, mother, friend or worst of all, a witchdoctor?
4. The story was told of a man who went to consult a witchdoctor for help. The witchdoctor promised to help this man and told him to return in seven days for a charm that would subdue his enemies. When he arrived on the seventh day, he met a lot of people in mourning, and he thought that one of the witchdoctor’s in-patients must have died. To his shock however, when he asked to see the witchdoctor, he was told that the one who promised him victory over his enemies had just given up the ghost. This is the reason why Jeremiah 17:5 says: “Thus saith the LORD; cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm and whose heart departeth from the LORD.”
5. The Psalmist was able to put his trust in the Lord because he refused to be afraid of men, in spite of their fiery looks and large number. In Psalm 3:6, He wrote: “I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.”
6. Anyone who declares such words must have had access to God’s wisdom in Proverbs 29:25, which says: “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” The Psalmist also did something that I would like you to do today: he cried to the Lord. He did not pretend that all was well, like some people do. In Psalm 3:7, He prayed that God should arise and save him. This prayer worked for David, and it will work for you also if you will not have any other god besides the Almighty Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. After crying to God, David affirmed that salvation belonged to Him and that His blessing was upon his people (Psalm 3:8).
7. I pray that the Lord of hosts will defend you and your cause as you cry to Him today in Jesus Name.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

 
Action Point: Devote quality time to cry to the Lord, asking Him to arise and defend you today. As you cry out to Him, He will arise in Jesus’ Name.
Hymn
O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come
Our shelter from the stormy blast
And our eternal home.
Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defence is sure.
Before the hills in order stood
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same
A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.
Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
Thy fly forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.
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.

Please follow and like us:

20

Memorise: I press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14
 
Read: Habakkuk 2:1-3
“I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected. Then the LORD answered me and said: “Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.”
‭‭
 
Bible in one year: Jeremiah 50, Luke 18:18-43
 

AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

1. Every child of God is created to be great.  Jesus, the forerunner of our faith and who our life is modeled after, was Himself great.  Angel Gabriel spoke these prophetic words about Him in Luke 1:32:
“He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:”
2. Although you might not feel like you are a great person in your present condition, do not lose sight of who you are.  Irrespective of your current condition, God has promised to bring you to an expected end (Jeremiah 29:11).  In other words, He will bring you to a place you have always dreamed of getting to.  For this reason, you need to have a dream of what you want your future to look like. You must have dreams, ambitions, hopes and desires to do great things.  The good news is that if your dreams are from God, they will surely come to pass if you don’t give up on them.
3. How does a dream possess a man’s heart? The seeds of dreams are planted in a man’s heart by God Himself.  Your dream must be given to you by God for it to stand the test of time.  God is the Alpha and Omega who sees the end of a thing from its beginning.  He knows your future, and He knows what your capabilities are.  If anyone can give you a dream that will come to pass, it is your heavenly Father.  Joseph’s dreams were given to him by God, and they came to pass despite all the opposing circumstances he went through (Genesis 39 – 41).  
4. To receive a dream from God, let your mind be flooded with holy and righteous thoughts, so that it becomes very easy to hear and see what God has n store for you (Philippians 4:8).  You also have to fertilize and water your dreams by being persistent in prayers for their fulfillment.  
5. Furthermore, you have to work hard for your dreams to come to pass.  Joseph was never idle. When he was in Potiphar’s house, he was so hard working that his master left the affairs of his entire household in his hands.  Even when he was in prison, he maintained a good relationship with the other inmates and was known for interpreting dreams accurately.  You can’t be idle and expect that your dreams will come to pass by prayers only.  If you expect that somehow your dreams will come to pass by only, you are just joking.  You have to work hard at it.  even if what you find yourself doing right now seems not to have any relevance to the attainment of your dreams, still do it diligently.  Peter was a diligent fisherman, doing his job when he was linked to the fulfillment of his destiny (Matthew 4:18-19).  
6. Finally, you have to wait for your dreams to come true.  No matter the situation, you are never to lose sight of the fact that your dreams will come to pass.  Even when it seems like everything is working against the fulfillment of your dreams, hold on to that vision, for it will come to pass

.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

’
 “

I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected. Then the LORD answered me and said: “Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.”Habakkuk‬ ‭2:1-3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬. This scripture explains the reason why we must learn to continue to wait concerning our dreams and not faint. What dreams do you have today and it seems it’s difficult to accomplish? Do not relax, it will come to pass in due season. May the Lord increase Pastor E.A ADEBOYE in wisdom.

Action Point:
Keep your dreams alive at all coast, and in due season they will become reality.
Hymn
My faith look 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: Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Proverbs 27:6
Read: Psalm 41:7-13
7 All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.
8 An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.
9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
10 But thou, O Lord, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.
11 By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.
12 And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.
13 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.
Bible in one year: Jeremiah 49, Luke 18:1-17

AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

1. In today’s world of social media, the real meaning of friendship is fast fading away. It is becoming more frightening to claim to have friends these days because there are so many deceitful friends out there. The magnitude of this problem increases greatly when people have something to gain from their association with you. Are you one of such unfriendly friends? Is your friendship with people built around the furtherance of your interests? Before you begin to identify those who claim to be your friend but are not really so, ask yourself if you are truly friendly. The wisdom of God in Proverbs 18:24 says: “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” One cannot but be amazed by the lamentation of the Psalmist in Psalm 41:9, where he said: “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.”
2. These words perfectly describe the typical character of an unfriendly friend. More often than not, they are very close to their victim. This makes one wonder if they deliberately got close to their victim in order to wreak their havoc.
3. If that is the case, should we not avoid having close friends or any friend at all? I don’t think so; we only need to be prudent in our choice of close friends. An example of Jesus’ choice of associates should help us here. While there were multitudes of followers, He had seventy disciples (Luke 10:1). Among the seventy, He had His core of twelve disciples, and within the twelve, He had three close friends (Mark 3:14, Mark 9:2). Finally, amongst the three, He had one beloved (John 19:26). Note that Judas Iscariot was numbered among Christ’s close friends, so that His destiny as our Redeemer might be fulfilled according to the pattern indicated by scriptures (John 13:17-21).
4. We need to have friends, but the challenge is how to identify good ones.
5. There is one antidote against choosing enemies as friends, which is prayer.
6. Only God knows the hearts of men, and only He can shield us from treacherous friends.
7. Also, the law of harvest applies in friendship. The Lord said you should do unto others as you would have them do unto you (Luke 6:31).
8. If you are an unfaithful friend, some other people will also be unfaithful to you.
9. Friendship always comes with a price tag; therefore, for those you cannot relate with as friends, I recommend that you relate with them as brethren and co-pilgrims on the way to heaven, doing only that which is needful to help and assist them as God gives you strength.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

Unfriendly friends are everywhere that is why it is essential for every believer to be careful whom we choose to be our friends. There are wolves in sheeps clothing. May we never experience such people in our life. God bless Pastor E.A ADEBOYE.

Action Point: If you have hurt anyone by taking undue advantage of their friendship with you, repent and make appropriate restitution.
Hymn
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering 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.
O 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.
In that old rugged cross, I 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.
To that old rugged cross I will ever be true
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then he’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where his glory forever I’ll share.

Please follow and like us:

20

Memorise: Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. John 4:35
Read: John 4:34-38
34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
Bible in one year: Jeremiah 46-48, Luke 17:11-37

AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

1. In preparation for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, you involvement in soul-winning is an indicator that shows how big dream of heaven is.
2. Anyone who has a big dream of the second coming will do everything within his or her power to ensure that not only is the gospel preached all over the world, but also that souls are won in multitudes to the kingdom of God. in Matthew 24:14, Jesus said: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
3. In other words, our dream of a new heaven and a new earth cannot be realized until we have preached the gospel all over the world. It is therefore incumbent on us to pursue the actualization of our dream of the coming kingdom through aggressive evangelism, missionary works and soul-winning.
4. No matter how much we discuss and study the second coming of Christ, it is of no use if we do not do what will bring the kingdom of God back to the earth. The task ahead of us is very simple if we really want to be true to our Master. He has assigned the easier part of the assignment to us, which is reaping the harvest of fields we did not cultivate, and receiving the accompanying wages. John 4:36&38 says: “And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that repeat may rejoice together. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men labored, and ye are entered into their labours.”
5. Others, like early apostles of Jesus Christ, have labored in the fields, expecting that we as reapers will bring in the harvest in the last days.
6. The work ahead of us is easier than ever before; all we need to do is to make ourselves available for the ready-made harvest of souls all over the world. Romans 8:19 says: “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.”
7. The world is waiting for us; if we do not fulfill our assignment as reapers, the harvest will be wasted. However, if we put in our sickles as commanded, we and the souls rescued from eternal damnation will be happy.
8. If we choose to be complacent in soul winning, our Lord’s return will be delayed, and this would prolong our suffering in this world (Romans 8:23). Therefore, put in your sickle today.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

 
Action Point: Determine to reap the already white harvest around you, and make disciples o your neighbours who are earnestly seeking God’s deliverance.
Hymn
Wonderful story of love;
Tell it to me again;
Wonderful;
Wonderful story of love;
Wake the immortal of love;
Wake te immortal strain!
Angels with rapture announce it,
Shepherds with wonder receive it;
Sinner, oh, won’t you believe it?
Wonderful story of love.
Chorus:
Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful, wonderful story of love.
Wonderful story of love;
Though you are far away;
Wonderful story of love;
Still He doth call today;
Calling from Calvary’s mountain,
Down from the crystal-bright fountain,
E’en from the dawn of creation,
Wonderful story of love.
Wonderful story of love
Jesus provides a rest;
Wonderful story of love;
For all the pure and blest,
Rest in those mansions above us, with those who’ve gone on before us,
Singing the rapturous chorus,
Wonderful story of love.

Please follow and like us:

20

Memorise: But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. Hebrews 11:16
Read: Hebrews 11:13-16
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Bible in one year: Jeremiah 43 – 45, Luke 16:19-17:10

AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

1. When I came into full-time ministry as the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), I was confronted with the challenge of accommodation, as I had to move out of the mansion provided for me by the university I resigned from. So I prayed to God for a boy’s quarters’ of three rooms that could accommodate me and my family. However, the Almighty God who called me told me not to even ask for a whole house, because He would build me a city. Since I knew His voice – He is my Daddy and I am His son – I believed what He said. Today, the city He spoke about, where nothing will be lacking, is built on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
2. Beloved, how big is your dream? Is God in that dream? No matter how big that dream may be, if God is in it, It will surely come to pass.
3. Dreams are a very important aspect of human life, because they influence the height a person will reach in life.
4. It is an unfortunate thing for someone to dream small. It is like going to the river to fetch water with a table spoon. Only those who go to the river with big buckets and tanks will maximize the opportunity the trip to the river provides. In the same vein, the dream of eternal life in heaven with God should definitely influence your actions as a Christian.
5. Today’s Bible text speaks about the heroes of faith and their dream of better citizenship in heaven, for which they considered themselves strangers and pilgrims on earth. They sought a country that was far better than any in this world. When you see a person who professes to be a Christian greedily amassing wealth at the expense of the expansion of God’s kingdom, don’t be surprised: such a fellow’s actions only indicate how earthly minded he or she is.
6. In Matthew 6:19-21, the Lord Jesus Christ said: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
7. Unless you are deceiving yourself, your dream of heaven should be big enough to swallow any earthly ambition you have.
8. Our Lord promised us that He was going to heaven in order to prepare a place for us, after which He would come back to take us to Himself in eternal bliss. Let this dream drive you into godliness with contentment, which is great gain indeed (I Timothy 6:6).

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

 
Prayer Point: Father, please don’t let the allure of this present age steal away the dream of heaven from my heart in Jesus’ Name.
Hymn
I need Thee every hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.
Chorus:
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior!
I come to Thee.
I need Thee every hour
Stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their power
When Thou art nigh.
I need Thee every hour
In joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide,
Or life is vain.
I need Thee every hour
Teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises
In me fulfill.
I need thee every hour
Most Holy one;
Oh, make me Thine indeed,
Thou blessed Son.

Please follow and like us:

20

Memorise: A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. Proverbs 15:13
Read: Esther 7:1-7
1 So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.
2 And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.
3 Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:
4 For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king’s damage.
5 Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?
6 And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.
7 And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.
Bible in one year: Jeremiah 40-42, Luke 16:1-18

AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

1. The topic of today’s devotional may be surprising to you indeed, some Christian zealots discredit banqueting, and they tend to glory in not associating themselves with parties. Trying to justify themselves you will hear some say, “I am not a party person.” Yes, there is no crime in not being a party person; I am not a party person either. However, there are benefits associated with banqueting found in God’s word, and because of these blessings, I attend parties once in a while and get blessed by doing so, because it is in the word of God.
2. I thank God for my wife; even when she is fasting, you will always see her cooking. The word of God has inspired her to continually host banquets, culminating in the birth of an annual outreach programme christened ‘Feast of Esther’! The Lord be praised!
3. According to today’s memory verse, one of the blessings of banqueting is a cheerful spirit. The children of this world know this secret and they take advantage of the blessing of joy brought on by getting together. Although they mostly misuse the opportunity of merriment, they still get the associated blessing of a cheerful spirit because it is the word of God.
4. In today’s Bible reading, Queen Esther took advantage of the blessings associated with banqueting to fight a war that could otherwise have been lost if fought on the battlefield. Using her privilege as queen, she perfectly hosted the king to a sumptuous dinner party and got his attention for the salvation of her people from annihilation.
5. The effect of good meals is obvious in the Bible. Good meals have either made or marred people’s destinies. Delicious pottage destroyed the destiny of Esau, while a good meal placed irreversible blessings on Jacob (Genesis 25:29-34, Genesis 27). Also, a good meal prescribed by God Himself delivered the Jews from bondage in Egypt (Exodus 12:5-10).
6. Beloved, when occasion warrants you to host a banquet, go ahead and do it. You can use Nehemiah 8:10 as a template of what festivities for children of God should look like. This scripture verse says: “…Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
7. Are you planning to host a banquet and the devil is putting doubts in your heart? Go ahead with that joyful gathering, and there shall be no problem; rather you will come back with unimaginable testimonies of victories over those who don’t want you to celebrate in Jesus’ Name.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

 
Prayer Point: Father, please give me a reason to host a celebration this season in Jesus’ Name.
Hymn
(Tune: There shall be showers of blessing)
We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Sinners will soon be forgiven
Prodigals will come home soon.
Chorus:
Shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Rivers in desert now flowing
Halleluyah to our king.
We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Sickness and sorrow will be gone
Bondage will be forgotten.
We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
The barren will be fruitful soon
Failure will be forgotten.
We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Poverty will be forgotten
Stagnancy will soon be gone.
We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
To all miracles are given
There shall be celebrations
We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Many will have testimonies
Of prayers answered fully
We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
One of us will chase a thousand
Two will conquer ten thousands.
We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Songs of praises we will sing
Halleluyah to our King.

Please follow and like us:

20