Monthly Archives: May 2019

MEMORISE:
And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. Psalm 50:15

READ: 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

9 And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.

10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

MESSAGE

Here’s some good news for children of God today: The Almighty God, the creator of the universe, still answers prayers of those who call on Him. There is someone using this devotional who thinks that God no longer answers prayers, because it seems you have never received an answer to your prayers before. Those testimonies you have been hearing of God’s awesome acts now look like make-up stories. The Lord asked me to declare to you these words of Jesus Christ today:

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”
John 16:23b-24

God’s promise in today’s memory verse is as valid as ever, and we must keep believing it. We should not allow the devil cheat us by convincing us to seek other alternatives instead of praying to God. When the Almighty declared the words in Psalm 50:15, He was not making a political statement; rather, He was telling us not only what He is capable of doing but also what He is eager to do if only we believe. In John 11:40, Jesus said to Martha:

“……. Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?”

One man who experienced this prayer-answering God was Jabez. Reacting to the painful circumstances surrounding his birth, his mother gave him a name meaning “child of sorrow”. However, Jabez was determined to defy the negative influence of this bad name. he therefore called upon God and the Lord and granted his request. Are you under a similar burden? I decree over you today that like Jabez, every negative influence affecting you will be wiped away as you pray in faith in Jesus Name. you can learn a lot from the prayer of Jabez, particularly the way he rejected poverty by a simple prayer of faith. Jabez did not shy away from prosperity like some Christians do. I have tasted poverty, so much so that I had no shoe on my feet until I was eighteen years old. I have also tasted of divine prosperity. I can therefore tell you that one is far better than the other. Moreover, Jabez prayed that riches should come into his life without bringing calamity along. He believed that the God who blessed can equally protect him from the evil that can be associated with wealth. People who fear being wealthy should learn from the prayer of Jabez and begin to call on the prayer answering God, who alone can protect as well as bless (Proverbs 10:22). Go ahead and pray for your heart desires; today is your day of answered prayer.

ACTION POINT:

Following the pattern of Jabez’s prayer, ask the Lord to bless you indeed.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 37-38
Jeremiah 40:1-12

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 8: MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE
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!

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!

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.

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!

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20

MEMORISE:

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Matthew 24:35

READ: Matthew 5:17-20

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

MESSAGE

To explain the place of law and grace in our lives as Christians, one of my sons once said that the law teaches us godliness while grace gives us the power to do what the law commands. We can then say that law and grace work together for us to live acceptably before God. You cannot claim to be under the grace of God and live a lawless life, because those who live under God’s grace are subject to the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1-2). You are a partaker of God’s grace because the Spirit of Lordship now lives in you and controls you to live by Christ’s commandments. On the other hand, you cannot obey the instructions of this Spirit of Lordship without the help of God’s grace. Why? It is because His standard is high and His was uncompromising. This is the reason why Christ paid such a high price for us to gain access to God’s throne, where we obtain grace that helps us in this regard. Hebrews 4:16 says:

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

God’s standard is entrenched in His word. No matter how much the world changes, the standards which God’s word sets for man to live by cannot be changed (Matthew 24:35, 2 Timothy 2:19).

Our Lord Jesus Christ in today’s Bible said He did not come to destroy the law or the prophets; rather, He came to fulfil them by the grace He brought from heaven. His grace is more than enough for those who are willing to obey God, love Him and worship Him in spirit and in truth. Whatever the Lord commands, He gives the grace to do (Philippians 2:13). From the Lord’s teachings in Matthew 5:27-32, it is obvious that His standard of the Law of Moses. This is because His standard establishes the will of God as it was in the beginning (Matthew 19:8). Thankfully, His grace is more than enough to help us meet this standard. For example, Christ brought the grace not only to avoid going into the act of sexual immorality but also to help us not lust after the opposite sex in our hearts (Matthew 5:27-28). The law says we should not commit murder, but the letter of grace helps us not to be angry at all. The same thing applies to the issue of divorce. Jesus Christ taught against divorce, equating it with the sin of adultery (Matthew 5:31-32). God’s standards have not changed, and they will never change. Our love for God should motivate us to live by His standards. James 1:25 says:

“But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

Let us continually look into the perfect law of liberty in order to please our God daily.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please grant me the grace to live by Your standards daily, in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 35-36
Jeremiah 39

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 12: DEEPER, DEEPER IN THE LOVE OF JESUS

• Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
• Refrain:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.

• Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.

• Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.

• Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.

• Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue. Please

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20

MEMORISE:

Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul. Proverbs 29:17

READ: 1 Samuel 3:11-14

11 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.

12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.

13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.

MESSAGE

I think we can all agree that chastisement is not a pleasant thing. However, although nobody wants to be chastised, rebuked or corrected, it is necessary if we want to reach our goal in life. If we want young souls to become great, we must rebuke them, and sharply too, before it is too late. It is satanic psychology that teaches that children should not be corrected or punished for wrong doing. Contrary to this lie, the wisdom of God tells us in Proverbs 13:24:

“He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.”

It is not a virtue but rather vain glorying to hear people say, “I don’t punish my child” or “My father never punished me.” The Lord said He would judge the house of Eli forever for the iniquity of his children, because he knew about it but did not punish them for it (1 Samuel 3:13). Some parents cannot even endure the pain of chastising their children, and so they allow them to develop into persons with evil character. Such parents need to understand that God, in His wisdom, says in Hebrews 12:11:

“Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”

Today, in the so-called developed world, corporal punishment is outlawed to the peril of the young and upcoming generation. Modern child psychology has vehemently come up against corporal punishment. It is therefore not surprising that modern society is paying a high price for this in the form of character erosion. There is no psychologist anywhere in the world that can be more accurate in judgement than the Creator of mankind who owns all children (Psalm 127:3). Based on what He knows about children, He said in Proverbs 22:15:

“ Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.”

It is unfortunate that some people take this verse as a mere figurative statement. In any case, we can do nothing against the truth but for the truth (2 Corinthians 13:8). While I was growing up in my hometown, a rich parent arrested our teacher for flogging his child and this teacher vowed never to punish the children of the so-called rich among us again. Unfortunately, those children never amounted to anything good in life. Beloved, the child psychology that forbids chastening or rebuke gets its inspiration from the pit of hell. We must reject it in its entirety if we desire a glorious future for the next generation.

ACTION POINT:

Pray that God will fill the hearts of parents, guardians and teachers with His fear and wisdom to influence the next generation into godliness.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 33-34
Jeremiah 38:14-28

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 16: GOD GIVE US CHRISTIAN HOMES

1. God, give us christian homes!
Homes where the Bible is loved and taught,
Homes where the master’s
Will is sought,
Homes crowned with beauty thy love hath wrought;
God, give us christian homes;
God, give us christian homes!

2. God, give us christian homes!
Homes where the father is true and strong,
Homes that are free from the blight of wrong,
Homes that are joyous with love and song;
God, give us christian homes;
God, give us christian homes!

3. God, give us Christian homes!
Homes where the mother, in queenly quest
Strive to show others thy way is best
Homes where the lord is an honored guest;
God, give us Christian homes;
God, give us Christian homes!

4. God, give us Christian homes!
Homes where the children are led to know
Christ in His beauty who loves them so,
Homes where the altar fires burn and glow;
God, give us Christian homes;
God, give us Christian homes!
Amen.

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20

MEMORISE:
The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous. Proverbs 15:29

READ: Luke 18:1-8

1And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

MESSAGE

The benefits of the elect are innumerable, but we will be reflecting on just one of these today, which is the benefit of answered prayers. Who are the elect in the first place? Isaiah 42:1a says,

“Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth;…….”

The elects are those with whom the Lord is well pleased. How does one become an object of God’s pleasure? The Holy Spirit answers that question in Psalm 147:11, where He says:

“The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.”

Because God has given freewill to every person, we all have a role to play to be numbered among His elect. Whether people believe it or not, God has His favorites. You can choose to be one of His favorites by fearing Him and willing to walk in His ways. As a man, Jesus Christ was a favorite of God because He willingly offered Himself to do God’s will (Hebrews 10:5, Philippians 2:5-11). Therefore, in Matthew 3:17, God declared concerning Him:

“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

No wonder Jesus Enjoyed the benefit of answered prayers to the maximum when He was in the flesh. In John 11:41c-42, He said at the tomb of His friend Lazarus:

“Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.”

Proverbs 15:29 tells us that the Lord hears the prayer of the righteous. Righteousness is a gift of grace that we receive through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:22, Romans 5:17). Faith is required to obtain the righteousness of God which qualifies us to be numbered among His elect. This issue of faith is so important if we are to enjoy the benefit of answered prayers, so much s that when Jesus taught on the place of persistence in prayer, He asked this question in Luke 18:8b

“ Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”

This question needs an individual response from everyone.

Beloved, you need to be one of God’s elect if you want your prayers to be answered. God listens to the cry of the elect and responds positively to their requests. You can enjoy this benefit if you give your life to Christ today and continually live by faith in His word.

KEY POINT:

The Good Shepherd only recognizes the voice of His sheep. If your prayers go unanswered, it’s time for you to check your life and your faith.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 31-32
Jeremiah 38:1-13

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 8: MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE
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!

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!

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.

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!

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20

MEMORISE:
And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. Matthew 19:29

READ: Luke 5:1-7

1And 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.

MESSAGE

How great our joy will be when we realize the blessings that come from serving the Lord God our Maker! The fact remains, God created man in order to bless him. Only few parents, if any at all, would want to have children so that those children can feed them. As a matter of fact, good parents prepare treasures for their children to inherit. It earthly parents can do this; how much more would the Almighty God prepare treasures for His children? We see this character of God in Genesis 1, where He created all the good things of life before creating man. In addition, God created mankind in order to walk in partnership with him. He created Adam and gave him a garden to dress. This garden served as a place where they fellowshipped together as partners.

In the encounter between Jesus Christ and Peter recorded in today’s Bible reading, God further demonstrates His desire for partnership. Jesus engaged Peter’s services as He preached to the multitude at the lake of Gennesaret, and when He was done, He rewarded him with an unprecedented catch of fish. This is what our Lord can do for whoever chooses to serve Him. When the Lord called me into His service on full-time basis, little did I know how much He would bless me for answering His call. Today, if anyone ask me how I feel about working for God, I will simply tell the fellow, “It pays to serve the Lord.” Beloved, are you in doubt as to whether or not you should serve God? Perhaps you don’t even know how to serve Him. To serve the Lord you must first believe in Jesus Christ (John 6:28-29). Those who choose to serve God must come to Jesus by answering the call He made to all mankind in Matthew 11:28-30, and begin to learn of Him. You cannot render service to God anyhow because He has an acceptable way of serving Him. His word says in Romans 12:1:

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

Jesus served God acceptably when He was here on earth, and that is why you should learn of Him. When you follow the example of His service, you can be sure you are serving God acceptably. In today’s memory verse, the Lord gives a mouth-watering assurance of our reward when we serve Him diligently. This reward cuts across both the temporal and the eternal. It is indeed rewarding to serve the Lord. I am a living testimony of this, and you can be also.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please help me to serve You acceptably, and help me not to miss my reward here and hereafter.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 29-30 Jeremiah 37

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 10: I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS

• I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

• 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.

• Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though- none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.

• My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

• 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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20

MEMORISE:
Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. Psalm 110:3

READ: Isaiah 2:1-4

1The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

MESSAGE

In the spiritual sense, ‘revival’ refers to a period of unusual outpouring of God’s power brought about by an unprecedented manifestation of His presence. It is a time of refreshing for God’s people (Acts 3:19). The story of Elijah’s conquest on Mount Camel is a reference point on what revival looks like (1 Kings 18:17-40). The prophets of Baal had boasted of the power of their god and had been calling on him in vain, but after the power of God came upon the mountain and consumed the sacrifice of His prophet, the people began to chant “Elijah, Elijah” – meaning “Elohim is Jah” or “The Lord, he is the God.” 1 Kings 18:39 says:

“And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.”

How true the word of God is! As today’s memory verse says, the people were indeed willing to bow to God and declare His Lordship after witnessing the demonstration of His power. In the day of God’s power that revival brings, people will acknowledge the Leadership of Christ and they will be willing to live out His righteousness.

In today’s Bible reading, the Holy Spirit reveals to us what happens when revival comes. In the day of God’s power, of their own accord, people will flock to God’s alter to confess their sins and leave them there, never to pick them up again. They will eagerly seek the Lord and do His will, summoning each other to come and worship the Lord. Moreover, people in political power will submit to the priests of the Lord, like in the days of Elisha when the king called the prophet “My father” (2 Kings 13:14). When revival comes, instruments of mass destruction shall turn into instruments of mass construction and implements for production of food for people to eat and enjoy. The revival from heaven will affect all spheres of human endeavor. I pray that God sends that day quickly so that evil legislations can be replaced with divine laws that promote the dignity of mankind. I pray for a time when people will willingly relinquish acts like bestiality, homosexuality, incest and other forms of sexual perversion; humanity will then be freed from the horrible consequences that come with such acts. May the Lord send His power more than ever before, so that His people, particularly the Church, can be His true ambassadors, influencing their world towards righteousness.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please send Your revival into every corner of the world so that men may willingly submit to Your Lordship, and let it begin within my spirit, soul and body.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 28
Jeremiah 36:20-32

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 11: WHEN THE POWER OF GOD DESCENDED

1. When the power of God descended
On the day of Pentecost,
All the day of waiting ended,
They received the Holy Ghost

Refrain:
O Lord, send the power just now,
O Lord send the power just now,
O Lord send the power just now,
And baptize, every one.

2. Tongues of flame came down upon them,
And they preached the word in power,
Listening multitudes awakened
Turned to God that very hour.

3. We are waiting Holy Spirit
We are all of one accord,
Lord fulfill just now the promise
That is given in thy Word.

4. Fill and thrill us with Thy presence,
Grant the blessing that we need
Flood our souls with wondrous glory,
While the prayer of faith we plead.

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20

MEMORISE:

Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: Proverbs 3:9

READ: Genesis 22:10-18

10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

15 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,

16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:

17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

MESSAGE

Many of us desire the blessing of Abraham and this is a good thing. However, how many of us are ready to do the things Abraham did? Abraham gave gifts that honored God, so much that God swore by Himself to bless Him. After Abraham gave his very best on the altar of sacrifice, God said to him in Genesis 22:16-17:

“16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;”

Our God is not a respecter of persons. If you can also honor Him with your giving, He is ready to give you a blessing that has everlasting value in return.

The most precious thing you can give to honor God is your life. Just as God demanded the son of promise as a burnt sacrifice from Abraham, so does He demand your life. He says to you today:

My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
Proverbs 23:26

The devil is also struggling to have your heart so that he can thwart the great plans of God for your life. When you choose to give your heart to God, you have done Him a great honor, and you will find favor in His sight and in the sight of men (Proverbs 3:4). Another form of giving which honors God is found in today’s memory verse. Giving God the first fruit of your increase is an act of faith that brings delight to His heart. There is no ambiguity as to what we stand to gain from this. In Proverbs 3:10, He clearly says:

“So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”

Unfortunately, many Christians still argue against the doctrine of first fruits. Some say that it belongs to the Old Testament, and I ask them whether the Old testament is not part of God’s word to us. There are some pleasant promises of God we love which are only found in the Old Testament. We do not say we will not key into them because they are only in the Old Testament, so why ignore the doctrine of first fruit? Beloved, give God your best today. Honor Him by offering your spirit, soul and body to Him as a living sacrifice in holiness and acceptable service (Romans 12:1-2). I pray that the Lord will grant you grace to completely obey His command like Abraham the father of faith, did.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please give me a heart of flesh that is receptive to keeping Your precepts.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 26-26
Jeremiah 36:4-19

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

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20

MEMORISE:
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Matthew 5:15

READ: 1 Samuel 17:22-31

22 And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.

23 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.

24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.

25 And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel.

26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?

27 And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.

28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.

29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?

30 And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.

31 And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him.

MESSAGE

In Colossians 2:18, the Holy spirit warns us to beware of those who will try to intimidate us against doing what God has laid on our hearts to do in furtherance of the gospel. Using accusations and eye-service, some people resorted to emotional blackmail to deter zealous children of God from their passion. Unfortunately, such behavior is usually rooted in envy and jealousy, and it exist even among children of God. For example, when a child of God chooses to bless his or her pastor, or decides to single-handedly execute Church projects, some people would accuse them of bribing their way into the pastor’s heart for undue advantage. In the face of such accusations, unless such a child of God is well rooted in God, he or she may chicken out of doing the good work the Lord has ordained him or her to do. Beloved, beware of doing things to discourage other believers from putting their God-given gifts to use in advancing the cause of God’s Kingdom. I suffered this when my wife and I newly became born again and were zealously working to redeem the time we had wasted before knowing Jesus Christ. It seems to me that the “brethren” who engage in acts as this are not aware of what the Lord said in today’s memory verse.

Before David triumphed over Goliath, he also faced discouraging accusations from his brethren. By God’s divine arrangement, David was sent by his father to his brothers on the battlefield. When he got there, he heard Goliath insulting the host of the Lord’s army, and he could not take it because of the Spirit and anointing of God upon his life. God had actually prepared him to give Israel victory against the Philistines. He therefore began to make enquiries as to how he could enlist in the army to fight on behalf of the God of Israel. Amazingly, his eldest brother, Eliab, became very angry with him for this! David’s response to his anger shows the mind of someone who knew his life had a purpose (1 Samuel 17:29). Children of destiny should learn from this and also from the fact that David turned away from his brother’s envy-driven anger and talked with someone else, until news about him got to king Saul. Beloved, do you know the God that you serve? Do you know why he made you who you are? Do you allow people to deter you from your God-given assignment? Remember, everyone will give account of the talent given to them by the Master (Matthew 25:14-30, Romans 14:12). Therefore, use your all to advance the cause of God’s kingdom on earth, and you will receive commendation and reward when the Master returns.

ACTION POINT:

Use every gift and opportunity God has given you in life to advance the cause of His Kingdom.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 24-25
Jeremiah 35:12-36:3

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 13: I AM A VICTOR

• Yes, I know I am a victor
For the Bible tells me so
God made me more than a conqueror
Much stronger than all my foes

CHORUS
Jesus loves me and I love Him
Together we rule the world
Christ with me I will overcome
By His Blood, His Name, His Word

• Yes, I know I am a victor
Stronger than demons I am
To Satan I am a terror
I am free, o yes, I am

• Yes, I know I am a victor
Stronger than lack, poverty
All my needs Jesus provides for
I have life abundantly

• Yes, I know I am a victor
Barrenness no more indeed
Fruitful is the God I live for
All my dreams shall be fulfilled

• Yes, I know I am a victor
By His strength I shall succeed
No more loss and no more failure
Glory to glory proceed

• Yes, I know I am a victor
No more sorrow, no despair
Jesus Christ is my own Succour
Tomorrow is joy and cheer

• Yes, I know I am a victor
Very soon I’ll reign with Him
His promise is my sure anchor
He’s coming to take me home

• Jesus loves me and I love Him
We rule this world together
As He is so right now I am
Hear me shout Halleluyah

• Jesus loves me Halleluyah
Hear me shout Halleluyah
Halleluyah, Halleluyah
Glory be to God on high

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MEMORISE: And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Revelation 1:6

READ: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

1And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.

2 And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.

3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.

4 And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?

5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him.

7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.

9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.

10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.

11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.

13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

MESSAGE

Irrespective of what your current state is, if you belong to God through Jesus Christ, you are a king. You might not feel like it, but the truth is, in the spirit realm you are royalty. You need to be conscious of this great privilege that Christ has bestowed on you and walk in it. Continuously doing this by faith will make your spiritual reality manifest in the physical world, such that you will begin to reign in all situations. Christ has restored us to the rightful position God created us to occupy- a position that was lost to sin and the devil in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1:26). As the original Kingmaker, Jesus alone has the power to make and unmake kings. In today’s Bible reading, we see how He deposed King Saul because of the careless disobedience, and how He made David king in his place. You will notice that these moves took place in the spirit realm before manifesting in the physical world. Although Saul had lost his crown, He still sat on the throne, and even though David was anointed king, he still dwelt in caves and took care of sheep.

As a king unto God, what are you doing to protect your thrown and crown so that you do not lose your status like Adam and King Saul did? The surest way to protect your thrown and crown is through absolute obedience to the word of God (1 Samuel 15:23). You must continuously recognize and honor the One who made you king, because all power and authority belong to Him and He gives it to whoever He pleases (Romans 13:1). This is why He is called the Kings of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelations 19:16). Furthermore, your allegiance to Jesus Christ must be unwavering if you will not lose your status as king unto God. Are you unstable in your walk with God? Do you have a place in your heart still reserved for the world? What the Lord said to the Church at Ephesus in Revelation 2:5 He says to you now:

“Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”

It is it is important for you to know that dominion and power can be stolen from a king. David lost his throne for a while after his son, Absalom, stole the hearts of his subjects away from him (2 Samuel 15:6). David did not regain his throne without a fight. Sin is the “Absalom” we must fight to a standstill. Hebrew 12:4 says:

“Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.”

As a king unto God, I encourage you to always stand your ground in Christ from today and let nothing take away your throne and crown.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, help me to continually reign on Your behalf on earth until I see you in glory.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 22-23
Jeremiah 34:17-35:11

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 3: TRUST AND OBEY.

1. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

o Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

2. Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

3. Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

4. But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

5. Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

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MEMORISE:

Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. Psalm 128:1

READ: Psalm 128:1-6

1Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.

2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.

4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.

5 The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.

6 Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace upon Israel.

MESSAGE

There is one fear which every wise person must possess, and this is the fear of the Lord. While the absence of the fear of the Lord has bought untold hardship upon many people’s lives, those who walked in it in the past all fulfilled their destinies. One example of someone who fulfilled his destiny by walking in the fear of the Lord is Joseph. From his experience, we are left with no doubt that sexual immorality is not an invention of the 21st century. As a matter of fact, it was this sin, among others, that destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. Besides, in the household of Joseph’s father, Jacob, sexual immortality was noticeable- we read of Reuben’s escapade with his father’s wife in Genesis 35:22, which earned him a curse in Genesis 49:4. In spite of the sexual immorality around him, Joseph feared the Lord, and this kept him from sleeping with his master’s wife. With fear and trembling, he said in Genesis 39:9:

“There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”

Where did Joseph find it written that sleeping with another man’s wife is sin, not only against her husband but also against God? Considering that at the time he lived the Law of Moses was not yet given, it must have been the law of God written in his heart that constrained him (Romans 2:14-15). This law says in Exodus 20:14:

“Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

Joseph prospered because he feared the Lord. Do you fear the Lord? What is your character in your closet? How do you conduct yourself in hidden places? When you are corrected of wrongdoing by the spiritual leadership God has placed over you, do you question them on where it is written in Scriptures? Even after showing you where it is written, do you still argue? On account of being chastised, have you not changed your church or parish three or four time? Do you really fear the Lord? If you really fear the Lord, you will not be dating a married man or woman. If you really want to prosper, always remember that Psalm 128:1-2 says:

“1Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.
For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.”

Beloved, fear the Lord and abstain from all evil.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, I come to You as a child, asking you to instill Your fear in my heart to help me always do the right thing, no matter where I am, from now onward.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 20-21
Jeremiah 34:1-16

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 10: I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS

• I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

• 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.

• Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though- none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.

• My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

• 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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