Monthly Archives: December 2019

MEMORISE:
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. Matthew 18:15

READ: 1 Corinthians 6:1-9

1Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?

2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?

6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.

7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?

8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

MESSAGE

One of the things we should know and accept is that disputes will occur amongst us in the body of Christ. This is because we are made up of different persons from different backgrounds with different levels of understanding.

In today’s Bible reading, Paul was worried about the believers in the Church at Corinth who were taking their fellow believers to court. He wondered why they couldn’t settle their differences amongst themselves but preferred to go before a judge. He therefore admonished them not to go to court but rather take their disputes to the elders for resolution. This admonition still applies to us today. It is shameful for two brothers of the same Father to take their family dispute to an outsider to settle. Not only does it imply that there is no wise fellow in their family who can settle their dispute, it also opens the door for cultures that are not theirs to influence the way they live their lives, because the fellow whom they take their case to will judge it according to the culture he or she is familiar with. This is what happens when we charge our brethren to court.

If you have a dispute with a fellow member of the Body of Christ, your case should be taken to the elders of your church for them to settle for you. When you take the case to court, the verdict will not be based on the teaching of the Scriptures, and the result is likely to affect your relationship with that person negatively. Even judges sometimes advise brothers to go home and settle their disputes within their family. The reason they do this is to avoid more severe issues within the family later.

I am not promising you that taking a case to the elders will guarantee that you are not cheated, but it will guarantee that you don’t soil the Name of your heavenly Father. Let your priorities be clear. God first before anything or anyone else. Always ask God for what He would like you to do before you make any move. It is only when the other fellow has acted contrary to the instructions of the elders, that you can then take him or her to the law courts; otherwise, even if you feel like you are being cheated, it is better to keep your family Name intact than to take your family matter to be judged by outsiders.

ACTION POINT:

Always seek to protect the Name of your Father in Heaven.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 105-106
Zephaniah 2

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 5: LET OTHERS SEE JESUS IN YOU.

1. While passing thro’ this world of sin,
and others your life shall view,
Be clean and pure without, within;
Let others see Jesus in you.

Refrain:
Let others see Jesus in you,
Let others see Jesus in you.
Keep telling the story, be faithful and true;
Let others see Jesus in you.

2. Your life’s a book before their eyes,
They’re reading it thro’ and thro’
Say, does it point them to the skis,
Do others see Jesus in you?

Refrain

3. Then live for Christ both day and night,
Be faithful, be brave and true,
and lead the lost to life and Christ.
Let others see Jesus in you.

Refrain

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MEMORISE:
Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’s side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. Exodus 32:26

READ: Hebrews 11:24-26

24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;

25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

MESSAGE

A decision is a conclusion or resolution reached after due consideration of a subject matter. Making decisions is a routine process that is of vital importance to all human endeavors. An individual’s level of success and achievements are usually the product of past personal choices concerning what to eat, where to go, what to wear and who to relate with on daily basis. We also make decisions based on our personal preferences in the area of religion, education, vocation, fashion and marriage. However, life often leads us to a point of decision where the choices before us have the potential of changing the course of our lives permanently for good or bad. How a person handles such turning point decisions goes a long way in determining the fulfillment of his or her destiny in life. Abraham’s response to God’s demand to offer his only son as burnt offering determined the course of his life (Genesis 22:2). As a result of his obedience, Abraham received an irreversible blessing of eternal value (Genesis 22:16-17). Ruth also reached a point where she needed to make a critical decision, and the decision she took changed the course of her life for good forever. She took a great decision to abandon her home in pursuit of the true God, saying in Ruth 1:16:

“And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:”
Through this decision, she became an ancestor of our Lord Jesus Christ.
As believers in Christ, we are privileged to have insight into God’s truth, as recorded in scriptures or received through the revelation of the Holy Spirit. We must therefore be careful not to resist God’s will or rebel against His commandments in any way. Many people resist God’s truth because of their own pride and self-centeredness. Some claim to be born again, but their true color becomes exposed by their refusal to give up worldly pleasures and those things that are socially acceptable but contrary to God’s word. There are others still who appear to be committed to God, but their heart is lured away from the ideas of Jesus Christ by anxieties, ambition and the gods of money, position and power. The fact remains that God does not force commitment on anyone; we have the right to count the cost and carefully consider the implications before committing ourselves to Him in any way. A person’s decision to become born again is a solemn undertaking to obey God’s word, and it is a life-long commitment of total submission to the will of God in holiness. I decree that as you endeavor to walk in obedience to God, the Lord will manifest His power in every area of your life and cause your blessings to overflow in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, help me to make decisions of positive eternal value in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 100-104

Zephaniah 1

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 12: DEEPER, DEEPER IN THE LOVE OF JESUS.
1. Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
o Refrain:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.

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

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

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

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

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MEMORISE:
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:5

READ: John 15:1-7

1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

MESSAGE

A common practice in the Body of Christ today is the preference to fellowship in big congregations. This idea is favored by many because it affords them the opportunity of attending church without participating in any form of service, thereby evading responsibility and commitment. People who indulge in this are the category of people Jesus refers to as unfruitful branches in today’s Bible reading. Although they are born-again members of the Church and branches in the Vine, they are unwilling to make serious commitments to the Lord’s service or be tied to any responsibility in His Church. Such people are ignorantly denying themselves great blessings from God. Incidentally, without active participation in church activities, spiritual growth and fruitfulness will be stunted. Children of God should know that fruitfulness is mandatory and highly rewarding. It is mandatory because God commanded it in Genesis 1:28. Which says:

“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it…..”

The blessing that God bestowed on humanity here is the source from which all other blessings flow to mankind. This scripture also defines a very important principle of life: fruitfulness comes before multiplication. A person that is fruitful will automatically multiply, and anyone who refuses to be fruitful may never multiply.

God has provided everything that is required for our growth in the Vine. Therefore, barrenness or unfruitfulness in any branch of the Vine may be due to sickness, detachment from the vine or a lack of willingness to bear fruit. The Holy Spirit makes it clear that a branch in the Vine can be sick or attacked by pests, saying in Psalm 107:17:

“Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.”

It is also possible for a branch to be detached from the Vine, making it possible for the fluid of life flowing in the Vine to reach it. Such a detached branch will not only find it impossible to bear fruit, it also stands the risk of dying off. It is possible to find a branch in the Vine that is unwilling to be fruitful, as exemplified by the man given one talent in Matthew 25:24-25. Fruitfulness is a covenant benefit of God’s children that can affect every area of their lives. You can be fruitful spiritually, materially, academically, socially, physically and financially. Deuteronomy 7:12-14 reveals that God expects you to be fruitful in your body, in your business and in your livestock. This implies that everything associated with you is to carry the mark of God’s blessing. Praise God!

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please make me a fruitful branch in all ramification of life in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 92-99
Habakkuk 3

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 4: TAKE MY LIFE.
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 pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

5. Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

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.

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• MEMORISE:

But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 2 Timothy 4:5

READ: Acts 20:28-35

28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

33 I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.

34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

MESSAGE

A careful study of God’s word reveals three categories of shepherds. There are bad shepherds whose defining trait is feeding on the sheep. There are unrepentant agents of the devil, who are actually wolves in sheep’s clothing. The Holy Spirit describes them as ruthless grievous in today’s Bible reading, and God’s judgement is declared against them in Jeremiah 23:1-2. The second category of shepherds are those referred to as hirelings by the Lord (John 10:12-13). Shepherds in this category see their assignment as a form of business through which their daily bread is guaranteed. They have little or no commitment to their sheep, and so their productivity is very low. Lastly, we have the good shepherds, who’s live and attitude to the assignment of overseeing God’s sheep are modelled after the Good Shepherd Himself. As expressed in John 10:11-14, God has clearly showed His preference and desire for good shepherds.

Has God called you into a spiritual office in His Church, or are you in a position where your decisions affect the destiny of many people? God is saying to you today that your call to that office is not for the purpose of accumulating titles or enjoying a privileged position only. You are actually called to serve God. You are called to be a blessing to others by the workings of God’s gifts in your life. Today, it is evident that some people are not utilizing the spiritual office they occupy for the benefit of God’s Kingdom. If you have been called as a pastor, your responsibility is to care for the physical and spiritual needs of the Church of God you oversee. Are you an evangelist, a preacher or a messenger of the true gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ? You ought to declare the entire counsel of God at all times, knowing well that we live in times when many people are departing from faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and various doctrines of the devil. The word of the Lord in your mouth should not be watered down under any circumstance. Also, as a teacher of God’s word, you have been gifted by the Holy Spirit to explain God’s word in order to build and equip the Church. You are to communicate biblical truths effectively, to the understanding of your hearers. Are you occupying the office of a prophet? Then declare the word of God to the people with boldness. Spiritual offices are meant to complement one another in edifying the Body of Christ. These offices are meant to work together for the unity of the Church, so that God’s people can become well grounded in the full knowledge of God. Every good shepherd will be handsomely rewarded, because our God does not owe any man (1 Corinthians 15:58). You will not lose your reward in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, help me to model my service after the Good Shepherd, in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 88-91
Habakkuk 2:2-20

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 5: LET OTHERS SEE JESUS IN YOU.
1. While passing thro’ this world of sin,
and others your life shall view,
Be clean and pure without, within;
Let others see Jesus in you.

Refrain:
Let others see Jesus in you,
Let others see Jesus in you.
Keep telling the story, be faithful and true;
Let others see Jesus in you.

2. Your life’s a book before their eyes,
They’re reading it thro’ and thro’
Say, does it point them to the skis,
Do others see Jesus in you?

Refrain

3. Then live for Christ both day and night,
Be faithful, be brave and true,
and lead the lost to life and Christ.
Let others see Jesus in you.

Refrain

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MEMORISE:
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 1 John 2:1

READ: Romans 8:24-27

24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

MESSAGE

self-condemnation is one of the evil arrows in the devil’s quiver. It certainly is one of the enemy’s weapons of choice deployed in attacking many Christians today. The activity of the kingdom of darkness in this regard takes the form of laying out accusations against the saints of God whenever they err. The enemy also tries to remind us of sins we committed in the past, which we have repented of, suggesting that perhaps God has not forgiven or forgotten them. No wonder the Bible refers to the devil as the accuser of the brethren, saying in Revelation 12:10:

“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”

However, our God is always several steps ahead of the enemy’s antics, and He has made provision for Jesus Christ to stand as our advocate in heaven’s court, pleading our cause and interceding on our behalf whenever the devil presents his accusations against us. The Holy Spirit also intercedes on our behalf whenever we err and our souls is cast down. After convincing us of whatever sins we may have committed, He comforts and encourages us to rise up from the pit of sin and return to our rightful place in the bosom of our loving Father. We need to clarify the fact that remorse for sin is not the same as self-condemnation. Self-condemnation is a very deadly weapon that is effective in taking away the confidence of believers. As a child of God, the lies of the enemy cannot condemn you before God. Even if you fall into sin, you must remember how precious you are to God, who will surely not leave the judgement of His children in Satan’s hands.

Any time we separate ourselves to focus on God in the place of prayer, the devil is not happy about it. He therefore tries to step in by bombarding our minds with his accusations in order to disrupt and terminate our fellowship with God. He will do anything to keep your from praying, and condemnation is his favorite tactic. Surprisingly, we are also pleased to trash ourselves. Carrying the weight of blame and condemning oneself does not help anyone. The right thing to do is to go to God in prayer, confessing our sins and asking for forgiveness. Be wise, Jesus Christ our Advocate is the only one to consult on issues of sin and forgiveness. As long as you are a habitual sinner that doesn’t take repentance seriously, whenever you approach God in prayers, be confident that the Lord will answer your prayer in Jesus’ Name. have you fallen from grace into sin? Stop condemning yourself today and start talking to your Advocate, Jesus Christ. He will treat your case with tender mercy and ensure that your joy of salvation returns to you.

ACTION POINT:

thank the Lord for the forgiveness of your sins and for His work as your Advocate in heaven’s court.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 81-87
Habakk1:1-2:1

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 9: MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE.
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! We

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MEMORISE:
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 2 Timothy 3:5

READ: Matthew 15:1-11

1Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,

2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.

5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;

6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:

11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

MESSAGE

being religious is not the same as being godly. It is surprising that people cannot tell the difference between the two these days. A religion is a belief system practiced by a group of people who subscribe to its teachings and set of rules. The Pharisees and scribes of Jesus´ time on earth are a good example of religious people. Although they followed all the laws of Moses, they were blind to the presence of the Messiah living amongst them, even though Moses spoke of Him. In spite of all the great works He did before their very eyes, which should have convinced them beyond any reasonable doubt of His identity, they questioned everything He did and refused to accept Him, You see, the Pharisees obeyed the laws of Moses to the letter but refused to acknowledge the power of salvation through Christ. They also didn’t believe in His message of love and mercy; rather, they believe that no sinner must go unpunished (John 8:1-5). The Pharisees paid a lot of attention to looking holy rather than actually living a holy life.

In contrast to being religious, godliness is synonymous to being Christ-like and living a life of holiness. A fellow is godly when he or she has the nature of God. Godliness is much more that looking holy or acting holy; it is a lifestyle. It unfortunate that in the church today, there are more religious people. Religious people find it easy to castigate others, whereas they do worse things in secret. They can quote many scriptures by heart and know the right Bible passage that fits every situation. While this is good, religious people don’t live according to the scriptures they know and recite, because their hearts are far from God (Matthew 15:8). Such people know all the rules and doctrines of the denomination they belong to but deny the power behind such doctrines. Their major problem is that there is a separation between their outer and inner man. In other words, they have mastered the art of patience. The personality they show to the world is different from who they really are.

Our memory verse admonishes us to move far away from religious people. They are quick to call for the head of any fellow in Christ who falls into sin, rather than disciplining and correcting such person in love. If you find it difficult to show love to people, and yet you preach the gospel, you are practicing religion and not godliness. Godliness, as apposed to religion, will bring you great gain in this world and in the world to come. 1 Timothy 4:8b says:

“For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”

Apart from getting your heart’s desires on earth through Christ, godliness will also ensure that you partake of life in heaven.

ACTION POINT:

Access yourself on where you fit today; are you religious or godly?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 78-80

Nahum 3

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 12: DEEPER, DEEPER IN THE LOVE OF JESUS.

1. Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.

o Refrain:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.

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

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

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

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

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MEMORISE:
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, Hebrews 10:19

READ: Joshua 1:5-9

5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.

8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

MESSAGE

a person who manifests high moral standards in specific areas of life is said to possess virtues of boldness and courage are especially required in Christian leadership. For this reason, several passages of the Bible admonish children of God to be strong and courageous (Deuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 1:6). Speaking on boldness in Proverbs 28:1, the Holy Spirit says:

“he wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.”
No wonder we see the virtue of boldness being deployed in the declaration of God’s word in Acts 4:31, Acts 14:3 and Hebrews 13:6. Only a person with strength of character can display courage in the face of trouble, while boldness is required to speak the truth in all circumstances, especially in the face of opposition and in hostile environments. May the Lord grant you the boldness and courage you need to overcome every obstacle in your life in Jesus’ Name.

More importantly, the virtues of boldness and courage have spiritual significance because they are necessary for entering the presence of God and for dealing with the forces of darkness. In Ephesians 6:12, the Holy Spirit reveals some truths about the forces of darkness, saying:

“ For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

This clearly shows among other things that Satan and his demons comprise a well-organized army that is skillful in carrying out devastating attacks on its victims. It also shows that the warfare we must fight as Christians is purely restricted to the realms of the spirit. This warfare calls for courage to withstand dreadful circumstances, determination to overcome at all cost and persistent prayer. It also calls for loyalty to fight under the banner of Christ the Lord of Host standing in His strength and using the weapons He has provided. One good thing about the virtues of boldness and courage is that they yield confidence in us. Speaking on this confidence, Hebrews 10:35-36 says:

“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”

We cannot achieve much in our Christian race without boldness. We need boldness to correctly apply God’s word to life situations. Indeed, it takes courage to follow and obey God. Anyone who lacks courage will be full of fear. Fear paralysis and makes it impossible to take any progressive stride in life. If you will make impact in life, you must ignore the contrary circumstances around you and focus on God who has called you. All powers in heaven and earth belongs to Him; He has never failed and He will never fail. He will see you through, and you will celebrate at last. Glory be to God!

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please grant me the spirit of boldness and courage, in Jesus’s Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 73-77

Nahum 1-2

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:
But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. Matthew 21:28-29

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.

MESSAGE

in today’s memory verse, Jesus tells the parable of a man searching for faithful laborers in His household, and even among His own children. This is indicative of what God does in every generation: always searching for a faithful servant, someone He can depend on, to deliver His undiluted message to the people. This was why Jesus commissioned seventy of His disciples to preach the good news of the gospel in the surrounding cities, towns and villages He planned to visit (Luke 10:1). He gave these disciples specific instructions that signified the level of discipline, commitments and faithfulness with which He expected them to carry out the assignment. The truth of the matter is, in all generations, God is always in search of a few exceptional ones among His children who are obedient, trustworthy, reliable and dependable. Such committed laborers are usually set apart for special assignments, especially tasks related to soul winning. I pray that you will be found among these few special laborers in this generation in Jesus’ Name. in Luke 10:2, Jesus acknowledged the vastness of the available harvest and the scarcity of laborers to bring in the harvest. The harvest is a reference to the souls that are ready to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, while the laborers are Christians who are faithfully committed to the task of evangelism or soul-winning. In saying the laborers are few, Jesus is not necessarily talking about the quantity of laborers only; He is also referring to their quality. In other words, the Lord is talking about the scarcity of genuine workmen who are faithfully committed to the task of getting souls into the kingdom.

Jesus specifically gave us the parable of the talents to teach the importance of faithfulness in stewardship (Matthew 25:14-30). All the servants put their talents to profitable use except the servant to whom was entrusted one talent, who went and dug a hole in the ground to hide his lord’s money where it would lie fallow. When their master returned, the servant with one talent was seriously reprimanded. His talent was taken away from him and given as a bonus to someone else. In light of this parable, the Lord expects every one of His children to diligently put their talents and special gifts to profitable use for the advancement of God’s kingdom. We are expected to be committed to God’s work, of which soul-winning is paramount. You will not be named among unprofitable servants in Jesus’ Name. beloved, the greatest rewards and crowns in heaven will go to soul-winners. I therefore plead with you to become a committed soul winner today. As you strive to please God in your stewardship, God will crown all your efforts with success in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please help me to be a faithful servant that is committed to soul-winning in Jesus’s Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 67-72

Micah 7:8-20

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

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MEMORISE:
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Psalms 23:5

READ: 2 Kings 3:7-18

3:7 And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses. 3:8 And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom. 3:9 So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days’ journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them. 3:10 And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab! 3:11 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may enquire of the LORD by him? And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah. 3:12 And Jehoshaphat said, The word of the LORD is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him. 3:13 And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab. 3:14 And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee. 3:15 But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him. 3:16 And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches. 3:17 For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts. 3:18 And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand.

MESSAGE

“The All-Sufficient One” is one of God’s names that aptly describes His incomparable greatness and self-sufficiency in all things. God is sufficient in power, knowledge, wisdom, wealth and authority, being able to accomplish anything He desires and bring to pass anything He has ordained. It is for this reason that we are commanded to look up to Him and depend on Him to provide all our needs and desires. We are to look unto God for salvation and deliverance from all forms of sin, sickness and poverty. Our gaze should be focused on Him whenever we are in need of boldness, encouragement or strength to forge ahead in the difficult journey of life. Our ears and hearts should also be open to His guidance and direction as we live the Christian life daily. As you look unto the All-Sufficient One for the fulfilment of your destiny, you will not be disappointed in Jesus’ Name.

From time to time in the rigorous journey of life, we sometimes find ourselves in a state of tiredness and confusion. At such times, the Holy Spirit admonishes us to run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, for encouragement (Hebrews 12:1-2). Not only are we meant to look unto Him for encouragement, we are also to look unto Him as our perfect example. Speaking on this, the Holy Spirit says in 1 Peter 2:21-23:

“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:”

Looking unto other gods and human systems for forgiveness, deliverance, healing and salvation has brought untold hardship and losses to many. Even looking unto great men and women who are successful in life and ministry has resulted in great disappointment, sorrow and pain in people’s lives. As a matter of fact, this has been a major cause of failure in the life of several people. While human beings are prone to failure, there is no failure or disappointment in Jesus. Looking unto Jesus can only increase your faith and uplift you spiritually and physically.

Looking unto Jesus in our daily Christian walk provides us with direction through the revelations He gives us in His word. By looking unto Him, an ordinary person becomes equipped to do exploits of supernatural dimensions. The Lord Jesus is the All-Sufficient God who provides forgiveness of sin, salvation and a life of joy and peace to all who look up to Him as the Messiah. As you call upon Him today, He will meet all your needs and guide your steps towards fulfilling your destiny in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please prove Yourself as the All-Sufficient God in my life, in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Psalm 64-68, Micah 6:9-7:7

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 8: MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE

1. My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Saviour 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 Saviour, then in love,
Fear and distrust remove;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul!

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MEMORISE:
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:24

READ: Colossians 3:5-12

3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 3:6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 3:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

MESSAGE

The term ‘put on’ in today’s memory is an instruction that is widely used in the Bible to mean ‘be dressed up’. God’s word commands all obedient children of God to be dressed up in certain ways spiritually and physically (Ephesians 6:11, 1 Peter 3:3). Modesty and purity are the hallmarks of our cultural heritage as Christians, and we are to protect this heritage in this world of sin and godlessness. Therefore, children of God are to ensure that modesty and purity are reflected in their physical appearance and spiritual lives.

I strongly believe that a person is usually addressed the way he or she is dressed. Moses was mistaken for an Egyptian because of the way he was dressed (Exodus 2:19-21). If you dress like a prostitute, you will be addressed as a prostitute (Proverbs 7:10). If you dress like a hoodlum, you will be taken for one. Some good Christians choose to dress in ways that do not align with modesty and purity, and when others advise them to change their ways, they argue that a person’s preferred manner of dressing cannot in any way nullify their status as born again Christians. The truth of the matter is, it is one thing to be born again and another thing to submit to the authority of God through total obedience to His commandments. 1 John 2:3-4 says:

“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

The hallmark of a Christian is total compliance with God’s word. Many unbelievers are contending with God intentionally by refusing to accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, but some Christians are unintentionally contending with God out of sheer ignorance. Those who claim to be born again Christians but are yet living in apparent disobedience to God’s word are in effect resisting or contending with Him. Romans 13:2 says:

“Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.”

It is foolish for anyone to contend with the Almighty God (Isaiah 45:9), as this is an exercise in futility that is bound to end in failure, disappointment and eternal regret. I pray that you will yield to the voice of the Holy Spirit today as He speaks to you on the need to change your mode of dressing to comply with God’s standard in Jesus’ Name.

ACTION POINT:
Always judge your motive and ask the opinion of the Holy Spirit before choosing what to wear.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Psalm 57-63, Micah 5:7-6:8

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 5: LET OTHERS SEE JESUS IN YOU

1. While passing thro’ this world of sin,
and others your life shall view,
Be clean and pure without, within;
Let others see Jesus in you.

Chorus:
Let others see Jesus in you,
Let others see Jesus in you.
Keep telling the story, be faithful and true;
Let others see Jesus in you.

2. Your life’s a book before their eyes,
They’re reading it thro’ and thro’
Say, does it point them to the skis,
Do others see Jesus in you?

3. Then live for Christ both day and night,
Be faithful, be brave and true,
and lead the lost to life and Christ.
Let others see Jesus in you.

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