Monthly Archives: November 2021

MEMORISE:
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: Matthew 6:3

READ: Matthew 6:1-4
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

MESSAGE:
Some people may think that Christian Social Responsibility (CSR) is a twenty-first century concept, but that is not so. In fact, CSR has been in existence since the Old Testament days. I encourage you to read Leviticus 19:9-10; you will see from that Scripture that social responsibility had already been entrenched in the law of sowing and reaping among the children of Israel, and by extension children of Abraham in the faith.

When you cater for the poor, you are ministering deliverance to yourself; indeed Psalm 41:1 says that for anyone who does this “….the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.” Be they financial, physical, spiritual, marital, or career troubles, God will deliver you when you help the less privileged.

When the widow of Zarephath was giving her last meal to the prophet, she could not have known that she would be reaping deliverance from starvation for the next three and a half years, for herself and her household. Psalm 41:2 also says the Lord will preserve those who remember the poor and keep them alive. Thus, if you want long life, one of the surest ways of getting it is by giving to the poor.

Today’s Scripture reading tells us how best to execute our CSR projects before the Lord. God’s way of doing CSR is such that we do not seek the commendation of men like the people of the world, especially when politicians want people’s votes. When we engage in charitable deeds and then invite the media to broadcast it so we can receive commendation from the world, we are doing the direct opposite of what Jesus wants. I spoke extensively on this in one of my telecasts during the COVID-19 pandemic early last year. According to Matthew 6:2, we lose our eternal reward when we advertise our acts of social responsibility just because we seek human commendation. However, when we do our social responsibility Jesus’ way, our reward is eternal. Matthew 6:4 says:
“…and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.”
Beloved, remember the poor around you and be sure to put smile on the face of at least one person in need today. As you do, don’t forget to do it Christ’s way. God will bless you abundantly as you do, in Jesus’ name.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, as I go about doing what You ask of me today, please help me not to miss my blessings, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: HABAKKUK.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 13: I’VE A MESSAGE FROM THE LORD, HALLELUYAH.

1. I’ve a message from the Lord, Hallelujah!
The message unto you I’ll give;
‘Tis recorded in His word, Hallelujah!
It is only that you “look and live.”

Refrain:
Look and live, O sinner, live,
Look to Jesus now and live;
‘Tis recorded in His word, Hallelujah!
It is only that you look and live.

2. I’ve a message full of love, Hallelujah!
A message, O my friend, for you:
‘Tis a message from above, Hallelujah!
Jesus said it and I know ’tis true.

3. Life is offered unto you, Hallelujah!
Eternal life your soul shall have,
If you’ll only look to Him, Hallelujah!

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MEMORISE:

O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. Psalm 38::1

READ: Psalm 38:1-9

1O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

2 For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.

3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.

4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

5 My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.

6 I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.

7 For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.

8 I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

9 Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.

MESSAGE:

It is disastrous for a Christian not to know the source of his or her challenges. It is indeed very possible that the challenge you are going through may not even be from the devil. It may be a chastisement coming directly from the Lord. Once you are able to confirm this, you must humble yourself in repentance before Jesus. you must always look inwards anytime you feel that your relationship with God is strained. That is what the Psalmist always did. Sadly, today, many Christians always want to exonerate themselves; they are so quick to attribute the challenges of their lives to the devil. At times, I imagine the devil saying “You’ve missed it. You are a child of God; I dare not come near you.” How I wish all Christians would be spiritually sensitive.

You must know that sin brings the wrath of God upon a sinner, irrespective of the spiritual standing of the fellow before he or she fell into sin. I know this is because Ezekiel 33:12 says:
“…The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression:… neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.”

Thank God for 1 John 2:1-2 which offers hope to anyone who strays into sin. It says:
“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: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
If you have sinned, you must not be too proud to repent. Likewise, when others have sinned, it is not your place to say whether they would be forgiven or not.
As a body, we are not to bury wounded soldiers who are still struggling to survive. Unfortunately, that’s what many so-called Christians do; we take away the life support from dying soldiers and make their journey to hell faster! There is enough room at the top for all children of God, so there is no need to pull anyone down in order to rise.
Don’t become an enemy to yourself. A house divided against itself shall not stand (Matthew 12:25).

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please help me to keep holding fast to the word of salvation and to live thereby, to the end.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: DANIEL 7-12.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 7: HAVE YOU BEEN TO JESUS.

1. Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow’r?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

o Refrain:
Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

2. Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

3. When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?

4. Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
Oh, be washed in the blood of the Lamb!

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MEMORISE:

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

READ: Psalm 35:1-7

1 Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.

3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.

5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.

6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.

7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.

MESSAGE:
Does your enemy have any legitimate claim against you? Are you sure your adversary does not have a genuine reason to attack you? These are the questions you must answer before inviting God- the Great Ally to come to your aid in the battle of life. Requesting divine intervention against your enemies will be counterproductive if you are the real enemy of yourself. How can one be an enemy of himself or herself? The answer is in today’s memory verse. You can be against yourself if you break divine laws, and this has its consequences. An example is in Malachi 3:8-9:
“Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.”

Anyone who refused to pay their tithes is robbing God. What are you doing that is taking you away from your maker- the one who is supposed to be your unfailing Ally? You must answer this question before inviting God to be your Ally so you wouldn’t be inviting Someone you have taken as an enemy- that would be the greatest irony of all. Many times, I have told my children that there is only one person that can be against us when God wants to be for us and that is our very selves! The nobleman said to the unprofitable servant in Luke 19:22:
“…..Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant……”

We can also create enmity with the Greatest Ally when we abuse God’s temple either by sexual immorality or indecent dressing. 1 Corinthians 3:17 says God would destroy anyone who destroys His temple. Your dressing can destroy another person and when that happens, you create enmity between yourself and God. Thus, there is no way God can come to your rescue in the time of adversity. This is why you must ensure that your relationship with God is not in doubt at any time. This is possible when you accept Jesus as your Lord and forsake all sinful habits.

If you are already born again, continue to live Holy. When you do, God will fight for you and humiliate your enemies in ways you could never have imagined.

Beloved, I beseech you: do not be an enemy to yourself and ensure you are always on the side of God.

ACTION POINT:
Examine yourself and make sure the Greatest Ally is not only your God but your friend also.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: AMOS 5-9.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 21: ROCK OF AGES, CLEFT FOR ME.

1. Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure.

2. Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

3. Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

4. While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown,
And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

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MEMORISE:

Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Hebrews 1:9

READ: Psalm 33:1-5
1Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.

2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.

3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.

5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

MESSAGE:
There are many things we must consider before Romans 8:28 can become a reality in our lives. We have to first look at today’s Scripture reading in conjunction with the memory verse.

Today’s Scripture reading reveals that only a certain group of people can rejoice in the Lord and they are the righteous. In other words, even amidst al, the calamities in the world, the righteous can still experience the goodness of the Lord. We also see that what makes a man righteous is the word of God. Psalm 33:4 says:
“For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.”

Psalm 119:9 and 115-116 also corroborate this. Although unrighteousness appears to have become the order of the day and it appears the wicked are walking around free and ‘rejoicing’, you must not be deceived because their end id destruction. I know this because Psalm 73:18-19 says:
“Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.”

We see a contrast in fortune for the righteous in today’s memory verse, however. Here, the blessedness of the righteous is revealed. Those who love to be upright and hate iniquity are anointed with the oil of gladness. In other words, even when the world is in agony, the righteous are far from the calamities, rejoicing in the goodness of the Lord. A classic example of this is Noah who was preserved in the ark with members of his immediate family during the flood (Genesis 7:17). While others agonized and drowned, Noah was navigating upon the flood with his family. This is this is exactly how it would turn out on the last day; the righteous shall rejoice and the wicked shall be damned. Even now, God knows how He keeps His children from danger. Psalm 91 confirms this.

May the blessedness of the Lord be your portion from today as you live righteously, even in this perverse world, in the mighty name of Jesus.

ACTION POINT:
Father, please endow me with the blessedness of righteousness, even as I live for You, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: AMOS 1-4.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 25: THERE SHAL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
1. There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.

o Refrain:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

2. There shall be showers of blessing,
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.

3. There shall be showers of blessing;
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing,
Come, and now honor Thy Word.
There shall be showers of blessing:
Oh, that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!

4. There shall be showers of blessing,
If we but trust and obey;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
If we let God have His way.

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MEMORISE:

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Psalm 32:1

READ: Luke 23:39-43.
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

MESSAGE:
We may not be able to comprehend what true blessedness is until we experience divine forgiveness. Nothing can be compared with the joy of salvation. We see this with Zacchaeus when Jesus called him in Luke 19:2-8; it was that joy that caused him to make restitution for his past evil deeds. When a man is genuinely saved, he will not only joyfully live a godly life, he will also feel compelled to right his past wrongdoings. It is the lack of genuine salvation that makes an individual to still keep, for example, a strange man or woman in his or her life, even after conversion.

One of the most amazing salvation stories is in today’s Bible reading. With just a few hours before he would have gone to hell, one of the robbers on the cross besides Jesus experience a great turnaround and entered into paradise. From this, we can see that the salvation prayer does not have to be lengthy; it only has to be simple, straight to the point and sincere. All you need to do is repent of your sins and promise God not to return to them. Pleading the blood of Jesus over your life for cleansing is also paramount in this regard. We see the publican pray in Luke 18:10-14 “…God be merciful to me a sinner”. And Jesus said of him” I tell you; this man went down to his house justified rather the other….”

God’s blessing (divine help) come in multiple forms but the blessing of divine forgiveness should be the first one we should all seek. In today’s reading, both robbers made separate requests. One asked for deliverance, the other salvation. Jesus Christ prioritized the request for salvation. Here we see true blessedness.

Beloved, true blessedness lies in the forgiveness we receive for our sins; it is upon this foundation that all other blessings are built. This is why if you are yet to repent, I implore you to do so without further delay. Confess your known and unknown sins to Jesus- the savior of mankind. He will forgive you as He did Zacchaeus and the robber on the cross, so that God’s blessings will flow into your life, in Jesus’ name.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please pardon all my known and unknown iniquities and give me power to “Go and sin no more”, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: HAGGAI.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 2: AMAZING GRACE! HOW SWEET THE SOUND.
1. Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

2. ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

3. Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

4. The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.

5. Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

6. The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.

7. When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.

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20

MEMORISE:

He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD. Proverbs 17:15

READ: Proverbs 17:13-15
13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.

MESSAGE:
The ability to stand against evil is one of the many virtues that are gradually disappearing from the Church today. The axiom “If you can’t beat them, join them” has become widely acceptable. May God help His Church in the mighty name of Jesus.

Our memory verse today states clearly that God abhors those who support wickedness as well as those who unbraid the just. When we refuse to condemn evil and wickedness we will definitely reject and vote against the just. Jesus Christ, after commending their charitable service, faith and patience, warned the Church in Thyatira against tolerating sexual immorality, typified in the woman Jezebel who called herself a prophetess- seducing innocent souls in the Church. Apostle Paul cautioned us not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14).

The call of God to us today is to stand up against evil, first within the Church, before taking the battle to the gates of hell. Unfortunately, many Christians applaud or ignore ungodly acts- even in the Church. They shy away from condemning ungodly acts for the fear of being condemned by the world. This is why, in some countries, you cannot preach against homosexuality; if you do, you may be jailed and it is your fellow Christian brethren or pastor who will condemn you as being foolish for not being discrete enough! Likewise, in some societies, violence against women, especially rape, is rampant, yet nothing meaningful is being done to stop the practice.

One of my children was once on a panel where some pastors were being interviewed for promotion. One particular candidate had been most passionate about his convictions with respect to ungodly standards as contained in the word of God, opposing worldly views with confidence. However, when this godly candidate left, another member of the panel said “If this is what that pastor is holding on to, he will not have ten people in his congregation!”

The truth has been mortgaged in some quarters of Christendom. Beloved, arise and let us, as one, stand against evil.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please revive Your Church. Let the body of Christ be light unto the world as we stand against every form of evil in our society in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JUDE.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 22: STAND UP, STAND UP FOR JESUS.

1. Stand up, stand up for Jesus! ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss:
From vict’ry unto vict’ry, His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.

2. Stand up, stand up for Jesus! The trumpet call obey:
Forth to the mighty conflict, in this His glorious day;
Ye that are men now serve Him against unnumbered foes;
Let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose.

3. Stand up, stand up for Jesus! Stand in His strength alone,
The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own;
Put on the gospel armor, and watching unto prayer,
Where calls the voice of duty, be never wanting there.

4. Stand up, stand up for Jesus! the strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle, the next the victor’s song;
To him that overcometh a crown of life shall be;
He with the King of glory shall reign eternally.

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MEMORISE:

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: Ephesians 4:13

READ: Genesis 11:1-8
1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.

2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.

4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.

8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

MESSAGE:
Any coalition that does not have God and His perfect will as its focus is evil. Our memory verse today says we are only made perfect when we come to the unity of faith which comes from the knowledge of Jesus Christ. This Scripture is simply saying that when we are called to unite, we must first ask for the purpose of such union. This is because uniting with people blindly could result in untold agony, as we see in the case of Jehoshaphat the King of Judah and his unholy alliance with the idolatrous Ahab King of Israel (1 Kings 22). It was only the mercy of God that spared Jehoshaphat from dying another man’s death.

The unfortunate thing about an ungodly and rebellious alliance is that it always ends in frustration and shame. Psalm 2:4 says when people do this:
“He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision.”

We see this with the people at Babel in today’s Bible reading. They united in rebellion and God confounded their language, so they could not understand one another.

The record in Psalm 2:2 teaches us several lessons. One is God is always aware of any alliance to rebel against Him. The Almighty God will always reveal the evil plans of your enemies, in Jesus’ name. Two, God does not only expose the evil conspiracies, He also always does something about them. We see an example in Daniel 6:7-24 when the princes and presidents in Babylon conspired against Daniel. All those who are united against God’s purpose for your life shall be confounded and their purpose will be defeated, in Jesus’ name. Three, when God arises to foil the plans of those who unite against Him and His people, He leaves them confused and in disarray. Your enemies will never be able to agree in their decision to destroy you, in Jesus’ name.

Do not consent when rebellious people ask you to join them (Proverbs 1:10-15).

Beloved, look inward: are you uniting in any form of rebellion? Now is the time to stop, if you are. If you are not, I congratulate you. May the Lord grant you the grace never to align yourself with rebels, in the mighty name of Jesus.

ACTION POINT:
If the activities of your friends and those you spend time with are not in alignment with the word of God, part ways with them and make new friends amongst genuine children of God.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: RELATION 12-17.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 12: IN CHRIST ALONE.

1. In Christ alone, my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

2. In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live, I live.

3. There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

4. No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

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20

MEMORISE:

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. James 3:16

READ: James 3:13-16
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

MESSAGE:
Envy is so serious that Proverb 27:4 says: “Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?”

This means that wrath and anger are no match for envy. Beloved, it would take divine intervention for an envious person to escape the consequences of his or her actions. Joseph was an object of envy even among his brothers, so much so that they could have killed him if not for God who kept him. In the end however, all those who were envious of the grace of God upon his life bowed to him. Are you an object of envy from your household- biological or spiritual? The Lord will deliver you today, in Jesus’ name.

God’s word is true throughout the ages; thus, we must watch out for our attitude towards it. Jesus said in Matthew 10:36 that “….a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.”

Joseph’s story is a lesson for believers who share testimonies of divine happenings that are still at the incubation stage, thus furnishing the enemies with information that could be used against them. Joseph naively revealed his dream of becoming a ruler to his brothers who were already envious. He could have kept the dream to himself and would still have fulfilled his destiny because it was of the Lord. I know this because Psalm 33:11 says:
“The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever……..”

As God’s children, the Bible is full of assurances of protection for us. Psalm 23, for example, says that though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we shall fear no evil and that goodness and mercy shall follow us wherever we go.

We must be mindful however, of the kind of people we share our visions, dreams and aspirations with because the heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). We must not deliberately rouse the envy of our enemies because grace does not cover frivolity.

While we have the guarantee of the Lord’s protection, we must also be careful not to court envy by our actions or inactions thereby generating unnecessary strife.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please grant me the wisdom not to deliberately stir up envy. Please, protect me and my family from all evil.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: RELATION 7-11.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 11: I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR.
1. I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.

o Refrain:
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.

2. I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their pow’r when Thou art nigh.

3. I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.

4. I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.

5. I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;
Oh, make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son.

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MEMORISE:
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. Proverbs 15:1

READ: James 3:1-10
1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

MESSAGE:
Apostle James captures the extent to which the tongue can go in destroying a person’s destiny, in today’s Bible reading:
“And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” James 3:6

The tongue indeed is a fire, thus it must be controlled. Controlled fire can be used productively; however, uncontrolled fire destroys. The tongue is so complex that it could be likened to a fountain that produces cold and hot water at the same time. What can we now do to this thing that the Bible describes as “….an unruly evil, full of deadly poison?” (James 3:8). Since the Bible describes the tongue as poison the good news is that Jesus promised us that even if we drink a deadly thing, it shall by no means hurt us (Mark 16:18). Therefore, one can see that every problem of man ends at the cross of Jesus Christ.

The story was told of a woman who was having problem in her marriage. She consulted a wise old man in her family who gave her a small, smooth stone to slip into her mouth and lick, remaining silent, every time her husband picked a quarrel with her. She did this and before long, peace was restored to that home. She ran to the wise old man to show her gratitude for the effectiveness of the charm only to have him tell her that what he had given her was an ordinary stone. He had merely found a way to make her keep quiet rather than destroy her home with her mouth.

The Bible says:
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. Proverbs 16:24

Choose to speak only words that edify and if you must correct someone, do it constructively and in love.

All children of God must learn to control their tongues. As there is a time to talk, there is also a time to keep silent (Ecclesiastes 3:7).

When we talk, our words must be fitly spoken (Proverbs 25:11) in due season (Proverbs 15:23).

PRAYER POINT :
Help me Lord to bridle my tongue at all times, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: REVELATION 1-6.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 17: OH WHAT A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL DAY.

1. O what a wonderful, wonderful day
Day I will never forget
After I’d wandered in darkness away
Jesus my Savior I met
O what a tender, compassionate friend
He met the need of my heart
Shadows dispelling, with joy I am telling
He made all the darkness depart

Refrain:
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul (filled my soul)
When at the cross my Savior made me whole (made me whole)
My sins were washed away
And my night was turned to day
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul

2. Born of the Spirit with life from above
Into God’s family divine
Justified fully thru Calvary’s love
O what a standing is mine
And the transaction so quickly was made
When as a sinner I came
Took of the offer of grace He did proffer
He saved me, O praise His dear name

3. Now I’ve a hope that will surely endure
After the passing of time
I have a future in heaven for sure
There in those mansions sublime
And it’s because of that wonderful day
When at the cross I believed
Riches eternal and blessings supernal
From His precious hand I received

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MEMORISE:
It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry. Proverbs 20:25

READ: Proverbs 6:1-5
1 My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,

2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

3 Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.

4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.

5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

MESSAGE:
The world, from the beginning, has been full of deceit. This is why, today, the Lord is warning all His children to beware of being guarantors for people who would not keep their promises. Some people have lost all their life savings because they stood as surety for people who defaulted in repaying bank loans. Today’s memory verse reveals the folly of making enquiry after already vowing. That action can have eternal implications; Romans 13:8 warns that we should owe no man anything except love. Ecclesiastes 5:5-6 further says:
“Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?”

God is warning us through today’s Scripture reading to avoid standing surety to those we do not know very well, unbelievers in general and particularly unstable or inconsistent ‘brethren’ in the Church. This is because such people could turn out to be heartless foes when they begin to default.

Marriage vows are more serious, and as believers we must honor them. There are many wolves in sheep’s clothing in the Church today- pretenders who take innocent souls to the altar deceitfully just to wreak havoc on the spiritual lives of their victims. You must beware and take todayy’s warning seriously. If you are among the deceivers in the Church, you must repent today, before the judgment of God comes upon you.

As a young person preparing for marriage, pay close attention to getting to really know your potential spouse very well. Do not forget: marriage is for better and for worse. It is better for you not to make a vow at all than to make one and then be seeking to annul it. Be wary of presumptuous love affairs and love at first sight. Take your time to investigate the life and background of the fellow you want to spend the rest of your life with. I have always said “If love is blind, marriage would heal the blindness”.

Beloved, as children of God our integrity must never be questionable, so before you commit yourself in any way, always exercise due diligence and seek God’s guidance.

PRAYER POINT:
Please Lord, I seek Your guidance in all that pertains to me. Help me to always rely on Your leading before I make any decision, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: MICAH

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 24: TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE.

Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
*Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise.

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.

Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.

Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

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.

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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