Monthly Archives: December 2021

MEMORISE:
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 20:1

READ: Proverbs 31:1-5.
1The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

MESSAGE:
In spite of the evil of strong drinks, it is unfortunate that many self-acclaimed children of God are now introducing ‘moderation’ to its consumption. This is one of the signs of the end time, which they themselves teach but fail to acknowledge that they are victims of.

Our memory verse today describes wine as a mocker and strong drink as raging. A classic example of a victim of wine was Noah. The Bible says:
“And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.” Genesis 9:20-21

Ordinarily, Noah the just man who found grace in the sight of God would not have gone naked but for the influence of the wine on him. Little wonder Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:12:
“… all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”

Noah was indeed mocked by the wine and likewise many others like him. Why would anyone want to keep indulging in a habit that is sure to ultimately destroy him or her?

Proverbs 31:4 also clearly states that alcohol is not meant to be consumed by kings and princes.

This Bible verse shows that Christians as kings under the King of kings must not consume alcoholic drinks, in order to be in our right minds at all times.
“Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.”

You cannot afford to be a friend of alcohol unless you are ready to perish.

May the Lord remove every deadly appetite for alcoholic drinks from any reader of this devotional still indulging in the habit, today, in the mighty name of Jesus.

ACTION POINT:
Anytime a drink is handed to you for consumption, ensure it contains no alcohol so you do not befriend a mocker that can destroy you.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 22-26.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 29: WHAT CAN WASH AWAY MY STAIN?

1. What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

o Refrain:
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

2. For my pardon, this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

3. Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

4. This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

5. Now by this I’ll overcome—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Now by this I’ll reach my home—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

6. Glory! Glory! This I sing—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
All my praise for this I bring—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

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MEMORISE:
Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. Psalm 116:5

READ: James 1:13-15.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

MESSAGE:
Today’s Bible reading clears the erroneous assumption that God experiments with temptations on His children. God does no evil, therefore, if you are His child and are going through temptations, you need to look inward.

We are comforted by God’s promises that He will help His children in the face of temptations. For example, 1 Peter 5:10 says:
“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

Beloved, it is grace that saves us from the condemnation of lust, which lures people into diverse temptations. This is why the Bible encourages us to be sober. A life of flamboyance brings snares and temptations. The story of David and Bathsheba is a classic example. Davis stayed back in his palace at a time when kings usually went forth to battle, thus, he beheld what he should not have- a very beautiful woman bathing (2 Samuel 11:1-5). This same David asked in Psalm 13:1 “How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord?…”

God is not forgetful. If like David, you too have been dragged into sin, God is able to forgive you if you confess and repent (Proverbs 28:13). Until you do so, it may seem as if God have forgotten you, but that is not the case. It could be assumed that the sincere cry of the Psalmist to God and his self-examination brought back the reality of God’s love to him. He trusted the mercy of God when he repented, and his testimony was:
“I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.” Psalm 13:6

I can assure you that God has not forgotten you. If you have erred from the narrow path, He may simply be waiting for you to come back to Him. You have to come in genuine repentance and embrace His love, through His Son Jesus Christ. When you do this today, you will see how near the Almighty God is to you, and how concerned He is about your wellbeing.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, forgive my foolishness for every time I thought You had forgotten me. Help me Lord, to remove every barrier of sin that may have separated me from Your love, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 17-21.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 21: ROCK OF AGES, CLEFT FOR ME.

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.

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.

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.

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:
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
Proverbs 17:1

READ: 1 Timothy 6:6-11.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

MESSAGE:
One value lacking in many 21st Century Christians is commitment, and this affects godliness as well. 1 Timothy 6:6 says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” Unfortunately, many Christians these days are living in a constant state of discontent. Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 says no amount of money can satisfy those who love riches. Moreover, the more material things you acquire, the more responsibility you have to maintain them. Many rich people cannot sleep well because they are too conscious of those who might steal from them.

I am sure you can point to numerous people who are enriching themselves illegitimately, acquiring ill-gotten wealth. There are people who loot the treasury of their counties, carting away billions into foreign bank accounts. What good have these billions done to their physical bodies, not to talk of their souls? It is pure vexation of the spirit, according to king Solomon in Ecclesiastes 1:14. However, a laborer who has contentment always has a good appetite to eat the modest food available and sleeps like a baby after the day’s work, whereas the rich without contentment will not sleep- thinking of how to accumulate more riches and what to do to preserve it. This is why many of such people are chronically stingy- suspecting everyone around them to be a cheat. A rich man in a city in Nigeria wanted to give me all his houses so that I would pray for him to be able to sleep. I told him to keep his houses because my sleep is more important to me than a thousand houses that were built with ill-gotten wealth.

Do you want to enjoy life in abundance? Seek the Lord today. He said:
“…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

A person who is content is the richest fellow in the whole world. You can become content if you are godly. To be godly is to be compliant with the dictates of the unchanging word of God.

It is good to be ambitious, to want bigger and better things for yourself. However, be careful not to desire material prosperity at the expense of your spiritual growth.

ACTION POINT:
Father, please give me godliness and its twin- contentment, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 12-16.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 23: STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF CHRIST MY KING.

1. Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.

o Refrain:
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.

2. Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.

3. Standing on the promises I now can see
Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
Standing on the promises of God.

4. Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God.

5. Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
List’ning every moment to the Spirit’s call,
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God.

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MEMORISE:
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

READ: Philippians 1:12-21.
12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;

14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:

16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:

17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

MESSAGE:
Whereas man does not have a way of getting solutions to his problems, God has uncountable ways of solving all of them. We have the assurance that God is able to bring good out of every problem of our life. Our memory verse today clearly tells us that all things have been designed to work together for the good of those who love God and are aligned with His purpose.

It takes the eye of faith to come to terms with the Scripture above. In chains, Apostle Paul was being moved from one place to another as a criminal under trial. Despite this, he sorts every opportunity to preach the gospel everywhere he went. In Acts 24 & 25, he addressed three different important personalities, namely Felix, Festus and King Agrippa. It was king Agrippa who said to Paul “…Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” (Acts 26:28). Paul then said:
“…I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.” Acts 26:29

This is a level all children of God must reach if we would enjoy our walk with God. This same truth helped Joseph to stay true to his God even in the midst of his trials in Potiphar’s house and wrongful imprisonment (Genesis 39). Even when he had the opportunity to take his revenge upon his brothers after his father’s passing, he told them:
“…Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” Genesis 50:19-20

In all these, we must learn that challenges cannot be a hinderance if God is with us; rather, they would be stepping stones to the glorious and expected end God has prepared for us.

I pray that all hinderances on your way to success will become stepping stones to your breakthrough, in Jesus’ name. You are more than a conqueror!

PRAYER POINT:
Father, I command all hindering mountains in my life to give way today as I move into my destiny, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 1-6.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 10: I’M PRESSING ON THE UPWARD WAY.

1. I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

o Refrain:
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s tableland,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

2. My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where those abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.

3. I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.

4. I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till heav’n I’ve found,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

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MEMORISE:
A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight. Proverbs 11:1

READ: Proverbs 11:1-4.
1A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.

2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

MESSAGE:
Profiteering- the act of making excessive and unfair profit usually through illegal means is considered as wickedness before God. Profiteering involves taking undue advantage of others. You may not know the havoc you are wreaking on humanity until God opens your eyes to see that both the services and goods you are charging exorbitantly for are not affordable by those who need them for survival. Many people profiteer because they want to make excessive profits and enrich themselves with worldly possessions. They have lost sight of Proverbs 13:11 which says:
“Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.”

Proverbs 13:22 also says “….the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.”

It is tantamount to slavery when people work for you and you deny them their wages or tactically delay their pay. God will punish such people because they have been unfaithful. James 5:4 says:
“the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.”

The Scripture above expresses the mind of God about profiteering. Consider the lives of those who have gathered wealth illegally just to leave an inheritance for their children. In many cases, even in their lifetime, their children sell property bought with these looted funds to the children of those they have defrauded. We have heard the stories of children of laborers purchasing the property of their fathers’ masters when the Lord of Sabaoth caused wealth to change hands. Truly, the treasures of wickedness will never bring profit (Proverbs 10:2).

Beloved, remember the words of our Lord Jesus in Luke 12:15 and be wise. Wealth does not guarantee satisfaction, joy, peace and security. It is foolishness to run after wealth mindlessly. Godliness with contentment is what brings great gain (1 Timothy 6:6).

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please deliver my soul from greed. Let me never chase after uncertain riches, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Peter.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 14: JESUS MY LORD, MY GOD, MY ALL.

Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All,
How can I love thee as I ought?
And how revere this wondrous gift,
So far surpassing hope or thought?
Sweet Sacrament, we thee adore;
Oh, make us love thee more and more.
Oh, make us love thee more and more.

Had I but Mary’s sinless heart
To love thee with, my dearest King,
Oh, with what bursts of fervant praise
Thy goodness, Jesus, would I sing.
Sweet Sacrament, we thee adore;
Oh, make us love thee more and more.
Oh, make us love thee more and more.

Thy Body, Soul, and Godhead, all,
O mystery of love divine.
I cannot compass all I have,
For all thou hast and art are mine.
Sweet Sacrament, we thee adore;
Oh, make us love thee more and more.
Oh, make us love thee more and more.

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20

MEMORISE:
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Matthew 22:37

READ: Matthew 22:35-38.
35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

MESSAGE:
God wants you to be totally His. The Lord says in Exodus 20:3 “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” There should be nothing standing between you and God. You shouldn’t also allow anyone, or anything take His place in your life. God must be your all in all.

Beloved, you cannot claim to truly love God with all your heart, soul, and mind if anyone or anything is more important than Him in your life. Jesus Christ described our memory verse today as the “first and great commandment” (Matthew 22:38). It would hence amount to disobedience if you do not fulfil this commandment and every transgression of God’s commandment is sin (1 John 3:4). This then means that loving God with all our heart, soul and mind is not optional but compulsory for all His children.

You must therefore not set your heart on material things of this life if you would please God. The bible says:
“But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1 Timothy 6:9-10

The Lord Jesus Christ further said:
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24

Acknowledge the supremacy and excellency of the Almighty God- the Lord of the heavens and the earth at all times and in all you do.

Beloved, God desires that you should set your heart, soul and mind on Him alone. This is the only way to be truly godly and to serve Him acceptably. Every form of worldliness will eventually produce sin, therefore, godliness and commitment must become your watchword (1 Timothy 6:6).

May your service be acceptable to Him from today in Jesus’ name.

ACTION POINT:
Determine TO LOVE God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind from today.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Peter.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 14: JESUS MY LORD, MY GOD, MY ALL.

Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All,
How can I love thee as I ought?
And how revere this wondrous gift,
So far surpassing hope or thought?
Sweet Sacrament, we thee adore;
Oh, make us love thee more and more.
Oh, make us love thee more and more.

Had I but Mary’s sinless heart
To love thee with, my dearest King,
Oh, with what bursts of fervant praise
Thy goodness, Jesus, would I sing.
Sweet Sacrament, we thee adore;
Oh, make us love thee more and more.
Oh, make us love thee more and more.

Thy Body, Soul, and Godhead, all,
O mystery of love divine.
I cannot compass all I have,
For all thou hast and art are mine.
Sweet Sacrament, we thee adore;
Oh, make us love thee more and more.
Oh, make us love thee more and more.

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20

MEMORISE:
The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. Ezekiel 18:20

READ: Ezekiel 18:1-4.
1 The word of the Lord came unto me again, saying,

2 What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?

3 As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.

4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

MESSAGE:
The righteousness of God demands that the soul that commits sin would die as we see in our memory verse today. John 10:10 however gives us an alternative to sin and death:
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, He saves us from the life of sin, and ultimately eternal death, blessing us with abundant life instead.

Another truth I want to share with us is that the righteousness of God does not allow an offender to be punished twice for one offense. Since Jesus Christ our Redeemer has suffered for our sins, we are discharged and acquitted. As long as you do not commit that sin again, once Jesus has forgiven you, your forgiveness is absolute.
“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:4-5

Beloved, I am using this medium to appeal to you to come to Jesus Christ today and He will relieve you of your burden of sin. As a matter of fact, the cross He carried before His crucifixion was for you and me. All you need to do is confess your sins and accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord. The Bible says if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and there is no truth is us (1 John 1:8). We deny ourselves the privilege of the great Burden-Bearer if we refuse to come to Him and make Him the Lord of our lives. He must be your Lord and Savior.

I pray that the Almighty God will relieve you of every burden of sin and sorrow, in Jesus’ name.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, I bring my burden to You today in genuine repentance. Please forgive me and lift my burden today, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: EZEKIEL 43-48.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 28: WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS.

What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
And what a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer

Oh, what peace we often forfeit
Oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged
Take it to the Lord in prayer

• Can we find a friend so faithful
  Who will all our sorrows share?
  Jesus knows our every weakness
  Take it to the Lord in prayer

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20

MEMORISE:
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63

READ: Proverbs 3:1-4.
1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

MESSAGE:
There are many people who could have succeeded in life if they had the privilege of being guided aright. Favor and other good things of life have eluded some ‘believers’ all through their lives and they wonder why. They do not know that the key to unlocking our desires is hidden in God’s word. Proverbs 4:20-22 says:
“My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.”

The power in the word of God cannot be overemphasized. John 1:1,3 captures it beautifully. It says:
“ In the beginning was the Word, …All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

In other words, everything, man inclusive, was made by the Word of God. Our Lord Jesus, in today’s memory verse corroborates the Scripture above by assuring us that His words are spirit and life-giving. If we would abide in them. Thus, if anyone wants favor and long life, the fellow must be “Word compliant” – he or she must be complaint with the Word of God (Jesus). Anyone who deviates from the Word that created him would lose divine favor and long life. Adam deviated and although he lived for nine hundred and thirty years, we see that in reality, because he lived for less that a thousand years, he lived for less than a day in the eyes of the Lord (2 Peter 3:8).

Beloved, no witch or wizard can kill you if you abide by the wonder-working Word of the Living God. Some people have been deceived: they now believe that the law of God is of no importance anymore because we are in the dispensation of grace. Paul had seen this and warned against people taking grace for granted. Apart from divine prosperity and long life on earth, eternal life is guaranteed when we abide by the Word of God, as we see in John 17:8, 14-15.

Beloved, I encourage you to surrender your life to Jesus Christ- the Word and Wisdom of God, today, if you haven’t done so. If you have, constantly renew your mind through the Word of God and your life will be filled with miracles. God bless you!

ACTION POINT:
Father, help me to be ‘Word complaint’ so Your word will perform wonders in my life, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: EZEKIEL 37-42.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 1: ALL HAIL THE POWER OF JESUS NAME.

1. All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ Name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all!

2. Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race,
Ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him Who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all!

3. Let every kindred, every tribe,
On this terrestrial ball,
To Him all majesty ascribe,
And crown Him Lord of all!

4. Oh, that with yonder sacred throng
We at His feet may fall!
We’ll join the everlasting song,
And crown Him Lord of all!

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20

MEMORISE:
But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. Proverbs 1:33

READ: Proverbs 1:20-29.
20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,

22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

MESSAGE:
The true and original Wisdom is a personality; hence He speaks, calls, warns and counsels. Jesus Christ is that original Wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24). He is the One speaking in our Bible reading for today. He is the One calling us personally in Matthew 11:28-30. Only those who are wise would answer the call and thus, have their houses built on the rock (Luke 6:47-48).

In today’s Bible reading, the original Wisdom of God is pleading with His audience- you and me, to listen to His words of reason. He asks why anyone would choose foolishness over wisdom. He wonders why men hate knowledge, the correct application of which brings wisdom that saves from both temporal and eternal damnation. Jesus Christ, the wisdom of God assures us in today’s memory verse that whoever pays close attention to Him in order to do His bidding shall live in safety and the fellow shall be free from all evils. Proverbs 2:6-7 says:
“For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.”

Have you responded in the affirmative to the Lord’s call in Matthew 11:28-30? Answering positively that call is the best decision you can make in life. In this one call is salvation, prosperity, rest of mind and total freedom from evil. Jesus is calling on you today if you are yet to be born again or have backslidden.

The burden of sin is unbearable for mankind. This is why it is only reasonable to respond to the call of Someone who is ready to take away the burden from us. Answering the call of Jesus unto salvation is the beginning of wisdom and failure to do so is the foundation of all forms of calamity. Little wonder God says in today’s Scripture reading that, for those who refuse to listen to him, He would laugh them to scorn in the time of their calamity. May this not be your portion, in the mighty name of Jesus. the ‘Amen’ to that prayer is in your obedience to hearken to the voice of Wisdom.

Prayer Point:
Oh Lord, please give me listening ears to hear Your counsel and a willing heart to obey You always, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: EZEKIEL 31-36.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 28: WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS.

1. What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

2. Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

3. Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

4. Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.

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MEMORISE:
How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land? Psalm 137:4

READ: Psalm 137:1-9.
1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.

3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.

4 How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land?

5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.

6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.

7 Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.

8 O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.

9 Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

MESSAGE:
You cannot win the battle of life, especially spiritual one, if you do not know who you are in the Lord. One great thing about the children of Israel is that to date, they are still identified as God’s own people. Many people who have fallen into sin have written themselves off, even when God is waiting to receive them with excitement, like the father of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-24. Beloved, as long as you are born again, you must always be conscious of your position in the Lord. 1 John 3:1 says:
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”

When the children of Israel were taken into captivity at Babylon, their captors wanted to mock them by asking them to sing of the goodness of their God, even as they were in distress. The children of Israel knew the motive of the Babylonians and thus, declined to sing. This humbled their captors in a way, because the children of Israel did not cheapen their songs of praise before the Babylonians, who could have corrupted the songs. Sadly, many gospel songs have now been corrupted by secular artistes, and many ‘believers’ are responsible for this prevalent culture. This is why some unbelievers can naively argue that there is indeed no gospel music. They cannot be farther from the truth. There is music that contains the true gospel of Jesus Christ, and this should be what God’s children listen to.

Rather than sing song of praise in Babylon, the Israelites sang of God’s vengeance (Psalm 137:8-9). If it appears that the enemy is gaining the upper hand in your life, you must know that it is not over until God says it is over. Perhaps you are being afflicted by the enemy because of sin in your life; turn to Jesus today, He is our advocate with the Father and has paid for our sins (1 John 2:1-2). Never lose faith in God’s mercy; do not take Him for granted by remaining in sin and thinking grace would abound. May you never suffer losses again, in the mighty name of Jesus.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please help me not to lose my confidence in You. Help me Lord, not to take Your grace for granted, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: EZEKIEL 19-24.

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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Remember: ‘There Is No Problem Without Solution; Jesus Is The Solution To All Problems.
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