MEMORISE:
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:3

READ: Genesis 1:1-5

1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. 1:5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

MESSAGE

Those who fail to live according to God’s word don’t realise that they cannot attain their full potential in life without the power in the word, which created all things in the universe. Going against God’s word is like standing in the path of a moving train. Those who do this will only succeed in wreaking havoc on themselves now and in eternity. When an engine is used contrary to its manufacturer’s guidelines, it breaks down. For example, if you try to run a diesel engine on petrol, you will only end up watching the money you spent in buying it go up in flames. This illustration describes what happens when a person goes contrary to God’s word, either ignorantly or deliberately. Since all things were made by the word of God, it goes without saying that this same word has the power to repair and restore those things it created that have become faulty. Speaking on the restorative and curative power of the word, Psalm 107:20 says:

“He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.”

It is therefore not surprising that God always emphasises compliance with His word.

Genesis 1:2 reveals that before the creative power of God’s word came into action, the earth was shapeless, empty and chaotic. However, when the omnipotent power of the word was released, the earth took good shape. Beloved, are you in despair because your life seems void and shapeless? If you allow God’s word to operate in your life today, everything will turn around for the better. When God commanded that there should be light, light came into being. Those who live by God’s word do not live in darkness, because Jesus is the Word of God and also the Light of the world (John 8:12). When He comes into your life, emptiness becomes history. For one reason or the other, some people have never experienced a good day since they were born. If they allow God’s Word, in the person of Jesus, to dwell in them, they will have a testimony like the one Peter had. As a fisherman, Peter laboured all through the night, without catching any fish, but when he allowed Jesus into his boat, he had a net-breaking and boat-sinking catch of fish in the same place where he had earlier laboured and caught nothing (Luke 5:4-7). It is indeed God who gives power to get wealth, and this power is in His word (Deuteronomy 8:18, Joshua 1:8). The light that God’s word gives is available to anyone groping in darkness. Remember, darkness is harmful, and so we need the light of God’s word to illuminate our paths so that we do not stumble or fall in a ditch. Psalm 119:105 says:

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

Beloved, embrace the infallible word of God today, and it will do you good.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, let Your word be glorified in my life from now on in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Kings 16-17, Daniel 7:13-28

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

Chorus:
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 nor a fear
Not a sigh nor 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 nor a loss,
Not a frown nor a cross,
But is blest 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 favour He shows,
And 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:
Brethren, pray for us.
1 Thessalonians 5:25

READ: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2

3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: 3:2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

MESSAGE

Prayer is such a potent weapon that can do and undo things in people’s lives. It is so powerful that even the person praying cannot comprehend the extent of its reach. Those who walked with God in times past knew the importance of prayer, and this is what inspired Paul’s request in today’s memory verse. Even though he was a prayer warrior himself, he asked the brethren to continually pray for him and his team. Our Lord Jesus Christ also demonstrated the importance of prayer by often spending all night in prayer alone, encouraging His disciples also to be prayerful (Luke 18:1-8). In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed for grace to accomplish the will of His Father and also asked His disciples to join Him in prayer, rebuking them when they did not do so. Matthew 26:38 & 40 says:

“Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me… And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?”

Paul also learnt from the Lord about the potency of corporate prayers, which is why he often craved prayers for himself and his team in his epistles. He believed that they could do nothing without God, and that God would do nothing without prayer, based on His principle in Matthew 7:7. On the surface, one would expect that pastors alone should pray for their flock, but in today’s Bible reading, we see an apostle giving the Church at Thessalonica a prayer request that the Lord would have His way in the ministry He committed to them. He also asked the Church to pray for their deliverance from wicked men who did not believe in the gospel, trying their best to stop its spread. The Church is facing a lot of obstacles today because we are not praying enough like the early Church did. Peter would not have escaped King Herod’s sword if the early Church was not fervent in prayers. The Lord answered their prayers by sending an angel to rescue him. Having witnessed the great impact of prayer, Apostle James wrote in James 5:16b, saying:

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

Beloved, we ought to continually pray for our leaders. The temptations and battles facing Christian leaders are beyond what members of the Church can imagine. We must therefore faithfully and consistently pray for our spiritual and secular leaders so that they may not make mistakes in governance, and so that we can live a peaceful and holy life in this world (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Spiritual leaders need our prayers to administer their responsibilities correctly, and in order not to disappoint God and betray the trust reposed in them by the Church. Furthermore, they need our prayers to finish well and strong. Are you praying for them?

ACTION POINT:
Make it an obligation to pray for the spiritual leaders God has set over you on a daily basis.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Kings 14-15, Daniel 7:1-12

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

Chorus:
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 nor a fear
Not a sigh nor 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 nor a loss,
Not a frown nor a cross,
But is blest 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 favour He shows,
And 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:
The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.
Proverbs 21:6

READ: Proverbs 6:16-19

6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 6:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 6:18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 6:19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

MESSAGE

There are many things that people do that hinder their progress in life or even permanently destroy their destiny. We shall be discussing seven of these today. From today’s Bible text, these seven include a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that are swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaks lies and a person who sows discord among brethren. These all are abominable in the sight of God because of the great negative impact they have on the lives of others. For example, a proud look demeans a fellow human being, which can bring about low self-esteem, which in turn has led several people to commit suicide. In other words, a person can cause the death of another through pride. In addition, a liar is not better than a murderer. The story of Joseph proves this. But for the mercy of God, the lie Potiphar’s wife told against Joseph could have cost him his life, because it is a grievous thing indeed for a slave to attempt to rape his mater’s wife. Those who lie against their fellow human beings will not go unpunished by God unless they repent. Proverbs 26:28 says:

“A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.”

Another abomination is nursing wicked and evil thoughts. Such thoughts, more often than not, lead to acts which the perpetrator might live to regret, like crimes of passion for example. For this reason, Jesus said in Matthew 5:21-22a:

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment:”

Mischief-makers are in danger of God’s judgement, and those who profit from the misfortune of others will not go unpunished. This also applies to those who bear false witness for any reason whatsoever (Exodus 20:16). The seventh abomination is the one that is common in the household of faith: sowing seeds of discord among brethren. This abomination is so deadly that it can set a whole church ablaze and give room for the devil to freely operate among the brethren because they are no longer walking in agreement. In Mark 3:25, the Lord said a house that is divided against itself cannot stand. No wonder Paul said we should look out for and avoid the so-called “brethren” who cause division in the Church (Romans 16:17). Beloved, God is warning us against these seven deadly abominations today. Repent if are involved in any of them.

ACTION POINT:
Examine yourself to see if you exhibit any of these seven abominations in your character and repent of it.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Kings 12-13, Daniel 6:14-28

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 2: OH JESUS, I HAVE PROMISED

1 O Jesus, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou forever near me,
My Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle
If Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway
If Thou wilt be my guide.

2 O let me feel Thee near me,
The world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle,
The tempting sounds I hear;
My foes are ever near me,
Around me and within;
But, Jesus, draw Thou nearer,
And shield my soul from sin.

3 Oh let me hear Thee speaking
In accents clear and still,
Above the storms of passion,
The murmurs of self-will;
Oh speak to reassure me,
To hasten or control;
O speak, and make me listen,
Thou Guardian of my soul.

4 O Jesus, Thou hast promised
To all who follow Thee,
That where Thou art in glory,
There shall Thy servant be;
And, Jesus, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
O give me grace to follow,
My Master and my Friend.

5 Oh, let me see Thy footmarks,
And in them plant mine own;
My hope to follow duly
Is in Thy strength alone.
Oh, guide me, call me, draw me,
Uphold me to the end;
And then to rest receive me,
My Saviour and my Friend.

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MEMORISE:
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1

READ: 1 John 2:18-24

2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

2:21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

2:23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

2:24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

MESSAGE

When I hear stories of how some children of God are being deceived by evil spirits and false prophets, I wonder if they read their Bibles at all. Deceptive evil spirits were not just created some years ago, they have been in existence and have been operating since the fall of their master, Lucifer, from heaven (Isaiah 14:12-15, Revelation 12:4&9). These evil spirits were in operation in the Old Testament and were called by many names, such as “lying spirit”, “familiar spirit”, and so on (1 Kings 22:23, 2 Chronicles 33:6). Knowing that their operation will be rampant in these last days, the Holy Spirit clearly forewarned us of the coming of false prophets who will be controlled by lying and other evil spirits. He told us that they will seek to deceive many by using the Lord’s Name. For you not to become one of their victims, the Holy Spirit says to us in 1 John 4:1:

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”

In light of this scripture, it is your duty as a child of God to test every spirit operating in anyone who claims to be a prophet of God. By His grace, God has given me some signs by which I recognise false prophets and the spirits under which they operate. I believe that every child of God should be equipped with such knowledge, based on God’s word, in order not be deceived by the signs and wonders of these imposters. After all, the magicians of Egypt replicated the miracles that God performed through Moses.

In 1 John 2:19, we are given a sign to look out for when testing the spirit operating in a fellow. This scripture says:

“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”

When you discover rebels who came out of the Body of Christ doing strange things that have no basis in God’s word or are based on strange interpretation of its message, you must be wary of such people. For example, they might say you need to kill a goat to ward off evil. Beloved, what can be said of a “prophet” who thinks that the Blood shed at Calvary is no longer effective and is seeking to replace it with the blood of goats? Such a person must definitely be operating under the influence of the devil. In order not to be deceived, you need to immerse yourself in the totality of God’s word, relying on the Holy Spirit to guide you into its truth. Beware of false prophets!

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please guide me into all truth by Your Spirit in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Kings 10-11, Daniel 5:29-6:13

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 17: HOLD THE FORT

1 Ho! my comrades, see the signal,
Waving in the sky!
Reinforcements now appearing,
Victory is nigh!

Chorus:
“Hold the fort, for I am coming,”
Jesus signals still,
Wave the answer back to Heaven,
“By Thy grace we will.”

2 See the mighty host advancing,
Satan leading on;
Mighty men around us falling,
Courage almost gone.

3 See the glorious banner waving,
Hear the bugle blow;
In our Leader’s Name we triumph
Over every foe.

4 Fierce and long the battle rages,
But our help is near;
Onward comes our great Commander,
Cheer, my comrades, cheer!

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MEMORISE:
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Hebrews 13:8

READ: Deuteronomy 7:1-12

1 When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;

2 And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them:

3 Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.

4 For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.

5 But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.

6 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:

8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

10 And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.

11 Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them.

12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers:

MESSAGE

When we say that our God is unchangeable, we may not know the full implication of what we are saying unless we are well-grounded in His word and ways. His word in today’s memory verse emphatically states that Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith, is the same yesterday, today and forever, meaning that what He stood for over two thousand years ago has not changed today. Unlike politicians who change their ideologies with the mood swings of the polity, Jesus Christ said in Matthew 5:18:

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

God’s covenants are established on the pillars of His unchangeable nature (Malachi 3:6). He therefore expects those in covenant with Him to be consistent in living by the terms of His covenant. In today’s Bible reading, the Almighty God reminded the children of Israel of the need to abide by the laws of the covenant He had with them. He told them that He had chosen them as a holy and special people for Himself, preferring them above all other people on earth. He chose them not because they were more in number or more righteous than others but because of His love for them and because of His covenant with His friend, Abraham, who was their father. God chose them to live a life set apart for holiness through obedience to His commandments. Just as God chose them, so has He chosen all those who believe in His Son Jesus Christ today.

We are chosen by God to be a peculiar people consecrated to Him (1 Peter 2:9). Beloved, do not be deceived, God has not changed His standard of holiness (2 Timothy 2:19). If He said in times past that He hates sexual immortality of all kinds, including homosexuality (the reason for which He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah), then He has not changed His mind on this today (Romans 2:26-27). No matter how well the world propagates the lie that homosexuals are created that way, it will forever remain a lie of the devil. Just as the devil deceived Eve, so is he deceiving people with diverse philosophies built around lies today. I am persuaded and convinced by the infallible word of God and the Holy Spirit that gays and lesbians cannot inherit the kingdom of God, just as robbers, thieves of all categories and treasury looters will not enter into it (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). God’s unchangeable character is a call to those who are partakers of His divine nature to remain resolute in upholding His standard and banner in this world.

PRAYER POINT:
Unchangeable Changer, please change every unpleasant situation in my life for the better today, and grant me grace to honour Your covenant through obedience in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Kings 9, Daniel 5:13-28

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 14: LET US WITH A GLADSOME MIND

1 Let us, with a gladsome mind,
Praise the LORD, for He is kind:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

2 Let us blaze His Name abroad,
For of gods He is the God:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

3 He with all-commanding might
Filled the new-made world with light:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

4 All things living He doth feed;
His full hand supplies their need:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.
5 He His chosen race did bless
In the wasteful wilderness:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

6 He hath with a pious eye
Looks upon our misery:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

7 Let us therefore warble forth
His high majesty and worth:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

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MEMORISE:
With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Ephesians 6:7

READ: Ephesians 6:5-8

5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

MESSAGE

Whenever our actions are not based on pleasing the Lord, they will definitely be tainted by a purpose that is far from ideal. For example, only God knows the motive behind Cain’s sacrifice in Genesis chapter 4, but it ultimately led to the murder of his younger brother. Indeed, the Holy Spirit says we should not be weary in doing good deeds (Galatians 6:9). However, the only way we will not be weary in well-doing is when we do it as to the Lord, simply because human beings can be very ungrateful, and if we are waiting for the gratitude of men, we may end up not doing any good thing at all. Thankfully, the Lord has promised to commend and reward those who do good deeds. Speaking on this, the Lord said in Matthew 25:34-35:

“Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:”

There are times when I feel the people I am labouring over do not appreciate my love, concern and efforts to make them what God wants them to be, and I just feel like stopping it all. The Lord has spoken to me on several of such occasions that I should always do everything He asks me to do as unto Him alone, especially as He has never disappointed me. This word has kept me going all these years. Sometimes He sends me encouragement from unexpected quarters, like the time I was feeling so discouraged and a little girl from a place very far away brought me a cake. God used her to prove to me that my labour and efforts do not go unnoticed before Him.

In Ephesians 6:5-8, we are admonished as servants to be faithful in our services to our masters, employers and superiors at our places of work. Of course, even when we attain leadership positions, Jesus taught us to serve, not with eye service or for self-gratification. Some leaders will not promote their subordinates even when they are due for it. Let such leaders remember the efficacy of God’s word in Ephesians 6:8, which says:

“Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.”

Our God is not partial; He is a perfect and just Judge. Even if man forgets, He will not forget. Therefore, whatever you do for His sake, expect to get considerable rewards from Him alone and don’t look to man (Hebrews 6:10).

PRAYER POINT:
Father, in all I do in this world, please help me to always remember to do it as unto You.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Kings 7-8, Daniel 5:1-12

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 4: TAKE MY LIFE, AND LET IT BE

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

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

4. Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose,
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,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.

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MEMORISE:
Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. Proverbs 21:13

READ: Matthew 25:32-46

32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

MESSAGE

Many Christians don’t realise the dangers inherent in ignoring the poor around them. From today’s Bible reading, we see that the Lord cares for the less privileged so much that He literally feels their pain. This means that every time you disregard a person in need you are ignoring God Himself. Matthew 25:45-46 says:

“Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”

From these verses we understand that neglecting the needy is a passageway to hell fire. When people come to you in hunger, do you give them food or turn deaf ears to their pleas? When someone is sick, do you visit to show love and pray with him or her or do you just go about your own business? When you see someone who needs new clothes, do you scorn or abuse the person for looking hagard instead of giving out some of the clothes in your wardrobe that you haven’t worn in a long while? If you are ignoring people’s needs around you, be careful because you just might be disregarding God Himself, and the result is eternity in hell.

Believe me honestly, if you make it a point of duty to always give to the poor, you will be blessed bountifully for it. It is popularly said that givers never lack. I believe this to be very true because Proverbs 19:17 says:

“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.”

No one who neglects the poor has a place in heaven. In Matthew 19:16-25, a rich young man went to see Jesus, and he told Him that he had kept all Jewish laws from his youth, but he still felt like he was lacking something. Jesus told him that if he wanted to be perfect, he should sell all that he had and give the proceeds to the poor. This was too hard for the rich man to do, so he went away in sorrow. Then Jesus turned to His disciples and told them it is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven. In other words, if you are rich and you find anything too big or too valuable to let go of for the sake of the poor, then there is no place for you in the kingdom of heaven. Many people judge this rich young man, but they would do exactly the same thing he did if they were in his shoes. If I may ask, do you care enough for the needy that you can sell all that you have to meet their needs? Difficult as this may sound, it is reflective of the kind of heart that has a place in heaven.

ACTION POINT:
Begin to set aside a portion of your regular income to help the needy from today.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Kings 5-6, Daniel 4:28-37

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

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MEMORISE:
For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Job 14:7

READ: Genesis 40:1-22

1 And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt.

2 And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.

3 And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.

4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.

5 And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison.

6 And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad.

7 And he asked Pharaoh’s officers that were with him in the ward of his lord’s house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day?

8 And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.

9 And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;

10 And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes:

11 And Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand.

12 And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:

13 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh’s cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler.

14 But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:

15 For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.

16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head:

17 And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.

18 And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days:

19 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.

20 And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.

21 And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand:

22 But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.

MESSAGE

The story of Pharaoh’s butler is a good example of what God can do to restore someone in a hopeless situation. He and Pharaoh’s baker had offended their master and were put in royal prison. While there, they both had compelling dreams. While the interpretation of the baker’s dream was negative, the butler’s dream had a favourable message. Three days later, the baker was executed while the butler was restored. Not only was the butler restored, he also became the key personality whose advice and recommendation brought Joseph out of the prison yard. This shows the wisdom in the counsel that says we should always be mindful of what we do with those we meet on our way up because we may still meet them on our way down. Beloved, restoration is an easy thing for God to do. My prayer for someone reading this is that God’s favour and mercy will locate you in that despicable situation you are in and restore you to glory this season in Jesus’ Name. He will restore your lost opportunities in Jesus’ Name.

“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.” 1 John 2:1-2

This passage is saying that there is hope of restoration for a backslider who genuinely repents with determination never to go down again. The sad story was told of a young but zealous Christian brother in one of the popular ministries in Lagos, Nigeria. This brother was so zealous that he had zero-tolerance for any appearance of iniquity. Unfortunately, one way or the other, he fell into the sin of sexual immortality. Finding himself in this mess, he concluded that there could be no pardon for him from Jesus, whom he had disappointed. The thought of the souls he had won and the sermon he had preached against sin haunted him sorely, and he decided that the best thing to do was to commit suicide. Tragically, he ended his life! Beloved, I want to encourage you to have faith in the word being sent to you today. You can truly be restored because God’s promise to you in 2 Chronicles 7:14 says:

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

God promises to restore you if you will repent, and He is waiting to receive you with open arms today.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, as I stand on Your promise today, please grant me complete restoration spiritually and physically in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Kings 3-4, Daniel 4:19-27

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 6: HAVE YOU BEEN TO JESUS FOR THE CLEANSING POW’R

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?

Chorus:
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 Saviour’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 His presence 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,
O be washed in the blood of the Lamb.

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MEMORISE:
For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. 2 Timothy 1:12

READ: John 17:1-12

1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.

7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.

8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

MESSAGE

When I newly gave my life to Christ, the love of God in me made me burn with zeal to please the One who paid the supreme price to save my soul. However, some people I met in the faith mocked my zeal and said to each other, “Leave him alone; he will soon be tired and slow down.” I thank God that He has not allowed their prediction come true in my life. For this reason, I can stand to testify, as Paul did in today’s memory verse, that God is indeed able to keep what is entrusted to Him to the very end.

Paul was a man whose life proved that faith in the sustaining grace of God is not a waste. God kept him going in the Christian race and helped him to finish well and strong. At the end of his life, Paul was able to say in 2 Timothy 4:6-8:

“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

How was Paul able to finish his Christian race well in spite of the many obstacles he faced? The answer lies in today’s Bible reading. Before our Lord Jesus Christ left the earth, He devoted a substantial amount of time to pray that the faith of those who genuinely belong to Him should endure. As part of His prayer, He also said in John 17:12:

“While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.”

This is something for us to think about. Judas was given equal opportunity not to end his race the way he did, but he chose to be a son of perdition. We learn from him that making it to the very end is a matter of the choices we make every day. Those who will cross the finish line are those who give heed to the Lord’s warning in Luke 12:15, which says:

“And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

Beloved, I assure you that you can make it to the very end. Hold the forth and don’t comprise your faith. Keep on the firing line, and you will make it in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please uphold me in Your holy hands to the very end in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Kings 1-2, Daniel 4:4-18

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 17: HOLD THE FORT

1 Ho! my comrades, see the signal,
Waving in the sky!
Reinforcements now appearing,
Victory is nigh!

Chorus:
“Hold the fort, for I am coming,”
Jesus signals still,
Wave the answer back to Heaven,
“By Thy grace we will.”

2 See the mighty host advancing,
Satan leading on;
Mighty men around us falling,
Courage almost gone.

3 See the glorious banner waving,
Hear the bugle blow;
In our Leader’s Name we triumph
Over every foe.

4 Fierce and long the battle rages,
But our help is near;
Onward comes our great Commander,
Cheer, my comrades, cheer!

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MEMORISE:
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
1 Timothy 6:17

READ: Proverbs 30:7-9

7 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:

8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

MESSAGE

Having tasted both poverty and wealth, I can categorically say that wealth is better of the two. Nevertheless, if not handled with the fear of God, wealth can have a negative influence on those who possess it. Agur’s prayer in today’s Bible reading is food for thought in this regard. From his prayer, we understand that wealth can influence a person to question God’s relevance and deny His existence. Frankly speaking, comfort and riches can cause a person to conclude that he or she has need for God. We see this manifested in rich countries today. Nebuchadnezzar came under this negative influence of wealth, and he did not have a good story to tell. Intoxicated by prosperity, he boasted in Daniel 4:30, saying:

“…Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?”

Through this statement, he claimed self-sufficiency and denied God who gave him wealth and power. God had to school him for seven years among animals before he realised his folly (Daniel 4:33). This is why it should not surprise us to see wealthy people in those societies that deny the existence of God manifesting animalistic tendencies in their desires and lifestyle choices.

Usually, those who are rich have a quest to be richer still. While there is nothing wrong with this, it is disheartening that in an attempt to gain more wealth for themselves, many rich people exploit the downtrodden workers who labour to make them wealthy. Sometimes, they may decide not to pay their wages on time, leaving the money in the bank to yield interest for their own pockets. Some don’t even bother to pay at all, while some others choose to pay a token of what their workers are due. People like this should realise that they are committing fraud, and God may choose to fight them Himself (James 5:1-4).

We see from the lives of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that wealthy people who acknowledge the Almighty God as their source of power to get wealth hardly misbehave (Deuteronomy 8:18). Such people will not use their wealth to have extra-marital affairs or to entice the vulnerable into evil acts. They will see their staff as their own brothers and sisters, and will not toy with their wages. Above all, it will not be difficult for them to honour God with first fruits, tithes and offerings and works of charity. Are you free of the negative influence of wealth?

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please give me power to get wealth and help me use it judiciously for Your glory and kingdom, in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Kings 22, Daniel 3:16-4:3

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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