MEMORISE:Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:18

READ: Isaiah 54:14-17

14 In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.

15 Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.

16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.

17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

MESSAGE

When you look at the situation of many people in the world today, one is prone to forget that God did not create man to be a victim of circumstance. According to the eternal word of God which is true, man was actually created to be master over circumstances (Genesis 1:26-30). What then is responsible for the sorry state mankind is in today? Well, when man yielded to sin through disobedience, sin suppressed him, placed him under the control of circumstances. However, the good news is that over two thousand years ago, this situation was reversed by Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind, and all who are willing to tap into God’s provision for escape through Him can once again become masters over all circumstances today. Today’s Bible reading makes it clear that ruling over circumstances is our heritage as children of God. Understanding the truths in these scripture verses holds some keys of living above circumstances indeed. The first truth is that sin attacked the righteousness that man inherited from the One whose image he carried, and so he became subject to circumstances. Secondly, only when walking in the righteousness that emanates from God can anyone be established and put in charge of all circumstances. It’s from this reason that the eternal word of God says in Proverb 14:34:

“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”

Sin enslaves but righteousness librates. The story was told of two domestic workers named John and Moses. One day, john killed one of his maser’s ducks by accident. Though he buried it to cover up his mistake, Moses knew about it. Consequently, Moses began to torment John because of his sin and blackmailed him to do the chores meant for both of them. Eventually, the burden became unbearable for John. Unknown to Moses, John decided to confess his sin to his master, which he did. To his great surprise, his master forgave him and counseled him to be careful whenever he was taking care of the rest of the ducks. Moses woke up the following day thinking it was business as usual, not knowing that John had been set free. When Moses threatened to report John to their master about the slain duck, John told him that he had confessed it already and had been forgiven. Many people are under the bondage and condemnation of the devil today because they are still trying to cover their sins. The only way to be free is to acknowledge your sins, confess them and accept the righteousness that has been made available for you through Jesus Christ (Roman 10:3). The Bible says that we shall be established through the righteousness that Jesus Christ bestows upon us, and no weapon formed against us shall prosper. What a blessed assurance! Turn to God today through Jesus Christ our Lord, and you will become a master over all circumstances.

ACTION POINT:

Using today’s memory verse, bring every circumstance surrounding your life under subjection to the will of God for you through the Name of Jesus.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 6: HAVE YOU BEEN TO JESUS FOR THE CLEANSING POWER?

1. Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
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?

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?
Refrain

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?
Refrain

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.
Refrain

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MEMORISE:

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. Psalm 1:1

READ: Psalm 1:1-6

1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Corinthians 4-6
Isaiah 63:1-14

MESSAGE

One of the ways of attracting divine blessings is to stay away from the counsel of the wicked. According to Psalm 1:4&6, doing this also saves one from partaking in the judgment that God delivers on the wicked. Who is a wicked person? When you look through the lens of God’s word, you will discover that there are wicked people hiding in plain sight amongst us. For example, a wicked fellow is someone who takes advantage of the trust given to him to hurt another person, Joseph was put in a position of trust, but he did not take advantage of it because he did not want to be wicked. When his master’s wanted to lure him into sexual immorality, he said in Genesis 39:9:

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

Even before the Law of Moses was given in Exodus 20:14, Joseph refrained himself from committing this grave sin because he had the law of God written in his heart, which says:

“Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

Joseph regarded sleeping with his master’s wife as wickedness, so he did not do it. For this reason, I strongly believe that Joseph will stand in judgment against those who break the written law of God on marriage fidelity with impurity, claiming that the word of God is ambiguous on it.

Another category of the wicked includes those who despise the good works of others and render them insignificant. When you posted to a new office and you refuse to see the good work your predecessor did, or worse still, you try as much as possible to erase the history of his or her stewardship, you are wicked. In spite of what king Saul did to him, David did not act this way. When King Saul died, David said in 2 Samuel 1:24:

“Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.”

Walking in the counsel of the wicked can have grave and everlasting consequences. An example of the impact of ungodly counsel is found in the story of Amnon and his lust for his half-sister, Tamar. Amnon was caught in Jonadad’s wicked counsel, and he died for it (2 Samuel 13:1-29). Beloved, irrespective of who the source is run for your dear life when given ungodly counsel. May you never fall prey to the counsel of the ungodly in Jesus’ Name.

ACTION POINT:

Examine the company you keep, even in church. If you find any form of ungodliness prevalent anywhere, separate yourself from it.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 10: I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS

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

2. The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.

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

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

5. Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.

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MEMORISE:

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Philippians 2:5

READ: Hebrews 2:9-3:1

9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

1Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

 

MESSAGE

Yesterday, we started considering the all important topic of focusing our attention on Jesus Christ, and we saw some of the reasons why we need to fix our eyes on Him while we journey through the wilderness of this world. Today, we shall be reflecting on some of the benefits of looking unto Jesus.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

One of the reasons why our Lord took on the form of man was to lay down a pattern of life that would always serve as a perfect example for us to look up to. Although He experienced everything we go through as humans, He triumphed over all. Following His example will therefore cause us to triumph over every trial and temptation we will face in the world. He is the only human figure we can completely pattern our lives after and still live acceptable before the Almighty Father. One virtue of His that we must definitely follow is the virtue of endurance in the face of trials and temptations. The Holy Spirit counsels us to practice this virtue in order to avoid experiencing wariness in our soul and spirit. Speaking in Hebrews 12:3, He said:

“For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”

When we are focused on living as Christ lived, we would not be deterred by what the ungodly do to us. Our Lord says to us in John 15:18-19:

“ If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”

Don’t be discouraged when your boss maltreats you because you refuse to sleep with him based on your Christian conviction, or when your colleagues hate you because you refuse to go along with their plan to steal from the company. You have already been forewarned of their hostility by the Master, who Himself also endured the “contradiction of sinner”. Lastly, we must focus on Jesus because He is our role model in leadership, giving and love. He established His leadership by serving us, and He gave us His very best by laying down His life as a ransom for our salvation (John 10:10-18). As you begin to focus your gaze upon Jesus from today, I pray that God will help you in Jesus’ Name.

KEY POINT:

We are commanded to look up to Jesus and not to any other person or institution.

WRITTEN BY  PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN

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. Oh, 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;
Oh, 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;
Oh, 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 Savior and my Friend.

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MEMORISE:

For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 2 Thessalonians 3:10

READ: Proverbs 6:4-11

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.

6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

MESSAGE

Laziness can be defines as the attitude of being unwilling to work or dissipate energy in the pursuit of a goal. It can also be viewed as an attribute of a idle, slow or sluggish person. The Bible describes some characteristics of a lazy person which are important for us to consider today. As revealed in Proverbs 6:9, the first notable characteristic of a lazy person is the love for sleep. Lazy people find it convenient to spend the better part of the day sleeping, and when they finally get out of bed, they do as little work as possible. Proverbs 6:10-11 cites excessive sleep as the source of a lazy man’s poverty, saying:

“Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.”

Lazy people generally lack initiative. They won’t do any work unless they are forced, and they can’t work without supervision. For such people, when their supervisor is away, they resume late at work and leave before the normal closing hours. They always work at the minimum level, and have mastered the art of making excuses to avoid work. Whenever you question lazy people about their work ethics, they usually have must to offer in the form of excuses. Lazy people are more often than not out in search of easy money. They hope to get rich with minimal effort, and so they are constantly seeking for ways to circumvent God’s way of making money through diligence and hard work. Lazy people are dreamers who nurse hopes of bailout by Government, family or friends, even before starting any venture.

A lazy person is highly destructive by nature. He is a waster and a poor manager of materials, financial and human resources. A lazy person usually ends up destroying precious things such as time, income, opportunities, marriage and family relationships. Because of this, lazy people are bound to suffer many regrets later in life. They will be forced to think of their unfulfilled ambitions, wasted opportunities and unsatisfied desires. They will crave things that they no longer have the means of getting. A lazy man usually ends up being ridiculed in his family and disgraced in the community. God disciplines lazy people by allowing them to experience the consequences of their foolishness, with the hope that they will learn wisdom through their poverty. These are just a few of the severe consequences reserved for lazy people. May the Lord deliver the body of Christ and our nation from idleness and laziness in Jesus’ Name.

ACTION POINT:

Examine yourself to see if you possess any of the attributes of a lazy person and quickly adjust your life.

HYMN 5: LET OTHERS SEE JESUS IN YOU.

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

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

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

Refrain

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

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MEMORISE:
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18
READ: Hebrews 11:24-26
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Mark 15-16, Isaiah 22:5-25
MESSAGE

At a point in a person’s life, he or she must defer gratification in order to succeed in this world and in the hereafter. This truth must sink into the heart of every Christian, especially the younger generation. It is unfortunate that more often than not, people do not see the need to defer gratification. They want to enjoy everything right now! Unfortunately, life is not utopian in nature. The reality is that there is no gain without pain. Even our salvation which some people erroneously describe as “free” was paid for by the Saviour. He agonised on the cross to procure our liberty. Whether in the temporal or eternal realm, gratification requires deferment.
Daniel stands as a great example of someone who deferred gratification. His act of sacrifice as a young fellow upholding God’s covenant is recorded on Daniel 1:8:
“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”
The moment Daniel and his brethren matriculated into the University of Babylon, caterers were assigned to feed them with all sorts of delicacies, including the royal wine, but Daniel deferred these fringe benefits in order to excel. No wonder, Daniel eventually enjoyed the largesse of occupying a high office after he and his colleagues graduated and became ministers in the king’s cabinet. This is the reward of deferring pleasure. Unfortunately, some children of God refuse to postpone enjoyment in the present world for eternal bliss in the world to come. 1 Corinthians 9:25 says:
“And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.”
Even our Lord Jesus Christ deferred the pleasure of food and chose to suffer hunger when the devil told Him to turn stone into bread (Luke 4:1-4). This was what Esau could not do, and he sold his birthright for a meal (Genesis 25:29-34). Beloved, for you to make it to heaven, you need to forgo certain things that may not necessarily be sinful but may constitute a hindrance to your spiritual growth and cause you to be vulnerable to sin and its enticing allurements. For this reason, 1 Corinthians 6:12 says:
“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”
Learn to be like Apostle Paul who considered as being worthless those things which should have been valuable to him, so that he could attain the high calling of God (Philippians 3:7-8).

ACTION POINT:
Consider those things you are doing or using which can serve as impediments to your Christian calling and do away with them.
HYMN 10: I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS
1. I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
2. The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.
3. Though none go with me, I still will follow;
Though none go with me, I still will follow;
Though none go with me, I still will follow
No turning back, no turning back.
4. My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
5. Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.

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MEMORISE: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; Philippians 3:10
READ: John 14:6-14
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Mark 14, Isaiah 21:1-22:4
MESSAGE

Reading the words of today’s Bible text should be an awe-inspiring for any believer. Just as a father on his deathbed would share deep secrets with his children, Christ’s declaration about Himself came to His disciples at the very end of His assignment here on earth (John 13:1). He knew that His disciples had a limited understanding of who He really was, and so He chose that moment to reveal Himself to them fully. His divinity, His humanity, the reason why He came, His relationship with the Father, His destination, power and status thereafter are all revealed to us in this scripture. It is a privilege to have a revelation of who Jesus really is. To enjoy the fullness of the divine nature you possess as a Christian and to finish your race here on earth in flying colours, you need to have an intimate and personal relationship with the Master. However, you cannot have an intimate and personal relationship with the Lord without first having received a revelation of His person in your spirit. Apostle Paul was unique as a Christian because his knowledge of the Lord was based on divine revelation of His person. In Galatians 1:11-12, he wrote:
“But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
While it is good for you to be taught about the Lord, you cannot know Him intimately unless you receive a personal revelation of His person in your spirit. This is so important to make you genuinely grounded as a Christian. For this reason, Apostle Paul prayed this prayer for the fledgling Christians at Ephesus in Ephesians 1:16-17:
“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:”
Jesus revealed Himself to the disciples because they had proven their love for Him by accepting His call and walking with Him while He was here on earth. Today, it is those who show their love for Him by spending time with Him in the place of worship and meditating on His word that He will reveal Himself to (John 14:23). Beloved, do you really know Jesus Christ? Have you caught a revelation of who He is in your spirit? Who is He to you? Is He a prophet, a great teacher, a miracle worker, great healer, your saviour from sin and the gateway to heaven? Jesus Christ is all of these and even much more, but above all, He is the Son of the Living God and the Saviour of mankind. Seek to know Him from today. Show your love for Him by spending time with Him, and He will give you a personal revelation of who He really is.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please give unto me the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus.
HYMN
1 Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
Chorus:
O deeper yet, I pray,
And higher ev’ry day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.
2 Deeper, deeper! blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.
3 Deeper, deeper! tho’ it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.
4 Deeper, higher, ev’ry day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
5 Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.

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MEMORISE: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Ephesians 2:8
READ: Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Mark 12-13, Isaiah 19:16-20:6
MESSAGE

For you to truly appreciate what grace is, you need to see it as the love of God clouded in mystery. Throughout the Bible, those who encountered God’s grace were blessed and favoured, and they could hardly explain what justified the favour they received. One of those who enjoyed God’s grace declared in 1 Chronicles 17:16b:
“Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?”
The good news is that God’s grace is made abundantly available to all those who desire to be saved and blessed today. Titus 2:11-12 says:
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”
God’s grace is embodied in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. To access this grace, you must accept Christ as “God manifested in flesh”, and believe in the sufficiency of His finished work at Calvary to wash away your past and give you a bright new future. Doing so will open the door for you to escape the imminent judgement that will be poured out on this sinful world, just as Noah escaped the flood that brought God’s judgement on the people of his time. The secret to Noah’s salvation from the great deluge is revealed to us in Genesis 6:7-8 as God’s grace:
“And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.”
God’s grace for salvation through Christ is such a difficult concept for religious people to comprehend. They fail to understand it because they think the basis of divine acceptance is their own personal efforts. The truth is simply this: salvation is by grace, and this grace is available only through Christ. Are you a religious person reading this devotional out of curiosity? You will be mightily and eternally blessed if you embrace the grace of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. Nevertheless, we must keep in mind that grace does not indulge the beneficiary in sin or lawlessness; rather, it gives spiritual power to help us live according to the acceptable standards of our holy God. You can only live acceptably before God through grace. Through this same grace, you will receive help to do God’s will, and when you close your eyes in death, you will safely arrive in the bliss of heaven. Are you a partaker of God’s grace?

ACTION POINT:
Stop struggling with your sins today. Hand them over to Jesus who will give you the grace to live above them
HYMN
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:The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. Proverbs 29:25
READ: Matthew 10:28-33
28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Mark 10-11, Isaiah 18:1-19:15
MESSAGE

There is a trait that God hates so much but many people don’t pay attention to, despite the many examples in the Bible that should deter them from it. This negative trait manifests itself in the form of trying to please men at the expense of loyalty to the Almighty God. Doing this arouses divine jealousy, and when we provoke God to jealously, the result can be devastating. When we choose to please men instead of God Almighty, we have made men our gods, and this is contrary to the commandment against idolatry in Exodus 20:3. It is unfortunate that many people do not know this. Some people try to please men because of the fear of what they can do to them. It should not be so with us believers. Our Lord warns us not to be afraid of men who can only kill the body; rather, we should fear the One who can destroy both the body and soul in hell.
An example of a man who was a “men pleaser” is King Saul. He bungled his throne because of the fear of men. When he was confronted with his blatant disobedience to the Lord’s instructions, he himself admitted in 1 Samuel 15:24:
“And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.”
On the other hand, the three young Hebrew men in Daniel 3:14-26 chose to please God, even in the face of a burning furnace. Although they were furiously thrown into the fire, the fire could not hurt them because the Son of the Living God was already waiting for them (Daniel 3:25). One thing we can learn from their experience is that even though they got into the fire, their salvation was already waiting for them in there. We must also learn to endure to the end because our ultimate salvation is reserved for us if we stay focused on God. In Matthew 10:22, Jesus said:
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”
Many people practically deny Jesus Christ for different reasons: persecution, fear of ridicule, and for some, because of what they will eat, drink or wear. For these reasons, some ladies cannot resist illicit sexual advances, while some men kill for money. In Matthew 10:32-33, Jesus said:
“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”
If you therefore desire a glorious future in heaven, you need to take a stand for Jesus, no matter what you may be going through.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please help me to stand for You, come what may.
HYMN 10: I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS
1. I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
2. The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.
3. Though none go with me, I still will follow;
Though none go with me, I still will follow;
Though none go with me, I still will follow
No turning back, no turning back.
4. My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
5. Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.

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