Memorise: And that from a child thou hast know the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:15
Read: Matthew 4:1-11
4 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Bible in one year: Jeremiah 9-10, Luke 8:40-9:6

AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

1. The term ‘overcomer’ is used in Christian parlance to describe a champion, victor or conqueror. It describes a person who has run the Christian race and finished it triumphantly. In His letters to the seven churches of Asia, the Lord revealed seven different rewards He would give to those who fit this description (Revelation 2-3). Beyond these seven rewards, in Revelation 21:7, the Father Himself promised one final reward for overcomers, saying:
“he that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”
2. How amazing! If I were you, I would strive very hard to partake of these rewards. To qualify as an overcomer, I recommend that you first take a look at the life of those who ran the Christian race before you and overcame. This will help you understand the secrets of how they succeeded, and you can then apply those principles in your own heavenly race. Let’s take a look at the greatest of these overcomers, in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 3:21). Of all the battles He won, He triumphed over the devil in two spectacular ways that are worthy of mention.
3. First, in our Bible text, He was engaged by the devil in a crucial contest and He knocked the devil out through the power of God’s word. Secondly, although the devil masterminded His arrest, trial and execution, the Lord still triumphantly worked out the miracle of His resurrection from the dead. Colossians 2:15 says,
“And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”
Through His death, the Lord defeated the devil in hell and paraded him and his cohorts in an open show of shame, confirming His supremacy over the kingdom of darkness. I pray that you will comprehend and begin to walk in the victory of Jesus from today in Jesus’ Name.
4. While He was in this world, what was at the main weapon used by the Lord in overcoming? It is God’s word. Several time, He quoted the scirptures as a weapon against the devil. God gave us His word as a tool for developing strong faith and confidence in Him. We are nurtured in faith and brought to spiritual maturity through His word. Remembering God’s great deeds in the past builds up our hope in Him (Romans 15:4).
5. Besides giving us hope, God’s word is also a potent weapon of warfare against the kingdom of darkness (2 Corinthians 10:4). It is empowered to pull down the strongholds of sin, sickness, generational curses and death. It also has the power to break yokes of failure, bareness and poverty.
6. I therefore decree that the power in the word of God will completely destroy every yoke in your life today in Jesus’ name.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

’

The bible says And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. When we truly submit ourselves unto God there is no battle in this age and the ages to come that can overpower us. God is interested in His Children that will engage in spiritual warfare with the devil and his agents. May the Lord grant us the power to always prevail over the devil.

Prayer Point:
Father, please grant me grace to finish the race as an overcomer in Jesus’ name.
HYMN
1. Conquerors and overcomers now are we,
Thro’ the precious blood of Christ we’ve victory
If the Lord be for us we can never fail,
Nothing ‘gainst His mighty power can eer pereval.
Chorus:
Conquerors are we, thr’o the blood of Jesus
God will give us victory, thro’ the blood of Jesus
Through the Lamb for sinners slain,
Yet who lives and reigns again,
More than conquerors are we,
More than conquerors are we.
2. In the name of Israel’s God we’ll onward press,
Overcoming sin and all unrighteousness;
Not to us but unto Him the praise shall be,
For salvation and for blood bought victory.
3. Unto Him that overcometh shall be given,
Here to eat of hidden manna sent from Heaven,
Over yonder He the victors palm shall bear,
And a robe of white, and golden crown shall wear.

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20

Memorise: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
Read: Matthew 7:13-14
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Bible in one year: Jeremiah 7-8, Luke 8:22-39

AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

1. In John 14:6, the Lord Christ made a declarative statement to Thomas, which even today some archbishops cannot fathom. He said: What did Jesus mean when He called Himself the Way?
2. After Adam and Eve fell in the Garden of Eden, there was a break in the connection that existed between God and break in the connection that existed between God and man. From the moment, mankind has continually made efforts to find God because of the emptiness that exists in us without God. Revealing this emptiness and the resulting search for God, in Acts 17:26-27, the Holy Spirit said: “And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one us:”
3. The drive to fill this void is seen in the abundance of different religions in the world today, with each one recommending its own way to God. Having seen the end from the beginning, Jesus knew that this time would come, and so He said very clearly to all who will listen, “I Am the Way.” He is the only Way to God, and there is no other way to get to God except through Him.
4. Because of the diverse doctrines around, you need to be careful and ensure that you have found the true God.
5. You need to be sure that you are not just deluded into thinking you have obtained salvation and that you are on your way to heaven. Any other way to God that is not through the Lord Jesus Christ is counterfeit. Are you in any religion that doesn’t recognize Jesus Christ as the way to God? are you in any church that glorifies her General Overseer or leader rather than the Lord Jesus Christ? Does your church propagate its own doctrines rather than the word of God as written in the Bible? It is time to come out of such an assembly and seek the one true God through Jesus Christ.
6. Another thing Jesus meant when He said is the Way is that He is the perfect example to follow if you want to please God.
7. Don’t make any man your standard because man will disappoint you.
8. Our standard is Jesus Christ and Him alone, it is possible to attain Christ’s level of perfection here on earth, and this is why He gave us the Holy Spirit when He was leaving the earth.
9. Are you going to Heaven through The Way, and are you walking in His footsteps?

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

Jesus is the only answer to all the issues we are encountering in this life. Without Jesus we are nothing and lifeless. That is why the Bible says; “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John‬ ‭8:12‬. Whoever doesn’t have him is living in darkeness of life and such is surrounded with frustrations. That is why in the body of Christ, we must continue to establish the truth without compromise that Jesus is the only way. Glory to God for Pastor E.A Adeboye for this devotional.

 
Key Point: There is only one way to God; if you are not going through that Way, then you cannot reign with Christ in paradise
Hymn
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
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.
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.
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.
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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20

Memorise: But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Hebrews 12:8
Read: Hebrews 12:4-11
4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Bible in one year: Jeremiah 5-6, Luke 8:4-21

AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

1. Discipline is the act of training a person to obey rules and follow instructions, which sometimes involves corrective punishment for wrongdoing. The Bible clearly establishes that God expects parents to discipline their children (Proverbs 23:13-14, Ephesians 6:4). Parents who failed in this responsibility suffered grave consequences, as seen in the example of Eli (1 Samuel 2:27-34).
2. Being a just God, He cannot require discipline from earthly parents and fail in His responsibility to discipline His own children, as the Heavenly Father. All acts of disciplining God’s children ultimately come from God, and the methods used are determined by Him. However, His motive is always love, while His goal remains making us partakers of His holiness (Hebrews 12:10). God disciplines His children as part of His covenant with them. Consequently, only disciplined children of God access to His covenant blessings. Job 36:10-11 says:
“He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.”
3. Interestingly, God in His infinite wisdom has set discipline as the number one criteria for ascertaining true children of God. Hebrews 12:8 says,
“But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”
Consequently, if you notice that you are getting away with sin and immorality without any type of warning or discipline from God, then you can be sure that heaven does not recognize you as a true child of God. As soon as a person accepts the Lordship of Jesus Christ, he or she becomes a genuine member of God’s family, and the love of God will immediately kick-start the process of discipline in order to bring the new convert to perfection in due time.
4. May you always cooperate with God for the purpose of receiving proper discipline in Jesus’ Name.
As a child of God, receiving divine discipline with humility comes with great benefits. Discipline prevents children of God from going astray and brings us to perfection. It also makes us humble, wise and successful, helping us acquire spiritual growth and maturity.
5. Disciplined Christians easily overcome temptation. They are like smooth stones in the hands of God and are mightily used by Him against the kingdom of darkness. Open your heart to receive godly discipline and correction today.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

’

Being a true son requires obedience to the father. It is good for us to know that when God chastises, it is for our own good and the truth is that God intention is to bring us to perfection. We pray that none of us will become too big to be corrected by God in Jesus’ name. Thanks to Pastor E.A Adeboye for this wonderful devotional, we pray that in Heaven none of us shall be found missing in Jesus’ name.

Prayer Point:
Father, as I commit myself anew to Your discipline today, help me humbly receive Your corrections is Jesus’ Name.
Hymn2
1. I need Thee every hour,
Chorus:
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 cleansing this I see
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
For my pardon this my pleas
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
3. Nothing can my sin erase
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Naught of works, ‘tis all of grace
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!

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20

Memorise: There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 14:12
Read: Proverbs 7:6-23
6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
12 Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.
15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
19 For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
Bible in one year: Jeremiah 3-4, Luke 7:36-8:3

AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

1. In these perilous times, life is so full of struggles and hard labour that do not always result in success. All around the world, people invest precious time and money into obtaining high school and college education, only to graduate and discover that jobs are nonexistent. In some cases, people invest years into specialized training in various crafts and trades, only to graduate and begin to source for financial backing and start-up capital without success.
2. There are some who manage to gain employment with private companies or who succeed in starting small scale businesses, but some years down the line, they find themselves back in the labour market due to harsh economic realities. These hardships have made the availability of ready-made provision very attractive to the average person, especially in developing countries like we have in Africa.
3. The dire economic situation in different parts of the world has led some Christians to wrongly assume that every opportunity that comes their way is God’s providence, not realizing their error until contrary events begin to happen to them in the process of exploiting these “opportunities”. I pray that no matter the prevailing conditions in your community, the Lord will divinely open doors of genuine opportunities to you in Jesus’ Name.
4. In Africa and several developing countries, the difficult political and economic situation coupled with security challenges have led a lot of people, especially youths, into traps that initially appeared like ready-made provision. These traps could come in form of employment with very attractive pay packages, ‘juicy’ marriage offers, ‘fantastic’ business opportunities or even invitations to travel abroad. Hidden behind these seemingly great offers are terrible vices like prostitution, drug trafficking, criminal syndicates, fraud, occultism and the like. For example, many young people have honoured invitations to travel abroad only to get trapped in sex trafficking or being used as drug couriers.
5. Some people have entered neck deep into what they thought was an ordinary business relationship, into powerful occult groups. Many vulnerable youths are enticed into armed gangs which eventually result in untimely death for so many. As seen in today’s Bible reading, you must recognize that the devil’s ready-made provisions are nothing but deadly traps. God has assured you that He will provide all your needs and settle all your problems (Hebrews 13:5, 1 Peter 5:7). Therefore, beware of the devil’s traps!

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

’

Simple advice to every believer is to put total trust in God for provision because the bible says/; The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. Glory to God for His son Pastor E.A Adeboye for this devotional.

Prayer Point:
Father, preserve me from ever falling into the trap of false opportunities, in Jesus’ Name.
HYMN
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?
6. Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back

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20

Memorise: For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9
Read: 1 Timothy 2:3-6
3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior,
4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.
Bible in one year: Jeremiah 1 – 2, Luke 7:18-35

AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

1. In ancient times, a ransom was a price paid to secure the freedom of a slave, captive or prisoner. It had to be paid in full in order to cancel a debt or obligation, set one free from liabilities and charges, or secure an exemption from punishment.
2. A ransom is associated with redemption, atonement, deliverance and salvation.
3. In every situation requiring the payment of a ransom, victims are helpless because they cannot effect the payment of their ransom.
4. In the same sense, humanity was in a hopeless and helpless situation because we lacked what was required to pay the price for our liberation from the penalty of sin. Thank God that Jesus Christ stepped in as a substitute for all humanity, paying our ransom in full.
5. The ransom He paid is effective for anyone on the face of the earth who by faith in the word of God receives salvation as a gift of God through Jesus Christ. In Matthew 20:28, Jesus said: “Even as the Son of ma came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
6. Through His suffering, painful death on the cross and glorious resurrection on the third day, He paid in full every price demanded for the redemption, atonement, deliverance and salvation of humanity. Therefore, if you are still under any form of bondage, receive your freedom now in the mighty Name of Jesus.
7. Now that Jesus Christ has paid our ransom in full and completely wiped away everything contrary to our destiny in God, what next? The answer is found in Romans 6:22: “But now being made free from sin, and become servants of God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”
8. God expects that having freed you from the shackles of sin, you will not return to its bondage again. You ought to remain free by walking in holiness, exercising the power to live above sin that God has deposited in you (Romans 6:14).
9. The end result of staying true to this is everlasting life. 1 Peter 1:15-16 says, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” We are called out of sin to live a holy life.
10. Jesus paid your ransom in full; now show appreciation and reciprocate His love by living holy as from today.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

“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. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” Isaiah 53:5‭-‬7 Our Lord Jesus Christ went through a lot for us to fully enjoy God’s love. We should live everyday with this consciousness and appreciate His love and sacrifice by obey Him and doing His will. God be praised for Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Action Point: Thank the Lord for the ransom He paid in full on your behalf. Think over any area of life where you are in bondage and prayerfully.
Hymn
Wonderful story of love;
Tell it to me again;
Wonderful;
Wonderful story of love;
Wake the immortal of love;
Wake te immortal strain!
Angels with rapture announce it,
Shepherds with wonder receive it;
Sinner, oh, won’t you believe it?
Wonderful story of love.
Chorus:
Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful, wonderful story of love.
Wonderful story of love;
Though you are far away;
Wonderful story of love;
Still He doth call today;
Calling from Calvary’s mountain,
Down from the crystal-bright fountain,
E’en from the dawn of creation,
Wonderful story of love.
Wonderful story of love
Jesus provides a rest;
Wonderful story of love;
For all the pure and blest,
Rest in those mansions above us, with those who’ve gone on before us,
Singing the rapturous chorus,
Wonderful story of love.

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20

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: Psalm 37:4-6
4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
Bible in one year: Isaiah 65-66, Luke 6:46-7:17

AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

1. Trusting God is one of the best things a child of God can ever learn to do.
2. The moment you learn to trust God, life will become beautiful because you will begin to experience a kind of peace you never knew existed.
3. Initially, it can be quite hard for us to trust God due to the fact that His ways are higher than our ways, and until we get to know Him well, His instructions and commands might seem strange. Nevertheless, as a child of God, it is important that you learn to trust God blindly. Even if you cannot see around the bend, you should trust Him enough to know that He will always lead you aright.
4. No matter how unconventional God’s ways are, one thing is sure: He has your best interest at heart. Jeremiah 29:11 says: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
5. Trusting God involves taking the backseat and letting God handle the major decisions and situations in your life. It involves letting your will be so lost in His will until you start to see things from His perspective and feel things through His heart. It takes a lot of trust in another individual to be able to let go of your own will and let that person’s will prevail in your life.
6. You can only trust someone that you love, so if you don’t love God genuinely, you cannot trust Him.
7. There was a day I was driving down from Ilorin to Lagos and my fuel tank was almost empty. Unknown to me, a fuel scarcity was on, and so all the filling stations I saw along the way had no fuel. I cried to God and He asked me to take my eyes off the fuel gauge and continue driving to Lagos. Although my fuel tank was already on reserve at the time He told me to do this, I said to Him “Yes Lord”, and kept on driving. To the glory of God, I kept on driving till I got to my house in Lagos. After I parked the car, I looked at the fuel gauge and it read empty! If I did not trust God completely, I would have parked my car in a sage place along the way and gone through stress of finding an alternative means of getting home, instead of taking the risk of getting stranded along the way.
8. The devil specializes in sowing seeds of doubt in our hearts so that our faith in God will diminish, because he knows that the moment you start doubting God, you will not be able to receive anything from Him (James 1:6-7).
9. For this reason, it is very important to remind yourself of the good things God has done for you and others in the past.
10. Encourage yourself with these testimonies in order to rekindle your faith. Learn to trust God, because it shows your love for Him.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

Proverbs 3:5-6 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;  In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall [a]direct your paths.” When the Lord directs our paths, stumbling is never allowed but we must trust Him, belief Him and hand over our all to Him before we can experience this. May God continually uphold and strengthen Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Key Point: If you don’t learn to trust God, then don’t expect anything from Him.
Hymn
O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come
Our shelter from the stormy blast
And our eternal home.
Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defence is sure.
Before the hills in order stood
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same
A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.
Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
Thy fly forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.
O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while life shall last,
And our eternal home.

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20

Memorise: For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. James 2:13
Read: Psalm 51:1-14
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
Bible in one year: Isaiah 61-64, Luke 6:24-25

AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

1. For us as human beings, mercy is one of the most essential attributes of God, because this is God’s character by which He faithfully keeps His covenant, fulfills His promises and maintains His relationship with His children, despite our shortcomings, unworthiness and unfaithfulness (Romans 9:15-16).
2. Mercy connotes goodness, favour and steadfast love (Ephesians 2:4).
3. The most prominent aspect of mercy is the compassionate disposition to forgive an offender in order to help his or her sorry situation. The Bible shows that Jesus is God’s mercy personified, and by His death and resurrection, we have open access to God’s mercy. 1 Peter 1:3 says: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”
4. God’s mercy brings about the conversion of sinners, instructs the ignorant, counsels the doubtful and comforts the sorrowful. It also forgives and overlooks injurious acts, and patiently puts up with human errors and weaknesses.
5. The mercy of Jesus Christ earns us His free legal representation before the Father, and secures the Spirit’s continued intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered. Against this background, we can boldly say that God’s mercy prevails over judgment, as stated in today’s memory verse.
6. Interestingly, two terms are commonly used to explain the relationship between mercy and judgment in this passage. One says mercy “rejoices against” judgment, while the other says mercy “triumphs over” judgment. Both descriptions paint vivid pictures of victory and celebration in a seemingly hopeless situation.
7. Knowing that judgment is the deserved consequence for sin, the intervention of divine mercy that turns things around and makes a culprit ‘rejoice against’ and ‘triumph over’ judgment is indeed a miracle.
8. The ultimate act of God’s mercy is the work of substitution that Jesus Christ performed on the cross of Calvary. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
9. God’s mercy is still flowing from the throne of grace today. Irrespective of your shortcomings, go before this throne in humility, and you will receive mercy to triumph over sin, sickness, failure, poverty and everything that is working against your peace.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

Anyone who finds mercy from the Lord attracts favour at all times. “And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.” Matthew 14:14 May we find mercy in all our ways in Jesus name. We are daily refreshed as we study the Open Heavens devotional. I pray that God will grant Pastor E.A Adeboye great strength and grace for greater works in Jesus name

Prayer Point: Father, please let Your mercy prevail over every unfavourable judgment against my life, in Jesus’ name.
Hymn
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Chorus:
Oh! Precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my cleansing this I see
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
For my pardon this my pleas
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Nothing can my sin erase
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Naught of works, ‘tis all of grace
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
This is all my hope and peace
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
This is all my righteousness
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

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Memorise: For the word of God is quick, and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the diving of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
Read: 1 John 4:1-6
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,
3 and every spirit that does not confess [a]that Jesus [b]Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.
6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
Bible in one year: Isaiah 58-60, Luke 6:1-23

AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

1. The greatest battle that has ever been fought and is still being fought is in the heart of man. This battle is being fought by God on one side and the devil on the opposing side. Whoever wins this battle ultimately wins control over the soul of the individual over whom the battle is being fought.
2. The devil has been interested in the souls of men ever since God created us, and his plan has always been to destroy as many of us as possible.
3. Our Lord Jesus Christ revealed the devil’s plan to us and offers us God’s solution, saying in John 10:10: “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.”
4. Through the ages, the devil has succeeded in taking over the lives of so many people, and for this reason, the Lord said in Matthew 7:13: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:” In spite of all the devil may try, my prayer for you is that I will see you in heaven in Jesus’ Name.
5. In the world today, there is so much wickedness and confusion everywhere. Sin has become so common place that it is very strange and rare to see someone who is pure and refuses to be a part of the evil of the day. These are some of the signs Jesus spoke about in Matthew 24:3-31.
6. In order to further achieve his alms, the devil has employed false prophets into his service. They go around disseminating false doctrines which are even more dangerous to Christians, because they can make a person think that he or she is saved while they are actually on their way to hell. One of the reasons why many of these false prophets are so successful is that they keep telling people what they want to hear and not what the Bible says (2 Timothy 4:3).
7. The Bible is the written word of God, and so, anyone who deviates from it by as much as a dot is not of God and doesn’t have your best interest at heart (2 Peter 1:20-21).
8. God’s word is absolute, and it must be preached in its pure form.
9. The best way to guard your heart in these perilous times is to fill it with the word of God and to constantly meditate on the word as much as possible.
10. Once you give your life to Christ and are sanctified by God, it is important to ask for the baptism of the Holy Spirit so that Jesus Himself can fill you to overflow with His Spirit and mark you for Himself.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

Prayer Point: Father, let Your word have free course in my heat and fill me to overflow with Your Spirit.
Hymn
Nearer, my God, to Thee;
Nearer to Thee;
E’en though it be a cross
That raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.
Though, like a wanderer,
The sun gone down,
Darkness comes over me,
My rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.
There let me see the sight,
An open heaven;
All that Thou sendest me,
In mercy given;
Angels to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.
Then, with my waking thoughts
Bright with thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs
Bethel I’ll raise,
So by my woes to be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.

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Memorise: Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou came forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Jeremiah 1:5
Read: Jeremiah 1:1-10
1 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin,
2 to whom the word of the Lord came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.
3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month. The Prophet Is Called
4 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified[a] you; I [b]ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
6 Then said I: “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”
7 But the Lord said to me:“Do not say, ‘I am a youth, ’For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak.
8 Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.
9 Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant.”
Bible in one year: Isaiah 54-57, Luke 5:17-39

AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

1. The Almighty is a God of plan and purpose. By His wisdom, He preordained events and occurrences right from the beginning of creation to the end of time in eternity.
2. From His words to Jeremiah in today’s Bible reading, we understand that the purpose for which a person is born is hidden in His divine will. It is reassuring to know that irrespective of human objections or the devil’s opposition, the thoughts of God and His predestined plans for things shall come to pass (Isaiah 14:27).
3. It is also humbling to note that whatever God has purposed to do in any circumstance will surely be accomplished with or without us.
4. Let me share a strange occurrence that happened to me as I was growing up in my small village, Ifewara, in Southern Nigeria. I once saw a prophet and laughed at him. As I laughed, the prophet turned to me and said, “Keep laughing at me, but one day you also will be a prophet.” I laughed the more and sarcastically said, “Not just a prophet, but indeed a prayer warrior.” Obviously, this prophet saw a glimpse of what God had in store for me, but I was completely ignorant of it. I pray that the power of God will bring the purpose for which you were born to pass, even in the face of opposition in Jesus’ Name.
5. No one can successfully thwart God’s efforts or frustrate His purpose, especially with respect to predestination. Ephesians 1:11 says: “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:” In light of this scripture, when you cooperate with God in agreement with His divine purpose, you will experience unprecedented success, but when you choose to work against His purpose, the result is bound to be failure.
6. I once told my children that all human beings are only playing their predefined roles in the script written by God before the creation of the world. It is only sensible for wise actors to diligently study the script to properly interpret their roles and memorize their lines, so that their performance will run smoothly in sync with other players and in accordance with the overall purpose of the production. In this regard, Romans 8:28 says, “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.”
7. This means that irrespective of what you are passing through in life, the most important thing is to ensure that your life is in agreement with God’s purpose as revealed in His word. After you do this, you can sit back and watch God crown your efforts in life with success.
8. In order to give you an expected end, He will work everything out in line with His predetermined purpose.
9. What a glorious God we serve! Hallelujah!

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

Many believers have missed the purpose of God for their lives. Some other category of believers don’t even know they have a purpose talkless of knowing what their purpose is. A life well spent is simply interpreted as a life of purpose. It means full manifestation of God’s purpose for one’s life. I pray the Lord will help us to fulfill our purpose in life in Jesus name. May God continually strengthen Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point: Father, please grant me grace to fulfill Your purpose for my life in Jesus’ Name.
Hymn
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His word,
What a glory He shed 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.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Then in fellowship 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: Jesus answered and said unto him. If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. John 14:23
Read: Revelation 21:1-3
1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
2 Then I, [a]John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
Bible in one year: Isaiah 51-53, Luke 4:38-5:16

AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL

1. Our God is the Creator of heaven and earth. “The All-sufficient One” is one of His many Names, and it describes an important attribute of His.
2. As a self-existing Spirit, He does not need anything outside of Himself for sustenance or existence (John 5:26, 1 Timothy 6:16). It therefore seems strange to think that God has a need.
3. Let us ponder on what the elders in heaven are saying in their worship, as revealed in Revelation 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
4. From this statement of adoration, “God’s need” can be understood from the perspective of the purpose for which He created all things. He created all things for His own pleasure, and He specifically created mankind for the purpose of communion or fellowship. This truth is reinforced by the words of our Lord in today’s memory verse.
5. The constant fellowship that God had with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day is also a manifestation of this truth (Genesis 3:8). Several scripture passages speak of a link between the creation of mankind and acts of devotion such as praise and worship. Isaiah 43:21 says: “This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.”
6. God’s desire for fellowship is therefore not a need as we understand ‘need’, but an expression of God’s grace, mercy and love towards humanity (1 Corinthians 1:9).
7. The essence of the Christian life is to fellowship with God.
8. Everything created before man was not suitable for this purpose because they were not created in His image and so could not relate with Him on an interactive level. Genesis 5:22-24 contains the fascinating account of Enoch who walked with God in close fellowship so much so that God took him away with Him. Similarly, Abraham also fellowshipped with God to the extent that he received the distinction of being called the friend of God (2 Chronicles 20:7, James 2:23). David’s fellowship with God was also exemplary that God testified of him in Acts 13:22c, saying: “I have found David the son Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.”
9. As a result of the finished work of redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ, God now makes His permanent abode with us, in the form of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us (John 14:23, 1 Corinthians 6:19). Therefore, our fellowship with God is established on the spiritual union we have with Jesus, which will be made perfect when we see Him face to face (John 14:20-21). I pray that everything hindering your fellowship with God will be destroyed today in Jesus’ Name.

SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS

Prayer Point: Father, please cause my heart to continually hunger for Your presence in Jesus’ Name.
Hymn
Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise
Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose,
Every power as Thou shalt choose.
Take my will, and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart; it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne
Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure-store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.

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